Astograth national football team
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| Nickname | Olibondeka (The Olives) |
| Association | Futbol Astograthiko Federazioa (FAF) |
| Confederation | Confederación Rushmore de Fútbol (CRF) |
| Manager |  Sir James Handel
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| Captain | Urtzi Galard |
| Most caps | Soter Sarlange (200) |
| Top scorer | Soter Sarlange (89) |
| Home stadium | Grand Duke's Stadium (Rumiatzi) |
| Country code | ASG |
| KPB ranking | 39th |
| Highest KPB ranking | 9th (Post World Cup 61) |
| Lowest KPB ranking | 328th (Pre World Cup 55 qualifiers) |
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First international Astograth 1 - 2 Eastfield Lodge  (Chun City, Chunnan, Soccer International Cup) | |
Largest win Astograth 10 - 1 Melbergia  (Rumiatzi, Astograth, World Cup 58 Qualifier) | |
Worst defeat Pasarga 5 - 0 Astograth (Metalton, Saugeais, Copa Rushmori VII) | |
| Highest scoring match Astograth 10 - 1 Melbergia (Rumiatzi, Astograth, World Cup 58 Qualifier) | |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 5 (First in World Cup 57) |
| Best result | 4th place, World Cup 61 |
| Cup of Harmony | |
| Appearances | 3 (First in Cup of Harmony 47) |
| Best result | Champions, Cup of Harmony 50 |
| Olympic Games | |
| Appearances | 2 (First at the Sixth Summer Olympics) |
| Best result | Group stage |
| Copa Rushmori | |
| Appearances | 8 (First in Copa Rushmori VI) |
| Best result | Champions, Copa Rushmori XII |
| Baptism of Fire | |
| Appearance | Baptism of Fire 42 (World Cup 55) |
| Result | First round |
The Astograth national football team represents Astograth in international association football and is controlled governed by the Futbol Astograthiko Federazioa (FAF), the governing body for football in the country. The current head coach is Gunutz Yaregi. Th Astograthian side is commonly referred to as Olibondeka ("The Olives"). Astograth's national team débuted in the incompleted Chunnan Soccer International Cup prior to participating in the 42nd Baptism of Fire and the qualifiers for World Cup 55. The Astograthian national team have participated in every World Cup since then, qualifying four times and reaching the semifinals of World Cup 61 before losing to eventual champions Valanora.
They have also taken part in the regional Copa Rushmori since its sixth edition, winning Copa Rushmori XII, and were the champions of Cup of Harmony 50.
Contents |
History
Early Years
Football has been a popular sport in Astograth for many years, arriving when the land was still split in many different duchies and counties. It was not until after the unification, however, that the sport was properly professionalized and a national league established, and the formation of a national team, coached by respected manager Gartzen Treko, followed soon after
The début came against Eastfield Lodge in the group stage of the farcical Soccer International Cup, held in Chunnan. The match ended in a 1-2 loss, Dei Ormache scoring their first international goal. Further losses to Mangolana and The FSSO quickly eliminated Atsograth, though not before earning their first point by drawing with Erathore, who would be the organisers of their next international tournament. Erathore's 1st International Football Tournament saw a further run of losses that put Treko and the FAF under pressure from a public with a proud footballing tradition, until Edorta Urrustoy and Soter Sarlange led the team to a 4-2 victory against Mossulia in their first match on Astograthian soil, at Grand Duke's Stadium in Rumiatzi; ultimately, though, they would not go past the group stage.
Their next outings were for a friendly which would be Polar Islandstates' first international, and Burchadinger Cup II. The former ended in a 2-2 draw and would spark both an enduring rivalry and the formation of the Ides of March Cup, while the latter was the Astograthians' first taste of success as they reached the semifinals of a tournament won by the very same Polarians.
Their Baptism of Fire, edition 42 in Legalese and Erathore, was a bitter disappointment. Astograth failed to go past the first round after a string of three losses, the last of which could've been turned into a draw if not for a famous missed penalty from Dei Ormache. Two 5-0 wins followed, against Czechzenia and Dandakia, but the damage was done and Olibondeka quickly said goodbye to the Baptism of Fire.
Taking five-time World Cup champions Starblaydia to extra-time at the Stadii Di Bradini, for the Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy, was considered a great success, even if it ended in a loss. The World Cup 55 qualifiers that followed were largely disappointing, a 3-0 loss in The Holy Empire triggering a nine-match winless streak that only came to an end with Edorta Urrustoy's much-remembered strike against Leyte Islands. Results would turn up towards the second half of qualifying, including a scoreless draw with The Holy Empire in Rumiatzi, and Astograth would crawl out of the bottom to finish eighth among eleven.
Cup of Harmony 47, Edorta Urrustoy's last international tournament before retirement, was similarly bleak, and Astograth failed to make its home condition count at the friendly Brotherhood Cup organised by the FAF. Market Cup 3 in Saugeais ended badly as well.
Group 7 of the World Cup 56 qualifiers was notoriously hard-fought, Astograth joining the likes of The Archregimancy, Kagdazka and Pazhujebu, Polar Islandstates, Baptism of Fire 43 runners-up Bleak Rock and World Cup 7 winners Errinundera. The national team's run was marred by the Khuril Seaplane Disaster, which involved former team members Bayardo Morriyas and Laurgain Erlis, as well as Polarian footballers Tomas Aer, Finn Henriksen and FPIFA president Magnus Ragnorak; they were safely recovered, though the seaplane crew was never found. In the qualifiers themselves, Astograth performed close to expectations and went undefeated in their last eight matches, which included the entire second half of qualifying, finishing fourth among eight. Nonetheless, Gartzen Treko decided to not renew his contract and the FAF quickly set upon finding a replacement.
Under Powell Pieran
Treko's successor was soon revealed to be the controversial Powell Pieran from Civil Citizenry. His début tournament was Cup of Harmony 48, held in Astograth and the neighbouring Civil Citizenry; Olibondeka went no further than the Round of 16 as Cafundéu ran out the winners. Copa Rushmori VI, Astograth's first appearance in the regional tournament, was classified a preparation tournament by Pieran and the results are considered amongst the national team's most embarassing, including a loss to the minute Princess Béatrice Island.
Astograth started off its third World Cup qualifying campaign in good form, though a draw with Euskirribakondara set them back on the second matchday and they then failed to secure a win against the second-seeded Pays de Horreur at Grand Duke's Stadium. A loss to Nethertopia further complicated things, as did a draw against the powerful Starblaydia in Rumiatzi to complete the first round of qualifiers. Olibondeka would storm to victory in the second half, putting together seven wins in a row. They comprehensively defeated both Nethertopia and Euskirribakondara, and earned a crucial three points at Pays de Horreur. With their bye on the final matchday - which would feature Starblaydia visiting Pays de Horreur - and already guaranteed a playoff spot, Astograth travelled to Jhanna, Starblaydia, and managed a 1-1 draw via a memorable play from Dei Ormache and Soter Sarlange, the former capping it off in front of Dacil Taniquentar. The point was enough to automatically qualify Astograth, Starblaydia going on to lose their next match and fail to qualify for the first time since World Cup 38, which was immediately after their first hiatus.
Astograth's first World Cup experience started off on the wrong foot, falling to hosts Sarzonia by one goal to nil, though a 3-0 win over Cosumar rekindled hopes; ultimately they lost against Bostopia and did not progress from the group stages. The third group match becamse particularly famous in Astograth not just for its 2-1 drama, but because it was captain Estebe Bularte's final match at the top level, having already retired from club football with Iturributa United; the occasion was extensively registered by documentalist Eleder Palakio and released with the simple and slightly pretentious title A Portrait of Genius. Bularte's frustrated ripping off of the captain's armband and his nonchalant discarding of it on the pitch has become iconic in Astograth, and been repeated by every captain of the national team since when their turn to retire came.
Home Stadium
Since the national team's inception, their home ground has been the 90,000-seater Grand Duke's Stadium in the capital city of Rumiatzi. Other than when Astograth plays, the stadium only hosts football for the Royal Cup final; no club uses it as home ground. It has been the site of two semifinals and third place matches - for Cup of Harmony 48 and Baptism of Fire 45 - and of the Copa Rushmori VIII final, won by Polar Islandstates over Western Cuba.
Other stadiums across Astograth have acted as home grounds, though none since World Cup 56 qualifying and none for competitive matches since World Cup 55 qualifying. These are Cherketzo Arena in Urbizania, Ituraitz Sporting Ground in Ituraitz, Beltzura Stadium in Basabe, Ximun Orieta Sporting Ground in Echegoyan, Old City Stadium in Iturributa and Itzarrak Sporting Ground in Lermendia.
Current Squad
| # | Name | Position | Age | Club | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argider Gorriaran | Goalkeeper | 32 | Astograth University | 26 | 0 |
| 2 | Edorta Garro | Defender | 30 | Ituraitz FC | 24 | 0 |
| 3 | Abdoulaye Bocandé | Defender | 32 |  East Franz Athletic |
106 | 6 |
| 4 | Yokin Arizmande | Defender | 27 | Urbizania Wanderers | 64 | 3 |
| 5 | Urtzi Galard | Defender | 35 | Royal Rumiatzi | 140 | 6 |
| 6 | Galeano | Midfielder | 32 | Royal Rumiatzi | 68 | 3 |
| 7 | Lekubegi Guerrikaechebarria | Midfielder | 31 | Astograth University | 76 | 13 |
| 8 | Eriz Bakaikoa | Midfielder | 28 | FC Axel Heiburg |
26 | 3 |
| 9 | Hurko Atristain | Forward | 34 | SK Franz Josef City |
87 | 49 |
| 10 | Burutzagi Bidaiyat | Midfielder | 25 |  Edmonton United |
44 | 2 |
| 11 | Eguzki Berriex | Forward | 29 | Oyardo FC | 16 | 6 |
| 12 | Anartz Agirrebenia | Defender | 24 | Blue Mountain Range | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | Machin Logegaray | Goalkeeper | 28 | Ituraitz FC | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | Marin Mendazona | Midfielder | 27 |  Sporting Iturributa |
16 | 3 |
| 15 | Ikatz Alberro | Midfielder | 31 | Ituraitz FC | 74 | 7 |
| 16 | Haitz Maistegi | Defender | 27 | Astograth University | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | Raitin Eneriz | Defender | 29 | Echegoyan FC | 42 | 2 |
| 18 | Balendin Uzkudun | Forward | 28 | Metropolis Alligators |
1 | 0 |
| 19 | Ibai Kiriano | Forward | 20 | Ituraitz FC | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Peli Alzu | Midfielder | 28 | Oyardo FC | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Ayoro Barinaga | Midfielder | 27 | Astograth University | 8 | 0 |
| 22 | Koldobika Benitzaizin | Midfielder | 25 | Echegoyan FC | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Loren Arambel | Goalkeeper | 29 |  Lajuno |
5 | 0 |
Records
World Cup record
| World Cup | Rank | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 54 | Unranked | Did not enter | ||||||
 / 55 |
328th | Did not qualify | ||||||
 / 56 |
124th | Did not qualify | ||||||
 / 57 |
65th | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
 / 58 |
34th | Did not qualify | ||||||
 / 59 |
22nd | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
 / 60 |
21st | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| / 61 |
18th | Fourth place | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 |
 / 62 |
12th | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
/ 63 |
21st | Did not qualify | ||||||
| Total | - | Qualified 5/63 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 33 |
Cup of Harmony record
| Cup of Harmony | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 46 | Did not enter the World Cup | ||||||
| / 47 |
Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
 / 48 |
Round of 16 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 |
 / 49 |
Qualified for World Cup 57 | ||||||
/ 50 |
Champions | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 |
 / 51 |
Qualified for World Cup 59 | ||||||
 / 52 |
Qualified for World Cup 60 | ||||||
| 53 |
Qualified for World Cup 61 | ||||||
/ 54 |
Hosted World Cup 62 | ||||||
 / 55 |
Not invited | ||||||
| Total | 3/55 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 25 |
Copa Rushmori record
| Copa Rushmori | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I to V | Did not enter | ||||||
 VI |
Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| VII |
Round of 16 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| VIII |
Round of 16 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 |
 IX |
Group Stage | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 11 |
| X |
Round of 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
 XI |
Round of 16 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 |
| XII |
Champions | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 |
| XIII |
Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Total | 8/13 | 42 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 56 | 52 |
Olympic Games record
| Olympic Games | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First to Fifth Summer Olympics | Did not enter | ||||||
| Sixth Summer Olympics |
Group Stage | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
 Seventh Summer Olympics |
Group Stage | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 2/7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 |
Notable players
Appearances
As of World Cup 64 the ten most-capped players for Astograth are:
| # | Name | Position | Caps | Goals | Début | Last Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soter Sarlange | Striker | 200 | 89 | vs. Eastfield Lodge Chunnan, Soccer International Cup |
World Cup 61 |
| 2 | Urgutz Belarte | Left Midfielder | 160 | 23 | vs. Eastfield Lodge Chunnan, Soccer International Cup |
World Cup 60 |
| 3 | Itzeder Unzueta | Right Midfielder | 149 | 28 | vs. Newmanistan Sarzonia, Cup of Harmony 47 |
World Cup 61 |
| 4 | Dei Ormache | Striker | 145 | 49 | vs. Eastfield Lodge Chunnan, Soccer International Cup |
World Cup 59 |
| 5 | Ubelteso Adin | Centre-back | 144 | 9 | vs. Czechzenia Erathore, Baptism of Fire 42 |
World Cup 61 |
| 6 | Urtzi Galard | Left-back | 140 | 6 | vs. West Zirconia Whirl Islands, Copa Rushmori VI |
- |
| 7 | Zernin Aira | Goalkeeper | 138 | 0 | vs. Mossulia Mossulia, Erathore 1st International Football Tournament |
World Cup 59 |
| 8 | Estebe Bularte | Attacking Midfielder | 114 | 12 | vs. Eastfield Lodge Chunnan, Soccer International Cup |
World Cup 57 |
| 9 | Milian Erburu | Centre-back | 112 | 1 | vs. Eastfield Lodge Chunnan, Soccer International Cup |
Cup of Harmony 50 |
| 10 | Otz Lasuen | Attacking Midfielder | 110 | 22 | vs. Chetkosk Astograth, World Cup 56 pre-qualifying international friendly |
World Cup 61 |
Top Scorers
As of World Cup 64 the ten top goalscorers for Astograth are:
| # | Name | Position | Goals | Caps | Goal Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soter Sarlange | Striker | 89 | 200 | 0.445 |
| 2= | Hurko Atristain | Striker | 49 | 87 | 0.563 |
| 2= | Dei Ormache | Striker | 49 | 145 | 0.338 |
| 4 | Itzeder Unzueta | Right Midfielder | 28 | 149 | 0.188 |
| 5 | Ikatz Ansotegi | Striker | 25 | 86 | 0.291 |
| 6 | Urgutz Belarte | Left Midfielder | 23 | 160 | 0.144 |
| 7 | Otz Lasuen | Attacking Midfielder | 22 | 110 | 0.2 |
| 8 | Tipi Nanklares | Striker | 15 | 57 | 0.263 |
| 9 | Aintza Lekea | Attacking Midfielder | 14 | 80 | 0.175 |
| 10 | Lekubegi Guerrikaechebarria | Left Midfielder | 13 | 76 | 0.171 |
Managers
| Manager | Span | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals for |
Goals against |
Win percentage |
Titles won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gartzen Treko
|
Chunnan Soccer International Cup to World Cup 56 |
90 | 27 | 21 | 42 | 104 | 129 | 30% | - |
| Powell Pieran
|
Cup of Harmony 48 to World Cup 60 | 129 | 73 | 32 | 24 | 291 | 179 | 57% | Cup of Harmony 50, Brevity Challenge Cup 1 |
| Gunutz Yaregi
|
Copa Rushmori X to World Cup 63 | 66 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 108 | 59 | 55% | Copa Rushmori XII |
| Berbiz Munduarte1
|
Brevity Challenge Cup 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 50% | - |
| Sir James Handel
|
Copa Rushmori XIII - Incumbent | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0% | - |
1 As Gunutz Yaregi and the senior national team were occupied with Copa Rushmori XI, a separate squad led by the U-21 national team manager, Berbiz Munduarte, was sent to the third Brevity Challenge Cup.
Honours
- Fourth place (1): World Cup 61
- Winners (1): Cup of Harmony 50
- Winners (1): Copa Rushmori XII
- Brevity Challenge Cup
- Winners (1): Brevity Challenge Cup 1
- Glass Bowl (2): Brevity Challenge Cups 2, 3
- Burchadinger Cup
- Fourth place (1): Burchadinger Cup II
- Legends of the World Cup
- Third place
