Archive for December, 2011

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On this week’s main listening report we look back at some of the big stories from the football world in 2011. Part one will feature January to June while part two will focus on July to December. This report has a transcript below, as well as explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

July-August

Two major international tournaments took place in July: the Women’s World Cup from Germany and the Copa America from Argentina. The big surprise package in the women’s World Cup was the Japanese team, nicknamed Nadeshiko, who managed to defeat the pre-tournament favourites the USA – though they did need penalties to do so. This was the first title for the Japanese who stunned Germany and Sweden in the knockout stages to claim their berth in the final before dedicating their title to those who lost their lives in the March earthquake.

July also saw Uruguay winning their record-breaking 15th Copa America title after thrashing Paraguay 3-0 in the final at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. La Celeste, or the Sky Blues, had the player of the tournament in Luis Suarez, they did not lose a match and they also knocked-out hosts and favourites Argentina proving that their third place in the 2010 World Cup was no fluke at all. continue

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 Print This Post | Subscribe: Main Listening Report | Complete List Here

On this week’s main listening report we look back at some of the big stories from the football world in 2011. Part one will feature January to June while part two will focus on July to December. This report has a transcript below, as well as explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

January-February

January was a fairly quiet month for football in Europe with most European leagues on a winter break and England suffering from heavy snow that caused havoc with the fixtures. However, the sun was shining in Qatar where the15th Asia Cup was taking place with Japan winning their 4th continental title by defeating Australia 1-0 in extra time. The Japanese side, under Italian coach Zaccheroni, showed impressive spirit throughout and were worthy winners though a special mention should also be made for outsiders Jordan who qualified for the knock-out stages by drawing with Japan and beating Saudi Arabia.

Two big stories dominated English football at the start of the year: first, two TV pundits in the UK were fired for making sexist comments about a female referee’s assistant, while the battle for the Olympic Stadium raged onwith West Ham finally winning the decision over Tottenham to move into the stadium in East London. Tottenham were faring better in the Champions League where they eliminated seven-time winners AC Milan in a tempestuous match that saw Milan captain Gattuso attack Spurs coach Joe Jordan.

February saw the retirement of one of the greatest strikers of this generation, O Fenômeno, Ronaldo. He finished his career in Brazil with Corinthians but it was his time in Europe that really made his name. He first came to prominence in Holland with PSV Eindhoven but moved to another level with Barcelona in Spain before really taking off in Italy with Inter Milan. Unfortunately his career was blighted by injuries but he sealed an amazing comeback with the national side in the 2002 World Cup when he scored the winning goals in the final to give him an amazing record-breaking 15 goalhaul in overall World Cups.
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Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. On this week’s show we feature the phrase ‘to be complacent’. Click on the link below to learn about the word or phrase, while you can also read the transcript. You can also find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football cliches here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen here: To be complacent.mp3

This week’s languagecaster football phrase is ‘to be complacent‘, which according to the online free dictionary means to be satisfied to a fault, to be self-satisfied. In football we use this phrase to describe a team or player who feels that as they have done enough to secure a victory then they may not need to work as hard or play as intensely. Unfortunately, when complacency sets in the team may become weaker which then allows the opposing side to hit back and cause an upset. This week Arsenal drew 1-1 at home with ten-man Wolves despite going 1-0 up and so their manager Arsene Wenger accused them of becoming complacent and allowing their opponents to get back into the game. To be complacent

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In this week’s review of the footballing action, we congratulate Manchester United, wonder about Luis Suarez and look on in shock at the Dutch Cup. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below.

Good

Since being thrashed by rivals Manchester City, Man Utd have gone on an amazing nine-match unbeaten run – eight of those games were wins – that has seen the Red Devils move joint top of the Premier League table. Over Christmas they won both of their matches 5-0 (against Fulham and Wigan) and with a home game against bottom side Blackburn at New Year they could finish the year looking down on their city rivals.
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On this week’s predictions we feature some of the big games from the Premier League’s New Year fixtures. You can listen to Damon and Damian discussing their predictions on this week’s show. Check out some language used in making predictions here. This week’s guest predictor is Sean who is a Shamrock Rovers fan in Ireland.

Current Score: DB 91 | DF 77 | Guests 56

If you would like to be a guest predictor for a week, let us know here

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On this week’s podcast it’s Christmas and football – stories and traditions. Remember, you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here – complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

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As Christmas approaches, on this week’s main listening report, we take a look at football at Christmas through the years: folk football and rioting, a football game in the middle of war, and Boxing Day. This report has a transcript below, as well as explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post, while other key phrases (in blue) also have meanings explained.

This weekend will see Christmas celebrated around the world. It is of course a christian tradition, but many non-christians enjoy the holiday. There are many traditions associated with the celebration – Christmas trees, lights, the giving of presents, and so on, but what about association football? Well, football also has its Christmas traditions and stories.

Folk Football and Rioting

Before it became the game we recognize today, football was a very different and more violent pastime known as folk football, played by large groups continue

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On this week’s predictions we feature some of the festive football taking place in England, as well as the big top-of-the-table clash in Scotland: Celtic and Rangers. You can listen to Damon and Damian discussing their predictions on this week’s show. Check out some language used in making predictions here. This week’s guest predictor is Mike who is a Newcastle fan.

Current Score: DB 89 | DF 69 | Guests 51

If you would like to be a guest predictor for a week, let us know here

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Each week the languagecaster team will explain a football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. On this week’s show we feature the word ‘rout’. Click on the link below to learn about the word or phrase, while you can also read the transcript. You can also find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football cliches here and our huge football glossary here.

Listen here: a rout.mp3

This week’s languagecaster football phrase is ‘rout‘, which can be both a noun: a rout and a verb to rout and in football this word means to defeat heavily, to thrash. This week Barcelona became World Club champions after defeating Brazilian side Santos 4-0 – they routed the South American champions. The rout began and ended with Leo Messi who scored the first and fourth goals as Barcelona ran out easy winners. rout / to rout

 Print This Post | Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In this week’s review of the footballing action, we congratulate Barcelona on becoming champions of the world and feature two financial scandals: one from Spain and one from Italy. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below.

Good

Congratulations to Barcelona as they were crowned World Club champions after demolishing Brazilian side Santos 4-0 in Yokohama, Japan. Lionel Messi netted twice with Xavi and Fabregas completing the scoring as Barcelona strolled to their second world title in three years. Brazilian side Santos were poor while their teenage sensation Neymar failed to make any impression at all. Well done Barca – again.
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