World Cup players must sing national anthem
Try easier levels of this lesson: Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2.
The reading
The coach (manager) of the England soccer team has told his players they must sing their national anthem before each game at the FIFA World Cup. The tournament kicks off in Brazil on June 12th. The first game is the hosts Brazil against Croatia. The eyes of the world will be on the month-long event and the England coach wants people to see the pride his players have to be playing for their country. The coach, Roy Hodgson, said he wants his players to be "loud and proud". Mr Hodgson told reporters: "We are happy to be wearing that England shirt. We are proud to be England players…so when the national anthem comes up, it's an obvious one for me that we sing it."
Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)
In the past, many England players have not sung their national anthem before games. Hodgson introduced it for his teams when he became England manager two years ago. He said: "They've been doing it for two years and perhaps we need to remind them, as the squad has changed so much." He was a little worried that not all the players know all the words to Britain's national anthem, called "God Save The Queen". He said: "We're great until the second verse comes along because we don't really know that." The manager wants his players to show the same passion as other teams. He said: "You very rarely play an international match against opponents who haven’t got their hands on their hearts."
Sources:
- http://www.express.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/479608/Roy-Hodgson-My-boys-will-be-in-tune
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2645597/England-players-told-passion-belting-national-anthem-matches.html
- http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27658211
