2006年VOA标准英语-Italy, France Get Ready for World Cup Title Mat

By Parke Brewer¹
Berlin
08 July 2006

Few would have thought the French could make it to the final here, after they played to draws in their two opening group matches, and were at risk of bowing out of the tournament until a 2-0 win over Togo.

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France's captain Zinedine Zidane (r) exchanges shirts with Portugal's captain Luis Figo after the World Cup semifinal soccer match
  
But with an experienced² side that includes a number of players, who helped them win their first-ever World Cup on home soil in 1998, France has been impressive³ in the knockout stages of the tournament, beating Spain, Brazil and Portugal.

French coach Raymond Domenech said, having experienced players should make a difference in the final. And, through an interpreter, he said his players feel like they have the momentum⁴, as they have improved from game to game.

"I think, the players are still on a wave, on a roller.  I think they have tried hard to remain a team, to remain a group, and, before the match is over, they are going to keep in there," he said.  "I don't see any reasons for change.  Every time we have moved on to another stage, we have achieved an objective⁵, another reason to be cheerful, to be serene⁶.  But, they are very present.  There's a great deal of solidarity⁷ between them."

The World Cup final against Italy will be the last international match for star French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, a three-time World Footballer of the Year.

Members of the media were hoping he would talk with them the day before the big game.  And coach Domenech was asked why Zidane has remained silent since before the opening match of the tournament.
 

Italy's Fabio Grosso, right, celebrates with teammate Andrea Pirlo after scoring first goal in semifinal against Germany  
  
"Like all the others, like all the players.  They have been saying the same thing.  Their objective is not to explain what they do, but it's to do it.  So, they are concentrating on that.  They are preparing, and they are sticking with their objective, which is to perform well on the day, to deliver the best they can," he added.

Opponent⁸ Italy has had an impressive World Cup, as well.  The only goal it has allowed was an own-goal in the 1-1 tie against the United States in first round group play.  And in the semifinals, Italy beat Germany in Dortmund, a city where the host nation had never before lost a match.

Italian television reporter Cristina Fantoni told VOA Sports that, at the beginning of the World Cup, Italians, for the most part, did not think their team had a chance to win the title.  But after seeing the team improve and reach the final, they believe they can beat France.  Fantoni said the players believe that, too.

"They are prepared to stay in the match, because they had big problems to concentrate at the beginning of the World Cup, with the [fixing] scandal⁹ in Italy," she said.  "And now, I think it's easier for them to stay in the match, because they have only to think about the match."

Against France, the Italians will be aiming for their fourth World Cup championship.  Their last one came in 1982.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

3 impressive   

adj.给人深刻印象的，感人的

参考例句：

• This cinema is so impressive that we can't help crying.这影片如此感人以至我们禁不住流下泪来。
• The suit made him look especially impressive.他穿上这套衣服真精神。

4 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

5 objective   

adj.客观的；n.目标，目的

参考例句：

• He tried to take an objective view of the situation.他试图对形势有个客观的看法。
• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。

6 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

7 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

8 opponent   

n.对手，敌手，反对者；adj.敌对的，反对的

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• After a fierce struggle,he got a beat on his opponent.经过殊死的较量，他占了对手的上风。

9 scandal   

n.丑事，丑闻，流言蜚语，反感，愤慨

参考例句：

• Scandal and gossip are meat and drink to him.各种丑闻和流言蜚语是他最感兴趣的事。
• His theft from the shop caused scandal in the village.他因偷商店的东西引起全村的公愤。