Reçueçn Roster & National Information
Sporting History Reçueçn had just barely been in the World Cup long enough for people recognize the name, when it began to slip once more toward irrelevancy. The nation has had fewer opportunities than most to make forays into the world of international football. It Reçueçn debuted in the 59th Baptism of fire, before the 72nd World Cup, but accomplished very little before disappearing from international football for 10 cycles. However on its return, it made the most out of the chances it got.
During Reçueçn's absence from national sport in the interim, domestic sport in Reçueçn fell into disarray as well. Only semi-recently did things change, when a young legislative staffer named Jean-Luc Lassalle began an initiative to resurrect organized sport in the country with the government's assistance. The result of this push was the creation of the brand new Reçuecian Ministry of Sport, which promptly reorganized domestic association football leagues throughout the country and got things moving once more. Lassalle himself became the new Minister of Sport, despite his young age.
For the national team, this meant involvement once more in international competition. Reçueçn's first chance to declare its return came at the 7th Independent Associations' Championship. To the surprise of everyone, including its own fans, the unranked Reçuecian national team managed to win 3rd place, taking home its first silverware of any kind. The team itself largely consisted of the same squad that had partaken in the Baptism of Fire and World Cup qualifiers all of 10 World Cup cycles ago.
The team had struggled back then, due to the rivalries within Reçuecian domestic football, and those old wounds came back with the reestablishment of the national team. During the Baptism of Fire and Reçueçn's first international competitions, the players hadn't really had enough experience playing with each other to develop the necessary camaraderie or team spirit. Hopes were high that the creation of the Ministry of Sport would herald in a new era. Since the team was largely the same, some of the rivalries came back at first, but the team's performance at IAC 7 smoothed over its troubles and the team gelled.
Riding high on their third place finish in the IAC, the Reçuecians launched into their first qualification attempt since World Cup 73. This time, things were different: still officially unranked, Reçueçn miraculously managed to qualify for the world cup in its first attempt, even making it as far as the Round of 16. Reçueçn's first-time qualification and its consistent qualification since then is most likely the sporting accomplishment for which the nation is most known. The nation returned to the IAC even stronger and more confident; this time it knew what it was capable of, and it was hosting to boot. In its second IAC, Reçueçn got everything it could want: victory at home.
After that, the Reçuecians held steady but failed to make any meaningful advances. The nation didn't advance past the round of sixteen in either the IAC or the World Cup in either of the next two cycles. However, during IAC 11, things fell apart. With only a single victory in the first round,
Les Licornes finished second-last in their group, a result that was dubbed a 'national embarassment' by Reçuecian news outlets. It was only the beginning of a downhill tumble: after coming second in its WC 87 group and losing its playoff to Pasarga, Reçueçn failed to make it to the World Cup for the first time since its return to soccer. National Coach Jacques Tremblay announced his retirement at the end of the cycle, and the next IAC was only another disappointment. Each tournament, the goal has been to 'turn things around,' but this is more important now than ever. That's been said before, but this is really the last chance to prove that missing the 87th World cup was just a fluke. Otherwise we will be able to conclusively say that the only thing to match Reçueçn's historically fast ascension to World Cup qualification was its equally fast descent.
All time record: 106-48-48
National Team Information L'Équipe Nationale de Reçueçn de Football is still in the process of making a name for itself, but if it's known for anything, it would be for its defensive style. This is partly due to the large influence of Reçueçn FC on the team—the most popular domestic club in Reçueçn plays about as defensive a game as you can imagine. This is balanced out to some extent by the players from other teams with more attacking philosophies, but the league as a whole tends towards defense, and it shows in the national team. Furthermore, Gerauld Firaut, the team's #1 goalie, is the best player on the team by a solid margin—without a doubt, Reçueçn's first world-class player. He and his defense form the foundation for the team as a whole.
National Team Logo
The team plays in a 4-3-3 formation, but sometimes the wings drop back, almost making it a 4-5-1. In general, the team's strategy and tactics are solid. However, the team is in managerial upheaval at the moment after the shock resignation of its head coach, Jacques Tremblay. Tremblay had guided the team ever since its Baptism of Fire, but was also very old. He had prepared for stepping down by appointing Bonheur Relié as assistant coach, whose fiery personality contrasted Tremblay's gentler wisdom. Tremblay was always more popular with the players than Relié, and now that he is gone, the team may once again struggle to coalesce.
The Reçueçian National Team's mascot is the unicorn; thus another name for the team is "les licornes". The fantastical creature has been a symbol of Reçueçn for almost two millennia and is also the national animal, appearing as the supporters in the national coat of arms.
The team's kit represents the colors of the flag in a quite literal fashion. The jersey was
redesigned a few cycles ago, replacing the first one
les licornes ever wore, dating back to the 59th Baptism of Fire. Fans who thought the old outfit ugly are excited to see the team play wearing its new uniforms, and feel that they are now represented much more professionally.
Reçueçn has only one stadium in which its national team plays, located in the capital city (also named Reçueçn). Never having been given an official title, the national stadium is usually simply referred to just that: The National Stadium, or in French, the local language, the
Stade Nationale. Capacity: 30,000.
Roster Name # Pos. Age Club TGM
Coaching Staff
Bonheur Relié M Manager 49 National Team
Ägidius Heissler AM Asst M. 39 National Team
Starters
Gerauld Firaut 1 GK 29 Reçueçn FC RCN
Emanuele Cutrona 2 CB 25 Mierton Manatees TAE
Paulin Bourguignon 3 LB 26 Dhun Lagarr FC TKT
Lukas Kayserling 4 CB 25 Herzegovina City FC BNJ
Oliver Spencer 5 RB 29 Brinemouth NPH
Raoul Lavigne 6 LM 26 Monmouth Park FC CBP
Harold Saunders 7 AM 32 Association Genève RCN
Maynard Hebron 8 RM 30 Assalto Alpino RCN
Per Tegeler 9 LW 28 Oakstone EUR
Frank "Franky" Adams 10 CF 24 Association Genève RCN
Freeman Lebo 11 RW 31 Pelethas United COS
Reserves
Estienne de Chefderue 12 GK 25 FC Harrim RCN
Hagen Groos 13 SW 28 Reçueçn FC RCN
Jayson Compton 14 LB 26 Col-de-Môse RCN
Quirino Lucian 15 CB 26 Ville-sur-Rivière RCN
Barnabus Mercer 16 RB 30 Heldingen 1919 RCN
Robert Chéreau 17 LM 25 FC Zimmerich RCN
Grégoire Leclair 18 DM 33 Dynamo Sjoedrhavn SVJ
Quentin Gouin 19 RM 23 Inland Peaks VIL
Marc Schöner 20 LW 27 Stomford 1904 RCN
Ly Nasser 21 CF 27 FC Zimmerich RCN
Jean-Baptiste Brochard 22 RW 31 Lampadaires Associés RCN
Calanico Di Martino 23 GK 28 Renwyll RCN
Apologies for any inconsistencies concerning ages or current clubs for Reçuecians currently playing abroad; refer to information from their respective leagues if it differs.
Coaching Staff
Bonheur Relié: Passionate and motivated, Relié had all the youthful energy you'd hope for in the assistant coach of a side whose manager was pushing three quarters of a century. Sometimes his energy was a bit much and he's had some friction with the players in the past. Now that he's head manager that will have to be resolved.
Ägidius Heissler: Used to play as a left wing for Itrino. After retiring as a player he signed for the National Team as Paraclete, taking a promotion to Assistant Manager in the wake of Tremblay's resignation. If Relié was the bad cop to Tremblay's good cop, with Tremblay gone, Heissler fills the good cop role.
Starters
Gerauld Firaut: The face of Reçuecian football. Mature, talented, humble. Firaut, team captain, provides the leadership on the pitch that
les licornes need, and the fact that he's such a nice guy when he's not playing soccer helps cement him as the nation's favored son. As some of his Reçueçn FC have retired or not been called up for this tournament, his exceptional goal-tending skills combined with Tremblay's strategy has preserved the team's defensive nature.
Emanuele Cutrona: Cutrona was in the first batch of call-ups for the National Team after the original Baptism of Fire squad, and he's still one of the younger players on the team. Until Di Martino's call-up, he was the only Italian-speaking player on the team (although others are from Italian-speaking clubs). He's developed a strong friendship with Franky Adams, which often leads to the pair of them getting in trouble.
Paulin Bourguignon: Bourguignon is the kind of defensive player who is always trying to clear the ball with long shots and score goals at corner kicks. Big on counter-attacks, he sometimes outpaces the mid-fielders, usually to his coach's dismay.
Lukas Kayserling: Very tall. Calm and controlled. Sometimes has difficulty communicating as he doesn't speak English or French as well as most of the other team members.
Oliver Spencer: Annother star defensive player, now playing for Brinemouth, Spencer is often outshone by Firaut, and for a long time Spencer couldn't decide whether the rivalry he thought they had was more important than team spirit or not. By now he has found his groove as part of the all-important back line.
Raoul Lavigne: No relation of the slightly more well-known Hippolyte Lavigne, Raoul is the second sophomore of the team: not one of the original squad but not a brand-new call-up either. He caught the NT's scouts' eyes after helping Bonneville Sportif to a couple good seasons. (He now plays in Baker Park.) Playing outside the nation has given him new things to worry about, namely, if his teammates leave him out of things since he's not a 'local' anymore. He doesn't realize how ridiculous his fears are, but fortunately they push him to prove himself every time he steps onto the field.
Harold Saunders: Saunders is synonymous with an aggressive style of play, especially in the midfield. He seems to always be able to find a way to give the ball to Franky. On and off the field he is emotionally well-balanced, usually rather stoic and unmoved.
Maynard Hebron: The unsung hero of the Assalto Alpino, Hebron is a great proponent of football development across Recuecn, especially on behalf of the smaller amateur teams that have recently joined the FNRF. Hebron often gets lucky with long shots from the edge of the box when the strikers are unable to really get open right in front of goal.
Per Tegeler: Good at receiving the ball from the defense or mid-field, trapping it in general, and taking it into the 18-yard box and shooting. Possible weakness is passing: either he doesn't, or it's long air balls. Per is the big change to the line-up since the world cup—the aging Hippolyte Lavigne was not called up again, and so now Tegeler is starting.
Frank "Franky" Adams: Young, extremely talented, and rather cocky, Franky, who plays for Association Genève in the LNRF, really makes their team. When he has a bad shooting streak, his team has a losing streak, and vice versa, and he knows it. At Association Genève, the team and the fans love him. At the national team, they tolerate him—his rivalries with Reçueçn FC's players cause tension which Coach Tremblay must try to defuse. Tremblay, incidentally, thinks Franky is a bit conceited, although he is still one of the most aware of his talent. Franky is definitely the second most famous player on the team, at least to Reçueians. His role up front helps with that, obviously.
Freeman Lebo: Lebo can score goals, is highly motivated, and persevering. He's comfortable in the striker role. However, he is high-strung and not too difficult to offend, traits which, when combined with his overestimation of his own skill, can make him difficult to get along with. Has lots of potential when a manager can get him to swallow his pride, and Tremblay usually can. Lebo and Franky got off to a rocky start but since then they've really meshed well, and they give each other great service often leading to one of them scoring.
Reserves
Estienne de Chefderue: Both of les licornes' reserve goalies were recently replaced, and de Chefderue got the number one number two spot. A couple seasons ago at FC Harrim he did well, and he got some practice in the Eagles Cup when Tremblay subbed him into a lot of matches. It remains to be seen how he'll fare in a tournament that means a bit more as since then he still hasn't seen a lot of time on the pitch.
Hagen Groos: A Reçueçn FC representative, yet again: Groos is sweeper for the club, which is supposedly the best in the country. It's probably confusing for him then why the starting sweeper position is handed to the younger Cutrona rather than him.
Jayson Compton: Not a ton to say about Jayson Compton. He's a mysterious fellow and we don't quite know what he's up to ourselves.
Quirino Lucian: Lucian has the look of a rugby player, and he'll take all the intimidation he can get from that: he needs people to know he's not afraid to muscle them down as they approach his goal—because he's not. He'll mess you up.
Barnabus Mercer: Called up for the first time at twenty-seven years old after doing very well in
le championnat, some people questioned this decision of Tremblay's. Certainly it was the strongest on paper, so we'll see how it pans out. If you can believe it, Mercer played for a San Lleran club team more than ten world cups ago.
Robert Chéreau: Chéreau's biggest issue is that he tends to drift toward the center when he shouldn't, yet he ironically seems to have a very good idea of space and where to be in it, which is good for a player in his position.
Grégoire Leclair: Leclair almost never plays at the same time as Saunders. Usually, one is subbed for the other depending on whether more defensive or offensive tactics are called for at the moment. Leclair's specialty is going back and clearing the ball in difficult situations. There were thoughts Leclair wouldn't be called up this year, which would've been major news, but I guess he's been doing well enough in Savojarna for Tremblay.
Quentin Gouin: The team's new youngest player, he has breath and speed and agility. The stamina is sometimes lacking.
Marc Schöner: Schöner is the latest call-up, replacing Tegeler on the bench now that Tegeler is starting. He's fresh from winning
le championnat with his club (Stomford 1904), so he's got all the energy and drive you could ask for, along with all the pride and self-assuredness.
Ly Nasser: Loves to shoot from far out, and often shoots high. Despite this, he makes up for it with his sheer number of shots. Incredibly aggressive, and loved by Zimmerich fans. Thinks he is one of the best strikers in the world, and he certainly is a good player. Weirdly he gets put on the Reçuecian reserves, you'd expect him to be playing with Lebo and Franky.
Jean-Baptiste Brochard: Immensely fast, especially with the ball, Brochard is weaker in set pieces and organized attacks. His strength is the counter-attack and the breakaway.
Calanico Di Martino: Unfortunately Di Martino's given name doesn't quite just mean 'soccer,' although it is close. His parents must have known there was something special about him. He has a toe that moves with wings—useful for delivering powerful goal kicks but perhaps wasted on a player who never gets to shoot.
Reçuecian History and Culture The nation of Reçueçn was created in the first half of the XIV
th century, when Carl Blancpic, Duke of the
Duchy of Reçueçn, launched a breakneck military campaign invading and annexing many of his neighbors to the east. Before this time, Reçueçn had been only a city, built on the heights overlooking the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. These heights had been settled by Carl Blancpic's distant ancestor, Ifheda Rcuecn, near the end of the II
nd century a.d., and had born his name ever since. The area at that time belonged to the Roman Empire, who had established their regional administrative center, Lugdunum, on the other side of the river.
In 197 a.d., a decisive battle was fought near Lugdunum in one of the civil wars for the throne of the empire. The victor, Septimius Severus, razed the city of Lugdunum and destroyed it, stripping from it all imperial privileges in punishment for supporting his rival. This was the end for Lugdunum, but it was the beginning for Reçueçn. Refugees flocked across the river to join the settlement, and the city of Reçueçn grew to become a smallish regional center. Rcuecn's descendants (who changed the spelling to Reçueçn) maintained control over what became the Duchy of Reçueçn for 700 years, until it was inherited by their cousins the Blancpics who reigned for another 300 years.
At the beginning of the XIV
th century, power passed into the hands of Carl Blancpic, who was partially insane and a megalomaniac. Thus he declared his duchy to be a kingdom and singled out weak neighbors who he invaded with audacity. Over an incredibly short period of time beginning in the spring of 1337, he had carved out for himself a sizable dominion.
Carl, who styled himself "Carl III of Reçueçn", was violent, unstable, and petty. He was also wildly unpopular with the populations of the various states he had conquered. Although the central power structure helped the economy of the new Kingdom of Reçueçn to some extent, it did not bring with it all the stability that might have been expected. This was mostly due to the decrees of Carl III, who, among other things, began a campaign to persecute and kill all "heretics" within his new realm. Most historians agree that this was in fact a thinly veiled purge of his political rivals. This and other policies he enacted on his whims finally drove the people into open revolt sometime around 1352.
Carl managed to hold on to power for a couple years by hiring mercenaries, but in 1254 lost two key battles and was captured by the rebels. By this time, the rebellion was led by feudal lords throughout the country who had sided with the people against their tyrant king. Carl III was executed, and the kingdom dissolved into a mess of tiny, independent feudal holdings.
No sooner had the various states that had been in the Kingdom of Reçueçn won their independence, than infighting broke out among them. The feudal lords squabbled over power and influence, trying vainly to imitate Carl's meteoric rise to power. This new violence, combined with the economic downturn associated with the rebellion and the breakup of the nation, clearly displayed how poorly things were turning out. More sensible minds came to the decision that the solution was to once more unify Reçueçn.
On November 19, 1356, therefore, The Allied States of Reçueçn came into being. The leaders of all the petty states, duchies, bishoprics, free cities, etc., came together and signed what are known as "The Treaties of the Alliance," a document just powerful enough to classify Reçueçn as a single nation by most people's definition, rather than a group of independent entities. The treaties also established a rough form of democracy, with each state represented (although typically by its aristocracy). Thus Reçueçn lays claim to being one of the oldest democracies in the world.
The treaties defined much of Reçuecian history to come. Provisions were made to establish freedom of religion, in order to avoid another scenario similar to Carl III's persecution of his opponents. The treaties also gave Reçueçn an isolationist bent. The nation had been burned before, and wouldn't soon try to meddle in external affairs, especially when its composite nature made creating a foreign policy so difficult.
Reçueçn, then, has managed to avoid many of the crises of European history. It's darkest moment came when Napoleon invaded, proclaiming himself emperor (although he allowed Reçueçn's government to continue to function under his reign). The allied states have drawn closer together, although cultural differences remain among them; they don't even all speak the same language.
Reçueçian culture has also been shaped by its location, nestled in the center of the Alps. The difficulty of travel among mountain valleys ensured the cultural diversity of the nation and preserved local customs. Although rural communities did center around agriculture—especially dairy production—many Reçuecian were forced by the lack of arable land to find other work. This led to a culture of innovation that continues today: Reçueçn is now known for its luxury products and technological exports. This has additionally led to a focus on science and education. The relatively diverse nature of Reçueçn's culture means that some areas are culturally more time-oriented while others are more task-oriented, but this fusion has given the country a uniqueness, especially in art. Reçueçn, perhaps thanks to its inland, mountainous location, or the fact that it was never a colonial power, has seen little immigration or emigration. Recently, however, the diversity of language spoken in the country has made it attractive to refugees from other areas where those languages are spoken.
Visiting Reçueçn Reçueçn is a small nation, but it's got a lot to see. If you're visiting for World Cup qualification, you may want to extend your stay to see the sights.
Travelling to and in ReçueçnMost travelers to Reçueçn will fly into Reçueçn city. As the capital and largest city, it will definitely have the flight connection you need. Genève, the nation's second city, will also accommodate you in this regard, but all the games will be happening in Reçueçn. If you are travelling from a nearby country, arriving by rail is also a possibility, and many more Reçuecian cities have international rail connections than have international airports.
For travel within the country, taking the train is probably the way to go. Car rentals are fairly expensive, and many cities restrict downtown access to pedestrians and public transport. When travelling through the countryside, you will find that autoroutes have high tolls, and smaller roads are typically wind annoyingly through steep mountain terrain. However, there is an extensive rail and tunnel network, and taking the train is fairly cheap between most places in the nation. Bus routes also connect most larger towns. Within cities themselves, public transport is always very high quality and usually very affordable or in some cities, even free. A few bus lines are temporarily free to travel during the tournament, in a government-led effort to promote tourism and encourage visitors to explore the country beyond just the soccer matches.
What to SeePresumably if you're reading this, the main attraction that has brought you to Reçueçn is World Cup qualification. All the games will be played just a short bus ride away from Reçueçn International Airport at the National Stadium in Reçueçn's inner suburbs. But if you want to see a bit more of the nation, consider taking a ride up to a cute alpine village and hiking along a mountain ridge to appreciate the amazing views we have to offer. Or take a swim in a mountain lake and cool off in the shadow of the peaks. If you really are looking to ditch the heat, check out the ice tunnels at the Écho glaciers. Or, if you come during the winter, you can hit the slopes—our skiing's the best in the world.
If the mountains aren't for you, consider visiting our world-famous cheese museum - free samples! Or visit the Genève Cathedral if the culture you're looking for isn't bacterial. Genève, Reçueçn, Zimmerich and other cities each have a beautiful downtown historic district worth the walking tour. Check them out if your idea of a good time means wandering through medieval fortifications or strolling down cobbled alleys. If what's up your alley is shopping, then we've got that too - check out Genève's luxury district for high end jewelry, fashion, watches, and more. Exchanging your money should be no problem: the Reçueçian guilder is very stable and worth just a bit more than the NSD.
Where to Stay, What to EatIf you are on the search for the perfect hotel for your stay in Reçueçn, worry not. Plenty of all kinds abound in and around each major city, whether you're looking for the four star experience, or just want to save a buck. If you'd rather have the personal, local touch, then we've still got you covered: a quick look online will reveal plenty of family-owned bed & breakfasts, as well as short-term rentals with people trying to make some money off the empty spare room one night or week at a time. Hostels are also very popular in Reçueçn, and are a great way to stay near the city center for a very low cost.
What'll you have for dinner? Reçueçn's food is what will make you want to come back for another visit. We love our cheeses, and our national specialty is raclette, melted cheese scraped over small potatoes, cornichons, and salami. Try it at a restaurant where each table is provided with its own small oven so each diner can melt their own. Another local specialty is tartiflette, essentially a casserole of potatoes, onions, and lardon (thick-cut bacon) served with a slab of, you guessed it, more melted cheese cooked right over it.
If rather than in a seat at a fine dining establishment, you find yourself in an alpine pasture hankering for a pique-nique, don't worry. Cheese is great for a basket-lunch too. Bring along a baguette and a saucisson, and you've got yourself a meal.
No meal in Reçueçn is complete without a glass of wine, and the local product is certainly worth the connoisseur's time. Reçuecian wine varies immensely depending on whether you're south, west, or north of the Alps, so try a few varieties and pick your favorite. If you need a pairing for your meal, it just so happens that every single person you meet on the street in the country is a self-proclaimed expert ready with helpful advice. Just don't stop them on their way home for dinner.
Do's and Don't's
Do say "Bonjour" to those you pass in a small town.
Don't block the the metro in the city.
Do take your time to enjoy a meal or a conversation in western Reçueçn.
Don't be late in eastern Reçueçn.
Do greet people with a kiss on each cheek.
Don't actually let your lips touch them.
Do cheer loudly for your team!
Don't go too crazy with the victory party.
Do take a selfie with your head on the block at execution square in downtown Reçueçn.
Don't miss out on your visit because you're on your phone the whole time.
Do rent a bike and pedal around to see the sights.
Don't be unprepared to parallel park if you've rented a car.
Do make eye contact during a conversation.
Don't stare at people.
Do be ready to share gossip with perfect strangers.
Don't expect people to open up to you right away.
Do keep your hands above the table at dinner.
Don't yawn during a conversation.
Do offer to help your host with cleaning up.
Don't ask for seconds until offered.
Do speak your mind and be straightforward.
Don't bank on too much personal space.
Do have the time of your life.
Essential Information
RP Permissions
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Please (subs too)
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes, nothing career-ending
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, but never
Firaut, Saunders, or Kayserling
Godmod other events: Yes
Style Modifier: -π | Trigram: RCN
Quick Facts
Capital: Reçueçn
Official Languages: French, German, Italian
Non-official Languages: Arpitan
Demonym: Reçuecian
Population: 5,252,000 (regional censuses 1999-2011)
Area: 43,116 sq km
GDP: $340,000,000,000 (2019 Estimate)
Currency: Guilder
All photos taken by me in locations that would be in IC Reçueçn.
All logos and graphics created by me.
Starting XI
1 - GK - Gerauld Firaut
2 - SW - Emanuele Cutrona
3 - LB - Paulin Bourguignon
4 - CB - Lukas Kayserling
5 - RB - Oliver Spencer
6 - LM - Raoul Lavigne
7 - DM - Harold Saunders
8 - RM - Maynard Hebron
9 - LW - Per Tegeler
10 - CF - Franky Adams
11 - RW - Freeman Lebo