The Freisan Farf Freitball Francitian hereby presents the Farf roster for the 48th Edition of the AOCAF CupNation Name: The Oulandish Lands of Farfadillis
Demonym: Farf (plural Farves)
Team Nickname: La Vherderoja
Honours: AOCAF Cup 43 Winners
KitsProvided by Kirola ManagerName: Steffan Pekarik
Age: 57
First Cycle: 69
Record: 57-17-17
Win Percentage: 62%
Description: Pekarik once played for the Terns as a left-back. Well, not once, but a hundred and forty one times. He managed to get fifteen assists and six goals and even captained his country once. On club level, he played for East Franz Athletic, Urajbina of Kagdazka and Pazhujebu, and then FC Axel Heiburg, winning the Champions' Cup as captain before retiring and going into a coaching role with the club. He later followed manager Morten Rasmussen to the Terns to become assistant manager through all the Terns' final appearances. He's got a preference for defensive football, but here he is managing Farfadillis. Steffan is famously hard on his players if they're found to be guilty of complacency or lazy play, and he drills his players hard on the training pitch. Some Farf players have caused him a couple of headaches as a result, Terán being the worst offender with Mata fast on his trail. He's not afraid of ruffling feathers with popular/lazy/show pony players. He'll take no prisoners, suffer no fools, and allow no airs or graces. Everyone works hard, everyone gets the rewards. That's the philosophy he's been trying to make prevail facing this particularly eccentric national team he's chosen, and he's had certainly... varying degrees of success. The fight's been hard so far, and, though he's not achieved the best of results, he sure has been making the team progress, at least defensively. Except for when it matters. Finally giving up, in a way, Pekarik has accepted to adopt a more 'Farf' mindset from here on. It did seem to work last World Cup, what with being the only team to make Pasarga drop points.
Assistant ManagerName: Casper Baek
Age: 50
First Cycle: 69
Description: Casper Baek has been one of the most celebrated one-club-players in recent Valhallan history. Turning out his entire career for FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls until he reached forty and finally retired, Baek has eased naturally into a coaching role, and his vast playing experience will be a valuable resource for any team that employs him. He has a keen eye for man-management, so whenever Pekarik gets angry and shouts at people, it will be Baek who picks them up, dusts them down, and tells them they can do it. Nonetheless, he will be a loyal assistant to Pekarik.
PhysiotherapistName: Radek Greve
Age: 48
First Cycle: 69
Description: Radek Greve now holds the title of first physiotherapist of the Farf national football team. When Pekarik arrived, he quickly noticed that the FFFF had never appointed someone to take care of the players, and soon put forward Radek's name.
Starters
#1 - GKName: Rôhj Tzâín ÜjkânAge: 29
Positions: GK
Team: Mâ Âlâmëómë Description: The Rulandese heir to Lisdiren's throne. Though Erfaon left a huge hole to be filled, Rôhj's done it more than decently. No, he's not as good as his predecessor, but he's still second-best for best Farf keeper in history. A true one-club man, he's been at Mâ Âlâmëómë all his life, amassing more experience than he could've asked for. Flashy and acrobatic, but not tall, which is often his biggest shortcoming. Used to be his second biggest, though, but he's left his laziness behind in part thanks to a certain new Polarian manager who just wouldn't have any of the nonsense. At least not in excessive amounts. Poor Steffan is still managing Farfadillis, after all.
#2 - LBName: Cleto Mata TararirasAge: 31
Positions: LB/CB/RB
Team: Gwinevra Barbarians Description: Mata's been defending
la Vherderoja for more than half his life. He defended a Farf squad nefore growing hair in his buttcrack. First the under fifteens, then the Di Bradini Cup and, finally, the senior squad. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Cleto's among the Farfest of players in this squad, in spite of being a defender. He's not bad at defending, no, he's actually excellent at it by Farf standards (that is to say, he's good). What catches the eye, though, is his offensive game. He likes to dribble his way into the opponent's side of the pitch, he's great at creating counterattacks, and he's actually very good at running down the flank and crossing. Sometimes he even surprises defenders by cutting in and adapting to an inside forward role for a few seconds. Pekarik took quite some time to finally warm up to him, but at the end of the day he's opened his mind and accepted that, even though Cleto's different, he's still pretty good.
#6 - CBName: Ivaktör Mâr Bârr Rîk-ÂndréAge: 29
Positions: CB
Team: Northbrook Diamonds Description: Though maybe at the time not many would've predicted it, Ivaktör has turned out to be one of Dí Maozöxê's finest academy products. This is, funnily enough, mostly a result of him
leaving the Rulandese team at a very young age. He joined Sunrisian team Darveston City, getting much-appreciated exposure that earned him a call-up to a Di Bradini squad that ended up winning the whole thing. He performed really well in that tournament, one thing led to another and he ended up signing for Northbrook Diamonds. Niko Marek was his teacher there, so things just couldn't go wrong. In fact, they went so
not wrongthat he ended up a pretty normal defender despite his nationality. Bârr's a tall, strong and aggressive defender with an acute understanding of the game. His presence in the box is huge, which was perfectly demonstrated when he scored the title-winning goal for the Diamonds last season. He's in the form of his life.
#4 - RBName: Drê Tâás Röènôùjýâ ÌrrýbâuzârâAge: 23
Positions: LB/LM/RB
Team: Violence Chariots Description: Drê started his career playing for Sunrisian team Neuville Scyther's youth team. His performances there earned him a move back to Mâ Âlâmëómë very quickly. Back in Farfadillis, he became one of the hottest young prospectsin the league. Stringing a great performance after another for seasons on end. His development has stagnated a bit, though, and many blame his one-dimensionality. He's truly great filling in the role of kamikaze wingback that is so typical of Farf teams, but in his position defending is still important, and he's neglected it after so many years in the FFL. A move to Nepharim team Violence Chariots might set that right, however. Obviously, he's got the talent, as is evidenced by the fact that Pekarik called him up despite his preferrence for defensive defenders. Also, don't worry: even Farves have a hard time with his name.
#5 - CMName: Yurpá Mêndêlöíndçêl NüyntâkAge: 35
Positions: DM/CM
Team: Dwile Warriors Description: Yurpá's played literally every game the national team has played. All of them. His caps record will
not be beaten, that is guaranteed. He's the one that wears the captain's armband, which should come as no surprise. His timing for challenges is impeccable, and he's got a borderline unhealthy understanding of the game. He's easily one of the most defensively-capable players in the game. No, we don't know what he's doing here. It puzzles us too. Even at the not-so-tender age of thirty.five, Yurpá can still run frenzily all game long. It's beginning to get suspicious, even. He's good like any Farf at the offensive side of the game. He can pass and dribble, though it's not where he shines. His shots are powerful, though, and they can definitely trouble goalkeepers. He's the only Farf player to win the Champions' Cup to this day. This is his last AOCAF Cup, so he'll be looking to make the most out of it.
#11 - LMName: Rübéãn Tôr RämírAge: 24
Positions: LM/RM/LW/RW
Team: FC Endeavour Description: Tôr is the kind of player that could've started aged twenty if he had been born a tad earlier. However, Fôx and Kâí are two players that just can't be displaced, as is evidenced by the fact that Tôr's now finally a starter without having actually displaced either of them. Rübéãn has got an admirable workrate, even if his defensive skilles are decidedly average. He's got stunning technique, and a knack for the unexpected. He likes to play a more vertical style, so we're likely to see the team trying more through passes with Tôr's presence. He's a bit of a stepdown from Risko, but he is also very different, something the team appreciates as the tactics were getting very much predictable. It's also worth noting that he's fast and pretty ambiextrous, which pretty much doubles how dangerous he is.
#3 - OMName: Alex Terán LoyaAge: 32
Positions: CM/OM
Team: FC Endeavour Description: Terán is the kind of player Pekarik absolutely hates. He's clueless tactically, his workrate leaves something to be desired and he rarely takes things seriously. Thing is, he's also a case of natural talent taking a player very far. It's difficult to find someone as unpredictable as Terán. He can single-handedly turn a game around when things are not going well, and make his team play better just by being there. His ventures into the opposing box are very dangerous, too, as is evidenced by his goalscoring record. Overall a very particular kind of player, and one Pekarik has had a particularly painful time warming up to. He may be getting old, but he's never been reliant on his physical attributes, so it'll be hard to write him off for some time yet. Wínrôuge's biggest will likely be displacing him. Alex is loved by Endeavour's fans, and it's totally justified, as he's been one of their best players for quite a long time now.
#10 - OMName: Matías Delafuente ObreroAge: 27
Positions: CM/OM
Team: Holdenberg Description: La Nueva Avenida are evidently pretty good at producing creative midfielders. Just like Terán, Delafuente is also a Novan youth product, albeit one that left before he even started a game. He's a different kind of player, though. He's far more one-dimensional. The very reason he's here is his playmaking. He's not particularly good at scoring himself, nor is he very good at defending, but he makes the team's game that much more fluid. His vision and passing are simply unmatched by players in this squad. Unlike his Apoxian-based counterpart, he adds a layer of tactical awareness to his game that just makes him deadlier. If you don't let the ball get to him rather cleanly, he becomes a non-factor. But good luck doing that.
#9 - RMName: Mâás Jân Fôx DüçélájéAge: 29
Positions: RM/RW
Team: Directus Description: Officially among the twenty-five most influential players of the Euraleague, it's not really hard to see why. Fôx is an attacker so versatile it's just impossible to have a definitive answer to him. He likes to cut in to make the most out of his sharp eye for passes, but he's fast and ambidextrous, so he can just keep running down the flank and crossing if he wishes. What's more, he's also a great set piece taker, really consistent and really strong mentally. However, despite his vast skillset and overall completeness as an attacker, he's got his downsides. He's not good defensively, as you probably could've guessed, and physically he's always been pretty bad. He's gotten better, though! He can now endure entire matches! That said, don't expect him to give a hundred percent all match, it's probably not for the better anyway.
#8 - STName: Risko Kâí TüzáAge: 31
Positions: LM/LW/ST
Team: Mâ Âlâmëómë Description: Risko's the best player the national team has to offer, though he's gonna have to adapt to his role as a striker now that Dandalleion's not a part of the starting eleven anymore. His dribbling is on another level, he's really pacey and he's great at finding spaces. His crossing is great, and so is his finishing. He's just deadly at whatever he does, provided it's offensive and not defensive. He's no slouch in defense, though, but now that he's playing as a striker that's a non-factor, anyway. He's not good at jumping or heading, though, so expect the team to cross less than when Dandalleion started. That's fine, though, cause Risko was the one who crossed most of the time anyway, and Tôr doesn't do it so much.
#7 - STName: José Torino Fuego TeixidóAge: 27
Positions: ST
Team: FC Axel Heiburg Description: Brother of Lorenzo Fuego, capped, and Pablo Fuego, a legend at yo-yo club Tifón De La Costa. He started playing for a lowly-club in the third tier of the Farf pyramid, Flamagua, but after he left they were already in the top tier. And yes, it was mostly thanks to him. After playing for the Flames, he signed for Mytanar club Liria Prizren. But then there was a civil war and that wasn't cool. So he moved to Polarian outfit Axel Heiburg. Cue big freeze. So yeah, domestically, he's not the luckiest guy, but his talent is undeniable. He's got very good dribbling and positioning, as well as clinical finishing. He's become a bit of a terror in the air lately, and his fighting spirit is absolutely commendable. Overall, an extremely complete striker.
Substitutes
#12Name: Ascensión Espiritual Ekvinter GonzálezAge: 28
Positions: GK
Team: Avenida Victoria Description: Ekvinter's by all accounts a very good goalkeeper. He's been a vital part of the Victorians' line-up for almost as long as he's been professional. However, Tzâín is simply the superior choice, and there's little he can do about it. Nonetheless, the difference in quality is not too big, and a serious in dip in form from the Rulandese could see the Faroleran rising up to take his place. It's unlikely, but not impossible.
#23Name: Calogero André Metz LilleAge: 22
Positions: GK
Team: Mallox Description: Calogero will, in all likelihood, wear the #1 jersey for Farfadillis at some point in his career. Pekarik's aware of that so he has decided to ease him into the squad by calling him up, even over more talented goalkeeper like Sifé Rigutti. This is a tree in whose shade Pekarik might not sit, but it's still a necessary step. Steffan's evidently got some kind of blind faith, in fact, because Calogero conceded ninety-nine goals last season as Deportí Agaumi ended up dead-bottom of the table. Sure, he didn't do badly, but it was a risky call nonetheless.
#21Name: Thjorgias Archere Pickton ExhaurréAge: 22
Positions: CB/RB/DM
Team: La Nueva Avenida Description: The Farf son of Apoxian Grant Pickton, one of the most influential players in the history of the Farf league. Also, yes, Grant was daft enough to name his son so extravagantly. But, after all, anything goes in Farfadillis as far as names are concerned. He's somewhere between Ivaktör Bârr's slightly Farf defending and Mata's overzealous Farf defending, and really, at this stage of his development, he could swing either way depending on the kind of coaching he gets. Currently, Pekarik's his defensive influence, while his father, who is also his manager at La Nueva Avenida, is his offensive influence. His tough tackling and surprisingly good technique are something neither of them will beat out of him, though.
#14Name: Leonhard Emanuel Mixé SantomaríAge: 27
Positions: CB/LB/RB
Team: Urbanista Description: Mixé's been working his ass off under the radar for a while now, and it's finally paying dividends. A string of good seasons at Urbanista, who play, if your memory would like a little refreshing, in
the best league of the Multiverse, meant Pekarik couldn't just not call him up. Plus, Mixé's a rather typical defender just like Bârr, though it's a step-down in quality. He can read the game well and his tackles are usually on-point. He can fill in as fullback (as an
actual fullback), which is much appreciated after Alaminos' unfortunate injury.
#15Name: John Dragonslayer RichardsonAge: 26
Positions: CB/RB
Team: SC Kiel Description: John's the son of Apoxians, but he was born and raised in Farfadillis. Aged just fourteen, though, he signed for Waldenøya Bears (no, we don't know how that happened) of Polar Islandstates. He played there until he turned twenty-five and signed for SC Kiel, who were terrific last season. Dragonslayer's an absolute animal. He's probably injured more players than he's scored goals. However, his talent is undeniable. Also, yes four defenders in this squad are related in some way or another to Apox. Interesting, isn't it?
#20Name: Ruy Alexander Monrazón DianaslocasAge: 20
Positions: DM/CM
Team: Gwinevra Barbarians Description: A tough tackler with a warrior's spirit and a great understanding of the game, Ruy is the heir to the captain's armband. Absolutely nobody has dared question that. Not Pekarik, not the players, not the fans, not Yurpá, not him. He's a born leader. Outgoing and inspirational. In the very words of one of his teammates, : “He leads by example. Maybe he won't ask you to work your socks off, but you will see him putting in so much effort you'll just feel obliged to.” And that's aged twenty. Experience will only make him mellow. Recently moved from his beloved Avenida Leal to Apoxian big giants Gwinevra Barbarians, where he's expected to excel immediately. If a Boom! Best Young Player award is anything to go by, Ruy's got what is needed.
#16Name: Ostadar Arambilet OlitzarAge: 28
Positions: CM
Team: Avenida Leal Description: Born and raised in Astograth, son of Gaur Arambilet (so destined for stardom) and originally an Astograthian NTer. What happened? Gaskon Ugarte went all Lord Protector on his people's ass. Ostadar had liked it in Farfadillis after playing for Avenida Leal for a few years, so when he was offered a spot in the national team, he didn't turn the offer down. As some Polarians could lead you to believe, this is not cause of controversy in Farfadillis. Arambilet is Farf and that's the end of it. He helps keep the defense cohesive and he's very offensively-capable (his long shots are particularly good), mainly because he's been playing in the Farf league for a decade. He excels in neither defense nor offense, but he's still a player few clubs wouldn't like to have. He'll probably be the one who replaces Mêndêlöíndçêl, but Monrazón's breathing down his neck. The relationship between them is allegedly very friendly, though, what with sharing a team until Ruy's move and all.
#13Name: Iñaki Jair Ibarra DesábatoAge: 24
Positions: RM/RW
Team: Avenida Principal Description: Iñaki's debút was just three years ago, aged twenty-one. Libertarian Ferdullaele discovered him because of a one-off nation-wide scouting project. That season, he single-handedly saved them from relegation. After that, he moved to Avenida Principal, the team he supports. There, with his pace, craftiness and consistency, he cemented himself as one of the best players in the league. He plays with a youthful vigour hard to match. It is to be expected, though, as he's living the dream. Not long ago he'd be working at a factory, after all.
#19Name: Fôrté Mâás Wínrôuge ÇíânflönéAge: 19
Positions: OM
Team: Mâ Âlâmëómë Description: Occasionally, a Farf player appears that is just something completely different. So far, it's been Friekder Dandalleion and Risko Kâí. Now we have the third term of the series, that some started to believe would never arrive. Fôrté's workrate's very bad, and he might be the worst player in the world when it comes to tackling, but he's as scary as offensive midfielders come. Vicious and knotty dribbling, defense-splitting passing, a striker's sense of smell and, most importantly, ambidexterity have made this player far too much for defenders in the FFL to handle, even at such a young age. His growth as a player has been stunning, and it doesn't look like it will stop any time soon.
#22Name: Jê Rüx Çìró AlbuquerqueAge: 17
Positions: LM/LW
Team: Neuville Scythers Description: There's been a pretty big shortage of wingers recently, and as a result Jê's gotten the frankly extremely surprising call-up. Jê's a winger with staggering pace and dribbling. He cuts in often, but he's great at just outpacing and crossing. His workrate is commendable, and his defensive skillset not too shabby. He's got the potential to roughly match Mâás Fôx. He's got a curse when it comes to penalties, though. His father was killed because of him missing one in a regional compeition for Dí Maozöxê's youth team (hence him playing for Neuville Scythers now), and to add insult to injury he missed the decisive penalty against Semarland last U18WC. The Semars went on to win the whole thing.
#18Name: Friekder Dandalleion ÍgneoAge: 36
Positions: LM/LW/RM/RW/OM/ST
Team: Jungle Strike Description: Easily
the most famous Farf player in history, Dandalleion is simply a legend. Originally a swamp football player, Dandalleion's meteoric rise to stardom can even be described as unrealistic. A legend for his national team and for Jungle Strike, where he's been perhaps
the most influential player in history, Dandalleion's now pretty old. With the years he's gone from Olympics-entrant fast to still pretty damn fast, and his endurance has decayed considerably. However, even though his speed is no longer his most lethal tool, he's still the same extremely complete and versatile player we know. Still a clinical finisher, still an aerial menace, still a nightmare to defenses. He originally planned to retire after last World Cup, but he's decided missing a decisive penalty against the Holy Empire was not the right way to go out. He's willingly stepped down from the starting eleven, however, as Pekarik and him both understand it's more beneficial for the team if a yonger player like Rübéãn Tôr starts getting more playing time.
#17Name: Elexhé Renzo Nofzaleiné TüjâkáAge: 22
Positions: ST
Team: Avenida Principal Description: Farf strikers are usually pictured as very pacey. Dandalleion, Roga, Tenian, the Fuego brothers, Dragãozý, Cornelio. Tenian was the slowest out of them, and his explosiveness in the box was still his most remarkable strength. How funny then, that one of Farfadillis' most exciting young strikers is slightly lacking in that department. Yes, his running speed is pretty average, but he more than makes up for that with a first touch that puts even Bârr's rudimentary long passes to sleep, a knack for exploiting bad positioning and some very clinical finishing. He's also a very resourceful striker. He always attempts to pull off unorthodox ways to score when they're all that's left, without every worrying over how ridiculous he might end up looking. He often screws up, as you'd expect, but, when he nails it, it's memorable.
Starting XIStyle Modifier+5Pekarik has given up, which can only mean one thing: Overzealously exciting football!