[print_link]In thisA teaching ideas post we look at the FIFA Confederations Cup which is taking place at the moment in South Africa. You can find a short reading about the tournament below along with a printable worksheet (with answers) here. There is also a short vocabulary list at the foot of this post.
The FIFA Confederations Cup kicks off in South Africa this week with eight teams taking part in a warm-up for the 2010 World Cup finals. The eight sides include the six conference winners – the teams that have won the international tournaments in their respective regions – as well as the hosts, South Africa and the current world champions, Italy. So, New Zealand represent Oceania, Egypt are the current African Nations Cup holders, Spain won the Euro title in 2008, the USA won the CONCACAF regional trophy, Iraq represent the best in Asia, while Brazil are the reigning Copa America champions.
Since FIFA took over the running of the tournament inA 1997, Brazil and France have both won it twice, with Mexico winning the other one. Initially it was played every two years but since 2005 it has been decided to play the competition every four years, taking place the year before the World Cup.
The tournament offers a good chance for South Africa to demonstrate that they can smoothly organise an international football competition 12 months before the real thing takes place. It will also bring in some much-needed revenue for the local economy though there will hardly be any supporters travelling from overseas. In fact, there are no guarantees that the venues will be full at all during the competition thanks to high ticket prices.
There are other problems. Many of the players have just finished a tough season in Europe, meaning that managers in the top leagues there will be hoping that their star players do not get injured or become burned out. Fans are also suffering from an excess of football and it looks like TV audiences will be low too, so sponsors will not be happy.
So, which team is going to lift the trophy on June 28th? Most people’s favourites include Brazil and Spain, while betting against the Italians is never a good idea. New Zealand and Iraq are seen as the outsiders but a good tip for dark horses of the tournament can be the US team who will make life hard for Brazil and Italy in the group stage. Indeed, with some luck they may progress to the final where, I think, they will lose to Spain.
Vocabulary
Here are explanations of some of the words and phrases from the reading. Download the worksheet here
hosts: The team playing at home, the country organisng the competition
current world champions: The last team to win the World Cup
represent: To act on behalf on
reigning: The current champions, the team that last won the trophy
revenue: Money, income
venues: The places where the games take place, the stadia
burned out : To be extremely tired, have nothing left after playing too much football
betting against: To think they will not win, to gamble on an another team
outsiders: A team with little or no chance
dark horses: A team that not many people think will win but may have a chance
I think that 1982’s team is more fondly remembered, mostly because of what they could have done. This team had great players and is remembered as one of the best selections we had. Unfortunately this generation didn’t win any World Cup.
But the 1994’s title was very important to us. Because from 1970 until 1994 we didn’t win any World Cup and in this same period Argentina (our traditional rival) won twice.
An impressive record indeed this June – I wonder if they can do the same next June or maybe they have peaked too soon?
It is interesting what you say about the media reaction to Dunga, it seems that not only do Brazil have to win they have to win playing well. Which Brazil side is more fondly remembered by the local supporters, the World Cup 1982 team that lost to Italy in the second round or the winning side from 1994 – with Dunga as captain?
About Dunga, what can I say…
The matches of Brazil this month
Brazil 4×0 Uruguay
Brazil 2×0 Paraguay
Brazil 4×3 Egypt
Brazil 3×0 US
Brazil 3×0 Italy
Brazil 1×0 South Africa
Brazil 3×2 US
Next target Argentina!!!
Actually, when it comes to soccer, we are never satisfied, and the other selections seems to play better when they are playing against us. But even then his critics have no place to say anything. He’s doing a good work and won our trust.
He isn’t 100% supported, there’s still some uncertainty about him, mostly because it’s his frist job as a coach. So a series of bad results would change this.
But I think they are underestimating him.
It will be interesting to see how Spain reacts to this defeat. The US surely cannot beat Brazil right?
What do Brazilian fans think of Dunga? Is he popular?
In the end US team could only make life hard for Spain who “played as never but lost as always”
Very wierd the US’s path to final.
And Egypt astonished but didn’t go to anywhere.
My prediction about the USA being a dark horse now seems way off the mark!
Thanks for all the comments
Tinnawong
As the file is a pdf one you may need to download adobe which you an do here (http://get.adobe.com/reader/)
Cucho
Spain are looking good but I am not sure they will break the record or win the tournament – but what do I know!
Marta – it seems that even local fans are not interested with FIFA president Blatter attacking the organisers for not filling the stadiums.
I cannot download the worksheet – can you tell me how? Thank you – interesting post for my students who love football.
Come on Spain! Can the national team break the longest unbeaten run in international football? Two more games…
Nice post but you are right that no one really cares about the Confederation competition.