Japanese Referees to Officiate Brazil's First Match After World Cup
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Brazil's national football team has announced two upcoming friendly matches, against Australia and India, according to reports.
The first game after this year's World Cup will be officiated by a team of Japanese referees. No further details about the referee team have been given yet.
Along with the match news, Brazil also revealed the squad numbers its players will wear for these friendlies.
One major change is that Raphinha will now wear the number 10 shirt. This number was previously worn by Neymar, one of Brazil's most famous players.
In South American football, the number 10 shirt carries special meaning. It is usually given to a team's most creative or important attacking player.
The report also notes that both Brazil and Argentina are going through a generational change after the World Cup. This means older, experienced players are stepping back, and younger players are taking bigger roles on the team.
There has been public interest in who would receive the new number 10 shirt for Brazil, given the symbolic importance of the number.
With Raphinha now confirmed as the new number 10, fans will be watching closely to see how he performs in this new role during the upcoming friendlies against Australia and India.
Vocabulary5 words
- friendly match
- a game played for practice, not for a trophy
- referee
- a person who makes sure players follow the rules in a game
- squad number
- the number a player wears on their shirt
- generational change
- when a team's older players leave and younger players join
- symbolic
- having a special meaning beyond the normal use
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Japanese referees will officiate it 2. It is usually given to the most creative attacking player 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Brazil's national football team has announced two upcoming _____ matches, against Australia and India.
The first game after this year's World Cup will be officiated by a team of Japanese _____.
Brazil also revealed the _____ its players will wear for these friendlies.
Raphinha will now wear the number 10 shirt, previously worn by _____.
In South American football, the number 10 shirt carries special _____.
It is usually given to a team's most _____ attacking player.
Both Brazil and Argentina are going through a _____ after the World Cup.
Younger players are taking bigger _____ on the team.
Fans will be watching to see how Raphinha performs in this new _____.
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