Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
In this week’s review section, we congratulate The Czech Republic, The Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Croatia on Euro 2012 qualification, while Guus leaves Turkey and Suarez makes the back pages for the wrong reason. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below, or highlighted in blue.
Good
Bad
After Turkey’s failure to qualify for the European Championships after their home defeat to Croatia, their Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has left his post as manager. Hiddink, now 65, leaves with his managerial record dented: he also failed to take Russia, his last coaching job at a national side, to the 2010 World Cup. Turkey were beaten 3-0 on aggregate, and Guus is now left hoping that a club side may hire him. But with his last full-time managerial role at a club, Real Betis, over ten years ago, that may be a gamble.
Ugly
A potentially ugly story is now officially an ugly story as Liverpool and Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez, is charged with racism by the English FA. This story had been rumbling in the background for weeks but has now hit the back pages in England. Liverpool are still backing their player and say he will be pleading innocent of racially abusing Patrice Evra of Manchester United. But it’s hard to see a happy ending for this one and not only could Liverpool’s season be knocked off track if their playmaker gets a lengthy ban, but the player’s reputation would be tarnished. A Pretty ugly story indeed.
Vocabulary
comprehensive: Complete
thrashing: Heavy defeat
saw off: To defeat
on aggregate: In total; the total score
post: job, position of employment
dented:damaged, tarnished (see below)
hit the back pages: become big sports news (sport news is traditionally placed at the back of newspapers in the UK)
knock off track: disrupt, impact or affect negatively
playmaker: a player who makes a team tick; a player who creates chances and links play
tarnished: damaged, sullied
