Coupe D'Esquarium VI (EVERYTHING THREAD, ESQUARIUM ONLY)

[Korivania]

Qemal Vukitaj @Qemal-Vuk Cheers to my favorite team in Esquarium, for last nights victory #TeamKorivania #CdEVI RETWEETSFAVORITE 3.8K4.3K

Shadow Eagles @TeamKorivania Congrats on our victory against Vyvalnd. May we win the next match on the 28th. #CdEVI #TeamKorivania RETWEETSFAVORITE 2.1K2.5K

[Qianrong]

Jasnoran Omejecov @omejecovfirebirds #CdEVI I'm blessed to be part of such a great team. Looking forward to the knockouts. RETWEETSFAVORITES 4,8744,662

Han Xiong-Nu @ShuangguanYu Kind of a shame that all of Qianrong couldn't advance on one team... RETWEETSFAVORITES 521517

Nguyen Bien Phu @TuhaoesePhoSure @ShuangguanYu Twice the chance to win, as far as I'm concerned. RETWEETSFAVORITES 158152

Mataas Davanganao @Matt-Davao @TuhaoesePhoSure Except the Firebirds and Thunderbirds would face eachother again in the quarters. RETWEETSFAVORITES 9492

Nguyen Bien Phu @TuhaoesePhoSure @Matt-Davao Hush, you. RETWEETSFAVORITES 5852

[Aucuria]

Sefiye Hızlı @SefiyeHizli Congratulations to the Stallions on making it to the knockout rounds. We're cheering for you. #CdEVI #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITES 4,5194,511

Muhemet Hasanoğlu @MHasanoglu Lessons from the CdE: never listen to the naysayers. Never give up hope. Anything is possible if you have the determination. #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITES 4,5674,560

Ayşe Çağatay @hijabista0023 On the 28th, we stop the Firebirds in their tracks. You may march to Bethlehem, but you won't march to Sehiray. #FearTheStallion RETWEETSFAVORITE 129123

Muaviye Asik @SehirayAnyDay #FearTheStallions #CdEVI The prowess shown by our athletes is unbelievable. Keep it up, Stallions. RETWEETSFAVORITES 6057

Gelertas Heraklešius @GelertasH If I was an Atlian, I would be having the time of my life right now.#CdEVI RETWEETSFAVORITES 4336

Firuze Aksoy @Firuze47 Hm.... I think it's time the Firebirds learned to fear the Stallions. RETWEETSFAVORITE 115113

[Qianrong]

April 26, 2016
Minakbir, Livancia

North Qianrong-South Qianrong group match
As broadcast by Qianrong Sporting Television (QSTV)
Shortly before start

Wang Yan-Kong: Hello and good afternoon to all of those watching the match that we've all been waiting for- the Firebirds of North Qianrong play the Thunderbirds of South Qianrong. I'm Wang Yan-Kong and this is my co-host Liu Fan-Shi.

Liu Fan-Shi: Good afternoon.

W: This is certainly going to be an exciting match, isn't it?

L: Indeed it is. Now, we already know that the advancement of both Qianrongs to the round of 16 is guaranteed, regardless of who wins or loses, because neither Ainin nor East Nautarya can make up the point deficit. But that doesn't mean that the tension is gone. Far from it, actually. With Qianrong now divided between North and South, these teams- these teams are, in a sense, representing their halves of the archipelago. Both Prime Minister Qi and Long Jiao-Dan have done a lot to make the Firebirds and Thunderbirds into symbols for their governments, so the outcome of this match will mean a lot for the governments in the Qianrongese archipelago, and for the supporters on each side.

W: Some are worried it might mean a bit too much, of course, after the riots that followed the losses of the fifth Coupe d'Esquarium. Both Qi and Long have announced that soccer riots will not be tolerated, and that any attempt to provoke violence will be met with a strong police presence.

L: Well, after the fiasco that was the CdEV riots, I don't think you can blame either of them.

W: Agreed. Anyways, what are the predictions for this match?

L: Well, of course, everyone is projecting their favorite to win, but it's much harder to make an unbiased prediction. The North Qianrongese are on top of the group, of course, and they've progressed farther than the South Qianrongese in previous Coupes; they also got a lot of the more skilled players from the old unified Qianrongese team. And, of course, they've gotten more balls into the goal in their previous games this Coupe.

W: Yeah, but the South Qianrongese haven't yet let a single ball past their goalkeeper, and they've got a lot of young, energetic, and very determined players.

L: True indeed.

W: But it's almost time for the national anthems, and then for the match. Let's go down to the pitch.

---

Twenty-six minutes

W: ...the ball back in Firebird possession, Liu Qing-Shan has gotten the ball- he passes it Tsai Wen-Gao, who's rushing up the side of the field for the Thunderbird goal.

[Firebird forward Tsai heads for the Thunderbird goal, with other Firebird forwards moving up as well.]

L: Ton Duc Luong attempts to steal the ball from Liu, try to get the ball back in Thunderbird hands, but can't get his foot into position. Tsai's continuing up the field, past the Thunderbird defense-

W: Lung Bai-Xi has the ball- he took the ball from Liu-

L: [Jasnoran] Omejecov has gotten it back for the Firebirds, he passes it back to Tsai, he-

[Tsai dodges an attempted slide tackle by Thunderbird defender Tsung Kai-Peng.]

L: He's got a clear shot, only Tagumpay between him and the-

W: GOAL! Tsai Wen-Gao scores the first goal of the inter-Qianrong match, giving North Qianrong a 1-0 lead and breaking the spotless record of the South Qianrongese Thunderbirds!

[Thunderbird goalkeeper Dahilsa Tagumpay puts his head in his hands as Tsai high-fives fellow Firebird forwards Jasnoran Omejecov and Jiang Fen-Zhi]

L: Tsai was almost burning a path through the Thunderbird defense, wouldn't you say?

W: That was a beautiful goal.

---

Thirty-one minutes

[Tsai has the ball, and is running past the Thunderbird midfielders.]

L: The Firebirds- Tsai's making another run for it! He's going to try to get a second goal for the Firebirds in the first half!

W: He's got the other forwards with him- Jiang and Omejecov are with him, the Firebirds out in force in the Thunderbird half of the pitch- the Thunderbird defense seems to be collapsing under the pressure!

L: Tsai passes to Omejecov- and it never reaches him! Rong Jin-Xing has the ball, the Thunderbirds have gotten the ball back in their possession!

[Rong passes the ball to Thunderbirds forward Deng Chao-Zi.]

L: Deng has the ball, he's heading up the pitch- he's being challenged by both Dobrosyl Elasinov and Sviatoslav Kalamiets- there's a scuffle for the ball- Kalamiets has it-

W: Deng takes it back! He's going for the goal- he's- HE'S EQUALIZED! Deng shocks the Firebirds by getting rid of their lead- and just as Tsai was trying to make it more comfortable, too.

L: A goal for South Qianrong, and the score is one to one.

[Firebird goalkeeper Ma Yi-Ping sighs heavily as Deng takes a victory lap.]

---

Eighty-nine minutes

W: The tension is through the roof right now. Two minutes left plus stoppage time, and the score is still only 1-1. Neither team has been able to get a goal past the other.

L: Could we see this heading into overtime?

W: There's nothing ruling it out, that's for sure.

[Firebird midfielder Wen Zhu-Fu throws the ball in from the sidelines to Tsai Wen-Gao.]

W: Wen throws the ball to Tsai Wen-Gao, who begins moving towards the Thunderbird goal like a freight train-

L: He dodges Rong, he's- he's passed Shui Teng-Ban, once again it's Tsai and Tagumpay, one-on-one-

[Tsai shoots at the goal, but Tagumpay dives and blocks the ball.]

W: Tsai shoots- Tagumpay blocks, but he can't keep his hands on the ball-

L: Tsai has it, he shoots again, HE SCORES!

W: North Qianrong has a 2-1 lead with only stoppage time remaining!

L: Only a minute of stoppage time for the second half. Unless South Qianrong pulls off a miracle, this is North Qianrong's game.

W: South Qianrong starts with the ball at center field- Ling passes to Deng, wasting no time at all.

L: Deng begins charging down the field, the other Thunderbirds are following him, all of them going out in force- they have to go all-out offensively or they lose this game.

[South Qianrong's forwards and midfields, as well as defender Tsung Kai-Peng are all actively attacking; only the goalkeeper and defender Shui Teng-Ban are staying behind to defend.]

W: Deng is challenged by Zhou Ping-Yuan, but gets the ball back to Ling- Liu Qing-Shan is trying to get the ball- Ling passes to Zvietomor Mladenov, a midfielder, who's gotten in front of the forwards-

L: The Thunderbirds are desperate, they are holding nothing back, throwing everything out the window. Anyone who can contribute will, it seems.

W: Duan Trong Chinh challenges Mladenov, but Mladenov makes it past him- Mladenov shoots- Ma kicks it away!

L: Ma kicks it, but-

W: Ling takes the ball, he shoots again- Ma kicks it away again- Deng Chao-Zi has the ball, he shoots-

L: Ma kicks it away for a third time!

W: Ton Duc Luong has the ball, he's setting up for a fourth shot-

[The referee blows his whistle, ending the match.]

L: AND IT'S OVER! North Qianrong's Firebirds have defeated South Qianrong's Thunderbirds in a nail-biting match, decided in the eighty-ninth minute!

W: Kudos to Ma Yi-Ping. Heaven, that was- there were four shots on target by South Qianrong in stoppage time, this final desperate push, four shots that could have pushed the game into overtime, and he managed to block everyone.

L: That's... wow. There's no denying, that's some serious skill.

W: That- that must have been a heart-pounding match for everyone involved.

L: It was a heart-pounding match for me, and I wasn't even on the pitch.

[Luziyca]

Highlights of our journey

Isaac Dobrev, head of the Luziycan football federation

MINAKBIR, LIVANCIA - Yesterday, there was a disappointment as we faced the Nevan Lions and got defeated, breaking our victory streak, and staining it with a loss. Isaac Dobrev has issued a statement regarding the CdE VI, and we take a look at the odds of us winning tomorrow's match against the Chiefs.

The highlights of yesterday's match
At the 11 minute mark, the Patriots score a goal: forward Mario Rusenov shot and scored, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead over the Nevan Lions. After celebrations, at the 22 minute mark, Niko Väisänen attempted to score a goal, but was repelled by Andrei Rusik. Rusik kept the Nevans out of the goal, and by the end of the first half, the Luzzies were leading 1-0.

The second half though saw a decline in Patriot performance: at the 53-minute mark, defender James Rostov attempted to intercept Johannes Eklund's pass to Niko Väisänen failed, and Niko was able to tie the game in favor of the Nevans, evening the score. At the 61-minute mark, A.B. Normal scored a goal, retaking the lead for the Patriots at 2-1. But this lead would not last long, for at the 70-minute goal, Tero Kolkkala managed to tie the score once more.

At the 89th minute, just as it seemed like the match would go to overtime, Johannes Eklund scored a goal, ending the match with a 2-3 loss for the Patriots.

When asked by reporters, Karl Jung explained that "we did a decent job. We played well, we had a great time, and I have hopes that the match in two day's time [April 28th] shall end in a Luziycan victory. We will break the curse, and we shall win our second title this edition!"

Isaac Dobrev states that this is the "most peaceful" he's ever seen
Today, the head of the Luziycan Football Federation, Isaac Dobrev said that "this edition, despite being marred by boycotts, is, compared to the previous edition of the Chaska i Esquarium, the most peaceful that I have ever seen."

He stated that "apart from an incident in Belt tal-Lvant involving some players in the Senterland national team damaging a hotel, there has been a virtual absence of hooliganism and violence. I have absolute faith that compared to CdE V, CdE VI shall live up to its motto, and be genuinely fair and peaceful."

Our prediction for the immediate future
Now that we are in the Round of Sixteen, this match determines our fate: if we win tonight, we get to go on to the quarterfinals. If we do lose, we will have to pack our bags and head home.

Here are the standings as of the end of the Group Stage:

• West Cedarbrook has 2 wins, and a loss: it scored 5 goals, and only had a goal scored against it
• Luziyca has 2 wins and a loss: it has scored 7 goals, but has five goals scored against it

West Cedarbrook is the leader of Group A, while we are the runner-up, behind the Nevan Lions, who will be playing against Arkiasis tomorrow.

If we were to compare them, we may as well be at a disadvantage, it is quite clear that while we have a lot of fans travelling to Livancia, and they have done quite well in our group, the recent loss against the Nevan Lions may hamper their morale. We know that the Patriots are training well, but with the morale of the Patriots and the Chiefs, the Chiefs may have a bit higher morale than us.

Thus, we predict a 2-1 victory for the Chiefs. Sorry, Patriots.

In other news

• Lombardia - Executive order from Svensson declares Purity Congress terrorist organization
• Namor - Namor to hold referendum for EC membership, Kung Alicia condemns "hypocrisy" in holding referendum to join EC, but not Nantai's status
• Monthuhasse - Conservatives win stunning victory
• Opinion - We shall win the Coupe

[West Cedarbrook]

Opening Statements in Yrrek Trial

Yrrek Jury Appears Near Verdict
Treason Jurors in Deliberation Since January 7; Judge Summonses Prosecutor, Lead Defense Counsellor


Jon Yrrek, Accused Traitor
The 15 jurors in the treason trial of Jon Yrrek, accused of passing nuclear secrets to the West Cortoguayan regime may be close to a verdict at the Wrycova Central District Criminal Courts, after Judge Romek Nehemiah met with lead prosecution and defense attorneys following a 90 minute discussion with the jury foreman late yesterday. Lead Prosecutor Lechzek Tennenbaum, and Louis Jourdain, head of the defesne team met with Judge Nehemiah afterward in a conference that broke up about 9:15 PM yesterday. The tight lipped prosecutor did acknowledge to the press that he had been in contact with Attorney General Elliot Arnstein during the conference with the judge, but otherwise said nothing about whether or not the jury was about to announce a verdict. Mr. Jourdain had no comment to the Morning Star, and has been largely absent from Judge Nehemiah's courtroom following the Judge's denial of a motion for mistrial in mid-February. Strict limits on the reporting of the trial had been imposed by Judge Nehemiah, citing the sensitivity of much of the evidece regarding The Kramden's handling of nuclear fissile material, under control of the Council for Thermonuclear Material Planning and Control (CoTheMPC). Yrrek, a former commercial attache at the West Cedarbrook embassy in Sevoya, East Cortoguay, had been apparently blackmailed by the pacifist organization Organization for Military Arms Banishment in the Antarctic (OMABA), allegedly in the intersts of preventing nuclear proliferation in Conitia, but since designated by the Senate as a terrorist group. Judge Nehemiah had allowed a redacted summary of weekly proceedings to be released to the press since both sides opening statements. During the lengthy proceedings three of the jurors took ill, and were replaced by alternates. Two jurors have since returned to the deliberations, with the alternates that had served staying on as non-voting members. At the onset of the trial, prosecutor Tennenbaum's bench had been joined by attorneys from Attorney General Arnstein's office, and the Defense Intelligence Organization, who continue to monitor the proceedings.

Featherheads Down Islanders 3-0, Prepare for meeting with Patriots

Coach Gutman Meets the Press
In soccer, the Chiefs defeated the Islanders of Pucamha to lead Group A in the Coupe d'Esquarium VI, now underway in Livancia. The Screamin' Naciremans will face Luziyca's Patriots today at Minakbir (al-Watan). The Constitution of Luziyca predicts a Chiefs victory, 2-1 over a more experienced Patriot team. Coach Gutman, speaking to reporters after the Islander game said "Well, things have worked out well for the boys. Getting back on the world stage of soccer, we were looking forward to testing our skills with the best, and this game against the Patriots will sure do that. I've run into their coach, Al Smith, and win or lose, I'd be happy to have a few beers with him. Of course, that couldn't happen here in Livancia, it being dry and what not. But maybe after some meeting anywhere else, at least anywhere else we can get a drink. That's not my major task right now. I've got to get these boys ready for a real challenge". Captain Henri Fromstein added "Yes, confidence is up, but this will be a real test. Defense was good so far in the round robin, but now reality sets in. We're drilling hard". DM Doron Witzj and RM Eliahu Greene both told the Morning Star that they were considering meeting with sponsors of a fledgling Kramden Professional Soccer League, including representatives from the Bank of Wrycova and Steinhouse, Wolf Steel, Turing Machine, and ArcAir. The exposure to soccer spurred by participation in the games has attracted interest in the sport from the business community, and after the initial win against the host country, ratings for the matches have steadily increased. Attendance at the games in Lviancia from West Cedarbrook has been limited mostly due to unavailability of alcoholic beverages in the mostly Muslim country, but also by strict rules for inspection of travellers and their luggage for Cedarbrookese citizens upon return from the Emirate.

[Aucuria]

The following is an advertisement for coverage of the Atlia-North Qianrong match by ARTK (Atlia Radio and Television Corporation) that aired on Atlian television in the runup to the match.

[The advertisement begins with an instrumental version of the North Qianrongese anthem playing as the SISQ's tricolor flies in the background. Suddenly, the musical parts collapse into disarray and then fall silent; the screen goes black for a second before showing a clip of a televised address from Prime Minister Qi Chien-Xuan.]

Qi: My fellow citizens, it- it always pains me to bring you unfortunate news about our country, about issues that we are struggling to face.

[Several clips are shown in short succession; a scoreboard from the third Coupe reads "LUZIYCA 6 - 1 QIANRONG"; Firebird forward Jasnoran Omejecov lies on the ground in defeat after Nevanmaa eliminated North Qianrong from the fifth Coupe; dejected North Qianrongese fans sit in the stands with horrified and disappointed looks on their faces. The screen cuts to a clip of former Chancellor and Vice President Song Li-Chao speaking.]

Song: Let me tell you, this country is in serious trouble... a level of chaos and weakness unprecedented in our history.

[Again, several clips are shown in quick succession; Vyvland's Adam Lurneer gets the ball into the goal past Firebird goalkeeper Ma Yi-Ping in the fourth Coupe; North Qianrongese coach Tagapagturo Kasiningang yells angrily at the players during a losing match; forward Nhanh Dinh Diem limps off the pitch with an ankle injury during the North Qianrongese match against Ainin. The screen cuts to a clip of former Acting Chancellor Li Jian-Zheng speaking to a crowd.]

Li: Our nation is in a state of total crisis right now... we are beset from all sides.

[Again, several clips are shown in quick succession: Tsai Wen-Gao attempts to pass the ball to Jasnoran Omejecov in the North Qianrong-South Qianrong match of the 26th, but the ball is stolen by Thunderbirds player Rong Jin-Xing; Ma Yi-Ping holds his head in his hands as several Ziegenian players cheer nearby; Firebird midfielder Dobrosyl Elasinov gestures in frustration or exasperation. The screen cuts now to Foreign Affairs Minister Nguyen Cong Chua.]

Nguyen: I know that, to many people, it simply seems that our fortunes have gone downhill, that we don't have victories as a nation anymore.

[Again, several clips are shown in quick succession: several Firebirds players on the sidelines of a match shout in frustration; forward Jiang Fen-Zhi sighs in exasperation and shakes his head; several Francilian players celebrate their 3-1 victory over Qianrong in the third Coupe while QIanrongese players look on. The screen cuts to a clip of Qi Chien-Xuan speaking to a crowd.]

Qi: Times may be tough for our nation, and our future may look bleak.

[Again, several clips are shown in quick succession: Qianrongese fans leave the stadium early as an opposing team's victory approaches; Truong Toi San and Nguoi Con Rong both fail to stop a Scotian player in the fourth Coupe d'Esquarium; center midfielder Than Mui Thom curses in frustration; midfielder Sviatoslav Kalamiets throws a ball in from the sidelines, but the ball is easily taken by an Aininian player. The screen cuts to Song Li-Chao speaking at a political rally.]

Song: The hopes and dreams of the Qianrongese people are dead.

ATLIYE v. KUZEY ÇANRUNG
28 NISAN | 20 RECEB
ARTK YAYIN

[Arkiasis]

Arkiasis Advances to Knockout Stage for First Time
Arkiasis will face Nevanmaa in the round of 16
ABC News | Posted: 28 April 2016

The Arkiasian team practicing before their game with Nevanmaa

---

MINAKBIR - Arkiasis secured their first ever trip to the knockout stage in the Coupe D'Esquarium following a 0-0 tie game with Estovnia. Arkiasis barely advanced into the knockout stage based on number of goals scored following a tie of point and goal difference between Arkiasis and Estovnia.

Arkiasis will face Nevanmaa in a rematch from the previous Coupe in the round of 16. In the previous Coupe back last fall, Arkiasis fell 3-0 to Nevanmaa in what was a controversial match resulting in violence among spectators and classic football hooliganism.

This time however, there is no where the same amount of excitement for the match. Many speculate it's due to the distance of Arkiasis and Nevanamaa to Livancia which makes travel plans difficult and expensive. Contrasted to Lyonsland which requires only a short drive from Arkiasis or a short plane ride from Nevanmaa. The games themselves have been shrouded in allegations of corruption, poor security, threats of terrorism and the oppressive nature of the ruling government. Livancia ran unopposed in the bidding process, resulting in claims of Emir Yaqoob iben Rushdi bribing EFA officals with money and luxury vehicles in order to host the tournament.

Many nations boycotted or otherwise declined to participate this edition, resulting in only 28 nations participating in the CdE compared to around 40 nations in previous tournaments. This has resulted in many people claiming the tournament to be weaker than normal with several major absences from major football nations, the most notable being that of defending champions Michillies and runners-up Odissia, along with Francilie, Ziegenhain and Masseau. Conitia, a Continent many have claimed to be the centre of football had only 5 participates in this tournament compared to 11 in the last tournament in Lyonsland. TV viewership is down and games are failing to sellout seats.

So while Emir Yaqoob iben Rushdi expected the tournament to be a major success, it will be considered a failure to the international community with costs that will never be recouped. Along with further evidence pointing to the EFA to be riddled with corruption, this may very well result in further opposition to the Coupe and the EFA as a whole.

Many people in Arkiasis called for an Arkiasian boycott to the games, however, the Arkiasis Football Federation stated that there will be no boycott despite also acknowledging there are issues with corruption in the EFA and in the hosting nation of Livancia.

Despite the decreased fanfare, the Arkiasian team are themselves practicing for the Knockout stage and not taking the tournament lightly. "We have learned from our mistakes last fall and we are studying the tapes in order to defeat the lions this time around." said head coach Anthony Mariano.

Fustum Massawa said in an interview, "We are far more confident this time around. Last time, the match was riddled with politics, and poor sportsmanship. This time, it will be pure football. Nothing else."

[Livancia]

ROUND OF SIXTEEN RESULTS

---

West Cedarbrook 1–2 Luziyca
Nevanmaa 0–1 Arkiasis
Osonia 0–1 Montecara
Pisdara 0–0 Daecon (1-0 AET)
Kraq 0–0 South Qianrong (1–2 AET)
North Qianrong 2–3 Atlia
Sandhelm 2–1 Livancia
Lydland 1–0 Korivania

The quarterfinal matches shall be played on April 30th in the following locations:

• al-Watan Stadium, Minakbir - Luziyca v. Arkiasis
• Qadim Żift, Minakbir - Montecara v. Pisdara
• Magnífico Stadium, Belt tal-Lvant - South Qianrong v. Atlia
• Rebħa Stadium, Belt tal-Lvant - Sandhelm v. Lydland

Good luck!

[Luziyca]

The light at the end of the tunnel

Coach Gutman of the West Cedarbrookese Chiefs

MINAKBIR, LIVANCIA - Today, the Luziycan Patriots have advanced from the Round of Sixteen to the quarterfinals, with the Patriots scoring a 2-1 victory over the West Cedarbrookese Chiefs in the pitch at the al-Watan Stadium in the capital.

The highlights of the match
At the 16 minute mark, Chief forward William Shiffmn shot and scored a goal, giving the West Cedarbrookese Chiefs a lead (by one point). The celebration did not last long, for at the 27th minute, Phillipe DeSoliel's attempt at a goal would be intercepted by Patriot defender James Rostov, who then passed it to Gregory Todorov. Gregory then went on to make a pass to Mario Rusenov, who then scored a goal, tying the first half 1-1.

For the rest of the first half, both sides stonewalled each other's attempts to score further goals, meaning that at the end of the half, the results were a goal for the Patriots, and one for the Chiefs.

The second half was met with further stonewalling: attempts at the 52nd, 61st, and 72nd minutes by the Patriots, and at the 58th, 63rd, and 78th minutes by the Chiefs were met with fierce resistance and a failure to break the tie. It was only at the 86th minute when Gregory Todorov managed to score a goal for the Patriots, breaking the tie in our favor. The match came to an end with a 2-1 victory!

Our predictions for the quarterfinal match on April 30th
Our next opponent is Arkiasis: having defeated the Nevan Lions 1-0, and being runners-up in Group C, it may be a good thing that we aren't facing the Nevans again, considering what they have done to us this past Tuesday when we got trounced by them, and lost 2-3.

Compared to us, Arkiasis has a poorer win-loss record than us, with them only having a single win, a draw, and a loss (much like Estovnia, who they only failed to get in due to scoring less goals than Arkiasis). We could thus logically say that we can easily dominate them.

Except there is a catch: we confidently predicted a Patriot defeat, but somehow, we were able to scrape by and win the match. Arkiasis has scored 4 goals for during the group stage, but it took 4 goals against, so it has zero. We scored 7 goals for, and took 5 goals against us during the group stage, so we got +2.

Since both of us have won their most recent matches, this would be a match worth watching for, because while the odds appear to be in our favor, the Arkiasis national team may be able to pull off an upset and throw a spanner into our plans to bring the trophy back.

In other news

• Pisdara - Svensson congratulates Pisdara on referendum results, plans to accredit ambassador to Pisdara "as soon as possible"
• West Cedarbrook - Jon Yrrek may be found guilty
• Lombardia - Rioting declared officially over; investigation begins
• Opinion - We shall win the Coupe

[Aucuria]

Ayşe Çağatay @hijabista0023 We beat the Fearless. We beat the Firebirds. The Thunderbirds are next. #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITE 129123

Gelertas Heraklešius @GelertasH On 4/30, either a bunch of communists win, or a bunch of Muslims win. Somewhere, a Saexlander is sh!tting himself in terror. RETWEETSFAVORITES 743736

[Arkiasis]

Arkiasis Defeats Nevanmaa 1-0
Will face Luziyca in Quarter-Finals
ABC News | Posted: 29 April 2016

The Arkiasian team celebrates their victory against Nevanmaa

---

Erik Costa (above) scored the lone goal for
Arkiasis

IMBIEGHED - Arkiasis defeated Nevanmaa in a narrow 1-0 victory yesterday to advance in the knockout stage to the Quarter-finals. Arkiasis will face Luziyca in Minakbir on the 30th.

In a highly defensive matchup which relied heavily on the Arkiasian defense to stop breakout passes and keep the ball away from key forwards, Arkiasis was able to keep the Lion offense at bay and surrendered only 4 shots on goal throughout the whole game.

Despite a rocky start, by the midway of the first half Arkiasis was able to produce offensive pressure with several chances. Eventually after a period of sustained pressure, Erik Cotsa scored the first and what was the only goal at the 37th minute following a free kick.

For much of the rest of the game the Nevan team applied pressure to the Arkiasian defense, however were unable to secure any significant chances on net despite having a greater time of possession than Arkiasis. The Arkiasian team produced several more offensive zone chances but again were unable to capitalize.

Luziyca

Arkiasis will face Luziyca on the 29th, a team that preformed better than Arkiasis in the group stage and who beat the strong West Cedarbrook team. However, Arkiasis was able to fend off the strong Nevan team, despite the strong rivalry in play as well and in the group stage defeated neighbouring football powerhouse Lyonsland. Luziyca also lost to Nevanmaa in the group stage.

For Luziyca this is however the first time they are fielding a true national team as opposed to the their old controversial rule of fielding the winners of the Luziycan Premier League. This could mean two things, the team is more powerful than ever, or that the team will be inexperienced and still need to build chemistry among players. The Arkiasian team has remained unchanged in all 3 of the CDE's Arkiasis has participated in, the team has grown, matured and developed together, this could be the result of the over 1 year of player development and building. The Luziycan team does not have that luxury, they are all players playing with eachother for the first time. In previous CDE's the former argument could have been what propelled Luziycan teams to glory, but nonetheless, the team will now have to grow a proper national team from the ground up. We will see if they are up to the challenge.

We predict a very close match which will rely on the Arkiasian defense stepping up and bringing in a great performance to stop the Luziycan "total football" tactics. If Arkiasis can stop their offense and breakout of the defending zone, they will have a weaker Luziycan defense to pass. Arkiasis was able to stop the Nevan offense, so there is proof of Arkiasis stepping up to play a highly defensive game.

The main strategy will to be to contain the Luziycan offense and cover each man. If Arkiasis cannot produce the best defensive team of the tournament, Arkiasis will get slaughtered. But if they can contain the explosive offense then Arkiasis should squeak by with a win. It could either be a high scoring match or a low scoring one. But our prediction is on an exciting high scoring match.

Fustum Massawa @FustumMassawa An amazing narrow victory against the Nevans today. The wolves have gotten their revenge on the lions! @CDE RETWEETSFAVOURITES 658432

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[Livancia]

QUARTERFINALS

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Luziyca 0–1 Arkiasis
Montecara 0–0 Pisdara (1-0 AET)
South Qianrong 2–3 Atlia
Sandhelm 4–4 Lydland (4-7 AET)

---

The semi-finals shall be held on Monday, May 2nd in the following locations:

al-Watan Stadium, Minakbir - Arkiasis v. Montecara
Magnífico Stadium, Belt-tal-Lvant - Atlia v. Lydland

We wish you the best of luck in the semi-finals!

[Aucuria]

Sefiye Hızlı @SefiyeHizli I am immensely proud of the way that the Stallions have represented Atlia- with skill, decorum, and success. #CdEVI #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITES 4,5194,511

Muhemet Hasanoğlu @MHasanoglu I'm confident that, in a few days, we'll be able to congratulate the Stallions for winning the Coupe. #CdEIV #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITES 4,5674,560

Ayşe Çağatay @hijabista0023 The Fearless, Firebirds, and Thunderbirds have all gone. Next, the Bears. Then, the Wolfpack or King-killers. #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITE 229223

Muaviye Asik @SehirayAnyDay We are in the top four of the Coupe- truly, we have been blessed by God. #FearTheStallions #CdEVI RETWEETSFAVORITES 116107

Firuze Aksoy @Firuze47 ok this is the point where it's revealed we've all been pranked and this is just a fake coupe where all the major soccer powers intentionally lost RETWEETSFAVORITE 115113

[Aucuria]

NEWS OF THE REPUBLIC
ŽIŅIA RESPUBLIKOS
CUMHURİYET XABER
Open to All Parties, Influenced by None

---

Could the Stallions win the Coupe?
They beat the Fearless, Firebirds, and Thunderbirds- will the Bears, Kingkillers, or Wolfpack be the next to fall?


Atlian soccer fans during the match against Sandhelm, Atlia's only loss this CdE.

MINAKBIR, LIVANCIA | May 2, 2016- On April 25th, Atlian newspaper Atlik Hürriyet asked if the Atlian soccer team sent to this year's Coupe d'Esquarium could make it past the group stage and into the knockout rounds, coming to the conclusion that they might be able to break if they were lucky, or played their cards right. Not much earlier, we had predicted that it was improbable, if not necessarily impossible, that the Atlians would break from Group G, due to the challenges that would be presented by non-debuting teams like Pavonistade and Sandhelm. The Atlian team expressed hope that they would do well, but even their star players and captains thought they might not make it. "We want to do as well as we possibly can," captain and center forward Abdilâh Aydoğan told reporters shortly before Atlia's first match, "and we're all hoping we make it to the knockout rounds, but it'll take every ounce of our skill and passion to get past some of the truly great teams that we are facing." Coach Anar Bölükbaşı had said that it was "an honor simply to have qualified", using the rhetoric of those expecting disappointment in the near future.

But now Atlia has exceeded every expectation set for it. Victories over Pavonistade's Fearless, North Qianrong's Firebirds, and South Qianrong's Thunderbirds have put the Atlians in the semifinal round of their debuting Coupe d'Esquarium. If the Atlians can beat Lydland, they will face either Arkiasis or Montecara in the finals. Even if they lose, they will take third or fourth place in their debuting Coupe- an impressive achievement regardless. The Atlians have made it farther in the Coupe than more highly-regarded soccer teams like Ainin, Luziyca, Vyvland, Pavonistade, both Qianrongs, Osonia, Nevanmaa, and Korivania. The cautious optimism Aydoğan expressed at the beginning of the tournament has transitioned into predictions of imminent victory. "I think we've proved that we can't be underestimated, that we know what we're doing," Aydoğan told reporters yesterday. "I think those who say we can't take the Coupe will find themselves feeling like those who said we'd never make it past the group stage." Assistant captain Süleyman Çalhanoğlu was even bolder: "We've proved to ourselves and to the world that we can and will win the Coupe... it's only a matter of time," he told a crowd of cheering fans.

So now, the question must be asked: can the Atlians win the Coupe d'Esquarium?

Of course, before we can talk about the finals, we have to talk about the semifinals. In order to have a spot in the finals round, the Atlians will have to defeat Lydland's bears in the semifinal round. Lydland, too, has surprised many this tournament; their 2-0 victory over Nevanmaa and 2-3 victory over Scotia came as a general shock. In spite of these victories, however, the Lydish team technically placed third in their group; they only advanced because the tournament was organized so that the two highest-performing third place teams would also advance to the knockout round. Since then, however, Lydland has reaffirmed its power with strong showings against Korivania, who the Lydish beat 1-0, and against Sandhelm, who the Lydish beat 4-7.

There are multiple ways to compare Lydland and Atlia. Atlia came out of the group stage on the top of its group, whereas Lydland came only third; the Atlians and Lydish have both played Sandhelm, and the Lydish won 4-7 whereas the Atlians lost 3-2; Lydland has more goals allowed than Atlia; Atlia has scored 11 goals against opposing teams whereas Lydland has gotten 13; Lydland has been in past Coupes, whereas Atlia has not. But this Coupe has been far too full of surprises for any one of these statistics to be considered "definitive proof" of who will win and who will lose; if last edition was the Coupe of Riots, then this edition is the Coupe of Upsets. Both Atlia and Lydland have a serious chance to advance to the finals.

Now, let's assume Atlia beats Lydland and advances to the finals. Who they face will be determined by the outcome of the other semifinal match, Montecara's Kingkillers versus Arkiasis's Wolfpack. (Technically, if Atlia loses, this statement is still true; they'll just be facing the losers instead of the winners.) We're not going to attempt to predict who will win that semifinal match; both the Montecarans and Arkisians have strong, skilled teams, and it's even harder to predict which one of them will come out on top. If Atlia makes it to the finals, then there are still all the factors mentioned above to be considered. The Atlians are debuting, whereas both the Montecarans and Arkisians have participated in past Coupes- though, with as many upsets as this Coupe has seen, that might be an argument in favor of the Atlians. We could look at goals fielded and goals allowed and goal difference, previous matches, previous Coupes even. We could try and factor in who hypothetical Livancians in the stands would support, and ask if that would give one team something akin to homefield advantage. There are a thousand potential factors pointing a thousand different directions.

Ultimately, we won't know who will win the match until the teams play it out on the pitch. All the analyses and articles in the world weren't enough to account for the surprises this Coupe d'Esquarium has thrown at us. At this point, our best option is probably just to shrug and encourage those who want the answer to turn on their televisions and watch the match.

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[Livancia]

SEMI-FINALS

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Arkiasis 3–0 Montecara
Atlia 6–3 Lydland

---

The third place match shall be held tomorrow, May 3rd at the Magnífico Stadium in Belt-tal-Lvant. The match shall be Lydland playing against Montecara.

The final match of the Coupe d'Esquarium shall take place on May 4th at the al-Watan stadium in the capital city of Minakbir. The match shall be Arkiasis playing against Atlia.

We wish you the best of luck in these events!

[Aucuria]

Ayşe Çağatay @hijabista0023 We are literally that close to winning the Coupe d'Esquarium and I am so incredibly hyped. #TrampleTheWolfpack #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITE 229223

Muaviye Asik @SehirayAnyDay Atlia has a chance at winning the Coupe. Truly, Allah is the Most Merciful, the All-Merciful. #FearTheStallions #CdEVI RETWEETSFAVORITES 116107

Firuze Aksoy @Firuze47 GUYS I AM SO HYPE RIGHT NOW AND I AM JUST SO FUCKING READY TO WIN THIS SHIT AND OH MY GOD IT'S OUR DEBUTING EDITION AND WE'RE ABOUT TO WIN RETWEETSFAVORITE 115113

[Aucuria]

The following is an advertisement for coverage of the Atlia-Arkiasis match by ARTK (Atlia Radio and Television Corporation) that aired on Atlian television in the runup to the match.

[The video begins with a clip of Aucurian sports anchors on a rival network talking about Atlia's chances in the Coupe; the clip is from before the Coupe had begun.]

Anchor: I mean, there's no denying that the Atlians are passionate about soccer- far more than most Aucurians- but the Atlians will be going against many significantly better teams, even in the group stage. I mean, their first match is against Pavonistade- that's a rough start for any team, but for a debuting team like Atlia, it could mean their Coupe ends before it really starts.

[The video cuts to several shots from the Pavonistade-Atlia match, such as Atlian forwards scoring, and Atlian defenders taking the ball from Pavon players; the set of shots ends with a shot of the scoreboard for the match, reading "PAVONISTADE 2 - 3 ATLIA". The video then cuts to a different sports anchor from another competing network.]

Anchor: The Atlians got lucky with Pavonistade... I would be very, very impressed if they made it into the knockout rounds.

[The video cuts to several shots of Atlian players celebrating their advancement into the knockout rounds and Atlian fans celebrating in the streets of major cities; the set of shots ends with a shot of the table, showing Atlia at the top of its group. The video then cuts to a different group of news anchors, this time from a Qianrongese news network.]

Anchor: The Firebirds- they're battle-hardened against much tougher teams, they had a great group stage- I'm confident they'll be able to beat a team of upstart inexperienced debutantes like Atlia.

[The video cuts to several shots from the Atlia-North Qianrong match; North Qianrongese players gesticulating in frustration, Atlian players scoring, Qianrongese fans leaving the stadium early; the set of shots ends with a shot of the scoreboard for the match, reading "ATLIA 3 - 2 N. QIANRONG". The video then cuts to a group of sports anchors from an Aucurian sporting news network.]

Anchor: The South Qianrongese will be out for blood, of course, with the entirety of the Qianrongese Archipelago behind them... I don't think Atlia's going to be able to get past the quarterfinals.

[The video cuts to several shots from the Atlia-South Qianrong match; Atlian defenders blocking scoring attempts, Atlian players dodging South Qianrongese defenders, Atlian fans cheering in the stands; the set of shots ends with a shot of the scoreboard for the match, reading "ATLIA 3 - 2 S. QIANRONG." The video then cuts to a group of sports anchors from a rival Atlian television network.]

Anchor: Let's be honest here, the Bears have beaten Nevanmaa, they've beaten Korivania, those were both very strong teams with good records. They've beaten Sandhelm, and Sandhelm is the only team to have beaten us so far... we might have to steel ourselves for the worst here, ladies and gentlemen.

[The video cuts to several shots from the Lydland-Atlia match; Atlian forwards repeatedly score goals against Lydland, Lydish players lay on the ground in frustration, Atlian players take victory laps on the pitch; the set of shots ends with a shot of the scoreboard for the match, reading "LYDLAND 3 - 6 ATLIA". The video then cuts to a group of news anchors from an Aucurian television channel.]

Anchor: The Atlians have done well, but the Arkisians have been fighting long and hard. They have more experience in the Coupe... I wouldn't declare this Coupe Atlia's just yet.

ATLIYE v. ARKYESIS
4 MAYIS | 26 RECEB
ARTK YAYIN

[Arkiasis]

Mitchell Greggs @Gazorpazorp I don't care if this is a "weak CdE", we're in the damn Finals! Nobody thought we would even make is past the group stage. RETWEETSFAVOURITES 4123

Fustum Massawa @FustumMassawa We're heading to the Finals! This is amazing! I can almost taste it! @CDE RETWEETSFAVOURITES 3,8524,041

Krombopulos Michael @Kolifa2281 I can't believe we're in the Finals. This is our year!! RETWEETSFAVOURITES 135

Troy Brown @PMTroyBrown Good luck to our boys in black and blue on the 4th. Show the world what we can do. RETWEETSFAVOURITES 851523

Troy Brown @PMTroyBrown @MHasanoglu I propose a friendly bet. We win, you have to wear our kit for a day. You win, I have to wear your kit for a day. RETWEETSFAVOURITES 4,2823,328

[Aucuria]

Muhemet Hasanoğlu @MHasanoglu @PMTroyBrown I will gladly take you up on that bet, Prime Minister. #FearTheStallions RETWEETSFAVORITES 4,5674,560

[Arkiasis]

Mitchell Greggs @Gazorpazorp Fun Fact: Since the 4-6 loss to Osonia (the very first game), we haven't surrendered a single goal since! RETWEETSFAVOURITES 389489

[Livancia]

THIRD-PLACE MATCH

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Montecara 3–4 Lydland

Lydland gets third place, while Montecara gets forth place.

The match between Atlia and Arkiasis is tomorrow at the al-Watan Stadium in Minakbir!

[Aucuria]

|| ATLIA | AUCURIA | WORLD | SPORTS | CULTURE | OPINION ||
|| Atlikçe | Aukurių | Other Languages ||

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Could Atlia win the Coupe?
Arkiasis is battle-hardened, but that hasn't saved other teams from the Stallions

Several Atlian soccer fans cheer the Stallions on during the Lydland-Atlia match.

May 4, 2015 | Minakbir, Livancia - We have to admit that we were not expecting to be answering this question.

When this Coupe d'Esquarium began, the most optimistic individuals were those predicting that Atlia might, maybe, make it to the Round of 16. Anyone predicting that Atlia would make it to the finals rounds would have been treated as delusional- even this Coupe d'Esquarium, supposedly a "weak" one, saw soccer behemoths like Vyvland, Ainin, Nevanmaa, Pavonistade, and Luziyca participate. Atlia was a debutante- unprepared, supposedly, for the brutality of an intensive international soccer tournament. Placed in the same group as the battle-hardened Foxes of Sandhelm and Pavonistade's internationally feared Fearless, predictions for Atlia were bleak at best.

And yet, somehow, we are here. The Fearless, Firebirds, Thunderbirds, and Bears have all fallen to the Atlian Stallions in upset after upset- so many upsets that some people from traditional soccer powers have given up on the Coupe as a whole. The people of Atlia have grown more boldly supportive and bravely optimistic with each victory over a team that was supposedly stronger, battle-hardened, more experienced. The Stallions seem more than ready to raise the famed cup itself on the pitch of the al-Watan Stadium. Muhemet Hasanoğlu has made a bet with Arkiasis's Troy Brown that an Atlian victory will result in Brown wearing a Stallion jersey for a day, and that an Arkisian victory will result in Hasanoğlu wearing a Wolfpack jersey for a day.

But are we maybe a little too confident? Is our victory guaranteed, or will we fall just short of the line?

The Arkisians are, without a doubt, a skilled team. They participated in Coupes four and five, and while they did not make it to the knockout round in either previous edition, they had opportunities to hone their skills on the international stage that we have not. They have allowed only four goals past their defense in the entirety of the sixth Coupe d'Esquarium- all of those were in their first match, against the Osonians- who themselves flamed out in a 1-0 loss to Montecara. Their wins have been by narrow margins- their largest goal difference this Coupe was their 3-0 win against Montecara- but they are steadfast. Like the Stallions, the Wolfpack had one win, one draw, and one loss in the group stage- and the Arkisians, known more for hockey than soccer, were underdogs in their group as well. Their defense is near-impenetrable, and their offense is capable of getting it in when it counts.

The Stallions, by contrast, have been more offensive. They have focused less on keeping a clean sheet and more on keeping a winning one- that is, making sure that they always had more points than the other team. The Stallion defense has allowed ten goals to be fielded against them in the knockout rounds alone- they've been saved by the fact that the Atlian offense has been able to get twelve goals past the defenses of opposing teams. They have played aggressively and determinedly, from start to finish. And, admittedly, many of Atlia's players do not have the skill that the players on the Wolfpack do. Instead, the Atlians have been relying on their own sheer determination, and on the backing of the Atlian people- forces that have been far more powerful than many expected.

Ultimately, the match will come down to Atlia's offense versus Arkiasis's defense. If the Atlians are able to shatter the Arkisian defense, then the match will likely be a victory for the Stallions. By contrast, if the Stallions fail to get past the Wolfpack, then all the Arkisians need to do is make a few goals where it counts.

So can we make a prediction as to whether or not the Atlians will be able to break the Arkisian defense? The North and South Qianrongese records weren't as immaculate as those of Arkiasis, but both teams had strong defenses that attempted to prevent the Atlians from getting into the goal at all, and both teams had allowed in few if any goals in previous matches. Atlia defeated North Qianrong and South Qianrong in quick succession, 3-2 in both cases. And only one team has been able to shut down the Atlian offense this entire Coupe- the team from, of all places, Senterland. This all bodes very well for Atlia- it shows that the Stallion offense is hard to stop, even when they're facing more experienced, battle-hardened teams. There is a definite chance that the strategy the Arkisians are using could collapse tomorrow, just like it collapsed for the Firebirds and Thunderbirds earlier in the Coupe.

In the end, the only way to know for sure who will win this final round is to play the game- and play the game they will later today. Win or lose, this will be a memorable day for Atlia and the Stallions, and an end to a shocking and triumphant Coupe d'Esquarium.

---

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[Arkiasis]

Arkiasis Heading to Coupe D'Esquarium Final
Arkiasis will face Atlia in Final following commanding 3-0 victory over Montecara
ABC News | Posted: 4 May 2016

The Arkiasian team celebrates their victory against Montecara

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Arkiasian Fans Celebrate the win

MINAKBIR - Arkiasis defeated Montecara in a commanding 3-0 victory and has secured a spot into the teams first visit to the Coupe D'Esquarium Final against the newcoming team Atlia.

The match started with the playing of the Francilian anthem and a minute of silence following a wave of terror attacks in nearby Francilie just a few days ago.

Arkiasis was able to get on the board early with a goal coming just 9 minutes into the game from striker Logan Bradley, another goal was scored at 22 minutes from Mahmoud Touma and the final goal was scored at 72 minutes from Logan Bradley again.

The Arkiasian defense was the main star of the game once again, surrendering zero goals to extend the team's no goals scored on streak to 5 games, and holding 0 goals against for all games but one in the entire tournament. The Arkiasian team dominated in time of possession and only saw 2 shots on goals from Montecara.

Match vs Atlia

Arkiasis will be facing Atlia, a team that is only just making its first debut in the Coupe. Much like Arkiasis, Atlia has had a mediocre preformace in the group stage going 1-1-1, but has since stepped up pressure in the knockout stages in what can only be described as an explosive offensive effort. Scoring a staggering 12 goals in only 3 games, it is very clear that the offense of the Stallions is on fire. On the contrary, Arkiasis has played a very impressive defensive game, not letting in a single goal in all three knock games. The final match will pit two very different and two very successful styles of play together. An explosive offense with a brick wall defense in what should be a very interesting and exciting match.

Not having given up a single goal against in 5 games, Atlia will be looking to breach on what has been the unbreachable Arkiasian defense. If Atlia can find a way to get past the wolves defense, it will be game over for Arkiasis. A team that hasn't given up a single goal in over a week may get shaken up and lose confidence after just a single goal. This game will be a true test of Arkiasis' defense, and whether or not if it's a true great wall or just a flood barrier waiting to break.

On the offensive game, Arkiasis has played a very conservative game scoring 7 goals in the previous 5 games and just 5 goals in the 3 games of knockouts so far. Far less than Atlia's 12 in just 3 games. However, Atlia has not had the best defense in the tournament so far, letting in 7 goals in the knockout stages, some may say they are relying on their offensive power too much which may prove to be a devastating weakness against a defense strong team. So even if Arkiasis manages to let in a goal, Arkiasis should be able to answer back with considerable pressure and score. So some may say Arkiasis has an edge, Arkiasis' defense doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be good enough while Atlia must work hard to get chances on net.

In all, this will be the most exciting game of the tournament. And will answer a very important question: What wins? The unstoppable force (the Atlian offense), or the impassable object (the Arkiasian defense)?

Nation Excited

At the beginning of the tournament many Arkaisians did not have much of an interest in the Coupe. However, following the teams qualification in the knockouts and subsequent shutout wins, excitement for football has exploded in Arkiasis. Sales of shirts and other memorabilia has skyrocketed and many storefronts and homes are displaying Arkiasian flags. The very first game of the tournament saw only 18 million viewers, while the latest match against Montecara saw 52 million and the final match may be expected to see as many as 80 million viewers. Pubs and restaurants all over the nation are preparing for a massive surge in customers and police have announced that extra officers will be dispatched in order to prevent drunken fights and even a potential riot if the situation arises.

Due to the 11 and a half hour difference in time between Arkiasis and Livancia, the game is expected to last well into the night and into early morning on the 5th. Public transit in multiple cities have announced extended hours and Aspatria has announced the Metro will be operating all night.

Overall Atmosphere of Games

These games have not been without controversy, from allegations to bribery and corruption to security threats to several major football powers boycotting the games. Many have claimed that these games showcase a weaker pool of players and overall shouldn't be considered a "real Coupe".

However, despite security concerns and corruption accusations some say the tournament's slogan "Fair and peaceful" has lived up to its name. The games have gone through without any security issues and most importantly, without any riots in or outside of Livancia. And surrounding the Francilian attacks and the further rise in distrust and fear of Muslims, these games have been a thorn for Islamophobes. The Arkiasian team itself has 5 Muslims representing a multi-cultural nation, and is prepared to face a Muslim-majority team from a multi-ethnic nation. Showing that yes, people from different faiths can come together, work together, and compete with integrity and sportsmanship.

Following a stressful week for Atlian Premier Muhemet Hasanoğlu, seeing friendly banter and a friendly bet between Prime Minister Troy Brown and Hasanoğlu is a very fresh sight from what has been plaguing headlines all across the region.

---

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[Aucuria]

Excerpts from interviews with the Stallions in the runup to the Atlia-Arkiasis match

Manager Enver Fahri

Reporter: Mr. Fahri, the Stallions have without a doubt had a very successful Coupe d'Esquarium. Can you say that you were expecting this?

Fahri: I'd like to pretend that I did, but no, no I didn't, and I don't think anyone expected this when we were first going in.

Reporter: And what do you think got the Stallions this far?

Fahri: Well, certainly we've got a very strong, very passionate team this year. We've got the best of Atlia's best. We've got a very strong, very aggressive offense that has been consistently able to get goals in; we've got a defense that has been able to stop our opponents from getting and keeping leads on us; we've got a very good coaching staff that has kept their players on the top of their game.

Report: Do you think other teams underestimated Atlia?

Fahri: Yes, definitely. I think they were expecting an easy game because we were debuting, and I think we've consistently been able to surprise them.

Report: Now- do you think the Stallions can beat Arkiasis?

Fahri: I do. The Stallions have been able to defeat very tough teams, and I'm sure they'll be able to defeat the Arkisians as well.

Coach Anar Bölükbaşı

Reporter: Coach Bölükbaşı, you've been working with the players in the run-up to the match, how are they doing?

Bölükbaşı: They're all doing very well. We've got a very good squad, and they're all ready for the match.

Reporter: What will your strategy be this match?

Bölükbaşı: I think it's pretty obvious that our main challenge is going to be getting past the Arkisians, who have stonewalled almost every one of their games. If our offense can get past their defense, then the game is probably going to be ours.

Reporter: And do you think that's possible?

Bölükbaşı: I do.

Reporter: Why?

Bölükbaşı: We've gone against other teams with very strong, very capable defenses. Both of the Qianrongs, while their records weren't as immaculate as Arkiasis's, they had very strong defenses that had prevented their opponents from getting a lead on them in previous games. And in both cases, we were able to break through those defenses and win the game.

Reporter: So you expect the Stallions to win the match?

Bölükbaşı: I do. I've been working with this team before every match, of course, and they've shown skill the entire time, but as the tournament has gone on they've gotten even better. They work amazingly well as a team, you know, and as this tournament has gown on I've watched them grow more confident and more bold with each game. And they're immensely passionate. This is their dream, for many of them, and they know that every Atlian is cheering them on.

Goalkeeper Seyyit Tandoğan

Reporter: A lot of attention has been put on the Atlian offense in the analyses for this match, but I want to know more about what the plan is defensively.

Tandoğan: The plan for myself and the defenders is to make sure that the Arkisian offense can't get a lead on us while our offense gets a lead on them.

Reporter: Do you think there's been too much focus on the Atlian offense?

Tandoğan: I mean, I'm somewhat biased on this issue, but I think that the Stallion defense has been underestimated by a lot of analysts.

Reporter: How do you think that'll affect your match?

Tandoğan: Well, I know we'll all be working to surprise them.

Midfielder Ebutâlip Özsoy

Reporter: So the midfielders generally don't get as much attention as offense or defense, but I'd like to know what you all are doing to get prepared for this match.

Özsoy: What we've been instructed to do is to gauge what's going on in the game, how the match is going. If the defense is doing well, if we're confident we can prevent the Arkisians from scoring, then we're to help the offense get in as many goals as possible. If the defense is doing poorly, then we're to stay back and make sure that the Arkisians can't get a lead.

Reporter: How have you been practicing this?

Özsoy: We've been doing scrimmages to practice this in a game-like scenario. Coach Bölükbaşı has bee working really hard to make sure we're ready to take our skills and apply them on the pitch.

Reporter: And are you ready?

Özsoy: I think so. I think that we're all ready for this match. I mean, I've- this is a dream come true, you know. I never imagined that we would get this far, and- and that we have is- it's just a testament to the fact that anything's possible when you have faith, when you never give up.

Reporter: Do you think you've proved that?

Özsoy: Oh, absolutely. Nobody- I mean, nobody expected this. Everyone told us that we wouldn't get past the group stage, everyone dismissed us. But we were strong, we were defiant, we had faith in ourselves and in Allah's mercy and kindness, and we worked every day to get this far. I'd like to think that there's some kid back in Atlia, who's watching this Coupe and who is realizing that if he wants to do something, if he wants to be something- if he applies himself, and works towards his goals, then he can achieve them. That he can't let the naysayers and the pessimists get to him, that he has to believe in himself and never give up.

Captain and forward Abdilâh Aydoğan

Reporter: How do you feel going into the final round?

Aydoğan: I must admit, I am a little surprised. I don't think anyone- the analysts, the fans, the team- was expecting to get this far or do this well. We all went into this a little unconfident, we were all very apprehensive. And we've all certainly been pleasantly surprised by the way it's all played out.

Reporter: Do you think you're ready for the final?

Aydoğan: Oh, I've never been readier to play a game of soccer in my life.

Reporter: And how do you think the match will play out?

Aydoğan: Myself, Hacıoğlu, Çalhanoğlu, and Bayraktar will be looking to score at every chance we have, we'll be looking to get a lead and keep it. We've been working on getting past defenses, getting past goalies, getting shots on target, taking every chance we've got, and I think we're going to go into the match knowing what to expect and how to handle anything the Arkisians throw at us.

Reporter: Do you feel confident about the Stallions's ability to work as a team?

Aydoğan: Oh, absolutely. We've all grown very close in this Coupe, we've all come to trust each other, rely on each other. We know that we'll be there for each other, that we can work together and overcome the challenges facing us.

Reporter: So, do you think you'll be able to win?

Aydoğan: If Allah continues to bless us in the way that He has, then I believe we will win.

Reporter: Speaking of Allah... in recent weeks, there have been many verbal attacks on Muslims in Esquarium, especially after the terrorist attack in Francilie. Premier Hasanoğlu, of course, has been consistently and repeatedly attacked by the leaders of anti-Muslim parties; many people have used Islamophobic slurs to refer to the Stallions. What are your thoughts on the role religion, and Islam specifically, have played in the Coupe?

Aydoğan: I think a lot of the anti-Muslim people are angry, because they want to think of Muslims as primitive savages, and yet this entire Coupe has been far more peaceful than the fourth or fifth editions. You know, they claim that Muslims are so violent, are so murderous, and yet there has been none of the bloodshed that marred previous editions. There have been no riots. And I think this Coupe has proved that the majority of Muslims are good, law-abiding people just trying to live their lives. And to be honest, I think quite a few of the people using those slurs are fans of teams that were eliminated by the Livancians, or the Kraqis, or the Pisdaris, or us, and they're just being sore losers.

Assistant captain and forward Süleyman Çalhanoğlu

Reporter: So how do you feel, Mr. Çalhanoğlu?

Çalhanoğlu: I am incredibly excited. I'm really looking forward to lifting up the cup once this match is done.

Reporter: So you think you'll win, I take it?

Çalhanoğlu: Oh, yes. Listen, this team- this team is, without a doubt, one of the most wonderful teams in the world. We've grown so close it'll be hard to play against some of these people when we go back to club play, we've proved ourselves offensively and defensively, we've beaten every expectation set for us. So long as we continue the way we have played past matches, I think we're going to easily win this final game.

Reporter: What about the Arkisian defense? Do you think that could throw a wrench into the works?

Çalhanoğlu: I know the Arkisians are very good at what they do, very skilled players, but we've played against a lot of very good, skilled teams this Coupe. We played Pavonistade, who had gotten onto the podium in previous Coupes, and we beat them. We played the North Qianrongese, very passionate and very cunning players, and we beat them. We played the South Qianrongese, very strong offensively and defensively, and we beat them. We played the Lydish, very talented and battle-hardened, and we beat them. I don't think the Arkisians will be any different.

Reporter: Alright. Can you tell me what you all have been working on in the runup to the match?

Çalhanoğlu: Right now, we're just focusing on making sure we can get past the opponent. There was one training exercise, it was me and the other forwards against all of our defenders- including the substitutes. We're working really hard on making sure that we can get past anyone standing in our way.

Reporter: Do you think training is going well?

Çalhanoğlu: Absolutely. We've been working hard, but we're making sure not to tire ourselves out so that we're ready for the big game.

Reporter: And finally, do you have any message for the fans?

Çalhanoğlu: Listen, fans. You've all been wonderful people. Your unflinching support has helped us so much this Coupe d'Esquarium, and the things that many of you have done to support us are simply fantastic. It's been your cheering and your faith that have helped push us this far, that have helped us get to where we are today. We need all of you to keep it up. If you're here in Livancia, then come out and support us in the stands, if you're back home in Atlia then turn on your televisions, turn on your radios, give us your support on social media, keep being the amazingly determined people you are, and make sure to watch us win the sixth Coupe d'Esquarium.