2025-02-01, 06:33 PM - Word count: 386
There is no greater honor than representing one's homeland and country on a global stage. Few footballers are privileged to have the opportunity to suit up for the Eurasia and compete in the World Simulation Football Classic. Even fewer footballers from Lebanon have had that honor. And now, remarkably, first year Minor League footballer George Shaheen is among them.
By now his and Eurasia' journey has concluded. The club fell to 3-0 to Pyranees in the quarterfinals. When one gets to the knockout stage, there is a sense of hope. That anything can happen. That this could actually be your team's tournament if you catch a lucky bounce of the ball here or there, or one of the more powerful opponents fails to have their best day in the one-off, winner-take-all game. Eurasia rode hopefully high into their matchup with Pyrenees, but in the end, the talent of that group won the day. Shaheen and his Eurasian teammates were trounced and bounced, but there were no sagging heads among the locker room. No misery. No sense of defeat. The ride to get to the quarterfinals was an incredible one.
Matchday 1 of group play ended with a nil-nil draw against Oceania. Not a win, but not starting out with a loss kept spirits high for continued group play. Matchday 4 was a wild 4-4 draw against East Africa. Shaheen opened play with the first goal of the match, the club fell behind 2-4 but rallied late to even things up with two goals after the 80-minute mark. A 2-1 victory over the British Isles on Matchday 3 secured Eurasia's place in the quarterfinals.
Just getting to the knockout stage brought tremendous exposure and self-confidence to the players who, at the conclusion of the national tournament, will return to the SSL clubs. Shaheen will return to North Shore buoyed once again by the reminder that he is among the best footballers in the world and belongs in competition among the most elite of the elite.
He will continue to carry the banner of his country and his homeland with pride as his young career moves forward. And Eurasia will only be a greater force the next time the World Simulation Football Classic rolls around.
By now his and Eurasia' journey has concluded. The club fell to 3-0 to Pyranees in the quarterfinals. When one gets to the knockout stage, there is a sense of hope. That anything can happen. That this could actually be your team's tournament if you catch a lucky bounce of the ball here or there, or one of the more powerful opponents fails to have their best day in the one-off, winner-take-all game. Eurasia rode hopefully high into their matchup with Pyrenees, but in the end, the talent of that group won the day. Shaheen and his Eurasian teammates were trounced and bounced, but there were no sagging heads among the locker room. No misery. No sense of defeat. The ride to get to the quarterfinals was an incredible one.
Matchday 1 of group play ended with a nil-nil draw against Oceania. Not a win, but not starting out with a loss kept spirits high for continued group play. Matchday 4 was a wild 4-4 draw against East Africa. Shaheen opened play with the first goal of the match, the club fell behind 2-4 but rallied late to even things up with two goals after the 80-minute mark. A 2-1 victory over the British Isles on Matchday 3 secured Eurasia's place in the quarterfinals.
Just getting to the knockout stage brought tremendous exposure and self-confidence to the players who, at the conclusion of the national tournament, will return to the SSL clubs. Shaheen will return to North Shore buoyed once again by the reminder that he is among the best footballers in the world and belongs in competition among the most elite of the elite.
He will continue to carry the banner of his country and his homeland with pride as his young career moves forward. And Eurasia will only be a greater force the next time the World Simulation Football Classic rolls around.
