外语寰宇

    来源：英语

    The first World Cup

    On 26 May 1928, at a meeting in Amsterdam, the Fifa congress decided that a new tournament open to all its members should be played. A year later in Barcelona it was agreed that Uruguay, the Olympic champions and the era's footballing superpower, should celebrate 100 years of independence by hosting the first World Cup the following year.

    Only 13 nations took part in the inaugural tournament, with a majority of nine coming from South America. All games were played in three stadiums in Montevideo and, as expected, the South American countries dominated, although the European teams did not disgrace themselves.

    Some 100,000 fans packed into the Centenario Stadium for the final on 30 July to see Argentina throw away a 2-1 half-time lead as Uruguay ran out 4-2 winners.

    Jules Rimet, the Fifa president and brains behind the World Cup, presented the trophy to winning captain Jose Nazassi and football's greatest tournament was born.

    After a pre-match row over which ball to use for the final, it is believed the Argentine ball was used in one half and the Uruguayan ball in the other. Rumour has it that this is how the phrase "a game of two halves" evolved.

    World Cup history - vocabulary

    Fifa congress

    The international organisation that controls football is Fifa, which stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association. A congress is a meeting.

    era

    This word is used to talk about a period of time in the past when something or someone is important.

    hosting

    If a country hosts the World Cup, then the competition is being played in that country.

    inaugural

    This adjective means the very first. It is mainly used when talking about special events and competitions.

    dominated

    If a team dominated it means that they were much stronger and they did much better than the others.

    did not disgrace themselves

    This expression is used to describe good performances by a team that isn't very strong. Although they are a weaker team and didn't win, they did play well.

    packed into

    This expression shows that the stadium was completely full, there was no extra space.

    brains behind

    When someone is described as the brains behind something, then it is that person's idea or plan.
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