World Cup Progress Thread: The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat

[rckabillyRaider]

Post your stories guys.

In my current and first WC on Professional difficulty, I am the USA and had a hell of a time to even qualify for the final 32. I had to play the playoff aggregate match between me and the 5th place CONMEBOL team which was Ecuador. I beat them pretty easily, 5-0 on aggregate to advance to the final 32.

The team that gave me trouble was my other fellow country, Mexico. I did not beat them once. Whether it was in a friendly or 2 qualifying matches. I havent even scored a goal against them. The best I did was 0-0 draw in a friendly. They are now my first pre-WC friendly opponent. I am determined to beat these cats!

On to the group stage draw....... it's gonna be tough! I drew Chile, Russia, and SPAIN! Ugghhh. And that's where I stand. I hope by some miracle I will advance, but I doubt it.

[Koolie G]

I'm playing with the USA on Professional. I just finished the initial group stage where I went 4-1-1. I've looked around the world and Cameroon and Cour' d I???? dominated their groups going 6-0-0 and scoring over 20 goals while giving up only 4 and 2 respectively. I'm really having fun with this. I've never owned a soccer game before, so I'm not a seasoned vet, but this game is addictive. Baseball has taken a backseat...way back.

[Whitesox]

Just started my qualifying run with the USA.

15 minutes, Pro, slow speed.

First game: Friendly vs. Mexico.

Mexico jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and by that point I was seriously thinking about just forfeiting the friendly. But in the second half, Donovan scored a nice goal on the run, right under the keepers arm.

In the 86th, Ching notched it up a two, where it would remain.

2-2 against Mexico isn't a horrible start, looking forward to getting super frustrated when I don't demolish teams I should.

[UofLCards]

I'm using Burkina Faso on professional difficulty. I lost my first group stage game to El Salvador 5-3. Since then, I've beaten Greece, Lebanon, Ireland, Paraguay, and Ghana to reach the finals against Brazil.

[Koolie G]

Made it Stage 4 with the USA, but lost my last friendly to Sweeden 4-0. They owned me. Anyway, first match in Stage 4 was at Costa Rica, who actually seemed to be possibly the strongest team in Stage 3. Well they continued playing well scoring a goal at the 6 minute mark. I battled and kept them from scoring for the rest of the half. The USA finally got on the board around the 60 minute mark to tie it up 1-1. Then I just owned possession but missed a million opportunities, including one empty netter that Davies just blew right over the crossbar. Long story short Nunez of Costa Rica scored a breakaway goal in the 79th minute and as I tried to push everyone up to try and tie it up, Nunez scored another goal in the 90th minute to add insult to injury and give my USA squad a 3-1 loss. I will blame it on the fact that Howard was injured at GK and Ching was also out with an injury. Also, Ching is the leading goal scorer in the CONCACAF. Hopefully we can turn it around next game when we are at full strength.

[Bellsprout]

The United States of America are World Cup champions!

Just finished last night. The celebration cutscenes after you win, and the commentary after you win, sets the standard for video game championship celebrations. Especially the commentary. They had what seemed like a very genuine sense of excitement over the whole thing, and they talked at length about the historical significance of the US winning. It's absolutely brilliant. If you win, watch the whole thing.

How I got there:
Murdered everyone in CONCACAF qualifying. I was playing on Semi-Pro, and it was ridiculous. The high point was beating Guatemala 9-0 with Jozy Altidore netting 6 goals in the match. Decided to finally bump it up to Pro when I went into the World Cup.

Game 1: US vs. Nigeria
I won 2-1. They were just faster than me and it was frustrating. My attack is built on passing angles and hitting through balls to Altidore or Ching. I kept doing that, but for the first time I played a team that had players fast enough to catch up to them when they got out in front. I was annoyed, but I hit on a corner and a cross into the box which ended up being enough to win.

Game 2: US vs. Slovakia
The Jozy Altidore Show. 7-3 was the final as they just couldn't do anything to stop whatever I wanted to do. Altidore ends up with 6 of those 7 goals. And those 6 were all in the first half. I was winning 6-0 at half. Probably the easiest match I had the whole Cup.

Game 3: US vs. Germany
5-2 was the final. I don't know what it is, but if a team isn't blazing fast I own them. Germany's supposed to be pretty good, right? 2 garbage time goals for the Germans keep this from being completely embarassing for them, but another dominant effort.

Game 4: US vs. Ireland
Continuing what might be the easiest path anybody's ever had to a cup final, we enter the knockout stage. 5-1 as the story of this one was almost the same as the story of Germany. They were just too slow to keep up with my up and down, push the ball pace that I like to play.

Game 5: US vs. Canada
Yes. Canada is in the final 8. I don't know how, but it happened. 3-1 the final. I had played them a few times during CONCACAF so I knew what to expect. They got their goal on a PK, but the rest of the time I was pretty dominant.

Game 6: US vs. Holland
3-2. 3-1 for 99% of the game, but Holland gets an extra time goal to make it interesting. They pushed my guys around pretty good, but again they couldn't keep up to my run 'n gun style.

WC Final: US vs. England
A great match. Back and forth all the way through. First goal went to Landon Donovan, by complete accident. I hit a cross badly from the top side and somehow it went in. It was a damn near impossible angle, but it found it's way in. I've never done that. Never had a crossing pass accidentally go in. That was weird. Rooney then answers on a busted play by getting his own rebound to make it 1-1. Then Altidore went to work. He gets a couple goals to make it 3-1. Seemingly insurmountable. Gerrard makes it 3-2. Ching then nets a header, 4-2. Again, insurmountable. Then the English attack turned on. Rooney hits again to make it 4-3. They then start pelting Howard with shots, and he makes fantastic save after fantastic save. Finally, in extra time, Altidore hits a header to put the nail in the coffin and the United States are on top of the soccer world. I got chills watching the ending.

Golden Boot: Jozy Altidore (And it wasn't even close)
Golden Ball: Jozy Altidore

[rckabillyRaider]

Quote: Originally Posted by WeAreAllWitnesses

The United States of America are World Cup champions! Just finished last night. The celebration cutscenes after you win, and the commentary after you win, sets the standard for video game championship celebrations. Especially the commentary. They had what seemed like a very genuine sense of excitement over the whole thing, and they talked at length about the historical significance of the US winning. It's absolutely brilliant. If you win, watch the whole thing. How I got there: Murdered everyone in CONCACAF qualifying. I was playing on Semi-Pro, and it was ridiculous. The high point was beating Guatemala 9-0 with Jozy Altidore netting 6 goals in the match. Decided to finally bump it up to Pro when I went into the World Cup. Game 1: US vs. Nigeria I won 2-1. They were just faster than me and it was frustrating. My attack is built on passing angles and hitting through balls to Altidore or Ching. I kept doing that, but for the first time I played a team that had players fast enough to catch up to them when they got out in front. I was annoyed, but I hit on a corner and a cross into the box which ended up being enough to win. Game 2: US vs. Slovakia The Jozy Altidore Show. 7-3 was the final as they just couldn't do anything to stop whatever I wanted to do. Altidore ends up with 6 of those 7 goals. And those 6 were all in the first half. I was winning 6-0 at half. Probably the easiest match I had the whole Cup. Game 3: US vs. Germany 5-2 was the final. I don't know what it is, but if a team isn't blazing fast I own them. Germany's supposed to be pretty good, right? 2 garbage time goals for the Germans keep this from being completely embarassing for them, but another dominant effort. Game 4: US vs. Ireland Continuing what might be the easiest path anybody's ever had to a cup final, we enter the knockout stage. 5-1 as the story of this one was almost the same as the story of Germany. They were just too slow to keep up with my up and down, push the ball pace that I like to play. Game 5: US vs. Canada Yes. Canada is in the final 8. I don't know how, but it happened. 3-1 the final. I had played them a few times during CONCACAF so I knew what to expect. They got their goal on a PK, but the rest of the time I was pretty dominant. Game 6: US vs. Holland 3-2. 3-1 for 99% of the game, but Holland gets an extra time goal to make it interesting. They pushed my guys around pretty good, but again they couldn't keep up to my run 'n gun style. WC Final: US vs. England A great match. Back and forth all the way through. First goal went to Landon Donovan, by complete accident. I hit a cross badly from the top side and somehow it went in. It was a damn near impossible angle, but it found it's way in. I've never done that. Never had a crossing pass accidentally go in. That was weird. Rooney then answers on a busted play by getting his own rebound to make it 1-1. Then Altidore went to work. He gets a couple goals to make it 3-1. Seemingly insurmountable. Gerrard makes it 3-2. Ching then nets a header, 4-2. Again, insurmountable. Then the English attack turned on. Rooney hits again to make it 4-3. They then start pelting Howard with shots, and he makes fantastic save after fantastic save. Finally, in extra time, Altidore hits a header to put the nail in the coffin and the United States are on top of the soccer world. I got chills watching the ending. Golden Boot: Jozy Altidore (And it wasn't even close) Golden Ball: Jozy Altidore

congratulations man. Good thing you didn't spoil the ending for us. I'm gonna try to start my group stage today.

[Newkie]

Remember to set your World Cup roster before your final qualifying match.

Dempsey and Altidore were both injured before my final qualifier, so I took them out of the lineup, before that game, and after the World Cup draw, neither is on my roster.