PARAGRAPH,WORDS AND MEANINGS

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Topic Of The Day:-“Azzurri, fading: on the crisis in Italian football”

A month ago, when Holland failed to make it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, there was none of the shocked despair that hangs over Italy’s non-qualification following its defeat to Sweden in the two-legged play-off. Football in the Netherlands is facing its worst crisis and its fans have perhaps become used to under-performance. Since 1982, the team has failed to make it to the quadrennial extravaganza on four different occasions. Dutch footballers were always expected to thrill but not necessarily to win. Even the legendary Johan Cruyff didn’t bag football’s most coveted prize. But Italy is different. The Azzurri have always found a way, regardless of the circumstances. Italy went into the 2006 World Cup with a match-fixing scandal raging back home; it ended up lifting the trophy. Another scandal erupted ahead of the 2012 European Championship, but Italy emerged a worthy runner-up to Spain. Four years later, Italy went in with arguably its weakest squad ever but still outwitted reigning champion Spain and lost to Germany in the quarter-finals only on penalties. This is what makes the four-time champion missing out on the World Cup, for the first time since 1958, astounding. It is true that the qualification process left very little margin for error, with only the group topper earning a direct entry. Clubbed alongside Spain, Italy was always expected to come second and be in the playoff. Once there, it was unlucky to draw Sweden, the toughest of opponents. But even so, its performances have been truly worrying. Italian football has been stagnant for quite a while. In recent times the national team has even registered draws against novices such as Haiti and Luxembourg. There have been no credible replacements in sight for the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Alessandro Nesta. Only manager Antonio Conte’s brilliance saved the country at the 2016 Euros. There is such a dearth of emerging talent that in the first leg against Sweden, seven of Italy’s starting 11 were older than 30. Supporters even sought comfort in the team’s unblemished record at the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan, causing Pirlo to remark, “I’ve never seen a goal scored from the stands.” There is much to be blamed on current manager Giampiero Ventura. He repeatedly ignored players who were adept and schooled in modern-day tactical methods. Midfielder Jorginho, who has been excellent for Napoli, was only handed his debut against Sweden while forward Lorenzo Insigne, the most creative of the lot, was an unused substitute because the formation that Ventura used didn’t suit his best player. But history suggests Italy isn’t alone. Both Germany and France underwent similar turbulence before emerging stronger with a complete overhaul of their footballing structures. What Italy needs is similar soul-searching.

MEANINGS AND WORDS

1) Despair

Meaning: the complete loss or absence of hope.

Example: “a voice full of self-hatred and despair”

Synonyms: Desperation, Distress

Antonyms: Hope, Joy

2) Extravaganza

Meaning: An elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production.

Example: “an extravaganza of dance in many forms”

Synonyms: Spectacular, Display

3) Coveted

Meaning: Yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another).

Example: “I covet one of their smart bags”

Synonyms: Desire, Crave

4) Raging

Meaning: Continuing with great force or intensity.

Example: “the stream could become a raging torrent in wet weather”

Synonyms: Violent, Strong

Antonyms: Calm

5) Erupted

Meaning: Break out suddenly and dramatically.

Example: “fierce fighting erupted between the army and guerrillas”

Synonyms: Happen, Arise

6) Outwitted

Meaning: Deceive by greater ingenuity.

Example: “Ray had outwitted many an opponent”

Synonyms: Outplay, Outsmart

7) Reigning

Meaning: (of a quality or condition) be the dominant feature of a situation or place.

Example: “confusion reigned”

Synonyms: Prevail, Exist

8) Astounding

Meaning: Surprisingly impressive or notable.

Example: “the summit offers astounding views”

Synonyms: Amazing, Shocking

9) Clubbed

Meaning: Combine with others so as to collect a sum of money for a particular purpose.

Example: “friends and colleagues clubbed together to buy him a present”

Synonyms: Collaborate, Ally

10) Stagnant

Meaning: Showing no activity; dull and sluggish.

Example: “a stagnant economy”

Synonyms: Inactive, Slow

Antonyms: Active, Vibrant

11) Novices

Meaning: A person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation.

Example: “he was a complete novice in foreign affairs”

Synonyms: Beginner, Learner

Antonyms: Expert, Veteran

12) Dearth

Meaning: A scarcity or lack of something.

Example: “there is a dearth of evidence”

Synonyms: Lack, Scarcity

Antonyms: Abundance, Surfeit

13) Unblemished

Meaning: Not damaged or marked in any way.

Example: “her body was perfectly formed and unblemished”

Synonyms: Impeccable, Flawless

Antonyms: Flawed, Corrupt

14) Underwent -past of undergo

Meaning: Experience or be subjected to (something, typically something unpleasant or arduous).

Example: “he underwent a life-saving brain operation”

Synonyms: Experience, Undertake