Hello friends and thank you for joining me for this awesome even in beautiful Russia ;) I am proud to be at the helm of the most successful nation in international football and I look forward to a chance at adding a 6th star to the familiar crest of Brazil.
Here is my 23 man squad for the tournament; I’ve included their star rating as well:
GK: Renan, Diego Alves, and Rafael
I am lucky, Brazil has quite a few good keepers. My normal number 1, Luis Guilherme, who I believe many of you are familiar with, is injured so I called up these fine gentlemen.
DC: Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Glaucio, Neto, and Carlinhos
Thiago Silva will be my captain. Not sure who will partner with him — either Luiz or Glaucio.
DL: Marcelo and Ferreirinha
Normally I use Fabio, Rafael’s twin, but he is injured.
MC: Lucas Moura, Giuliano, Ramires, Sandro, Danilo, Jucilei, Lucas Leiva, and Luiz Gustavo
Moura and Guiliano can play as strikers as well.
Normally, Alexandre Pato joins us, but he is injured.
So this is a strong and balanced squad in terms of experience and youth and we have a real chance of winning this tournament.
I would say we were handed a pretty straight-forward group. All these teams have quality but none of them are on the level of Brazil (which is ranked 5th in the World in my game). Also, I will be using Johnny’s Barcelona tactics for this tournament.
VS U.S.A.: We could only scrap together a 1 — 0 win, courtesy of an own goal from America’s captain and best player, Chad Lake (who I tried to sign while at Gladbach and Cagliari). We dominated the game in possession and shots, as we should, but we needed the deflection to win the game.
VS Croatia: Probably the best team in our group next to us. We were the better team again, but we couldn’t break a resolute Croatian defense. We should have won 1 — 0, but the referee decided not to award us the penalty we deserved.
VS Japan: This was a bad game. I fielded some of the back-up players and we dominated Japan — they didn’t even take a shot! But out shots were wildly inaccurate so we could only win 1 — 0 when substitute Lucas Moura struck lucky.
We didn’t even win the group! Croatia beat Japan 4 — 0 and the U.S.A. 1 — 0 so they went ahead of us on superior goal difference. I am pretty disappointed in the team but we just have to pick ourselves up and get ready for the challenge that Mexico poses. Yep, they are our first opponents in the group stage. We beat them 2 — 0 the last time we faced them, so the advantage lies with us.
VS Mexico: They are a tough team with some great players: Chicharito, both Dos Santos brothers, Erick Torres, and Jorge Torres Nilo (I bought him while at Gladbach). And they beat us. Nelio gave us the lead early on, but Chicharito, in true poaches fashion, volleyed a great cross into the net. A few minutes later, Romario dragged one of their players in box and gave a away a penalty, which they converted. We were slightly the more dominant team in terms of stats and got close to scoring several times. But it wasn’t to be . . . My World Cup dream ended in the first knockout round and Brazil dropped to 6th place. I resigned in shame before the Brazilian FA could have a chance to fire me. I hope that my Cagliari campaign goes a little better . . .
So that’s the end of my stint with Brazil. I would like to try with another national team at a later time, but for now I will focus on dominating Europe.
Mexico beat Spain (the other joint favorites — Italy lost their first round match to England, who in turn got beaten by Portugal in the quarter-finals) 2 — 0 in the quarter-finals (the round after they beat me), they beat Portugal in the semi-finals 1 — 0 in extra-time, before beating Argentina 1 — 0 in the final, courtesy of Chicharito. Mexico secured their first ever World Cup! Congratulations to them — if I was going to lose to any team, who better than the eventual champions? Sadly, our performances didn’t earn any of our players awards. So that’s it for this small issue. Stay tuned for more adventures from Italy!
CsAtlantis
7 февраля, 2012 at 06:08
Wow, some of the Mexico players are amazing in FM, is Leandro Damiao good in your save? Think he would have been useful to have, but your 2 regen strikers should have killed the group, how did Croatia do after progressing as group winners?
Perhaps you can choose an European team, maybe Italy as your next national team :P
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:27
I was sure Gomes and Neymar would dominate the tournament. We qualified for the big stage with such ease and our friendlies were pushovers as well. Leandro Damio got a few caps from me but I thought Nelio was a better choice. I guess all I can say is major props to Mexico for getting past such solid teams.
Woody
7 февраля, 2012 at 07:42
Unlucky to get Mexico in the last 16 There squad is amazing
Anyway unlucky and maybe you can manage a euro team next
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:30
Hey Woody. Like I said, if I’m going to get beaten, I’d like to get beaten by the best.
And I would like to take a control of a European team to guide them through the Euro Cup.
TheZiggy
7 февраля, 2012 at 12:31
I’m sure you’re very disappointed after that experience, especially as the team just didn’t seem to be able to get into free scoring mode.
Mexico looked very strong, but I was still expecting you to beat them, but that’s football I guess. At least they went on to win it, which makes the pain slightly less.
I just checked in my game just before the 2014 world cup, and Brazil have slipped to being ranked 22nd in the world, so I don’t know what is happening to them. The two most amazing countries to be above them are Switzerland in 11th and Scotland in 16th. The football world has gone crazy in my game. :D
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:33
I was surprised by our inaccuracy. As joint favorites for the tournament we should have been scoring 2-3 goals a game, especially given the number of shots we took and the teams we were facing (apart from Mexico). And Brazil’s ranking isn’t the best in my game either but certainly not as low as in your game. That’s really surprising. When I took over, Brazil was in 8th, though they were the first team to qualify from South America, and quite handily, mind you. Sadly, I was only able to get them up to 6th.
Kevin
7 февраля, 2012 at 12:46
Hi Bhargav
Hard luck mate. You gave it a good shot but it wasn’t to be. Better luck next time.
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:35
Thanks Kevin. Mexico deserved it given the route they went through to get the trophy. Beating 2 of the joint favorites, both of whom have lifted the trophy, and facing former champions Argentina in the final, and not to mention CR7 in the semis in probably his last World Cup. That being said, he is the reigning World Player of the Year despite his age, which makes Mexico’s achievement even more crazy.
Laxeyman
7 февраля, 2012 at 16:41
Unlucky Bhargav, it seems like you dominated the games, but a lack of creativity let you down, maybe a couple of wingers and attacking midfielders would have helped, you seemed to have a very strong centre but not much width. Anyway, I’m sure if you get another chance with another team you’ll do well, and there’s always success to be had with Cagliari :)
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:39
Thanks Laxeyman. It seems that for now I just can’t find any love with national sides. I was also using Johnny’s Barcelona tactic, which has no wingers. It usually worked well, but I guess the game decided it would be Mexico’s year. And I hope Cagliari yields the success I am looking for!
Ivo
7 февраля, 2012 at 18:11
so unlucky … even tough you should always choose the most experienced goalkeeper (30+).
I always use them and i was always the lowest conceding team :P … what about Pato and Ganso ? why not them ? or Fabio (Rafael’s brother) … Great effort but you had a lack of experienced players :/ how has croatia done ? :D
Peace , Ivo
ps. do you know ur media prediction now ?
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:42
I actually used Deigo Alves more frequently than Renan, even during the game against Mexico!
Pato, Fabio, and Ganso were all hurt :( Ganso might have been able to play during the Mexico game but I didn’t want to risk losing out on one of my squad spots.
Croatia lost in their first knock-out game to Portugal.
And my media prediction is a high mid-table finish, 300-1 odds that I win the title.
Darren Smith
7 февраля, 2012 at 19:14
That must have been a very disappointing tournament for you mate, did you use Johnny’s attacking or counter tactic?
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:46
I used the attacking tactic. I didn’t think any of the opposition were quite at the same level . . . even Mexico because the last time I faced them, which was a few months ago, we beat them 2 — 0.
Johnny Karp
7 февраля, 2012 at 19:27
It’s a disappointment for you and the nation but the World Cup is very tough, no game is won beforehand. I’m sure you’ll be in for a payback sooner or later ;)
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:47
That’s true Johnny, and that’s why it’s the best event in the World!
Ana Garcia
7 февраля, 2012 at 20:36
Bad luck!
If it helps I always struggle at world cup also!
Mexico is weird as a winner as they have just won the world cup on my game also, a few years ahead of you but maybe its a sign!
If they did win it, I dont think my Dad would sleep for weeks!! (he is Mexican btw) but at least leaving Brazil allows you to focus on the domestic side.
Good luck! :)
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:50
Haha, thanks Ana! Even in real life, you can see Mexico is greatly improving and the side has a lot of solid young talent. I wouldn’t be too surprised if it happened sometime during our lifetimes.
Martin - F.M.J.S
7 февраля, 2012 at 21:22
Unlucky Bhargav. Its a shame Brazil did not perform for you in the World Cup.
Bhargav
8 февраля, 2012 at 00:51
Most surprising given how our pre-tournament results were going. Oh well, I guess that’s what makes the World Cup so entertaining!
Sears
9 февраля, 2012 at 16:44
Not a great tournament but Mexico did have an excellent team… Unlucky mate :(
Bhargav
10 февраля, 2012 at 03:47
Thanks Sears. Next time I will have a stronger showing.
Frank
12 февраля, 2012 at 12:01
Hi Bhargav,
You were unlucky to get Mexico as they have some real quality players, but theres no shame losing to the eventual winners. Good luck for next season with Cagliari :)
Also, could you check out my new blog where I am managing new York Red Bulls
thefootballmanagergaffer.blogspot.com
Bhargav
25 февраля, 2012 at 14:55
Of course! I would love to since that’s my hometown team!
Matt
12 апреля, 2012 at 15:27
What face pack are you using and does it come with the badges aswell ?
Bhargav
30 мая, 2012 at 23:03
Hey! I use the facepack from fmdownloads.com and I use the badge pack that is linked to on this very site.