Starblaydia Under-21s

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Starblaydia Under-21s

SFA-Logo.gif

Nickname Officially None
(formerly The Young Blades, also called
The Purple Peril, White-and-purples
or Men In Mauve by other nation's fans)
Association Starblaydi Football Association (The SFA)
Coach 22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg Apollina Iakovakis
Captain 22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg Kwame Jabir
Most caps 22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg Nunzio Gre and
22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg Gbenga Ogunniya (23)
Top scorer 22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg Zhorin Tumunzahar (18)
Country code STB
StarWikiKit2.gif
First international
Starblaydia 2 - 4 Europa Brittania
(TnUI, U21WC3 group stage, Matchday 1)
Largest win
Starblaydia 8 - 1 Oaker
(TnUI, U21WC8, Second Round)
Starblaydia 7 - 0 The Belmore Family
(TnUI, U21WC20 group stage, Matchday 3)
Worst defeat
Hockey Canada 3 - 0 Starblaydia
(TnUI, U21WC19, Quarter Final)
Under-21 World Cup
Appearances 19 (First in U21WC3)
Best result Champions, U21WC14

With the Starblaydia Under-21s, Starblaydia have one of the top Under-21 World Cup youth systems in the World, and this has been the case for over thirty years, as well as having been placed in the top-three finishing positions of six consecutive Championships from U21WC11 to U21WC16.

World Champions in Under-21 World Cup 14 immediately followed a Second-Place in U21WC13, both under the managership of Simeone Di Bradini. World Cup 15 also saw them take second place. They have been Third-Placed in five seperate occasions in the tournament hosted perennially by Total n Utter Insanity. Under-21 World Cup 5, 7, 11, 12 and 16 have seen Starblaydia take the Bronze Medals. As of Under-21 World Cup 14, they were seeded as the best team in the World for the first time, taking the title over high-scoring complete unknowns Nedalia in the Final.

The Under-21s is the main proving ground for would-be International Players and seeing their team gives us an exciting insight into Starblaydi teams of the future.

Managers

Guylain N'Dumbu-Nsungu first managed the Under-21 side, before going on to manage the senior side. While in control of the old men, he sent various assistants to allow him to manage the Under-21s 'remotely'. After leaving the full Starblaydia job by mutual consent, he also left the Under-21 Managership. Simeone Di Bradini, assisted by Nikola Lazerevski, Managed the Under-21 side to their two consecutive Final appearances, with Nikola going on to assist Rikaard Van Honjiik in managing the Starblaydi national side. Khim Azanulbizarn took over as manager for Under-21 World Cup 15 onwards. After a long stint he went on to take control of the senior side for World Cup 26 onwards while later double-World Cup Winner Jaime Oberlander took control of the team straight after his World Cup 28 win for three cups: the Nemyan Swiss Cheese Cup, the Puntafora Football Invitational and the 1st AO Under-21 Cup. After Starblaydia's international football hiatus, midfielder Apollina Iakovakis took control.

Manager Starblaydia career Played Won Drawn Lost Goals
for
Goals
against
Win
percentage
Championships won
Guylain N'Dumbu-Nsungu U21WC3 to U21WC12 55 40 3 12 142 68 72.73 -
Simeone Di Bradini U21WC13 to U21WC14 14 12 0 2 37 12 85.71 Under-21 World Cup 14
Khim Azanulbizarn U21WC15 to U21WC21 37 27 1 9 90 42 72.97 -
Jaime Oberlander Nemyan Swiss Cheese Cup to 1st AO U21 Cup 10 4 6 4 24 20 40.00 -
Starblaydia's international football hiatus
Apollina Iakovakis 1st Di Bradini Cup to Present 18 12 3 3 60 30 66.67 -

Captains

U21WC3: Olaf Vikerman
U21WC4: Spike Martin
U21WC5: Eomer Hall
U21WC6: Jean-Pierre Durand
U21WC7: Jerome Montefalcon
U21WC8: Geraint Evans
U21WC9: Nick Matranga
U21WC10: Zacariah Loze
U21WC11: Martin Watt
U21WC12: Gbenga Ogunniya
U21WC13: Gbenga Ogunniya
U21WC14: Nunzio Gre
U21WC15: Nunzio Gre
U21WC16: Christian Macia
U21WC17: Giovanni Lopez
U21WC18: Danzir Garahildim
U21WC19: Menecrates
U21WC20: Cherry Garcia
U21WC21: Georges Blanc
Nemyan Swiss Cheese Cup: Fillipo Zinaldi
Puntafora Football Invitational: Stephen Adams
1st AO Under-21 Cup: Darijo Cravex
1st Di Bradini Cup: Roque Bravo
1st Justantina Cup: Kwame Jabir
2nd Di Bradini Cup: Kwame Jabir


Kit

Home

Simeone Di Bradini while playing for the Under-21s in U21WC3
Starblaydia's traditional Home kit is an all-White strip with Purple trim, this basic design has never varied in around a century of competition.

Away

The Away Kit varies from Championship to Championship, though usually is an inverse of the Home kit with predominant Purple trimmed with White. Bronze and Black was used after Starblaydia's fourth 3rd-Place finish in U21WC12, promoting the Kit Desginer to issue Bronze-coloured away kits for the 13th Championship. After finishing second to Fmjpheonix in U21WC13, the Away kit became All-Purple with Silver Trim.

Record holders

The current record for number of Under-21 Caps is shared between Gbenga "D.J." Ogunniya and Nunzio Gre, both spent time as the Captain of the side and both emerged to the senior side with 23 Under-21 Caps. Zhorin Tumunzahar (a Dwarf) on the other hand, is easily the all-time leading Under-21 goal-scorer with 18 Goals, which he netted in just 18 magical appearances.

Most appearances

As of the Inaugural Di Bradini Cup, the 10 most-capped players for Starblaydia Under-21s are:

# Name Position Caps Goals Début
1= Nunzio Gre Centre Back 23 0 Starblaydia 3-2 Kylaai
U21WC13 Group Stage, Matchday 1
1= Gbenga Ogunniya Attacking/Centre/Defending
Midfield
23 5 Cockbill Street 2-3 Starblaydia
U21WC10 Group Stage, Matchday 2
3= Jikiri Fuinbar Right-Back 21 2 Starblaydia 2-0 Five Civilized Nations
U21WC11 Group Stage, Matchday 1
3= Christian Macia Striker 21 7 Starblaydia 5-1 Fimble loving peoples
U21WC14 Group Stage, Matchday 1
3= Itechton Matranga Attacking Midfield/Striker 21 7 Starblaydia 5-1 Fimble loving peoples
U21WC14 Group Stage, Matchday 1
3= Nelson de Montford Left Midfield 21 3 Starblaydia 3-0 South Osettia
U21WC10 Group Stage, Matchday 3
3= Juan Santiago Right Midfield 21 1 Starblaydia 3-2 Kylaai
U21WC13 Group Stage, Matchday 1
8= Surachai Buathiang Left/Centre Midfield 18 6 Crystilakere 0-5 Starblaydia
U21WC13 Group Stage, Matchday 2
8= Danzir Garahildim Right/Centre Back 18 3 Starblaydia 4-1 Krytenia
U21WC15 Group Stage, Matchday 3
8= Cherry Garcia Right Wing 18 7 Starblaydia 2-1 Oglethorpia
U21WC17 Group Stage, Matchday 1
8= Zhorin Tumunzahar Striker 18 18 Turori 1-4 Starblaydia
U21WC11 Group Stage, Matchday 2
8= Florencio Zaragoza Centre Forward/Striker 18 7 Legalese 2-1 Starblaydia
U21WC12 Group Stage, Matchday 2

Highest goalscorers

As of the Inaugural Di Bradini Cup, the 10 highest goalscorers for Starblaydia Under-21s are:

# Name Position Goals Caps Goals per game
1 Zhorin Tumunzahar Stiker 18 18 1.000
2 Darius Belizaire Striker 15 16 0.938
3= Giovanni Lopez Left Wing/Striker 13 11 1.181
3= Stefan Hinkonnen Centre Forward 13 17 0.765
5 Marco Del Blanco Attacking Midfield/Centre Forward 12 15 0.818
6= Alfonso Di Angelo Attacking/Defending Midfielder 9 11 0.727
6= Eomer Hall Centre Forward 9 13 0.692
6= Mercutio Striker 9 13 0.692
9 Tarquin Fullbright Striker 8 7 1.143
10= Cherry Garcia Right Wing 7 18 0.389
10= Florencio Zaragoza Centre Forward/Striker 7 18 0.389
10= Christian Macia Striker 7 21 0.333
10= Itechton Matranga Attacking Midfield/Striker 7 21 0.333

Finishing Positions

Edition Seed Round GP W D L GF GA
U21WC1
to
U21WC2
Unseeded Did not enter - - - - - -
U21WC3 Unseeded 2nd Round 4 2 0 2 9 9
U21WC4 7th Group Stage 3 0 2 1 4 6
U21WC5 6th 3rd Place 9 8 0 1 20 9
U21WC6 2nd Quarter-Final 5 4 0 1 13 3
U21WC7 3rd 3rd Place 7 5 0 2 17 9
U21WC8 2nd Quarter-Final 5 4 0 1 22 9
U21WC9 2nd 2nd Round 4 3 0 1 13 5
U21WC10 7th 2nd Round 4 2 1 1 8 6
U21WC11 3rd 3rd Place 7 6 0 1 16 3
U21WC12 2nd 3rd Place 7 6 0 1 20 9
U21WC13 2nd Runners-Up 7 6 0 1 16 6
U21WC14 1st Champions 7 7 0 0 21 6
U21WC15 1st Runners-Up 7 5 1 1 11 5
U21WC16 1st 3rd Place 7 6 0 1 17 8
U21WC17 2nd 2nd Round 4 3 0 1 11 5
U21WC18 4th Quarter-Final 5 3 0 2 14 9
U21WC19 6th Quarter-Final 5 3 0 2 8 9
U21WC20 6th Quarter-Final 5 4 0 1 17 3
U21WC21 1st 2nd Round 4 3 0 1 12 3
Total 1 Title 19 Cups 105 79 9 20 268 122

Under-21 World Cup 14

The team

<div" class="plainlinksneverexpand">StarU21WC14.jpg
Starblaydia's starting line-up for the tournament
</div>
This team could be world-beaters

SCB Commentator, on the Starbladyi squad [1]

Starblaydia entered the 14th Under-21 World Cup having lost in the previous final, two years earlier, to Fmjphoenix. It was a very different prospect from the Ogunniya, Steliopolous, Prokopsis and Tumunzahar-inspired 'Silver Generation' of just two years before. In fact, Captain Nunzio Gre and midfielder Juan Santiago were the only first-team survivors from the team so narrowly beaten by Fmjphoenix in the last final. Corominas, who shot to fame as the first Starblaydi 'keeper ever to score, found himself with a move to a team in Rejistania, where he was quite often the most forward-minded player on the pitch, frequently dribbling out of his box or going up to take free kicks, penalties or be a target for corners.

Group stage

Starblaydia started their championship drive by getting off to a flyer [2], as they destroyed the team from Fimble loving peoples by five goals to one, and sat on top of Group A with a plus-four goal differential.

"I think we should end up topping this group, otherwise they'll have my head. Not literally, of course, I hope."

—Under-21 Manager Simeone Di Bradini, on his team's Group expectations.

A pair of goals from both Itechton Matranga and Florencio Zaragoza, along with a fifth from Surachai Buathiang gave them the win, the only response coming from FLP striker Aiken. Their next match was a four-one demolition of East Lithuania [3]. Two first-half goals from Christian Macia were supplemented by second-half strikes from Michalis Mitrofanis and the captain: Nunzio Gre. Mid-way through the qualifying, Simeone Di Bradini was embroiled in a minor war of words with the Hockey Canadian coach, Toe Blake, over Blake's "foolproof" defensive tactic [4]. The Canucks would later go on to win Under-21 World Cup 17, and finish second in the nineteenth and twentieth editions, but not with that tactic [5], described as a 'sweeper-less Christmas-Tree formation' by SDB [6].

"I'd love to be an Under-21 striker against them, they have this massive hole at the back, right in the middle. I've never seen anything like it. Somehow they manage to have five defenders and lots of width, but no one whatsoever in the middle of the park. It's like they have an aversion to their own penalty area, its perfect tactic for Route-One football to play against. If I was playing now, I'd drop back a little and keep the midfield occupied, then break fast into the wide-open space that they have in front of their goal and have one-on-one's with the 'keeper until they did realised what a mistake they were making. Even then, I'd be dragging another player or two out of position, leaving gaps for others to exploit. It's foolproof, certainly, in the literal sense of the word, but most people at this level aren't fools. I'd also question their opinions on the qualities of the teams they're playing in Group B, but when you're the considered the best team in the World, you have a much different veiwpoint of Under-21 teams like the Atlantis of Vilita and Gaian Ascendancy."

—Under-21 Manager Simeone Di Bradini, on Hockey Canada's U21WC14 chances.

Starblaydia's final Group A match was another four-one thrashing, this time of Stumperia. With three wins from three, the first seeds had a plus-ten goal difference, with thirteen goals scored and three conceded. They faced Giant Zucchini in the Second Round, who finished second in Group C behind Jeruselem but above Starblaydia's Bekkside neighbours, Druida.

Knockout stages

Starblaydia defeated the Zucchini's 2-0 to set up a Quarter-Final with sixth-seeds Vilita, who topped Group B - above Hockey Canada - and defeated Corneliu 5-1 in their Second-Round match. Hockey Canada lost their hard-fought last-sixteen match to Fmjphoenix's last-minute goal. Starblaydia came through their Last-Eight match thanks to a timely substitution from Simeone Di Bradini, bringing on Mitrofanis, who scored the second, and winning, goal. Starblaydia had earlier scored through Itechton Matranga, cancelled out by Julian Lisbie for the Vilitans.

In the Semi-Finals, three of the top four seeds had made it through. Starblaydia (1st) were to play Jeruselem (2nd), while Sarzonia (3rd) had by far the easiest match, playing the unranked Nedalia. In the event, Starblaydia defeated Jeruselem 2-1 with goals from Zaragoza and, almost unbelievably, their goalkeeper Corominas. Sarzonia, however, lost to Nedalia, and the all-Atlantian Oceania final was to be Starblaydia vs Nedalia.

The final

In the spiritual home of Under-21 football, the best team in the world at the time played a team of high-scoring complete unknowns who had repeatedly shocked their way to the Final. Starblaydia lined up in their traditional White-and-Purple, while Nedalia were a comparatively more-garish combination of Red, Green, Yellow and Black. For Starblaydi players like Captain Nunzio Gre and Juan Santiago, they did not consider this a time for trembling nerves, for them this was a time of revenge for the cruel loss on penalties two years ago.

As the Starblaydi fans began their traditional in-match chanting, Nedalia captain Jim Brown won the toss and elected to kick off. Nedalia flooded the half-way line with eight players in an attempt to rush the Starblaydi team in the opening seconds, but as they passed the ball between them it was intercepted by Itechton Matranga. He raced away from all ten Nedalian outfield players, jinked past an oncoming defender and tapped the ball into the net. Stablaydia's fastest-ever goal at Under-21 level: just sixteen seconds into the match. Starblaydia's fans again had their say, as they chanted "Easy!" and "You've only come to see Starblaydia".

Half an hour in, Nedalia were on the attack, laying siege to Starblaydia's penalty area. Internashionale youngster Innit Point went in to a fifty-fifty tackle with Nunzio Gre, and it was the Starblaydi captain who came away with the ball. Surachai Buathiang] picked up the loose ball and raced away over the halfway line. He squared it to Florencio Zaragaoza, who hit a first-time through ball up to Christian Macia. Though Macia was crowed out on the edge of the area, he managed to side-foot it outside to the onrushing Buathiang, who blasted the ball unreachably past the Nedalian 'keeper. Two classic counter-attacks had put Starblaydia 2-0 up at half time, and the Starblaydi fans were wondering about the opposing team.

"Are you Fim-bles?

Are you Fim-bles?
Are you Fim-bles in dis-guise?
Aaaare you Fi-imbles in disguise?"

—Starblaydi fans, after Starblaydia's second goal

Nedalia continued to attack throughout the second half, but couldn't seem to convert their possession in Starblaydia's half into shots on goal, with the Starblaydi defence showing why they were ranked number one. Karry was unlucky to hit the post, but this was an indication of what was to come: Nedalian Nene scored an incredible solo goal, avoiding two defenders before shooting from just outside the area to pull one back for Nedalia. It proved to be the last goal of the game, and after ninety minutes, Starblaydia were crowned as the best team in the world: Under-21 Champions.

22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg Starblaydia squad - Under-21 World Cup 14 Champions 22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg

1 Corominas | 2 Graydon | 3 Hawke | 4 Cuevo | 5 Gre (c) | 6 Vidal | 7 Santiago | 8 I. Matranga | 9 Zaragoza | 10 Macia | 11 Buathiang | 12 Mathias | 13 Kippenberger | 14 Hernandez | 15 Fortuna | 16 Faison | 17 Aguilera | 18 Mitrofanis | 19 Maestas | 20 L. Lopez | 21 Rivera | 22 Diaz | 23 G. Lopez | Coach: S. Di Bradini

Championship Records

U21WC Results Table

This table takes into account results in Normal and Extra-Time, Matches which go to penalties are counted as draws. Results are up to the end of Under-21 World Cup 21

 Nation                 P  W  D  L  GF  GA
 -----------------------------------------
 Adrasuvare             1  1  0  0   3   0
 An archy               1  1  0  0   3   2
 Aquiliana              2  1  0  1   3   3
 Bedistan               2  0  1  1   2   3
 Bettia                 1  1  0  0   1   0
 Caprine States         1  1  0  0   5   0
 Cockbill Street        5  3  1  1  10   8
 Creedence Clearwater   1  1  0  0   2   0
 Crystilakere           4  3  1  0  11   2
 Druida                 6  4  0  2  16  10
 East Lithuania         2  1  1  0   4   1
 Europa Brittania       1  0  0  1   2   4
 Fimble Loving Peoples  1  1  0  0   5   1
 Five Civilized Nations 1  1  0  0   2   0
 Fmjphoenix             4  2  1  1   9   4
 Gaian Ascendancy       1  1  0  0   1   0
 Giant Zucchini         3  3  0  0   9   3
 Haperd                 1  1  0  0   1   0
 Hiiraan                3  3  0  0  10   3
 Hockey Canada          3  1  0  2   2   5
 Hypocria               1  1  0  0   3   2
 Jeruselem              2  2  0  0   5   3
 Jon Parkin             1  1  0  0   4   1
 Kaze Progressa         1  1  0  0   4   3
 Kirata                 1  1  0  0   4   0
 Krytenia               2  2  0  0   6   1
 Kylaai                 3  2  0  1   8   5
 Legalese               1  1  0  0   4   2
 Liverpool England      2  1  1  0   3   0
 Lovisa                 1  1  0  0   4   2
 Magnus Valerius        1  1  0  0   3   1
 Maserrat               1  1  0  0   3   0
 Milchama               1  0  0  1   2   3
 Nedalia                4  1  1  2   5   7
 Oaker                  3  2  1  0  11   3
 Oceaice                1  1  0  0   2   1
 Oddslavo               1  1  0  0   3   1
 Oglethorpia            2  1  0  1   2   2
 Oliverry               1  1  0  0   5   4
 Raptor Claw            1  1  0  0   4   3
 Rejistania             1  0  0  1   0   1
 San Verdi              1  1  0  0   4   0
 Sarzonia               3  3  0  0   8   3
 Sliponia               1  1  0  0   5   2
 Sonaron                1  1  0  0   4   2
 South Osettia          2  2  0  0   6   1
 Spruitland             4  4  0  0   9   2
 Spurland               1  1  0  0   1   0
 Stumperia              1  1  0  0   4   1
 Tanah Burung           1  0  0  1   0   1
 The Belmore Family     1  1  0  0   7   0
 The Eagles Nest        2  2  0  0   7   2
 The Islands of Qutar   1  1  0  0   4   0
 The Lowland Clans      2  2  0  0   7   2
 Tonissia               2  2  0  1   4   3
 Turori                 2  1  1  0   5   2
 Vilita                 2  1  0  1   3   4
 Vtorbetin              1  0  0  1   1   2
 Wizardman              1  0  0  1   1   3
                        ------------------
                        P  W  D  L  GF  GA
 Total                105 76  9 20 268 122

U21WC Results Total

Games Played: 105
Games Won: 76
Games Drawn: 9
Games Lost: 20
Highest Seeding: 1st (U21WC14, U21WC15, U21WC16 ^, U21WC21^^)
Highest Finishing Position: 1st (U21WC14)

^ Starblaydia were Joint-1st Seeds with Fmjphoenix for U21WC16
^^ Starblaydia were Joint-1st Seeds with Fmjphoenix and Pacitalia for U21WC21

Other Tournaments

Other tournaments include: the Nemyan Swiss Cheese Cup, hosted in Legalese and Casari, the Puntafora Football Invitational held in Pacitalia, the 1st AO Under-21 Cup, in Myrtannia, St Samuel's International Justantina U-21 Cup and the Starblaydi-hosted Di Bradini Cup

 Nation                 P  W  D  L  GF  GA
 -----------------------------------------
 Anathematic Republics  1  0  1  0   3   3
 Az-cz                  2  2  0  0   7   3
 Becquerelia            1  0  1  0   0   0
 Bostopia               1  1  0  0   2   0
 Candelaria And Marquez 2  0  2  0   5   5
 Haraki                 1  0  1  0   1   1
 Fmjphoenix             1  0  0  1   1   2
 Jeruselem              2  1  1  0   6   4
 Kura-Pelland           2  0  0  2   4   6
 Legalese               1  1  0  0   4   1
 Lovisa                 1  1  0  0   3   0
 Minilla Island         2  2  0  0   9   2
 Novapsolu              1  1  0  0   5   2
 Pacitalia              1  0  1  0   0   0
 Quakmybush             1  1  0  0   3   1
 Solenial               1  1  0  0   3   0
 St Samuel              1  1  0  0   4   2
 Taeshan                1  1  0  0   4   0
 Third England          1  0  1  0   1   1
 The Lowland Clans      2  0  1  1   2   4
 The Pazhujeb Islands   1  0  0  1   1   2
 The Orion Islands      1  1  0  0   6   2
 Yafor 2                1  0  1  0   2   2
 Yishrael               1  1  0  0   2   0  
                        ------------------
                        P  W  D  L  GF  GA
 Total                 30 15 10  5  78  44

Golden Generation

The U21WC14-winning team became know as the Golden Generation of Starblaydi Football, and were the most-successful crop of players ever to come through and play for the Under-21 and senior sides. Specifically, it refers to those who won the 14th Under-21 World Cup before going on to win competitions such as the World Cup and AOCAF.


Golden Generation of Starblaydi Football
Juan Miguel Aguilera | Surachai Buathiang | Corominas | Alejo Cuevo | Augusto Diaz | Ernesto Fortuna | Albert Graydon | Nunzio Gre | Raymundo Hernandez | Giovanni Lopez | Leopoldo Lopez | Ahab Maestas | Nicholas Mathias | Itechton Matranga | Michalis Mitrofanis | Lazaro Rivera | Juan Santiago | Alex Vidal | Florencio Zaragoza


Titles


Preceded by:
Fmjphoenix
Under-21 World Cup Champions
U21WC 14 (First title)
Followed by:
Fmjphoenix


22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg The Protectorate of Starblaydia 22pixStarblaydiFlag.jpg

Main article: Starblaydia
Provinces: Basia, Cedrus, Fraxinus, Gar-Hallad, Hecia, Jhan, Neveheim, Phraen, Pineus, Quercus, Riegas , Salicus, Tournetas, Ulneus, Urjal, Veles, Victoria
Major cities: Jhanna, Tabeck, Ionia, Vecchio, Penningworth, Corinth, Tournet, Nidola
Sport: Sport in Starblaydia, Starblaydia national football team, Starblaydia Under-21s, Rayzors, Golden Generation, Liga Starblaydia, Simeone Di Bradini
International Organisations: AORDO, Olympic Council, Olympic Upper Council, Strategic Alliance, World Cup Committee
Miscellaneous: History of Starblaydia, Armed Forces, Starblaydi Credit, Political parties, Starblaydia Triumphant, Tiberius Starblayde, White Lion, Vegan