Your weekly source of information and entertainment, Sports Journal #37 brought to you by our journalists, is here! 📖⚽

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1/ FOOTBALL QUIZ

2/ THE MOST INTERESTING MATCHES OF THE THIRD WEEK OF SEASON 75

3/ BORAT SERIOUSLY TALKS ABOUT COLLECTIONS!  

4/ TOP TEAMS IN THE FIRST LEAGUE TABLES

5/ FINDING NEW TEAMS: UNION POLSKA

6/ WHERE IS REMONTADA?

7/ REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #8

FOOTBALL QUIZ

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

100 Keys 🔑 Premium - Tony Dalton

10,000 ⚡ Energy - OctoBeer & Xus

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'll choose the winners on Thursday at 8 p.m. 

Let's start!

1/ Player name and surname:

Born in 1990 in Ruda Śląska, he is a player who gained recognition in Polish clubs, but failed to achieve great success on the international stage. He began his career in Ruch Chorzów, where his talent was quickly noticed by scouts. After moving to Polonia Warsaw, he gained recognition thanks to his solid play, which allowed him to go to German Hannover 96.

Although he did not win any major trophies, his regular presence in teams, both at club and national team level, emphasized his value. In Poland, he won, among others, the Polish Cup with Polonia Warsaw and the Polish Champion with Lech Poznań. His career was stable, but he never reached the top of European strikers.

2/ Full name of the football club:

A Belgian football club with a long and rich history. It was founded in 1897 and has since won many trophies, including the Belgian Cup three times. It quickly became one of the strongest clubs in the country. In 1898, it joined the Belgian Football Association.

The club experienced its golden age between 1900 and 1930. It won 8 Belgian championship titles and the Belgian Cup twice. During this time, it was known for its strong team and beautiful play.

After World War II, it lost some of its importance. The club continued to be successful, but was no longer as dominant as in the pre-war years. In recent years, it has been reborn. It has returned to the highest Belgian league and has been successful on the domestic stage. In 2024, it won the Belgian Cup, first place in the league in the regular season and second in the final round.

3/ Player Name and Surname:

Born on May 11, 1984 in Fuentealbilla, he is one of the most talented and decorated players in history. His career is a true story of success, passion and dedication to football.

He began his footballing adventure in 1996, joining the FC Barcelona academy - La Masia. It was there that he developed his extraordinary talent, learning from the best. In 2002, he made his debut in the first team of Barcelona, ​​starting an era of dominance of the club on the international stage.

Together with teammates such as Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Samuel Eto'o, he created one of the most dominant teams in the history of football. With Barcelona, ​​he won 9 Spanish league titles, 6 Copa del Rey, 4 Champions League, 3 FIFA Club World Cups and 3 European Super Cups.

He was also a key player for the Spanish national team. With the club, he won the World Cup in 2009 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. His goal in the World Cup final against the Netherlands in 2010 went down in history as one of the most important moments in the history of Spanish football. After 16 years at Barcelona, ​​he decided to leave the club in 2018. He moved to Japanese Vissel Kobe, where he continued his career.

He is a true football legend. His skills, intelligence on the pitch and style of play made him one of the most valued footballers in the world. His career is an example of hard work, dedication and passion that led him to the top.

4/ Full name of the football team:

A Spanish football club from Seville, founded in 1907. Its history is full of ups and downs, and the club can boast many successes, including the Spanish league (1935) and three Copa del Rey (1977, 2005 and 2022).

The club was founded by a group of medical students and military school students. It was initially called Betis Football Club, and its colours are green and white. The name Betis comes from the ancient name for Seville, Hispalis, and Balompié is the Spanish word for "football".

The 1930s were the period of the club's greatest successes. In 1935, the club won its first Spanish league. Today, it is one of the most popular clubs in Spain. The club has a strong fan base and regularly competes for the highest goals. In recent years, it won the Copa del Rey in 2022, defeating Valencia in the final.

Author: Wylewinho

THE MOST INTERESTING MATCHES OF THE THIRD WEEK OF SEASON 75

Hello everyone! This is Kyrunio, today we'll move on to the most interesting matches that took place in the third week of the '75 season! So let's get to the point.

In the previous issue I described the Jokers Gambit vs Public Enemies match, so if you haven't seen it yet, I encourage you to read it.

Today I will describe two matches, one a tournament, the other a cup match. The first one was the clash between Monster FC and Кремень, which took place on Thursday, April 17 at 8:30 p.m. as part of the Champions Tournament. 

Monster FC vs Кремень

The match started very quickly, in the 9th minute Mazotik perfectly crossed the ball into the penalty area with the outside of his foot, and Uki96 converted the pass into a successful goal.

Just 3 minutes later, the guests responded with a shot from the penalty area, Ranger96 passed the defender and passed the ball to Gusar, who converted the pass into an equalizing goal.

In the 15th minute of the match, Adam76 scored a goal that gave the hosts the lead after a free kick from 18 meters.

Just 7 minutes later, the hosts again took action in the rival's half, this time it was Drivery who threw the ball hard into the penalty area, there was Uki96, who was faster than the goalkeeper and directed the ball into the net.

In the 28th minute of the match, DishOfFish crossed into the visitors' penalty area, there was Adam76, who beat the goalkeeper from the closest possible distance. The scoreboard already showed 4:1 for the hosts.

The first half ended with the score of 4:1. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the second half.

In the 58th minute of the match Лоу-Кик в Голову was in the penalty area and passed the ball 15 meters to his teammate Beschutzer, who scored for the visitors.

Just 4 minutes later, after a quick pass by DarkHuntera69, Gusar headed the ball into the net, scoring a goal.

In the 90th minute of the match, Gusar played into the penalty area, the opponents' goalkeeper capitulated! Ян Сатин found himself perfectly in the penalty area and scored a goal that equalized the score of the match!

In the 94th minute of the match, the hosts had the last corner kick of the match. Matt 88 stepped up to take it. Adam76 ran into the penalty area and GOOOOOOOOAAAL! The opposing goalkeeper made a mistake, which allowed the goal scorer to complete a hat-trick!

The match ended in a spectacular way, the final score was 5:4!

The second match I will be focusing on today is the clash between Space Rangers and Born To Drink. It took place on Wednesday, April 16, at 12:45 p.m. as part of the National Cup.

Space Rangers vs Born To Drink

Already in the 12th minute of the match, Гендальф passed the ball to Кайафас Каин in the penalty area, and he converted this pass into an accurate goal.

In the 18th minute of the match, the hosts received a penalty after a missed slide tackle by Marek Pić II. Forrest Gump stepped up to take it and did it brilliantly.

Barely over 10 minutes later,  DRUNKARD and Forrest Gump played an action in the penalty area, after which the latter scored a goal increasing the hosts' goal advantage.

There wasn't much going on until the end of the first half, and in the 45th minute of the match the hosts made a change. Virtuoso Pianist left the pitch, and Quentin Karantino came on in his place.

A moment after the change of halves, Кайафас Каин caused a penalty for the guests, which was effectively converted by Marek Pić II. 

The match continued, with the hosts trying to increase the score and the guests trying to catch up. It was not until the 87th minute of the match that they managed to do so. Quentin Karantino fouled his opponent in his own penalty area, which allowed Marek Pić II to score his second goal from a penalty kick in this match.

The vision of a draw in this match was very real, but the hosts managed to bring the win to the end. The match ended with a score of 3:2.

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

Author: Kyrunio

BORAT SERIOUSLY TALKS ABOUT COLLECTIONS!  

Good day, dear readers of the sports journal!  

Today, I’d like to discuss collections once again. Those foundational ones — the basic collections. Why focus on them? Because, in my opinion, card collections are straightforward: they won’t make you rich, but their practical value is clear. The same goes for special collections — they serve their purpose when needed, like gaining energy or a +200% training boost.  

The potential of basic collections, however, still sparks curiosity!  

Let me clarify upfront: this isn’t about criticism but about constructive feedback to help improve the game. After earlier discussions about previous formats, collections have evolved positively (for example, rewards were streamlined from a broad but less impactful selection to a more focused one, thanks to player feedback).  

Let’s start with their history. In the original format, collections offered fewer rewards, but during events with x3 multipliers, the notifications chat buzzed with excitement as players exchanged collections. This was a beloved feature of the game! During these events, players opened dozens, even hundreds of collections — from North American to club-themed. Top-tier rewards dropped frequently, which added to the thrill, especially with so many exchanges happening. Some players even tracked patterns, trying to predict when rare rewards might appear!  

This format had a strong impact not only on those who were involved in it, but essentially on all players, giving a strong influx of credits into the market. In preparation for the collections, thousands of packs were bought, and in addition, missing items were purchased. The price of some started at 30–40 credits, or even more. There were no gray or blue items for 5 credits, such would be swept away very quickly. And all of this gave the feeling of a living organism.

Later, inspired by the buzz around x3 events, the administration introduced a reworked format. Now, players could earn multipliers up to x25 by adding rare items. While this is still the core of today’s system, the original rewards were more varied, and adjustments have been made to better align costs and benefits.  

Speaking of costs: in the original format, completing collections rewarded players with euros, energy, golden balls, and boosts. Selling boosts could nearly offset costs, making collections a fun challenge. Some players stockpiled resources, while others enjoyed the credit influx from selling items — a win-win!  

I’m not suggesting a full return to the past. The game has grown — euros and energy are easier to earn now (a welcome change!), boosts are more affordable, and golden balls flow generously each season. These improvements show how far we’ve come!  

However, the current multiplier costs often outweigh the rewards, which has cooled enthusiasm for collections. But there’s hope! Team games briefly revived interest, with success crystals letting players target club collections for rewards like 25 Triumph balls or 750 boosts. While this wasn’t a game-changer, it highlighted creative possibilities!  

That said, club collections dominated attention, while others faded. Still, this experiment shows that with tweaks — like rebalancing item costs or refreshing rewards — collections could shine again.  

That’s why I’m sharing this: the current format has room to evolve! Let’s reimagine it to make collections exciting again — something players actively pursue and invest in. Right now, they’re an untapped opportunity, a tab waiting for its moment to thrill us!  

Author: Борат  

TOP TEAMS IN THE FIRST LEAGUE TABLES

Dear Readers!!

I would like to warmly welcome you to the next edition of Sports Journal. The editors' work for Wednesday afternoon falls on the pre-holiday period, while the articles themselves will see the light of day after the holiday gluttony. My name is Andrzejek, and the topic I have prepared for you will partly concern my last one (if you haven't seen it, I recommend you catch up). Let's start!

I remember the times in FootballTeam when there was no SuperLeague yet, and the first leagues consisted of only four different ones, as it looked until recently. The teams that were highest in the ranking (the so-called top) dominated not only the league games, but also the National Cup, very often taking away the joy of less experienced teams' boards, for whom winning the trophy is not something simple and obvious.

Together with the recent changes, we can experience a return to the roots in a sense, but not entirely. The administration has decided to return the top teams to the first leagues. In doing so, they have decided to increase the number of countries where matches will be played. The difference in all this is that the SuperLeague will continue to function and that we will not see the top teams in the National Cup.

The season started relatively recently, but in this article we will also look at the situation. How being among the SuperLeague teams translates into the position in the first league tables.

It is an obvious fact that teams such as Black Stars or 7more7 will completely dominate their leagues and in my opinion this is a very big minus - and I say this from the perspective of a top player of a top team. Such a lack of any competition actually takes away the desire and, above all, the chance of competing for the best trophy of the league from the theoretically weaker teams.

After the two best teams, which are very well known to all players of the classic server, it is time for another team, namely Valiance Crew. Using the example of the guys from Valiance Crew, we can also observe dominance this time in the Italian league, where they are calmly doubling the rival from second place.

Drużyna Bez Dopingu is a fresh team debuting in the SuperLeague, but they are off to a very good start, because as of the day of writing this article they have not suffered a single defeat and are in second place in the table. When it comes to their performances in the first league, it is difficult to predict how they will fare in the long term. In the Turkish league, where they play their matches, they will face Rayo eSports, a team known to some of you from the EU server. Rayo eSports has been successful on the EU server many times, winning the first league, the National Cup and the European Tournament.

Huragan Młyny could delight our hearts with their great form on the FootballTeam pitches last season. Their intensive training had a positive impact on the team's fate, as evidenced by the fourth place in the SuperLeague and the fight with Karpaty Krosno in the German league for first place.

The honest and popular Izba Wytrzeźwień actually brushed against the SuperLeague, but it's great to see the team of the FootballTeam mascot - the Byk z Pampeluny at the highest level of the game. It's definitely a huge positive for them that they can compete with teams from the first league, often teams at their own level, as evidenced by the competition with KKS Lech Poznań or Redburn in the Russian league. Will the Byk’s team take home first place?

Unexpectedly, Cosa Nostra was unable to maintain their project and thus they fell apart. If you know anything more on this topic, I'm waiting for you in private messages and/or comments, and maybe it will turn out to be good material for a newspaper.

The last place in the SuperLeague table and the last thread in today's article belongs to Harmandalı. This is a relatively new project, which may in the future determine the strength of the SuperLeague from third, second or maybe even first place. This team will have to compete in the French league, where they will fight, among others, with a team well-known to the FootballTeam community - LIONHEART.

So as you can easily see from the changes and the inclusion of teams from the SuperLeague in the first league games on the classic server, there are teams that, in my opinion, completely ruin any competition, but for example,Izba Wytrzeźwień can enjoy playing FootballTeam to a greater extent thanks to such changes!

Author: Andrzejek

FINDING NEW TEAMS: UNION POLSKA

Hello, welcome to issue #37 of the Football Team Game Journal. This article is dedicated to a new team in the game after eight leagues: UNION POLSKA https://classic.footballteamgame.com/teams/1268, founded on December 2, 2024, by a group of twelve football fans, summoned by various industries to form a national football team. 

Having started in the 3B league of GERMANY, they had been in the middle of the table until their good signings began. Thanks to their successful signings in season 3, they have achieved their SECOND place. Then, in season 4, they have managed to be runners-up again with 26 wins, 1 draw, and three losses, with 162 goals scored, 39 goals conceded, 121 assists, 82 interventions, all in 30 league games, resulting in promotion to the 1st division of said league. 

Its owner is Sheraldinhoo, and his assistant #1 Petr Schwarz and assistant #2 Brahim Diaz

They already have 20 out of 20 players, with an OVR of 786. Their main players include: forward Brahim Diaz (1608 OVR) and MI Petr Schwarz (1065 OVR), among many others. 

UNION POLSKA won two runner-up cups. Currently, after the changes made to the game, they are in the French First Division. At the time of writing, they are in first place in that league and won the first leg of the round of 16 of the French National Cup, giving them a good chance of advancing. I'm sure it won't be long before they turn things around and become one of the best teams in the league they play in, and they could fight for the top spots in one of them. They are training hard, as they are currently ranked 51st in the overall team rankings.

This is their starting eleven, using the creative 4-3-3 tactic:

This is just the beginning of this new team... UNION POLSKA... What will their goals be? Will they aim to win the famous treble? Time will tell why they were formed. See you next edition.

Author: BUFALO FUNES (ID 1183)

WHERE IS REMONTADA?

Hello everyone. I think many FT players follow the Champions League, which this season (and perhaps thanks to the new format) has turned out to be very intriguing and unpredictable. In this article, I want to talk about the second-leg match between Real Madrid and Arsenal. There was a lot of hype around this game, with claims about a possible remontada by Real Madrid, but it didn’t happen, and Arsenal deservedly advanced to the Champions League semifinals. For those who may wonder what remontada is, it means "comeback" or "turnaround" in Spanish. The word has been used a handful of times to describe comebacks in soccer by Spanish teams, especially when the turnarounds were dramatic ones. Here, I’ll share my emotions and thoughts after the first half and at the end of the match.  

After the First Half  

Before the game, I (of course mentally) asked the players for just one thing: passion, intensity, and the desire to destroy everything in their path for 90 or even 120 minutes. I saw none of that in these 45 minutes. Zero shots on target — how did we even plan to score? If Ancelotti still has any hope, substitutions need to happen right at halftime. Fran and Ceballos, for sure, because Vázquez and Alaba on the flanks aren’t just unserious — they’re a joke. And the Austrian (Alaba) is already on a yellow. Who are we crossing to? The ghosts of Joselu and Ronaldo? Maybe we should’ve at least subbed off Rodrygo, Mbappé, or Vinícius to push Bellingham closer to attack and let him attack with those crosses? There are options, but with this performance, there’s no remontada here — just shame. They were asked to show some dignity. They failed even at that. One half left… Do something! Score a goal first, maybe Arsenal will crumble… But so far, even their rare attacks are way more dangerous than ours! Courtois is carrying us, doing everything, while the rest…  

After the Match  

I wouldn’t have said a word if they’d fought, pressed, taken long shots, or suffocated Arsenal. But no. Unfortunately, there was none of that. Just a pathetic performance by pathetic players and a pathetic coach (speaking about this season). This is shameful and embarrassing. After all the talk about a *remontada* and grand statements… The shame isn’t about others mocking us — it’s about the club stooping to this level while delivering such a pitiful, unwatchable game. Look at Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund — they were in worse positions but fought for 90 minutes, imposed their game. And us? Disgusting…  

I think this game was even easier for Arsenal than the first leg, and that says it all. Let’s not kid ourselves: Vinícius was awful, as were Mbappé and Rodrygo. And Vinícius’ goal? All credit to Saliba — Vinícius, as usual, was one of the worst. But the main culprit is Ancelotti. A “brilliant” starting XI, a “brilliant” game plan. Vázquez and Alaba in defense, the “B.M.V.R.” (Bellingham, Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo) starting, none of whom press (except Jude). And crosses to the “midget” Rodrygo and later Endrick — the pinnacle of a season full of disappointments and unfulfilled hopes.  

Thank you to the players, thank you Ancelotti, and thank you the “best club president” for letting Kroos go, for not buying a right-back in the winter, and for choosing Endrick over Joselu. Let’s not forget his contributions. Today, I’m ashamed of the team — not because of the loss, but because of all the empty talk about comebacks and remontada…  

Logic triumphed over nonexistent magic (players out of form). For comebacks to happen, you need two things: peak player form and a tactical plan — we’ve had neither all season.  

Honestly, this elimination isn’t even that painful. With this level of play, we don’t deserve to go further. I hope this serves as a wake-up call. With this squad and a competent coach, we could dominate for years.  

Ancelotti’s story was cool, but the team needs something new. Changes.  

Автор: Zidane

REFEREE CONTROVERSIES THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MANAGER #8

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.

"Stamp" under the microscope - analysis of two incidents from the Korona Kielce - Radomiak Radom match:

During every football match, there are many clashes and physical fights, in which the line between permitted play and an offense is often very thin. One of the most controversial and at the same time frequently occurring moves is the so-called "stamp" - a situation in which a player steps on the opponent's foot. In the last match of the 26th round of the PKO BP Ekstraklasa between Korona Kielce and Radomiak Radom, we had two such situations. I decided to take a closer look at them – both in terms of the regulations and the refereeing assessment itself.

What do the "Laws of the Game" say?

Let's start with the basics. Article 12 of the "Laws of the Game" does not distinguish "stamping" as a separate type of foul. However, it is treated equally with other foot attacks on an opponent and – depending on the circumstances – it can be classified as:

• careless (punished only with a free kick or penalty),
• reckless (additionally punished with a warning, i.e. a yellow card),
• serious, flagrant foul (punished with a sending-off – red card).
  
  

This means that the mere fact of "stepping" on an opponent's foot does not automatically mean that we are dealing with an offence qualifying for an individual penalty. Each situation of this type must be assessed taking into account specific criteria that have been adopted by both UEFA and the PZPN Referees' Board.

Criteria for assessing a “stamp”:

The assessment of this type of offence in the VAR era must be meticulous and almost mathematical. The referee takes into account, among other things:

• the dynamics and intensity of the attack – this is a key factor;
• the part of the foot that the attack was made with – whether it was a full strike with the studs, the heel, or perhaps just a touch with a part of the foot;
• the force and manner of contact – whether the body weight was transferred to the opponent's foot, or whether the contact was fleeting;
• the area of ​​contact – whether the entire foot (e.g. the instep) was attacked, or only a part of it;
• the behaviour of the foot after contact – whether the foot “anchored” on the opponent's leg, or only slid over it.

In recent years, UEFA and, following their example, Polish referees have introduced an additional division of the “stamp” into:

• “classic”/“full” stamp, where the contact is strong and dangerous;
• “partial”/“marginal” stamp, where the contact is limited and less dangerous.
  
  

This is a significant difference that directly affects the final classification of a given offence.

Analysis of the situation from the Korona - Radomiak match:

41st minute - Radomiak player no. 6 stamps Korona player no. 17:

In this situation, the Radomiak player attacks the Korona player with the middle part of his foot, the side and toes. The dynamics of the action were quite high, but it is worth noting that the player's foot did not stop on the opponent, but slid and ended the movement on the pitch.

Analysing this situation through the prism of the previously mentioned criteria, I assess this play as "borderline careless to reckless" - i.e. on the verge of carelessness and imprudence. The decision of the referee, who whistled a foul but did not show a card, is fully understandable and in line with the line he maintained in this match. Such situations can be controversial, but the most important thing is that there was consistency in the decisions made.

52nd minute – contact of the heel of a Radomiak player no. 27 with a Korona player no. 27:

Here the situation was slightly different – ​​the attacking player first hits the ball, and then his heel slides down the opponent's toes and ends the movement on the turf. The contact was clearly fleeting, without pressure and without shifting the body weight.

In my opinion – according to the regulations – we are dealing with a classic example of a careless foul. The referee rightly decided to whistle a foul without reaching for the card. This is an accurate decision, resulting from a good interpretation of the situation.

Summary:

“Stamps” are one of the most common and at the same time the most difficult to assess fouls in football. They require very precise analysis and understanding of the intentions and effects of the players' actions. Not every such situation is immediately “booked”. The regulations give the referee room for interpretation, and the key is to assess the dynamics, contact and consequences of the attack.

In the discussed match, the referee's decisions were in accordance with the regulations and modern refereeing philosophy. I am glad that the decisions made were consistent and well-argued, because only this can build trust in the work of referees in the eyes of fans and players.

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

Author: Kiero DS