OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: MYTANIJA NATIONAL POOL FOR WORLD CUP 92 QUALIFICATION
TACTICAL INFORMATION
This 3-2-5 will be achieved firstly by one of the wing-backs (from the starting line-up, this would be right-sided wing-back Patrik Odonelec) moving into a central midfield position to play alongside the deeper-lying of the two central midfielders (Mersudin Smajic in the example on the left). This creates a pairing in central midfield which will be used to help the team build-up, providing passing options both in front of the central defensive three and the 5 players which end-up ahead of them.
That 5 is made-up of the opposite-sided wing-back (in this example it would be left wing-back Nemanja Ovcina), the more advanced central midfielder (Gavril Atsev), the attacking midfielder (Omer Kuhar-Arh); and the strikers (here it is Ocokoljic and Gannot). The wing-back has to push on to achieve the 3-2-5 shape, getting into the final third and maintaining the width on their side of the pitch. They will be given some licence to get into the penalty area if the ball is on the other side, giving another option for their teammates. The more advanced central midfielder will be tasked with playing inside of the wing-back, in the so-called ‘half-space’, they will look to work with the wing-back to create an overload on their side of the pitch.
The attacking midfielder and the two strikers will interchange fairly freely, though one will always be tasked with pulling wide to ensure that width is maintained on both sides of the attacking ‘5’ with the aim of stretching the opposition’s defence across the width of the pitch. One striker (usually Ocokoljic from those in the starting line-up) will drop deep to create space for rotations with the attacking midfielder and the other striker, those two looking to run into and exploit the space vacated by the other striker. These rotations are aimed to shift the opposition defenders around the pitch and create a bit of confusion.
In terms of progressing the play the team will look to move the ball quickly forward, a change from the more controlled pace of play under Lev Repin. This will be done by looking to probe with passes through the opposition lines, making that confidence to play the ball quickly a crucial attribute to have amongst anybody who plays in the team.
3-4-1-2 – OUT OF POSSESSION: Mytanija’s reaction to losing the ball depends on where they actually lose possession on the pitch. Should they lose the ball high-up the pitch, in the opposition’s half, then there will be an instantaneous reaction to press the opponent with the ball to try to win it back quickly high-up the pitch. This is hoped to create chances nearer to the opposition’s goal, effectively using the press as a playmaker. If the opponent breaks through the initial press then Mytanija will look to recover into a 5-3-2 shape as below. Should Mytanija lose the ball nearer to their own goal then they will instantly look to recover into defensive positions to try to make themselves difficult to break down. This shape will be closer to a 5-3-2 than the 3-4-1-2 starting formation.
Both wing-backs will drop deeper, alongside the three central defenders to form the 5. The two central midfielders (in the example above Atsev and Smajic), will drop deep in front of the three central defenders to shield them a little and the attacking midfielder (Kuhar-Arh above), will drop to play in front of them, operating as a bit of a guard dog – either sitting on an opposition deep-lying playmaker to try to stop the ball into them, or by leading a half-pitch press. The two strikers will look to stop the ball going back to the opposition’s central defenders and press them when they are in possession.
Mytanija will also play a variety of other formations should they want to play a little differently, the most likely ones they would change to from the 3-4-1-2 are a 3-5-2 (taking out the attacking midfielder and using three central midfielders); a 4-3-1-2 (pushing the wing-backs back to play as full-backs, removing a central defender and replacing them with a defensive or central midfielder); a 4-2-3-1 (pushing the wing-backs back to play as full-backs, removing a central defender and a striker and then playing a winger on either side); or a narrow 4-4-2 diamond (pushing the wing-backs back to play as full-backs, removing a central defender to play either as a defensive or central midfielder). I am happy to explain details about how Mytanija would play these formations tactically either via TG or on Discord.
TEAM ROLES
Captaincy: 1. Jezdimir Ocokoljic; 2. Grigorij Savicevic; 3. Mersudin Smajic; 4. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 5. Patrik Odonelec
Penalties: 1. Jezdimir Ocokoljic; 2. Mersudin Smajic; 3. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 4. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 5. Damien Gannot
Corners: 1. Gavril Atsev; 2. Patrik Odonelec; 3. Edin Aganovic; 4. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 5. Nemanja Ovcina
Short free kicks: 1. Jezdimir Ocokoljic; 2. Gavril Atsev; 3. Mersudin Smajic; 4. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 5. Maks Shishkin
Long free kicks: Usually one of the wing-backs to put it into the penalty area and take advantage of Mytanija's relatively tall team
NOTES:
• Dzvezdan Kitanchev (aged 49) is the new manager of the Mytanar national team. It is his most high-profile appointment yet and it is an appointment which has been met with a degree of bemusement by the Mytanar public and sporting press. Kitanchev arrived on the scene as the talented young manager of NK Dyka, getting them promoted to the Mytanar Top League for the first time ever but failing to keep them up. His exploits got him the job at FK Arsika, fuelled by the moneyed and ambitious concrete and chemicals magnate Sacha Dobruzhanski.
Kitanchev’s reign at FK Arsika started well in the first couple of seasons, bringing the club into the top-half of the Top League, qualifying for IFCF competitions and reaching the latter stages of the National Cup; but when Dobruzhanski’s financial support slowed FK Arsika’s progress stalled. In recent years Kitanchev has bemoaned his lack of opportunities to improve the squad and FK Arsika have become something of a mid-table team, though he has continued to take the club deep in the National Cup.
There was a feeling that both Kitanchev and the club were ready for a change and when Repin decided to leave the Mytanija job he quickly emerged as a leading candidate due to the fact his teams have played the type of football which most closely resembled the tactically flexible style Repin embodied. More high-profile candidates like Misel Ravnjak and Sava Grgurovic play more defensive football; whilst Edis Znidarsic didn’t want to leave the Atletik job. That meant that the likes of Kitanchev, Litala ’93’s Luca Zagorc and CDSA’s Slavko Jelic ended up as the main contenders and the FSM eventually plumped for Kitanchev.
The pressure will be on Kitanchev after Repin has impressed and brought Mytanija back to the top table of international football and following could be a difficult task, but he could also make that next step which Repin couldn’t and that would quickly sate the desire for blood of the Mytanar sporting media. Interestingly Jelic has ended up in the Sargossa job, though both flattered to deceive at the Copa Rushmori, Mytanija exiting at the Quarter Final stage at the hands of Cabo Azure and Sargossa exiting a round earlier against Græntfjall.
• Mytanija has qualified to 14 World Cups, most recently World Cup 91, the country's biggest achievement in that competition is reaching the quarter finals in World Cup 68. Mytanija has won the Copa Rushmori once (XVII), to go with two victories in the Cup of Harmony (56 and 59); and a Di Bradini Cup win (DBC40). Some of these achievements were made under the names Mytannion/the Mytanar Region, Mytanija is ICly the exact same place.
• Mytanars are renowned for being passionate and therefore will not be afraid of confrontation if they feel they're on the end of a particularly rough tackle. At the same time Mytanars are not afraid of gamesmanship and may perform some questionable tackles of their own, along with tactical fouls to prevent the opponent from gaining momentum. Furthermore, diving, crowding referees and even intentional handballs (OOC: so Maradona's Hand of God and Suarez for Uruguay versus Ghana, that sort of stuff), to influence the game are not beyond Mytanar players. They will argue that winning is the most important thing and will do anything they can to achieve victory. Some might call it dirty, Mytanars don't, that won't stop them complaining when things go against them naturally.
• Mytanar fans are well-known for being hooligans, causing problems wherever they go and being prone to violence. They also make outstanding choreographies for their domestic sides and occasionally the national team (if they aren't fighting each other), so pyrotechnics, flags and lots of noise and alcohol are common place. Corteos (organised marches from a specific place to the stadium), are also common, these can lead to areas being shutdown as the sheer numbers of fans walking along roads block traffic and can lead to issues as police attempt to marshal supporters too. Given the ongoing political situation in Mytanija, whether ultra groups are able to put aside differences regarding politics, ethnicity etc for the national side is a pertinent question and the answer to it may change even from game to game.
HOME SCHEDULE
Here is a list of Mytanija's home games and information about where they will be played. A relatively comprehensive two-part travel guide compiled for the 38th Copa Rushmori which was hosted in Mytanija should provide you with plenty of information about the country (part one); and information about the stadiums where games will be played (part two). The FSM have a habit of trying to send big teams/rivals to more hostile or provincial locations within Mytanija in order to give them a taste of some of the most fierce atmospheres Mytanija has to offer (or alternatively to try and limit the embarrassment as much as possible with less people seeing thrashings unfold in the stadium), unfortunately due to the first home game being against Tumbra they have been unable to do this for World Cup 92 qualifying, as the first and last home games are usually held at Radnika, the nominal national stadium in Esca. Due to this, the FSM have tried to spread games around the country, ensuring each region plays host to at least one qualifier and giving Port Jarko a rare game too.
MD3: vs Tumbra at Radnika, Esca (capacity: 60,000)
MD5: vs Qasden at Drachevo, Dyka (capacity: 15,000)
MD7: vs Sixty-ninE X at Stadion Prizren, Prizren (capacity: 84,000)
MD9: vs Cap Nord at Utcastadion, Stratenberg (capacity: 26,000)
MD11: vs Cabo Azure at Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia (capacity: 67,000)
MD12: vs Ancherion at Stadion Cassia, Cassia (capacity: 22,000)
MD15: vs Talannua at Stadion Sime Pandev, Zvornik (capacity: 20,000)
MD17: vs Saltstead at Olujastadion, Ebor (capacity: 42,500)
MD19: vs Ziwana at Stadion Radoslaw Famoc, Port Jarko (capacity: 15,000)
MD21: vs TJUN-ia at Radnika, Esca (capacity: 60,000)
ICly the qualifying cycle takes place over the course of two years in Mytanija, with the first half of qualifying occurring in the first year and the second half in the second year. The World Cup proper then happens at the end of that second year (usually in the middle of Mytanar summer). For this reason, the ages displayed in the player information are correct for the start of qualifying, but players will be two years older by the end of a qualification cycle.
Lev Repin | 
Zoe "Z" Benne | 
(F)
(F)
(F)
(F) 
(F)
North Hall) - Age 35 - 6 caps, 1 clean sheet
Ituraitz FC) - Age 28 - Uncapped
Sparta Zijweg) - Age 24 - Uncapped
Rammsissil) - Age 23 - Uncapped
SC Montfort) - Age 26 - 10 caps, 1 goal
Sabrefell Athletic) - Age 23 - 2 caps
Workers Union) - Age 32 - 116 caps, 5 goals
Wirr Tsi) - Age 31 - 71 caps, 18 goals
Mâ Âlâmëómë) - Age 29 - 44 caps
Farrenton Athletic) - Age 28 - 57 caps, 12 goals
West Couno United) - Age 24 - 14 caps, 1 goal
Juavi FC) - Age 25 - 8 caps, 3 goals
Yassaca) - Age 26 - 46 caps, 22 goals
Nacional Portavem
Mauschlag 08
Ederkhen United
(F)
(F)
Rogerio Defigueroa — 
Mâ Âlâmëómë 
Rülândéá Kôstä 
Ausharmuj Marusi 
Kolejes Marajis — 
Gortz United 
Eötrenois Rigozsoldos — 
René Skaé 
AFC Corvistone 
AC Izotz Zubia 
CA Paulinthal 
Lonngeylin Coast 
La Nueva Avenida 
Dí Maozöxê 
Sabrefell Moths 
Mbogo Nørgaard — 
Revolutionaries 
Raynor City United 
North Laithland 
La Querida 
Iahan Alphand (58)
Gunzlach – 3rd captain
Lotus Park
Kyethas Rivermen FC
FK Shkosan
Adab United
Ezriquay United FC
Tihon – Captain 
CSKA Quebec
