Introducing the reigning Copa Rushmori champions...THE GREATER VALHALLAN FEDERATION OF POLAR ISLANDSTATES ROSTER FOR WORLD CUP 69Nation Name: The Greater Valhallan Federation of Polar Islandstates
Demonym: Valhallans (or Polarians)
Team Nickname: The Terns
Official Supporters Group: The Twitchers
KIT COLOURS:HOME - AWAY - KEEPERHOME STADIUM:Nasjonale Stadion - 67,481 (Franz Josef City)
HOME SUPPORT: The Ostkurven - Home of the Twitchers
STAFF:Manager: Morten Rasmussen, 64Record in Charge: P 157, W 125, D 19, L 13, GF 334, GA 117, GD +217, WP 80%After guiding the Terns to three finals in a row, including finally lifting the World Cup trophy, Rasmussen's streak was broken in the Free Republics and the Terns came third. Whilst not the position the team would have been aiming for, this is still a great achievement of course, and generally speaking the Terns have never been higher - a fact underlined by a record fourth Copa Rushmori win. Former FC Axel Heiburg boss Morten Rasmussen took over at the helm of the Terns five cycles ago now and in that time he has been a revelation, turning the side into one of the hardest teams in the Multiverse to beat - I mean, two of his thirteen defeats in charge of the Terns have been in the World Cup final for Thor's sake! The squad shake-up afforded to him by injuries at the Copa were appreciated, but he has selected much the same squad as the last World Cup, barring a few exceptions. With the hardcore of this team having lifted the trophy and looked entirely capable of retaining it last time around but for that one defeat, it is thought that the management believe this core of players have one last serious shot at the title before a restructuring. There are more than a handful of players that will be looking at their age and wondering if they'll be around come the next tournament, but for the meantime, they're just on the edge of their peaks. Heia Terns!
Assistant Manager: Iulian Finnibaturinn, 41With hard-nosed Steffan Pekarik off to find an international managerial job of his own, Rasmussen turned to Surtsey Island Gulls coach Finnibaturinn to fill the seat to the right of him in the dugout. Finnibaturinn played for the Terns a huge ninety-seven times - four times as captain, scoring four goals in the process. He might have retired just before Rasmussen took charge of the Terns, but that doesn't mean he was ever unknown to his new boss, with Rasmussen trying to sign him several times whilst FC Axel Heiburg manager. Pekarik was a born winner, and a tough fighter, and it is thought that Rasmussen has brought in Finnibaturinn because he shares those exact attributes. Once thought of as down and out, he fought his way back into the Terns squad after having found himself at imploded league after imploded league, with a move back to Surtsey and a Champions' Cup medal at Urbizania Wanderers to show for his efforts. Never gave up as a player, and doesn't do so as a coach either. An inspired appointment from Rasmussen.
PLAYERS:#1 - GK - Iulian Kirilaunen - Age 30 - FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls - 92 Caps, 1 GoalKirilaunen marked being handed the number one jersey at Surtsey by almost immediately producing some outstanding performances to help the Gulls exceed all expectations with back-to-back appearances in the Champions' Cup semi-finals. Being thirty years old means he is a goalkeeper at the peak of his abilities, and he represents his national team as the number one with all of the calmness and authority required. During the match he catches the eye with his consistently good positioning and the organisation of his back four, and despite his closest rival for the number one jersey winning the Champions' Cup, twice, Iulian still holds onto it thanks to his lack of reliance on the defence in front of him. There's a good reason for this, and his speed off his line when acting as a sweeper-keeper will no doubt save the day on the occasions that see his team-mates getting caught flat-footed. Against Saintland in WC68 he even became the first ever goalkeeper to score for the Terns.
#2 - DR - Moses Luc Bjerregaard - Age 23 - SK Franz Josef City - 67 Caps, 22 Assists, 7 GoalsAt just seventeen years of age, Bjerregaard was the youngest player to get a call-up to the Terns squad since Alexsandr van Sorensen, and it's not hard to see why. Still only on the verge of his twenty-fourth birthday, he is lightning fast, fearless, with a wicked control of a dead ball, and has a willingness to run at players that means Bjerregaard has all the credentials required to be a fine right winger. However, when you add a tough tackle, the ability to read the game, and a keen positional sense into the equation, it's easy to see why Bjerregaard can make such a devastating wing-back. Hence, he is perfect for Rasmussen's formation. His strength in the air can leave something to be desired, but he's still young, and coming off the back of some stunning performances in international football he was brought back from Astograth to Divisjon One by SK Franz Josef City. He's on the verge of becoming a global superstar, and Rasmussen will have to manage the attention and hype carefully.
#3 - DC - Aapo Nordenberg - Age 29 - Northbrook Diamonds FK - 67 Caps, 2 Assists, 4 GoalsOyen-Spekke's retirement left a gap at centre-back that Rasmussen could have filled with any one of the many talented centre-backs that the nation is awash with at the moment. In the end, he opted for the player who was brought from FC Torshavn to East Franz Athletic to replace Oyen-Spekke there as well. Nordenberg had previously found it easy to slip under the radar and avoid the hype, though at East Franz his quietly impressive performances changed that, and he was sold to Ituraitz FC in order to balance the books; where he excelled. The implosion of the Astograthian league saw the Spires attempt to re-sign the player, but it was Northbrook's bid that tempted him more, and he joins his club captain Kohev Küngas-Vaga in the Terns back four now. Quiet, considered, and a scholar of the game, his game reading is excellent, meaning he is often able to make a challenge and prevent a dangerous situation before it even materialises. This lack of eye-catching last minute tackles contributes towards his relatively low-key profile, though they are of course also indicative of his ability to stop them being necessary in the first place. Tall, strong, and with a fine touch, Nordenberg is one of the ball-playing central defenders that are now becoming the vogue around the leagues. An instrumental part of the World Cup winning squad and at the peak of his abilities right now.
#4 - DC - Morten Salo - Age 30 - Revolutionaries (EUR) - 59 Caps, 1 Assist, 5 GoalsBlunt, abrasive, and aggressive; Salo is anything but the life and soul of a party. Not that this matters in central defence, of course, and whilst he will be the first to admit his fondness for hoofing the ball out of danger as soon as possible, this can sometimes be the appropriate response. With a sly elbow here and there, Salo is the master of getting away with little fouls when the officials aren't looking, and he can often be seen arguing on the pitch with his teammates, opposition strikers, the match officials, and even his own management team. He only does this because he has the team's best interests at heart however, and he is a keen team player; always being relied upon to give his all for his team, something his new teammates at Revolutionaries no doubt appreciate. You want him with you rather than against you, that's for sure.
#5 - DL - Kohev Küngas-Vaga - Age 33 - Northbrook Diamonds FK - 190 Caps, 33 Assists, 19 Goals - CAPTAINThis defender is well known and trusted by just about the entire nation, and after having taken the armband after the retirement of Alexsandr van Sorensen, Kohev will forever go down in history as the Terns' first World Cup winning skipper. As captain for club and country, he is a combative and battling left-back, though he is a talented centre back and defensive midfielder as well, and this enthusiasm and adaptability is something that Rasmussen will be able to make good use of. Originally moving to the first team as a result of Edvar Folke's previous hamstring tear, his athleticism was called upon to offer support and attacks from down the left side, and he later ousted the SK defender from the starting XI entirely. One of the youngest players to ever move past a hundred caps for his country, he is almost guaranteed to become the third to move past two-hundred this cycle. Will this be his last World Cup for the Terns? At thirty-three it could be, we'll just have to see how things go.
#6 - DMC - Eikr Lillehammer - Age 30 - Cednia Beach AFC (TUR) - 84 Caps, 8 Assists, 5 Goals - Vice-CaptainEikr Lillehammer was never even in contention for an u-21s berth in his youth, and indeed he was let go by the Northbrook Academy without much fanfare and picked up by AFK Hans Island Pioneers. Performances there lead SK Aasiaat Harbour to purchase his services a few seasons ago, and by the end of his first year there he’d very much played his way into being one of the first names on the team sheet. With a battling mentality and a whole heap of confidence, Eikr is flying, and Rasmussen had an easy decision when it came to deciding who was going to replace Sudesval in the starting line-up. He played astonishingly well in the World Cup final, earning the Man of the Match award for his endeavours as well as the chance to make a move to Turori giants Cednia Beach AFC. Always one to rely on in the big games, Lillehammer put together a string of impressive performances as his club powered to the Globe Cup title - let's hope he'll be bringing the same determination to the Terns this time around.
#7 - MC - Bjorn Konigstein - Age 25 - SK Franz Josef City - 36 Caps, 9 Assists, 6 GoalsWith all the money at SK's disposal and all the attraction of playing for the biggest club in the Federation, they can pretty much bring in whoever they want. How remarkable, therefore, that the diminutive Bjorn Konigstein has fought his way through the youth academy and has been commanding a place in the starting line-up for years now. Full of youthful enthusiasm and energy, he's got a sort of magnetic presence on the pitch that just seems to draw the ball towards him, and he is adept at launching forwards and finishing attacks with a sweet strike from the edge of the area in his role as a classic box-to-box midfielder. Rasmussen was impressed with his performances during the last Copa and subsequent friendlies, and as such he was given a run in the first team during qualifiers. He's now here to stay. A real talent.
#8 - MC - Svenbjorn Einarsson - Age 29 - Mâ Âlâmëómë (FFD) - 61 Caps, 8 Assists, 7 GoalsRed Star make a habit of producing impressive midfielders recently, and their management were frustrated that Einarsson was another one allowed to slip away through their fingers. In Svenbjorn's case, it was to Farfadillis, where his experience has seen him drop the "defensive" prefix from his job title and start adding goals and assists (not to mention player awards and general Farf craziness) to his game. Strong and acutely accurate with his passing, Einarsson always gives his all on the pitch, where his youthful energy and willingness to chase any seemingly lost cause can change games late on. Though, questions remain over his ability to stay calm when provoked, something working with Pekarik hasn't exactly helped. It is hoped therefore that Finnibaturinn will mellow him out a little, and he is allowed the chance here to develop a partnership of sorts with his previous rival for the same spot - Konigstein.
#9 - ST - Gustaf Kolehmainen - Age 31 - SK Franz Josef City - 103 Caps, 12 Assists, 66 GoalsWith a vicious right boot and a desire to succeed, Gustaf Kolehmainen was perhaps
the player upon whom Surtsey built their recent success, and is still
the player that proves the difference for the Terns time and time again. How devastating for the Gulls therefore that a series of personal tragedies left him feeling like he could no longer stay in the city, leading him to make a move for SK Franz Josef City of all teams. Has scored sixty-six goals for the Terns in just a hundred-and-three matches so far, guaranteeing him a place at the table of all-time greats. This is only fitting for a player capable of utilising his broad range of talents to fit into whatever formation he is required to do so. He can lead the line, he can support it, he can poach, he can hit screamers, he's strong, he's fast, he's two footed, he's strong in the air; he's the perfect all round striker, and Surtsey's loss is SK's gain. Lost form dramatically at the start of the last qualifying campaign due to some tragic off-field circumstances, but managed to use those feelings to fuel his performances on the pitch by the end of them, and the way in which he terrorised defenders at the World Cup served only to underline his position as one of the Multiverse's most feared strikers. This could potentially be the last World Cup we see him leading the line in the number nine shirt, so make the most of it - he's a joy to watch.
#10 - MC - Jean-Eric Villeneuve - Age 32 - Northbrook Diamonds FK - 145 Caps, 79 Assists, 23 GoalsMoving back to Northbrook from Cap Nordique in Cotdelapoms, Villeneuve is a creative attacking midfielder in the same mould as Lepka and Demarchelier and, like the latter, he hails from the Rochefroides community of Ellismare. Fluent in five languages, he is incredibly intelligent as far as footballers go, and his range of passing and vision on the pitch is evidence of this. Not the fastest player to have ever hit the turf, he lets the football do all the hard work for him, which can lead to his apparent lack of effort being an easy target for disgruntled fans is results aren't going so well. Fortunately, with Jean-Eric in the side, this is rarely the case, and with the help of Rasmussen's encouragement and Finnibaturinn's drills, even his pace and athleticism is staying constant, with the astonishing number of assists he got at the World Cup proving to be the fruits of his labours. He's at the height of his game right now, and has been moved forwards into the number ten role as a result, partially in a bid to cover his relative lack of pace in getting back to defend - a task that would be rather more urgently asked of him were he still playing in the midfield - and partially to shoulder the burden of replacing van Sorensen's spark that Zeljeznicar was apparently unable to bear with reliable results.
#11 - ST - Torsten Wolff - Age 28 - FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls - 57 Caps, 5 Assists, 24 GoalsHaving made a good impression with the u-21s, Wolff has had to wait patiently for his chance in the first team thanks to the strength of the Kolehmainen-Saarinen partnership, but since getting that chance he has appeared in nearly every game since. With new young strikers also in the frame to take the spot in the first team, you can be sure Wolff will be aiming to continue to improve his goals/game ratio here in qualifying. With an easy-going nature, his partnership with Frederiksen at the DBC had a distinct air of the odd-couple about it, but it nonetheless worked quite well, and his keen eye for the top corner of the goal from wherever he is in the box has made his excellent poaching skills a fan favourite. Having pipped Frederiksen in squad decisions time after time, he'll be looking to cause some damage here in order to prove his selection justified. Turmoil in Iturributa means he's returning to Divisjon One with Surtsey, and yes; he's heard all the wolf jokes already.
#12 - GK - Artemiusz Korzhanenko - Age 33 - SK Franz Josef City - 50 CapsKorzhanenko is nigh on unbeatable when running out for the ball in the box. He also has a great record in penalty shoot outs, and was there providing vital coaching to Kirilaunen in the minutes before the shoot-out against Eura in the World Cup whilst a substitute. Although he has lost the number one jersey to Kirilaunen over the course of the last few cycles, Korzhanenko is the perfectly professional, and you won't see him causing a fuss from the bench - he knows that it is ultimately great for the team that the two best keepers for the national team are competing against each other with the two best teams of recent years in Divisjon One. A great calming presence to have in the locker room, and a two-time Champions' Cup winner as well.
#12 - GK - Leif Ulsletten - Age 26 - Red Star Severny - 8 Caps, 1 AssistWith Alexis Sand carrying a minor niggle into the last Copa, Rasmussen turned to Red Star goalkeeper Ulsletten for the number thirteen shirt at the tournament, giving him a run of three games in the friendlies that followed the tournament. Having only just made his breakthrough for his club, the call-up looked to have surprised Ulsletten somewhat, but you would have never been able to tell that from his performances in those games - keeping three clean sheets and making a string of saves behind an inexperienced defence, convincing Rasmussen to keep him in the team for the World Cup. Fast, nimble, and with excellent distribution - Kirilaunen's one big weakness - his long throws can often be the first line of attack for his sides, as proved by his assist.
#14 - AMC - Luar Dardan - Age 25 - SK Franz Josef City - Uncapped [- 59 Caps, 21 Assists, 20 Goals for Astograth prior to defection]It takes a special player to change the rules on who can play for the Terns. Previous rules had stipulated that only players without caps for other nations, and who qualify for citizenship, can play in the hallowed Terns jersey. See, Torsten Navarro and Yann-Erik Nilsson. The WCC however, appear to have slightly laxer rules on this sort of thing. See, Alexio Del Nieran. Despite this, the FPIFA have resisted any calls so far to match any policy such that would put them more in line with the WCC. This despite the current Polarian stewardship of the WCC. Nonetheless, when it transpired that the now stateless Luar Dardan would no longer have the chance to play at any World Cup or Copa Rushmori since the demise of Astograth, and that he qualified for the Terns and Polarian citizenship through residence, Morten Rasmussen successfully campaigned to have the FPIFA relax their rules slightly. They now ignore previous caps for other nations should mitigating circumstances prevent that nation from competing. As a result, the Terns welcome formerly Astograthian ace Luar Dardan into their squad for the first time. Having torn things up at Directus and SK Franz Josef City, and the Terns experiencing something of a drought of attacking midfielders after Zeljeznicar's injury, this couldn't have come at a better time. With his runs, vision, and a very keen eye for goal, he could be just the perfect player to replace Villeneuve long-term.
#15 - DL - Niels Kruse - Age 25 - Revolutionaries (EUR) - UncappedTo be honest, when Morten Salo moved to Eura, the last thing he thought he'd get out of it was a Terns team-mate at club and country, but that's exactly what's happened here. Niels Kruse has been busily beavering away in Eura for the best part of his career, and as the Terns scouts and Rasmussen finally started making the trips to Revolutionaries to see Salo play, Kruse coincided by having the best season of his career so far. Busy, hard-working, and with superb fitness levels, Kruse has made the most of doubts over Vaaraniemi's match readiness to take the spot in the squad for the first time, and by all accounts he is just itching to make his first Terns appearances and assist or score his first goals - something that has been something of a feature of his quick-footed wing-back play for his club.
#16 - DR - Alexis St Olaf - Age 31 - Hondo FC (VAL) - 42 Caps, 6 Assists, 1 GoalRasmussen unearthed something of a gem when he found St Olaf. Well known to Argonauts fans, his efforts had thus far eluded the attentions of the more international eye. Until his domestic manager became his national manager, that is. Fluent at playing on both flanks, it was Rasmussen himself who discovered Alexis St Olaf in the 'out tray' of the Haapa-Mechelin Academy and brought him back into the youth set-up, retraining him from a winger to a wing-back in the process, the same process current first-choice Bjerregaard has gone through just recently. Given the presence of Kruse in the squad it is likely we will only see St Olaf operating on the right this tournament, though in an emergency this versatile player can play pretty much anywhere but up front. His appearances for the Terns caught the eye of foreign clubs, and he now turns out for Vanorian outfit Hondo FC. Vauxhall Jansen impressed the Terns management during his performances at the Copa, but it is thought that having two young full-backs in a World Cup squad struck Rasmussen as foolhardy, and so the age and experience of St Olaf comes back in.
#17 - DMC - Anders Holzhauser - Age 25 - Northbrook Diamonds FK - 40 Caps, 5 Assists, 3 GoalsCame straight from the DBC to feature at his first Copa Rushmori four Copas ago, and did so again along with Bjerregaard three cycles ago in Charruterra, providing performances enough to convince Rasmussen to take him along in his squads ever since. Holzhauser is a strong and tough-tackling defensive midfielder, and has made quite an impact on Rasmussen. With a commanding presence, he quickly grabs the eye as he marshals the defence behind him, and though he is able to fill in at centre back should he be required to, Holzhauser has the urge and the ability to push forwards in possession of the ball and add a different dimension to the attack in the process. All this international exposure was bound to create a big move for him eventually however, and he now turns out for Divisjon One giants Northbrook Diamonds FK, who splashed the cash necessary to get Issington to part with one of their prized assets. Fans already think him cheap at twice the price.
#18 - ST - Victor Larsen - Age 26 - Spartangrad (EUR) - 24 Caps, 7 Assists, 10 GoalsHuge, hulking, physically intimidating, and with a foot like a traction engine, Victor Larsen is notable for being - along with Yann-Erik Nilsson - the first black Polarian to ever be called up to the national team. Impressive with the Chicks at u-21s level, his pace and raw power can change the game in an instant, and he has been doing just that with Red Star in Divisjon One, having an outstanding season last time around with Spartangrad in Eura taking interest in him as a result. Described as a human battering ram, he provides something very different from the bench, and it will be interesting to see how Rasmussen uses him with the other strikers in the squad when it comes to deployment on the pitch. Had something of a breakthrough in Kolehmainen's poor form early on in the last cycle.
#19 - MC - Erik Bergen - Age 25 - FC Axel Heiburg - 12 Caps, 5 Assists, 2 GoalsIt's not often that a midfielder is called into a World Cup squad uncapped when midfielders had been specifically looked at for the open spot during the Copa, but that's exactly what happened to Erik Bergen last cycle. FC Axel Heiburg are used to having more players in the Terns roster than they have here - one - but they'd have none if it weren't for Bergen's move back to Axel Heiburg after the implosion down in Astograth. Bergen's move to Astograth University raised few eyebrows at the time, but the performances of the youngster during "that" season have certainly raised eyebrows since, as he helped his previous club to an historic league and cup double. Such a performance could not remain overlooked for long, and the gangly midfielder with an eye for a pass and a bucketload of hard work and determination was brought into the squad as a result. Is he still riding that wave of confidence? Let's find out.
#20 - ST - Vasek Frederiksen - Age 28 - Red Star Severny - 20 Caps, 1 Assist, 6 GoalsOnce one of several uncapped players in a previous Copa Rushmori squad, Vasek Frederiksen did enough on the way to the final of that tournament to convince Rasmussen that he deserved the spot in the World Cup squad, but has since lost out to Wolff in the pecking order since swapping Torshavn for Esca. Frederiksen is taking a leaf out of Wolff's book now though by swapping Esca for Red Star following the implosion of both their foreign leagues, filling the boots of Terns team-mate Larsen in the process. Tall and lanky, he's surprisingly good with his touch for a big man, and his gangly presence often belies his deadliness in the box. Has a focused and naturally solitary demeanour that can come across as anti-social and aggressive, but on the pitch this frequently counts as a good thing, and you can bet he is focused solely on scoring for the Terns after some time away from the squad. Has younger players like Akerhausen and Bickermann breathing down his neck for a spot in the squad, so hopefully we'll see him gain some more time on the pitch.
#21 - MC - Jorgen Kirvesniemi - Age 31 - Fontvielle Impact (VLD) - 95 Caps, 13 Assists, 10 GoalsAppearing regularly in the top flight for Rapid Jan Mayen and then later in Divisjon Two, his signing by Red Star Severny was seen another step in the young midfielder's development; not to mention being a decision that brought him to the attentions of first van der Riise, then Rasmussen, and
then the Valladar giants of Fontvielle Impact. He has it all in his locker, and can twist and turn out of danger or provide a battling block as necessary. He can inspire and rifle in assists, or he can sit back and dictate play. Unwilling to let him become a positional expert, the coaches let him add to his arsenal of overall talents, a decision that is paying off now as he takes his place in the starting line-up as an exceptionally versatile asset. Has been described in the past as the natural successor to Hansen or Bielsen, and his number of caps is testament to that when you consider that even though he's only been in the first XI for four tournaments he is still touching a hundred caps. Incredibly versatile, incredibly reliable, incredibly determined, with an engine that just won't quit - he's the perfect tournament player and a valuable player to have on your bench.
#22 - DC - Torsten Navarro - Age 25 - FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls - 26 Caps, 4 GoalsAfter graduating through the Haapa-Mechelin Youth Academy, East Külmsaari national Torsten Navarro instead elected to leave the club and was snapped up by Novaya Sibir Reds. Enjoying the increased game time he got by making such a move, he blossomed into the tough tackling defender we know today, and his stock only increased when the Reds were relegated and he was pursued by Surtsey. An integral part of their Divisjon One and Copa de Campeones winning side, he is now looked on enviously by Axel Heiburg fans, and as he makes his Terns appearances through the Polarian passport of his grandparents, he will have his determined eyes on getting back into the first XI following Salo's return from injury. Capable of scoring freely in the opposition box from set pieces if allowed, which he proved on the way to winning the Copa as Nordenberg's partner at the back.
#23 - DC - Willem Otkupshchikov - Age 26 - FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla - 3 CapsOtkupshchikov represents one of those rare success stories where a player can grow and mature way down the leagues with a lesser team before a bigger team notices him and takes a chance on him, only to see said player blossom on the bigger stage and totally steal the limelight. Otkupshchikov did just that at Bjarnarey after having spent the first four years of his career Divisjon-jumping with Waldenoya Bears, and he now finds himself outshining the likes of Syndicate star Alex Sutler for club, and getting a call up for his country. Tall, solid, and with an incredible work ethic, you won't see Otkupshchikov popping up in the opposition box much, if at all, but you will always be able to rely on him to be in the right place at the right time in his own box. It would take something special to keep Yann-Erik Nilsson out of this squad, but that's exactly what Otkupshchikov has done.
TACTICS: "The Pythagorean" 2-3-3-2The Polarian game is methodical, abrasive, technical, and physical. They won't give you a second on the ball to think, and they won't hold back in the tackle. In the centre of the park they will play a possession based midfield game of triangles, though a defence splitting pass could come at any moment towards the fast and direct attack. Rasmussen plays a narrow and heavily modified diamond formation dubbed the Pythagorean by the sporting press. It is reliant upon two key triangular sets of players that transcend the normal "rows" of player in conventional formation layouts. Nordenberg, Salo, and Lillehammer will act as the defensive triangle, and Villeneuve, Kolehmainen, and Wolff will counter at the other end as the offensive triangle. Lillehammer's and Villeneuve's roles in this scheme are absolutely crucial, as their job is to support and unlock the other two players in their respective triangles, providing outlets and creativity in abundance. Einarsson and Konigstein are part of a compact and creative midfield that will supply steel or style whenever the situation demands it, as well as partnering up with their respective full backs to form a kind of "bumper" that sweeps the flanks in attack or folds in to protect the penalty area in defence. Fitness of all players will therefore be key to the success of this plan; not just the constant positional changing demanded of Lillehammer and Villeneuve, but the athleticism of Bjerregaard and Küngas-Vaga in particular will also be tested to the limit as their roles require frequent attacking. It's not quite a 4-3-3, it's not quite a 4-1-2-1-2, and it's not quite a W-M... Alright, alright, it's more or less a W-M with a focus on two specific trios of players. It's the Pythagorean.
Penalty Taker: Gustaf Kolehmainen/Aapo Nordenberg/Bjorn Konigstein
Free Kick Taker: Jean-Eric Villeneuve/Moses Luc Bjerregaard/Torsten Wolff
Corner Taker: Jean-Eric Villeneuve/Moses Luc Bjerregaard/Bjorn Konigstein
Starting line-upModification: -1Record going into World Cup 69:Played 489, Won 324, Drawn 84, Lost 81, Scored 997, Conceded 471, Goal Difference +526, Win Percentage 66%
Top Goalscorers:Timo Skye - 117
Alexsandr van Sorensen - 107
Gustaf Kolehmainen - 66*
Felix Saarinen - 60
Patrick Ackermann-Finn - 57Most Assists:Alexsandr van Sorensen - 117
Jean-Eric Villeneuve - 79*
Luc Demarchelier - 73
Ole van Jendrisen - 68
Marten Cornelius - 48Most Caps:Alexsandr van Sorensen - 268
Jorgen Hauge - 215
Kohev Küngas-Vaga - 190*
Timo Skye - 168
Zacharias Juul - 166Asterisks indicate player in squad THE OPPONENT CANChoose my goalscorers? Yes.
Godmod scoring events? Yes.
RP injuries to my players? Yes, within reason, and I reserve the right to change the severity in a follow-up RP.
Godmod injuries to my players? Yes, as above.
Hand out yellow cards to my players? Yes.
Hand out red cards to my players? Yes, but only 2 per match maximum, and never to my captain or vice-captain.
Godmod other events? TG me first, but I'm always open to ideas.