The United States was given a cruel lesson in the fickle nature of 'soccer' after a nation newly converted to the joys of football had its hearts broken by an injury time equaliser.

據(jù)英國(guó)《每日電訊報(bào)》（Telegraph）6月23日?qǐng)?bào)道，近年來(lái)美國(guó)對(duì)足球的狂熱逐漸升溫。而在世界杯上與葡萄牙的對(duì)決中比分在傷停補(bǔ)時(shí)遭扳平，美國(guó)球迷傷心不已，也使美國(guó)在瞬息萬(wàn)變的足球場(chǎng)上得到了慘痛教訓(xùn)。

Millions of Americans watched with hearts in mouths as the US team overcame a one-goal deficit against Portugal to lead by two goals to one with 10 minutes to go, a result good enough to guarantee qualification to the knockout stages of the World Cup with a game to spare.

整場(chǎng)比賽讓數(shù)百萬(wàn)美國(guó)球迷的心都提到了嗓子眼。葡萄牙隊(duì)開場(chǎng)不久就領(lǐng)先1球，而美國(guó)隊(duì)在全場(chǎng)比賽還剩10分鐘時(shí)，將比分反超至2：1。雖然小組賽還有最后1場(chǎng)比賽，但目前這個(gè)結(jié)果本可以使美國(guó)隊(duì)直接出線。

But there were tears before bedtime as a 95th minute equaliser by Portugal's Silvestre Varela crushed the dreams of a nation where football as it is understood by the rest of the planet is definitely en vogue.

然而，在比賽進(jìn)行到第95分鐘時(shí)，葡萄牙選手西爾維斯特?瓦雷拉將比分扳平，使美國(guó)隊(duì)夢(mèng)想破滅。

Having long been immune to the rest of the globe's fascination with the beautiful game, the US appears to have embraced Brazil 2014 like no World Cup before it.

和世界上其他國(guó)家一樣，在美國(guó)足球絕對(duì)是一種時(shí)尚。而此前當(dāng)其他國(guó)家對(duì)足球這項(xiàng)美妙的運(yùn)動(dòng)迷戀不已時(shí)，美國(guó)則長(zhǎng)期對(duì)此不感冒。然而，對(duì)于2014年巴西世界杯，美國(guó)所表現(xiàn)出的狂熱勝過(guò)了以往的所有世界杯。

From New York's Madison Square Park to Chicago's Balbo Avenue to US military bases in Afghanistan, as well as bars up and down the country, fans have been packing public spaces to cheer their team on.

球迷們?yōu)榱私o支持的球隊(duì)加油，擠滿了公眾場(chǎng)所，從紐約麥迪遜廣場(chǎng)花園（Madison Square Park）到芝加哥巴爾博大道（Balbo Avenue），到美國(guó)駐阿富汗軍事基地以及全美各地的酒吧。

ESPN, which is broadcasting most of the games, has been racking up record viewing figures, with 15.9 million watching the United States' opening game against Ghana.

大部分世界杯賽事都是由娛樂與體育節(jié)目電視網(wǎng)(Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, 簡(jiǎn)稱 ESPN)直播的。小婁1590萬(wàn)球迷觀看美國(guó)對(duì)加納的揭幕戰(zhàn)時(shí)，再次刷新ESPN收視率紀(jì)錄。

In Brazil, American fans outnumber those of any other foreign country, with 20,000 making the trek to Manaus.

在巴西，美國(guó)球迷人數(shù)超過(guò)了其他任何外國(guó)球迷數(shù)。有2萬(wàn)名美國(guó)球迷專程長(zhǎng)途跋涉來(lái)到巴西馬瑙斯（Manaus）。

Theories abound as to why this World Cup has struck a chord with Americans when others, including 1994 when the US played host, failed to.

為何本屆世界杯打動(dòng)了數(shù)萬(wàn)美國(guó)人，而包括1994年美國(guó)為東道國(guó)在內(nèi)的其他數(shù)屆世界杯卻沒能激發(fā)他們同樣的激情呢？關(guān)于這個(gè)問題的解釋有很多。

Some point to the success of the team, managed by Jurgen Klinsmann, in their opening game – Americans like winners.

有人認(rèn)為這要?dú)w功于美國(guó)隊(duì)總教練尤爾根?克林斯曼（Jurgen Klinsmann）率領(lǐng)球隊(duì)所取得的成功。而美國(guó)人喜歡勝利者。

The time zones in Brazil are also beneficial for an American audience, with matches at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm East Coast time, 9am, 12pm and 3pm on the West Coast.

其次，巴西的時(shí)區(qū)也比較適合美國(guó)觀眾觀看球賽。當(dāng)美國(guó)東部比賽時(shí)間為中午12點(diǎn)，下午3點(diǎn)和下午6點(diǎn)時(shí)，西部比賽時(shí)間為上午9點(diǎn)，中午12點(diǎn)和下午3點(diǎn)。

And the global buzz around the World Cup, particularly in a nation of immigrants with recent memories of football in their home country, could no longer be ignored.

另外，世界杯狂熱已經(jīng)席卷全球，尤其是在美國(guó)這樣一個(gè)移民國(guó)家，大家都深懷對(duì)祖國(guó)足球的記憶，因而美國(guó)球迷的狂熱無(wú)法讓人忽視了。

Television executive Jonathan Wald said that although their hearts were broken, Americans would now be even more eager to tune in to Thursday's deciding game against Germany.

電視監(jiān)制人喬納森?瓦爾德（Jonathan Wald）表示，盡管美國(guó)球迷們的心很受傷，但他們將會(huì)更加期待26日美國(guó)與德國(guó)的焦點(diǎn)大戰(zhàn)。

He said: "I think American TV viewers have always enjoyed becoming obsessive and wonky about things everyone is talking about – like the missing plane or OJ. Each game is bigger than the last."

他還稱：“我覺得美國(guó)電視觀眾總是對(duì)大家都在談?wù)摰牧餍惺挛镏圆灰巡u擺不定。比如失聯(lián)飛機(jī)或者橙汁。他們覺得每一場(chǎng)比賽都比前一場(chǎng)比賽壯觀。”

（譯者 dreamcatcher888 編輯 王旭泉）