Euro 2012: Czech Republic wins, Poland and Russia draw | Bangkok Post: learning

General news

There was lots more excitement last night as the Czech Republic scored early and then held off Greece to win 2-1 while Russia and Poland battled to a 1-1 draw.

Please join us on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Once again, I suggest you read the story and then check out the video highlights: Czech Republic - Greece: http://bit.ly/KAd5Hi  Poland - Russia: http://bit.ly/LTuAEH

Petr Jiracek of Czech Republic scores the opening goal during the group A match between Greece and Czech Republic at The Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. AFP

Click button to listen to Euro matches and rightclick to download

Euro 2012: Czech Republic wins, Poland and Russia draw

Bangkok Post and agencies

Czech Republic scored twice in the first six minutes but were forced to withstand a spirited Greece comeback, and held on for a 2-1 win in their Euro 2012 Group A match early Wednesday (Thailand time).

Poland and Russia played to a spirited 1-1 draw in the much anticipated late match.

The Wroclaw victory allowed the Czech Republic to get their Euro 2012 campaign back on track.

Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar scored their goals inside the opening six minutes as Michal Bilek's side bounced back from their 4-1 defeat to Russia in their opening game.

Surprise Euro 2004 winners Greece were handed a lifeline when Theofanis Gekas capitalised on a Petr Cech blunder eight minutes after the break but they were unable to force an equaliser and now face a struggle to reach the quarter-finals with one point from two games.

Russian midfielder Alan Dzagoev scores against Polish goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton at the National Stadium in Warsaw. AFP

A wonder goal from Jakub Blaszczykowski gave Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland their 1-1 Group A draw with Russia in the feisty, entertaining clash in Warsaw.

Alan Dzagoev's deft header had given Russia the half-time lead after an enthralling opening 45 minutes that saw the Poles create several good chances only to be denied by fine goalkeeping from Vyacheslav Malafeev, the width of a goalpost and some desperate defending.

Russia had dominated possession for large spells of the match though, so their lead was not unexpected, Dzagoev doing his burgeoning reputation no harm with a clever diagonal run and flick from Andre Arshavin's 37th minute free-kick.

Polish midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski celebrates after scoring. AFP

But Franciszek Smuda's side continued to be adventurous on the break in the second half and they were rewarded in style when skipper Blaszczykowski unleashed a ferocious left-footed curler past Malafeev and inside the far post, having bought the space with a fine touch off the impressive Ludovic Obraniak's pass from the right.

The result leaves Russia top of Group A with four points, needing just a draw against Greece to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals.

Poland, meanwhile, need a win against local rivals Czech Republic on June 16 in what promises to be a thrilling do-or-die encounter in Wroclaw.

Riot policemen stand guard during the Euro 2012 championships football match Poland vs Russia. AFP

While the match itself was without serious incident, outside the stadium the situation was tense.

Brawls erupted between Polish and Russian football fans as thousands of Russians marched toward the national stadium hours before the match.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon on unruly fans and arrested several people.

municipal – of a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
draw – to play a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
withstand – to be strong enough not to be hurt or damaged by extreme force, extreme conditions, etc. ทนทาน
spirited – full of energy, determination or courage ซึ่งมุ่งมั่น,  ซึ่งมีชีวิตชีวา
comeback – (in sports) falling behind an opponent and then catching up การกลับสู่ความสำเร็จอีกครั้ง
anticipated – creating a feeling of excitement about something enjoyable that is going to happen soon รอคอยอย่างคาดหวัง
campaign – a series of matches in a tournament
bounce back – to become successful again after something bad has happened to you กลับสู่สภาพปกติ
defeat – a loss ความพ่ายแพ้
hand (someone) a lifeline – to give someone a new chance of succeeding
capitalise on – to use an event or a situation to help you to achieve something or to get an advantage ใช้ประโยชน์ให้เต็มที่จาก
blunder – a careless or embarrassing mistake ความผิดพลาดจากความสะเพร่า
equaliser – (in football) a goal that makes the score of both teams equal
struggle – a very difficult task that you can do only by making a great effort ความพยายาม
wonder – something that fills you with surprise and admiration สิ่งน่าพิศวง
co-host – one of two countries, cities, groups, people, etc. which provide the space and other things necessary for a special event เจ้าภาพร่วม
feisty – active, forceful and full of determination คล่องแคล่ว, กระฉับกระเฉง
entertaining – interesting, exciting, amusing, etc.; fun to watch ซึ่งสนุกสนานเพลิดเพลิน
clash – a fight between groups of people การปะทะกันสองฝ่าย
deft – done quickly and with skill อย่างคล่องแคล่ว, อย่างชำนาญ
enthralling – so interesting or exciting that you give it all your attention ทำให้หลงใหล, ทำให้ติดตรึงใจ
deny – to not allow someone do something ไม่ยอม
width – the distance across something from one side to the other ความกว้าง
denied by the width of the goal post – this means the ball hit the goalpost and did not go in the goal
desperate – in an extreme or worried way อย่างเต็มที่
defend – to protect against an attack  ป้องกัน,ต้าน
dominate – to be in control ครอบคลุม ควบคุม
possession – control of the ball การครองบอล
spell – a period of time, usually a short one ช่วงเวลา
burgeon – to begin to grow or develop rapidly ออกหน่อ, กระจาย, ขยายไปอย่างเร็ว
reputation – the opinion people have about how good or bad someone or something is ชื่อเสียง
clever – quick at learning and understanding things เฉลียวฉลาด
diagonal – straight and sloping, not horizontal or vertical, for example joining two opposite corners of a square or other flat shape with four sides ทแยงมุม
flick – to make something move quickly and suddenly, especially with a quick movement of the foot or hand สะบัด, ปัด
adventurous – willing to try new or difficult things, or exciting an often dangerous ชอบผจญภัย
rewarded – receiving something given in exchange for good behaviour or good work, etc ได้รับรางวัล
skipper – the captain or manager of a team ผู้นำทีม
unleash – to release suddenly a strong, uncontrollable and usually destructive force  ปล่อย, ก่อให้เกิดผลรุนแรง
ferocious – very strong; very aggressive or violent รุนแรง
curler – (in football) a shot on goal that curves instead of going straight การยิงโค้ง
impressive – something that people admire because it is very good, very large or shows great skill ซึ่งน่าประทับใจ
ensure – to make certain that something happens or is done  ให้การยืนยัน, รับรอง, ให้ความมั่นใจ
qualification– to win enough matches, points, etc. to be able to enter or continue in a competition  การเข้ารอบ
quarter-finals – competitions between the last eight competitors remaining in a tournament การแข่งขันก่อนรอบบรองชนะเลิศ
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about  ท้องถิ่น
rival – a person, group, team or business that competes with another คู่ต่อสู้, คู่ปรับ, คู่แข่ง
thrilling – very exciting ทำให้ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ, เขย่าขวัญ
encounter – a meeting between opponents in a sports competition การแข่งขัน
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
tense – feeling nervous or worried เครียด
brawl – a rough, noisy, uncontrolled fight การทะเลาะกัน, การวิวาท
erupt – to start suddenly ปะทุขึ้น
tear gas – a gas used by some police and armed forces to control crowds of people. It hurts the eyes and makes them produce tears ก๊าซน้ำตา
water cannon – a machine that produces a powerful flow of water, used by the police to control crowds of people
unruly – difficult to control ยากที่จะควบคุมได้
arrest – (of the police) to take someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม

Tell us what you think about this article

Like dislike 5 people liked / 0 people disliked it

Share this article

0

0

• More +

• Republishing permission
• Print this

Bangkok Post online classifieds

Try buying & selling goods and properties 24/7 in our classifieds which has high purchasing power local & expatriate audience from within Thailand and around the world.