Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
Argentina won a big soccer game against England on July 15. The final score was 2 to 1.
England scored first. A player named Anthony Gordon scored in the 55th minute.
Then Argentina scored two goals near the end of the game. Lionel Messi helped make both goals happen.
Now Argentina will play in the World Cup final. They will play against Spain on Sunday.
- soccer
- A sport played by two teams trying to kick a ball into a goal
- score (verb)
- To get a point in a game
- goal
- A point scored in soccer, or the net players aim for
- assist
- Help given to a teammate that leads to a goal
- comeback
- A return to a winning position after being behind
- semifinal
- A match before the final that decides who plays in the final
- champion
- The winner of a competition
- final (noun)
- The last match of a competition
Level 2 — Elementary
Argentina staged a dramatic comeback to beat England 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup semifinal on July 15, booking a place in Sunday's final.
England took the lead in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon tapped in a cross from Morgan Rogers, putting the defending champions on the back foot.
Argentina answered with two goals in about seven minutes near the end of the match. Enzo Fernandez scored in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martinez added a second in stoppage time, with Lionel Messi setting up both goals.
Argentina, the defending champion, will now face Spain in the final. Spain reached the final by defeating France 2-0 in their own semifinal.
- comeback
- A return to a winning position after being behind
- tap in
- To score a goal from very close range with a light touch
- cross (noun, soccer)
- A pass sent from the side of the field toward the goal
- on the back foot
- In a difficult or disadvantaged position
- stoppage time
- Extra minutes added at the end of a half to make up for delays
- set up (a goal)
- To create a scoring chance for a teammate
- defending champion
- The team that won the previous tournament
- semifinal
- A match before the final that decides who plays in the final
Level 3 — Intermediate
Argentina produced a stirring late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup semifinal at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, securing their place in Sunday's final against Spain.
England had taken a 55th minute lead when Anthony Gordon converted a low cross from Morgan Rogers, appearing to put the defending champions on course for an upset.
Argentina responded with two goals scored within roughly seven minutes of each other late in the match: Enzo Fernandez struck in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martinez added a second in stoppage time, with Lionel Messi credited with the assist on both.
Spain reached the final by eliminating France 2-0 in their semifinal, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty and Pedro Porro adding a second goal, setting up a championship match between two of the tournament's most in-form sides.
- stirring (adj)
- Emotionally exciting or rousing
- convert (a chance)
- To successfully turn a scoring opportunity into a goal
- upset (noun, sports)
- An unexpected result where the favored team loses
- credited with
- Officially recognized as responsible for
- eliminate (in a tournament)
- To defeat and remove a team from competition
- penalty (soccer)
- A free shot at goal awarded for a foul in the penalty area
- in-form
- Currently playing very well
- championship match
- The final, decisive match of a competition
Level 4 — Advanced
Argentina engineered a stirring late comeback to overcome England 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup semifinal at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, extending their bid to defend the title they won four years earlier and setting up a championship match showdown with Spain on Sunday.
England appeared poised to spring an upset after Anthony Gordon converted a low cross from Morgan Rogers in the 55th minute, a goal that briefly had the defending champions on the ropes against a resurgent English side.
Argentina's response was swift and decisive: within roughly seven minutes late in the match, Enzo Fernandez leveled the score in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez struck the winner in stoppage time, with Lionel Messi, already the tournament's all-time leading scorer, credited with the assist on both goals.
Spain, meanwhile, dispatched France 2-0 in the other semifinal behind a first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a second-half strike from Pedro Porro, setting up a final between two sides many analysts regard as the tournament's most complete teams.
- engineer (verb)
- To skillfully bring about a particular result
- bid (noun)
- An attempt to achieve or obtain something
- poised (adj)
- Fully prepared and ready for something about to happen
- resurgent
- Increasing in strength or popularity again after a decline
- decisive
- Producing a clear and definite result
- level (verb, sports)
- To make the score equal
- dispatch (verb, sports)
- To defeat decisively and efficiently
- complete (adj, sports)
- Well-rounded, with no notable weaknesses
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