Nova England national football team
| Association | NEFA |
|---|---|
| FMF member | 2006–08, 2008– |
| Confederation | EMUFA |
| Home stadium | West Grinstead National Stadium |
| FMF code | NEN |
| First FMF intermicronational | |
Nova England  1–0  New Oscland | |
| Biggest win | |
Nova England 6–0  Sharovia | |
| Biggest defeat | |
Nova England 0–6  Taesong | |
| FMF World Cup | |
| Appearances | 5 (first in 2006) |
| Best result | Runners-up |
| EMU Championships | |
| Appearances | 3 (first in 2007) |
| Best result | Third place |
The Nova England national football team is the football team which currently represents the micronation of Nova England, and previously represented the Riponian autonomous territory of the same name. The team is a founding member of both the FMF and the EMUFA, and is run by the NEFA.
The team has existed twice in the FMF's history; firstly between the organisation's foundation and 2008 as an independent nation and an autonomous territory of Riponia, and secondly since mid-2008 again as an independent nation. The team is generally seen as one of the strongest national sides on Micras, having appeared in five FMF World Cups, reaching the final in 2009.
History
Nova England was one of the founding members of the FMF when the organisation was created in October 2006 prior to the first FMF World Cup. The national team competed in the tournament, advancing from its group with four points. After beating Craitland in the quarter-finals on penalties, the team lost to Gaia by the same means before losing 1–0 in the third-place play-off to finish in fourth.
The following year, the team was less successful in their World Cup campaign, only managing third in their qualifying group, meaning that they even missed-out on a play-off place. Later in the year, Nova England and Nova English Korea were announced as joint-hosts of the inaugural EMU Championships. The team topped their group and beat invitees New Brittania 2–1 in the quarter-finals, before losing 1–0 to both Passas and Craitland to come fourth in their second consecutive tournament.
In early 2008, Nova England was annexed by Riponia but retained its separate national team. However, only a few months later, Riponia was declared dead and left Micras, along with Nova England. In mid-2008, Nova England returned to Micras as an independent nation again, and was granted FMF membership in time to be involved in that year's World Cup qualifiers. The team topped their six-team group, only losing once, and successfully qualified for the 2008 FMF World Cup. In the finals, the team could only manage third in their group, finishing behind fellow EMUFA members Bobalania and Hamland.
The following year again saw a successful Nova English qualfying campaign, with the team being unbeaten as they won their group. The team came third in the sole five-team EMU 2009 group, sealing third place in the process. They continued their good form into the World Cup finals, topping their group on goal difference, seeing-off Passas after extra time in the quarter-finals and beating 2006 champions Beaugium in the semi-finals. In the final, however, the team lost 2–0 to hosts Alexandria, but still secured their best finish as runners-up.
In 2010's qualifiers, the team again qualified successfully by comfortably topping their group unbeaten. Despite winning their opening game in the finals, the team then lost their following two matches to finish third in their group to miss-out on advancing to the knock-out stages.
The team continued their good form in qualifiers the following year, again going unbeaten as they topped their group by a point. In their EMU 2011 group, the team finished second behind Hamland without losing, before being beaten by Interland in the third-place play-off. In the World Cup finals later in the year, the team had their worst performance, finishing bottom of their group without gaining a point.
The team is currently competing in the 2012 FMF World Cup qualification rounds.
Chronological competitive participation
- 2006 FMF World Cup
- 2007 FMF World Cup qualification
- 2007 EMU Championships (co-hosts)
- 2008 FMF World Cup qualification
- 2008 FMF World Cup
- 2009 FMF World Cup qualification
- 2009 EMU Championships
- 2009 FMF World Cup
- 2010 FMF World Cup qualification
- 2010 FMF World Cup
- 2011 FMF World Cup qualification
- 2011 EMU Championships
- 2011 FMF World Cup
- 2012 FMF World Cup qualification
Honours
Flag
Nova England has used the following flag during both of its FMF affiliations:
| 2006–08 2008– |
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