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The Shenkerian
July 2010
The Shenkerian Cultural Magazine
Luglio 2010
The Shenkerian
July 2010
2
Summary
SOUTH AFRICA 3 INVICTUS BY CLINT EASTWOOD 8 INDEPENDENCE DAY - JULY 4 12 WORLD CUP WILL CHANGE SOUTH AFRICA 15 GRAZIE A SHENKER HO SUPERATO IL TOEFL! 18 LA STORIA DEL CALCIO 22 WORLD CUP 2010: FABIO CAPELLO BELIEVES HIS ENGLAND ARE READY 27
www.shenker.com
N. Verde: 800 098 532
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South Africa
Travelling
Overview Taken by lonelyplanet.com Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. It befits its position at the southern end of the world‟s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at. There‟s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa‟s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point, Kruger National Park‟s wildlife-stalked savannah (scene of the famous lion-buffalo-crocodile battle watched more than 40 million times on YouTube) and, running through the east of the country and into Lesotho, the Drakensberg. KwaZulu-Natal‟s iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone has five distinct ecosystems, attracting both zebras and dolphins. displays – mostra; waddling – trotterellanti, che camminano ondeggiando
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If you‟re interested in another kind of wildlife, hit the nightclubs on Cape Town‟s jumping Long St or sample African homebrew in a township shebeen (unlicensed bar). When it‟s time to reflect on it all, do it over seafood on the Garden Route, curry in Durban‟s Indian Area, a sizzling Cape Malay dish, or a braai (barbecue) in the wilderness – accompanied by a bottle of pinotage produced by the oldest wine industry outside Europe. Of course, it's impossible for travellers to South Africa to remain oblivious to the fact that, despite the rise of „black diamonds‟ (middle-class black folk), racial inequality persists here. Black and coloured townships face problems such as a horrific HIV/AIDS rate and xenophobic tensions caused by economic refugees from nearby countries. Nonetheless, South Africans are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous folk you‟ll encounter anywhere, from farmers in the rural north who tell you to drive safely on those dirt roads, to Khayelitsha kids who wish you molo („good morning‟ in Xhosa). Another point of unity in the diverse country is that, in malls and minibus taxis, bush pubs and shebeens, two popular topics of conversation are the 2010 FIFA World Cup and recent political upheavals. Most people believe that hosting football's mightiest tournament will be as great a moment for South Africa as its Rugby World Cup triumphs in 1995 and 2007. homebrew – birra fatta in casa; sizzling – caldissimo, bollente dish – piatto; face – affrontano; upbeat – ottimistici; upheavals – scompigli, turbolenze
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Top Ten South Africa Taken by nationalgeographic.com Cape Town Perched at the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Town hums with the energy of two cultures and unmatched natural beauty. From the brightly colored Bo-Kaap quarter to the regality of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, from the cape to the monolithic Table Mountain, it is rare that so many remarkable sights are found in such tight quarters. The Peninsula From the rugged wilderness of Table Mountain and the vineyard-covered hillsides of Groot Constantia, the peninsula stretches in scenic sandstone outcrops to the southwesternmost tip of Africa, to Cape Point of the Cape of Good Hope. The Atlantic Ocean surf batters the peninsula on the western side, while gentler, warmer waters in False Bay bathe its beaches on the eastern side. Little towns and beaches galore beckon. Darling and Its Wine Country A spectacular drive north from Cape Town on the R27, between the Cape Fold Mountains and the glittering Atlantic, to the village of Darling is the perfect weekend getaway. Visitors can explore the sights and wineries of this delightful town, spend time lolling on the beach in nearby Yzerfontein, or travel along the Swartland Wine Route. perched – inerpicata;hums – ferve; rugged – rocciosa; outcrops – affiora; galore – a bizzeffe; beckon – fanno cenno, richiamano l‟attenzione; getaway – fuga
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Port Elizabeth Known for its sunshine and safe, sandy beaches, Port Elizabeth stretches out along beautiful Algoa Bay of South Africa's southeastern coast, about 500 miles east of Cape Town. In 1820 some 4,000 British settled in Port Elizabeth (or PE, as the locals call it), and built graceful period homes, many of which still enhance the city center. Since that time, the settlement has grown into the fifth largest city in South Africa and become a major port. Wild Coast North along the Eastern Cape, between East London and Port Edward, stretches the largely unpopulated and beautifully untamed Wild Coast for some 218 miles. The shores with forested hills and plunging cliffs, wooded dunes and sandy beaches invite exploration. Along footpaths you will discover traditional Xhosa settlements and beachside villages. Durban Durban was named after the 19th-century English governor Sir Benjamin D'Urban. Until construction of the Suez Canal, England's ships traveled the long way around the cape, and Durban was a desirable stopover for civil servants and army officers heading toward or away from India. At one time Durban was nicknamed "the last output of the British Empire," and the colonial influence is evident in its Victorian cityscape. Kruger National Park The largest game reserve in South Africa. Nearly 4.8 million acres of wilderness, the Kruger stretches for 220 miles along the untamed – selvatica; plunging – vertiginose; cliffs – scogliere
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Mozambique border, from Crocodile River in the south to the Limpopo River in the north. It is 40 miles wide and comprises an area of some 7,700 square miles. Johannesburg Sitting on the Highveld 5,700 feet above sea level, Johannesburg is South Africa's most transformed city. Fighting a reputation of crime and danger, this largest of the country's cities (six million residents) boasts a mélange of cultures and languages, the result of apartheid's end as well as an influx of immigrants and refugees. Cradle of Humankind Under the burnt earth of western Gautang, a complex of dolomitic limestone caves contains the fossilized remains of our hominoid ancestors. This area is interesting geologically, but from a genealogical perspective, it's breathtaking. The Kalahari An unforgiving place of vast distances, silhouetted baobab trees, and a few nomadic San tribes, the Kalahari stretches along the border of Namibia. The name comes from the Tswana word kgala - great thirst. When you see the endless red dunes, sparsely punctuated with shrubs, the name makes perfect sense. limestone – calcare; shrubs – arbusti
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July 2010
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Invictus
by Clint Eastwood
Films
Plot by empireonline.com Struggling to make headway with mending a divided country, President Mandela (Morgan Freeman) fixes upon the idea of South Africa winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite white and black. So he gives their captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), a call.
Mandela and the Springboks by totalfilm.com Invictus kicks off with a prologue – that momentous day in February 1990 when Mandela was released after 27 years in jail. We see white teenage boys playing rugby on an impeccably manicured pitch. The camera lifts and pans across the road: black kids a few years younger playing an exuberant game of soccer on a wasteland. mending – ricucire; kicks off – inizia; pitch – campo; wasteland – terreno incolto
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A motorcade approaches: Mandela, newly released. The black kids crowd the fence, waving and cheering in delight. The white boys also line up on their side, watching in bemused, nervous silence. “This,” sneers their sports teacher bitterly, “is the day our country went to the dogs.” This opening gives a fair sample of what to expect from Clint Eastwood‟s film. It makes its point fast, vividly and without fuss. True, it won‟t win points for subtlety, and the camerawork‟s no more than functional. But then you don‟t come to Eastwood for frills. He has a story to tell, and he concentrates on telling it. Which isn‟t to say that Invictus is without its tedious moments. There are times in the mid-section when the action slows to an amble – and if you‟re none too keen on watching the crunch-and-grunt of rugby football, be warned that over half an hour of the film‟s two-and-a-quarter-hour running time is devoted to said sport, a full 20 minutes of it forming the climax. Because while there are elements of biopic and political drama, in essence Invictus is another entry in that much-loved Hollywood feel-good genre, The Little Team That Could. Mandela‟s resolve is the driving force, but the central story tells how the Springboks, South Africa‟s national rugby team, threw off their woeful lack of form and came from behind to combat New Zealand‟s all-conquering All Blacks in the 1995 World Cup final in Johannesburg. bemused – confusi, pensierosi; sneers – sogghigna; fuss – cerimonie, smancerie; frills – fronzoli; amble – passo lento; Springboks – South Africa‟s national rugby union team; woeful – triste, vergognosa
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So what‟s the connection between Mandela and the “game for hooligans played by gentlemen” as one character describes it? Simply this – having been elected president, Mandela seeks causes that can unite his dangerously divided nation. And, facing opposition from his own supporters, he picks the Springboks, an elitist white-boys‟ team and loathed symbol of apartheid. His plan, with the help of team captain Francois Pienaar, is to get the whole country, black and white alike, rooting for the ‟Boks. Damon‟s Pienaar seems oddly subdued: even his midmatch morale-boosters to his team pack only mild punches. Strongest support comes from Adjoa Andoh as Mandela‟s secretary Brenda, her loyalty tempered by ironic humour, and Tony Kgoroge as his chief of security Jason Tshabalala. The scene where Jason‟s obliged to accept into his team a posse of hard-faced goons from the Special Branch, for years his sworn enemies, exerts more tension than any of the rugger matches. This film? An undeniably stirring, if predictable, account of how Nelson Mandela turned the Springbok team into a unifying force for his country. Non-rugby fans may find their patience tested, but Freeman‟s magisterial performance carries it.
A documentary-style story by filmsinreview.com A tedious documentary-style bore. Eastwood‟s Mandela is a very kind man, but we never get to really know him. loathed – odiato; rooting for – fare il tifo per; goons – sicari stirring – commovente, emozionante
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Americans will never embrace rugby. It‟s much too violent for our children. Players wear only a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. I‟m not sure how rugby is played or scored but one thing is a fact: it looks like gang brutality with points. For the rest of the world, rugby is very important, and why not? There is no padding, helmets, or other expensive paraphernalia. It‟s soccer with punches. However, for South Africa, after renouncing apartheid and electing Nelson Mandela president, their lousy performance on the world‟s rugby stage takes center stage. Mandela rightly decides that he will bring South African blacks and whites together cheering for the national team, the Springboks, to win the World Cup. It‟s an enormous task, while Mandela‟s staff of blacks and whites sneer at each other. They must work to get along. We learn a lot about Mandela‟s security detail. What about the Mandela‟s combustible marriage and fractured family? It is as if a director would remove Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare‟s play! Instead, we get an unhappy daughter as Mandela‟s confidante and the Springboks white captain, Francois Pienaar, to champion his yearning for a win. Mandela wins Pienaar over by inviting him for tea. Unfortunately, director Eastwood never captured the hardships the country faced and still faces. Eastwood‟s South Africa in 1995 is picture-perfect dull. The whites, losing all power in the country, just gripe among themselves. Freeman never gets inside Mandela‟s psyche and it is not his fault. padding – fronzoli; lousy – schifosa; dull – monotono; gripe – lagnarsi
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Independence
day - July 4
Focus On
Also called the Fourth of July, in the United States Independence Day is the annual celebration of nationhood. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The Congress had voted in favour of independence from Great Britain on July 2 but did not actually complete the process of revising the Declaration of Independence, originally drafted by Thomas Jefferson in consultation with fellow committee members John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and William Livingston, until two days later. The celebration was initially modeled on that of the king‟s birthday, which had been marked annually by bell ringing, bonfires, solemn processions, and oratory. Such festivals had long played a significant role in the Anglo-American political tradition. nationhood – sentimento nazionale; drafted – abbozzata; fellow – colleghi; bonfires – falò
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Especially in the 17th and 18th centuries, when dynastic and religious controversies racked the British Empire (and much of the rest of Europe), the choice of which anniversaries of historic events were celebrated and which were lamented had clear political meanings. The ritual of toasting the king and other patriot-heroes - or of criticizing them - became an informal kind of political speech, further formalized in mid-18th century when the toasts given at taverns and banquets began to be reprinted in newspapers. In the early stages of the revolutionary movement in the colonies during the 1760s and early 1770s, patriots used such celebrations to proclaim their resistance to Parliament‟s legislation while lauding the king as the real defender of English liberties. However, the marking of the first days of independence during the summer of 1776 actually took the form in many towns of a mock funeral for the king, whose “death” symbolized the end of monarchy and tyranny and the rebirth of liberty. During the early years of the Republic, Independence Day was commemorated with parades, oratory, and toasting, in ceremonies that celebrated the existence of the new nation. These rites played an equally important role in the evolving federal political system. With the rise of informal political parties, they provided venues for leaders and constituents to tie local and national contests to independence and the issues facing the national polity. By the mid-1790s, the two nascent political parties held separate, partisan Independence Day festivals in most larger towns. Perhaps for this reason, Independence Day became the model for a series of (often short-lived) celebrations that sometimes contained more racked – tormentava; toasting – brindare; lauding – lodavano mock – finto
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explicit political resonance, such as Washington‟s birthday and the anniversary of Jefferson‟s inauguration while he served as president (1801–09). The bombastic torrent of words that characterized Independence Day during the 19th century made it both a serious occasion and one sometimes open to ridicule - like the increasingly popular and democratic political process itself in that period. With the growth and diversification of American society, the Fourth of July commemoration became a patriotic tradition which many groups - not just political parties - sought to claim. Abolitionists, women‟s rights advocates, the temperance movement, and opponents of immigration (nativists) all seized the day and its observance, in the process often declaring that they could not celebrate with the entire community while an un-American perversion of their rights prevailed. With the rise of leisure, the Fourth also emerged as a major midsummer holiday. The prevalence of heavy drinking and the many injuries caused by setting off fireworks prompted reformers of the late 19th and the early 20th century to mount a Safe and Sane Fourth of July movement. During the later 20th century, although it remained a national holiday marked by parades, concerts of patriotic music, and fireworks displays, Independence Day declined in importance as a venue for politics. It remains a potent symbol of national power and of specifically American qualities - even the freedom to stay at home and barbecue. Text taken by britannica.com bombastic – ampolloso, altisonante; seized – si impadronivano leisure – tempo libero
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World Cup will
change South
Africa
Focus On
Published: 10/05/2010 By the official site: sa2010.gov.za The FIFA 2010 World Cup will forever change the world‟s perception of South Africa says President Jacob Zuma. Addressing the Tourism Indaba opening ceremony in Durban on Saturday, Zuma said it is in the hands of South Africans to make the soccer spectacle kicking off on 11 June the best one ever. “It is in our hands to unite our country, our continent and the world in a footballing feast. It is in our hands to recast our country as a nation of peace, a place of prosperity and a mainstay of progress on the African continent,” said Zuma. Zuma said the Indaba has for the past 20 years showcased the country‟s natural beauty and its friendly people adding that it has also ensured that this year, the country breaks the 10 million mark for tourist arrivals. addressing – tenendo il discorso; recast – rimodellare, rilanciare mainstay – pilastro; showcased – mostrato, messo in vetrina
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He said scores of tourists are expected to arrive in the country during the tourism low season and that the expected influx of people has led to the upgrading of facilities and skills in the tourism sector that will continue to exist even after the World Cup. He further welcomed the 3.6 million job opportunities that will be created by the month-long spectacle. “The World Cup has not only revitalised our economy, but also given impetus to infrastructural development and job creation,” he said. One of the benefits of the upcoming spectacle is the revitalization of the public transport network with over 9.6 billion dollars already having been spent on road infrastructure. The other benefit is the Rea Vaya bus service operating between Johannesburg and Soweto transporting 20,000 people a day. “It is this legacy that impacts upon the lives of the poorest of the poor that is most meaningful to us,” said Zuma. By 2020 South Africa will have over 85 percent of any city‟s population living within a kilometre of an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network feeder or corridor. Zuma also highlighted the legacy of the five brand new stadiums, calling them the crown jewels of the World Cup. “Together with our other five refurbished venues, they glitter across our landscape, a permanent legacy of the FIFA 2010 World Cup,” he said confessing that the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban is one of his favourites. upgrading – modernizzazione; skills – abilità, capacità; further – inoltre; legacy – lascito, eredità; feeder – raccordo; refurbished – rinnovati; venues – luoghi, attrazioni
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“We are geared up to demonstrate to all that we will deliver the best soccer world cup ever. But a soccer game is only 90 minutes, the major part of our visitors'' time will be spent in your hands,” he said. geared up – equipaggiati
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Grazie a Shenker
ho superato il
TOEFL!
di Fabio Orlando
Interview
Valerio Bonetto, 22 anni. Studente universitario, Shenker di Vimercate. Livello raggiunto: 25. Valerio Bonetto, giovane di 22 anni, studia ingegneria gestionale presso il Politecnico di Milano. Attraverso le sue parole riusciamo a tracciare un ottimo profilo qualitativo del Metodo Shenker, servito nello specifico per superare brillantemente l‟esame Toefl. Appartenere ad una classe ha rappresentato per Valerio, ragazzo a suo dire piuttosto introverso, anche un modo per sciogliersi notevolmente con la lingua e allacciare rapporti interpersonali con gli altri componenti del gruppo. Questo gli ha permesso di “buttarsi” con maggiore enfasi nelle situazioni più complicate e riuscire a cavarsela con più dimestichezza e padronanza dell‟inglese. Anche lui, come tanti, è un grande sostenitore del Metodo Shenker.
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Quali sono i vantaggi di seguire un corso in classe, e non individuale? Riuscire a rapportarsi con gli altri. Dopo aver studiato da solo per preparare la lezione riesco a migliorare il mio inglese parlato attraverso il dialogo e la conversazione in classe. All‟inizio pensavo di non sciogliermi più di tanto, visto che potrei definirmi piuttosto timido e riservato, col tempo però ho imparato a relazionarmi con maggiore facilità, ottenendo degli ottimi risultati sia in termini di rapporti umani sia da un punto di vista linguistico. Quante persone siete in classe? Siamo in 5, me compreso. Sono tutte persone simpatiche e alla mano, ho instaurato con loro un ottimo rapporto, anche perché condividiamo lo stesso obiettivo e siamo tutti allo stesso livello. Quando ti sei sentito padrone della lingua? Non posso ancora dire di essere padrone della lingua! È una conoscenza che si sta evolvendo con il tempo. Sicuramente ho acquisito maggiori capacità linguistiche e arricchito il mio vocabolario. Riesco a capire sia dialoghi sia testi scritti in inglese. E non è poco! Il tuo percorso Shenker: punto di partenza e traguardo… Ho iniziato partendo dal livello 15, un primo corso. Fino ad allora il mio inglese era piuttosto scolastico. Ora ho appena fatto il lex 25, ma non mi fermerò qui! Cosa ti ha dato il Metodo Shenker?
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Intanto grazie allo Shenker ho superato il Toefl, motivo che inizialmente mi ha spinto ad iscrivermi al corso. Poi ho visto che il mio inglese migliorava di settimana in settimana. In termini di meriti quali sono quelli che ti senti di attribuire al Metodo? Le cose che caratterizzano il Metodo stesso: prove settimanali, sia scritte che orali, quindi costanza nell‟apprendimento. Se ti applichi riesci in poco tempo a fare dei grandi passi in avanti. Nel caso della classe c‟è poi il dialogo, il confronto con gli altri. Direi eccellente la disponibilità da parte del corpo docente. Gli insegnanti sono fantastici! Ti danno maggiore sicurezza, correggono errori e lacune. Il tuo vocabolario? Da quando studio Shenker ho notato di averlo arricchito notevolmente. Non solo, anche la pronuncia! Inizialmente non riuscivo a capire l‟importanza delle prime quattro lezioni di fonetica, invece mi hanno aiutato parecchio a comprendere e parlare meglio la lingua. Qual è secondo te l’età giusta per iscriversi presso una delle nostre scuole? Personalmente credo il prima possibile. Nel mio caso, se tornassi indietro l‟avrei frequentato anche durante il liceo. In che misura ti ha aiutato nel tuo studio universitario? Tantissimo. Sono uno studente di ingegneria gestionale e in molte lezioni si utilizzano terminologie in lingua originale. Solo ora riesco a comprendere ogni cosa avendo ampliato il mio vocabolario. Inoltre
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studiando e preparando le lezioni di scritto e orale settimanalmente mi tengo allenato. Perché hai deciso di iscriverti ad un corso Shenker e come sei venuto a conoscenza della nostra scuola? L‟inglese è sicuramente una materia di formazione fondamentale. Al giorno d‟oggi è indispensabile conoscerlo soprattutto per entrare nel mondo del lavoro. L‟università poi mi richiedeva di superare il Toefl. Ho conosciuto lo Shenker mediante un amico che già lo frequentava e che mi ha parlato molto bene del Metodo e di come sia riuscito a migliorare l‟inglese. Poi, dopo aver visto un manifesto pubblicitario a Vimercate, ho scelto di iscrivermi. A questo punto ti chiedo: riusciresti a definire il Metodo Shenker in una parola? Affidabilità. È un Metodo affidabile che porta a risultati visibili. E se lo dice un nostro studente non possiamo che crederci!
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La storia del calcio
Sport
Il calcio è un linguaggio con i suoi poeti e prosatori Pier Paolo Pasolini
Introduzione
Il gioco del calcio non ha bisogno di presentazioni: tutti sanno che è uno sport in cui due squadre di undici giocatori si scontrano su un campo rettangolare in erba cercando di far entrare il pallone nella porta avversaria, una rete rettangolare sostenuta da due pali perpendicolari al terreno e da una traversa ad esso parallela. La semplicità delle sue regole, il fatto che non richieda attrezzature speciali, l‟adattabilità ad ogni situazione, ne hanno fatto lo sport più seguito a livello planetario. È sport olimpico dalla seconda Olimpiade moderna.
La storia antica
Questo sport è stato presente storicamente in tutte le culture ed in tutte le epoche. Chiamato con nomi diversi, declinato in un‟infinità di regole di volta in volta differenti, ha costellato tutta la storia dell‟umanità.
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Gli antichi Greci conoscevano un gioco chiamato episkyros o sferomachia, menzionato dal commediografo Antifane già dal IV sec AC. I Romani invece praticavano l'harpastum (strappare a forza), gioco nel quale due fazioni dovevano portare una palla oltre la linea di fondo avversaria, nel quale prevaleva l'aspetto antagonistico rispetto a quello agonistico. Veniva giocato con un pallone ripieno di stracci o di pelle su terreni sabbiosi da due squadre di ugual numero di giocatori. Nell‟antichità questo gioco era un misto dei moderni calcio e rugby. Per il carattere virile della competizione, fatta di continui corpo a corpo e di lotte serrate, l'harpastum ebbe grande successo soprattutto tra i legionari che contribuirono alla sua diffusione nelle varie zone dell'Impero Romano. Cicerone narra di un curioso ma tragico evento: durante una partita di harpastum, una palla finì inavvertitamente nel negozio di un barbiere, ed un malcapitato morì con la gola tagliata dal rasoio.
We've got the best football team in the country unbeaten and no goals scored against us!' 'How many games have you played?' 'The first one's next Saturday.'
Ma è l‟estremo oriente a vantare i più remoti precedenti del gioco del calcio: il giapponese kemari ed il cinese tsu-chu, che secondo alcune fonti affonda le proprie origini intorno al 2600 AC. Comune ai due sport era l'uso dei piedi, la presenza di una grossolana porta composta da due alberi o aste di bambù, e l‟utilizzo di una palla. Proprio il termine “chu” indica una palla di cuoio realizzata con vescica di animale gonfiata, oppure riempita di capelli femminili. Nel 500 AC il tsu-chu era utilizzato ai fini
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dell‟addestramento militare dell'esercito cinese, era quindi fatto praticare a tutti i soldati per addestrarne l‟efficienza fisica. Ma non finisce qui. In tutto il mondo lo sport del calcio è stato sempre praticato. Ad esempio nel 1586 un uomo della nave dell‟esploratore John Davis praticò una forma di calcio tra gli Inuit groenlandesi, chiamato aqsaqtuk. Nel 1610 invece, lo scrittore William Stratchey registrò un gioco simile al calcio tra i nativi della Virginia, il pahsaheman. In Italia, nel medioevo, il discendente dell‟harpastum romano fu il calcio fiorentino. Questo sport conquistò un gran numero di giovani fiorentini fin dalla seconda metà del Quattrocento; le squadre lo praticavano in ogni strada o piazza della città, ma per problemi di ordine pubblico si decise di restringerne la pratica solo nelle piazze più importanti. I “calcianti” erano soprattutto di origini nobili e vestivano sfarzose livree. Nel periodo del Carnevale aveva molto successo, ma si praticava tutto l‟anno. La partita più famosa è stata giocata il 17 febbraio 1530, quando i fiorentini assediati dalle truppe imperiali di Carlo V giocarono noncuranti in piazza Santa Croce. A questa partita si ispirano le suggestive rievocazioni storiche moderne. La popolarità del gioco si protrasse fino all‟inizio del Settecento per poi vivere un lento declino che lo portò alla scomparsa. L'ultima partita ufficiale venne disputata nel gennaio del 1739 nella piazza di Santa Croce, alla presenza della futura imperatrice d'Austria Maria Teresa.
La storia moderna La patria del calcio moderno è indubbiamente l‟Inghilterra: nel 1848, all'Università di Cambridge, H. de Winton e J.C. Thring
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organizzarono una riunione con altri dodici rappresentanti di Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester e Shrewsbury. L'incontro durò otto ore e produsse come risultato le regole basilari del calcio, in opposizione a quelle del rugby. La consacrazione ufficiale avvenne però qualche anno più tardi, il 26 ottobre 1863 sempre in Inghilterra, con la nascita della Football Association. In quella data il calcio iniziò ad assumere una sua ben distinta fisionomia, distinguendosi definitivamente dal rugby: la tradizione plurisecolare del gioco si fissò in un atto ufficiale: undici dirigenti di club e scuole londinesi, riuniti nella Free Masons Tavern sulla Great Queen Street, fondarono l‟associazione calcistica più antica del mondo del calcio. Lo sport ebbe subito un grande successo: veniva giocato nei college britannici come sport d'élite e le classi erano composte da dieci alunni, a cui si aggiungeva il maestro. Le regole di Cambridge, fissate nella Free Masons Tavern, dissiparono ogni dubbio che riguardava la parte del corpo con la quale colpire la palla: favorivano chiaramente il gioco con i piedi e permettevano il gioco con le mani solo nel momento in cui era necessario catturare un pallone chiaramente indirizzato in porta, come su un calcio di punizione diretto. L‟unica scuola che non accettò queste regole fu quella di Rugby, i cui rappresentanti erano chiaramente a favore di un gioco più fisico. Così i due sport si scissero in maniera definitiva. La prima squadra di calcio della storia fu fondata il 24 ottobre 1857 a Sheffield da Nathaniel Creswick: lo Sheffield FC. La città di Sheffield fu anche teatro della prima competizione ufficiale di questo nuovo sport: la Youdan Cup vinta dall' Hallam FC, il secondo club della storia.
The Shenkerian
July 2010
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Nel 1897 venne istituita a Londra la prima associazione di giocatori britannici, che si sarebbe trasformata poi nella potente PFA (Professional Footballer‟s Association), mentre nel 1888 si tenne il primo campionato inglese secondo la formula tuttora in vigore.
What happens to a footballer when his eyesight starts to fail. He becomes a referee.
Con il passar del tempo le regole dello sport presero forma: le misure delle porte furono definite nel 1875: 7,32 metri di larghezza e 2,44 metri d‟altezza. Le caratteristiche del pallone vennero stabilizzate successivamente: doveva essere di cuoio e con una circonferenza massima di 70 cm e minima di 68, con un peso massimo di 450 grammi e minimo di 410. La pressione doveva essere compresa tra le 0,6 e le 1,1 atmosfere. Nello stesso periodo si stabilirono le dimensioni del campo: la lunghezza minima era 90 metri, quella massima 120; la larghezza minima 45 metri, la massima 90. Il calcio intanto si espandeva a macchia d'olio: a partire dall‟Inghilterra ben presto divenne lo sport per eccellenza della working class andando al di là delle èlite. Divertente, semplice e stancante, era l'ideale per sfogarsi dopo una settimana lavorativa. I marinai inglesi lo portarono anche in Sudamerica, dove nacque una scuola spettacolare e divertente. Nel 1904 i rappresentanti di sette diverse associazioni nazionali europee quali Francia, Belgio, Olanda, Svizzera, Danimarca, Svezia e Spagna, si riunirono per fondare la FIFA “Fédération Internationale de Football Association”.
The Shenkerian
July 2010
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World Cup 2010:
Fabio Capello
believes his England
are ready
Sport
Published: 10/06/2010 By guardian.co.uk Fabio Capello believes England will be "in a perfect situation physically and psychologically" when their World Cup campaign begins in earnest on Saturday against the USA. Three weeks of intensive training at altitude, in Austria and at their Royal Bafokeng sports campus base, will culminate in the opening Group C game in Rustenburg. Capello has decided his line-up for what appears, on paper, to be England's hardest game in the group but will only tell the players, including the goalkeepers, a couple of hours before kick-off. The Italian is convinced his side are ready. "It's been a really long period before the first game, but I think we're fit now to play against the USA," he said. "I'm really happy with the training we made here and, therefore, the situation of the players. I'm upset in earnest – sul serio; fit – in forma; upset – preoccupato
The Shenkerian
July 2010
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with Rio's [Ferdinand] injury because any player dreams of playing in the World Cup, but this is the only problem that upsets me at the moment. "In the last few [friendly] games I was upset because I didn't see the spirit on the pitch. But I understand why because the players saw on television that a lot of other players were being injured in friendly games. For this reason, I think they missed tackles and got the ball back slowly. "It was like soft training and I don't like that too much. But, in training here in our camp, I saw everything I wanted to see. We've improved from when we started in Austria and improved a lot here. I'm sure that, in the game we will play versus the USA, we will be in a perfect situation physically and psychologically." James Milner missed training for a second successive day today, the midfielder laid low by a high temperature, which puts his participation on Saturday in doubt. That would suggest a starting place for Joe Cole on the left of midfield. All three goalkeepers – David James, Robert Green and Joe Hart – remain on tenterhooks as to who will begin against the USA. "I've decided [the goalkeeper], I know," Capello said. "I know the 11 that will play on Saturday, the names. I hope, over the next day in training, all the players will stay fit. We have improved a lot as a team since my first game [against Switzerland in February 2008]. We found the spirit, we found a lot of different systems of play during games, and we changed a lot. And a lot of the players know me better now." tackles – contrasti; midfielder – centrocampista; goalkeepers – portiere; on tenterhooks – sulle spine
The Shenkerian
July 2010
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Asked whether he expects Wayne Rooney to impose his qualities on the tournament, the England coach said: "I hope so. He is in a good moment. He has trained very well. He is another who has started scoring goals in training, and I hope he will play a fantastic World Cup." I hope so – lo spero
The Shenkerian
July 2010
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