Kinitaria National Football TeamFor the 62nd World Cup Qualification The FFK have announced that, for all tournaments after and including World Cup 62, they will name a more conventional 23-man squad, as opposed to the 26 that have featured in all prior competitions. Their aim for this tournament is to qualify for the World Cup, following two successive third-placed qualification finishes in their two entries to date.
Manager: Kristijan Evinov (age 58)
The first permanent manager of the national side following Tofiq Yurovič's departure prior to the last Cup of Harmony. His managerial experience so far has been with East Mi'ato United and Taimanesta in the Kinitar B-League, with both of his teams enjoying moderate success. Nevertheless, his appointment has raised some eyebrows around the country, with many fans casting doubt upon his qualifications, given that several other Kinitar managers seemed better-placed to take the national job. Evinov has declared that he will be judged on results, not rumours. He started off with a crushing 5-0 victory over Yelvoldia in a warm-up game, but his side then slumped to a 2-1 aggregate defeat in the now-established regular friendly series against Free South Califas. He has work to do to win over the undecided Kinitar fans.
Tactically, the norm at Taimanesta was for him to use an attacking 4-4-2 formation, which could become a 4-2-4 if necessary, the two wide midfielders pushing up to support the attack. If desperately clinging onto a lead, the plan seems to be one of all out defence, with as much time-wasting and hoofs into the stands as it is possible to cram into the end-game.
PlayersEvinov has gone for experience rather than youth - of his chosen starting XI, not a single one of them has fewer than 40 caps. (Players numbered 1-11 are considered as the default starting XI.)
1. Costin Petran - GK - age 31 - 1. Maja - 63 caps - 0 goals
Petran is by far the overwhelming choice for the goalkeeping position, having held the #1 jersey almost permanently since the team played its first match. A superb shot-stopper, he is likely to consider each goal conceded as a personal insult. He played a key role in many of Kinitaria's victories in the World Cup qualifiers, and it is unlikely that he will be ousted from his position.
2. Karl Sala - LB - age 26 - Mi'ato - 53 caps - 1 goal
Sala has been an established member of the team right from their first game. An old-fashioned sort of left-back, he aims to make life hard for oncoming attackers, and will always stand his ground. He has been known to put in some harsh tackles, and this is shown by his disciplinary record, since he's been sent off four times in 53 appearances.
3. Doran Lupei - CB - age 28 - Litora United - 54 caps - 1 goal (
Captain)
The loyal, talented defender is great at marking, sticking closely to his man and breaking up attacks through the middle. He's proven himself to be the anchor of a Kinitar back line which has often been criticised for being fragile, and his performance will likely be crucial if Kinitaria are to qualify for the World Cup. He's earned the captain's armband for both club and country through his loyalty, sticking with Litora United at a time when the club was going into meltdown.
4. Sebastien Sykora - CB - age 27 - AFC Damaciu - 44 caps - 1 goal
Maybe not the most technically gifted of defenders, Sykora has nevertheless established himself as a regular in the national side. He's no stranger to the occasional error, having cost Kinitaria crucial goals on at least two occasions during qualifying, and was part of the Damaciu side which slipped down the league in the latter half of last season. Despite this, he is versatile and can drift into new positions as needed, and he has also been known to notch a few goals himself, mainly headed efforts from corners.
5. Anton Spirlea - RB - age 25 - Mi'ato City - 55 caps - 0 goals
An accomplished team player and capable of performing under pressure, Spirlea is known for his excellent distribution of the ball, able to pick out a team-mate and start a counter attack with ease. He never panics when pressed and prefers to play his way out of trouble rather than hoofing the ball upfield. It's very rare to see him make a mistake and if he does have a flaw, it would be that he tends to let his complacency get the better of him. Expect to see him perform during qualification.
6. Sergiu Vacarestič - LW - age 24 - Avnani Athletic - 49 caps - 11 goals
Vacarestič is now an established member of the Kinitar squad, one of the first names on the teamsheet. He is an attacking-minded winger who slots perfectly into Kinitaria's formation, and he's just as likely to cut inside and have a go at goal as well as sending in a cross from the left - preferring to cross early and attempt to beat the offside trap.
7. Paulo Naoumov - DM - age 29 - AFC Farnworth (LCP) - 44 caps - 9 goals
Due to incidents in the Premier Division, Naoumov has always been a divisive figure for Kinitar fans, but he's made a lot of progress towards winning them back with some fine performances for the national side. The versatile midfielder prefers pace rather than distribution, his speed allowing him to beat opposing defenders or get on the end of a cross with ease. In his preferred DM role, the determined Naoumov refuses to back down from a challenge and can often be seen making life worse for oncoming attackers.
8. Kristijan Preda - CM - age 27 - Jan Mayen Islanders (PIS) - 42 caps - 7 goals
Another player who's mounting a strong challenge to a first-team place, Preda is an accomplished free-kick taker and can also head a ball well. After some time in the wilderness, he has impressed new boss Evinov in training and has won himself a spot in the first team. He might not be able to run a game himself, but his hard work and determination can make all the difference.
9. Lupan Mihalcič - SS - age 29 - Mi'ato City - 56 caps - 31 goals
One half of the greatest strike partnership in Kinitar football, Mihalcič has proven his quality over and over again. His best position is just behind the main striker - typically Sabčot - from which he can both score and create goals. He can time his runs perfectly to cut through the opposing defence, and prefers to hit a first-time shot rather than using a few valuable seconds to bring the ball under control. Certain to be hungry for more goals during the upcoming tournament.
10. Luka Sabčot - CF - age 28 - Mi'ato City - 59 caps - 49 goals
The man himself. The talisman, the hero, the legend of Kinitar football. Sabčot scores goals for fun, is an outstanding finisher and excellent in one-on-one situations. He's also a bit of a playboy and a joker, and likes to show off in an attempt to impress his many fans. In fact, some might say he's a bit too cocky. But then, with a record like his (including 68 goals in 75 games for his club, Mi'ato City), then he can afford to be. There's nothing he enjoys more - in footballing terms - than embarrassing a goalkeeper to set himself up for a tap-in from close range.
11. Emil Pročazka - RM - age 32 - 1. Maja - 49 caps - 7 goals (
Vice-captain)
Pročazka is an excellent partner to Vacarestič. It's not uncommon to see the two wingers surge forward to bolster an attack, with Pročazka being the better of the two at crossing, but he's also capable of scoring a good goal. He has enough pace to beat any defender and remains a crucial part of Kinitaria's attacking plan.
12. Rumen Kaloyanov - DM - age 22 - Chyri - 2 caps - 0 goals
The tall Kaloyanov can provide backup to a defence with his height, and he'll challenge for every ball, but his lack of experience means he's unlikely to feature much in World Cup qualifying. Definitely one for the future, and he's trying to make a breakthrough in the national squad.
13. Vitya Jelen - GK - age 32 - Amzterdam FC (CYB) - 2 caps - 0 goals
Jelen faces a problem common to goalkeepers - he's the second best keeper in the country, behind Petran, but he has no way of dislodging his rival from the country's #1 slot. Having put some inconsistency problems behind him, he's proven to be excellent at stopping 1-on-1 shots and has shown great distribution of the ball. He tends to flap at crosses, but is a determined and reliable team player.
14. Milan Beskid - CF - age 23 - Basil FC (FSS) - 7 caps - 1 goal
The talented young striker can finish like no other and functions best with a strike partner to spur him on to greater heights. He's not one for spectacular goals, instead, he's a consistent threat to opposition defences if he gets so much as a sight of goal within the penalty area. He's getting noticed in the national setup now, and scored his first goal in the 5-0 rout of Yelvoldia in a pre-qualification friendly.
15. Samuel Costica - CM - age 21 - Inovita - 6 caps - 0 goals
Another inexperienced player, one of the few youth team players to feature in Evinov's squad, he's still developing as a player and won't really play much of a role in qualification, but if he does come on, expect him to try to use his pace to beat his marker before spreading the ball out wide to launch an attack. Distribution is definitely one of his strong points.
16. Yulian Kovačev - CB - age 35 - Mi'ato - 53 caps - 7 goals
The former captain is making his last appearance at a major tournament, having cabled his intention to retire following the end of the current cycle. He's still a fairly capable player, able to contribute to the team's cause with some tough tackling and good distribution. On the other hand, his pace isn't what it once was, and he might struggle to last in a high-intensity game. He'll make a very effective substitute.
17. Čyran Malpomir - CF - age 31 - Mi'ato - 21 caps - 6 goals
Malpomir is an outstanding striker, but the dominance of Mi'ato City's strike partnership makes it difficult for him to force his way into the team. He might play a role in a 4-3-3, which Kinitaria have been known to use if they desperately need goals, but otherwise will mainly act as backup to the two main strikers. He's very gifted as a technical player, and will often tend to try to beat players in the penalty area and open up a clear path for a shot on goal.
18. Ciprian Marin - CB - age 21 - Universita Tirinthea - 8 caps - 0 goals
Marin came to the attention of former boss Yurovič after a solid performance for Tirinthea, and has continued to impress in training since then. Billed as a talent for the future, Marin has impressed in his two friendly appearances, but is unlikely to make a huge impact on the national game straight away. He still has much to learn, and if given a game, is likely to think rashly and dive into challenges without thinking. Might get half a game as a sub if Kinitaria are dominating.
19. Cyril Novak - LB - age 28 - Mowling City Tigercats (NSI) - 18 caps - 0 goals
Novak suffered a horror injury against Eastfield Lodge in the previous qualification campaign, but upon his return, established himself as one of the top defenders in the Premier Division. The bruising left-back plays hard but fair with no quarter given to opponents, a great sense of timing allowing him to stop attacks dead with a perfectly executed tackle.
20. Leon Cantacuzino - LM - age 29 - Litora United - 35 caps - 8 goals
Litora are lucky that they managed to keep Cantacuzino, because he is an effective all-round player, able to score and create goals in equal measure. When he plays, he'll be the team's corner taker, since he can swing in a good ball from either the left or the right. He prefers to stay wide, use the flanks and cross from the byline, and he can do this very effectively to slice open an opposing defence. Kinitaria's super-sub, in a way. He can change the direction of a game almost single-handedly.
21. Jaren Kozak - GK - age 27 - Mi'ato - 0 caps - 0 goals
What does a third choice keeper actually do? They're just there to take up space, really. A decent keeper for Mi'ato, but... third choice nationally. So he almost certainly won't feature. The only member of this squad to be uncapped.
22. Vikenti Andonov - RB - age 30 - Litora United - 29 caps - 0 goals
Andonov has been constantly in and out of a first team spot since his first call-up, but has been frozen out of the squad fairly often. Whether he'll get a chance in the qualifiers remains to be seen. The tall, well-built defender has been known to intimidate opponents with both his stature and his playing style, given that a trick he likes to use on opposing players involves a sneaky foul on the blind side of the referee. He's a physical player, not a skilful one.
23. Vadim Reneiči - CM - age 20 - Mi'ato - 1 cap - 0 goals
The youngest player to be named in this squad, and well known to Evinov from his time at Tirinthea before his big-money move to Mi'ato, Reneiči was part of Yurovič's famous youth team which held Polar Islandstates to a 0-0 draw away in the last qualifiers. Since then, he's shown incredible improvement and was snapped up by the cup holders in the last transfer window.
KitsLeft (home): Halved shirts are a common sight on the field of play. Halved
shorts... not so much. Someone at the FFK thought it was a good idea.
Center (away): An unusual design incorporating the national colours on the sleeves. If the team win anything in it, it'll become a cult classic kit, otherwise, consigned to the scrapheap.
Right (goalkeeper): National goalkeeper Costin Petran wears a striking orange and black outfit for the coming World Cup.
StadiumCentral Stadium, Mi'ato
Capacity 76,000
A purpose-built modern stadium in the centre of Kinitaria's capital, Mi'ato. The Central Stadium hosts all of Kinitaria's home matches. Visiting teams should note that a maximum of 6,000 tickets are made available to away supporters, with seats located in a segregated area in the top of the upper bowl. This is a prime location to throw things at the home fans, however, it's also a prime location to have things thrown back.
FansKinitar fans burn flares during the 4-1 Cup of Harmony victory over Audioslavia Kinitar fans are known for their passion. They're also known for burning down a significant portion of the Tricorn Arena in Wight during the Cup of Harmony, although the FFK has naturally disavowed all responsibility, and supporters' groups maintain that the shoddy construction of the host stadium was to blame. Either way, lighting flares is a part of fan culture in Kinitaria, and there's always the possibility that a Kinitaria goal will turn the air thick with smoke. During the match, the team are typically roared on by 70,000 home fans screaming themselves hoarse non-stop throughout the game, which creates an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams - although the fact that the aforementioned flares, among other things, are sometimes thrown at visiting players or fans might also contribute to this. The fights which characterise some of the most fierce club matches, such as the cross-capital derby between hated rivals Mi'ato City and Mi'ato, have yet to make their way to international level, although some say that this is merely because they haven't found the right spark yet. The FFK has been somewhat reluctant to take action against such matters, because "it's all part of the game, isn't it?"
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