Podcast 36: The FA Cup semi finals

This week, the FA Cup semi finals is our main piece and we look at why all four teams are in it to win it. In addition we: Review the football news in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Introduce a new football expression in English for Football And continue the predictions battle in the Predictions competition For learners of English check out our new Football Language Resources page with: Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases) Worksheets and transcripts Vocabulary lists Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking on the icon Transcript This weekend the FA Cup semi-finals dominate the footballing scene in England, but a look at the four contenders seems to suggest that the romance has gone out of this competition. The four teams in the semis are all in the top six in the Premier League: Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton. And in the last 10 years, only one team from outside the 'Big Four' have won the trophy and that was last year when Portsmouth overcame Championship side Cardiff. While we shouldn't belittle the achievement of portsmouth in winning, and Cardiff in reaching, the finals in 2008, it did seem as though the teams contending for the Champions League or the Premier League title didn't care too much about the FA Cup. This year is very different. All four teams have reason to take these semis very seriously indeed. Let's start with Everton. The team from Merseyside have had to overcome some tough draws to get here - beating Liverpool, Aston Villa and Middlesboro in the last three rounds. They are still in the hunt for a Champions League spot, but that seems a bit unrealistic with Arsenal flying at the moment. Winning the FA Cup could be just what they need for all the progress they have made under their manager David Moyes. They face Manchester United and there is no love lost between the two sets of fans either, with the rivalry between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester. Manchester United of course are still chasing the quintuple. They have the Carling Cup and the Club World Cup already in the trophy cabinet and they are top of the league and through to the semi finals of the Champions League. It would be quite extraordinary if they could win all five. Also, they have been a little unconvincing recently and a loss in the semis might have a knock on effect for their push for the Premier League title. Despite the fixture pile up, they are in it to win it and have home advantage against Everton. Chelsea are also through to the Champions League final and are not far off the top of the Premier League, four points. Could they trump United with a treble? They won nothing last year and will be desperate to have something to show their fans at the end of the season. They are away at Arsenal and if they can go all the way they will have a quintuple of their own - five FA Cup wins. Arsenal are in a similar situation to Chelsea - they are in the Champions League semis - but there is less pressure on them as realistically the Premier League title is beyond them. They would go equal top of all time FA Cup winners with Man United if the win the semis and then lift the trophy in May on 11 times. The FA Cup semis and final will definitely be crackers!