JustJeff88
Registered User
I've been thinking about doing a thread like this for a good while, but I had a truly epic match last night, so I took that as a sign from the Footballing Gods (praise them!) to do it straightaway.
This thread is dedicated to recounting really epic matches that you have had. Online or off, win or lose, club or national, BAL, ML or one-off, it doesn't matter. Tell us about it here.
Warning: this recounting is going to be long. If it's too long for you to read, then don't. You can sod off with that TL/DR shite.
I have two or three that I would like to talk about, but I'll save the older ones for later. While I wait for certain option files to evolve, I've been learning the game in other competitions. A short while ago, I started another world cup identical to the most recent one. All rosters are base except for mine, England. However, I have edited no attributes and am only using currently active players (no classic players, no unlockables). Here is my squad (my terminology might be a bit off as I do not play the game in English, ironically):
Starting 11:
GK Hart
RB Johnson
CB Terry
CB Ferdinand
LB Ashley Cole
MF Gerrard
MF Lampard
RM Lennon
LM Young
ST Rooney
ST Carroll
Bench:
GK Robinson
RB Shorey
CB Carragher
CB Dawson
LB Baines
MF Carrick
MF Huddlestone
MF Milner
MF Joe Cole
ST Walcott
ST Agbonlahor
ST Zamora
I started the pools phase much like England did in 2010, by which I mean underwhelmingly. I beat Algeria in the first match via a late Rooney goal but then drew 1-1 with the USA in a game that I totally dominated They scored on a totally unrealistic goal where Altidore ran through Terry, Ferdinand, and Gerrard and buried one in the top corner.
Going into the final match with Slovenia, I had to get a point to guarantee moving on. If I lose and Algeria beats the USA, I'm out. I fell behind 2-0, the second of which was a goal where their striker somehow outjumped Terry and Ferdinand at the same time on a free kick cross from the wing. I got one back late but was down 2-1 in the 85th minute when Rooney makes a brilliant tackle in the center circle, runs a mile, then slides one off the outside of his foot to late sub Zamora, who deftly ties it up at 2-2 for the final whistle. Algeria did indeed pummel the USA, but I was moving on with 5 points.
My first knockout opponent was, surprise surprise, Germany. I knew that I was in trouble after my inconsistent performances in the group stage, and my woes were compounded when Carroll and Joe Cole both come out in terrible (purple arrow) form while Young was blue. I ended up starting Milner and Agbonlahor in their places even though I really don't like using Gabriel as a point striker as his pace is more devastating on the wing, but Rooney is too versatile to put too far up the pitch, in my mind.
The match started very poorly. Germany came out running and hit me in the mouth when Ozil and Gomez linked up an amazing 1-2 for a goal in the 7th minute. However, I struck back 11 minutes later when Ashley Cole got deep on the attacking left and crossed a ball to the far post where Lennon dove turf-level and headed the ball under the flailing keeper to equalize. Not 18 minutes in and it's 1-1.
Germany kept up the pressure until, in the 42nd, Ozil picked up a loose ball in the box after Terry got distracted by thoughts of pretty girls and lollipops or something and we went in for halftime oranges down 2-1.
50th minute, and I got a huge break. Lennon sprinted deep into the right side and crossed a too-strong ball in. The German defender went to control it (no strikers anywhere close) and the ball bounced off of his toe and in for an own goal that tied it 2-2. This totally changed the complexion of the match and gave me back my confidence.
England is a superbly conditioned team, and it started to show at about 65 minutes. Germany lost their offensive spark and looked tired, and I suddenly had all of the possession and all of the chances. Agbonlahor, despite my misgivings, was brilliant. Late in the game his pace shredded tired German legs and he had chance after chance, but... bugger me, the German keeper (Nueur, I think) deserves whatever the German equivalent of a VC is, because he was ridiculous. Save after save after save - the game should have been well over in regulation, but he was always in the right place at the right time.
We go to extra time, and despite his bad form, I bring Cole on because Lennon is knackered. Then, karma from the own-goal deflection bites me on the arse at 100 minutes when Ozil tries to thread a pass through a forest of English legs and it somehow deflects perfectly under Gomez's foot, giving him a simple shot to break the tie. I'm heartbroken as Germany somehow pulls ahead despite no glimmer of offence for over 30 minutes.
Second prolongation, and I am going all out to level. Then, Wayne Rooney, my best player to this point (8, 7.5, 7.5 ratings in the pools phase with 2 goals and 1 assist), pulls a rabbit out of his hat. Despite three defenders between him and the goal, he makes a shallow diagonal run and Joe Cole plays a perfect leading pass. Rooney, who is still relatively fresh due to his superb conditioning, turns the corner, the keeper comes out to the 6 metre line, but Wayne slides a 15 metre shot between Nueur's hand and the post, and we are level 3-3 at 109 minutes.
Then something happened that I saw and still can barely believe. Germany is gassed and I am still dominating on offence. In the 116th minute, I have a prolonged spell of attacking possession deep in the German half spurred by Walcott's great dribbling on the right wing. Finally, they get control after a frenetic exchange and pass it back to Nueur, who winds up to relaunch with the ball at his feet (note that he can't pick up because it was a deliberate back pass) when, suddenly, the man who scored the cup-saving goal against Slovenia and 108th minute sub Zamora flies in, leaps, and deflects the live goal kick off of his hip and into the net. England leads 4-3 with less than 5 minutes to go, and we held on.
Rooney and late sub Walcott (and Gomez) each got 8.0's, though Agbonlahor only got a 6.5, which was far less than he deserved. Shots were 9(3) them and 4(3) me at the half, but I dominated the later 75 and we ended 18(8) and 20(14) with 57% possession for The Lions, 9 corners to their 6, and only 1 foul to their 7.
I am emotionally exhausted after this game, and have Greece next in the quarters. If I win, I will play the winner of Italy/Spain. I'm going to wait a while because I'm still tired and kind of in shock that I pulled that game out, and in such an amazing fashion.
I hope that you enjoyed my tale. Now tell me yours.
This thread is dedicated to recounting really epic matches that you have had. Online or off, win or lose, club or national, BAL, ML or one-off, it doesn't matter. Tell us about it here.
Warning: this recounting is going to be long. If it's too long for you to read, then don't. You can sod off with that TL/DR shite.
I have two or three that I would like to talk about, but I'll save the older ones for later. While I wait for certain option files to evolve, I've been learning the game in other competitions. A short while ago, I started another world cup identical to the most recent one. All rosters are base except for mine, England. However, I have edited no attributes and am only using currently active players (no classic players, no unlockables). Here is my squad (my terminology might be a bit off as I do not play the game in English, ironically):
Starting 11:
GK Hart
RB Johnson
CB Terry
CB Ferdinand
LB Ashley Cole
MF Gerrard
MF Lampard
RM Lennon
LM Young
ST Rooney
ST Carroll
Bench:
GK Robinson
RB Shorey
CB Carragher
CB Dawson
LB Baines
MF Carrick
MF Huddlestone
MF Milner
MF Joe Cole
ST Walcott
ST Agbonlahor
ST Zamora
I started the pools phase much like England did in 2010, by which I mean underwhelmingly. I beat Algeria in the first match via a late Rooney goal but then drew 1-1 with the USA in a game that I totally dominated They scored on a totally unrealistic goal where Altidore ran through Terry, Ferdinand, and Gerrard and buried one in the top corner.
Going into the final match with Slovenia, I had to get a point to guarantee moving on. If I lose and Algeria beats the USA, I'm out. I fell behind 2-0, the second of which was a goal where their striker somehow outjumped Terry and Ferdinand at the same time on a free kick cross from the wing. I got one back late but was down 2-1 in the 85th minute when Rooney makes a brilliant tackle in the center circle, runs a mile, then slides one off the outside of his foot to late sub Zamora, who deftly ties it up at 2-2 for the final whistle. Algeria did indeed pummel the USA, but I was moving on with 5 points.
My first knockout opponent was, surprise surprise, Germany. I knew that I was in trouble after my inconsistent performances in the group stage, and my woes were compounded when Carroll and Joe Cole both come out in terrible (purple arrow) form while Young was blue. I ended up starting Milner and Agbonlahor in their places even though I really don't like using Gabriel as a point striker as his pace is more devastating on the wing, but Rooney is too versatile to put too far up the pitch, in my mind.
The match started very poorly. Germany came out running and hit me in the mouth when Ozil and Gomez linked up an amazing 1-2 for a goal in the 7th minute. However, I struck back 11 minutes later when Ashley Cole got deep on the attacking left and crossed a ball to the far post where Lennon dove turf-level and headed the ball under the flailing keeper to equalize. Not 18 minutes in and it's 1-1.
Germany kept up the pressure until, in the 42nd, Ozil picked up a loose ball in the box after Terry got distracted by thoughts of pretty girls and lollipops or something and we went in for halftime oranges down 2-1.
50th minute, and I got a huge break. Lennon sprinted deep into the right side and crossed a too-strong ball in. The German defender went to control it (no strikers anywhere close) and the ball bounced off of his toe and in for an own goal that tied it 2-2. This totally changed the complexion of the match and gave me back my confidence.
England is a superbly conditioned team, and it started to show at about 65 minutes. Germany lost their offensive spark and looked tired, and I suddenly had all of the possession and all of the chances. Agbonlahor, despite my misgivings, was brilliant. Late in the game his pace shredded tired German legs and he had chance after chance, but... bugger me, the German keeper (Nueur, I think) deserves whatever the German equivalent of a VC is, because he was ridiculous. Save after save after save - the game should have been well over in regulation, but he was always in the right place at the right time.
We go to extra time, and despite his bad form, I bring Cole on because Lennon is knackered. Then, karma from the own-goal deflection bites me on the arse at 100 minutes when Ozil tries to thread a pass through a forest of English legs and it somehow deflects perfectly under Gomez's foot, giving him a simple shot to break the tie. I'm heartbroken as Germany somehow pulls ahead despite no glimmer of offence for over 30 minutes.
Second prolongation, and I am going all out to level. Then, Wayne Rooney, my best player to this point (8, 7.5, 7.5 ratings in the pools phase with 2 goals and 1 assist), pulls a rabbit out of his hat. Despite three defenders between him and the goal, he makes a shallow diagonal run and Joe Cole plays a perfect leading pass. Rooney, who is still relatively fresh due to his superb conditioning, turns the corner, the keeper comes out to the 6 metre line, but Wayne slides a 15 metre shot between Nueur's hand and the post, and we are level 3-3 at 109 minutes.
Then something happened that I saw and still can barely believe. Germany is gassed and I am still dominating on offence. In the 116th minute, I have a prolonged spell of attacking possession deep in the German half spurred by Walcott's great dribbling on the right wing. Finally, they get control after a frenetic exchange and pass it back to Nueur, who winds up to relaunch with the ball at his feet (note that he can't pick up because it was a deliberate back pass) when, suddenly, the man who scored the cup-saving goal against Slovenia and 108th minute sub Zamora flies in, leaps, and deflects the live goal kick off of his hip and into the net. England leads 4-3 with less than 5 minutes to go, and we held on.
Rooney and late sub Walcott (and Gomez) each got 8.0's, though Agbonlahor only got a 6.5, which was far less than he deserved. Shots were 9(3) them and 4(3) me at the half, but I dominated the later 75 and we ended 18(8) and 20(14) with 57% possession for The Lions, 9 corners to their 6, and only 1 foul to their 7.
I am emotionally exhausted after this game, and have Greece next in the quarters. If I win, I will play the winner of Italy/Spain. I'm going to wait a while because I'm still tired and kind of in shock that I pulled that game out, and in such an amazing fashion.
I hope that you enjoyed my tale. Now tell me yours.