Soccer Manager Challenge: Hattrick

 19-04-2010  Greece wins Hattrick World Cup XIV!

The new Hattrick World Cup champions are Hellas, or Greece as we usually call it. Hellas beat Belgium 2 to 1 in an exciting final, which they dominated. It was never quite out of reach for the Belgians until the final quarter, when, following a red card for Belgium, Yiannis Koutetes scored the winning goal for Greece.

Due to an all-day shower, 14040 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Estadio Sa Palomera.

Serpientes decided to use a 4-4-2 set up, especially designed for rainy weahter and the heavy ground. Lineup: Florczuk - St?pkowski, Strugo, Zob, Wagtmans - Morin, Marinov, Sasi, van der Wetering - Blusevi?ius, Mouzinho de Albuquerque.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Sportive. Starters: Jonsansoro - Chedas, Tinguaro, Reinard - Mindelheim, Evans, Florensà, Spínola, Panadero - Kublik, Le Vaillant.

Serpientes were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Sportive showed off their creative tactics.

After 13 minutes, Svetoslav Marinov came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to put away the 1 - 0 goal, giving Serpientes the lead.

Vaidilas Blusevi?ius of Serpientes was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Dariusz St?pkowski seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in the 2-0 goal for Serpientes after a corner kick that was nicely executed by Eduardo Strugo. The muddy pitch made the game a gritty affair, which seemed to suit Floric? Zob just fine. There wasn't much opportunity for rapid movements on this wet day, which hindered Pedro Tinguaro of Sportive in particular.

Serpientes's Jordi van der Wetering was delighted to score the 3 - 0 goal after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper and into the net, following some good attacking movement on the right wing after 27 minutes.

29 minutes in, Serpientes's Auke Wagtmans received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Svetoslav Marinov increased Serpientes's lead to 4 - 0, putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right. At this point in the game, defending their lead became the main priority for Serpientes and they pulled back.

After 38 minutes, Serpientes were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the kicker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take the team mates a bit by surprise. Alano Mouzinho de Albuquerque did manage a finish, but from an arkward position, sending the ball out of bounds.

Sportive made it 4-1 as Gautier Le Vaillant knocked the corner kick to Mark Evans who whipped a low drive in off the far post. Serpientes's Eduardo Strugo struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team's lead to 5 - 1 after 41 minutes. Halftime score was 5 - 1. Serpientes claimed to be the more dominant force in the game, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 61 percent.

After 2nd half kick off, with 61 minutes played, Alano Mouzinho de Albuquerque could have brought this one home for Serpientes as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. Sportive were able to mount several counterattacks, such as the impressive one after 62 minutes, but Jens Reinard lofted a free kick over the crossbar.

Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Sportive's Maksymilian Kublik was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 63 minutes. Alan Chwa? was given a chance to change things around. Sportive was now without a captain, so it was left to Alan Chwa? to take the captain's armband.

67 minutes into the game, Serpientes were awarded another penalty that Eduardo Strugo turned into 6 - 1 without a problem. The Serpientes players could smell victory in the air. Eduardo Strugo wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for Jens Gerards after 70 minutes. Content with how the game was proceeding, the Serpientes coach let Zden?k Brych replace Alano Mouzinho de Albuquerque after 75 minutes. Serpientes's Efrayim Sasi wanted to play on, but 75 minutes into the game the decision was made to substitute him for A?an Çile.

Serpientes held the ball, with a clear 61 percent of possession, the match ends 6 - 1.