Swamp Soccer World Cup II (Everything Thread)

[Yesopalitha]

After the Vamps' Bye Day

Cason Viccen: So, how did watching Free South Califas and Western Cuba go?

Emmanuel Laret: FSC won, 3-0, over Vahvanti, to also be undefeated through group play. The fact that they actually gave up no goals, though, is the scariest part. They are to be respected if we run into them.

Raoul Tibez: I checked out Western Cuba. Suffered their first loss by a 0-1 score to Darmen, lost the first place in the group. Their offense isn't that great, but their defense is to be reckoned with.

Cason Viccen: There seems to be stiffer competition this time around, which isn't all bad, is it?

Raoul Tibez: No, not at all. It'll just bring out the best in us.

Emmanuel Laret: Two play-in games to narrow the field to eight. Since we're seeded first, due to Goal Differential, we should watch these games, since we'll play one of them.

Raoul Tibez: I think I'll go to the TaQud vs. Micheal VII game, you two should hit up Wight vs. Western Cuba.

Cason Viccen: Got it, boss. Just a recon, right?

Raoul Tibez: Figure out what they like to do. We need all the info we can get.

[Farfadillis]

FFFF's official Site

Swamp Soccer

We're the leaders of Group C!

As you may have read on The Ferdullaele Post, our Swamp Soccer national team is doing quite well on the world cup. We know you did.

Well, we've got good news! The Muddy Jellyfishes are doing pretty well! They recently won against Equestrain States (who used to be the first one their group) by the shocking difference of 5 - 1, and therefore have become the leaders of the group by goal difference.

The match itself was REALLY weird. The Equestrain States' players were basically dragons, penguins, vampires and things of that sort, with the exception of the goalkeeper who was human and seemed to be the only one along with some guy on the bench, who didn't even play. The match started horribly, with Kander scoring a (beautiful) own goal at the 3rd minute. Happily, Numbá equalized with a bicycle kick on the 10th minute, going to half-time 1-1, we weren't qualifying with that result. But on the second half everything turned around. Farfadillis demolished Equestrain State's defence completely, as on the 5th, 6th, 9th and 11th minute Dandalleion scored by outrunning a penguin, which was basically our key to the Quarter Finals.

We'll be informing you abour this team from now on, as it seems they actually have got some chances on this world cup.

[The Icemark]

Play-Off Round Results
TaQud 2–2 Michael VII (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)
Western Cuba 2–4 Wight



Quarter-Final Fixtures:
Yesopalitha V TaQud
Free South Califas V Wight
Darmen V Mashiki
Ipeland V Farfadillis

[Yesopalitha]

After the Vamps Observed the Play-In Rounds

Cason Viccen: TaQud is coming off of a dramatic win in Penalty Kicks against Micheal VII. They'll either be really focused against us, or be so drained from the last match that they'll fold easy.

Emmanuel Laret: Glad to be not facing Wight. Looked dominant defensively for most of the game. Dangerous team.

Raoul Tibez: TaQud it is. I think, though, that they haven't faced anything like us quite yet.

Cason Viccen: Vampires in the house! Yeah!

Raoul Tibez: In all seriousness, best bring our A game, aye, chaps?

Emmanuel Laret: Don't know what y'are talking about there, Coach. All we've been doin' is our A game lately.

Raoul Tibez: I know, I know. Just keep up the great work.

Cason Viccen: By Zaiden! Did he just actually compliment us?! The world's going to end!

Raoul Tibez: Don't let it get to your head, now...

[Wight]

.

[The Icemark]

Quarter-Final Results
Yesopalitha 4–1 TaQud
Free South Califas 0–2 Wight
Darmen 2–5 Mashiki
Ipeland 2–2 Farfadillis (2–3 AET)


Semi-Final Fixture:
Yesopalitha V Farfadillis
Wight V Mashiki

[Free South Califas]

ETA: A well-earned loss on my part...

The Yesopalitha Lightning were expected to take a good result in Swamp Cup 2's group stage, but the surprise in the tournament has been the Shithouse Rats of Free South Califas. At 4-0-0 like the Lightning, the Rats have a +7 goal differential second only to Yesopalitha's +13. The Rats also had the fourth-best scoring attack, netting 12 goals while allowing only 5, with an impressive clean-sheet streak running at over two games. Wight will try to muddy Eustace's incredible early record, after boasting the second-best attack in the group stage and breaking Western Cuba's back with their 4-2 assault in the playoff round.

Free South Califas 3–2 TaQud
Elected manager: OF Democritus Ewart
Starting lineup: 2-2-1
G Hanne Audley
D Amnon Niemec
D Herminius Sybille
M Ana Francisca Jimenez
M Jose María Ricardo
F Paula Yishai

Goals:
6' FSC: Ricardo
10' TQD: Nemert
11' FSC: Yishai
15' TQD: Nemert
19' FSC: Ricardo

Rainious Allementos 3–5 Free South Califas
Elected manager: OF Democritus Ewart

Starting lineup: 2-2-1
G Hanne Audley (2)
D Ivo Karina
D Alexandra Saveliy
M Amnon Niemec (2)
M Jose María Ricardo (2)
F Paula Yishai (2)

Goals:
1' RNA
5' RNA
5' FSC: Ricardo
6' RNA
7' FSC: Yishai
9' FSC: Yishai
17' FSC: Karina
21' FSC: Ricardo

Free South Califas 1–0 Vamprican-Krumbian Confederacy
Elected manager: OF Democritus Ewart

Starting lineup: 3-2
G Mildgyð Eustace
D Ivo Karina (2)
D Philippina Ardizzone
D Roxanne Forney
W Jose María Ricardo (3)
W Paula Yishai (3)

Goal: 10' - Jose María Ricardo (4th)

Vahvanti 0–3 Free South Califas
Elected manager: OF Democritus Ewart

Starting lineup (caps): 2-3 formation
G Mildgyð Eustace (2)
D Philippina Ardizzone (2)
D Roxanne Forney (2)
W Ivo Karina (3)
M Jose María Ricardo (4)
W Paula Yishai (4)

Goals:
4' - Ricardo (5)
11' - Karina (2)
16' - Yishai (4)

With the incredible success of Eustace in goal and Ardizzone, Forney and sometimes Karina in the backfield, a starting lineup is beginning to solidify under player-manager Democritus Ewart, whose leadership has rather appropriately been ratified by election after each game so far. Left off the WC60 roster for the Harvest Mice, Ewart was said to be lacking some leadership and drive. His advances in these areas can no longer be ignored, and pundits speculate that he may have a place on the WC61 squad. After the risky experiment with the 2-2-1, Ewart is leaning between the 3-2 and the 2-3, but is said to be considering a 2-2 with a roaming outfielder for the quarterfinal.

Speaking of the quarterfinal, the Shithouse Rats have it all to do against Wight, whose meteoric rise in the swamp world has been rivaled only by their free-wheeling attack. While the Wight squad are feared around the swamp-soccer universe, they are ignored back home, where the certitude of sports results is culturally problematic. There, the people, the government (well, the King of Uncertain Dimensions) and the media value bald-faced, mendacious lies over truth-telling. Besides, they are swamped with stories of bizarre bug infestations and a rather catastrophic move to Atlantian Oceania. Spurred on by the passion of their fans and the awe of the sporting world, the Shithouse Rats hope to keep their momentum--and the team's 2.67-game shutout streak--alive with a big quarterfinal win. The semifinal would be tough, against promising Farfadillis or the home squad from The Icemark. However, the nation has faith in its swamp footballers, as recently most sporting fans back home have been wearing mud on their foreheads in solidarity. Dermatologists have criticized the practice and are working round the clock to de-normalize and de-legitimize it. They are said to be gathering evidence for a push in the federal government (such as there is one) to warn all South Califans of the dangers of the practice, as an epidemic of ingrown hairs rages across the country.

[Farfadillis]

FFFF's official Site

Swamp Soccer

We're on the semifinals.... against the champions.

Well, this match against Ipeland was shocking to say the least. We started pretty well, with a 1st minute goal by (Ander) Mexandeliou that gave us hope on advancing to the next round, the goal itself was a bit boring, after many kicks, shots crosses and things of all sorts near to Ipeland's goal, Mexandeliou got a chance right under the goal and just sent the ball to the goal. After that, the game continued on our favour, we even got a second goal from Dandalleion on the 10th minute, after outrunning 2 Ipelandese playerson mud (both fell to the floor). That's how we went to half-time.

But the game would turn around on the second half, Ipeland sent out everything they had got, and it took them just 4 minutes to equalize. Things looked dark, we were clearly going to lose. If it wasn't because of Migarfa's (our manager) smart move, he substituted Numbá for Kolinkens, "the fouling machine", who stopped every chance Ipeland had.... with a foul that would merit at least a yellow card on association football. We had to go to extra time.

Things didn't change much. Kolinkens stopped everyone with a foul. We never couldn't see Ipeland's goal until the very last minute. Yes, last minute. Kander played some tricks on Ipeland's players to get the ball out of our part of the field, then sent a long ball to Dandalleion, who ran for a counter attack that would leave him 1 on 1 with the keeper, outrun 1 of Ipeland's players, and chipped the ball (yes, on Swamp Soccer), over the keeper who for some reason wasn't on his goal. 3 - 2, after extra time.

But, not eveything is good news, we're going to face Yesopalitha on semifinals. The last champion, who has wn every single match since their debut on the first Swamp Soccer World Cup, every one of them. They're the best team on the championship, and if we win, it'd be a surprise to EVERYONE.

That's all we got for now.

[Mashiki]

"You are brilliant. You always have been. You always will be. People doubted you, but you said no. They said everything would go badly for you, but it didn't. Unbeaten. No one expected that, not even me I must say. To come this far, and to play this well is absolutely superb. You have most certainly done your country proud. But now you need to focus, expectations have been surpassed, but we can destroy them. So go. Play brilliantly. Work as a team, and you will succeed.

Extract from Signa Twaqulu's pre-match team talk before Mashiki's 5-2 win over Darmen.

P.S I haven't been able to RP as much as I'd have liked to since I'm on holiday in France. The wifi in the hotel isn't very good, but I will try to RP again tomorrow.

[Yesopalitha]

After the Vamps' 4-1 Win VS. TaQud

Cason Viccen: Woot! We're in the semifinals for the second tournament in a row!

Emmanuel Laret: Solid game today. Controlled the midfield. Only let balls through a few times. Cason only conceded one goal, late. Great tuneup for the two games left that matter the most

Raoul Tibez: Couldn't have said it better myself.

Cason Viccen: Farfadillis. Won in overtime against Ipeland. Up-and-coming team who play with a fearless style. Not to be taken lightly.

Raoul Tibez: What's up with you two sayin' what I usually say? You're taking away my "Coach talk".

Emmanuel Laret: Does that bug you, Raoul? Haha... We kinda planned it out.

Raoul Tibez: Oh, you two. As long as you play up to your words, I guess. Just keep goin', don't look back, and play your best.

Cason Viccen: Aye, aye, Sir!

Raoul Tibez: (Rolls eyes) You guys are being funny, that's just great...

[The Icemark]

Semi-Final Results
Yesopalitha 2–1 Farfadillis
Wight 1–1 Mashiki (2–2 AET) (4–5 pen.)

[Mashiki]

"Penalties kill. As we found out yesterday. Wight were certainly unlucky to lose against an overwhelmed yet courageous Mashiki side. But maybe, fate has decided to come into play. Maybe we were meant to do well all along, and the wins we have had so far are due to luck. But most people disagree within Mashiki. The people believe that our national team has every right to have come this far, and that we can still go on to win. But Yesopalitha are strong. They've won every game, and it would probably take a near miracle for the Mashiks to win. But we hope, we dream, and we believe that Mashiki can do this."

Extract from the Mashik Daily News written and edited by Bala Hunchu, Chief Editor for the newspaper.

[Yesopalitha]

After the Vamps' 2-1 Win Over Farfadillis

Cason Viccen: Two observations here. First, nobody can spell our name wrong. The Mashiki paper spelled us "Yesopalthia". Really. How hard is it to look at the scores section of the paper and copy? Second, for the third time this knockout round, we will be facing a team that advanced due to extra time. Faced TaQud after their penalty kick win over Michael VII. Faced Farfadillis after extra time win over Ipeland. Now, Mashiki after penalty win over Wight. It's like a pattern these days.

Emmanuel Laret: At least we can handle it. Farfadillis was a great opponent, one that we had the honor of defeating due to that second half goal from Raoul. Nice kick, mate.

Raoul Tibez: Thanks all. Great job so far this tournament. One more game to go, one more game to win, then two titles in a row for us.

Cason Viccen: Mashiki has no chance of defeating us if we take care of our assignments properly.

Raoul Tibez: That is true. We are the best team out there if we play like it.

Emmanuel Laret: Tell you what, win or lose, I'll treat you guys all to a drink after tomorrow's game.

Raoul Tibez: How about after we get home? I like the liquor home better...

Cason Viccen: That sounds good to me!

Raoul Tibez: Let us make it a drink celebrating our second straight title and not a narrow defeat, all right! To the boards we go...

[The Icemark]

3rd Place Play Off
Wight 1–1 Farfadillis (1–2 AET)

Final
Yesopalitha 2–2 Mashiki (2–2 AET) (4–2 pen.)

And thats the Swamp Soccer World Cup wrapped up. Congratulations to Yesopalitha and thanks to everyone who participated.

[Mashiki]

First, nobody can spell our name wrong. The Mashiki paper spelled us "Yesopalthia". Really. How hard is it to look at the scores section of the paper and copy?

Sorry I was in a rush on my iPod I didn't really have time to check the name.

[Wight]

.

[Yesopalitha]

After the Vamps Defended Their Title over Mashiki

Cason Viccen: Woot! They gave us all we could handle, but we still ended up winning our second straight title!

Emmanuel Laret: Nice job, Cason. Couldn't have done it without your goalkeeping skills.

Raoul Tibez: Indeed. Mashiki truly came to play, and were a very worthy opponent. It was only because we stuck together that we prevailed.

Cason Viccen: So, now what? Fly home and get that drink from ya, Emmanuel?

Raoul Tibez: You will treat the whole team, no?

Emmanuel Laret: Sure! I'm up to it! Second straight title!

Raoul Tibez: It is a proud achievement. I am glad to have got to spend two tournaments with such Vampires like you two.

Cason Viccen: Don't get all lovey-dovey now!

Raoul Tibez: Just call it me being happy that we won! Let's go home and celebrate!

Thus ends the Vamps' story at Swamp World Cup II. They will be back in Swamp World Cup III. Thanks, The Icemark, for bringing a sport to NSSport that I truly enjoy RPing with a bunch of wayward characters. I enjoy this a lot. Perhaps I can host it next time? (You can have ownership of it like Polar Islandstates owns the Cuppet, but perhaps you can open it up for bidding?)

[Free South Califas]

Thanks for a fun sport, The Icemark Congrats to Wight for deating me and Yesopalitha for deating errbody. But be warned, I smell blood in the water now