Glossary
1. The governing body [ˈgʌvənɪŋ ˈbɔdɪ] руководство
2. Consistently [kənˈsɪstəntlɪ] последовательно
3. Scoreline [ ˈskɔː.laɪn ] счёт
4. To defeat [tuː dɪˈfiːt] побеждать
5. Major title [ˈmeɪdʒə ˈtʌɪt(ə)] первенство
6. In a row [ɪn eɪ raʊ] подряд
7. Consecutive [kənˈsɛkjʊtɪv| последовательный, подряд
8. Kit [kɪt] форма
9. Crest [krɛst] вершина славы
10. Trim [trɪm] кромка
11. Whilst [wʌɪlst| в то время как, пока
12. Fierce rival [fɪəs ˈrʌɪv(ə)l] жестокий конкурент
13. Nationalism [ˈnaʃ(ə)n(ə)lɪz(ə)m] национализм
14. Byname [ˈbʌɪneɪm] прозвище
15. Venue [ˈvɛnjuː] место проведения матчей (место встречи)
16. To spearhead [tuː ˈspɪəhɛd] возглавлять
17. Emphasis [ˈɛmfəsɪs] акцент на чем-либо
18. To be renowned for [tuː bi rɪˈnaʊnd fɔː] быть чем-то известным
19. Distinctive [dɪˈstɪŋ(k)tɪv] отличительный, особенный
20. Maintaining [meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ] поддержание
21. Chant [tʃɑːnt] песнопение, петь, напевать
22. Tide [taɪd] поток, прилив (волна на стадионе)
23. Clad [klæd] одетый
Spain National Football Team
The Spain national football team (Spanish: Selección Española de Fútbol) represents Spain in international men's association football since 1920, and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The Spain is a unique football team.
Spain is one of the eight national teams to have been crowned FIFA World Cup champions, having participated in a total of 15 of 21 FIFA World Cups and qualifying consistently since 1978. Spain also have won three continental titles, having appeared at 10 of 15 UEFA European Championships.
History
Spain has been a member of FIFA since its foundation in 1904, even though the Spanish Football Federation was first established in 1909. The first Spain national football team was constituted in 1920, with the main objective of finding a team that would represent Spain at the Summer Olympics held in Belgium in that same year. Spain made their debut at the tournament on 28 August 1920 against Denmark, silver medalists at the last two Olympic tournaments. The Spanish managed to win that match by a scoreline of 1–0, eventually finishing with the silver medal.
Spain becomes the first European team to win a FIFA World Cup outside Europe, having won the 2010 tournament in South Africa, as well as having won back-to-back European titles in Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, defeating Germany and Italy in the respective finals, making them the only national team with three major titles in a row. According to this, from 2008 to 2013, a six-year span, the national team won FIFA Team of the Year, the second-most of any nation, behind only Brazil. Also between November 2006 and June 2009, Spain went undefeated for a record-equalling 35 consecutive matches, a record shared with Brazil. Their achievements have led many commentators and experts to consider the 2008-2012 Spanish sides among the best ever international sides in world football.
Kits and crest
Spain's traditional kit is a red jersey with yellow trim, dark blue shorts and black socks, whilst their current away kit is all predominantly white. The colour of the socks altered throughout the 1990s from black to the same blue colour as the shorts, matching either the blue of the shorts or the red of the shirt until the mid-2010s when they returned to their traditional black.
El Clásico (El Clàssic, pronounced is the name given in football to any match between fierce rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona). The rivalry comes about as Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain, and they are sometimes identified with opposing political positions, with Real Madrid viewed as representing Spanish nationalism and Barcelona viewed as representing Catalan nationalism. The rivalry is regarded as one of the biggest in world sport.
Real Madrid, in full Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, byname Los Blancos (Spanish: “the White”), Spanish professional football (soccer) club based in Madrid. Playing in all-white uniforms, which led to its nickname “Los Blancos,” Real Madrid is one of the world’s best-known teams, with fans in many countries.
Real Madrid grew out of Football Club Sky, a team formed in Madrid in 1897. The club was officially founded in 1902 and joined the Royal Spanish Football Federation in 1909. Real Madrid played at a variety of venues until ambitious club president Santiago Bernabéu spearheaded the construction of the stadium that bears his name. Opened in 1947, the Bernabéu holds more than 80,000 spectators and was the venue for the 1982 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup final.
FC Barcelona, in full Fútbol Club Barcelona, also called Barça, Spanish professional football (soccer) club located in Barcelona. FC Barcelona is renowned for its historically skillful and attractive brand of attacking football that places an emphasis on flowing, open play. The team is part of a wider sports and social club with thousands of members.
FC Barcelona was formed in 1899 by businessman Joan Gamper, who advertised for players in a local Barcelona sports magazine. The club’s first trophy was the Copa Macaya (Catalan championship) in 1902, and in 1910 “Barça” won the Copa del Rey (“King’s Cup”)—Spain’s leading national football cup competition—for the first time. In total, Barcelona has won 30 Copas del Rey, more than any other team.
Football facts: Things you must know about Spain.
The style: “Titi-taka”
Tiki-taka is the Spanish team’s distinctive style of playing, characterized by short passes, maintaining possession, and working the ball through various channels. Many believe this to be the key to their phenomenal success in recent years.
Watch the games
For important games, official sponsors and city councils usually place giant screens in city centers so that people can watch and support La Roja (The Red One as the Spanish team is called) together. Usually, hundreds of thousands of people will gather around the Santiago Bernabéu (Real Madrid’s stadium) where several giant screens are placed. Known as Fan Park, the area has been known to host half a million fans!
Chant with them
“¡Yo soy español, español, español!” (It means: “I’m Spanish, Spanish, Spanish!”) – This was the most-heard chant in 2010.
“¡A por ellos, oé!” (It means: “Let’s beat them”) – This has been one a classic chant since 2006. It’s meant to encourage and fire up the team.
“¡Que viva España!” (It means: “Long live Spain!”) – This song is sung in support of the team, as well as when the team is winning and playing really well. It’s based on a song by the artist Manolo Escobar.
And celebrate with the “red tide”
Whenever the Spanish national team wins, Spanish people run to the streets to celebrate: In Madrid, people go to fountains like Cibeles (for Real Madrid victories) or Neptuno (for Atlético de Madrid victories). In Barcelona, the Red Tide (an affectionate name for red-clad Spanish fans) heads to the Canaletas Fountain. If Spain wins again, you can be sure that the team will once again hit the streets on a bus, celebrating together with the Red Tide and thanking them for their support!
Sources
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain_national_football_team
2. https://www.ef.com/blog/language/football-facts-7-things-you-must-know-about-spain/
3. https://www.sefutbol.com/en
Exercises
Questions.
1) What title is given to match in which Barcelona and Real Madrid play against each other?
2) What nickname has the team “Real Madrid”?
3) Call the names of the stadiums of Real Madrid and Barcelona teams.
4) What was the reason of rivalry of two teams (Real Madrid and Barcelona)?
5) Could the Spanish national team win two times in a row European Championship? If yes, call the dates.
6) What is the spanish national kit? Describe it.
7) What was the most-heard chant in 2010? (In spanish, please)
8) What was the main objective of creating Spain national football team?
9) Who was formed FC Barcelona in 1899?
10) What is the distinctive style of playing of Spanish team?
11) How many spectators does the Stadium Bernabeu hold?
12) What was the first trophy of FC Barcelona?
Crossword.
Vertically:
1) To be the leader of something
2) The score at the end of, of during, a match or game.
3) In association football it is an uniform which wears by football players.
4) Win a victory over.
5) Special importance or significance.
6) A nickname.
Horizontally:
7) A stadium or similar building in which a sporting competition is held.
8) Type of singing done generally without instruments and harmony.
9) The contestant you hope to defeat.
10) It is a socially constructed belief, creed or political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a nation.
Keys
1. 1) El clásico.
2) Blancos or The white.
3) RM - Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona - Camp Nou.
4) They are sometimes identified with opposing political positions, with Real Madrid viewed as representing Spanish nationalism and Barcelona viewed as representing Catalan nationalism.
5) Yes, it was the period of 2008-2012.
6) Spain's traditional kit is a red jersey with yellow trim, dark blue shorts and black socks.
7) “¡Yo soy español, español, español!”
8) The main objective of finding a team that would represent Spain at the Summer Olympics held in Belgium in that same year.
9) The businessman Joan Gamper.
10) Tiki-taka is the Spanish team’s distinctive style of playing.
11) 80 000 spectatores
12) The club’s first trophy was the Copa Macaya.
2. 1) Spearhead
2) Scoreline
3) Kit
4) Defeat
5) Emphasis
6) Byname
7) Venue
8) Chant
9) Rival
10) Nationalism