[FM18] three right backs and one world cup. several playthroughs of the 2018 world cup with different teams.

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Using the real world cup 2018 data file I decided to have a go at many games as as many different nations at the world cup as possible. I’ll keep my efforts for all the different nations in this one thread rather than start a new one for each time I start a new game as another nations. I’m going to try and keep the nations real squads though if we have an injury before the tournament starts I’ll have to call another player up obviously and if that nations squad isn’t whittled down to 23 by the time I come to play them I’ll have to do that myself. First up is England.

As you can see we have entered a dystopian reality where Wilfred Bony had a good season.

There was great shock at my England selection, though I'm susprised RLC shocked more than me selecting a goalie in Nick Pope who hadn't played a single game this season. First friendlies are against Ivory Coast and Morocco and I'm not optimistic. 

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To keep with the realism side of things.

First warm up game was a success if boring. The second well.....

I imagine the Sun is already looking for pictures of Raheem at Nandos or something. I wouldn't have chosen this formation or squad if I was Southgate (well I kind of am but you get my point) and there are definte weak points at WBL, CM and maybe the wingers at least in the football manager universe. 

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First thing to note is that the data file can't put the group games in the correct order or stadiums. It was a boring match really but we'd take 3-0 in the real world cup in a drab match so I'm cautiously more optimistic. 

I think I've got a better idea of what works with these tactics, so I've made some tweaks which hopefully will help with the Tunisia game next.

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As you can see Belgium hasn't had the best tournament. Martinez is probably sizing up jobs in the championship about now

I was honestly expecting a tougher game after their defeat of Belgium. We got our 2nd goal from a setpiece after one of their players got sent off for hacking down Sterling outside the box. I'm going to drop TAA for either Trippier or Walker as I don't think he has the stamina to play a whole game. I'm also going to rest some players for the dead rubber against Belgium but I haven't decided who.

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Roberto Martinez is looking at a P45.

I made my first mistake. I should have rested more players for this one. Lingard in particular was 69% down by half time and so I'm resting him for the 2nd round. We seem to have a thing for rallying late in the match. I honestly thought Belgium were going to get this one as they closed down shop after the early lead and marked Kane out of the game.

The big shock is Spain being knocked out in the group stage. I'm pretty sure the games got who we should be playing in the QFs the wrong way around as I think in real life we'd be facing the winner of Brazil/Mexico

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Seeing this before our match made me pleased.

It was a close run thing. Walkers mess-up was a thing of Karius proportions and if we had gone out he would have been the Southgate of 2018. I took a gamble and took Kane off for Rashford figuring Kane was exhausted and it paid off when Rashford scored.

I'm happy we are playing Switzerland tather than Brazil after 30 extra minutes.

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What an absolutely epic match. 

 

 

3 penalties in match time, 2 saved, and a penalty shoot out where no one seemed to be able to score. I should have rotated more players, but one problem with this England squad is you don't tend to have depth on the bench.

#

 

thats what the semis look like

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third place playoff below

Final

 

Neymar got best player and golden boot, Dembele of France best young player and Yann Sommer of Switzerland got best keeper. 

 

What did people think of that?

[john1]

Wow, Russia got to the final?!  

[Nobby_McDonald]

That certainly won't happen in real life.

[Theodlard]

Will be fun to see how many different teams win this.  Nice idea.

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1 hour ago, Theodlard said:

Will be fun to see how many different teams win this.  Nice idea.

I'm going to do Portugal tomorrow morning. Loaded up the save file ready

 

I can see why they are surprised give the amount of 30 year+ plus players in the squad. We've got warmup friendly against Zambia and Israel of all teams. We'll see how this goes tomorrow. 

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Afobe in the England squad is one thing, him being one of the favourites for golden boot is another!

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The warm up friendlies have been disappointing to say the least.

 

If nearly losing to Zambia wasn't bad enough....

It gets worse......

At least Cedric is ok though

Going to have change the tactics up for the group games.

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After the Israel game I'd call that a good result.

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This is what I expected would happen after the Israel game. 

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the A Silva mentioned is Adrien Silva of Leicester by the way. 

A tricky tie.

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England go out after a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.

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I expected we might lose, but not by three goals. 

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Again Switzerland beat Germany in the 2nd round.

this is the QF lineup

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third place playoff is won by Spain

Brazil win, and Leon Bailey becomes the first Jamaican to score in a world cup final.

despite only going as far as the 2nd world, Ronaldo gets 3rd place in the Golden Boot. Costa also gets best player, Ederson best player and Dembele of France once again gets best young player. 

[Nobby_McDonald]

I'm looking forward to you playing as Iceland and Panama.

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20 hours ago, Nobby_McDonald said:

I'm looking forward to you playing as Iceland and Panama.

I was going to do Egypt next, but when I loaded the game up, I realised they hadn't narrowed it down to the final 23 yet, so I'll do Iceland tomorrow morning instead

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Schram and Friðjónsson are rated on FM2018 as being akin to national league or league 2 players. I expect they will have upgrades come FM2019. Friðjónsson has been given the number 3 shirt in the squad so it seems like they are planning to play him, though in this game he will be an unused sub unless theres an emergency.

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Another world cup, another bizarre English selection for the golden boot.

Our only warm up friendly is away to Brazil which wasn't the most sensible selection by the Icelandic FA. It does at least prove a park the bus strategy is best.

Apparently Iceland only have one right back in their squad who is a 33 year old with no stamina who plays in the Icelandic premier league. To add insult to injury, when I was forced to sub him off, I selected the wrong player and put on a reserve player not that it made any difference.

[phnompenhandy]

This is highly entertaining stuff  

 

Back to your England campaign, who was your captain? You said you made Kane cap in place of Hendo, but the match report states Hendo was cap and Kane appeared to be on the pitch.

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2 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said:

This is highly entertaining stuff  

 

Back to your England campaign, who was your captain? You said you made Kane cap in place of Hendo, but the match report states Hendo was cap and Kane appeared to be on the pitch.

Glad you are enoying it.  If you are talking about the Tunisia screenshot it says Henderson was Liverpool captain not England. 

[phnompenhandy]

Just now, decapitated said:

Glad you are enoying it.  If you are talking about the Tunisia screenshot it says Henderson was Liverpool captain not England. 

Oh right, sorry I read it too quickly. Well, keep up the good work!

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I was expecting another thrashing but was pleasantly surprised

Would have loved to have beaten them but I'll take 3-3.

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After the Brazil thrashing this was more of what I expected.

In other news I think we know who is getting the Golden Boot this year

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Its almost impossible to overtake Argentina now . Still national pride is at stake in the fina game.

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Unless we beat Nigeria by 6 or more goals and Argentina lost, there was little chance of going through

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second round

quarter finals

semi final 1

semi final 2

3rd place playoff

Final

Portugal wins again.

 

Player of the Tournament-Eden Hazard

best goalkeeper-hugo lloris

best young player-Dembele of france (for the 3rd time!)

golden boot: C. Ronaldo with Kane 2nd

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Starting my 4th game as France.

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A change in tactics was obviously needed.

Much better but I do wonder how the trip from Greece to Bolivia to Russia is going to affect the teams health

Lucas better be able to step up.

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A good result

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Another good win. There seems to be a running theme in all of the 4 squads I've played at not having enough full back/wing back specialists. Even England with their three right backs (on FM18 anyway) didn't have a good match if Rose was injured as Young and Delph were awkward fits.

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Its doable but tough. Mendy being back from injury helps with that though he didn't have a good game today.

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Germany Vs Brazil looks like it will be a great match up.

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That was easier than I thought it would be. Spain are up next who should be a harder side to beat.

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]

And it was all going so well.  Vitolo always seems to do well for Spain on here.

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third place playoff

final

England win the world cup. Arise sir Gareth!

this happened for the 4th time in a row. Higuain got best player (Jordan Henderson in 3rd place!), Diego Costa the golden boot, De Gea best goalkeeper, and Stones, Sterling, Henderson and Wilshere (!) all got into the best XI of the world cup.

 

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Judging by the world cup forum on here, the Russian squad selection caused some surprise in real life as well as on the game.

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Some very easy warm up friendlies, but still some good results.

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not bad really.

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Before we missed the penalty (kicked right at the keeper) we were in charge and could have gone 3-0 up. Moments that turn a game, eh?

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that win helped our goal difference meaning we are in the 2nd round

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He's not been that good for us this tournament, but its still a big loss.

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The big surprises are Germany being beaten by Sweden and Mexico thus not making the knockout round, but Iceland making it through in their group.

 

Believe it or not, it was actually an open game util Smolnikov got himself sent off. Our other right back Mario Fernandes was suspended so we had no natural right backs, and it all went downhill from there.

 

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Denmark beat Argentina and the winner of their tie with Uruguay meets the winner of Sweden and Colombia in the semis.

That all Scandinavian semi final would be a massive game.

third place playoff above, final below. 

Unfortunately Denmark couldn't do it  

Best player went to Isco, Best young player to Kasper Dolberg, golden boot to Neymar and best goalkeeper to David De Gea.