World Cup Soccer

World Cup Soccer, written by Dave Ord.

《世界杯足球赛》，戴夫·奥德 著。

The people's game. Some people call soccer the people's game because soccer is the world's most popular sport. About 300 million people play soccer, also known as football in many countries, all around the world. Almost a billion people watched the 2006 World Cup championship on television. That means one out of every seven people on earth was watching.

人民的运动。 有人称足球为人民的运动，因为它是全世界最受欢迎的体育运动。 全世界大约有三亿人踢足球，这项运动在许多国家也被叫做足球。 将近十亿人在电视上观看了2006年世界杯决赛。 也就是说，地球上每七个人里就有一个人在看这场比赛。

Matches around the world. The World Cup is the most important event in soccer, maybe even in all sports. Every four years, the planet's best players come together to compete in the World Cup. It takes one month and 64 games to decide the winning team. Fans from all over the world come to watch their teams play. The fans wear crazy hats, paint their faces, bring drums to bang, and cheer on the players.

遍布全球的赛事。 世界杯是足球界最重要的赛事，甚至可以说是所有体育运动中最重要的盛会。 每四年，全世界最优秀的球员都会齐聚一堂，角逐世界杯。 整个赛事历时一个月，一共踢64场比赛，才能决出冠军队伍。 来自世界各地的球迷都会来到现场，观看自己支持的球队比赛。 球迷们会戴上古怪的帽子，给脸上涂颜色，敲着鼓，为球员呐喊助威。

Africa Makes History Although soccer is popular all over the world, a World Cup tournament was never held on the continent of Africa until 2010. That's why it was big news when South Africa was chosen to host the 19th World Cup. Over 200 countries competed for the chance to send teams to the tournament. Johannesburg, the largest city in the country, was chosen to host the final match of the

非洲创造历史 虽然足球在全世界都很受欢迎，但直到2010年，世界杯才第一次在非洲大陆举办。 所以当南非获得第十九届世界杯举办权时，这成了轰动全球的大新闻。 超过200个国家的队伍争夺本届世界杯的参赛资格。 南非最大的城市约翰内斯堡，被选定承办本届世界杯的

Great Teams The world's most successful team is Brazil. The Brazilian team that beat Italy 4 -1 in the 1970 final is often called the greatest team ever by soccer fans. Brazilians are known for their banana kicks, which curve like the bend in a banana and sail into the goal. Brazil is also known for having some of soccer's most lively and colorful fans.

伟大的球队 世界上成绩最好的球队是巴西队。 1970年决赛巴西4比1击败意大利，那支巴西队常被球迷称为史上最棒的球队。 巴西球员以香蕉球闻名，这种球会像香蕉的弧度一样转弯，飞进对方球门。 巴西也因拥有一群最活泼热情、多姿多彩的球迷而闻名。

Italy's team is second on the list of most World Cup wins. In the 2006 final, Italy defeated France 5 -3 in a penalty shootout. A penalty shootout happens if a game is tied after overtime. Five players from each team take turns kicking the ball from a spot 12 yards from the goal line. Only the goalkeeper, or goalie, stands between them and the goal. The team that makes the most penalty goals is the winner.

在世界杯夺冠次数榜中，意大利队排名第二。 2006年决赛，意大利在点球大战中以5比3击败法国队。 如果比赛加时结束后仍是平局，就会进行点球大战。 两队各派出五名球员，轮流在距离球门线12码的位置罚球。 只有守门员站在罚球手和球门之间。 点球进球更多的队伍就是赢家。