DELACLAVA NATIONAL UNDER-21 SOCCER TEAM
FIFTIETH DI BRADINI WORLD CUP
Trigram: DEL | Nickname: Phoenixes or Ashlings |
Style Modifier: +5RP permissions: Yes, but be respectful and TG/DM if you're not sure or have ideas.Manager: Edward Ekdal, 45, Steckholl United - Ekdal has consistently led the storied program of Steckholl United to top-3 and top-4 finishes in the United Football League, and gets his first test taking the helm of a Delaclav national squad. He's a calm yet focused presence who expects his players to put forth their best effort but also trusts them to take charge of the tactics in game situations and execute properly.
GOALKEEPERS#1 GK Reginald Spencer - 20, 6-2, 160 - Ossiana FC: Spencer was a young man on a lovable old guys' team, and he didn't get a lot of fanfare of his own with all the other keepers to celebrate, but Spencer was sturdy and reliable as they come, and gets his own chance to shine here. Spencer takes a balanced, calculated approach to his game with few risks, and always seems to be in the right place at the right time - the question is how he'll adapt to the increased speed and skill of higher-level competition.
#16 GK Gahiji Nader - 21, 6-3, 175 - Parakeet FC: A longer and rangier athlete with a more flamboyant and fun style, Nader loves the cameras as much as he loves keeping balls out of the net. A solid performer if you can just get him to focus.
#21 GK Robert Alexander - 19, 6-0, 150 - Manchester: Hard-headed, fiery and aggressive, Alexander isn't afraid to mix it up in the air. He's happy to eat an elbow and throw one of his own to make a goal-saving play.
DEFENDERS#2 CB Rahmonberdi Zhusupov - 21, 5-11, 145 - Ming (CMT): A particuarly aggressive center back who isn't afraid to push forward and meet the ball to take changes. He can often get away with it with his speed, but needs to develop more discipline. He looks to take his game to the next level in Chromatika and hopes a strong showing in Valanora will get him started on the right foot.
#4 LB Aleksandr Berezovskij - 20, 6-1, 170 - AC Espene: Berezovskij takes confidence as a UFL champion and as a defender who has been able to compensate for his team's offensive aggression when necessary. A sensible stay-at-home midfielder who pushes the action forward with the ball rather than joining in himself.
#6 RB Wen West - 20, 5-8, 135 - FC Novonaya (KSK): Formerly groomed to be the next right back of the national team, West has somewhat stagnated at South Harbor. The confidence is shot, but the physical speed and toughness is still there, and West figures to work himself back into the NT conversation if he can reboot his development. He's getting a fresh start in Kelssek, and now gets a starting spot on the U21 team to do with what he can.
#17 CB Isaac Baker - 21, 6-2, 185 - North Granby (CDG): A key member of a Sindsyge FC defense, Baker possesses height and strength, but is relatively cautious with his physicality. He can at times be overly tentative, but makes few costly mistakes or fouls and therefore has a high success rate when takes a chance to tackle.
#18 RB Sahar Langah - 21, 6-1, 155 - Holhot City (PFA): The 6-foot-1 rangy right back has worked his way to potentially being the future right back of the national team, a position at which he has plenty of good mentors. He likes to attack up the side and covers ground well, but his tackling tends to be a tad careless.
#23 LB Vladimir Tuhačevskij - 20, 6-1, 160 - Manchester Wolves: A hard-nosed bully of a defender who will be useful in locking down leads late in the game, or to shut down and annoy any particularly troublesome offensive talent.
MIDFIELDERS#3 RM Jamarion Colon - 19, 5-7, 130 - Parakeet FC: Colon brings a colorful and enthusiastic personality to his game, and is active throughout the midfield in intercepting passes and takeaways to start counterattacks. It's a slightly risk-averse strategy that paid off in dividends for a Parakeet FC team that was tied for second in scoring defense. Short and slight, but lightning quick with enduring cardio.
#5 RDM Sanson Eisen - 19, 5-8, 130 - Waldster FC (FVA): Eisen benefited early in his career with the responsibility of keeping an under-talented team afloat, and earned his DPOY award while with First City, before joining Ossiana FC and leading them to a seventh-place finish. He is strongest through the middle of the field, both on the offensive and defensive ends, and rounds out a wing-heavy attack in Delaclav football.
#7 LDM Tibor Holič - 21, 6-1, 155 - Catherina FC: Holič is hard-working, versatile, and incredibly coachable, having transitioned to a center back role with Catherina FC in a time of need. He returns to a more familiar midfield position here and will look forward to being cut loose a bit more, but he can be depended on to attack sensibly and defend with an eye on the other end.
#8 LM Christian McGee - 21, 5-6, 130 - Athens: McGee was the diminutive workhorse of an Athens team who was widely expected to finish dead last, but instead fought to a 14th place finish out of 20. He's tough and scrappy, and a versatile two-way threat - and now he's looking to join a higher-level team to develop his game further. While he'll likely be staying home in Delaclava, this tournament is a good audition for a top team like Catherina FC or AC Espene.
#10 CM Drystan Tudor - 19, 6-1, 160 - Steckholl United: Tall, strong, rangy, fast, with smooth ball skills, distribution, and scoring ability - Tudor is perhaps the most complete player of all of Delaclava's young talent. He won't be headed abroad next season but looks forward to becoming the young face of the UFL. He's confident, embraces leadership opportunities and new challenges, and captains this U21 team who will hopefully have more success than the U18 squad he just left.
#12 CM Johan Bussler - 20, 6-0, 160 - Catherina FC: A strong and experienced center midfielder, who finds himself perhaps a bit unlucky to back up a star like Tudor - but he'll be ready to go in his own right when the situation calls. Bussler is somewhat more physically aggressive and attack-minded and could be inserted as a second center midfielder if the situation demands it.
#13 LM Mikota Sundečić - 19, 5-10, 155 - Manchester: Already a reliable depth player at left midfield who is considered an heir apparent to the position when his time comes. For now, he's hungry to keep improving while supporting his teammates. When his number is called, he's a typical Delaclav midfielder who attacks down the wing with ease, although he is somewhat less likely to attack the box himself.
#14 LDM Milan Andreasen - 20, 6-3, 170 - Valhalla Vikings: A defensive stalwart of the notoriously conservative Vikings, Andreasen embraces the less glamorous, less scoresheet-filling position. The tallest member of this team, he takes away a team's ability to attack the middle and the box through the air.
#15 RM Aleksandr Temirkanov - 21, 5-7, 135 - Kyethas Rivermen FC (TKT): A ferocious attacker on the right wing, Temirkanov will often take the ball to the net himself if he sees the right opportunity (or, to be honest, even if he doesn't) and likes to take risks and try to recover on defense later. His endurance is improving, but given his breakneck aggression, the last 15 minutes or so are still a challenge.
#19 RDM Tristan Chicoine - 20, 5-8, 145 - Cleopatrana SC: Chicoine made an immediate impact in his rookie year, as a brilliant and tenacious defensive midfielder who helped the Pharaohs continue their strong form with a second-place finish and a Cup victory. He is defensively oriented but appropriately opportunistic and has the field sense to take good offensive chances when he seems them.
FORWARDS#9 LW Odhrán O'Glissane - 20, 5-6, 135 - Port Tacassam FC (TKT): O'Glissane is just 5-foot-6 and slight and so can be pushed around easily, but he's a magician with the ball and in finding space to work. His early development has not entirely panned out as hoped, but his selection to start for the Ashlings is a reminder that he still has plenty of time to go.
#11 RW Sergej Gregorèiè - 20, 5-6, 140 - AC Espene: Gregorèiè benefited from the collaboration from a whole host of impressive youngster teammates as they won a league title with AC Espene. Next season, Gregorèiè will embrace the opportunity to step out of the shadows of Amaury Racette, Kent Lindblad, and Emil Mišalko, and will take this first opportunity to show what he can do.
#20 RW Dominik Tesár - 20, 5-6, 135 - Athens: A short yet deadly fast player who helped Athens defy last-place expectations with a 40-goal season, earning some votes for the Best XI and redeeming himself after a sophomore slump.
#22 LW Senen Woolf - 21, 5-7, 140 - Jasmine Island Peacocks: The giant of the Delaclav strikers isn't likely to see much action after a nightmare of a season with last-place Jasmine Island Peacocks, but the team survived the relegation playoff and perhaps Woolf will have mentally recovered as a result.
Formation: 3-5-2
Free Kicks: Tudor to score, McGee for placement to header/volley, Eisen from longer range
Corners: McGee or Colon
Penalties: Tudor, O'Glissane, Holič, Eisen (first one still in the game)
Note: The graphic is slightly outdated, and should switch McGee and Holič.