EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS ================== EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS: This is your chance to become the Manager of a full International Squad challenging for the prestigious European Nations' Cup against Europe's top teams. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS is an exciting and realistic Football Strategy Game simulating a complete Nations' Cup Campaign, including Qualifying matches. Friendlies and The Finals. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS is packed with the most complete range of features offering an EXCITING CHALLENGE to all Football Enthusiasts. (A full list of features are shown inside the inlay, including E & J's new MATCH PLAY SYSTEM). FEATURES INCLUDE ★ Genuine Nations Cup Format ★ Full Random Draw of 32 seeded teams ★ Eight Groups of 4 ★ Results of all Group Matches ★ Fixture Lists for all Groups ★ League Tables (PWDLFAPTS) all Groups ★ Discipline Table ★ Medical Report ★ Long/Short Term Injuries ★ Squad of 22 Players ★ Bring other Players into Squad ★ Full Player information showing Status, Tackling/Skill/Goal Scoring ratings Appearances, Goals ★ Game can continue if your team knocked out ★ 17 Month Itinerary showing qualifying fixtures ★ Arrange Friendlies Home or Away for any free month ★ Select Team and 5 Subs ★ Review Opposition Strengths and Tactics ★ Change Player Names ★ Save Game ★ Abandon Game and Restart Option ★ Group Results List ★ League Calculation Option ★ Match Result Only Option EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS is a complete simulation of a European Nations Cup Campaign played over a 17 month period. There are 32 Teams taking part divided into 8 Groups. To qualify for the Finals you must finish top of your Qualifying Group. The 8 Group winners will then be divided into 2 Groups. The Winners of Group 1 will play the Runners-up in Group 2 in the first Semi Final, and the Runners-up in Group 1 will play the Winners of Group 2 in the Second Semi Final. INSTRUCTIONS LOADING: Type LOAD"" and press PLAY on your Cassette Player then ENTER on your Spectrum. After loading the program press any key then wait for the program to initialize (approx 4 mins). SET UP: Enter your name as Manager. You are Team No. 1. If you wish to change teams type in the number of the team you wish to manage, press Enter then press C to Continue. Press C to Continue whenever you see C at the bottom of the screen. MAIN MENU OPTIONS F for Group Fixtures — Qualifying Groups 1-8: Quarter Final Groups 1-2. S for Squad Details: Name (first four characters) T for Tackling ability (1-5 max) S for Skill Rating (1-5 max) G for Goal Scoring Potential (1-5 max) AP for number of appearances G for number of goals scored E Indicates PlaveLPicked S Substitute Selected I Indicates Player Injured or Banned. L to list League tables — Qualifying Groups 1-8: Quarter Final Groups 1-2. P for Programme — shows a 17 month Programme of Qualifying fixtures plus any Friendlies you may arrange (up to a max. of 4 — only one game per month). D for Discipline — booking = 3pts: 6pts = match ban (not Friendlies). R for your Group match results. I for Information — Manager & Team name and Group number. M for Medical Report — Lists players injured in domestic league matches and number of weeks not available. 4 weeks = 1 month. O for Other Players available for transfer to your squad. You can only change players of the same type (eg. Defender for Defender, etc). Make a note of the squad number and player type (ie. Defence, Midfield or Attack) before selecting (Y) to transfer the new player into your squad. * Indicates Player Injured. A for Alter to change Player names. X for Save Game — prepare a cassette to record, remove the EAR socket from your Spectrum, start recording and press any key. You can only save a game after at least two competition matches have been played. Y to Restart if you wish to abandon the current game and start from new. Z to Play next match. If you have no match in the current month you will return to the main menu. MATCH PLAY SYSTEM After confirming your opponents and the match Venue (ie. Home, Away or Neutral ground) you will be asked if you want to watch the match. If you choose not to watch a Friendly match it will be regarded as cancelled. The results of all competition matches not watched will be displayed and your squad details updated. The Semi-Final & Final matches must be watched. THE MATCH Screen 1 will display your opponents team strengths for their Defence, Midfield and Attack. (1) Tackling Ability — Ability to win possession. (2) Skill Rating — Ability to retain possession. (3) Goal Scoring Potential — Ability to Create Goal Scoring Chances. Their Style of Play and Match Tactics will also be displayed as follows: STYLE OF PLAY 1 = Short Passing game 2 = Neutral style 3 = Long ball game TEAM TACTICS 1 = Defensive game 2 = Average 3 = Attacking game NOTE: Your Opponents may vary their Style of Play during a match. You then select your team and five substitutes and choose your Style of Play and Match Tactics. If you select (Y)es for AUTO KICK OFF the Match will run through to Full Time without stopping. If you select (N)o you will need to press C whenever the C prompt appears at the bottom of the screen, ie. for the Kick Off, Half Time & Penalties, etc. The Game Speed is variable from 1-10 (10 being slowest). The MATCH SCREEN presents an Overview of the Pitch showing the movement & direction of play along with full match commentary. In addition to the Team names and score, the SCOREBOARD will also confirm the number of Goal Attempts (GA) for each team, the number of substitutes used and the venue, ie. (H)ome, (A)way or (N)eutral Ground. Your Team will play from Left to Right in the First Half and from Right to Left in the Second Half. You may use up to two substitutes for each match. To bring on a sub, press the S key whenever play stops (ie. for a free kick, corner, throw-in, etc.) and you see the Sub? prompt at the bottom of the scoreboard. If there are injuries during a match, Injury Time will be played. If the scores are level at full time in the Semi-Final or Final, 30 mins. Extra Time will be played. If the match is still drawn there will be a penalty shoot out to decide the winner. The League Tables for all Groups (Menu Option L) will be calculated and updated if required. During this calculation the 8 Groups will be listed showing the Team names and (P)osition in the League. Note: Option L on the menu will only apply after the first calculation of the League Tables. After this Press (Y)es to update the Leagues. STRATEGY & TACTICS Before selecting your team and deciding on your Match Tactics you will have the opportunity to study your Opponents Team strengths (Match Screen 1) and their style of play and match tactics. From this listing you will see a breakdown of the Tackling Ability, Skill Rating and Goal Scoring Potential for their Defence, Midfield and Attack. Using your Skill and Judgement you should try to exploit their weaknesses by careful team selection and by choosing the Style of Play and Team Tactics best suited to your players. For Example, if your opponents have a much stronger team than you, you may decide to select a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 formation, playing defensive tactics and using the long ball game to get the ball quickly to your forwards in the hope that they can score on the break. Of course, this tactic is only likely to succeed if you have skilful forwards capable of keeping the ball and creating goal scoring chances. Alternatively, you may prefer to play short passes to slow the game down and so reduce your opponents possession and their chances of scoring. This tactic is more likely to succeed if you have skilful players capable of retaining possession. Attacking, Defensive, Long Ball, Short Passing Game, 4-4-2, 4-2-4, 4-3-3, etc., whatever the tactics, you are the Manager and you must decide. You will be able to judge your team's performance by the movement of play, match commentary and the number of goal scoring attempts by both sides. For example, a strong defence playing well should be able to prevent the opposition from creating Goal Attempts (GA's) even if their opponents have a lot of possession in and around the penalty area. Similarly, a strong attack should be able to create chances given the right type of service from midfield. REMEMBER, you will have the opportunity to change tactics at half time (except if using AUTO KICK OFF) and by giving new instructions when sending on a substitute. TACTICAL NOTES 1. You are advised to select a recognised Goalkeeper in your team (Skill Level 1-5). His skill level will reflect his ability to keep out shots. 2. Keep an eye on your squad's Monthly Medical Report (Menu selection M) and the current form of the Players not in your squad (Menu selection O). By skilful use of these options you can strengthen your squad by bringing in In-form players and transferring out the weaker or injured players. You must ensure that you have a minimum of 16 available players in your squad (ie. 11 players + 5 subs.). 3. Goals can be scored by any player in the team so you will increase your chances of scoring goals by having a good Goal Scoring Potential throughout your team. 4. Month 16 (MAY) is your last opportunity to strengthen your squad from the pool of Other Players before taking your Final Squad of 22 to the Finals in June. 5. Use Friendlies to practice your Tactics, Test different players and Playing Styles. Copyright 1988 A. Clayton. All rights reserved Worldwide.