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Global View ‐ The World Cup (C0257) 
A: What are you doing?
B: What am I doing? What am I doing? Don’t you know
what day it is?
A: Ummm. no.
B: It’s only the day when the world’s biggest sporting
event is kicking off.
A: What?
B: The World Cup! The first match is today! It’s Mexico
vs. South Africa! It’s going to be a really good match!
Both teams have a very strong offense and have skilled
players. I think that South Africa will probably dominate
the first half since they are the host country, and all.
A: I have no idea what you’re talking about. The only
sporting event we watch at home is the Super Bowl.
B: This is bigger than the Super Bowl, man! Teams from
32 countries compete against each other every four years
and fight to win that trophy. They first start in a group
stage with bigger groups, each group having 4 teams. The
top 2 teams pass on to an elimination stage before going
on to the quarterfinalsand semifinals.
A: Sounds interesting, but soccer doesn’t really appeal to
me.
B: Are you kidding? Over seven hundred million people
watched the final match of the World Cup! It’s a very
exciting and nerve wracking sport! Each nation is cheering
on their team, hoping they will become the next champion.
So far Brazil is the team with the most titles under their
belt; they’re really good!
A: All I know about soccer is that you can’t use your
hands and that players are always falling down, trying to
get a free kick or penalty kick. It seems like a sissy sport to
me!
B: Whatever dude, I’m going to go watch the opening
match.