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It’s World Cup qualifier week and European teams get their campaigns off to a start, while there’s also action across the globe in Asia and South America. Languagecaster.com also brings you another English for Football phrase.
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Transcript
Italy
DF: European World Cup qualifiers are starting again this weekend and of course Italy are the World champions, the current World Cup holders, and we have an Italian fan here, Massimo who is going to tell us a little bit about his team’s chances. Massimo, how are you?
Massimo: Hi Damian, fine, how are you?
DF: Good, I’m good, looking forward to football this weekend, yes.
Now, of course Italy are the World Cup holders and what do you think of their chances of qualifying for South Africa for 2010?
M: Well, I think, I hope, but I think definitely that Italy have good chance to go on.
DF: OK, so in your group what rivals do you have?
M: Well, you know… Italy is in the group with Bulgaria, Ireland and Cyprus. Definitely I think to be honest, the best of the group…
DF: You should get through.
M: Yes.
DF: So which of those teams, Bulgaria, Ireland, Cyprus are you most afraid of?
M: Well, Ireland for sure, yes. They are a very good team and they have also one of the best manager from Italy too. It’s Trappattoni.
DF: Of course…
M: He’s one of the best of Italy
DF: Yes, it’s going to be an interesting game that one …
M: Yes.
DF: Now, speaking of managers, Italy have a new manager, can you tell us a little bit about him?
M: It’s Lippi again, hopefully, as we already did in … two years ago, we won the World Cup thanks to him and we hope to repeat this.
DF: Most people in Italy are happy with his appointment?
M: Yes, yes, yes, no, no most people want, I mean he’s …the World Cup winner so definitely people are happy, yes.
DF: So what about key player, which player do you think is indispensable from the team?
M: Well, it could be strange but I think that Cannavarro is the key man of the, of the team even if he’s a defender. But without him I think that the defence is rubbish.
DF: Really?
M: Yes.
DF: Alright, thanks very much and good luck.
M: Thank you.
Hungary
DF: We’ve got a Hungarian football fan who is going to tell us a little bit about his team’s chances for qualifying. Adam.
Adam: Well, I think since we have Sweden, Portugal and Denmark in our group we will not have much chance to qualify.
DF: That’s a pretty tough group, isn’t it?
A: Yes, it is.
DF: So which of those three teams do you think will be your direct… kind of rival? Which team do you think you could challenge?
A: Probably Denmark I think.
DF: In your team, which are the key players that we should look out for Hungary?
A: I think we have really just one key player, it’s Gera Zoltan, he plays for Fulham and he’s very, very good.
DF: Yes, he is, he’s one of their best players?
Now, what about your manager? Do we know anything about the manager?
A: Yes, we have now a new manager since this summer and he’s called Erwin Koeman and he’s the brother of Ronald Koeman, probably we will do good…
DF: OK, and most people in Hungary would support him?
A: Yes, yes.
DF: That’s good, so this weekend you play…?
A: Against Denmark.
DF: What do you think? What are your chances?
A: I can think of a draw so I hope.
DF: Ok, good luck.
A: Thanks.
Brazil
DF: Now of course, World Cup qualifiers take place in South America as well and we have Marcelo here who is a Brazilian fan and we’re going to ask him about his country’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Marcelo, can you tell us about the situation Brazil are in at the moment, where are they in the qualifying campaign?
Marcelo: Of course, if you see our position now, it’s not a good position but we have the tradition and we have good players and I believe Brazil will have his place in the World Cup.
DF: Now of course Brazil have qualified for every final.
M: Yes, yes, it’s tradition we are in all World Cups.
DF: Now at the moment you are in fifth position and this weekend you’re playing against Chile is that right?
M: Yes.
DF: Tough game?
M: Yes, yes, but I hope we will win.
DF: OK, now which other countries are your biggest rivals at the moment in the South American group?
M: Of course, Argentina and now Paraguay.
DF: So Paraguay are top?
M: Yes, yes but Argentina is, I believe, the best team now in South America.
DF: Now of course we know many of the Brazilian stars are playing in Europe, what are the players are the key players for you for Brazil?
M: I believe the key players are Kaka and Ronaldinho… if they are well, we will be well.
DF: OK, now your manager at the moment is Dunga, yes?
M: Yes.
DF: What’s the feeling about the manager at the moment in Brazil?
M: Personally I don’t like him and I believe he doesn’t have experience and his position now is not good and I believe if we lose the next game his position will be so difficult.
DF: Right, right. In the Brazilian media is there a favourite to take over from Dunga?
M: Yes, Luxemburgo.
DF: Oh, really?
M: People talk about Luxemburgo as a very, very famous
