For all those interested to discuss matters related to Career Mode -Stories: please post it here!
Some people can give you tips and advice on how to progress in a career or story
Some people can help you find solutions while in Career Mode
Some people can help you how to make a good looking .jpg, .png, or .psd
And some people like to just chit chat about their Career Mode Team in real life...
Whatever it is, the place is here
Cheers!
@LABoog4 wrote:My favorite match so far has been Poland v Netherlands. A lot of shots, both teams trying to attack and some really nice periods of passing from both sides.
Good shout. I watched some of it, but not all, so I can't name it my favourite so far.
Despite one team dominating I really enjoyed Germany's performance in the opening game. Such a great performance by a team lining up with five current or previous number 10's: Havertz, Wirtz, Musiala, Gündogan and Kroos. I know Kroos have moved into a deeper position for many years, but still I had my doubts about the lot playing together with no width. My doubts were put to shame though.
Another game I enjoyed, despite only one goal, was France vs Austria. Rangnick's side didn't give a blip about France being favourites, they just flew at them. Brilliant. France were also clever to allow Austria hold the ball at times, instigating a chance for a counter. Fun to watch from a tactical perspective.
Turkey vs Georgia is a good shout too though. What a game this was. Kudos to both sides for a thrilling match.
My favorite match so far has been Poland v Netherlands. A lot of shots, both teams trying to attack and some really nice periods of passing from both sides.
@JustinCase0110 wrote:Funny you mention Netherlands, because i generally agree. A very thrilling side to watch historically, and they could easily have deserved more from some of their best tournaments. 1998, 2000 to mention a few. However, they also have an ugly side to them. The final in 2010 comes to mind specifically. Perhaps it was the only way to beat the magnificent Spain, but that was simply too ugly for my taste. Their game against Argentina in 2022 the same, though I agree that Argentina weren't exactly innocent either. And there was an infamous game against Portugal too, in the past. 2006, I believe? Somehow Netherlands are often involved in the most nasty of games, and that does cast a bit of a shadow over an otherwise very likeable national team.
It is kind of a response to national criticism that we always play 'nice and beautiful' and we can't win ugly, so that was put into the team from 2004 onward. However it doesn't really work, because we play ugly it's because we can't win - it's a consequence rather than a strategy.
This team appears very well balanced. Our bench is strong, so if something doesn't work with the starting eleven we can bring in different weapons. Germany and Spain have opened the best, but I'll put Netherlands third for now. And it's a tournament, so starting all out doesn't win you the trophy per se. Netherlands won their EURO after a 0-1 loss in the opening game, so there's hope for Belgium.
So, the best possible start is a minimal "don't do more than necessary" type wins: in that sense, England, Denmark and Italy have had the right start.
@LABoog4 wrote:England will always have that stigma surrounding then while Southgate is in charge. I like England, mostly because of guys like Kane, Bellingham, Foden, TAA but they are very boring at times. Maybe with TAA playing in midfield more, they will become more exciting.
Funny, the three European teams I cheer for are all represented on here. Denmark has a few players I really like so they became a team I follow. Erikson is one of my favorite all-time players so I have always followed Denmark when he is involved and then other players started to grow on me.
Netherlands - The first World Cup I can really remember was 2010 and that Netherlands side was a joy to watch. Knocking out Brazil and Uruguay on their way to the finals. They became one of the teams I follow ever since then.
If USA is not in a tournament (or after they get knocked out) those are the three teams I cheer for to win.
You're spot on with England being boring. I read a lot of stuff about England never winning with Southgate in charge, and I just don't get it. You can't really question his results, can you? I mean, a semi final, a final lost on penalties, and then a quarter final defeat to France. His results effectively make him the second best ever England manager after Sir Alf Ramsey, in my book. Bringing a world cup trophy and a Euros third place in the 1960s. But of course it's also true that they are a boring side to watch. Especially when preparing for a major tournament.
I hope that Denmark will live up to your praise for them. It's been a long walk in the desert since the last Euros and the subsequent World Cup qualifiers. They've just stalled at some point, and Kasper Hjulmand's side has lacked that determination and togetherness that took them so far at the Euros. But hopefully we'll rise again this time. But the team is in a fragile state IMO. Much like Man United in recent seasons, things look good in a game or two, then a minor piece of bad luck makes everything fall apart.
Funny you mention Netherlands, because i generally agree. A very thrilling side to watch historically, and they could easily have deserved more from some of their best tournaments. 1998, 2000 to mention a few. However, they also have an ugly side to them. The final in 2010 comes to mind specifically. Perhaps it was the only way to beat the magnificent Spain, but that was simply too ugly for my taste. Their game against Argentina in 2022 the same, though I agree that Argentina weren't exactly innocent either. And there was an infamous game against Portugal too, in the past. 2006, I believe? Somehow Netherlands are often involved in the most nasty of games, and that does cast a bit of a shadow over an otherwise very likeable national team.
England will always have that stigma surrounding then while Southgate is in charge. I like England, mostly because of guys like Kane, Bellingham, Foden, TAA but they are very boring at times. Maybe with TAA playing in midfield more, they will become more exciting.
Funny, the three European teams I cheer for are all represented on here. Denmark has a few players I really like so they became a team I follow. Erikson is one of my favorite all-time players so I have always followed Denmark when he is involved and then other players started to grow on me.
Netherlands - The first World Cup I can really remember was 2010 and that Netherlands side was a joy to watch. Knocking out Brazil and Uruguay on their way to the finals. They became one of the teams I follow ever since then.
If USA is not in a tournament (or after they get knocked out) those are the three teams I cheer for to win.
@Danimal5981 wrote:Same here.
Today, a lot of our countries are up: @JustinCase0110 (Denmark), @CO88LER5 (England) and myself (Netherlands, Poland) - expectations?
What about yourself? Netherlands vs Poland, that has to be a special occation for you. I remember them meeting in one of my CM stories with a national team story on the side, and you didn't fail to mention it back then. I believe it was in a knockout game though.
What do you expect of them both? The last dance for Lewandowski, I assume. And Netherlands, I'm not sure what to expect with Koeman on the sideline. I could see Xavi Simons have his big international breakthrough here...
Speaking of England, there's a lot of distress about their boooring games leading up the Euros, including the 1-0 defeat to their bogey side Iceland. However, I remember similar criticism surrounding their team prior to previous tournaments, where they ended in semi finals in 2018, a final in 2020 and a quarter final in 2022, only losing to runner-ups France. I'm certainly not jumping on the "England will flop"-train, which - to be honest - I would otherwise very much like to see. Sorry @CO88LER5.
@Danimal5981 wrote:Same here.
Today, a lot of our countries are up: @JustinCase0110 (Denmark), @CO88LER5 (England) and myself (Netherlands, Poland) - expectations?
Well, Slovenia are supposed to be the worst side in the group. So I hope for a win for Denmark in this particular game. But I can't say I expect anything. We had a poor qualifier, ending with the same amount of points as Slovenia, and our World Cup only 18 months ago was absolutely abysmal. Our worst ever.
Meanwhile the gaffer brought all the usual suspects to the Euros, except Martin Braithwaite. Many of the rest were also involved at Qatar, and I feel this team could easily be shaken by those previous events. Captain Simon Kjær isn't even match fit, and a player like Matt O'Riley wasn't included despite a brilliant season at Celtic. Fair play, other midfielders have had good seasons too, and I get why he wouldn't drop any of them. Meanwhile he hasn't exacly performed in the few chances, he's got so far. But I would still have included him.
The two recent friendlies both brought wins, 2-1 vs Sweden and 3-1 vs Norway, but for huge parts of those games we were the poorest team on the pitch. Norway especially, they really deserved that 2-2 equalizer, before Youssef Poulsen scored a late one to make the scoreboard lie even harder.
Long story short. Slovenia are great in both ends, with Oblak in goal and Sesko up front. And that is the areas where games are decided. But I still predict a Danish 2-1 win. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will score for the 4th consecutive game, also winning himself the man of the match for the 4th consecutive game. And I have a feeling that Rasmus Højlund will get back to his scoring habit. He scored 7 goals in his first 10 international games, but he hasn't scored in any of the 4 we've played in 2024 so far. Today he'll open his account once again.
@LABoog4 wrote:My CM will be slowing down a bit these next few weeks. My free time will be used watching EUROs and the COPA. I will still be checking in on others CMs here daily so if anyone wants to talk about the games in this thread, I'll be around too.
EUROs at 8, 11, 2 every day and then the COPA are 5pm and 7pm. It's going to be a fun 30 days.
Same here, regarding the Euros, I mean. Here, I believe the COPA is played in the middle of the night, so I won't be paying too much attention to that one, as I rarely do.
But I have seen all four Euros games so far, interesting ones with a lot of goals in them. I don't think I'll be able to continue this 100% record though, with every day life coming back to hit me tomorrow.
However, nothing sparks my FIFA-interest more than watching real football games, so I'm pretty sure I'll still find some time to play a few games and keep my career going through the summer.
Same here.
Today, a lot of our countries are up: @JustinCase0110 (Denmark), @CO88LER5 (England) and myself (Netherlands, Poland) - expectations?
