The Second AM World Cup Draft: Matchday 1

[Clrnc]

I picked the formation you wanted. The mediocre players are all on you buddy.

Btw would also like to thank @Clrnc for once again privately bringing this issue to my attention. Would not have seen it if not for his diligent work.

Bruh, you know how serious Albakos is.

I don't want to be sent to the void ffs

 

[jones]

I think it was deliberate and racist tbh, need a deduction imo

Yeah completely unfair on Rex to face such a strong team without Africans. Game need to be re simmed in the ealiest instance

Seems Snitchy and Rex Blatter's Beard haven't learned their lesson the first time @albakos

 

[UpTheChampionz]

Only 1 match into the group and the gaffer is crashing out?

Bielsa at Lazio kind of stuff Clive

 

[JMB]

Bruh, you know how serious Albakos is.

I don't want to be sent to the void ffs

This is the crashout when he’s not invested, imagine what I had to face!!!! @Rex Caudillo @A_G playing referee while we were Mike Tyson and Holyfield in DM’s that you’ll never see.

 

[JMB]

Would be a travesty if I lost to a lower midtable side like yours. I genuinely think my team is flawless.

My bench would start for you.

This is that knowing the sim results confidence right there.

 

[Makingtrax]

Spoiler: REX VS ALBAKOS

The opening match of the tournament sees the d̶i̶c̶t̶a̶t̶o̶r̶ commissioner’s side take on the owner of the stadium. Lots of pre-match bickering between the pair but Rex seems unbothered by the criticism:

View attachment 47594

Rex
View attachment 47593
Albakos
View attachment 47592

The game begins with a tense handshake between the two managers before the opening whistle goes. A cagey start as you'd expect in the first game of the group with the game getting congested in midfield. The first bit of play between Albakos FC sees them advance towards the opposition box before Nakata goes steaming into a challenge on Senijder...

View attachment 47595

An early booking for the Japanese maestro. Safe to say Sneijder felt that one...

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The two sides continue to feel each other out and leave little to no space for the attackers, until Stoichkov manages to jink past his marker and drives towards the box. He tries to dink a ball into the box which strikes Rafa Marquez's hand...and the referee blows his whistle!!!

View attachment 47598

But it's only a yellow!! It turns the handball took place just outside the box, so it's a only a free kick for Rex...Forlan steps up to take it....

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The ball sails harmlessly wide and we head into the break at 0-0.

Some changes at the break as Rex brings on Bruno Fernandes and Christian Vieiri for Nakata and Forlan. Albakos answers with one change of his own, subbing Shaqiri for Sneijder.

The changes lead to an immediate boost for Rex FC as they begin the half on the front foot. Roberto Carlos gets free down the left and looks up before firing in a ball right on to the penalty spot...

Slotted home by Griezmann to give Rex a 1-0 lead!! To make matters worse, he directs his L celebration at albakos on the bench who is fuming!!

The game kicks off again and Albakos FC look to get a foothold in the game as they search for an equaliser. However, a loose pass from Marquez sees Veron and head straight for goal before being taken out...

It's a red card for Mascherano and he cannot believe it!! He walks off the field with a few choice words for the officials!!

Albakos is going through it right now!!:

View attachment 47618

The game continues with a free kick for Rex but it becomes a tough slog as Albakos FC look to sit and play damage limitation for now. Rex FC find it hard to break through the low block they face until Bruno Fernandes drives at the opposition and looks to have a shot...

View attachment 47619

He goes down but there didn't appear to be much contact, if any at all!! Albakos is beside himself once again but VAR cannot intervene for free kicks, so Rex FC will have a set piece just on the edge of the box...the man fouled will step up to take it...

Right into the top corner!! 2-0 to Rex and surely no way back now for Albakos!! He cannot contain his anger anymore:
View attachment 47620

They kick off knowing time is running out and they're behind with 10 men, with the players looking a beaten side. They give it away cheaply and are under the cosh once again, with Stoichkov bearing down on goal. He fakes a shot and slides in a reverse pass for Vieri...

View attachment 47622

He dinks it over Casillas and it's 3-0 to Rex!! Vieri puts the finishing touches on a great result for Rex, with Albakos not even waiting for the final whistle to leave!! He's already off down the tunnel, seen mouthing something about "Fix Caudillo" and "Snitchy"!!!

Rex Caudillo 3-0 Albakos

Spoiler: 4JUAN6 vs SANCHRIOU

The second match of Group A sees 4Juan6 take on Sanchriou in rare matchup of co-managed teams. While JMB is expecting Gooner416 to turn up, Sanchez11 simply replied FML and walked off when asked pre-match whether Riou would join him on the bench.

4Juan6
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Sanchriou
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The game kicks off and both teams immediately get stuck in with tackles flying in everywhere on both sides. The managers on the touchline shout encouragement which hypes up the players until someone takes it too far...

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Busquets booked after leaving Ballack in a heap. The German gets treatment while Sanchez11 introduces himself to the 4th official:
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4Juan6 FC look to get a foothold in the game and use their midfield dominance, but are only limited to shots from distance that barely trouble the keeper. That is, until Yaya Toure gets the ball off Kante and powers through the final third... space opens up for him to play Ronaldo in on goal but he opts to shoot instead...

View attachment 47630

An absolute stunner and early goal of the tournament contender to make it 1-0 to 4Juan6!!! A powerful shot from Toure beats the despairing dive of Matt Turner!!

Sanchez11 can't believe no one closed him down!!:
View attachment 47631

Even with the restart, Sanchriou are unable to get control of the game as the power and physicality of 4Juan6 FC begins to overwhelm them. They try to counter this by going direct, and one ball from Romero does find Richarlison who looks to hit it first time...

View attachment 47632

The ball flies harmlessly high and wide for a goal kick

4Juan6 look to come again and some clever interplay on the right between Ronaldo and Cafu sees the Brazilian free down the right hand side. His initial cross is dealt with by the defence, but the ball drops only as far as Totti. He fakes a shot before scooping a ball over the top for Tevez who hits it first time...

It's 2-0 to 4Juan6 after a brilliant volley from Tevez!! Right on the stroke of halftime to double their lead and send Sanchez11 into a range!!

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We head into the break with 4Juan6 in complete control.

The second half begins with some terrible news for Sanchriou...Riou has phoned Sanchez11 to inform him he will NOT be joining him on the touchline for the match...

View attachment 47635

The lack of a co-manager doesn't seem to effect Sanchriou too much as they actually begin the second half on the front foot. They have a few shots from distance that sting the palms of Howard, but nothing overly threatening. Midway through the second half, they get a corner kick which gets whipped in by Rui Costa right onto the penalty spot. Varane gets a head to it to direct it towards goal and it looks a simple save for Howard until someone throws a foot at it...

Hendoooooo!! Sanchriou are back in it with the unlikeliest of scorers as Jordan Henderson stabs it in after a cushioned header from Varane!! Disbelief on the 4Juan6 bench while Sanchez11 seems to taunt Riou in celebration:

Game on.

4Juan6 look to halt Sanchriou's momentum with substitutions and winning free kicks to bleed the clock. However the Yorkshire/Irish boys get another free kick and pump another ball into the box as time starts to wind down. Bale's chip drifts into the box and misses everyone until Adebayor chests it and attempts an overhead....

View attachment 47637

It's headed for the goal...

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It sadly goes wide.

Just minutes to go and Sanchriou throw the kitchen sink trying to get an equaliser, but it means they leave huge gaps in behind. 4Juan6 get a rare opportunity to break and find themselves with a 3 on 2, with the Sanchriou defence scrambling...Mo Salah comes in side and seems like he's going to shoot, but looks up and sees Tevez making a run across him which opens up the entire box for Ballack...

He fires it past Turner to give 4Juan6 a 3-1 lead and surely wrap up the 3 points for them!! A devastating counter finished off by the German to kill off the comeback attempt.

That proves to be the last action of the match to wrap up matchday 1 in Group A.

4Juan6 3-1 Sanchriou

	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Points
Rex	1	0	0	3	0	3
4Juan6	1	0	0	3	1	3
Sanchriou	0	0	1	1	3	0
Albakos	0	0	1	0	3	0

Ha ha. Great write up. Loving all the manager beefs. ‘Fix Caudillo’

 

[Rex Caudillo]

This is that knowing the sim results confidence right there.

I managed to rig it in a record 500 sims. Just resimming @A_G campaign so we get the final the people want.

 

[The Ducking Duck]

Only 1 match into the group

Only 2 games played in the competition and we have a massive scandal already.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Only 2 games played in the competition and we have a massive scandal already.

Only on AM would a totally normal result be a massive scandal.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

This is the crashout when he’s not invested, imagine what I had to face!!!! @Rex Caudillo @A_G playing referee while we were Mike Tyson and Holyfield in DM’s that you’ll never see.

 

[The Ducking Duck]

Only on AM would a totally normal result be a massive scandal.

Fielding an ineligible team. That result is void.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Fielding an ineligible team. That result is void.

Breaking the rules isn’t an infinite re-sim glitch lmao.

 

[albakos]

I picked the formation you wanted. The mediocre players are all on you buddy.

Btw would also like to thank @Clrnc for once again privately bringing this issue to my attention. Would not have seen it if not for his diligent work.

Seems Snitchy and Rex Blatter's Beard haven't learned their lesson the first time @albakos

Snitchy's gonna snitch

Spoiler: In other words...

 

[Steps]

@A_G - Any chance to have the lineups/starting XI for each team just show the last name? Hard to sort out who has who sometimes. Thanks!

 

[Rex Caudillo]

@A_G - Any chance to have the lineups/starting XI for each team just show the last name? Hard to sort out who has who sometimes. Thanks!

That’s my fault tbf.

Too late for Group B but I’ll change for Group C onwards.

 

[A_G]

Spoiler: MAKINGTRAX VS DASHSNOW17

The opening match of Group B sees former Draft Champion Makingtrax take on the man who abandoned his loved ones to take part, Dashsnow17.



Makingtrax


Dashsnow17


Dashsnow is the away team for this one but starts the game on the front foot spraying the ball around confidently. Modric in particular has Trax's players chasing shadows and he plays Michael Owen through on goal..

His low shot beats Neuer before he even has time to react!! 1-0 to Dash and it's a dream start in the opening 10 minutes!! Dash is made up with it:


Trax is less impressed by his side's defending:


The comeback attempt doesn't go well to start off as Trax FC struggle to gain a foothold in the game. Frustration begins to mount as Messi tries to go on one of his trademark runs, but he has the ball nicked off him by Zanetti. He kicks out at his countryman and the ref blows his whistle...


A rare booking for the GOAT, who reacts by throwing his arms in the air.

This seems to spark a response from his teammates at they inject more pace into the game and the increased urgency leads to a corner kick opportunity. Messi whips the ball into the six yard box and Ochoa comes out to claim...



He misses the ball completely...!!

Turned in by Kane!!! A howler from the Mexican GK gives Trax FC's talisman a simple tap in and we're level at 1-1!!

Dashsnow can't believe his side have gifted the opposition a goal:


That takes us to half time with it all to play for in the second half.

Both teams come out of the break looking to dominate in midfield but we end up with a cagey battle with neither side able to penetrate. They're limited to shots from distance, with Kane forcing a decent save from Ochoa but nothing to get the xG merchants off their seats.

Dashsnow FC look to go more direct and Baresi plays a ball over the top for Michael Owen who races away from the defence with only the keeper in front of him...



...but Neuer is off his line quickly to head it out!! Any other keeper and that was a clear 1v1 opportunity for Owen!!

Both teams make several changes as we head into the final stages of the game, but still no clear chances created on either side. As the teams start to consider whether to stick or twist, suddenly Trax FC find themselves with a counter attacking opportunity. Kevin Prince-Boateng has been active since coming on as sub and manages to wriggle away from his marker as he gallops down the wing. He thinks about a shot but sees Harry Kane approaching the edge of the box and fires the ball at him...

A first time finish across his body past the despairing dive of Ochoa to give Trax a 2-1 lead!! He could do nothing about the strike as Kane used the pace on the square ball to drive it past the Mexican GK!! Dashsnow's anguish from earlier turns to anger as he shouts something about a sandwich being dropped while Kane celebrates!!

With not long left, Dashsnow FC go route one and pack as many men into the box as they can to find a goal. Cannavaro and Desailly deal with everything thrown at them, but one clearance does end up at the feet of Ribery who advances down the left before squaring up the full back inside the box. He plays a dangerous ball across the box...

But no one can get on the end of it for his team!! It was begging for a tap in but Trax FC just about deal with it.

Trax can hardly bring himself to watch at this point:

https://media.tenor.com/P_6hDrlEzZIAAAAC/Arsène-wenger.gif

As we head into stoppage time, the desperation grows before Dashsnow FC get a free kick on the halfway line. Ochoa sends nearly the entire team up and boots the ball as far as he can. It pinballs around the box as the defenders scramble to clear but De Bruyne manages to stab it towards goall...

Neuer's fingertips onto the bar!!! He needed his entire 6'4" frame to keep that out!! Agonisingly close for dashsnow right at the death.

Tense scenes on the touchline as dashsnow cannot believe he's been denied at least a point.

Makingtrax 2-1 dashsnow17

 

[A_G]

Spoiler: ONLYONE VS TIR NA NOG

Next up we have two teams who face an uphill battle to qualify from Group B. Even moreso for Tir Na Nog's side, who are set to open the tournament with the manager and his staff MIA:


@OnlyOne seemed in good spirits as he spoke to the media pre-match:


OnlyOne


Tir Na Nog


As expected with two underdog teams, the game begins with physicality and turns into turgid affair quickly. Despite the talent on show in midfield on both sides, neither team is able to turn their possession into any meaningful attacks. With game being played in the centre of the park, both teams are pressing with intensity until someone takes it too far...

Vidal with an outrageous attempt at winning the ball!! The TNN fans in attendance are apoplectic but with no manager to fight their case to the fourth official, it's only a yellow card.

That incident seems to spark some life into the game and now the tackles are flying in on both sides. It's TNN's turn to leave one on the opponent as Landon Donovan tries to jink his way into the box but runs into Slabhead...

He protests the decision but he got nowhere near the ball. The resulting free kick smashes into the wall which takes us into the break after a half in which there were more bookings than shots on target.

Whatever OnlyOne told his players at half time worked as they come flying out of the blocks to begin the second half with great urgency. Keisuke Honda in particular seems to be growing in influence, and after a clever 1-2 with Bryan Ruiz he has a clear sight of goal...

It swerved and beat the keeper, but just whizzes past the post!! It looked like a certain goal!! OnlyOne thought it was in!!

Despite the close call, OnlyOne FC are growing in confidence and continue to pile on the pressure. They need patience to find a way through, but after some good work from Ze Roberto and Hernandez down the left they put a ball into the box as Vidal runs onto it...

A trademark bullet header from the Chilean makes it 1-0!!! The pressure finally tells and OO FC have a deserved lead!! Relief for OnlyOne:

Even with the goal, OO FC continue to dominate proceedings and overwhelm TNN's men. They're threatening once again with Donovan getting free on the right flank and whipping a ball into the near post, met by Gyan...

He gets a touch on it and it's 2-0!!! A classic CF goal with the run across the near post and glancing header to double lead as he wheels off in celebration!! However, he notices that not everyone on his team is celebrating and turns around...

The linesman flagged for offside!! The goal is chalked off and it's still 1-0!!!

The reprieve gives TNN a lift and suddenly they commit more men forward. Rather than try to play their way through, they look to utilise their own strengths and go route one for a ball aimed at Lukaku who rises above everyone to meet it...

He gets a great contact to it....

But Martinez is equal to it!! He gets a strong hand to it and celebrates the save by thrusting his hips at his manager on the touchline!!

With time winding down, TNN FC continue to apply the pressure but OnlyOne FC are able to withstand whatever is thrown at them. Jon Dahl Tomasson comes on and immediately starts linking the play between midfield and attack, meaning OO has to respond by throwing on Daniele De Rossi. Just when it looks the game is heading towards a damp squib of a finish, the ball gets played into Lukaku who holds off his defender and plays it back to Dembele who bends a shot using the defender to unsight the keeper...

It just brushes the outside of the post on its way for a goal kick!! Dembele is inches away from equalising with virtually the last kick of the game. OnlyOne nil.

OnlyOne 1-0 Tir Na Nog

	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Points
Makingtrax	1	0	0	2	1	3
OnlyOne	1	0	0	1	0	3
Dashsnow17	0	0	1	1	2	0
Tir Na Nog	0	0	1	0	1	0

 

[Makingtrax]

Spoiler: MAKINGTRAX VS DASHSNOW17

The opening match of Group B sees former Draft Champion Makingtrax take on the man who abandoned his loved ones to take part, Dashsnow17.

View attachment 47675

Makingtrax
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Dashsnow17
View attachment 47672

Dashsnow is the away team for this one but starts the game on the front foot spraying the ball around confidently. Modric in particular has Trax's players chasing shadows and he plays Michael Owen through on goal..

His low shot beats Neuer before he even has time to react!! 1-0 to Dash and it's a dream start in the opening 10 minutes!! Dash is made up with it:
View attachment 47676

Trax is less impressed by his side's defending:
View attachment 47677

The comeback attempt doesn't go well to start off as Trax FC struggle to gain a foothold in the game. Frustration begins to mount as Messi tries to go on one of his trademark runs, but he has the ball nicked off him by Zanetti. He kicks out at his countryman and the ref blows his whistle...

View attachment 47678
A rare booking for the GOAT, who reacts by throwing his arms in the air.

This seems to spark a response from his teammates at they inject more pace into the game and the increased urgency leads to a corner kick opportunity. Messi whips the ball into the six yard box and Ochoa comes out to claim...

View attachment 47679

He misses the ball completely...!!

Turned in by Kane!!! A howler from the Mexican GK gives Trax FC's talisman a simple tap in and we're level at 1-1!!

Dashsnow can't believe his side have gifted the opposition a goal:
View attachment 47680

That takes us to half time with it all to play for in the second half.

Both teams come out of the break looking to dominate in midfield but we end up with a cagey battle with neither side able to penetrate. They're limited to shots from distance, with Kane forcing a decent save from Ochoa but nothing to get the xG merchants off their seats.

Dashsnow FC look to go more direct and Baresi plays a ball over the top for Michael Owen who races away from the defence with only the keeper in front of him...

View attachment 47682

...but Neuer is off his line quickly to head it out!! Any other keeper and that was a clear 1v1 opportunity for Owen!!

Both teams make several changes as we head into the final stages of the game, but still no clear chances created on either side. As the teams start to consider whether to stick or twist, suddenly Trax FC find themselves with a counter attacking opportunity. Kevin Prince-Boateng has been active since coming on as sub and manages to wriggle away from his marker as he gallops down the wing. He thinks about a shot but sees Harry Kane approaching the edge of the box and fires the ball at him...

A first time finish across his body past the despairing dive of Ochoa to give Trax a 2-1 lead!! He could do nothing about the strike as Kane used the pace on the square ball to drive it past the Mexican GK!! Dashsnow's anguish from earlier turns to anger as he shouts something about a sandwich being dropped while Kane celebrates!!

With not long left, Dashsnow FC go route one and pack as many men into the box as they can to find a goal. Cannavaro and Desailly deal with everything thrown at them, but one clearance does end up at the feet of Ribery who advances down the left before squaring up the full back inside the box. He plays a dangerous ball across the box...

But no one can get on the end of it for his team!! It was begging for a tap in but Trax FC just about deal with it.

Trax can hardly bring himself to watch at this point:

https://media.tenor.com/P_6hDrlEzZIAAAAC/Arsène-wenger.gif

As we head into stoppage time, the desperation grows before Dashsnow FC get a free kick on the halfway line. Ochoa sends nearly the entire team up and boots the ball as far as he can. It pinballs around the box as the defenders scramble to clear but De Bruyne manages to stab it towards goall...

Neuer's fingertips onto the bar!!! He needed his entire 6'4" frame to keep that out!! Agonisingly close for dashsnow right at the death.

Tense scenes on the touchline as dashsnow cannot believe he's been denied at least a point.

Makingtrax 2-1 dashsnow17

Wow, close game. Neuer saving the day. Going to have a word with Messi about calming down, one yellow’s enough. Can’t afford him to get a sim ban.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Top top write ups. Wow wow wow.

 

[Makingtrax]

He gets a strong hand to it and celebrates the save by thrusting his hips at his manager on the touchline!!