News

No More Wonderteam

OGLETHORPIA (BT) -- The immense Parliament Superstructure cast its shadow over the historical Megalopolis Plaza -- a longstanding brobdingnagian symbol of bureaucratic democracy in the Bureaucratic States. Following the retirements of the original Wonderteam players (World Cups 9-13) the 900 Parliament members in the Superstructure debated the merits of retiring the World Cup 10-era moniker coined by the Oglethorpian Association of Futebol/Football (OAF/OAFF) used by the Oglethorpian squad in World Cups 10-13 in homage to their days representing Oglethorpia across five World Cups.

The issue at hand was a simple one -- would Parliament want the Oglethorpian national squad to forge on ahead under the name of the Wonderteam even with all of the original members of the first Wonderteam gone? Or would it retire the national squad's nickname used in World Cups 10, 11, 12 and 13 as tribute to the efforts of that original squad representing the nation and it's love for the game?

Clearly, the latter was the logical choice -- so logical that Parliament voted unanimously that the Wonderteam moniker used in World Cups 10-13 would be retired in tribute to the original World Cup 9-13 national squad. It was a significant event in Oglethorpian football -- signaling the end of the golden age of Wonderteam football, and the beginning of a new one with a new generation of footballers representing Oglethorpia in World Cup 14. The Wonderteam was no more.

The Wonderteam had it's roots in World Cup 9 -- when the chief Oglethorpian footballing entity at the time, the Association of Futebol/Football (OAF) decided that it's national squad deserved a nickname. Based on ancient history that claimed the Austrian national side was nicknamed "the Wonderteam," the Association of Futebol/Football declared that Guy Picciotto's second World Cup sqaud would take to the field as "the Superteam."

In World Cup 10 the Association of Futebol/Football got their facts straight -- and the Superteam became the Wonderteam, qualifying for every World Cup starting with 10 up to World Cup 13. World Cup 10's Wonderteam sported the most electrifying offense of the entire World Cup; led by Torrence Black and Jorge White, the Wonderteam offense scored an average of two goals for every one of their matches, 45 goals across 21 games. As the young Torrence Black used to say, "I kicked ass."

The Wonderteam continued their top-notch preformance through World Cup 11, once again qualifying for the Cup -- but this time the star of the team was talented Megalopolis City F.C. goalkeeper Ken'Ichi Yamamoto, who only let by five goals across 17 matches.

By now the Wonderteam's playing in World Cup 12 and 13 was considered par by the standards of fans back home, used to their playing tactics that proved so sucessful. Dick Egoson of Polyesterhampton F.C. tried to shake things up in World Cup 13 with an offense-oriented approach, but ultimately it proved no more successful than the standard 4-4-2 and 3-4-3 formations of the past -- and Egoson took it to heart, quitting the head job of coaching the Wonderteam on national television. Temporary manager Frank Face of Neverton F.C. would be the last coach of the Wonderteam following the retirement of the Oglethorpian national squad's nickname.

"I'm truly honored," said Torrence Black, after hearing news that Parliament had indeed unanimously rested the Wonderteam-name his World Cup squad used during his international footballing career. "That's a great tribute, to say that our World Cup squad in Cups 10 through 13 was so good that it would be the only Wonderteam in Oglethorpian international football history."

"I think that's absolutely fantastic," added Guy Picciotto, who managed the Oglethorpian national side in World Cup 8 all the way up to his last Cup, World Cup 12. "For Parliament to recognize that World Cup 9 through 13 squad like that -- that's the highest respect you could give them. That the national team is not the Wonderteam -- but that squad that played in World Cup 9 through World Cup 13 is the Wonderteam."

Former midfielder Floyd Black was completely taken aback by the move made by Parliament. "I could name off the stars of that team -- I was definitely not one of them, but i'm as glad as anyone to be recognized like that."

"I'm all for it," stated one die-hard Oglethorpian fan. "They were the Wonderteam -- I don't think the fans would have it any other way. It wouldn't be right for these new kids to have to defend that name, or play under the shadow of what that team did in World Cup 10 through World Cup 13. Like they said, man -- one era ended. The Wonderteam era is over, and we'll begin anew."

While opinions may differ on exactly how good the Wonderteam really was, almost all Oglethorpian fans feel it is the right thing to do.

"It represents that era in our footballing history -- i'm sure we can all agree on that," commented one fan, waiting in line to buy tickets for Oglethorpia's upcoming matches in the first round. "It doesn't matter how good they were -- those guys were cherished by the country, and whatever skill -- I am completely for retiring the name in honor of them."