13th June 2021 - 18th December 2022
Previously on Conquer The Turf
Though a shock loss to Real Madrid on away goals cost us the Copa del Rey, Barcelona stormed to victory in both the Spanish League and Champions League. A 4-0 two legged thrashing gave some redemption before a calamitous final causing a shocker in goal for Iñaki Peña meant we squeaked by with a 4-3 win over Leverkusen.
At this point the squad is even older, with Piqué definitely needing to go and a handful of fresh new signings to come in I felt that my journey with this squad and the save in general was complete. The 2021 Barcelona side was one of the best ever and I doubted I could top it any time soon.
But then came the calling, the only team that would entice me to carry on but in actual terms needed me.
It’s coming home….
England
It’s fair to say there was a huge about turn in fans feelings to England. For too long the squad has been perceived to under-perform at major tournaments, usually after qualifying with ease. We’ve tried foreign managers that seemed tactically wooden, major international sides should have no need to look beyond their shores for a manager.
Granted Maclaren and Hodgson were useless Sam Allerdyce who was sacked after a single game though in all honesty would probably not have done very well either.
Then the low key dapper hero arrived. Gareth Southgate. The man who let the players have a voice, picked youths to fly at opponents and just made everyone feel happy about England again. The Semi Final of the 2018 World Cup was very impressive and great things are expected.
Sadly FM doesn't all play to type and he was sacked in July 2020 after going out of the Euros in the second round. His replacement? Lee Johnson, formerly of Bristol City. The England job just isn't what it used to be.
Well lucky for me they qualify for the Nations League Semi Finals only to lose badly to Germany. Perfectly giving me the chance to pick up the waistcoat and see what I could do!
Obviously International football is totally different to club game. I have a database of English players and I can select any I so wish. What I obviously can’t do is buy anyone, making this so much harder.
Let’s see what state they are in. The qualification process for the World Cup in Qatar (seriously FIFA??) has started and drawn England against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Finland and Cyprus. Only the top team can qualify outright, second place goes into a league with all the other second placed teams. Not the hardest group ever but trips to Turkey and Bosnia could cause an upset. Saying that you have to take all the teams seriously, particularly Finland!
We start third in the rankings, only for having played just two games and sit on 6 points. Johnson getting the easy matches out of the way. First up in September? Turkey away, Bosnia at home.
Bloody hell!
Now I don’t bother with any friendlies, rather get the players together and see what they can do. If I want to be winning trophies we will needing to be both of these. As it’s now late 2021 much of the squad Southgate took to the last World Cup is still around but now with some brand new youngsters. Jay Dasilva is a talented if relatively unknown Left Back who was at Chelsea before several loan deals led him to being bought by Manchester City. Lewis Cook has turned into one of the best ball passing midfielders in the world having also just joined City.
So the current first team reads as Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Stones, Chilwell, Cook, Maddison, Alli, Sterling, Sessegnon, Kane in my usual 4123 formation. Though they won’t all start together just yet. And to be fair there is not a lot between some of these players.
Kane is undoubtedly a good player though one I have reservations about, though for England there is not a lot of choice. It’s either him or Rashford who I am a fan of. Anyway Kane proves me wrong with a brace settling a relatively easy tie. Three days later I completely change the ten outfield players to give them all a run out, Kane yet again scoring with Sancho getting one as well. 2-0 again and on 12 points in total control of the group.
Thankfully we have two qualifiers in both October and November, really giving me the chance to play around with tactics and players. I stick with usual formation for Cyprus at home, bringing in Henderson and Foden to the first team though neither really impresses. In fact apart from the back four only Sancho delivers with guess what? A brace to give us yet another 2-0 win. The team feels a bit stodgy though the results are going the right way.
Away to Finland I unleash my tactical masterplan, a move back to the Asymmetric formation. This allows the team to have both a DM and AM alongside both wide players. I choose the slant to the right, Sterling as a Right Winger should be able to go nuts against teams. Rashford has a stinker and even with total control and 25 shots it takes an 86 minute Sancho tap in to get the 3 points.
Talk about laboured, going to take some time for the players to get used to it. Interestingly the defence played brilliantly again, with Declan Rice being man of the match at centre back.
Much has been made of the lack of players in the Premier League eligible to play for England and this is obvious when looking through the database. In goal it’s a toss up between Pickford and Butland, I go with the former as he is now at Arsenal. Also at Arsenal is Reiss Nelson who has come on leaps and bounds, an excellent backup RW in the squad. Another surprise is Jonathan Panzo, a youth team centre back for Chelsea who Monaco picked up and is now a first team player for them. Ball playing and left footed he could become an excellent partner for Gomez at the back.
Speaking of Panzo he gets the winner against Turkey at home in which 1-0 does not do justice to how good England are. They carry the form on away to Bosnia & Herzegovina with a 3-0 thrashing, Maddison bossing the game and getting two goals, with Sterling opening the scoring within 2 minutes. Great end to the year, six games played, 11 goals scored with none conceded. I know the opposition are hardly stellar but I am getting hopeful! Qualified top of the group and we are on our way!
Now this is the point I completely forget when the World Cup is being held, thinking it was only 6 months away. It’s not. With the summer heat of Qatar being unbearable we are all set for our first winter World Cup, the opening group games not being until the end of November. Ugh. This is going to be a really long save….
We finally make it to December 2021 and to the draw!!
As usual I fully expect to get another European nation which proves to be correct.
Portugal. Nemesis!
With that being the final group game to maybe decide who comes top we should be able to get results against Senegal and Jamaica. We should qualify from that group and then have a good tilt at the title, just need to see how we fair against proper opposition. The group of death has to be Argentina, Cameroon, Holland and South Korea. Glad we missed that one!
Eleven more months of basically nothing (I don’t bother watching games, I know how most of these players will perform). Boredom sets in though after looking around the leagues I remember the quality of newgens England eventually gets. Step forward Declan Hepworth, a ball playing centre midfielder a world class player in the making. Only 19 when the tournament starts he could be brilliant, an heir to Duncan Edwards for all those old school England fans.
Finally the Nation league kicks off again, being drawn with Sweden and Spain. The first two matches being in June and it is another chance to refine the squad and tactics. Hepworth goes straight into the starting 11, alongside a bunch of young players. I want to hit Spain with pace and ball passing ability. Cook, Sancho, Nelson, Dasilva, Gomez, its very much a team in my image.
Though reality now sets in, kicking off against a Spanish side starting a 36 year old Ramos (!!!) they completely play us off the park in the first half with an out of the box screamer from Asensio putting them ahead. Shocking considering this is probably the best team I have started and we are playing at home.
Drastic action is needed and I ditch the asymmetric tactic. Instead of gaining control, the front players are being left isolated and they just pass right through our midfield. Back to 4123 and the high press these players should be capable off. Henderson is thrown on at the base of midfield with Sessgnon and Hudson-Odoi coming on as the wide men.
Immediately the change is noticeable with much more control of the ball and going at the Spanish defence. The full backs are overlapping the wingers and with the two centre midfielders pressing up there seems to be an option at every turn for the English player on the ball.
It only takes 13 minutes but a beautiful passing move that almost every player is involved in lets Hudson-Odoi to break into the D and places the ball into the bottom corner. 1-1! Game on!
The momentum is completely with us, we keep pressing on when Alli wins a free kick far out and very central. Alexander-Arnold hooks it to the far corner and is met with a Gomez header for it to be cleared to Hudson-Oodi who smashes it passed the stationary keeper!
Now I am usually cautious by nature but I know if we let up here we will let the Spanish back into the game and there is still at least 15 minutes left. One more will kill it and from another set piece (what England does best) Stones half volleys it in with such ferocity on his weaker foot, I thought the net would burst!
3-1. What a turn around. And it puts to bed how this team will play. I will be keeping this formation, noting that the wingers and central midfielders are integral for making it work.
As always reality will not let us get carried away. I put the new (old) formation into play and watch the drabbest 0-0 draw I have seen in ages away in Sweden. Sure it’s a second string side but still. Again Rashford has a poor game, 16 shots between both sides and only 3 on target. Best move on.
Three months later and we have the reverse Nation League fixtures. First up Spain and I specifically pick those that turned it around last time. Hepworth gets his first goal in just three caps for England, Hudson-Odoi lobs the keeper after some impressive England keep ball. Alli also gets his usual trade mark finishes. This team is mighty impressive, completely outplaying this Spanish side in their own patch.
You would have thought that my starting eleven would basically pick itself by now but bloody James Maddison throws himself into contention with a fantastic performance against Sweden.
Scoring within 28 seconds of kick off he completely dictates play from midfield with every attacking going through him. He is the stand out player on the field. I actually finally brought Lingard back into the squad for this game and he is completely overshadowed.
Kane scores a great header and Maddison book ends it with another screamer on 83 minutes. Another 3-0 win and another sign that this team could go somewhere.
Now I usually wouldn't go this granular in a story but considering the hype and attention every aspect a World Cup has in the media whether it's the draw or the squad speculation I will list the entire squad I pick. Might be boring to some of you but it turned out to be a hard decision and I want to explain it.
Goalkeepers:
Butland
Pickford
Henderson
Defenders:
Alexander-Arnold
Trippier
Stones
Oxford
Panzo
Gomez
Dasilva
Chilwell
Midfielders:
Henderson
Cook
Hepworth
Lingard
Maddison
Alli
Wingers:
Sancho
Sterling
Hudson-Odoi
Sessegnon
Forwards:
Kane
Rashford
Now I take a risk in only two strikers but I feel the third is redundant, I really don’t seem them getting a game and I would rather have an extra midfielder. Lingard makes the squad for his sheer versatility, Trippier just edges Walker and the aging Henderson is the only real back up option for defensive midfield.
Foden has just not been playing well enough, Winks is out injured, Hudson-Odoi proved his goal scoring credentials over Nelson. I really wanted Oxlade-Chamberlain but post injury he is not the same player. Got to go with the best players available.
Oh I lied. I do pick one friendly, a home fixture against Zambia which we ease to a 4-0 win. The major worry was a sending off for Dele Alli. His temperament may cost us in the tournament though it's too late to change him now.
The World Cup
Finally to the whole point of this article, the tournament itself! It’s taken me so many hours to get to this point and I play every single match in the course of one evening, no restarts, no cheating.
We are ready!
A quick point about how the game works in major tournaments. I have played various international competitions before and found a curious design flaw. Basically by the Semi finals all of your players will become exhausted due to such a long league season followed by a huge summer tournament. It’s to be expected to a degree though this is mid season so in theory it shouldn't happen right? Players are used to playing two games a week at club level but low and behold it’s the same here. Having known this in advance I heavily rotate, having two separate starting elevens with the goalkeeper staying the same. It may all backfire but at least the players will be fresh!
First up Jamaica and a nice easy introduction. Sterling scores early from a Maddison freekick before Kane scores almost identical goals either side of halftime. The only blot is the rather excellent Leon Bailey scores a powerful header in the 86th minute though there is no worry about not winning this game.
Next up an extremely hard fought win against Senegal, the second string eleven hardly sparkling though Hudson-Odoi yet again pops up with a goal that turns out to be the winner. Rashford gets the assist and shows this formation is still working.
6 points and we still have not qualified from the group. Senegal have 3 points, having smashed Portugal in the opener, has second spot with Jamaica turning into the whipping boys. Portugal may have been poor so far but you can never underestimate them. The rivalry with England is huge.
Sometimes in football you get a result and you just know your team is going to go far, probably even going to go on to win it. It just blows any pessimism away and puts you firmly in the favourites bracket.
Hello Portugal 1 - England 6!!!!!!!
This was one of the most one sided games I have ever seen internationally. We absolutely battered Portugal. After the Spain result I knew the formation was going to work. After the Portugal result I know we are going to win the tournament!
I rotate back to the first team and only Maddison has a poor game. Oddly every single goal comes in the second half. Sterling gets a hat trick with Sessegnon, Kane and Alli all on the score sheet. True it helped when we went ahead we were able to pounce on the counter but completely punished them. It was a demolition and so so sweet! Sessegnon got a deserved goal to compliment his two assists.
Phew. Pause to breath!
That knocks Portugal out of the tournament alongside Denmark, Mexico and Argentina. Having come top of the group we get an easy pick in Costa Rica. Looking at the draws our route to the final won’t be easy with both Italy and France in our side of the draw. Fortunately Brazil, Germany, Holland and Spain are on the other side, meaning I can only meet those in the final.
Now we may scoff at Costa Rica as a match but they managed to get draws against both Belgium and Brazil before beating China. They actually went through instead of Belgium so this could be a hard team to break down.
Fortunately Harry Kane scores a header from a corner after just 8 minutes putting to rest any worry about extra time or pens. Playing such a defensive side means all of the players push up and none other than Jordan Henderson bags a goal! From a defensive midfielder to be so high up shows how much of the ball we had. Sessegnon slots one home near the end to give us a nice easy 3-0 win. The major issue? Harry Kane goes down injured and I panic.
Fortunately he is only out for a day and I can sleep easy. Fuck that was close!
Now we are only three games from glory, the rotation showing it is paying off. Next up against my starting eleven. World Cup holders France! The squad four years on is still incredible, led by the world class Mbappé with Griezmann, Dembélé, Martial and Pogba behind. Stern challenge but we are up for it.
Now I have played a lot of matches on Football Manager (well into the thousands) and this is without doubt the most stressful match I have played. Even taking into account that Champions League final against Leverkusen!
Hepworth puts us ahead on the 20 minute mark before Sancho, Kane and Sterling combine to put us 2-0 up after just 25 minutes. Now you would have thought we would press on but France’s quality is there to show when Griezmann volleys home from a freekick to make it 2-1 after 32 minutes. We make it to halftime and are just holding on.
No changes at halftime for either side and France immediately pounce with Griezmann gets his second.
2-2!
There's not a whole lot I can change, Gomez is underperforming but I want to save any subs in case it goes to extra time.
Fortunately Maddison steps up and scores an incredible freekick into the top corner. The ball is basically on the 18 yard line, I’ve no idea how he managed to get it over the 5 man wall and dip it down. But he did! Back in charge!
For 16 minutes.
The game is frantic, totally end to end with either team just as likely to score. An injured Mbappé picks up the ball just inside our half and runs the entire half to cross it in for Coman who heads home. 3-3. 20 minutes remaining. I sub on Sessegnon and Henderson just for fresh legs but they don’t make much difference.
I have no idea which way this game is going to go. But one man does.
James fucking Maddison. I love you!
Merely 3 minutes lately and a cross over the French penalty lands to Dasilva who lays it 5 yards across to Maddison who left footed blasts it again to the top corner.
4-3!!!
Can we hold on? Yes. Yes we can.
France attack and attack with us countering every time. I want to shut up shop but don’t want to risk losing the attacking fluidity. The game pays off. We are yet again in World Cup Semi Final!
With only three days until the match swapping out the 10 players is really working fitness wise though we have another stern test. Italy. Four time World Cup winners, they haven't exactly set the tournament alight though here they are. In fact we are the hardest side they have yet to play, with easy wins over the USA and Guinea to get here.
Now if you can remember back to my Barcelona days I had an actual nemesis in these games. Andrea Belotti, the Real Madrid forward who scored so many goals against me is here yet again leading the line for Italy. Fuck.
He genuinely scares me though I make no changes to counter him. I would rather play my way than play to stop other teams. Let’s be proactive rather than reactive.
Italy do have other great players, I love Verratti in midfield with Moise Kean one for the future but looks set to be world class.
So second string team, same tactics. And fortunately this team seems to have goals from all over, with Chilwell popping up on the left of the box and smashing it passed Meret at the near post to open the scoring!
Italy hit back with of course Belotti. Hit home from two yards. Fuck sake. What did i say?!
No matter, two minutes later and Rashford gets his first goal of the tournament to put us back in front. The score remains at half time. Although in front this game could go either way. It doesn't though and it kind of drifts for most of the second half before getting exciting near the end.
VAR is called on the 79th minute after a shove on Rashford in the area. Penalty!
Up steps Deli Alli who smashes it down the centre and that must be it. 3-1!
Of course not. Fucking Belotti.
Four minutes later he speeds passed Oxford before hitting it bottom corner. Shit me. Another tight nervy finish! Again its end to end but they don’t even have a shot on target.
That’s it, all over! England are in the World Cup final!!!
The opponents? Well Germany beat Spain and Peru to meet Brazil in the Semis who had beaten the Netherlands and Croatia. My favourite Arthur and former favourite Coutinho each got a goal to put Brazil into the final with a 2-1 win.
What a match to come!
It’s actually been a strange tournament. Usually a team has to win a penalty shoot out to win the tournament and have to survive at least one major injury. Neither has happened to us…. Yet.
The rotation comes in yet again and my plan pays off, the first team is pretty much fresh and ready to go. Brazil of course have stellar players in Gabriel Jesus, Alisson and of course Neymar.
After all the drama I was expecting fireworks. None came. 8 minutes in and a freekick on the half way line is launched into the area which Alisson comes for only to totally miss the ball which is headed away by Rodrygo straight to an unmarked Sancho with an empty goal in front of him.
1-0!
Good start but there must be a response. Neymar bombs down the wing and swings in a cross to no one, which Sterling picks up and runs 60 yards before an over the top through ball to Kane who cannons it home. 10 minutes gone. 2-0!
In total control, Brazil go straight from the kick off and have their only shot on target for the entire game. It’s easily saved. A Maddison free kick is launched into the area just before half time and pings off three players before Kane gets his second from 3 yards.
Half time. And I can just savour the second half now. There is no chance of them getting back into this game.
To emphasise this we kick off and Kane completes his hat trick barely two minutes into the second half.
4-0 and that’s it.
England are world champions!!!
I fucking knew it after the Portugal game!!! I am not sure I can top that, I have to stop there.
Conquer The Turf? Conquer The World!!!
Next time - Eventually I will get round to my biggest challenge yet
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