2006年VOA标准英语-World Cup Semifinals an All European Line-up

By Parke Brewer¹
Dortmund
03 July 2006

The World Cup semifinals are set to begin Tuesday in Germany. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer reports the four teams still in the hunt for the championship are all European.

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World Cup 2006   
  
The last time the final four of the World Cup was all European was in 1982, when Italy, France, Poland and West Germany made it to the semifinals. This time it's Italy, France, host Germany and Portugal.

The first semifinal Tuesday night local time is in Dortmund between Italy and Germany. The home country probably could not have asked for a better venue², as the national team's record there is 13 wins, one draw and no losses.

German midfielder Philipp Lahm, said that is a confidence booster.

"I look forward to playing in the Dortmund stadium where the German team has not lost recently," said Philipp Lahm. "It gives us confidence for the game."

Though many followers³, including the home team fans, did not think the Germans could get this far in the World Cup, a win over Italy will put them in their second straight final. Italy last reached the title game in 1994 in the United States.

The other semifinal between Portugal and France will be played in Munich on Wednesday.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

3 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。