Oh you're one of them that has like 5 defenders, 2 dm's then 3 pacey forwards arent you?
Sometimes I do indeed, when playing a side like Greece or Switzerland who are only accustomed to such tactics.
I've finally won it! With France after a campaign full of drama, twists and turns. I got past the group stage by a single won - having beaten Italy 1-0 and Holland 3-1 I played England with my second team but then realized that I needed not to lose by more than a goal - it ended 2-1 to England with a late goal from Rooney but they still had the chance to make it 3-1 in the dying minutes yet missed from 10 yards.
I was then drawn against Germany in the first knock-out round. I tried to approach them defensively but it cost me in the first half when Klose made it 1-0 through a neat header. They dominated possession until I switched to 4-3-3 and brought Henry on. I still struggled to create chances and when they moved to 5-4-1 I thought it was it for me. Then Anelka popped up with a good shot from outside the box to make it 1-1 in 80th minute. I already prepared my tactics for the extra time when one of the through balls from Gourcuff found Anelka, who then scored from a difficult angle to make it 2-1 in the 86th minute. Germany 1, France 2.
In quarter-finals I played England, I almost always do. I dominated possession from the beginning with Toulalan and Diarra mastering the midfield but they caught me on the break and Rooney made it 1-0. Soon afterwards I was running clear on goal only to be taken down by Upson who was then sent off - a free-kick taken by Gourcuff in the aftermath hit the defender who stood on the line. I managed to equalized shortly before the break through Anelka header and thought that job could be done in the second half against 10-men. But then they started hassling me at the back and finally got their goal from a Lampard free-kick, so I brought on Nasri for Toulalan and Henry for Malouda to try and win that game. Once again Anelka's presence proved to be decisive when he equalized in 70th minute and then scored eight minutes later to make it 3-2. 3-2 up and against ten men I considered myself through but they still didn't stop attacking me - I caught them on the break though and Ribery's neat chip over the keeper's head finished the game. France 4, England 2.
Semis are the hardest as I had never actually got past that stage before in a fair fight, once I did but it was because of my opposition quitting in spite of leading 1-0 in 84th minute. So I played Brazil - it was a tough game with plenty of missed chances from both sides but I kind of did a masterpiece by introducing Diaby for Gourcuff after 30 minutes which basically limited their created goal-scoring opportunities to none. I struggled to create too but I knew the goal would come - it didn't in the regular time but shortly after the extra-time begun I scored, once again with Anelka, and thought I was definitely going to make the final this time round. It lasted about 4 minutes before Ronaldinho ran at my defence, skinned Gallas, rounded the goalkeeper and equalized. Neither side cared too much to attack in the remainder of the extra-time so we went into penalties. I missed my first penalty, then scored the second one before missing the third one - while he scored all 3. So I was left with 3-1 with two turns to go. Diaby stepped up and hit the top corner of the goal to make it 3-2 and Ronaldinho had the chance to finish the tie - but he didn't as Lloris saved brilliantly. So I now had to take mine and save his - began with a powerful shot from Evra that went off the post to the back of the net. Bastos struck it perfectly but Lloris once again proved his quality and saved - 3-3 and it started all over again. Didn't last long as Ribery's shot went wide, so once again I was left in a critical position - only to be saved by Lloris who once again went the right way and saved Juan's penalty. Toulalan didn't miss and it was 4-3 to me when Josue stepped up to take their pen - and it was fourth in a row missed by Brazil, sending France into the final! Brazil 1, France 1, pen 3-4.
Surprisingly I played United States in the final - but I knew it wasn't going to be easy, though I scored two early goals - in 1st minute through Diaby's finish in one-on-one against Howard and then after 10 minutes after Anelka's clean finish. I obviously had the urge to cock it up later as my backpass to the goalkeeper was intercepted by Donovan who scored with a nice volley but it was everything they were capable of and it ended 2-1. USA 1, France 2, we're the world champions!
