Developers World Championship: Match Report - Scotland v New Zealand (Group F)

VS NEW ZEALAND Ancient Frog (Ancient Workshop)

In 1978, Scotland’s then soccer coach, Ally MacLeod, was confident of success in Argentina. So convinced, in fact, that when asked at a packed good luck send-off in Prestwick Airport, ‘What do youse plan to do after the World Cup?’, he memorably replied: ‘Retain it.’

Scotland didn't get past the group stages that year, nor for that matter in the following three successive FIFA tournaments. They didn’t even qualify for the 2010 edition of FIFA’s footballing jamboree, or the two preceeding ones come to that, their last appearance on the greatest stage being France 98 where they...went out in the group stages.

Luckily for the Tartan Army, its iOS app development community is considerably more competitive and enterprising than its footballing counterparts. At 3pm, the Scots were sitting pretty, top of Group F and needing Champ. Man. to collect just a single point this afternoon to enter Their Promised Land, aka the knockout stages.

New Zealand was traditionally-speaking a country of rugby, rugby, rugby, and sheep. For the last few weeks, though, focus Down Under had switched from the oval ball to the rectangular touch screen of the Pocket Gamer iPhone Game Developers World Championship.

If Ancient's Workshop's puzzler, Ancient Frog, pulled off one of the most sensational victories so far in the tournament today, the unthinkable would actually transpire...

Kick Off: 3pm, 24th June

The critical view: Seasoned veteran PC franchise Championship Manager had been converted into an iPhone full back for the 2010 edition. Despite success on pretty much all other gaming platforms, it appeared, early doors, that this switch was proving more difficult to cope with than expected.

Ancient Frog’s stunning visuals were a sight for the assembled press corps’ sore eyes, its crisp, one-touch movement ensuring players hopped from one side of the pitch to the other in an instant. Total football, indeed.

Pocket Gamer’s iconic iStadium is situated in a leafy suburb of Bath, England, and at this time of season flies were often an unwelcome distraction. Not so for the New Zealand side, who handled the pesky insects as adroitly as it bossed Champ Man 2010’s 2D midfield engine and pre-game press conferences.

Gaining momentum with every steady stride, Ancient Frog’s impressively long-limbed forward crept in front of his marker and, in a state of zen-like calm, buried the header past a despairing dive.

Even Scotland’s in-game access to podcasts wasn’t providing much assistance and we witnessed that all too familair sight of a Tartan defence being torn to shreds as New Zealand turned on the style.

A well-timed unveiling of Ancient Workshop’s Silver Award on the sidelines distracted the Scots, allowing the rangy Kiwi striker to extend his leg at an improbable angle, touching home an awkward ball and completing a first half brace.

As the whistle blew minutes later, the two sides left the field with somewhat disparate emotions. Whilst the Kiwis positively hopped to their dressing room, the Dynano Games' boys looked anything but dynamic, as they slunk off to the portentious strains of Del Amitri's 'Don't Come Home Too Soon' on the iTunes tannoy. Surely it couldn't happen again?

In spite of an underwhelming opening 45 minutes from their laddies, the jovial Jocks roared their appreciation from the stands without pausing for breath, nor Irn Bru.

Champ. Man. 2010's free transfer (a massive update featuring improvements to everything from transfers to the match screen) had come on as a substitute and made an immediate impact, converting a cross beyond the Kiwis Ancient 'keeper.

This was all the Scottish crowd needed and their massed ranks pulled out something even more audibly fearsome than vuvuzelas to drive on their team - yes, that's right, the bagpipes had been unleashed!

As the unholy noise issued forth, the calm passing and steady movement of Ancient Workshop's game was thrown into disarray, leaving vast spaces for the rejuvenated Scots to exploit.

Calling upon their teamful of armchair managers, the Dynamo side launched a barrage of stats at their opponents' goal-mouth to which New Zealand's leggy-looking defence simply had no answer.

Ultimately, it came as no surprise when the Kiwis net bulged after a wonderfully worked move, even if did come off the Scots striker's shin. In actuality, it was only the final whistle which ultimately saved Ancient Workshop from losing entirely.

The hoodoo was finally broken, Scotland were through...just. But would New Zealand be joining them? It all depended on the final match-up in Group F.

Confused? Click here to go to the iPhone Game Developers World Championship info page.