So why is football such a popular game around the world? Yet another tournament has started and millions of supporters from many countries are discussing the chances of one team over another, the form of the top teams and who the favourites are. The lucky fans who have tickets are unpacking their bags with shirts and flags and scarves of their nation's colours. The unlucky ones are glued to the television. Even those who aren't that interested in the game find themselves involved in predicting the results for the office competition between their colleagues. And there'll definitely be no escaping from the media coverage, commentary and publicity that makes it THE news event of the month.

Famine? Forest fires? Fighting? Forget it. It's football, football, football.

It's certainly a lively and colourful spectacle. There's a glorious opening ceremony, not to mention the fireworks and speeches and exotic performances for the closing ceremony. There’s a bizarre looking mascot (usually some kind of fruit or animal / person) and fans covered in face paint. There is tension and tears, and everybody loves it!

 


So how did this happen? What is it about twenty two grown men running around a rectangular piece of land trying to get a ball from one end to the other? Why has it become THE sport of the world? It's everywhere! From domestic league competitions (like the Premiership) and international events (The European Championships, the Copa America) to the champion of championships the World Cup itself. Football is a global phenomenon and lucrative too. It's BIG business: many teams are quoted on stock markets around the world and huge sums are paid by satellite TV companies.

Perhaps it's the simplicity of it all. You only need a ball, a few mates and a patch of ground - in the street or on the beach or at school. And, despite the off-side rule, it's easy to learn the rules: pass, kick and shoot. Goal! But there's also an ugly side to it. Something about the game brings out the patriot in us all that can be a touch too nationalistic. Suddenly there's more at stake than losing a match or winning a tournament. They are 'our boys' and they have gone to fight in a foreign field and the flags are flying in hope. Everyone is shouting and it seems more of a war cry than an encouraging cheer. To win is everything. It's not just a game; it's the latest battle in a history of rivalries. It's about power and masculinity and domination and victory and politics. To lose on the other hand is a disgrace and a shame.

Ah well, that's the game. I may not know the difference between an assistant referee and a linesman, an indirect and a direct free kick but I'll be shouting loudly for my team. Is that the time? I'd better be off - the second half has just started. Come on the reds!

 

 

Vocabulary

Nouns (imenice):Verbs (glagoli):
coverage – praćenje, izveštavanje
famine – glad
performance – predstava, nastup
mascot – maskota
tension – tenzija, napetost
Copa America – Kup Amerike
mate – drugar
patch – parče, deo
off-side – ofsajd (u fudbalu)
at stake – u pitanju, rizikovan
disgrace – sramota
masculinity – muškost
assistant referee – pomoćnik sudije
linesman – linijski sudija
free kick – slobodan udarac		 quote – navesti, biti na berzi
pass – dodati
be off- nestati, otići
Come on! - Napred!
Adjectives and adverbs
(pridevi i prilozi):		Prepositions and conjunctions
(predlozi i veznici):

rectangular – rounded, oblique, paralleldomestic – undomesticated, abroad, alien, multinational, overseas, international, outside, transnational, nonnative, undomestic, foreignlucrative – unprofitable

rectangular – četvrtast
domestic – domaći
lucrative – isplativ, unosan

  -

 

Synonyms

Nouns (imenice):

Verbs (glagoli): 

coverage – reporting

famine –  hunger, starvation

performance –  show

tension –  stress, pressure, anxiety

mate – pal, buddy, companion

at stake – in question or at issue

disgrace – shame

masculinity – toughness, strength

pass – hand, pass on,give

Adjectives and adverbs
(pridevi i prilozi):

Prepositions and conjunctions
(predlozi i veznici):

domestic –  home

lucrative –  profitable, rewarding, productive

-

 

Antonyms

Nouns (imenice):Verbs (glagoli):

famine – feast, plenty

performance – reality, inefficiency

tension – relaxation, calmness

mate – enemy, opponent, stranger

patch – whole

disgrace – respect, admiration, praise

masculinity – femininity

quote – hide, insert

pass – hold, keep

be off- come, stay
Adjectives and adverbs
(pridevi i prilozi):		Prepositions and conjunctions
(predlozi i veznici):

rectangular – rounded, oblique, parallel

domestic – undomesticated, abroad, alien, multinational, overseas, international, outside, transnational, nonnative, undomestic, foreign

lucrative – unprofitable

 

 

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