原题：World Cup 2018: Were England good, lucky, or a bit of both?
2018世界杯：英格兰队是优秀的？幸运的？还是两者皆有一点？
连结：https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44808192
A World Cup which began with low expectations for England ended with
positivity and optimism, despite the pain of losing in the semi-finals to
Croatia.
英格兰队的世界杯之旅开始时是不受期待的，结束时却是正向且乐观的，尽管他们在半决
赛输给克罗地亚。
After failing to get out of the group in 2014 and losing to Iceland at the
European Championship in 2016, the performances of Gareth Southgate's squad -
both on and off the pitch - restored pride in the national team.
在2014年自小组赛出局，及2016年在欧洲杯负于冰岛之后，Gareth Southgate的队伍在场
上与场下的表现，重拾了国家队的自尊心。
But now that the euphoria of what they achieved - a first semi-final
appearance in 28 years and only the third in English history - is subsiding,
what did we learn about this team?
但在对这支英格兰队成果－28年来首次、且仅仅是史上第三次半决赛－的狂喜渐趋平静之
后，我们对这支队伍有什么认识？
And did their unexpected success mask some deficiencies?
不被预期的成功，是否掩盖了某些缺陷？
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Were England overly reliant on set-pieces? 英格兰队是否过度依赖定位球？
England's dominance from set-pieces was one of the most striking aspects of
their performances in Russia, with training-ground routines - the "love
train", anyone? - regularly translating into important goals.
英格兰队的定位球优势，是他们在俄罗斯的表现中最突出的方面之一。训练场上的例行公
事－"love train"－经常创造出重要的入球。（这里不太确定怎么翻）
They clearly prepared extensively when it came to maximising free-kicks and
corners and their nine goals from set-pieces was a record at a World Cup for
any team since the data was first recorded in 1966.
谈到最大化任意球与角球的效果，他们明显对此准备充分。英格兰队本届到目前为止共有
九颗定位球入球，这是世界杯自1966年有相关纪录以来，最多的一队。
Harry Kane scored three penalties, Kieran Trippier netted a free-kick and
they scored from four corners and a free-kick routine.
Harry Kane罚进三颗点球、Kieran Trippier直接罚进一颗任意球，除此之外，他们还间接
通过四次角球与一次任意球取得入球。
But that does mean they only scored three times from open play in six games,
one of which was a lucky deflection off Harry Kane against Panama.
但这也代表，他们在六场比赛的运动战中，只取得三次入球。其中一次还是Harry Kane在
对阵巴拿马时，那颗幸运的反弹入球。
So 75% of England's goals came from set-plays - more than any other team,
excluding four sides in the group stages who only scored two goals.
所以，英格兰队有75%的入球来自定位球战术－这比例比任何其他球队都要多，除了四支在
小组赛只进了两颗球的球队。
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Countries to score most goals from set pieces (%) │
│ (of the 16 teams to reach the knockout stages) │
│ │
│ 从定位球战术取得最多入球的国家队（%） │
│ （晋级淘汰赛阶段的16支球队中） │
│ │
│ https://i.imgur.com/QDMGf1k.jpg │
│ │
│ 截图截不到的数据↓ │
│ │
│ ENG－75%；URU－71.4%；COL－66.7%；POR－66.7%；SWE－50% │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
So did that reliance on set-pieces hide other attacking deficiencies?
那么，对定位球的依赖是否掩盖了其他进攻上的缺陷？
England had fewer shots on target per 90 minutes than half of the teams at
the tournament, behind the likes of Tunisia, Iceland and Peru.
英格兰队平均每90分钟的射正次数比决赛圈半数以上的球队都要少，这些球队包括突尼西
亚队、冰岛队与秘鲁队。
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Most shots on target (per 90 minutes) │
│ │
│ 射正次数最多的国家队（平均每90分钟） │
│ │
│ https://i.imgur.com/wnOMfMT.jpg │
│ │
│ 截图截不到的数据↓ │
│ │
│ ≧5：BRA＝8；GER＝7；BEL＝6；ESP＝5.8 │
│ │
│ ≧4，＜5：ARG＝4.5；URU＝4.2；JPN＝4；SWE＝4；SEN＝4；TUN＝4 │
│ │
│ ＞3.5，＜4：FRA＝3.8；KOR＝3.7；ISL＝3.7；PER＝3.7；CRO＝3.6 │
│ │
│ ＝3.5：SUI、POR、ENG │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
And while they had more shots on target from set plays than anyone else - an
average of six per 90 minutes - only five teams created fewer from open play.
而在英格兰队从定位球战术中取得比任何其他球队都要更多射正的情况下－平均每90分钟
六次－只有五支球队在运动战中取得的射正比他们少。
https://i.imgur.com/3OSC2uP.jpg
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Did England lack a creative player? 英格兰队缺少有创造力的球员吗？
For a team with the second-highest goals tally (12) and containing the likely
Golden Boot winner (Kane), it seems strange to suggest they lacked creativity.
对于一支取得本届第二多总入球次数（12次），且阵中有潜在金靴得主（Kane）的球队而
言，说他们缺乏创造力，听起来似乎很奇怪。
But take set-pieces out of the equation and England's key attacking stats
show a team struggling to make a major impact in the final third.
但是把定位球从他们的入球方程式拿掉之后，英格兰队的关键进攻数据说明，这支球队很
难在对方禁区造成重大威胁。
https://i.imgur.com/Lm81x3z.jpg
Remarkably, defender Harry Maguire had more touches (20) in the opposition
box than any other England player.
值得一提的是，后场球员Harry Maguire在对方禁区触球的次数（20次）比任何其他己方球
员都要更多。
In fact, three of England's six goalscorers in Russia were defenders - with
John Stones scoring twice against Panama and Trippier and Maguire netting in
the knockout stages.
事实上，六位在俄罗斯取得入球的英格兰队球员中，有三位是后场球员－John Stones在对
阵巴拿马的比赛中取得两粒入球，Trippier与Maguire则在淘汰赛阶段把球打入网中。
Even Kane, despite his six goals, struggled for scoring chances. After his
two close-range finishes against Tunisia, his remaining four goals included
three penalties and one fortunate deflection from a Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot
for his hat-trick against Panama.
即使Kane进了六次球，他同样挣扎于取得入球机会。在对阵突尼斯队时的两次临门一脚
之后，他在接下来的四粒入球包括三次点球，与通过Ruben Loftus-Cheek的起脚，让他在
对阵巴拿马队时拿下帽子戏法的那颗幸运的反弹球。
And he had only one shot on target in the knockout stages, his penalty goal
against Colombia in the last 16. So not a single one from open play.
而在淘汰赛阶段，Kane只取得一次射正，即在十六强赛对阵哥伦比亚队时踢进的那颗12码
罚球。也就是说，没有哪怕一次射正是在运动战中取得的。
Was that down to service? England's lack of a world-class creative player -
the other semi-finalists had the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Kevin de
Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann - had been highlighted
as a potential weakness before the tournament, and that concern seemed to be
borne out in Russia.
这是否低于预期？英格兰缺乏具有世界级创造力的球员－半决赛其他三支球队里，克罗埃
西亚队有Luka Modric、Ivan Rakitic；比利时队有Kevin de Bruyne、Eden Hazard；法国
队则有Paul Pogba与Antoine Griezmann－这一点早在会内赛前便作为英格兰队的潜在弱项
受人关注，而这项担忧却在俄罗斯成为事实。
To overcome the absence of such a player in midfield, Southgate utilised the
energy and running power of Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli as part of a midfield
three. They worked tirelessly, but it is debatable whether they had the
attacking impact that might have been expected. England ranked 16th of the 32
sides when it came to dribbles, with a relatively low 55.05% success rate.
为了克服中场缺乏上述球员的问题，Southgate起用Jesse Lingard与Dele Alli作为中场的
两员大将，期望借助他们的跑动能量来弥补缺陷。他们不知疲倦地执行战术，但在进攻端
上是否取得预期效果，可能还是个疑问。在皮球盘带方面，英格兰队的成功率仅有相对低
的55.05%，位居32支参赛球队里的第16名。
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ How England's attackers fared in Russia │
│ │
│ 英格兰队中前场球员在俄罗斯的进攻数据 │
│ │
│ https://i.imgur.com/Mfb9Qrg.jpg │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
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The easy side of the draw? 下半区赛程轻松？
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ England's route to the semi-final │
│ │
│ 英格兰队的半决赛之路 │
│ │
│ https://i.imgur.com/UN6fHCR.jpg │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
England are not the first team in World Cup history to have had an unusually
attractive route through the tournament - in 2002 Germany made it to the
final after facing Paraguay, the United States and South Korea in the
knockout stages.
在世界杯历史上，英格兰队并非第一支在会内赛中拥有令人侧目的赛程的球队－2002年，
德国队在淘汰赛阶段击败巴拉圭队、美国队与韩国队之后，成功闯入决赛。
In Russia England negotiated group games against Tunisia (ranked 21st in the
world) and Panama (55th), but their first meeting against one of the
tournament favourites ended in defeat, albeit they and Belgium made a
combined 17 changes for a game with little at stake.
在俄罗斯，英格兰队于小组赛成功越过突尼斯队（世界排名第21名）与巴拿马队（第55
名），却在首次面对大赛热门之一的比赛中遭遇败北，即使在这场无关晋级的比赛中，他
们和比利时队总共换下17名先发球员。
The bonus of finishing second in Group G was that England avoided the likes
of Brazil and France, while Spain's shock loss to Russia meant they entered
the quarter-finals as the only previous World Cup winner in their half of the
draw.
小组赛以G组第二名作收，使英格兰队得以避开巴西队与法国队，而在西班牙队令人震惊地
负于地主队后，他们成为所在半区里唯一一支晋级四分之一决赛的前冠军队。
In their first knockout game England came up against Colombia - ranked 16th -
but even then fortune appeared to be on their side, as their opponents were
forced to play without injured star forward James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot
winner at the 2014 World Cup.
在英格兰队的首场淘汰赛中，他们对阵哥伦比亚队－排名第16名－但幸运女神站在他们这
里，对手被迫在明星前锋、2014年世界杯金靴得主James Rodriguez因伤缺阵的情况下进行
比赛。
England went through on penalties after a 1-1 draw - their first World Cup
shootout win.
在1-1平局之后，英格兰队进入并跨越点球大战的心理障碍－这是他们首次赢下世界杯上的
点球大战。
That was followed by a routine 2-0 quarter-final victory over a limited
Sweden, who are 24th in the world. Then in Croatia (ranked 20th) they faced
arguably the only world-class players they came up against - outside the
Belgium game they lost - and were knocked out in extra time.
在那之后，英格兰队在四分之一决赛中，于常规时间内2-0战胜关键后卫因双黄牌禁赛缺阵
的瑞典队，而瑞典队是世界排名第24名的球队。接着，对阵克罗地亚队（排名第20名）
的比赛，可说是他们唯一一次对阵世界级球员－除了对阵比利时队，并且输掉的那场比赛
－而他们在延长赛中遭到淘汰。
So is that a series of results which represents an overachievement for the
second youngest squad at the tournament? Or was it par for the course?
所以，这一系列的结果是否代表这支史上第二年轻的英格兰队超乎预期的成就？或者这只
是本就该有的常态罢了？
╭─────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ 投票：你会怎么评价这支英格兰队在世界杯上的表现？ │
│ │
│ ┌─┬────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │○│ 他们很杰出－这是新时代的开始（目前7%） │ │
│ └─┴────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ┌─┬────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │●│ 令人鼓舞，但我们还是别太忘乎所以吧（目前46%，我投这个） │ │
│ └─┴────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ┌─┬────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │○│ 一如预期，遇上弱队就虐菜，遇上强队就歇菜（目前37%） │ │
│ └─┴────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ ┌─┬────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │○│ 没啥好说的，事情就照他们想要的那样走，他们该做得更好（目前10%）│ │
│ └─┴────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
╰─────────────────────────────────────╯
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Did England get lucky with injuries? 英格兰队在伤病问题上比其他队幸运吗？
No praying for metatarsals, no oxygen chambers. For once, England's World Cup
was largely free of injury drama.
无须为受伤的蹠骨祈祷，也没有用到高压氧治疗。这一次，英格兰队的世界杯之旅总算免
于碰上大规模伤病问题。
Discounting the Belgium game which saw a raft of changes, Southgate was able
to name the same starting XI in four of the five other matches. The only
other change he made saw Loftus-Cheek start instead of the injured Dele Alli
against Panama.
不算在对阵比利时的比赛中做出的大量轮换，Southgate得以在其他五场比赛里的四场派上
一模一样的先发十一人。唯一一次不一样的是，在对阵巴拿马时，他派上Loftus-Cheek作
为先发，以替代前一场比赛中受伤的Dele Alli。
Alli returned for the knockout stages, while Jamie Vardy was the only other
player to suffer an injury which would have put his participation in doubt,
and he was not a first-choice starter.
当Alli在淘汰赛阶段回归之后，Jamie Vardy便成了队内唯一一位因伤出赛成疑的球员，而
他本来就并非先发的首要选择。
No players were suspended during the World Cup, with Fabian Delph missing the
Colombia match so he could be with his wife for the birth of their daughter.
没有球员在世界杯期间无法出赛，除了Fabian Delph，为了在女儿诞生时，陪伴在妻子身
边，他错过对阵哥伦比亚队的比赛。
Whether that fitness record was down to luck or sound preparation and
preventative work by the medical team, it was a rare instance of England
playing at a major tournament with all of their key players at peak fitness.
无论此项健康方面的纪录是归功于运气，或是周全的赛前准备与医疗团队的预防工作，这
对英格兰队而言都是稀有的情况，所有关键球员都能以最好的身体状况参加大赛。
But, ultimately, it was not enough to take them to the final.
但最终，这并不足以带领他们前进决赛。
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So how should we view this team? 所以我们应该怎么看待这支球队？
BBC's pundits all agree the future is bright for this England team.
BBC的专家都同意，这支英格兰队的未来是光明的。
"This bunch of players have brought the nation together and the fans haven't
sung like this for years," said former defender Rio Ferdinand. "We wanted
this team to come out with an identity and a philosophy of playing, and I
think they have done that."
“这批球员为这个国度带来团结，我们的球迷已经许多年没有向现在这般引吭高歌了，”
前英格兰后卫Rio Ferdinand表示。“我们想要这支球队培养出向心力和属于他们的踢球哲
学，而我想他们已经做到了。”
Ex-striker Alan Shearer said: "We said before the tournament that if they
gave absolutely everything in every game, everyone at home would be happy.
前英格兰前锋Alan Shearer表示：“我们在大赛前便说了，如果他们在每场比赛都倾尽所
有，在家乡的每个人都会很快乐。”
"There are so many positives to take out of the tournament. We did not expect
to get to the quarters and will go home after this with our heads held high.
Finishing third would be excellent.
“在这届大赛中，有太多正向的事情可以拿出来说了。我们从未预期他们能够进入四强，
而在这样的成就之后，他们将能昂首阔步地回家了。当然，如果能拿下季军就更棒了。”
"After being embarrassed by Iceland to this, being applauded off, that is
brilliant progress and something to work to. Well done guys, you have given
us plenty to shout about."
“从耻辱地败给冰岛之后，到现在，我们终于能为他们喝采，这是杰出的进展。做得好，
小伙子们，你们给予我们许多可以高声夸耀的东西。”
And perhaps that positive mindset and reconnection with fans is the biggest
takeaway.
或许，正向的心态和与球迷的重新连结，是本届赛事最大的收获。
So rather than look too hard at what has gone by, England should just heed
what Kyle Walker said:
所以，与其严苛地审视这支球队错过了什么，英格兰更应该记住Kyle Walker说的这句话：
https://i.imgur.com/heXeTc1.jpg
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ╭─╮ Kyle Walker ㊣ ╭──────╮ │
│ │ │ │ 正在跟随 │ ▽│
│ ╰─╯ @kylewalker2 ╰──────╯ │
│ │
│ │
│ We might live in a time where sometimes it's easier to be negative│
│ than positive, or to divide than to unite, but England: let's keep│
│ this unity alive. I love you. │
│ │
│ 我们或许生活在这样一个时代，有时候比起正面思考，更容易负面思考； │
│ │
│ 比起团结，更容易分裂，但是英格兰队：让我们保持这种团结吧！我爱妳。│
│ │
│ 上午10:52 - 2018年7月12日 │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
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因为觉得这篇BBC的分析还不错，所以决定来翻译一下，结果从晚餐后搞到现在......
由于小弟并非专业翻译，所以翻译得不太好，有些部份可能超译，有些部份则可能词不达
意，还请大家多多斧正。先谢谢大家愿意看到这里了。