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I am playing FM2005 with patch 5.03. All English leagues loaded, Large DB.
13th March 2006
Today, the English Football Association shocked the nation by sacking Sven-Göran Eriksson just weeks before the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. The FA confused the media further by appointing his successor immediately. Rob McClurey, twin brother of the Wigan manager with the same name, had been chosen to lead England to World Cup glory. With no previous experience, the new coach is expected to take tips from his brother and his backroom staff.
My first task was to choose a squad. I made only a couple of adjustments from my predecessor's selection, only narrowing the squad down to 23 and bringing in a couple of players who had been injured.
My squad -
GK's - Kirkland, Robinson, James
Defenders - Woodgate, Ferdinand, Campbell, Terry, G Neville, Bridge, A Cole, King
I knew I had a strong squad - just didn't know how strong they turned out to be.
We ran out 5-1 winners against Turkey, Owen grabbing a brace. It was the confidence boost we needed before we started the group stage.
Looking at the group, I expected to qualify. Our first game saw us take on Uzbekistan, before a tough tie versus the Dutch. We would finish our fixtures against Japan.
7th June 2006
England Vs Uzbekistan
I played an attacking formation, with Joe Cole having a free role at AML, supported by Lampard at AMC. Gerrard slotted in behind with Beckham on the right.
We completely overran the opposition, with only a fine goalkeeping display stopping us reaching double figures. In the end, it finished 6-0 and it was the ideal start.
The team was performing beyond expectations, so we yet again lined up in the same way.
Another game, another win. 4-0 the result this time with the confidence among the players soaring. The only slight worry in the game was a light injury to Gary Neville, being the only RB in the squad. I brought Campbell on and he was poor, but the game was won by that point already.
England - Kirkland, Neville (Campbell 55), A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Gerrard, J Cole, Lampard, Beckham, Owen, Rooney
Goals - J Cole 32, 80, Lampard 38, Owen 46
Attendance - 50353
World Cup 2006 Group A
(I can't work out how to post a table so I'll type it out )
Team Pld W D L F A GD Pts
England 3 3 0 0 15 0 +15 9
Japan 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 4
Holland 3 1 1 1 3 7 -4 4
Uzbekistan 3 0 0 3 0 11 -11 0
03-28-2005, 03:56 PM
Four decades after we first won - A short story Post #3
So we progressed past the group stage, which was my only expectation from the FA. We were drawn again Columbia in the next round and the nation expected victory.
24th June 2006
England Vs Columbia
Same team as the group stage, with the hope of continuing our perfect defensive record. Chose to have Ashley Cole watching Jairo Patino, as he seemed like he would be a threat down the right.
We got off to a perfect start through Owen's 7th minute strike. This was cancelled out in the 30th minute as a goalmouth scramble allowed Andres Chivita to toe poke the ball over the line. Two minutes before the interval, Owen netted again. Early on in the second period, Gerrard lost the ball on the half way line and a swift counter attack led to another equalizer, Edixon Perea doing the damage. Immediately, Owen's shot was saved but Rooney squeezed the ball between the post and the last defender to make it 3-2. In the 57th minute, Ashley Cole made a hefty challenge on Patino in the box, but the player fired his penalty straight at Kirkland.
England - Kirkland, Neville, A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Gerrard, J Cole, Lampard, Beckham, Owen, Rooney
Goals - Owen 7,44, Rooney 52
Attendance 82671
The quarter-final draw threw up bad blood as we were paired with Argentina in what was sure to be a classic.
30th June 2006
England Vs Argentina
Before the game we received news that Shaun Wright-Phillips had broken his foot in training and would be out for around 3 months. This was a blow but we remained focused on the difficult task ahead. For this game I made only one slight adjustment, Gerrard playing as a DMC to handle the pace of Saviola and Cavenaghi going forward.
Well, I predicted a classic and it was - at least for an England fan. After 14 minutes Lampard put us ahead and the lead was doubled before half time by Owen. He then had to be taken off with a groin injury. Beattie came on and earned his £20 million price tag. He made it 3-0 on 60 minutes before Rooney netted in the 70th. 4-0 down, Argentina collapsed allowing Beattie & Rooney to add a goal each to the scoreline. Deep into injury time. Gerrard deservedly scored a 25 yard scorcher to make it 7-0. The scoreline didn't flatter us at all and fans back home partied long into the night.
England - Kirkland, Neville, A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Gerrard, J Cole, Lampard, Beckham, Owen (Beattie 38), Rooney
The semi-final was to be played against Norway, who had dispatched France on penalties the round before. Unfortunately, Owen's groin strain would keep him out for 2 weeks & the rest of the tournament. Also, Neville picked up another yellow card, meaning an automatic one match suspension.
4th July 2006
England Vs Norway
So, on one of America's most important days, we looked to continue our winning form against the Norwegians. I was forced to play Bridge at right back instead of the suspended Gary Neville. Meanwhile, Beattie made his first start of the tournament.
We were strong favourites, and 28 mins in were 3 goals up. An early Ferdinand header had set us on our way, with Rooney and Beattie netting the others. With Terry & Gerrard a card away from suspension, I took them off as a precaution. We had to wait until the 73rd minute for the next goal, Lampard finishing off a great team move. This turned out to be the final goal of the game, and England were a step closer to winning the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
England - Kirkland, Bridge, A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry (Campbell 29), Gerrard (Parker 29), J Cole, Lampard, Beckham, Beattie, Rooney (C Cole 85)
Goals - Ferdinand 9, Rooney 20, Beattie 28, Lampard 73
Attendance 82656
03-28-2005, 05:09 PM
Four decades after we first won - A short story Post #6
Has anybody else had a bug where Germany only play greyed out players? I've seen it in other forums and it's rather strange
So the end of the line. Rob McClurey had guided his team to the World Cup final. Just like 40 years before, the final would be played between England and Germany. This time the German's would play host to what was sure to be a memorable final.
9th July 2006
FIFA World Cup 2006 Final
England Vs Germany
Between the semi-final and the final, Steven Gerrard damaged his knee and would be out of contention for two months. This was a severe blow as the Liverpool midfielder had been performing consistently well throughout the tournament. I chose to replace him with clubmate Scott Parker. We were boosted by the return of Gary Neville from suspension, and Wayne Bridge was dropped to the bench.
Gary Neville led the England team out to possibly the most hostile reception a football team has ever faced. All through the English national anthem, jeers and whistles marred the occasion. Finally, the game kicked off. In the 5th minute a Beattie show from close range was blocked and Rooney went close two minutes later with a effort from distance. From the resulting goal kick Beattie was denied by a last ditch tackle by the German defender. The German's then launched their first attack, Kirkland parrying an effort from Meier. Rooney was then booked for diving in the German's area and should have scored moments later when the ball came to him in the box. Then, in the 24th minute, the Olympiastadion erupted as Sebastian Koch ran through the English backline and put the ball past Kirkland. 6 minutes later the German's escaped as Beattie's effort thundered against the bar. Their relief was shortlived however as Scott Parker curled the ball round the keeper from 25 yards for his first England goal. Efforts from Beattie and Neville were both saved before the Half Time whistle blew.
Half Time: Germany 1 England 1
5 minutes into the second half, Joe Cole was denied by Sebastian Neumann's fingertips and the rebound was blocked by a defender. A swift German counter opened up some space for Michael Stein to shoot, Kirkland tipping the ball over the crossbar. Then, in the 61st minute, England were ahead. Frank Lampard latched onto Beattie's header before slotting it past Neumann. Florian Weller should have equalized as should have Thomas Kaiser. Weller nearly capitalised on a Ferdinand mistake but his shot flashed past the right hand post. Germany surged forward and only superb keeping kept England ahead. The German's were caught napping in the 81st minute as Beckham's cross allowed Rooney to head home what was surely the goal that would kill off the German's. A tense finale was due as Florian Weller got a goal back for the home side. Late efforts by Stein and Baumann were somehow blocked or deflected away from goal by last ditch defending. Rooney had a chance to secure the tie late on but fired wide from 12 yards. In the 91st minute, Kaiser came inches away from equaliing before Joe Cole came close at the other end. England attempted to waste time with a triple substituion but in the end it was a Carlton Cole offside that signalled the end of the game.
So we did it. We won the World Cup. In the tournament awards, we made up 10 of the 11 first team players on the Dream Team. Remarkably, Lampard only made the bench despite winning the Golden Boot with 7 goals, with Rooney also getting 7 & Owen 6. Rooney won the Player of Tournament, Owen 2nd and Joe Cole 3rd. Owen came 3rd in Goal of the Tournament with his strike against Japan. To recap our results,
England 6 Uzbekistan 0
England 5 Holland 0
England 4 Japan 0
England 3 Columbia 2
England 7 Argentina 0 :cool:
England 4 Norway 0
England 3 Germany 2
Hope you all enjoyed this story Sorry about long last post, but it was a cracking match!
03-28-2005, 05:28 PM
Four decades after we first won - A short story Post #7
Four decades after we first won - A short story 
Anyway always good to see an England side win the World Cup :thup:
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