2006年VOA标准英语-Ghana Set to Take on World Cup Champion Brazil

By Parke Brewer¹
Cologne
27 June 2006

Ghana is the only one of the five African nations to have made it to the second round of play at the World Cup in Germany. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer reports the so-called Black Stars are set to take on reigning² World Champion Brazil.

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Brazilian players celebrate their second goal against Australia
  
Brazil is a five-time World Cup champion and ranked number-one in the world. Ghana is playing in its first-ever World Cup and is ranked 48th.

So you would think the Ghanaians would have little chance. But playing in perhaps the toughest group here at the tournament in Germany, Ghana defeated the second ranked Czech Republic and the fifth-ranked United States to earn a second round berth³.

Ghana's Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic says his players are fearless.

Ratomir Dujkovic   
  
"We will try," said Ratomir Dujkovic. "We don't have anything to lose. And our guys, the Black Stars team, have the capability⁴ enough to face Brazil, and they are not afraid of Brazil. So it will be a nice game. You will enjoy it."

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah agrees with his coach.
 
 
Ghana captain Stephen Appiah
  
"We are happy that we are going to meet Brazil, and [we have] no fear, no fear," said Stephen Appiah. "I think its going to be an interesting game."

Ghana will have to play the match in Dortmund without star midfielder Michael Essien. He is suspended for accumulating two yellow cards in the first round.

The winner of the Ghana-Brazil match will play in the quarterfinals against the winner of Tuesdays late match between France and Spain.

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 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

3 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。