http://languagecaster.com Thu, 24 May 2012 21:13:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Welcome to all English language learners and teachers to languagecaster.com and its free football podcast. Every week a new soccer show complete with language support for students who wish to improve their English language skills. languagecaster.com no languagecaster.com admin@languagecaster.com admin@languagecaster.com (languagecaster.com) Copyright © by languagecaster 2006-2012 Free football podcast for learners of English brought to you by Damian and Damon. Interviews, match reviews, predictions all with full language support for soccer fans around the world who wish to improve their English language skills. football, soccer, free football podcast, English language, football language, soccer vocabulary, learn English, Learning English football language http://www.languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/site_images/languagecasteritunes.jpg http://languagecaster.com/category/world-cup/world-cup-stars-world-cup/ http://languagecaster.com/world-cup-stars-johan-cruyff/ http://languagecaster.com/world-cup-stars-johan-cruyff/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 07:13:45 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=15100 http://languagecaster.com/world-cup-stars-johan-cruyff/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/main-listening-report-ronaldo-o-fenomeno/ http://languagecaster.com/main-listening-report-ronaldo-o-fenomeno/#comments Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:19:30 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=13261 http://languagecaster.com/main-listening-report-ronaldo-o-fenomeno/feed/ 0 football language,football vocabulary,o fenemeno,Ronaldo,soccer words | Subscribe: Main Listening Report | Complete List Here This week's main report continues with our series of profiling football super stars. Earlier this week we saw the retirement of one of the greatest strikers of this generation, O Fenômeno, | (../wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Subscribe: Main Listening Report | Complete List Here (../2010/08/21/main-listening-report-full-list/) This week's main report continues with our series of profiling football super stars. Earlier this week we saw the retirement of one of the greatest strikers of this generation, O Fenômeno, Ronaldo. Explanations of key vocabulary (in bold) can be found at the foot of the post. Introduction (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ronaldo_barcelona-210x300.jpg) Ronaldo started his career at Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte (http://languagecaster.com/2010/11/25/main-listening-report-week-16-campeonato-brasileiro-the-brazilian-championship/) before moving to the Dutch League with PSV Eindhoven as a 17 year old. There, despite not winning a league title, he scored a very impressive 66 goals in only 71 appearances before moving on to Barcelona under English manager Bobby Robson (http://languagecaster.com/2009/08/09/reading-sir-bobby-robson/). That 1996-7 season at the Camp Nou made Ronaldo a star as he netted an amazing 34 goals in 37 games and though he did not win a league title with the Catalan side he did pick up the first of two World Player of the Year awards - making him the youngest ever recipient - along with the European Cup Winners Cup and the Spanish Cup. After only one season there, however, he moved to Serie A and to Inter Milan where he scored another 59 goals in only 68 games. Brazil (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ronaldo_champion2002-225x300.jpg) Now he made 97 appearances for the national side scoring 62 goals including a record 15 in the World Cup - overtaking the great Gerd Muller (http://languagecaster.com/2010/02/20/week-28-main-report-world-cup-stars-gerd-muller/) to do so. I was lucky to have seen him score 3 of those goals - first when he scored the only goal of the game in the 2002 World Cup semi-final 1-0 win over Turkey and then the two goals in the final against Germany, which won the trophy for Brazil but also sealed an amazing comeback for Ronaldo. Injuries (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ronaldo_rodilla-300x300.jpg) 4 years earlier in the final in Paris he had suffered an attack before the game and though he played was not anywhere near full fitness. A year later, while playing for Inter, he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out of the sport for 6 months and then when he returned he lasted only a few minutes on the pitch as he yet again badly damaged his knee. To come back from the drama of the 1998 World Cup final and then two serious knee injuries demonstrated not only his talent but also his courage and determination. Madrid, Milan and Corinthians After the 2002 World Cup win he moved on to Real Madrid in Spain and, despite lacking the same frightening speed when he had last played in Spain with Barca, he still managed to score an impressive 23 goals from 31 games in his first season there. He stayed for another 3 seasons - and won a couple of titles - before returning to Italy to play for AC Milan and then went home to Brazil to play for Corinthians. In total, Ronaldo scored over 350 goals in the 515 club appearances throughout his career, winning two World Cup titles, two league championships, as well as a host of individual honours. It was the Italian press who nicknamed him Il Fenomeno as he was like nothing they had seen before. How good was Ronaldo? Pele is undoubtedly the best striker Brazil has ever produced and while many would promote the merits of Garrincha, Kaka and even Romario, I think that Ronaldo should be regarded as Pele's number 2 - high praise indeed. // Vocabulary moving on to: Transferred; changed club netted: Scored the Catalan side: Barcelona recipient : The person who receives, the winner sealed an amazing comeback : Completed his comeback courage: Bravery would promote the merits: Support Links languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/week-28-main-report-world-cup-stars-gerd-muller/ http://languagecaster.com/week-28-main-report-world-cup-stars-gerd-muller/#comments Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:56:36 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=7650 http://languagecaster.com/week-28-main-report-world-cup-stars-gerd-muller/feed/ 2 | Subscribe: Main Report Our fourth spotlight on World Cup Stars looks at one of Germany's finest - der bomber! Check out previous posts on World Cup Stars here. "(He) was short , squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast", | (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Subscribe: Main Report Our fourth spotlight on World Cup Stars looks at one of Germany's finest - der bomber! Check out previous posts on World Cup Stars here (http://languagecaster.com/category/world-cup/world-cup-stars-world-cup/). (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/mueller_fifa_403_1577_sq_small.jpg)"(He) was short , squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast", wrote David Winner in Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football (http://languagecaster.com/shop_uk/). This description does not sound like one you would expect of a World Cup great, but the player described won a European Championship, a World Cup, is second all time top scorer in the competition and has one of the best goal to match ratios of any player - ever! 489 goals in 565 games. Gerd Müller, born in 1945 in Bavaria, was a deadly finisher, a fox in the box, and was simply know as der bomber - the bomber! He has already established his fearsome reputation as a goalscorer at Bayern Munich, the team that dominated German club football in the late sixties and early 70s. Playing alongside Sepp Maier and Franz Beckenbauer it wasn't long before Muller, initially believed to be too short and stocky to be successful, was called up to the national side, and in his first international competition, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he scored 10 goals and won the Golden Shoe. His haul included hatricks against Bulgaria and Peru, a winner in extra time against rivals England (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efGR8i2-OH8), and two against Italy in a match the Germans lost 4-3. Müller himself believed this competition was the most important in his career and it certainly propelled him into the international spotlight. A European Championship title in 1972, culminating in a 3-0 win over Russia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZkykqNMktc&feature=related) - two goals for der bomber and the top-scorer award - was followed two years later with West Germany's successful campaign in the 1974 World Cup in front of their own fans. Müller's West German side were up against most neutrals favourites, Holland. The Dutch, led by legend Johan Cruyff, were playing what became known as 'total football' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football) a fluid approach to the game freeing players to change position in combinations that defied traditional thinking about line-ups and tactics. The West Germans had been solid in the tournament but not outstanding, unlike the Dutch who most pundits thought claim the trophy. The game became a tight, tense affair and the difference between the sides was  der bomber and his goal that put the Germans up 2-1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6m2WUyOTL0) and ended up being the winning goal, and Müller's last for his nation. This is how he described it, "I ran forward with two Dutch players then checked back because the pass was behind me. The ball jumped off my left foot, I turned a little and suddenly it was in." 'Suddenly it was in', if any phrase describes the short, squat, stocky, slow striker from the south of Germany, 'suddenly it was in' is perhaps it. David Miller goes on to say about Gerhard Müller, "he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts." Der bomber, goal-scoring machine and World Cup great. Vocabulary squat: short and a little fat, maybe muscular, low fox in the box: a striker who usually scores from close range, a predator, a player who pops up to score fearsome: if you are fearsome, you make opponents worried / scared haul: usually used when fisherman catch a lot of fish with nets, haul in football means total number of goals. It's used when a player scores a lot of goals to propel: tp push forwards, to motivate, to launch fluid: not static, loose, changing, shifting defied: went against, did not follow languagecaster.com no 2:44 http://languagecaster.com/main-report-week-17-leo-messi/ http://languagecaster.com/main-report-week-17-leo-messi/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:37:19 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=6760 http://languagecaster.com/main-report-week-17-leo-messi/feed/ 0 ballon d'or,leo messi,Main Report | Subscribe: Main Report This week's main report looks at the newly-crowned Ballon D'or winner, Leo Messi. The transcript can be found below, while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post. - | (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/feed-icon-28x281.png) Subscribe: Main Report This week's main report looks at the newly-crowned Ballon D'or winner, Leo Messi. The transcript can be found below, while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lc.jpg) Listen to the report here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Lionel-Messi-001.jpg) Recently I was involved in a discussion with some friends over whether Brazilian star Kaka was a better player than his Real Madrid team mate Ronaldo. Who cares shouted another member of our group, they are only fighting for the title of second best player in the world. Discussion over. We all knew who is the global number one: Lionel Messi, no argument. But it hasn't always been like that - particularly from the British media with its Premier League-centric views. He was deemed to be not physical enough to withstand the pressures of the best league in the world, he never performed in the big games - his poor goal scoring record against English teams was proof enough of this and to top it all off he never scored any headers. That winning header scored against Manchester United in last season's Champions League final was more than enough to silence his critics. He finished the season as top goalscorer in that tournament with nine goals and he was also an integral part of the all-conquering Barcelona team that won a league and cup double to go with that European crown. He scored 23 goals in La Liga and 6 more in the Copa del Rey, including one in the 4-1 victory in the final against Bilbao. But it is not just his goals that make Messi the player he is. He provides numerous assists for his team mates and causes panic among opposing defenders with his close control, perfect balance, a low centre of gravity that makes it difficult to knock him off the ball, wonderful dribbling skills and a tremendous turn of pace that often those leaves defenders for dead. Despite his wonderful club form all year, Messi has received some criticism for his performances for his national side, Argentina. But this may also be a little harsh. After all, he has won the World Cup at under 20 level in 2005; an Olympic gold medal in 2008 and he was a runner-up in the Copa America in 2007. It is true that Argentina suffered in their qualifying section for the World Cup in 2010 but this may be due to the lack of quality in the side, as well as the fact that the current coach, Diego Maradona, is unsure how to build a team around his young star. This of course is ironic as Messi has been likened to the world's greatest ever player - the style of play, the goals and the dribbling rather than the off the field antics - and who is to say that he won't lead the albiceleste to another unlikely World Cup victory next summer just like his hero before him? Vocabulary Premier League-centric views: Only one viewpoint (from the Premier League in England) was deemed to be: Was viewed as / seen as; it was decided that to withstand: To put up with, to tolerate, to survive (the tough treatment) proof : Evidence to top it all off : as well as (more emphatic) to silence his critics: To prove himself, to answer the criticisms against yiou all-conquering: Beat everyone, never lose a low centre of gravity: Difficult to be knocked over, to have good balance turn of pace: To accelerate, to move away from defenders very quickly leaves defenders for dead:To move away from defenders very quickly making them look foolish a little harsh: The criticism is a little too much has been likened to: Has been compared to the off the field antics: Problems away from the pitch (in Maradona's case these included drugs, paternity suits and depression) albiceleste: Nickname for the Argentinian national side (referring to the colours of their national jersey) languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/main-report-world-cup-stars-lev-yashin/ http://languagecaster.com/main-report-world-cup-stars-lev-yashin/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:24:10 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=5832 http://languagecaster.com/main-report-world-cup-stars-lev-yashin/feed/ 0 Listen to the report here Transcript Goalkeepers can often be overlooked when talking about the best football players, but a great goalkeeper can inspire the rest of the side to play with confidence and help them perform better than they look on paper. (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lc.jpg) Listen to the report here (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/yashin.mp3) (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/152.jpg)Transcript Goalkeepers can often be overlooked when talking about the best football players, but a great goalkeeper can inspire the rest of the side to play with confidence and help them perform better than they look on paper. this was surely the case with Lev Yashin, quite arguably the best goalkeeper at any World Cup. The Russian, born in 1929, possessed a great physical presence, he was 189 cm tall, was agile, had great reactions and the positional sense to ensure he was where he needed to be to snuff out any danger. Known later in his career as the Black Spider - he wore an all black kit and seemed to posses eight legs, or the Black Panther - for his quickness and ability to pounce on the ball - Yashin played for Dyamo Moscow  throughout his playing days. He was given his international cap for the Soviet team in 1954 and went on to play 78 times for Russia appearing in three World Cups: 1958 in Sweden, 1962 in Chile and in 1966 in England. Particularly in 1962, it is doubtful that the Soviet team would have progressed as far as they did in the tournaments: two quarter finals and a semi final in England without Yashin. It was his first World Cup campaign that really made the world sit up and take note of Yashin. Although his team lost 2-0 to Brazil in the group stage, it would have been a massacre had it not been for Yashin's heroics in goal. His performances relied on his stunning reaction speeds and the calm, aggressive  dominance of his area. He often elected to come and punch the ball or act as a sweeper, rather than attempt potentially dangerous catches or to leave the ball to his defenders. He was also famous for his quick distribution of the ball, often making a save at a players feet and immediately throwing the ball out to a team-mate and starting a counter attack. Along with his three World Cup appearances, Yashin won the first European Championship with his side in 1960 and an Olympic gold in 1956, and was honoured as European Footballer of the Year in 1963, the only goalkeeper to win the prize. But perhaps the true recognition of his place as a World cup great is the Yashin Award, a FIFA honour first awarded in 1994. Lev Yashin, the Black Spider, the Black Panther, a great goalkeeper. Vocabulary overlooked - ignored, not looked at on paper - the strength of  a side based on the names on the team sheet: a team can look strong on paper but perform weakly, or they can look ordinary on paper, but play very well to snuff out - to stop, to put out, to not allow agile - quick, fast, supple, quick-footed to pounce on - to dive on, to grab quickly, to jump quickly like a cat catching a mouse to sit up and take note - to recognise something/someone as special, to realise something/someone is special a massacre - literally mass murder, in football a very heavy defeat: for example 4-0, 5-0 etc. elected to - chose to, decided to distribution - delivering, handing out, in football - throwing/passing the ball effectively languagecaster.com no http://languagecaster.com/podcast-10-world-cup-stars-lev-yashin/ http://languagecaster.com/podcast-10-world-cup-stars-lev-yashin/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:51:41 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=5923 http://languagecaster.com/podcast-10-world-cup-stars-lev-yashin/feed/ 0 Podcast The dust from the World Cup qualifiers has settled, and this week we have Part III in our series on the World Cup greats - the Russian, Lev Yashin. Read our football news review in the good, the bad and the ugly (http://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/yashin_05.jpg) The dust from the World Cup qualifiers has settled, and this week we have Part III in our series on the World Cup greats - the Russian, Lev Yashin. Read our football news review in the good, the bad and the ugly (http://languagecaster.com/category/review/) Check out a new football expression in English for Football (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/football-phrases-2009-10) Follow the weekly predictions battle between Damon and Damian in the Predictions competition (http://languagecaster.com/category/dds-predictions/) For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/) page with: Football glossary (http://languagecaster.com/football-language-resources/football-glossary/) (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases) Worksheets and transcripts (http://languagecaster.com/?page_id=4) from previous podcasts (http://languagecaster.com/?page_id=4) languagecaster.com no 16:14 http://languagecaster.com/week-4-main-report-world-cup-stars-maradona/ http://languagecaster.com/week-4-main-report-world-cup-stars-maradona/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:18:03 +0000 damianf http://languagecaster.com/?p=4656 http://languagecaster.com/week-4-main-report-world-cup-stars-maradona/feed/ 0 http://languagecaster.com/week-2-main-report-world-cup-stars-pele/ http://languagecaster.com/week-2-main-report-world-cup-stars-pele/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:55:37 +0000 grell http://languagecaster.com/?p=4726 http://languagecaster.com/week-2-main-report-world-cup-stars-pele/feed/ 0