Here is a list of five smallest countries that have the best national players in FM 2014. This could be a great Football Manager challenge for anyone who's starting national management.
Have you ever had a thought of taking a country and making history with it in FM 2014? How about one of these?
Okay, let’s look at what small countries are most interesting to manage in Football Manager 2014. To make it on our list, they have to be small in population but great in players.
5. Holland - Population 16.88M
Fifth on our list is Holland. Their national team is full of great players, such as; Arjen Robben (Bayern), Robin van Persie (Man Utd), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Rafael van der Vaart from (HSV) etc. With such players at their disposal, they are a force to be reckoned with in world football.
They have never won World Cup in their history but reached the finals on three occasions in 1974, 1978 and 2010. Their biggest achievement was winning the European Championship in 1988.
4. Belgium - Population 10.43M
On our fourth place is Holland’s fierce rival, Belgium. Not as near as successful as their Dutch neighbours, only managing to finish as a runner up on European Championship in 1980.
They had their share of talented players throughout the years, but their current crop is dubbed as a Belgium Golden Generation.
Likes of; Vincent Kompany (City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Marouane Fellaini (Man UTD) and other top players are surely a force to be reckoned with in European and World football. They could easily write a great history for the Red Devils in the years to come.
3. Portugal - Population 10.77M
Third on our list is a nation of great World Class players such as Eusebio, Luis Figo, Rui Costa and current FIFA Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes it is Seleção das Quinas aka Portugal.
Although they had never won any major national tournament, World Cup third-placed in 1966 and European Championship runners up in 2004, they can beat any team on any given day.
2. Croatia - Population 4.29M
The youngest nation on our list and the second smallest comes from the Balkans, Croatia. They have produced some great players in their brief history, like Suker, Boban, Prosinecki etc. And have even managed to finish third on one occasion at World Cup in 1998.
Although their golden generation is a thing of the past, don’t think they don’t have top players at their current squad. Leading players such as Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Inter), and Mario Mandzukic (Bayern) can parry with top nations easily.
1. Uruguay - Population 3.28M
Smallest by population but with most medals. Uruguay proves that quality is always better than quantity. Winners of the inaugural World Cup in 1930 as well as in 1950. Also, they surprised many by finishing 4th at the 2010 World Cup, which was followed up by winning the Copa America in 2011, their fourth since 1983.
Current stars such as Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez, and Edinson Cavani are making a nation of 3.3. million proud and a true challenge in terms of national management in Football Manager 2014.
