Silver Road and Golden Stripes, Yet Another Football TL

[Wings]

Two different clashes on two different continents, each with extremely different results. If the European confrontation is close, with the Dutch eventually taking the win over France, the South American confrontation is much less. The Brazilians, reduced to 10 men after only 15 minutes, get completely run over by the Albiceleste in the first leg. A draw is enough for Argentina to secure qualification in the return leg, joining the Dutch in the final.

Lionel Messi in action against Brazil.

 

[Unknown]

My pick: the Netherlands...

 

[NTF aka Seb]

Excellent to find such a timeline when waiting for a flight for three hours. Constantly surprised at how many undiscovered football gems there are on this website, but always as pleasant of a surprise.

Needless to say, great TL. Staggering how much effort you put into it and remained loyal to it for literal years. Amazing.

Also found your AWC timeline and I like it just as much. Keep it up.

 

[Wings]

Excellent to find such a timeline when waiting for a flight for three hours. Constantly surprised at how many undiscovered football gems there are on this website, but always as pleasant of a surprise.

Needless to say, great TL. Staggering how much effort you put into it and remained loyal to it for literal years. Amazing.

Also found your AWC timeline and I like it just as much. Keep it up.

Thanks. I'm trying to get the final published before we head into the new season.
Key word is trying.

 

[Wings]

The 2022 final was expected to be a great game, of course, but the excitement was dampened because of the location. Qatar, in May, with temperatures hitting as hot as 42, it was a nightmare for everyone involved. Not to mention the stadium itself! For a capacity of 80,000, the Lusail Stadium was only filled with 35,000 "fans", the vast majority of which were not even Argentine or Dutch.
The game was thus slower than usual, with the heat greatly hampering the players. The first concrete action actually turned into a goal, with De Paul finding Messi in the Dutch box. The veteran striker crucified Cillessen with an expert shot, giving Argentina the lead. Argentina kept on trying to press their advantage, with a good run by Lo Celso finding Messi again, but this time his strike was deviated by the Dutch keeper.
A few minutes after that, a long shot by Martinez was knocked out of bounds by de Ligt's back, giving the Albiceleste a corner. Expertly taken by Messi, this one found Tagliafico who headed the ball past Cillessen, giving a 2-0 lead to the Dutch.
The latter didn't go down without a fight. Merely four minutes after Tagliafico's goal, Gakpo gave a good ball to de Jong, who managed to swing past Martinez (the keeper this time) and make it 2-1. Initially declared offside, it was revealed by VAR that Molina had touched the ball, voluntarily or not, before it arrived to de Jong. As such, the Emirati referee decided to let the goal stand.
It was on this scoreline that the two teams left each other at half-time.
By then, temperatures had cooled to a "mere" 36. Argentina were once again in the lead, pressing advantages on the sides where they were decimating. After a first failure by Di Maria, it was Lo Celso who found the opposing net, his strike from 22 metres beating Cillessen for the third time in the evening.
The Dutch did try all they could, with Depay trying his luck from afar, only to see Martinez saving the 3-2 ball. Another attempt by Lang would end up also being saved by the Argentine keeper. This would be the Dutch last big chance of the night, right after the 80th minute.
The last ten minutes were exhausting for both sides, and the final whistle came as a mercy. Argentina thus won their fifth Nations League, and giving Messi a well-deserved intercontinental title.

Spoiler

Lionel Messi scores the first goal of the game.

Dutch players celebrate their goal.

Messi celebrates as he finally wins a Nations League title.

 

[Wings]

Winners: Argentina - 5th title
Top Scorer: Lionel Messi (ARG) - 13 goals
Top Assists: Declan Rice (ENG) - 5 assists

2022-23 Participants:
Europe: Belgium (29), France (51), England (66), Spain (66), Italy (67), Netherlands (49), Portugal (39), Denmark (36), Germany (68), Croatia (27), Switzerland (19), Wales (11), Sweden (46), Serbia (8), Poland (28), Ukraine (15)
South America: Brazil (68), Argentina (66), Uruguay (48), Colombia (28), Peru (9), Chile (22), Peru (10)
North America: Mexico (44), United States (25)
Africa: Senegal (9), Morocco (7), Tunisia (12), Nigeria (11)
Asia: Iran (6), Japan (13), South Korea (7)

Final Location: Beijing National Stadium, Beijing
Groups & Seeding
Group A: Brazil, Denmark, Wales, Serbia
Group B: Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland
Group C: Italy, Portugal, Morocco, Chile
Group D: Spain, Switzerland, Senegal, South Korea
Group E: Argentina, Uruguay, Japan, Tunisia
Group F: Netherlands, Mexico, Iran, Ukraine
Group G: France, Croatia, Colombia, Czech Republic
Group H: England, United States, Peru, Nigeria

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

It's back!

 

[Wings]

Winners: Uruguay - 2nd title
Top Scorer: Mohamed Salah (EGY) - 7 goals

2022-23 Participants:
Europe: Austria (35), Norway (27), Hungary (35), Turkey (28), Scotland (35), Ireland (33), Greece (46), Slovakia (20), Romania (30), Bosnia and Herzegovina (11), Northern Ireland (33), Finland (27), Iceland (14), North Macedonia (10), Slovenia (19)
South America: Ecuador (24), Paraguay (38), Venezuela (17)
North America: Costa Rica (22), Canada (16), Panama (12), Jamaica (21)
Africa: Cameroon (39), Egypt (46), Algeria (32), Mali (22), Ivory Coast (36), Burkina Faso (15), Ghana (38)
Asia: Qatar (9), Saudi Arabia (27)
Oceania: Australia (39)

Final Location: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Groups & Seeding
Group A: Norway, Canada, Venezuela, Jamaica
Group B: Australia, Turkey, Burkina Faso, Slovenia
Group C: Costa Rica, Greece, Paraguay, Northern Ireland
Group D: Cameroon, Ireland, Ivory Coast, Panama
Group E: Algeria, Ecuador, Slovakia, Iceland
Group F: Egypt, Scotland, Romania, Finland
Group G: Hungary, Mali, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia
Group H: Austria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ghana

 

[Wings]

Group A: 1. Iraq, 2. Curacao, 3. Luxembourg, 4. Gabon
Group B: 1. Albania, 2. Oman, 3. Bahrain, 4. Uganda
Group C: 1. Montenegro, 2. Israel, 3. Panama, 4. Congo
Group D: 1. PR China, 2. Georgia, 3. Cape Verde, 4. Armenia
Group E: 1. Bulgaria, 2. Slovenia, 3. Zambia, 4. Haiti
Group F: 1. North Macedonia, 2. Guinea, 3. Benin, 4. Belarus
Group G: 1. Saudi Arabia, 2. Bolivia, 3. United Arab Emirates, 4. Jordan
Group H: 1. DR Congo, 2. Vietnam, 3. Syria, 4. Uzbekistan

1st Round:
Australia v Georgia 8-2 / 1-1
Slovakia v Curacao 3-0 / 5-0
Greece v Israel 2-0 / 2-2
Jamaica v Bolivia 4-2 / 0-0
Honduras v Oman 0-1 / 0-2
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Slovenia 0-0 / 3-2
South Korea v Vietnam 2-1 / 2-0
Finland v Guinea 6-0 / 1-0

2nd Round:
Australia v Saudi Arabia 1-1 / 0-1
Slovakia v North Macedonia 0-0 / 0-4
Greece v PR China 1-0 / 2-0
Jamaica v Montenegro 0-4 / 0-0
Oman v Bulgaria 1-1 / 0-0
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Iraq 2-2 / 2-1
South Korea v DR Congo 5-0 / 0-1
Finland v Albania 4-2 / 0-0

Quarter-Finals:
Saudi Arabia v North Macedonia 2-2 / 0-2
Greece v Montenegro 4-0 / 0-2
Bulgaria v Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-4 / 0-1
South Korea v Finland 3-1 / 2-0

Semi-Finals:
North Macedonia v Greece 3-0 / 0-0
Bosnia and Herzegovina v South Korea 2-0 / 1-1

Final (Gelora Bung Kano Stadium, Jakarta)
North Macedonia v Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 aet

Winners: North Macedonia - 1st title

Final Location: Diego Maradona Stadium, La Plata
2022-23 Participants
Europe: Albania (2), Montenegro (2), Bulgaria (2), Israel (2), Georgia (2), Armenia (2), Luxembourg (2), Belarus (2)
South America: Bolivia (2)
North America: El Salvador (1), Honduras (2), Curacao (2), Haiti (1)
Africa: DR Congo (2), Cape Verde (2), Gabon (2), Guinea (2), Zambia (2), Uganda (2), Benin (2)
Asia: South Korea (2), United Arab Emirates (2), Iraq (2), Oman (2), Uzbekistan (2), PR China (2), Bahrain (2), Jordan (2), Syria (2), Palestine (1), Kyrgyzstan (1), Vietnam (2)

Group A: El Salvador, Bulgaria, Zambia, Uganda
Group B: South Africa, Bolivia, Guinea, Palestine
Group C: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Vietnam
Group D: Cape Verde, PR China, Syria, Belarus
Group E: DR Congo, Gabon, Haiti, Luxembourg
Group F: Montenegro, Oman, Curacao, Kyrgyzstan
Group G: Albania, Israel, Georgia, Armenia
Group H: United Arab Emirates, Honduras, Jordan, Benin

 

[Wings]

No surprised in Group A. Brazil proved particularly dominant by winning all their games, and while Denmark did struggle somewhat, they still did the necessary by beating Wales in Cardiff, allowing them to take the second seed from the group. As for the dragons, with their win at home over Serbia, it at least secured them a spot in the World League instead of painfully dropping out of all international competitions like Serbia.

The all-European group didn't disappoint. In the middle of the chaos, Germany pulled ahead of Belgium, by a single point, thanks to their win in Ghent. With this loss, Belgium wouldn't be able to come back, even despite the German defeat in Warsaw, and only could clinch second place. As for Sweden, the disaster continues: no World Cup and no World League for them.

Italy did not console themselves after missing out on the World Cup. With easy points let through here and there, the Squadra Azzura completed a horrid season by being knocked out of the Nations League to Chile's benefit. Worse, they only made it to the World League on direct confrontations against Morocco. As for Portugal, despite some unfortunate performances against Chile (they only beat Morocco), their good record allowed them to advance as first seed.

No problem for the two Europeans, Spain and Switzerland, in a group considered tricky. Spain were above the competition despite the scorelines indicating close games, while Switzerland followed close behind. Senegal and South Korea traded blows, but the Koreans' win against Switzerland at home allowed them to continue international competition in the spring.

Italy struggle against Portugal in Group C.

Transfer to World League:
Wales (31st participation)
Poland (28)
Italy (5)
South Korea (45)

 

[Wings]

Group E saw peculiar things happen. Argentina easily cleared the group, but behind them, it was chaos. Japan were the only one to take a game off Argentina, but did not manage to beat Tunisia. As for Uruguay, they couldn't even grab a victory despite losing only twice, therefore dropping out! Tunisia, yet again, found themselves in the Round of 16, a somewhat common occurrence in recent years.

Group F was no less chaotic. The Netherlands going from high high to low low, Mexico took advantage of this with their consistency and took first place. As for Ukraine, who played all their games in Poland, their last, symbolic game, against the Netherlands, gave them a much-needed win giving them the edge against Iran, who they had beat at "home" while losing "away" (Iran v Ukraine was played in Turkey).

Just like Italy, things went horridly wrong for WC titleholders France. After three straight losses, they did manage to scrape six points in the last three games to survive in the World League, but barely, taking advantage of the weakness of the Czech squad. As for Croatia, it was heaven for the defeated of 2018, who not only swept through the group, but also runners-up Colombia, notably in a 8-0 massacre at home, after two early red cards for the visitors...

Finally, Group H closed the group stages with another major European nation dropping to the Nations League! England played with fire and lost, including a humiliating defeat at Stamford Bridge against the United States. Their losing record to Peru sealed their fate, thus joining Italy and France in the consolation tournament. The Americas dominated the group, with the United States jubilant as they ended their group in first place. For Nigeria, unfortunately, the glory days seem long past...

Modric gets revenge against Griezmann in Group G.

Transfer to World League:
Japan (21st participation)
Ukraine (13)
France (11)
England (9)

Round of 16:
Netherlands v Croatia
Belgium v United States
Denmark v Mexico
Tunisia v Spain
Switzerland v Brazil
Colombia v Argentina
Chile v Germany
Peru v Portugal

 

[Unknown]

My picks: The Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Portugal...

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Disappointing France, Italy and England...

 

[MatthewFirth]

Netherlands v Croatia
Belgium v United States
Denmark v Mexico
Tunisia v Spain
Switzerland v Brazil
Colombia v Argentina
Chile v Germany
Peru v Portugal

 

[Tannenberg]

Who won the World Challenge of 2020 and 2021 and the FIFA Super Cup of 2022 btw?

 

[Enigmajones]

Isn’t it Taiwan usually called Chinese Taipei in international sports? I only ask because I know in the WBC it’s that way. The other designator would be the Republic of China too not Taiwan.

 

[Anubis]

Hey Wings, are you going to update this TL?

 

[Wings]

Hey Wings, are you going to update this TL?

Yes. Yes, I am.

Similar to the previous edition, there weren't many upsets in the Round of 16, either, though it was closer. While North American contenders Mexico and the United States were swept by their European counterparts, CAF representatives Tunisia strung Spain to extra time before being knocked out. Likewise, after a 2-0 victory at home, Switzerland drew Brazil to extra time before being knocked out in turn. The Netherlands came out on top of a great series against Croatia, while Portugal easily defeated a much more inferior Peruvian squad. The only real upset came with the Chilean team, not even qualified for the World Cup, which eliminated Germany after a 3-0 victory in Santiago.

Croatia's Andrej Kramaric equalizes against the Netherlands during the opening leg of their confrontation.

Quarter-Finals:
Denmark v Argentina
Belgium v Chile
Netherlands v Portugal
Spain v Brazil

 

[Pragmatic Progressive]

My guesses:

Denmark v Argentina
Belgium v Chile
Netherlands v Portugal
Spain v Brazil

 

[Wings]

Amongst all Quarter-Finals, it was not expected that World Cup holders Argentina would be the ones swept the easiest. After a horrid first leg in Copenhagen, Lionel Messi's squad seemed to disintegrate after Schmeichel stopped the Argentine captain's penalty right before half-time, preventing any comeback.
At least their South American friends did better. Brazil faced off against Spain in two very close matches, but came out on top, accounting on a very lenient VAR decision on a possible handball by Marquinhos at the last minute of the return leg. For Chile, things were also quite close, as they battled Belgium in extra time but eventually came out on top thanks to two goals by Alexis Sanchez, with Belgium scoring too late to come back.
Finally, the Netherlands and Portugal also had a close series, with both teams winning at home. But thanks to a more solid defense, the Portuguese squad came out on top and advanced after a 2-0 win in the Estadio da Luz, prompting a question many had been asking: if 2022 was Messi's year, could 2023 be Ronaldo's?

Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel stops Lionel Messi's penalty and allows Denmark to push to the Semi-Finals of the Nations League

Semi-Finals:
Brazil v Chile
Denmark v Portugal