Romantic results in the oldest football tournament in the world and giant-killing in Spain, Asian champions, diving in England and violence in the women’s game in the USA all feature in this week’s good, the bad and the ugly. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Good

Congratulations to Pohang Steelers who are the new champions of Asia after defeating Saudi side Al-Ittihad 2-1 in the final last week in Tokyo. This was the third time that the Koreans have won the continental title and the first time since 1998 for the team with most Asian titles. Well done to the team and their fans.

It’s always good at this time of year in England when winter is settling in, rain is slashing across pitches and it’s dark when you get up and when you go home, because it’s when the league clubs join the FA Cup and minnows are pitched against the bigger teams. In the first round proper of the FA cup, Northwich Victoria, a non-league side in the fifth tier of football beat former Premier League side Charlton, currently in the first division. A late goal means that Northwich, one of the oldest teams in the world football, earn a tie against Lincoln of the second division (the fourth tier) in the next round. And that wasn’t the only example of minnows downing powerhouses, as Alcorcon, from the fourth division in Spain, beat Real Madrid over two legs 4-1. Humiliation for the Madrid side.

Bad

A few ‘bads’ this week. David Beckham is set to miss out on the record for most caps for an English player because LA Galaxy’s success in the post-season in MLS means he will be unavailable for a friendly against Brazil and dent his chances of surpassing the famous England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton’s, record of 125 caps. Also,we sometimes feature women’s football on languagecaster, usually in the good section, but this time we have to have a slot for some bad from the female half of the game. A college football player, Elizebeth Lambert of New Mexico, basically assaulted a number of opposition players during a game between New Mexico and Brigham Young University. Amazingly bad stuff!

Pretty bad too for Liverpool striker David Ngog whose dive earned Liverpool a point at home to Birmingham City this week. The young Frenchman went down under the ‘challenge’ of Lee Carsley prompting the Birmingham player to call it an ‘embarrassing case of cheating’ while Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was doubtful that it had been a penalty. I wonder will he fine Ngog for his actions?

Ugly

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is to propose a new two league Premier League with Celtic and Rangers joining in from Scotland. This idea is only driven by self-interest – Bolton are one of the teams who often face relegation out of the Premier League – and greed – keep the money for the teams who happen to be in the top flight now! It ignores the fact that tradition is an integral part of the appeal and longevity of football – Scotland, in football and for a large number of Scots, many other things, is separated from England. If the argument applies to The Old Firm teams – we need to save these big traditional teams, and they would bring more support to the Premier League and therefore more money – then how about asking Benfica and Ajax to join – surely they deserve to be ’supported’, or Roma from Italy, Real Madrid, now there’s glamour. Somehow I don’t think so. If this goes ahead in the future it will be the death knell for real football. Ugly idea.

Vocabulary

Minnow: a small team, not a big, rich club, often in the lower leagues or semi-professional

To pitch: to throw, to put into a battle, fight or match against another person / team

Tier: level, division

Surpassing: passing, beating, overtaking a record, being better

Slot: place, allotted place in a schedule

To assault: attack violently

The top flight: The top division, the highest rank

The Old Firm: The teams Celtic and Rangers from Glasgow in Scotland are called The Old Firm