The main European football season is over. There's nothing hugely interesting to fill the void between the Champions League final and the kick-off of the World Cup, right? Wrong! The Confederation of Independent Football Associations, ConIFA, is organising its third world cup this year, to be hosted in London between the 31st of May and 9th of June. This is a World Cup for teams that aren't members of FIFA - stateless minority groups, disputed geographic areas, unrecognised states, countries that aren't quite countries and countries without the resources to build footballing infrastructure that meet FIFA requirements. Have a look at: conifa.org, the official site of ConIFA for more information and tickets (they're quite cheap and if you're in the area it should be good fun). conifaworldcup.com, my unofficial site for some information - specifically about the history of the nations involved. Today we're looking at Kárpátalja in Group B: About
- Continent — Europe
- Previous Non-FIFA World Cup appearances — Debut
- Previous Best Non-FIFA World Cup Result — N/A
- ConIFA ranking — 8th
- Bookies' Odds — 10/1 (joint 10th favourites)
- Manager — István Sándor)
What is Kárpátalja?
Kárpátalja is an area encompassing the westernmost point of Ukraine, resting on the eastern slops of the Carpathian Mountains. It is home to many ethnic Hungarians now living in Ukraine. Kárpátalja literally means “the base of the Carpathians” in Hungarian.
The area was part of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, until that was broken up in 1920 after the end of the First World War.
It was briefly occupied by Romania before becoming part of Czechoslovakia, before being annexed again by Hungary during the Second World War, before being officially ceded to the USSR by Czechoslovakia in 1945, before becoming part of the newly independent Ukraine when the USSR split up in 1991.
Kárpátalja sits within the wider region of Carpathian Ruthenia, which also has a significant Romanian population living alongside the Ukrainian majority.
Carpathian Ruthenia is a historic area with borders that roughly match Zakarpattia Oblast in Ukraine. When Ukraine became independent in 1991 many in the area voted for greater autonomy, though this was not granted. Ethnic tension in the region is low, there are no attempts to forcibly assimilate the population and Hungarians in Ukraine are free to have Hungarian lessons in schools.
A bit more detail at https://conifaworldcup.com/karpatalja/ Transkarpatien Oblast within Ukraine (borders of the Oblast roughly match Kárpátalja) National Team History
Kárpátalja are relatively new to the non-FIFA football party. The team was set up to represent all Hungarians in Ukraine, not just those in Kárpátalja - although that's where 99% of them live anyway.
They played in their first tournament last year at the 2017 ConIFA European Championship. They finished third in a tight group, then beat Ellan Vannin on penalties (Ellan Vannin players possibly live too near to England to expect penalty success) in the 5th place play-off.
The worst result in their history came in that tournament - a 1-0 loss to hosts Northern Cyprus. Might be a bit early in their fledgling history to start calling that an important stat though.
Group Stage Matches
Group B |
Abkhazia |
Kárpátalja |
Northern Cyprus |
Tibet |
- 31st May 2018; v Northern Cyprus; Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield
- 2nd June 2018; v Abkhazia; Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield
- 3rd June 2018; v Tibet; Larges Lane, Bracknell
Predictions
I've said in my previous posts that I think Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus and Kárpátalja are all pretty closely matched, but that Kárpátalja are my third favourites to go through from the group. It will probably be tight between those three teams with Tibet lagging behind the rest.
The Squad
There's a lot of players in the Kárpátalja squad playing in the Hungarian Second and Third Division, and a couple playing in the Hungarian top division. They have a good blend of youth and experience, with a couple of Hungarian youth (and former youth) internationals, and older heads like
György Sándor), who has 9 caps for Hungary and
Zoltán Baksa, a journeyman of the Hungarian and Ukrainian leagues.
More in this series:
submitted by Team: Philadelphia Union (5th Season) Location:
PPL Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
Head coach: John Hackworth
Captain: Brian Carroll
Current Kits:
Primary TBA March 4th
Secondary http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/league/files/PHI_secondary(FORMATTED).jpg Third http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/league/files/PHI_tertiary(FORMATTED).jpg Sponsor:
Bimbo 2013 Finish: 7th Place in Eastern Conference [12-12-10, 46 points]
Predicted Formation: 4-3-3
--Maidana-----McInerney----Le Toux--
----------------Nogueira---------------
----------©Carroll-----Edu-------------
--Fabinho----Berry---Okugo---Williams--
----------------MacMath---------------
Bench: Andre Blake, Ray Gaddis, Ethan White, Danny Cruz, Pedro Ribeiro, Antoine Hoppenot, Conor Casey
With Conor Casey and other attacking players shaken up with injuries, the lone striker seems to be the best option pushing forward into the season. It also leaves the opportunity to play the three big recently-signed midfielders, as well as Captain Brian Carroll and fan-favorite Sebastian Le Toux.
The 4-3-3 will rely largely on new signings and obviously, the striker up top. When Casey is fit, don't be too surprised with the 4-4-2 going into effect with the midfield being reshuffled a bit.
Position Battles:
LB- Fabinho vs Ray Gaddis Fabinho is a natural left back, and Ray Gaddis is a natural right back. But the advantage that Gaddis holds is his
speed and 1 on 1 defending. Sheanon Williams picked up a knock in the latest Union preseason game, which means both might find a way to start the opener.
RM/RW- Sebastian Le Toux vs Danny Cruz While an obvious answer for most Union fans, it's a different story when it comes to coach John Hackworth. SLT is the all-time leader in both goals and assists for the Union franchise. Danny Cruz is the all-time leader in injuries*. I don't mean to be too harsh, as Cruz is one of the hardest-working players constantly on the team. But he is a much better choice to be a 60th minute sub than a starter. If he comes on late for the Union throughout the season, the right choice will have been made.
GK Zac MacMath vs Andre Blake This is probably the most interesting player matchup to follow throughout the season. Zac MacMath has made
terrible mistakes that have directly led to dropped results, but that's common to see in a young goalie. The team has pushed him to be the start since the beginning of 2012, and late 2013 finally saw the great rise in form they were waiting for. Zac MacMath was probably the biggest reason the Union stayed in a playoff position as the rest of team played poorly. Now with recent number one pick Andre Blake, the battle may be close to even skill-wise, and whoever earns the starting job will be a big storyline.
Bench- Keon Daniel vs Not Selected for 18 A lot of Union fans will be happy to see Keon might be riding the bench and not in the gameday 18 a lot this season.
Key Players:
CB Amobi Okugo Voted the team MVP for 2013, and has turned himself into the image of Union defense. While originally a midfielder, he was turned into a CB in 2012 and played along Carlos Valdes. That duo clicked, and the Okugo-Parke pairing clicked as well last season. This year Okugo will again have to build chemistry with Austin Berry, Ethan White and/or Richie Marquez. If anyone can do it, it's Amobi. Everything about him screams future captain, and hopefully future United States player. By the way, he's 22 and has made 76 appearances for the Union.
RB Sheanon Williams A slow start to 2013 led to some fans doubting how valuable he was to the team, but he quickly put an end to all of that. His defensive positioning, offensive build-up, and long throw-in cause him to be one of the most exciting Union players. Again, 100 appearances and only 23.
RW/RM/ST Sebastian Le Toux Fan favorite because of his amazing 2010 season, as well as largely successful 2011 and 2013 seasons, he has changed roles from goal-scorer to playmaker at a perfect time. He's versatile, professional, and probably still the
image of the team. ST Jack McInerney The biggest Union storyline of the beginning of last season was about
how in-form this player was. It was almost as if he couldn't stop scoring. He led the league in goals for most of the first half until he got cold, called up to the US National Team for the Gold Cup, and then couldn't score again until the end of the year. If he can regain his touch in 2014, the Union will be a scary team. If he can't, Casey and the midfield will need to fix it.
Key Offseason Departures:
Kleberson (Waived)
One of the most expensive and talented Union players in their short history, but could rarely find the starting lineup because he was 'still getting fit' for most of the year.
His goal vs Toronto was the shining light of the season, and while not surprising to be released, many will miss him.
Roger Torres (End of Contract)
Probably the second most popular player on the Union, but could also barely find the Game-Day 18 for a wide arrange of reasons. In some ways, it's good that he is gone as the circus is over, and he now has a chance to prove himself elsewhere.
But many fans have a soft spot in their heart for him. Jeff Parke (Traded to DC United)
Only had one season with the team, but left due to 'personal reasons.' He was a solid CB, but the Union got a good deal for him, and him leaving isn't a huge loss for the team especially with the current depth.
Key Additions:
Maurice Edu (On loan from Stoke City)
While he has struggled to find playing time in England, he has had a large amount of success in Europe before. His experience from Champions League, MLS, and Scotland will cause him to be one of the biggest leaders on the team. There's a chance he is the biggest player the Union have ever signed.
He also recently bought his teammates Jay-Z concert tickets and told them he received them for free. Good guy.
Vincent Nogueira (Bought from Sochaux FC)
He was captain of his old French team for a few years and had been on that team since 2007 before joining the U. He offers experience, leadership, and stability. All three the Union definitely need. While the Edu signing was amazing for the team, many were purring after this one.
Cristian Maidana (Free Transfer from Rangers?)
Not much is really known about him, other than he has been on loan to multiple teams, he is a DP, and he speaks Spanish. He looks to be an attacking midfielder who will be slotted in the LW/LM positions. He completes the trio of beautiful midfield signings.
Austin Berry (Bought from Chicago Fire)
The most recent Union signing again left Union fans singing. Seriously, what happened to the old Union FO? Anyway, he fits the Union defender mold perfectly. Young and experienced. 62 appearances and only 25. He should start next to Okugo no question.
Fun Fact: Philadelphia now has the 2007 and 2012 MLS Rookies of the Year.
Ethan White (Traded from DC United)
Now lower in the depth chart because of the Berry signing, but that won't overshadow the steal of a trade the Union got from DC.
Draftees (Drafted in 2014 MLS SuperDraft)
Not only was the draft held in downtown Philadelphia, but a lot of soccer fans have credited the Union to winning the draft. Firstly, the Union traded again with DC to push up to the number one spot to select
Andre Blake. He has been said to be the best GK prospect in the last decade and has looked pretty damn good during the preseason. Next the Union traded down twice, from 6th to 15th and selected
Pedro Ribeiro. Personally I wanted the Union to draft him 6, so it was something miraculous when they got him at 15. He is an attacking midfielder
who is crazy tall and strong. Other draftees to watch are
Richie Marquez and
Aohdan Quinn.
Supporter Groups:
Sons of Ben These are the guys who brought a Major League Soccer team to Philadelphia. Their small support group started with a few guys and within a year or two, there were thousands of people wearing light blue dancing in front of City Hall when a team was announced. A classic tale of "We will come, if you build it."
The current state of the Sons of Ben is kind of different. Many have said it has turned into a huge popularity contest where they sing more about themselves than the team. That's the harshest criticism I have heard, but it is true that a lot of the original founders have left the group now that the team exists. There have been problems in the last few years, as the River End (where the SoBs sit) has become slowly quieter and less-filled. For 2014, the River End will be open to the public as non-SoBs will be allowed to stand there. Sons of Ben have also set up election type systems in which people get voted by the group in order to work for and lead it. It will be interesting to see what kind of effect these changes will have. Maybe making the River End general admission will help? Maybe in the future.
While I have stated many of the problems, I can't say enough about how awesome these guys are as well. They help provide one of the greatest atmospheres in MLS along with the bridge and river. Draftees Andre Blake and Pedro Ribeiro both credited the Sons of Ben with making them feel at home right away.
Bearfight Brigade It's kind of part of the Sons of Ben, but it's also different. I'll be honest and say I don't know much about these guys, but I have heard they have awesome beards and drinking parties.
They also created a team called Bearfight FC and play in the fifth division of the United States soccer pyramid. Ex-Union captain Danny Califf is a playecoach for the team.
2013: A Year of Disappointment and Red Cards After the failure that was 2012, the Union could almost go anywhere, and still be an improvement. And while true, the Union led by Jack McInerney showed they could be a contender. While Jack Mac was hot, the team peaked at third in the East and looked like they were heading to playoffs for most of the year. The turning point was August 25th when the Union lost 5-1 in New England when Okugo got two yellows (2 game suspension-YC accumulation and Red Card), and the defense that already lacked depth had to be shuffled around. Over the those next two games, the shallow Union defense led by Sheanon Williams only gave up one goal, but that was only good for one point. A great effort shown by the D was useless as the offense and midfield provided nothing. Offense continued to not score until a freak 1-0 win in SKC two weeks later. Kleberson provided the highlight of the year with his late free kick goal in a 1-0 win over Toronto which again put the Union in a good position. With only three games left and the Union playing well, they traveled to last-place DC United where they were lucky to draw 1-1. A failure to hold the lead in the next game led to a crippling loss in Montreal and playoff hopes were all but gone. Losing to SKC in the last game of the season just left the home fans with a sour taste in their mouth.
Union missed the playoffs by three points and can seem to point that to two blown leads back to back over the summer. The Union were up 2-1 and facing 10-men opponents both times, and 90+4' goals given up caused 2-2 draws both against Dallas at home, and in RSL.
The 2013 Union season can be summed up by the word 'almost.'
During last season,
the Union had zero Penalty Kicks, every other team had at least 2, and Columbus had 9.
2014: THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE The offseason was something magical by the Front Office. Yes, the same FO who brought us the great Roger Torres/Bakary Soumare/Freddy Adu/Kleberson sagas. But this time, they brought in some great players while getting amazing deals for most of them. For example, Vincent Nogueira isn't even a Designated Player [Edu and Maidana are by the way].
I think it's safe to say that this current Union team is the most talented as well as the the most deep in its history. The midfield and defensive zones are both filled with talented young players with diverse skill sets. The same is can be said about the goalkeeping situation with MacMath, Blake, and Holt.
On the attacking side, McInerney, Casey, Hoppenot, and Wheeler will continue their offensive reign as it is the same group as it was in 2013. The Union will find more success this year if Casey and Jack Mac can find a way to get in-form at the same time. And if Hoppenot isn't used the exact same way at the exact same time every game, that would be an improvement. #Hacktics
Prediction: This is hard to say the least, with the way Eastern Conference is set, it seems like almost anything can happen. If the Union can build chemistry early and click, I believe they can finish 2nd or 3rd. But the East is talented and if the Union take too long to become what they are trying to be, other teams will leave them in the dust, and they will miss the playoffs finishing 7th or 8th.
I think I'll go with a safe answer, and say the Union will come in 4th and lose to SKC in the conference semi-finals. One playoff win would be nice.
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