Azza's Journey through the unofficial Confederations Cup (FIFA 06)

[Azza!]

Welcome to the unofficial FIFA World Tournament - being played out on FIFA 06 PC.

With Jurgen Klinsmann resigning as Germany's manager, the board has looked to Australia's Aaron Murphy to try and take them all the way to world champions. The directors believe young Murphy will be able to continue Klinsmann's organised structure and perhaps improve the side.

The draw has been made overnight and the groups look like this:

GROUP A
Belgium
Republic of Ireland
Turkey
Uruguay

GROUP B
Austria
Poland
Sweden
Wales

GROUP C
England
Germany
Italy
Tunisia

GROUP D
Australia
Nigeria
Norway
USA

GROUP E
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Greece

GROUP F
China
France
Mexico
Portugal

GROUP G
Argentina
Cameroon
Denmark
Russia

GROUP H
Brazil
Paraguay
Spain
Switzerland

Note: After a long legal battle with FIFA, the Greek Football Federation has been allowed to participate in the tournament, and will field a full strength squad for the duration of the championship.

The Opening Ceremony is under way at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, and play for Day 1 will hopefully begin shortly. The fixtures for the tournament look like this:

DAY 1
Republic of Ireland v Uruguay
Turkey v Belgium
Poland v Wales
Sweden v Austria
Tunisia v Italy

DAY 2
Germany v England
Nigeria v Australia
Norway v USA
Croatia v Czech Republic
Greece v Costa Rica

DAY 3
France v China
Mexico v Portugal
Denmark v Argentina
Russia v Cameroon
Switzerland v Spain

DAY 4
Brazil v Paraguay
Belgium v Republic of Ireland
Uruguay v Turkey
Poland v Switerland
Wales v Austria

DAY 5
England v Tunisia
Italy v Germany
Nigeria v Norway
USA v Australia
Costa Rica v Czech Republic

DAY 6
Rest day.

DAY 7
Croatia v Greece
France v Mexico
China v Portugal
Cameroon v Denmark
Argentina v Russia

DAY 8
Paraguay v Spain
Switzerland v Brazil
Turkey v Republic of Ireland
Belgium v Uruguay
Austria v Poland

DAY 9
Sweden v Wales
Germany v Tunisia
England v Italy
Nigeria v USA
Australia v Norway

DAY 10
Czech Republic v Greece
Costa Rica v Croatia
Portugal v France
Mexico v China

DAY 11
Russia v Denmark
Cameroon v Argentina
Spain v Brazil
Switzerland v Paraguay

DAY 12
Rest day.

DAY 13
Round of 16: Matches 1-4

DAY 14
Round of 16: Matches 5-8

DAY 15
Rest day.

DAY 16
Quarter Finals 1 and 2

DAY 17
Quarter Finals 3 and 4

DAY 18
Rest day.

DAY 19
Semi Final 1

DAY 20
Semi Final 2

DAY 21-22
Rest day.

DAY 23
Final - First Leg

DAY 24
Rest day.

DAY 25
Final - Second Leg

 

[shravi]

Looking forward to this story! Go Germany!

 

[Azza!]

DAY 1 RESULTS


- Italy thrashed a 9-man Tunisia by 6-1 in the opening match of the tournament in Cardiff. Defenders Haggui and Trabelsi were given the dismissal in the first half, leaving 2 open gaps in the defense for Italy to ambush. Goals were scored by Totti, Gilardino, Nesta, Zambrotta, Oddo and Toni to complete a fairytale start.

- Ireland drew with Uruguay 1-1. Ireland had the lead at half-time before a stunning freekick from Recoba levelled the game in the 78th minute.

- Turkey came from behind to defeat Belgium 3-1. Belgium hit the lead before collapsing.

- Poland's wasted opportunities cost them points in the game against Wales. Poland recorded 7 more shots on goal but lost 2-1.

- Swedish goalkeeper Isaakson recorded the first clean sheet of the tournament as Sweden downed a 10-man Austria 1-0. Isaakson was instrumental in the victory as Austria couldn't find a goal with a 1-man disadvantage.

 

[Azza!]

Germany's first game is against England. It's a rainy night but the German's hopes of a convincing win haven't been dampened.

Murphy has gone with a neutral, organised 4-3-3 formation, with Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski in charge up front.

FIRST HALF!
FRIEDRICH GIVES AWAY A PENALTY AND IS PLACED IN THE BOOK FOR THIS CHALLENGE

BECKHAM PUTS IT AWAY

GERMANY 0 ENGLAND 1 (Beckham pen. 38')

PODOLSKI EQUALIZES IN INJURY TIME OF FIRST HALF

GERMANY 1 (Podolski 45+') ENGLAND 1 (Beckham pen. 38')

SECOND HALF!

BALLACK GETS GERMANY IN THE LEAD WITH A PINPOINT HEADER

GERMANY 2 (Podolski 45+' Ballack 53') ENGLAND 1 (Beckham pen. 38')

KAHN CHARGES AND VASSELL CHIPS IT OVER THE TOP..

KAHN WATCHES ON AS THE BALL TRICKLES INTO THE POST

THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FROM ROONEY WENT WIDE

Germany have held on to convincingly defeat England 2-1. The German attack showed a lot of organisation and had some pretty hard phases of attack. Credit to England for finding some good shots on goal, but they were just dominated in the end.
So the final score was
GERMANY 2 (Podolski 45+' Ballack 53') ENGLAND 1 (Beckham pen. 38')


DAY 2 RESULTS:
Germany 2 - 1 England
Australia 3 - 1 Nigeria
Norway 0 - 0 USA
Croatia 1 - 0 Czech Republic
Greece 2 - 0 Costa Rica

 

[Left_Hander]

Nice work Azza! Looks like a good story is developing here.

 

[shravi]

Great presentation! I hope Germany go all the way.

 

[shravi]

Come on Azza! Continue! You were doing a great job!

 

[Azza!]

Sorry, I've been away for a few days Hopefully in the next few hours I can get an update!

 

[Azza!]

DAY 3 RESULTS
France 4 - 0 China
Mexico 0 - 3 Portugal
Denmark 1 - 1 Argentina
Russia 1 - 1 Cameroon
Switzerland 3 - 0 Spain

DAY 4 RESULTS
Brazil 2 - 0 Paraguay
Belgium 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland
Uruguay 3 - 1 Turkey
Poland 1 - 0 Switerland
Wales 2 - 0 Austria




Germany play their 2nd pool game against the world champions - Italy. The Germans, decked out in their red away strip, look to continue their nice start at a wet night in San Siro.

The only change to the lineup by Murphy is Miroslav Klose has sustained muscle soreness from the game against England, and will be rested. Kuranyi is his replacement. The formation remains the same.

FIRST HALF

AN AGGRESSIVE START HAS PAID OFF AS LUKAS PODOLSKI OPENS THE SCORING IN THE FIRST 20 MINUTES WITH A SIMPLE STRIKE - THE GERMANS ARE OFF TO A FLYER!

ITALY 0 - 1 GERMANY
Podolski 19'

AN ORGANISED PLAY FROM GERMANY ENDED UP IN TYPICAL FASHION WITH A 2ND GOAL, THIS TIME TO DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER TORSTEN FRINGS. A PINPOINT CROSS FROM BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER SET UP KURANYI FOR A HEADER, ONLY TO BE DENIED BY BUFFON. BUFFON RICHOCHETED THE BALL STRAIGHT TO THE HEAD OF FRINGS WHO FOUND THE OPEN RIGHT HALF OF THE GOAL.

ITALY 0 - 2 GERMANY
Podolski 19'
Frings 44'

HALF TIME

ITALY 0 - 2 GERMANY



SECOND HALF

A FIERY ENCOUNTER BEGINS THE SECOND HALF BETWEEN FRINGS AND GATTUSO. A SECOND MALICIOUS TACKLE FROM FRINGS ON GATTUSO RESULTED IN A BIT OF BIFF BETWEEN THE TWO, REQUIRING A BREAK-UP FROM THE REF. FRINGS RECIEVED A YELLOW FOR THE TACKLE, GATTUSO WAS ALSO BOOKED FOR ROUGH PLAY.

THIS WAS THE TACKLE THAT CAUSED THE ENCOUNTER

GIANLUIGI BUFFON LETS ONE FLY IN FRUSTRATION AS TIME CLOSES DOWN FOR ITALY

THE AZZURRI RECIEVE A BIG BOOST AS GERMAN D.M. TORSTEN FRINGS, ONE OF THE GOALSCORERS, IS SENT OFF FOR YET ANOTHER YELLOW CARD. THE SLIDE TACKLE FROM BEHIND CAUSED THE 2ND CARD AND THE SEND-OFF FOR FRINGS, AFTER THE TACKLE WAS LAID ON.. YEP YOU GUESSED IT - GATTUSO. THE REF HAD CLEARLY HAD ENOUGH OF FRINGS' ROUGH PLAY.

IN THE 80th MINUTE, ITALIA GAINS A PENALTY AFTER THE REF BELIEVES ZAMBROTTA WAS TRIPPED IN THE BOX BY FRIEDRICH. FRIEDRICH WAS SHOCKED AND IMMEDIATELY PROTESTED THE DECISION WITH HEART, AND WHEN THE INCIDENT WAS REPLAYED, HE HAD A GOOD CASE - THERE SEEMED TO BE NO CONTACT IN THE TACKLE. ZAMBROTTA HAD CLEARLY MADE A SHOW OF THE SITUATION.

NONE THE LESS, FRANCESCO TOTTI PUT THE PENALTY AWAY TO KEEP ITALY IN WITH A CHANCE OF SOME TABLE POINTS. AND WASN'T HE DELIGHTED WITH HIS KICK.

ITALY 1 - 2 GERMANY
Podolsky 19'
Frings 44'
Totti 80' (pen.)
-

FULL TIME

GERMANY MANAGED TO HANG ONTO THE WIN - A PLEASING RESULT FOR PHILLIP LAHM AND HUTH BELOW, WHO BOTH PLAYED DECENT GAMES. THE WIN TAKES GERMANY TO 2 WINS, AND A LARGE CHANCE OF MAKING THE ROUND OF 16.

 

[shravi]

Great win! Nobody can stop Germany now!

 

[cric_craze]

great story keep it up mate

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Great Story!

 

[shravi]

Come on! Next match! This is a great story! Don't stop now!

 

[Azza!]

DAY 5 RESULTS
England 7 - 1 Tunisia (Rooney 4 goals)
Italy 1 - 2 Germany
Nigeria 1 - 1 Norway
USA 1 - 1 Australia
Costa Rica 0 - 3 Czech Republic

DAY 6
Rest day.

DAY 7 RESULTS:
Croatia 1 - 1 Greece
France 1 - 1 Mexico
China 1 - 1 Portugal
Cameroon 1 - 2 Denmark
Argentina 4 - 0 Russia

DAY 8 RESULTS:
Paraguay 1 - 2 Spain
Switzerland 2 -2 Brazil
Turkey 2 - 2 Republic of Ireland
Belgium 0 - 1 Uruguay
Austria 1 - 0 Poland

We move on to a gorgeous night where the stage is set for Germany's 3rd and final pool game - and this one shouldn't be much of a challenge. The opposition is Tunisia, who suffered a 6-1 thrashing to world champions Italy, and a 7-1 blowout in favour of tournament favourites England. Murphy has made a few changes to the side for this match. The 2006 World Cup Golden Ball winner Miroslav Klose has returned to the 11, and Deisler and Worns have earned spots in the starting 11 with

FIRST HALF

- It didn't take long for Germany to get on the board, with Miroslav Klose putting the ball past a charging Tunisian keeper. It was likely a penalty would have been given had the ball not gone through, due to the aggression in the charge.

GERMANY 1 (Klose 7')
TUNISIA 0

- The showboat Klose continued attacking the weak Tunisian defence with shot after shot. It paid off when he launched a long range effort from 30m out. It curled away from the keeper and bounced off the inside of the left post into the goals for his 2nd.

GERMANY 2 (Klose 7', 31')
TUNISIA 0

SECOND HALF

Time for changes to be made:
A double substitution from Murphy, with Tunisia making the 1 change.

Germany OFF - Schneider, Schweinsteiger
ON - Hamann, Ernst

Tunisia OFF - Mnari
ON - Jedidi

PICTURES: Mnari waves the Tunisian fans goodbye as he finishes his tournament campaign, and Hamann sprints on in excitement as he begins his.

85 minutes:
- The German fans are getting frustrated as chances continue to go begging. Their side has only scored twice, through Klose, against an outfit that conceded 13 goals to 2 sides of Germany's calibre. They're also frustrated for Miroslav Klose, who can't yet find his hat-trick.

Including this close one header below:

- Klose found his hat-trick in injury time! And boy were the crowd fanatical about it, as screams rose throughout the stadium, and the chanting began.

GERMANY 3 (Klose 7', 31', 90+')
TUNISIA 0

FULL TIME!

OTHER DAY 9 RESULTS:
Sweden 3 - 2 Wales
England 0 - 0 Italy
Nigeria 0 - 2 USA
Australia 1 - 0 Norway

DAY 10 RESULTS
Czech Republic 2 - 1 Greece
Costa Rica 0 - 4 Croatia
Portugal 2 - 0 France
Mexico 1 - 0 China

DAY 11 RESULTS
Russia 0 - 1 Denmark
Cameroon 0 - 1 Argentina
Spain 2 - 4 Brazil
Switzerland 3 - 2 Paraguay

NEXT STAGE OF GERMANY'S CAMPAIGN:
The Round of 16!

vs Australia

STAY TUNED FOR THE ROUND OF 16!

 

[shravi]

Great match! You should include interviews and more to make it even more interesting. Hopefully Germany can win this trophy.