This series looks at what happens when the FM17 Draft Mode is used to create a World Cup where each nation is represented by players who play in each country. For the full explanation of how this tournament will work, see our Introduction.
Last time we saw England get underway, and eventually find their feet, whilst the Dutch appear to have found their attacking fluency.
This time, we have a very tight-looking group, as Switzerland were strong in qualifying, but will be heavily tested by Argentina and France, whilst Chile may have finished third in their qualifying group, but play an exciting brand of football which can be very dangerous.
Last time we saw England get underway, and eventually find their feet, whilst the Dutch appear to have found their attacking fluency.
This time, we have a very tight-looking group, as Switzerland were strong in qualifying, but will be heavily tested by Argentina and France, whilst Chile may have finished third in their qualifying group, but play an exciting brand of football which can be very dangerous.
Each manager has £250m to spend on a squad of 23, which has to contain 3 keepers and at least 7 home-grown players.
Switzerland (1st in Qualification Group B)
Switzerland were very consistent to win a group containing Belgium, Peru and Sweden. They would have expected a better draw than the one they have been handed, but with a squad worth £201m they certainly have every chance of continuing their progress.
Since this squad is only marginally worth more than the £200m limit set in qualifying, the side is largely unchanged. Guillaume Hoarau was very good in qualifying, and will be at full fitness here after missing a few games through injury. Behind him Tranquillo Barnetta was a key player, linking Hoarau to a creative midfield consisting of Luca Zuffi and Zdravko Kuzmanovic.
Squad (italics indicates home-grown):
GK: Mitryushkin (Sion), Mvogo (Young Boys), Vaclik (Basel)
DF: Alvarez Balanta (Basel), Boka (Sion), Costa (Luzern), Lang (Basel), Suchy (Basel), von Bergen (Young Boys), Ziegler (Sion)
MD: Barnetta (St. Gallen), Die (Basel), Kuzmanovic (Basel), Neumayr (Luzern), Ravet (Young Boys), Steffen (Basel), Xhaka (Basel), Zuffi (Basel)
FW: Carlitos (Sion), Gerndt (Young Boys), Hoarau (Young Boys), Konate (Sion), Sulejmani (Young Boys)
Argentina (1st in Qualification Group I)
Argentina were able to win a group featuring a very strong Turkish side, with South Africa and Malaysia posing unexpected challenges. However, they were not one of the eight best group winners, and so are second seeds here. Their squad uses up the full £250m budget, so can Argentina live up to their usual level of performance in World Cups?
Lisandro Lopez was the star of qualification, and leads the line again here, alongside Rodrigo Mora, who was pretty good as well. Lautaro Acosta is the side’s most valuable player, valued at £22m, but he might have his work cut out on the wing with no full-back behind him. On the other flank Maxi Rodriguez is highly experienced, and was terrific in qualifying.
Squad:
GK: Andujar (Estudiantes), Assmann (Velez), Luna (Lanus)
DF: Canuto (Tucuman), Caruzzo (San Lorenzo), Desabato (Estudiantes), Maidana (River), Niz (Sarmiento), Vergini (Boca)
MD: Acosta (Lanus), Belluschi (San Lorenzo), Bertolo (River), Costa (San Lorenzo), Gago (Boca), Gonzalez (Racing Club), Rodriguez (Newell’s), Ortigoza (San Lorenzo), Ponzio (River), Sanchez (Estudiantes)
FW: Alonso (River), Bieler (Belgrano), Lopez (Racing Club), Mora (River)
France (2nd in Qualification Group E)
They may be third seeds in this group, after being beaten to top spot in their group by China, but France are surely one of the teams expected to be in the final stages of this tournament. They easily use up their budget, and have weighted their selections to put serious quality in their main XI, albeit at the cost of a fairly underwhelming bench.
Radamel Falcao was key in qualification, and he will now be partnered with Edinson Cavani, a front two to be greatly feared. Dimitri Payet continues behind them, whilst Adrien Rabiot is brought into the midfield. The defence is the side’s weakest area, but all the members of it had a high average rating in qualification. Rod Fanni and Alou Diarra mean that there are, surprisingly, two ex-Charlton Athletic players in the squad. In real life Kylian Mbappe is the world’s hottest property, but this isn’t reflected in FM, and as a winger (France are playing a narrow diamond) he doesn’t make the cut.
Squad:
GK: Costil (Stade Rennais), Kawashima (Metz), M’Bolhi (Stade Rennais)
DF: Diarra, A (Nancy Lorraine), Fanni (Marseille), Kurzawa (PSG), Lima (Nantes), Nkoulou (Lyon), Perrin (Saint-Etienne), Remy (Montpellier), Theophile-Catherine (Saint-Etienne)
MD: Clement (Saint-Etienne), Diaby (Marseille), Diarra, L (Marseille), Gourcuff (Stade Rennais), Malbranque (Caen), N’Guessan (Nancy Lorraine), Payet (Marseille), Rabiot (PSG)
FW: Cavani (PSG), Falcao (Monaco), Kalulu (Lyon), Toivonen (Toulouse)
Chile (3rd in Qualification Group D; Play-off winners)
Chile only scraped into the play-offs thanks to a shock Finnish win over Poland, but they took their chance by outplaying Austria in the play-offs. Given the quality of their opponents they will find it difficult to qualify, but they have a squad worth £154m, putting them not far behind Switzerland, theoretically.
Goalkeeper Johnny Herrera is a class act, as is defender Julio Barroso. Their 3-3-1-3 formation requires a lot of work from the 1, who will be Jaime Valdes. Up front Esteban Paredes can lead the line on his own well, whilst Mark Gonzalez was excellent in qualifying.
Squad:
GK: Herrera (Uni. de Chile), Marin (Deportes Temuco), Toselli (Uni. Catolica)
DF: Alvarez (Uni. Catolica), Barroso (Colo Colo), Jara (Uni. de Chile), Lanaro (Uni. Catolica), Martinez (Audax Italiano), Vilches (Uni. de Chile)
MD: Beausejour (Uni. de Chile), Campos Toro (Audax Italiano), Espinoza (Patronato), Fierro (Colo Colo), Fuenzalida (Uni. Catolica), Leal (San Luis), Pizarro (Uni. de Chile), Reyes (Uni. de Chile), Valdes (Colo Colo)
FW: Buonanotte (Uni. Catolica), Luna (Uni. de Concepcion), Gonzalez (Colo Colo), Paredes (Colo Colo), Silva (Uni. Catolica)
Switzerland vs. Argentina
The top two seeds in the group know that France will be a real threat, and so if the group goes to form, this match could decide who qualifies and who doesn’t.
Sulejmani is preferred to Steffan on the wing by Nina Suisse, whilst she sticks with Alvarez Balanta ahead of von Bergen. After playing well in qualification Vergini plays at the heart of the Argentinean defence, whilst Costa comes into the midfield.
Switzerland (1st in Qualification Group B)
Switzerland were very consistent to win a group containing Belgium, Peru and Sweden. They would have expected a better draw than the one they have been handed, but with a squad worth £201m they certainly have every chance of continuing their progress.
Since this squad is only marginally worth more than the £200m limit set in qualifying, the side is largely unchanged. Guillaume Hoarau was very good in qualifying, and will be at full fitness here after missing a few games through injury. Behind him Tranquillo Barnetta was a key player, linking Hoarau to a creative midfield consisting of Luca Zuffi and Zdravko Kuzmanovic.
Squad (italics indicates home-grown):
GK: Mitryushkin (Sion), Mvogo (Young Boys), Vaclik (Basel)
DF: Alvarez Balanta (Basel), Boka (Sion), Costa (Luzern), Lang (Basel), Suchy (Basel), von Bergen (Young Boys), Ziegler (Sion)
MD: Barnetta (St. Gallen), Die (Basel), Kuzmanovic (Basel), Neumayr (Luzern), Ravet (Young Boys), Steffen (Basel), Xhaka (Basel), Zuffi (Basel)
FW: Carlitos (Sion), Gerndt (Young Boys), Hoarau (Young Boys), Konate (Sion), Sulejmani (Young Boys)
Argentina (1st in Qualification Group I)
Argentina were able to win a group featuring a very strong Turkish side, with South Africa and Malaysia posing unexpected challenges. However, they were not one of the eight best group winners, and so are second seeds here. Their squad uses up the full £250m budget, so can Argentina live up to their usual level of performance in World Cups?
Lisandro Lopez was the star of qualification, and leads the line again here, alongside Rodrigo Mora, who was pretty good as well. Lautaro Acosta is the side’s most valuable player, valued at £22m, but he might have his work cut out on the wing with no full-back behind him. On the other flank Maxi Rodriguez is highly experienced, and was terrific in qualifying.
Squad:
GK: Andujar (Estudiantes), Assmann (Velez), Luna (Lanus)
DF: Canuto (Tucuman), Caruzzo (San Lorenzo), Desabato (Estudiantes), Maidana (River), Niz (Sarmiento), Vergini (Boca)
MD: Acosta (Lanus), Belluschi (San Lorenzo), Bertolo (River), Costa (San Lorenzo), Gago (Boca), Gonzalez (Racing Club), Rodriguez (Newell’s), Ortigoza (San Lorenzo), Ponzio (River), Sanchez (Estudiantes)
FW: Alonso (River), Bieler (Belgrano), Lopez (Racing Club), Mora (River)
France (2nd in Qualification Group E)
They may be third seeds in this group, after being beaten to top spot in their group by China, but France are surely one of the teams expected to be in the final stages of this tournament. They easily use up their budget, and have weighted their selections to put serious quality in their main XI, albeit at the cost of a fairly underwhelming bench.
Radamel Falcao was key in qualification, and he will now be partnered with Edinson Cavani, a front two to be greatly feared. Dimitri Payet continues behind them, whilst Adrien Rabiot is brought into the midfield. The defence is the side’s weakest area, but all the members of it had a high average rating in qualification. Rod Fanni and Alou Diarra mean that there are, surprisingly, two ex-Charlton Athletic players in the squad. In real life Kylian Mbappe is the world’s hottest property, but this isn’t reflected in FM, and as a winger (France are playing a narrow diamond) he doesn’t make the cut.
Squad:
GK: Costil (Stade Rennais), Kawashima (Metz), M’Bolhi (Stade Rennais)
DF: Diarra, A (Nancy Lorraine), Fanni (Marseille), Kurzawa (PSG), Lima (Nantes), Nkoulou (Lyon), Perrin (Saint-Etienne), Remy (Montpellier), Theophile-Catherine (Saint-Etienne)
MD: Clement (Saint-Etienne), Diaby (Marseille), Diarra, L (Marseille), Gourcuff (Stade Rennais), Malbranque (Caen), N’Guessan (Nancy Lorraine), Payet (Marseille), Rabiot (PSG)
FW: Cavani (PSG), Falcao (Monaco), Kalulu (Lyon), Toivonen (Toulouse)
Chile (3rd in Qualification Group D; Play-off winners)
Chile only scraped into the play-offs thanks to a shock Finnish win over Poland, but they took their chance by outplaying Austria in the play-offs. Given the quality of their opponents they will find it difficult to qualify, but they have a squad worth £154m, putting them not far behind Switzerland, theoretically.
Goalkeeper Johnny Herrera is a class act, as is defender Julio Barroso. Their 3-3-1-3 formation requires a lot of work from the 1, who will be Jaime Valdes. Up front Esteban Paredes can lead the line on his own well, whilst Mark Gonzalez was excellent in qualifying.
Squad:
GK: Herrera (Uni. de Chile), Marin (Deportes Temuco), Toselli (Uni. Catolica)
DF: Alvarez (Uni. Catolica), Barroso (Colo Colo), Jara (Uni. de Chile), Lanaro (Uni. Catolica), Martinez (Audax Italiano), Vilches (Uni. de Chile)
MD: Beausejour (Uni. de Chile), Campos Toro (Audax Italiano), Espinoza (Patronato), Fierro (Colo Colo), Fuenzalida (Uni. Catolica), Leal (San Luis), Pizarro (Uni. de Chile), Reyes (Uni. de Chile), Valdes (Colo Colo)
FW: Buonanotte (Uni. Catolica), Luna (Uni. de Concepcion), Gonzalez (Colo Colo), Paredes (Colo Colo), Silva (Uni. Catolica)
Switzerland vs. Argentina
The top two seeds in the group know that France will be a real threat, and so if the group goes to form, this match could decide who qualifies and who doesn’t.
Sulejmani is preferred to Steffan on the wing by Nina Suisse, whilst she sticks with Alvarez Balanta ahead of von Bergen. After playing well in qualification Vergini plays at the heart of the Argentinean defence, whilst Costa comes into the midfield.
In the second minute Alvarez Balanta misjudges a header, and Mora nods it through to Lopez, who in turn nods it beyond Vaclik, but the post comes to Switzerland’s aid. Four minutes later a cross from Zuffi found Ravet in acres of space. His header was parried by Andujar, but Ravet volleyed home the rebound, and the Swiss take the lead. The match continued at a brisk pace and Vaclik has to be sharp to deny Mora twice. Against the run of play Sulejmani nearly doubles the Swiss lead, but his shot hits the post, then Andujar, before flying over.
Argentina start the second half with more urgency, but are dealt a blow when Lisandro is forced off with a twisted ankle. They continue to huff and puff, but don’t trouble Switzerland greatly, and the match ends 1-0 with no highlights in the second half.
Despite the low-key way in which the game ended, this is likely to be a hugely significant result in terms of qualification, and the Swiss know that they likely need just one win to get through now, whilst Argentina are already on the edge.
France vs. Chile
France are, despite their underwhelming qualification run, feared in this group, and they must show why against the group’s underdogs.
Gourcuff is selected to play alongside Rabiot (with 36-year old Malbranque next in line), whilst Chile go with the side which got them through the play-offs.
Despite the low-key way in which the game ended, this is likely to be a hugely significant result in terms of qualification, and the Swiss know that they likely need just one win to get through now, whilst Argentina are already on the edge.
France vs. Chile
France are, despite their underwhelming qualification run, feared in this group, and they must show why against the group’s underdogs.
Gourcuff is selected to play alongside Rabiot (with 36-year old Malbranque next in line), whilst Chile go with the side which got them through the play-offs.
France start with a flowing move, ending with Theophile-Catherine’s cross being cleared just as Cavani was about to tap in. Quarter of an hour in and Gonzalo Jara clips the heels of Kurzawa, and France have a penalty. Up steps Falcao, who places the ball down and buries it in the bottom corner. Like clockwork, the match provides another goal fifteen minutes later, and this time it’s Chile who equalise as Rabiot’s clearance from a corner cannons off Perrin back onto Rabiot and into the France net. Seven minutes later, and the wing backs have their moment, Beausejour’s cross being nodded beyond Costil by Jara, who atones for his earlier foul. A thrilling half finishes with Cavani powering down the left and crossing for Falcao to tap in the equaliser. 2-2 at the break and every spectator already has their money’s worth.
Perrin has been poor, and is on a yellow, so he is replaced by Alou Diarra. It’s probably no surprise that the second half is significantly less exciting than the first, with the first real chance a rushed shot from Payet which flies wide. Payet soon makes amends though, as he slides the ball home to put France back in the lead, Falcao turning maker this time. Payet probably doesn’t cry this time. This time France are solid in defence, and despite going down to 10 men when Lassana Diarra strains his neck in injury time, they claim a thrilling 3-2 win.
France will hope that their defence is more solid against their next opponents, whilst Chile can take a lot of positives from that defeat, and shouldn’t consider themselves out of the running just yet.
Chile vs. Switzerland
Chile didn’t perform badly in their opening match, but they need to actually get some points on the board now. Switzerland, meanwhile, will be pleased to have taken three points in an even match against Argentina, and can virtually secure qualification here.
Fierro comes in as a RWB for Chile, with Jara moving into central defence for Martinez. Ziegler struggled a little against Argentina, so Boka comes into the Swiss side.
Chile didn’t perform badly in their opening match, but they need to actually get some points on the board now. Switzerland, meanwhile, will be pleased to have taken three points in an even match against Argentina, and can virtually secure qualification here.
Fierro comes in as a RWB for Chile, with Jara moving into central defence for Martinez. Ziegler struggled a little against Argentina, so Boka comes into the Swiss side.
Switzerland start the better, and get the opening goal in the 16th minute when Ravet is able to turn and shoot, with Herrera not getting a strong enough hand on the shot. Chile aren’t fazed, however, and just before half time they have their equaliser as a deep Beausejour cross finds Luna at the far post to prod home.
This match is on a knife-edge, and both teams should fancy their chances of winning it. However, the half completely flies by with no highlights, until the 87th minute when a deep cross by Luna is flapped at by Kaclik, but Chilean sub Silva can only head a golden opportunity wide. The match finishes 1-1, with Chile arguably having the better of the match.
Given their opening-day results, this is a much better outcome for Switzerland than for Chile, but their uncreative performance won’t have many future opponents fearing the Swiss.
Argentina vs. France
With the earlier draw, Argentina are on the brink, as a defeat will eliminate them. On the flip side, such a result will also send France through to the next round a match early.
The very bad news for Argentina is that Lopez is out for several weeks, potentially the entire tournament. In comes Alonso, and it also means Mora keeps his place despite a poor performance against Switzerland. Lassana Diarra is still recovering from his strained neck, so Remy comes into the French XI.
Argentina vs. France
With the earlier draw, Argentina are on the brink, as a defeat will eliminate them. On the flip side, such a result will also send France through to the next round a match early.
The very bad news for Argentina is that Lopez is out for several weeks, potentially the entire tournament. In comes Alonso, and it also means Mora keeps his place despite a poor performance against Switzerland. Lassana Diarra is still recovering from his strained neck, so Remy comes into the French XI.
France almost take an immediate lead, as Falcao wins the ball from Caruzzo, but his shot is tipped over by Andujar. There is virtually no more action in the first half, just three speculative Argentinean shots, and we’re scoreless at the break.
Once again France start the half strongly, and this time it brings the opening goal as Cavani’s chip into the box is nicely volleyed home by Falcao. Just as against Switzerland, Argentina cannot create any good chances, and their hopes are all-but killed off when Cavani once again feeds Falcao to double the score with 14 minutes to go. Mora works himself into some space and fires a shot in, but it’s easy for Costil to hold, and in the 88th minute Payet puts the cherry on the cake with a shot from the edge of the box which Andujar lets in through his hands. Full time, 3-0, and Argentina are eliminated whilst France progress.
Once again France start the half strongly, and this time it brings the opening goal as Cavani’s chip into the box is nicely volleyed home by Falcao. Just as against Switzerland, Argentina cannot create any good chances, and their hopes are all-but killed off when Cavani once again feeds Falcao to double the score with 14 minutes to go. Mora works himself into some space and fires a shot in, but it’s easy for Costil to hold, and in the 88th minute Payet puts the cherry on the cake with a shot from the edge of the box which Andujar lets in through his hands. Full time, 3-0, and Argentina are eliminated whilst France progress.
As a neutral, I found Argentina’s listless and directionless performances immensely frustrating, so I can only imagine how it was for Mia Argentina. It’s hard to imagine they will be much missed from the tournament, whilst the French are starting to click ominously.
Switzerland certainly shouldn’t consider themselves safely through yet, as a defeat to France and a Chilean win over Argentina will see them almost-certainly finish third. France will definitely be looking to avoid defeat to ensure they will top the group. We’ll be returning later to see how the final round of fixtures pan out.
Next time
Group D features two pretty strong sides in Ukraine and Mexico, whilst Peru were thrilling in qualifying and Central Asia very nearly topped a group containing Germany to qualify.
Next time
Group D features two pretty strong sides in Ukraine and Mexico, whilst Peru were thrilling in qualifying and Central Asia very nearly topped a group containing Germany to qualify.