Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
Argentina played Egypt in a big World Cup soccer game. Egypt scored two goals early. It looked like Argentina would lose.
But Lionel Messi did not give up. He helped make one goal and scored another goal himself. The score became 2-2.
Then, in the very last minute, a player named Enzo Fernandez scored one more goal with his head. Argentina won the game 3-2.
In another game, Switzerland played Colombia. Nobody scored, so the teams took penalty kicks. Switzerland won. Now everyone knows which eight teams will play in the quarterfinals.
- goal (soccer)
- a point scored when the ball goes into the net
- comeback
- when a team goes from losing to winning
- header (soccer)
- hitting the ball with your head
- penalty kick
- a free shot at the goal given as a punishment or tiebreaker
- quarterfinal
- one of the games among the final eight teams in a tournament
- defending champion
- the team that won the tournament the last time it was played
- score (sports)
- the number of points each team has in a game
- tournament
- a series of games played to find one winner
Level 2 — Elementary
Argentina pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the World Cup so far, beating Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 after trailing by two goals for most of the match.
Egypt raced ahead early and held the lead until the closing minutes. Then Lionel Messi took over, first setting up a header for defender Cristian Romero to bring Argentina level, and then scoring the equalizer himself just a few minutes later.
With the match heading toward extra time, midfielder Enzo Fernandez made a late run into the penalty area and guided a powerful header into the top corner in the 92nd minute, sending Argentina through to the quarterfinals.
In the day's other match, Switzerland and Colombia could not be separated after 120 minutes of play, finishing 0-0. Switzerland won the penalty shootout to advance, completing the quarterfinal bracket alongside France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, and Norway.
- trail (in a game)
- to be losing during a game
- equalizer
- a goal that makes the score even between two teams
- midfielder
- a soccer player who plays in the middle of the field
- penalty area
- the marked zone in front of the goal where fouls lead to a penalty kick
- extra time
- additional playing time added when a match is tied
- shootout (penalty)
- a series of penalty kicks used to decide a tied match
- bracket (tournament)
- a diagram showing which teams will play each other in a tournament
- advance (sports)
- to move forward to the next round of a competition
Level 3 — Intermediate
Argentina staged one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and book a place in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Egypt raced into a commanding lead and appeared poised to eliminate the defending champions until Lionel Messi altered the course of the match in its final quarter. He first provided the assist for Cristian Romero's header, pulling Argentina to within one goal, before leveling the score himself with just minutes of regulation time remaining.
With the match seemingly destined for extra time, midfielder Enzo Fernandez made a decisive late run into the penalty area and guided a powerful header into the top corner in the 92nd minute, completing the comeback and securing Argentina's progression.
The result capped a day that also saw Switzerland edge past Colombia on penalties after a goalless draw through 120 minutes, finalizing the quarterfinal bracket. The remaining fixtures pit France against Morocco and Spain against Belgium, while Argentina will face Switzerland and Norway awaits the winner of England's match against Mexico.
- deficit
- the amount by which a team is behind or losing
- poised
- ready or likely to do something at any moment
- assist (sports)
- a pass or action that directly leads to a teammate scoring
- regulation time
- the standard, official length of a match before any extra time
- decisive
- producing a clear and definite result
- progression (sports)
- the act of advancing to a later stage of a competition
- goalless draw
- a match that ends with neither team scoring
- fixture
- a scheduled sports match
Level 4 — Advanced
Argentina engineered one of the tournament's most dramatic reversals, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and secure passage into the World Cup quarterfinals in a match that swung decisively in its closing stages.
Egypt had raced into a commanding lead and appeared on the verge of eliminating the defending champions until Lionel Messi reasserted himself in the match's final quarter, first supplying the assist for Cristian Romero's header to narrow the deficit before leveling the score himself with mere minutes of regulation remaining.
With the contest seemingly destined for extra time, midfielder Enzo Fernandez executed a decisive late run into the penalty area, guiding a powerful header into the top corner in the 92nd minute to complete the comeback and seal Argentina's progression in dramatic fashion.
The result capped a day that also saw Switzerland edge past Colombia on penalties following a goalless stalemate through 120 minutes, finalizing a quarterfinal bracket that pits France against Morocco and Spain against Belgium, while Argentina faces Switzerland and Norway awaits the victor of an England-Mexico tie.
- reversal
- a complete change in the state or direction of an outcome
- reassert
- to demonstrate or affirm one's dominance or influence again
- narrow (verb, deficit)
- to reduce the size of a gap or difference
- stalemate
- a situation where neither side gains an advantage; a deadlock
- execute (an action)
- to carry out or perform a planned action skillfully
- passage (to a stage)
- the act of qualifying or moving forward to a later stage
- contest (noun)
- a competitive match or event between opposing sides
- victor
- the winner of a contest or competition
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