美国国家公共电台 NPR--At the World Cup, there's a week left in the opening group stage

At the World Cup, there's a week left in the opening group stage

Transcript¹

Nearly every national team has a chance to advance to the knockout round. The U.S. soccer federation² displayed the Iranian flag in solidarity³ with protesters in Iran. Iran's government protested.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

One thing you can say about the World Cup - it's never short on drama. That's certainly the case with the current one in Qatar, both on and off the field. With a week left in the opening group stage, nearly every national team has a chance to advance to the knockout round. Meanwhile, a war of words and flags has erupted between the U.S. and Iran. NPR's sports correspondent Tom Goldman is in Doha, Qatar. Tom, all right, let's start with the flags. The U.S. Soccer Federation has been doctoring the Iranian flag as a show of support for protesters in Iran. What more can you tell us? This one's a strange one.

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE⁴: It is. As part of the promotion⁵ for tomorrow's huge match between Iran and the U.S., U.S. Soccer Federation posted depictions of the Iranian flag just with the Iranian colors green, white and red, and without the emblem⁶ of the Islamic Republic or lines of script talking about the greatness of God. Now, U.S. Soccer said this was an act to, quote, "show support for women in Iran fighting for basic human rights." That's a reference to the violent government crackdown in Iran against those protesting the death in September of a young Iranian woman in police custody⁷. The U.S. Federation, which said it did this without the knowledge of the team, has since deleted the images, restored the flag with Islamic emblem. But that certainly hasn't quelled⁸ Iranian anger.

MART?NEZ: And Iran I don't think has reacted very well.

GOLDMAN: They have not. What's being called a semi-official state news agency in Iran says the Iranian Soccer Federation is calling for the U.S. to be kicked out of the World Cup for distorting the flag's image and breaching⁹ FIFA rules - FIFA being soccer's international governing body. The Iranian news agency also had a photo of the American flag in flames.

MART?NEZ: And all of this comes at a time when the big match you mentioned tomorrow between the U.S. and Iran - already, Tom, fraught¹⁰ with meaning.

GOLDMAN: It sure is. As far as the match goes, the outcome will determine the fate of both teams at this World Cup. The U.S. has to win to move on. Iran can win or tie to advance to the coveted¹¹ knockout round, the final 16 teams, for the first time ever. So huge implications. Plus both matches involving Iran up to now have been flashpoints for the troubles going on in that country, and the disputes have involved - what do you know - flags. Those supporting the protest movement in Iran have been waving or trying to wave flags depicting¹² pre-revolution Iran. Supporters of the current Iranian government have been waving the Islamic Republic flag and intimidating¹³ supporters. Qatari security has been helping¹⁴ them, taking away the protesters flags and T-shirts. All of this sets up a potentially volatile¹⁵ situation tomorrow, both on and off the field.

MART?NEZ: All right. So definitely no fun with flags in Qatar. All right. Now to soccer, because there was some great soccer this past weekend. What did you see?

GOLDMAN: Well, Saturday I saw what has to be to this point, the top moment of the World Cup - at least top three, we'll say. The great Argentine Lionel Messi kept alive his team's World Cup hopes with that scorching¹⁶ second-half goal against Mexico. One of those transcendent moments, A, in sports when the star athlete delivers at the most crucial time. Had Argentina lost that game, Messi's dream of winning a first World Cup in his last World Cup would have ended. He saved the day. Argentina, though, still has to beat Poland to advance. Then yesterday, Morocco had this amazing two nil¹⁷ upset win over second-ranked team in the world Belgium. Morocco just played better and earned the win and continued the surprising rise of African and Arab countries here. I'm also including Iran and Saudi Arabia's success in that. Those countries have largely lagged behind the European and South American soccer powers.

MART?NEZ: That's NPR's Tom Goldman at the World Cup. Tom, thanks a lot.

GOLDMAN: You're welcome.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

6 emblem   

n.象征，标志；徽章

参考例句：

• Her shirt has the company emblem on it.她的衬衫印有公司的标记。
• The eagle was an emblem of strength and courage.鹰是力量和勇气的象征。

7 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

8 quelled   

v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Thanks to Kao Sung-nien's skill, the turmoil had been quelled. 亏高松年有本领，弹压下去。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Mr. Atkinson was duly quelled. 阿特金森先生被及时地将了一军。 来自辞典例句

9 breaching   

攻破( breach的过去式 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。
• Third, an agency can abuse its discretion by breaching certain principles of judge-made law. 第三，行政机关会因违反某些法官制定的法律原则而构成滥用自由裁量权。

10 fraught   

adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的

参考例句：

• The coming months will be fraught with fateful decisions.未来数月将充满重大的决定。
• There's no need to look so fraught!用不着那么愁眉苦脸的！

11 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 depicting   

描绘，描画( depict的现在分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
• The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

13 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

14 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

15 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

16 scorching   

adj. 灼热的

参考例句：

• a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
• a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评

17 nil   

n.无，全无，零

参考例句：

• My knowledge of the subject is practically nil.我在这方面的知识几乎等于零。
• Their legal rights are virtually nil.他们实际上毫无法律权利。