Starblaydia national football team
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| |
| Nickname(s) | No official nickname (formerly The Blades, also called The Purple Peril, White-and-purples or Men In Mauve by other nation's fans) |
| Association | Starblaydi Football Association |
| Confederation | AOCAF (Atlantian Oceania) |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Manager |  Father Juan (WC61)
|
| Captain | Juan Torres
|
| Most caps | Batou Nakamura (105)
|
| Top scorer | Jacqueline Maitland (59)
|
| Most caps (elf) | Ázëwyn Fëanáro (270)
|
| Top scorer (elf) | Valrauncion (116)
|
| Home stadium | Stadii Di Bradini (Jhanna) |
| Country code | STB |
| KPB ranking|40th | |
| Highest KPB ranking | 1st (2034 to 2038, 2102 to 2106) |
| Lowest KPB ranking | 115th (1974) |
| SRS rank | 2nd (104 pts) |
| |
First international Vilita 2 - 1 Starblaydia (Vilita, World Cup 15 Qualifying Matchday 1, 1974) | |
Largest win Starblaydia 9 - 0 Kosovoe  (West Starblaydia, AOCAF Cup 23 Matchday 2, 2077) | |
Worst defeat Starblaydia 1 - 7 Valanora  (Valanora, World Cup 39 Quarter-Final, 2070) | |
Highest scoring match Hypocria 6 - 5 Starblaydia (ASMV, 3rd Draggonnii Inviyatii Matchday 5, 2029) | |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 37 (First in 1982) |
| Best result | Champions, 2014, 2026, 2078, 2090 & 2102 |
| AOCAF Cup | |
| Appearances | 33 (First in 1978) |
| Best result | Champions, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2026 & 2077 |
| Olympic Games | |
| Appearances | 2 (First in "Kaza 08", 2023) |
| Best result | Champions, Ashford Games, 2032 |
| Cup of Harmony | |
| Appearances | 3 (First in 1975) |
| Best result | Group Stage, all |
| Baptism of Fire | |
| Appearance | 25th Baptism of Fire |
| Result | Runners-Up, 2065 |
The Starblaydia national football team represents Starblaydia in international football competitions such as the World Cup and the Atlantian Oceania Confederation of Association Football Cup (AOCAF Cup). It is controlled by the Starblaydi Football Association (SFA), the governing body for football in the nation.
Starblaydia are among the most successful World Cup nations of all time, having won a joint-record five World Cup titles. They have won a total of eighteen tournament championships, which also includes six championships at AOCAF Cup level, Olympic gold medal and four other minor tournament wins. Starblaydia are ranked second on the all-time list of footballing nations, as measured by the Spaam Ranking System, and were inducted into the World Cup Nation Hall of Fame after World Cup 27. To date, twenty Starblaydi players have been entered into the World Cup Hall of Fame.
Starblaydia have twice done the international 'Double' of winning World Cup and AOCAF Cup at the same time (the only other side to do the double is Vilita, once). They have also twice been ranked as both #1 in the world and #1 in the footballing super-power of Atlantian Oceania at the same time. This came about for World Cup 30 and AOCAF16, as well as World Cup 47 and AOCAF Cup 27. Starblaydia's men's Olympic team were crowned Champions and Gold Medal winners at Ashford, Casari, in the First Summer Olympics.
Due to an immense regional war Starblaydia entered a period of isolation, known as Starblaydia's international football hiatus, and declined to enter after World Cup 34. With the hiatus over and a new government in power, they made a return for World Cup 38 and its Baptism of Fire, finishing as Runners-Up. As part of a swift return up the rankings, they swiftly made history as they hosted The Baptism of Fire, World Cup and Cup of Harmony (the entire World Cup 40 tournament) in conjunction with Krytenia, before going on to win their sixth Regional and third World Championships in AOCAF 23 and World Cup 41 respectively. They then won their fourth championship in World Cup 44 and cemented their claim as the best-ever footballing nation by defeating Valanora in Valanora for the World Cup 47 title.
Contents |
History
- Main article: Starblaydia national football team history
For more than a century Starblaydia have competed in on the world stage, beginning their quest for international footballing dominance in World Cup 15 - without participating in a Baptism of Fire - and qualifying for their first World Cup eight years later in World Cup 17, and continuing to qualify right through until their self-imposed exile after World Cup 34.
Starblaydia co-hosted World Cup 20 with Druida, earning a place on the World Cup Committee (as it was at the time, now Emergency WCC) and strengthening their international presence. In World Cup 25 Starblaydia took their first Championship in Kaza, Kaze Progressa, denying Rejistania a fifth title. Starblaydia took the Orange-Blues to extra time, where a Giovanni Lopez goal won the match with a 2-1 scoreline. They cemented their place as one of the world's greats in World Cup 28 with a second championship, denying Bedistan a third consecutive Championship. A penalty shoot-out was required when the match finished nil-nil After Extra Time. Dasha Tolkacheva, Paul Noble, Pedro Rujano, Markko Rakkinen, Maivia Von Erich, captain Georges Blanc and Durum Rage all successfully scored their penalties and goalkeeper David Bedford saved the seventh Bedistani penalty to give Starblaydia glory in the Paladin Dome of New Montreal States. After World Cup 29 they were ranked as the number-one team in the world and also number one in the region of sporting superpowers, Atlantian Oceania.
Along the way Starblaydia also collected a record five AOCAF trophies, as well as being crowned Olympic Champions. Two other trophies made their way into the national cabinet, but World Cup 34 saw what was thought to be their last appearance on the international stage as their participation was cut short by massive regional conflict.
Hiatus
- Main article: Starblaydia's international football hiatus
Starblaydia's international football hiatus lasted a decade, and took place from immediately after World Cup 34 until the build-up to World Cup 38. It was caused by the immense war in Atlantian Oceania which Starblaydia was involved in, codenamed Operation Galactica. With a change in government - a return to the rule of Tiberius Starblayde via a coup - Starblaydia initiated a ceasefire and withdrew its forces back to its territory. At Starblayde's command, Starblaydia was transformed into a fledgling democracy, and to re-unite the nation, the national football team was re-born.
The Middle Years
The SFA decided they had to return to the world stage after their war-enforced hiatus. They began to host the Di Bradini Cup for Under-21 national teams and also entered the 20th AOCAF under the guidance of ex-international Betanii Marrones. The big news was that they tendered their application for World Cup 38, applying too for its pre-tournament warm-up, the Baptism of Fire. When Miceland was chosen to host the tournament - dubbed the Cup of Shapes and Colours - the invitation was eagerly accepted. Starblaydia eventually finished as Runners-Up in the Baptism of Fire - losing out to The Pazhujeb Islands (who, incidentally, were managed by two-time Starblaydi World Cup winner Jaime Oberlander).
Starblaydia quickly worked their way back up the rankings and also co-hosted World Cup 40 with Krytenia (for a time known as West Starblaydia), making history by becoming the first nation to host the Baptism of Fire, World Cup and Cup of Harmony for the same edition as part of the 'XL' Bid (also known as the 'Überbid') for World Cup 40. In the following tournament, a Starblaydi side ranked 22nd in the World would, incredibly, take the World Championship a scant year after winning the Regional title to repeat their 'Double' of World and AOCAF Cups fifty years before, propelling them back into the Top Ten of the world as well as into the record books.
After Valanora won back-to-back championships, Starblaydia once more reigned supreme in the World Cup, halting a Vanorian 'three-peat' and taking their fourth world title. This drew Starblaydia level with Rejistania and Bedistan as the most decorated World Cup team ever. They were also back at the top table of the KPB ranking system, looking to be crowned as the best team in the world for the first time in a generation, which was acheived when the finals of World Cup 47 began. Starblaydia went on to win a historic and record-breaking fifth world title in that tournament, defeating host nation Valanora on home ground in the final.
Recent History
After a second hiatus from the 58th to 60th Cups, where the Starblaydi government decided that it simply could not afford to fund the national football team. Several billion people across the world swear to have seen a team representing Starblaydia at World Cup 60, but the SFA deny all existence of such a team. Starblaydia returned for World Cup 61, managing to qualify at their first attempt. This was the tournament where long time rivals Valanora managed to equal Starblaydia's record of 5 World Championships, giving extra impetus to the national team's desires to get back on top of the world.
Home stadium
Until World Cup 42, Starblaydia did not have a single 'national stadium' like many other nations, instead the national team took on the role of a traveling circus and toured the nation's primary stadia to bring the team to all parts of the country for home matches. In time for the 6th Di Bradini Cup, Starblaydi engineers had constructed the 196,754-seater stadium which quickly installed itself as the official national football stadium. It was first used for the final of the 6th Di Bradini Cup.
Previous to this, Jhanna United's Jader Barbahlo stadium was the largest on the Starblaydi mainland, seating 96,000 fans, however the near hundred-thousand capacity Stadii di Quercus on the island of Aquiliana, home to FC Farça, eventually overtook it as the primary home venue in terms of ticket sales. The main Stadia in the cities of Jhanna, Tabeck, Corinth, Vecchio and Penningworth also played regular host to the national team, but these stadiums now host non-Final matches in international tournaments such as the Di Bradini Cup.
Main stadia used (by capacity)
- Stadii Di Bradini, Jhanna - No home team (196,754 capacity)
- Stadii di Quercus, Farça - FC Farça (99,000)
- Jader Barbahlo Stadium, Jhanna - Jhanna United (96,000)
- Iota "Big Eye" Arena, Penningworth - Penningworth United (82,000)
- Foundation Road, Jhanna - Iskara Daii (75,000)
- Silverlands, Corinth - Corinthian Spirits (65,000)
- Sports Hall, Karak D'Ragh - Karak Ungor Chiefs (60,000)
- Jhanna City Recreational Ground, Jhanna, - Jhanna City 51,000)
- Hallad City Stadium, Hallad City - Hallad Reavers (49,000)
- Victory Park, Vecchio - Vecchio Victors (48,000)
- Bekkside Arena, Tabeck - Tabeck FC (33,000)
Squad
For each tournament, be it World Cup, AOCAF or any of a myriad of different competitions, Starblaydia's Manager (occasionally called a Head Coach), will pick a squad of twenty-three players, from which the 'Starting Eleven' will receive the shirt numbers One to Eleven. The other twelve, termed 'Substitutes' or 'Reserves', are handed the remaining numbers up to Twenty-Three. These twelve players are used for in-game tactical substitutions, to prepare for any injuries and suspensions suffered by the team, or to give younger players some experience of major tournaments in preparation for the future.
Player numbers
- Main article: Starblaydi football player numbers
Shirt numbers have been assigned in various ways throughout their history of usage. The structure of the shirt numbering system for players of the Starblaydia national football team comes from a time long before Starblaydia began playing in international competitions such as the World Cup and AOCAF Cup. The numbering system is not unique to Starblaydia, as similar variations of it developed both independently of and in conjunction with Starblaydi footballing culture. For Starblaydi players and fans, squad numbers - particularly the starting eleven - are traditionally associated with a certain position, but there are no set rules. This has been a part of Starblaydi football since it first began, and the team has kept to their tradition of numbering players from 1 to 11 (12 and upwards for substitutes) for every tournament.
Culture
Formation
formation, winners of World Cup 44.
Starblaydia, almost exclusively, have lined up in a 4-4-2 'Diamond' Formation throughout their history. This style provides a strong defensive benefit, with two central defenders, two full-backs and a 'holding' midfielder to act as fifth defensive player. The team often uses this defensive midfielder - usually wearing the number 4 shirt - as a fulcrum, turning defence into attack, and letting the two wide midfielders, the central attacking midfielder and two strikers charge forward. Full backs can also compliment the attack, making this an adaptable formation suitable to most situations.
The first major exception to this formation, in World Cup squads, was World Cup 18 where Starblaydia switched to a 3-5-2 formation [1], exploiting their excess of quality central defenders and making up for their lack of a decent left full-back. Ceri Salisbury, Jean-Pierre Durand and Paulo Bachchan (later considered as a left-back, but primarily played as a central player) were Starblaydia's first 'back three', with right-sided defensive utility man Roberto Di Bradini pushed into midfield.
World Cups 46, 47 and 52 all saw Starblaydia transition to a 4-2-3-1 formation. This had the benefit of doubling the midfield strength at the expense of a forward. The tactic, instigated by manager Bazrador Drakkiborgo, proved successful as Starblaydia finished in first the Quarter-Finals and then as World Champions under his reign. Francisco Martinez brought the formation back in his first campaign as Manager.
Style of play
Starblaydi teams tend to value energy, passion, determination, skill and fair play. Each player must be willing to put his, or her, body on the line and give their very soul to the team. Starblaydia's national motto is, after all, translated as "Honour, Glory, Blood". Every player must display a good work ethic, a desire to win and, most important of all, talent. Starblaydi teams generally tackle hard, but fair, and interchange excellent passing and teamwork with individual brilliance. Though defence - particularly the back four - is the bedrock of the success, Starblaydi teams can never be said to be defensive-minded.
As Starblaydia tend to play the same formation from tournament to tournament (see 'Formation' section above), every position on the pitch is highly valued for its overall contribution to the team. The striker cannot score if he has not received the ball from a supporting midfielder, who must receive it from a defender, who in turn only has the ball because the team's goalkeeper protected the net. Teamwork qualities are always stressed by coaching staff at the national level, cultivating a 'Starblaydia F.C' environment, as if the national side was a club team.
Sportsmanship
A key pillar of behaviour in Starblaydia is fairness, which extends through the entire culture to include football. Starblaydi players, in general, do not dive for free kicks, badger the referee or commit dirty or 'gamesmanship' fouls and any such play by their opponents draws anger and disbelief. Penalties and other fouls will, of course, be claimed when a player genuinely feels they have been committed, but Starblaydi players are not the type to pick up their feet and fall to the floor as if they've been shot by a sniper when an opponent brushes against them. Any players who perform such theatrics are generally condemned as cheaters. Club managers are known for fining and dropping players for blatant dives in previous matches, and the Starblaydi Football Association has the power to fine and retrospectively award yellow cards (and any subsequent fines/suspensions if a certain amount of yellow cards have been received) to players based on video evidence. The SFA, clubs and football society in general is determined to stamp out any cheating in Starblaydia's national game.
Captains
- Main article: List of Starblaydia national football team captains
To be made the captain of the national team, the one who wears the armband and leads the country on the field, is one of the most honoured achievements any Starblaydi footballer can attain. In Liga Starblaydia, the captain is the only player permitted to speak with the referee without being spoken to first, and often a referee will call the captains over to discuss a disciplinary decision over a bad tackle, fight, etc. In the international scene, however, this rarely happens, and the captain's role is far less tangible. A Starblaydi captain is expected to lead by example, to be a paradigm of Starblaydia's style of play and sportsmanship (see above). They are the players to look for in any desperate situation, as they will be trying the hardest to turn the match in Starblaydia's favour.
Media coverage
Domestically all Starblaydia matches are screened live on SCB:Sports, the primary sports broadcaster in the nation, which extends to live streaming online for Starblaydi-based users only. Commentary is broadcast live across digital radio and online streaming, extending the live coverage yet further. Extensive newspaper coverage, both in print and online versions, is available throughout Starblaydia, as well as internationally where foreign versions of Starblaydi newspapers are distributed, primarily from the Jhanna Chronicle and Daily Llama.
Unlike many other nations, Starblaydi media does not generally try to knock the national team's players just for the sake of a good story; Starblaydi fans are usually very knowledgeable about the game and would see through unwarranted and undeserved criticism of a Starblaydi player.
Fans
Ordinary Starblaydi football fans have always followed their team with passion, songs and support across the entire world. Even in the very beginning, against Vilita in World Cup 15, Starblaydia filled their seating allocation and have maintained incredible levels of support throughout the years.
Fans of the 'white-and-purples' will often be seen wearing patriotic-coloured clothing or replica shirts, carrying banners and occasionally musical instruments. Though a liberal sprinkling of alcohol is always nearby, Starblaydi fans are on the whole respectful and well-behaved whether at home or away.
Starblaydi fans are also known for their songs and chanting throughout matches [2] [3], directed at players, staff, officials, other fans and even the occasional celebrity. From the simplest, repetitive mob-chanting of "Star-blade-yer, Star-blade-yer, Star-blade-yer!", through player-specific chants like "Ooh, aah, Tumunzahar! Say ooh-aah Tumunzahar!", up to hymns "Away in Krytenia, no quids for a bed, little Lord Tiberius sat up and he said, 'Star-blade-yer! Star-blade-yer! Star-blade-yer!" and mockery of regional events with "Who's that drowning by the pool side, who's that lying in the sun?". All these, of course, are in addition to standard chants and songs sung by many teams across the world.
Crunching tackles, swift counter-attacks, skilled play - particularly if it makes a fool of an opposing player - and incredible saves are most likely, apart from goals, to get a Starblaydi fan off their seat and applauding. No matter the player, or the situation, however, if a player in a Starblaydi shirt has tried their utmost and given everything for the team's cause - whatever the outcome - Starblaydi fans will always show them respect and gratitude.
The Raiigar
- Main article: Raiigar
The Raiigar is a tribal dance designed to ready its performers for a challenge ahead, originally danced by an ancient Starblaydi tribe before battle. It was recreated and first used from the fifth and final First Group Stage match against Mallatarsland in the Baptism of Fire for World Cup 38 and became a new cultural tradition for the team to enact before each match, after the national anthems of both teams have been played, but prior to the kick-off. It is designed, in the words of its re-creator Lex Panarii, to show that "your songs are stronger and your feet are faster" [4] than those of your opposition. It has also been described as "both awe inspiring and terrifying" [5] by an observer from Rennidan who was not even facing the dance and "intimidating and ferocious" [6] by players from Zwangzug who faced it in World Cup 39. Similar in nature to the Ariddian Ulek the first clash of these two ancient dances in the opening qualifying match of World Cup 38 produced 'one of the most memorable moments in the history of world football' [7] as the two dances were performed simultaneously.
Records
- Main article: Starblaydia national football team records
- The main article also includes full World Cup Qualifying records, as well as enhanced distinguished player and player record information.
World Cup record
| Edition | Year | Rank | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup 1 to World Cup 14 |
1918 to 1970 |
Unranked | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 15 | 1974 | 115th | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 16 | 1978 | 51st | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 17 | 1982 | 46th | Quarter-finals | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| World Cup 18 | 1986 | 21st | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| World Cup 19 | 1990 | 15th | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| World Cup 20 | 1994 | 19th | 2nd Round | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| World Cup 21 | 1998 | 12th | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| World Cup 22 | 2002 | 15th | 2nd Round | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| World Cup 23 | 2006 | 12th | Quarter-finals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| World Cup 24 | 2010 | 6th | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| World Cup 25 | 2014 | 10th | Champions | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 |
| World Cup 26 | 2018 | 3rd | 2nd Round | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| World Cup 27 | 2022 | 8th | 3rd Place | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 8 |
| World Cup 28 | 2026 | 3rd | Champions | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 6 |
| World Cup 29 | 2030 | 2nd | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| World Cup 30 | 2034 | 1st | Runners-up | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
| World Cup 31 | 2038 | 1st | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 7 |
| World Cup 32 | 2042 | 5th | 2nd Round | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 7 |
| World Cup 33 | 2046 | 5th | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| World Cup 34 | 2050 | 21st | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| World Cup 35 to World Cup 37 |
2054 to 2062 |
Unranked | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 38 | 2066 | 106th | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 39 | 2070 | 55th | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
| World Cup 40 | 2074 | 25th | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| World Cup 41 | 2078 | 21st | Champions | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 9 |
| World Cup 42 | 2082 | 4th | 2nd Round | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
| World Cup 43 | 2086 | 5th | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| World Cup 44 | 2090 | 6th | Champions | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 7 |
| World Cup 45 | 2094 | 2nd | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| World Cup 46 | 2098 | 4th | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| World Cup 47 | 2102 | 1st | Champions | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 8 |
| World Cup 48 | 2106 | 1st | 2nd Round | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| World Cup 49 | 2110 | 5th | 2nd Round | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
| World Cup 50 | 2114 | 9th | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| World Cup 51 | 2118 | 19th | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9* |
| World Cup 52 | 2122 | 23rd | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| World Cup 53 | 2126 | 17th | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| World Cup 54 | 2130 | 15th | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 |
| World Cup 55 | 2134 | 10th | 2nd Round | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 8 |
| World Cup 56 | 2138 | 12th | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| World Cup 57 | 2142 | 12th | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 58 | 2146 | 36th | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 59 | 2150 | 94th | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 60 | 2154 | 169th | Did not qualify | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Cup 61 | 2158 | 149th | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | to 2158 | 5 Titles | Qualified 37/42 | 163 | 94 | 31 | 47 | 302 | 231 |
- * Purple border denotes tournament was hosted by Starblaydia
AOCAF Cup record
| Edition | Rank | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOCAF1 | Unranked | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| AOCAF2 | Unranked | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 |
| AOCAF3 | 5th | Runners-Up | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 13 |
| AOCAF4 | 4th | Champions | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 10 |
| AOCAF5 | 3rd | Quarter-Finals | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 7 |
| AOCAF6 | 3rd | Runners-Up | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 9 |
| AOCAF7 | 2nd | Champions | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| AOCAF8 | 1st | Champions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 |
| AOCAF9 | 1st | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| AOCAF10 | 2nd | Champions | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 5 |
| AOCAF11 | 1st | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 7 |
| AOCAF12 | 2nd | Third Place | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 9 |
| AOCAF13 | 2nd | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 |
| AOCAF14 | 2nd | Champions | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 14 |
| AOCAF15 | 1st | Third Place | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 5 |
| AOCAF16 | 1st | Quarter-Finals | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 10 |
| AOCAF17 | 1st | Third Place | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 11 |
| AOCAF18 | 1st | 2nd Round | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 10 |
| AOCAF19 | 4th | 2nd Round | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 11 |
| AOCAF20 | 8th | Quarter-Finals | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 5 |
| AOCAF21 | 8th | Quarter-Finals | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 17 |
| AOCAF22 | 8th | Third Place | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 15 |
| AOCAF23 | 4th | Champions | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 6 |
| AOCAF24 | 1st | Runners-Up | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 13 |
| AOCAF25 | 1st | Runners-Up | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 7 |
| AOCAF26 | 1st | Third Place | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 16 |
| AOCAF27 | 1st | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 5 |
| AOCAF28 | 3rd | 2nd Round | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| AOCAF29 | 5th | Runners-Up | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 8 |
| AOCAF30 | 4th | 2nd Round | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
| AOCAF31 | 5th | 2nd Round | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 7 |
| AOCAF32 | 4th | Group Stage | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| AOCAF33 | 8th | Quarter-Finals | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 10 |
| AOCAF34 | 9th | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| AOCAF35 | 20th | Did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| AOCAF36 | 25th | Quarter-Finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 |
| AOCAF37 | 11th | In Progress | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 6 Titles | 6/34 | 238 | 158 | 37 | 44 | 549 | 290 |
Olympics Games record
| Medal | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | First Summer Olympics, Ashford | Men's Association Football |
| Silver | Ylompic Games, Tyrellia | Men's Association Football |
Distinguished players
Appearances
As of World Cup 60 the ten most-capped human players (Elf players, being immortal, have a potentially eternal career and an unfair advantage in appearance statistics) for Starblaydia were:
| # | Name | Position | Caps | Goals | Début |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Batou Nakamura | Right/Left/Centre Midfield |
105 | 25 | Starblaydia 6-2 Wing Wang Woo Starblaydia, World Cup 39 Qualifying, Matchday 6 |
| 2 | Leandro Perheira | Left/Centre Back | 104 | 7 | Starblaydia 4-1 Mallatarsland Miceland, 25th Baptism of Fire Group Circle, Matchday 3 |
| 3 | Alfonso Di Angelo | Attacking/Defensive Midfield |
100 | 26 | Jey 1-0 Starblaydia Miceland, 25th Baptism of Fire Group Circle, Matchday 3 |
| 4 | Rafaelo | Defensive Midfield |
99 | 11 | Edward City 1-4 Starblaydia Allemenschen, AOCAF25 MAtchda 2 |
| 5 | Jaime Kuu | Centre/Left Midfield |
97 | 24 | Starblaydia 1-1 Sokojito and Sokojiwa Daehanjeiguk, 4th Oriental Football Cup, Group B, Matchday 1 |
| 6= | Paul Noble | Right/Centre Midfield |
96 | 27 | Starblaydia 2-0 Dagabom Starblaydia, World Cup 26 Qualifying, Matchday 1 |
| 6= | Diamontii Di Bradini | Striker | 96 | 44 | Starblaydia 3-1 Sokojito and Sokojiwa Daehanjeiguk, 5th Oriental Football Cup, Group B, Matchday 2 |
| 8 | Caleb Westwood | Goalkeeper | 93 | 0 | Starblaydia 1-1 Sokojito and Sokojiwa Daehanjeiguk, 4th Oriental Football Cup, Group B, Matchday 1 |
| 9 | Stephen Adams | Centre Back | 92 | 7 | Starblaydia 5-2 Bazalonia Bettia, AOCAF14 Group Stage, Matchday 5 |
| 10= | Zhorin Tumunzahar | Striker | 91 | 44 | Starblaydia 6-2 Nova Britannicus Cockbill Street, AOCAF6 Group Stage, Matchday 3 |
| 10= | Ricky England | Right/Centre Midfield |
91 | 17 | Starblaydia 7-0 Oceaniaus West Starblaydia, AOCAF23, Matchday 1 |
Goalscorers
Those players who score fifteen or more goals in their international career are inducted into the Rapaii 15 Club. This, which means 'Predator 15', sets 15 as its benchmark, for the fifteen goals Nikola "Laser" Lazerevski, Starblaydia's first great striker, scored in his career. As of World Cup 60, the ten highest-scoring human players (Elf players, being immortal, have a potentially eternal career and an unfair advantage in goalscoring statistics) for Starblaydia were:
| # | Name | Position | Goals | Caps | Goals per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacqueline Maitland | Striker | 59 | 68 | 0.867 |
| 2 | Lubii | Striker | 55 | 80 | 0.688 |
| 3 | Dasha Tolkacheva | Striker | 52 | 71 | 0.732 |
| 4= | Johan Keifner | Centre Forward | 47 | 90 | 0.522 |
| 4= | Nicole Maitland-Banks | Striker | 47 | 82 | 0.573 |
| 6= | Simeone Di Bradini | Striker | 44 | 84 | 0.523 |
| 6= | Zhorin Tumunzahar | Striker | 44 | 91 | 0.484 |
| 6= | Diamontii Di Bradini | Striker | 44 | 96 | 0.458 |
| 9 | Aidan Kuu | Striker | 43 | 85 | 0.506 |
| 10 | Kaza Matranga | Striker | 42 | 67 | 0.627 |
Starblaydia managers
| Manager | Starblaydia career | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals for |
Goals against |
Win percentage |
Championships won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Paul Georges-Ringeaux | World Cup 15 to Eagles Cup 3 | 55 | 13 | 17 | 25 | 64 | 86 | 23.64 | - |
| Guylain N'Dumbu-Nsungu | World Cup 17 to World Cup 21 | 125 | 73 | 23 | 29 | 252 | 135 | 58.40 | AOCAF Cup 4 |
| Simeone Di Bradini | 2nd Four Nations Invitational | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 53.85 | 2nd Four Nations Invitational |
| Rikaard Van Honjiik & Nikola Lazerevski | AOCAF Cup 7 & World Cup 22 | 21 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 12 | 80.95 | AOCAF Cup 7 |
| Nikola Lazerevski | AOCAF Cup 8 to World Cup 25 | 86 | 62 | 15 | 9 | 166 | 72 | 72.09 | AOCAF Cup 8 & 10, World Cup 25 |
| Khim Azanulbizarn | AOCAF Cup 11 to World Cup 30 | 154 | 120 | 14 | 20 | 425 | 139 | 77.92 | AOCAF Cup 14, World Cup 28 First Summer Olympics |
| Geraint Evans | AOCAF Cups 15, 16 & 17 | 23 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 65 | 26 | 78.26 | - |
| Jaime Oberlander | World Cup 31 to World Cup 34 | 84 | 50 | 14 | 20 | 203 | 105 | 59.52 | Indigenous World Cup |
| Markko Rakkinen | AOCAF Cups 18 & 19 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 50.00 | - |
| Starblaydia's international football hiatus | |||||||||
| Betanii Marrones | AOCAF Cup 20 to World Cup 40 | 102 | 49 | 15 | 38 | 180 | 140 | 48.03 | - |
| Lex Panarii | AOCAF Cup 23 to World Cup 45 | 127 | 86 | 23 | 19 | 282 | 124 | 67.72 | AOCAF Cup 23, World Cup 41 1st & 2nd Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy, World Cup 44 |
| Bazrador Drakkiborgo | AOCAF Cup 25 to World Cup 49 | 147 | 104 | 26 | 17 | 368 | 144 | 70.75 | 3rd Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy, World Cup 47 |
| Jaime Kuu | World Cup 50 to World Cup 51 | 51 | 29 | 9 | 13 | 128 | 70 | 56.86 | - |
| Francisco Martinez | World Cup 52 to World Cup 55 | 86 | 55 | 15 | 17 | 203 | 98 | 63.95 | - |
| Isabella Roshanak | World Cup 56 to World Cup 57 | 46 | 29 | 9 | 8 | 88 | 40 | 63.04 | - |
Managerial notes
- Nikola Lazerevski is the only coach to have gained a 100% winning record in tournament finals: in AOCAF8 where Starblaydia won seven out of seven matches played in taking their third title. Khim Azanulbizarn is the only coach to have gained a 100% winning record in any World Cup play: during the World Cup 30 Qualifiers where Starblaydia won all fourteen qualifying matches, scoring forty-five goals and conceding just four. [1]. Lex Panarii won seven matches out of seven in World Cup 44, but the Final against Cafundéu required a penalty shoot-out and thus is counted as a draw in the record books.
- Geraint Evans took charge of the AOCAF side within both Azanulbizarn and Oberlander's tenures, when as assistant manager to the World Cup side, he took control of the AOCAF team. Markko Rakkinen did the same thing during Oberlander's reign only.
- Seven managers went on to be involved in the set-up of other national football teams: Jean-Paul Georges-Ringeaux (Nova Britannicus), Guylain N'Dumbu-Nsungu (Hypocria), Khim Azanulbizarn (Az-cz), Jaime Oberlander (The Pazhujeb Islands), Simeone Di Bradini (The Holy Empire), Jaime Kuu (The Weegies) and Francisco Martinez (Sargossa).
- Two managers of other national football teams have never managed Starblaydia: Javi Chavez (Hypocria) and Lii Chongsun (Daehanjeiguk).
- As the finals of World Cup 47 began, the top three national teams in the world all had Starblaydi managers: Starblaydia (Bazrador Drakkiborgo), Daehanjeiguk (Lii Chongsun) and Valanora (Jaime Kuu). They finished in 1st, 9th-equal and 2nd place, respectively.
- Jaime Kuu became the first manager to control another national team (Valanora) before managing Starblaydia, followed immediately by Francisco Martinez, who had managed Nethertopia.
Notable player records
- Most appearances: Batou Nakamura, 105
- Most goals: Jacqueline Maitland, 59
- Most goals in a single match: 5, Lubii; 4, Simeone Di Bradini and Jacqueline Maitland
- Most times scoring four or more goals in a single match: Lubii, Simeone Di Bradini & Jacqueline Maitland, 1
- Most times scoring three or more goals in a single match: Jacqueline Maitland and Kaza Matranga, 5
- Most red cards: Francisco Ibanez, 8
- Youngest player: Darius Belizaire, 15 years, 5 months, 25 days
- Youngest goalscorer: Surachai Buathiang, 15 years, 8 months, 7 days
Kit
Starblaydia have always worn white shirts, shorts and socks with purple trim since their inception. Their away kit is traditionally a reverse of this, with purple shirts, shorts and socks with white trim and it is from this kit that Starblaydia's nicknames come: Men in Mauve and Purple Peril. Other away kits worn by Starblaydia - particularly in the more minor tournaments away from the World Cup and AOCAF - have included kits containing mostly yellow, gold, green, bronze or black. The distinctive purple colour of Starblaydi kits is drawn from the national flag, which in turn derives its purple from the Starblaydi Orchid, the national flower.
The Starblaydi sportswear company Ediraf have always provided the kits for Starblaydia's team, from their very first outings debuted at World Cup 15. A major overhaul for the entire kit range, then adopted by many other nations, took place before World Cup 25 - which Starblaydia co-incidentally won. With the return from international hiatus in World Cup 38, all-new Kits for Home, Away and an extra Change kit were created. Ediraf soon created their fourth generation of football kits for World Cup 41. As with the new kit before World Cup 25, Starblaydia co-incidentally won their third World Cup final in the 41st edition.
World Cup 40 was the first time Starblaydia had not worn a white home kit in the World Cup, due to the presumed death of Simeone Di Bradini, while for World Cup 41 only both home and away kits had their purple replaced by green as part of a nation-wide environmental campaign. From World Cup 42 onwards, three gold stars, one for each world championship, were added above the symbol of the SFA. This then grew to four stars after the record-equaling fourth world championship in World Cup 44. Twelve years later, with Starblaydia's historic victory over Valanora on Vanorian soil saw an unprecedented fifth star added above the SFA logo.
 Home kit |
 Away kit |
Titles
| Preceded by: 2010 Liverpool England 
|
World Cup Champions 2014 (First title) |
Succeeded by: 2018 Bedistan 
|
| Preceded by: 2022 Bedistan
|
World Cup Champions 2026 (Second title) |
Succeeded by: 2030 Casari 
|
| Preceded by: 2074 Capitalizt SLANI 
|
World Cup Champions 2078 (Third title) |
Succeeded by: 2082 Valanora
|
| Preceded by: 2086 Valanora
|
World Cup Champions 2090 (Fourth title) |
Succeeded by: 2094 Candelaria And Marquez 
|
| Preceded by: 2098 Dancougar 
|
World Cup Champions 2102 (Fifth title) |
Succeeded by: 2106 The Holy Empire 
|
| Preceded by: 1982 NEWI Cefn Druids 
|
AOCAF Cup Champions 1986 (First title) |
Succeeded by: 1990 NEWI Cefn Druids
|
| Preceded by: 1994 Vilita
|
AOCAF Cup Champions 1998 (Second title) 2002 (Third title) |
Succeeded by: 2006 Vilita
|
| Preceded by: 2006 Vilita
|
AOCAF Cup Champions 2010 (Fourth title) |
Succeeded by: 2014 Hypocria
|
| Preceded by: 2022 Fmjphoenix 
|
AOCAF Cup Champions 2026 (Fifth title) |
Succeeded by: 2032 Bettia 
|
| Preceded by: 2074 95X 
|
AOCAF Cup Champions 2077 (Sixth title) |
Succeeded by: 2084 Lamoni 
|
| Preceded by: The Belmore Family 
|
Four Nation's Invitational Champions 1998 (First title) |
Succeeded by: Milchama 
|
| Preceded by: Inaugural Champions |
Men's Olympic Champions 2032 Olympics (First title) |
Succeeded by: Capitalizt SLANI
|
| Preceded by: Inaugural Champions |
Indigenous World Champions 2045 (First title) |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Inaugural Champions |
Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy Winners 2090 (First title) 2094 (Second title) |
Succeeded by: 2098 Krytenia 
|
| Preceded by: 2098 Krytenia
|
Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy Winners 2102 (Third title) |
Succeeded by: 2106 Sarzonia 
|
| Preceded by: Inaugural Champions |
Kings' Cup Champions 2103 (First title) |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
References
- 1: ^ Starblaydia World Cup 18 Qualifiers Squad Announced
- 2: ^ 95 minutes of football chants, #IRC style
- 3: ^ Starblaydia take Under-21 Title at 12th Time of Asking
- 4: ^ "It needs to resonate with power and aggression"
- 5: ^ Rennidan 0:2 Starblaydia
- 6: ^ "Starblaydia! I'm psyched! You ready?"
- 7: ^ National Stadium greets Starblaydis in opening match
See also
- Starblaydia All-Time XI
- Starblaydia women's national football team
- Starblaydia Under-21s
- Starblaydis in the World Cup Hall of Fame
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The Protectorate of Starblaydia |
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