I completed the MyFIFATales World Cup challenge before the year ends. It consisted on playing with every national team once, sticking to the original line-ups and tactics as much as possible, and see if I could at least fare better with every one of them than in real life. These are the results, as they happened in the following order (bear in mind that I gathered more experience and ability as the challenge went by):
Team selected (result) / Champions
🇪🇸 Spain (Quarterfinals) / 🇧🇪 Belgium ✔️
🇩🇪 Germany (Champions) / 🇩🇪 Germany ✔️
🇧🇷 Brazil (Quarterfinals) / 🇦🇷 Argentina ⭕
🇧🇪 Belgium (Quarterfinals) / 🇪🇸 Spain ❌
🇺🇾 Uruguay (Group stage -4 pts-) / 🇩🇪 Germany ❌
🇦🇷 Argentina (Champions) / 🇦🇷 Argentina ✔️
🇫🇷 France (Champions) / 🇫🇷 France ✔️
🇵🇱 Poland (Group stage -3 pts-) / 🇩🇪 Germany ⭕
🇵🇹 Portugal (Champions) / 🇵🇹 Portugal ✔️
🏴 England (Quarterfinals) / 🇦🇷 Argentina ❌
🇯🇵 Japan (Group stage -3 pts-) / 🇩🇪 Germany ❌
🇭🇷 Croatia (Quarterfinals) / 🇪🇸 Spain ❌
🇲🇽 Mexico (4th place) / 🇪🇸 Spain ✔️
🇷🇺 Russia (Champions) / 🇷🇺 Russia ✔️
🇨🇭 Switzerland (Group stage -2 pts-) / 🇫🇷 France ❌
The World Cup is over. And the emptiness it has left inside us can only be filled by some good old (FIFA 16) gaming. With all squads up to date with maximum detail (or as much as possible), for the time being I will attempt to win the biggest trophy on Earth with every one of the 32 national teams. Impossible, right?
I’ve been trying to find time to play the game more often and I’ve been for a while trying to at least win a Copa América since, obviously, I try to keep getting better at the game. I must say I created a classic Copa América, that means with 12 teams.
Unlike other times, my group stage phase was pretty lackluster. I actually finished third after a late Uruguay equaliser in the last game (1-1). I started with an easy win against Mexico (2-0) and surprisingly lost to Venezuela (0-1).
Then I got Venezuela again in the quarterfinals, and it was so easy (4-0) that I don’t know what happened the first time. Well, football, bloody hell. Then, in the semifinals, Colombia were also easy (3-1), as after 25 minutes I was already 3-0 up.
The final was the real deal. Brazil are better than Argentina so it was the first time I was not the favourite. I struggled a lot until they finally scored, but in the second half I was determined enough to equalise, and I did it. Then, the winner in the 90th minute came a bit unexpectedly, but I will take it.
Neymar was the top scorer of the tournament, followed by Agüero with 4. Messi and Di Maria scored 3 each for my side. I won the Copa América and it was fun.
PS: I could have made a tale out of this. Maybe another time.
Maybe one day I will tell you how Clint Dempsey broke my heart with a last-minute winner in an unexpected run to glory with Venezuela. In the meantime, here you can see the goals of an out-of-nowhere big win (for my standards) against Chile.
I really want to play as Iran but it isn't on any Fifa. How have you downloaded them?
I edit FIFA 16 with Creation Master and add the national teams myself. You could try the Moddingway World Cup mod though. It's a huge file but it looks pretty nice and works easily. This is all for PC only.
Deployed on the pitch because “he looks like a nice guy,” Go Yo-han goes on to score a rare free-kick after Player Iran questioned Player Korea Republic (”what the fuck are you doing?”) right before hitting it in.
Saman Ghoddos equalised in the second half of extra time and Iran eventually won on penalties.
I'm flying. I'm winning the 1998 World Cup with every nation I pick, whether it is the Solomon Islands or Madagascar, and it seems to be something more than a good streak. I'm mastering the game. Or should I say I have mastered it in spite of the extra difficulties? Okay, I don't want to be delusional (yet), so let's focus on the one thing that was in my mind: Obtaining a fifth consecutive World Cup. A 5-star culmination to greater things to come. The confirmation that I can't be beaten.
I'm obviously a nomad, traveling to far away places in my constant search for inspiration. I also have this non-written rule of rotating continents, and most recently, if you've followed my adventures, I've been island-hopping. It was Europe's turn (boring you say?), and for me it was clear that it was time to go back to my superior's promised land, one of the most fashionable places in the world at the moment. The island of the vikings and the volcanoes. The island of the second (or third) rate players who beat the Premier League superstars at the most recent European Championship. Yes, it was time to play it a little safe in my quest to the fifth star. It was time to give another try at...
The tale of... Iceland 🇮🇸
And yes, I say 'give it another try' because it's one of my unfinished businesses. Iceland means a lot to my best friend and leader *ban, and offering him an Icelandic win in the World Cup is the gift he deserves for such an unprecedented greatness. Such is the responsibility that I haven't tried since, in my early commuting FIFA 98 days, I came short in a frustrating loss in the semifinals against Ghana. I still remember that game. Oh, boy, was it frustrating? I dominated, I created tons of chances, I even hit the post late on the game, but then Ghana, in their only chance from a set piece, scored the winner and deprived me of a dream final against Spain. Typical script to whine about but, this time, in my complete mastery of the game, I was going to fulfill such a magnanimous duty.
It wasn’t the best of times, it wasn’t the worst of times - A tale of two Icelands.
So where should we start with our new Iceland tale? The qualifying round? Yeah, why not. Qualifying with Iceland doesn't look complicated at all. Your biggest challenges are Romania and the Republic of Ireland. Then you have Macedonia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein. Seriously, none of these sides could beat me to top the group, and this was pretty much confirmed when in my first game I obtained a quite comfortable 1-3 win in Romania (0-3 at half time). It was then when I thought of making the most of this group, and beat everyone by the biggest scoreline possible. I got ahead of myself. Did that happen before?
They might have lost, but this cheeky motherf***er scored with a backheel. Look how cool he looks!
In my following game against Liechtenstein I won 4-2, nothing very convincing, but the problem came when hosting Macedonia, since I could only get a disappointing 2-2 draw. I got frustrated and I realized, that, well, all I had to do was qualifying and forgetting about thrashing sides. Thrashings happen because you're focused, in form, and superior. If you want to thrash every side, you'll get frustrated sooner than later and that will play against you, as it happened in this game. After accepting this, I faced Romania again and, in spite of my goalkeeper doing everything possible to concede, I didn't, and beat them 2-0.
I came back to haunt you, fruit salad!
Qualification was looking good after this result. I got my confidence back with that win and the next three results were the thrashings I was wasn't looking for anymore. Macedonia (1-5), Liechtenstein (0-7) and Lithuania (1-5) were no rivals on the road to success. I was topping the group with a very comfortable advantage, and only Ireland and a meltdown could have prevented me from qualifying directly. All I needed was one point in the next game, and when the Republic came to the island, I kept pushing until the last minute to get a win even if it wasn't necessary – just to test if this team were ready for bigger things. And like that, the winner came in the very last moment and a 2-1 win ensured that I was definitely one of the teams to beat in the next World Cup. Or that's what I wanted to believe. Further wins against Lithuania (4-0) and Ireland away (1-5) put a very positive end to my qualification campaign, which I finished with 9 wins and just the one draw (although not many clean sheets, mind). Great display with a limited side like Iceland. France 98, I'm coming again.
Screw you all - we are Iceland.
Time for the most awaited moment of every tale - finding out who I was drawn with in the group stage! Well, if you want emotions, brace yourself, because my group, with Argentina, Croatia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines promised to be very exciting (and it was). My spirits where very high after such a successful qualifying round (and just the last four World Cup victories), but facing good teams is always challenging and you have to be alert. Am I including St. Vincent in the same group as Argentina and Croatia? Well, of course not, lads. Have a little bit of faith in me. Those are just some pushovers...
Heimir Guðjónsson channeling his inner Maradona.
My first game against Argentina couldn't have started better. I conceded early and they were keeping the pressure, and precisely that, pressure, was what I was starting to feel. For the first time, I was facing a rival that were playing clearly better than I. I was struggling. However, in a moment of brilliance, Heimir Guðjónsson got past two defenders to find the equaliser before half time. You could feel that the lads were more confident after that goal, and I was finally finding the gaps to believe a win was possible. However, in a moment of utter awfulness, Helgi Sigurðsson couldn't find the (empty) net inside the six-yard box. That hurt, but I got a point against Argentina, and my options were still intact.
With this lot I have to win the World Cup. WITH THIS LOT!
Croatia didn't have trouble beating St. Vincent as expected, so no points dropped from them made the following game against them as important as you would expect (you never know on FIFA 98 though). But it wasn't easy. They were good and stubborn, and all I could end up getting was another point after a lively 2-2 draw. It was frustrating, though, as Guðjónsson missed a sitter this time and the crossbar denied me too. So everything was down to my last game against St. Vincent and the Grenadines then (once a 1998 World Cup semifinalist, by the way, ahem), and you won't believe what happened. The results (thank you, FIFA 98) were unexpected and I just needed a win to advance as group winners.
It’s a funny, old (video) game.
Yes, St. Vincent beat Argentina 4-1 and then Croatia lost to Argentina. Still, goal difference meant that Croatia were through and Argentina out, with Iceland or St. Vincent playing for the other berth. It was down to this one exciting game, in which I got all my confidence back after a 4-0 thrashing. That was easy and it made me even think, like in some other times, that the worst was left behind and my stroll to more success was about to begin.
A walk in the park.
I must say that the remaining teams in the knockout stage (except a couple of them) were surprisingly quality and I knew that winning this World Cup would mean a lot since I was expecting no easy games. My old friends from Colombia (again) were my first rival here. Colombia are never easy, so when I was leading 2-0 at half time I was feeling like shit was getting real, that there I was with my super Icelandic powerhouse causing havoc. The final result, a 2-1 victory, kind of got me back to Earth but I was aware that things where going well.
So close to a golazo. Notice how the GK could literally do nothing about it.
Quarterfinals. Croatia were facing Kazakhstan in the last 16 round, so that's Croatia again, right? Noooo. Of course Kazakhstan beat them, so I was granted an easy path into the semifinals. Kazakhstan were no match and a comfortable 3-0 win followed. But then, in the semifinals, things changed. There, I was aware, that I would need my best to claim another World Cup (Poland awaiting in the final? This IS the final then). Why am I getting so cryptic? Yes, because I had to face Germany in the semifinal. And Germany, also in this game (oh, boy, believe me) are tough.
Kazakhstan had a plan: Playing with “intensity” from the start.
And things just got more complicated when they soon took the lead after a strong start. Then it was almost impossible for me to find the tiniest gap in their defence. It was really difficult to keep possession and even more difficult to gain it. There was no way back. I was feeling so hopeless, so helpless. I was feeling the pressure more than ever as I kept getting closer and closer to the edge of the abyss. If things weren't bad enough, standing in a packed coach, I pressed the wrong button and I got a red card in the most random way possible.
Germany with the early goal. My goalkeeper’s salmon-like dive was in vain.
Wasn't there going to be any way back into this? I went all out attack, I left three players at the back and I hoped for a gap, for a set piece, for a chance... Impossible, it seemed impossible... But then, there it was. A long pass, a missed interception, a one-on-one. I couldn't believe it. It was MY chance. Was I going to bail myself out in the very last moment again? When all the hope was lost? Is this really happening? Icelandic forward vs German goalkeeper (a FIFA 98 goalkeeper - HA -). It was my moment.
There it is... There it is... THERE IT... NOOOAAAAAAAAAH!!!
I should have known better. It wasn't the first time. The miss was as awful as painful. Game over. Again in the semifinals. So close yet so far. Germany were too good. As simple as that. Back to reality. I'm not too good. I'm not unbeatable. What a wake-up call. With Iceland! Not with the Solomon Islands, or Singapore, or the Dominican Republic, or Madagascar. With Iceland! The one you'd feel more confident with. Sometimes we need this reality checks. It's actually not a 100% bad thing, even if it hurts. I take a valuable lesson from this tale, though, and that is that I'm not ready for greater things, yet. Or am I?
Have I become too good? That's also a concern I have sometimes. I think the worst thing that could happen to me is that I became the best at something. Well, not only the best, but the absolute best, beating everybody else with ease, making winning a routine. I'd obtain no more satisfaction, I wouldn't enjoy it anymore. It'd kill me inside. That's why sometimes I want to lose, to then win. Even if that loss will taste worse than any other defeat ever. Sometimes I *need* that defeat. Maybe that's why I love an underdog...
But why would I be thinking like this when I looked at defeat straight into the eyes in my last tale? I'm more motivated than ever. I want to set an amazing record of straight World Cup wins. I want to be ready for the ULTIMATE MYFIFATALES CHALLENGE. So let's move to our next destination in search for glory. Africa - it's back to you. This island hopper is here. What are my possibilities? Only Madagascar and Mauritius? But I already failed with those. Yes, a long time ago I failed to even qualify both Madagascar and Mauritius. How could that happen? Well, the wind of change hadn't blown my direction yet.
Now I'm stronger than ever. I feel it. I'm not unbeatable, but beating me is extremely difficult. Not even the worst-ever position of control pad buttons can stop me. They say that you shouldn't go back to the place you weren't happy. Or was it the other way round? Either way, I choose you Madagascar. I'm back on the big island. And this time, yes, to win the World Cup.
The tale of... Madagascar 🇲🇬
As I said before, there was a time in the past when I was even incapable of making it through the qualifying campaign with Madagascar. I was young and inexperienced, though, and many things have changed ever since. My determination and conviction are higher than ever now, and the players, a bunch of guys with long names starting with an R, could feel it too. So when I had to play the first round (a two-legged tie) against Zimbabwe, I knew that this time things were going to be completely different.
And I was strong. Very strong. In the end too strong, maybe even a bit too violent (it was retaliation though). Down to nine men, I still managed to add two more to my initial lead to obtain a 3-0 win. Rasoanaivo (did I spell it right? Ok, good) scored all three goals. My new star whose name I'd later forget. Anyway, no way they were going to come from that, and a 1-1 draw in the second leg was enough to get to the group stage. A group that would see me face Morocco, Zambia and Ivory Coast. Tough, if you ask me, considering winning is the only way to get to France.
I might be biased, but not as much as this referee.
So I started the decisive part of the qualifying with a trip to North Africa... Which ended in a 0-1 win for me. Then I hosted Zambia... And I beat them 2-0. Then I went to Ivory Coast, who incidentally, were bottom of the group, but I could only draw (1-1). In any case, 7 points after three games were a pretty good gain. Zambia were my biggest threat following those three games, so after I beat Morocco again (3-0) with some quality football, I must say, my next game in Zambia could see me certify my presence in France 98.
It’s show time with Madagascar!
A draw was enough to secure a qualification, that, otherwise, seemed pretty much wrapped-up. Everything started well, taking the lead in the first half, but then Zambia managed to equalize. For some reason, I wasn't happy with the draw and pushed for the win, and Mouhamad, who replaced one of the strikers with the long difficult names starting with an R, scored the winner to break Zambia's dreams. I'm such a bad person. I wanted to beat Zambia, and I did, and I wanted to beat bottom-placed Ivory Coast in the last game, but, in this case, I couldn't, and a 2-2 draw in this dead rubber was the final result prior to the World Cup.
Guess who aren’t going to the World Cup.
The draw in this World Cup edition was again pretty tough (this time you'll agree with me right away) as I got three European UEFA teams: Israel, the Netherlands and Croatia. Okay, Israel is not that hard, and previous experiences proved this. I was lucky enough to face them in the first game (to gain confidence and all that, you know), and an easy 2-0 victory followed. What wasn't going to be easy was facing the Netherlands. Should I say they're my bogey team by now? I think I could, and even though I was looking good after taking the lead, some shoot from 367 yards managed to get through my keeper's legs and I had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Bad timing: GK tries to tie his shoelaces as out of nowhere someone kicks the ball in his direction.
So heading into the final match, Croatia were leading the group with 6 points. I followed with 4 and then the Netherlands had 1 and Israel 0. That meant that all I needed was a point to advance. A win would see me through as group winners (I know, you can do maths too, sorry). I was expecting another tough test. Let's remember how good Croatia were back in the day (even better than nowadays), but at half time I was leading 2-0 and that was the result at the end of the game. Top of the group, again, and being pretty solid, to be honest. I went to the knockout stage full of confidence. I didn't think I was unbeatable, but I was in a mood I expected to win everything.
As you can see it was monsoon season in France.
My way to winning the cup in the knockout stage started with a tough opponent: Colombia. Colombia were one of the first teams I won the World Cup with. They have a great squad, one of the best in the game, so again I was alert. I went for it, I pushed and at half time I had a strong 2-0 lead. Everything was going well. Madagascar were on top, playing well and giving no option to their rivals. What could possibly go wrong?
Look how Rainisolomananananana was dancing. Look at him!
Well, Colombia scored early in the second half from a set piece, but I answered right away with a great goal from Rainisolomanana (his second) and the order was reestablished. However, I conceded again from a set piece and they managed to make it 3-2, but anyway, I thought I could hold on since there were only a few 'minutes' left in the game. BUT, guess what happened? An infamous FIFA 98 goalkeeper howler? BINGO! Colombia drew in the final minute and in that moment I saw extra time approaching, or even worse, penalties. Imagine. I had the game in my hands and it was slipping away...
A goalkeeper looking brain-damaged in FIFA 98: A non-rare view.
Did I mention my confidence was higher than ever? Well, I didn't just accept I had to play extra time. In addition I had arrived at my station and I was going to the supermarket, so an extra time was absolutely extra inconvenient at that moment. So I took the ball, I decided to run forward, I skipped past as many players as I came across and when I was inside the box... A Colombian defender tackled me and the ball went away... towards Rainisolomanana's feet, who, with all the conviction in the world, shot from outside the box and sent the ball into the top corner. Pandemonium. What a goal. What a moment. What a win. What a game. A proper MYFIFATALES classic. It was 4-3 in added time for Madagascar. Unforgettable. What a time to be alive. Only for this game, this tale was worth it. You could as well stop reading here. Nothing’s going to top this moment.
When the world says ‘give up’, hope whispers ‘score a hat-trick like Rainisolomanana’.
Still there? Well, let's move on and continue with our quest for the fourth consecutive World Cup win. In the last 16 round, Bulgaria beat Croatia, so the once Eastern European powerhouse were the next obstacle in my way. It was a pretty even match, but a 1-0 win saw me advance to the semifinals, where Italy were awaiting me. Italy, those dirty motherf***ers. Yes, the Italians were dirty again, and also difficult to play against, but this time, I took the lead in the first half and that was enough to secure another 1-0 win. I was in the final again. I was looking pretty solid. And after the Colombia game, I knew momentum was absolutely with me.
“You might kick me, but in return I will kick the ball into your goal” - Malagasy saying.
Surprisingly, my rival in the final were, well, Norway. Yes, it is as unimpressive as it sounds even if back in the day they weren't as poor as they are today. I dealt with this upcoming game knowing that the normal thing would be winning, but also somewhat wary because of what happened other times in the past (I once lost to Tunisia 😩 in the semifinals, even if it was long time ago). Look, I won't go around the bush. I won't try to make it eye candy for you. Rijaly scored a brace and I obtained a pretty comfortable 2-0 win in the final. I won the World Cup. With Madagascar.
That f***ing menu was faster than I was. My only defeat in this tale.
The fourth in a row. Unbeaten again. Never trailing (including qualification, yes). A very successful campaign. I took this new record with simplicity and I focused on the next challenge. Because when you're thriving, you should go for more. The guys with the long names and the Rs trusted me a second time and it was worth the disappointment we went through in the past.
Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Romania... Gosh, no wonder they reached the final.
Never be too afraid of trying again and don't let bad experiences get you down. If momentum is with you, you'll achieve anything, and if you don't feel like it is with you, go for it and get it. Madagascar failed and now they're world champions. And, as for me, I won't be happy with four. I want a fifth (in a row).
