Sega says "Let's Make a Soccer Team"

Let's Make a Soccer Team is the catchy title of the European version of a Japanese football management game - that's apparently really successful out in the Land of the Rising Sun - which is to be released for PS2 by Sega.

No prizes for guessing that Let's Make a Soccer Team allows players to create their own football club from scratch and pit it against real-life football teams and players, managing every element of its progress in the process. A fabulous career in the managerial hotseat can begin in England, France, Holland, Italy, Germany or Spain where you've just three matches in a vital season left to play.

Apparently, a sneaky rival is trying to usurp your position as manager and you SIMPLY MUST guide your team to promotion into the second division for job security's sake. Eventually, majestically flexing management muscles should win you promotion into the big boy's leagues and then it's time to set beady eyes on the Championship and European competitions.

Much of the management side of Let's Make a Soccer Team will be more than familiar to fans of this type of game, wannabe Alex Fergusons buying and selling footballers, dealing with the media and player concerns, establishing training sessions, fiddling with match tactics and ensuring the cash continues to flow in while catapulting your club to stardom.

In addition, Let's Make a Soccer Team features an "advanced" 3D match engine via which players can monitor team progress and observe tactics in action.

Let's Make a Soccer Team has yet to be given a Euro debut date.

Stuart Bishop