World Cup 67 - RP Thread

[Svengarda]

I surely can't be the only one slightly put off by sentient ponies. On the plane, me and Vanja had a pair of seats, and the window set was occupied by a giant, talking, pink pony. It read a book, did the crossword and had a short nap. I kept glancing over at it, just out of interest. Once it met my gaze and we just looked at each other for several seconds, before I ducked out and went back to my DVD player.

When we landed in Canterlot, I was instantly struck as to the variety of species in the Equestrian States. The Customs Official was a unicorn. Unicorns don't even exist in Svengarda. There are horses everywhere here, but in Svengarda, they just sit in stables, eat hay and we ride them. Here, they're homeowners, tax lawyers, stand-up comedians & accountants. I put it in the back of my mind as we boarded the coach for the trip to Stalliongrad, our base for the competition and the site for our opening two games against Starblaydia and United Gordonopia. It was time to focus on the matter at hand. Doing a decent job in our group, or as the players liked to call it, avoid complete humiliation.

The facts are all there. Osarius are ranked 4th in the world. Gordonopia are 23rd and the mighty Starblaydis are 26th. We're over double Gordonopia's ranking. It's not to going to be easy. In fact, it's going to be quite the opposite. The guys (and two girls) have been pretty realistic about the whole situation towards journalists and fans. This is only our second trip to the finals, and we're expected to be sweeping the basement come the group stages.

The last time I was involved in the World Cup Finals was when our club took a trip to New Montreal States to see Svengarda take on the Paladins in the Paladin Drome. It was probably the best game of football I've ever witnesses. We went down 5-4 to the former world champions. It was the greatest experience of my life, but in just two days, when we walk out against the immortal, the legendary Starblaydia, that will all change.

XI to play Starblaydia

GK. Pal Lorsen

RB. Reko Saari
CB. Georg Raske (C)
CB. Luka Jarvinen
LB. Mikkel Strand

RM. Hakan Lager
CM. Loreen Staffansson
CM. Torleif Olhouser
LM. Rihards Ruotsalainen

AM. Svein Danielsen

ST. Truls Waaserson

Subs

GK. Vanja Albertsen
DF. Tommi Nikula
DF. Saar Bjørnsen
DF. Eemil Tähtinen
MD. Aatu Jokela
MD. Timo Laathi
MD. Jazēps Vang
ST. Kari Steffansson

[Farfadillis]

Group Preview!

The Group Draw has been conducted, and we got drawn into one of the most interesting groups possible, I believe. I mean, at least from a Farf perspective, I don't think this group could've been much more related to us. One of the best teams in history looking for our blood after ruining their dreams, with us having taken advantage of their poor immune system and thrashing them last AOCAF Cup. After that, our Baptism of Fire co-hosts. They may not remember, but they won twice against us during World Cup 62's Qualifiers, one of our worst cycles. Farf and Licentian football are not all that connected, though. There are few irrelevant Licentians in the FFL, and no Farves at all the Licentian league. After that, Northern Sunrise Islands. I think everybody in Farfadillis knows them. They've got two wonderful players in their starting line-up that any Farf who knows a good bit about the FFL has heard of. We also have Farf players in their league. Loads of them. The most notable is probably Agundí Frêndê. We know all of the teams, some better than others.

And the group stage looks tough. Very tough. We're second seeds, and according to the KPB rankings, we're going to qualify, but it's gonna be tough. We'll have a big test by facing Valanora's full squad in the very first matchday. What I find the most worrying about this is that if we lose it might be a huge hit to the morale of the team. And it would leave us in an uncomfortable position. If we get a tie against them, we're going to be in a good position, though. After that, we face the Licentian Isles, which is like catching no break. Right after the toughest match, we get the most important one. Matchday two could easily define who advances in second place, or even first. And last we have Northern Sunrise Islands, which will not be an easy match. I believe we'll enter that match needing to at least tie. So, well, a tough group stage from every perspective. The only fourth seed I'd not have chosen over Northern Sunrise Islands is Astograth. The only third seed I'd not have chosen over the Licentian Isles is Apox. The only top seed I'd not have chosen over Valanora is Polar Islandstates. Basically, tough. At the same time, exciting.

But let's get a bit more detailed. Like, team by team. We've got a lot of information to crunch. We've got a lot to say about these three opponents. These three obstacles to the trophy we're unlikely to claim. These three obstacles that we will hopefully overcome, along with some four more. I'm day-dreaming, though. But yeah, in-depth analysis incoming.

VALANORA

Valanora needs no introduction. Everybody has heard about them. They're either the best team in football history or the second best. Starblaydia and them are the only ones to have won five World Cups. However, it's not with history that you win matches. It's with football. Unfortunately, they're tough when it comes to that as well. They've got more experience than any other team in the world. All their players have had more than a lifetime to hone their footballing skills. It does make me think they're a bit slow learning, as it takes them like six hundred years to play for the national team - with exceptions. However, they've got one of the toughest national teams I've seen. Their defense is nothing fantastic, let's start with that. They seem to always change it when they have an unsuccessful cycle (unsuccessful meaning not reaching the quarterfinals, naturally). Currently, their goalkeeper is Nororon, who plays for Mliona-Lpaka. Playing for the best Turorian team around (and let's remember Tuzzio once played there) sort of makes you think he's good. And he is. He's just not the best out there. Personally, I see nothing spectacular in their goalkeeper, but he won't be easy to beat. Meanwhile, their backline is quite easily their weakest spot. Weakest meaning least excellent, obviously. Their defense is better than ours, with Tinueme, Haelinde and Narbrinsyr all playing in top clubs. The first two got to a Champions' Cup final with Raynor City United very recently, and won a Cygnus Cup. Narbinsyr, meanwhile, is playing for a renowned Gordonopian club. I think our attack can beat their defense, though. I'm almost sure we'll be able to score, but I wouldn't bet a lot on it. Scoring more than they will score will be tough, though. Or scoring as many goals, for that matter. Their midfield, however, is amazing. They've got two centre midfielders who are very good, yet not as good as the others. Falaval, one I've hardly heard of, to be honest, but being Vanorian can't be bad, and Soldarian, the leader of the team, the one that is the most vital to their mindset. He's not particularly good with the ball, unlike other Vanorians, and he does live under the shadow of other Vanorians, but he's a big presence, and he's as much of a leader as he can be. The side midfielders are the first to send shivers down my spine, though. On the left, Aintôrthea Durosa, Royal Rumiatzi's captain. She can play anywhere except under the goal. That means she's good in everything. That means she will be an asset for Valanora both offensively and defensively. That means she's got endurance. That means she can score. That means she can assist. That means she can do anything at least well. On the right, Espy va Drake. Yuba United's star, the Vanorian scored a goal against us when we thrashed us... by dribbling four players or so. He's incredibly dangerous. He can pull off any trick when you least expect it. He's unpredictable, and I very much doubt Kâí will be able to mark him. However, last time around, Kâí was able to play on par with va Drake. Still, that's unlikely to happen again. After that, we have their centre attacking midfielder. Laborious Hawk. This two-metre tall behemoth does just about everything well, and often leads the Vanorian attack by being one step above everybody else. Our defense simply won't be able to stop him. Mêndêlöíndçêl maybe could be able to make things hard for him, but then again, we're talking about Laborious Hawk. And Mêndêlöíndçêl is gonna have to take care of va Drake, Durosa, Fresco, Gwaval, Falaval and Soldarian too. I think we might be spreading him a bit too thin. Anyway, what worries me the most about Hawk is his free kick taking. If you wonder why, look at World Cup 61's final's highlights. Up front, Gwaval and Fresco are two very good players, with the latter being surprisingly young (just four hundred and something years old!). I personally find Fresco a lot more worrying, and if I were Rossizzo I'd employ Alaminos as a defender taking care of both Hawk and him. Gwaval is a good striker, too, but she's the least of my worries when it comes to defending. She's good too, though. She's Vanorian. Overall, an incredibly scary attack backed up by a pretty good defense. It will basically be a matter of being lucky enough to outscore them. Our defense will be slaughtered, and I think it will be in this exact match that we'll see exactly who is doing well enough for Farfadillis and who is not, in terms of defense. Valanora is the supreme test for defenses. and I don't like that. They don't have a pathetic defense, which will make things harder. Basically, we'll need luck. We have a worse attack (though I'd argue this is one of the very few cases) and a worse defense. We do have a better goalkeeper to my eyes, but that is clearly not enough. So, again, we'll need luck. The way to win will be outscoring them. It always is outscoring them, anyway.

FARFADILLIS

So we're second seeds, it seems. This was helped by Mytannion, Sargossa, Saugeais, Ko-oren and Darmen not qualifying, obviously. Still, we're second seeds for a reason. The qualifiers were somewhat of a fluke, though, and we'll be looking to make up for that. We're in the finals now, the qualifiers are nothing but a memory. We are a team with a well-known philosophy, and one that everybody facing us knows: all-out attack. We do take it a bit too far and - please forgive me - I'd even dare say it hurts our chances a bit. However, it can't be denied that it's given us some good results. Besides, it's not like we can try any other tactic. I mean, the only defender that comes close to being good defensively is Alaminos. And the only player I'd there say other good national teams would take for a defensive role is Mêndêlöíndçêl. However, when it comes to the attack the story is different. We've got many talented players in the attack, but that probably does not make up for it. Even then, some of our players are not up to the task all of the time, and so we find ourselves relying either on Dandalleion or Kâí, most of the times the former. Still, we're a team on the rise, and we'll eventually get a better defense, and maybe a better offense too, and we'll eventually be world champions. We can dream. Anyway, the team for the first time looks capable of making it out of the group stage. It has managed that twice before, but they were never the favourites to do it. According to the KPB rankings, we're going to make it out. The KPB rankings are not always trustworthy, though. When was the last time the #1 ranked team won anyway? Still, the people thinking we won't get out are, so far, the Vanorians and a schizo Starblaydi who talks to his dog. His dog also believes we won't make it, apparently. I'm not all that worried, though. We've got a wonderful goalkeeper in the form of Lisdiren. We'll need him to be at his one hundred percent. Otherwise, we'll be out early on. Seriously, he's the very reason why our tactics work. Without him, we'd be conceding far more goals than we score. As for our defense, it looks terrible. Not as terrible as it could be, though. Santos Alaminos is a pretty good defender - at the very least good enough for a World Cup - while Mata is a youngster with some potential. Fakkotti is still new to the line-up, and he hasn't been bad at all. Still, they're better attacking than defending. On the attack, Alaminos and Fakkotti help a good bit, while Mata does create a few chances and even score from time to time. Still, what matters about the defense is how it defends, and ours is not the best at it. I'm fully expecting our elimination (if that even happens... which is sadly likely) to be at the very least partially because of our defense. The midfield, though, is probably where we are best. Our defensive midfielder is great - just ask any Astograthian - and probably will be able to deal at least partially with some world class player. He will face too much work against Valanora, though. Nobody can actually expect him to control the Vanorians. Anyway, our captain is an awesome player, I'd even put him on par with Dandalleion. On the sides, Kâí and Fôx are very dangerous to any opposition - Kâí tore apart the Vanorian defense last time around (and no, the defense had not gone down with flu). I personally think Kâí has the potential to be better than Dandalleion, he's just a a fantastic player. Anyone who plays for Urbizania Wanderers at his age is fantastic. Oh, I almost forgot, he's Hawk's teammate. Maybe that can help us in a way or another. Fôx is a pretty underrated right midfielder who can change a match if given the chance. I doubt our opponents will leave him unmarked. And then comes our traditional way of wreaking havoc through the centre. The offensive midfielder duo. Tuzzio, on the left, is a classy player known by many. He's not on form currently, though (don't ask why, it beats me) but he can be incredibly dangerous. Let's remember the three assists he got against Vilita in the three-two that sent us through to the round of sixteen last World Cup. On the right, Terán. He's a different kind of offensive midfielder. He often helps the defense, and he's actually good defensively. However, his general lack of respect for the opposing defenders makes him dribble in humiliating ways, and his pinpointing passes are a defender's nightmare. He's a player who always gives it his all, and he really seems to just play for the fun of it, as he says he does. He even offered Endeavour of Apox to lower his wages when he heard the club was undergoing some economic problems. Up front, we have Dandalleion and Tenian. Dandalleion is quite easily the most recognized Farf player - and no, he's not a fried dandelion. As much fun as people make of his surname, and that's justified, obviously, nobody can really deny he's kind of scary. He can do just about everything right, he can dribble, he can playmake, he can outrun. Specially outrun. I swear I've never seen such a fast player. When counterattacking he'll be threatening any defense. Most of his goals come from counterattacks, after all. Tenian, on the other hand, is not quite as scary. However, he finishes anything Dandalleion or someone else does not when in a good day. He'll do the dirty work and score the goals that nobody remembers unless they are very important. Someone has to do it. He's a legend in Apox, and I think he can play way better than he did in the qualifiers. Let's not forget he's a pretty good playmaker despite his below-average speed, as well. He used to be a playmaker as a right midfielder for us, after all. Overall, our attack is up to the task, but our defense is not. Our goalkeeper is our saving angel in that regard. Balancing, I think we can say that we deserve the place as a second seed.

THE LICENTIAN ISLES

The Licentians are worthy opponents. They do make me wonder how they're not second seeds. I mean, they may not have made it out of the group stage, like, ever, but their team is able to do just so much more. They've got some talent in their line-up, and I can't help but think that our match against them will define who goes to the next round and who gets eliminated. They're a worrying team, and their defensive style is one that will be difficult to beat. On the offense, I'd argue they're not all that worrying, but merely due to their tactics. They're very likely to score against use, though. Simply because they've got good players for counterattacks. Oh God how I hate counterattacks. They sure must be hungry for a knock-out stage appearance, and to become the first Esportivan team to get one . They're two-time Esportivan champions for a reason, only matched by Apox and New Sideburn. Apox needs no introduction, and New Sideburn does not either. The Licentian Isles, I believe, will be our toughest challengers for the second place. I want to top the group, but I think Northern Sunrise Islands, the Licentian Isles and us can all be realistic enough to not aim for that. Their goalkeeper is a very good one. Jamieson's his name, he plays for Carrington United, and he seems to be a leader for his team at the young age of twenty five. The Licentians' defensive style will be tough to beat, but this guy makes it even tougher. Their defenders do not seem to be anything out of this world, unless you take a close look. McLauchlan plays for a renowned Sunrisian team (that's at least decent), Bishop is a tremendously experienced player, Munro is by all accounts not bad, though I've not heard all that much about him, and Hill plays for fucking 1.FC Surtsey Islands Gulls. We've only got one player that's gotten farther than him in the Champions' Cup, and that's Dandalleion. As a holding midfielder, Nate Parkinson is a bit old, but he's one of the Licentian Isles' biggest stars. He plays for Astograth University, which should give an idea of how good he is. The pair of centre midfielders might be the strongest part of this opposing side, as they're not only helped by Parkinson, but they both know each other very well. They're Brown and Donaldson. They both play for Abingdon Celtic, current Licentian champions. Donaldson is more attacking, but he is a bit old. Brown will be the one trying to stop the Farf attack. Miller, their left winger, is probably their best player. He's already playing in the Mytanar league at the young age of twenty. He can change just about any game, and so I believe Rossizzo will be employing Alaminos to take care of him. Helped by Mêndêlöíndçêl. I'm not sure if that's gonna be enough. If it happens, at the very least we'll be leaving other areas uncovered. On the right, Watt is a good player who kind of lives under Miller's shadow. He's not bad, though, and should give Fakkotti a hard time. As a centreforward. Alexander Keir - one of Alex Terán's teammate. Keir's got a good case for best Licentian player, too, but his age is the reason why I did not choose him. He'll be threatening our team under any circumstances, and I really don't want him scoring against us more than once after some swift counterattacks. Overall, the Cyan and Gold look like a very good team, and very solid. They've got some good chemistry according to what I've seen, and topping the group they topped during the qualifiers would've been hard for any team. They left Mytannion out of the World Cup. They left Ismet van Huijgevoort, Iivari Kaitanen, Mikkel Kohlemainen and Kristian Hauge out of the World Cup. That is just sick. They also thrashed Kinitaria in the last matchday. They're in some spectacular form, and that will only make things harder. I mean, why couldn't they arrive in some poor form, like securing their spot then fucking up a lot? That would make me worry less. I just hope the first matchday goes our way and we somehow get points against Valanora and Nothern Sunrise Islands makes them drop points. That would quite simply be ideal. Let's just hope they don't become the first Esportivan nation to make it to the round of sixteen!

NORTHERN SUNRISE ISLANDS

An obviously familiar country. I'm glad these guys got to the World Cup, their talent just couldn't be wasted. They've got some very good non-NT players in here, and their capped players here are just wonderful. One of them is, I believe and so do the Licentians, their best player, though. They're a team currently rising, but their rising has been very fast. First, an U-15 win. Nothing too fantastic. Then, a Di Bradini Cup win. Pretty fantastic. Then, another U-15 title, nothing too fantastic. Then, a Campionato Esportiva final that could've gone either way, but went the Sideburnese way. And now, first World Cup qualification. It sure has been all a bit too fast. Not that it's not deserved, though. In the qualifiers they were drawn with no other nation than Polar Islandstates, and actually managed a tie. They did drop some unnecessary points, but with some help of lower teams beating or tying with the Sylvanaes Queendom they got to a play-off against Ossidiacqua. Two certain players playing in Farf teams did really well against them and they managed to win by an aggregate of seven to three. A deserved place in the World Cup. They can make us drop points, and that is a bit worrying. The good thing is that they can make anyone drop points. I personally don't see them making it out of the group stage, but it would not surprise me all that much. Their goalkeeper is playing for an Equestrian team... but we're playing in Cassadaigua, so that's not really something important. She's a good goalkeeper, though I don't think she's anything out of this world. She did bench Luke Charmander, though. That should say a lot about her. Their backline is not something that worries me too much, specially because their manager, the infamous Val Kylx, has been short-sighted enough to not call di Martine to their national team. Seriously, she starts for Urbizania Wanderers, how could she not even be called to the bench? I find it very weird, as the only Sunrisian player who can say is better defensively is Justin Redwing... their captain. He's a good player, but he's rendered a bit irrelevant as a sideback. He's gonna be marking Kâí, though, so he's not gonna be rendered irrelevant against us, at least. Their two centre backs do not really inspire any fear to me, and I think they won't be enough to stop Dandalleion, but who knows. Hikari and McFlemming are their names, and they're maybe the weakest spot of the Sunrisians. Hawk is nothing spectacular, either. Their defense is the weakest one of the group (after ours, obviously). Their defensive midfielder is pretty good, as should be evidenced by him playing for the same team as Ichi Tuzzio. He'll be causing Tuzzio and Terán problems, but outnumbering him, coupled with him being a bit alone in terms of player who are good defensively, should be enough to ignore that. Their midfield is by far their best line, as can be evidenced not only by Starfox. You know why? Cause their two centre midfielders are two very well-known players, at least well-known for any Farf. On the left, Abuda, Avenida Principal's superstar, who was the third best player of the FFL last season. He is their best player according to my opinion and the Licentians' (already said this). He's just incredibly agile and has an eye for the goal. He's exquisite with the ball, his dribbling is impressive and his playmaking is very far from bad. Defensively he's not quite the star he is offensively, but he's not bad defending either. Mêndêlöíndçêl will probably mark him man-on-man, or at least take care of him and Café. Oh, yeah, Café's his partner in crime. As a right centre midfielder, the prodigy who starts for La Nueva Avenida and recently won the Atlantian Oceanian Champions' League will be causing us just more problems. He's a wonderful player with a very bright future. They won the Di Bradini Cup thanks to him and Cervantes, another prodigy. Their offensive midfielder is basically more of the same thing. Namine Nagatomo is known by many. The female player that started playing street football, many Farves who know about her have likened her story to Dandalleion's, as both started playing a different kind of football. She will be worrying our defense. Taking a second look, Mêndêlöíndçêl will probably have to take care of three players. Poor man, he does not even get paid for it. Up front, Mateus Carvalho is not a very good player, but he's not unknown and should not be left unattended under any circumstances. His partner, Travis, though, is much more worrying. He will be causing us some problems, and I think Rossizzo will use his joker (again, Alaminos) to take care of him. The Sunrisians sure have a good attack, and I don't see our defense properly countering it for our match. We'll certainly be in hunger for a win when we play against them, though, so that may change things, mainly because of the Sunrisians' lack of experience. Our attack no doubts can beat their defense, though, so I expect this match to be a "Let's see who can score more goals!" type of match. Well, more so than most of our matches.

So, well, that's a thorough analysis of all of our opponents. It will no doubt be a tough group stage, but I am kind of optimistic about it. I mean, we're still in the upswing, and we're a talented bunch, as said by the Vanorians. We can do this, it's just a matter of concentration and a bit of luck. And players like Tuzzio waking up and playing the way they can. I sure hope we can have all of our players at their a hundred percent for the match against Valanora, it will be very tough. Like, very tough.

[Northern Sunrise Islands]

It was a rainy day at Darveston, the Junior League's official training facility. Known as "The New House", this was once a brothel, but obviously, the city never liked it and after finally landing a "cleaning process" at the city, the brothel was finally ruled out, with The Junior League eventually taking up the position of owner of that little piece of land, building their facilities there, where they would train unselected rookies by the league's teams.

Among other rookies, Ruby, Red and June Gardot were all gathered after watching the game that would qualify the Sunrise to their first ever World Cup. They all watched when Café opened the game with a great header that would meet the top bar, which would be later scored with a bicycle kick made by Abuda. They all watched when Nagatomo leaped over Yves Pantani, while holding her ball between her feet with a gymnastic leap of perfection, before nailing a perfect shot to the back of the net.

The players in zebra shirts would, however, bring the game back with a goal scored by Nicolo Gardella, after Sioux, who had been doing marvelously under the bar sadly couldn't defend the shot. Regardless, the Sunrise didn't allow their spirit to break, with most of the rookies at "The New House" cheering them up. Café would pay it back by scoring under the legs of the goalie of the Acquans, Luca Fausti. Even after Finiguerra scored back to the Acquans, the Sunrise was still up for the fight with the mighty Abuda hitting a flawless shot from outside of the box. The word flawless almost defined their run. Even with a couple of losses against teams that were really on different levels, ranging from Tynewear to the all-mighty Polar Islandstates. Regardless, the Sunrisians (and Val Kylx) did what they knew and got to the grandest stage of Multiverse football, with other twenty-nine talented teams, Apox and Jeruselem.

As they were now free to roam around the facilities, while most of the rookies cheered, Ruby had mixed feelings. She still wasn't a fan of the Huelarus flag, but it was nice to see their people making the cut. A side that was humble and mostly pessimist had finally overcame their fears. After being denied of their dreams by Lymantatia, of all teams; the Vaporeons made it rain over worthy opposition like Chiata and the Sylvanaes Queendom. Now they had punched their ticket in, against other three teams. While still the pessimist side that they are traditionally known for, there is enough joy of being there to counter it.

Now their three opponents were a bit difficult to explain. To put it under a nice light (and because this is the Sunrise, games are our thing), it's a lot like if Charmy Bee was going to go against Chaotix member Espio and good ol' Knuckles, with a pummeling coming from the legendary Link somewhere at the schedule. Sounds difficult for you to understand? Allow me to explain it to you.

VALANORA - "Link"
To say Link is only a way to continue with the metaphor, but it's appropriate enough. It's a hard hitting team that could easily pack a punch. High on ranks, high on trophies, high on literally anything (except, you know, high as in drugged, that's what we expect of some of our neighbors). Having five stars over those swords should give you enough of a justification of what you're going into. It says "Danger, you're about to be pummeled." And they proved that over and over again at the qualifiers. Honestly, for a team that is REALLY far from Valanora, the Sunrise leaving this match with a draw would be perfect. If we beat them, the next day's paper will see titles such as "Furellum won the U-15 World Cup" and "Paradystopia is now a Republic". Plus, elves, pointy ears...

THE LICENTIAN ISLES / LICENTIAPACISTERRA - "Espio the Chameleon"
Now, Esportiva is a family at best. All of the nations there tend to share some sort of family feeling that only continues as they all cheer on each others successes and help on each others failures. "The Third Region" has that as a main feature, given how you probably won't meet nice people anywhere else at the Sports scene. Well, that and the other main feature being that trainwreck of a flag. Regardless, it's difficult to fight family: Hardys, Harts... and on this case, Esportivans. The match against the Licentians is special, because they are both from the top of the pyramid of Esportiva and it oftenly feels like it's more important to think region first. Regardless, the Sunrise is in for a win. Family or not, you need to let the Vaporeons flow like water, no?

FARFADILLIS - "Knuckles the Echidna"
And then comes the one place that has been around to help for years. It's certainly an emotional match, to be on the other side of a pitch against the mighty Farves. La Vherderoja, the dream shirt of any of the good players that the country has produced, facing off the other country that seems to give them more jobs, behind their own country. Funnily enough, it's not hard to remember some of those faces from the Farf national team kicking ball at our grass. If you even need any indication, the Mîs, Karrka, Faró... Project +90, Frendê at Neuville... But it's a war, and both sides need the win. If it's a war after all, cry not for me, Farfadillis.

With these three adversaries on mind, the rookies from The New House noted something at the table, in hundreds. It simply said they weren't going to stay at The New House for a while. Cassadaigua, don't light the fire, we're coming.

[Audioslavia]

Rubio hadn't had to use the investigative side of his journalistic talents for quite some time - something Jeremy Jaffacake, his former mentor, wouldn't have approved of. Displaying those skills at this very moment, however, was a useful excersise, not only to prove to himself and Jeremy that he still had them, but to show his own young protege, one Miguel De Calanya, how the more nefarious aspects of the trade worked. Lesson one for any journalist working in Audioslavia was, of course, how to find out where Jeremy Jaffacake is at any given time.

Right now, in Cassadaigua, a matter of days before the sixty-seventh World Cup began in earnest, the task was to find which hotel the old hack was staying at. Rubio could, of course, simply call Jeremy and find out - the two of them being friends and all that - but that took the challenge away from it.

The first step had been to find the hotel. That was easy. There was a mathematical formula for working it out, in fact. One takes the four-star hotel that housed the Audioslavia national team and simply takes a compass and finds the nearest five-star hotel to it, in this case leading to large, marble building about half a mile away (or 'three pubs away' as Jeremy would say). Thereafter came the tricky part.

Miguel had walked in first, tasked with playing the clueless Audioslavian tourist - something the decidedly wet-behind-the-ears twenty-two year old did rather believably - and duly spoke to the poor Dagan hotelliere in a mixture of guttural Audioslavian pidgin-Basque and contextless Cassadaiguan words until the poor girl simply handed over the register and asked Miguel to find his own name on the list of clients currently staying in the hotel. All the while, Rubio was walking nonchalantly towards the stairs and climbing to the second floor, where he met Miguel five minutes later.

"Did you memorize the names?" Rubio had said. Miguel had nodded.

"John Waites?"
"No"
"Cynthia Kiigan?"
"..don't think so"
"Jane Whealdon?"
"Definitely not"
"Kryisgay McVities?"
"Bingo"
"Fourth floor. Room 33"
"Let's go"

On arriving to floor four, and finding the door, Rubio knocked once before trying the handle, drawing a wince from Miguel
"You can't just let yourself in.."
"Jeremy doesn't open the door for anyone who doesn't 'room service' immediately after knocking. I only knocked once just to make sure he can get his pants back on"
"Why don't you just say 'room service'?"
"Because then he'll think I'm his escort. Like I said, I want him pants-on"

The door didn't budge. Jeremy pulled a small Casaran-army knife from his pocket and, in what to Miguel seemed like a blur, made the lock 'click' within two seconds. The door was pushed open and the duo made their way inside.

"Oi, shitface" Rubio called out, to an apparently empty room. Rubio sniffed. Jeremy wasn't home.
"Maybe this isn't his room?" offered Miguel. Rubio shook his head.
"Check the fridge"

Miguel moved over to the fridge, opened the door, and stared blankly at the inside.
"It's empty"
"This is definitely his room, then"
"No, wait, there's something here. A note. Stuck to the inside of the door". Miguel picked the note up and closed the fridge door.
"Well?" asked Rubio, sitting on the bed.
"You're a fat Krytenian bastard"
"...is that what is says?"
"Not exactly" said Miguel. Rubio held out his hand, frowning at Miguel as his young protege handed him the note. Rubio took it, read it, and sighed. He heard a knock at the room door.

"Room service, boys" came a call from the other side. A gravelly and distinctive Audioslavian accent.
"You're the bastard, Jeremy" said Rubio. Rubio read the note again, tutting to himself as he did so.

Hi Miguel, hope you're settling in. When you read this, please call your boss a fat Krytenian bastard. Thank you. Jeremy.

The door swung open to reveal, in all his glory, the infamous old Audioslavian hack. Miguel had never met him before, but he'd heard stories. Oh, there were plenty of those flying around. He did not, however, look the part. Miguel had expected Jeremy to be permanently fitted into an old trenchcoat, a trilby, and a pair of sturdy brown steel-toe-caps, but here the old man was in just jeans and a t-shirt, not even wearing shoes, as if he'd just walked in from a nearby room.

Jeremy, Rubio and Miguel found themselves in another hotel room a minute later, the room opposite the one they'd assumed Jeremy would be staying in.
"Always rent two rooms" Jeremy had said, neglecting to mention that it was easier said than done for those who hadn't become rich on a mixture of expense-fiddling and running a series of prohibition-busting speak-easies. "Book them under different names, stay in one, and put the other under an obvious name. Throws people off."
Miguel asked why it was necessary for a simple journalist to go to such lengths. Jeremy had just laughed, as had Rubio.
"You'll be fine for a while yet" said Jeremy, "wait until you piss enough people off"

Jeremy's 'actual' hotel room was a bit of a mess. Discarded cigarette packets were scattered on the windowsill, an empty bottle of whisky lay on the nightstand, next to a half-full one. There were a couple of business cards next to it. Business cards that looked like they'd been pulled straight out of phoneboxes.
"So much for your decade of going straight" said Rubio
"Yeah, sobriety gets boring after a while. Make yourself at home, guys"
Rubio plonked himself down in the swivel-chair that sat next to the room's desk. He watched Jeremy go into a cupboard and pull out three glasses, setting them on the nightstand next to the whisky bottle. "Would you mind doing the honours, Miguel?" asked Jeremy. Miguel nodded, and asked Jeremy if he could smoke, something with which Jeremy obviously had no problem. Rubio, however, had stopped paying attention. He was staring intently at Jeremy's laptop, and the paragraph of writing that was displayed, prominently, as Jeremy's most recent 'work'.

"Oh, but Jeremy.." said Rubio, running a hand through the studly Audioslavian's hair, "our love is forbidden, by the laws of this state". The manly Audioslavian merely laughed, and took the young Rubio's face in his hands.
"Rubio, my darling, nothing could stop us being together, not the state, not god himself, my darling". Rubio quivered as the incredibly sexy Jeremy Jaffacake ran his manly hand down the Krytenian's chest and down to his..."

"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" shouted Rubio, leaping out his chair in horror, stumbling backwards, away from the laptop, like a girl with a torn-top from a monster in a horror-film. Jeremy frowned, looked from Rubio to his lap-top, and then laughed.
"Oh, that, yeah, a little creative writing. Erotic fan-fic."
Rubio wiped the cold sweat out of his eyes.
"What... what the hell is it doing on your computer?!"
"Well, I wrote it"
"WHAT?!"
"Well nobody else was" said Jeremy, defensively. "Honestly, you get this slash-fic stuff written about everything from cartoon horses to Doctor Who characters to chuffin' newsreaders. I looked for days for some hot Jeremy action and saw nothing, so I'm writing it myself." Jeremy nonchalantly took the whisky that Miguel offered him. Miguel, true to form, offered little emotional content, instead surveying the scene analytically.
"Wh... wh.... why am I... Why am *I*... Why are *you*.... WHY, JEREMY, WHY?"
Jeremy shrugged.
"Didn't seem fair that this sweet ass wasn't on the fan-fic bus, that's all" said Jeremy, pointing to his own posterior as he did so, a feat that necessitated his rolling onto his side from his position slouched on the bed, the cushions pushed up high against the headboard. "You should see the Rami Niblick stuff"
"I think I'm going to be sick. Hand me that whisky. I need to unsee this."
Miguel walked over to Rubio, whisky in hand, and carefully passed a large one down to the stricken Krytenian. Jeremy raised his glass.
"Bottom's up" said the hack.
"Cheers" said Miguel. Rubio just stared blankly at the wall.
"What's this?" asked Miguel, pointing at a stack of papers on the desk. The stack must have been a foot high.
"Oh that, that's research" said Jeremy. Miguel took the top sheet of paper, and noted that on the piece of paper was a rather graphic and imaginitive drawing of an anatomically unlikely cartoon pony, along with said cartoon pony's apparent 'special' pony friend.
"Clop" said Jeremy, "an alarming genre"
"You like this stuff?" asked Miguel, as emotionlessly as possible, though the young man couldn't hide a mixture of a frown and a raised eyebrow.
"God no" said Jeremy, "but it gave me an idea. Polarian fanfic. A little like 'clop', but different. 'Flop', I'm calling it"
Miguel studied the picture, and the even worse one below it, and put it back on the pile.
Rubio, finally, stood up. He dared not even look at the piles of paper, but he's realised he had a question to ask.
"You got these from the internet?" he asked. Jeremy nodded.
"Then why... Jeremy... why... did you print them out?"
Jeremy shrugged.
"There must be three hundred pages, here, is it *all* imaginitive pony clop?"
"Pretty sure you could get arrested for that if we were in Equestrian States" said Miguel.
"I'll say" agreed Rubio, "this amount is tantamout to an '..with intent to supply" rap, but the main question is, Jeremy, why?"
Jeremy, again, shrugged, but couldn't hide a smile. Rubio looked at his old boss.
"You knew we were coming. You knew we wanted to surprise you" said Rubio. Jeremy kept smiling. Rubio sighed.
"...so you thought you'd surprise *us*".
"Don't know what you're talking about" said Jeremy. "Anyway, to business..."
"To business" repeated Miguel, raising his glass in the air. Jeremy and Rubio looked at him. Miguel put his hand back down.
"Sorry, I thought you were proposing a toast".
"For that" said Rubio, "you're writing the group preview"
"Doesn't sound like much of a punishment" said Miguel
"It includes writing a hundred interesting words about Boring Paradise" said Rubio.
"Ah"...

---

'B' is for Group B

'B' is for 'Barunia'

Barunia dazzled in qualifiers and not only with their bright Kirola-made cyan-and-yellow shirts. The side were no-one's pick to progress in a qualifying group that included the much stronger (on paper) Valladares and Milchama, and were expected to find the likes of Thatius and Beaverriver difficult enough opposition to ensure the Barunians had third place as a hard glass ceiling, but an opening-day 5-3 demolition of favourites Valladares set the stage for a spirited qualifying attempt that saw the side top their group for all the first half of qualifying before being pulled back into the pack after a revenge defeat to the Valladar and a disappointing home loss to Thatius. A famous 3-2 win over Milchama, however, would see the Suns installed as favourites for the playoff spot, which they grabbed with time to spare, very nearly amassing enough points to qualify automatically. Barunia were, instead, tasked with overcoming Qazox in a playoff that the Suns were expected to lose out in. They, instead, destroyed the Qazoxians in their own stadium before, on a famous autumn night in the Northport Sports Complex, Barunia booked their first every qualifying berth with a 2-1 win, ensuring a 6-3 aggregate victory.

Barunia appear to be everyone's pick for an early trip home, but this reporter, instead, fancies the talented side to sneak themselves in to the next round. Prediction: 2nd.

'B' is for 'Boring'

Boring Paradise then... they... erm... yeah... they're interesting. In fairness, BP had a rather exciting qualifying campaign, one which saw them limp to fourth-place by the half-way point before, somehow, smacking six goals each past Apox and Iturributa (twice!) and taking advantage of this generation's pathetic attempt at a Saugeais football team to sit comfortably in second place by the end of the qualifiers. A victory over Jeru FC put BP into the finals, but the side are perhaps the 32nd-favourites for a berth in the second round. Our prediction: 4th.

'B' is for 'Brothers'

Ah, The Inevitable Syndicate, Audioslavia's baby brother on the international stage. The Syndicatians have their own worries right now, what with the rebellion and all that, but you can be sure that, come matchday three, most eyes in the country will be turned onto the television screen, and the third meeting between Audioslavia and The Syndicate.
Meeting one came as a shock to 'big brother' Audioslavia, who were rudely usurped by Cervinka's extra-time goal in the second-round of AOCAF 40. That result created a friendly rivalry between the teams, who co-hosted World Cup 66 to great success and met in the third-place playoff, with Audioslavia exacting a measure of revenge in a 5-3 extra-time victory.

The Syndicatians - looking a little more fascisty this time out with their new, blacker flag - are second favourites to reach the second round behind out own Audioslavians, but this reporter sees the upstarts from Barunia usurping a team rattled by the crisis at home. Prediction: 3rd.

'B' is for 'Bulls'

That just leaves our very own Bulls, two-time World Champions, three-time regional champs, and one of the favourites to win the whole tournament. Audioslavia have to be put as favourites to win the group outright, but despite a relatively comfortable qualifying campaign that saw the side defeated only once - a 3-2 loss to Barunian victims Qazox - this Audioslavian side is generally accepted as being a pale imitation of the group that swept all before them in preceding decades. Gone are the Eigers and Ryans of the team, with the likes of Van Wildernis and the Jansen twins showing signs of age, wear and tear. The side, spearheaded by the exciting Arturo Hudson-Blake, should still be in an around the final eight in two weeks time, but whether this particular Audioslavia side can truly make an impact in this World Cup is up for debate, especially after a frankly disasterous attempt at winning the previous AOCAF Cup on home soil. Prediction: First. We hope.

[Apox]

OOC: This is all strictly IC and rubbish 'cos I couldn't find any inspiration to RP the group draw. Normal standards will return following matches and tings.

taken from the Daily Rag...

Apox Are Drawn Into A Group?!?!

Well hello there people of Apox! Something called the World Cup is happening or some sh*t like that. So it turns out that Apox were drawn into Group F, which is presumably a good group, or a bad group or a Group of Death or just none them really, and if you actually cared about football then you'd probably go to APXSports or something to get some analysis. But you don't and you're not, so I'm going to give you some analysis instead.

So, as you might have known, we have been grouped with three other nations, called Astograth, Valladares and Blouman Empire. Now you may know some things about these nations, or you may know nothing at all. I am in the latter group of people, but that's not going to stop me. Astograth is near Polar Islandstates isn't it? And their national teams play each other at the end of their national seasons? Yeah, that's right.

Valladares hate Darmen and the "West Lands" which are presumably west of them. They are also Spanish.

Blouman Empire are an Empire. If they are particularly empirical then they probably cheat at football because people who have empires tend to have superiority complexes, and therefore hate losing. I bet they've bribed all the tournament refs. Bastards.

And yeah, then a lot of other nations were drawn into other groups as well. And all the nations qualified by winning groups or coming second and then beating someone else or qualifying automatically without winning their groups. Well I confused, I don't know about the rest of you f*ckers. Anyway, them Polar Islandstates are the top ranked side, so you'd probably think they'll win. MAYBE THEY WON'T! YOU CAN'T CONTROL MARGARET! YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE WORLD YOU FASCIST PIG. Meh, someone else will win it. Hopefully us. Probably not. I don't even really care anymore, who gives a sh*t about some poxy world cup. I'm off to the pub.

[Valladares]

The National Kickoff
The Online Home of Valladar Football!

WORLD CUP FINALS DRAW: THE AFTERMATH

Valladares placed in Group F, Blouman Empire main threat for Les Gones

By: Alan Rosero

CANTERLOT, EQUESTRIAN STATES (VP) - Welcome to another entry of my blog here on Valladares' premier website, the National Kickoff, this time covering the Valladares national football team in their World Cup 67 campaign in Equestrian States (boo hiss boo). With the boring qualifiers now finally over, the awfully long list of 173 nations entered to the competition was reduced to the 32 that will be contesting the finals in either Cassadaigua or Equestrian States. Personally I would have liked it if we had been drawn into the Cassadagan half of the tournament, mainly because Cassadaigua is conveniently located south of the Westlands state (and in Rushmore, of course) and also because Equestrian States isn't really a country that enticing for someone like me. However, it seems karma has struck back at us...remember what happened in Copa Rushmori X, when we disregarded the Dagan hopes to be drawn into a group based in the Westlands and instead sent them thousands of kilometres to the east into the host's group? That's right, we're not playing in Cassadaigua but in Equestrian States, to the sadness of thousands of fans who were expecting to make the relative short trip to Concord Heights.

As if that weren't enough, we were drawn with the best team of the qualifying stage (Blouman Empire), and to make things even more "interesting", the Equestrian organization decides to send us to play our matches in a stadium located literally in the air! Wow...anyways, Les Gones start their finals campaign as their group's top seed thanks to that strong showing at the qualifiers which allowed them to break into the top 10 again. And this Group F will also feature three winners of their respective qualifying groups: Apox, Blouman Empire, and Astograth, all of them respectable sides just for the fact of having made this far. And here's our preview on our rivals and other things...

A preview on the Group F members



Valladares

Rank: 9th, 36.46 KPB points
Their road to the finals: Qualifying Group 18 Winners, 13W, 1D, 2L, 52GF, 26GA
NTers currently playing in Valladares: Luis Fuentes, Tom Moore, Jéremy Carrasso, Luis Carlos Perea, Jerôme Perrin, Freddy Edwards, Frank Lescott, Pedro Pedretti, Alain Démont, Ricardinho, Jonathan Bosetti, Manuel Santos, Abel Brücke, Frank Rozenthal, Miguel Flórez
Previous meeting: We can't play against ourselves, d'uh!

Yep, that's us! We reached the World Cup finals for the second time in a row after the failure to qualify for the finals of World Cup 65, and surely we'll continue qualifying until the time World Cup 71 comes, when we'll be surely knocked out in the qualifiers by some upstart or something like that, as usual. Our 12th qualification in 21 attempts wasn't really that comfortable and sweet, as despite smashing teams like Barunia (who eventually qualified to the proper after disposing of Qazox, props to them!) and Beaverriver at the National Stadium, we also had to endure losses at those same teams in the first leg of qualifying. Anyways, the fairytale called Republika Vilska (who were even leading the group at some point during that first leg) didn't last long, and the performances displayed by both Milchama and Thatius were subpar, meaning that Les Gones were able to run away with the group and the automatic berth to the finals while leaving second place contention for Barunia and Milchama, matter that was also swiftly settled in favor of Barunia.

As for player and squad performance during the qualifiers...offense good, defense bad. The qualifying campaign did nothing but ratify the fact that our attack is running smoothly, while also underlining our already known defensive woes. Certainly Dimitri Campbell has done an excellent job at exploiting the offensive prowess of our players, but there's still the feeling he's got to improve his work on the team's defense. 52 goals scored throughout this qualifying phase say wonders about our trio of strikers, with Yoan Gignac, Pedrinho, and Frank Rozenthal showing they're currently in top form, while Néider Riascos, Carlos Alberto Sáez, and Miguel Flórez have also been up to the challenge when required. The midfield has performed just fine, Juan Pablo Reyes being the leader in that zone and a vital help for the strikers, with Manuel Santos also making a great contribution to the team's offensive game. And now we're coming to the part that leaves me with the greatest worries, the defense. I think it's time for a revamp in that zone, our defenders are already aging and maybe they're not so fast like they used to be, and this is precisely the thing other teams like to take advantage of when playing against us. While I concede that Carrasso, Perrin, and Edwards are the "experienced" voices of the squad, maybe it would be time for Campbell to try and explore other options on the bench: Patrick Courtois for example, he's young, talented, has won a Liga-1 with ASB, and now will be settling in the Licentian Isles, while Frank Lescott has shown some signs of quality with TFC. Nevertheless, Luis Fuentes is still doing a wonderful job despite his age, props to the captain! And maybe would Ricardinho and Pedro Pedretti be able to give more help right there? Thank you very much!



Apox

Rank: 27th, 23.67 KPB points
Their road to the finals: Qualifying Group 3 Winners, 11W, 1D, 4L, 39GF, 19GA
NTers currently playing in Valladares: None
Previous meeting: N/A, first match ever between both sides to be played this WC

So our first rivals in the finals will be the Apoxians, eh? Another Esportivan up-and-coming side that will be out to give everyone in their group a run for their money. They qualified for their third finals appearance after ending up on top of Group 3 with 34 points, leaving Saugeais out of contention in the process. Even so, they needed some extra help from Cosumar to punch their ticket to the finals, with the former WC regulars holding Boring Paradise to a draw and not letting them leapfrog Apox for the top spot in the group, while the Apoxians were having their bye day. Seriously, bye days on the last day of qualifying suck.

Apox's usual formation is a 4-5-1, Tolgus Tregajorran being the only man ahead, and a crowded midfield which will be looking forward to make things tough for our strikers, Matthias Sindelar playing slightly behind the main line of 4 midfielders. Don't be fooled by the apparent defensive look of their formation, certainly they still have some aces up their sleeve. Tregajorran is a very capable player that could punish you if you're not aware of his moves, especially if they're given the chance to counterattack, however, I'm sure he is going to struggle with the "magical trapezium" we've got in our midfield. From my experience watching every match played by Valladares, I can tell that teams with a 4-5-1 formation will not have many chances against our side, but that crowded midfield will represent a real challenge for our game. This will be our first opponent and, given that we're the first seed, victory is a must. Not only because it'll free us from a lot of pressure, but it will also give a boost to our chances to make it past this round.

And...previous history against them? *crickets*

Blouman Empire



Rank: 15th, 30.63 KPB points
Their road to the finals: Qualifying Group 10 Winners, 14W, 2D, 0L, 49GF, 17GA
NTers currently playing in Valladares: None
Previous meeting: Valladares 2–0 Blouman Empire, World Cup 64 Finals Group B

Our second rival will be Blouman Empire, a side that comes to the finals boasting the best qualifying record out of the 30 qualifiers. This was done by cruising through an easy Group 10 where the only other side worth a mention, and also the only one that gave them some fight, was Farfadillis. This could only mean two things: either they are way too good (not to the level of Valanora, Polar Islandstates or Audioslavia, though) or their group was plain crap and they didn't need to do much effort to sort it out. Obviously the latter theory is the one that describes better what happened there.

We've already faced this team once at this stage: World Cup 64 in New Montreal States, when Les Gones beat them two goals to nil, sealing qualification to the next stage where we would eventually be on the winning end of a thrilling Ro16 match against the hosts before falling in the quarterfinals to Osarius. Going back to present time, Blouman Empire will likely present to us a 4-3-1-2 as initial formation, a variation of the 4-3-3 used by some of the top Liga-1 teams like Fontvielle Impact or Metropolis Alligators. Clearly, Robert Schmitz is the player to follow (and mark) in this team: fast, accurate, and most of all, playmaker. A huge share of Les Gones' success in this match will depend on Pedretti's and Ricardinho's ability to keep this player marked and deprived of chances to surprise us, while also exerting our usual pressure on them like we know to do. If we manage to keep their central forward out of game, and therefore their strikers deprived of goal options, our job will be much easier. Retaining ball possession will also be crucial for us, but that's something already ingrained within this team's style.



Astograth

Rank: 48th, 17.77 KPB points
Their road to the finals: Qualifying Group 7 Winners, 11W, 3D, 2L, 34GF, 16GA
NTers currently playing in Valladares: None
Previous meeting: Valladares 1–1 Astograth, Copa Rushmori XV Casaran Stage Matchday 3

Oh yes, those bigmouths. Is it really too difficult for some irrelevant dude from the Astrogothic FA or whatever to show a single bit of respect to a national team doubling yours on KPB points? Or at least refraining from saying "Valladares, easy"? If we're "easy" for them, then why haven't they beaten us already? They had their chance in CR15, facing a U-21 team and guess what? They wasted it, predictable. A 1-1 draw which meant nothing but more misery piled on them and their woeful Copa campaign there in Saugeais. Right, enough trash-talking. Olibondeka are back into the main show after having missed the proper competition for like 2 or 3 editions. And they did it by forcing Group 7's top seed Vilita to settle for second place and leaving the promising Saintland representative out of contention.

As for tactics, Valladares will be facing another 4-3-1-2, just like Blouman Empire. Eriz Bakaikoa is the key player in this squad. Forwards Ibai Kiriano and Oskarbi Churin will be depending on what Bakaikoa can do to supply them with balls, so Pedretti and Ricardinho will be responsible for preventing that from happening anytime in the match. As long as we keep our suffocating pressure on them and don't let them touch the ball, we'll be fine, although we might be qualified by the time we've got to play this fellow Rushmori side. Beware setpieces, too.

And the stadium we'll be playing at is...

Ok, we've played before at 100,000+ capacity stadia, under extreme temperatures and weather, but this is going to be a whole different experience, as all our 3 group stage matches will be played at Sky-High Coliseum, a stadium literally made ​​of condensed water vapor (aka "clouds") in a city also made of clouds, Clousdale, and both conveniently elevated to 2.5 kilometers above ground. Obviously, there's "magic" available to help you get around upon the clouds, but for limited people like me, we can hop on zeppelins which will take us to a height from where we'll be able to watch the matches safely and without the use of that nonsense. Considering this, Dimitri Campbell thought the best idea before the proper competition kicks off was holding a training camp at Mont-Blanc, in the Ituyán Mountains, in order to prepare the players in the event of a lack of oxygen in such altitude conditions, even if magic can counter that. And with that, let the show begin!

[Turori]

Eels Storm Through Group 16
Saenu leads Turori back to the World Cup Finals

Turori National Team head coach Ematea Saenu led the Eels to a return trip to the World Cup finals, setting the mark for the best qualifying performance of the modern era easily winning Group 16 with 41 points over 16 matchdays. The Eels strong performance was bested only by Atlantian Oceania rivals The Inevitable Syndicate and the Blouman Empire, catapulting the ever under-performing Eels into the knockout-round discussion as potential World Cup spoilers.

After an early set-back in Gaveo, a 2-2 draw, the Eels finished out the first half of World Cup qualifying otherwise unblemished with victories over New Koln and Kericia. Enluta Makakio scored the winner for the Eels against New Koln at Eels Park in Eelandii. It was a tense affair for long stretches as the Eels couldn't get rolling in the first half, unable to get any meaningful shots on goal. In the second half, The Eels finally started getting chances and it was a long ball from Kigaoua Oalalka that finally broke the deadlock, setting Makakio free to chip the onrushing goalkeeper and secure 3 points for the Eels.

Makakio scored again for the Eels in Kericia, opening the scoring half an hour into the match before putting in an otherwise poor performance that would eventually result in Makakio being voted the worst performing Eels player despite the early goal. Makakio's inability to finish multiple second half chances that would have otherwise put the game away for Turori left the Eels staring a draw in the face with 10 minutes to play. However, it was Inamari Altariiz who saved the day as the Mliona-Lpaka youngster netted his third goal of the campaign 6 minutes from time as Turori once again edged out the opposition with a narrow victory, their 5th single-goal victory of the opening 8 matches.

Turori [1] - [0] New Koln Best Player: Kigaoua Oalalka Worst Player: Klaillal Tuirma Shots on Target: 2 Corner Kicks: 3 Turori Goalscorers:: 63' Enluta Makakio Turori Eels Lineup v. New Koln :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Tiika Diirotora, [FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Inamari Altariiz BENCH:: [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Raso Tareak, [M] Cediici Tzatzos, [UT] Moia Fliporta, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi

Turori [2] - [1] Kericia Best Player: Restiaa Mumamba Worst Player: Enluta Makakio Shots on Target: 3 Corner Kicks: 5 Turori Goalscorers:: 33' Enluta Makakio 84' Inamari Altariiz Turori Eels Lineup v. Kericia :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [D] Majid Jedidi, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Rikko Rawaii, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Enluta Makakio BENCH:: [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [M] Cediici Tzatzos, [M] Raso Tareak, [UT] Geafi Laina-Sola, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [GK] G.Q Disterfred II

Despite the narrowness of their victories, the Eels were still unbeaten atop Group 16 and seemingly set on cruise control to a place in the World Cup 67 finals in Cassadaigua and the Equestrian States.

So, when Ematea Saenu led the side to Glaser for the first match of the second half of the qualifying campaign, little more than a convincing victory was expected, especially considering the 4-1 thwomping the Eels had secured over the World Cup qualifying debutants who were Baptism of Fire cup 54 Quarter Finalists.

It was not to be a repeat performance, however, as Cediici Tzatzos' early goal seemed to motivate the home side more than it demoralized them. The Eels never could capitalize on the early start and the attacking duo of Liinai Zakazaka and Inamari Altariiz were unable to produce another goal as Turori feel unexpectedly to their first defeat of the tournament.

It made the following matchday trip to Sammelreich all the more important. It was time for Saenu's Eels to decide whether they were going to put their stamp on their ticket to Cassadaigua and the Equestrian States - or, to falter and let challengers such as Bears Armed and Kiryu-shi an opening to catch up and pressure the Eels for the top spot and qualification.

Luckily, this Eels squad seems as determined as ever to become the first Turorian side ever to advance beyond the Quarter Finals of the World Cup, as the Eels came out firing at the Iobabao Legendary Park in Mliona, Liinai Zakazaka and Jukkia Diijelhma netting first half goals to put Turori up 2-0. It was a real onslaught by the Eels, who by the end of the match had attempted 14 corner kicks, 2 of which resulted directly in goals including the 48th minute strike from utility player Klaillal Tuirma. Young midfielder Etamara Kulkkia, who made waves in on the transfer deadline day by abandoning the Vilitan League for SC Montfort in the Licentian Isles, rounded out the scoring for the Eels in the 66th minute, putting the capper on a 4-0 victory that cemented the Eels place atop the table and their intentions to not allow the upset victory to Glaser impact the rest of their campaign.

Saenu's Eels further instituted their winning form with a crucial victory over Kiryu-Shi, winning the 6-pointer duel with their qualification rivals that effectively ensured that, barring a catastrophic collapse, the Eels would be assured at the very least a place in the playoff pool for entry to the 67th World Cup Finals.

Turori [1] - [2] Glaser Best Player: Geafi Laina-Sola Worst Player: Moia Fliporta Shots on Target: 2 Corner Kicks: 3 Turori Goalscorers:: 6' Cediici Tzatzos Turori Eels Lineup v. Glaser :: [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [D] Geafi Laina-Sola, [D] Moia Fliporta, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MC] Cediici Tzatzos, [MR] Rutaj Ranaso, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka BENCH:: [FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Rikko Rawaii, [M] Tiika Diirotora, [UT] Balariita Muzmaara, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [GK] G.Q Disterfred II

Turori [4] - [0] Sammelreich Best Player: Rikko Rawaii Worst Player: Inamari Altariiz Shots on Target: 8 Corner Kicks: 14 Turori Goalscorers:: 8' Liinai Zakazaka 32' Jukkia Diijelhma 48' Klaillal Tuirma 66' Etamara Kulkkiia Turori Eels Lineup v. Sammelreich :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Rutaj Ranaso, [MC] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MR] Rikko Rawaii, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka BENCH:: [FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Jukkia Diijelhma, [M] Inlite Makakio, [M] Cediici Tzatzos, [UT] Moia Fliporta, [D] Majid Jedidi, [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi

Turori [1] - [0] Kiryu-shi Best Player: Enluta Makakio Worst Player: Geafi Laina-Sola Shots on Target: 3 Corner Kicks: 6 Turori Goalscorers:: 9' Kigaoua Oalalka Turori Eels Lineup v. Kiryu-shi :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Geafi Laina-Sola, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MR] Rikko Rawaii, [FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Inamari Altariiz BENCH:: [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Inlite Makakio, [M] Raso Tareak, [UT] Majid Jedidi, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi

The Eels did hit a slight road bump on their way to Cassadaigua and the Equestrian States - a bump in the form of Gaveo who themselves were trying to keep slim hopes of a playoff place alive. The 1-1 draw would be the Eels final points dropped in an impressive World Cup qualification performance punctuated by the 3-0 thwomping of Bears Armed on Matchday 14, a result that also aided Atlantian Oceania regionmates Kiryu-Shi to secure the runner-up position in the group and a playoff to attempt to qualify for the finals.

Enluta Makakio's game winners in the final two matches of the campaign over New Koln and Kericia proved to be advantageous both for the Eels final standing amongst all qualifiers and to Makakio's own personal haul. While Makakio was passed over for consideration for a place in the World XI - likely due to the fact that the majority of the considerations and campaigning will have been done before the Strike FC attacking sensation's strong finish, the forward finished with 5 goals to lead all Turorian's over the 16 matches - 2 more than his impressive attacking partner Inamari Altariiz.

While the Eels have traditionally been a defense-minded team under coach Saenu, the impressive talent in the up-and-coming attack duo of Makakio and Altariiz will certainly have opposition defenses trembling as they prepare to match up against the Eels in the World Cup finals, with the experienced Turoki Tide forward Liinai Zakazaka expecting to become Turori's most capped player of the modern era - already capped 137 times but knowing that this could indeed be the last World Cup finals of an incredible international career.

Turori [1] - [1] Gaveo Best Player: Enluta Makakio Worst Player: Inlite Makakio Shots on Target: 2 Corner Kicks: 2 Turori Goalscorers:: 20' Kigaoua Oalalka Turori Eels Lineup v. Gaveo :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Moia Fliporta, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Inlite Makakio, [FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka BENCH:: [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Loala Kigoouao, [M] Etamara Kulkkiia, [M] Raso Tareak, [UT] Majid Jedidi, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi

Turori [2] - [1] Felinetopia Best Player: Majid Jedidi Worst Player: Klaillal Tuirma Shots on Target: 3 Corner Kicks: 5 Turori Goalscorers:: 60' Enluta Makakio 88' Lioniaa Tana Turori Eels Lineup v. Felinetopia :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [D] Majid Jedidi, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Rutaj Ranaso, [MC] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Inlite Makakio, [MR] Etamara Kulkkiia, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Enluta Makakio BENCH:: [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Raso Tareak, [M] Vrotaoa Lorasoiba, [UT] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori [3] - [0] Bears Armed Best Player: Diauro Dlaminii Worst Player: Yoains Konoaafeo Shots on Target: 6 Corner Kicks: 10 Turori Goalscorers:: 21' Lioniaa Tana 53' Diauro Dlaminii 82' Inlite Makakio Turori Eels Lineup v. Bears Armed :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MR] Rikko Rawaii, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Enluta Makakio BENCH:: [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Inlite Makakio, [M] Cediici Tzatzos, [UT] Geafi Laina-Sola, [D] Majid Jedidi, [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi

Turori [1] - [0] New Koln Best Player: Enluta Makakio Worst Player: Lioniaa Tana Shots on Target: 2 Corner Kicks: 3 Turori Goalscorers:: 47' Enluta Makakio Turori Eels Lineup v. New Koln :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MR] Rutaj Ranaso, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Enluta Makakio BENCH:: [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Loala Kigoouao, [M] Inlite Makakio, [M] Cediici Tzatzos, [UT] Majid Jedidi, [D] Geafi Laina-Sola, [GK] Hooizo Nuakoi

Turori [1] - [0] Kericia Best Player: Rutaj Ranaso Worst Player: Lioniaa Tana Shots on Target: 2 Corner Kicks: 4 Turori Goalscorers:: 60' Enluta Makakio Turori Eels Lineup v. Kericia :: [GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Majid Jedidi, [D] Geafi Laina-Sola, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Etamara Kulkkiia, [MC] Kigaoua Oalalka, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Raso Tareak, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Enluta Makakio BENCH:: [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Tiika Diirotora, [M] Rikko Rawaii, [UT] Diauro Dlaminii, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [GK] Sharif Deniibo

[Zwangzug]

Defense Gets Reluctantly Celebrated Yet Again, by Vipin Lamin

1. For ninety minutes, our mission was as clear as it had ever been. Defend. Another shutout was all we needed.

2. Maybe we could have gone for the attack. Not gotten nervous, not thinking too cynically, just building momentum to finish the qualifiers at home, on a high. But we didn't. Whether Scroves was really with it or not, she pared down the midfield, letting Kazue start to bolster the back line.

3. And Kazue was fantastic. It's not often that she gets the chance to start, much less as one of so many defenders, and you could tell she was a little off-balance as we started. By halftime, though, she'd settled in. People call me the first among equals, sometimes, but by the end of the game that honor was hers as much as anyone's.

4. By halftime, I was remembering that Jedi8246 game, back in Canbix. The Wyverns had come up with some weird attacking plays, but we'd been ready for them. It wasn't like we were aiming for a shutout, that time, but it seemed like that was all we were going to get. It was all we deserved.

5. But when Arlo came on, things changed. Not immediately--our attack still felt sluggish, you can tell he was trying to grind it out. He takes the game very seriously, it's like work to him. Martina, though, lit up. Just like at club level, she was able to raise his game. Sure, she couldn't have scored the goal--she was exhausted by then, not a good finisher.

6. But there's a time to lead by example, and she was so exuberant, I sort of think she was the only one able to come up with that pass, charging past Fell and setting up Arlo. We were trying to console ourselves with the draw; she kept going, and Arlo was there to send it home.

7. It took a long time to sink in. Us, Zwangzug? Win games like that, that dramatically? But Arlo was down-to-earth about it, pointing out that he'd only been in the game for thirty-three minutes, it wasn't that late as far as he was concerned. Martina? Well, she just kind of smiled and said sometimes the goals will come late--you might as well appreciate it, when they're on your team.

8. So there was an altogether different kind of celebration, once the time ran out in the playoff. That should have been it; we should have settled down and gotten ready for the finals. Most of us got to. But me, no, I had to deal with this ridiculous World XI business.

9. If nothing else, playing next to Gracchus Pack and against all those Equestrians will help me, uh, "acclimatize," as Jerzy so insufferably puts it. We could have sent him! We could have sent Dima, he's been starting all along too. We could have sent Angela, introduce more women if "diversity" is the buzzword. But no, somebody decided it had to be me.

10. I don't mean to disparage Patrick Kerr, and I look forward to working alongside him. However, to put it bluntly, Vaugania didn't even qualify. Which means, considering the depth charts was just about as slim as the infamous World Cup 62 team, the best eye for defensive talent at the World Cup itself is going to be Tanis Bazmud. Yeah. That Tanis Bazmud whose Sea Dragons we upset last qualifiers.

11. The second-best eye is Shula.

[Kinitaria]

(OOC: I've taken some liberties with available information, because there wasn't always a lot available. If I've got something blatantly wrong, feel free to TG me and let me know. Also, apologies for the double post, but I was way over the character limit.)

SPORT NOVARI Fans' Guide to the World Cup 67

GROUP A CASSADAIGUA Finals appearances: 16 Finals debut: WC45 Best performance: Champions (x2) Pre-WCQ rank: 58th Post-WCQ rank: 59th Home colours: Pink with black trim Away colours: Your guess is as good as mine Manager: Ashley Barrett How they qualified: Due to the fact that they're funnelling huge amounts of time and money into co-hosting the tournament, the World Cup Committee saw fit to put them through automatically. It's only fair, really. It's a big year for the Dagans, this being the 100th anniversary (by their timescale, which runs twice as fast as ours) of their initial participation in the World Cup. They have plenty of history behind them, but aren't as feared as they once were, back when they won two consecutive World Cups in 50 and 51, and teams will be going into games against the co-hosts fully confident that they can win. We don't know a lot about this Cassadaigua side, as they haven't played any friendlies this time around, weren't in qualifying as hosts, information about their WC66 team is incredibly scarce and almost all of their WC65 team isn't on the national team any more. We know that they play an attacking 4-4-2 formation, and have some pace in their team - Cromer and Edwards in midfield, in particular, can easily catch out teams on the break. This has the side-effect of leaving themselves open to a break, as their defence isn't the strongest. Playing their fixtures at home should give them some sort of advantage, but some will question whether they will come under pressure from overexpectant home fans, especially given their low rank and being drawn into a difficult group. One to watch: Sierra Hinson. The talented midfielder is entering the third cycle in the service of her nation as a first team player, and has rightly earned the captain's armband. A very versatile player who can cause opponents all sorts of problems. Prediction: Hosts they may be, but that doesn't tone down the task of getting out of an unenviable group. I think it'll be too much for them. Eliminated at group stage. THE HOLY EMPIRE Finals appearances: 40 Finals debut: WC1 Best performance: Champions (x2) Pre-WCQ rank: 7th Post-WCQ rank: 10th Home colours: Gold with red and black trim Away colours: Red with gold and black trim Manager: Juan Tzimisces How they qualified: Sneaked into the playoffs with the worst record of any advancing team, and only then thanks to Mangolana's collapse against Hopnation, but comfortably saw off The Royal Kingdom of Quebec in the playoffs. The oldest nation to compete in the World Cup finals. Indeed, it's impossible for any team to be older, the Holy Empire having been with us right from the inception of the World Cup, albeit with some brief downtime. For a nation in the top 10, they did surprisingly badly during qualifying, and were incredibly fortunate to even make the playoffs. Further investigation reveals that their poor performance was because their team was made up of eleven man-size jumping beans painted in red and gold, due to some bureaucratic mixup that HEFA officials were very reluctant to comment on. Juan Tzimisces is one of the finest managers you will ever see, but even he was left helpless as the giant beans bounced randomly around the pitch. They're not even sentient, and even "alive" would be pushing it a lot - witness the increasingly more vexed coaches rush around the sidelines frantically trying to keep all eleven beans on the pitch at the same time, for they have a tendency to bounce off the field altogether. Still, credit must go to Tzimisces and Simeone di Bradini for being the first men to take a squad of jumping beans to the World Cup finals, surely an achievement to be proud of. One to watch: Assistant manager Simeone di Bradini, whose fury at losing the actual squad to a pile of red tape makes for some amusing touchline antics. Prediction: Should get through the group. Won't make it to the final, especially not with the beans. JERUSELEM Finals appearances: 44 Finals debut: WC18 Best performance: Runners-up Pre-WCQ rank: 44th Post-WCQ rank: 44th Home colours: Pink with sky blue sleeves Away colours: White with sky blue band and pink sleeves Manager: Princess Melody Song Dallas How they qualified: Despite some poor form, qualified for the playoffs ahead of Legalese, who drew their last two games when one win would have put them in front of Jeruselem. Had little trouble in beating Maklohi Vai to qualify. Winning things is not Jeruselem's stong point. They've entered qualification for an astonishing fifty-seven consecutive cycles, and all they have to show for it in terms of WCC events is one World Cup final, which they lost, a long time ago, and one Cup of Harmony final, also lost, back in the days of prehistory. Princess Melody is no stranger to missing out, having failed to take this side to WC66, and also missing out on WC65 with Jeru FC. It's been a bit of a barren period for Jeruselem in general, this being their first finals since WC63, where they crashed out at the group stage. Now that they're through, though, they'll be eager to show the world what they can do, and they certainly have the potential to do so. They have plenty of strength in attack, with Malena Rice in particular scoring some key goals during qualification. The back line is also solid, and Colin Bakker can be relied upon to do his duty at the back. If they have a major failing, it's that the team is often far too static and their dated style of 4-4-2 is easily swamped by opposing attacks. They can also struggle when they come up against more physical sides, which has cost them in the past. One to watch: Martha Kinders. The experienced striker knows where the net is, and has been a shining light in Jeruselem's otherwise disappointing WC65 and 66 campaigns. A player who really deserves to make the finals, and now she has. Prediction: Jeruselem have been very unlucky with the group draw, and find themselves facing some very strong opposition. If the draw had gone a different way, their chances would be better, but unfortunately, I can't see them making it out. VILITA Finals appearances: 28 Finals debut: WC15 Best performance: Champions (x1) Pre-WCQ rank: 10th Post-WCQ rank: 12th Home colours: Dark blue and turquoise with gold trim Away colours: White and turquoise with gold trim Manager: Calaesa Mitaroka How they qualified: A damaging run of draws seriously dented their hopes of finishing top of Group 7, but Saintland's faltering allowed Vilita to claim second, and with it, a best-runners-up spot. They were champions, once upon a time, way back in WC20, but it's fair to say they've underachieved since then. They're a familiar face in the finals, having qualified for nine consecutive tournaments, but have really struggled to make an impact. They've been on the rise, though, and stability could well be a factor, with Calaesa Mitaroka having had seven cycles to craft his team in his own image, something rarely seen at this level and which is good for the game by anyone's standards. They don't necessarily have a fixed formation, as their players are more than capable of taking up different roles on the pitch. What this team does better than anything, though, is attack. They have plenty of firepower, as Erocka Lorei will testify to, but they can find goals from any area of the pitch, and are particularly skilled at simply overpowering opponents by sheer force of numbers. Defensively, they do have a few gaps, and their attempt at 'total football' was almost exposed in qualification, as they scrambled through automatically despite finishing second in their group, but their football's easy on the eye and Mitaroka knows enough of what he's doing to ensure it doesn't become a problem. One to watch: Viji-mara Lawaai. The Vilita side has attacking prowess and technical ability in equal measure, and no-one embodies that better than Lawaai. He's skilled enough to fool opponents and gets plenty of goals of his own too. Prediction: Quarter-finalists. That said, they have the skill and potential to go further. Dark horses to clinch the title.

GROUP B BARUNIA Finals appearances: 1 Finals debut: WC67 Best performance: N/A Pre-WCQ rank: 43rd Post-WCQ rank: 37th Home colours: Sky blue with white band and maroon trim Away colours: Yellow and sky blue fractals Manager: Joric Ruskin How they qualified: Despite a very impressive first half of qualifying, never really recovered from a 6-1 defeat to Valladares. They still did enough to make the playoffs, where they had no trouble getting past Qazox. After three failed attempts, Barunia have finally made it to the World Cup finals. Credit for this must go to Joric Ruskin, who reorganised the team along new lines and set them up very efficiently to cause problems for any team they come up against. He's found his players' natural strengths and used them very well, and as a result, they play with a style that the whole team is comfortable with, allowing them to get results against any opposition. The flat back four is a significant improvement on previous attempts, and tough-tackling centre-back Julian Millet really comes into his element in the heart of this new-look Suns defence. The problem is, when this defence fails, it really falls apart, as the 31 goals conceded in qualifying can testify to. They score more than they concede, though, with Victor Castolo an invaluable source of goals without whom qualification would have been quite impossible. The midfield line will push up in support of an attack whenever possible, and Craig van Diemen has proven himself particularly lethal in such regards, but this can leave large areas of the midfield exposed if the opposition manage to break. One to watch: Cedric St. John. He's captain for a reason, but not only is he an inspirational figure on the field, he can play some good football. He's got a beautiful cross on him and can even score a few. Prediction: Barunia will be looking to make their mark on the world. This fresh and exciting team have plenty of new ideas, but might struggle to put them into practice against opposition of the highest standard. Eliminated at group stage. THE INEVITABLE SYNDICATE Finals appearances: 2 Finals debut: WC66 Best performance: Fourth place Pre-WCQ rank: 21st Post-WCQ rank: 13th Home colours: Navy blue and sea green stripes Away colours: White with navy trim Manager: Lewis Thackray How they qualified: Steamrollered through Group 4. Draws with Kandorith and Filopines were little more than speedbumps as the Syndicate eased through to the finals, finishing their group unbeaten. The Syndicate really have burst onto the scene. They qualified automatically for WC66 as hosts, stunning the world on their finals debut by clinching a superb fourth place finish on home soil, dispatching of some top nations on their way there. That was an achievement they can justifiably be proud of, but the IFA aren't content to rest on their laurels, and have targeted even better things this time around. Anyone who needs a reason to be wary of this side need only look at their performances in qualification. Three draws, the last of which came in a dead-rubber game on the last day, were all that stopped Lewis Thackray's side from racking up a perfect campaign. The centre-forward pairing of Mitchell and Pratt are almost unstoppable and can score goals for fun, bolstered by the presence of Birch and Sinclair on the wings, which is even more impressive considering their defensive outlay. The core of this side is the same as the one which had a fantastic run last cycle, and this could turn out to be a problem, with some of the ageing players now two years older and slower. This means that they can be a little slow to turn defence into attack, something which could well cost them. One to watch: Jay Robinson. The midfield anchor is the cornerstone of the Syndicate's defensive strategy, and he holds the line together superbly. He can single-handedly hold onto a narrow lead. Prediction: Their game with Audioslavia will be entertaining. The two nations are familiar foes by this point, and will be renewing hostilities in Grande Mountain on MD3. As for the team, they'll make it out of the group, but will struggle to repeat last cycle's exploits. BORING PARADISE Finals appearances: 3 Finals debut: WC63 Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 46th Post-WCQ rank: 46th Home colours: Red and black stripes Away colours: Yellow and black stripes Manager: Grzegorz Wasiliewski How they qualified: A poor start saw them marooned halfway down Group 3, but 16 points from their last 6 games saw them clinch a playoff spot, where they battled to an entertaining 5-4 aggregate win over Jeru FC. It was more predictable than you might think that Boring Paradise would get through. They've been qualifying for alternate World Cups ever since they made their debut five cycles ago. Not that it's brought them much joy, considering that they've only won one out of their six games so far at the finals. They won't be given much optimism by the draw either, having been placed in a group with the third- and fourth-placed teams from last time around. At the same time, there are reasons for optimism. They rattled in 56 goals on their way to making the playoffs, higher than anyone else in qualification (except Mytannion, who went out). Haider Williams and Shooby Amours were the key contributors to scoring so many goals, although interest has been raised over the fact that these players are registered as younger now than they were in WC66 qualifying. Regardless, it's their leaky defence that could cost them dear - they achieved the impressive feat of both scoring and conceding more in qualification than any other team who qualified. You can't concede so many goals in the finals and expect to get away with it, so fans will be hoping Wasiliewski has a Plan B. One to watch: Haider Williams. A key goalscorer for some time now, and one who's going to have to be on top form if they're to make any progress. Prediction: They were always going to struggle, and the group draw hasn't helped those prospects any. Eliminated at group stage. AUDIOSLAVIA Finals appearances: 30 Finals debut: WC4 Best performance: Champions (x2) Pre-WCQ rank: 3rd Post-WCQ rank: 2nd Home colours: Claret and green stripes Away colours: White with claret and green trim Manager: Powell Pieran How they qualified: They didn't start off in their best form, and nearly slipped up to let Qazox in, but showed what they can do in the second half of qualifying and pulled away to finish comfortably top of Group 11. It says a lot about Audioslavia that, even though they won two titles in a row, you can still occasionally find jokes about their perennial lack of success (ie, they'll win something when the Monastic FA embraces Catholicism). Possibly justified in that it took an astonishing 59 cycles for them to win anything at all, but now it's impossible to deny that the Bulls are a real force in international football. They play an effective short passing game, allowing for some attractive build-up play, which can be surprisingly efficient at cutting right through opposing teams. They're primarily a team built for stamina, often outlasting their opponents in terms of physical fitness, and you'd have to back them in any game that goes to extra time. James Courier in particular is especially energetic, and he'd have to be, for the way he constantly hassles the opposition in midfield. The full-back duo of Andreij Tal and Arne Polsson have cost the side on occasion, as they're prone to being caught out too far up the field, leaving the Bulls depleted in defence, and they will also struggle against some of the more physical sides in the field this time around. One to watch: Txordin Zerubeltzak. Playing in the centre of the midfield line, he can launch an attack anywhere on the pitch and make it look easy. Audioslavia's successes will come through him. Prediction: Semi-finalists at the very least, and there's no reason why they can't go further. A third title will undoubtedly be on Pieran's agenda.

GROUP C THE LICENTIAN ISLES Finals appearances: 4 Finals debut: WC61 (as Licentiapacisterra) Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 37th Post-WCQ rank: 32nd Home colours: Cyan with gold trim Away colours: Navy blue with crimson phoenix/flame motif Manager: Joachim Schwartz How they qualified: Snatched top spot in Group 12 from Kinitaria by beating them 6-3 in the last round, but both teams would have qualified automatically no matter how that game finished. For a team in exile, they're doing alright. The political situation at home meant that it was impossible for a native Licentian squad to represent their nation during this World Cup, and so a team of loyalists based out of Hessington Island took on the task of guiding the Cyan and Gold through to the World Cup. It's safe to say they did a very good job, emerging top of a qualifying group containing some difficult opposition. This squad of exiles has an even bigger job facing them now, and that's to maintain the nation's pride in the finals. There's certainly no reason to suggest they can't; their style of play is very hard to defend against, intended to free up the wingers to cause problems down the flanks, and Aran Miller is certainly liable to cause danger against any team. The defensive midfield pairing of Parkinson and Torin are the glue that binds the team together, and the flowing, attacking moves typical of this Licentian side will often come through them. Defensively, they're usually very sound, but have had some problems working as a unit, and Ajay Walker in particular has been singled out for criticism for some flagrant defensive errors. One to watch: Nate Parkinson. A holding midfielder who can contribute just as well to defence and attack, he'll be a major focal point for this Licentian team. Prediction: I'm tipping them to spring a surprise and qualify from the group, but they won't get much further than that. FARFADILLIS Finals appearances: 4 Finals debut: WC63 Best performance: Quarter-finals Pre-WCQ rank: 23rd Post-WCQ rank: 22nd Home colours: Red with laser green trim Away colours: Black with red and laser green trim Manager: Hector Rossizzo How they qualified: An excellent performance that would have been enough to top some groups wasn't enough to stand in the way of the unstoppable Blouman Empire, but still saw them claim a best-runners-up spot. Farfadillis are very much a team on the up, and some would say it's all thanks to boss Hector Rossizzo, who took charge of the side ahead of WC62 and suddenly turned them into a force to be reckoned with. They've been making waves on a regional and international scale ever since, but have also been alarmingly inconsistent, something which has seen Rossizzo's post look more than a little shaky at times. Part of this could be down to his ultra-attacking style, which always guarantees goals for at least one team, but the defence can be woefully underprepared. Santos Alaminos ought to be commended for being the only one to put in some good defensive displays during qualification, but even he's not immune from the occasional slip-up. In attack, Dandalleion does the business on the other end of the field, being a key goalscorer in a side which certainly scores a lot of goals. Tenian has that ability to always be in the right place at the right time to score the crucial goals, and his awareness makes him a crucial part of the team. If they can clean up on the gaps in their defence, they'll be alright, but those are some pretty big gaps. One to watch: Friekder Dandalleion. This man can do just about anything. He can play anywhere in the final third, create and score goals, take set pieces and he's fast. He'll terrorise any team he's playing against. Prediction: For me, they're too inconsistent and their defence is too shaky to make a sustained attempt in the finals. Eliminated at group stage. VALANORA Finals appearances: 35 Finals debut: WC33 (as Elves Security Forces) Best performance: Champions (x5) Pre-WCQ rank: 8th Post-WCQ rank: 8th Home colours: Blue with white trim Away colours: Dark green with yellow trim Manager: Vamariiel Falavir How they qualified: By rattling in plenty of goals. Scorelines of four and above were the norm for the Marauders as they swept aside all before them, clinching their World Cup berth with two games to spare. The Marauders are entering their thirty-fifth consecutive World Cup finals. Any team capable of such long-lasting excellence demands respect before a ball is even kicked. They've been fairly handy once they get to the finals, too, becoming the joint record-holders for world titles won, equalling Starblaydia's haul of five. They're always hovering around somewhere near the top, and there's always that chance of them grabbing the magical sixth. This is a team to be taken lightly at your peril. They have a lot of goals in them, which they proved during qualifying, notching at least four goals on seven occasions. Allandren Fresco, the young (by their standards) striker, is an integral part of this goalscoring process, but can also shield the ball well and support the build-up of play. Valanora will look to hold possession and wear the opposition down, which they're very good at under Falavir. Critics might say that they need to hold the ball as much as possible to prevent opponents getting at their weak defensive line, which isn't entirely unfounded, but what this determined Vanorian side has is resilience. No matter what the score, they can always bounce back. One to watch: Espy va Drake. The legendary midfielder can control a game on his own with his mesmerising play. Very hard to contain, very hard to deal with, and very talented. Prediction: Finalists. They have bundles of skill and ability, and should be going for title number six. NORTHERN SUNRISE ISLANDS Finals appearances: 1 Finals debut: WC67 Best performance: N/A Pre-WCQ rank: 50th Post-WCQ rank: 47th Home colours: Blue with yellow trim Away colours: Pale yellow with pale blue trim and blue Vaporeon motif Manager: Val Kylx How they qualified: After throwing away a five-point gap, made a late dash to reclaim a playoff place from the faltering Sylvanaes Queendom in Group 6. Saw off Ossidiacqua without ever really breaking a sweat in the playoffs. Val Kylx came in and has steered the Sunrisians to the finals via the playoffs. Not that anyone will be complaining about how they got here. It's a superb achievement considering the dubious nature of the new manager's appointment, and that the finals were seen as something of a pipe dream by the locals. Nevertheless, here they are, with a fantastic chance to make their mark on the world. They have enough flair in attack to cause anyone problems, the duo of Abuda and Café in midfield being well-known already for causing problems for opponents, and they also have a very accomplished attacking three who know exactly where the net is. The defensive line also has enough experience to be able to hold its own at the highest level, but opponents will no doubt want to issue a forceful challenge to the newcomers. An issue that was particularly noteable in qualifying is that the team often plays very narrow, leaving the wings exposed, and often struggle to deal with attacks down either side. Defending set-pieces is another area that has been highlighted, which Kylx will have to sort out if the Vaporeons are to make an impact on their World Cup debut. One to watch: Mateus Carvalho. If they're going to get goals, he's the one who'll get them. He's just as accomplished from distance as he is with close-range finishes, and can produce that one moment of magic that changes a game. Prediction: They're not going to be steamrollered, but it might be a bit too much for them this time. Eliminated at group stage.

GROUP D ANDOSSA SE MITRIN VEGA Finals appearances: 15 Finals debut: WC27 Best performance: Runners-up Pre-WCQ rank: 9th Post-WCQ rank: 7th Home colours: White with sky blue and yellow trim Away colours: Sky blue and white hoops with yellow trim Manager: Tanis Bazmud How they qualified: They made it hard on themselves with some frustrating draws, but did enough to hold on to top spot in Group 19, which they secured on the final matchday with a comfortable win. The Sea Dragons are a side who underachieve when they get to the finals. They're an old, established and respected team, and certainly no-one is going to have an easy game against them, but they've yet to claim the silverware that their longevity might suggest, nor have they qualified for the finals quite as often as they'd like. Their contribution to the international game is best described by their "smashmouth" style, which is about a descriptive a name as you'll get. They have the very well-developed ability to foul players just outside the referee's vision, or hurt opponents just on the right side of the rules. Needless to say, this can lead to fireworks when they play other tough-tackling opponents. Their layout is a very attractive one, as their players are adept enough to take up a variety of positions, and so they are known to vary their formation as the match goes on. This can work to great effect as the opponents can suddenly find themselves dealing with an entirely different game. However, it requires a lot of agility and awareness, and if they get it just slightly wrong, leaves them vulnerable to opposing attacks. One to watch: Ediepo Em'ban. The "up-back" is expected to perform the role of a wing-back and a defensive midfielder, sometimes simultaneously, and is the key to making the Vegai style work. Em'ban achieves this and then some, putting himself all around the pitch and making trouble for opponents. Prediction: Quarter-finalists. They have the Tidal Surge, but they don't have the perfect storm that would lead to them picking up the trophy. TURORI Finals appearances: 21 Finals debut: WC17 Best performance: Quarter-finals Pre-WCQ rank: 19th Post-WCQ rank: 17th Home colours: Brown with tan and sky blue trim Away colours: Blue with white and tan trim Manager: Ematea Saenu How they qualified: Very easily. They'd effectively booked their tickets to the finals with three games to go, and romped home in Group 16, finishing an astonishing 11 points clear of second place. It's unfortunate that Turori is often thought of as being in the shadow of their 'big brother' Vilita, because they have a proud history and some great footballers in their own right. They certainly surpassed the Jungle Cats in World Cup qualifying, finishing with a far better record. Ematea Saenu has been charged with guiding this Turori team to a respectable finish in this cycle, and there's no reason to assume he can't. Their defensive football doesn't get them a huge amount of goals, but they don't concede many either, letting in just ten throughout qualification. This strong defensive line is very hard to break down, playing hard but fair, and Saenu has both experienced hands and fresh faces to call upon for some additional defensive resilience. Yoains Konoaafeo in particular can make life difficult for any opposing striker. Of course, if you don't score you don't win, and Turori are perfectly capable of scoring. Liinai Zakazaka has been the hero for the Eels for a long time, but he has plenty of support in the young, eager pairing of Inamari Altariiz and Enluta Makakio. They have the players to bring them success, and Saenu will want nothing less. One to watch: Restiaa Mumamba. Although registered as a defensive midfielder, he's incredibly versatile and can change a game in a heartbeat with the right tackle or moment of skill. He can even score a good goal. Prediction: Second round. They should be able to navigate their group, but getting much further would require a heroic effort. KINITARIA Finals appearances: 1 Finals debut: WC67 Best performance: N/A Pre-WCQ rank: 54th Post-WCQ rank: 51st Home colours: Blue with yellow trim Away colours: Red with blue and yellow trim Manager: Melody Pond How they qualified: With excellence and brilliant flowing football. Okay, it was shaky against Sjovenia, feisty against Mytannion and just a relief against Carialus, but we made it... somehow. In just two years, Melody Pond has engineered a total turnaround in Kinitaria's fortunes. The side which flopped horrendously two years ago is now at the World Cup for the first time. A lot of credit must be given to the manager for sticking with her philosophy even when the fans and national association were losing patience in her, and being justly rewarded for doing so. The Kinitar team plays attractive, attacking football in a 4-4-2 system with the wide midfielders bombing forward to support the attack. Done right, it can be astonishingly effective, and wingers Vacarestič and Halil chipped in with a few goals in qualifying. They're also more physical than other teams may be used to, and use their strength to their advantage in attempting to wind up, provoke or harass opponents, something they're very good at, but they also have the disciplinary record to go with such a strategy. The ageing squad can be a little short for pace at times, and their infamously leaky defence has been opened up a bit too often for Pond to be entirely comfortable with, but there's no doubting that they're entirely deserving of their World Cup spot. One to watch: Sergiu Vacarestič. The veteran winger contributed some key goals during qualifying, is a deadly free-kick taker and still has plenty of pace on him. Prediction: Well, Audioslavia were lower than 51st when they won the cup for the first time, but... surely not? In all likelihood, will do themselves proud but won't get through the group. MIZUYUKI Finals appearances: 2 Finals debut: WC66 Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 51st Post-WCQ rank: 39th Home colours: Red rising sun on white background Away colours: Blue, black and white fractals Manager: Kurumi Shirakiin How they qualified: Played superbly and consistently throughout qualification to emerge three points clear at the top of a very tight Group 17, holding off challenges from four main group rivals. Mizuyuki are one of the new, emerging teams that people should take note of. They qualified for the first time in WC66 and played very well in one of the most difficult groups, a 2-0 loss to Turori ultimately preventing them from going through, but Kurumi Shirakiin will be looking to set the record straight this time. She is to be admired for sticking to her guns and getting her side to play the brand of football she wants, which has produced sparkling results. They're known as a good counter-attacking team, with the ability to break quickly down the wings and cause trouble for opponents with a series of crosses. They can also switch positions naturally, as the team has a fantastic understanding of each other. Players will drift around the field and contribute to all phases of play, a strategy which often pays dividends. Airi Izawa is a good example of this, as she can adopt almost any forward position. They're not a particularly physical team, and can often find themselves fouled out of games against tough-tackling opponents, but will try to play around them with more skill instead. They also suffer when playing against teams who dominate the centre of the pitch. One to watch: Mikoto Tsuchimikado. She can play as a forward or a winger, but her natural position is as an attacking midfielder, where she can make anything happen. She'll create and score goals in equal measure. Prediction: Their style of football is an innovation and it would be a delight to see them advance playing that way, but they're a little too inexperienced and can struggle against more powerful teams. Eliminated at group stage.

[Kinitaria]

GROUP E EQUESTRIAN STATES Finals appearances: 4 Finals debut: WC64 Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 18th Post-WCQ rank: 21st Home colours: Purple with orange sash Away colours: Orange with purple sash Manager: Twilight Striker How they qualified: They qualified in exactly the same circumstances, at exactly the same time, and with exactly the same record as Cassadaigua thanks to an agreement between the two nations, but the WCC has not seen fit to investigate. The country didn't get its name because the people there particularly enjoy dressage events. Approximately 85% of the nation's population are sapient ponies, and the national FA (or 'hoofball' association, in their own terms) have had to introduce a raft of special rules in order to govern how they can play the game. Although they, as co-hosts, didn't compete in qualification, they went unbeaten in a series of friendlies against some good sides, which should give them plenty of confidence ahead of their opening game against New Sideburn on home soil. These friendlies also mean that we have some idea of how the Equestrian team will be set out for the World Cup, with the expectation being that they'll set themselves out in a defensive, but versatile, 3-5-2. Their natural advantage as a species means that they're faster than most humans and can tire out opponents over the course of a match, leaving them able to grab a late goal. In contrast, it often takes them a while to get going, and they can be vulnerable in the opening minutes. They are particularly dangerous from set-pieces and will have aerial superiority over almost any side. One to watch: Flitter. The Equestrian side plays a solid defensive game, and Flitter is the heart of their defence. Her speed gives her the ability to launch dangerous attacks, and she is also very secure in the centre of defence. Prediction: Home advantage should be enough to carry them through the group stage for the first time in their history. Quarter-finals, with a bit of luck. ANTOLETIA Finals appearances: 3 Finals debut: WC58 Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 42nd Post-WCQ rank: 41st Home colours: Bright yellow and blue hoops Away colours: Red and blue quarters with bright yellow sleeves Manager: Beniamin Grigorescu How they qualified: Recovered after a dismal start to go unbeaten in the second half of qualification, propelling themselves to the top of Group 8, but still needed a last-day draw against Darmen. Rumours abound that Antoletia's kits are part of a scheme to distract opponents, or otherwise the Antoletian FA needed to save money on their floodlighting bills. They really are spectacular. Antoletia, making their third appearance this time around, have never won a finals game, but have taken points from Erathore and Mapletish, so there are signs of good things yet to come in there. This team showed its resilience in qualification, dragging themselves over the line even though all had previously seemed lost. Hannibal and von Leeweonheouck on either wing can make life a nightmare for defenders, bombarding the opposition box with crosses until the very capable Hiarchratez gets on the end of one. Their rigid 4-5-1 formation is stable enough to keep their goal secure, especially with the capable Cristian Kafka helping out the defence, but does sometimes struggle to score goals, as Hiarchratez, the lone striker, can often be left without any supply. They will try to attack on the counter, and may need it against vastly more experienced opposition, but often don't quite have enough pace to make it work on a regular basis. One to watch: Filip Constantinescu. This man is a talisman for Antoletia, and has carried the national team on his shoulders. The nation's highest scorer, and all done from midfield. Prediction: Being drawn into a group with the world champions and the co-hosts is rarely a good sign. Eliminated at group stage. POLAR ISLANDSTATES Finals appearances: 12 Finals debut: WC56 Best performance: Runners-up Pre-WCQ rank: 1st Post-WCQ rank: 1st Home colours: Blue with white tern motif Away colours: Green with white band Manager: Morten Rasmussen How they qualified: Everyone was very amused when they lost at home to unranked side The Weegies, but this was a mere blip, and the Terns never looked like being unseated from their perch atop Group 6. So near, yet so far. That's the story of life for the Polarians as they crashed to their second consecutive final defeat in WC66, this time against Eura. Two straight final appearances is still nothing to sniff at, despite the disappointment, and Morten Rasmussen can be proud of how far he has carried his nation. This time, he will be charged with making the final step and bringing back the famous trophy. They'll be out to have a go, and the Terns' fast, direct style of football is a nightmare for defenders to deal with. Their defence is superb, and they can have numbers back defending the penalty area in a flash. Each player has a great deal of creative freedom, and they exercise it very well; witness Zeljeznicar unlocking the opposing defence with one ball, or Bjerregaard storming up the field to create an attacking opportunity. Every player on this team knows who they're playing with, what they're doing and who they're supposed to be linking with, and they exploit it with almost brutal efficiency. But, if the players aren't at full fitness, then the system starts to crumble. That will be Rasmussen's main tactical concern going into this tournament. One to watch: Alexis Zeljeznicar. Filling possibly the most important position in the Polarian lineup, it's his responsibility to work with Lillehammer, the front two of Saarinen and Kolehmainan, and both CMs to help with the attack. Fair to say, he does it well. Prediction: Champions. Rasmussen to claim the title that has eluded the Polarians so painfully on two occasions. NEW SIDEBURN Finals appearances: 1 Finals debut: WC67 Best performance: N/A Pre-WCQ rank: 49th Post-WCQ rank: 52nd Home colours: Forest green with black sleeves Away colours: Red with black sleeves Manager: Gethin Ramsey How they qualified: Comfortably held onto second place in Group 14 without ever looking like troubling group winners Eura. Free Republics gave them a scare in the playoffs but they made it through. Fans weren't happy with the WC66 cycle, but this was a stunning way to get them back onside - with New Sideburn's first ever World Cup qualification. Being drawn with the side ranked first in the world hasn't curbed their enthusiasm, with Cormorants manager Gethin Ramsey firmly insisting that his team are here to make a game of it and that they're not just about making up the numbers. Wise words, Gethin. His team are happy enough to let the opposition keep possession, but once they get into the attacking third, they'll be hassled and harried for their lives. When the Cormorants are in possession, they play a swift, direct style of football with the intention of getting the ball upfield as fast as possible. Gareth Crowley embodies the other side of the Sideburnese squad: a good physical kind of team not afraid to let the opposition know they're there, which could serve them well against higher-ranked opponents. That said, they are untested at this level, and their relative inexperience could work against them. This tournament will be a learning experience for New Sideburn, and if they use it as such, it'll certainly work in their favour. One to watch: Hadrian Belfast. Tough-tackling, no-nonsense centre-back who can command a defence very efficiently. Prediction: This group will prove too strong for them. Eliminated at group stage.

GROUP F ASTOGRATH Finals appearances: 6 Finals debut: WC57 Best performance: Fourth place Pre-WCQ rank: 47th Post-WCQ rank: 48th Home colours: All green Away colours: All white Manager: Edorta Urrustoy How they qualified: Thanks largely to Saintland dropping so many points in the second half of qualification. Losing to 312th-ranked Bonny on the last day threatened to unseat them, but Saintland couldn't take advantage. Astograth have been regular qualifiers for the World Cup, but that's about as good as they've done. They have only made it out of the group stage once, on their way to a fourth-place finish in WC61. At least they're here this time around - constant failure to qualify is what saw James Handel's dismissal as manager, allowing Urrustoy to take the reins. His first squad is a controversial one, consisting of a clean break from the old regime and a number of untested players called up. The selection policy certainly worked wonders in bringing the Olive Greens back to the World Cup. Kiriano and Churin lead the line in a two-pronged attack, and certainly get plenty of goals between them. These two deadly attackers will be the key if Astograth are to achieve anything this time around. They're not half bad defensively, either, and captain Yokin Arizmande embodies the Astograthian defence: he's quick, he knows what's going on around him and he can make his presence felt around the opposition. Whether this new squad can compete in the World Cup remains to be seen, though. Critics claim that they're untested and won't make their mark at this level. One to watch: Ibai Kiriano. Scoring at a rate better than one every two games, the fast-paced, diminuitive striker will be a threat in every game he plays. Prediction: Returning to the finals was the first step. It's hard to see them taking many more this soon. Eliminated at group stage. APOX Finals appearances: 3 Finals debut: WC64 Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 33rd Post-WCQ rank: 27th Home colours: White and red diagonal stripes Away colours: White with sky blue trim Manager: Magnus Fjelden How they qualified: Two points clear with a bye on the last matchday, events were out of their control, but Boring Paradise stuttered to a 2-2 draw at Cosumar, sending Apox through automatically instead. Magnus Fjelden was viewed by many as the smart choice to succeed the outgoing Dravid Scott, and he gave an early indication of his credentials by steering Apox to top spot in their qualifying group. With over 20 years of experience behind him, he'll know how to get the best out of this team. It's good to see them doing well, because they're a well-organised defensive unit at a time when strong defensive teams are at a premium. They play a compact 5-4-1, with the effect that the lone striker, Tolgus Tregajorran, can be left isolated, or is easily cut off by the opposing defenders. When he is allowed to flourish, though, he can produce spectacular results. The midfielders, especially Jack Moses, can contribute to their cause with a couple of goals, but don't expect them to do it too often. This lack of goal threats regularly leads to them being very short on goals, which can cost them. It's in defence that they really shine through, given that they have one of the hardest-working defensive units in the game, marshalled expertly by the veteran duo of Abel and Sindelar. They can grind down and frustrate opponents when they need to, a real bonus at a tournament with lots of attacking teams. One to watch: Matthias Sindelar. The captain's position, just in front of the back four, lets him organise the defence, of which he takes charge expertly. He's even been known to get goals from time to time. Prediction: Second round. I'm backing them to nick ahead of second-seed Blouman Empire in the group, but they'll meet their match in the round of sixteen. VALLADARES Finals appearances: 12 Finals debut: WC52 Best performance: Quarter-finals Pre-WCQ rank: 11th Post-WCQ rank: 9th Home colours: Sky blue with forest green and white sleeves Away colours: White with forest green sleeves and blue horizontal pinstripes Manager: Dimitri Campbell How they qualified: A qualification of two halves. They found it tricky to navigate the first half of fixtures, but a 100% record in the second half saw them emerge well clear at the top of Group 18. They've underachieved for a long time. This hardworking, determined side deserves more success than they've had to date, but Campbell has a difficult task on his hands if he's to deliver any silverware to Metropolis this time around. They suffered setbacks in qualifying and responded well to them. Campbell knows his players very well, and can make the right changes at the right time, so credit must be given to him for that. It's just doubtful whether he has a good enough squad to challenge for the title. Valladares play an unorthodox variant on a 3-4-3 with wingers lying very high up the field; Reyes and Santos can put in some perfect crosses and the front three are very skilled at turning them into goals. They have plenty of talent in their own right, and Pedrinho will be feared by defences throughout the World Cup for his ability to conjure goals out of nothing. They're one of the more attacking sides at this tournament (and that's saying something), and the back three are frequently left exposed and unable to deal with surging opposition attacks. Luckily for them, Luis Fuentes is between the sticks to provide a vital last line of defence. One to watch: Frank Rozenthal. The young striker can really make his mark on the world here, and with his lightning pace and fierce shot, he's got the world at his feet. Prediction: It's a good side, but has too many holes to be taunted as potential world champions. Quarter-finalists. BLOUMAN EMPIRE Finals appearances: 4 Finals debut: WC64 Best performance: Round of sixteen Pre-WCQ rank: 20th Post-WCQ rank: 15th Home colours: Red and black with yellow, green and sky blue trim Away colours: White with multicoloured national emblem as trim Manager: Henry Emergaton How they qualified: They say there's no such thing as perfection, but the Bloumans certainly came close. They picked up more points than any other team in qualifying and won Group 10 at a canter. They impressed the world with their very strong qualifying campaign, which should have filled them full of confidence heading into the World Cup. They're draw specialists in the finals, having drawn six out of the ten finals games they've ever played, and finishing off the group stage of WC66 with three points from three draws. They have a physically strong team, who also have some technical ability to them, which means that they can match almost any opponent put in front of them. They just seem to have trouble taking that extra step to put games to bed in the finals. Their defensive line is effective if not necessarily excellent, and players like Hamish Alpin provide some much-needed resilience to a tough-tackling back four. They'll have to be careful that they don't go overboard with the physical element of their game. The three-man attack is commanded to great effect by Robert Schmitz, an excellent distributor of the ball with plenty of pace on him, and all three of their main forwards are accomplished goalscorers. Morale in the team camp is very high, and all the players know that they can rely on each other, which should put them in good standing going into the World Cup. One to watch: Steven Mallard. The long-serving midfielder can command the game on his day. He's also very technically-minded and can shoot or pass very capably. Prediction: They're not always the most consistent side in the world. Eliminated at group stage, but they won't be humiliated.

GROUP G UNITED GORDONOPIA Finals appearances: 4 Finals debut: WC63 Best performance: Fourth place Pre-WCQ rank: 32nd Post-WCQ rank: 23rd Home colours: Sea green with blue and crimson trim Away colours: Blue with sea green and crimson trim Manager: Gehrd Ströhm How they qualified: Not always at their best, but claimed top spot in Group 13 quite easily without any significant challenge from either a poor Holy Empire or a dismal Krytenia side. They made people sit up and take notice when they claimed fourth place on their World Cup debut back in WC63. In WC66, they finished bottom of the group without a point or even a goal to their name. Ex-manager Michael Neu promptly paid the price for his failings, and Gehrd Ströhm was brought in to replace him. The new manager has set his sights on the world title, something bound to please the higher-ups in the GFF. Ströhm has set his team out to defend and not much else. They won their qualifying group with only 19 goals, shipping just nine in the process. Fair to say that putting the focus on defence has been highly effective. It's no wonder, when you look at their defenders. The Gordonopia back line is one of the best in the multiverse, and Mikah Laslo especially is a genius at shutting teams down and simply removing all their attacking options. It's in attack, incidentally, that the Gordonopians struggle. Fritz Lahm is a very good striker, and Müller's not far behind, but they don't get the service that they need from this team. More often than not, the front three are asked to drift back and assist with the defence. Scoring goals is going to be a problem for them. One to watch: Oliver White. It's very rare to see this man make a mistake. A firm-but-fair left-back who makes his presence known to opponents - a top defender in any sense of the word. Prediction: Well, if you don't score, you don't win, and I feel that Osarius and Starblaydia might have too much for them. Eliminated at group stage. SVENGARDA Finals appearances: 2 Finals debut: WC64 Best performance: Group stage Pre-WCQ rank: 56th Post-WCQ rank: 49th Home colours: White with dark green and blue trim Away colours: Blue with dark green trim Manager: Luke Thompson How they qualified: Stuttered badly after a fantastic start, but they soon recovered and a win over second-place Zwangzug late on in the qualifiers was enough to all but put Group 5 to bed. They've been here just once before, getting into WC64 via the playoffs, but they flopped in that tournament, taking just one point from their three group stage games. Licentian manager Luke Thompson has shown diligence and foresight to bring this Svenga side through automatically, adding a few youth players to his roster with an eye on future development, but the bulk of the squad is made up of well-grounded, experienced professionals who know what their roles are. He's got them to play attractive, attacking football, which should win them plenty of plaudits at the World Cup even if they're not the best side there. The structure of the team is solid from top to bottom, with a squad packed full of influential players like captain Georg Raske, the central defender who'll torment any attacker in the game. Their true strengths lie up front, especially in the phenomenal Truls Waaserson, who can score goals from anywhere, as his record of 32 in 55 should demonstrate. Although it's likely that they'll be overpowered in this tournament, they can take heart from the experience, and they're not going to disgrace themselves. It'll be a proud tournament for the Svenga team. One to watch: Loreen Steffanssen. The first female player to play for Svengarda, and a very well-rounded, versatile player at that. Better than a lot of males on the team. Prediction: They'll fight bravely, but this group is too much for them. Eliminated at group stage. STARBLAYDIA Finals appearances: 42 Finals debut: WC17 Best performance: Champions (x5) Pre-WCQ rank: 28th Post-WCQ rank: 26th Home colours: White with purple trim Away colours: Purple with white trim Manager: Frederico Blassii How they qualified: They didn't have everything their own way, even after taking control of Group 15 with victory over Maklohi Vai, still requiring New Montreal States to slip up, which they promptly did. There's not a lot to say about Starblaydia that people don't already know. Everyone knows about their five world titles and Di Bradini and the fact that at least half of them are secretly alien lizards. It still remains that they're not the all-conquering force they once were, and teams will be going up against them confident of getting something from the game. They didn't make it to WC66, which a lot of people found very amusing, but they're here now. Frederico Blassii plays with a very balanced style which, so far, has been getting the best out of his side. Xavier Nunez is an example of a good new player brought into the Starblaydi side, he's an old-fashioned centre-back who's not afraid to let the opposition know he's there. The team is very versatile - defensive players like Morton can drift forward to support the attack, and Raul Garcia's challenges can stop any opposing forward in their tracks. And of course, they can get goals, Rossi being the main focal point, and he can finish very well. They can be sluggish, they can be slow to react to situations, but on their day, they're capable of beating any team put in front of them. One to watch: Dario Rossi. Not only can he find the back of the net on a regular basis, but he's aware of his teammates and can provide for them just as easily. Prediction: It's not the Starblaydia of old, but they can get through this group. Second round. OSARIUS Finals appearances: 6 Finals debut: WC59 Best performance: Third place Pre-WCQ rank: 6th Post-WCQ rank: 4th Home colours: Red with a black band, yellow trim Away colours: Black with red and yellow trim Manager: Jermain Lewis How they qualified: Pretty comfortably from a potentially tricky Group 1. Wrapped up qualification with two games to go and remained unbeaten on their way to the finals by seven clear points. Relative newcomers compared to some of the more established top teams, the Firebirds have done very well to climb up the rankings and are fully deserving of their high rank. A world title has so far eluded them, but certainly not for lack of trying. Jermain Lewis knows exactly what he's doing, and this may be the best chance they've had to date of making a major impact in international football. His team plays a rapid counter-attacking game which has the potential to catch any team by surprise, with the speed of Doherty and Rees on either wing likely to play a key part in their strategies. Together with Ezio Grassi, they make up a very versatile front three with each player capable of playing in any position, and will form the spearhead of Osarius' counter-attacking strategy. It's in defence that they're liable to have trouble, though. They play a very high line and are known to press opponents high up the field, which works wonders when it comes off for them, but against a team prepared for it, they're horribly vulnerable on the break. Their narrow setup also leaves them vulnerable to the kind of fast wingers who've been causing a lot of trouble at recent tournaments. One to watch: Ezio Grassi. A very capable and fast striker who can score goals and fire in some impressive crosses, sometimes playing as a winger. The focal point of the Firebirds' attack, and justifiably so. Prediction: A very good team who should ease their way through the group, but aren't likely to progress past the quarter-finals.

GROUP H THE ARCHREGIMANCY Finals appearances: 32 Finals debut: WC37 Best performance: Third place Pre-WCQ rank: 12th Post-WCQ rank: 11th Home colours: Black robes emblazoned with Orthodox cross Away colours: ...do they even have any? Certain players have been known to take to the field nude in the past, if that counts. Manager: Fr. Isaac the Forbidding How they qualified: They made it hard for themselves, especially after a damaging defeat against those anti-Orthodox heretics from Gregoryisgodistan, but kept their cool to book their place in the finals on the last matchday. Well, the monks are here again. It can be hard to form a valid tactical analysis of their game, considering their rather unique circumstances, but the fact remains that they've failed to reach a final in thirty-one attempts so far. Officials from the Monastic Football Association cite "monastic humility" when asked about it, but then, they would, wouldn't they? I had the pleasure of seeing one of their home games during qualifying. The press facilities aren't up to much, they had some two-hour sermon before the game, and I was badgered to convert to Orthodoxy throughout the match. Fairly standard practice where the Archregimancy are concerned, it seems. Anyway, their tactics appear to be a simple 4-4-2, but they go in for some hard challenges and will occasionally try to teach opposing players about the joys of Orthodox Christianity. They're a decent enough side, with the front two of Fr. Daniel and Fr. Hypatius able to contribute goals in equal measure, and their defence is equally as sound, but they do suffer occasionally from their inflexible system. One to watch: Fr. Demetrius the Unrelenting. A tough-tackling but fair midfielder with some interesting eschatological beliefs. Visiting fans and players are advised to ask him about them. Prediction: They shouldn't have a problem in qualifying from the group, but might need some of that monastic humility. Second round. EURA Finals appearances: 8 Finals debut: WC60 (as FSSO) Best performance: Champions (x1) Pre-WCQ rank: 4th Post-WCQ rank: 3rd Home colours: Red with gold trim Away colours: Blue with gold trim Manager: Kelly Sporadic How they qualified: It took them a while to pull away, but when they did, they were uncatchable. They made it look simple to qualify from a tough Group 14, finishing six points clear of New Sideburn. Eura are a fantastic example of what a newcomer can do. They shocked everyone by reaching the final on their first ever finals appearance, and now, just a few cycles later, they're the reigning world champions. Kelly Sporadic is one of the world's best managers, with plenty of experience at the World Cup behind him, and it's no surprise that he eventually claimed a world title of his own. That's not to take anything away from the players, who can rightfully name themselves the world's best - at least, until the next couple of weeks are up. They play a simple 4-4-2 diamond formation, which Sporadic has proven to be very effective against any opposition. John Spartan in particular ought to be commended for providing a launching pad for many of their attacks, but they can distribute the ball anywhere from midfield, and opponents find it very hard to deal with. The front two of Thomas and Oslograd are capable of getting a whole load of goals between them, and their veteran defence contains experience and cool heads enough to see them through any major crisis. On their day, they'll beat anyone. Sporadic's job now is to keep them fired up enough to do so. One to watch: Skorji Oslograd. He's got an eye for the spectacular, and he'll score some fantastic goals, but he also knows how to get the finishes that matter. Prediction: They have the potential to win a second straight title. They're good enough, but I can't see lightning striking twice. Semi-finalists. KANDORITH Finals appearances: 1 Finals debut: WC67 Best performance: N/A Pre-WCQ rank: 64th Pre-WCQ rank: 60th Home colours: Forest green with white trim Away colours: Blue with red trim Manager: Xíanjí Hatema How they qualified: In dramatic fashion. They saw a five-point hold on second spot overturned by Mapletish before snatching it back on a thrilling last day, before sneaking past Super-Llamaland on away goals to reach the finals. The Red Dragons are making their first ever appearance at the finals, and they deserve this opportunity. Xíanjí Hatema has infused this hard-working squad with team spirit and determination, and they've made the most of it, and have been justly rewarded. They had a very difficult qualifying group with some arguably more experienced teams, but they didn't let that sway them, and kept fighting through the playoffs to get here. Their swift passing game works wonders on the counter-attack, and it's that, combined with a resilience that saw them claw back so many valuable points during qualification, that means they're at the World Cup. Méng Zeijí is the leading light of their attack, and they'll be looking to him to get the vital goals during the World Cup, but they're capable of making chances from all areas of the field. Defensively is where they look a little shaky, and the three-man defence will be left critically exposed by some of the better sides more times than they would generally like, even with the assistance of Miraki Nakamura. They're here to give a good account of themselves, but ultimately, this tournament will form part of the learning curve for them. One to watch: Kawashi Akira. An attacking midfielder with some brilliant distribution, able to create chances with ease. He's not afraid of having a shot himself, and will score the occasional long-range screamer. Prediction: Being the lowest-ranked team in the tournament will be too much pressure for them, especially in a tricky group. Eliminated at group stage. ZWANGZUG Finals appearances: 11 Finals debut: WC34 Best performance: Runners-up Pre-WCQ rank: 35th Post-WCQ rank: 30th Home colours: White with black stripes Away colours: Black with white stripes Manager: Bridget Scroves How they qualified: After a bright start to qualifying, ended up well ahead of third-placed Ko-oren but way behind Group 5 winners Svengarda. Edged out Kiryu-shi in a very tight playoff to get to the finals. Zwangzug haven't qualified as often as they'd like, but they've done very well considering they started out at the very bottom of the pile four cycles ago. They're a model example of how a team can rise very quickly up the rankings to claim their place in the greatest show on earth. They play in what's best described as a narrow 4-5-1, but their exact style is hard to describe, because they're capable of changing it on the fly to get the better of opponents. They'll play with ten men behind the ball at times, and it works to an extent - they're certainly a very hard team to break down, with the likes of Vipin Lamin on the team, who's made it his mission to ensure opponents don't get past him. Patricia Eliot is one who is sure to come to the attention of referees this tournament, given her disciplinary record, but in general, the team don't go in for hard, physical play, and they're often left static in the face of an opposing attack. Scoring goals can also be a problem for them - while Khamisi McCluey is an accomplished goalscorer in his own right, playing as a lone striker means that he's often starved of service. One to watch: Davi Keane-Liuprand. When he takes control of the midfield, the game will run according to his whims. He's just as adept in supporting the attack as he is defending. Prediction: They've done great to get this far, but will struggle against Eura and the Archregimancy. Eliminated at group stage.

[United Gordonopia]

The response in the weeks following AllSport's announcement of the Gordonopian National League had been overwhelming, to say the least. Positive buzz seemed to significantly outweigh the critics, and more importantly there was already a large volume of season ticket sales. Though for the first two seasons, the eight clubs, from Gordonopia City, Deska, Teva, Fusba, Holiday, New Bellum, Al-Kharid, and Tolven, were playing in existing stadiums of 45,000 or smaller, two teams had already managed to sell their season ticket allotments and the rest were on pace to do the same.

Another hugely important sign was the interest among players; so many of the nation's best female collegiate players simply drifted into the working life after graduation, but since the press release nearly 1,000 women who had graduated in the past five years had put their names forward for the one-time draft. Notably, the lions share of Class A power conference starters were among the group, though with so much talent, the 15 draft rounds would leave most players on the free market.

The draft itself, though, had been one of the biggest topics of conversation. Such an event had never before happened in Gordonopian sports. The lack of any existing infrastructure, though, from youth academies to clubs themselves meant that the league's talent pool was starting from square one, and for the sake of competition it was thought best to give every team a chance at the top talent early on. This had lead to countless speculation in the media over who exactly would be taken early on, and in the lull between World Cup Qualification and the GPL season, this was the hottest football news around.

By draft day, the national consensus seemed to have zeroed in on three frontrunners for the top pick. Bella Franz, the cousin of former National Team star Lane Franz, had been impressing up and down the field for four years at Southern Deska, so much so that she had earned an Olympic Team spot in her second year. Though usually listed as a Central Midfielder, Bella was a versatile talent on the field, often acting as a playmaker but other times dropping back to provide defensive support. Most importantly, though, she was widely believed to have the best ball control of any player in the college game, which had put her on numerous highlight reels and gained her a decently large following over the years.

Next was a player who had established herself as perhaps the greatest back in the collegiate game. Like Bella, Ruth Schribner had impressed at the Olympics in Orean, but her talents had the lynchpin around which Crowly College, a small private institution in Plains, had crafted their team. The schools utterly crushing defense, with Ruth at the center, had given up a mere four goals in 20 season games and had marched all the way to the Class A Championship where they fell narrowly to perennial powerhouse Imperial; it was the first time in twelve seasons that a club outside of the 'big six' conferences had made it so far. Throughout that masterful season, not a single player Ruth covered managed to score a goal or even mark an assist.

The final candidate was more of a dark horse, having emerged only in her final season as the most dominant forward in the game playing for Imperial. She had not been on the Olympic squad, nor had she stood out enough early on to even start before her third year. Whatever had happened that last season to make everything click, though, had truly turned her game around. 20 goals across the 20 regular season and six post season matches. Eight assists. The thing most thought would hold her back, though, was the ingrained Gordonopian penchant for defense, or so the narrative went. The men's National Team was world class on defense and middling up front. Four of the perennially strongest clubs followed defensive philosophies. Unless the women's league went differently-

"United Gordonopia," Aria Fowler beamed on the draft room stage, "I am thrilled to announce that with their historic first pick, Sporting Tolven has chosen Imperial University's Kyla Wittingham to be the Gordonopian National Team's first player."

Perhaps things would be different...

[Mizuyuki]

No OOC malice intended, as usual. All slights made strictly IC.

---

Shirakiin Kurumi

---

"Two words, Shirakiin; two exceedingly simple words - world class. Absolutely world class. You've done Mizuyuki proud; it wouldn't surprise me to see your name on the Lunar New Year Awards List this year."

I held my crystal flute aloft with a smile before slowly tipping the fine vintage into my mouth, savouring the fruity, well-rounded taste that was evocative of the vineyards of Kirishima.

"Thank you for the compliment, President Koshigaya, but I dare say you'll be hard pressed to find more superlatives in your efforts to describe the Nova a few cycles down the line."

I met the President's gaze unflinchingly for a few seconds - radiating confidence. Koshigaya Hirotada, an elderly statesman in his fifth term as the President of the Mizuyuki Football Association, was widely held as a man with an overbearing personality, of an unpleasantly volatile disposition and owner of a larger-than-life presence that intimidated most anyone who ever locked eyes with him.

Despite what a gaggle of fired FA employees will tell you, as well as a smattering of run-ins I'd had with the man during the embryonic stages of my tenure as manager of the Nova, beneath the granite-like exterior of the President, there remained the soul of a young boy whose only love was for the beautiful game. There was no stronger indication of Koshigaya's pure, childlike passion for football than his exuberant celebrations after the Nova secured a Finals berth; all it took was a single glance at his ludicrous antics in the director's box at the ShiFT after Mizuyuki's 3-1 defeat of the Sarians, flanked by several highly regarded personages - to see that the sweet, sweet nectar of victory had stripped away the gravelly surface and revealed Koshigaya as the football fan he really was at heart.

Then again, who else except a football fan would take on a time-consuming and exhausting bureaucratic position, receiving a nominal monthly pay packet amounting to peanuts, as President of the Mizuyuki FA? I had a hunch that even the groundsmen responsible for the ShiFT pitch earned more doing their job than Koshigaya did during his entire term as President. The man loved football, and he was willing to forsake a much more lucrative livelihood in order to fulfil every football enthusiast's lofty dreams of seeing his team lift that coveted golden bauble, the World Cup.

"I expect I'll have to purchase an updated copy of the Natsudori dictionary when the time comes, won't I?"

The heady sensation of qualification, supplemented by the beguiling fumes of a bottle of Kirishiman 1945, had drawn away yet another layer of Koshigaya's usual inscrutability, his jovial personality trumping his no-nonsense brand of belligerence by some distance in terms of likability.

"I think you'll find the Manabu series much more informative, President; especially as it also contains a comprehensive thesaurus that's been of immense help to me in the past."

Koshigaya attacked the appetiser, a Caesar salad, with considerable vigour before deigning to reply.

"Nonsense, Shirakiin, always used the Natsudori, always will; and I've found it more than capable of compensating for my linguistic shortcomings. But come now, I didn't invite you out to dinner simply to dispute our personal choice of dictionaries." Koshigaya graced me with a rare smile, or at least what passed for a smile by his standards - the resulting contortion was quite something to behold - before continuing.

"I'm sure you've been inundated with congratulatory messages for the past few days. Is that not so, Shirakiin?"

I tried to hide a smile. The wily old weasel splurging on dinner merely to offer me his congratulations? Not likely.

This was simply an opening gambit in Koshigaya's masterplan. I could feel it.

Until he unveiled his coup de grace, all I could do was play along; at least I could try to discern his motive for this invitation to dinner.

"That is an undisputable fact, President."

Koshigaya regarded me with a calculating eye for a few seconds, as if trying to gauge my response to his follow-up move.

"But of course - such messages are only par for the course when a manager has led her team to the biggest stage of all in world football. I would have been most surprised if you had answered in the negative." Koshigaya pulled off yet another stunning grimace in an attempt to twist his face into a smile - sometimes I wondered whether the man was physically incapable of doing so. "Allow me to pass on the felicitations of the FA - I can assure you that you've cemented a place in Mizuyuki's footballing history by accomplishing the feat of leading our Nova to two consecutive Finals qualifications. An accomplishment not to be sniffed at, to be sure."

I swallowed a mouthful of cream of mushroom before replying to Koshigaya's congratulations. "Thank you, President - I'm glad to know that the FA think that we're on the right course. Indubitably so, I might add, given that our current policy of putting our youth first and foremost have paid handsome dividends. It just goes to show that with our careful husbandry of Mizuyuki's abundance of footballing talent, we have the potential to go far in football, and we could realistically be thinking about reaching the round of sixteen this cycle."

I stared expressionlessly at Koshigaya's steely grey eyes. I was feted among the FA's employees for being the only person on the FA's payroll capable of holding the President's laser-like gaze for more than a few seconds at a stretch, and with good reason too. For where would be the Nova now without my managerial skills? In the interests of stability within the FA and the team as a whole, Koshigaya had to keep me appeased - not vice versa, as many lackadaisical FA clerks found out to their cost.

In spite of my harsh brand of discipline having been liberally applied to literally every member of the squad at one point or another, they still respected me, adored me; and these emotions were reciprocal. The mutual bonds that had been forged within the fires of three tournaments in the space of two years was strong beyond measure - of that much, I was sure. That meant I had the capacity to bargain; nay, even do battle; with the most powerful man within Mizuyuki-jin football and still come away unscathed.

Koshigaya knew; I knew. He could not afford to play hardball with me, especially not when we were on the cusp of the World Cup Finals' first matchday, without running the risk of sparking an all-out mutiny within the ranks.

Still, I had to admit that I had not the slightest clue as to what Koshigaya hoped to achieve by treating me to dinner at one of the most exclusive clubs within metropolitan Mizunaga. For one thing, the city of Mizunaga was at least two hundred and fifty kilometres from the FA's offices in the capital, Kirayuki; for another, there were plenty of high-end restaurants just around the corner from the FA headquarters where one had to fork out astronomical sums in exchange for the most pretentious cuisine you will ever see, much like what we were being served here in Mizunaga.

To be frank, I was stumped. Koshigaya would have his grand reveal. Normally so adept at gleaning the tiniest scraps of information from detailed observation of the people I worked with, I could see nothing in Koshigaya's lined, severe face, which, despite being softened by the liquor, still had its mask of inscrutability firmly in place.

"I see you haven't lost any of your optimism, Shirakiin, and I dare say that's a good thing. If we're going to make it past the group stages, optimism is going to be one thing we'll need by the truckload."

I raised my glass and swirled the last dregs of blood-red wine around, before draining it and calling for a refill.

"I concur with your judgement, President; for without optimism at this point, we won't be achieving qualification next cycle, let alone progressing to the round of sixteen. Still, I would like to believe that I've instilled a positive mentality within the squad during my time at the helm that will serve them most commendably when the Finals kick off next week."

As a waiter sedately refilled my glass with all the grace and elegance of a nobleman, I couldn't help but feel that the atmosphere pervading the quiet, candle-lit room was distinctive of the most exclusive dining establishments. Koshigaya was nothing if he wasn't a true gourmand, and he was well-known within the culinary industry for being exceedingly particular as to his tastes, so that only the most discerning establishments were capable of earning his custom. While Koshigaya considered his response to my statement, I drank in the air as though it were the finest wine - and was reminded of the age-old custom of filling a bottle of air from a place of immense beauty, oftentimes locations such as horticulturists' gardens and architects' houses, and releasing it within one's abode, once the highest compliment one could pay one's peers.

"Pleased to hear that, Shirakiin, most pleased. I do believe we might make a fine fist of things with you in charge, especially since we're in Pot 3 this time around. Having definitively avoided the likes of perennial contenders Zwangzug and Starblaydia, we might well have a sterling chance of advancing out of the group stages."

"Absolutely, President - if we draw a weak fourth seed, we will no doubt have at least three points in the bag. All that remains is to play for a draw in our matches against the two top seeds - if we can garner a minimum of two points from them, we stand a healthy chance of doing so. This being the World Cup Finals, mistakes can be costly in the extreme, as we discovered against Turori last cycle."

The President put on a genuine grimace at the thought of his beloved Mizuyuki getting savaged at the hands of a resurgent Turori during the Finals of World Cup 66. To date, it remained the only defeat that we had suffered in the Finals, having held both current co-hosts Equestrian States and the monastic beings from the Archregimancy to draws. All in all, I thought that our performance had been most commendable, given that we were being thrown in at the deep end, figuratively speaking, after derailing Jeruselem and Ossidiacqua's bid for qualification by winning our group outright. We were by far the most inexperienced team in that World Cup Finals, but I could see that the bitter taste of defeat against Turori lingered within Koshigaya.

"Well, make sure that we send Turori out of the Finals, one way or another, you understand me? They have been far too dismissive of us in the past - remember that condescending article one of their media franchises put out? We'll show them that we most certainly aren't there to make up the numbers, and we're going to blow them right out of the water this time around." Koshigaya clenched a fist and repeatedly banged it on the pristine antique table as he spoke to reinforce his point, the loud noise drawing more than a few startled glances from other diners.

"You would be well-advised not to make a scene here, President; this is a respectable club with centuries of tradition and history. I'm sure you wouldn't want to end up on the blacklist of the management." I spoke in a low voice, not wishing to draw attention to myself.

Koshigaya took in a few deep breaths, which had a salutary effect in relieving his anger, and abruptly called for another bottle of wine.

"My apologies, Shirakiin; a mere transport of anger. I've always found condescension to be an abominable trait; one of my foremost pet peeves, so to speak. More so when it's coming from a nation that's inherently inferior to us in terms of raw footballing talent. And to lose to those snooty buggers right after they published that article ... let's just say that it is pure torment. Pure torment, my dear Shirakiin. No doubt you'll be looking to set the record straight against Turori this time around - I would dearly love to see them unseated from their high horses. I'm sure you feel the same."

This time I couldn't help smiling. "But of course, President Koshigaya. I can assure you that we will defeat them should we end up meeting in the Finals. When the draw is concluded at Harmony Castle, we'll know whether Turori even stands a chance of coming up against us; nevertheless, you can rest assured that we have a plan; or rather, I have a plan. We'll send them packing if we do have to face them."

Koshigaya mopped his brow with a handkerchief. "I'm relieved to hear that, most relieved. Your primary priority is advancing past the group stages; your second task is to defeat the Turorians if and when Mizuyuki comes up against them. Capisce?"

"Absolument, my dear President."

"Very well, I look forward to receiving glad tidings from your end." Koshigaya took a sip of wine from his flute before digging into the rare beef steak that had just been served.

"Dewa, itadakimasu."

A few minutes of silence ensued as we both devoted our attentions to tackling our dinners; me with my sushi, he with his beef steak. The food was a delight, no doubt about that, and I enjoyed the sharp taste of the horseradish and the salty tang of the sashimi so much that I barely heard Koshigaya take a pause from his mastications and address me.

"By the way, I have something of import to tell you, Shirakiin. Might as well get it out of the way before we're so filled with excellent food that our cogitations do not move past a continuous consideration of the heavenly taste." He gave me what passed to be a roguish wink.

Unflustered by his sudden move, I continued to eat, savouring every bite of the sushi before speaking. "Do enlighten me, President."

"Well, it's good news, for one. Remember your persistence in badgering the FA to allocate more of our budget towards the development of youthful talent? Specifically the construction of youth facilities throughout the nation, not to mention hiring junior coaches to ensure that our youngsters get the best development money can buy."

I paused, with my chopsticks in mid-air, a slice of sashimi dangling dangerously and threatening to fall into my glass of wine at any moment.

Now this had me unsettled. Don't tell me ... Koshigaya managed to coax the bumbling bureaucrats at the FA to increase the youth spending?

"You have my full, undivided attention, President."

"It seems that you have a sympathiser, or should I say admirer, within the Nikaido administration, Shirakiin. You realise that the government budget for the fiscal year 2014 has just been approved by the Imperial Treasury and passed in the Diet, don't you?"

"Hardly; I don't pay much attention to the machinations of Mizuyuki's political parties. In any case, I don't see what the 2014 governmental budget has to do with the FA, much less my own campaign to establish a firm foothold for the national team in terms of youthful talent." With a dismissive wave of my hand, I proceeded to take another gulp of wine.

"I had a feeling you didn't, and I see that my intuition is as sharp as ever."

Koshigaya took a brief pause from conversation to contemplate a particularly tough piece of beef, before wolfing it down with all the finesse of a barbarian.

"You might be interested to know that the budget specifically allocated over one hundred million aurorae for the development of sports within Mizuyuki, and over seventy-five percent of that amount is to go towards your cause. I hear that Akiyama was instrumental in getting that proviso through the Diet, although her cause was helped by the assistance of our Prime Minister. In one bold stroke, the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister have gotten rid of all your problems."

I was left slack-jawed, my food once again abandoned.

" ... what possessed the Diet to go along with such an exponential increase in sports funding? I would have thought that a large majority of the old farts sitting in the Diet would have been howling like monkeys, trying to get the alteration to the budget scrapped, before it even came to a vote."

"Apparently it took the not-inconsiderable oratory skills of the Prime Minister to squeeze the revision through. The original budget was supposed to have been set in stone once the Premier rubber-stamped it, but the PM took the floor and debated the issue thoroughly once the revision was proposed by the Minister of Finance. I'm told it was four hours before she concluded her remarks, yet evidently her rhetoric worked a treat. The revision narrowly scraped through both houses thanks to these two individuals."

"Is that not deserving of a little celebration, a toast to their health, perhaps?"

"Most certainly, President. I'm wondering whether I should send them both a letter expressing my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation."

Koshigaya laughed. "Indeed, that should be on your to-do list in the very near future. But for now, let's settle on a plain old toast, shall we?"

"I'm only too happy to oblige, for these two people have done me a great service indeed."

I lifted my crystal flute reverently.

"To Akiyama Keiko and Misaka Satsuki, admirable individuals that might well have set the stage for Mizuyuki's meteoric rise in the sporting world."

"I take it that they'll be on your New Year's card list when the Lunar New Year rolls around?"

Once again, I met Koshigaya's gaze.

"But of course, President."

Our glasses clinked.

[Blouman Empire]

THE EMPIRE TIMES

World Cup Preview

Now that the World Cup draw has occurred, the speculative media and fans can put aside their fantasy matches and potential line-ups and can concentrate on the actual competition in host nations Cassadaigua and the Equestrian States and prepare to watch the thrilling matches that are in store for us. Let us preview the groups more deeply to see who has the toughest opponents and the easiest run, the first timers and the regulars.

Group A – Cassadaigua, The Holy Empire, Jeruselem, Vilita

Most Anticipated Match: The Holy Empire vs Vilita; The final match day will see the predicted top two teams battle it out for the top spot

Early predictions are for Vilitia and The Holy Empire to top the group despite both teams only finishing second in the respective groups they both came up against tough opponents. Cassadaigua equaled on points with group winner Astograth and went through unbeaten; their formidable defense coupled with their strong attacking play will no doubt be the decisive factor. Keep an eye out for Nili Ylimaiina in their forward line. The hosts Cassadaigua may yet prove the critics wrong as they battle it out in front of a strong home crowd helping them to take second spot from The Holy Empire. Jeruselem managed to qualify through the playoffs and while always a team to battle it out they will be relying on other results to go their way if they are to make it into the final.

Final Prediction: 1st Vilita, 2nd The Holy Empire, 3rd Cassadaigua, 4th Jeruselem


Group B – Baruina, The Inevitable Syndicate, Boring Paradise, Audioslavia

Most Anticipated Match: TIS vs Audioslavia; These two fierce rivals will face each other in the final matchday which will no doubt determine the group winner.

Audioslavia are expected to be dominant this world cup easily making it to the Semi-finals, meaning the other three teams in this group will be battling for second place. First-timers Baruina managed to beat Qazox in the playoffs to secure their place but will now come up against tougher opposition and will bail out early. Boring Paradise have been in the World Cup twice before but have failed to make it past the group stage. This is the expected outcome again in part due to their poor defence having conceded 38 goals in the qualifiers and playoff a weakness that stronger teams will exploit. The Inevitable Syndicate failed to lose a game in the qualifiers a run they will want to continue but Audioslavia will be the main team to beat as they dominant their group. Audioslavian captain James Courier will be the linchpin of the team as he controls the midfield taking his team to further glory.

Final Prediction: 1st Audioslavia, 2nd TIS, 3rd Boring Paradise, 4th Baruina


Group C – The Licentian Isles, Farfadillis, Valnora, Northern Sunrise Islands

Most Anticipated Match: Farfadillis vs The Licentian Isles; The two teams most likely to join Valnora to the next stage will play hard for the second place decider

Five time world champions Valnora will dominate this group as they look for their sixth title with the forward pairings of Allandren Fresco and Medtorwen Gwaval easily penetrating their opponents defence the focus on this group swings to the other three teams as they attempt to finish 2nd. Northern Sunrise Islands under new manager and former player Val Klyx but will have a hard battle in their first World Cup and will most likely finish bottom. This leaves Farfadillis and Licentian Isles, both teams managed to qualify outright, and while Licentian Isles managed to top, their group, considered one of the easier groups in the qualifiers as evidenced by Kinitaria also qualifying their first time. Farfadillis only managed second though it was to an unbeatable Blouman Empire. Both sides are evenly matched and will come down to the wire with Farfadillis just hanging on for the win.

Prediction: 1st Valnora, 2nd Farfadillis, 3rd The Licentian Isles, 4th Northern Sunrise Islands


Group D – Andossa Se Martin Vega, Turori, Kinitaria, Mizuyuki

Most Anticipated Match: Kinitaria vs Mizuyuki both teams will face off to avoid the ignominy of finishing last

Both ASMV and Turori have been in the World Cup many times (17 and 21 apparences respectively) but both have failed to win, however, ASMV have been strong over the past few tournaments and will continue their strong form as exhibited in the finals. Turori has strong defence and it will no doubt be crucial throughout this tournament, while it will be enough to see off Kinitaria and Mizuyuki they will have their work cut out when facing ASMV but if they maintain their back line they may bring about an upset to claim first place. As mentioned Kinitaria faced a relatively easy group and was the best of the rest clinching automatic qualification for their first World Cup, up against tougher opponents their only hope of winning a game will be against Mizuyuki though this will be a long shot. Despite Mizuyuki winning their group it won’t be enough against the likes of Turori and ASMV

Final Prediction: 1st Andossa Se Martin Vega, 2nd Turori, 3rd Mizuyuki and 4th Kinitaria


Group E – Equestrian States, Antoletia, Polar Islandstates, New Sideburn

Most Anticipated Match: Polar Islandstates vs Equestrian States while Polar Islandstates are short favoruites to win the match will be a good showcase for the neutral observer of these two strong opponents.

Host nation Equestrian States have yet to make it past the group stage in their three previous final appearances but with a home crowd behind them, it should be enough to see them make it into the Round of 16 despite being drawn against World Cup favourites Polar Islandstaes. Polar Islandstates will be hoping third time is the charm after suffering back-to-back final defeats their chase for the elusive cup begins against Antoletia. Against tough opponents Antoletia managed to qualify top of their group with a draw against Darmen in the final round and will be using that experience in the group stage but it may not be enough against Polar Islandstates and Equestrian States. New Sideburn is one of five nations competing in their first World Cup and like the others won’t have the experience to make it past the group stage especially when coming up against Polar Islandstates.

Final Prediction: 1st Polar Islandstates, 2nd Equestrian States, 3rd Antoletia, 4th New Sideburn


Group F – Astograth, Apox, Valladares, Blouman Empire

Most Anticipated Match: Valladares vs Blouman Empire; The winner will put themselves in a good position to top the group leading into the final match day.

Top seed Valladares dominated the second half of qualifying to top the group, however, the Blouman Empire dominated throughout failing to lose a game and only drawing twice giving them the best result in all groups. The two teams have faced each other before in the Blouman’s first campaign with Valladares winning 2-0, however, with more experience under the belt and a stronger outfit the game should be tighter. Apox will be the challenger to second spot and may unseat Bloumany in the final match day should they manage a win. Astograth have returned to the World Cup after a long time in the wilderness and while they topped their group, the team of young and inexperienced plays will be a disadvantage to them and won’t be much of a threat to Valladares or the Blouman Empire.

Final Prediction: 1st Valladares, 2nd Blouman Empire, 3rd Apox, 4th Astograth


Group G – United Gordonopia, Svengarda, Starblaydia, Osarius

Most Anticipated Match: United Gordonopia vs Starblaydia; Both sides appear to be even which should result in a match not to be missed, difficult to tell who will win but the loser may find themselves going home early.

Despite being five times world champion Starblaydia haven’t been up to their usual standard of late and have struggled to reclaim their past glory, with Osarius in top form and United Gordonopia on their heels it will be a tough challenge to progress but one they are capable of. Osarius should easily walk through these teams, having despatched of their qualifying opponents there is no doubt a similar fate awaits their group members. United Gordonopia had the best defence in the qualifiers only letting in nine goals, their group opponents will need to break this strong defence lead by Jakob Metzel and then try to get it past Untied Gordonopia’s best ever keeper Jay Neuman, inability to do this will cost their dreams of winning the title. Svengarda have had the misfortune of being drawn against such tough opponents, easily clinching top spot they may have had a better run in another group but against these three teams they will be packing their bags not long after losing their final match against Osarius

Predicted Finish: 1st Osarius, 2nd Starblaydia, 3rd United Gordonopia, 4th Osarius


Group G – The Archregimancy, Eura, Kandorith, Zwangzug

Most Anticpated Match: The Archregmiancy vs Eura The battle for first place will see these two powerhouses duel for a close game that could go either way.

Current world champions Eura are bound to qualify and are in a very good chance to make it two in a row, their only real threat to finishing top is The Archregimancy. The monks are consistent qualifiers for the World Cup but have so far only managed to finish third, while they will comfortably make it past the group stage, it is doubtful they will improve on that as they face tougher opponents likely to knock them out. The other two sides Zwangzug and first timers Kandorith will lose at least two matches and will be wanting to beat the other to escape humiliation of a three game wipeout.

Predicted finish: 1st Eura, 2nd The Archregimancy, 3rd United Gordonopia, 4th Osarius.

[Equestrian States]

World Cup 67: Group E Preview
by Steve McNotapony

Here we go again...

For the fourth consecutive year, our beloved Ponies have qualified for the World Cup finals, by virtue of our being one of the two co-hosts of this year's biggest event. I suppose its only fair that we didn't have to go through the usual qualifying process, seeing as we are letting thousands and thousands of foreign visitors descend upon our nation. Still, the lack of truly competitive preparatory matches could hurt our chances now that we've reached this stage of the tournament (but more on that later on).

Last time around, we were drawn into a group with The Archregimancy, Turori, and then-newcomers Mizuyuki, and touted as a narrow favorite to advance to the second round. However, despite solid outings against the Monks and Turorians which earned us two draws and left us in a position to reach the knockout rounds with a win on the final match day, the Equestrian States would come out of a tightly-contested match with Mizuyuki with just one point, sending them home early as one of just two teams to go unbeaten in their entire World Cup 66 campaign. For the supporters, it was a devastating way to finish, as they'd had hopes (though arguably naive ones) of going as far as the quarterfinals.

When the Pink and Purple World Cup bid was announced just months after that draw with Mizuyuki however, the Equestrian fans were delighted. When the WCC awarded the World Cup to the Equestrian States and Cassadaigua, delight turned to ecstasy. Finally, the multiverse's most popular tournament would be played not in a far-away region, but here in the Pony Lands, here in the Equestrian States. As hosts, we were given automatic passage to the finals, and now, after one of the most thrilling qualifying phases in recent memory, it is time for the main event.

The Equestrians were drawn into Group E as the second seeded team of four, as per the terms of the official bid, and joining them would be three teams which supporters of the Ponies might be able to recognize: New Sideburn, Antoletia, and - of course - top-ranked Polar Islandstates. How will the Equestrian States fare against such a group, including the team which many throughout the multiverse expect to win the tournament? Can the Ponies utilize their overwhelming home-field advantage to advance to the next round for the first time in their history? Will I ever stop ending the intros to my preview articles with a series of three questions?

Read on, my friends, to find out...

The Teams:

#1 - Polar Islandstates
Finals Appearance: 12th (World Cups 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
Head Coach: Morten Rasmussen
World Cup 67 Qualifying: 13-1-2 (1st in Group 6; Automatic Qualification)
Starting Players (2-3-3-2): Iulian Kirilaunen (GK, #1); Moses Luc Bjerregaard (RB, #2); Aapo Nordenberg (DC, #3); Vladimir Lucic (DC, #4); Kohev Küngas-Vaga (LB, #5); Eikr Lillehammer (DMC, #6); Jean-Eric Villeneuve (MC, #7); Marten Cornelius (MC, #8); Alexis Zeljeznicar (AMC, #10); Gustaf Kolehmainen (ST, #9); Felix Saarinen (ST, #11); Full Roster

Overview
Let's be honest here: if you somehow don't know who Polar Islandstates are, you're either an idiot ignorant of recent history or a fan who only just started following hoofball in the last few months. The Terns are not only the top-ranked team in the world (and by a considerable margin), but also the runners-up in the two previous World Cups. While they might lack the titles to support their claims to being the best team at present, they've certainly proven themselves to be more than just contenders, and deserve every bit of respect they get from the press. Not only that, but the Polarians hold a unique spot in the Equestrian States' own hoofball history, being the first team our Ponies ever faced in a World Cup finals match (which ended in a predictable 2-0 win for the Terns). Will Polar Islandstates be up to the task of winning in a group with a host nation and a couple other challengers, and thus advance to the second round once more?

How They Got Here
Except for that upset against The Weegies, which took the multiverse's media by storm and started an early wave of "the Terns are overrated" reporting, Polar Islandstates had a solid qualifying campaign in a challenging group. However, for the Sylvanaes and Sunrisians it was always a race to see who would finish second behind the mighty Polar Islandstates. By the end of qualifying, the Terns led Group 6 by seven points, and were well beyond the reach of the two other top seeds in their qualifying group. Again, other than the defeat to The Weegies, there were no surprises here.

Prediction
Anyone who thinks the Terns won't reach the second round is a foal. Maybe, if the Equestrians are more than a bit lucky with the combined support of the local crowd, Polar Islandstates will slip up and get a draw. Barring unforeseen twists of fate, however, I simply can't see the Polarians not moving on. Not only that, but I also can't see the Terns doing worse than to earn a semifinal berth in the end. They are, most definitely, my pick to win Group E and to win World Cup 67. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 3-0-0; 1st in Group E

#21 - Equestrian States
Finals Appearance: 4th (World Cups 64, 65, 66, 67)
Head Coach: Twilight Striker
World Cup 67 Qualifying: N/A (Qualified as Hosts)
Starting Players (3-5-2): Gentle Breeze (GK, #21); Flitter (DF, #3); Andrea Molovi (DF, #8); Subtle Trix (DF, #17); Starlight Sparkle (MF, #5); Rainbow Blitz (MF, #9); Cloudchaser (MF, #2); Apple Jack (MF, #4); Rapid Dash (MF, #11); Fire Dash (FW, #10); Thunderlane (FW, #7); Full Roster

Overview
It's the Equestrian States fourth appearance in the finals, and their first as hosts of the World Cup. It took seven attempts and three playoff losses for the Ponies to make their debut, but ever since then, the Equestrians have become a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. If anything shows the Ponies' recent success, it's their record in official WCC matches since the 64th World Cup: a stunning 35-15-4, with their only loss against a team ranked lower than them being a World Cup 65 qualifying road defeat against Carmadin. Yet despite all the positives, the Equestrians have not been able to reach the second round of the World Cup, a fact which plagues every loyal supporter of the Ponies. Will the Equestrian States finally be able shake the metaphorical monkey off their backs and reach the next round? Or will it be yet another "Final Day Fall" for the Ponies and their legions of die-hard fans?

How They Got Here
Hosts. I've said it already several times in this article. Do I really need to make the point again?

Prediction
Last year, it was the draw against Mizuyuki which sent the Equestrians home; the year before, it was a very narrow defeat to top-seeded Starblaydia; at World Cup 64, it was Saugeais and their shocking upset of Polar Islandstates. The Equestrian States have gone into the final match day of the group stage with a chance to reach the second round in each of their three previous appearances at this stage of the tournament. Each and every time, however, they've come up short, finishing third in the group. Looking beyond the World Cup, third place is where the Ponies have finished the group stage in numerous high-level competitions, including a couple Cups of Harmony and the recent Confederations Cup. The last time the Equestrian States advanced beyond the group stage in a WCC event was at the 53rd Cup of Harmony. Having predicted a second place finish for the Ponies in the last two World Cups, I'm hesitant to do so again. The only factor which could realistically doom the Equestrians to another group stage exit would be their lack of recent competitive matches. But with home field advantage and a wide gap between the Equestrian States and the lower two seeds, I can't see them not advancing. If this somehow jinxes our chances, I'd just like to preemptively issue an apology to the fans. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 2-0-1; 2nd in Group E

#41 - Antoletia
Finals Appearance: 3rd (World Cup 58, 66, 67)
Head Coach: Beniamin Grigorescu
World Cup 67 Qualifying: 10-4-2 (1st in Group 8; Automatic Qualification)
Starting Players (4-5-1): Adolf Dumitrescu (GK, #1); Niculae Ricard (DF, #2); Sheyenne Augustini (DF, #3); Alec Raț (DF, #4); Mathew Cannibus (DF, #7); Gheorghe von Leeweonheouck (MF, #5); Cristian Kafka (MF, #9); Gabriel Mohammed (MF, #13); Filip Constantinescu (MF, #14); Hannibal (MF, #22); Hiarchratez (FW, #11); Full Roster

Overview
Antoletia is a team that has been around for a while now, but is only just starting to show its potential behind a fairly talented and not-too-old starting XI. Equestrian supporters might recognize the Fire Ants if they've been following the Ponies since before the national team saw any real success. Back in the World Cup 60 qualifying campaign, the Equestrians were in the same group as Antoletia, who weren't too far removed from their finals debut. However, despite a 0-1-1 record against the Fire Ants in that campaign, the Equestrian States stunned the favorites to reach their first playoff for a spot in the finals. From there, the Ponies and Fire Ants seem to have swapped roles, with the Equestrians rising rapidly through the rankings and the Antoletians beginning to decline. All in all, the Antoletians have done well for themselves in turning things around and reaching their second straight final after a lengthy absence. There's no doubting the Fire Ants are a decent team, but do they have what it takes to keep up with the two heavily-favored top seeds along with a particularly ambitious bottom seed?

How They Got Here
The Fire Ants kicked their qualifying campaign off with a solid 4-0-1 record that saw them in second before their first bye, the lone defeat being against playoff favorites Jeru FC. However, the team's first bye would prove itself to be a hindrance to the side as they suffered a noticeable decline in form in a home loss to Vaugania and a dismal draw with NexxusDrako. By the midway point in their qualifying campaign, Antoletia languished in fourth, though were only four points removed from first thanks to a draw with top seed Darmen. That draw would spark the run that sent Antoletia through to the World Cup, where the only points dropped by the Fire Ants came in draws with the two top seeds. The last match day saw a Fire Ants squad that had already clinched a playoff berth by virtue of Jeru FC's bye day and early favorites Darmen in desperate need of a win to salvage a spot in the finals. But the Fire Ants scratched out the draw that doomed the Darmeni manager to unemployment and sent the Antoletians to the finals for the third time in their history.

Prediction
As I've said already, there's nobody who would deny that Antoletia is a good team. But to succeed in the World Cup finals, a team has to be more than just good. Sure, the Fire Ants won their qualifying group, but with all due respect to their opponents, theirs was probably among the worst in overall quality, with no team that has proven itself to be a consistent threat at the highest level. So forgive me if I'm not as impressed by their record as others. While it's certainly possible the Antoletians could steal a point from the Ponies here, I simply can't find any reason to give them the edge in advancing beyond the group stage. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 0-1-2; 3rd in Group E

#52 - New Sideburn
Finals Appearance: 1st (World Cup 67)
Head Coach: Gethin Ramsey
World Cup 67 Qualifying: 10-3-3 (2nd in Group 14; Defeated Free Republics in Playoff)
Starting Players (4-4-2): Kieron Riordan (GK, #1); Cathy Stokes (DF, #4); Tosca Marlowe (DF, #17); Hadrian Belfast (DF, #5); Anna Shrike (DF, #2); Michael Brandon (DM, #6); Gareth Crowley (MF, #11); Catheline Harper (MF, #8); Dale Brightley (AM, #10); Konrad Evans (FW, #9); Gerhard Thunder (FW, #7); Full Roster

Overview
This will be New Sideburn's first appearance in the World Cup finals, after several failed campaigns. Don't let the Cormorants lack of appearances in the World Cup fool you though, as they're far from being a pushover and have to be considered among the most under-ranked teams out there. Having won a pair of trophies in the Campionato Esportiva since their impressive WCC debut at the 51st Baptism of Fire, New Sideburn are one of the fastest-rising squads in the multiverse, fueled by a steam of talent produced by an equally ascendant domestic league, some of which has since been shipped abroad to play for bigger name clubs. This is new territory for Sideburnese, and they'll certainly be looking to make their mark in an impressive debut despite being drawn into a tough group. Will the Cormorants pull off an upset against any of their higher-seeded opponents to earn a shot at defying expectations?

How They Got Here
Though the Sideburnese lost their opener, they followed that setback up with a stunning upset of the defending world champs that immediately put them back in the thick of things. After that thrilling victory, New Sideburn worked its way into second place in Group 14 and then held on to the playoff spot for the rest of the campaign, punching their tickets to the playoffs with a match to spare. In the playoffs, the Cormorants faced the Free Republics in what was expected to be a tightly-contested pair of matches. In the end, the Sideburnese swept the two legs of the playoff and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Prediction
Given a few years, I expect New Sideburn will be a true contender in the not-too-distant future to get out of the group stage. But this isn't the future, and though the Cormorants did get a win over the Eurans, one has to recall the score of the return leg: a decisive 6-2 victory for the defending world champions. At their best, the Sideburnese are a threat to almost any opponent, but with every team in the World Cup looking to peak at just the right time, it'll be a tough act to duplicate without more than a little luck. Being drawn into the same group as the co-hosts and top-ranked Polarians won't help New Sideburn any, and I can't see them really posing a threat to either side. However, I'd expect their match against Antoletia to be a much closer affair, and could see them pulling an upset over the third seeds. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 0-1-2; 4th in Group E

Projected Group E Results:
Each match based on 10,000 computer simulations using ScorePredictor technology

Match Day 1:
Equestrian States 3-1 New Sideburn at Royal Equestria Stadium (cap. 98,625) in Canterlot, Equestrian States
Antoletia 0-3 Polar Islandstates at Star Stadium (cap. 59,250) in Canterlot, Equestrian States

Match Day 2:
New Sideburn 0-4 Polar Islandstates at Royal Equestria Stadium (cap. 98,625) in Canterlot, Equestrian States
Equestrian States 2-0 Antoletia at Star Stadium (cap. 59,250) in Canterlot, Equestrian States

Match Day 3:
Antoletia 2-2 New Sideburn at Star Stadium (cap. 59,250) in Canterlot, Equestrian States
Polar Islandstates 2-1 Equestrian States at Royal Equestria Stadium (cap. 98,625) in Canterlot, Equestrian States

  Group E                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 Polar Islandstates       3    3   0   0     9    1   +8     9
2 Equestrian States        3    2   0   1     6    3   +3     6
3 Antoletia                3    0   1   2     2    7   -5     1
4 New Sideburn             3    0   1   2     3    9   -6     1

---

OOC: Apologies for the brevity of the previews for Antoletia and New Sideburn, but I had to get this posted before the cutoff. I'll likely go back and edit in a bit of a lengthier preview for them sometime this afternoon.

[Cassadaigua]

May the World Cup begin......
Cutoff

Results

[Osarius]

It seems slightly odd to think that in the thirty-six years since both teams made their debuts on the global stage, Osarius and United Gordonopia have never faced off against one another. The Firebirds have for some time been jokingly referred to as the "unofficial champions of the 36th Baptism of Fire" and accordingly, came into this matchup the considerable favourites, pulling rank over their fellow class of 36'ers. It would not be so simple. The extremely strong Gordonopian defence proved too tough to penetrate, despite the repeated probing of the three-pronged Firebirds attack, and Jermain Lewis' team will likely have left the field with a feeling of great frustration last night.

"They made it difficult for us," conceded Firebirds boss Jermain Lewis, "they sat back and didn't give us the space to get in behind. Knowing we'd have to come through the middle, it was easy for them to plug the gaps and close the lanes." The manager's appraisal of the game is fair, though there was a clear sense of annoyance under his graciousness. Osarius enjoyed the majority of the game's possession, but rarely truly threatened to score. "It comes with the territory." Lewis lamented. "We're a threat, so teams will try this more and more. We need to break them down, we need to have better penetration from midfield."

Lewis' awareness of his team's flaws is encouraging, but his failure to adapt effectively during the course of last night's match might be cause for concern. Admittedly, it is unlikely they will face resistance as formidable against Svengarda, and the Starblaydi are not exactly known for their defensive play, but if Osarius are to triumph, they will likely need to overcome better defences than the one they faced last night.

The best chance Osarius had to breach the seemingly impenetrable defensive wall of the Godronopians was in the sixty-fifth minute, when Kristen Rees' hairpin run dragged her marker out of position, opening the briefest of windows. Drummond's ball into the left channel was met by Ezio Grassi, who you'd normally back to score eighteen yards from goal, but he opted to play the square pass instead, and Nathaniel Doherty fluffed his lines spectacularly, shanking his shot over the bar from six yards out. In truth, he appeared surprised by the pass -- no doubt used to seeing Grassi take aim on goal in those situations -- and this perhaps accounted for the horrible miss. "I think maybe Ezio was a bit frustrated, and beginning to think he couldn't score." Osarius midfielder Toby Drummond suggested after the match. "He'd normally smash it from there, so when he controlled it and turned back, I don't think anyone expected it. Least of all Nate."

There is an irony in the idea that Osarius' most clinical finisher in over a decade opted to pass up the best chance of the game, but the Cloudsdale Flyers forward seemed unfazed by it all. "It happens. I made a decision, and I felt it was the best one. It didn't work out." He said, matter-of-factly. "No point dwelling on it, I can't change it. I just have to look forward to the next game."

For all the frustration in the Osarius camp, there are no discernible negative effects, as the entire squad seems to be buzzing in the lead-up to the Starblaydia clash. "They're a historic team." Elissa Barca-Carthy told us. "But that just means it will make a victory all the sweeter for us." Interestingly enough, two members of the Osarius coaching staff present in the dugout last night were a part of a historic victory over Starblaydia some thirty years ago. "It was a big deal for us." Georgina Carsley asserted. "Nobody thought we could do it." It's different for today's team, though Jermain Lewis would never admit it. "I expected a win. I always do." He said, without a hint of humour. "Not many people expected us to win, but I did. I believed it. That's the key. I expect the same outcome this time around, too, and the team knows it."

[The Inevitable Syndicate]

They're Still My Team, No Matter What
Syndicate Still Need Our Support

CASSADAIGUA--- Firstly, some things I need to clear up. You may have heard I left Syndicate News on mental health grounds. This is not true. That's why Joel McCardy left, all those years ago. I left because my boss told me to, claiming I was a nuisance to the company, and that I'd have a hard time finding a job elsewhere. I certainly proved him wrong, because as soon as news about my departure was posted on the internet, I was head-hunted by an up and coming news publication to write their fledgling sports column. And here I am, at Unsyndicated Press.

So, if you're reading this, you're either behind seven proxies in the Syndicate, in which case good for you, or you're living in the slightly better hell-hole that is Mertagne. Or you're not from here at all, and stumbled upon this page just to see what the true source of news in the Syndicate thought of the World Cup. I doubt Syndicate news are even going to run a story on the cup, and if they do, I'm sure it'll be written by some poor hack who can't even spell properly.

Anyway, on to the bulk of the story, and as you probably know the Syndicate have landed themselves a place in the group stage of the World Cup, sailing through qualification and going undefeated. With just days to go, I thought I'd have a look at who we've been drawn with. We're in Group B, with the following:

Boring Paradise (Rank: 46)
I wish I had a bunch to say about Boring Paradise, so I could fill up all this space that's going in the article. I could distract you with some random statistics, but after the fire in the National Library took out the IFA's main data server, I couldn't tell you if we've played before. They seem to be a team that's been on form for a lot of the cup, but haven't quite performed as well as we have. Their young strikers, in the form of Haider Williams and Shooby Armours, have proved to be a major threat for many teams, but I have the feeling our close knit defence that we know works well will end up triumphing when we play them on the first matchday.

Barunia (Rank: 37)
37. A number heralded in Syndicatian folklore as being lucky, due to many tales over the years containing the number in some form or another. 37th ranked Barunia may have the edge on us on Matchday 2 if the side isn't feeling up to scratch, and as many have pointed out, the lack of new blood in the team could leave us with our pants down before we even face the toughest of our opponents. Van Diemen look like he'll be playing to his namesake (that is, a demon) on the pitch, and could be a major obstacle to the Syndicate's victory. The last time we faced off, the Suns took the game 2-1, and ended up sending us into a Cup of Harmony run that ended in disappointment. Hopefully the team have learned from their mistakes, and they can pull off a win and bolster our points before the finale.

Audioslavia (Rank: 2)
The Bulls. Il Mentore. Anaia. Audioslavia go by many nicknames across the Syndicate, and personally I'm glad to see them facing us again here in the Group Stage. We need some revenge for the game they cruelly stole from us last cycle, in which we made it to the third place play-off only to have the home advantage taken away and with it the chance of appearing in every major news publication across the multiverse. So say we're annoyed is a bit of an understatement, but here's our chance to edge the all time record ahead a bit. It's currently sat at 1-1, as the Syndicate put one past the Audioslavs during that fateful game way back in AOCAF 40. Times have changed since them, for some more than others, and with a newer, fitter squad, the game on paper looks like an absolute whitewash. But I'm hopeful, as I always am, that we'll manage to surprise them again.

You may think that just because you're living the high life up in Mertagne, with it's looting and unstable government, and it's lovely view of fires set by Corvidae spies in the early hours of the morning, that you shouldn't support the Syndicate's national football team. I'm here to tell you to get your politics out of the beautiful game. It's the same team we supported when they went into he qualifiers. It's the same team we've always supported (there's a point there, actually), and I'll be watching with bated breath right until the bitter end. Which might actually be a way from where we ended up last time, as the ground are unfamiliar territory for the national team, and lack the comfort that the Flynn Arena provided. But anyway, you should still continue to support your team, and if you can manage to find some tickets for the event off of a dead guy on the border, fly to Cassadaigua as quickly as possible to support the team. Also to get away.

Of course, if you're living in Mertagne, you probably can't access SSN, as Corvidae have it locked down in an attempt to make the weak willed run back into their arms. Here at Unsyndicated Press we laugh at this, and remind the Syndicatian Government of their predecessor's laws to keep the DataLink free and open to all. There are already some very kind souls who upload the latest television to the internet, but if you can't be bothered with that, get yourself a satellite dish and leech the hell out of the Krytenian and Guianan signals over the mountains. The coverage might not be as great (especially of the Syndicate v Audioslavia game, it is Krytenia after all), but hey, it's football.

Don't forget to fight for what's right,
Freddie Johnson
Unsyndicated Press

[Cassadaigua]

Barrett explains preparations for World Cup,
by Rachel Sharper, Concord Heights Times Senior Editor

The highly anticipated first game of World Cup soccer on Cassadagan turf since World Cup 54 is just around the corner. Since being named as one of the co-hosts, people all throughout the country have gobbled up tickets for the games that will be played. In all, CASE will utilize twelve different stadiums, three of them college fields as World Cup action takes place in all parts of the land. For team Cassadaigua, it’s been a long time since the nation was part of the field of thirty-two, having not qualified since World Cup 61. It is in fact, the longest dry spell in which the nation has ever had. Now, at last, in their fourth World Cup since returning to the scene, the pink and black are in it again, having not needed to play a single qualifying game.

This means that the team will be well-rested, but some have to wonder if the team could have used playing a few friendly matches against others before getting set to take on the best in the world, such as 12th- ranked Vilita, the second seed of the group, in the opener. Barrett felt that some scrimmages they had at home would be adequate, reminding fans, “We played against some domestic teams and some collegiate teams here within Cassadaigua. Friendlies can be overrated, the team doesn’t get much out of playing a third-tier roster of another nation who is also just wanting to have a scrimmage. Against the college teams, they all wanted to be the school that knocked us off, and got nothing but the best opposition in each of the games. They made our team work hard, and I think we will be better for it.” The University of Brattleboro was the closest to pulling off such a victory, though had to settle for a 2-2 draw after Stacey Matthews scored in the 85th minute for the national team. “That was intense,” said Barrett, “Brattleboro was very disappointed about conceding that late goal, whereas if it had been a friendly against another national team playing 2nd and 3rd tier level players, that same emotion wouldn’t have been there.”

The roster itself isn’t the most experienced roster that the Dagans have ever put on the field, but there are enough veterans on it. Barrett was quick to explain that the poor qualifying performance in World Cup 66, and a poor Cup of Harmony 57 that followed a late collapse in World Cup 65 qualifying was enough reason for her to change things up. No one was going to get a free ride, and if they hadn’t produced before, then she was looking elsewhere. Five players in the starting eleven were also starters in World Cup 66, and only captain Sierra Hinson started in World Cup 65 as well. Having said that, it is a pretty good blend of personnel, starting with Jennifer Phillips in goal. Phillips did start in Di Bradini Cup 28, but with the two other keepers on the roster having World Cup experience, the decision to start her was not conventional for Cassadaigua. That is, traditionally, players have worked their way up at this position, gaining experience as a sub or reserve if necessary, before starting. In this case, World Cup 66 starter Lindsay Doran is still part of the roster, but now listed behind Phillips on the depth chart. Phillips has played exceptionally strong soccer at home, and there’s nothing wrong with Barrett going with the hot hand. It’s just not something previous coaches like Brittany Lawton, Courtney Ferguson, or maybe even the great Alexander Pappas, would have done.

Looking at the defense, the aggressive Kiersten Young headlines the corps. She is one of the starters from World Cup 66, and looks to show more of the world what she is made of. “Kiersten doesn’t care if she hurts you,” said Barrett, “I would hate to play against her because of that. She’s positionally very sound, and being the tallest player on the team, she will win most of the battles in the box. Kiersten is ready to made a mark, absolutely, and with that will be bruise marks on opposing forwards.” Kelsey Nicholson is another steady choice in the back, and while Young is the more aggressive, Kelsey isn’t a pushover either. Playing the edges are Jessica Runyon and Meghann Dailey, who don’t have much experience, but have shown they deserve the chance.

Scoring chances will start in the midfield, and more often be by Sierra Hinson, the captain, creating them. As the most experienced player on the team, Hinson was given the armband, but Barrett tells us that decision was made with more then just international caps as a consideration. “Sierra is a leader by example. Her work ethic out on the field will be unmatched, and the rest of the team knows they need to step up to her level. She is very vocal in the locker room, and if a player has been lax, she will call them out on it. That’s what had me make the decision.” Hinson is more of a playmaker then a goalscorer, so don’t expect to see her name on the goal scoring sheet that much. At the same time, those more likely to score, Cassie Brennan and Stacey Matthews up front, and the skilled Hannah Cromer along the wing; figure to be thanking Hinson for the “nice setup” quite often. It is hoped that Stacey Matthews can lead the team in goal scoring, but it’s not often that the team has looked to someone as young as her to play such a role. The last time that happened, the player in question was none other the Ashley Barrett herself; something that has not been lost on her as guides the young Matthews. “Stacey should be around for a long time. Who knows if we get back here in World Cup 68, so it was essential for Stacey to get the experience now of a World Cup Proper. She will certainly give us her best effort.”

It will not be easy for this team, in a group that has Vilita, a nation with a ton of experience, coming off a qualifying campaign that was likely considered good and frustrating at the same time. Also in the group are the storied The Holy Empire, and fellow Pink Cup nation Jeruselem. Many are predicting that the Dagans, if they are fortunate to get any points, will only have a chance to get them against the Princesses, and figure to lose to the top two seeds. This isn’t something that coach Barrett subscribes too, believing that this team is indeed capable of making it to knockouts and then doing former damage. But yet she is the coach, and you would expect her to say that, wouldn’t you?

Enjoy the World Cup! It’s great to be back!

And happy 100th anniversary to all “Team Cassadaigua’s” of the past.

[Polar Islandstates]

The Black Narwhal was busier than it had been all year. There was little over twenty minutes to go until the opening match of the Terns' World Cup campaign, and the drinks were flowing. All three barstaff had been pulling pints of Grogg solidly for the last half hour, and the atmosphere was building. Usually a dark little dive of a place in Sibir's working class eastern side, the Black Narwhal's landlord, a Mr Pietari Karlsruhe, had made an attempt to brighten the place up and get a bit of the tournament spirit flowing. The grime of the Narwhal was hard to disguise however, and before too long the little flags of all thirty-two participating teams that had been strung up around the hearth were all blackened with soot and the only spirit flowing was coming from the spirits themselves. Until that day however, when, buoyed and attracted by the idea of live football beamed directly from Equestrian States, the punters were flowing in. The regulars were soon outnumbered, threatening to cause tension at the bar, but Karlsruhe was never one to turn down a good customer, and they had a priority queue at the side for when they didn't fancy waiting behind the huddle of students and sports fans that had suddenly occupied the pub.

"Hi there, Aaron," said Karlsruhe on one such occasion to a grizzled figure with a healthy collection of stubble hiding behind his tatty scarf, "the usual?"

"Uh." grunted Aaron in response as Karlsruhe pulled the pint.

"Hey man, we were here first!" complained a young student type at the bar with his friend.

"Oh yeah?" said Karlsruhe as Aaron turned to stare menacingly at the student, "Well I think he was here first."

"You what?" said the student incredulously, "You really going to flip me off like that? I'm a good customer!"

"If you're such a good customer, where were you yesterday?" asked Karlsruhe.

"Erm.."

"Or the day before that? Or the day before that?"

The student looked at his friend, unsure as to what to say.

"Yeah, thought not. He's been in here every day for the past five years. He was here first." said Karlsruhe punchily, handing Aaron his pint. Aaron, for his part, stopped looking like he wanted to fight the students, and instead nodded curtly and went back to sit down at his table for one.

"Come on man," said the student to his friend, "I was going to wait to be derved, but it's not worth it for a grotty little pub like this."

"Hey! That's my grotty little pub you're talking about," said Karlsruhe, jabbing a finger at the pair of them, "now are you two going to drop your pretentions and join us or not? If so, order a drink. If not, get out of the Narwhal."

"Nah, come on mate," said the student, hurt, turning to leave.

"Hang on a second, Kris," said the other student, speaking up for the first time and taking a hesitant step towards the seated figure of Aaron, "I know you, don't I?"

Aaron stared at them without saying a word.

"Lads?" repeated Karlsruhe.

"Right, right, two Groggs please," said the second student, distractedly slamming down his Sols on the top of the bar.

"Finally," exhaled Karlsruhe, before adding, "steady on though lads, old Aaron ain't much of a conversationalist."

"No, seriously, I know you!" continued the second student.

Aaron took a sip of his pint, impassively.

"You're Aaron Hogg, aren't you!"

A quick roll of the eyes from the figure at the table, and the student knew he was onto the truth.

"You are, aren't you! You're Aaron Hogg!" he yelled triumphantly.

"Who?" asked the first student, Kris.

"Oh come on, mate? Aaron Hogg? Former captain of Novaya Sibir Reds?"

"Ah, well that's your team, not mine. I'm not from round here, am I."

"Played for the Terns in their first squads?"

"I'm too young for that, mate. Hell, you're too young for that."

"Well, even so, haven't you done any reading up on the history of the Terns? At all?"

"Sammi, listen mate, I don't know him."

"Your friend Sammi's right," interupted Karlsruhe, sliding their pints onto the bar, "you really should know who that guy is."

"So he is Aaron Hogg?" pressed Sammi.

"Yes." said Aaron, speaking for the first time.

"Ah, Thor's Beard man, it's great to be sharing the bar with you!" said Sammi loudly, offering a hand for the former player to shake. The former player's hands stayed firmly where they were however, and only the slightly change of eye direction from the man showed any indication that he was acknowledging their presence at all.

"What's his problem?" asked Kris.

"Told you he ain't much of a talker," shrugged Karlsruhe, "we just let him get on with it really. He comes in, has a few pints, watches a bit of football, leaves. Ain't much to say to nobody. Especially not if the Terns are on."

"Why especially not then?" asked Sammi, keeping his eyes on the former centre-back at all times. Aaron hadn't moved.

"Well, affects him more, I reckon," said Karlsruhe, serving other customers as he did so, "they say it happens to footballers when they retire. They mope around a bit, miss the game."

"Blimey," said Kris, "this what van Sorensen's going to be like in twenty year's time?"

"Ha!" barked Aaron suddenly, making them all jump, "Golden little Sandr? Doubt it. Guy's too nice."

Sammi and Kris exchanged a look with Karlsruhe. The landlord merely raised his eyebrows in response.

"And, why's that?" asked Sammi hesitantly.

"Cos he'll go into coaching, that's why. he'll stay in the game. He'll keep in touch and people will still call him or offer him work. But not for old Aaron here, oh no. No love whatsoever for the 'Butcher of Sibir'."

"Umm..."

"They used to call me that, you know?" said Aaron passionately in his gravelly husk of a voice, turning to face the two students face-to-face for the first time, "they used to fear me. My on pitch persona was to grump around and let my eyes do the talking for me. Didn't help me win may friends mind, and meant I wasn't exactly top of the lists for a talk show or a pundit position. Can't analyse with your eyes."

"Well, van Sorensen can..." mused Kris.

"Not helping, kid." said Aaron, turning back to his pint, "piss off, anyway, there's a game on."

"So, do you not know anyone famous at all?" asked Sammi sweetly, "A great defender like you, I'm sure if you were to call one of your old friends up they'd invite you round to watch the game or something?"

Aaron shrugged.

"The greats of your era? No? Pettersen? Heimlich? Richterbahn? Treulse?" pressed Sammi with open palm, trying to appeal to the downbeat man he'd watched on so many DVDs from the club shop.

Another shrug.

"Come on, Aaron, you were their captain. You were their leader. They respected you. So the television companies weren't biting so what? It's not in your nature anyway. You wouldn't want to spoil the reputation you're still enjoying today as a classic hardman. Give one of them a call. I'm sure they'd invite you round. They still local?" said Sammi.

"Classic hardman?" repeated Aaron slowly, taking on board what the young lad was saying to him, "They really still think of me like that?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," agreed Sammi hastily, before nudging Kris and making his intentions known, "so, you know, give them a call. And then maybe we could tag along?"

Aaron looked to pause and consider the idea, before shaking his head sadly. "Nah, lads. Sorry. I'd have to go through the club to get their numbers again. I lost their numbers a long time ago."

"Oh," said Sammi sadly, his shoulders dropping as he turned back to Kris.

"You don't have anyone's number?" asked Kris, "Anyone at all?"

"Well..." said Aaron slowly.

"Yes?"

"There is one guy..."

"Who?" asked Kris.

"Timo Skye." answered Aaron.

"TIMO SKYE?!" shouted Kris and Sammi incredulously in unison, drawing the attention of half the bar.

"Aye, but that's only because he got some new phone from his sponsors and updated us all with the details of it. He's always been very good at keeping anyone he played with's numbers updated just so he can show off in the future. Prick."

"Well, bloody hell, give him a call, man!" said Sammi, flapping his hands and waving to Aaron's phone as he did so.

"Listen mate," said Aaron, "I would, but he's in Equestrian States isn't he. He was there at the draw. I saw him on the television sat right in this chair right here. Here was there; making an arse of himself as usual."

"Still, you said he keeps numbers of other players? Ask him for some!" said Kris excitedly, hoping to work his way into some former footballer's flash pad to watch the game in luxury, the same as Sammi.

"...we-" Aaron began.

"Well nothing," interrupted Kris, "ring the damn number."

"Alright, alright, fine." said Aaron grumpily, "but nothing'll come of it, you'll see."

Aaron Hogg pulled out his phone and began to dial as Kris and Sammi shared an excited look with the landlord. Karlsruhe himself couldn't look less bothered about the whole situation. There was a heavy pause as none of them spoke, listening to the heavy air of the pub clatter and squawk, waiting for it to be punctured with the tones of Aaron's half of the conversation with none other than Timo Skye.

Except the conversation never came. Aaron frowned and hung up, putting the phone back in his pocket.

"Nah, nothing." he said, wiping his nose and settling back to his pint.

"Nothing?" asked Sammi, their shoulders slumping in disappointment.

"Nope." sniffed Aaron, "Connected me, and then he hung up after two rings. Doesn't want to know."

"But-"

"Sorry lads," said Aaron, without looking up, "I know how much you were looking forwards to posing with flashier footballers than me."

"Well, we-..."

"Piss off now though, yeah?" continued Aaron, clearly slightly embarrassed by the situation, "I'm trying to watch the game, the players are lining up now, look. Thanks for not forgetting me, but piss off now. Ta."

Sammi and Kris turned back to the bar dejectedly.

"So much for that, then." said Sammi.

"Easy come, easy go." added Kris.

"Hey, lads, don't be so down," said Karlsruhe, "if it's somewhere flashier than the Black Narwhal that you're after, or someone famous, then I might be able to help you."

"Yeah?" said Sammi, looking up.

"Yeah. My brother's in the coaching set up for the national rugby league team," continued the landlord, "and I'm sure if I gave him a call he'd be-..."

"Rugby league, did you say?" interrupted Kris.

"Yeah! I cou-"

"Pass." said the boys in unison, before downing their pints and turning back to the television just in time to hear the national anthems.

** ** ** ** **
Two minutes earlier, at Star Stadium, Canterlot, Equestrian States

"Ah, good seats my friend." said Sol Kirkkegaard to Magnus Ragnorak as they both sat down.

"Indeed," squeaked Ragnorak in his barely human voice from behind his barely human beard, "being co-presidents of the WCC does come with its advantages, I suppose."

"As does knowing them!" said a voice in the row behind them. Timo Skye's voice.

Kirkkegaard half turned to Skye to respond, "yeah, well, don't get used to it, Skye. This was a one time thing on the insistence of our hosts. Magnus and I had nothing to do with it."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," said Skye with a wink, "I'll give you a call tomorrow to sort out a ticket for the second match."

"No, really, we've met you enough times to want to watch a football match without you," said Ragnorak, in the unusual position of being able to hand out the verbal jabs for a change, "it wasn't us who wanted your company, it was them."

"Well, why wouldn't they? I'm Timo Skye." On went the sunglasses. "Still. I'll call you."

Kirkkegaard shook his head with a smile and turned back to the pitch. The players were lining up, Polar Islandstates versus Antoletia in an all-Rushmori tie to open the Terns' World Cup campaign. He was confidence. The Twitchers were rocking the Star Stadium. And there was Kirkkegaard, he mused, stuck between an egotist and a madman. Such is life. There was a metallic chirping from Skye's inner pocket.

"And speaking of calls..." he said, rummaging inside to get his phone.

He checked the display to see who was calling.

Incoming Call
[International Number]

A HOGG

Skye raised his eyebrows, and slid the button across the touch-screen to terminate the connection.

"Now there's a turn-up for the books," he said slowly.

"What is?" asked Ragnorak, assuming Skye was talking about the chosen formation from Rasmussen.

"I knew they had sentient horses here, and buffalo, and zebras, and pegasi, and dragons..." continued Skye, completely missing the definition of 'international call', "but pigs as well? That's a new one on me."

Kirkkegaard and Ragnorak caught each others' eye as down on the pitch, the players began to sing the national anthem. Pigs? Wisely, they decided not to ask.

[Vilita]

GROUP OF CHAMPIONS*
...*and a bunch of Sexually Promiscuous former-junior-champion princesses

Concord Heights, Cassadaigua ::There are many experienced and well decorated clubs preparing to descend on Cassadaigua and the Equestrian States for the World Cup 67 finals, but no group can boast quite the record that is shared by the four competitors drawn into Group A in Cassadaigua.

For the Vilita Jungle Cats, what a difference a matchday makes. Going into the final matchday of World Cup 67 qualifying, Vilita were on the outside looking in and a ticket to the Cup of Harmony in Valanora all but assured. However, a heroic defensive performance by Dutciberg holding the Feministvs Sanctvsterra to a draw allowed the Jungle Cats not only to sneak through to the second place in Group 7, but also to an automatic berth to the World Cup Finals.

Just as quickly as the Jungle Cats appeared to be down and out, they were back in the draw and gaining steam as a dark-horse candidate to turn the adversity of their qualifying campaign into a motivating World Cup-winning adventure by bookies from the Blouman Empire, Polar Islandstates and Kinitaria.

However, in order to climb to the summit of the footballing world, the Jungle Cats would first have to escape a tricky Group A with some impressive history and experience behind it.

The Jungle Cats first opponents will be hosts Cassadaigua. Back-to-back World Cup Champions - World Cup 50 and World Cup 51 = Cassadaigua will be hosting the World Cup finals for the second time - the first being World Cup 54. The only previous meeting between Vilita and Cassadaigua was during the World Cup 60 finals in an important final-matchday clash that served to put an early end to the Jungle Cats competition, Cassadaigua coming out 4-2 winners on the day. Calaesa Mitaroka will be unlikely to take much from the defeat that pre-dated his own term - but likely was the impetus for the departure of his successor from the job opening the door for the start of Mitaroka's reign.

While the current Cassadagan squad is one of the lowest ranked nations in the World Cup 67 finals, Mitaroka's Jungle Cats will be wise not to take their opponents lightly. With the World Cup being hosted in Cassadaigua for the first time since World Cup 54, the Dagan fans are likely to show up in droves in support of their team at the Concord Heights Stadium. Having not lined up a long schedule of high-ranked friendly opposition in the build up to the World Cup, the Cassadagan side are a true unknown to the Vilitans and the rest of the group, with minimal footage available for study.

If the Vilitan National Team can escape Concord Heights with 3 points, then it will be on to Victoriaville for a potential knockout-round clinching matchup against Jeruselem. The history between Vilita and Jeruselem is long, but not particularly heated. Perhaps the most important matchup between the two nations was the second. Having already been defeated by Jeruselem in the group stage of the Cup of Harmony following a failed attempt by both teams to qualify for the World Cup 14 finals, the Jungle Cats survived a penalty shootout against Melmond to reach the Cup of Harmony final and a rematch against Jeruselem. The soon-to-be Legendary Callum Banda scored a pair of goals and led Vilita to a 4-2 victory and the first major silverware to be won be a Vilitan side. The victory also avenged the Vilita Under-21 side's defeat earlier in the campaign to the same Jeruselem side in the Under-21 World Cup final.

Since their back-to-back Cup final matchups, the two nations have met just three times - each match ending in a 1-0 result, twice in favor of Vilita and once to Jeruselem. One of those results was the springboard during World Cup 20 that eventually catapulted the Jungle Cats to their first and only World Cup title. Jeruselem would eventually make the World Cup final themselves, during World Cup 32 in Geisenfried and Milchama - but it was the founders Ariddia who bested Jeruselem - who have not returned to the biggest single-match in the multiverse since.

All things considered, however - the eyes of the world will likely be glued to Winchester on the third and final matchday of the group stage. Billed as the most anticipated match of Group A by the Blouman Empire media, The Holy Empire and Vilita will square off in what could be a top-of the table clash for placement in the Knockout Rounds. While the history between Vilita and the Holy Empire is not long - and not favorable for the Jungle Cats, including a pair of defeats during World Cup 36 Qualifying, it will certainly always be remembered for the amazing semi-final thriller the two sides offered up during World Cup 62.

Standing on the verge of history and looking to make their 6th appearance in the World Cup Finals, The Holy Empire entered the match with an unblemished record from the start of the Qualifying Campaign, Finals Group Stage and Knockout Rounds. No team had been able to figure out The Holy Empire and their rite to the World Cup seemed eminent. However, having never returned to the final after their one success, there was plenty of motivation for the Jungle Cats. Goals from Manolis Makunike and Lita Adjei were enough to ensure that the semi-final match would go through to extra time. While The Holy Empire would eventually win the match - and the World Cup, the Vilitan fans certainly made note of the 'asterisk' they placed next to The Holy Empire's Once-in-a-lifetime 'Perfect' World Cup campaign.

After three matchdays, only two teams will be able to advance from World Cup 67's Group A. With 7 World Cup titles and 5 additional runner-up appearances between them, no group has quite the diversity and depth of success over their historic national programs as those on display by The Holy Empire, Vilita, Jeruselem and the hosts Cassadaigua. At least one former World Cup Champion is guaranteed to be going home early and both teams eliminated after three matchdays will have been former World Cup finalists. The fans of all four teams will have either experienced success, or heard about the success of their nation's previous generations - desperate to experience it for themselves. The Group of Champions will have only one winner, but the team that survives will surely be quick to move up the ladder as favorites to make a return appearance to the greatest game in the multiverse.

Vilitan head coach Calaesa Mitaroka knows that a failure to advance from the World Cup 67 Group Stage will certainly mean the end to his time as the head coach of the Vilitan National Team. Even an early knockout-round exit would likely not be enough to save Mitaroka's job, especially if Nycflala Kater can lead the Vilita & Turori Eel-Cat Things to a third straight AOCAF title. However, should Mitaroka's dark horse Jungle Cats build on their past successes, overcome the Group of Champions and make it to the final four of the World Cup for just the 4th time in history - it could be joy not only for the under-pressure head coach, but an entire nation looking to re-live the World Cup glory that they've only heard about in stories past down from their ancestors.

[Equestrian States]

It's that time again!

CUTOFF FOR GROUPS A-D!

Results!

[Mizuyuki]

---

Saten Ruiko

---

*squeak*

Silence ...

*squeak squeak*

Wonder whether we'll get treated to dinner by the gaffer after tomorrow's match?

*squeak*

This really is driving me up the bloody wall.

*SQUEAK*

We're trying to catch some sleep here, so whoever the heck it is, stop playing with the -

"GOD-DAMNED TEAM MASCOTS!"

The flimsy wooden door of our dorms crashed open. Immediately preceding the door was an irate coach.

All of us nestling in our downy beds came *this* close to jumping out of our skins. Coach was damned intimidating at the best of times, but God help you if you ruffled her feathers when she was trying to get over her OCD, and perhaps when trying to get forty winks.

Leastways, that's what I thought she was doing. I'd seen her mumbling and muttering to herself as she stared intently at her laptop - trying to think up a new tactical approach? Immersing herself in work sure did wonders for her, and indeed discovering her snoring away in the common room of our rental inn wasn't all that rare of an occurrence.

Here's the chain of events -

Evidently she'd decided that the best way to overcome her excesses of nervous energy was to work. The persistent squeaking got under her skin. And she's just come in with all guns blazing.

"Who's the fool who's playing with the cage of guinea pigs in the dead of night? I thought I'd seen it all when you lot racked up that humongous bill at that foreign eatery having an eating contest, but this is bloody well too much!" The lights were turned on, and the entire dorm was bathed in a gentle orange glow.

Coach began flipping our covers up, left, right and center with a manic intensity - she wasn't gonna rest before she discovered the hapless culprit and rammed the guinea pigs down her throat.

Okay, that might have been a bit of an exaggeration. Still, there was no doubt all hell would be let loose when she happened upon the cute, furry mammals.

"I don't suppose it's Tsuchimikado squirreling away the little buggers under her bed, eh?"

Cap jumped up and immediately launched into a diatribe protesting her innocence.

"Not the famed Natsume, known for her love of snuggling up to a cat or two?"

"No, coach; in any case, there's not been a single cat hanging around the place. I definitely wouldn't exchange my cats for a guinea pig or two!"

Coach stopped in her tracks and glared at Natsume, who recoiled slightly in the face of the intense, piercing gaze.

"I sure as hell hope it's not you. Let's not forget that time we had to pay for laundry after you smuggled one of your furry critters into base camp."

"Next suspect! Don't tell me it's Isshiki who's been having a fun night out with the mascots?"

Coach fixed her eye on the shivering bundle of covers that was - apparently - our right winger, Isshiki.

Oh, she's in for a right battering now. I doubt even my late grand-uncle, who used to need an ear trumpet to aid his frankly appalling hearing, could have failed to notice the sharp, high-pitched squeaks that were even now emanating from beneath the covers.

Coach let out a tired sigh. At length, she reached out a hand and tugged at the covers, which went slithering down.

"So it really was you." A tad redundant, given that all of us knew the identity of the culprit as soon as the lights were flipped on, but an accurate observation nonetheless.

The peculiar sight was definitely one for the book. Isshiki was hugging all three of the cuddly little critters to her chest and putting on her best puppy face, trying to gain a modicum of sympathy.

"Psst. Someone get a snapshot of this scene. This is going to be plain hilarious."

"Gotcha. I'm on the case." Cue my teammates rummaging through their luggage to fish out their impressive array of cameras, smartphones and the like.

I sighed. There was not the slightest malice in their actions, but sometimes I was left wondering whether I was the only sane person to be afforded a spot in Mizuyuki's national football team. On this evidence, it seemed highly likely. My teammates acting like a bunch of childish toddlers only served to strengthen my conviction.

"I know you're nervous ahead of tomorrow's match, Isshiki, but ... " Coach was apparently lost for words at the sight. She drew in a deep breath, easing the tension that had been building up within her, before continuing to speak.

" ... playing with the guinea pigs? Really?"

Isshiki looked like she was about to cry. And this time she most certainly wasn't treating us to her famed acting skills, either; I could see the tears threatening to spill over.

"I couldn't get to sleep, and I thought it'd help calm me down, so ..."

Coach let out yet another long sigh.

"Listen; you're not the only person who's tense at the idea of playing in the World Cup Finals. Just ask anyone in this room. If it makes you feel any better - "

Coach let a smile drift onto her tired face.

" - I'm also nervous. Who wouldn't be, for God's sake? We're playing one of the heavyweights of multiversal football. I'd like to wager an entire month's salary that everyone right here are just as nervous as you and me are. The life of an international footballer is a stressful one - but instead of worrying your head over the stress and suffering from God knows what mental disorder, try to channel your nervous energy into your performances on the pitch."

"But ... what if we get crushed out there tomorrow?"

"Let's get one thing straight, Isshiki; I know we're tipped to get eliminated at the group stage. Just see what Sport Novari's published. I know we're heavy underdogs to progress. But you know what?"

Coach eyed Isshiki with a shade of her usual ferocity, but eventually softened and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

"We're damn well going to go out there and give 'em a run for their money. Pressure's off - we don't need to deal with the weighty expectations that's been heaped upon our opponent's shoulders. Just go out there, and express yourself to the best of your ability. I know I don't say this very often, but losing here doesn't matter. What matters is that we go out there with all guns blazing, and we give 'em the fight of their lives."

"Try to calm down, got it? If you need to talk to anyone, we're always available. A knock on my door will suffice if you need a conversational partner."

Coach strode to the door, but not before signalling for Isshiki to hustle the guinea pigs into their cage and heaving it over her shoulder. Confiscation - at least for the night - was apparently on the agenda.

"Right, I'll be going off to figure out my tactical setup for ASMV. Try to get yourselves a good rest. Night, troops - I look forward to seeing you play your hearts out tomorrow."

The lights were flicked off; the door swung shut.

Lying in the darkness, I could hear whispers traversing the room.

"Stupendous coach we've got right there, eh, Mika?"

Isshiki's voice, interspersed by the occasional sob, rang through the silence of the night.

"You betcha."

[Jeruselem]

Princess Katy and Princess Melody in Cassadaigua

Katy: Hello, I'm Princess Katy for Naked News Jeruselem. We're in Cassadaigua for the finals of the World Cup 67 group stage. I'm with the Jeruselem coach Princess Melody
Melody: Hello everyone
Katy: Well, we played the 10th seed The Holy Empire fully expecting a difficult game and it was
Melody: Yes, and we lost the game too
Katy: 4-2 loss, could have been worse
Melody: I guess so

Katy: What went wrong?
Melody: Well, you tried playing a team of giant beans with man eating larvae inside them?
Katy: Uh no, not really
Melody: Yes, it's not easy. Tackling a giant bean is pretty hard
Katy: Because they have no feet
Melody: And they have a tendency to knock you over

Katy: Yes, the team didn't seem too comfortable with playing the beans
Melody: We're playing man eating larvae using a bean as an exoskeleton, I mean it's not easy
Katy: Particular if your defense isn't the tallest
Melody: We don't have the tallest defense around
Katy: Yes well, I guess we weren't expected to win
Melody: No, not really

Katy: Moving forward, we play Vilita next. We play people not beans
Melody: Yes, but that's not going to be any easier
Katy: Vilita beat the local team Cassadaigua 2-1
Melody: I didn't expect Cassadaigua to beat them
Katy: Me neither
Melody: We really need to beat Vilita and Cassadaigua

Katy: But that's not realistic
Melody: Yes well, we're still here
Katy: We need these beans to beat everyone
Melody: Yes, we hope these beans beat their opponents
Katy: Or maybe eat them
Melody: That would really help

Katy: Group D, OMG ... upsets
Melody: Mizuyuki beating Andossa Se Mitrin Vega 2-1 and Kinitaria beating Turori 2-0
Katy: Just proves anyone can win these games
Melody: Gives us hope we can get a win or two
Katy: We really need two wins
Melody: True

Katy: Kinitaria are truly on roll here, qualifying and then winning in the group stage
Melody: She pretty much works the same way I do
Katy: But the teams are different
Melody: Yes, maybe it works better on the Kinitaria team
Katy: Didn't work so well with Jeru FC team
Melody: Yes, that's a different matter

Katy: A disaster today but an expected disaster
Melody: I guess that's true
Katy: See you all when we play the Jungle Cats
Melody: Yes, a pretty much must win game for us
Katy: And the local Dagans too
Melody: Yes, losing game 1 is always a setback

Katy: Say, you heard about the new cartoon series Pony Princesses in Jeruselem?
Melody: Ah yes, that. Yes
Katy: Apparently based on real people but using ponies
Melody: Yes, sounds like us.
Katy: Adults only cartoon apparently
Melody: I wouldn't want kids to read it

Katy: I'm certainly reading to see what it's all about
Melody: It's about the adventures of kingdom of ponies ruled by a bunch of misbehaving princesses
Katy: Anyone we'd recognise?
Melody: Pretty much the whole royal family of princesses is there
Katy: Well, I'll go read it
Melody: It's a parody of us

Katy: We get plenty of those
Melody: This is one actually funny and not being w**ky
Katy: Well, I'll look forward to it
Melody: They even have a baby princess, which is our Little Amy
Katy: Little Amy loves her ponies
Melody: Funny that, I'm allergic to ponies.

[Starblaydia]

If World Cup nations were a Pony they'd be...

GROUP A CASSADAIGUA - Pinkie Dagan Co-host of the World Cup and as good a pony to start with as any, Pinkie Dagan is a strong-willed girl who believes in teamwork, getting things done and pulling a fast one over the boys whenever possible. A firm believer that female ponies are better than male ones, Pinkie Dagan can come off as a little bit sexist, but she probably just believes that she's balancing the scales a little. She's also very good at hoofball, having won the Cup twice. THE HOLY EMPIRE - Celestial Dreamer Little is really known about the highly magical Celestial Dreamer, only that they (as no-one can really tell whether Celestial is a boy or girl) come from a place where absolutely anything is possible. Celestial's friends range from immortals to blancmanges to cavemen to jumping beans and everything in between. It is suspected that Celestial is also an immortal shapeshifter, having been playing hoofball for a very, very long time, demonstrated by three World Cup trophies. They may even have invented the Cup of Harmony. JERUSELEM - Princess Firework A bit of a klutz and, strangely, always naked, Firework is known for knocking things over and causing chaos all round her wherever she goes. She loves to be on TV, particularly appearing on the least-serious news you've ever seen, and tends to fall in ponds a lot. This is probably why she's never won anything. She's also very fond of telling us that she kissed a girl once, but all the boys seem to love her despite this. VILITA - Tropical Cat Always sleek and powerful, TropCat (or TC as he likes to be known) did win the World Cup before most people can remember. TropCat loves to score goals as often as possible. Exceptionally fast, even for a Pegasus, TropCat is always participating in races whether on the ground or in the skies above Equestria. He also likes everything to look a certain way, and is a strange combination of incredibly helpful yet really snarky.	GROUP E EQUESTRIAN STATES - Princess Equestria Obviously the inspiration for this whole RP, Equestria is the younger sister of both Celestia and Luna and therefore a blatant Mary Sue of an original character inserted into MLP canon by this author. Plenty of positive and almost no negative can be said about Equestria, but as she's not grading this RP, I won't bother listing them. Sufficed to say, without them this whole thing wouldn't have happened. ANTOLETIA - Tiny Knight Tiny Knight wishes desperately to be a cavalry horse. He dreams of a purple warrior to ride him to glory with lance and sword, but wonders if it will ever come true. To be honest, he's surprised to be here without the purple knight, but Tiny knows that, like his Cutie Mark of an Ant, he can take many times his own strength on his back. Just like that knight he's always been waiting for, but never found. POLAR ISLANDSTATES - Icy Twitch There's only one thing wrong with Twitch - he just keeps falling at the final hurdle. Sure, he's fast and clever and talented, but he gets to that bit at the very very end and does something silly like tangling his hooves up, or standing on his own mane. Maybe this time he'll finally find it within himself to go that extra yard and win the World Cup. NEW SIDEBURN - Honour Cheeks Honour Cheeks unswervingly stands up for what he believes in. He's all about fair play, doing what's right and playing the game in the right manner (which we take to mean a rigid 4-4-2 system). His way of going about things has proven highly successful so far, and though this is his first time in the World Cup, he'll surely be back time and again to prove that being honourable is the way to go. Good show!
GROUP B BARUNIA - Sunlit Heart No-one expected her to even be here, but Sunlit Heart only has one problem now that she's at the greatest tournament in the world: she sleeps a lot. Bordering on acute Narcolepsy, Sunlit has a tendency to just fall asleep at let people score past her. If she can wake up for long enough, she might be able to come back to the World Cup with some success. Doesn't appear to like the letter Q, for some reason, and gives it a resound beating whenever she can. THE INEVITABLE SYNDICATE - Destiny Starchild Destiny arrived in Canterlot after having a dream in which she was following a falling star. She knew that this was the place for her to be with other like-minded ponies, and set about getting involved wherever she could. Everyone came round to her stable last time for the World Cup, and by all accounts everyone had a great time and are looking forward to going back. BORING PARADISE - Hazy Eyes As lovely as Hazy Eyes is, she's just, kinda... boring. It sounds really mean to say it but maybe in a few years when she's really got a handle on who she is she can be a really interesting pony, but right now she just yawns a lot. Perhaps she'll have a competition with Sunlit Heart to see how long they can each sleep during their game. That'll be a snoozefest if ever I saw one. AUDIOSLAVIA - Dark Cochise Now here's a Unicorn who just went plain bad. After trying to be nice and getting pushed around by everyone he met, Dark Cochise just decided one day to push back. Unfortunately he got a taste for pushing people around and now trots around Canterlot like he owns the place, shoving smaller ponies aside without a care in the world. Doesn't like Destiny Starchild very much and doesn't get on with anything coloured cyan. Or possibly purple. Now appears to be playing with sculpting dark, evil, spinning things.	GROUP F ASTOGRATH - Astro Turf Was pretty good, then wasn't, now is back again. That's the story in a nutshell for Astro, who oddly enough hates flying up in space, and would much rather be running around the ground. APOX - Platty Pond Had it not been for Hazy Eyes falling asleep in her last game, Platty probably wouldn't be here at all. The straight-talking pony with a love of writing in his journal has spent so much time recording important historical events that he's almost forgetting how to play football! Maybe, just maybe, he can concentrate on it enough here to finally get the job done. VALLADARES - Brushy Goner Brushy doesn't seem to like being here very much, and I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps he doesn't like the company of other ponies? More likely, though, it's because ponies keep asking him "Brushy gonna... what?" after he introduces himself. No, I didn't think it was funny, either. He is really rather good, though, and if he can just accept the clopping of hooves all around him, he could go very far in this tournament. BLOUMAN EMPIRE - Sapphire Rainbow Is it just me or is everyone else confused when Sapphire turns out not to be blue? Anyway, Sapphire Rainbow did really, really well in order to get to Canterlot (better than everyone else, in fact) something that we weren't even sure was possible. Can Sapphire keep it going all the way to the end, or will the age old problem of negotiating the knockouts once again prove too much for this talented pony? We'll just have to find out if Sapphire can live up to the early promise.
GROUP C THE LICENTIAN ISLES - Gold Leaf Gold Leaf is a playful pony who loves to pretend to be someone else - often changing her name and not responding to the old one for weeks at a time. Whatever she changes it to, though, it usually involves Gold, so she's clearly recognisable anyway. If she sticks to being herself, however, who knows what she might accomplish. FARFADILLIS - Kerfuffle Kerfuffle is always making a mess of things thanks to her fiddling, fussing and faffing. Her home, similarly, is cluttered with bits and bobs from all corners of the multiverse, making her eclectic home quite a sight to behold. Maybe she'll concentrate and focus her mind on her task one day, but until then she remains a constant source of fun for the other ponies. VALANORA - Dark Marauder Dark Marauder has cast the shadow of night over Equestria more times than can be counted. Her foul deeds to eclipse the magic of friendship have been thwarted on all but five occasions when eternal night plagued the world, only to be defeated by Violet Chaser. Although weaker now, Dark Marauder still tries to spread her terror across the land. NORTHERN SUNRISE ISLANDS - Quick Vapour. With a cry of 'Vapourone!', Quick Vapour arrives on the scene faster than a speeding moonbeam, but she has a tendency to botch the landing when her hair gets in front of her eyes - a situation she calls 'Sin Cara'.	GROUP G UNITED GORDONOPIA - Gaudy Schnitzel Don't look at me, blame the mare and stallion who named him. Gaudy is desperately looking to be the best unicorn in the world. Unfortunately, last time he was here he lost every single game, and that meant a depressing walk back home. Now he's back and looking to make amends for his performance, so everyone had better watch out for the Schnitzel! SVENGARDA - Polar Dash With small and nimble wings, Polar Dash using her surging pace and lightning quick hooves to create trouble wherever she likes. Her ability to get into small spaces always makes her a nuisance to find when playing hide and seek. STARBLAYDIA - Violet Chaser Surely the true heroine of Equestria (Right? Right?!), Violet Chaser is five times a champion, three of which involved defeating the Dark Marauder (although a time or two ago it was Dark Cochise's doing!) Wise and fair, as well as extremely modest and talented (and slightly crazy, evidently), she finds herself in a position to really chase her dream and become the outright greatest pony of all time. Many say she's lost her edge but can this be the time when Violet Chaser finally makes it to the magical six? OSARIUS - Fire Crown Fire Crown's blazing mane is her pride and joy, reflecting the type of person she is. She likes to show off and would rather take wing and fly than simply walk, trot or canter. She is more than useful in many situations however, being much stronger and tougher than she looks.
GROUP D ANDOSSA SE MITRIN VEGA - Blueberry Tide Being big and strong is the name of Blueberry Tide's game, and he'll run all day and all night if he has to. This take on the game is a tough one, at best, but he does like to play hard and fair in equal amounts. TURORI - Moonlit Tail No-one knows if Moonlit Tail is just a good friend of TropCat, a brother, or something more. Either way he goes out and has a great time on the field, with some success in days gone by but now he has little chance of winning the World Cup. KINITARIA - Bright Flare An inspiring pony who has recently managed to raise the standards in terms of seeing whether stables will stand up or fall down. Partly thought to be the driving inspiration for MLP:World Cup 67 is Magic, Bright Flare is burning particularly brightly right now. MIZUYUKI - Metal Sunburst This is the second time that Metal Sunburst has appeared with her distinctive colouring and she certainly makes a dazzling appearance wherever she goes - and oh boy does she go everywhere. Thankfully, she looks equally comfortable wherever she trots, so once she gets a little bit better with experience, then we'll really have something to look at.	GROUP H THE ARCHREGIMANCY - Silent Prayer Probably the oldest of ponies in existence, Silent Prayer likes to talk. A lot. Usually it'll be about something you've done wrong, even when you don't think you have. Be prepared for a three hour telling off for even the slightest of mis-steps. A single hoof out of line and Silent Prayer will give you a talking to that you just won't believe, and probably in a long-dead language you won't know. EURA - Flutter Swirl Champion Pony not too long ago, Flutter Swirl Shouts 'Oi!' seemingly at random, evidently trying to attract the attention of a colt called Victor. It must have worked at least once in her short pony life, of course. KANDORITH - Scarlet Dragon Scarlet Dragon has never been here before, and we welcome this strange creature to the World Cup. Unfortunately, though, it looks like everyone else - particularly Flutter Swirl - is going to take the opportunity to beat this debutant soundly. We only hope it doesn't discourage him, and that he and his bat wings come back for more. ZWANGZUG - Burning Ember Quietly going about her daily business, Burning Ember feels like a fire that has just gone cold, but has not quite gone out yet. Far from being about to become ashes, just give her the right amount of breeze and you know she'll catch fire once again to set the world alight.

[New Sideburn]

Things were never going to be easy.

They hadn't come all this way just for sunflowers and roses and magic mushrooms in the sunny fields of Canterlot. They'd come here to face fierce, composed and technically adept opposition. And, yes, probably face defeat. Not even the heroic Sideburnese travellers belting out verses of "We're Gonna Kick Your Fucking Heads In" could lift up the Sideburnese spirits - after all, if it came to kicking heads, the smart money was on the side with hooves.

Still - they were putting up a real fight. Gentle Breeze was taking more than a little heat, though the States had done a good job of keeping the attacks out of the box - the looming threat of Gerhard Thunder had been constant, but most strikes had come from distance, from the likes of Harper, Brightley or Evans.

"Get stuck in, lads!" commanded Gethin. "Make 'em fight for every inch! We're still in-"
"Look!" said Escher Speare sharply, and the manager turned to the ball.
"Ah, hell," he muttered.
A long ball over Brandon had fallen perfectly into space - Thunderlane naturally had the edge of pace over the defensive midfielder, and came surging forward to take it. Belfast failed to dispossess the mohawked striker, and slipped up as a further surge of pace left him in the dust. The Kiiara-Torra centre-forward rather clumsily slid the ball across to the captain, Fire Dash - and the veteran made no mistake with the shot, Riordan sprawling in the direction of the shot but without a hope in hell of making the distance.

Gethin Ramsey chewed hard on his cigar as the entire stadium erupted. "Fuck," he remarked, solemnly.

The game was over ten minutes later. The States simply had the measure of their humanoid opponents, and translated that and the home support into a convincing victory. It hadn't been a bad loss by most people's standards - after all, Antoletia had been somewhere between 'maimed' and 'mauled' by their next opponents - but for Ramsey, they hadn't pulled through The Result.
They had to do better against the Islandstates... or at least do differently. The Equestrians put the first goal in at eight minutes, and since that point the Sideburnese never looked like they'd get a share of the spoils.
"Cheap goals," Gethin said softly to himself. "That's the key. Big lads up top, bombing crosses in... won't be pretty, but it might work."
A change of formation? Don't be absurd, the manager thought, immediately vetoing the idea. They needed the midfield diamond, to match the Islanders for numbers in the centre of the pitch. Snowy Sleet - it needed to be him, someone whose first instinct was to hold his line - and Cathy Stokes would do the business on the flanks, Gareth and Catheline were needed to match Villeneuve and Cornelius, or whoever the Islanders chose on the day. It would be a tall order, but duty called...
Keynes simply wasn't consistent enough in the qualifiers - she'd netted against Eura, but never really impressed apart from that. It had to be Rowland alongside Thunder up front - Bittencourt and Evans were technically adept, but they simply could not count on pressing skill against a more skilled opponent.
"Yeah..."



The door opened behind him, letting a rush of light into the room that nearly blinded the manager. The newcomer closed the door behind her, returning the room to its usual lamplit state.
"Still scheming?" Escher Speare's voice. She didn't sound surprised.
Gethin turned to face his assistant. "Yeah. Think I've gotten as good as we'll get."
Escher craned her neck to glance at the teamsheet. "Yeah, uh, very... finessed."
"Look, we're playing to our strengths here. Hard to play to their weaknesses when they don't, you know, have any."
"I don't know. This is a big game for us... you know the saying, 'treat every game like a final?'"
"Har fucking har," grunted Gethin. "D'you think it'll work or not?"
Escher leaned back on a wall. "Well... define 'work.'"
"Win. Draw. Defeat only through unjust controversy."
"Very bloody unlikely. But you've a better shot with this than anything else, I'll agree to that."
There was a long, awkward pause.
"Guv," said Escher at last.
"Yeah?"
"We can't win them all. You know that, right? Sometimes you've just got to hold out and hope for the best. You do know that, otherwise you'd have stuck with your normal formation, otherwise you-"
"Why not?" said Gethin, with an unusual cold anger behind his words. "Why can't we bloody win them all? We have one job, and that job is to get the lads to go out and score more than the other bastards. We came to the World Cup to win it - don't try to argue, what's the point if we didn't? What, you think we should just let them win?"
"That's not what I'm saying, I just-"
"Sounds damn well like it is what you're saying. I'm not gonna change the way I see things. We can beat anyone in the world on our day, and one defeat doesn't mark it too late."
Gethin looked up to the ceiling. For a second in the dim light, Escher could've sworn there was a tear rolling down his cheek.
"Just think," he said, softly. "We could be legends."