英國首相托尼.布萊爾在參加一個廣播節目時大談世界盃與英格蘭隊。

　　布萊爾首相建議英格蘭隊放鬆心情來迎接接下來的比賽。“他們只需要出現在賽場上並且享受足球就行了。”

　　當被問及英格蘭隊前兩場並不那麼漂亮的勝利的看法時，布萊爾説道：“如果你不能將足球踢好的話，那麼你將不會贏得世界盃。因為最後比賽要面對的球隊總是十分出色。”

　　布萊爾呼籲全國都來支持英格蘭隊戰勝瑞典隊。“在這個時刻我們的支持非常重要。對瑞典隊的比賽將是英格蘭隊本次世界盃迎來的第一個重大挑戰。”

　　布萊爾相信英格蘭隊能最後奪得世界盃，並且對英國球迷到目前為止的良好表現感到滿意。

　　有聽眾問布萊爾倘若英格蘭隊事隔40年後重奪世界盃，他是否會批准一個全國假日。布萊爾回答道：“我不敢保證。批准一個全國假日手續很多，還是先贏得世界盃再説吧！”

　　鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-wcupnotebook&prov=ap&type=lgns

　　原文：England's top fan chimes in

　　By DAVID MORDKOFF, Associated Press Writer

　　June 20, 2006

　　British Prime Minister Tony Blair traded politics for soccer in a guest appearance on a call-in radio show for World Cup fans.

　　Blair advised that England's team needed to relax in order to be successful in upcoming matches.

　　"They just need to get out there and enjoy their football," he said Monday.

　　Asked about England's two unimpressive victories so far in Group B, Blair said: "If you don't play good football, then you won't win (the trophy) because in the end you're up against sides who are too good."

　　Blair was appearing on BBC Radio Five Live to take questions from callers to the "606" show.

　　Blair, a supporter of English Premier League team Newcastle, urged the country to support England in the time leading up to Tuesday's game against Sweden.

　　"At this stage the most important thing is we get behind the team," Blair said, warning that the Sweden match would mark "the first time we've had a really, really testing time from the opposition."

　　The prime minister believed England could win the tournament, and that the England players "only produce their best when they're up against it."

　　Called "Tony" by many callers to the show, Blair also praised the peaceful conduct so far of English fans at the World Cup.

　　Blair was asked if he would make sure the English got a public holiday if their team won the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

　　"I can't because there's a whole set of protocols you have to go through," he answered, before adding: "Let's win first."

　　作者-寧江亮--北京外國語大學英語

責編：佟杉杉