Montcrabe national football team
4
The Montcrabe national football team (Crabin: Monscrabel Dis Equipe) represents Montcrabe in international men's football matches. The team is governed by the Montcrabe Football Federation (MBF; Monscrabel Balompie Federacione), the governing body of football in Montcrabe. It is a member of the CONFUSUR (including the Copa Sur) and the Terraconservan Cup in international competitions. The team is colloquially known as Les Pinces (the Pincers) or Les Dis (the Bicolor), as their founding color scheme was partly inspired by Crabliga A clubs Sinatre and Real Parante, two of the country's main football teams.
Founded in 1900, the team is one of five to win the Terraconservan Cup, winning their first and only current title in 1936 Karimun. Other trophies include two winning runs at the Copa Sur, and runner-up appearances in the Terraconservan Cup (once) and the Copa Sur (six times). Surprisingly, Montcrabe have been named champions of Ostlandet twice, winning the OFL Continental Cup as foreign invitees in 1991 and 2023. Montcrabe's domestic league and elite footballing academies are regarded as some of the best in the world, especially in the production of top-league strikers and attackers. Many regard the country as one of the best attacking teams in international football, though often lacking in the production of defenders (many of theirs often nationalized players developed elsewhere). Notably, the Montcrabe national football team has appeared in every single edition of the Terraconservan Cup, having never failed to qualify to the competition.
For three decades, between the years 1950-1978, Montcrabe's national football team was considered the undisputed best in the world. Under the captaincy of Maxence Colbert, their two wins and second-place finish in the Terraconservan Cup, and four wins in the Copa Sur, took place during this era. Followed by a long period of disappointing decency, the saying "Proxime d'seistant" (Almost the sixties) became popular among fans whenever the team played well, as half-sarcastic words of praise.
The team's official home stadium is the Stade Zinedine Monscrabel, shared with Montcrabin club Real Parante Balompié, and they train at the Crabontaine Academe. The national team's kits have been sponsored and manufactured by luxury fashion brand Crappa since 1972, some more notable partnerships including sports company Cradidas and government-owned broadcasting network MUDN.
Montcrabe has historic footballing rivalries with Creeperopolis, Salisford and Tirol. The team's most capped player is goalkeeper and current captain Francois Ochoa, Antoine Batistuta as its historic top scorer with 71 national team goals throughout his career. Wayne Sainz is the highest active goal scorer for the team, with 57 goals.
Contents
History
Early years (1900–1930s)
Despite its ripe age as a sport, football's growing popularity in the country, and calls for the officialization of a professional league to be made, prompted the creation of the Principati Balompie Competicion (Prince's Football Competition) in 1897. Hefty funding from the government led to the founding of the prestigious Crabontaine Academe two years later, with Montcrabe's first recognized national team made up of the graduating class of the academy in 1900. Montcrabe's first game as a national team was played against Salisford a few months later in the Montcrabe Cite Stade, ending in a 2-0 victory for the Pincers. The team's extremely young age, and a lack of international competitiveness or games at the time, albeit, shifted the spotlight from the national project to the Prince's Football Competition (renamed the Crabliga A in the 60s) for a few years.
The foundation of TUFA in Montcrabe, circa 1905, brought much-needed attention back to the national team and its growing identity, especially with the announcement of the 1928 Terraconservan Cup to be held in Montcrabe City. Montcrabe's inaugural 2-0 victory against El Salvador saw them become the first team to score in a Terraconservan Cup, and the first team to keep a clean sheet in the same. The team's 7-0 thrashing of Atlántida in their second match broke the record for biggest win margin in the competition. The Pincers, albeit, would come to be elimiated in the Quarterfinals against Tumland, a trend that would continue in the 1932 Terraconservan Cup after their quarterfinal loss to Creeperopolis. Notably, despite their loss, the team's return to Montcrabe was celebrated by a crowd of over 4,000 supporters. During this same period, in 1926 and 1930, Montcrabe came out runner-ups of the CONFUSUR-held Copa Sur - having made their initial competiton debut in 1922. Hopes were high for the upcoming 1936 Terraconservan Cup to be held in Karimun, given the addition of a young Artale Ġelardu, from the Crabontaine Academe, and the nation's first Copa Sur win in 1934 thanks to his very performances.
Following an initial shock lost against Quebecshire in the group stages, Montcrabe actually came to top their group to face Castilliano in the quarterfinals. A 1-0 win in the quarterfinals, and a victory in the semis by the same scoreline against Paleocacher pitted Montcrabe as heavy favorites in the final against Rakhman. A single goal in minute 68 by tournament hero, Ġelardu, was enough for the Pincers to win their first Terraconservan Cup title in Karimun.
1950s–1980s
The domestic league's exponential success, paired with the talent produced by the Crabontaine, gave the national team a much needed boost in possible selection quality, experience, and strategy. Participating in far more friendlies, international competitions, and receiving the infrastructure needed to thrive, Montcrabe shifted into the status of a football powerhouse in Sur and the Romanyan sea - competing with the likes of Creeperopolis' La'Dinastía. The national team won their first important international title when hosting the 1950 Copa Sur, beating continental invitees Tirol to the trophy. The victory would come to represent a turning point in Montcrabin football history. Bar the so-called Black Generation of 1938, Montcrabe had produced its most prolific national selection team through the 50s, and into the late 70s, as captained by Maxence Colbert for twenty years. Their first Surian Cup title was followed six years later by a historic, and first win in the Terraconservan Cup in 1956, ending as runner-ups in the following 1960. This same period, Montcrabe's national team also won an additional 3 Copa Sur in 1958, 1962, and 1966. Colbert's side wrapped up their prime years with another star to their team's badge, lifting the country's second Terraconservan Cup at home in 1968 after beating Creeperopolis 2-0 in the Montcrabe Cite Stade.
The seventies, despite the team still being considered the undisputed best in the world, saw itself threatened by an aging squad. Matters were not particularly helped by three consecutive losses in Copa Sur finals, ending as runner-ups in 1970, 1974, and 1978 (two of those losses at home). The saying "Proxime d'seistant" (Almost the sixties) became popular among fans whenever the team played well, as half-sarcastic words of praise, given their disappointing and trophyless decency following the sixties. Nonetheless, the decade still served a pivotal point in developing Montcrabin infrastructure to match the rate at which its talent was growing. A particularly controversial project, in the form of the so called Principati's Talents, was born during this period under Real Parante.
1980s–present
With the end of Montcrabe's golden generation, roughly in the 1980s, the team entered a period of relative stability - though little major trophies to match it. Including third place Copa Sur finishes in 1982, 1986, and 1994. In 1991, albeit, the national team was invited to participate in the 1991 OFL Continental Cup as a foreign invitee. Beating Monsilva 3-1 in the final, Montcrabe became champions of Ostlandet as a Surian country. That would not be their last time lifting the OFL Cup, albeit, as their recent invite to the 2023 edition saw them shatter records and win the whole tournament once again with 25 goals in 6 games. Because of the shocking two wins in their two tournament invites, Montcrabe was banned from participating in OFL competitions following the final against Uulgadzar.
Stadium
Montcrabe had originally held their games at the historic Montcrabe Cite Stade, sharing it with Reguecos, ever since the first Terraconservan Cup in 1928. Following Real Parante's recognition as a crown-endorsed club, and the subsequent construction of the Stade Zinedine Monscrabel (then named the Monscrabel Stadju Nazzjonali, or Montcrabe National Stadium) in 1968, the national team's games were officially set to be held in the new facilities by means of royal decree.
The Stade Zinedine Monscrabel, also commonly known as "Nid des Pinces" (Pincer's Nest), is the second largest stadium in Montcrabe, and the primary stadium of the Montcrabe national football team and Real Parante of the Crabliga A. Having finished construction in 2015, the stadium has a capacity of over 89,000, making it the third largest football-specific stadium in the world. The Zinedine Monscrabel is also recognized as the most expensive football venue in the world. The stadium hosted the Copa Sur final in 2018.
Friendly matches hosted by the Montcrabe national team often take place in different stadiums across the country, including the Zinedine Monscrabel, Montcrabe Cite Stade, and the Nacionale Stade.
Team Image
Kit
Montcrabe traditionally utilizes a bicolor system, composed of Crabin crimson shirt and shorts with dark blue or even white accents. The color scheme originates from Crabliga A clubs Sinatre and Real Parante, two of the country's main football teams. Prior to 1970, the country often used either bright red or white shirts, paired with black shorts, as their home kit.
Since 2006, the national team's kits have been manufactured by Kappa.
          Home
|
     Away
|
     Alternate
|
| Period | Kit manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 1980–1991 |  Cradidas
|
| 1991–2006 |  Ciamorza
|
| 2006–present | Kappa
|
Style of play
Montcrabe has historically played a style of football called the Montepress, a very aggressive and attacking way of playing, often relying on the team’s ability to react and move quicker than the opposition.
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The Montepress has been described as a strategy used to disrupt the opposition as soon as possession is lost. It involves aggressively pressing the ball and the opponents near to the ball with several players, rather than falling back to regroup. The aim is to win possession back as quickly as possible, before the opposition can settle on the ball, to break into a counter-attack. The style is widely supported and touted by fans as an interactive and entertaining form of football, especially when combined with the signature flair exhibited by the Montcrabe national team. Nonetheless, it has also been criticized for how open it often leaves defenders whenever the pressing fails.
Watching Montcrabe attack is like watching a hot knife cut through butter. Watching it defend feels like that same knife got stabbed into their defenders.
— Alvaro Morales of Balompié Picante on the disparity between Montcrabe's attack and defense.
The country's attacking style of football has been adopted by many football teams, most notably Real Parante, CF Adolfosburg, CP Federazion, and even the Tirol national team. Though, given its need for attacking talent, pace, and stamina, it is often a very hard system to successfully implement.
Nicknames
Montcrabe's national team is commonly known by fans as "Les Pinces", meaning The Pincers in Crabin, in reference to their attack-focused and dangerous style of play.
Another common nickname known by fans is "Les Dis", abbreviation of the Crabin word "Les Discoleur", or "The Bicolor", making reference to the team's historic main kit colors of Crabin crimson and blue. This nickname is often used in a more formal or unbiased manner over that of the Pincers, often by commentators or media.
Supporters
Montcrabe national team supporters are infamous for their often extreme, patriotic, and disruptive behavior during international matches. Ranging from throwing things on the pitch, to a variety of offensive chants. Controversially, the MBF has never sanctioned its fans, and has even defended them through many events and criticism.
Controversial chants
The most notable offensive chant used by Montcrabin supporters is the "eeeh putain!", which is typically screamed when an opponent is about to kick a penalty, or a goalkeeper a goalkick. Due to the homophobic meaning of the word putain in Crabin (a vulgar term for a male prostitute), the tradition received widespread negative attention in media and international circles. The chant is thought to have been originated in the Crabliga A by supporters of club Sinatre.
A somewhat less vulgar, though nonetheless controversial, tradition is that of the Crabnan, a celebration involving supporters standing with their backs to the pitch, linking shoulders side-by-side and jumping on the spot in unison. The disputed part, albeit, is the often-used chant that goes with, "el qui ne saute es un wilo Ecrosien", roughly translating to "whoever doesn't jump is a slutty Ecrosian". Montcrabin supporters often replace the latter word with that of their current opponent, commonly leading to heated clashes with rival supporters. The chant and celebration originated from supporters of Real Parante, and was later adopted by national ultras.
Media coverage
All of Montcrabe's international matches are shown live on network MUDN and broadcast around the world, including friendles and appearances in both Copa Sur and the Terraconservan Cup.
Rivalries
Creeperopolis
Widely considered two of the biggest teams in CONFUSUR, matches between Montcrabe and Creeperopolis often attract widespread media attention, labeled a challenge for Surian football dominance. Nonetheless, the rivalry itself is not often very heated, and supporters of the two countries are known to have a good relationship with one another. Montcrabe is tied with Creeperopolis in total previous encounters, at 4–2–4.
Salisford
Salisford is seen by many Montcrabins as the nation's most hated, though not primary, rival. Given the shared history between the two countries, the rivalry often extends beyond football and leaks onto various political affairs. Montcrabe narrowly leads the all-time series, with a record of 6–0–5.
Tirol
Tirol is seen by some as a major Montcrabin rivalry, given the competitiveness of the two countries and the anti-Ecrosian feeling shared by many in Montcrabe. The rivalry with Tirol is highly abnormal by the fact that it is intercontinental, with Tirol being a part of LFE and Montcrabe a founding member of CONFUSUR. The rivalry is more keenly felt by Montcrabin football fans than Tirolers. In fact, a number of Tirol supporters do not consider Montcrabe rivals at all. The historic match record puts Montcrabe slightly below the Ecrosian team at 5-2-6.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
2023
| 23 March 2023 Friendly | Kivu  | 1–2 | Montcrabe | Buchthafen, Kivu |
| 19:00 | Lange  89' (pen.) |
Lahaye 7' Bencrabe 58' |
Stadium: Küsten Park Attendance: 58,443 |
| 28 March 2023 Friendly | Montcrabe | 3–1 |  Uulgadzar | Montcrabe City, Montcrabe |
| 20:00 | Sainz 12' (pen.) Beriloz 79' |
Reus 12' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Zinedine Monscrabel Stadium Attendance: 85,379 |
| 28 June 2023 OFL Continental Cup GS | Rakhman  | 0–5 | Montcrabe | Amking, Monsilva |
| 10:00 | Sainz 7' (30), 71' Bencrabe 19'Emiren 57' |
Stadium: Amking City Stadium Attendance: 58,443 |
| 29 June 2023 OFL Continental Cup GS | Montcrabe | 2–1 |  Syntsi | Amking, Monsilva |
| 10:00 | Bencrabe 64' Antonio 70' |
52' |
Stadium: Amking City Stadium Attendance: 64,223 |
| 30 June 2023 OFL Continental Cup GS | Rakhman  | 0–7 | Montcrabe | Amking, Monsilva |
| 10:00 | Aliker 2' Bencrabe 13'Sainz 39', 50'Reus 52'Lahaye 67', 81' |
Stadium: Amking City Stadium Attendance: 66,931 |
| 2 July 2023 OFL Continental Cup QF | Montcrabe | 7–2 |  New Gandor | Amking, Monsilva |
| 16:00 | Sainz 4', 57' Bencrabe 8'Aliker 24'Emiren 48' 68' (o.g.)Lahaye 81' |
16' 77' |
Stadium: Amking City Stadium Attendance: 68,634 |
| 4 July 2023 OFL Continental Cup SF | Paleocacher  | 2–3 | Montcrabe | Luhai, Monsilva |
| 16:00 | 17' 53' |
Emiren 8' Bencrabe 71'Sainz 89' |
Stadium: Luhai National Football Stadium Attendance: 82,559 |
| 6 July 2023 OFL Continental Cup Final | Uulgadzar | 0–1 | Montcrabe | Luhai, Monsilva |
| 16:00 | Sainz 32' (pen.) |
Stadium: Luhai National Football Stadium Attendance: 83,114 |
Coaching staff
Current technical staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Ludwig Croque
|
| Assistant coach |  Mao Chang-pu
|
| Fitness coach |  Johan Leanson
|
| Goalkeeping coach | Thomas Klose
|
| Team doctor | Aleksei Benchenko
|
| National team director | Olivier Vinċenz
|
Players
Current squad
The following 23 players were called up to the final squad for the 2023 OFL Continental Cup in Monsilva.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Francois Ochoa | 11 August 1984 | 148 | 1 | Real Parante
|
| 15 | GK | Louis Llorise | 26 December 1986 | 32 | 0 | Inter Montena
|
| 23 | GK | Carle Acevedo | 24 November 2001 | 6 | 0 | Real Parante
|
| 2 | DF | Ġulinu Arauje | 30 September 2001 | 10 | 0 | To be confirmed
|
| 3 | DF | Ċisju Monte | 6 March 1997 | 38 | 1 |  CF San Romero
|
| 5 | DF | BLANK | 24 October 1997 | 68 | 3 | To be confirmed
|
| 6 | DF | Marque Reus (captain) | 14 July 1989 | 48 | 4 | Inter Montena
|
| 8 | DF | BLANK | 24 June 1992 | 85 | 14 | To be confirmed
|
| 12 | DF | BLANK | 11 July 1996 | 6 | 0 | To be confirmed
|
| 13 | DF | BLANK | 24 February 1987 | 14 | 0 | To be confirmed
|
| 16 | DF | BLANK | 16 March 1998 | 3 | 0 | To be confirmed
|
| 4 | MF | Emandu Alba | 24 October 1997 | 68 | 3 | CF San Salvador
|
| 10 | MF | Enzo Aliker | 3 December 2000 | 26 | 1 | Inter Montena
|
| 17 | MF | BLANK | 2 January 1988 | 84 | 1 | To be confirmed
|
| 18 | MF | BLANK | 29 December 1994 | 22 | 6 | To be confirmed
|
| 19 | MF | BLANK | 7 February 1994 | 28 | 5 | To be confirmed
|
| 21 | MF | BLANK | 1 August 1999 | 14 | 4 | To be confirmed
|
| 7 | FW | Maxime Lahaye | 7 January 2005 | 8 | 4 | Inter Montena
|
| 9 | FW | Wayne Sainz | 24 November 1998 | 53 | 37 | Real Parante
|
| 11 | FW | Didier Emiren | 12 June 2000 | 23 | 11 | Real Parante
|
| 14 | FW | Ċikku Lozane | 27 August 1994 | 33 | 9 | To be confirmed
|
| 20 | FW | Karim Bencrabe | 11 December 1987 | 97 | 37 | Real Parante
|
| 22 | FW | Bizzju Corone | 17 January 1993 | 61 | 19 | CF Chalatenango
|
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up to the Montcrabe squad in the last 24 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Alfredu Vega | 3 March 1998 | 4 | 0 | CF Denshire
|
v.  Reykanes, 5 July 2021
|
| DF | Kostantinu Saverina | 3 April 1985 | 9 | 2 | CF Santa Ana
|
v. Reykanes, 5 July 2021
|
| DF | Fredu Peralte | 15 September 2002 | 4 | 1 | CF Cámarillo
|
v. Reykanes, 5 July 2021 INJ
|
| MF | Mikelanġ Madorga | 3 April 1985 | 21 | 3 | Atletico Costea
|
v. Reykanes, 5 July 2021
|
| MF | Frenċ Jalisc | 4 January 1995 | 2 | 1 | CF San Pedro
|
v. Reykanes, 5 July 2021
|
| FW | Dolfu Grimalde | 13 January 2004 | 1 | 1 | A.C. Moinsel
|
2020 Terraconservan Cup |
| ||||||
Competitive record
Terraconservan Cup
| Terraconservan Cup record | Terraconservan Cup qualification record | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Place | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
 1928
|
Quarterfinals | 7th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 4 | No qualification | ||||||||
 1932
|
Quarterfinals | 8th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 | No qualification | ||||||||
| 1936
|
Champions | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 10 | |
| 1940
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | Qualified automatically as defending champions | ||||||||
| 1944
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1948
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1952
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1956
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1960
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1964
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1968
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1972
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1976
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1980
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1984
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1992
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 1996
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2000
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2004
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2008
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2012
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2016
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2020
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
| 2024
|
To be determined... | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | To be determined... | ||||||||
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Notes
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Population: 106,300,000 · Capital: Montcrabe City · Language: Gaúcho | |||||||||
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