ZeekLTK's WE8 World Cup Dynasty

[metabelian]

Group F
1. Holland - 9 pts +5 GD
2. Georgia - 6 pts +4 GD
3. Colombia - 3 pts -2 GD
4. Cote d'Ivoire - 0 pts -7 GD

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Georgia 5 - 0 Cote d'Ivoire




Match fixing? ;)

[ZeekLTK]

Meh, it didn't really matter for the outcome.

Before the match it was Georgia - 3 pts -1 GD, Cote d'Ivoire - 0 pts -2 GD... Colombia finished with 3 pts -2 GD so no matter what happened the winner of Cote d'Ivoire vs Georgia would have advanced. If Cote d'Ivoire wins by 1 then they have 3 pts -1 GD and both Georgia and Colombia have 3 pts -2 GD, so Cote d'Ivoire advances. If it's a tie then Georgia has 4 points and advances. If Georgia wins (like they did) then they have 6 points and obviously still advance. Keep in mind that Cote d'Ivoire gave up 3 goals in the previous game to Holland... and also conceded 5 goals in the opening game against Colombia.

So just put this one up there with Argentina 6 - 0 Peru... be suspicious but you can't confirm anything. :p And the outcome didn't make much of a difference because Colombia wasn't going to advance no matter what.

[ZeekLTK]

UEFA Claims All Medals - Norway Takes Bronze
As usual, the third place match was wide open with both teams attacking constantly with little reguard for the outcome of this "meaningless" match between the two sides who failed to reach the championship. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opened it up either further when he scored just 49 seconds into the match to make it 1-0 to Norway. The bombardment didn't stop there, Torre Andre Flo struck 4 and a half minutes later, around the 5 minute mark, to make it 2-0 and give Norway the bronze for sure.

Costa Rica did threaten back. As the first half went on Norway got irresponsible with the ball and constantly had too many players forward. The Ticos finally made them pay on a counterattack by Wanchope who drew in the last defender, Johnsen, before dishing it off to Fonseca for the easy tap in. Norway got caught cold again, just after the second half started when Wanchope found himself wide open in the middle of the penalty box. Before anyone could react, the ball was already in the back of the net and it was 2-2, a tie game in the 48th minute for the first time since the 49th second.

Of course Norway had the answer though. A couple crosses into the box couldn't find Carew, so the team went to the other wing and just as in the 5th minute, it was Torre Andre Flo's header that once again beat the Tico keeper. At 3-2 with 15 minutes left Norway was content to run the clock out to avoid overtime, and controlled the ball well to waste time. But just to make sure, Carew's sub H. Flo knocked a pass into Solskjaer who made a brilliant touch on it to go around the defender and find himself face to face with the keeper. He had scored after only 49 seconds had passed, and now again with just about 49 seconds left in the match. The game ended soon after, 4-2, and Norway earn third place.

Norway 4 - 2 Costa Rica
Solskjaer (0', 90'), T. Flo (5', 74'), Fonseca (37'), Wanchope (48')

Starting Lineup (3-4-3)
E. Johnsen
_
Johnsen
Lundekvam
Berg
_
Riise
Bergdolmo <-> Bakke (83')
Iversen
Rushfeldt
_
Flo
Solskjaer
Carew <-> H. Flo (83')

[ZeekLTK]

Fantasy or Reality? Dream Comes True for Georgia
While the team has needed a fair amount of luck to get this far... a spill by the Austrian keeper, the self-destruction of Cote d'Ivoire, Wales reaching the knockout round, Portugal being upset, and an own goal from Costa Rica... at this point, you have to say they deserve it. They've taken advantage of their chances and they have played amazing defense throughout the campaign. The team has only given up 7 goals in 9 matches, including shutouts of teams like Czech Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, and Uruguay. Could they take the final step and do the unthinkable? Win the World Cup?

France struggled through qualifying, going through the play-offs to reach the cup, and then losing to Wales in the opening game. But since then, they have been on form, advancing from the group and taking out Holland, Greece, and Norway on their way to the final. Oh yeah, and they also happen to be the defending champions; winners of the last World Cup.

So the stage was set for the ultimate story of David vs Goliath; France vs Georgia. Right from the start it looked like the run was over for Georgia. With no subs, something they haven't had for the entire campaign, Georgian fans all held their breath as star striker Iashvili took a brutal shot in the 2nd minute of the game and had to be carried off on a stretcher, reducing the team to 10 men. Everyone was able to breath a sigh of relief when he came back onto the pitch about 4 minutes later, but he was still hurt and would be somewhat ineffective for the rest of the game. He did what he could though, and it was better than playing a man down.

In fact, Georgia still went through Iashvili quite a bit on offense, and his injury maybe helped calm the team down a little, because he had to be patient with the ball to control it and make a good pass around the roving French defense. Around the 8 minute mark Henry got the ball and ran right through the Georgian defense but Logania made a sprawling save to keep the team alive. In fact, after the game, team captain Kaladze admitted that the defense "were absolutely terrified whenever Henry, Zidane, or Trezeguet got the ball on [their] half of the field... because one mistake and *snap*, it's a goal for France".

It would turn out that Logania's save was all they needed though, because after that it showed that Henry wasn't invincible, and they could actually step up to challenge him. That's exactly what they did. Khigalisuimi, who had been quiet for the entire campaign, finally became a name the announcers needed to call regularly as he continually shut down the French attack. On one occassion he stopped Henry three consecutive times, and not only stopped the super star, but he took the ball and started a counter attack with it each time.

Georgia's tactic of "defense through offense" was played out to perfection in the first half. The team attacked for the majority of the half, and while it produced few chances to score, it kept the ball away from France, and away from their goal, which is what the system was designed to do. And then the entire game changed in the 40th minute when a through ball over the top to Ashisakedekpia made it to the stirker and he went in for the shot. The last defender caught up with him and knocked the ball away before the shot left the striker's feet, but the back leg came in, taking out Ashisakedekpia and forcing the ref to call a foul. No card was shown, but it was a dangerous free kick.

As usual, Kobiashvili stepped up to take it. But after much deliberation he backed off and went into the box so that Iashvili could take it. France prepared for the shot as Georgia's top goal scorer lined up his shot, but then shocked the whole stadium as he ran up to blast the ball and then lobbed it into the box. The French hadn't kept up with Kobiashvili and he was wide open at the post. The ball coming in was perfect and he headed right past an unsuspecting Barthez... pandamonium in Paris: 1-0 to Georgia!!!

Kobiashvili was nearly booked for "excessive celebration", but the ref didn't have the heart to do it, so play resumed. France were shocked and played out the remaining 5 minutes relatively quietly, getting to the break trailing by a goal.

At half time Georgia's coach must have said good work and keep it up, but France's coach clearly got the team pumped up to come back out. At the start of the second half it was all France all the time as they just came at the Georgians. Khigalisuimi, Kaladze, and Alikrasyubari all tried to hold their line, and with support from midfielders Tskitishvili, Adorlponi, and Kobiashvili, Georgia was able to survive a lot of threats from the potent French offense. Logania had a couple of saves to deal with, but after about 10 minutes of siege, the French still hadn't broken through. Georgia finally found their legs again and went back on the prowl. A couple of shots were easily scooped up by Barthez, but at least it was Barthez, not Logania, doing the custodian work.

Around the 70th minute a harmless cross came into the box that was cleared by the French defense fairly easily. It went out to around midfield where striker Ashisakedekpia was hanging around, as he was tiring and hadn't pushed up so far. He collected the ball with acres of land inbetween him and the nearest defender. A couple of steps towards the goal and he noticed an opening. The striker set himself up and fired a rocket that will go down in Georgian folk lore... screaming past Barthez and into the upper left corner. The commentators could only stutter in their amazement: "UNBELIEVABLE!!" And it was... the scoreline even more so: 2-0 to Georgia!!

France were absolutely stunned, and allowed Georgia to come at them again. This time the ball went out for a corner. Earlier Iashvili had assisted Kobiashvili for a header. This time Kobiashvili sent the ball into the box and Iashvili cemented his legacy as a national hero as he rose up above the French defense and headed it into the net. It was 3-0 to Georgia! The dream was coming true, and it was a nightmare for France.

Zidane was subbed out to try to provide a spark, but it was all over. The entire French team looked like zombies on the field. They were so stunned that they couldn't do anything. And Georgia were flying on cloud nine, running in the 80th minute as if the game had just started. The last 10 minutes disappeared into the night and when the final whistle blew you had to pinch yourself to make sure it was real... did it really happen? Yes! Georgia are World Cup Champions!!!!!

Georgia 3 - 0 France
Kobiashvili (40') (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFQ5IWzr_50), Ashisakedekpia (71') (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIpGI5yci2o), Iashvili (74') (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MGS1xdk8Mk)


Starting Lineup (3-4-3)
Logaina
_
Khigalisuimi
Kaladze (c)
Alikrasyubari
_
Adorlponi
Tskitishvili
Kobiashvili
Anunetsi
_
Arieraze
Ashisakedakpia
Iashvili



http://www.atlasgeo.net/flags/animations/Georgie.gif
http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/EURO/400357_MEDIUMSQUARE.jpg
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2003/11/24/1georgia.jpg

[ZeekLTK]

World Cup II Knockout Round Recap

Round of Sixteen
Uruguay 1 - 1 Czech Republic (4-3 PKs)
Wales 0 - 4 Georgia
Portugal 0 - 0 Morocco (3-2 PKs)
Costa Rica 1 - 0 Turkey
Argentina 0 - 0 Greece (4-5 PKs)
Holland 1 - 2 France (Extra Time)
Norway 1 - 0 Tunisia
Serbia & Montenegro 1 - 0 Denmark


Quarterfinals
Uruguay 0 - 1 Georgia
Portugal 0 - 1 Costa Rica
Greece 0 - 2 France
Norway 2 - 1 Serbia & Montenegro (Extra Time)


Semifinals
Georgia 2 - 1 Costa Rica
France 1 - 0 Norway


Third Place
Norway 4 - 2 Costa Rica


Championship
France 0 - 3 Georgia




Georgia's Road to the World Cup
Qualifying: 2 - 1 vs Austria
Qualifying: 1 - 0 vs Czech Republic
Qualifying: 1 - 1 vs Hungary
Group Stage: 0 - 2 vs Holland
Group Stage: 3 - 2 vs Colombia
Group Stage: 5 - 0 vs Cote d'Ivoire
Knockout Round: 4 - 0 vs Wales
Quarterfinals: 1 - 0 vs Uruguay
Semifinals: 2 - 1 vs Costa Rica
Championship: 3 - 0 vs France

[ZeekLTK]

Winning Eleven World Cup III Draw
WEFA has decided to allow Argentina to host the cup this time, so they will qualify automatically. Holders, Georgia, will also qualify automatically. However, there are three new teams who will be participating in qualification for the first time: Surinam, Mali, and Ghana. Surinam has been placed in the CONMEBOL (South American) region while Mali and Ghana are, obviously, in Africa.

Asia has complained about the format for the last two cycles, as their teams only have 3 teams per group, thus only one spot per group instead of 2 like everyone else, so WEFA has decided to group Asia with Africa for the upcoming cycle. Witht the additions of Mali and Ghana, there are now 16 teams combined, so they will have 4 groups of 4 with 8 spots between them.

With 15 groups total, plus the two automatic qualifiers, there will not be any play-off spots for this year's World Cup. So third place is no longer an option for some teams to sneak into the World Cup as in the past, everyone will have to finish top 2 in their group to reach the Finals.

The draw was released this morning, and for the first time it was actually seeded based on previous results.

CONCACAF
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Mexico
United States


CONMEBOL - Group 1
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
Surinam


CONMEBOL - Group 2
Peru
Uruguay
Colombia
Paraguay


CAF/AFC - Group 1
Senegal
South Korea
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia


CAF/AFC - Group 2
South Africa
Morocco
Egypt
Mali


CAF/AFC - Group 3
Japan
Cameroon
Australia
Ghana


CAF/AFC - Group 4
Cote d'Ivoire
Tunisia
Iran
China


UEFA - Group 1
England
Italy
Turkey
Slovakia


UEFA - Group 2
Netherlands
Hungary
Russia
Denmark


UEFA - Group 3
Greece
Switzerland
Belgium
Scotland


UEFA - Group 4
Czech Republic
Romania
Finland
Sweden


UEFA - Group 5
Spain
Poland
Croatia
Germany


UEFA - Group 6
France
Slovenia
Serbia & Montenegro
Latvia


UEFA - Group 7
Portugal
Austria
Ukraine
Ireland


UEFA - Group 8
Norway
Wales
Bulgaria
Northern Ireland


Qualified
Argentina (Hosts)
Georgia (Holders)


*I will likely be playing as the bolded teams in qualifying, plus Georgia when the Finals start. I may not end up playing as Surinam, and might try a second UEFA team since my group with Norway is really boring (I guess this draw is making up for when I had Spain, England, and Croatia in my group last time), so we'll see.