Julián Álvarez: The 112th-Minute Thunderbolt
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EN: The Simple Past Tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. In this sentence, 'started' is the past tense form of the regular verb 'start' (verb + -ed), indicating that the action of beginning the journey took place and was completed in the past.
She started her new job last Monday.
EN: Adverbs of Manner (like 'very quietly') describe how an action is performed. They typically modify verbs and are often placed at the end of the clause. 'Quietly' is formed by adding '-ly' to the adjective 'quiet', and 'very' is an adverb of degree modifying 'quietly'.
He walked into the room very quietly so as not to wake the baby.
EN: In sports journalism, starting a tournament 'quietly' means a player did not attract much media attention or score many goals initially, contrasting with a dramatic or highly-publicized start. It often sets up a narrative of gradual improvement and ultimate triumph.
EN: The past perfect tense ('had gone') is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past ('said'). Here, it indicates that his progression happened during the event, prior to his statement about it.
She realized that she had left her keys at home.
EN: The reflexive pronoun 'himself' is used here as an intensive pronoun to emphasize that the subject ('He') personally made the statement.
The manager himself solved the customer's problem.
EN: The phrase 'from less to more' is a literal translation of the Spanish idiom 'de menos a más', commonly used in sports to describe a player or team that starts slowly or poorly but gradually improves and performs better as the tournament or game progresses.
EN: The Past Continuous Tense ('was growing') is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past, often emphasizing gradual development or change.
She was slowly adapting to her new school environment.
EN: The phrasal verb 'grow into' means to gradually become more comfortable, confident, or skilled in a particular role, situation, or activity.
It took some time, but he eventually grew into his role as team captain.
EN: The verb 'keep' followed by a gerund (verb-ing) is used to express that an action continues or is repeated. It highlights the ongoing nature of the activity.
She kept practicing the piano until she got the melody right.
EN: The conjunction 'while' is used to connect two actions happening at the same time. In this sentence, it contrasts the continuous winning of the team with the individual waiting of the player.
My brother was studying for his exams while I was watching television.
EN: The nickname 'Spider' (El Araña) was given to Álvarez in his childhood because when he dribbled, it seemed like he had more than two legs, making it almost impossible to steal the ball from him. This nickname has stayed with him throughout his professional career, and he often celebrates goals by mimicking a spider's web-shooting gesture.
EN: The simple past tense ('came') is used to describe a completed action that occurred at a specific time in the past. It is often accompanied by time expressions or adverbials of time, such as 'during the intense quarterfinal match'.
The decisive goal came in the final minutes of the game.
EN: The preposition 'against' is commonly used in sports and competitions to indicate opposition or the opponent team/player.
Argentina will play against England in the next round.
EN: In international football (soccer) tournaments like the World Cup, the knockout stage matches (such as quarterfinals and semifinals) carry immense pressure. The term 'quarterfinal' refers to the round of eight teams, where a single loss means elimination, making these matches particularly 'intense' for players and fans alike.
EN: The idiom 'hold one's breath' literally means to stop breathing, but figuratively it describes a state of intense anticipation, anxiety, or suspense where everyone is waiting silently for something dramatic to happen.
The crowd held its breath as the gymnast performed the difficult flip.
EN: Prepositional phrases of time and place (e.g., 'Deep in extra time', 'in the 112th minute') can be placed at the very beginning of a sentence to set the scene or establish the context before the main clause.
Late in the evening, after the rain stopped, the stars appeared.
EN: In football (soccer) tournaments, 'extra time' consists of two 15-minute periods played when a knockout match is tied after the regular 90 minutes. The 112th minute is deep in the second half of extra time, a period of extreme physical exhaustion and immense psychological pressure, making the moment highly dramatic.
EN: The verb 'strike' (past tense 'struck') is commonly used in sports contexts to mean hitting or kicking a ball with great force. 'Struck a shot' is a strong collocation in football (soccer) meaning to kick the ball towards the goal.
The striker struck a powerful shot that hit the crossbar.
EN: The word 'way' is used here as an adverb meaning 'far' or 'by a great distance' to emphasize the prepositional phrase 'outside the opponent's penalty box'.
The ball landed way past the boundary line.
EN: In football (soccer), the 'penalty box' (or penalty area) is the rectangular area in front of the goal. Scoring from 'way outside' this box is considered highly difficult and spectacular, often making such goals memorable highlights in major tournaments like the World Cup.
EN: The causative construction 'put + object + adjective/adverb' (e.g., 'put Argentina ahead') is used to describe causing someone or something to be in a particular state or position.
His hard work put him ahead of his competitors.
EN: The infinitive of purpose 'to reach' is used here to express the result or purpose of the action 'won 3-1'.
They trained hard to win the championship.
EN: In sports commentary, scores like '3-1' are spoken as 'three one' or 'three to one'. Reaching the 'semifinals' is a major milestone in tournament-style sports like the World Cup, representing the final four teams.
EN: The use of the infinitive 'to secure' expresses purpose or result. In this context, it functions as an adverbial of result, indicating that securing their place was the direct outcome of beating England.
She trained hard every day to win the gold medal.
EN: The simple past tense ('beat') is used to describe a completed action that took place at a specific time in the past.
Spain won the match after a dramatic extra time.
EN: The football rivalry between Argentina and England is one of the most famous and intense in international sports history, fueled by historic matches like the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal featuring Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal. Any match between these two nations carries significant cultural and emotional weight for fans.
EN: The phrase 'at just [age] years old' is used to emphasize that someone achieved something or reached a certain state at a surprisingly young (or sometimes old) age. 'Just' acts as an adverb of degree to highlight the youthfulness.
She became a college professor at just twenty-five years old.
EN: The word 'straight' is used here as an adjective meaning 'consecutive' or 'uninterrupted'. It is placed after the ordinal number (second) and before the noun it modifies to describe a sequence of events.
They won their third straight championship this year.
EN: In professional football (soccer), reaching a World Cup final is the pinnacle of a player's career. Doing so twice by the age of twenty-six is an extraordinary achievement, as the tournament only occurs once every four years. This highlights Álvarez's exceptional talent and the strength of the Argentina national team during this era.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'so' is used to connect two independent clauses, where the second clause represents the result or consequence of the first.
The weather was terrible, so we decided to stay indoors.
EN: The phrasal verb 'walk away with' is an idiomatic expression meaning to win or obtain something, often easily or as a prize.
She walked away with the first prize in the science fair.
EN: In football (soccer) tournaments like the World Cup, matches in the knockout stage cannot end in a draw. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, 'extra time' (two 15-minute periods) is played. The loser of the final match receives a silver medal, which, despite being a massive achievement, can sometimes feel bittersweet for the players who were so close to winning the championship.
EN: Present Perfect Tense (has achieved): Used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past but has a strong connection or relevance to the present moment.
She has already finished her project, so she can relax now.
EN: Idiomatic Phrasal Verb 'lie ahead of': Means to be in the future, waiting to happen or be faced by someone.
A bright future lies ahead of you if you keep working hard.
EN: In sports journalism, describing a young athlete as having great matches that 'still lie ahead' is a common way to emphasize their potential and longevity in the sport, especially after they have already achieved major milestones (like reaching a World Cup final) at a young age.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Gradually improving or increasing in intensity, quality, or performance over time.
An additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to decide the winner of a match that has ended in a draw.
To stop breathing temporarily, usually due to suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
The rectangular area in front of the goal in association football, within which the goalkeeper may handle the ball and certain fouls result in a penalty kick.
To be in the future; to be waiting to happen or be dealt with.