Silver Road and Golden Stripes, Yet Another Football TL

[Wings]

Winners: Spain - 3rd title
Top Scorer: David Villa (ESP) - 9 goals
Prediction Winner: @MatthewFirth - 2nd title (10, 3-3-2-2)

2009-10 Participants:
Europe: Spain (53), Germany (55), Netherlands (37), Italy (54), Russia (13), England (53), France (38), Croatia (16), Greece (8), Switzerland (6), Serbia (2), Denmark (25), Portugal (26), Ukraine (5), Czech Republic (14), Bulgaria (9), Scotland (28), Israel (3), Romania (25), Turkey (9), Northern Ireland (2)
South America: Brazil (55), Argentina (53), Paraguay (12), Uruguay (34), Chile (9)
North America: United States (13), Mexico (31)
Africa: Ivory Coast (4), Cameroon (8), Gabon (1)
Oceania: Australia (1)

Final Location: Soccer City, Johannesburg
Groups & Seeding
Group A: Germany, France, Scotland, Turkey
Group B: England, United States, Uruguay, Romania
Group C: Brazil, Serbia, Czech Republic, Mexico
Group D: Argentina, Greece, Portugal, Cameroon
Group E: Russia, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Chile
Group F: Italy, Australia, Paraguay, Northern Ireland
Group G: Netherlands, Denmark, Ukraine, Israel
Group H: Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, Gabon

Location of finals up to 2015:
2011 - Buenos Aires
2012 - Kyiv
2013 - Chicago
2014 - Rio de Janeiro
2015 - Sydney

 

[MatthewFirth]

Group A: Germany, France, Scotland, Turkey
Group B: England, United States, Uruguay, Romania
Group C: Brazil, Serbia, Czech Republic, Mexico
Group D: Argentina, Greece, Portugal, Cameroon
Group E: Russia, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Chile
Group F: Italy, Australia, Paraguay, Northern Ireland
Group G: Netherlands, Denmark, Ukraine, Israel
Group H: Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, Gabon

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

For a second I thought that the victory of La Roja was thanks to Sergio Ramos and that made me chuckle.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Group A: Germany, France
Group B: England, United States
Group C: Brazil, Serbia,
Group D: Argentina, Portugal
Group E: Russia, Chile
Group F: Italy, Paraguay,
Group G: Netherlands, Denmark,
Group H: Spain, Croatia

 

[Wings]

For a second I thought that the victory of La Roja was thanks to Sergio Ramos and that made me chuckle.

Ramis, in true Ramos fashion, was suspended for the final

Group A: 1. Hungary 2. Bahrain 3. Tunisia 4. Belarus 5. Guinea
Group B: 1. DR Congo 2. Wales 3. Iran 4. Venezuela 5. Chile
Group C: 1. Bolivia 2. Mali 3. Uzbekistan 4. Japan 5. Angola
Group D: 1. Saudi Arabia 2. Denmark 3. Togo 4. Senegal 5. Cyprus
Group E: 1. Qatar 2. Morocco 3. Ecuador 4. Lithuania 5. Belgium
Group F: 1. Australia 2. Finland 3. Burkina Faso 4. Peru 5. South Korea
Group G: 1. Latvia 2. Northern Ireland 3. Slovakia 4. Ireland 5. North Macedonia
Group H: 1. Serbia 2. Switzerland 3. Zambia 4. Honduras 5. Moldova

Tunisia v Qatar 2-1 / 2-1
Slovakia v Hungary 2-2 / 3-4
Togo v Australia 2-2 / 2-5
Uzbekistan v DR Congo 0-2 / 2-3
Ecuador v Finland 1-1 / 0-2
Nigeria v Serbia 1-1 / 2-1 aet
Paraguay v Morocco 3-1 / 3-1
Greece v Wales 2-1 / 0-1
Israel v Bolivia 1-2 / 1-1
Burkina Faso v Switzerland 1-2 / 1-2
Zambia v Saudi Arabia 3-0 / 0-1
Iran v Latvia 1-1 / 1-2
Poland v Northern Ireland 3-0 / 0-2
Scotland v Mali 2-1 / 0-2
Germany v Bahrain 2-0 / 1-0
Mexico v Denmark 2-1 / 0-3

Tunisia v Hungary 0-1 / 0-3
Australia v DR Congo 2-2 / 2-0
Finland v Nigeria 1-0 / 1-3
Paraguay v Wales 0-1 / 2-2
Bolivia v Switzerland 1-1 / 0-0
Zambia v Latvia 2-2 / 1-3
Poland v Mali 2-1 / 1-1
Germany v Denmark 2-0 / 0-2 aet 2-4 pen

Hungary v Australia 0-1 / 2-2
Nigeria v Wales 2-0 / 0-1
Switzerland v Latvia 1-0 / 0-1 aet 1-4 pen
Poland v Denmark 0-0 / 0-4

Australia v Nigeria 2-1 / 0-1
Latvia v Denmark 2-1 / 0-4

Nigeria v Denmark 2-1
Winners: Nigeria - 2nd title

2009-10 Participants:
Europe: Ireland (25), Poland (19), Sweden (16), Slovakia (12), Hungary (25), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2), Norway (18), Finland (16), North Macedonia (4), Latvia (4), Lithuania (7), Slovenia (8), Belgium (22), Wales (26), Austria (26), Cyprus (2), Belarus (5)
South America: Ecuador (16), Colombia (16), Venezuela (6), Bolivia (8)
North America: Costa Rica (12), Honduras (20), Canada (11), Jamaica (10), Trinidad and Tobago (10), Panama (2)
Africa: Egypt (35), Nigeria (20), Ghana (27), Algeria (21), Tunisia (26), Burkina Faso (3), Morocco (31), Guinea (10), Mali (10), Togo (5), South Africa (7), Uganda (1), Libya (6), Zambia (19)
Asia: Japan (13), South Korea (33), Iran (29), Saudi Arabia (19), Bahrain (4), Uzbekistan (7), Oman (3)

Final Location: Impuls Arena, Augsburg
Groups & Seeding
Group A: Japan, North Macedonia, Belgium, Oman
Group B: Hungary, Morocco, Slovenia, Cyprus
Group C: Egypt, Norway, Mali, South Africa
Group D: Nigeria, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
Group E: Poland, Tunisia, Wales, Uganda
Group F: Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Trinidad and Tobago
Group G: Ireland. Burkina Faso, Guinea, Panama
Group H: Sweden, Venezuela, Iran, Togo
Group I: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Canada, Belarus
Group J: Costa Rica, Finland, Austria, Libya
Group K: Ghana, Honduras, Bahrain, Jamaica
Group L: Ecuador, Algeria, Bolivia, Zambia

Finals location up to 2015:
2011 - Doha
2012 - Honiara
2013 - Johannesburg
2014 - Montreal
2015 - Santiago do Chile

 

[Wings]

After years of failures, the Mannschaft finally managed to pull themselves out of the group stages this time around. Favourites to win, Germany only dropped one game to the rapidly deteriorating french squad, who would only clinch the FIFA Cup slot. Turkey took second, while Scotland dropped down to fourth yet again.

The Three Lions would share France's fate, dropping to the FIFA Cup after a disastrous group stages campaign. Not as disastrous as the US, who were favourites to get out, but completely fell short, leaving Uruguay and the surprising Romanians to take the two qualifying slots.

No surprises in Group C, with Brazil completely stomping the group, while Mexico, despite a solid roster, couldn't compete against the Czechs for second place. Outpaced and outclassed, Serbia ended with zero points in the group and finished dead last.

Portugal completely fell flat in Group D. Struggling since their Nations League victory, the european Selecao finished fourth of their group for the second time in a row, leaving Greece as FIFA Cup slot holders. Argentina and Cameroon on the other hand calmly cruised towards the Round of 16.

France and Scotland clash in Group A.

Transfer to FIFA Cup:
France (9), vs Panama
England (6), vs Honduras
Mexico (20), vs Greece
Greece (34), vs Mexico

 

[Wings]

Group E was considered the weakest one of all, as it held the weakest pool 1 seed Russia. Yet the Russians held their status as pool 1 seed, and qualified as first seed out of the group, beating the Ivorian Elephants to the punch, while both Chile and Switzerland were knocked out, with Chile escaping to the FIFA Cup.

Huge surprise in Group F, though, as it was both Northern Ireland and Australia who made it out. On their second and first Nations League appearance, respectively, the two nations showed up big time, knocking out Paraguay while Italy would discover the FIFA Cup for the first time.

The Netherlands breathed a sigh of relief in Group G, although they would only qualify as second seed. After an initial away loss against Israel, the Oranje came back to tie for first, losing the first seed spot to Ukraine on goal average. Israel would only manage to take these three points, and left their FIFA Cup slot to Denmark.

No surprises in Group H where Spain absolutely dominated everyone. The battle was closer for second place, but Croatia managed to come out on top of both Bulgaria and Gabon to take the second spot in the Round of 16.

Dutch and Danish players in action in Group G.

Transfer to FIFA Cup (World League):
Chile (32), vs Mali
Italy (1), vs Japan
Denmark (17), vs Ireland
Bulgaria (34), vs Venezuela

Round of 16:
Turkey v Russia (Istanbul, St.Petersburg)
Czech Republic v Uruguay (Prague, Montevideo)
Ivory Coast v Brazil (Abidjan, Porto Alegre)
Croatia v Germany (Zagreb, Stuttgart)
Australia v Argentina (Melbourne, La Plata)
Romania v Ukraine (Cluj, Kyiv)
Cameroon v Spain (Douala, Sevilla)
Netherlands v Northern Ireland (Enschede, Belfast)

 

[Pragmatic Progressive]

I predict:

Turkey vs. Russia
Czech Republic vs. Uruguay
Ivory Coast vs. Brazil
Croatia vs. Germany
Australia vs. Argentina
Romania vs. Ukraine
Cameroon vs. Spain
Netherlands vs. Northern Ireland

 

[Chocolate Raines]

Turkey v Russia (Istanbul, St.Petersburg)
Czech Republic v Uruguay (Prague, Montevideo)
Ivory Coast v Brazil (Abidjan, Porto Alegre)
Croatia v Germany (Zagreb, Stuttgart)
Australia v Argentina (Melbourne, La Plata)
Romania v Ukraine (Cluj, Kyiv)
Cameroon v Spain (Douala, Sevilla)
Netherlands v Northern Ireland (Enschede, Belfast)

Turkey, Uruguay, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, IDFK, Spain, Dutch

 

[MatthewFirth]

Turkey v Russia (Istanbul, St.Petersburg)
Czech Republic v Uruguay (Prague, Montevideo)
Ivory Coast v Brazil (Abidjan, Porto Alegre)
Croatia v Germany (Zagreb, Stuttgart)
Australia v Argentina (Melbourne, La Plata)
Romania v Ukraine (Cluj, Kyiv)
Cameroon v Spain (Douala, Sevilla)
Netherlands v Northern Ireland (Enschede, Belfast)

 

[Unknown]

My picks: Russia, Uruguay, Brazil, Germany, Australia, Romania, Spain, and the Netherlands...

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

In Italy even the President of the Republic would be dressing in mourning...

 

[Wings]

The path of the African teams stopped in the Round of 16 once more. Pitted against two of the favorites, Brazil and Spain, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon had no chance and were knocked out. Uruguay and Argentina soon joined their South American neighbour, dealing with the Czech Republic and Australia respectively. Ukraine completed the first seed qualified teams, with Northern Ireland dropping logically to the Netherlands while Russia lost to Turkey after pushing into extra time. Finally, the Mannschaft saw the Nations League door slam shut in front of them once more, losing to Croatia 2-0 at home and being eliminated prematurely from the tournameny yet again.

Kaka in action against the Ivory Coast during the return leg in Porto Alegre.

Red 5
Choc 6
Matthew 6
Unknown 4

Quarter-Finals:
Turkey v Uruguay (Istanbul, Montevideo)
Brazil v Croatia (Sao Paulo, Split)
Argentina v Ukraine (Buenos Aires (Bombonera), Donetsk)
Spain v Netherlands (Madrid (Santiago Bernabeu), Alkmaar)

 

[Unknown]

My semifinal picks: Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Spain...

 

[Chocolate Raines]

My semifinal picks: Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Spain...

same

 

[MatthewFirth]

Turkey v Uruguay (Istanbul, Montevideo)
Brazil v Croatia (Sao Paulo, Split)
Argentina v Ukraine (Buenos Aires (Bombonera), Donetsk)
Spain v Netherlands (Madrid (Santiago Bernabeu), Alkmaar)

 

[Wings]

With three south american squads in the Quarter-Finals, only two made it out into the Semis. Uruguay beat Turkey despite losing the first leg to them, while Argentina easily disposed of Ukraine in two straight wins. What no one was expecting though, was Brazil dropping to Croatia, who despite a weaker squad, pushed through to make it to the Semi-Finals. In the only European face-off, the Netherlands took their revenge on Spain and eliminated the titleholders from the tournament.

Arjen Robben dribbes Gerard Pique to score the Oranje's second goal at Alkmaar's AFAS Stadium.

Unknown 1 (5)
Choc 1 (7)
Matthew 2 (8)

Semi-Finals:
Uruguay v Croatia (Montevideo, Zagreb)
Argentina v Netherlands (Buenos Aires (Monumental), Rotterdam)

 

[Wings]

After three years of South American domination, it was time for Europe to step up, with Spain managing to get the title after an easy enough road. The Rioja went through Japan, who eliminated both Oceanian squads New Zealand and Australia, the latter on penalties, before facing the US in the final. The US beat Cameroon, who saved their tournament by defeating Australia on penalties for fifth place. The US then beat Brazil in an upset victory, scoring 5 goals to the Selecao's two and denying them a third title. Brazil wouldn't end with a single win during this tourney, being defeated by Japan in extra time during the battle for third. There would be no miracle for the US against Spain though, who, thanks to goals from Torres, Iniesta and Xavi, powered through the americans to score their first title.

Villa shoots for goal during the final.

 

[Chocolate Raines]

All South American final

 

[Unknown]

My picks: Croatia and Argentina...