US Soccer Team Prepares for the World Cup

The National Soccer Team has trained at Red Bull Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, not far from New York City. Recently, the team won an important "friendly" match against a strong opponent, Turkey.

The Americans are hoping to do well at the World Cup -- the championship of international football, or soccer as it is called in the U.S. But it will not be easy to advance, earning the right to move up at the competition.

As play begins, the U.S. team will be competing in what has been called the "Group of Death," which describes the most difficult group at the World Cup Finals. Germany, Ghana and Portugal are also part of the "Group of Death." The U.S. has to play all three teams to get to the next level of play.

Last month, U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann spoke to reporters. Jurgen Klinsman is a former German star player and coach. He has served as head of the U.S. team since 2011. He is hopeful about the U.S. team succeeding.

"It's a tough group. But we are expected and we expect from ourselves to do well. We expect to go into the knockout stage. So we've got to figure out a way to do that. That's what we are working on. We believe we can absolutely go into the next round, you know. Will it be tough games, tight games? Absolutely. That's what the World Cup is all about."

Clint Dempsey is the captain of the U.S. Team. He said it was an honor to be named to that position.

"Anytime you can go into a World Cup and be the captain for your country something is very special and you never forget. But during this World Cup qualifying process, once Jurgen named me captain, I just try the best that I can to lead in a way that I know how to."

Clint Dempsey's teammates also spoke to reporters. They were hopeful about the team's performance in Brazil. But coach Klinsmann sought to limit expectations.

"Germany is expected to win the World Cup. I don't think we expect now us to win the World Cup, but definitely we want to go far. We want to, we want to do well."

The U.S. team plays its first match of the competition in Natal, Brazil on June 16th. The opponent will be Ghana, the team that has beaten the U.S. in each of the past two World Cups.

The U.S. team has qualified for every FIFA World Cup Final since 1990.

I'm Mario Ritter.

词汇解析

limit

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.限度;限制;界限

vt.限制;限定

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Her ambition knows no limit.

她的野心没有限度。

用作及物动词 (vt.)

We must limit our spending.

我们必须限制我们的开支。

leadership

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.领导;领导才干

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Several candidates had been manoeuvring for position long before the leadership became vacant.

领导职位尚未空缺，几个竞争者早就在为向上爬而钩心斗角了。

I would like to offer my congratulations and appreciations to Professor Daniel Khan, his vision and leadership ensured the Grimsby Institute's success in China!

我谨此向丹尼尔汗校长表示衷心的祝贺和感谢，他的远见卓识和领导才干，开拓了格里姆斯比在中国的成功!

moral

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.道德的;精神上的

n.寓意;道德;品行;伦理

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

She regards his moral faults with charity.

她宽恕他的品行不端。

用作名词 (n.)

The moral of this story is ‘Better late than never'.

这个故事的寓意是`迟做总比不做好'.

provided

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

conj.假如;若是

adj.预备好的;提供的

动词provide的过去式和过去分词.

参考例句

用作连词 (conj.)

Provided that circumstances permit, we shall hold the meeting next week.

只要情况允许，我们下周将举行会议。

用作形容词 (adj.)

To get these features working you first have to install the software provided.

获得这些功能的工作,你首先必须安装该软件提供的。

enforce

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.强迫;强制;实施;执行;加强

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

You can't enforce cooperation between the players.

队员间的配合并非强迫命令而成。

ability

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.能力;才能

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

This is a task well within your ability.

这完全是你力所能及的工作。

He shows exceptional ability in solving problems.

他处理问题才干过人。

idle

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.无目的;无聊的; 懒惰的;闲散的; 无根据的

vt.虚度; 使空闲

vi.不作事;闲逛; (机器)空转

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

Being at an idle end,we often go to and look around the shops.

闲来无事，我们常去逛逛商店。

用作及物动词 (vt.)

It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. (Jerome, British humorist)

除非有大量的工作,否则就不可能尽情享受空闲时光。(英国幽默家杰罗姆)

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

"You're perfectly right when you say that one shouldn't let one's machinery lie idle and go rusty!

“你这话对极了，机器搁着就生锈!

electric

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.电的;电动的;带电的;刺激的

n.电动产品

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The solar cell can convert the energy of sunlight into electric energy.

太阳能电池能把阳光的能量转化为电能。

The atmosphere here tonight is absolutely electric.

今晚这里的气氛是完全令人兴奋的。

用作名词 (n.)

The lawn mower is an electric.

割草机是电动的机器。