Three rookies and the 57th nation
The CLUB algorithm decided to build the two teams around the German block (Bibbed) on one side and the Italian one on the other (Unbibbed). If the purpose was to have two balanced teams for a game going to the wire, well it could not have done a better job.
What it could not provide for though were the keepers still absent due to injuries. Rush keepers were in high demand and while they could not provide the extraordinary saves made by Alessandro, Tony and Paride anyone of them could safely be employed in any of the Premier League o Serie A teams for that matter.
Hannes was at the center of defence for the Unbibs surrounded by Andrè, Victor and Ben, protected in midfield by the double J, Julian and Julien, with Sara on the wing, Philipp just behind the three attacking midfielder Thomas, Jeremy and Johannes, the latter back in the game for his first season appearance.
The Bibbed opted for no lone striker, each of the three most advanced players operating as a falso nueve. With such a dearth of strikers and keepers you could have expected a game with no sparks and thunders: as it turned out the Italy-Germany 4-3 in Mexico 1970 in comparison was a bore, as one of the ecstatic seasoned fan commented at the end of such a thrilling match.
The Bibbed were again sporting a team where experience and skills (Hossam, Francesco, Chetan) were met by youth and exuberance with the two Foglia brothers, Giacomo and rookie Francesco and their mate Leo. Yassin and Diego provided usual dynamism terrorising opponents while the striking force rested on Marco’s shoulders.
There were two more rookies: Christian, Andre’s friend, adding to the Unbibbed Italian contingent and Sam from Sudan (pictured) bringing the 57th Nation, and counting, swiftly recruited by the Bibs to replace injured Philipp.
It fell on Christian to break the ice with a long-range shot that gave the keeper no chance (top photo). The weight and gravitas of the Bibbed midfield was such that they posed a constant threat to the Unbibbed goal and was only a matter of time before Johannes put his mark on the game bagging a brace but on the other front Marco did even better scoring a hat trick.
Courtesy of a goal by Julian and an own goal, the game was levelled at 4-4 with a golden goal as a natural end with both sets of fans on the stands bracing for a grand finale with ultimately elation on one side and despair on the other. Each player desperate to administer justice even with the scrappiest of goals. It was a nomen-omen outcome with our Brazilian star, Viktor, handing Victory to the Bibbed to seal a glorious remuntada.
Looking at the names topping the votes for the Man of the Match award Johannes was back in style to the familiar list while Chetan had a superb game both defensively and when initiating the play from the back. After being shortlisted in virtually every previous match, Marco could finally claim the accolade with his hat-trick and his wider contribution to the game. Exceptionally he was allowed to bring home the hat-trick ball as Giancarlo’s role as a Club Treasurer is a guarantee return of the costly sphere. That’s was Dads are for!
BIBBED-UNBIBBED 5-4
GOALS
BIBBED: Johannes (2),Julian, Christian (og), Victor.
UNBIBBED: Christian, Marco (3)
TEAMS
BIBBED: Andre’, Hannes, Julien, Ben, Sara, Julian, Victor, Philipp (Sam),Thomas, Johannes, Jeremy T.
UNBIBBED: Hossam, Chetan, Christian, Diego, Giancarlo, Francesco F, Giacomo, Leo, Yassin, Marco, Francesco R,