World Cup heartbreak just a boost for Sancrus' Yewsmikel
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World Cup heartbreak just a boost for Sancrus' Yewsmikel
It was approximately ten and a half in the evening when the final whistle blew in the Eklesia Stadium in Zugashvili. The last AEFA group match for the World Cup qualifiers and Krasnovlac needed a win against the Ecclesiastical Mountain Republic to keep their World Cup dreams hopes alive, and with the cards laid out for them, they produced a staggering performance beating their hosts 4-0. It was a perfect performance for the Iternal Fijta but there weren't any smiles in the camp just yet. All the players, staff, and coaches huddled each other with a phone in the middle. When it was found out that Mishalacia and Constancia winning their respective games, several players dropped onto the floor. Some with their head in their hands and some lying on the floor covering their heads in shame. The visiting fans were solemn as their captain and coach could not help but apologise profusely to them.
Krasnovlac were eliminated from the World Cup. And they barely had their toes over the finish line.
A relatively new nation in Micras and the FMF sector, Krasnovlac had only a year to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers, setting up friendlies with various nations from the now defunct Pacary to former World champions Craitland. And with every friendly they played, their potential skyrocketed. They had several key players playing their trade overseas with top clubs and their first game came against 2021 World Cup participants Hurmu. Throughout the entire campaign, they played the role of the dark horses losing only one game and holding off Hurmu and Vegno to wins and draws. Many pundits had their bets on the Krasnos to qualify for Mercury.
But their draw against Cakaristan would prove to be the decisive in their elimination. They beat them 2-1 in the return leg, but a win against a relatively easy side would've seen them qualify for the first round play offs.
"I remember when we finished the game, we all quickly huddled up as Jaiesun [Video Analysis] had the live scores turned on. We all hoped that Mishalacia and Constancia would lose their games so we qualified to the next round but they didn't."
"It's a difficult feeling to put into words. Of course we were all frustrated, even distraught because we put in twice the effort just to compare to our competitors. Micha [Slo Forbun] was crying, Drew [Aloretchur] had his head in his shirt, Yech and Coach Hassenwhalct went straight to the fans with their palms together, bowing and apologising. Yech started tearing up and he cried the most and it was really hard to watch because he's only 20 with the burden of leading us on his back."
Yewsmikel recalled the dressing room being quiet. Too quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Hassenwhalct had nothing but a few things to say, letting his players know they did a tremendous job and to take the time to reflect and talk before they had to go back to the hotel. The staff packed everything as the players sat there in silence.
"None of us said anything. Nothing."
"We changed back into our tees and kept our things. There was no music, no talking, and no smiles. Nobody tried to lighten the mood or anything, it was just a depressing atmosphere."
"The seniors couldn't say anything and all they did was sit and think. Harry [C.G.], Tara[vane], and De'Mos [Kushirda] were in their own worlds. Yomasu [Chi], and Yech would usually do the talking but they couldn't. We all thought the same thing and it was that we should've done better. Up until the next day, none of us spoke a word. Most of us went straight to bed when we reached the hotel and even then some of us were still quiet when we woke up to leave the next day."
It wasn't particularly easy for Yewsmikel who had to return to club duties in Sancrus, the country that qualified over his for the World Cup.
"Now that time has passed, it was a really funny moment. But I remember being so upset and angry that I almost wanted to skip training entirely. I arrived the training ground with Gaetano [Tosi] in my face, talking about how we choked qualifying thanks to them beating us 3-1 on the second matchday. I ended up in a scuffle with him during a drill and needed Paolo [Vassena] to pull us apart."
"I think at the time I just needed someone to talk to. Most of us didn't really talk to anyone after the campaign but we managed well. I guess I took it too hard because I was the first player to go overseas, I felt that I had to hold myself to a higher standard and perform much better during the games we didn't win. Paolo's a fantastic person, friend, and captain. He sat me down and talked it over with me, helping me get back up on my feet."
"He helped a lot. Really. I think I ended the league season with 15 goals tied with him and we qualified for the [AEFA] Champions League."
"Of course I watched the World Cup. I even went to Mercury and watched all their games. A good portion of the squad played for Sancrus and I also knew a number of their players because we interacted in the league. They played brilliantly the entire campaign. It definitely felt really bitter, but Paolo told me to take the failures as motivation and this was no different."
Yewsmikel's Sancrus are fourth in the league this season, three points behind league leaders Atletico Mhazar but despite the seemingly good results, Yewsmikel still wants more from himself.
"I want us to win the league. We slowed down in the last part of last season but I know we can go all the way this time. We won the cup so why not?"
"Coach Reynard [Dubois] wants me to play a more possession based game since Dylan [Fletcher] came. Rather than act as a playmaker, I have to start dropping deep now and recycle possession. It's not as exciting or fun as I'd like but as long as the team profits, I'll play wherever."
Sancrus started to dig into their bank for the transfer window and signed Dylan Fletcher from Taylor Sporting Club. Fletcher scored against the Sovereign Confederation in the World Cup. However, it means that Fletcher has taken Yewsmikel's role as the playmaker leaving the number 10 into a more passive role.
But no complaints from Yewsmikel. With the league title in mind, he aims to do whatever he can to give Sancrus and the fans what they want. A much better and polished performance is needed by him especially when the Copa Apollonia qualifiers loom in the next couple of months.
Written by Rjizk Grzt-belaov
Krasnovlac were eliminated from the World Cup. And they barely had their toes over the finish line.
A relatively new nation in Micras and the FMF sector, Krasnovlac had only a year to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers, setting up friendlies with various nations from the now defunct Pacary to former World champions Craitland. And with every friendly they played, their potential skyrocketed. They had several key players playing their trade overseas with top clubs and their first game came against 2021 World Cup participants Hurmu. Throughout the entire campaign, they played the role of the dark horses losing only one game and holding off Hurmu and Vegno to wins and draws. Many pundits had their bets on the Krasnos to qualify for Mercury.
But their draw against Cakaristan would prove to be the decisive in their elimination. They beat them 2-1 in the return leg, but a win against a relatively easy side would've seen them qualify for the first round play offs.
"I remember when we finished the game, we all quickly huddled up as Jaiesun [Video Analysis] had the live scores turned on. We all hoped that Mishalacia and Constancia would lose their games so we qualified to the next round but they didn't."
"It's a difficult feeling to put into words. Of course we were all frustrated, even distraught because we put in twice the effort just to compare to our competitors. Micha [Slo Forbun] was crying, Drew [Aloretchur] had his head in his shirt, Yech and Coach Hassenwhalct went straight to the fans with their palms together, bowing and apologising. Yech started tearing up and he cried the most and it was really hard to watch because he's only 20 with the burden of leading us on his back."
Yewsmikel recalled the dressing room being quiet. Too quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Hassenwhalct had nothing but a few things to say, letting his players know they did a tremendous job and to take the time to reflect and talk before they had to go back to the hotel. The staff packed everything as the players sat there in silence.
"None of us said anything. Nothing."
"We changed back into our tees and kept our things. There was no music, no talking, and no smiles. Nobody tried to lighten the mood or anything, it was just a depressing atmosphere."
"The seniors couldn't say anything and all they did was sit and think. Harry [C.G.], Tara[vane], and De'Mos [Kushirda] were in their own worlds. Yomasu [Chi], and Yech would usually do the talking but they couldn't. We all thought the same thing and it was that we should've done better. Up until the next day, none of us spoke a word. Most of us went straight to bed when we reached the hotel and even then some of us were still quiet when we woke up to leave the next day."
It wasn't particularly easy for Yewsmikel who had to return to club duties in Sancrus, the country that qualified over his for the World Cup.
"Now that time has passed, it was a really funny moment. But I remember being so upset and angry that I almost wanted to skip training entirely. I arrived the training ground with Gaetano [Tosi] in my face, talking about how we choked qualifying thanks to them beating us 3-1 on the second matchday. I ended up in a scuffle with him during a drill and needed Paolo [Vassena] to pull us apart."
"I think at the time I just needed someone to talk to. Most of us didn't really talk to anyone after the campaign but we managed well. I guess I took it too hard because I was the first player to go overseas, I felt that I had to hold myself to a higher standard and perform much better during the games we didn't win. Paolo's a fantastic person, friend, and captain. He sat me down and talked it over with me, helping me get back up on my feet."
"He helped a lot. Really. I think I ended the league season with 15 goals tied with him and we qualified for the [AEFA] Champions League."
"Of course I watched the World Cup. I even went to Mercury and watched all their games. A good portion of the squad played for Sancrus and I also knew a number of their players because we interacted in the league. They played brilliantly the entire campaign. It definitely felt really bitter, but Paolo told me to take the failures as motivation and this was no different."
Yewsmikel's Sancrus are fourth in the league this season, three points behind league leaders Atletico Mhazar but despite the seemingly good results, Yewsmikel still wants more from himself.
"I want us to win the league. We slowed down in the last part of last season but I know we can go all the way this time. We won the cup so why not?"
"Coach Reynard [Dubois] wants me to play a more possession based game since Dylan [Fletcher] came. Rather than act as a playmaker, I have to start dropping deep now and recycle possession. It's not as exciting or fun as I'd like but as long as the team profits, I'll play wherever."
Sancrus started to dig into their bank for the transfer window and signed Dylan Fletcher from Taylor Sporting Club. Fletcher scored against the Sovereign Confederation in the World Cup. However, it means that Fletcher has taken Yewsmikel's role as the playmaker leaving the number 10 into a more passive role.
But no complaints from Yewsmikel. With the league title in mind, he aims to do whatever he can to give Sancrus and the fans what they want. A much better and polished performance is needed by him especially when the Copa Apollonia qualifiers loom in the next couple of months.
Written by Rjizk Grzt-belaov