SWCC - Semi-Finals

Following some very free scoring matches in the group stages, the semi-finals were far more cautious affairs. Chile and Brazil played out a dour 0-0 draw and when extra-time couldn't separate the teams it was down to the lottery that is a penalty shoot out. Chile emerged victors after a mammoth 14-13 showdown.

The other semi saw England take on surprise package Oceania XI. The northern hemisphere team proved too strong, grabbing goals either side of half-time to claim a place in the final.

Luckless Oceania Select XI attack the English goal 

Results

SWCC - Group 2

Group 2 pitted Europe against South America. The teams taking part were England, Italy, Brazil and Argentina SuperFooty Heavyweight teams on Sureshot bases.

Group 2, England v Italy. The English kick-off what turns out to be a footballing lesson.

England head home to make it 3-0

Brazil v Argentina

Argentina bear down on goal to grab a late consolation goal.

The Final Table

England with a 100% record top the group to play Oceania Select XI. Brazil finish second to earn a semi-final berth against hotly fancied Chile.

SWCC - 2013

We held the Subbuteo World Cup Competition in early December 2013.

It was an eight national team tournament who played group stages and then Semi-Final & Final matches.

The teams were made up of Subbuteo, Stefan Corda, Santiago and SuperFooty teams on a variety of bases. The Results, Tables and some pictures are presented in my next three posts.

We enjoyed it so much that we plan to do another competition with the same format very soon.

These are the eight teams that took part in the competition

Some action from Group 1.

Australia and New Zealand prepare for their match. The lightweights ran out 2-0 winners.

New Zealand take the lead, the ball going in off the underside of the crossbar.

Chile and Australia line up before their bad tempered fixture.

Chile fully in control.

Australia's centre back takes out his frustration resulting in a free kick.

Oceania Select XI v New Zealand

The final results and tables

Chile 2k4 figures on Stefan Corda Image II bases are emphatic group winners with eight goals four and none against. Oceania Select XI, SuperFooty Heavyweight on Subbuteo 2003 bases are unlikely runners-up and grab a semi-final place against the Group 2 winners. Subbuteo Lightweight New Zealand, gain some consolation by winning heavyweight, wooden spoon neighbours Australia. 

Subbuteo Hockey

Subbuteo Hockey was unpopular when it was released and as a result sets are hard to come by.

These red and blue teams came in the box set.

Playmobil Soccer Match

Whilst my daughter shows an interest in football she prefers playing at being a doctor. So this weekend we took the opportunity to mix both past-times using the Playmobil Soccer Match Set.

Sent Off

Stretcher 

Diving Header

Celebration

South American Teams On Modern Bases

A little change of focus for today's post which has a South American flavour.  Two very simple kits that I painted a few years back on SCco 2k4 figures. The Chile national team is on Stefan Corda Image II bases while the Santos is on Santiago Spitfire bases.

My son and I gave these two teams a run out at the weekend after watching a documentary about the legendary Brazilian duo Pele and Garrincha.  I'm not sure why the Chile team won out when the natural choice was a Brazil!

We had a busy Subbuteo weekend recreating some of the English Premiership matches as well as playing a Manchester United Home v Man Utd Away fixture using the United Box Set - (my son's reasoning was at least one of them would lose - whilst not accurate it made me laugh). All but one of our matches were played using teams on different bases. I always find it interesting playing matches with teams on different bases as match tactics need to be adopted and changed to get the best from each base type.

Chile - Stefan Corda Image II, 2k4 figures

Santos - Santiago Spitfire, 2k4 figures

I really like the look of the Image bases and the tricolour works well on this Chile team. When it comes to match play I can get a good long curl on them but haven't had nearly enough practise with them to get proficient at curling over short distances. The Santos team is as simple as a paint job can get, but on the lily white, solid base they look stunning. For me the Santiago Spitfire is a great, versatile base and one of my favourites - they have a little of everything.

Result: Chile won 2-0

...and Man Utd home were beaten 4-0...so my son was right!

Solo FA Cup 70-71 - Teams Round Up 4

Solo FA Cup 70-71

Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

WEST HAM UNITED

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

This concludes the First Division teams that took part in the FA cup in 70-71 Season.

Solo FA Cup 70-71 - Teams Round Up 3

Solo FA Cup 70-71

Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Stoke City.

MANCHESTER CITY

MANCHESTER UNITED

NEWCASTLE UNITED

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

SOUTHAMPTON

STOKE CITY

Solo FA Cup 70-71 - Teams Round Up 2

Solo FA Cup 70-71

Derby County, Everton, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool.

DERBY COUNTY

EVERTON

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

IPSWICH TOWN

LEEDS UNITED

LIVERPOOL

Solo FA Cup 70-71 - Teams Round Up 1

Solo FA Cup 70-71
Arsenal, Blackpool, Burnley, Chelsea, Coventry, Crystal Palace.

ARSENAL

BLACKPOOL

BURNLEY

CHELSEA

COVENTRY

CRYSTAL PALACE

Solo FA Cup 70-71 - History Part 2

As I wrote in a recent post planning the Solo Cup has been a lot trickier than I expected. I anticipated from the start that I would have to do some research and then paint up some teams. What has proven more difficult, however, is making decisions about which original HW Subbuteo teams to use to represent the different teams. There are far fewer teams that are exact matches in the SSG catalogues than I originally thought.

An example of this is illustrated by today's post showing six first division teams from the 1970-71 season. The Arsenal, Blackpool and Chelsea teams are all original Subbuteo teams - however, none of them match the teams they correspond to exactly - as the 'real life' teams had trim variations. It has been a major headache and one which I have approached on a team by team basis.

I have shyed away from 2nd kits totally and at this stage haven't even worked out what colour clashes are thrown up by the draw. I will do the necessary research for each tie and this will be ongoing until the completion of the competition. When information is not available (usually for lower league and non-league sides) I will either use the most historically accurate information I have i.e. a 60's or 80's kit or will use a neutral kit i.e. all white, all yellow.

Discussion of these decision making processes may indicate that taking on this project has been a negative experience - but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have really enjoyed my research and preparation and can't wait to start playing the competition. Any frustration generated has merely been because I want to get on playing the fixtures and not just talking about it.

Thanks to those people who have contacted me directly offering support. Please keep the comments coming I really appreciate you taking the time to write.

Replica Trophies

It's not often I feature items that I do not own but when I saw this I had to share it.

This selection of replica trophies are mainly SSG.  The Charity Shield, ironically not SSG is a real beauty.

Thanks to Vikash for letting me use his image.

Ref 74 Alternative Kit

A nice variation on a common reference for todays post, Aston Villa. I wasn't aware of this ref/kit until I started collecting in earnest. It's a real beaut, especially as it is on reversed bases.

A quick update on the Solo FA Cup - I'm almost done with preparing the teams and will get some images up very shortly.