Prydanian Team Becomes First Team to Qualify for Advancement in Saintonge
by Ketill Oien
Saintes- The Prydanian National Team's 3-1 win over Tardine on 10 September, coupled with Mansani's loss to Zhen, was enough to punch their ticket to the knockout stage of the World Cup tournament. The Harts became the first team in the tournament to accomplish this feet.
"We've been playing a very solid game," Kurt Mörch said, when asked about Prydania's two games so far.
"We know we have the skills to win on this stage, and we're at a place where we trust our gameplan."
Indeed, the play for Prydania has been solid from top to bottom. Goaltender Tom Höyer has been efficient in net. The tandem of Peter Bach and Tjörvi Hagtvedt have been lethal, accounting for six of Prydania's seven goals so far. Mörch's midfield is a figurative labyrinth for opposing players to navigate, and the leadership of Vice Captain Storm Bendixen on defence has been suffocating.
"We tell ourselves that if anyone's getting goals on us, they'll have to hope for prayers because they're not getting past us," Bendixen said.
Of note has been Defender Eyjólfur Kolstad, whose command of the outside right of the field has been remarkable. The twenty year old Osfjoll native has made waves in two games because of seemingly unlimited doggedness.
"Eyjólfur is everywhere at once...his ability to adjust and always be in position has been great. He's playing with a fire," fellow right side defender Eskild Dörum remarked.
"I played with him a year ago, and he was always talented. But it's like he's possessed."
"I'm just focused I guess," Kolstad told RÚV 8.
"I want to play my best. Some people back home and elsewhere thought it was a mistake to send a team this young to the World Cup, and I guess I want to prove things to them and myself."
Evolving the Game
Indeed, Coach Höj has spoken before about the team's young makeup. It does seem to be part of a wider team philosophy though.
"The 2017 Harts team," team Captain Bach said, "I know people didn't call us that because it was supposed to be apolitical, but screw it, we were the Harts, we shocked the world by getting as far as we did, and we nearly won. But if we trotted out a team that played by that style of game we'd be done in this tournament today quickly. The game is always changing. What worked two years ago, let alone four, won't work today. So you have to constantly find ways to adjust to the game as it changes around you."
And what has helped the Prydanian team? It's international club play, Bach says.
"I play with Predicians and Syrixians along side Alemreichers on MCFC," Bach explained. I learnt a lot from them. I hope they learnt something from me too, but that's how you grow. Every country has their style and philosophy you grow up and learn with, but isolation and not learning from the rest of the world means stagnation in football."
"People say we're a Prydanian-heavy team in AJSTC," Tjörvi Hagtvedt said, referring to his club team in Saintonge's Premier League.
"But we have players who are from Prydania, players who are from Prydania but grew up in Saintonge, Santonians with Prydanian roots, players with Predician and Santonian roots...it's a diverse set of backgrounds and perspectives, we all learn from each other there. And I take that back to the national team."
Hagtvedt's transfer from Alaterva VF to AJSTC established a working agreement between the two clubs, allowing for an exchange of philosophies and ideas. And the coach of Alaterva? Jakob Höj. The man overseeing the Prydanian national team.
"It's not about adopting this or that, or abandoning our own philosophies and playing styles," Höj said.
"We learn. They learn. They adapt. We adapt. It's not even a conscious thing half the time. When you work with players and organizations from elsewhere everyone adapts and learns. Football's a truly international game, and you have to embrace that if you want to find success. This program, by necessity, had to be cloistered for years because of the War. And I'm ready to embrace the world again. I haven't felt this much electricity since '69!" Höj said, referring to the 1969 World Cup Champion Prydanian team, a team he was a midfielder on.
Valence and Tournament Success
"I'm beyond honoured," Storm Bendixen remarked, commenting on the Harts' experience in Valence.
"The Prydanian community has come out for us. To both support us and to make us feel comfortable and at home."
"I'm just some nineteen year old kid," Defender Eskild Dörum said laughing.
"But I get to see how much we mean to Prydanians here, as well as home. It's very humbling and it makes you feel good to know you have that affect on people. We're the first team to qualify for the next stage of the tournament and it's amazing to see how much pride in that means to people."
"The Santonians of Valence have been very welcoming as well," Peter Bach added.
"I didn't know what reaction I would get. I was prepared for some people to hold 2019 against me, and I was ready to say 'já I deserve it'" he laughed.
"And of course they're going to cheer for their team first and foremost, but they've been great hosts. I've learnt some Santonian too! Just meeting with people who love football and want us to enjoy our stay."
Looking to Zhen
Being the first team to qualify for the next stage affords the Harts some freedom in how they approach Zhen, and Coach Höj is taking advantage. Tjörvi Hagtvedt will be rotated out for Bertram Abildgaard, Kurt Mörch will be replaced by Freddy Holst, and Stig Kallesen will sit for Röskvi Svane.
Höj also indicated that more will be rotated during the game.
"We have our game and system running. Now it's time to rotate some roster pieces in, get some playing time for subs we'll need in the coming rounds, and give some guys a well-earned rest," Höj said.
"This game again Zhen is the ultimate tune-up. We're going to make sure we're as ready as we can be for the knockout round."
The Harts kick off against Zhen on 13 September in Group A's late game from Coire.