The ToyTalk World Cup – Part 2
The groups encounters left us with two mouth-watering contests at the semi-final stage, with the Playmobil Soccer Match facing Football Legend and Total Action Football taking on Starplayer.
Football pundits raved about the clash of styles, with two board games tackling a pair of hands-on toys. Which two would progress to the final?
Semi-Final 1
Football Legend v Playmobil Soccer Match
The Football Legend team set out their stall early, dominating possession by repeatedly answering their question cards correctly. When the Total Legend system works it’s almost impossible to get the ball off them, but the Playmobil players, smiling as always, waited their chance.
In contrast to the methodical approach play of the Legends, the Playmobil boys employed a long-ball strategy, hoofing their angular football at every opportunity. The ability to strike from deep proved crucial as they repeatedly answered the Legends’ lengthy scoring moves with lightning strikes of their own.
The game ended with the Football Legend team again in control of the ball, but unable to move quickly enough to score an equaliser before the final whistle blew. A classic game had seen Playmobil advance to the final to defend their crown.
Semi-Final 2
Starplayer v Total Action Football
The Starplayer team have great footballing credentials, with every facet of the modern game – including transfer windows, signing fees, stadium construction and expensive managers – built in, but their real strength lies in the club game and on the international stage it was always possible they could come unstuck.
The Total Action players, able to focus solely on the game at hand, played with precision and style. Unable to match the Starplayers off the pitch, on it they were the clear winners.
As one breathless commentator summed up: “If I wanted to build a football team from scratch it would be Starplayer all the way. If I wanted to knock in the winning goal in a tense semi-final, Total Action Football would have to get the nod.”
The Final
Total Action Football v
Playmobil Soccer Match
It was a final to warm the cockles of a purist’s heart – two games emphasising the sheer fun of playing football on the dining room table.
The defending champion Playmobil team pack a mighty punch – a well-aimed swing of the leg can propel the ball the length of the field and made for some spectacular long-range shots on goal.
Total Action Football countered with ball retention and accurate passing, working the ball through to their ‘power striker’, who waited to pounce on any opportunity.
A ding-dong encounter saw the lead change hands repeatedly, but finally the dribbling skills of the Total Action team, gliding across the pitch as if the ball was magnetically attached to their boots, provided the edge.
A late goal saw the trophy change hands and Total Action Football crowned as the new kings of the football toy world.
And so, almost as quickly as it had started, the ToyTalk World Cup was over. The countdown to 2014 has begun…
