During these times of football euphoria, fans (болелщик – balélshik) want to cheer on their favorite team (любимая команда – lioubimaya kamanda), be it France, Russia or any other country. CREF has already got you covered so that you can properly enjoy this event (see this link: http://study-russian-in-russia.com/en/un-moment-foot/), and we propose here a few words that fill you with enthusiasm (энтузиазм – entousiasm) and so that you can come out a winner, as always, with Russian!
For major competitions, it’s absolutely not worth counting on beginner’s luck (уда́ча новичка́ – oudacha novichka)! Here, it takes everything to win (победить – pobedit) and luck doesn’t quite cut it (везучий – vеzoоchi). There’s also no question of compromising and concluding a win-win agreement (безпро́игрышная сде́лка – bezpro-igrishnaya zdelka); there can only be one winner (победи́тель – pabeditel). You’ve probably felt the same thing professionally, if you have ever participated in competitive bidding or a tournament.
On the field, as at is at work, being the best also means overcoming one’s own limitations. Victory over oneself (побе́да над собо́й – pabeda nad saboi) leads to surpassing one’s own self (превзойти́ са́мого себя́ – prevzaiti samava sibia). Of course, motivation (мотива́ция – mativatsia) and ambition (амби́ция – ambitsia) and thirst for glory (сла́ва – slava) are also decisive in achieving this (доби́ться э́того – dabitsa ètava). One must not forget, however, that nothing is possible without putting in the required effort (уси́лия – usilia), and if one really wants to achieve one’s goal, then it doesn’t pay to be discouraged at the appearance of obstacles; one must show determination (целеустремлëнность – tséléustremlionost) and perseverance (усто́йчивость – oustoïtchivost), qualities that also come in handy when learning Russian. Some will work tirelessly (рабо́тать неуста́нно – rabotat néustanno) in order make progress (прогре́сс – pragres), with unremitting zeal (рве́ние – rvénié). This is the way to perform real feats (соверши́ть настоя́щие по́двиги – savershit nastayashie podvigi).
In any competition (соревнова́ние – sorevnovaniye), each team will natural want to win (вы́играть – veegrit). While the support (поддержка – paderzhka) of one’s fans helps, a good training regime is even more effective (де́йственный – diéïstvenny). One sets clear targets (це́ли – tseli) to achieve good results (доби́ться хоро́ших результа́тов – dabitsa kharoshikh rezultatov). One needs to identify who is best (лу́чший/лу́чшая – luchshy / luchshaya) at what, and past successes (успе́хи – uspheykhi) can help one ascertain the quality (ка́чества – katchestva) of this or that player (игро́к – igrok).
Then comes the day of the encounter (состяза́ние – sostizanie). It’s important to get rid of all tension (изба́виться от напряже́ния – izbavitsa ot naprizhénia), overcome one’s fears (преодоле́ть страх – preadalet strakh), to remain focused (сосредото́читься – sasrédatochitsa), concentrate on the game and on one’s teammates (това́рищи по кама́нде – tavarishi pa kamande), because a victory is always a collective (коллекти́вная – kalektivnaya) effort in team sports, similar to how it often is at work. During the game, one waits for that hallowed moment when a player breaks through (проры́в – praryv) the rival team’s defenses, scores a girl (заби́ть гол – zabit ‘gol), or wins the match (одержа́ть побе́ду – aderjat pabédu).
And despite the struggle (стара́ния – starania), despite all the training (подгото́вка – padgatovka), all the shouts (кри́ки – kriki) of support from the fans, one cannot deny that luck (уда́ча – luck) certainly plays a role in achieving victory (побе́да – pabéda). Good fortune (везе́ние – vézénié) sometimes accompanies a team throughout the entire tournament. Sometimes, though, it’s quite the opposite, and one goes through a bad streak (чëрная полоса́ – chornaya palassa), but stays silent so as to avoid being jinxed (сгла́зить – sglazit). We all eagerly await impressive feats (достиже́ния – dastizhénia) and skill (уме́ния – uménia) from our favorite team. We also expect them to be at their peak (быть на высоте́ – byt na vysaté) in terms of performance. The result of each match (ито́г ка́ждого созтяза́ния – itog kazhdava sostiézania) reflects the merit (заслу́га – zasluga) of each team, which is why those who support fair play applaud impressive plays by both teams. All the same, though, everyone would like to see their team occupy the highest step on the podium (по́диум – podioum), so we end this by wishing everyone, “Good luck!” (удачи! – udachi!)