2012 FMF World Cup - Team Preview & Predictions
2012 FMF World Cup - Team Preview & Predictions
Around 48 hours to go and as Antica prepares to welcome Micras to host the World Cup, it's a good time to get a background on all the teams competing in this year's World Cup. Likewise with last year's World Cup, we will look and analyse each team, looking at their strength and weaknesses and who to look out for. Our predictions last year were not quite perfect. Cräiteland went all the way, but we didn't expect Shireroth there as Alexandria & Hamland faltered, as well as a surprisingly decent performance by Interland. Let's see what we have to say about this year's team.
Group A
Antica
Batavia
Group A
Antica
Background Information: From qualifying for their first ever World Cup tournament in 2011 to hosting the tournament in 2012, Antica's sudden rise to football has taken most of Micras by surprise. Often considered one of the weaker teams on Micras, the sudden development of the sport in Antica has seen a massive improvement in their performances. This year with the world cup in their back yard, the expectations obviously run high with the home crowd behind them every step of the way. As the crowd chant Antica! Antica! Antica! the players will be expected to perform at their highest ability to make an impression that they are not just here as hosts, but here to win.
The Team: Looking at this year's squad, there seems to be no changes to the 2011 World Cup squad. The only difference here is several players, including the likes of Roman Abrahmov and Ezequiel Leston moving to Sanilla. Overall, the continuity in the squad could prove to be a key factor. The team will be used to playing alongside each other, which should help with the team chemistry and unity of the squad.
Captain: Roman Abrahmov. Once again the experienced centre-back leads his side although this time it will be on home soil. Now playing his trade in Sanilla, the 33 year old is one of Antica's most senior players, having played in Antica and notably Tellia, where he spent most of his career at FC Fiorecittà. Winning was a normality for the young Abrahmov at FCF, although when it comes to the world stage in Micras, he will have to play the pivotal role as the leader of the Antican national side.
Star Player: Alexander Kern - midfielder. The Antican no. 6 has struck a brilliant partnership with Massimo Santoni at club level with Romero since joining the side last year and will look to bring his qualities in the Antican midfield. Highlighted as the player to watch last World Cup in the Antican side, the 25 year old will definitely play a role in holding up play, as well as carrying attacks forward and supporting the likes of Malmentrop Zeteb and Bob Ends up front. Both is offensive and defensive qualities will be relied upon.
One to Watch: The Muttoner's front man Malmentrop Zeteb. Going into last year's tournament, the focus up front was on a in form Curtis O'Toole; however it was the 23 year old Zeteb who took the limelight, being joint top scorer with Bob Ends on the Antican teamsheet. It is likely that Zeteb will start the tournament alongside Ends in a 4-4-2 system, but this man is the one to watch. If he can deliver the goods like in last year's tournament, then Antica could spring a huge surprise.
Prediction: Antica are on home soil. Like with the Shirerithians, their loyal fanbase will back their team and this could prove to be advantageous. So far, the Novatainians are the only team in World Cup history to go out at the Group Stages as hosts, and being in the same group as them, they wouldn't want another repeat. The team will look to rely on Abrahmov and Kern to hold their play together, although the end product will be down to the two forwards up front. If they take the Hammish and Shirerithians as inspiration, they can definitely make the quarters, and could even go further if they get a lucky draw in the next round.
Batavia
InterlandBackground Information: It is the 5th successive World Cup qualification and this time, Batavia will hope for a better World Cup performance. Up to now, their best achievement at a World Cup finals is the quarter-finals in 2010, with the rest of their World Cup tournaments ending in the Group Stages. It almost seems like that the team are cursed once entering the actual tournament. Batavia's qualification was slightly shaky this year, despite leading most of their group, Oranje ended up second and had to battle their way past Ashkenatza in the playoffs to reach this stage. Hopefully this time round, Batavia will step up and rise to the occasion.
The Team: Batavia's team has not changed at all over the last few years and it looks like it will be staying that way for 2012. It remains a mystery how a team with such continuity in their squad fail to perform on the stage, and many Batavians may look to complain and look for change if the team once again fail to make it past the group stages. We expect no change in the Batavian way of play though. 4-3-3, attacking, and trying to bring the total football flair back into Micras. The entertainment factor is there with Batavia, but they need to turn them into results.
Captain: Tom Meesen. Now 28, the Fortuna Davignon goalkeeper has captained the side in every World Cup so far and undoubtly he must have become frustrated at the Batavian under-performance time after time. Nevertheless, Meesen offers the team a stable backbone and a safe pair of hands in the net.
Star Player: Jowi Bach. The HóC striker is still the highest goalscorer nationally in World Cup tournaments but had a very disappointing campaign last year. He will want to bounce back. Bach's ability to score goals and use as a target man needs to be made the most out of. Frozen out of the team domestically, the 24 year old may look to use this tournament as a springboard to move elsewhere for first team football.
One to Watch: This could be the year we see Ronny Pietersen come into the scene. The Ravensburger midfielder has made a few appearances, but it is clear that the midfield needs improving. The 24 year old may look to challenge the likes of Pieter Leefma for a first team spot. If he is given the chance this tournament, then he may make the most of it. He could be a spark for Batavia, offering them a different option in the middle of the field.
Prediction: It depends on the performance of the team. The team definitely have the quality to go further into the tournament, but as the past records show, they haven't performed when they needed to. I think a lot of the players will want to prove themselves this tournament. Having said that, the team lacks the possession of top class players. But they have a useful squad and if used to its potential, they can do well. If they don't advance past the group stages, then the Batavian FA need to seriously consider making changes as keeping the same team is not getting them anywhere.
NovatainiaBackground Information: Last year Interland managed to reach the last four of the tournament, only to be denied the opportunity to become finalists by the then hosts Shireroth. Since then, Interland were expected to sail through qualification for this year's World Cup; however it has not been the case. Nova English Korea were leading their group for the majority of the World Cup qualification and it was only after a late surge that Interland managed to pick up the pieces and qualify ahead of NEK in Group C of EMUFA's Qualification, narrowly edging their closest opponents by a point. The Interlandians will not want to dwell on the nervewracking qualification campaign and will hope to revert to their World Cup performance 12 months ago.
The Team: Interland have historically been known to play 4-3-3 in recent times, with Marian Wyzywan the main target man up front. They often play a direct game to use the most of Wyzywan, who can create chances himself of bring the others in as well such as Orwolski and Gazetowicz/Golánski on either side of the front line. The midfield is fairly stable, although the issue is who to start on the midfield. The Interlandians have so many defensive midfielders that can all fill the same role but wouldn't be feasible to start all three of them. Aside from the defensive midfield, their big problem is that they have a Plan A, but they never seem to have any other ideas if the direct approach to Wyzywan doesn't work.
Captain: Goalkeeper Jan Kepp was influential in Interland's performance last year around and although he has had a fair share of minor injuries over the past 12 months, the 30 year old captain should be fit to start the tournament. Despite being between the net, Kepp still manages to get his voice heard across the pitch and has a magnificent vocal presence in the team. He failed to keep a clean sheet in last year's tournament though - something which he may want time around.
Star Player: The dangerman in the team will be up front in the name of Marian Wyzywan. Wyzywan, who plays his trade in Hamland showed lethal form intermicronationally, netting 5 goals in the previous tournament. The 28 year old can be very physical, making it difficult for defenders to handle him, also possessing a powerful shot. He may not be the quickest striker in the tournament, but his strength and power can overcome that, as he is capable of shooting from close range and long distances and even isn't too shabby at dead ball situations in set pieces.
One to Watch: He may have been a player that disappeared off the goalscoring radar after the group stages but Virtua striker Marcin Orwolski may be the Interlandian to watch in this tournament. The 27 year old had a good spell in the group stages of last year's tournament, scoring 4 goals in the process. Although his form dipped in the knockouts, his impact when on form is still second to none - he was the one of two players to score in every group game in last year's tournament (the other being Victoria's Ian Villa).
Prediction: Once again, Batavia and Interland are drawn together and historically, only one of the two can go through. Out of the two sides, I think Interland are the better performers, although the Batavians do play better football. It's results that count though and I can see Interland being more likely to go through. I don't think think they will get as far as they did last year though.
Background Information: Novatainia return to the World Cup once again in 2012. Having debuted as hosts in 2007, the team went on to appear in 2009 and 2010, before failing to qualify for the second time in 2011. Returning in 2012 will be that young Novatainian squad that we last saw in Hamland 2 years ago, but we should expect some changes in the starting line-up. Many of the Novatainian players now play their trade abroad and they will look to bring their experience as part of a sizeable foreign contingent in the national side.
The Team: Novatainia are now managed by former Romero manager Carlo Szumilo. The Tellian is known for starting the defensive minded football in the Tellian league, adapting the style to his Romero side. We expect the new look Novatainia to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, a formation which we see a lot of sides now adapting into their game. But what Szumilo has also introduced is many young players that were overshadowed and not given the chance in previous managements. While the new Novatainia is defensive, they will look for every opportunity break - it's almost as if they are emulating Tellia.
Captain: At the age of 33, Iago Othello is the oldest player on his side and is among the senior club of captains, with the likes of Roman Abrahmov and Mahoz's Vaja Neil also captaining their side at 33. It was only 5 years ago that the over-eccentric Othello dared to streak naked across Nova Sports TV as a forfeit for Novatainia's failure to progress past the groups on home soil. Now in the latter stages of his career, Othello may see this as a farewell tournament and may want to prove himself for one last time. Neither him or Novatainia have advanced past the groups, and he would want to change that in what could be his last tournament.
Star Player: Whilst it is easy to just focus on the outfield players to note as any of these nation's star players, I think that Marcel Yola would have to get the pick as Novatainia's star player ahead of them all. The Syrelwynn Swifts goalkeeper will be heavily dependent on. A vastly experienced keeper who has travelled across Micras for several clubs, Yola's safe hands will be depended on as Novatainia look to stall and contain their opposition. His much needed experience will come useful too, especially considering how many young players have come into the team.
One to Watch: Having earnt his first cap 2 years ago when he was only 21, Biulya äqi Jedu's Chris Alberto is one of the players that may play a vital role in the new look Novatainia side. Alongside Zig Cee, Alberto will make up the defensive midfield that is the core to Carlo Szumilo's gameplay. A different job to what he is used to at club level, the 23 year old will be expected to act as protection for the defence, breaking up plays in the middle of the field and trying to stop the opposition from getting forward.
Prediction: Novatainia still look like the weakest side in this group, but the way that the manager has got them to play since taking over will make it difficult for teams to get anything out of them. Szumilo will want Novatainia to make things difficult for their opposition, and with the likes of Romero's Jason Ajax, the skipper Iago Othello and Lars Mkvenna and David Cee as attacking threats, their counter-attacking tactics could spring a surprise to a few. Frustrating their opposition is one thing, but if they get results from it then they could progress past the groups for the first time.
Re: 2012 FMF World Cup - Team Preview & Predictions
GROUP B
Hamland
Hamland
NatopiaBackground Information: Finalists in their own turf in 2010, semi-finalists in 2011. What's in store for Hamland for 2012? The Hammish have had a pre-tournament warm up to forget as they underperformed against minnows Incontinentia and they will want to forget as if that friendly ever existed. Looking purely from a team perspective, the Hammish side look strongs and providing they just forget and move on, they look set for a strong tournament.
The Team: The core of the Hammish team is far from changed - in fact there has been hardly any changes to the side that was sent to Shireroth last year. However, a number of young players have been introduced and the side have been hampered with injury, with Andrew Mortensen being withdrawn from the squad with Jonathan O'Hara replacing him. Whilst the young players have been called up, we believe that the usual suspects will make up the starting team, although do not rule out the possibility of one of the young ones making an impact from the bench.
Captain: You can't say this player lacks any presence in the team. Hamland's captain is a 29 year old goalkeeper in the name of Rodney MacLeod. At 6ft3, he may not be the tallest goalkeeper on Micras but his figure in between the sticks is still big enough for him to have a commanding impact on the team. MacLeod has been the solid shotstopper for Hamland, only conceding 18 goals in 13 World Cup matches, with an average of 1.3 conceded per game. He may want this average to be reduced, but having a player like the New Kirrie Thistle keeper to rely on is a good thing, and considering the manner in which he has led the side to the final and semi-finals in the last few years, I can't see anything that would stop him from repeating a similar feat this year.
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Prediction: Hamland have got a very good draw and looking at their squad, they could go far. All the way could be a possibility? Who knows. Their recent form has been shaky but at competition level, it's a completely different thing and they could potentially have a shot at lifting the trophy. A place in the final could await them if luck is on their side.
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Re: 2012 FMF World Cup - Team Preview & Predictions
GROUP C
Alexandria
Alexandria
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Re: 2012 FMF World Cup - Team Preview & Predictions
GROUP D
Cräiteland
Cräiteland
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