哥斯大黎加氣走紐西蘭
The stage is all set for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a valiant Costa Rican team sealed the final qualification spot against New Zealand on June 14.
勇猛的哥斯大黎加隊在6月14日對紐西蘭的比賽中取得最後資格後，2022年FIFA世界盃的陣容已成形。
valiant(adj.)英勇的;勇猛的;果敢的=very brave or bravely determined
Costa Rica, currently ranked 31st in the world, will join a tough Group E, which includes the likes of Germany, Spain, and Japan.
目前世界排名第31位的哥斯大黎加將加入陣容堅強的E組，包括德國、西班牙和日本等隊都在E組。
tough(adj.)困難的、棘手的、難對付的
Both European nations are expected to reach the later stages of the tournament.
預計這兩支歐洲隊伍都將挺進比賽的後期階段。
be expected to RV 期待、預計tournament(n.)錦標賽
The group stage draw has been particularly unkind to Japan, which was hoping to make it to the round of 16.
小組賽抽籤對希望晉級16強的日本來說尤其不利。
draw(n.)抽籤unkind(adj.)刻薄的;不友善的;不客氣的
The Japanese national team had successfully managed to rejuvenate their squad following the retirement of former international stars Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa.
在前國際足球明星本田圭佑和香川真司退役後，日本隊成功注入新血。
rejuvenate(v.)使回春、使恢復活力juvenile(adj.)青少年的juvenile crime青少年犯罪
Takumi Minamino (Liverpool FC), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal FC), and the Japanese contingent at Glasgow’s Celtic led by the impressive Kyogo Furuhashi could have hoped for more had Japan been drawn in a more balanced group, like South Korea’s Group H.
要是日本隊抽籤抽到實力更平衡的小組中，比如韓國隊所在的H組，那麼南野拓實（利物浦足球俱樂部）、富安健洋（阿森納足球俱樂部）以及表現令人驚豔的古橋恭吾率領的塞爾提克足球俱樂部日本球員陣容，將更能發揮實力。
FC=足球俱樂部(football club的縮寫)contingent(n.)代表隊;(軍隊的)小分隊could have V.pp與過去事實相反的假設had Japan been…=if Japan had been…
While Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is expected to top Group H, South Korea will indeed be relishing their chance against faltering Uruguay and Ghana.
羅納度率領的葡萄牙有望在H組中名列前茅，韓國隊極有可能對上搖搖欲墜的烏拉圭和加納，並握有優勢。
relish(v.)享受、喜歡falter(v.)步履蹣跚;搖搖欲墜
Much will depend on national icon and living legend Son Heung-min, who was the joint Premier League top scorer for the 2021-22 season.
韓國隊的表現很大程度上將取決於國家偶像和傳奇人物Son Heung-min的表現，他是英超聯賽2021-22賽季最佳射手。
depend on 取決於、視～而定=be determined by…
The Taegeuk Warriors’ captain recently ranked third in the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 ranking behind K-pop phenomena BTS and Blackpink.
這位太極勇士隊隊長最近在「富比士韓國最具影響力名人40」榜排名第三，僅次於韓流天團BTS和Blackpink。
phenomenon(n.)(單數型)(尤指不尋常的或有趣的)現象phenomena複數型a natural phenomenon自然現象
South Korea and Japan are the sole East Asia representatives after China spectacularly crashed out during the World Cup Qualifiers following embarrassing defeats to lowly Oman and Vietnam.
在中國隊於世界盃預賽慘敗後段班的阿曼和越南，令人吃驚地被淘汰後，韓國和日本是唯一的東亞代表隊。
spectacularly(adv.)令人吃驚地crash out(在比賽中)被淘汰出局=be eliminateddefeat(n.)失敗、戰敗、落敗=failure
As always, though, no Asian team is expected to bring the trophy home.
不過，和往常一樣，預期沒有亞洲球隊能將獎盃帶回家。
trophy(n.)獎盃
Title holder France and South American giants Argentina and Brazil are the bookmakers’ and fans’ favorites to win the World Cup.
運彩組頭和球迷還是看好上屆冠軍法國和南美巨頭阿根廷和巴西會奪冠。
title holder冠軍;冠軍保持者bookmaker(n.)(尤指賽馬等的)賭注登記人