Astograth national football team

The Astograth national football team represents Astograth in international association football and is controlled by the Futbol Astograthiko Federazioa (FAF), the governing body for football in the country. The Astograthian side is commonly referred to as Olibondeka or, in English, "The Olives". Astograth's national team débuted in the Chunnan Soccer International Cup prior to participating in the 42nd Baptism of Fire and the qualifiers for World Cup 55. The Astograthian national team have qualified seven times for the World Cup, in which their best result is fourth place at World Cup 61.

Astograth have taken part in their regional tournament, the Copa Rushmori, since its sixth edition, and won Copa Rushmori XII. Astograth were also champions of the 50th Cup of Harmony.

Early Years
Football has been a popular sport in Astograth for many years, arriving when the country's present-day territory was split among various independent states. The national team, first coached by respected manager Gartzen Treko, was established in the year 637, several decades after national unification and after the formation of the Astograthian Football League.

The début came against Eastfield Lodge in the group stage of the farcical Soccer International Cup, held in Chunnan. The match ended in a 1-2 loss, Dei Ormache scoring their first international goal. Further losses to Mangolana and The FSSO quickly eliminated Atsograth, though not before earning their first point by drawing with Erathore, who would be the organisers of their next international tournament. Erathore's 1st International Football Tournament saw a further run of losses that put Treko and the FAF under pressure from a public with a proud footballing tradition, until Edorta Urrustoy and Soter Sarlange led the team to a 4-2 victory against Mossulia in their first match on Astograthian soil, at Grand Duke's Stadium in Rumiatzi; ultimately, though, they would not go past the group stage.

Their next outings were for a friendly which would be Polar Islandstates' first international, and Burchadinger Cup II. The former ended in a 2-2 draw and would spark both an enduring rivalry and the formation of the Ides of March Cup, while the latter was the Astograthians' first taste of success as they reached the semifinals of a tournament won by the very same Polarians.

Their Baptism of Fire, edition 42 in Legalese and Erathore, was a bitter disappointment. Astograth failed to go past the first round after a string of three losses, the last of which could've been turned into a draw if not for a famous missed penalty from Dei Ormache. Two 5-0 wins followed, against Czechzenia and Dandakia, but the damage was done and Olibondeka quickly said goodbye to the Baptism of Fire.

Taking five-time World Cup champions Starblaydia to extra-time at the Stadii Di Bradini, for the Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy, was considered a great success, even if it ended in a loss. The World Cup 55 qualifiers that followed were largely disappointing, a 3-0 loss in The Holy Empire triggering a nine-match winless streak that only came to an end with Edorta Urrustoy's much-remembered strike against Leyte Islands. Results would turn up towards the second half of qualifying, including a scoreless draw with The Holy Empire in Rumiatzi, and Astograth would crawl out of the bottom to finish eighth among eleven.

Cup of Harmony 47, Edorta Urrustoy's last international tournament before retirement, was similarly bleak, and Astograth failed to make its home condition count at the friendly Brotherhood Cup organised by the FAF. Market Cup 3 in Saugeais ended badly as well.

Group 7 of the World Cup 56 qualifiers was notoriously hard-fought, Astograth joining the likes of The Archregimancy, Kagdazka and Pazhujebu, Polar Islandstates, Baptism of Fire 43 runners-up Bleak Rock and World Cup 7 winners Errinundera. The national team's run was marred by the Khuril Seaplane Disaster, which involved former team members Bayardo Morriyas and Laurgain Erlis, as well as Polarian footballers Tomas Aer, Finn Henriksen and FPIFA president Magnus Ragnorak; they were safely recovered, though the seaplane crew was never found. In the qualifiers themselves, Astograth performed close to expectations and went undefeated in their last eight matches, which included the entire second half of qualifying, finishing fourth among eight. Nonetheless, Gartzen Treko decided to not renew his contract and the FAF quickly set upon finding a replacement.

Under Powell Pieran
Treko's successor was soon revealed to be the controversial Powell Pieran from Civil Citizenry. His début tournament was Cup of Harmony 48, held in Astograth and the neighbouring Civil Citizenry; Olibondeka went no further than the Round of 16 as Cafundéu ran out the winners. Copa Rushmori VI, Astograth's first appearance in the regional tournament, was classified a preparation tournament by Pieran and the results are considered amongst the national team's most embarassing, failing to register a win and including a loss to the minute Princess Béatrice Island.

Astograth started off its third World Cup qualifying campaign in good form, though a draw with Euskirribakondara set them back on the second matchday and they then failed to secure a win against the second-seeded Pays de Horreur at Grand Duke's Stadium. A loss to Nethertopia further complicated things, as did a draw against the powerful Starblaydia in Rumiatzi to complete the first round of qualifiers. Olibondeka would storm to victory in the second half, putting together seven wins in a row. They comprehensively defeated both Nethertopia and Euskirribakondara, and earned a crucial three points at Pays de Horreur. With their bye on the final matchday - which would feature Starblaydia visiting Pays de Horreur - and already guaranteed a playoff spot, Astograth travelled to Jhanna, Starblaydia, and managed a 1-1 draw via a memorable play from Dei Ormache and Soter Sarlange, the former capping it off in front of Dacil Taniquentar. The point was enough to automatically qualify Astograth, Starblaydia going on to lose their next match and fail to qualify for the first time since World Cup 38, which was immediately after their first hiatus.

Astograth's first World Cup experience started off on the wrong foot, falling to hosts Sarzonia by one goal to nil, though a 3-0 win over Cosumar rekindled hopes; ultimately they lost against Bostopia and did not progress from the group stages. The third group match becamse particularly famous in Astograth not just for its 2-1 drama, but because it was captain Estebe Bularte's final match at the top level, having already retired from club football with Iturributa United; the occasion was extensively registered by documentalist Eleder Palakio and released under the title A Portrait of Genius. Bularte's frustrated ripping off of the captain's armband and his nonchalant discarding of it on the pitch has become iconic in Astograth, and been homaged by every subsequent national team captain at the time of their retirement.

Home Stadium
Since the national team's inception, their home ground has been the 90,000-seater Grand Duke's Stadium in the capital city of Rumiatzi. Other than when Astograth plays, the stadium only hosts football for the Royal Cup final and promotion playoff finals. No club uses it as home ground. Grand Duke's Stadium has hosted the first Ides of March Cup, the second Polarian Vennskap Shield, the final of the eighth Copa Rushmori, the third place matches of the 48th Cup of Harmony and the 45th & 53rd Baptisms of Fire; the 23rd Copa de Campeones final won by Liria Prizren over Ituraitz FC, the 45th UICA Champions’ Cup final won by Turoki Tide against Raynor City United, and most importantly the World Cup 62 Final won by The Holy Empire over Bears Armed.

Other stadiums across Astograth have acted as home ground for the national team outside of tournaments hosted in Astograth itself; none have been used in such a capacity since World Cup 56 qualifying, however, and none for competitive matches since World Cup 55 qualifying. Those used at one point or another are Cherketzo Arena in Urbizania, Ituraitz Sporting Ground in Ituraitz, Beltzura Stadium in Basabe, Ximun Orieta Sporting Ground in Echegoyan, Old City Stadium in Iturributa and Itzarrak Sporting Ground in Lermendia.

World Cup

 * *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
 * **Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Copa Rushmori

 * *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
 * **Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Cup of Harmony

 * *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
 * **Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Most capped players
Below is a list of the ten players with the most caps for Astograth, as of the start of the World Cup 90 qualifying cycle.
 * Players in bold are still active with Astograth.

Top goalscorers
Below is a list of the top ten goalscorers for Astograth, as of the start of the World Cup 90 qualifying cycle.

Captains
List of captaincy periods of the various captains throughout the years.


 * 637 Edorta Sakona (Goalkeeper)
 * 637–42 Estebe Bularte (Midfielder)
 * 643–46 Dei Ormache (Forward)
 * 647–48 Urgutz Belarte (Midfielder)
 * 648–49 Ubelteso Adin (Defender)
 * 650 Cheru Larretape (Goalkeeper)
 * 651–56 Urtzi Galard (Defender)
 * 657–59 Ikatz Alberro (Midfielder)
 * 660–74 Yokin Arizmande (Defender)
 * 674–80 Luar Dardan (Midfielder)
 * 680–84 Baleren Narke (Defender)
 * 684–86 Indartsu Lekea (Midfielder)
 * 687–89 Mogel Doyenard (Defender)
 * 690–present Marko Martel (Defender)

Major honours

 * World Cup
 * Fourth place: World Cup 61


 * Cup of Harmony Star*.svg
 * Winners: Cup of Harmony 50
 * Runners-up: Cup of Harmony 78
 * Fourth place: Cup of Harmony 77


 * Copa Rushmori Star*.svg
 * Winners: Copa Rushmori XII
 * Runners-up: Copa Rushmori XVII
 * Fourth place: Copa Rushmori XXXVIII, XXXIX

Minor honours

 * Brevity Challenge Cup
 * Winners: Brevity Challenge Cup 1
 * Glass Bowl: Brevity Challenge Cup 2, 3