Learner podcast 5 – 2007~8

For our fifth learner's podcast we will look at the Republic of Ireland's chances in the Euro 2008 qualifying games. We hope you enjoy it. Try out our worksheets or online quiz to help you practice your listening and vocabulary skills. If you click on the audio when it is playing on an iPod you can see the transcript below as you listen. It's a great way to practice listening and fluency. Transcript Brendan: Hello, my name is Brendan Fitzpatrick, I live in Dublin and normally I would be at this weeka€™s games but I cana€™t make it this year so Ia€™ll be watching the games on television. Thata€™s two games coming up in the next ten days, Slovakia and The Czech Republic away, both games crucial for qualification. DF: How would you sum up the qualification campaign so far? Brendan: I think ita€™s fair to say that the Irish team struggled in the early part of the campaign. Therea€™s a new inexperienced manager in charge. The first game was away in Germany where they put up a credible performance but were beaten 1-0. Then went downhill after that when they were beaten 5-2 by minnows Cyprus and then they struggled to beat San Marino 2-1 so it was fair to say at that stage that many people were calling for Steve Stauntona€™s head but he stayed on and they played their next two games at home against Wales and Slovakia and they won both of them 1-0. So it means they are back in the qualifying campaign if they can get four points for the next two games. DF: So you mentioned Steve Staunton, the Irish manager, how would you rate Steve Staunton? Brendan: Well, he was brought in initially with Bobby Robson, the veteran manager, a former manager of England, whoa€™s also managed around Europe with Barcelona and PSV amongst others. But Bobby Robson got sick shortly afterwards and Steve Staunton was, more or less, left to manage on his own. Hea€™s really been learning on the job and finding his feet and I think people are starting to think that therea€™s light at the end of the tunnel and things are improving. DF: Now, Ireland are on an unbeaten run at the moment. Brendan: Thata€™s right, eight games unbeaten run at the moment, including a 4-0 victory in Denmark, which was unusual because this Irish team never normally wins away from home and this is the big albatross around the neck of the Irish football team. The last time they won a qualification match away from home against a top team was Scotland in 1989 before they qualified for the World Cup Finals in 1990. DF: Now they are away over the next week at Slovakia and The Czech Republic, what do you think? Brendan: Well, actually the manager himself curiously enough said that he felt the Slovakian game would be more difficult but traditionally the Czechs would be seen as the stronger team. So, the common perception is that Ireland need four points from these two games so one win and one draw. Wea€™ll take it wherever we get it but I feel that they have to probably beat Slovakia and then hope to get a point against the Czechs in Prague. DF: So do you think then overall that could be enough to see them qualify for the European Championships next summer? Brendan: Well, it still depends on results after that. It more or less gives them an opportunity to qualify then their next two games are at home to Cyprus and at home to Germany. After that Ireland play Wales away from home and it could be all on that final game against our Celtic cousins. DF: Now very briefly, who are the key players for Ireland this weekend? Brendan: One of the main key players for Ireland over the next two games will be the goalkeeper, Shay Given. Hea€™s probably one of the three world-class players that we have. Hea€™s been consistent in The Premiership for the last seven years and hea€™s bailed out the country on numerous occasions. DF: Finally Brendan, give us a prediction for the match in Slovakia. Brendan: Well, I am going for a narrow Republic of Ireland victory, 2-1. I think we might concede a goal but at the moment with Robbie Keane of Tottenham and Kevin Doyle of Reading playing up front, they seemed to have gelled quite well, and I think we might just sneak a win and hopefully the draw then against The Czech Republic on Wednesday but ita€™s going to be very difficult. Most Irish fans are pretty realistic, despite the fact that all football fans are optimists, they realise that it will be tough to get four points but, you know, footballa€™s a funny old game.