Baptism of Fire 60 - Everything Thread

[Eura]

I apologise for the delay with my cutoff - my internet gave out last night and I didn't have time to get back on. Any RP's posted overnight will still count, but cutoff is now. Results coming shortly. Who will be traveling to Brigham for the semi finals?

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Quarter Final Results
Euran Region

Thaldor 1-0 Natanians and Nosts
Olympic Stadium, Spartangrad

New Gelderland 3-0 Minecraft Miners
Troutbridge, Ulsa

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Semi Final
Euran Region

Match SF1
(QF1) Thaldor vs. New Gelderland (QF2)
Sasky Rising Memorial Stadium, Brigham

Due to the delay in posting results for this MD, I'll consider extending my next deadline if either of you requests it, otherwise next cutoff will be at the scheduled time and date.

[Thaldor]

The normal cutoff deadline is allright with me Eura.

Semifinal: 2-Matches to go ! Politicians attempt to use the Match as a distraction !

Sandra Lund for Soccermania.th

In a hard fought match the Team of Thaldor won his quarterfinal against Natarians and Nosts. The goal was scored in the last seconds of the additional time after a succesful counterattack, scored by Andre Cassionetta.
The TV-Quotes skyrocket again to a whooping 80 % and the tourney is stiring quite a bit attention in the political landscape of Thaldor right now.
Yesterday, 25 Minutes after kickoff a legislation went to the voting trough the House of Commons that would cut 20 % of the Educational Budget for poor Families. From the 60 Members of the Parliament only 15 people were in attendance and the legislation was voted down by 8:7. To avoid any distractions the parliament is closed until after the final, much to the displeasure of the Thaldorian Patriot Movement who brought this legislation to the docket.
Back to the sport report, Cassionetta scorring his third goal within the tourney. Breaking News hit us half an hour ago that he will play for the FC Nordenhagen next season while Torson will be leaving Thaldor to play in a foreign league. This movement makes sense giving the fact that Erik Gudmunson will return as Coach for the FC Nordenhagen after the World Cup and Cassionetta was always his favourite on this position.
Tonight the Match against New Gelderland will be played in the Sasky Rising Memorial Stadium within the City of Brigham. The Stadion is sold out and the last price I heard on the black market went by 5000 NS Dollar per Ticket ! Giving the history of both teams in the Tourney there would be a crazy one buying it however I can only advise DON'T DO THAT ! Just relax in a good pub together with many Thaldorian Fans or if you want to celebrate the match in a bride public, go to the next Fan-Mile for a Public Broadcast. A link for all events related to the Tourney tonight can be found here.
For everyone who want to view the match, Channel one is the first station with preliminary reports shortly after 5 pm Thaldorian time.

[Fluvique]

Fluviquean feat in Valladares: the tricolours reach semifinals

Mountbatten. A country six times bigger than France, but only with half of his population. A country with late dinners, long naps, three languages and devotee to tea and coffee. Fluvique left the "surprise" nickname and now is a reality. For the first time, a few people in Valladares celebrate the reach of the last four, in behalf of millions at home. The most people at Parque Armenia stadium remained neutral and cheer for both teams, but after some arguments between the white foxes and the referee, turned their chants to Banguela, making them be locals in a foreign country.

But after 120 minutes the guttural cry of Allez Fluvique!, covered the combined chants. No one had air not even for sigh, meanwhile the Fluviquean squad and the staff started a celebration like the ones at home, with jumps and chants, together with more than 2.000 Fluviqueans at the low stands. The stadium lived a drama and watched the Fluviquean fierceness bringing the old dwarfs and requesting attention of the world.

The Cook team had good vibes in this Baptism of Fire, even before achieve this unforgettable classification to semifinals, between absence years and low performances. The team encountered his top form during the matches and the spirit was glowing. After a lot of time, finally Fluvique stopped the declining and pessimism. Never lost the pride, but the foxes were many years with low confidence and with internal conflicts. Fluvique does not reached an accord and lived remembering old deeds and ruminating the present. Exhausted in his small football microcosm, the same that decades ago gave credentials on the international stage.

Since the last match, we can say that Fluvique turned the page. At his stile, at his manner, playing good football and with a sense of the epic that comes from yesteryear. Everything is possible at football. Nothing can be taken for granted. The exciting game of yesterday ratified that. Explain it in a Cartesian way is strip him of the tastiest, the unusual, how amazing.

You can't ask for more drama in a match bad played. The football was absent in the initial minutes of the match, with both teams imprecise. They both failed to create goal situations and we do not saw two correct pass in minutes. In this phase of initial apathy and respect, the Fluviquean team was slightly above the Banguelian and had two chances to score, a very shy header by Wilde at 21 minutes and another more clear with a shot of Sam Gonza at 36 minutes.

The white foxes based his offensive potential in the foots of Gonza and Di Angello and in the free kicks and corner kicks of Topolsky. At 40 minutes of the first half, the energies of Fluvique were empty. From the header of Mananga at 41, the game was on the side of Banguela. It was more for goal opportunities than for game itself. Was a phase of the match when the players had many options, which joined some plagued minutes from adversity to Fluvique, first with a crash to Wilde, who was replaced in the second half and a yellow card to Rodrigo De La Mesea.

The first half was ending and the referee added two minutes. Gonzo took charge of the free kick and delivered the centre directly to the penalty point. The ball was deflected and flies directly to the foot of Lucas Topolsky, in front of the goal. Shot. Goal. Chaos. The ball entered back in the second post, with a floor-level shot. Topolsky ran and was intercepted by the substitutes and then all the players jumped over him. The first half ended, and we were happy. But what came after, was a drama.

The game was better at the second half. Both teams advanced their lines, giving opportunities for a counter attack of Fluvique and more spaces in the midfield. The match was more intense and fought. The tricolour made changes, to allow fresh players enter and give a new air, but the squad was trying to keep the advantage and almost ten players were in defensive positions. Sam Gonza gave all of his energies trying to recover the ball and chasing the Banguela midfielders, but he was alone. Then, the explosion.

A player sent off is a hero. Fluvique could not move their legs, but the soul took charge of that in those minutes. The last effort in attack was from Banguela; the fight without yielding was from Fluvique, who remembered his best times at the first 45 minutes and the start of the second half, but that was not enough for break the defense and end the game. The 94 minute was in the watch and both teams were empty, they both played with great dignity. A free kick came to the Fluviquean area from the right and under the goal something like a revolution started, focused in a ungovernable ball and a lot of dubious players trying to catch it.

Andy Paribas left the goal line and tried to get the ball, but crashed with a mountain of players of both teams. Carlos Neto was there and headed the ball before Paribas and exceeded all the players. Except one. Varelovsky jumped and stoped the ball, but it was deflected to Djalma Yaba. He shot, but at the same time three Fluviquean players flew with their arms to the skies. The ball touched the hand of Mark Augsburg and went near the post. The referre watched it clearly: penalty to Banguela and red card to Augsburg.

Amarinho took charge of the responsibility and scored the goal. It was almost the dead. The Banguelian players celebrate the goal, but tried to restart the game quickly. They have 30 minutes more to score a new goal against tired rivals, with ten players and without ideas. The stadium, in addition, was a vulcano singing for the red and black team.

Banguela came to the supplementary time with more enthusiasm and energy. They had another life. Meanwhile Fluvique will not had enough minutes to rest and make terapy. It was like the goodbye of the BoF. But the football has a lot of stories and sometimes is cruel. Amarinho was the player who gave a bad pass inside, directly to Sam Gonza. The number 10 ran with the ball and with a enemy defence at bad shape. They tried to catch him, but they could not. Gonza opened to Paul Di Angello, who shot. The ball went to the second post and made explode the tricolour throats.

In the rest of the extra time, the match tried to be a heroic epic for both teams. Was a game of area to area, without sustained ball possessions and no clear dominator. All he had was nonsense. In the last minute, at 122, a new free kick (this time from the left side) made tremble all our hearts. The ball came to the area, was head for one player and then cleared by Ricky Bertens, who threw it to the stands. The final whistle was a relief for all the fans and for us. The unleashed madness was total, with players crying, some jumping, others running to climb the fences, bottles, towels and boots was threw to airs in the celebrations.

Fluvique continues writing history. Now will face Eshan at Stade de la Frontière for the second semifinal of the Baptism of Fire. On the other side Thaldor vs the great New Gelderland, who beat 3-0 Minecraft Miners in the easiest victory of the quarterfinalists. The foxes will deal with the expulsion of Augsburg and the team will need rest and recover for last night battle, to enter in another soon. But for this team, nothing is imposible and the dream is only two matches ahead. All the country is receiving the happiness of sports victories by the most noble product of their soil: this eleven lions.

After the match, in the pitch, we talk with some players:

-Well, Sam, we are here. We talked about playing the seven matches. You guys reached it. How do you feel?
Sam Gonza: Is incredible. Is a dream coming true, but now we are thinking in the next match. Yeah, we are crazy, but this guys, and the guys at the stands. Is a madness. Them support you for the next and the next is another dream that we will try to catch from the sky.
-You guys are really tired, What a battle!
Gonza: Yeah, it was a battle. We want to play football, they have a good team, good players. Both sides had the intention of play good football, but in this matches, with all the pressure and nervous, is hard to do things well. But is nice to know that when the skills fail, we have the warrior spirit to keep going.
-What did you feel when Mark blocked the ball?
Gonza: Son of a b***
(laughs)
-Last one. We have another match. We will be talking here with another victory in your pockets soon?
Gonza: I hope so. What I can say is that we are going to fight for that, like today and like everyday of our lives.

-Suffering, but we reached the last four.
Ricky Bertens: Suffering. That is the word. I entered late, but some guys are near to lose their lungs. Incredible the effort, and more amazing the prize.
-You played the Di Brandini Cup and now you are at the semifinals here. Can you believe that?
Bertens: Is nice when you see how your work and effort makes you live good things. Be here, with such great players, top players, is amazing. I am enjoying it, and also knowing the responsibility in our shoulders.
-Now, a hard match. Did you see anithing about our rivals?
Bertens: If anyone reach the last four, is because they did the things good. No one is here for accident. We the four are the best teams and now is time to show how good everyone is to grab the title. Is going to be a hard battle, but we are ready to fight.

-What did you do? You know that millions people probably insulted you for a long time?
Mark Augsburg: I know, sorry. Uhm, I do not know. It was the adrenaline of the match. I thought: ok, this ball is going to enter, lets do something. I knew that the team were tired and I really believed that the referee will not notice that in middle of a lot of players. But he saw it.
-Now you are like a hero. Without you, this epic will be only a triumph at extra time.
Augsburg: Yeah, that is a point of view. But umm, you know, be sent off and be outside the semifinal is hard. But we have an excellent team and I will be cheering for them.

"I am very excited, is an incredible moment for me. We do not played as well as always, but we are classified. This players are strong, proud. The union between them is very, very strong. Now, we have less time to prepare the match with Eshan. But, we will go out to win." -said Alfred Cook, the captain of this ship called white foxes.

For the last, we left a old unruhig of the late 40s, to sing and dance with a cute lady until the midnight, like our grandpas. Come on Fluvique!

The eleven foxes of the Fluviquean squad
They are already in the field, testing their rivals
Already sound the whistle, and the enemy goal
Their net seem tremble with fear
The spheric dances his crazy pirouette
The supporters sing under the sun
And with muscle and nerve, thirsty of goal
There goes five arrows trying to score


Fluvique 2
1: Andy Paribas 95´
4: Paul Kelly 76´ Martin Sampson
2: Rodrigo De La Mesea 41´
15: Mark Augsburg
3: Gabriel Varelovsky 95´
5: Henry Mhago 95´
8: Lucas Topolsky 67´
7: Paul Di Angello 106´
10: Sam Gonza (C)
9: Adam Wilde 71´ Nick Auze
20: FEDE 85´ Ricky Bertens


Banguela 1
1: Joao Pinto
2: Ze Mata 29´
3: Djalma Yaba
4: Helder Barbosa
5: Luis Cangé 48´
6: Nefala Chingala 70´
7: Flavio Kanté Fulco 56´
8: Amarinho
9: Ze Vidigal 61´ Rui Mokanga
10: Carlos Neto 76´
11: Mananga

Venue: Estadio Parque Armenia (31.434 spectators)
Goals: Lucas Topolsky (45+1), Amarinho (96´), Di Angello (107´)
Cautions: Paribas, De La Mesea, Topolsky, Di Angello, Ze Mata, Luis Cangé, Carlos Neto.
Man of the Match: Amarinho

[Eshan]

To be on the precipice of glory was an interesting matter. A semifinal against a powerful Fluvique team, and then possibly a place in the final afterwards. Two games. The whole tournament came down to these two games.

Antonio Mulcair shivered in the ice bath as he tried to rest his mind, as well as his body. The game against Gim had been a nerve-wracking one despite the Echani team controlling the majority of possession and just dictating the flow of the game in general. The first fifteen minutes had been an attacking blur. Front to back, both teams charged forward, trying to get that all important goal in the first couple minutes of play. However, that frenzied pace soon let up, and the Eshan national team started to slow the pace down.

Mulcair took a minute to reflect to himself. That's probably why he was such a good fit for this team. Getting tired of slow possession based build-up play? Just let him take over the game. The slow pace is instantaneously replaced with a direct style of play, trying to get the ball to Mulcair in good positions and letting him do what he thought was the best course of action. It was nice for a change, and gave him a chance to add to his total.

He leaned over and starting running hot water, melting the ice in the tub as he massaged his muscles. Halftime came around, and still there was no score. The Echani team played more direct football in the second half, desperately trying to break down Gim's defensive line. Despite the team's best effort, and two shots rattling off the bar, the end of regulation time saw the score tied at 0-0.

Truth be told, Mulcair couldn't quite remember what Steven Dumolt said at the mark, but he did remember that Marco van Ciavatinni replaced Bernard LaHoya on the right wing, and Iñaki Martón in for Xavier Albiol. A formation change to a 2-defensive midfielder situation, with Martón playing as a ball winning midfielder, Samper Markovic running upfield with the ball in possession, and Jean-Marie Bentacur moving from box-to-box. This ensured Echani midfield domination, but despite this, neither side had a shot on goal during the first period of extra time.

And they didn't until the 117th minute, when the go ahead goal was finally scored. With just minutes left until a penalty shootout would be needed to decide the victor, a little bit of magic happened. Iñaki Martón won possession of the ball in the midfield, and immediately laid it off to Samper. He took two dribbles to get the ball into the Gim side of the field, before hitting a long pass out to van Ciavatinni on the right wing. He collected the ball, and dropped back down towards half-field, before quickly pirouetting and losing his marker. He opened up the gas and raced towards the goal, before passing it to Irlian Ceka. Ceka dropped deep, passed the ball to Mulcair on the left wing, and spun off the defender's shoulder and was in on goal. Antonio Mulcair had simply knocked the ball through to him, Ceka took and touch and ripped it into the goal to open his national team scoring account, and to give Eshan the win and a place in the semi-finals.

The Fluvique matchup would prove to be rather challenging. They were well regimented in defense, and cunning in attack. Very fluid, very dangerous. The team would have to play at their best, and Mulcair had a feeling that he would be the one to carry the team when the going got tough.

The semi-finals. Antonio Mulcair let himself consider the magnitude of that. He hadn't really thought about the importance of the games he had been playing, but now he let himself think about the semi-final, the pressure, the nerves. He gave himself five minutes to feel fear and nervousness about the fact he was about to play in a semi-final game in one of the most prestigious tournaments in the entire world. No pressure.

[Vers-Gelderland]

Three goals - almost as much as their entire tally in the previous four games. Three goals showed New Gelderland's dominance in the Baptism of Fire quarterfinal against Minecraft Miners in a very riveting display of football that not only showed New Gelderland's defensive prowess but also its offensive prowess as it took control of its opportunities and scored on them. It could not have been a better confidence-building performance after a hard-fought and tense win over Cruenatia and an earlier, disappointing loss to Witty Penguins in the group stage. The match also showed that New Gelderland has learned from the Witty Penguins loss - although Minecraft Miners hardly showed any of the form that had carried the Witty Penguins side to the victory that day.

Louis Rhodes scored the first goal after some time in the first half of the game. Minecraft Miners, worried about Rhodes' attacking prowess, passing skills, and overall strategy, had decided to park the bus in a secluded part of town and turn the engine totally off, just simply passing the ball between the defense to guard off New Gelderland's attack and send the match to penalty kicks, which they knew - or thought they knew - would do well at. However, Rhodes put a dent in that fantasy when he intercepted a long pass from Heidi to Drillhive, starting to head towards the goal. Strikers Ben Griffin and Luke Virgo headed up with him to continue to put pressure on Minecraft Miners. Sweeper Reynaldo Trinity tried to intercept and call on two more defenders, but his ploy failed as Rhodes passed to Virgo. As the defense moved to intercept Virgo, he passed it to Rhodes, who shot upon receiving it.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!

The ball went into the lower right corner, out of the reach of goalkeeper Christer.

After the half-time whistle blew, New Gelderland was the proud owner of a one-nil lead and expected to keep it with that exact scoreline, after three previous games with a one-nil lead going into the second half (Witty Penguins, though, broke this ideal when it scored twice in the second half). New Gelderland kicked off with the ball and paused for its opportunity in the midfield. After good performances by Louis Rhodes, midfielder Ian Landis felt it was his time in the spotlight and signaled for Rhodes to pass it. He did, and Landis started moving forward with the ball, dodging and juking the Minecraft Miners defenders. Apostolis managed to tackle fairly but sent the ball to Louis Rhodes, who passed forward back to Landis. He moved forward but Pace Delnord lacked his namesake and tried to slide tackle, overly aggressively and too early. This was a yellow card in the penalty box and merited a penalty. Luckily, though, Landis was fine.

Ben Griffin moved up to the goal box and tricked Christer into diving left. He shot right.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!

New Gelderland now owned two goals, and Minecraft Miners hoped to seek revenge for its loss. But the Axemen could not put a single chop into New Gelderland's lead as New Gelderland's defense, along with its offense, continued to hold up.

Alas for them, their fantasies of Baptism of Fire glory were not to be, but they grew desperate for a lead; as Minecraft Miners started to grow more desperate, it made more mistakes: along the lines of botched passes, poor execution, and inconsistent dribbling. Cory Morgan-Brown of the midfield managed to intercept Entermore of Minecraft Miners, who was starting to tire and lacking pace in his dribbling. He stole easily; Morgan-Brown passed to Luke Virgo, a major figure in the advance of the ball in New Gelderland's team. Again, as usual, Rhodes and Griffin moved forward as well; Ian Landis also moved to support. Virgo moved forward along the sideline and passed to Ian Landis, who angled himself towards the goal. Christer moved further to the right to fight Landis' advance, but he had an ace up his sleeve and didn't want to follow Christer's plan. He angled the ball to the left and snaked it in to the goal, making it accurate rather than powerful. The trick worked, and Christer didn't move until it was too late.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!

Ten minutes passed, and Minecraft Miners could not summon the energy to score again. New Gelderland celebrated their trip to the Baptism of Fire semifinals. They will face Thaldor, a side who emerged out of Group A with a perfect record. It could potentially be a tough match but New Gelderland has confidence with their dominant defeat of Minecraft Miners in the quarterfinals. Onward, New Gelderland! Onward to face Thaldor, New Gelderland goes; onward to the finals, they want to go.

[Valladares]

Cut, cut, cut, cutoff for the Valladar half of the semifinals!

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Semifinal
Valladar Region

Fluvique 3-0 Eshan
Stade de la Frontière, Fontvielle, Foix

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Third-Place Play-off
(To be scorinated tomorrow, October 7th)

Loser SF1 vs. Eshan (SF2)
City of Metropolis Stadium, Metropolis, Valladares

Baptism of Fire 60 Final
(To be scorinated on Thursday, October 8th)

Winner SF1 vs. Fluvique (SF2)
Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura

[Eura]

Cutoff for Euran semi final. Who will be headed to Bastion for the big one?

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Semi Final Result
Euran Region

Thaldor 1-2 New Gelderland
Sasky Rising Memorial Stadium, Brigham

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Third-Place Play-off
(To be scorinated tomorrow, October 7th)

Thaldor vs. Eshan (SF2)
City of Metropolis Stadium, Metropolis, Valladares

Baptism of Fire 60 Final
(To be scorinated on Thursday, October 8th)

New Gelderland vs. Fluvique (SF2)
Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura

[Thaldor]

The end of a dream

Brigham, 7.10.2015,
It was a hard fight but in the end the Thaldorian Dragons were defeated in the semi-finals. While Jakub Svoboda egalized the early first goal of New Gelderland, the last 20 minutes were simply too much for the team. Ben Griffin was just another class tonight. Scoring both goals.
In the end the team broke any expectations and the goal 'surviving the group stage' was raised after any game.
The last game against Eshan tomorrow may be the end of a summer dream but the next goal is allready in sight, there is a World Cup Qualification to play this autumn.
The consolation game between Thaldor and Eshan, tomorrow live from the City of Metropolis Stadium in Valladares, due the different time zone with preliminary reports from 2 pm onwards on Channel 1.
Sandra Lund for the Londra Times Online Edition
Articles that may interest you:

Jakub Svoboda ready to start big, first offers from foreign leagues confirmed link

Coach Gudmunsen is optimistic about the last game 'expectations allready fullfiled' link

Lasse Torson on the Transfer Market, a hero who isn't needed anymore link

Andre Cassionettas Transfer towards Nordenhagen is completed link

[Fluvique]

Let's dream!

Legends. Fluvique defeated 3-0 Eshan and now will face New Gelderland for the title.

Yes, now is time to untie the knot of the throat. Put our heart back in his place and not in our hands, like the past 120 minutes vs Banguela. Is time to drop a tear like Lucas Topolsky or running in an euphoric way like Sam Gonza. Also is time to jump and perhaps to fly as Andy Paribas.

Yes, Fluvique is in the final, he did it, he did it with courage, with his soul. For the first time. Yes, the national squad is going to play a match dreamed by years.

The Fluviquean fans explode at the stadium, in every stand that they are.The shout is born from those who suffered the last center of Banguela in the quarterfinals, making a miracle and keeping the 2-1. The players left behind all the stress suffered on that night. Now, they perform a walk around the pitch, trying to hug every tricolour fan. Nobody wants to go, that this night last forever.

There goes Varelovsky, with blood on his mouth and a tricolour wig. De la Mesea, a hard and cold guy, is crying. There also goes Di Angello, hero of the last night, with his shirt waving like a victory banner. It is almost ten p.m in Valladares. Is raining, but who cares. No one stops jumping and singing. A lot of images come and go. But this squad changed the memories for this happy present.

The stands were almost full. The Queen Eugenie and the Prime Minister August Moine traveled to Valladares to watch this match. The two women were dressed with the official shirt and with tricolour scarfs. Due to the prohibition of using flares, the more fervent fans had to use the imagination. In a capitalism show, the south stand fans raised their smartphones and formed a white, shiny wall. After the anthem of Eshan, was the turn of the tricolour one. Some of the local and neutral fans understand english and looked to the fans over there when they sang the "walking through the enemy blood" part. I suppose that they wanted to know more about our national chant, but when a shout, a roar and a war cry exploded in the last part which says "Or the grave for thousand heroes", they decided to stay quiet. Come on, we all fought for independence in the past.

The game started with both teams trying to grab the ball. "If you have the ball, then the rivals can not attack you". That line can define the first minutes. Also, both squads had the defensive lines very high and the closing down was in all the field, with at least two players chasing the one with the ball. The pass accuracy was impressive, due to the sweet foot of both teams midfielders.

However, Fluvique gained the control of the ball and Eshan waited for the counterattack, trying to recover the ball and ran fast to the Paribas goal. In fact, the first clear shot of the match came in that way and was for Eshan. At 18´ Jean-Marie Bentacur touched to Bernard LaHoya, who shot without hesitation. Andy Paribas flew and deflected the ball over the crossbar. After was the first of three corner kick to Eshan. Fluvique had five at the first half.

Was impossible to the national team enter to the area with the ball. Sam Gonza was fiercely marked and quickly be frustrated and does not have contact with the ball for long minutes. For that, the first attempts were long distance shots, made by Topolsky and Di Angello at 25 and 31 minutes, respectively. Piecemeal both Mhago and Topolsky started to be the same that always, being a true force in the midfield and the base of sustenance of Fluviquean attacks. The Cook team started to increase the pressure in the adversary field, making wide the pitch and trying to impose superiority over the wing, but took time to find resolution in the final meters.

Eshan waited and started to find possibilities with a very active Xavier Albiol, searching space at the backs of the defenders, specially in the zone of Paul Kelly. Another chance came after a center of Antonio Mulcair and a perfect anticipation of Irlian Ceke at the first post, but the header went to the right post, with Andy Paribas defeated and looking the ball.

Fluvique answered quickly, after a center of Gabriel Varelovsky and a rebound, with a rare pirouette of Adam Wilde, unsure, who tried to put the ball in the angle with his left foot. After, near the 40 minutes, center of Paul Kelly, touch of Lucas Topolsky and a new shot of Wilde, from the left, near the goal, but the ball was successfully defended and went to the corner.

The match was then embroiled in the quarrels between Wilde and Francesco Di Nolfo, finished in both cautions and in the next minutes Fluvique keep the ball, but without danger for Pietro Tomaselli. But when the first half was dying, appeared the great chance of the match.

Ian Khamauiop made a foul at least two meters from the area line, in front of the goal, slightly for the right. Sam Gonza took the ball, looked upon the defenses forming the barrier and the goalkeeper behind. He breath. Started his run to the ball and shot. The ball exceeded the barrier, was more hight than the last man in that defence, went to the goal and entered directly to the angle. Amazing goal. Unbelievable free kick of the number ten, who ran in diagonal with his right arm extended and near his ear, saying "come on, shout more louder". He jumped among the bench and all the player, staff (and even one fluviquean fan who climbed the fence) formed a pile of players shouting the score. The first half ended in the best way possible.

The halftime was not enough for Eshan to recover for the beatings received and the Fluviquean control of the game, from the beginning of the second chapter, was total. At 10 minutes of the second half a great move of Di Angello avoided two players and make a feint over the third. Then touched to Adam Wilde, who shot far away from the area and defeated Pietro Tomaselli, who was a little moved to the left. The shot flew upon the head of the goalkeeper and kissed the net behind.

The two goal had an impact over Eshan and left spaces to Fluvique. Only the inaccuracies of the forwards keep the score without more difference. Over the 83 minutes of the second half, with all finished, Ricky Bertens (who replaced Di Angello) touched with Sam Gonza in perfect sync and ability, made a center to Wilde, but the defenders cleared the ball. However, Lucas Topolsky was there and shot again, like Banguela, and made the ball explode into the goal. The party was total. The match was presented as a hard battle, but the Fluviqueans made a goal festival.

Final whistle. This is history. Nos is time to think in Bastion Arena, on that match dreamed for this Fluviquean players. It will be the first great chance for the foxes, in the search of the title. In front will be a amazing and dangerous rival, New Gelderland ,who do not played an extra time and came with more energies, but both teams have the same illusion. But for that have to pass a lot of hours. Now, is time to celebrate, at least for this night, after many deceptions and disappointments. We continue with the song, expecting that we can complete it with the last and wonderful part. Allez Fluvique!

Suddenly a pass by the mid axis
A wing runs, centering the field
The agile take it, dribbles a man
Now the grandstands are standing.
Starts the wind, great swirl
Touch and dribbling, sounds a drum
Goal!
Goal in the air, Fluviquean goal
And at paysan way, born a champion.

Fluvique 3

1: Andy Paribas
4: Paul Kelly 60´ Frederik Dengels
2: Rodrigo De La Mesea
23: Jake Bass 59´
3: Gabriel Varelovsky
5: Henry Mhago 23´
8: Lucas Topolsky 87´ Max Williams
7: Paul Di Angello 70´ Ricky Bertens
10: Sam Gonza (C)
9: Adam Wilde 42´
20: FEDE


Eshan 0

1: Pietro Tomaselli
2: Francesco Di Nolfo 42´
3: Ian Khamauiop (C)
5: Willian Luc Villaview
23: Luke Albom 60´ Marco van Ciavatinni
4: Samper Markovic
6: Xavier Albiol 67´
8: Jean-Marie Bentacur 71´ Augustin Markel
7: Bernard LaHoya
10: Irlian Ceke
9: Antonio Mulcair 55´ Mitch McCarthy

Venue: Stade de la Frontière (40.125 spectators)
Goals: Sam Gonza (45´) Adam Wilde (55´) Lucas Topolsky (83´)
Cautions: Bass, Mhago, Wilde, Di Nolfo, Albiol
Man of the Match: Sam Gonza


After the match, the players entered to the restroom jumping, singing and celebrating. A lot of them tried to pick their smartphones and talk to the yours, but Alfred Cook was waiting them. All of them keep quiet and watched his coach. Cook put himself in the middle and the players and the staff form a round around him. And he started to talk.

Boys, we are where we wanted. Now, is time to make another step. Is important now, that we are together. I do not talk too much, but this is a special moment. Because we are going to play an important match and perhaps some are content with be in the final. But I do not. I want to talk of the only thing which remains when...when one is dead. That who worth more than all his money. And, nevertheless, nobody can take it away. I want to talk about the glory. The glory is not easy to reach, is not in offer on a shop. Is hard, hurts, burns and is not delivered to anybody. I have more years in football and much more at life and if I learned something is that the miracles can be made. Work, sweat, insist, vomit and run until the legs say "no more". Leave the life on the pitch, and gave it to the fans who jump at the stands every match. And they know that and they will do it for you, but they can not! Because they are not you! And you have to be blind to not see that everybody wants to play here. But we do not play here! Here we fight, suffer and wrestle for these three colors. Lets fight together, lets write history, put your hearts on the pitch and when you can not more...37 millions of Fluviqueans will breath for you. We can be invincibles again. Come on guys. Allez le Fluvique.

-Allez le Fluvique!!!!-answered the team.

[Valladares]

Cutting off for the match for the bronze medals.

---

Third Place Playoff

Thaldor 1-2 Eshan
City of Metropolis Stadium, Metropolis

[Vers-Gelderland]

A last submission for the Terranean Challenge.

---

Eliot Horn: Interview

---

1. Why did you decide to become a goalkeeper over other positions?
"Well, originally, when I was very young, I hated running, but my parents were very surprised that I chose to play football when I was that young. I told them I wanted to play goalkeeper, they said that was very demanding as well. I, of course pretty stubborn, decided that I was going to be a goalkeeper anyway. So my parents said, alright, fine, we'll support your decision to become a goalkeeper. So in those early years, in elementary school, I had a good time playing goalkeeper, and in middle school, I wanted to try out playing defense or midfield. I was OK with the running part by then, but I still loved being in that goal, watching over the entire action of the game., and blocking those shots for me had an extra thrill in it. Of course there was the moments of adrenaline, those were what made being the goalkeeper in matches worthwhile. I realized that I did really enjoy being a goalkeeper, so in high school, I switched, and I've been playing that position ever since.

2. Which of your attributes do you find most important?
"In the goalkeeper's gloves, I think that having your eye on the general tactics and strategy of the opposing team is going to do the best for your game. That'll help you keep your eyes on the ball, keep a good eye on positioning, watching out for those clever strikers who want to get those balls past you. Along that same vein, I think that my reflexes are most important. It might be good to be in a good position in the first place, but if you can't capitalize it and look at the minute changes in the ball, you can't prevent those goals from going in. Of course, to me, working with the defense is very important. If the defense and I have good coordination, there's less of a chance that an opposing team will ever have chances to shoot at all. That involves getting to know everyone and their styles of play and how they get along with everyone else. To me, the whole package is important, though - a good goalkeeper must be well-rounded. He can't just focus on one area.

3. How has the New Gelderlish team celebrated their semifinal win?
"We went to a fancy restaurant to celebrate, we had a good meal, steak and champagne. But after that, we all went to our hotel rooms and hit the sack immediately. We're all very exhausted from our play, to play seven games in two weeks is very tiring on your legs, your body, and of course your mind. However, I think that our semifinal win did give us a lot of confidence after some tension in the Group Stage. We were worried that we might lose to Thaldor, and we did lose to Witty Penguins, but we were all very happy and very excited that we were able to come through this time and make it to the Baptism of Fire final. It's a great moment for us in our careers, and I think the excitement was celebration enough for our achievements in this Baptism of Fire. But our dinner was also very nice, I think we all enjoyed the camaraderie of our stay here in Eura. It's been a blast staying here with a lot of my new friends, that's been a good celebration as well, hanging out with our team. "

4. What do you expect from the team in the World Cup?
"You notice a lot of BoF winners and runners-up doing quite well in the World Cup, qualifying in their second cycle. That's definitely what I hope for the New Gelderlish team, I definitely want to see us do well, especially against teams ranked a lot higher than us. If we win the final, we'll only have a rank of 2.7 ish KPBs. Pasarga will have something on the order of 60. Whatever our group draw, though, I do expect a challenge. I expect that a lot of these teams to do better than us. However, I know that rank doesn't tell the entire story, we're a team and we have a lot of good chemistry together. We have some good defense and also some good offense. So I think when we moan about all these high ranked people in our group we need to remember that we can do anything we set ourselves out to do. In answering the question a little bit more directly, I want to qualify for the World Cup at some point in my career but the most that I can expect from the next World Cup is our team's best. That's the most that I do expect - that our team works hard to train and to prepare, and that shows on the field."

5. What's the most important thing you can tell a young person who wants to become a goalkeeper?
"I think my most important advice for them is to work hard and that you can achieve your dreams. Anyone can become a goalkeeper - it just takes a lot of practice and hard work, and if you put a lot in to your practice, you can get a lot out from it. When I started to be a goalkeeper I did it because I was a bit lazy, but I realized that I was starting to put a lot of work and effort in my position. For those people who aren't sure about what position they want to play, I would certainly recommend goalkeeper, not because I want to recommend it to lazy people, but because I think you get to have a lot of fun, and the adrenaline at times can keep you going pretty well. Your heart is thumping and your chest is pounding, but when you make a save in that nervous excitement, you have a lot of fun and you realize that your hard work has paid off. I think this is a good reason to become a goalkeeper. "

6. A general question, what's your general attitude towards football and life in general?
"As I've stated before, I think it's important to put into football - and into life in general as well - what you want to get out of it. If you don't want to get much out of life, then fine. Don't put much in. But I think that if you want to get a lot of your life experiences and the way you live your life, you ought to put in what it takes - some periods of fun, but also some periods of hard work in order to get that fun out of life. I also think that it is important to have some fun - you can't spend all of your life working, you have to spend some time reaping the rewards of your hard work. Also I think that teamwork and cooperation is important - especially in football but also in life and general. To me, working with other people well is an important attribute. And my best word of advice for a lot of people: get an education, it will carry you far. I'm glad that I went to college here in New Gelderland, now I have a lot of skills that have helped me on and off the field, and that will continue to help me. I believe that education also ties into the theme of putting in what you want out though.

[Eura]

Its judgement day.

---

Baptism of Fire 60 Final

The trophy is readied. 110,000 fans fill out the Bastion Arena. The flags of the two finalists and hosts fly above the stadium. Euran Air Force jets perform a flypast. And now, the teams are ready. The 60th Baptism of Fire final result is...

Fluvique 2-3 New Gelderland
Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura

[Vers-Gelderland]

---

New Gelderland vs Fluvique: Report

---

It was one of the toughest challenges of their Baptism of Fire career - yet the New Gelderland team managed to prevail in a tense thriller over Fluvique in a magnificent three to two win to win the trophy of the Baptism of Fire 60. It was an amazing moment of celebration for the Rushmoris as they won the trophy in front of a packed stadium in Bastion, Eura, relatively close - when considering the vast distances of the multiverse - to their hometowns in New Gelderland, and the nation where football is one of the most popular sports erupted in celebration. Yet it almost never happened as Fluvique pulled out some of its best football for the final, scoring a late goal and missing a chance - just barely - to equalize and go to extra time. However, New Gelderland pulled out some of its best football as well, and even though touted goalkeeper Eliot Horn conceded five goals throughout the competition - and two during this match - the defensive capabilities and opportunistic play still held out.

It all started with a bang as Fluvique - determined to win the cup for their supporters at home, fiercely patriotic - found a way to infiltrate the New Gelderlish midfield with short, clinical passes. Witty Penguins had used the same strategy to much effect - scoring their two goals off of those kinds of passes - and New Gelderland though they had developed a response to the tactic. However, their efforts were to no avail, as Fluvique rushed around the field, passing to a teammate close by every time New Gelderland thought they had a good opportunity to dispossess Fluvique. They further managed to get around New Gelderland's defense by making use of angles, angles, angles with their short passes. Making it to the penalty area, Fluvique passed around until Fede had a nice shot at the goal, sending it into the left corner - barely - straight pass the outstretched arms of Eliot Horn.

It took a while for Fluvique to penetrate the defense, but they did it - and they looked to do it again. However, New Gelderland had other ideas in mind and they took control of the ball off of a long pass by Fluvique. New Gelderland then took the opportunity to head forward into the Fluvique area of the pitch, but Henry Mhago won the ball fairly and stopped New Gelderland's advance. In spite of this concession, though, New Gelderland found a way to dispossess Fluvique's Sam Gonza in the midfield, turning the tables back in its favor. Louis Rhodes marched forward with the offense along with right midfielder Jamie Wolf and they sent the ball flying down the sideline. However, Fluvique knocked the ball out of bounds so the ref motioned for a corner kick. Rhodes took the kick; Luke Virgo passed and crossed to Ben Griffin, who nodded the ball in. New Gelderland had equalized.

A pitched (but thankfully not bloody) struggle erupted for control of the midfield as the crowd egged both teams on to be more aggressive. However, it seemed like neither team wanted to head much into the other's territory as both had defenses of iron and attacks of steel - meaning that anyone with control of the ball would get dispossessed and his team would be now on the defensive rather than a battle of equals in the midfield. Louis Rhodes made a good run down Fluvique's territory but was tackled by Gabriel Varelovsky; Varelovsky sent the ball back to the midfield, where the stealing, advancing, and then counter-stealing battle continued with no real winner emerging when the whistle for half-time ran. New Gelderland and Fluvique both knew that one goal would be enough to win the battle, yet one blunder or mistake could cost the team the match and the trophy - therefore both teams knew they had to be opportunistic in the second half, with no room for attacks that left the flank open or strategic blunders of any kind.

The second half started much the same as the first half - yet it was New Gelderland doing the advancing this time as they decided to adopt the tactic of short passes that had worked against them so well in the past - with the use of the tactic by Fluvique a strong reminder of its efficacy. Cory Morgan-Brown led the charge with this new strategy, receiving and sending quite a few passes as the team advanced down the midfield and into Fluvique's defensive zone. Morgan-Brown, though, found himself surrounded by numerous defenders and sent a long shot into the top half of the goal. Surprisingly, this shot made it into the top half of the goal, above the head of Fluvique goalkeeper Andy Paribas. It was an extremely shocking goal - Morgan-Brown had no idea that he was actually going to make the goal, and such a low percentage shot would not have normally been attempted. Nonetheless, New Gelderland got lucky.

Fluvique, determined to make up for the lucky goal, seemed to attack now with a vengeance and wanted to regain lost ground. But unfortunately for them their attack failed as New Gelderland was able to gain the advantage with a nice steal from Harry Landis, who passed the ball to his younger brother Ian in the midfield. With Fluvique's midfield out of position, hoping to capitalize on their advancement, New Gelderland had the perfect opportunity to capitalize themselves with a good counterattack. Again New Gelderland used the strategy of the short passes to send the ball straight through the Fluvique line, but they also added on the tactic of sending the ball along the sideline to force set pieces if the Fluvique team managed to send the ball out. By this time, Ben Griffin had become a little bit tired and his stamina was flagging, so manager Ross substituted in striker slash left winger Tom Auros, of Greek descent, in his place.

Auros soon proved himself in the fray. After Luke Virgo received a pass from Louis Rhodes, he shot wide to the right of the goal, sending goalkeeper Paribas in that direction as well. But Auros, catching a good tactical drift, sent the ball into the open part of the net instead. It was a classic feint, pulled off with two young strikers - Virgo twenty-two and Auros only nineteen, showing the youngsters' knowledge of the game and good tactical eye that caught David Ross's attention in calling them up for the national team. And the youngsters still have at least five more World Cups to go, so they'll be easily able to pass on their skills and tactics to the next generation of New Gelderlish footballers. However, a lot of the minds of New Gelderland's football players was still focused on the now - preventing Fluvique from coming back to win the match.

Fluvique, however, did not have that particular though on their minds. Instead, they were thinking exactly the thing that New Gelderland hoped to avoid - a comeback from three goals to one to win the Baptism of Fire championship. They wanted it bad - but New Gelderland did too, and New Gelderland wasn't willing to go down with a fight. In fact, they probably weren't willing to go down at all. They wanted the Baptism of Fire trophy as well, especially in front of Eura, their close regional neighbor and Rushmori friend. Yet it was Fluvique who started to dominate play after New Gelderland's third goal. Their defense suddenly shut like a clamp - New Gelderland could no longer get through. And their offense was starting to pick apart New Gelderland's famously strong defense, exploiting a multitude of gaps as well as holes in the formation.

Their work was not in waste - as fifteen minutes remained on the clock Fluvique still remained in force. Sam Gonza moved forward and passed the ball forward to Adam Wilde, who passed back to fellow striker Fede. Fede shot, but goalkeeper Horn managed to get his gloves on it and send it flying away. However, Fluvique didn't want to give up that easily and looked to mount another attack on New Gelderland's goal. Adam Wilde got control of the ball and sent it flying to the goal, but again, Horn stopped any notions from the Fluvique team that they were going to score a goal. It looked like, though, Fede still had some of those notions, and he fired off an angle to the right of Horn. Horn, again, stymied the kick, but Sam Gonza moved in to send the ball into the left of the goal, finally ending the parade of saves.

Fluvique, however, was still a goal down with eight minutes remaining on the clock, and they badly wanted to force the game into extra time. Learning some lessons from the strategy in the last seven minutes, they attempted to score another creative goal by feinting, trickery, or any other means for that matter to give them another chance to win the match. However, New Gelderland's defense, including right back Liam Kirkpatrick, proved too strong, with Kirkpatrick blocking a Gonza shot, sending it far away. After a period of time where New Gelderland had the ball, though, Fede ran the ball down, drew Eliot Horn away from the goal, and almost scored - yet his shot bounced off the crossbar and Jason Rogue cleared the ball away.

The final whistle blew and New Gelderland had won the sixtieth Baptism of Fire. The victory capped a very good run on the Baptism of Fire, with only one loss and five goals conceded. New Gelderland erupted into ecstatic celebration - the players hugged each other and shouted and jumped in celebration, while David Ross congratulated the players from Fluvique for a job well done. Not only had Fluvique played well throughout the entire tournament, they had almost pulled off a comeback and sent the game into extra time, and who knows what the result could have been then. Despite Fluvique's immediate disappointment at coming away without the winner's trophy, though, they still were confident about their World Cup chances and knew that they had good things to come for them in the future. New Gelderland knew that the future would be bright as well - yet there were challenges to face and obstacles to overcome. New Gelderland knew - and knows - it can overcome those obstacles.