Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
On this week’s review section we congratulate Zambia and the Ivory Coast on making it through to the Africa Cup of Nations final, while we look at the crisis with the England national team. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast and can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below.
Good
A good week for Zambia and the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations. Zambia surprised the pundits by defeating one of the pre-tournament favourites Ghana 1-0 in the semi-final – a wonderful goal by Mayuka was enough to eliminate the Black Stars who missed a first-half penalty. The Ivory Coast, many people’s pre-tournament favourites, easily defeated Mali in the other semi-final thanks to a fine goal by Arsenal star Gervinho and they will be hoping to add to their only tournament win of 1992 in Sunday’s final.
Bad
Crisis in the English national team? After John Terry was stripped of the captaincy last week, Fabio Capello has now resigned as manager of England. The Italian coach was due to leave his post after the European Championships in the summer but he felt his position as head coach had been undermined by the FA’s decision to remove Terry as captain without consulting him. It has been a turbulent reign for Capello and though his win ratio was higher than nearly all previous England managers he was never really loved by players, the media or the fans. Who will take over as the new England coach?
Ugly
Tackling has yet again been in the news here in England with many feeling that the game has become overly aggressive while others suggest that it has become too soft. The latest row has erupted after Stoke City’s German international Robert Huth was sent off for his tackle on Irish player David Meyler in Sunderland’s 1-0 away win at Stoke last weekend. Huth’s boss at Stoke, Tony Pulis, was livid with the decision as he felt that his payer had made no contact with the opposing player. Not sure that there were too many sympathetic voices to be heard though as the challenge was reckless and Pulis’ teams have a a reputation as one of the tougher or more physical sides in the league.
Vocabulary
the pundits: Experts about football
to eliminate: To knock out
been undermined: Weakened his position
consulting: Talking to him
a turbulent reign: His time as coach was not always smooth or positive
was livid : Really very angry
reckless: Dangerous tackle
