The countdown to South Africa 2010 has well and truly started and so we thought we’d take a look back at some of our greatest ever World Cup moments. We’d also like to know what has been your greatest World Cup moment? Maybe it was a win for your country. A superb goal? Or a moment of madness? Let us know by writing a comment below. There is vocabulary support below for the words in bold. You can also read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts – we have lots of World Cup resources too. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com.
Contact UsA Forum Glossary World Cup Resources1. Ireland 1-1 Germany (Japan: 2002)
The atmosphere had been building all day among the thousands of Irish fans who had gathered in Ibaraki to watch the ‘Boys in Green’ play the mighty Germans. Despite our optimism before the match, few could have predicted such a dramatic finale when in the 94th minute Robbie Keane scored that goal. It was only an equaliser but it felt like a winner. Ireland went out in the next round while the Germans played in the final itself but for a few minutes, standing behind the goal we all thought we had won the trophy itself.
2. West Germany 2-1 Holland (West Germany: 1974)
I was only 8 but I simply could not understand how Holland lost this match. They had captured our imagination through the tournament by scoring loads of great goals while at the same time looking extremely cool. In the playground at school we had all wanted to be Johan Cruyff, Ruud Krol, Jonny Rep and Johan Neeskens. My youth meant I could not understand such matters as tactics, organisation, power and the fact their opponents that day were playing at home and were a fine team with a deadly goalscorer in their ranks. My tender years didn’t stop me from crying when it was all over either.
3. Italy 3-2 Brazil (Spain: 1982)
Much like the Dutch in 1974 most people felt that the winner of the 1982 World Cup was not necessarily the best team in the competition. That, however, would be unfair on an Italian side that threw caution to the wind in the crucial second round match against everyone’s favourite team, Brazil. The South Americans had been in magical form throughout the tournament – a real embodiment of the joga bonita that everyone expects from Brazil. Socrates, Zico, Falcao, Toninho Cerezo and Junior all made football look easy while Italy had looked dour, uneasy and overly conservative in their matches till then. But from the moment Paolo Rossi scored in the 5th minute the Italians threw off their defensive shackles and both teams just went for it. When the final whistle blew, many fans bemoaned the fact that Brazil were out but Italy had deserved it and proved it by becoming World champions a week later.
Vocabulary
- ‘Boys in Green’: Nickname for the Irish football team
- a dramatic finale : A really exciting end to the game
- an equaliser : A goal to make the scores level (e.g. 1-1)
- captured our imagination:To cause great excitement; to stimulate interest
- in their ranks: In the team, a team member
- threw caution to the wind : Did not hold back, to take a risk
- embodiment: Demonstration, take on physical form
- overly conservative: Too defensive, not attacking or open
- shackles: In chains, something holding you back
- went for it: To attack, to take a risk
- bemoaned the fact: Complained about something
Related Vocabulary
- Predictions competition
- 2022 World Cup: Wales and Ecuador Fans’ Predictions
- 2022 World Cup: Mexico Fan Prediction
- The language of injuries
- World Cup Brazil v Italy 1982
- World Cup resources page (lots of posts, links, podcasts and football language about the World Cup
- 2010 World Cup Quarter-final Netherlands vs Brazil
- 2014 World Cup Group Stage: Spain vs Netherlands
- 1986 World Cup Quiz
- 1930 World Cup Quiz
- 1982 World Cup Quiz
- FIFA World Cup 1982
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
Nice post and a great question. My best World Cup moment was without a doubt during the 1986 final. Argentina were coasting, leading 2-0. Then the German comeback, and as Voeller hit the equalizer, I and all those around me, really felt that this was our game to win. Alas the joy lasted just a few minutes, but those minutes were great!!
Now to the 1974 World Cup final. Total football maybe, but the Germans deserved their win. I present you the unknown third goal, scored by Gerd Mueller.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg424IWrOfs
Running up and down the stands in Shizuoka as little Michael Owen put England 1-0 up against Brazil in the quarter finals – going into that game, England had the best defence so far, had beaten Argentina, and it looked like the dream would become reality… until David Becks pulled out of a tackle on the sidelines and allowed Ronaldhino to sweep forwards and Rivaldo to equalise. The rest, as they say, is history.
Nice post that brought back some memories of that Ireland campaign.
How about Zidane’s head butt and red card in the 2006 final? I could not believe what I had seen! I wonder does he ever regret it?