Here we are then, the World Cup. It’s 2022 and, like most Football Manager saves, the tournament has been moved away from Qatar. In this save, we instead head off down under to Australia.
Our first group match is against Gabon, ranked 42nd in the world, before a tight clash against Serbia- ranked one place below us in 16th. Finally, it’s Belgium- the defending world champions.
I’m hoping that four points will be enough to see us qualify, although it will be very close. Tackling Belgium last may be a blessing or a curse, it depends entirely on how our first few matches go.
Anyway, Gabon awaits. The big news is that Matko Milijevic is out for two months and will subsequently miss the World Cup, reducing our squad to 22 as we can no longer call a replacement to the fold.
In 2018, the US did qualify for the World Cup and were knocked out in the second round by Croatia. My target is to exceed that, as the one set by the FA is very broad- we ‘must be competitive’.
Gabon, rather interestingly, are Aubameyang-less and that makes me more confident. Serbia and Belgium drew 2-2 in Group B’s opening match, handing us the chance to give ourselves quite the advantage with a win.
It’s a slow first half but we find the breakthrough before the break, De Col whipping a fine cross to the far post where Matysiak heads home. Minutes after the restart, an own goal doubles our advantage. Off the bench, Haji Wright makes it three and we’ve got the points in the bag.
I expect a much sterner test against Serbia but our fate couldn’t be much clear- if we win, we qualify for the next round with a game to spare. I’d very much like for that to be the case.
We take the lead after just 25 seconds but Serbia hit back, equalising through Sergej Milinkovic-Savic before the Manchester United man gets his second. Then, we lose Marcos Calazans to injury.
In the second half, we suffer another blow as Christian Pulisic is forced off with a knock and Serbia then make it 3-1. Carleton, off the bench, pulls one back. Then, in a remarkable comeback, he equalises in the 90th minute.
With that, we head into our final clash we defending champions Belgium, ranked third in the world, knowing we’re likely to need something. As it stands, we’re tied top with Belgium and we both have a goal difference of +3. Serbia, clashing with Gabon in their final match, know they could qualify with a win.
A draw may not be enough for either of us and the group is very, very close. After goal difference, the rankings are decided by goals scored and we have the most with six. Serbia and Belgium both have five. Gulp.
I’d bite your hand off for a draw though as we would qualify ahead of Belgium due to our superior number of goals scored. I expect us to lose though, so I’m praying for a Gabonese miracle.
After five minutes, news filters through that Serbia are 1-0 up and we respond with Carleton striking the post. After 15 minutes, Pulisic combines with Matysiak to give us a valuable lead. Serbia go 2-0 up, meaning Belgium really, really are in trouble.
Serbia’s third means not even one goal will be good enough for Belgium, so I expect an onslaught in the final half hour. With 20 to go, Eden Hazard nets a penalty. Serbia go 4-0 up and a winner for Belgium sends us home- but it never comes and we advance as runners-up.
Knocking the defending champions out of the World Cup is certainly an ideal scenario to enjoy in the group stage and our reward is a winnable second-round tie with Venezuela, who won Group A ahead of Mexico.
A thrilling first-half performance sees Wright, McKennie and Perez all get on the scoresheet and we hold out to secure a 3-0 win, securing our spot in the quarter-finals and putting us in a pretty good position.
In the other second-round games, Mexico beat Serbia, Algeria overcome Sweden, Portugal knock Brazil out, Germany thrash South Korea, Jamaica beat Poland on penalties, England require extra time to beat Morocco and a Leonardo Bonucci own goal hands Spain victory over Italy.
We benefit kindly from the draw, as we’re presented with a winnable game against Algeria. I won’t take anything for granted but I can barely believe that we’re within touching distance of a spot in the final four- I never expected this in a million years.
As anticipated, it’s a gruelling challenge against the African side and we’re quickly handed two massive blows in the first-half, as Carter-Vickers is forced off and we soon fall behind. However, the introduction of Matysiak at the break turns the game on it’s head and he nets a hat-trick.
Mexico overcome Portugal, which means there’s two North American sides in the World Cup semi-finals, and but we’re both handed a tough draw as we tackle Germany and they face England. I fear this is where our remarkable run comes to an end.
I couldn’t be happier with how we’ve done though and neither could be bosses. We’ve exceeded expectations and the final target I’ve set for my side is finishing third- as I struggle to believe we can overcome Germany and third would still be a sensational achievement for my inexperienced team.
Our challenge is made even harder with the absences of Carter-Vickers and Andrew Carleton, both of whom are injured, and Scott Hansen is also suspended after picking up too many yellow cards, leaving us with just five outfield substitutes. Ah, the joys of Football Manager.
Remarkably, there’s not a single player within the Germany side that I recognise but they’re still clearly very talented. The first half is bizarre, as their striker receives a straight red card and we’re also reduced to ten men after two yellow cards for Palmer-Brown. At the break, it’s goalless.
We fall behind minutes into the second half and a swift counter on the hour mark leaves us trailing by two. We go for broke and get nothing, with the score finishing 3-0. It’s not time for us to go home though, as we’ve got the third place play-off to come.
England smash Mexico 5-2, which means my final game of this save is a bitter World Cup clash with our North American rivals. Perfect. Hansen returns from suspension and Carleton returns from injury, though he’s not fully fit, but we are still without Carter-Vickers and Palmer-Brown.
The less said about a crap, goalless first half the better and I certainly want more from my side in the second period, although I’m wary that it’s at this stage we fell apart against Germany. That doesn’t happen this time but we go all the way to extra time. Gulp.
It’s goalless until the 122nd minute, where Marian Sarr heads home. It’s rather fitting that an Atlanta stalwart of mine gets the goal, don’t you think? Third place at the World Cup. I’ll take that, a fitting end to a save I’ve really enjoyed.
P.S, Germany beat England in the final.
