Candelaria And Marquez National Under-21 Football Team

Candelaria And Marquez Under-21 Football Team

Nickname	Small Blues
Association	C&M Association Football Association
Coach	Lloyd Donnelly
Asst Coaches	Mick Lugo Rod Orión
Captain	Ben Young
Most caps	Various (12)
Top scorer	Joe Cunningham (7)
Home Stadium	Various
First international C&M 3-1 Solenial, IJC Group Stage
Largest win C&M 5-0 Geisenfried, 2nd DBC Group Stage
Worst defeat C&M 1-3 Jeruselem, IJC Final

The Candelaria And Marquez national Under-21 football team was founded to compete in the first Justantina Cup in St Samuel. Former CMSC winner with Albrecht FC, Lloyd Donnelly, has been appointed coach. His presence instantly provoked controversy, after Donnelly claimed that he would be playing his new charges in his "own way", and that their interests were not "best served copying the playing style of the full side's current manager". He also claimed that the current set of twenty and twenty-one year-olds are "for the most part highly disappointing", comments he later disregarded. His side have gone on to become world leaders in Under-21 football, reaching two consecutive tournament finals; winning one.

Playing History

Justantina Cup

The C&M youngsters were entered in the Justantina Cup with little hope of victory, but would ultimately go on to have a very successful tournament indeed. 3-1 and 2-1 triumphs over Solenial and Taeshan buffeted a 2-2 draw with experienced Under-21 country Starblaydia in the group stage; with Donnelly’s side securing second place in the group on goal difference and as a result, somewhat ironically, a slightly easier route in the knock-out stages. The classy 3-0 win over Cookesland in the quarter-finals was marred slightly by the loss to injury of goalkeeper Ray Winkett. ‘Keepers would go on to be a feature of the Small Blues’ Cup; when teenager Ethan Schepinov conceded a penalty and was sent off in the semi-final with St Samuel with C&M 3-2 up. Still three-all after extra time; midfielder Matteo Corradini managed to be enough of an imposing presence to help C&M over the line.

C&M were then clearly the inferior side against Jeruselem in the final, despite a fine free-kick from Ben Edwards that made him the top C&M scorer in the Cup. Ultimately, mistakes by third-choice ‘keeper Imogen Dacosta cost them dear. C&M would pick up the runners-up medals, and Dacosta become the first - and so far last - female player on a C&M national unisex representative side.

Second Di Bradini Cup

Finding themselves in a highly competative group, Donnelly's team surprised many by qualifying undefeated. Their tournament took a twist following a 5-0 drubbing of Geisenfried, when most of the first team players were involved in what has become known as Frozen Ferretgate, with a number suffering from serious alcohol poisoning. The second-choice XI went out and beat Sorthern Northland, a key sporting rival of C&M, 6-2; and were also largely responsible for the quarter-final victory over hosts Starblaydia, which came on penalties after a 3-3 draw (after extra time).

Most of the first team were able to return for the semi-final against highly talented newcomers the Pazhujeb Islands, a game C&M won 4-2 to book their place in a second final, this time against St Samuel. Under the cosh for much of the game, the Small Blues eventually won out 2-0 to lift the country's first sporting title.

Most recent squad

Stats (probably) correct up to and including C&M 2 St Samuel 0 in the 2nd Di Bradini Cup final

Former Players

Titles

External Links

Current Squad