[Albion] 2024 Fantasy Albion World Cup- Round 1, Group A

After a stunning opening ceremony featuring Martin Perry driving round the Withdean Stadium running track dressed as Austin Powers and a beautiful rendition of Sussex by the Sea by a local steel drum band we are finally ready for the 2024 edition of the Fantasy Albion World Cup

You'll see below 4 squads, please vote for the two sides that you think should progress. The top 2 progress. Please base your opinions on their Albion careers only.

Over to you

Spain
Manager: Oscar Garcia. Garcia managed Brighton for the 2013-14 season and guided his side to the Championship play offs.

Garcia brings a strong squad to Withdean for this tournament. Spain have a good goalkeeper in Sanchez and 4 good defenders, albeit they are all full backs. The midfield is unbelievably talented and technically gifted but there are questions marks about how robust they are. The Frontline is lacking firepower with the star man probably being Ansu Fati.

Star man: Vicente. The magical midfielder will be almost playing a different sport to his team mates.

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez
Defenders: Bruno, Inigo Calderon (captain), Martin Montoya, Marc Cucurella
Midfielders: Vicente, David Lopez, Andrea Orlandi, Jack Harper
Forwards: Fran Sandaza, Adrian Colunga, Ansu Fati, David Rodriguez, Johnny Dixon

Possible starting line up:

Sanchez

Montoya Bruno Calderon Cucurella

Lopez Vicente Orlandi

Fati Sandaza Colunga


Netherlands

Manager: Michel Kuipers (player manager)

Kuipers brings a side who disappointed in last years tournament but don't underestimate their talent. The Dutch bring an enviable roster of goalkeepers. They also have 3 top level defenders and some real talent in midfield. Like the Spanish there are doubts about their firepower though

Star man: Jan Paul van Hecke. This top notch centre back will lead the line at the back.

Goalkeepers: Michel Kuipers, Bart Verbruggen, Kjell Sherppen, Tim Krul
Defenders: Jan Paul van Hecke, Joel Veltman, Hans Kraay
Midfielders: Soufyan Ahannach, Davy Propper, Danny Holla, Elvis Manu, Rajiv van la Parra, Kemy Agustein (captain), Mats Wieffer
Forwards: Jurgen Locadia, Roland Bergkamp

Possible starting line up:

Verbruggen

Veltman Kraay van Hecke

Manu Propper Holla Wieffer Agustien van la Parra

Locadia

Sussex
Manager: The Ghost of Tommy Cook (player-manager). Cook managed Brighton in 1947.

Host nation Sussex are making their tournament debut and have a strong squad full of Albion stalwarts. Cook has a very talented set of defenders to choose from as well as some reliable midfielders. Up front Cook, the Albions all time record goalscorer can be relied upon to bang in the goals.

Star man: The captain Lewis Dunk turned down a chance to represent England to lead the line for this home county.

Goalkeepers: John Sullivan, Brian Powney
Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Captain), Ian Chapman, Adam Webster, Steve Cook, Tommy Elphick, Ross Johnson, Kerry Mayo, Paul Watson, Stuart Tuck
Midfielders: Tommy Fraser, Tony Towner, Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March, Dean Cox, Simon Rodger, Dean Hammond
Forwards: Jake Robinson, Joe Gatting, Chris McPhee, Darren Freeman, Tommy Cook

Possible starting line up:

Powney

Watson Dunk Webster Chapman

March Hammond Hinshelwood Cox

Freeman Cook

Americas B:
Manager: Mauricio Tarrico (player manager). "Tanno" was Brighton's assistant manager from 2009-13.

Taricco's side were slightly chaotic last year and it's unlikely that this year will be much different. However there is talent in this rag tag collection of misfits with the likes of Bennett, Johnson and Rougier. They'll be fun at least but a lack of discipline could hurt them

Star man: Elliott Bennett. Making his tournament debut, Bennett will provide some much needed quality in wide areas.

Goalkeepers: Tom McGill, David Yelldell, Jurgen Sommer
Defenders: Mauricio Tarrico, Sam Adekugbe, Keith McPherson, Gavin Hoyte
Midfielders: Rohan Ince, Diego Arismendi, Agustin Battipiedi, Chris Birchall, Emmanuel Ledesma, Bradley Johnson, Elliot Bennett
Forwards: Mark McCammon, Trevor Benjamin, Junior McDougall, Federico Turienzo, Tony Rougier (captain)

Possible starting line up:

Yelldell

Hoyte Taricco Adekugbe

Bennett Ince Arismendi Johnson Rougier

McDougall Benjamin

The Dutch having more keepers than defenders in their squad is flair

I went for Sussex and Spain.

The Sussex side is solid if unspectacular but you could totally see it working and in Dunk, Hinshelwood, March and Webster they've got 4 Premier League performers. Not to mention they have the Albions highest ever goalscorer up front

So then it was a toss up between Spain and the Dutch. It would be a tight game for sure with about 1 shot on target all game but I fancy Spanish Dave to curl in a free kick

Somebody had to vote for America's B, right?

I'd be lumping on a 0-0 draw for every game that Dutch team plays, so no vote.

Not going to vote for any team with Cucurella in because I'm a bitter football fan.

Americas B, think I'll wait for the A-team.

So one vote for Sussex and one spoilt ballot.

The Americas B changing room would be wild. Tanno and Arismendi doing coke in the corner, everyone having fights and poor Tony Rougier trying to calm everyone down

Did anyone ask for this to return?

zeemeeuw said:

think I'll wait for the A-team.

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I pity the fool who doesn't wait for the A-team.

Withdean South Stand said:

Did anyone ask for this to return?

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Yes

@stewart12 this is good fun. Thanks putting this together, it obviously takes a lot of time to do. well done

Glad to see this back!

Had to go with Netherlands and Spain.

How has Elliott Bennett snuck into America's B

WestYorkshireSeagull said:

Had to go with Netherlands and Spain.

How has Elliott Bennett snuck into America's B

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Bennett had two call ups to the Jamaica national team (didn't actually play though )

Sussex and NL to progress for me

Delighted that Sussex are doing so well

Remember that Group B is also open

stewart12 said:

Bennett had two call ups to the Jamaica national team (didn't actually play though )

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Oh really??
I did not know that. Good knowledge!

Full time here, a fantastic effort from the Sussex boys

1. Spain 36
2. Sussex 34
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3. Netherlands 16
4. America's B 1

Groups B, C, D are all still open