Okada has already been widely criticised for failing to introduce the rising star earlier and relying too heavily on Nakamura, despite his well-publicised problems in Espanyol last season.
Honda was only given his full debut against Bahrain at the start of March and Okada makes no apologies for the controversial delay in his call up. Okada is not alone in having doubts about Honda's ability to be a team player and fears the player's large ego could trip him up on the World Cup stage.
World Cups are about ego, they are about mavericks and they are about talent. Honda possesses all those qualities and is the brightest thing Okada and Japan have going for them right now.
Treating him with suspicion is reminiscent of how a succession of England managers felt they had to wear oven gloves to handle the fiery nature of Paul Gascoigne, arguably one of the finest, if wayward, talents England has ever seen.
The fact he was viewed with suspicion did not help Gascoigne and it will not help Honda, a genuine European star, the kind Japan has been crying out for since Hidetoshi Nakata retired.
Anyone who witnessed Honda's performance in Moscow's round of 16 tie with Seville in the Champions League only weeks after his arrival from little-known Dutch club VVV Venlo, cannot fail to have spotted his energy and desire to impress on the biggest stage.
He has the confidence to do just that and it is time Okada let him off the leash. Okada knows what he has to do in the remaining months leading up to the finals if he wants to stand any chance of delivering on his outlandish promise of a semi-final place.
take [draw] O on [to] one side (内緒話をするために)<人>をわきへ呼ぶ. take / draw sb to one side speak to sb in private, especially in order to warn or tell them about sth
Honda is a more complete player with a fantastic goalscoring record for a midfielder. He has the ability to make chances for others and is as industrious as he is intelligent.
As for his ego, Honda just explains he is encouraged to "shoot" more in Europe, but asked to "defend" more for Japan. If Okada has a DVD of the Seville game, he should be contemplating a change of instruction to his rising star.
Even his return to the J League with Yokohama F Marinos may not have come in time to the World Cup dream of the former Celtic star, whose whose international career has been on the slide for the last 12 months.
It is feared that the 31-year-old, who won the Scottish Player of the Year award when he was at Parkhead, has been so debilitated by his dreadful spell in Spain with Espanyol that the psychological scars will not heal in time.
To say that Nakamura's time in La Liga was less than fruitful is a massive understatement because he made only 12 appearances after signing a two-year contract in July 2009.
Typically, Nakamura, who is back in his home league for the first time in eight years, insists he will use his experiences at the Cornella-El Prat Stadium as motivation.
Japan have not seen Nakamura at his best since a World Cup qualifier with Bahrain a year ago. He has looked tired and ineffective, with his ponderous performances slowing down national coach Takeshi Okada's youthful side.
Former national team manager Philippe Troussier is one man who believes Okada should leave out his key player to stimulate competition for starting places and guard against complacency.
Keisuke Honda has emerged as Nakamura's heir apparent in the last 12 months and perhaps it is time for Okada to place his faith in the CSKA Moscow midfielder.
The jury is still out on Honda, who is often accused of blowing hot and cold for the national team, but until he is given an extended run in the team, Okada will never know if he is ready for the World Cup stage.
■the jury is still out 評決はまだ出ていない, 〈…については〉結論[判断結果]はまだ出ていない the jury is out on sth used to say that something is still not yet certain
■blow hot and cold 「気持ち[熱意,意見などが]ころころ変わる,気持ちが揺れる」。 イソップ物語より,こごえた手に息をハーと吹きかけていた旅人に熱いスープを 振る舞ったサテュロスが,旅人がスープもフーフー吹くのを見て, 「熱い息と冷たい息を吐くようなやつは出て行け」と怒った,という話から。 ¶Gene blew hot and cold over whether to accept the job or not. (その仕事を受けるかどうか,ジーンの気持ちは揺れに揺れた)
A fit and in-form Nakamura probably remains the best option and his painful admission of his failure to cut it in La Liga may yet prove inspiration to drive him back to the peak of his powers for one last World Cup appearance.
The Kashima Antlers midfielder was recalled to the Japan squad in January after an absence of more than three years but upset Okada by criticising the international set-up.
"Their lead at the top has been cut from nine points in mid-February to just a point following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at title rivals AS Roma, where Inter hit the woodwork three times but looked much more nervous than usual. "
■woodwork *英俗*サッカーのゴールポストの枠.
"Left back Davide Santon is injured while fellow teenage striker Mario Balotelli has been left in the cold for the last month after another falling out with coach Jose Mourinho. "
■in the cold A〔leave someone〜〕「のけ者[仲間外れ]にされて,冷や飯を食わされて,蚊帳(かや)の外で」 ¶When the new appointments were made, I was left out in the cold. (新たな人事異動があったとき,私は蚊帳の外だった)
■fall out (with someone) (over [about] something) 「(人と)(〜のことで)けんか[いさかい]をする,もめる」 ¶The relatives fell out over how to divide the inheritance. (親族は,遺産の分配の仕方でけんかをした)
"We were told that Mourinho was in the stands so we tried to conceal our strengths on purpose," he said, referring to a drab 0-0 draw.
■drab 2 単調な, つまらない, 退屈な‖ a 〜 street 殺風景な街路. a drab life 単調な生活.
< Complimentary tickets (SB seat) > Singapore people who have “Singapore passport” or“Certificate of alien registration card” are prepared 1 SB seat’s ticket by Gamba Osaka. < Special discount tickets (SB seat ) > Singapore people (the above-mentioned) can buy special discount ticket for their families and friends. Adult Primary 1,300 yen (regular price 2,500 yen) And Middle School Student 1,000 yen (regular price 1,000 yen) Please come to “SO-GO-ANNAI-SHO” that mean “general information center” and show us your “Singapore passport” or “Certificate of alien registration card” at the BANPAKU stadium.
The Nerazzurri’s domestic rivals are back to within a point in Serie A after having conceded defeat in the important clash at the Olimpico last Saturday.
■Nerazzurri = Internazionale Milano Nerazzurri means "black and blues" in Italian ("Ner(o)" means black and "azzurri" means light blue), and is the nickname of football clubs which wears those colors,Atalanta B.C., F.C. Internazionale Milano, Pisa Calcio.
Inter have had their troubles with making their mark in Europe but the games with Chelsea, especially their visit to the Stamford Bridge, have helped viewers rediscover a different squad. One that is lead by a great motivator that has helped it evolve to a new level.
■make one's mark 「(〜の分野で)(〜として)成功する,名声を得る,名を成す,有名になる」 He was a genius who made his mark in music as a composer of great symphonies. (彼は偉大な交響曲の作曲者として,音楽界で名声を得た天才だった)
Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda grabbed his second Russian Premier League goal on Sunday to help CSKA Moscow battle from a goal down to beat Makhachkala 2-1.
■a goal down(1点差、1点のビハンド) Catania comes back from a goal down to beat Inter Milan. (カターニャは1点のビハンドからインテルを破った)
It was a timely, morale-boosting victory for CSKA who face Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals in Italy on Wednesday. CSKA were trailing 1-0 after Andrei Streltsov scored in the 11th minute following a mistake by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.
■trail [通例進行形で](試合・選挙などで)…に負ける;…に遅れを取る‖ be 〜ing the rival ライバルに負けている.
But Honda levelled four minutes after the break, beating the hosts 'keeper Ilya Abayev with a well-struck free-kick.
■level 《英》<点>を同点にする‖ The scores of the two teams were 〜led by his shot. 彼のシュートで同点になった.
In the 62nd minute Czech striker Tomas Necid netted the winning goal with a header from Georgy Shchennikov's left-wing cross.
"We played an awful style football in the first half," said CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky. "We just didn't expect Makhachkala to start the match so lively and we conceded a silly goal. Luckily we managed to improve after the break and win the match."
■lively (人をはらはらさせるほど)厄介な, 面倒な. ・make things [it] lively for a person 人をはらはら[きりきり舞い]させる.
Defending champions Rubin Kazan were held to a 0-0 draw by Terek Grozny. Rubin are one of four sides at the top of the table who have seven points after three matches although Spartak Nalchik lead the way on goal difference.
■outing *《略式》(競技会・試合への)出場(参加). The new player scored spectacularly in his second outing with the team. その新人選手はチームに加わってから2度目の出場試合でめざましい得点を挙げた.
TOKYO: Former Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, struggling to get back to his top form, will lead Japan in a World Cup tune-up against Serbia next week, it was announced yesterday.
■form [通例 in [on] 〜] 健康状態, 体調, コンディション(《略式》shape) be in good 〜 =be in [《主に英》on] 〜 調子がよい
Okada has not drafted in any of his Europe-based players like Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto and Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda because it is not a FIFA-sanctioned international match day.
■draft …を〔…用に〕選抜する〔for〕;《主に米》…を〔軍隊などに〕召集[徴募]する〔into〕《◆通例受身》‖ be 〜ed into the Army 陸軍にとられる. ■sanction …を認可[是認, 正当化]する.=permit, allow, approve, authorize, endorse It is sanctioned by usage. それは慣習上認められている. She talked her parents into sanctioning the surgery. 彼女は両親に話をして手術を認めてもらった
■below par @「(人の)体の調子[具合]がよくない,健康[体調]がすぐれない;(機械などの)調子[具合]がよくない」 ¶Are you all right? You're looking a bit under par. (大丈夫? ちょっと具合が悪そうだけど) ¶Something seems to be wrong with my car. It's been operating below par since last week. (ぼくの車はどこかおかしいようだ。先週から走りの調子が悪いんだ) ¶I haven't been feeling up to par recently. (このところ体調がすぐれないんだ)
"My goal against Uzbekistan last June was the best and most important moment in my career, while all the other goals pale into insignificance. I entered the match under great pressure but I proved I could deliver in big games," started the prolific striker to FIFA.com.
■pale into insignificance (より優れた業績と比べて)重要性を失う,色あせる.
■deliver 《主に米略式》〔…を〕うまくやりとげる, 〔期待に〕沿う;〔約束などを〕果たす〔on〕‖ He always 〜s on his promise. 彼はいつも約束を守る. deliver on one's election promise 選挙公約を果たす. ・deliver promised benefits 約束した利益をあげる.
As the match doesn’t take place on an official FIFA date, Japan will be without their European-based stars and will field an all J-League team.
■field <チーム・部隊・専門家のグループなど>を編成する, 送り出す, 配置する, 出場させる. to provide a candidate, speaker, team, etc. to represent you in an election, a competition, etc ・England fielded a young side in the World Cup. ・The U.S. is fielding an impressive team for tomorrow's game.
But he does have the ability to come off the bench and make something happen in the last 10 minutes. He's a player with that kind of explosive speed.
Manchester United fear that Wayne Rooney could be ruled out for a month with his ankle injury and miss up to seven games in the club's pursuit of a Premier League and Champions League double. By Mark Ogden Published: 7:00AM BST 01 Apr 2010
■rule out Arule out something//rule something out 「〜を不可能にする,できなくする,妨げる」 ¶A lack of snow ruled out our ski trip. (雪不足でスキー旅行は取りやめになった) ¶Nothing but the end of the world would rule out our getting married. (この世が終わることがない限り,ぼくたちの結婚を押しとどめることはできない)
■starlet n 小さな星; 売出し中の若手女優, スターの卵. ■gunner 【名】*《英》砲兵隊員;〔空軍〕砲手, 射撃手;《米》砲兵伍長;掌砲長 →"Gunners"=Arsenalの愛称
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reportedly sent scouts to watch Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto.
■reportedly 【副】[文修飾] 伝えられるところ[うわさ]によると‖ *according to the report や it is reported that* の意で新聞英語でよく用いられる: Ten passengers are reportedly missing. 乗客 10 名が行方不明と伝えられている.
Rumours of the Red Devils preparing a January bid failed to materialise, and now the Gunners could steal a march on their arch-rivals with a move for the former Tokyo Verdy 1969 striker.
■"Red Devils"=Manchester Unitedの愛称 ■materialize 目に見えるものとなる,現れる;事実となる;実現する,実行される: Our plans never materialized. 我々の計画はついぞ実現しなかった. ■steal a march on someone 「(ひそかに先を越して)〜を出し抜く,〜の先手を取る,先を越す」。もとは戦争用語で, 「1回分の行軍(march)を盗む(steal)」という原義。 ¶That guy knew I wanted to buy that house, so he stole a march on me by contacting the owner first. (あいつは,おれがあの家を買いたがっているのを知っていたから,こっそり先に持ち主 に渡りをつけ,おれを出し抜いたんだ)
Despite picking up a serious cruciate ligament injury during that 2006-07 campaign, Catania made the switch permanent the following year for an undisclosed fee. The striker, who has huge market value for any Premier League club in the far east, took another season to adjust on return from injury but has since become a leading light at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.
■cruciate ligament n. 【解剖】 (膝の)十字靭帯《互いに交差して大腿骨を脛骨につなぐ一対の膝靭帯》. ■leading light 「先導する人,中心人物,重要人物,有力者,指導者(の1人)」 ¶She is a leading light of the local literary society. (彼女はその地方の文学会の指導者の1人だ) ¶He has been one of the leading lights of the progressive movement for many years. (彼は長年にわたり,進歩的な運動の中心人物のひとりだった)
Okada, now in his second stint as coach of Japan's national team, has said his team's goal is to reach the semifinals. Japan has been drawn in Group E with the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon.
■stint *仕事[活動]の期間, 任期;割り当てられた仕事‖ do a 〜 as a secretary 秘書として(一定期間)働く. a two-year stint in the army 2年間の軍隊勤務.
The buildup to the World Cup has not been all smooth for the native of Osaka. He was booed off the field in February when his team turned in a lackluster third-place finish in the four-nation East Asian Championship.
■boo 【動】|他||自|〔…に〕ブー[バアー]と叫ぶ〔at〕;やじる, やじって退かせる(+off)‖ 〜 the speaker off (the) stage 演説者をやじって演壇から降ろす. 〜 an actor off the stage 役者をやじって退場させる.
His team was badly outplayed by rival South Korea in its final game, losing 3-1. Okada acknowledged the fans disappointment but said he was sticking to his overall plan.
■outplay 【動】|他|<相手>に競技で勝つ. be outplayed in tennis テニスで負ける.
With European-based players like Keisuke Honda and former Espanyol midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura back in the fold, the team bounced back with a 2-0 win over Bahrain in early March.
■return [come back] to the fold 古巣に帰る;もとの信仰[教会,政治団体など]に復帰する.
With the World Cup creeping ominously closer, looming now like a football-shaped hot air balloon on the South African horizon, it is time to take a closer look at one of the self-proclaimed favourites for the tournament: Japan.
■loom 【動】|自|[SVM]〔…から〕ぼんやりと(大きく不気味に)現れる[見えてくる](+up)〔out of〕 A figure 〜ed up ahead through the mist. もやを通して前方に人影がぼーっと現れた.
■self-proclaimed adj. 自ら公言した, 自称の (self-styled). He's a self-proclaimed artist. None of us can tell whether he really is or not. 彼は自称芸術家だ。本当かどうか私たちにはわからないが。
■favorite 〔競馬・競技・選挙などの / …する〕優勝候補, 最有力候補, 本命〔in, for / to do〕(⇔outsider) Our team is the 〜 in today's game. 今日の試合は私たちのチームが勝ちそうだ. a title favorite 優勝候補.
When I met the former Japan international during the country's initially difficult and then quite comfortable World Cup qualification campaign, Okada responded with a shrug of the shoulders, proclaiming: "The pressure is no problem for me."
Indeed, Okada's second reign at the helm of the Japan team - the first included the 1998 World Cup finals in France - got off to a rather stuttering start and he was criticised at home for lacking an attacking strategy.
■helm [the 〜] 支配, 指揮(権);指導的地位‖ be at the 〜 of ... …の実権を握っている, 指導者である/ take the 〜 of state 政権を握る.
But that is just the kind of thinking Okada is trying to root out, with gifted playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura telling FIFA: "Everybody thinks the Netherlands are going to take first place in the group and that the other three teams will have to fight it out for second, but we've got to look further ahead than that. Our coach, Takeshi Okada, thinks we can reach the semi-finals and the team has to be able to live up to those expectations and achieve that goal, which would clearly be a huge success for us and our country."
■live up to 〈主義など〉に従って[に恥じない]行動をする; 〈理想など〉を実行する; 〈物が〉〈評判など〉に背かない, …通りである. Floating rates did not live up to (our) expectations. 変動相場制は期待通りには実施されなかった. It was impossible for me to live up to my father's expectations. 私には父の期待にこたえることができなかった。
Indeed, from Nakamura's comments ("our coach thinks", as opposed to we think) you might deduce that the Japanese team is still struggling internally with the new expectations placed on their frail shoulders.
■deduce vt 論理的に推理する; 〈結論を〉導き出す; 演繹する〈from〉 They 〜d from the size of the footprints that the thief was a child. 足跡のサイズから彼らは泥棒は子供だと推論した. He deduced from this information that a coup was being plotted. この情報から彼はクーデターが企てられていると推測した.
The Japanese will take on Serbia, South Korea, England and Ivory Coast in the months leading up to South Africa, with the May 30 date against Fabio Capello's boys looking a particularly testing affair.
■take on (競技などで)…の挑戦を受けて立つ; …と戦う, 喧嘩する, 取り組む (tackle). I'll take on anybody at chess. チェスならだれの相手でもしよう. I'll 〜 you on at golf. ゴルフで君と対戦したい.
Just how many problems Japan can cause this summer remains to be seen, but the excitement and expectation in the country is certainly rising. Nakamura aside, the Japanese are now also pinning their hopes on Keisuke Honda, the speedy CSKA Moscow forward who shot his team into the Champions League quarter-finals at Sevilla's expense.
■pin one's hopes on [to] something [someone] 「〜に期待する,〜を(期待に応えてくれるものと)信頼する」 ¶The team pinned its hopes on the star pitcher.(チームの期待はスター投手の上にかかっていた)
The injury-prone midfielder, who won the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord in 2002, is now a Shimizu S-Pulse player and was in the thick of the action as the Shizuoka team picked up a point at the home of last season’s runners-up Kawasaki Frontale.
■injury-prone 【形】けががちの ■in the thick of 「〜のただ中に,渦中に,最中に」 ¶Whenever there is a fight, Billy always seems to be in the thick of it. (けんかが起こるときはいつも,ビリーがその中心にいるようだ) ■runners-up (競技の)次点者[チーム], 第二着.
"I'm just trying to fit in here," he said. "We're playing well as a team. I think we could be even better if the other guys demanded more out of me. I've been trying to tell them what I want from them, and it'd be nice if they could do the same to me. "But I think that will take care of itself with time; it's still early in the year."
■fit |自|<物・事が>〔…に〕(大きさ・型が)合う, はまる;<人・物などが> 〔…に〕向いている, うまくとけ込む〔into, in, to, with〕‖ ■take care of itself ほっておけば何とかなる If you leave it alone it'll take care of itself. 放っておけば、とにかくどうにかなるさ。 cf. Tomorrow will take care of itself. 《諺》「あしたはあしたの風が吹く」。「あしたはあしたでどうにかなる」ということ。 文脈によりwillやcanの代わりにcouldやwouldを使うこともある。
■limp <人が>足を引きずって歩く‖ He is 〜ing in the left leg. 彼は左足を引きずって歩いている.
Fellow Yokohama star Yuzo Kurihara also picked up a knock and the defender’s bruised thigh could see him miss the World Cup warm-up ? Japan’s last before national team boss Takeshi Okada selects his squad for South Africa.
■knock 打つこと,打撃,殴打;打つ音: get a hard knock on the chin あごを強打される.
"What's troubling him most is his conditioning," Kimura said. "I think he still has pain in his groin. It's not bad enough that he can't play with it, in which case he will because he personally doesn't want to lose his game instincts and match fitness."
■last-gasp 【形】[限定] どたん場の, 終了直前の. ■"Gunners"=Arsenalの愛称 ■Dane デンマーク人《◆総称は the 〜 s》(→Denmark);デンマーク系の人(cf. Danish). ■down to the wire 《時間的に》最後まで wireはもともと「(競馬のゴールを示すため、フィニッシュ・ラインの上空に張られた) 針金」のこと。down to the wireで「針金の所まで」つまり「ゴールまで」の意である。 ¶Union and management struggled for a compromise all the way down to the wire. (組合と経営者側は何とか妥協点を見いだそうと,最後の最後まで粘り強く努力した ■header 〔サッカー〕ヘディング. ■at the death 結局、最後に ■in the hunt *英話*チャンスがあって
NICKLAS BENDTNER has gone from being cast as Arsenal's clown to a lead star in the space of a month. At the start of March, the Dane was a laughing stock when he missed sitter after sitter in a 3-1 home win against Burnley. Yesterday he came off the bench and seized centre stage with a winner deep into stoppage time to keep the Gunners in the title chase.
■cast 〔映・演劇〕<俳優>に〔…の〕役を割り当てる〔as〕 〜 him in the part [role] of Hamlet =〜 him as Hamlet 彼にハムレットの役を与える ■clown 《口語》 無能な人, 役立たず, おろか者. ■laughing stock 【名】*《略式》[通例 a 〜] 嘲(ちょう)笑の的, 笑いもの[種(ぐさ)]‖ The team became a 〜 by losing every game. チームは試合という試合に負けて笑いものになった. ■sitter *話*(サッカーでの)易しいシュート. ■come off the bench 《スポーツ》途中から出場する ■winner [the 〜] 決勝点[ゴール]. ■stoppage time 《主に英》〔サッカー・ラグビー〕インジャリー=タイム, ロスタイム(injury time 《負傷の手当てに要した分の延長試合時間》. ■final whistle〔サッカーなどの〕試合終了の笛
When the final whistle went Emmanuel Eboue - whom Bendtner had replaced in the 64th minute - raced on to hug the hitman, then lifted him aloft. Bendtner must then have felt like the Prince of Denmark. Each player in turn saluted him with a high five and the Emirates echoed to the fans singing his name.
■race (速く)走る, 速く行く[動く](+on, off, away, around, up, past) ■aloft 【副】【形】[叙述]《正式》上に, 高く;空中に, 飛んで. ■salute 《正式》<人が>〔…のことで / …として〕<人・事>を公式に賞賛する, …に敬意を表する〔for / as〕. ■high five ハイファイブ◆日常のあいさつのしぐさとして、あるいはスポーツ選手などが 見事なプレーをしたときの喜びを表すためにお互いに手を挙げて手のひらを パチンと打ち合わせること。腰の高さでこの動作を行うことを low five という。 ・Wow! Good job! Give me a high five! うわっ!やったね!ハイファイブして!
Just a few weeks ago he was made to feel like a pauper with catcalls from the faithful. It has indeed been a dramatic turn around in fortunes for the 22-year-old. The way he has responded to the belittling criticism has been an impressive show of character. Instead of hiding, Bendtner, who has been accused of arrogance even by team-mates in the past, has put immense self-belief to good use. Three days after being the butt of jokes following that Burnley game he scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 Champions League thrashing of Porto.
■pauper 【名】*《古》(生活保護を受ける)貧民;乞食(こじき);《やや古》貧しい人. ■catcall 【名】〔甲高い声や口笛を使った〕やじ スポーツの試合や講演会などで不満の意を表すために行われる。 ■faithful 【名】《the 〜》忠実な会員[支持者・信者・教徒・信徒]、熱狂的ファン ■turnaround (よい方向への)転換;(ビジネスや国家の経済などの)突然の好転 ■put something to good use いかす[生かす・活かす] What do you intend to do after quitting the company? 「会社をやめてどうするつもりなんだい?」 I've decided to put my experience to use and start my own business. 「これまでの経験を生かして、自分で商売を始めることにしたんだ」 ■bmake someone the butt of a joke さかなにする[肴にする] このbuttは「嘲笑の的」「なぶりもの」の意。ほかにjokeを動詞として使った joke about someoneという表現も使えるが、意味が広く「からかう」や 「(軽く)ばかにする」という意味でも用いる。 We spent a couple of hours drinking and making the big boys in our company the butt of our jokes. 会社のお偉方連中を酒の肴にして、2時間くらい楽しんだ。 ■thrash 《略式》…をたやすく打ち負かす, 完敗させる‖ Our team was 〜ed eighteen-nil. 18対0で我々のチームは惨敗した.
A week later at Hull he scored a late, late winner and repeated the act to keep Arsenal in the title hunt. Manager Arsene Wenger agreed that a draw would have finished any hopes of staying in the title race. As it is, after Chelsea's win at Manchester United, the Gunners are just three points behind the Blues. Wenger suspects his side must win all of their final games to stand a chance of taking the title for the first time since 2004.
■title hunt タイトル争い ■title race タイトル争い ■the Blues = Chelseaの愛称 cf. the Gunners, Red Devils ■as it is [仮想的陳述に続いて] (しかし仮想に反し)実際は, 実情は (in reality). Of course I would pay you if I could. But as it is I cannot. もちろんできたらお払いするのですが, 実のところお払いできないのです. ■stand a chance (of doing) 「(〜できる)見込みがある」。否定的な文脈で使われることが多い。 ¶Though behind now, we still stand a chance of winning. (今はリードされているが,まだ勝つ望みはある)
But, after a deflating draw at Birmingham last week then the morale-boosting but body-sapping comeback against Barcelona, the Gunners displayed tremendous mental and physical strength to eventually wear down resilient and well-organised Wolves. It was the third time in the last six games that the Gunners have scored in the last minute - and the ninth game in a row they have scored in the last 10 minutes. Such a quality eluded them last season - so it is sign of this team maturing.
■deflating 〔元気を奪って〕しょげさせる◆comment(意見)、remark(言及)、insult(侮辱) など、発言を意味する語句を形容することが多い Stop harassing him with your deflating comments. 気持ちをくじくようなことをいって彼をいじめるのはやめなさい。 ■morale-boosting 【形】士気をあおるような、奮い立たせるような ■body-sapping 体力を奪う、体力を衰えさせる ■resilient 〈性格・人などが〉(病気・失意などからの)回復力に富む,すぐ元気になる;快活な Youth is resilient even when tired out. 若者はへとへとに疲れていても回復が早い. ■in a row 連続して、連続的に、続けて、立て続けに、続けざまに ・He lost his chance four times in a row. 彼は4回続けてチャンスを逃しました。 ・He has been off work for six days in a row. 彼は連続6日間仕事を休んでいる。 ■elude 〈ほしいものが〉〈人〉につかまらない. ・Success has so far eluded them. これまでは彼らは成功できないでいる. ■mature <人が>(技術・能力の面で)〔…に〕円熟する〔into〕 ・His genius matured slowly. 彼の天性は晩成した.
Even if they do fail in terms of silverware this season there is no doubt, if they can keep all their key players, this Arsenal side will be a force for the next decade. And, encouragingly for the run-in, they pulled it out of the bag without the driving force of injured inspirational skipper Cesc Fabregas. The enthusiast that he is though, the Spaniard - with the aid of crutches - took his place on the bench to will his team on. Bendtner went the extra yard in the end, although early on it seemed as though Theo Walcott would be the one to win the game. Frustratingly though, the England starlet fizzled out of the game in the second half although, in his defence, he did play a significant part in setting up Bendtner's winner.
■side (試合の)組, チーム(《米》team ■run-in 《主に英》[the 〜]〔…の〕 準備段階, 前段階〔to〕‖ in the 〜 to the election 選挙の準備期間中に[準備行動として] ■skipper 《英略式》(運動チームの)主将. ■crutch [通例〜es] 松葉づえ‖ ■fizzle out 線香花火のように消える、出だしはよかったが途中で失敗する、 あっけなく失敗に終わる、掛け声倒れに終わる、ポシャる
Walcott, who celebrated his 21st birthday last month, really is an enigma and - worryingly - is not improving at the same rate as Bendtner. The tremendous impact he made from the bench to inspire Arsenal to come back and draw 2-2 against Barcelona was the exception to the rule for Walcott this term. After a long haul at the front of the season overcoming injury, Walcott has failed to establish a regular place in the starting line-up. Despite his obvious skill, Walcott's influence on games is far too sporadic. Yet in the first 20 minutes he showed why Fabio Capello will take him to the World Cup this summer. In that opening phase Walcott was a throw-back to an old-school wing wizard as he twisted the blood of Wolves left-back George Elokobi.
■enigma 不可解な物[人, 出来事] ■long haul [a / the 〜] 長時間[期間](の仕事), 長い困難な道のり‖ I am in this for the 〜. 《主に米》私は最後までこれを続ける ■starting line-up 先発出場選手、スターティングメンバー、当初の打順 【参考】second stream; third stream ■sporadic 〈事件などが〉偶発的な,単発の: a sporadic outbreak of violence in one part of the city 町の一部で単発的に起こる暴力ざた. ■throw-back 復活〈to〉 先祖返り[隔世遺伝](をしたもの); 昔返り, ■old-school [the 〜] 保守派(の人々), 旧派;《主に英》[the / one's 〜] (public school などの)母校 ■wizard 〔…の〕天才, 名人, 達人, 鬼才〔at〕‖ a financial 〜 金もうけの天才/ a 〜 at math [(playing) the guitar] 数学の天才[ギターの名人].
Frustratingly for Arsenal, that familiar failing - the lack of a clinical cutting edge in the box - meant Wolves could survive that early Walcott -inspired whirlwind. After slicing his first attempt at a cross, Walcott then roasted Elokbi again. This time, he hit the sweet spot and served up an inviting low centre. Eduardo darted towards the near post and pinged a fierce first-time right-foot volley but Marcus Hahnemann showed fabulous reflexes, diving to his left and tipping the ball around the post. Walcott then went on a stunning run, beating three players with ease then cleverly pulling the ball back into the path of Eduardo. The Croatia international, however, slipped then scuffed the great chance wide.
A clever Walcott pass sent right-back Bacary Sagna clear in the 13th minute but, again, Hahnemann saved well. Walcott then whistled a low drive wide but his influence then started to wane and - as can often be the case - Arsenal got too complicated around the box. When half-chances did come they were, as Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said, profligate. And when they did get strikes on target Hahnemann was in superb form.
■whistle <風・弾丸・やかんなどが>ヒューと音をたてる ■drive 〔スポーツ〕(ボールの)強打, 飛距離, ドライブ‖ ■wide (目標などから)それて,(的を)外れて*of**: ■wane 《正式》<力・程度などが>衰える, 〔…の点で〕弱くなる(+away)〔in〕‖ His popularity is waning. 彼の人気は衰えかけている. ■profligate 《正式》【形】〔財産などを〕乱費する ■strike
Wolves will surely get enough points to stay up if they play with such diligence. Michael Mancienne, on loan from Chelsea, produced another international-class display as the holding player in front of the back four. It's not just guts though. In Matthew Jarvis they have a player of craft and McCarthy has his troops well drilled. But it was always going to be hard for them to keep the shutters down after captain Karl Henry was harshly sent off for a tackle on Tomas Rosicky. Admittedly, it was strong and from behind. A foul yes, but even Wenger agreed it was no more than booking.
■holding 一時的保存[保有]の. ■back four サッカー「バックフォア:守備側後衛でプレーする4人のディフェンダー. ■send off 〈レフェリーが〉 〈競技者を〉競技場から退場させる. ・send a player off (the field) for a foul 反則で選手に退場を命じる. ■booking 〔サッカー〕審判による違反者名の記録.
Wolves, though, continued to frustrate Arsenal. And in the 78th minute they nearly nicked it but Ronald Zubar's header was cleared off the line by Rosicky. Bendtner's arrival gave the Gunners another option up front although, when Hahneman plucked a looping header out of the air before it dropped into the top corner, it seemed Wolves might hold out - especially when Walcott sliced wide when Wenger clearly felt he should have done better. With Tuesday's daunting trip to the Nou Camp coming up, one could smell the fear around the ground that Arsenal's season - in terms of silverware, at least - was slipping away.
■nick 《英略式》…を〔…から〕盗む〔from〕. ■pluck を摘(つ)む, もぎ取る ■hold out 持ちこたえる, 抵抗する, 最後まで耐える. ・They held out against the enemy attacks for a month. 1 か月敵の攻撃に抵抗した ■silverware 《英略式》(賞品としての)銀杯, 銀盾.
But they kept their passing game going and, in the 94th minute, Rosicky played a pass into Walcott. Impressively, instead of trying to do something win-or-bust he rolled a simple ball into the path of Sagna who was in a better position to cross. Sagna crossed well and Bendtner used his height and strength to get in front of Zubar and send a stooping header into the top corner. And so Bendtner has risen from Goon. To top Gunner.
However, in the end it finished just 1-0 to the Nerazzurri and this has left the tie finely balance for the return leg.
■tie 《主に英》(サッカーなどの大きな大会の)1試合.
CSKA, whose Russian Premier League fixture against Zenit St. Petersburg at the weekend was postponed due to security reasons, have lost just once in the Champions League this season at home and that was to Manchester United as they went down narrowly 1-0 at the Luzhniki Stadium.
■fixture 《英》(期日の決まった)試合, 競技会;その開催日, 日程‖
However, in their last home match in the European Cup CSKA conceded a goal as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Spanish side Sevilla in the first leg of their last 16 tie. So the Army Men will be aware not to raise up their hopes too much.
Furthermore, Inter defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in their last away fixture in Europe and coach Jose Mourinho will try to ensure that Inter do not concede in Moscow by trying to to keep it tight at the back, especially on a synthetic pitch that is said in some quarters to be of a disadvantage for la Beneamata.
■synthetic pitch 人工芝
But Mourinho and his unit will be wary that it is not a big advantage and that they should have buried the tie at the San Siro in Milan last Wednesday when they had loads of chances. Playing on a synthetic pitch might be a problem too.
■bury 《略式》(競技・交渉などで)<相手>をやっつける. ・We're going to bury the opposition next time. 次回は相手をやっつけてやる.
>これがこの文の前文 Japan coach Takeshi Okada has axed 2009 J-League player of the year Mitsuo Ogasawara for next month's soccer World Cup warm-up against Serbia.
Robben Rocket Brings Japan's Okada Down to Earth By REUTERS Published: April 23, 2010
"The Dutch can shoot from any range -- totally different to Japan," he added, admitting in public for the first time what his employers and even his players have been saying for months.
Japan ace Keisuke Honda refused to get carried away and is desperate for more success after their 3-1 win over Denmark.
■carry away (2) [通例受身で] (うっとりとして・かっとなって)我を忘れさせる, 夢中にする (transport), 感動させる (inspire). ・be carried away by the music 音楽に魂を奪われる. ・I'm sorry: I must have gotten carried away. 失礼しました. 夢中になっていたものですから.
Keisuke Honda has become a household name in Japan overnight.
■household name 「広く知られている名前,だれでも知っている有名な名前,有名人」 ¶Her success in the Broadway play made Mary Strasburg a household name. (ブロードウェイでの成功によって,メアリー・ストラスバーグの名前はあまねく知られるところとなった) ¶With nationwide TV advertising, our company became a household name. (全国向けのテレビコマーシャルのおかげで,うちの会社もすっかり名前が売れたよ)
Fans that yearn to get one step closer to Mr. Honda will be asked to fork over 315 yen ($3.40) every month to gain entry to the athlete’s official website.
■fork over (vt.) 〈お金を〉〔…に〕しぶしぶ払う 〔for, on〕 ・Fork over [out, up] the five bucks you owe me. 貸していた5ドルを返してくれ。 ・I forked over $10,000 for this machine. この機械のために1万ドル払った。
Takahatake declined to disclose how many fans currently subscribe to the site and its mobile phone counterpart, but said a flood of traffic to the site rendered the page out of commission within hours of Mr. Honda’s goal.
■out of commission 「(機械などが)使えない(状態で),役に立たない,動かなくなって,機能を失って; (人が病気やけがで)働けなくて」
¶A strike has put the commuter trains out of commission. (ストライキのため通勤列車は動いていない) ¶My car is out of commission.(ぼくの車は故障で使えない) ¶A ski accident put my knee out of commission. (スキーの事故で私のひざは曲がらなくなってしまった)
Secondly, he’s pretty respectful. In an uncharacteristic reaction to his game-winning goal, Mr. Honda, who turned 24 the previous night, made a beeline for the sidelines to celebrate with his benched teammates and general manager Takeshi Okada.
■uncharacteristic 【形】特徴的でない, 典型的でない, 〔…にとって〕珍しい〔of〕‖ It is 〜 of her to be late. 遅刻するなんて彼女らしくない.
■make a beeline for 「〜へ一直線に[まっしぐらに]向かう,(そのまま)まっすぐ向かう」。時には, for以外の前置詞が続くこともある。
¶When the final bell rang, all the children in the classroom made a beeline for the door. (終業のベルが鳴ると,教室にいた子どもたちはみんなまっしぐらにドアへ向かった) ¶Our son loves to eat. Whenever he gets home he makes a beeline for the refrigerator. (うちの息子は食べることが大好きだ。家に帰ってくると,いつもまっしぐらに冷蔵庫に向かうんだ) ¶The dog made a beeline across the yard. (犬は一直線に庭を横切った)
A mix of unexpected fresh scrapes that sidelined players like defender Yasuyuke Konno, and general manager Takeshi Okada’s fickleness, had led to an ever-changing lineup ahead of game day.
■ sideline 【動】|他|《米略式》<けがなどが><人>を出場できなくさせる, 中心的な場からはずす 《◆通例受身》‖ The pitcher was 〜d with an arm injury. その投手は腕のけがのため試合に出場しなかった. An injury to his throwing arm sidelined the quarterback for two weeks. 利き腕の負傷でクォーターバックは2週間出られなかった.
A stunning brace of free kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yaushito Endo and a goal from substitute Shinji Okazaki helped Japan to a richly deserved victory over Denmark as they progressed to the knockout stages for the first time outside their home country.
■brace 6 (鳥・動物の)つがい, 1組(cf. pair, couple)《◆この意味では単複同形》‖ a [two] 〜 of quails ひとつがい[2組]のウズラ. a brace of thieves 二人組の泥棒.
The Samurai Blue landed their first knockout blow just after the quarter-hour.
■land 6 《略式》<打撃など>を〔…に〕与える(strike)〔in, on, to〕 I 〜ed a blow *on his nose [in his face]. 彼の鼻[顔面]に一撃を加えた.
There had been a few butterflies for the Japanese fans early on when Simon Poulsen's cross took a deflection and fooled the Japanese defence, however Jon Dahl Tomasson missed his attempt at an acrobatic volley and the ball skipped behind for a corner.
■butterfly 【3】*通例-flies**話* (1)(過度の緊張からくる)はらはら,どきどき,不安.(2)(神経性の)胃痙攣(けいれん): get butterflies in one's stomach (何か行う前などに)胸がどきどきする. ・have [get] butterflies in the [one's] stomach [tummy] (何かを行う前に)不安でどきどきする, おじけづく.
Tomasson took it upon himself to attempt to haul the Danes back into the game.
■take it upon oneself to 〜 かってでる[買って出る] My mother took it upon herself to start a collection for Vietnamese orphans. 私の母はベトナム孤児のために募金を始める役を買って出た It was a dangerous task and it wasn't surprising that no one took it upon himself to volunteer for it. それは危険な仕事だったので、買って出ようという者が一人もいなかったのも当然だ
The Danes received an undeserved lifeline when Hasebe pushed Agger over in the box.
■lifeline 3 (破産・損失などを免れるための)頼みの綱.
Just as Denmark had a glimpse of hope, a moment of brilliance from Honda when he left Rommedahl for dead set up substitute Shinji Okazaki who tapped the ball into the empty net.
■leave someone for dead 「〜を死んだ[助かる見込みがない,絶望的な]ものとして置き去りにする」 Badly wounded, I was left for dead on the battlefield. (ひどい傷を負った私は,助かる見込みなしとして戦場に置き去りにされた)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/sports/soccer/02iht-WCBRAZIL.html?hp Brazil Coach Shops for Big and Tall By whatever means the Dutch think they can knock Brazil out of the World Cup, getting physical would not be a good idea. This is a big Brazilian team — the tallest, strongest and most physical in memory.
As it was fans back home in Japan, who had watched the game at 3.30am, went berserk. In Osaka, a group ran through the streets and jumped into the Dotonbori river – a traditional ritual to celebrate sporting success. In Tokyo, Shibuya's famed main intersection was taken over by a cast of thousands in Blue Samurai shirts, beating drums and chanting. They are understandably overjoyed to see Japan enter the knockout stage for the first time on foreign soil, and if they continue current form against Paraguay an historic last-eight spot is perfectly possible.
mmediately after Argentina's 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany on Saturday, Maradona was understandably upset. And according to Argentina's Diarios y Noticias, he let a group of German fans know it. A translation of their report: