Football meets film

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FOOTBALL is the order of the day as Euro 2008 enters another hot week of competition. Here are football films that show how closely film can imitate real life – or not.

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

In the movie: A former Shaolin monk reunites his five disciples to apply their superhuman martial arts skills to soccer, bringing kungfu to the masses. This is a story of teamwork. It shows how sports can turn an underdog into a winner.

On the pitch: Russia grabbed an unexpected place in the Euro 2008 semi-finals with a 3-1 extra-time win over the Netherlands on Saturday. In the quarterfinals, Russia's Andrei Arshavin, 27, played like the street vendor Steven Chow, saving the team with his special power. His beautiful goal brought back the rhythm and poise to Team Russia.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

In the movie: When British-Indian daughters become young adults who pick different paths for their lives, a true search for identity unfolds. With the women's European football league as the backdrop, this movie explores Jessminder's desire to be a professional player despite her parent's disapproval.

On the pitch: No one can bend and bank like Beckham, except perhaps for Michael Ballack. The 32-year-old Chelsea midfielder represents top brands such as Audi and Samsung. He is also a good husband and a father to three children. Unlike Beckham, however, Ballack met his wife Simone Lambe when she was a waitress in East Germany.

Gracie (2007)

In the movie: Gracie relives the loss of the family's oldest son Johnny to a car accident. In an effort to deal with her own grief and ease her family's sadness, Gracie pledges to fill her super-star brother's open spot on the soccer team. This is a must-see.

On the pitch: The 27-year-old Khalid Boulahrouz, known as the iron Dutchman, lost his prematurely born daughter just before his side played Russia in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals. The Netherlands squad wore black armbands to pay their respects to the baby. Unlike in the movie, they lost the match. When fans saw Boulahrouz playing for his country, they were deeply moved.

BONUS
Expressions
order of the day
最重要的事
Lending hands to people in Sichuan has become the order of the day since the earthquake hit the region in May.
帮助四川人民成为五月地震后最重要的事。
one-liner
简短而幽默的话，俏皮话
"The name's Bond, James Bond" is not only the secret agent's calling card, but now Britain's most memorable movie one-liner of all time.
"我是邦德，詹姆士邦德"不仅仅是这位秘密特工的自我介绍，它成为英国电影最让人印象深刻的招牌对白。
(take) a poke at sb
批评，挖苦某人
The young writer takes a poke at the government's refusal to sign the green pact with the neighboring nations.
年轻的作者批评政府拒绝同邻国签署环保协议。
undercurrent
(舆论和感情的)暗流
The invader sensed an undercurrent of resentment among the crowd.
不速之客在人群中察觉到一丝仇恨的暗流。
pick up on
发觉，注意到
The children pick up on the mother' worries and depression although she's hiding her feeling about her divorce.
虽然母亲掩饰着自己离婚的情绪，但是她的忧愁和压抑还是被孩子们察觉到了。

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