Off the Pitch 绿茵场外
英超联赛如火如荼。 绿茵场外不仅为你描述精彩的赛事,更帮你掌握最新、最地道的足球英语。
International Fears for England 国际足坛为英国捏把汗


Joe Cole
Joe Cole scored both of England's goals against Andorra
England failed to impress in their first round of qualifying matches 资格赛 for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, despite beating Andorra 安道尔 2-0 in Barcelona on Saturday.

Andorra is a tiny country in the Pyrenees Mountains 比利牛斯山脉 with a population of just 75,000, and their football team is made up of amateurs 业余选手 who play in their free time and players from the lowest echelons 最底层 of professional leagues.

The result of Saturday’s game should never have been in doubt yet England’s team of Premier League multi-millionaires 千万富翁 still managed to make heavy-going of it 费力的, 艰难的 with an unimpressive display 不佳的表现 in the first half.

Sticky problem
 Anyone who has come here and played on this sticky pitch knows it’s not easy.
 
Joe Cole, England

Many fans, who had hoped for England to improve under their new Italian manager Fabio Capello, were disappointed by the game and began booing 嘘声一片 as the players came off for half-time 中场休息.

However second-half substitute 替补 Joe Cole spared the manager’s blushes 分担教练难堪之情 by scoring twice to turn the game in England’s favour.

But many questions remain unanswered as England seem not to have improved as a team or even to have changed their negative style of football under successive managers 众多教练.

The excuses came thick and fast 接二连三的 as England players discussed their victory over a team ranked 排名 186th in the world (England are ranked 15th).

Goalscorer Joe Cole blamed Andorra’s negative defensive tactics 被动防守战术 and a "sticky pitch" 场地很粘 for the lacklustre 表现欠佳的 performance.

Next challenge
 Croatia will be another game, not like Andorra. We have to play to win, always.
 
Fabio Capello, England manager

"It was our first qualifier and our confidence was low," added Cole, who was praised by his Chelsea team mate and England captain John Terry.

"I am delighted for Coley. He’s been on fire at Chelsea," said Terry, meaning that Cole has been playing exceptionally well for his club side.

England will now face a much sterner test 更严峻的考验 when they play Croatia at home in Zagreb on Wednesday, having lost their last two games against the Croats.

Capello has said it is a game which England "have to play to win", but the England manager remains optimistic 乐观的.

"Are England good enough to get a result 获胜? Yes, I think so. I am confident in my team," said Capello.

 
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