World Cup 2006 - How it went

[Lean]

After a few great seasons with Milan, i was appointed as the manager at the Brazilian NT, only 5 months before the WC, and people expected me and the team to win it. Our set of fixtures involved a friendly against Japan, which the team won easily 4-0.

So we travelled to Germany hoping for the best. We were at group F, alongside Ukraine, Nigeria and Serbia & Montenegro. The WC squad was:
GK- Dida, Marcos, Rogerio Ceni
Defenders- Maicon, R. Carlos, Belletti, Renato, Athirson, Lúcio, Alex, Cris
Midfielders- Emerson, Julio Baptista, Mancini, Toledo, Denilson, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Alex (Cruzeiro)
Forwards/Strikers- Ronaldo, Adriano, Robinho and Kaká.

Our debut in WC 2006 was in day eleven in June, against Sheva's Ukraine. The match squad was:
Dida, Maicon, Lucio, Belletti, R. Carlos, Emerson, R. Gaucho, Denilson, Mancini, Ronaldo and Adriano. Maicon was subbed by Renato, and Ronaldo by Kaká later on the game.
The game was pretty much one-sided, we losing chances one after the other. The goal came in the 19th minute, Adriano scoring from a header. After that, it was a massacre, but we failed to capitalize, even when Fedorov was sent off in minute 67. Maicon commited a penalty a few minutes after, but Zakarlyuka couldnt get past Dida. Here's the screenie:

 

[Lean]

A week after the clash against Ukraine, we travelled to Munchen to face Nigeria. The African side had beaten Serbia & Montenegro 2-1 in their debut game. Our match squad was (on a 4-1-3-2 formation, with the Ukraine formation being the same):
Dida, Maicon, Carlos, Lucio, Belletti, Emerson, Renato, Denilson, Mancini, Ronaldo and Adriano. Ronaldo got subbed in the 15th minute due to a injury, Robinho came in.

Everything went wrong against them. Yakubu was one-on-one with Dida and scored their first in the 10th minute. At minute 29, Martins doubled the lead, we were dominating but they hit us in the counter. Dida was playing a 4, very bad performance. Maicon (which was a disaster in this competition) elbowed Martins and got sent off near the end of the first half. Our chances of coming back into the game looked very slim.

However, Adriano received a through ball from Emerson, and got us one, to make it 2-1. We kept losing our chances, and Martins scored from a rebound in the 75th minute, killing our chances. We had 10 shots, they had 6 but we failed to convert our chances. Maicon once again, screwed up. Here's the overview of the game:

 

[Lean]

Day 22, June 2006. It could be the end of our WC 2006 journey. Our opponents, Serbia & Montenegro had conquered 1 point against Ukraine. Nigeria were the leaders with 6 points, we were stuck in 2nd with 3 points.

A few changes in the line-up saw Mancini brought back to the right-back position and Toledo's debut for Brazil at the right wing. The game was very easy, especially with Kezman missing in the Serbia squad. We started dominating and losing chances (as always), but we took about half an hour to score the first. Ronaldo got his first goal of the competition, scoring from a rebound. Near the end of the first half, Emerson doubled the lead heading home from a corner kick.

The second half saw a mediocre Serbia & Montenegro being totally dominated, and it paid off, Adriano was clean and through on goal and scored from a good placed shot in the 70th minute. That is 3 in 3 for Adriano, bettering Ronaldo. Toledo set up Denilson for the 4th goal in minute 81. The final score was 4-0, we finished 2nd in the group, Nigeria got a draw against Ukraine. Screenshot:

 

[Lean]

Finishing 2nd in the group meant we would have to face a first placed team, coming from group E. And that was Holland. I was shocked at the news, especially because main defenders duo Lucio and Belletti were out of the game, due to suspension (both of them got yellow cards against Serbia & Montenegro).

That meant the inclusion of Renato and Alex as centre-backs, Mancini as a right-back and Toledo getting another start. I wasnt hoping for much to be honest, Holland were unbeaten, winning all 3 matches of their group and looked a strong challenge. Things started good for us, or so i thought. Zonneveld jumped unfairly with Adriano inside the area, and the referee had given a penalty.

Carlos took the ball, but to my despair Westerveld saved it (and remained conscious even after getting striken by a Carlos shot). After that it was a massacre in Holland's favour. They had 5 shots, we had 1 (and it was the penalty). We were playing the formation with 2 dmc's (4-2-2-2), meaning that we were playing very defensive football. It paid off when Toledo got the ball in the right, started running like mad and set up Ronaldo with a great cross, and the 9 didnt miss. The team looked to be better after the goal, and we missed a few chances. Holland's better moments were from long shots mostly, Ruud and Robben werent in a good day.

A massive blow near the end of first half though. Toledo, playing a 8, got injured (later i discovered he would be out for 6 months), and i had to sub him with Kaká. The second half was pretty much even, Holland took charge but we were always dangerous in the counter. And in the 83th minute, in a counter-attack Adriano made a great run on the left, got inside the box and was denied a goal by Westerveld, however, Ronaldo pounced on the rebound and scored to make his second. In the end, we had 11 shots and they had 8, but they failed to score when they could and we didnt, so, 2-0 FT. The usual screenshot:

 

[Kulixs]

I love reading this as it sounds like a story, keep it coming

 

[Lean]

A day after, Australia faced Cameroon and won the game 2-1 from a goal in overtime, meaning that they would face us in the first day of July. Renato had a good performance against Holland, so i decided to keep him. Belletti and Lucio were available, so i picked Belletti up, and decided to leave Lucio alone, he has a tendency of screwing up when it matters, and i didnt want to take any risks.

The match squad against Australia saw Belletti and Renato at centre-back and Kaka given a start at the right wing, the formation was a 4-1-3-2. Things looked bad when Australia took the lead earlier on the game through Viduka in the 6 minute, hitting a low shot past the stranded Marcos (he started against Serbia & Montenegro and Holland, after Dida's miserable game against Nigeria). We gave a reply 11 minutes after, Julio Baptista scored from a header (he started ahead of Ronaldinho, that was a deception at that moment). Lindsay Wilson couldnt contain Ronaldo, and he lost the plot, elbowing the number 9 and getting sent off.

After that it was a walk in the park. In the 51th minute, Adriano was pushed by Moore and we had a good opportunity to score from a free kick. Denilson took it and he didnt dissapoint, 2-1. Ronaldo got the 3rd, after a 60 yard pass by Roberto Carlos at minute 58, and Adriano 3 minutes after, scored from a great assist by Kaka (45 yard pass).

In the 80th minute, Adriano got another one to finish the goalglut for Brazil, 5-1 FT. More screenies..

 

[Lean]

Originally posted by Kulixs
I love reading this as it sounds like a story, keep it coming

It is a story, i already finished the WC, you'll know the result in a few moments.

 

[Lean]

One day before our clash with Australia, we knew who we were going to face at the semis. Portugal had beaten Czech Republic, the match score being two-nil. On 5th July, the match against Portugal took place. Olympiastadion was on fire, a class atmosphere for one of the most expected games of all time in WC history, Brazil wanting revenge against Portugal due to 66' and a highly contested friendly a few years ago. The squad was the same, but the formation was a 4-2-2-2 with 2 DMC's.

Pundits at Brazil were delighted at the NT performance up to now, and people all over the world were expecting the Canarinhos to win, after 2 great performances against Holland and Australia. But Portugal were no pushovers, they had beaten Argentina on penalties in the round of 16, and the Czechs 6 days before the clash against Brazil.

To my surprise, we started the game in a higher level, the team was on good form and started creating chances. Julio Baptista was trying to score from everywhere, but most of his balls went dangerously over the bar. Postiga missed a one-on-one with Marcos, but that's the only thing Portugal had done in the first half.

Kaká lost the plot on minute 53, he's always calm and looks to be a gentleman, but he couldnt contain his anger at Portugal's centre-back Jorge Andrade, and the now world-class forward was sent off. And so, Adriano was subbed by Ronaldinho Gaucho, that played in the right wing. Portugal sent a few shots wide, but none of them were a real threat to Marcos. On a counter attack 6 minutes before the end of play, Denilson cut inside the area and delivered a great cross to Ronaldo, and the 9 never fails to impress. Once again, he grabbed the decider, and we were in the final. Screenshot:

 

[adj137]

you sneaked through that game but some dissapointing performances from portugal.Namely Deco and Carvalho

 

[Lean]

Once again, a 24 hour flash-back. Germany faced France in the other semifinal, the match was very even but the hosts managed to win the game 3-1, and watched our delightful performance against Portugal.

5 days after the match against Portugal, the final took place in Olympiastadion, Berlin. The line-up for the final game was: Marcos, Belletti, Renato, Carlos, Mancini, Emerson, Julio Baptista, Denilson, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Ronaldo and Adriano. The tactic once again was defensive 4-2-2-2 formation. The crowd of 82000 were hoping to see a great match, the replay of 2002 final. Ronaldo got a great boo when he entered the pitch, the Germans dont have much good memories about R9. About 10000 people supporting Brazil in the stadium, and we were hoping to please them.

It all went wrong though. Deisler took a free kick, which was deflected leaving Marcos without action, and the 72000 german supporters went mad. The crowd was roaring, the game was intense. Metzelder was sent off in minute twelve, for committing a professional foul on Ronaldo. If he didnt, Ronaldo would be face to face with Kahn again. Right after, i changed the tactics to the usual 4-1-3-2, hoping to gain more firepower. We did, but we failed to score when we could.

On the 44th minute, corner-kick for Germany. And Miroslav Klose scored, i felt down of my chair. Ridiculous defending allowed the hitman to double the lead. In the dressing room, players were ecstatic. I wasnt.
- "What the FVCK are you guys doing out there?!? Stop playing for yourselves, there are 170 million people at home watching you guys, and you're embarassing yourselves..."

Ronaldo was disheartened. I called him in a corner:
- "What's up? 4 years ago you put 2 past him, and today you cant hit a barn door R9... Are you past it?"
- No, i'm not - He replied.
- "Then prove me wrong, i just beg you."
- You'll see.

And the screams started again.
- "Now you people listen to me. We're going to score early on the 2nd half, and we'll equalise the damn match! Now, i'm NOT allowing you to fail, you're NOT going to fail, we worked too hard to get here, and we're not leaving empty-handed, did you listen to me?!?!"
I received a great scream of yes by all the players. The 15 minutes passed like in a second, and we were back on the pitch.

I was remembering the 2 CL finals i lost with Milan and so i thought... "am i choking''? Well, on to the 2nd half then. Germany was defending, and that's all they could do anyway, with one man less in the pitch. In the 2nd minute of Half Two, Julio Baptista fired a powerful cross, Kahn tried to stop it, but he tipped it inside, keeping the tradition of screwing up against Brazilian opposition. I needed more, and Julio Baptista, a few minutes after the goal was subbed for a more creative player, and so Cruzeiro's Alex came in.

And i almost took him off after he missed a header from inside the 6 yard box without anyone marking him. From 82000 people in the stadium, exactly 82000 heard the "NO!!" scream (coming from me) after he missed the sitter. He looked dissapointed at himself. The team looked like a machine, but it wasnt to be. Adriano couldnt score for his life, and so Ronaldo. The first, dribbled Kahn and sent the shot to the moon, i couldnt say anything, i was losing my voice. I took my other DMC, Emerson, and i put Robinho in his place. The formation now was a 4-3-1-2. Alex took a corner and Renato was pushed inside the area, the ref had given a penalty.

Belletti got the ball, and said he was going to take it. And then there was silence amongst the 10000 brazilian supporters when Kahn saved the penalty. The stadium was roaring, the Germans knew that Brazil wouldnt win the match, finally a WC coming to Germany. But i was not going to give up. Again, i changed the formation to a 4-2-4, Ronaldinho and Alex in midfield and Denilson, Adriano, Ronaldo and Robinho upfront. 3 minutes of time added on indicated. Roberto Carlos collected the ball, backtracked a little bit and looked for Mancini in the right.

Mancini with a nice first touch, and he passed the ball looking for Robinho, but he missed the pass. However, Hitzlsperger couldnt control the ball, and Robinho re-took possession. The wonderkid moved forward with the ball, played the ball ahead to R9, but he missed the pass. And it bounced at Kehl, and Ronaldo had the ball in the box. Ronaldo runs, rounds Kahn, and the unexpected happens. And then, there was silence amongst the another 72000 supporters at the stadium, when Ronaldo equalises the game in the 90th minute. We were going into overtime, silvergoal rule.

Within 3 minutes of game, Roberto Carlos unleashed a brilliant long ball that found Robinho unmarked. And with a ferocious right-footed shot, Robinho scored the 3rd. Brazilian TV commentators couldnt contain themselves... "Roberto Carlos, god damnit and he gives the ball away again... No wait, he found Robinho, he's inside!! Robinho... OH MY GOD!!! IT CANT BE!!! WHAT A COMEBACK!!

Germany stopped acting cowardly towards the game, and tried to get one back. Marcos saved a header almost on the line, and a one on one shot, which Klose missed. And the referee blew the whistle, it was over. 10000 people went mad was Brazil conquered the WC title for the 6th time. Ronaldo started to cry, and i came to him screaming: You're the man!!!!
Robinho couldnt stop crying, he was laid down in the pitch, it was just too much for him. He scored the winner, and i tried to make him laugh instead of crying, a smile, whatever..
-"Rejoyce... you're a world cup hero young one.."
- Thanks boss! I... wont forget this... thanks for putting me in the game...
And then, our captain Emerson got his hands into the world cup and started to jump like mad, we did it. That's the WC experience guys, you wont forget it when you win one. And just for a change, screenie!

 

[Lean]

Originally posted by adj137
you sneaked through that game but some dissapointing performances from portugal.Namely Deco and Carvalho

They were lucky to not concede more. I had 17 shots and they had about 5.
Feedback is much appreciated, i hope you guys enjoy reading the story, i had fun doing it.

 

[PSVFOREVER]

Great team you have I think everybody would like Robinho or Lucio on the bench

 

[Lean]

Originally posted by PSVFOREVER
Great team you have I think everybody would like Robinho or Lucio on the bench

Plus the other guys who were left out. Like Diego, Dagoberto, etc... I left Lucio on the bench because he gives too much balls away to the opponent team. He screws up a lot IRL, and he did it a couple of times in my CM games too, so i decided to keep Renato and Belletti at centre-back.

 

[Ebonix]

2006 WC and Oli Kahns still playing

Nice too see he played well but its a disappointment that you got Germany in the final just like the 2002 world cup

I'm gonna say, well done though

 

[Lean]

Originally posted by Ebonix
2006 WC and Oli Kahns still playing

Nice too see he played well but its a disappointment that you got Germany in the final just like the 2002 world cup

I'm gonna say, well done though

Well, playing Germany again added some spice to the game. They wanted revenge badly. Oh, and they beat England in the quarters and France in the semis, so, they're a great side. If that guy wasnt sent off, i dont think i would win it, but well, luck was on our side i guess.

 

[adj137]

imo Dida should be playing before marcos anyday

 

[Lean]

Originally posted by adj137
imo Dida should be playing before marcos anyday

Dida has a personal problem with me in the game though. I gave him an official warning for poor performance and he asked to be transfer listed, so, he doesnt play well under my guidance. He got a 4 against Nigeria, and so i decided to play Marcos.

 

[adj137]

tbh im impressed that you have the job of Brazil.In my game they once sacked Feliapo only to then hire him again on a higher wage i never get a look in

 

[TottiNZidaneR#1]

Good job on winning the WC Grunger0x Very nice team you got there too.

 

[JTNY]

Great Read min.