Argentina will make it through to their first World Cup final in 24 years if they beat the Netherlands at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. Four years ago, many of Messi's Barcelona team-mates returned to Catalonia with a World Cup winners' medals and now he wants one of his own.
据国际足联官网7月8日报道,周三(7月9日)晚上,巴西圣保罗体育场将上演第二场半决赛。若能击败荷兰,阿根廷将在时隔24年后首度杀入世界杯决赛。四年前,梅西的众多巴萨队友带着南非世界杯的冠军奖牌荣归加泰罗尼亚。这一次,梅西也想拥有一枚属于自己的荣耀勋章。
"As a player winning a World Cup is the best there is," the Argentina captain said in an adidas interview published on AS. "It's something you dream about when you are a kid and it never disappears.
“作为一名球员,能够捧起世界杯是最棒的事。”在阿迪达斯官网发布的一则代言访谈中,阿根廷队长梅西谈论道。“这是足球运动员从小就深植心中的梦想,从未磨灭。”
"I have asked my Barcelona team-mates Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta and (Gerard) Pique what it is like to lift the trophy, and they couldn't explain. We will do everything to make this dream a reality. To play a World Cup final with the great atmosphere of the Maracana is something what every player dreams of, but first we have to make sure we get there."
“我曾经问过巴萨队友哈维、伊涅斯塔还有皮克,捧起大力神杯的那一刻究竟是什么感觉,他们都难以言表。我们会拼尽全力实现这一梦想。在伟大的马拉卡纳球场踢世界杯决赛,这是每位球员都梦寐以求的事,但在这之前,我们要保证能够闯入决赛。”
Argentina will, of course, be banking on their talisman to deliver that bit of magic to beat Louis van Gaal's Netherlands, who have been one of the toughest teams to beat at the World Cup. Alejandro Sabella poetically summed up what Messi means to his side after the narrow quarter-final win over Belgium. "He was our water in the desert," Sabella said, reflecting on a first half in which Messi shone while others around him struggled.
毫无疑问,阿根廷将期望落在了护身符梅西身上,希望他能在球场上续写神奇,将荷兰“范家军”送回家。不过,范加尔率领的这支队伍是本届世界杯最难打的对手之一。在四分之一决赛中险胜红魔比利时后,萨维利亚用富有诗意的语言形容了梅西对本队的重要性。“他就像我们在沙漠中渴望的一汪清泉。”他借这番话回顾了上半场全队的表现,梅西自然星光熠熠,其他球员则步履艰难。
Messi, who has scored four of Argentina's eight goals, could still end the tournament as top scorer, but he is not concerned about individual accolades. This is a team game, he insists. "I'd prefer the World Cup than the golden boot. Always," he said.
此前阿根廷队的八粒进球,有四粒是梅西所赐,他也成为本届世界杯蓝白军团的头号射手。不过,他的关注点并非个人荣誉。他强调,足球是团队协作的运动,“和金靴奖相比,我更向往世界杯。一直都是如此。”
"I am only concentrating on the team. If we concentrate on our own game and we prepare ourselves tactically then our football will do the talking. If I keep scoring goals and that helps the team then that is the most important thing."
“我现在唯一专注的就是团队合作。一旦我们集中精力踢好比赛,并在战术上做好充分准备,球队的表现就会证明我们的实力。如果我能继续进球,并帮助球队取得领先,那么这就是我接下来最重要的任务。”
If Messi was feeling any nerves on the eve of the semi-final in Sao Paulo then he was not showing it. "I am feeling positive pressure," Messi said. "It's a great honour to be captain of Argentina. I want to pay back the trust given in me leading Argentina to the World Cup."
在半决赛即将在圣保罗球场鸣哨前夕,如果说梅西内心有所紧张,他也并没有表露出来。“我感觉更多的是一种积极的压力。”梅西说道。“对我来说,成为阿根廷队队长是无上的荣耀。只有带领球队夺得世界杯,才能回馈大家对我的信赖。”
Sabella has been boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero from a muscle injury for the semi-final. Angel Di Maria may be out, but impressive full-back Marcos Rojo returns from suspension.
6月26日,在对阵尼日利亚的小组赛中,阿奎罗(Sergio Aguero)肌肉拉伤。半决赛之前,他已确定伤愈复出。这一利好消息令主帅萨维利亚备受鼓舞。虽然“天使”迪马利亚在对阵比利时一役中右腿肌肉撕裂,伤别本届世界杯,不过,后卫罗霍(Marcos Rojo)在累计两张黄牌停赛之后即将强势回归半决赛。
(译者 helancheng 编辑 齐磊)