Over the course of the past two and a half cycles, the Maçaricas have climbed steadily from overperforming minnows to a solid mid-table team. Though they are capable of both upsetting and being upset themselves, the team from the small archipelago in southeast Rushmore is generally expected to defeat minnows, lose respectably to the big dogs, and provide exciting games against their fellow middling competitors.
The team has evolved in that time from a team of veterans from the Liga Hidalgo Primer to incorporate the new generation of younger, foreign-based players. The retirement of Adalberto Montenegro at the end of the WC90 cycle prompted a change to a more transitional lineup, but the emergence of young stars abroad, including Nicodemo Corte-Real at Corn Palace and Cleto Silveira at Tikariot City, provides coach Paulinho with a bevy of options, including one, two, or three forwards across the front.
Tactics
The Maçaricas can be expected to play an attacking-focused game, with a compact defense and midfield and fullbacks bombing to join the attack wherever possible. Defensively, they will run an offside trap which relies heavily on the center backs to close on attackers and the midfield to disrupt.
Typical starting XI:
Gomez
Branco-Moniz-Brandao-Medeiro-de Lima
Ferreira-Maciel-Serra
Silveira-Cortereal
Goalkeepers
GK-Ambrosio Gomez-20-Olympic Thessia (MYT)
The nascent starting goalkeeper, Gomez has come into his own since moving to Mytanija. Tall, athletic, and with a developing sense of position and presence on the pitch, Gomez looks to be a fixture of this team for years to come.
GK-Rufino Antunes-30-Lagostim
Previously a stopgap starter, Antunes remains a serviceable backup as he is tested week in and week out by the best strikers in the aggressive, physical Liga Hidalgo Primer.
GK-Gilberto Valente-26-Portelo
Lithe and quick, but prone to overcommitting. Has the physical tools to start, but his decision-making continues to hold him back even as he is no longer a young player.
GK-Túlio Batista-28-Sao Cristobal
One of several interchangeable domestic goalkeepers. Unlikely to see the pitch except in extreme cases of fixture congestion or injuries.
Defenders
RB-Amilcar Branco-24-Dhun Lagarr FC (TKT)
The Maçaricas’ undisputed starting right back, and one of its best players. A pacy fullback with the speed and skill to contribute on offense.
LB-Ademar de Lima-22-Sao Vicente
Originally a carbon copy of Branco, the left back de jure has evolved into more of a stay-at-home fullback than his counterpart, though he is no slouch going forward.
FB-Marcelinho Costa-22-Regium Immortum (OAM)
Though he lacks the panache of his peers, years of fierce competition in Oberour Ar Moro has sculpted Costa into a tough-tackling, canny fullback who makes smart passes up field and terrorizes attackers in his own third.
FB-Norberto Carneiro-28-Villa Silva
Like Costa, a good fullback who simply does not live up to the level of de Lima and Branco. A touch slower than his peers and unlikely to get faster, Carneiro is nevertheless one of the best fullbacks in the LHP and always puts in a shift when called upon.
FB-Lino Valente-20-Natal
One of a few standouts from an otherwise unremarkable side in the Rushmori U20s this summer, Valente leveraged his play there into a contract with first-division side Natal. His performance in the top flight, as well as in the upcoming Di Bradini Cup, will help Paulinho place young Valente in a crowded field of fullbacks.
FB-Olavo Garcia-22-Pemba
A late bloomer who’s played a crucial, if understated, role in Pemba’s recent league successes. An unusual Azurean fullback in that he is a defender first and foremost, Garcia may see minutes as a defensive sub in critical games.
CB-Adão Moniz-23-Reschensreppur (GRF)
An agile, harrying centerback making his way in a league dominated by “Big F*cking Grantfjallers”, Moniz has found some consistency in the previous season that may see him become a bigger factor for the Maçaricas.
CB-Deodato Medeiro-24-Marine Coast United (VIL)
Despite not having the size or bruising physique that Azureans generally prefer in their centerbacks, Medeiro has exceeded all expectations playing in the top flight of Villita, finding himself in conversation for end-of-season awards. A locked-in starter for qualifying.
CB-Kevin Brandão-26 -Villa Arboles
The proverbial last domestic centerback standing, Kevin is a consistent presence in front of goal, though he is notably weak in set pieces on both sides of the ball. Will likely see some minutes in relief, particularly in defensive situations.
CB-Donato Brandão-21-SC Lagos (BOL)
More skilful than his brother, but with none of the size or physicality, Donato is nevertheless a similarly situational sub who, despite playing abroad, has failed to live up to the high standards set by Medeiro and Moniz.
CB-Jaime Carreira-28-Cidade de Prata
One of the best centerbacks in the Liga Hidalgo Primer, a league that is the darling of highlight reels for the number of amazing, ridiculous, otherworldly goals it seems to produce week in and week out.
CB-Nelson Câmara-27-Lagostim
The tallest player on the team at six-four, and one of the tallest in Cabo Azure, Nelson is likely a situational sub for late-game situations where his height and proclivity for scoring with his head will make up for relative ineptitude in front of goal.
Midfielders
CM-Narciso Maciel-22-Colonial Sile (VIL)
Along with Medeiro, one of two young Azurean players to take root in the Vilitan top tier. A composed, intelligent player with great distribution and off-ball movement. A true general to anchor the midfield.
LM-Marciano Ferreira-27-Sao Cristobal
Still among the fastest players on the pitch, Ferreira’s ball control and distribution have not developed the way many hoped, possibly because of his situation at Sao Cristobal, where he is expected to be the one to get the ball into the box on almost every possession.
RM-Seth Rathbone-19-Portelo
Playing with a notable chip on his shoulder after being snubbed repeatedly by overseas clubs, Rathbone has returned to Portelo on yet another yearlong contract after establishing himself as an every-game starter. Is skillful enough to see the field for the Maçaricas, but needs to get out of his own way.
CM-Marco Lobo-21-Villa Silva
A U21 standout, Lobo is an established starter at one of the most sophisticated clubs in Cabo Azure.
AM-Nataniel Reis-29-Pemba
Still an agile, instinctive player with a nose for goals and assists, Reis struggles to provide the defensive cover and distribution expected of a midfielder while lacking the holdup play and finishing to be a true striker. Nevertheless, a good all-round offensive player who may start on a rotational basis or see minutes as an offensive sub.
AM-Rolando Florencio-20-Sao Vicente
The youngest starter on an experienced squad for Os Pastorzinhos, Florencio is a good all-round box-to-box midfielder, without any strengths or weaknesses that stand out.
MF-Raul Gonsalves-22-FC Aursback (BRO)
A fringe player who will likely see callups primarily when fixture congestion or injury preclude core players from coming into camp.
MF-Lucas Barbosa-26-Natal
Fast, alert, and equally capable with both feet, Barbosa is the kind of guy who looked like a future star coming up but ultimately fell short of his potential. Still can slot in anywhere in the midfield and put in a shift, so likely to see the field in this cycle at some point.
AM-Bento Cunha-21-Perolas
A fast, aggressive attacker who has yet to develop beyond his physical gift but lacks the finishing to be a target forward, or really any kind of forward.
DM-Ulisses de Sá-20-Portelo
An every-match starter on a Safari team which missed promotion by one point of goal difference, de Sa traded the second division for Portelo, where he has continued to develop into his physical gifts. A strong tackler, but lacking in distribution.
MF-Joel Silvestre-24-Villa Arboles
The elder brother of U21 and senior callup Roberto, Joel has been on the longlist for the Maçaricas on multiple occasions, but any callup he receives this cycle will be his first.
MF-Casimiro Torres-25-Sao Vicente
A midfielder with a little too much ability and potential to truly be considered a journeyman, Torres is nevertheless a longshot to see the field in qualifying.
Forwards
FW-Cleto Silveira-24-Vantanoch FC (TKT) (C)
A hardworking, clever player who does many things well, Silveira has quietly grown into one of the best players on the roster, and a must-start for games that need to be won.
FW-Fulvio Dantas-30-Cidade de Prata
Tried-and-true, jack-of-all-trades, and numerous other hyphenated adjectives describe Dantas, who has played nearly every outfield position for club and country and looks to add another cycle to his belt.
FW-Nelson Botehlo-27-Villa Arboles
As a tall center forward who is primarily a goal-scoring machine for Os Machados, Botehlo has struggled to fit into the lineup, but always contributes when he is called upon.
FW-Vasco Gouveia-22-Tikariot City FC (TKT)
One-half of Os Dos Vascos, thought to be the future of the Azurean attack, Gouveia faces criticism that his statistics are padded by meaningless games, but none can deny his ability to score goals at a high level.
FW-Vasco Cardoso-19-Whitepill (EUR)
The other half of Os Dos Vascos.
FW-Arsenio Galma-27-Pemba
A surprise inclusion in the CR40 roster, Galma performed well enough there, coupled with the relative success of Pemba in recent seasons, to be included in the roster the qualifiers. A good all-round striker, though somewhat lacking in pace.
FW-Nicodemo Corte-Real-20-Corn Palace (SFD)
Probably the biggest surprise of the international era of Azurean football, Corte-Real has emerged as a star in Sanford, leading Corn Palace to their second championship there. How he fits into the national team remains to be seen.
RW-Estavao Fonseca-21-Carathyr Emeralds (TKT)
A young Azurean who went abroad to Tikariot at the same time as Gouveia, Silveira, and Branco, but to date remains uncapped. A quick winger with the ability to invert.
FW-Anselmo Santos-20-Portelo
A U21 player most likely called up to gain experience with the senior team.
FW-Fausto Pascoal-20-Cidade de Prata
A U21 player most likely called up to gain experience with the senior team.
FW-Tomé Fontes-21-Pemba
A U21 player most likely called up to gain experience with the senior team.
FW-Pio Mendonça-18-Portelo
Despite his youth, a veteran of multiple tournaments and a good late-game sub or rotational starter.
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