2006年VOA标准英语-Italy's Coach Eager to Face Germany in World Cu

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
04 July 2006

Just hours to go for the Italian and German national soccer teams to face off against each other in the World Cup semifinal in Germany. Fans are getting ready for what they hope will be a great game of soccer.

----------

Marcello Lippi walks past cluster¹ of balls during practice session², Monday  
  
The whole of Italy and Italian soccer fans all over the world are getting ready to watch this evening's semifinal match against Germany in Dortmund. Italian players say their coach, Marcello Lippi, is a real leader. They say he can't wait for the game to start and that he has poison³ in his body - meaning he wants to win at all costs.

"I'm glad my players feel this way," Lippi says, "because it is what I try to transmit⁴ to them when we work together. The coach said Germany has an excellent team with good players, which believes, like Italy, in the possibility of reaching the World Cup final and has the advantage of playing at home."

Lippi says Italy does not feel it is the favorite or the underdog.

Two of the most memorable⁵ games in Italy's history were played against Germany, the 4-3 extra time win over West Germany in the 1970 semifinals and the 3-1 victory⁶ in the 1982 final, Italy's last major title.

Lippi says that for some days he has not been thinking of 1970 and 1982. " I'm thinking of tonight," he says, "and what the best things to do are to try to win."

Many expect that a similar line-up to the one played against Australia, in which Italy won 1-0, would be in play this evening against Germany.

Meanwhile, German newspapers for days have been filled with criticism⁷ of Italians. But Lippi downplayed this.

He said if they continue calling us waiters, plate washers, beach lifeguards and other things, we need only be proud. He added⁸ that working, for the lucky ones that can, is something to be proud of.

Italy is feeling confident after it beat Germany 4-1 in the last friendly match played in Florence in March. But everyone here is only too aware Germany has never lost in its favorite stadium⁹, in Dortmund.

1 cluster   

n.串，簇，群，组；vi.群集，丛生；vt.集中

参考例句：

• She held a cluster of flowers in her arms.她抱着一束鲜花。
• A cluster of tourists was surrounded in the hill.一群游客被困在了山中。

2 session   

n.会议，开庭期，市盘，学期；adj.短期的

参考例句：

• This matter will go over until the next session.这件事将留待下次会议讨论。
• Congress is now in session.国会现在正在开会。

3 poison   

n.毒药；毒害；vt./vi.毒害；投毒

参考例句：

• The bottle is labelled "Poison".瓶上标明“有毒”。
• Don't allow evil thoughts to poison young people's minds.不允许邪念毒害青年。

4 transmit   

vt.播送，发射；传送，传递，传染

参考例句：

• A telegram will be the quickest way to transmit the message.打电报将是传递这个信息的最快途径。
• These symbols transmit a message in a simple and direct manner.这些标志用最简单直接的方式传达出一个信息。

5 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

6 victory   

n.胜利，成功

参考例句：

• Victory will never come if we only wait for it.如果我们光是等待，胜利永远不会到来。
• It can't be questioned that we will win the final victory.我们将最终取得胜利，这是确定无疑的。

7 criticism   

n.批评，批判，指责；评论，评论文章

参考例句：

• Some youth today do not allow any criticism at all.现在有些年轻人根本指责不得。
• It is wrong to turn a deaf ear to other's criticism.对别人的批评充耳不闻是错误的。

8 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

9 stadium   

n.露天大型运动场

参考例句：

• The new football stadium can hold eighty thousand people.新的足球场可以容纳八万人。
• The stadium is being used for a match.那个露天运动场正在进行一场比赛。