Path To Glory: Joao Veloso's England (FMH14)

July 13th, 2013


---------------------------------------------


England Upcoming Schedule
Aug. 14/'13 : Morocco (H) - Friendly
Sep. 6/'13 : San Marino (A) - World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Sep. 10/'13 : Moldova (H) - World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Nov. 20/'13 : Chile (H) - Friendly

Specs:

I've loaded England (down to Skrill N/S), Portugal (Top), Spain (Top), Italy (Top)

Will be only playing as England

Plan on winning a major trophy by 2018 (If I stay around that long)

August 14th, 2013. Wembley Stadium. 7:30PM.

I pace up and down the tunnel, not sure where to go. Still an hour to game time, and I never meet my players on the pitch during the warmup. Ever.

I head into the trainer's room. Considering this is my first match in charge of England, it seems bizarre that this is also my first time inside Wembley Stadium. Heck, it's my first time in England, these past six weeks.

I think of all the great Portugal-England matches, the penalty shootouts, and now I realize that I'm on the Rose side of the rivalry!

I've got a nation counting on me, and as I look down at the team sheet in my hand, going over the lineups, I realize that even though this is a meaningless friendly against a scrub African nation, my every movement, on paper and out on the pitch during the match, will be picked apart and scrutinized by every single tabloid, paper, and television show across England.

It's hit me. The pressure to succeed is all around, yet I'm all alone.

I leave the trainer's room and make my way through the tunnel out onto the pitch.

There's a first time for everything...

Joao Veloso's England
http://this11.com

I take my seat in the dugout, realizing that this could be the first game of a long, arduous yet rewarding journey. I feel a sense of calm wash over me during the anthems, and as the Italian referee blows his whistle and the match gets under way, I feel relaxed and for the first time in six weeks- at home.

...

I glance quickly at the scoreboard, three minutes in, with both teams just feeling each other out. Gibbs has the ball at midfield, plays a long ball that just stays up forever...Rooney's there! Just wide...we're still controlling early!

...

8 minutes in now...Here's Huddlestone on the left side what the devil is he doing there? There's a ball in....ROONEY...Over the bar. C'mon lad.

...

18 minutes gone...ugh. Here's Wilshere now in the midfield let's go lad...see Rooney, YES excellent pass...come ON Rooney hit the net for chrissakes!

...

Alright, blow the whistle ref, half's over...OI! COME ON REF THAT'S A- Yeah that's a foul! Here we go...Jack WIlshere oughta take this...why is Rooney lining it up? Uh oh..Yup he missed. He's coming off. What a mistake starting him, old washed up Toffey fart.

England 0-0 Morocco

- Gerrard, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge

- Young, Rooney, Welbeck

...

Alright guys, stop goofing off here and pot one! 65 minutes and nil-nil...alright let's go Ox...see Sturridge, there IT IS....Crossbar. Are you SERIOUS?

...

76th...getting nervous lads...alright here's Wilshere, drive wide, drive wid kid...back post COME ON...Dammit Sturridge FINISH! You missed from five yards out you bum!

...

Oh great...Gibbs is down. He'll need a sub. Get Ashley Cole ready Tim.
Kieran Gibbs
Ashley Cole

...

82nd, lads let's go the crowd's starting to whistle...c'mon Welbeck SEE DEFOE...SEE DEFOE...He's in Tim, he's in! DEFOE- YEEEESSSSSSSS!
- J. Defoe (ENG) - 1:0 ENG

...

Blow it lad, come on now Francesco or whatever your name is! *FFFFFTTTTTT*

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Full-Time: 1-0 vs. Morocco
'83 - Defoe

Good win mate!

August 14th, 2013. Wembley Stadium. 10:30PM.

Post-Game Presser.

JV: Alright gentlemen. Three questions then I must speak with the lads. You, velvet suit?


Michael Owen: Oi Joao, how are you feeling after a tight three points against an inferior squad?

JV: First off thanks to Morocco for a competitive match in a friendly environment. We hope they enjoyed tonight as much as we did. They weren't inferior by any stretch Michael! Also, tonight was more about building chemistry in a competitive environment than the result. You, blue suit.

Sky Sports: Mr. Veloso, you've got two fairly easy qualifiers coming up. You're already directly qualified by eleven points. What's the gameplan for San Marino and Moldova next month?

JV: They are two competitive matches. We will treat them as such and you will see as full a lineup as I can physically produce. Green hat? Love it by the way!

iTV: Thanks Joao. Why did Wayne Rooney come off at halftime? Just friendly rotation or did you see something?

JV: I thought Wayne was atrocious in the first half. He missed at least three clear-cut chances, and any striker on my squad needs to be better than that at converting chances into goals. If he wants to play, he'll need to earn it in training and prove to me he's one of our two best options up front, which I'm not sold on right now.

September 5th, 2013. San Marino. 2PM.

"Jeez Noel, who knew Qualifying could be this relaxing," I ask my assistant manager, Noel Gallagher. Yes, that Noel Gallagher.

"To be frank Joao at first I took you for a hard-ass, a real Type-A no-bullcrap type. But now, I see you're just a normal person like everyone else in football. Excuse me while I tend to my man-made waterfall!"

Noel heads off to tend to his "Waterfall Oasis," as he calls it. Funny how things work out, in that England's former rockstar-turned-assistant manager happens to own a countryside villa just fifteen minutes from the stadium in San Marino.

I sit poolside, reflecting as I stare out into the pseudo-Italian countryside. While tomorrow may be my first competitive match as England boss, I can't help but feel as though the whole team, including the staff, is treating it as a joke. Little do they know I've got a little surprise in store for them in the tiny, cramped, hot visitors' change room at the stadium tomorrow...

September 6th. Serravalle, San Marino. 8PM.

"Welcome to the changing room here in SPECTACULAR San Marino gentlemen. Nice of you to show up, half an hour late. Which of you lot were late to the bus from the hotel? Who," I shout at the players making their way into the cramped changing room. "Before you veterans take a comfortable seat...take a look at the team sheet!"

I see a few of them head over, Gerrard, Rooney and the like. First they scan their position on the whiteboard, and then I see their eyes widen a little bit. Good, the message is getting to them.

Suddenly, Gerrard storms towards me- "Joao, what's the meaning of this? You can't just cut out all the veterans of the squad? This is still a meaningful game!"

"Just like those generous girls in the club last night? Word got back to me about Rooney and yours' exploits last night. You're not even in the subs. Get your suit back on and get out," I retort sharply. The room goes silent.

Team Sheet - England (4-1-2-1-2)
GK - Jack Butland
DL - Leighton Baines
DC - Curtis Davies
DC - Phil Jagielka
DR - Phil Jones
DMC - Tom Huddlestone
MC - Gareth Barry
MC - James Milner (C)
AMC - Ashley Young
FC - Andy Carroll
FC - Danny Welbeck

The players that remain after the vets walk out sit simultaneously, snapping to attention at the sound of my voice.

"4-1-2-1-2 today lads, I want sharp passes. I realize our opposition isn't that great, but they only lost 3-1 to Jamaica last month. That means they can in fact score. For our co-efficient, I want to make sure we keep a clean sheet today. That's the priority. I also want this one out of reach, at least 2-nil, by halftime. Clear?" The heads of the Starting XI all nod at the same time.

"Now go out there, get stretched, and prove yourselves to your country."

With that, Milner led the lads out for the warmup, and I have to say that they did look sharp.

WHile it may have been a sad little meaningless qualifier with a continental minnow, this was my time to put my stamp on this team before the real games begin.

I followed them out of the tunnel, with Tim and Noel Gallagher right behind me. This pre-game pitch walk could become a new tradition...

September 6th, 2013. Serravalle. 8:30PM.

"Welcome to Sky Sports' broadcast of today's England qualifier, which promises to be a barnburner as first-place, and undefeated England take on last-place, and pointless San Marino in Serravalle. I'm Andy Gray, and alongside me today is an England legend- Emile Heskey!"

EH: Thanks for having me on today Andy, should be a great match for England as new boss Joao Veloso looks to put his mark on this England squad.

AG: Right you are Emile, as the new boss has decided to sit Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe, and Steven Gerrard in a game they would normally start in and shine. I spoke with Wayne roughly 15 minutes ago and he is not happy with the new boss.

EH: Here come the teams Andy, in front of a raucous, sold out crowd of 6664 here in San Marino, should be an excellent match as we'll take a short break, and come back with kick off!

....

AG: Now forging ahead is Mondonico, 2nd minute, plays a long ball forward, met by the head of Jagielka and cleared out as a bit of a nervy start here for England's fresh-faced squad...

....

AG: Approaching the quarter hour here, as England have yet to really take over this match as expected, San Marino pinging the ball around the midfield at the moment.

EH: It's been quite honestly a disappointing start for the visitors Andy, I think they need to push Huddlestone up to give themselves more options in the midfield!

AG: Now here's Mondonico, surging into the English half, and HE is dragged down by Jagielka...this is dangerous here, as Jagielka picks up the first booking of the night with a yellow from our Portuguese referee. Mondonico lines it up..runs up...and promptly smashes it twenty feet over the bar! Still scoreless here.

....

AG: Now approaching the half hour mark in Serravalle, stillscoreless here as San Marino beginning to slink back into a 5-4-1-0 with every man back. Here's Huddlestone ahead, played for Welbeck, he SHOOTS- stopped by Brighi...REBOUND to BARRY!...And he's sent it over! So close from Barry!

EH: England are just missing that final touch here Andy, maybe I should come out of retirement!

AG: I don't think San Marino could handle your fan club, let alone you Emile!

....

AG: England all over their hosts, who are allowing them all kinds of time and space here! Now Welbeck, Welbeck nutmegs one defender, Brighi comes charging out, and Welbeck lays it off for YOUNG...THERE IT IS!

37' 1-0 England - A. Young

EH: Excellent build up from England, and in the 37th they finally break through!

....

AG: The referee blows his whistle for half time, and it's 1-0 to England, though in reality this game is already out of reach for the San Marinese!

....

JV: Come on lads! (flips table) We are 8 and 0! You haven't dropped points yet in qualifying, yet right now you are only one goal up on a team of bankers, accountants, policemen, and Phys. Ed. teachers! You lot are going to march back onto that field, and SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE. The play is good, the finish is UNACCEPTABLE!

....

AG: Welcome back as we settle in for the second half, the English right away attack in their hosts' half...here's Milner on the right side, sends it into the middle, CARROLL...THERE IT IS!

46' 2-0 England - A. Carroll

EH: Andy Carroll, the fifty million pound man, just outjumped Davide Palmieri, a schoolteacher, to put England up 2-nil!

....

AG: England coming on in waves now, and look at Veloso *SO* animated down on the touchline, despite this being a meaningless game! Here's Milner...feeds it ahead now Welbeck latches on, one touch to the left and HE FINISHES!

63' 3-0 England - D. Welbeck

EH: We're also starting to see the difference in fitness levels now Andy, boy oh boy the San Marinese look deathly on the pitch. The England side are hooting and hollering like a bunch of mad men Andy!

....

AG: Just over ten minutes remaining, and OH here comes Welbeck, streaking in alone, past the last defender, Brighi out to challenge, and IT'S CHEEKY FROM WELBECK...He chips Brighi, recovers his chip, and heads it OVER THE LINE!

'81 4-0 England - D. Welbeck (2)

EH: That's just disrespectful from the young man Welbeck Andy. You never show up an opponent, especially in an international match!

AG: Look at this Emile, it appears as though Veloso is going to take Welbeck off! Oh my, he is not impressed! Welbeck marches off with Veloso screaming at him down the tunnel! Bizarre scenes here in San Marino!
Danny Welbeck
Joleon Lescott

....

AG: A corner here late for England...Milner swings it IN...THERE IS NUMBER FIVE!

88' 5-0 England - J. Lescott

....

AG: And now full time for the English, who march out of Serravalle with a comfortable, expected 5-nil victory!
EH: A real great result for England, as they started virtually a B-team lacking any veterans, yet managed to still pulverize San Marino and live up to expectations!
AG: That does it for us in Serravalle, we will see you in four days' time back at Wembley, when England host Moldova in the final game of Rio 2014 Qualifying!


Group H

• England 9-0-0 (27)
• Montenegro 5-1-3 (16)
• Ukraine 5-0-4 (15)
• Poland 4-0-5 (12)
• Moldova 1-2-6 (5)
• San Marino 1-1-7 (4)

September 10th, 2013. Wembley Stadium. 2PM.

I lie on the pitch, right at midfield. The stadium is empty. Except for maybe Noel Gallagher, I think that bugger's somewhere in the upper deck smoking god knows what.

But other than that, I'm just meeting my inner footy zen.

It's a glorious, sunny early-Autumn day in southern England and I can feel the rays of sunlight beating down on me.

I sit myself up, staring towards what will be Moldova's goal to start the match.

I wonder just how long I will be able to call this place home...

September 10th, 2013. Wembley. 8:30PM.

As I strode out of the tunnel, I realized just how big this was.

I mean, we'd had crowds of 40, even 50 thousand back in Lisbon. But a full Wembley was simply something else.

90 thousand packed into one of the biggest and most glorious stadia in all of football.

As I took my place in the dugout I glanced towards the scoreboard, checking the team sheets one last time:

England (4-1-2-1-2)
GK - Ruddy
DL - Baines
DC - Jagielka
DC - Lescott
DR - Jones
DMC - Huddlestone
MC - Barry
MC - Milner
AMC - Oxlade-Chamberlain
FC - Welbeck
FC - Carroll

Moldova (3-1-3-1-2)
GK - Lungu
DC - Oprea
DC - Petrescu
DC - Chelariu
DMC - Rogojina
ML - Neagu
MC - Martiniuc
MR - Condurache
AMC - Ichim
FC - Palalae
FC - Iorgulescu

...
5'
I open my notepad to a fresh page just as we hit the fifth minute. A slow start for us, but surely we'll recover after this corner...here it is..Barry got OUTJUMPED...Oh thank god that's over the bar! Scary start...(hops out of dugout) LET'S GO LADS FIGURE YOURSELVES OUT!

...
9'
Welbeck's off down the left flank, go lad, CENTER IT....There's CARROLL..Oh lad, you've got to do better than that! Come on now! At least TEST the keeper!

...
21'
Danny's on fire today..cut outside Welbeck, attaboy! Oh that's a slick pass to Ox...there IT IS FINISH IT! YES! Attaboy Carroll...wait, oh COME ON LINESMAN! Get some glasses! That wasn't offside!

...
25'
Welbeck's clear through, no one's catching him..oh that's a cheeky chip! Well done lads!
1-0 England - D. Welbeck

...
34'
Jeez he's in again! There's DANNY WITH THE FINISH!
2-0 England - D. Welbeck (2)

...
36'
Ox is having a mighty fine game today...oh what a cross from OX! There it is GET IN! YES! That's game lads!
3-0 England - A. Carroll

...

Halftime (3-0 England)
"Alright lads, nice half. We're cruising. I don't want to embarrass them anymore, so I'm taking Danny off and bringing on Carrick. Also- Huddlestone off for Davies. I want to shore up the back end. Let's keep this clean sheet and see ourselves off to Rio gentlemen!"

(England shift to a 5-3-1-1)

...
60'
There's Ox...he really is an Ox out there...OH MY WHAT A CRACKER! Didn't see that one coming!
4-0 England - A. Oxlade-Chamberlain

...
77'
My goodness great passing display...Noel how good is our midfield right now? Oh Ox is in on goal...beautiful curled finish. This one's over!
5-0 England - A. Oxlade-Chamberlain (2)

...
80'
Oh that's really a terrible turnover by them...there's Ox...again. Calm finish. Let's leave. Wife's making dinner.
6-0 England - A. Oxlade-Chamberlain (3)

...
90'
There's fulltime...Nice job gents (shakes hands) Good match.

...

6-0 vs. Moldova
Welbeck 26', 34'
Carroll 36'
Oxlade-Chamberlain 61', 77', 80'

England wins qualifying group, advances toWorld Cup 2014: Brazil

A good result, good luck in Brazil!

A few sporadic friendlies while my family and I set up in London for hopefully our family home (if I stick around that long...):

Nov. 20th/'13 3-0 (H) Chile
Defoe- 8', 44', 49'

Feb. 5th/'14 3-0 (A) Israel
Huddlestone - 2'
Cole - 25'
Oxlade-Chamberlain - 40'

Jun. 7th/'14 5-0 (H) Bahrain
Oxlade-Chamberlain - 18', 83'
Rooney - 32', 78'
Sturridge - 85'

WORLD CUP 2014 PREVIEW COMING UP NEXT ON SKY SPORTS

Our draw is tricky, but definitely one we can advance from. Check out the groups below!

2013-11-17 22:26#144626 CarlosV96 : [color=#C4A000]WORLD CUP 2014 GROUPS[/color]

Group A
Brazil
Italy
Cote d'Ivoire
Japan

An interesting group, I see the top two seeds going through, although both Cote d'Ivoire and Japan could create issues.


Group B
Egypt
Mexico
Portugal
Uruguay

This group to me is wide open. Anyone outside Egypt could grab the bull by its horns and really power to the top of the table in Group B.


Group C
France
New Zealand
Norway
USA

An intriguing group, Norway and USA should battle it out for second. Don't discount a plucky Kiwi team either though.


Group D
Argentina
Belgium
Holland
Morocco

Another tough group, one very good team will be eliminated straight out of Group D. Morocco gets arguably the Group of Death.


Group E
Germany
Nigeria
Peru
Scotland

Intriguing group sees Germany with a fairly straight-forward draw, while the other three teams will all feel they might advance!


Group F
Australia
Chile
Russia
Slovenia

Wide-open group could see any of the four teams advance.


Group G
Cameroon
Colombia
Greece
Iran

Another wide-open group that's lacking any kind of elite team. Anyone can win, and anyone can definitely lose in this group!


Group H
Spain
England
Jamaica
South Korea

Our group isn't great due to Spain, but isn't terrible in that the other two teams are very beatable.