2014-07-09

【Aiden in English】

        The Netherlands have always played amazingly well. It is so good, but just not good enough. They have never won a title of the World Cup. However, would today be their chance to advance to the finals? Or will their opponent Argentina go on, and face the awaiting Germans? It all came down to this game.

        As soon as the game began, I knew there would be extra time. Both sides were pushing each other, but neither budges. It seemed as if two teams were just walking around with the ball, debating on what to do. And every time one team got an opportunity, a defender knocked the ball out just in time. The game appeared to be a tie, But this was the World Cup Semifinal, and there were no ties here. So finally, the game between Argentina and Netherlands was decided on a shootout or penalty kick.

        The shootout is about the goalies' mind. They must predict where the shot is going and dive for the ball. Argentine goalie was just a little better at predicting the ball than the Dutch. That's how Argentina beat the Netherlands in the end. It's the other part of soccer. The game is physical as well as mental.

【红霞译文】

        荷兰队一直发挥得非常好，好归好，但尚没好到不得了的地步。他们从未荣膺世界杯冠军的称号，不过今天他们是否能抓住机会进军决赛？抑或其对手阿根廷队势不可挡，即将晋级与正在磨拳擦掌的德国队相遇？鹿死谁手，且看眼下这场半决赛。

        比赛一开始，我心中不由得暗生预感，搞不好要有加时赛。双方相互推搡，谁都不肯让步，球被传来传去，丝毫没有突破。每当一支球队控球，另一支球队立刻跑上去将球踢出场外，比方始终保持零比零，可这是世界杯半决赛，必须靠输赢成败论英雄。于是，比赛结束前阿根廷和荷兰两队只能借助罚点球来定夺胜负。

        点球其实考验守门员的头脑判断力，他们必须事先预测来球方向，然后再去拦球，阿根廷守门员比荷兰守门员的第六感官稍微好一点，这正是阿根廷队打败荷兰队的关键所在，同时也体现出足球比赛的另一特点，除了体力较量之外，精神方面的抗衡不容忽视。