Canadian Soccer Fanatic Takes on the World at the Xbox Live FIFA Interactive World Cup
In my world, soccer stirs up memories of my very brief stint as a goalie for The Blizzards, a girl’s league team in my hometown. Beyond that I think of the many, MANY sleepless nights I have endured living in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood, where every four years soccer fanatics cruise the strip blaring horns, whistles and other noise-making devices in support of their chosen World Cup team.
Even though Canada won’t be mixing it up in Germany at this year’s 2006 FIFA World Cup, one Canadian represented for the Great White North at the Xbox Live FIFA Interactive World Cup Championship (FIWC), held this year in London, England. Zach Mirosevic, a 15-year-old soccer fan from Victoria, B.C., was given this honour by beating out all contenders to win the 2006 Canadian FIWC championship.
I sat down to chat with the champ about his journey to the FIWC, and the trials and tribulations of being a soccer fan in Canada.
Jade: In Canada, it’s all hockey, all the time. How did you become such a soccer fanatic?
Zach: There’s just something about the game that is so completely addictive! I am very passionate about soccer, that’s pretty much all I do. I play soccer for a local men’s team, but my big dream is to play in Europe someday. And when I am not playing soccer on the field, I am playing FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup on my new Xbox 360, or supporting my favourite team Juventus.
Jade: How did you first hear about the FIFA tournament?
Zach: Being a huge fan of EA’s FIFA games on Xbox, I had first heard about the FIWC tournament last year and closely followed all the action online. Then, when I caught wind of this year’s tournament and the call for Canadians to enter, I jumped at the opportunity. When I heard I had a chance to win a trip to London, England, I knew I had to take it.
Jade: I’m not sure what we were thinking letting an impressionable young man like you loose on the wild streets of London. Please tell me they didn’t corrupt you!
Zach: No, don’t worry! The trip was completely awesome, the most exciting experience I have ever had. It was my first trip to London, and the city blew me away. The older parts in particular were my favourite. And the rainy weather actually made it feel a lot like home. We were only there for four days, but I wish it could have been longer to see more of the sights.
Jade: So give us the lowdown on the FIWC tournament and how you schooled the team from France!
Zach: The Xbox Live tournament was amazing. I actually didn’t get to play as Canada in the tournament (they aren’t a team you can choose in FIFA 06: Road to FIFAWorld Cup – probably because we didn’t actually qualify), so I played as Croatia. I didn’t finish as strongly as I should have, but I was just happy to actually meet in person many of the people I had played against online throughout the tournament. It was really all about having fun and meeting new friends from all over the world.
Jade: Was there any one country that really impressed you at the tournament?
Zach: The Mexican regional winner truly intimidated me, and luckily he was not in my group! He showed a lot of heart in the tournament, and I would have loved to play him and won. Next year!
Jade: Going into the tournament, you must have devised a great strategy to get so far. Share your secrets with our readers – were you channeling David Beckham?
Zach: Well, if I was channeling anyone it would be Alessandro Del Piero, my idol and soccer inspiration. I can’t say I had any one specific strategy. I just played it like I do on the field – with a lot of heart and a lot of passion. And my guest to the FIWC was my soccer buddy Dave Ferguson who also plays online with me (Gamertag: GOALD3NSHEV), so he really helped me out with tips during the tournament.
Jade: When you aren’t dominating every soccer game EA has ever made, what other Xbox games are you playing?
Zach: Well, right now I am playing a lot of FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, but when I need a break, I’m also playing Call of Duty 2 and Halo. If anyone is up for a game, my Gamertag is JuveCpt10.
Jade: Okay, one last question. As a diehard soccer fan, think Canada will ever have a shot at winning the World Cup?
Zach: Well, hopefully Canada will actually qualify for the World Cup one day. But I don’t think we will ever win it. Although anything could happen, right?
Jade: Uh, right…well we appreciate your optimism Zach. Congrats on winning the Canadian FIFA tournament, and doing us proud in the U.K.! If you have any thoughts to share on Canada winning the World Cup, or any great strategies you use to win at FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, drop me a line at jade@microsoft.com.
