Your weekly source of information and entertainment, Sports Journal #34 brought to you by our journalists, is here! 📖⚽

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1/ FOOTBALL QUIZ

2/ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF SEASON 74

3/ TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: THE BATTLE FOR THE SEMIFINALS BEGINS

4/ THE SPANISH THIRD DIVISIONS ENTER THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE SERVER MERGER

5/ ACHIEVEMENTS OF “CLASSIC” PLAYERS  #9

6/ REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #5

FOOTBALL QUIZ

👑 The winners of the last edition are: (Classic)

100 Keys 🔑 Premium - Tony Dalton

10,000 ⚡ Energy - Kvazi & Dix

Hello! I'm here with another part of the football quiz series. Of course, there are prizes in the form of 100 Keys 🔑 Premium for the first person to answer correctly and 10,000 ⚡ Energy for two random people with the correct answer. I will select the winners on Thursday at 8 p.m. Let's start!

1/ Player name and surname:

One of the most promising young strikers in Europe. Often compared to Erling Haaland due to his physical condition, dynamics and goal-scoring instinct. His rapid development made him a key figure in both the club and the Slovenian national team.

Born on May 31, 2003 in Radeče, Slovenia, he took his first steps in football in the local club Radeče ob Savi, and then in the youth teams of NK Krško and NK Domžale. Already at this stage, he distinguished himself with his physical condition and effectiveness in front of goal. 

In 2019, Austrian Red Bull Salzburg noticed a huge talent and brought him to their academy.

At first, he played mainly for the satellite team - FC Liefering, where he impressed with his effectiveness. Thanks to his great performances, he was quickly promoted to the Salzburg first team. In the 2021/2022 season, he became a regular for Salzburg. His speed, strength and effectiveness attracted the attention of top European clubs. In the Austrian league, he scored key goals and developed tactically. In the summer of 2023, he transferred to German RB Leipzig, which allowed him to continue his career within Red Bull.

The Bundesliga became the ideal place for further development. From the very first matches, there was evidence of his readiness to play at the highest level. He made his debut for the Slovenian national team in 2021 as one of the youngest players in the squad.

His talent quickly made him a key striker in the national team. He regularly scores goals and is a key link in building a new generation of Slovenian football. Tall, fast and dynamic - these traits make him a great fit for modern football. He can not only finish actions, but also cooperate with the team, passing the ball and engaging in pressing. His development in the Bundesliga shows that he can become a leading striker in Europe.

The career of this Slovenian sniper is an example of rapid development and deliberate choices. From humble beginnings in Slovenian academies, through the Austrian league, to the Bundesliga – each stage allowed him to develop key skills. Today, he is one of the most promising strikers, and the future looks very exciting.

Author: Wylewinho

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF SEASON 74

Hey! This is Kyrunio, today we're going to discuss the most interesting matches that took place in the fourth and final week of the 74th season! So let's get down to business.

Today I'm going to take a closer look at two matches, one from the Domestic Cup and the other from the European Tournament.

 La Familia vs. AK Elite Team

The first match I will describe today took place on Sunday, March 23rd at 12:10 as part of the Polish National Cup. It was a rematch between La Familia and AK Elite Team. The match promised to be very interesting, and it ended with a draw 2:2.

The beginning of the match was calm. Until in the 20th minute Sir aLLu fouled an opponent in the penalty area and received a yellow card. The victim of the foul was kolmapuszi, who confidently converted the penalty kick, hitting with all his strength. This is how the guests took the lead.

A few minutes later, there was another foul by the hosts, this time it was PiwoWarek who committed the foul. He received a yellow card for his offense. The score did not change until the end of the first half.

Less than 10 minutes after the break,  киахаил Бочк accurately passed the ball into the penalty area to Sir aLLu, who beat the visiting goalkeeper with a scissors shot and led his team to a draw.

Immediately after scoring the goal, the hosts made a substitution. Drenek4621 left the pitch, and Dominek came in his place.

In the 74th minute of the match, the guests received a corner kick. sppedy went to execute it, crossed it into the penalty area and GOOOOOOOOOAAAL! kolmapuszi found his place perfectly in the confusion and it was him, who finally headed the ball into the goal.

It was slowly getting tense in this match, the result was in favor of the guests. In the 81st minute of the match the hosts made another substitution, this time C1n3k37 left the pitch in favour of mario527. 

The hosts regained the ball in stoppage time of the second half and went on the attack, Koko showed off his pitch vision and launched a through pass to PiwoWarek, who equalised the score, securing extra time for the hosts.

The first half of extra time passed without much notice, only in the second 15 minutes something started happening. In the 109th minute of the match mario527 fouled an opponent in the penalty area, which resulted in a yellow card and an injury to Popapranego Apacza. kolmapuszi, took the penalty again and converted it again, this time with a ground shot.

Just a few minutes later, the same thing happened in the other direction. PepeGrb fouled an opponent in the penalty area, received a yellow card for it, and  mario527  confidently beat the goalkeeper from the penalty spot! The score on the board is 3:3. This was the result of the match between the two teams, and AK Elite Team advanced to the next round, winning on away goals.

FC Inter Milan vs. ФК Беркут

The next meeting that I will discuss today took place on Thursday, March 27th at 8:00 p.m. as part of the European Tournament. The teams FC Inter Milan and ФК Беркут faced off. Although the match had its favorite from the very beginning, which were the guests, it still turned out to be quite interesting.

Already in the 3rd minute of the match, AleX161 played a pass to Marcusa Nicolsona, who gave the hosts the lead with a shot from a sharp angle.

They did not enjoy the lead for long, because only 7 minutes later Slon passed the ball to Иннокентий Шниперсон, for whom this was just the beginning of the fun in this match. He confidently shot past the goalkeeper and equalized the score.

In the 31st minute of the match Иннокентий Шниперсон crossed the ball into the penalty area to Sheriffa17, who scored with a fantastic shot that beat the home team's goalkeeper, putting his team in the lead.

Just 7 minutes later Slon played the ball in the penalty area to Иннокентий Шниперсон, and he beat the rivals' goalkeeper with an accurate shot, increasing the score.

Shortly before the end of the first half, Gennaro Ivan Gatusso zscored from a corner kick after an accurate cross by AleX161. 

After the first half, both teams made 3 changes, the two most important of which were: Плохиш ⮕Lord Vader in the home team, and Ruslan Viktorovich ⮕Иннокентий Шниперсон.

In the 67th minute of the match, Sheriff17 delivered a brilliant cross to Ruslana Viktorovicha, in the penalty area, who converted the pass into another goal for the visitors.

The hosts tried to fight until the end, in the 85th minute of the match Пеппа passed the ball into the penalty area, there was Плохиш, who took advantage of this move and gave the hosts hope for a draw.

The match ended with the score 3:4. Despite knowing the favorite, the hosts were able to stand their ground.

That's all from me for today, I encourage you to read the articles sent by other journalists. See you next time!

Author: Kyrunio

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: THE BATTLE FOR THE SEMIFINALS BEGINS

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for a week full of excitement and adrenaline! The European Tournament enters its quarterfinal phase and promises legendary clashes to see who reaches the semis, where the most prepared team will emerge victorious in their quest for glory.

Let's analyze what awaits us on this true battlefield!

The European Tournament, the third most important competition in the game – only behind the coveted Super League and Champions Tournament – brings together true gladiators on the field.

With star-studded teams and high-level strategists, each team seeks the perfect tactic to overcome their opponents. In this sixth season of Classic, the quarterfinal duels promise to turn the stands into a stage full of life and rivalry. Let's take a look at these matchups:

Harmandali 35 vs. Unicorn Team

On one side, we have Harmandali 35 (2,655 OVR), the super champion and current leader of the German First Division, a true colossus that commands respect and instills fear in its opponents. On the other side, Unicorn Team, which occupies last place in the SL, is trying to prove that legends should never be underestimated. Harmandali 35 is the favorite, but in football, we know that upsets can happen. These matches are scheduled for March 27, 2025, and March 31, 2025.

Karpaty Krosno (1,041 OVR) vs. Pogon Szczecin (629 OVR)

In this matchup, we have Karpaty Krosno, the team ranked third in the Spanish First Division, against Pogon Szczecin, the team ranked tenth in the German Liga 1. Karpaty's strength and experience are in their favor, but Pogon Szczecin's determination could surprise. These matches are scheduled for March 27, 2025, and March 31, 2025.

Drużyna Bez Dopingu (3151 OVR) vs. Redburn (1153 OVR)

Two teams from the top division, the first in the Spanish league and the second in Italy. Drużyna Bez Dopingu, known for their aggressive and lethal stance, face Redburn, who are looking to write a new chapter in their history. Despite Drużyna Bez Dopingu's favoritism, a very uneven duel is expected, as Druzyna are the favorites to reach the semi-finals. These matches are scheduled for March 28, 2025, and April 1, 2025.

FC KREMATORIUM vs. RESPECT

The final matchup pits a German first division team, FC KREMATORIUM(2422 OVR), against a SL team, RESPECT (2439 OVR). The former is a team with a strong structure and technical quality, but RESPECT is the favorite, being a SL team that promises not to give up so easily. This duel has everything it needs to be a spectacle worthy of a knockout stage. The matches are scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, 2025, and April 2, 2025.

The countdown has begun! The fields are ready, the fans are excited, and the players are ready to give it their all. Who will be the next to continue the path to glory? Place your bets, because the European Tournament promises to be exciting until the very last minute!

The best

Author: BÚFALO FUNES (ID 1183)

THE SPANISH THIRD DIVISIONS ENTER THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE SERVER MERGER

Greetings, players! How are you?

The season of the Spanish third divisions is approaching its conclusion, and the server merger scheduled for the 31th promises to shake up the competition landscape. With fierce title races and dramatic relegation battles, the final stretch promises intense emotions for fans and players alike. Let’s check out the situation in the four leagues and the teams at the center of these battles.

League 3A: Tight Battle for the Lead

With 27 rounds played, League 3A has an electrifying title race. FC ProStack leads with 74 points, closely followed by Silver Academy with 72. With only a few rounds remaining, any slip-up could be fatal in the fight for the trophy. Both teams have powerful attacks and well-structured defenses, making the competition even more unpredictable.

At the bottom of the table, Megaladon, ФК Taiga, Tytani FC and ФК КРОТЫ are desperately fighting to avoid relegation. On the other hand, Тобол Курган has already sealed its fate and will compete in the fourth division next season. The tension is high among the teams still battling to avoid the drop, and every point earned could make the difference.

League 3B: Direct Clash for the Title

In League 3B, the excitement is even greater. Sto Twarzy Grzybiarzy. leads with 81 points, followed by Grêmio RS with 78. The highlight here is that both teams will face each other in the 29th round, in a true "six-point game" that will decide the champion. The anticipation for this duel is huge, as both teams have had very consistent campaigns.

Meanwhile, in the fight against relegation, FC Spartan, МЕЧ, The Jokers and NY Red Bulls are trying to survive, but Vinklersi, Команда А and Good have already been confirmed as relegated. The teams still fighting for survival will need to show stamina and resilience in the final rounds to avoid a bitter fate.

League 3C: CARE Virtually Champion

League 3C already has a clear favorite for the title. CARE is on the verge of securing the championship, though Молодежка ФК Прогресс still holds onto faint hopes.CARE's dominant campaign has been a highlight, featuring a solid defense and an efficient attack.

At the bottom of the table, the drama has already been settled: the four teams  FC Legia Warszawa, AKADEMIA ŁUBU DUBU, RODŁO KWIDZYN and TIgers CF have been relegated and will have to fight their way back to the third division next season. The poor performances of these teams throughout the season were decisive in their early relegation.

League 3D: Inter Miami FC Close to the Title

In 3D, Inter Miami FC is securely in the lead, but FS Barcelona still dreams of a comeback and refuses to give up on the title race. With a balanced squad and a history of great matches, FS Barcelona is determined to fight until the end.

In the relegation zone, Zaragozano CF,S. S. LAZIO,Widzew Łódź 1910 and Gold Team are desperately trying to avoid the drop, while TOT SPARTAK and EMS FC are already mathematically relegated. The relegation battle is always one of the most intense aspects of the season, with teams doing everything they can to remain in the division.

Expectations for the Merger

With the server merger approaching, the big question is: where will each team stand after this major change? How will the clubs adapt to the new reality and the increased level of competition?

The merger brings great challenges but also represents an opportunity for teams to showcase their true potential. Will the champions be able to maintain their high level of performance? Will the relegated teams have the strength to bounce back?

The merger will also test the management skills of the clubs, as they will need to adapt to the new conditions. Recruitment strategies, tactics, and squad management will be crucial in this new scenario. The teams that adapt the fastest may gain an edge, while others might struggle and need time to restructure.

With the unification, we may see new rivalries emerge and old clashes become even more intense. Who will stand out? Who will be the biggest surprise in this new era of virtual football?

What do you think will happen after the merger? Leave your opinion in the comments and follow the final rounds!

Wishing everyone a smooth merger, and see you next week!

Author: Fábio Muri

ACHIEVEMENTS OF “CLASSIC” PLAYERS  #9

Dear readers,

it's probably Wednesday, close to noon, so it's the perfect time for the next edition of Sport Journal. On this side, nice and friendly Andrzejek, an acquaintance, colleague and friend to many players of the best football browser game FootballTeam.

The defensive role is extremely important in the context of building a strong team that is willing to fight for the highest goals. Interventions are a statistic that is extremely difficult to achieve at a positive level, even when we play in a top club. In today's article, we will mainly look at the number of successful interventions, but of course we will not forget about goals, assists or trophies. Let's start!

Prezes CC

Our first defender in today's ranking is the clear defensive leader of the former Inet Squad team, and currently the Super League vice-champion team - 7more7. This player has been an active player since the very beginning of the classic server, although his last season in training was not one of the best in my opinion and he is certainly capable of more. 

Training is training, but how does it look in statistics? Let's find out!

League: Interventions(138) 61G/51A in 114 matches
CT/ET: Interventions(27) 17G/7A in 32 matches
LC: Interventions(-)
Friendlies: Interventions(71) 57G/60A in 137 matches

which gives a total of 236 interventions, 135 goals and 118 assists in 283 matches. It is worth noting here that for some time Prezes CC played as a defensive midfielder, but this does not in any way detract from his excellent numbers.

As for the medals, it is natural that with such statistics it could not be otherwise. These include medals for being the best defender in the Super League, third place as the best midfielder in the Super League, awards for the Top Training Week and duels.

As for the club's trophy cabinet, there are so many that listing them does not make any sense, as in the case of the player jestemurban from the previous article.

TOKSYCZNY MATEO

In this type of edition, it would be a sin not to mention a player who is top 1 if we only take defenders into account. Mateo, because that's who we're talking about, is not only the best defender of the Classic server, but also one of the three board members of the best team on the server - Black Stars. Do all these "best" titles translate into statistics? Let's check out this "toxic" player!

League: Interventions(115) 28G/8A in 128 matches
CT/ET: Interventions(24) 6G/2A in 35 matches
LC: Interventions(-)
Friendlies: Interventions(68) 28G/5A in 141 matches

which gives a total of 207 interventions, 62 goals and 15 assists in 304 matches. The number of interventions is admittedly lower than in the case of Prezes CC, but the number of over 200 is still very impressive, and the number of goals and assists for a true defender arouses admiration among rivals. Does TOXIC MATEO have any medals? Absolutely, and these are medals for being the second best defender in the Super League and being the best defender in the English league for the first season. In this player's career, we can also note awards for the Top Training Week.

Just like in the case of the first player I described, listing trophies does not make any sense here, because there are simply too many of them.

Kodziras

This week's left defender Kodziras of the second-league team Unicorn Team II deserves a place in this distinguished group of top defenders. I decided to choose this player because this week he was the only one to compete with Hulk KST for the title of the best player in the Top Training Week. This time, he will probably have to admit the superiority of his rival, but I would like to add a small brick from myself and describe this player. Let's move on to the statistics:

League: Interventions(23) 6G/1A in 37 matches
CT/ET: Interventions(-)
LC: Interventions(9) 1G/0A in 5 matches
Friendlies: Interventions(43) 3G/0A in 41 matches

which gives a total of 75 interventions, 10 goals and one assist in 83 matches. It is worth noting that he is a relatively new player, as he only started playing in the fourth season. At this point, the question arises whether this is a one-time training shot, or perhaps top player material... Time will tell.

As for medals, unfortunately, we will not find any at the moment. The only achievement is the club one and it is the Cup for third place in the second Spanish league.

That's it, thank you for your attention and see you next time!

Author: Andrzejek

REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #5

Hello, this is Kiero DS. Due to the numerous controversial situations involving football referees, I have decided to create a new series, where I will analyze these situations step by step. This series will appear relatively regularly, along with the emerging controversies.

Analysis of the controversy from the Atletico - Real match in the Champions League:

The Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid match in the Champions League provided us with a lot of emotions, but also several controversial situations that caught the attention of fans and experts. Szymon Marciniak, the referee who led the match, made several decisions that sparked discussion in the football community. I will try to analyze these key moments based on the rules of the game and available replays.

Why didn't Szymon Marciniak award a penalty for Simeone's handball?

The first controversy occurred in the 20th minute when Vinicius Junior kicked the ball towards Giuliano Simeone's hand in the penalty area. From the perspective of the rules of the game, this situation was not clear-cut. The rules clearly state that a handball is an offence if a player:

🔹 deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm,

🔹 enlarges the surface area of ​​their body in an unnatural way,

🔹 holds their hand in an unnatural position in relation to their body.

In this case, the key issue was whether Simeone had his hand in an unnatural position and whether the play was deliberate. Replays showed that Simeone's hand was in a relatively natural position in relation to his body and that the contact with the ball was accidental. VAR therefore had no basis to challenge Marciniak's decision that the play did not qualify for a penalty.

Why was Lenglet not shown a red card for the foul on Mbappe?:

The most emotional situation was caused by the 70th minute, when Clement Lenglet fouled Kylian Mbappe in the penalty area, which resulted in a penalty kick for Real. Lenglet used both hands - he put his right hand on Mbappe's chest, clearly hindering his run for the ball, and he touched his opponent lightly with his left, although this contact was marginal.

The foul was obvious, but the question arose as to why Lenglet only saw a yellow card and not a red one. The rules refer to two concepts here:

🔹 SPA (Stopping a Promising Attack) - interrupting a favorable and promising action,

🔹 DOGSO (Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity) - depriving the opponent of an obvious chance to score a goal.

If Lenglet deprived Mbappe of an obvious chance to score a goal, a red card should have been shown. The key question was whether Mbappe actually had a 100 percent chance to score a goal. Replays showed that at the time of the foul the ball was about 1.5 metres in front of Mbappe, and Marcos Llorente was running from the opposite side, who eventually cleared the ball after the whistle.

The referee had to decide whether Llorente would have had time to intervene before Mbappe took the shot. If so, the foul was only SPA, i.e. interrupting a favourable move, which means a yellow card. If not, it would have been DOGSO and a red card would have been due. Marciniak clearly considered that Llorente had a real chance to intervene, which justified showing only a yellow card. VAR had no basis to challenge this decision, as there was no clear evidence that Lenglet had denied Mbappe an obvious chance to score.

Why did Real take five penalties and Atletico only four?

Extra time ended 1-0 to Atletico, so the fate of the promotion was decided by a series of penalties. Real won it 4:2, but the fans pointed out that Real took five penalties, while Atletico only took four.

The decisive goal was Antonio Ruediger, who increased the score to 4:2. Since the difference was two goals, Atletico - even if they had used the fifth penalty - would have had no chance of equalizing. Therefore, the series ended after Atletico's fourth attempt, because the result had already been decided.

Why was Alvarez's goal from the penalty kick not recognized?

The most subtle situation occurred during the penalty shootout, when Julian Alvarez scored a goal, but the referee - after consulting VAR - did not recognize it. The reason? Alvarez made a technical error - a so-called double play.

Alvarez placed his left foot too close to the ball, which meant that after taking the shot, the ball brushed his shoe and only after the second touch did it enter the goal. The rules clearly state that the player taking the penalty kick can only touch the ball once. Another touch with the ball – without the participation of another player – means a foul.

Importantly, the contact was so subtle that it was difficult to see with the naked eye. Only VAR, thanks to frame-by-frame analysis, detected the double contact and informed Marciniak about it. The referee did not even have to go to the monitor, because the case was clear – a double play meant the goal was disallowed.

Summary:

Szymon Marciniak made difficult decisions in this match, but in accordance with the regulations. The lack of a penalty for Simeone's hand was justified, because the hand was not intentional. The yellow card for Lenglet instead of a red card resulted from the assessment that Llorente had a real chance to intervene. The cancellation of Alvarez's goal was, however, unquestionable - a double play is an offence. In the penalty shootout, ending after four Atletico shots was logical, because the result had already been decided.

Marciniak proved why he is one of the best referees in the world - his decisions were difficult, but ultimately in accordance with the letter of the regulations.

Thank you for reading my article! If you like this type of content or have ideas for further topics I should write about, leave your suggestions in the comments. Best regards!

Author: Kiero DS