MVFCLFC Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 BIG FISH. TINY POND - TAKING NZ FOOTBALL TO THE WORLD The New Zealand football team lives constantly in the shadow of the all-conquering All Blacks rugby union team. Their geographic isolation, coupled with Australia's decision to move to the Asian Football Confederation means that the team known as the 'All Whites', are now by far the biggest fish in the tiny Oceania Football Confederation pond. Competing for continental honours against the likes of Fiji, Tahiti and New Caledonia, New Zealand do not often have the chance to test themselves against quality competition. Winning the OFC Nations Cup sees them gain entry to the FIFA Confederations Cup, however against some of the biggest nations in the football world, the Kiwi's are often easily swept aside. FIFA World Cup qualification is similarly difficult. The early rounds seemingly a formality, they then are forced into a inter-continental play off against a team that has missed out from a stronger continent. For reference, in attempting to qualify for Brazil 2014, the All Whites were tripped up at the final hurdle by Mexico 9-3 on aggregate. The last challenge for New Zealand football is the club game. There is only one professional club in the entire country. Wellington Phoenix play in the Australian A-League, but the New Zealand national competition is fully semi-professional. HISTORY The All Whites have made two FIFA World Cups, but are yet to win a game in six attempts. In 1982, against Brazil, Soviet Union and Scotland, the Kiwi's lost all their matches and finished with a goal difference of -10. Their efforts in 2010 in South Africa were much better. Drawn against reigning World Champions Italy, as well as Slovakia and Paraguay, they drew all three matches and finished above the Italians who came in last. The New Zealanders finished the tournament as the only team to be undefeated. As mentioned earlier, the Confederations Cup has offered the team its best opportunity for competition against the worlds best. However they haven't always covered themselves in glory. In the four (real life) versions they've competed in, their record reads, P12 W0, D1, L11 GD-29. Of course we will be taking part in Russia 2017 during this save. BEST PLAYERS Captain Winston Reid (L) is our star player. A stalwart at the heart of the West Ham defence, the big man is key to our ongoing success, and at 28 years old he still has a few good years left. Midfield maestro Marco Rojas (C) is arguably the most skillful player New Zealand has ever produced. The winger has spent time in Europe and is now with Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Striker Chris Wood (R) will be vital in our one striker formation. Currently leading the line for Championship Leeds United, at just 25, Wood is coming into the peak of his powers. GOALS FOR THIS SAVEAside from the obvious goals of winning tournaments and developing international stars. I hope to tick off the below too. - Make the top 50 in the FIFA World Rankings - Score a new record high FIFA World Ranking (current best is 47th) - Rank higher than Australia - Make the top 25 in the FIFA World Rankings - Make the top 10 in the FIFA World Rankings - Make the top 3 in the FIFA World Rankings - Become the number 1 ranked team in the FIFA World Rankings - Win a match in the FIFA Confederations Cup - Qualify for FIFA Confederations Cup Semi Final - Qualify for FIFA Confederations Cup Final - Win FIFA Confederations Cup - Qualify for FIFA World Cup - Win first ever FIFA World Cup match - Qualify for FIFA World Cup Second Round - Qualify for FIFA World Cup Quarter Final - Qualify for FIFA World Cup Semi Final - Qualify for FIFA World Cup Final - Win FIFA World Cup - Beat Australia in a major competition - Create new record for New Zealand's biggest ever win (current best is 13-0) And so it begins ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir_Liam Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 I managed New Zealand way back on FM2006 and it was easily the most fun international save I've had. It's a challenge to start competing at World Cup level, but I found the guarantee of easy victories in Oceania kept my morale up, and over time the team got better. I made the World Cup final after about 20 years, but lost to Scotland of all teams. It remains my biggest FM regret. Have you created/downloaded the domestic New Zealand league for this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjoe Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 Good luck with this, @MVFCLFC! Will be following. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVFCLFC Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 16 hours ago, Sir_Liam said: I managed New Zealand way back on FM2006 and it was easily the most fun international save I've had. It's a challenge to start competing at World Cup level, but I found the guarantee of easy victories in Oceania kept my morale up, and over time the team got better. I made the World Cup final after about 20 years, but lost to Scotland of all teams. It remains my biggest FM regret. Have you created/downloaded the domestic New Zealand league for this? Wow 20 years!! I'd be stoked if I could do that! I'm expecting a struggle. Nah I have just the Aussie league as well as the UK, USA and South African leagues as that's where the majority of the kiwi players are based. 3 hours ago, Benjoe said: Good luck with this, @MVFCLFC! Will be following. Thanks @Benjoe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVFCLFC Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 Early on we get an idea of the task at hand with the monthly FIFA World Rankings announced. Always happy to climb five places without playing a match!! Our first matches were over a month away so I did a bit of scouting on players who we could bring into the national pool. It's a 'tragedy' this guy doesn't have a Kiwi grandparent! I'll be making you aware of any transfers involving players in and around the senior national team. The first was a key one, with backup left back Ian Hogg finding employment. You wiould have to be an absolute superstar for me to even consider picking you if you're without a club. He's joined the biggest club in the New Zealand competition Auckland City. A further month passed with no game time, and the rankings were again released. Just around the corner are our first two matches. Home friendlies against New Caledonia and then Vanuatu. My first ever New Zealand squad and the first two matches of my reign are next. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 Good luck with New Zealand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVFCLFC Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share Posted June 27, 2017 22 hours ago, deltablue said: Good luck with New Zealand. Thanks mate!! Right. Now it's time for some action. I named my first squad of 23 in preparation for the friendlies against New Caledonia and Vanuatu. English based youngsters Michael Woud and Liam Graham are in with a shout for their international debut. The squad is as close to full strength as I want right now. There is though a clear lack of quality CAM's available, so uncovering a hidden gem in this position is a priority. After the squad was announced it was time to name our captaincy team. Our two English centrebacks are the men for the job. Winston Reid will be the New Zealand captain with Tommy Smith as his deputy. We, as expected, totally dominated the match. Our wastefulness is front of goal was frustrating. First half goals from Marco Rojas and Chris Wood secured the win but Wood alone could have had three and Barbarouses and McGlinchey both spurned golden opportunities. As the defence tired late on the likes of Reid and Smith were subbed off and that let New Caledonia in. Five of their six shots were in the last five minutes. I was happy that we won and we kept a clean sheet so that is a positive too. Hopefully the sharpness in front of goal comes and we can add a ruthless streak against our Oceania neighbours. Between matches the new FIFA rankings came out. I can tell we're gonna have a love/hate relationship with the monthly standings. First two editions we don't play a game and we rise. Then we win a match and we dropped seven places!! Maybe I'll cancel all our friendlies and we'll achieve our goals quicker! Our next friendly was in Auckland too against Vanuatu. Similar to the first match, we controlled with out killing off the opposition. And again the second string defence struggled late in the game, this time conceding. Wellington Phoenix midfielder Michael McGlinchey was our star, bagging a brace along with a goal from star striker Chris Wood. McGlinchey did pick up a knock late which is a worry. 5-6 weeks with a knee injury for the ex-Celtic man. Next up another set of back to back friendlies. Papua New Guinea come to New Zealand and then we travel to play our first non-Oceania opposition with Indonesia our hosts in Jakarta. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pezza96 Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Good luck with this, I'm currently doing club and country with the Solomon Islands so have the challenge of overtaking new Zealand at international and club level, will defo be a challenge for you as I don't really see many quality new Zealand regens on my saves Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin_Case Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 I'm really fancying an international save! Problem is though, I always play LLM, so if have to switch it and start with one of the lowest nations I could! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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