Silver Road and Golden Stripes, Yet Another Football TL

[Wings]

Eyes were turned towards Madrid for the final of the 1981-82 Nations League, just a couple months before the start of the World Cup. Brazil came in as heavy favorites, facing against a strong but relatively untested French side, and it showed in the first half. Brazil dominated most of the early stages of the game, enabling Socrates and Zico to do whatever they wished in the midfield. This domination quickly turned into a goal, with Zico serving Serginho, who opened up the scoreline after only three minutes of play. The Selecao continued to dominate the midfield, and Zico soon scored Brazil's second. France fought back though, and got some control back thanks to Platini's efforts. It is the french captain that prevented his squad from falling apart as he crossed a ball to Giresse, who put the scoreline down to 2-1 at half-time.
The second half was closer than the first, but Brazil once again exploited the early gaps and mistakes in the french defense, Zico scoring his second goal of the match two minutes after the start of the half. France reacted in turn though, with Giresse scoring his own second goal after a good run in the Brazilian defense. It wouldn't be enough to maintain France afloat though, as Zico once more moved into the French box, only to be brought down by Tresor. Czech referee Krchnak allowed a penalty for Brazil, who converted it into a goal. Although France tried their best to come back, it wouldn't be enough, and Brazil went on to win their 8th title, and since the winners of the Nations League in World Cup years had won it since 1970, became heavy favorites for the title in Spain.

Spoiler

France and Brazil in action during the early stages of the final

Brazilian players celebrate Zico's second goal of the game

Brazilian legend Pele comes onto the pitch to congratulate Brazil on winning their 8th Nations League title

 

[Wings]

Winners: Brazil - 8th title
Top Scorers: Alain Giresse (FRA) & Michel Platini (FRA) - 5 goals

1982-83 Participants:
Europe: Soviet Union (24), England (28), West Germany (28), France (13), Poland (13), Belgium (12), Netherlands (11), East Germany (17), Spain (27), Yugoslavia (23), Italy (27), Czechoslovakia (25), Sweden (15)
South America: Brazil (28), Argentina (28), Uruguay (17)

Final Location: Wembley, London
Bracket Order
Belgium v East Germany
Poland v Yugoslavia
Brazil v Netherlands
West Germany v Italy
Argentina v Spain
France v Uruguay
Soviet Union v Czechoslovakia
England v Sweden

 

[Wings]

Uruguay v Kuwait 4-0 / 3-0
Denmark v Libya 2-0 / 2-1
Portugal v Egypt 5-0 / 3-1
Bulgaria v Greece 2-1 / 2-3
Scotland v Cameroon 4-2 / 3-2
Chile v Honduras 4-0 / 1-1
Algeria v Norway 1-1 / 1-2
Ireland v Mexico 5-0 / 1-1
Romania v South Korea 3-0 / 7-2
Hungary v Zambia 2-1 / 0-0
Sweden v Paraguay 2-1 / 2-2
Ghana v Israel 4-0 / 2-2
Peru v Iran 0-1 / 2-2
Northern Ireland v Australia 3-1 / 1-1
Switzerland v Canada 1-0 / 2-2
Iraq v Zaire 2-1 / 2-3

Uruguay v Denmark 2-2 / 0-2
Portugal v Bulgaria 2-3 / 0-1
Scotland v Chile 0-1 / 0-1
Norway v Ireland 1-0 / 3-4
Romania v Hungary 4-0 / 0-1
Sweden v Ghana 2-0 / 1-2
Iran v Northern Ireland 2-1 / 0-1
Switzerland v Iraq 1-1 / 0-2

Denmark v Bulgaria 2-1 / 0-3
Chile v Norway 3-1 / 0-1
Romania v Sweden 2-1 / 0-2
Northern Ireland v Iraq 2-1 / 2-1

Bulgaria v Chile 0-1 / 0-1
Sweden v Northern Ireland 3-0 / 0-7

Chile v Northern Ireland 1-3 / 0-5
Winners: Northern Ireland - 1st title

1982-83 Participants:
Europe: Scotland (6), Portugal (5), Northern Ireland (12), Romania (9), Wales (9), Denmark (12), Austria (5), Switzerland (9), Hungary (7), Bulgaria (12), Ireland (11), Israel (12), Greece (11), Turkey (9)
South America: Paraguay (12), Chile (12), Peru (12)
North America: Mexico (12), Honduras (3)
Africa: Ghana (11), Algeria (7), Egypt (12), Morocco (10), Zambia (3), Tunisia (11), Zaire (12), Cameroon (7)
Asia: Iraq (6), Iran (11), South Korea (10), Kuwait (7)
Oceania: New Zealand (1)

Bracket Order
Scotland v Kuwait
Austria v Greece
Ghana v Honduras
Chile v Zambia
Mexico v Israel
Northern Ireland v Algeria
Romania v New Zealand
Paraguay v Turkey
Denmark v Zaire
Switzerland v Tunisia
Iraq v Peru
Portugal v Iran
Bulgaria v Egypt
Wales v South Korea
Ireland v Morocco

 

[Unknown]

I called it--Brazil is becoming the New York Yankees of the Nations League...

 

[Wings]

I called it--Brazil is becoming the New York Yankees of the Nations League...

Or the Real Madrid, depending on which way you look at it.

 

[Wings]

The opening round of this edition of the Nations League would prove to see two of the big favorites drop. Firstly, titleholders Brazil would fall against the Netherlands. Neither team could take a decivise advantage over each other during the return leg where the Dutch matched Brazil's scoreline from the first match. It went to penalties, and the Dutch proved to be better than the Selecao, who left the tournament at the Round of 16 stage. West Germany also dropped, facing Italy in a double rematch of the World Cup final. The Mannschaft wouldn't be able to take revenge upon the Squadra Azzura, who after drawing in Munich, defeated Germany in Milan. England were also defeated, dropping to Sweden, who made their grand return in the Nations League.
The other favorites all managed to pass, some with more difficulty than others. Both Poland and Argentina drew twice against Yugoslavia and Spain, respectively, and only advanced thanks to away goals. The Soviet Union also had to battle against Czechoslovakia in order to snatch a Quarter-Final spot, scoring six goals to Czechoslovakia's five during the span of their two games. Belgium and France advanced without too much problems, beating East Germany and Uruguay, who also made their return to the Nations League.

Belgian players celebrate their qualification for the Quarter-Finals

Soviet and Czech players in action in Kyiv (3-2).

 

[Wings]

This years' Quarter-Finals were desperately close in every single matchup. Indeed, only one of those matches ended without resorting to away goals to send a team through, that being Sweden, who beat the Soviets at home after drawing in Leningrad. The three other matchups saw the winning team only qualify thanks to away goals. Firstly, Poland qualified after scoring two in Belgium, allowing their 1-0 victory over the Red Devils to carry them through. Italy and the Netherlands drew twice, but the Squadra Azzura got in a single goal thanks to Rossi to push to the Semi-Finals, and, finally, France managed to fructify their single goal scored over in Argentina after beating the Albiceleste 2-0 at home.

Italian players celebrating Rossi's goal against the Netherlands

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Italy-France for the championship, but a Poland-Sweden would be nice.

 

[Wings]

The Semi-Finals wouldn't be as close as the Quarter-Finals were, however. Poland did hold a draw against the Italian World Champions, but in Rome the Squadra Azzura had no problems defeating the Poles and making their way towards their third Nations League final. France would join them there, making their way towards their fifth Nations League final, after defeating Sweden twice by the same scoreline.

Poland's Lato in action against Italy

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

No surprise. Let's hope Rossi makes a hattrick...

 

[Wings]

This year's final would be 100% European, fitting for the second final in a row on the Old Continent. World Cup titleholders Italy came in as favorites after notably knocking out West Germany, while France, despite their good performance at the World Cup, came in as underdogs despite eliminating Argentina. And it was the french who struck first, Rocheteau giving Genghini a perfect pass to open up the scoreline despite a strong Italian defense. It didn't take long for the Italians to react though, as Rossi took out two french defenders before striking one home, equalizing the scoreline before half-time. The french wouldn't be deterred though, and a foul by Gentile onto Six allowed Platini to hammer in a direct free-kick, putting the french on top once again. This time, the french squad wouldn't let the Italians come back, and Tresor and Amoros marking Rossi, stopping the Italians from finding him alone. Finally, french captain Platini would find Giresse alone in the Italian box ten minutes before the final whistle, and the french striker wouldn't falter in sending the ball into the net. A late goal by Tardelli wouldn't stop France from striking a third silver star over their crest as France celebrated their second title in two years, a good prespect just a year before the European Championship at home.

Spoiler

French captain Platini in action against Italian defenders

Platini celebrates as he scores his free kick, setting France in the lead of the final

French players in their more traditional blue shirts with the trophy after the end of the match

 

[Wings]

Winners: France - 3rd title
Top Scorer: Oleg Blokhin (SOV) - 5 goals

1983-84 Participants:
Europe: France (14), Soviet Union (25), West Germany (29), England (29), Denmark (1), Scotland (22), Poland (14), Italy (28), Spain (28), East Germany (18), Czechoslovakia (26), Netherlands (12), Portugal (13)
South America: Brazil (29), Argentina (29), Uruguay (18)

Final Location: Parc des Princes, Paris
Bracket Order
Denmark v Poland
Argentina v Czechoslovakia
England v Netherlands
Soviet Union v Scotland
Uruguay v East Germany
Brazil v Italy
France v Portugal
West Germany v Spain

 

[Wings]

Scotland v Kuwait 11-0 / 3-1
Austria v Greece 2-0 / 2-2
Ghana v Honduras 1-2 / 0-1
Chile v Zambia 2-0 / 1-0
Mexico v Israel 1-1 / 0-0
Northern Ireland v Algeria 2-0 / 2-1
Romania v New Zealand 8-0 / 2-1
Paraguay v Turkey 2-0 / 2-1
Denmark v Zaire 3-0 / 2-1
Switzerland v Tunisia 4-0 / 1-0
Iraq v Peru 1-0 / 1-3
Portugal v Iran 3-2 / 2-2
Bulgaria v Egypt 7-1 / 7-0
Wales v South Korea 4-1 / 3-2
Ireland v Morocco 9-0 / 0-0
Hungary v Cameroon 12-0 / 4-0

Scotland v Austria 3-0 / 0-0
Honduras v Chile 6-3 / 2-3
Israel v Northern Ireland 1-1 / 3-4
Romania v Paraguay 1-2 / 0-0
Denmark v Switzerland 2-2 / 1-0
Peru v Portugal 3-1 / 2-5
Bulgaria v Wales 2-1 / 0-1
Ireland v Hungary 2-0 / 2-2

Scotland v Honduras 4-1 / 0-0
Northern Ireland v Paraguay 0-1 / 1-2
Denmark v Portugal 1-1 / 3-4
Wales v Ireland 1-0 / 1-0

Scotland v Paraguay 2-0 / 0-0
Portugal v Wales 2-1 / 2-2

Scotland v Portugal 1-1 / 3-4
Winners: Portugal - 2nd title

1983-84 Participants:
Europe: Sweden (10), Hungary (8), Northern Ireland (13), Yugoslavia (3), Belgium (3), Austria (6), Wales (10), Romania (10), Switzerland (10), Bulgaria (13), Ireland (12), Israel (13), Norway (2), Greece (12)
South America: Paraguay (13), Chile (13), Peru (13)
North America: Mexico (13), Honduras (4), Canada (4)
Africa: Algeria (8), Morocco (11), Egypt (13), Ghana (12), Cameroon (8), Zambia (4), Tunisia (12), Zaire (13)
Asia: Iran (12), Saudi Arabia (1), Iraq (7)
Oceania: Tahiti (1)

Bracket Order
Israel v Zambia
Wales v Morocco
Yugoslavia v Iran
Algeria v Peru
Mexico v Tahiti
Chile v Iraq
Belgium v Tunisia
Austria v Saudi Arabia
Bulgaria v Egypt
Hungary v Norway
Switzerland v Cameroon
Ireland v Zaire
Northern Ireland v Honduras
Sweden v Greece
Paraguay v Canada
Romania v Ghana

 

[Unknown]

Good updates, @Wings; BTW, have you read Protect and Survive by former member @Macragge1, which is set in 1984? Wonder how that would have affected the Nations League tournament...

On a side note, is this tournament getting decent ratings on ESPN ITTL?

 

[Wings]

Good updates, @Wings; BTW, have you read Protect and Survive by former member @Macragge1, which is set in 1984? Wonder how that would have affected the Nations League tournament...

On a side note, is this tournament getting decent ratings on ESPN ITTL?

I have not read it no, but judging by the prompt, the competition might just be straight up cancelled and no winner declared.
It is getting decent ratings, although ESPN is pushing to get rights for the FIFA Cup for when the U.S eventually makes it's way there

 

[Wings]

This edition of the Nations League wouldn't be kind to south american squads, both Argentina and Brazil being eliminated at the first round stage. Argentina were kicked out by Czechoslovakia after they failed to score any goals in Prague, while Brazil would be eliminated by World Cup champions Italy, who beat the Brazilians at home while holding a draw in Rio. Uruguay would be the only south american squad advancing, beating East Germany in a resounding win.
Only the Soviets would then falter as tier one teams, being eliminated by Scotland after a disastrous away game. France and West Germany would beat the Iberian nations, the Mannschaft only beating the Spanish by one goal during the away game in Madrid. England would similarly defeat the Netherlands by a single goal, at home this time, while Denmark would win their first ever Nations League matchup, defeating Poland despite losing the second match.

Scottish and Soviet players in action during the return leg (4-1)

Italy's Rossi in action against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro (2-2)

 

[MatthewFirth]

Where's the wikibox?

 

[Wings]

Where's the wikibox?

I forgot it, damn I'm going to have to screenshot the bracket

 

[Wings]

Denmark continued their run through the top half of the bracket, once again being locked in a matchup with a large amount of goals, with both Denmark and Czechoslovakia scoring four goals each over the course of both games, the Danes managing to pass on away goals. They will advance to meet England, who defeated their neighbours and rivals Scotland thanks to a 2-0 victory in Anfield.
Uruguay managed to snap an upset victory over world champions Italy, denying them a spot to the Semi-Finals by defeating them in Montevideo, before holding out in a draw in Naples. France wouldn't be able to defend their title either, even after an initial victory over West Germany, as the Mannschaft ripped through the french defense during the return leg, scoring five goals.

West Germany dominate the french defense during their home leg of the Quarter-Finals (5-1)

 

[Unknown]

Are any Nations League tournaments going to be held in Britain? Reason why is because, under the right conditions, something similar to Hillsborough is likely to happen...