A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up
- Vocab List
- Reading and Audio
- Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
- Multiple Choice Check understanding.
- Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
- Discussion Builder Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
- Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: What do you think happened in this match?
a) A famous player missed the game because of injury.
b) The teams stopped playing because of bad weather.
c) A first-time team nearly beat the defending champions.
Ask: (1) Do you like watching football? (2) Have you ever played football?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Cabo Verde came close to one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history when they faced Argentina in Miami.
This was Cabo Verde’s first World Cup, while Argentina entered the tournament as the defending champions. Argentina were also led by Lionel Messi, one of football’s greatest players and the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
Argentina took the lead after the first hydration break. Messi controlled a long pass and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Vozinha. The goal was Messi’s 20th at a World Cup.
After halftime, Argentina had most of the possession, but Cabo Verde equalized. One of their players received the ball in the penalty area and scored to make it 1-1.
Vozinha then made several important saves, and the match went to extra time. Argentina quickly took the lead again with a powerful shot from close range. But Cabo Verde refused to give up and scored with an excellent curling shot from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-2.
With ten minutes left, Messi sent a corner into the penalty area. The ball hit a Cabo Verde defender and went into the net, giving Argentina a 3-2 win and a place in the Round of 16.
Cabo Verde’s World Cup journey was over, but in their first appearance at the tournament, they had nearly produced a huge upset.
Argentina and Cabo Verde Battle
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What do you think happened in this match?
a) A famous player missed the game because of injury.
b) The teams stopped playing because of bad weather.
c) A first-time team nearly beat the defending champions.
Ask: (1) Do you like watching football? (2) Have you ever played football?
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come close (phr.)
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upset (n.)
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defending champions (n. phr.)
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hydration break (n. phr.)
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possession (n.)
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equalize (v.)
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penalty area (n. phr.)
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extra time (n. phr.)
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curling shot (n. phr.)
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corner (n.)
Cabo Verde came close to one of the biggest surprises in World Cup history when they faced Argentina in Miami.
This was Cabo Verde’s first World Cup, while Argentina entered the tournament as the defending champions. Argentina were also led by Lionel Messi, one of football’s greatest players and the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
Argentina took the lead after the first hydration break. Messi controlled a long pass and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Vozinha. The goal was Messi’s 20th at a World Cup.
After halftime, Argentina had most of the possession, but Cabo Verde equalized. One of their players received the ball in the penalty area and scored to make it 1-1.
Vozinha then made several important saves, and the match went to extra time. Argentina quickly took the lead again with a powerful shot from close range. But Cabo Verde refused to give up and scored with an excellent curling shot from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-2.
With ten minutes left, Messi sent a corner into the penalty area. The ball hit a Cabo Verde defender and went into the net, giving Argentina a 3-2 win and a place in the Round of 16.
Cabo Verde’s World Cup journey was over, but in their first appearance at the tournament, they had nearly produced a huge upset.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
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Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Cabo Verde came close to one of the biggest (1) in World Cup history when they faced Argentina in Miami.
This was Cabo Verde's first World Cup, while Argentina entered the tournament as the (2) champions. Argentina were also led by Lionel Messi, one of football's greatest players and the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.
Argentina took the (3) after the first hydration break. Messi controlled a long pass and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Vozinha. The goal was Messi's 20th at a World Cup.
After halftime, Argentina had most of the (4) , but Cabo Verde equalized. One of their players received the ball in the penalty area and scored to make it 1-1.
Vozinha then made several important saves, and the match went to extra time. Argentina quickly took the lead again with a powerful shot from close range. But Cabo Verde refused to give up and scored with an excellent (5) shot from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-2.
With ten minutes left, Messi sent a corner into the penalty area. The ball hit a Cabo Verde defender and went into the net, giving Argentina a 3-2 (6) and a place in the Round of 16.
Cabo Verde's World Cup journey was over, but in their first appearance at the tournament, they had nearly produced a huge upset.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Cabo Verde almost beat a much stronger team. Correct answer
- Argentina won a dramatic World Cup match.
- Messi scored an important goal for Argentina.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Cabo Verde were playing in their first World Cup. TRUEFALSE True
2. Argentina scored their first goal before the first hydration break. TRUEFALSE False
3. Cabo Verde made the score 1-1 after halftime. TRUEFALSE True
4. Argentina won the match by two goals. TRUEFALSE False
Put Events in Order
Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.
- 1 Cabo Verde lined up to face Argentina in the World Cup.
- 2 Messi scored after the first hydration break to give Argentina the lead.
- 3 Cabo Verde equalized after halftime to make it 1-1.
- 4 Both teams scored in extra time, and the match became 2-2.
- 5 Argentina won late when Messi's corner led to an own goal.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):
- Both teams scored in extra time, and the match became 2-2.
- Cabo Verde lined up to face Argentina in the World Cup.
- Argentina won late when Messi's corner led to an own goal.
- Messi scored after the first hydration break to give Argentina the lead.
- Cabo Verde equalized after halftime to make it 1-1.
- Cabo Verde lined up to face Argentina in the World Cup.
- Messi scored after the first hydration break to give Argentina the lead.
- Cabo Verde equalized after halftime to make it 1-1.
- Both teams scored in extra time, and the match became 2-2.
- Argentina won late when Messi's corner led to an own goal.
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Why was the match surprising?
a) Cabo Verde almost beat Argentina.Correct
b) Messi played in the match.
c) Cabo Verde lost in Miami.
2. How did Argentina score their first goal?
a) Messi scored from a corner.
b) A defender scored an own goal.
c) Messi scored after a long pass.Correct
3. What happened after Cabo Verde made the score 2-2?
a) Argentina scored again.Correct
b) Cabo Verde scored again.
c) Messi left the game.
4. What does the article say about Cabo Verde at the end?
a) They nearly caused an upset.Correct
b) They reached the final.
c) They beat Argentina easily.
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. Takef) the lead
2. Levele) the score
3. Keepd) possession
4. Goc) into extra time
5. Refuseb) to give up
6. Producea) a huge upset
a) a huge upset
b) to give up
c) into extra time
d) possession
e) the score
f) the lead
Discussion Builder
1) Reason 2) Contrast 3) Opinion
Q: Why did most people expect Argentina to win the match?
A:Q: Do you prefer to watch a close game or an easy win for one side?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Why did most people expect Argentina to win the match?
A: Most people expected Argentina to win they were the defending champions.
and / because / but / so
Most people expected Argentina to win because they were the defending champions.
Argentina looked stronger on paper, Cabo Verde still made the match very close.
because / so / but / and
Argentina looked stronger on paper, but Cabo Verde still made the match very close.
Q: Do you prefer to watch a close game or an easy win for one side?
A: close games are more exciting than easy wins.
I think / But, / Also, / For example,
I think close games are more exciting than easy wins.
Sentence Unscramble
Sentence Unscramble
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A. Cabo Verde B. because C. would feel proud D. they pushed E. Argentina F. I think G. so close.
I think Cabo Verde would feel proud because they pushed Argentina so close.
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A. are more exciting B. close games C. easy wins, D. for me E. to watch. F. Compared with
Compared with easy wins, close games are more exciting for me to watch.
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A. with courage. B. support underdogs C. they play D. many fans E. when F. In my country,
In my country, many fans support underdogs when they play with courage.
Discussion Questions
- Did you watch Cabo Verde vs Argentina? How was it?
- Why did most people expect Argentina to win the match?
- Do you prefer to watch a close game or an easy win for one side?
- How would you rank Messi among all-time football players?
- Do you enjoy stories where the weaker team almost wins? Why or why not?
- How would Cabo Verde's players feel after this match?
- Do you think teams in their first World Cup can play with less pressure? Why?
- What kind of match do you prefer: many goals or strong defense?
- Why do people like to see an underdog do well?
- Which sport is the most exciting to watch? Is it football or another sport?
Discussion Questions
- Did you watch Cabo Verde vs Argentina? How was it?
- Why did most people expect Argentina to win the match?
- Do you prefer to watch a close game or an easy win for one side?
- How would you rank Messi among all-time football players?
- Do you enjoy stories where the weaker team almost wins? Why or why not?
- How would Cabo Verde's players feel after this match?
- Do you think teams in their first World Cup can play with less pressure? Why?
- What kind of match do you prefer: many goals or strong defense?
- Why do people like to see an underdog do well?
- Which sport is the most exciting to watch? Is it football or another sport?
Answers
Think Ahead: c
Listening: (1) surprises, (2) defending, (3) lead, (4) possession, (5) curling, (6) win
Main Idea: Cabo Verde almost beat a much stronger team.
True or False:
- True. The second paragraph says this was Cabo Verde's first World Cup.
- False. The third paragraph says Argentina took the lead after the first hydration break.
- True. The fourth paragraph says Cabo Verde equalized after halftime to make it 1-1.
- False. The sixth paragraph says Argentina won 3-2 after a late own goal.
Multiple Choice: a, c, a, a
Put Events in Order:
- Cabo Verde lined up to face Argentina in the World Cup.
- Messi scored after the first hydration break to give Argentina the lead.
- Cabo Verde equalized after halftime to make it 1-1.
- Both teams scored in extra time, and the match became 2-2.
- Argentina won late when Messi's corner led to an own goal.
Vocabulary:
- Take: the lead
- Level: the score
- Keep: possession
- Go: into extra time
- Refuse: to give up
- Produce: a huge upset
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast. 3) Opinion.
- because
- but
- I think
Sentence Unscramble:
- I think Cabo Verde would feel proud because they pushed Argentina so close.
- Compared with easy wins, close games are more exciting for me to watch.
- In my country, many fans support underdogs when they play with courage.