中英對照讀新聞》Japan fly in under radar to make case for World Cup glory 日本鴨子划水 自證能爭取世界盃榮耀

◎張沛元

Japan have flown in under the radar to become the team to beat, along with England, at the Women’s World Cup and boasting the tournament’s leading scorer in Hinata Miyazawa.

日本隊在女足世界盃中悄然崛起，與英格蘭隊一起成為奪冠大熱門，並以擁有本屆賽事頭號得分選手宮澤日向為傲。

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The United States, the holders, and a European contingent led by continental champions England were touted as title contenders going into the World Cup.

上屆冠軍美國隊與以歐洲盃冠軍英格蘭隊為首的歐洲隊伍，原被吹捧最有希望拿下今年女足世界盃的冠軍。

Nobody was talking about Futoshi Ikeda’s Japan, who are ranked 11th in the world by FIFA.

沒有人談論由池田太領軍、在國際足球總會的世界排名中名列11的日本隊。

Even back home, expectations that they could pull off a repeat of their 2011 World Cup triumph were low.

即使是在日本國內，民眾也不太期待日本女足隊能重演2011年拿下世界盃女足冠軍的盛況。

新聞辭典

under (the/one’s) radar：片語，低調；無人知曉。例句：The candidate plans to stay under the radar until the scandal blows over.（這名候選人打算在醜聞平息之前保持低調。）

make a case for something：慣用語，為…提供充分的理由，說服。例句：The students made a strong case for stopping wearing uniforms to school so the school board agreed to change the rule.（學生們為不穿制服到校提供充分理由，校董會於是同意修改校規。）

The team to beat：片語，形容一支隊伍被公認為會取勝的奪冠大熱門。