https://www.footballassociationcentres.org.ces/newsroom/world-cup-102-qualifiers-team-announcement
HOME // NEWSROOM //
Football Association of Central Esportiva announces 26-man squad for World Cup 102 Qualifiers
.png)
7 OCTOBER - ORANJESTAD --The Football Association of Central Esportiva (FACE) has announced the 26 players that will be representing the Sun and Moon over the course of the World Cup 102 Qualifiers following the selections of head coach Sun Yongheng.
The qualifiers will take place over the winter break as Central Esportiva prepares to face her opponents in Group 3. Home games will take place at the Triune Stadium in Hoogemolen, while away matches will take place in the opponent's respective stadiums.
After a disappointing run of games in the latest Campionato Esportiva and Baptism of Fire, the Celestials will be looking to make their mark internationally in their first ever appearance in the World Cup, with newly-hired coach Sun Yongheng spearheading the team through the course of the qualifiers.
"It will definitely be tough," Mr Sun said in a private interview, "Facing some of the world's best as rookies will definitely be a challenge for everyone involved, but I believe that we will thrive through the hardship and burst onto the scene.
The Celestials will face Srednjaci at home for their first matchday on 29 November. Get your match tickets here.
The Central Esportivan National Team: All you need to know about The Celestials
Profile: Know more about us!
For the uninitiated, Central Esportiva is a large country located in the centre of Esportiva (shocking). It is technically a federation of three constituent nations: Yangguo, Zuidland, and Miko, all of which are distinct demographically, culturally and geographically. Nevertheless, history (colonialism) has brought the three countries under one Central Esportivan flag. Depending on where you are in the nation, you might hear Chinese, Dutch or Karen, but most Central Esportivans go by with English especially in interracial conversations. The Sun and Moon are the two prominent iconographies of Central Esportiva; they hold significant importance in the cultures of Central Esportiva, and they lend their names/likenesses to the nickname of the country and national team. Speaking of which…
While Central Esportiva may not be a footballing nation in the most commonly-used sense of the word, the nation of Sun and Moon is definitely slightly insane about football, and they have been for at least the past 75 to a hundred years. After being introduced into the country by Esportivan foreigners, football has grown to be Central Esportiva's most popular sport, pipping the cult classic in the country: motorsports. However, despite the nation's fervour for football, it has not translated into the international scene at all, with Central Esportiva only starting to participate in regional and international competitions within the past year. Nevertheless, as the Sun and Moon finally step onto the world stage, maybe it's time to give way to a potential footballing great.
The brand of football Central Esportiva plays has varied over the years, but in recent times it has solidified into one recognisable trait: fluid passing. While the manager's philosophy in other aspects may differ, Central Esportiva’s coaches tend to employ a style of football emphasising on control of possession through passing. It could take on a more attack-minded approach with fast, counterattacking long passes that break the opponent’s defensive line, or it could be more defensively coded with passes to control the midfield and exploit the space left by opponents who veer off position.
Nickname: The Celestials, or, more rarely and pretentiously, the Children of the Sun and Moon
Team colours: Black, white, (sometimes) maroon
Main team song: The Nights - (Not) Avicii
Style modifier: +2.5
Players and staff: Who's representing us?
Head coach: Sun Yongheng
Assistant coaches: Helen Poort, Talitha Koot, Gregory Promes
Goalkeeping coach: Eric Hoogendijk
Fitness and performance manager: Marion Houben
Physiotherapists: Jan Anderiesen, Donna Engelen
Doctors: Nathan Van der Veer, Elise De Goede
Performance analyst: Alperen Aandewiel
Preferred formation: 4-5-1 in defence, 4-3-3 in attack
Sun Yongheng’s playstyle uses the midfield as the backbone of the team, helping both the backline and the lone striker in attack. In defence, the team takes up a 4-5-1 formation, with the defensive midfielder(s) helping the centre backs out. The midfield’s job is to shut down any opposition chances before they can make it to the defence, and the defence just have to do what they do best, prevent the opposition from ever taking a shot at goal. In attack, however, the team will transition into a 4-3-3, with the wide midfielders taking up a more advanced position. However, Sun’s playstyle emphasises build-up passing play. This means that the front three will usually drop down to contribute to the buildup, with them and the rest of the midfield creating passing and attacking chances by slotting into spaces left unattended. Meanwhile, the back four mostly just stay back, forming a relatively low block. The fullbacks will aid the wide midfielders if needed, although they aren’t expected to contribute much to the attack.
Due to Sun’s focus in ball retention and movement off the ball, attacks may appear slow as players look for the perfect pass and attacking opportunity. Nevertheless, the team is also ready to play pure counterattacking football if the opponent’s defence is patchy enough. When it comes to the central midfielders, Sun may choose to field a combination of 1 CDM/2 CM or vice versa depending on the opponent.
Goalkeepers
#1 // Renzo HOUTZAGER // M // 26yo // Armour Oranjestad
#12 // Andren VAN DER BROEK // M // 31yo // VV Notre Dame
#13 // REN Enxiang // M // 21yo // Jieshi Anping
In Sun’s system, goalkeepers are expected to be playmakers, starting the run of play whenever they have the ball. Usually, this entails passing short to a nearby defender instead of punting the ball further up the field.
Renzo Houtzager will be the main man between the posts during the course of the qualifiers. Blessed by the Holy Trinity (height, muscle, agility), Houtzager will be one of Central Esportiva’s most imposing figures. Andren Van der Broek was the team’s former starting keeper but has since taken on more of a mentor role, while Ren Enxiang is an emerging talent and the first goalkeeper from Yangguo to be called up to the national team.
Defenders
Leftback
#2 // Jordan VAN ALPHEN // M // 28yo // Silver Bridge
#16 // Mabel VAN TILBURG // F // 23yo // Armour Oranjestad
#18 // THAA Çie Xie E E // F // 24yo // FC De Nativitie
Centreback
#3 // CHEN Kang // M // 31yo // VK Sint-Joris
#4 // LI Sirui // M // 27yo // SV Holy Innocents
#14 // WANG Anya // F // 30yo // Silver Bridge
#24 // NGO See Blue Mi // F // 22yo // ZAS
Rightback
#5 // Matthias KRIJGSMAN // M // 29yo // Armour Oranjestad
#20 // Mari-anne SLAUERHOFF // F // 20yo // VV Notre Dame
Sun has decided to retain the defensive core of Central Esportiva, with familiar names such as Jordan Van Alphen, Chen Kang and Li Sirui appearing on the team sheet. Matthias Krijgsman, the captain of the national team, is a commander of men, and his experience over the years has made him a veteran and guide for the younger players. Nevertheless, the qualifiers have also introduced a number of younger promising talents into the fold such as Mabel Van Tilburg, Ngo See Blue Mi and Mari-anne Slauerhoff, and they will supplement the defence when needed.
As mentioned earlier, the back four will play a mostly defensive role, and they will not contribute much to the attack. This allows them to focus more on defense and shutting down opponent forwards.
Midfielders
Defensive midfielder
#6 // Jolene PAULUS // F // 32yo // SV Holy Innocents
#15 // Laurie VOETEN // F // 26yo // Armour Oranjestad
#19 // LI Khoe Pgie Çwie // F // 26yo // Go Mu TK
Central midfielder
#8 // JIA Leyuan // F // 27yo // Armour Oranjestad
#22 // O Jo Pgie Ue // M // 22yo // Jieshi Anping
#23 // LI Xunbo // M // 33yo // SV Utrechtertje
Left midfielder
#7 // Lucy VERBURG // F // 21yo // UCE
#9 // Vesper VAN DER HEIJDEN // M // 23yo // SV Holy Innocents
Right midfielder
#10 // LIN Kerui // M // 22yo // Armour Oranjestad
#21 // TANG Weiming // M // 32yo // Silver Bridge
The midfielders make up the majority of the national team, and for good reason. The midfield is integral to Sun’s playstyle, with them being the bridge between defense and attack. Players such as Jolene Paulus, Jia Leyuan and Lin Kerui are expected to control the midfield, while younger players like Lucy Verburg and O Jo Pgie Ue add vitality into the centre of the pitch.
Attackers
#11 // LIN Yufeng // M // 27yo // New Ersheng
#17 // Joy QUIST // F // 29yo // VK Sint-Joris
#25 // Samson VAN DOREN // M // 26yo // FE Oranjestad
#26 // Evan OCHSE // M // 23yo // VV Notre Dame
The attack comprises four of Central Esportiva’s best: Lin Yufeng and Joy Quist are extremely proficient in front of goal, with the both of them often battling for the Golden Boot in the domestic season. Samson Van Doren has one of the highest shot conversion rates, while Evan Ochse is an emerging gem amongst Central Esportiva’s attack.
Fans, culture and stadia
Central Esportivans may be divided amongst many issues, but football is the common denominator. Fans of the Celestials tend to travel in troves, and the size of a group of Central Esportivan fans alone can be very intimidating. While police crackdowns have deterred extreme ultra violence, hooliganism is still a problem amongst fans, especially younger ones.
The Celestials love a display. Elaborate tifos are present in almost every game, and flares are a common sight as well. Although fireworks are banned in stadiums, they may be lit around the stadium bh rowdier fans. The Celestials also love to sing. Instead of chanting, fans will usually sing one of many songs from their repertoire, although the stadium sometimes get quiet when fans are fatigued from singing.
In Central Esportiva, football culture and drinking culture are intertwined. Alcohol is regularly brought by patrons into games, and pubs and bars are regular gathering spots for fans to watch matches. It is (unfortunately) common for fights and crime to occur from intoxicated fans, but what can you do about it?
National team matches are usually played in the Triune Stadium in Hoogemolen and the Zuanchang in Zhoujing. However, due to the winter climate in Zhoujing, qualifier matches will be played entirely in Triune Stadium.
Triune Stadium
Capacity: 54,650
Seat types: All seated
Home club: Sportclub Hoogemolen
How to get there: Shuttle bus from Hoogemolen train station/airport, shuttle bus from Oranjestad airport
Zuanchang
Capacity: 60,265
Seat types: All seated
Home club: Silver Bridge FC
How to get there: Shuttle bus from Zhoujing train station/airport
Miscellaneous details
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Contact
RP injuries to my players: Contact
Godmod injuries to my players: Contact
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: Contact
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Ellzidan (F)
(F)
.png)
- 38
