1、AGame for the World 全世界都热爱的运动 1 These days, football is one of the most popular sports in the world. Given that Neil Armstrong wanted to take a football to the Moon, we could even say that it is also the most popular sport out of this world! The history of the game goes back over two thousand years
2、to Ancient China. It was then known as cuju (kick ball), a game using a ball of animal skins with hair inside. Goals were hung in the air. Football as we know it today started in Great Britain, where the game was given new rules. 如今，足球是世界上最受欢迎的运动之一。想想当年尼尔阿姆斯特朗曾想要把足球带上月 球， 我们甚至可以说它是地球之外最受欢迎的运动！ 足球的历史
3、可以追溯到两千多年前的古 代中国。当时它被称为蹴鞠（意为“以脚踢球”） ，使用的球的由动物皮革填充毛发制成的， 球门是悬在半空中的。 我们如今所熟知的足球始于英国， 在那里这项运动被赋予了新的规则。 2 That football is such a simple game to play is perhaps the basis of its popularity. It is also a game that is very cheap to play. You dont need expensive equipment; even the ball doesnt have to cost
4、 much money. All over the world you can see kids playing to their hearts content with a ball made of plastic bags; just like Pel did when he was a boy. 足球是非常简便的一项运动， 这也许是足球受欢迎的根本原因。 它也是一项花费很少的运动。 你不需要昂贵的设备， 连球也不会花费太多钱。 在世界各地你都可以看到孩子们用塑料袋团 成的球尽情玩耍贝利小时候也就是那样的。 3 Another factor behind footballs global
5、popularity is the creativity and excitement on the field. It is fun enough to attract millions of people. You do not have to be a fan to recognise the skill of professional playershow they use their bodies to pass, score and defend can be amazing to seeor to feel the excitement of a game ending with
6、 a surprising twist. 足球得以风靡世界的另一个因素是在球场上展示出来的创造力和激动人心的氛围。 其精彩程 度足以吸引数百万人。 你不用成为球迷也能看明白职业球员的球技有多么好他们运用身 体传球、得分、防守，这些就足以令观众眼花缭乱或者感受到球赛中惊人逆转带来的那 种兴奋感。 4 Whats more, football has become one of the best ways for people to communicate: it does not require words, but everyone understands it. It breaks down
7、 walls and brings people together on and off the field. Take, for example, the famous football game on Christmas Day 1914. World War I had broken out months before, but British and German soldiers put down their guns and played football togetherone moment of peace to remember during years of conflic
8、t. 此外，足球还成为了人们最好的沟通方式之一：无需话语，但是每个人都能理解。它打破了 隔阂，将赛场内外的人们凝聚在一起。以 1914 年圣诞节那场著名的足球比赛为例，虽然当 时第一次世界大战的战火已经持续了数月前， 但是英国和德国的士兵仍然放下枪支， 一起踢 起了足球这是战乱年代值得铭记的一刻。 5 “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, . ” said Bill Shankly, the famous footballer and manager. “I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” This might sound funny, but one only has to think about the Earth to realise that our planet is shaped like a football. “有些人认为足球事关生死，” 著名足球运动员兼教练比尔尚克利曾这样说过，“我可 以向你保证，足球远比生死重要得多。”这听起来或许有点儿夸张，但是只要想想地球，你 就会意识到我们星球跟足球的形状一样呢。
