Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
England played Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal. The game was in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Norway scored first. A player named Andreas Schjelderup kicked a great goal.
Jude Bellingham scored for England before halftime. The score was tied.
No one scored in the second half. Then, in extra time, Bellingham scored again! England won 2-1 and will play in the semifinal.
- quarterfinal
- a match in a tournament that decides who plays in the semifinal
- semifinal
- a match that decides who plays in the final
- goal
- a point scored in soccer when the ball goes into the net
- halftime
- the break in the middle of a soccer match
- tied
- having the same score
- extra time
- extra minutes added to a match when the score is tied
- stadium
- a large building where sports games are played
- winner
- the person or team that succeeds in a game or match
Level 2 — Elementary
England reached the World Cup semifinal after a thrilling 2-1 extra-time win over Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Norway took an early lead midway through the first half when Andreas Schjelderup struck a brilliant shot past the England goalkeeper. England needed an answer, and Jude Bellingham provided one just before the break, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second half ended with no further goals, sending the match into extra time. Both teams pushed hard, but it was Bellingham who made the difference, scoring the decisive goal to put England ahead 2-1.
England will now wait to learn its semifinal opponent, as Argentina and Switzerland were still tied 1-1 in their own extra-time quarterfinal when the match concluded.
- thrilling
- extremely exciting
- midway
- at or near the middle point
- goalkeeper
- the player whose job is to stop the ball from entering the goal
- level
- to make a score equal
- conclude
- to come to an end
- decisive
- settling an issue; producing a definite result
- opponent
- a person or team competing against another
- brilliant
- exceptionally clever, skillful, or impressive
Level 3 — Intermediate
England secured a hard-fought passage to the World Cup semifinal, edging Norway 2-1 in extra time in a quarterfinal that swung on two moments of individual brilliance from Jude Bellingham at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Norway struck first, with Andreas Schjelderup curling a spectacular effort beyond the England goalkeeper midway through the opening half to give the Norwegians a deserved lead. England responded before the interval, Bellingham finding the net to restore parity heading into the break.
A tense, largely chanceless second half failed to produce a winner, pushing the contest into extra time. It was there that Bellingham once again proved decisive, converting the goal that ultimately separated the two sides and sent England through.
England's path to the final now hinges on the outcome of the day's other quarterfinal, with Argentina and Switzerland locked at 1-1 in their own extra-time period as the England match drew to a close, leaving the identity of England's semifinal opponent still undecided.
- secure
- to obtain or achieve something, often with effort
- edge
- to win by a narrow margin
- curl
- to send a ball on a curved path
- deserved
- earned through merit or effort
- interval
- a break between two periods of a match
- parity
- the state of being equal
- chanceless
- lacking clear scoring opportunities
- hinge
- to depend entirely on a single factor
Level 4 — Advanced
England secured a hard-fought passage into the World Cup semifinal, edging Norway 2-1 after extra time in a quarterfinal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens that ultimately turned on two moments of individual brilliance from Jude Bellingham.
Norway struck first when Andreas Schjelderup curled a spectacular effort beyond the England goalkeeper midway through the opening half, giving the Norwegians a lead that reflected their early ascendancy. England responded before the interval, Bellingham finding the net to restore parity and steady his side heading into the break.
A tense, largely chanceless second half failed to yield a breakthrough for either side, pushing the contest into an additional thirty minutes. It was there that Bellingham once again proved the decisive figure, converting the goal that ultimately separated the two sides and propelled England through to the final four.
England's route to the final now hinges entirely on the outcome of the day's remaining quarterfinal, with Argentina and Switzerland locked at 1-1 deep into their own period of extra time as the England fixture drew to its conclusion, leaving the identity of England's semifinal opponent, and their path to a potential final against France or Spain, still very much undecided.
- ascendancy
- a position of dominant power or influence
- steady
- to make calm and stable
- breakthrough
- a sudden significant advance or achievement
- propel
- to drive or push forward
- fixture
- a scheduled sporting event
- conclusion
- the end or final part of something
- potential
- having the capacity to develop into something in the future
- undecided
- not yet settled or determined
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