FM11: The FM World Championship - Group KO Tournament - Fixture 1

[hedger_14]

1st July 2010

FIFA have implemented a new idea into the world of football to attract the best footballers from around the world to play in one single 8 team competition. The 8 teams are from over the world. These teams are Melbourne, London, New York, Paris, Rome, Auckland, Madrid and Berlin, and have a world class manager to take control of them. 200 players have also been selected to play in this competition, sorted into groups to be put into teams of 25, who will be distributed at random to have all teams at a similar level. As well as a league tournament where each team plays each other 4 times, there is also a Group Knockout Tournament, with 2 groups of 4, the top 2 from each group advancing to the semi finals. Prize money for both competitions are huge to attract the best players around the world to move to these clubs. Who will be the World Champion? We'll have to wait and find out. Teams will be released soon before the tournament gets underway.


Note: Sorry, I didn't really know the best way to start this but once I got that part of the way, I will be fine.

 

[JBlues08]

Sounds interesting.

 

[hedger_14]

Melbourne​

Melbourne?s team is reasonable with some great players in Gianluigi Buffon, Cristian Chivu, Lucio, Wesley Sneijder and Fernando Torres. Their captain for the 2010/11 season is Igor Akinfeev, the Russian goalkeeper, with Ruud van Nistelrooy his deputy. They have some players with lots of potential as well with Toni Kroos and Marko Marin, who could shine in the seasons to come. Melbourne will be managed by Guus Hiddink, of Netherlands nationality. Melbourne should be looking for a mid table to finish, which they should be pleased with. Here is their squad.


Goalkeepers:

Gianluigi Buffon
Igor Akinfeev (Captain)
Jack Butland


Defenders:

Cristian Chivu
Jack Robinson
Javier Zanetti
Alvaro Arbeloa
Lucio
Naldo
Raul Albiol
Tony Huston


Midfielders:

Andrea Pirlo
Antonio Valencia
Aaron Lennon
Juan Manuel Mata
Marko Marin
Wesley Sneijder
Sergio Busquets
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Toni Kroos


Forwards:

Fernando Torres
Diego Forlan
Miroslav Klose
Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Vice Captain)
Khouma Babacar

 

[Bevab]

With Buffon often being Goalkeeper, Akinfeev won't be captain for many times. Better than Ruud is Lucio, and also Bastian, Mata. Why did Ruud come out there?

 

[hedger_14]

I know, it's pretty stupid. I was using current ability to choose the senior players and the potential ability to choose the youth/younger players.

 

[CCCakumbra]

This is looking cool
Keep it up my friend!

 

[hedger_14]

London​

London lack a world class goalkeeper, having picked up Edwin Van Der Sar as well as Gomes but they have a quality backline with Abidal, Srna, Puyol and Marchena, some great central midfielders with Steven Gerrard, Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil and one of the best strikers in the world, Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as Luis Fabiano. The captain for this season is the former Tottenham midfielder, Luka Modric with Carlos Marchena named as vice captain. They also have younger players like Pato, Danny Wilson and Stephan El Shaarawy who will be looking to make an impact in the upcoming seasons. London will be managed by the one and only, the Scottish legend, Sir Alex Ferguson after managing Man Utd for 24 long years with great success. Under his management, London are looking like strong contenders and a top 4 finish should be on the cards for them if their player’s play up to their known ability. Here is their full squad.


Goalkeepers:

Edwin Van Der Sar
Gomes
David De Gea


Defenders:

Eric Abidal
Fernando Navarro
Darijo Srna
Kyle Walker
Carles Puyol
Thiago Silva
Carlos Marchena (Vice Captain)
Danny Wilson


Midfielders:

Jeremy Toulalan
Simao
Stephan El Shaarawy
Michel Bastos
Angel Di Maria
Steven Gerrard
Luka Modric (Captain)
Mesut Ozil
Moussa Sissoko


Forwards:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Luis Fabiano
Antonio Cassano
Harry Kane
Pato

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Why Modric the captain when you have Gerrard? Anyways London have a good squad there. The midfield looks awesome..

 

[hedger_14]

New York​

New York have a good all-round squad with some quality players in each position, Julio Cesar in goals, Clichy, Sergio Ramos and Ferdinand in the defence, Jesus Navas, Young and Iniesta in the midfield and Drogba and van Persie up front. Out of their younger players, Mario Balotelli looks the most promising and could even make an impact in his first season at the club. New York have named Didier Drogba as their captain, with Francesco Totti vice captain, although a surprising choice. Jose Mourinho will be managing New York and as one of the best managers in the game, he should be able to get the best out of the team. Here is New York?s full squad.


Goalkeepers:

Julio Cesar
Maarten Stekelenburg
Luis Guilherme


Defenders:

Gael Clichy
Dodo
Sergio Ramos
Rafinha
Rio Ferdinand
Ledley King
Daniel Agger
Kyriakos Papadopoulos


Midfielders:

Yaya Toure
Jesus Navas
Santiago Cazorla
Ashley Young
Simone Verdi
Andres Iniesta
Mikel Arteta
Darren Fletcher
Paulo Henrique


Forwards:

Didier Drogba (Captain)
Robin van Persie
Francesco Totti (Vice Captain)
Mario Gomez
Mario Balotelli

 

[hedger_14]

Paris​

Paris have one strong side and are likely contenders to finish in the top 3 with an excellent all-round side. They have Victor Valdes in the goals, with Sebastien Frey as a backup, Patrice Evra, Maicon, Gerard Pique and Juan at the back, have Danielle De Rossi, Yury Zhirkov, Xavi and Kaka in the midfield and David Villa, Robinho and Luis Suarez as strong options up front. They look a formidable team and under the management of Arsene Wenger, and surprise captaincy of Gerard Pique with Patrice Evra as his debuty, they could fight for first place. They even have a few good youngsters coming through with Alphonse Areola, Dennis Appiah, Vladimir Weiss, Stevan Jovetic and Romelu Lukaku, some great future prospects. Here is their full squad.


Goalkeepers:

Victor Valdes
Sebastien Frey
Alphonse Areola


Defenders:

Patrice Evra (Vice Captain)
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Maicon
Dennis Appiah
Gerard Pique (Captain)
Juan
Alex
Dedryck Boyata


Midfielders:

Daniele De Rossi
Pedro
Vladimir Weiss
Yury Zhirkov
Salomon Kalou
Xavi
Kaka
Marek Hamsik
Stevan Jovetic


Forwards:

David Villa
Robinho
Luis Suarez
Frederic Kanoute
Romelu Lukaku

 

[hedger_14]

Rome​

Rome?s team is formidable and should be fighting for top spot with players like Iker Casillas, the best goalkeeper in the world, Philipp Lahm, Glen Johnson and Nemanja Vidic in defence, 2 outstanding entertaining wingers in Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale with Cesc Fabregas and Michael Ballack in the centre and some good players up front in Cameroon legend, Samuel Eto?o, the German Bundesliga?s top striker, Edin Dzeko and Chelsea forward, Nicolas Anelka who will add to Rome?s superb side. They will be favourites to win the league under the management of Fabio Capello. Rome have made an extremely weird decision in appointing Steve Mandanda as captain, over Iker Casillas, the number 1 keeper in the side, as well as in the world with Michael Ballack as vice captain, so it is likely he will be the main captain. Here is their full squad.


Goalkeepers:

Iker Casillas
Steve Mandanda (Captain)
Matej Delac


Defenders:

Philipp Lahm
Jose Angel
Glen Johnson
Mattia Cassani
Nemanja Vidic
Giorgio Chiellini
Bruno Alves
Mateo Musachio


Midfielders:

Javier Mascherano
Cristiano Ronaldo
Jefferson Farfan
Gareth Bale
Toni Silva
Cesc Fabregas
Michael Ballack (Vice Captain)
Samir Nasri
Eden Hazard


Forwards:

Samuel Eto?o
Edin Dzeko
Nicolas Anelka
Daniel Pacheco
Neymar

 

[hedger_14]

Auckland​

Auckland have a strong team and should be putting up a fight for a top 3 finish. They have some very good players in Petr Cech, Federico Balzaretti, Walter Samuel, Nani, David Silva, Michael Essien, Yoann Gourcuff and the 2 Man Utd strikers, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov as well as Gonzalo Higuain. They will be title challengers in the future with some players with great potential, Rafael, Jordan Spence, Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez and Javier Hernandez. Their manager is Carlo Ancelotti and they will be led by Juan Sebastien Veron with Tim Wiese as vice captain even though Petr Cech is likely to be chosen over him. Here is their full squad.


Goalkeepers:

Petr Cech
Tim Wiese (Vice Captain)
Sergio Asenjo


Defenders:

Federico Balzaretti
Fabio Coentrao
Bakary Sagna
Rafael
Walter Samuel
William Gallas
Per Mertesacker
Jordan Spence


Midfielders:

Owen Hargreaves
Nani
Alexis Sanchez
David Silva
Ryan Giggs
Michael Essien
Yoann Gourcuff
Juan Sebastian Veron (Captain)
Aaron Ramsey


Forwards:

Wayne Rooney
Gonzalo Higuain
Dimitar Berbatov
Mirko Vucinic
Javier Hernandez

 

[JBlues08]

Auckland​

Midfielders:

Owen Hargreaves
Nani
Alexis Sanchez
David Silva
Ryan Giggs
Michael Essien
Yoann Gourcuff
Juan Sebastian Veron (Captain)
Aaron Ramsey


Forwards:

Wayne Rooney
Gonzalo Higuain
Dimitar Berbatov
Mirko Vucinic
Javier Hernandez

The midfielders and forwards look pretty strong. Quite a number of Man United in there too.

J-Psychic added 1 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

Pretty much even in terms of the selection of players in the teams so far which should make it exciting for the matches later.

 

[harrisb]

Wow, the teams are really even. I wouldn't want to have to call it between them. Although i think Rome will be slight favourites because they've got Ronaldo, Fabregas, Bale, Casillas and Vidic.

 

[hedger_14]

Madrid​

Madrid?s side isn?t bad but it isn?t great either, although they do have a strong midfield, with Xabi Alonso, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Frank Lampard. They do have some talented youths though as well with Bebe, Tomas Kalas, Javier Pastore and Federico Macheda. Madrid?s captain will be Dejan Stankovic, with Leighton Baines his deputy. Spanish Josep Guardiola is Madrid?s manager, a likely candidate for the job because of his Spanish nationality. Here is their full squad.


Goalkeepers:

Jose Reina
Manuel Neuer
Joe Hart


Defenders:

Joan Capdevila
Leighton Baines (Vice Captain)
Jose Bosingwa
Romario
John Terry
Pepe
Jonathan Woodgate
Tomas Kalas


Midfielders:

Xabi Alonso
Arjen Robben
Bebe
Franck Ribery
Jeremy Menez
Frank Lampard
Thiago Motta
Dejan Stankovic (Captain)
Javier Pastore


Forwards:

Diego Milito
Sergio Aguero
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Federico Macheda
Wellington Silva