Saint Émelie mark their arrival on the world cup cycle scene with the 68th Baptism of Fire in Farfadillis and Semarland and the 81st World Cup.
Team Information:
Style Mod: +2
Nickname: Les Insulaires
Team Colours: Blue and white
Captain: Florian Bastereud
Formation: 4-4-2 (diamond)
The Team:
Head Coach: Amélie Martín
45 year old Amélie Martín is the lady tasked with managing the team for their world cup debut and has a tough job on her hands. Like the majority of the squad, it will be her first time away from the island of Saint Émelie and with her only experience to call upon being in the hugely undeveloped Ligue d'Ile and 3 AOCAF games, she is still well out of her depth.
Martín played for around 15 years in that league before making the switch to management. The Saint Émelie FA believes that she is therefore the person with the most thorough understanding of football on the island and is as good a person as any to make the trip abroad.
Assistant Coach: Jacques Barre
Alongside Martín will be the experienced head of Jacques Barre. The 58 year old also once played in the Ligue d'Ile, but finished early due to injury and 'not being able to run like he used to.' Since then, he has managed 3 of the island's teams, getting to know many of Saint Émelie's best players in the process.
Despite his increased experience relative to Martín, Barre lacks the dynamic approach to management preferred by the island's footballing authorities. His tactical mind will however provide a calm word in Martín's ear when needed.
Team Doctor and Physio: Antonin Gardinier
Gardinier has little to no experience with sports injuries or fitness management, but as the island's best general doctor, was picked to make the trip to the Equestrian States as he would 'have to do.' He has a fairly hands on approach to medicine and players will probably be hoping they remain injury-free throughout the tournament due to fear of a good prodding and Gardinier's tendency to opt for surgery when possible rather than when neccessary.
Goalkeepers:
#1-Hubért Joubert-age 32-Stade Barbotteau
#12-Caroline Chapelle-age 24-CA Le Goutiér
#23-Robin Patenaude-age 27-Racing Montmirail
The experienced Joubert will be Saint Émelie's number one throughout the cycle. The 32 year old has established a reputation as the best all-round goalkeeper on the island and has particularly impressive distribution with his range of kicks and throws. He is also solid with crosses, but his shot-stopping skills will recieve more of an examination against international opposition compared to at home.
Caroline Chapelle is very much the understudy in the team. The 24 year old is an excellent shot stopper, but is less experieced and ultimately deficient in the areas where Joubert is strong. This may keep her out of the starting lineup for now, but she is here to learn and will almost certainly take over the starting role one day.
Robin Patenaude is decent by island standards, but is really only in the squad as injury cover and to have a nice time. If Saint Émelie actually end up playing him, they will be desparate and will probably lose.
Wide Defenders:
#2-RB-Charléne Forestier-age 23-CA Le Goutier
#5-LB-Max Lestiénne-age 28-CF Savenay
#13-RB-Paul Gasquet-age 25-Stade Barbotteau
#16-LB-Chloé Travert-age 21-Stade de Saint Marie
Saint Émelie's selection of full-backs is also a mixed bag. Max Lestiénne is the only player over 25 of the four players chosen, but the additional domestic experience will probably count for nothing in the international arena.
Saint Émelie's teams generally try to play with quick full-backs, using them to push up the pitch and provide an additional option for attacking players. This usually requires high fitness levels and will be even more testing for the players against better-quality opposition.
This is provided by a youthful lineup that includes up-and-coming Le Goutier player Charléne Forestier as well as 21 year old Chloé Travert, who despite her young age has already become one of the talents in the Saint Émelie league to watch in the coming months and years.
Rather like Robin Patenaude, Paul Gasquet is very much just along for the ride, but will provide reasonably coherent cover if needed.
Central Defenders:
#3-Daniel Bouchard-age 32-CF Duport
#4-Mignon Laureille-age 29-Stade Barbotteau
#14-Emeli Pied-age 27-CF Soufriére
#15-Claude Leclerc-age 24-CA Le Goutier
Saint Émeli's central defenders are the polar opposites to their wide counterparts. Big, powerful and not afraid to put in a strong tackle, they are certainly up to the physical challenge posed by any opposition, even internationally.
Daniel Bouchard and Mignon Laureille, who is anything but sweet, are the epitomy of this and despite their lack of pace, sitting deep and heading stuff out of the danger zone has become a common practice.
Their slowness will almost certainly be exposed by stronger opposition, but their prescence may frustrate, for a little while at least.
Midfielders:
CDM-#6-Florian Bastereud-age 32-CF Dupont
RM-#7-Florence Caseille-age 24-CF Savenay
CAM-#8-Simon Pelletier-age 30-CF Soufriére
LM-#9-Mathilde Laurent-age 26-CF Riviera
CM-#17-Laurent Michaud-age 25-Stade de Saint Marie
RW-#18-Emeli Fontaine-age 28-Stade Barbotteau
LW-#19-Tomas Cousineau-age 20-Racing Montmirail
CAM-#20-Jadine Dupont-age 26-CF Le Goutier
The midfield diamond is probably the most experienced of the Saint Émelie setup, although everything is of course relative. Florian Bastereud is the key component, with the 32 year old both the team's captain and midfield enforcer. The wings are also important however. Play in Saint Émelie requires fast movement of the ball to negate some fairly rustic pitches and will often be fed out to the wide players. Florence Caseille is a massive talent on the right whilst Mathilde Laurent is now an established name on the island and can deliver a fantastic set piece.
Simon Pelletier is often the intermediate between defense and attack, but has a keen eye for a through ball, both over the top and through the middle of a defense. He is probably the team's best chance of scoring from distance as well. The 30 year old has scored many times in the Ligue d'Île from outside of the penalty area and will look to notch a few more in the coming international season.
Forwards:
#10-Marine Fouché-age 29-CF Savenay
#11-Dominic Trion-age 25-Stade Barbotteau
#21-Marizanne Proliné-age 23-CF Riviera
#22-Sara Katjanović-age 28-FK SavaFluss (in Mattijana)
Sara Katjanović is very much the star player in this Saint Émelie side and is also the only player operating outside of Saint Émelie. The third-choice Savafluss striker has a Mattijanan father and a mother from the island and fortunately, can handle both the Mattijanan and French languages.
As a player, she is a real poacher. Diminutive in stature, the 28 year old knows how to find the back of the net and knows where to position herself to do it, complementing the pace and crossing style from the wingers.
Dominic Trion joins Katjanović up top and brings a very different skill set. Big, tall and handy in the air, he is much clumsier than his more agile partner, but even though opponents may know his game, dealing with it could be more of a challenge.
Tactical Notes:
Saint Émelie's isolation means that the style of football has deviated rather a lot compared to the rest of the world. It is in fact rather agricultural, with a lot of physical challenges and strong aerial play.
This means that the team will inevitably pick up cards. No malice is meant, but the physicality of the team will mean that injuries may occur.
Otherwise, Saint Émelie's style of football is actually fairly easy on the eye. Quick passing from front to back as well as movement on the wings is the game-plan and when it pays off, it looks great.
When it doesn't, it looks like an incoherent mess and if fans wish to be realistic, this is probably what they will get for the most part against some high-class defenses.
Recent Results:
Saint Émelie 4-2 South Toronto (AOCAF)
Saint Emelie 0-2 Mriin (AOCAF)
Saint Émelie 4-3 Vilita and Turori (AOCAF)
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Starting Lineup:
Joubert
Forestier
Bouchard
Laureille
Léstienne
Bastereau
Caseille
Pelletier
Laurent
Trion
Katjanović