Introducing the Furellum Turtles!Furellum's senior squad have been totally overshadowed by the under-15 team, who are quickly turning into the Audioslavia of the junior footballing world, having lost in the final of the last two World Cups. Despite an unlucky set-back in the Baptism of Fire, where they were eliminated after the group stage on goal difference, the Turtles are looking to go far in the World Cup.
The BackgroundTo the unaware, Furellum is nothing more then a small island at the mouth of the Taaru sea in Atlantian Oceania. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as it were. The vast majority of the country is situated in another dimension, accessible only through the magical bridge which connects the White Tower in Altsby and its otherworld counterpart, the Moonlight Tower, in Other Altsby. Furellum is a land of magic, soaked in ether which the wizards of the country bend to their will. The country is home to many different races, species of animals made sentient and human-like by some powerful magic long since forgotten. They have been here for time immemorial, but only since the medieval period have humans lived in Furellum, when it became a Grand Duchy of the Kingdom of Maalvia. Much of Furellum is still stuck in the middle ages, with modern technology only beginning to creep into the nation.
The Team#1. Gregor Petrovich (Polar Bear) GoalkeeperA dominating presence between the goal, Gregor relies on his massive bulk rather than agility to keep shots out. Seen as a solid choice for the team, he's inclusion as the starting keeper over Dumitrescu caused some eyebrows to be raised. Petrovich is especially good at rushes, and likes to use them, perhaps too often.
#2. Bronislav Mlaker (Badger) CentrebackCute and Cuddly, Mlaker has also been voted the player most likely to rip your head off and spit down your neck. A player with a mean streak, Mlaker is a fierce competitor for the ball. He may give away a lot of fouls, but referees should be prepared for the consequences should they get on his bad side...
#3. Baldr Ionescu (Red Deer) CentrebackBaldr is the pin-up of the team, the one who gets all the ladies. He has often been accused of spending more time on his appearance then his sport, but their is no doubt that he is a good footballer, if not a great one.
#4. Fyodor Iosef (Horse) Right Back (Captain)
Solid, dependable and strong. Iosef ticks all the boxes for a defender. His gentle disposotion and calming influence on his team, especially Mlaker, has also led to him being given the captain's armband, a burden he does not bear lightly. Fyodor was also named as part of Baptism of Fire 53's "Team of the Tournament".
#5. Sorin Vladimirescu (Human) Left BackSorin is a minor member of the Maalvian Royal family, who rule over Furellum. As such he is often placed on a pedestal by the lower-class members of the team, even though their is nothing aristocratic about his nature.
#6. Igor Krupin (Weasel) CentrebackKrupin is the clever one on the team. Although the team rely on him for the tactics, Igor often uses his talent for his own purposes, such as committing sneaky fouls. Krupin rarely draws the ire of the referee, even with opposing players falling to the ground all around him. There are some who believe he could talk his way out of a murder charge, although this theory has never been tested.
#7. Symon Maksimov (Grey Wolf) MidfielderMaksimov is one of the most technically skilled players on the team, and is well renowned for his ball control skills. Known as a friendly player, Maksimov plays clean, using his skills to avoid contact with opposing players.
#8. Robert Alexandrescu (Human) MidfielderA multi-talented athlete, Robert plays a wide variety of sports. While the fittest player on the team, he only recently took up football, raising questions about his readiness to be on the national side.
#9. Germogen Sokoloff (Cheetah) MidfielderThe quickest player on the team by a long shot, Sokoloff is the key to the Turtle's attack. He has the speed to beat the opposing defence and the skills to find a penetrating pass to the forwards. If he has a weakness it is in his stamina, and he will rarely last a full ninety minutes without being replaced.
#10. Moisey Vaduva (Markhor Goat) StrikerHe may look like an old veteran with his almost floor length beard, but don't be fooled. Moisey is a youngster at just nineteen, and as such plays a mostly supporting role in providing the more experienced and skilled Szczelaszczyk with scoring opportunities.
#11. Eleazar Szczelaszczyk (Leopard) StrikerThe star of the national team, Eleazar is from a well known sporting family. His son Ezra was in the Under-Fifteen World Cup Squad, and his father was a pro-golfer on the Furellum circuit. Fast and flashy, Szczelaszczyk will be a big contender in the box, much to the despair of foreign commentators who are likely to have to repeat his last name.
The Reserves#12. Volodya Dumitrescu (Hare) GoalkeeperAn unlikely choice for a goalkeeper due to his diminutive size, Volodya makes up for it with an impressive leap, good reactions, and a strong grip. He's fairy useless against short balls and penalties though, which is why Petrovich is the main keeper for the team.
#14. Vyacheslav Lagunov (Hippo) DefenderThe number 13 is considered unlucky in Furellum, so Lagunov was given 14 instead. It doesn't seem to have made a difference to his luck though, as Lagunov has got to be the most clumsiest player ever to take to a field. On the national team mainly because two tonnes of flesh tearing down on you is intimidating for any forward, Lagunov is rarely called on for fear he may unleash chaos on the pitch. The only player in the history of Furellum football to score three own goals in a single match, his powerful kick might be a deadly weapon if only he could control it.
# 15. Marian Constantin (Elk) DefenderThe polar opposite of Lagunov, Constantin is cool, calm and collected. The Turtle's usual fill-in defender, Constantin excels at precision tackling and passing under pressure, and is sure to have game time in the latter stages of most matches.
# 16. Nicolae Popescu (Human) MidfielderThe often overlooked player on the national side, Nicolae spends most of his time as the team's benchwarmer. Merely an average player, his redeeming quality is that he can, in a pinch, be convinced to play in defence.
# 17. Luka Zelenko (Leopard) MidfielderThe player usually called on whenever Sokoloff runs out of steam, Zelenko is a decent attacking midfielder. Suspected of being a feline hybrid and not a pure-blood leopard, Zelenko has the ability to jump nearly two metres in the air, a useful ability whenever the Turtles have a corner.
# 18. Havryil Petrov (Maned wolf) ForwardA man with a chip on his shoulder, Petrov is aggressive, confrontational, and emotional. While he may seem at conflict with himself, when he's in control he is a good forward with a powerful left footpaw that is sure to keep opposing keepers on their toes.
# 19. Boleslav Balan (Black Boar) ForwardNot a team player, Boleslav's usual attacking method is to get the ball and charge towards goal, regardless of any defenders that might get in his way. While this may work sometimes, more often than not he will be dispossessed or called for a foul, so he is usually kept on the bench. He's like a nuclear weapon: Lethal, but extremely dangerous to those who use it and only utilised as a last resort.
The KitsThe StadiumThere was some panic when it was discovered that Furellum needed a stadium to host games. Very few fields in the nation match WCC standards of size, pitch quality or even gradient (Ingridberg Minutemen's home field has one sideline 2 metres lower than the other). After much discussion, the FFA decided the best field in the country were the Duke's grounds in Altsby, and work was done to hastily erect seating and paint some lines on the grass. The newly named National Football Stadium is located in the grounds of the Duke's Palace in Altsby. For centuries generations of children have been sneaking onto this land to play football. With the growth of the game in Furellum, a local side, the Duke's XI Old Boys, claimed the park as their home ground. In reality, the park does not belong to them, as it is owned by the Duke and set aside for his exclusive use. But the Duke, as King of Maalvia, very rarely visits his far-off duchy, so the people have used the land with little fear of his finding out. The new seats can hold about 1000 people, and there is plenty of standing room for other spectators.
The StrategyFormation: 5-4-2
Style:
-4.5RP PermissionsNo killing my players or giving them career-ending injuries. Other then that, have fun.