France Loses to Italy, Zidane's First Defeat as Coach
Listen to the story
France played Italy in a football match. Italy won the game. This was the first loss for France under their new coach, Zinedine Zidane. Zidane is a famous former French player. Now he is the coach of the national team.
The match was in Milan, Italy. Fans in the stadium whistled during the French national song. This happens sometimes at big matches. It shows fans are not happy with the other team.
Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma played very well. People praised his skill in the match. A goalkeeper stops the ball from going into the goal.
This match was part of the Nations League. It is a big football competition between European countries. France still has a chance to go to the next round. They must play Turkey next. If France wins, they can reach the quarter-finals. This is an important stage in the competition.
Vocabulary15 words
- football
- a sport played with a ball and two teams
- coach
- a person who trains a sports team
- whistled
- made a loud sound to show you do not like something
- goalkeeper
- the player who stops the ball from going into the goal
- Nations League
- a football competition between European countries
- competition
- an event where teams try to win
- quarter-finals
- one of the last eight matches in a competition
- defeat
- losing a game
- national team
- a team that plays for one country
- stadium
- a big place where sports games happen
- qualification
- winning a place in the next round
- skill
- being good at doing something
- famous
- known by many people
- round
- one part of a competition
- match
- a game between two teams
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Italy 2. It is Zidane's first defeat as coach 3. Turkey
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
France played Italy in a _____ match.
_____ won the game.
This was the first loss for France under their new coach, Zinedine _____.
The match was in _____, Italy.
Fans in the stadium _____ during the French national song.
Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi _____ played very well.
This match was part of the _____ League.
France must play _____ next.
If France wins, they can reach the _____.
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