Tuesday Club | Team GB at London 2012

Hello, at welcome back to the #TuesdayClub! We’ve got Olympic fever over here at the FM 2012 social, so what better way to celebrate than some Olympic-themed challenges?

First up, it’s time to sprinkle some #Fm2012 magic on Stuart Pearce’s Team GB squad.

Back in 2012 England U21’s manager Stuart Pearce was given the reins by the FA with a player-pool restricted to those NOT involved in England’s Euro 2012 campaign. He selected Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards as his three ‘over 23s’ wildcard picks. Pearce created headlines by sensationally dropping key games’ promotor, Adidas poster-boy and golden-balled David Beckham.

Pearce’s GB team emerged top of Group A after drawing 1-1 with Senegal (Craig Bellamy the scorer), and beating UAE, and Uruguay 3-1 and 1-0 respectively. (Goals from Ryan Giggs, Scott Sinclair and Daniel Sturridge vs UAE and Daniel Sturridge again vs Uruguay).

Team GB would fall in the quarters on penalties to eventual third-place finishers South Korea. Aaron Ramsey scored the goal in a 1-1 draw (though also missed an in-play penalty). A perfect first four spot kicks were dispatched by Ramsey, Tom Cleverly, Bellamy and Giggs before Sturridge blazed over on spot kick nine giving Celtic’s Ki Sung-yeung the chance to deliver a winner. As Henry Winter wrote in The Telegraph at the time it was, “déjà vu all over again with an Englishman missing a penalty in a tournament quarter final”…

Mexico would be the surprise winners, beating heavy favorites Brazil 2-1. The Brazil side contained future world’s most expensive player, Neymar.

Can we take Stuart Pearce’s squad further than the Quarters?

I name the exact same squad as Pearce. The AI has even given Daniel Sturridge a knock – to replicate his “will he, won’t he” questions before the actual tournament. The squad feels loaded with left-sided players, but who am I to judge?

In-game the Team GB men’s team are drawn against Iran, Fiji and Brazil in Group C. The FA also arranges two warm-up games against Uruguay and Japan in the days prior.

Unfortunately for pre-tournament favorites, Brazil, their talisman Neymar has an in-game broken foot, so does not board the plane to London. It’s good news for Pearce’s men, as I’ve never actually managed to beat Brazil in this tournament – and I’ve tried a few times!

I raise eyebrows with the announcement of my squad numbers – funny, as I actually use the numbers set by Pearce. One for the purists with left-sided Danny Rose handed the number 4 shirt!

Match day one, and a friendly against Uruguay. I play the starting XI that will open the tournament against Iran. My aim, to play the exact line-ups the Pearce did, at each stage of the competition. (i.e. first, second and third group game, followed by QF line-up).

When I looked up the starting lineup online I questioned internally and cursed the use of three left backs; Bertrand, Rose and Taylor. To fit them all in Taylor shifts to right back, Micah Richards to CB, Ryan Giggs goes into the center of the park and Danny Rose Left wing. I actually forgot that in-game Giggs is a natural central midfielder. My 35 year-old brain still associates him as a flying left winger! I deploy Joe Allen as a defensive midfielder to shield the back four.

Uruguay make us work for the result in Montevideo. We don’t get the breakthrough until Daniel Sturridge moves centrally – pushing Bellamy to an awkward wide-right role. Marvin Sordell comes off the bench to score a second and put the game out of reach. It’s a result – somewhat unconvincing, but a result none-the-less!

We host Japan at Wembley three days later, and I rotate the team, to ensure everyone gets a run-out and a feel for the formation. I try Marvin Sordell on the right, to give Sturridge a run up front. He and Jack Cork and back to full fitness, after an early scare.

This win is much more convincing! Only 24,000 people were in Wembley to see Team GB score four first half goals – two from Sturridge and two OGs. Sordell moved up front for the second half and he himself scores two more. Ryan Giggs rounds off a perfect afternoon with a late cameo on the left wing (for the purists 🙂 ).

Could this be a sign of things to come?

It’s time for our opener against Iran. We are sent to Coventry, and the Ricoh Arena for this one. As promised, I stick to the same starting XI as Pearce did for his opener against Senegal. You can see from this view how comfortable the players are in each position (bright green indicates natural position). I decide to risk Bellamy on the right to allow Sturridge to create havoc down the middle. Sturridge is a Chelsea player in FM2012, and usually turns out to be an England regular (more so, than in real life).

Iran get blown away. Bellamy clearly enjoyed cutting in from the right onto his favored left foot, and makes the breakthrough on 18 minutes. After that it’s one-way traffic. The veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs scores a hattrick from center midfield, including one direct-free kick, to add to braces from Bellamy and Sturridge. Does that mean Giggsy now has score more major tournament free kicks than Ronaldo? Maybe Pearce’s left-sided tactics are worth something?!

The Sky Sports News broadcasters are happy with the result.

In the other group game, Brazil hit five against Fiji. It could be a very interesting final group game to shoot-out for top place!

Fiji next, and we change to the line-up that Pearce used in his second group game against UAE. It means tournament bows for Tomkins, Sordell and Ramsey. Neil Taylor moves to natural left back position and Giggs to the left wing. Sturridge is rested, with Bellamy up front and Sordell on the right wing.

Our rotated team have enough in the locker to put Fiji away comfortably. First half goals from Giggs, Bellamy and another OG, mean we can take our foot off the gas for the second half and rest players. Giggs misses a second half penalty, but his blushes are spared by a Bellamy follow-up. Four-nil!

Brazil dispatch Iran 2-0, so our goal difference gives us a superiority in the group. The results mean we both qualify for the Quarters.Bra

Tom Cleverley gets a second booking in two games, so will miss the Brazil match.

It’s the showdown against Brazil! Both sides are scoring goals, and neither has conceded yet. It’ll be an interesting game! The side picked is the one that beat Uruguay in Pearce’s final group game. I need to make an enforced change with Cleverley banned. Ryan Giggs will make an able deputy, I am sure!

As for Brazil, the AI opts to strengthen their backline with over 23 players; Julio Cesar, Thiago Silva and Marcelo. Marcelo is suspended, so Rafael (then of Man Utd) switches to an unfamiliar left back slot. As mentioned, Neymar is injured (thankfully), and wonderkid Pato is only named on the bench.

What follows is breathtakingly remarkable. A first half hattrick from in-form Daniel Sturridge after a calamatous Cesar OG means we are four up at halftime. I have the luxury of making subs, so switch Sturridge for Bellamy putting Sordell back on the right. Giggs goes off for Cork and Richards for Craig Dawson.

Bellamy decides he likes playing up front, too. There are scenes reminiscent of Germany 2014, as Brazil collapse, and Bellamy helps himself to a second half hattrick. We win 7 (seven) Nil!

In all my attempts at winning this competition (and there have been many!) Brazil have always proven to be my Achilles heal. Its bonkers that we manage to beat them so comprehensively using Pearce’s squad and line-up!

It means we get through the group with nineteen goals scored and none conceded! Averaging more than 6 a game!

Pearce’s men are rewarded with a chance of redemption… A Quarter finals draw against South Korea, the team that knocked them out in the same stage in real life. I LOVE how this game often gives you a chance to right some wrongs!

In-game it’s Saturday 4th August 2012. For those who know Olympic trivia, this is the date of the historic Team GB Super Saturday. Six gold medals culminating in a breathtaking evening in the Olympic Stadium where Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all brought home gold to match those of Grergory, Reed, James and Hodge plus Copeland and Hosking on the Thames; and Roswell, King and Trott in the Velodrome.

At Wembley, it’s all about redemption as we play the EXACT team that were beaten at the same stage by the same opponents.

We get the perfect start through make-shift right winger Bellamy. We don’t have it all our own way but manage to sneak in a second from an Aaron Ramsey corner.

I introduce Giggs early in the second half with Marvin Sordell, and both get on the scoresheet. We cruise home 6-1 winners with Sturridge scoring another hattrick. We couldn’t, could we?

Sturridge and Bellamy have eight goals each from four Olympic fixtures. Remarkable records!

In the other fixtures Brazil claim a major scalp by defeating Spain at Wembley. That’s good news for us, as Spain are also a historic Bogey-team on mine in this competition.

We get the toughest Semi final draw.. and have to take on Brazil once again. Should we fear the Samba boys after such a comprehensive group game? Or would that mean a false sense of security?!

As we are now in unfamiliar territory in the competition, and I am no longer shackled by Pearce’s line-ups. I opt to re-jig the defense slightly, playing Richards in his familiar right back position and bringing in Dawson. Cleverley – ever present for Pearce – is the player to miss out. For Brazil, Marcelo is the only change to the side we beat 7-0 in the groups. Rafael slots into right back. Wonderkid Pato remains on the bench.

It is a tense first half, separated only by some Daniel Sturridge magic. Bellamy goes off just before halftime so defending a lead I opt for the running of Tom Cleverley down the right, as opposed to Striker Sordell.

Sturridge converts a Ryan Giggs corner on 70 minutes and a frustrated Pato, not getting much joy out of Joe Allen, sees red. Giggs puts the game to bed on 76 minutes and we are in the final!!!! Wembley erupts!!!

We draw Switzerland in the final after they shock Japan in the other semi final. Could it be coming home for Pearce’s men?

Despite the celebrations, its heartache for Caulker, Richards and Bellamy as they all pick up knocks and will miss the final! Our first injuries of the tournament, and in the Semi Finals. D’oh!

With the injuries it means a new defensive partnership in Dawson and Tomkins. I stick with the industrious Cleverley on the right in place of Sordell. Ramsey and Allen play their fifth game in a row.

Daniel Sturridge settles the Wembley nerves on 9 minutes and by 15 minutes to lads are two-up. Ryan Giggs makes up for the Fiji penalty miss by scoring when it matters. A James Tomkins OG gives Switzerland hope just before halftime.

For the second half I bring Danny Rose on for Cleverley and switch Sinclair to the right wing. Switzerland struggle to break us down and as the game gets more and more stretched Sturridge is able to slip past the Swiss backline and put the team three-one up! The Wembley crowd chant, “its coming home”, as my final change is to bring on sub goalkeeper Luke Steele for his first taste of Olympics football. That means every player has featured in the tournament.

The final whistle goes and Stuart Pearce’s men are Gold medalists and Olympic Champions!!

I’m speechless. I have never managed to get past Spain or Brazil in my previous attempts, and now manage to do it with someone else’s squad!

Daniel Sturridge finishes as tournament top scorer, as Team GB players make up the top three!

I hope you enjoyed this trip to the London 2012 Olympics. I certainly did! Until next time.