FM Scout: The Hunger Games (FM18)

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Time has now progressed to what is widely considered to be the half-way point of the European season. For the young starlets of The Hunger Games, they have (hopefully) settled down in to professional football, and should be aiming to make a mark whenever possible. Some players may have gone out on loan at this stage. Check your profile to find out if your player was one of them.

Here we take a look at the attribute profiles, season stats and transfer status of each player.

Just remember, no player will face elimination in the first three seasons as the young players look to develop their skills. However, bonuses will still be awarded.

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The end of the majority of Europe's transfer windows have come to an end, and a number of our contestants have found themselves out on loan. Indeed, ten players saw themselves temporarily away from their club in search of more regular playing time, despite their young ages.

A vast number of nations became the temporary home of many of our players, with players signing on loan for clubs from Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece and Mexico.

Genie found himself his first professional contract at En Avant de Guingamp of France.

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Coming towards the end of the 2017-2018 season, a few of the contestants had become senior internationals for their countries. You may see in the player profiles at the end of the season who had won caps and who had not.

The FIFA World Cup brought an opportunity for nations around the world to compete in the most prestigious competition in association football. While the vast majority of our contestant were either deemed not ready to make the step up to senior football for their country, or saw their sides not qualify, one of us would play in the greatest competition of all.

Lewie Roberts of Wales was our only representative in the competition, but what a representative. He played a couple of games for his country as a substitute but had not yet started or scored. He had plenty of competition for the striker role with the likes of Ben Woodburn, Sam Vokes and Tyler Roberts (no relation) also travelling to Russia. Gareth Bale and Harry Wilson were also in the squad, and they were expected to have big tournaments.

To Play At FIFA World Cup 2018
Wales | Lewie Roberts

Group H

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What a group! Wales were rewarded for their qualification with group opposition of Iran, USA and, most importantly, England. Gareth Bale and Ben Woodburn of Wales would face off against Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling. It was a star-studded clash which was highly anticipated.

Could Lewie Roberts and Wales progress beyond the group stage? Find out soon!

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Lewie Roberts and Wales had qualified for the World Cup and were drawn in to an exciting group which contained England, Iran and U.S.A.. Could Wales progress to the next round?

Group H

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Game 1

Iran 1-2 Wales - 20/06/2018
Kazan Arena | Attendance: 45,105

Starting XI (4-3-2-1): Rahmati ; Rezaeian (73'), Akbari, Tafazolli, Mohammadi; Karimi (77'), Ezatolahi , Hajsafi; Jahanbakhsh, Ghoddos (58'); Ansarifard
Subs Used: Shojaei (58'), Ghaseminejihad (73'), Shekari (77')

Starting XI (4-4-2): Maxwell; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies; Wilson (58'), Ramsey, Allen, Bale; Woodburn , Vokes
Subs Used: Lawrence (58')

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It was an incredibly tense fixture, surprisingly, as Iran controlled plenty of the possession in the early stages. However, no Wales game would go without Gareth Bale making an influential action, and it was his action which brought about the opening goal. The Welsh superstar looked to lob Iran's goalkeeper from forty-five yards out and the keeper looked to have caught the ball, but let the ball slip through his hands in to the back of the net.

Iran fought back and scored a deserved equaliser in the first minute of the second half. Karim charged forward down the right wing and picked out Ezatolahi on the edge of Wales' area. The midfielder placed a shot towards the far corner, which was out Maxwell's reach. The game was level once more.

Great players score important goals, and there was no doubt that Ben Woodburn was on the way to becoming a great player. Gareth Bale created the goal, once again, with a delightful back post cross from very deep. Woodburn cushioned an excellent header low and in to the far corner, giving Wales an important opening game victory.

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Game 2

Wales 0-3 England - 25/06/2018
Saint Petersburg | Attendance: 64.287

Starting XI (4-4-2): Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies; Lawrence (74'), Ramsey, Allen, Bale; Woodburn (80'), Vokes (65')
Subs Used: T. Roberts (65'), Wilson (74'), L. Roberts (80')

Starting XI (4-3-3): Butland; Walker, Stones (80'), Jones, Rose; Dier, Henderson, Wilshere; Sterling (65'), Kane , Rashford (84')
Subs Used: Lallana (65'), Gomez (80') , Alli (84')

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England were dominant throughout the game, but had to wait until late in the first half to break the deadlock. Rashford played a one-two with Kane before unleashing a low drive from the penalty area to put England in front.

Harry Kane was at the heart of everything positive for England, and he scored the second. Kane picked out Lallana on the right wing, and got on the end of the midfielder's whipped cross to slot a tidy finish for England's second.

The English killed the game off with seven minutes to go as a Liverpool duo combined. Jordan Henderson whipped in a free kick from wide which evaded a number of players to find Joe Gomez, who had come off the bench, and the ball ended up in the back of Wales' net for a third time.

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Game 3

Wales 2-1 U.S.A. - 29-06-2018
Fisht | Attendance: 45,000

Starting XI (4-4-2): Maxwell; Gunter, Chester, Walsh, Davies (67'); Lawrence, Ramsey (71'), Allen, Bale ; Woodburn, Vokes (57')
Subs Used: L. Roberts (57') , Dummett (67'), Wilson (71')

Starting XI (4-3-3): Hamid; Yedlin, Carter-Vickers, Brooks, Johnson; Hyndman, Bradley, McKennie (45'); Siebatcheu (62'), Wood , Jóhannsson (71')
Subs Used: Pulisic (45'), Boyd (62'), Green (71')

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This may go down as one of the greatest games in Wales' history, but it did not begin their way. After twenty minutes, the Americans took the lead. Yedlin floated a cross in to Wales' box, and Bobby Wood rose highest to power a header in. It was a goal that looked certain to have knocked Wales out of the competition, with the Welsh requiring a win to progress.

Wales battled and fought, but the Americans were well-disciplined and showed impressive structure. However, Gareth Bale was no ordinary footballer, and he proved to be the difference. With twenty minutes remaining, Aaron Ramsey drilled a low cross in to the area, and Bale finished with aplomb. Wales needed just one more goal to progress to the knockout stages.

The stage was set for a hero to be born, but USA were controlling possession in Wales' area. It was Wales' key players who made the difference in the final minutes, with a new young star sealing a moment of magic. Gareth Bale won the ball back in Wales' penalty box and unleashed a superb sixty yard long ball to send Ben Woodburn forward. The Liverpool attacker cut back for our very own Lewie Roberts, who showed composure beyond his years to add the finishing touch, sending Wales to the last sixteen. The young striker's goal was his first for Wales, and what an important goal it was! Lewie Roberts had certainly announced himself on the biggest stage of them all!

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FIFA World Cup 2018 Last Sixteen Draw

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Lewie Roberts' heroics rewarded Wales with a game against Germany in the Last 16. The reigning champions were strong favourites but with the likes of Gareth Bale, Ben Woodburn, Aaron Ramsey, Harry Wilson and the emergence of Lewie Roberts, anything was possible.

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Lewie Roberts' heroics in Wales' final group fixture against USA saw them progress to the Last 16 of the World Cup, where they were to face the reigning champions Germany. Let's see how Roberts & Co. fared.

Last 16

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Germany e3-2 Wales - 03/07/2018
Fisht | Attendance: 45,000

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Hummels, Süle, Henrichs; Khedira , Kroos; Sané (45'), Özil (45'), Reus ; Müller (51')
Subs Used: Stindl (45'), Werner (45') , Volland (51')

Starting XI (4-4-2): Maxwell; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies; Wilson, Ramsey (62'), Huws, Bale (81'); Woodburn , Vokes (56')
Subs Used: L. Roberts (56') , Lawrence (62'), Robson-Kanu (81')

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In all my years of FM, I don't think I've ever seen a game like this! It was action-packed from start to end. Germany began proceedings with a very early goal as James Chester bundled Marco Reus to the ground in the penalty box, and the Dortmund attacker stepped up to coolly slot the opening goal of the game with a low placed effort to the left.

It took just a matter of minutes for Wales to respond, and how they did just that! Gareth Bale won the ball back in Wales' half and launched a long range pass to Harry Wilson on the right wing. The tricky winger picked out Vokes with a deep cross, and the striker's header was a threatening one. Manuel Neuer parried it away, but only as far as Ben Woodburn who had been lurking around the six yard mark, and the teenage sensation tapped in to level the scores.

The goal gave Wales momentum early on in the game, and Vokes nearly scored a goal of his own but was left in dismay. Woodburn had beaten a number of German defenders before lifting a ball in to the area where Vokes was running in to, but the Welsh striker powered his header from close range well over the bar. A let off for Germany.

Vokes was, once again, a culprit for bad finishing as Ben Woodburn created yet another superb chance. This one was a much easier chance as Vokes was playing on the shoulder of Hummels, and Woodburn's delightful forward pass sent him through one-on-one with Neuer, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper and was saved comfortably.

Wales' momentum continued right in to the second half, with Woodburn and Wilson, in particular, looking very threatening. Bale looked to create a chance of his own from a free kick on the edge of the area, but saw his powerful shot crash off the crossbar.

Our very own Lewie Roberts was brought on for the misfiring Sam Vokes, and he made the ultimate impact in the seventieth minute. Harry Wilson made space for himself on the right wing before picking out Roberts in the area with an inch-perfect cross, and Roberts slotted a neat header past Neuer to put Wales in the lead with just twenty minutes to go. A much deserved goal.

Unfortunately, things did not go Wales' way in the end. The most dubious of refereeing decisions was made in stoppage time with lasting consequences for Wales. Lars Stindl played a ball in to Timo Werner, who was clearly very offside, and the latter then crossed for Kevin Volland to volley in a very very undeserved equaliser. Wales were robbed, as Werner was offside.

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The game went in to extra time following that controversial incident, and Germany began to smell blood. First Reus went close with a left footed half-volley from inside the area, before Khedira looped a header just wide from a corner.

With two minutes to go, it was Sami Khedira who scored the decisive goal. Lars Stindl saw his cross blocked, but the ball fell to Khedira on the edge of the area and the Juventus midfielder struck a low half-volley which whistled in to the back of Wales' goal. Germany had taken the lead.

It was not over yet. Wales still had something in them. Lewie Roberts went on a one-man mission in the final minute, completing a mazy run to work his way in to Germany's box. Just as he took the ball past Mats Hummels, the German defender illegally brought down the Welsh prodigy. It was a last minute penalty to Wales.

Up stepped Harry Wilson, but he never looked confident. He blazed the penalty well over the bar, meaning Germany would progress. Wales were out.

Knockout Stages

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For England, it was a fairytale campaign. They defeated Uruguay, Poland and Italy en route to the final, and a narrow win saw them lift the trophy. Dele Alli scored the winning goal, but Harry Kane is claiming it. Typical.

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The first season of professional football for our young starlets has passed, and a lot has changed for them. After the one year mark, we take a look at the players. The next update will show the points earned by each player throughout the first season, as well as the trophies and individual awards won.

Here we take a look at the attribute profiles, season stats and transfer status of each player.

Just remember, no player will face elimination in the first three seasons as the young players look to develop their skills. However, bonuses will still be awarded.

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The first season in this competition has passed, and there was plenty to celebrate for some. A number of our players were fortunate enough to be on trophy-winning sides, with a several also playing for their country for the first time.

We shall go through the points earned by each player, by each team and the value of each player after season one. Bonuses to CA, PA and reputation will be awarded to the winner of each chart.

Please remember that no team shall be eliminated in either of the first three seasons. So, even if your player gets 0 points in the first few seasons, there's no need to worry. This is just a warm up while your players develop some sort of skill.

Congratulations to Lewie Roberts for winning the most points in Season 1! The Welsh youngster played regularly for AS Nancy in Ligue 2, and scored crucial goals for his country at the FIFA World Cup. Big things were expected of him, and he got a Current Ability boost for his performances in 2017/2018.

Congratulations to Han Cock & Lewie Roberts for collecting the most points combined! The two players will receive a Potential Ability boost ahead of the next season.

Congratulations to Alexandre Leblanc, who was the most valuable player after the first season. Leblanc will receive a reputation boost ahead of the new season.

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Moving in to season two, a number of our contestants found them moving out on loan to new clubs, in search of more regular football. Let us take a look at any transfers which occurred over the summer.

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Midway in to season two, and the progress made by our contestants has been staggering. We take a look at their profiles and stats up until the new year of 2019. How have they developed? Any transfer interest? Look below to find out.

Just remember, no player will face elimination in the first three seasons as the young players look to develop their skills. However, bonuses will still be awarded.

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February brought with it the close of the winter transfer window for most countries, and there were a few loan moves for our young stars. Let's take a look at who moved throughout January.