[Albion] 2024 Fantasy Albion World Cup- Quarter Final 2: Americas vs Scotland

onto quarter final 2, again there are 24 hours for voting

Americas A
Manager: Gus Poyet. Poyet managed the Albion from 2009-13 and won the League 1 title with the club.

Poyet turns up to Withdean with a squad that won the tournament last year. They will once again consider themselves to be favourites even though they have been drawn in the group of death. Their midfield is the envy of almost every side in the tournament and they have firepower upfront with the likes of Pedro and Ulloa. There are question marks about their goalkeepers and their defence is reasonable but they'll be hoping to simply outscore their opponents.

Star man: World cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is the most decorated player in this talented squad

Story so far: Gus' men emerged from the group of death with relative ease, finishing in 1st place with 30 votes. They are the reigning champions so the expectation levels are through the roof.

Goalkeepers: David Gonzalez, Tony Meola
Defenders: Bernardo, Gonzalo Jara Reyes (captain), Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan, Valentin Barco
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Steven Alzate, Jeremy Sarmiento, Facundo Buononotte
Forwards: Jose Izquierdo, Leonardo Ulloa, Joao Pedro, Julio Enciso

Possible starting line up:

Gonzalez

Jara Bernardo Julio Estupinan

Caicedo

Mac Allister Alzate

Enciso

Ulloa Pedro


vs


Scotland
Manager: Mark McGhee. The whiskey guzzler managed the Albion 2003-06 and achieved promotion via the Division 2 play offs in 2004.

It's certainly a case of quantity over quality with this Scottish side, which, true to form is packed full of workhorses but lacks in creativity. There is quality here though with the likes of Gilmour, Murphy, Napier and Bridcutt. They'll be tough to beat and organised at the very least.

Story so far: Quarter finalists last year, the Scot's will be hoping to go one better this time. They managed to get through a tough group, seeing off France to slip into second place with 14 votes.

Star man: Forward Kit Napier scored 84 league goals for the club

Goalkeepers: Graeme Smith, Stewart Kerr
Defenders: Adam Virgo, Doug Rougvie, Gordon Greer (captain), Stewart Henderson, Derek Allen, Bernard Gallacher, Jimmy McNulty
Midfielders: Liam Bridcutt, Billy Gilmour, Neil McNab, Jamie Murphy, Jimmy Collins, Steven Thomson, Marc Leonard, Craig Conway, Paul McDonald
Forwards: Paul Dickov, Kevin Bremner, Alan Young, Alex Dawson, Kit Napier, Stephen Dobbie, Craig Mackail-Smith, Chris Iwelumo, Gordon Smith, Dave Cameron

Possible starting line up:

Gr. Smith

Virgo Rougvie Greer Henderson

McNab Gilmour Bridcutt Murphy

Napier Go. Smith

whilst the Scottish side is actually quite good, unfortunately for them they have the semi-ethereal Graeme Smith in goal so basically any shot on target is resulting in a goal

Resounding victory for the Americas. Classic Scotland.

Good to see Gordon Smith has shaken off his injury and made the starting lineup. That's a decent Scottish team and it would be interesting to see how it fared against more local rivals such as the Welsh, Irish and Sussex teams. Unfortunately though it's outclassed by the Americas.

Quarter finals 3

This one looks like a foregone conclusion but QF 3 is looking tight

Scotland would lose but just imagine the post match respectful handshakes and back pats between MacAllister, Caicedo, Gilmore and Bridcutt after a hard fought 90 minutes. Smiles all round I feel.

The Scottish squad is almost painfully earnest