World Cup LXXV - AK75 - The RP Thread

by **Mercedini** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 7:47 am

Mercedini Sports Daily
Matchday 7: Mercedini vs. Yttribia
@ Zoloroni Sports City Stadium - Zoloroni, Mercedini

Matchday Seven has come around, which means the last game before the mid-qualifying break for Mercedini and the rest of their competitors, and it's a toughie. Yttribia will be the visitors to the Zoloroni Sports City Stadium, they are currently six points ahead of Mercedini at the moment and a win for Yttribia could spell the end of Mercedini's qualifying with massive nine point gap to overcome, so it is vital that Mercedini pick up at least a draw here today. We have already seen a big team fall at the mercy of Mercedini, that was when USI lost 2-0 in possibly one of the biggest shock of the round, so players and fans are optimistic that they can re-create that feat here today. A win for Mercedini will reduce the gap to second place down to three points, and could see Mercedini move up to third if other results go their way. So, plenty to ponder for both management teams to think about, great turnouts for both fans as the Zoloroni Sports City Stadium is filled to capacity and is rocking as I speak. The Mercedinian Big Band and the Yttribian fans trading football chants. The players have finished their warm-ups and we are set for kick off.

0' - The teams have come out and received a massive roar as they left the tunnel. Many implications are riding on this match, with both teams vying for the win to further their qualification hopes. A win for Mercedini will open up the group massively, they wont be guaranteed qualifying, but it will make the group much more interesting as we enter the final batch of qualifying matches. A win for Ytrribia will almost certainly wrap up the group with a win, if USI and Yttribia win today, then a nine-point gap will be almost insurmountable. Mercedini have it all to do. The teams are out, and Yttribia will kick off in their purple kits, while Mercedini are in their 4-4-2 formation , waiting patiently for kick-off.

8' - (MRC 0-0 YTT) - Mercedini have started this game very well, plenty of pressing play from Mercedini and they find themselves on the attack, Nymark moves forward with the box, he cant find a teammate to pass it to. Through ball to Crasic who belts down the wing. Trying to find a teammate in the box, he finds Webster! Header! No!! So, close to a goal here in the opening ten minutes. Mercedini very unlucky to not be in the lead. 0-0, massive chance to take the lead.

11' - (MRC 0-0 YTT) - Mercedini going for this in the opening minutes, Billic now running forward. He has Legge in support on his right, finds him with a tremendous through ball! Legge through on goal, and he's bundled over in the box by Vellderfenstermacher!! Penalty! The referee has no other choice but to give a straight red card for his troubles, Ytribbia have gone down to ten men in under eleven minutes and Billic has the opportunity to give Mercedini a 1-0 lead.
He steps up and places the ball on the spot, the referee makes sure all the players are outside of the box. The ref blows his whistle, Billic runs up to the ball and calmly rolls the ball into the net! GOAL!! Billic runs and celebrates in the corner. Mercedini deserve their lead so far, can Yttribia get back into this game with a man down? 1-0 Mercedini!

22' - (MRC 1-0 YTT) - Mercedini on the attack once again. Pujanic down the wing, Mercedini are exploiting the space perfectly at it's 3-on-3 as Mercedini stretch the Yttribian defence, Pujanic beats his defender, and it running into the box. His teammates are screaming for the ball! Squares it to Billic!! GOAL!! He fires it into the net for his and Mercedini's second of the match! Unbelievable!! Billic celebrates to the crowd as his teammates embrace him. The stadium is rocking as music blares out from the speakers! The fans are waving their flags and the Mercedinian Big Band is playing louder than ever. 2-0!

35' - (MRC 2-0 YTT) - It's Yttribia turn to go on the attack now! McNamara and Cingolani attacking for Yttribia as Mercedini attempt to hold their lines. Cingolani takes the ball and shoots from 25-yards! Oh! It's gone in, the ball has evaded the hands of Hosset and has nestled in the back of the net. No-one was expecting the ball to end up in the net but it did, and Yttribia have found a way back in the game! I don't know how it's happened but it's 2-1 now.

39' - (MRC 2-1 YTT) - Their half has been absolutely frantic, with balls and chances flying everywhere. Legge now on the edge of the box, surrounded by players, can he find a pass. He lays the ball of to Nymark who blasts the ball... off the crossbar!! Legge with the follow-up, and it's crept in at the near post! Vaughn was on the floor and couldn't get up quick enough to stop the scuffed shot from Legge and it rolled into the net. It wasn't the prettiest goal, but they all count. Legge has been a revelation in this qualification so far, he bags Mercedini's third of the game and gives Mercedini a huge advantage as we approach the end of the first half. What a game, 3-1!

43' - (MRC 3-1 YTT) - Another attack, but this time by Yttribia! McNamera and Cingolani upfront, the only two attackers on the pitch for Yttribia and they are making a name for themselves. Cingolani, waiting for his teammate to make a run ahead of him. McNamera makes a run and Cingolani finds him over the top!! McNamera with only the goalkeeper to beat! He round the goalkeeper and taps the ball into the open net! What an exquisite goal from Yttribia, quality goals from Yttribia, its clear to see why they are ranked highly in this group. Mercedini hanging onto their lead, it's 3-2! Crazy game.

45+1' - (MRC 3-2 YTT) - Both sets of fans partying together after what we have seen in this crazy first half. The referee blows his whistle for the end of the first half and, quite frankly, I'm exhausted. We have seen five goals in this half, with Billic bagging two of them, the first a penalty after Legge was bundled down in the box by Vellderfenstermacher (who was sent off soon after). Then a second after Pujanic created the chance on a plate for Billic, who dispatched the ball into the open goal. Legge gave Mercedini a third with a messy goal which crept into the net after a Nymark shot hit the crossbar,
Goals from Cindolani and McNamera reduced the deficit for Yttribia down to one. After this mental 45 minutes, it's Mercedini 3, Ytribbia 2. I need a lie down

HALF TIME: Mercedini 3 - 2 Yttribia
Billic 11' (P), 22', Legge 39' // Cindolani 35', McNamera 43'
SENT OFF: Vellderfenstermacher 11'

Well, well, well. The teams have come out for the second half. Will we get another 472 goals in this half? The Mercedinians and the Yttribians both seem up for this half and the fans definitely want a repeat of the first half, so there is plenty of spectacle for the ref to start this second half. Billic passes the ball to Nymark, and we are off for the second half.

50' - (MRC 3-2 YTT) - Mercedini have a corner early in this second half. Crasic standing over the ball, he gives a signal and send the ball into the box with a fair degree of pace. Flick on by Nymark! GOAL!! The goalkeeper couldn't stop the ball as it flew off the forehead of Nymark and into the net. Nymark wheels away to celebrate with the fans, the stadium is bouncing. A fourth goal for Mercedini, when will it end?

61' - (MRC 4-2 YTT) - Yttribia passing the ball around the defence with a fiar degree of urgency now. Hopefully we wont be on the other end of what happened here against Lymantatia, but you never know with this crazy group. I'm finally being given a break to have a nice refreshing bottle of water. The game is finally slowing down, as we return to normality, it's 4-2.

67' - (MRC 4-2 YTT) - The match is starting to kick into another gear again as Yttribia get another attack underway, for ten-men, they have been very good quality, goodness knows where they would be if [that defender] didn't get sent off. Cindolani all on his own as he dribbles through the defence, he's still going. Into the box, cracks of a strike!! GOAL!W Wow, what an amazing solo goal, he grabs the ball for a quick restart. All the momentum with Yttribia as the moment, they are showing their quality, but they are still behind. 4-3

79' - (MRC 4-3 YTT) - Mercedini looking to extend their lead, Billic looking for his hatrick, he has the ball in the final third. Legge and Crasic in support. Billic passes to Legge, to Crasic, back to Legge! This is very intricate from Mercedini, back to Billic who takes a shot! GOAL! The ball is smashed into the bottom corner and Billic has his hatrick!! The rest of the team congratulate him as he applauds the crowd. Great goal from Mercedini. It's 5-3, when will is end?

87' - (MRC 5-3 YTT) - Mercedini are closing this game out with style, passing the ball with plenty of cool passes and skills. Lost of oles from the Mercedinian crowd, while the visiting Yttribian fans are stunned into the silence. I don't think anyone could have predicted this result, anyone who did is probably very rich person indeed. It remains 5-3.

90+3' - (MRC 5-3 YTT) - The ball is headed out of the Mercedinian box from the corner and Mercedini are on the break. Crasic is away all on his own. Yttribia have put everyone forward for the corner and have left no one back to defend. Vaughn is running out of the box to stop Crasic from scoring! He breaks the tackle of Vaughn and the goal is gaping as Vaughn tries to scramble back to the goal. Crasic shoots... and places the ball in the centre of the goal!! Crasic runs into the crowd to celebrate with the jubilant fans! Crasic has gotten his first of the qualifiers and Mercedini's sixth! I cant believe I'm saying this, but it's Mercedini 6, Yttribia 3

90+5' - (MRC 6-3 YTT) - The referee has blown his whistle and has brought this ridiculous match to an end. Nine goals for the fans to enjoy. Six for Mercedini with three of those coming from Billic, who claims yet another match ball. Yttribia threatened a comeback but eventually fell away as the game dragged on. A win for Mercedini closes the gap on their competitors today, only 3 more points to tie up second place with Ytribbia. Here in Zoloroni, it's finished Mercedini 6, I repeat 6! Ytribbia 3.

FULL TIME: Mercedini 6 - 3 Yttribia
Billic 11' (P), 22', 79', Legge 39', Nymark 50', Crasic 90+3' // Cindolani 35', 67', McNamera 43'
SENT OFF: Vellderfenstermacher 11'

So, after that absolutely crazy match. Mercedini will go into the mid-qualifying interval in third place in the group. The players will rest before they host Aji No Moto back in Zoloroni. The visitors have already beaten Mercedini in the first Matchday, but Mercedini will hope to break back and claim the three points to further their qualifying campaign. I'm signing off from Zoloroni, enjoy your break and I'll see you on the other side. We will be back shortly with a mid-qualifying review, so we hope you stay tuned for that edition of Mercedini Sports Daily

by **Super-Llamaland** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:54 am

A REVIEW OF THE FIRST HALF OF QUALIFYING

To say that the Tigers have disappointed would be a horrible understatement. With just two wins in six games, and painful losses to teams that Super-Llamaland should have easily beaten, the Tigers will need a miracle to qualify for what would be their fifth World Cup. And after Rodrigo Vaz resigned, they'll have to rely on national hero Trevor Duncan to lead the charge. Can the Tigers do it?

MD1: Pridnestovia 3 - 2 Super-Llamaland
Penbrooke 20, 37
A young lineup that was coming off a berth in the World Cup made Tigers fans excited for the upcoming qualifiers, but instead the team flopped in their first match. Pridnestovia's early attacking tactics opened gaps for the Tigers, and the back line's sturdiness let a marauding Nemanja Vesely take advantage of this. While Pridnestovia managed to repel the Tigers' attacks, things wouldn't last long, and in the twentieth minute Vesely slit the throats of the opposing defense with a beautiful through-ball to Ansel Penbrooke, and the new Eastal Lunar transfer wasted no time slipping past Shevchenko and rolling the ball into the net. Fifteen minutes later, he repeated the feat.

The Tigers went into the halftime break perhaps a touch too complacent, for their second half was marked by absurd profligacy. Pridnestovia's Pavlyuchenko responded by launching a devastating attack on the Tigers, shattering the previously-composed defensive unit, and then crossing to Hedervary, who evaded a desperate challenge from the keeper James Costa and slid it into the goal. A few minutes later, Pavlyuchenko repeated the feat, and with ten minutes to play Pridnestovia took the lead and held on to win it despite Penbrooke's best efforts.

MD2: Super-Llamaland 3 - 5 Arconius
Rasmussen 20, Penbrooke 43, Vorobyov 64
After the disaster in Pridnestovia, the Tigers went home to play third seed Arconius. A crowd of 70,000, hoping the previous loss was an aberration, were silenced after Titus Blackett scored from close range after two minutes of atrocious Llamanean defending. The goal served as a wakeup call for the Tigers, who surged forwards, eventually capitalizing when Felix Rasmussen managed to stop the rebound of Penbrooke's blocked shot and smash in with his left. The two teams went back and forth, Penbrooke and Vorobyov scoring for the Tigers in an exciting game, and with twenty to play, despite Arconius pushing forwards, it looked like the Tigers would salvage something out of it.

They didn't, collapsing late and conceding two goals. While Arconius had been on their best form in weeks, losing at home was still extremely disturbing, and proved to some fans that the Tigers didn't have what it took to go far.

MD3: Kaboomlandia 3 - 2 Super-Llamaland
Rutherford 75, Vesely 88
Another day, another horrendous performance, and the loss to Kaboomlandia dumped the Tigers into last place in a group several pundits pegged them to win. Already down 1-0, Penbrooke going down in the twentieth minute (and then being flagged for offsides) was apparently the straw that broke Rodrigo Vaz's back, and the Dreamplanetian manager simply walked off the field. A stunned Tigers side conceded two more before rallying late - alas, while Vesely's free-kick goal was undoubtedly beautiful, it was too little, too late.

MD5: Super-Llamaland 2 - 0 Nuevo Caracas
Penbrooke 12, 89
After a bye day that gave the players a well-deserved chance to sit in the corner and cry, the Tigers had their easiest match of the qualifiers - at home against Nuevo Caracas. Failure to win would be disastrous. Luckily, the Tigers had star striker Ansel Penbrooke back, and after Vorobyov was brought down in the box, he quickly scored the first goal of the match. The rest of the match was concerningly balanced, Nuevo Caracas keeping the Tigers from a second, and when Immanuel Kane was sent off and Nuevo Caracas given a penalty in the eighty-eighth minute, you could be forgiven for giving up on the team. Luckily, James Costa managed to stop the penalty, and Ansel Penbrooke scored his second on the other end to seal a nervy victory for the Tigers, their first points of the qualifiers.

MD6: Cosumar 3 - 1 Super-Llamaland
Rasmussen 59
Let's not talk about it.

MD7: Super-Llamaland 3 - 2 Lons
Penbrooke 1, Chamberlain 26, 90+3
Once again, the Tigers barely defeated an inferior side at the last minute at home - not exactly one that inspired confidence in their fans. Still, three points is three points. Penbrooke once again got a shot to convert an early penalty, and all game long Jessica Chamberlain was a revelation, scoring a brace and making the case for her permanent inclusion in the starting XI with some terrific play. Still, after leading 2-1 for almost the majority of the game, the Tigers nearly snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory - when Wil Regesi's shot bounced off the bar, Immanuel Kane attempted to clear the ball but ended up kicking it into the net to equalize. Luckily, though, it was Chamberlain to the rescue, reeling in an errant cross and volleying it into the net to put the Tigers ahead for good in stoppage.

by **Northern Sunrise Islands** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:03 am

Noah slowly awoke on his bed. He couldn't feel his left arm for some reason. Probably wasn't anything.
He looked to his side, finding for some reason Nana, on her pajamas, sleeping with a smile on her face as his arm was around her.
His face clearly got red, though he wasn't able to take his arm from under her. The girl was under deep sleep, which made it even harder.
The Sunrisian tried to wake up his sister on the other side of the room via mutters, failing miserably too.
He stared back at her, the girl finally waking up by his side. "U-uh..."
"Good day, Noah." She smiled again, looking at him, though a bit embarassed as well. "Y-you fell asleep outside, so I brought you here."
"You're creeping me out, Nana." He said, sneaking his arm back from under her. "I-is this all because of the whole people aren't buying us together thing?"
"Well... It would make it easier if we did date." She said, looking to the side. "A-and I might have developed s-some feelings for you."
"...Can you say that on regular english?" Noah asked with a smirk on his face. "Y'know. You did it under cover once or twice."
"I love you, Noah! OK? I love you. Happy now?" Nana yelled, arms crossed, embarassed.
Noah laughed a bit, looking at her with a smile. "You do look a bit cute every now and then."
"And you melt pretty quickly from a somber boy, don't you think?" Nana replied, hugging him afterwards. "I'm not going to let you go, though."
"I'm stuck with you, ain't I?" He replied, looking down with a smirk on his face afterwards as Nana punched him in the arm. "Just kidding, I'm fine with you."
"So, it's a yes?" she said, her eyes shining suddenly.
"Uh... Sure, yeah." He shrugged, being hugged by her again. "You do know we have to hurry for the Academy, right?"
"...Forgot about that." she yelped, disappearing on a puff of smoke.
"YOU FORGOT ME TOO!" Noah yelled, shaking one of his fists to a random location.

Noah finally arrived at the Academy when another puff of smoke appeared on his way, causing him to crash at Nana who had just arrived, wearing her school dress. "Watch where you're going!"
"I'm sorry... Wanted to do you a surprise!" She tried to get him back up, holding his hand all the way. "Hahaha!"
"...What did I say about not creeping me out?" He released her hand, falling down again. "Oomph!"
"Sorry..." She repeated, finally helping him get up.
Andy passes by the two, looking at the scene briefly. "So, you did use the potion on him?"
"Potion?" Noah's eyes got wider. "You were planning on doing what with me?"
"You put sleeping pills on his cake!" she yelled back.
"Wait! Wait!" He shook his arms. "You two drugged the cake?"
"It was her idea." Andy said, nodding.
"But you wouldn't love me otherwise!"
"...If you just peacefully asked me. One moment you want to help me learn how to use my arm, the other moment you're trying to get me in marriage or something!" Noah answered, looking to the floor. "I think I need some space."

CHAPTER XVII - SILENCE

"He's been silent the entire day." Nicklas muttered to Leon. Class was already halfway, Noah had barely talked, only answering to the teachers when needed.
The two boys held their lunch on trays, staring at Noah as he sat in silence, taking a sip of juice. Leon looked at the Sunrisian. "Do you think he's dead?"
Nicklas and Leon sat on Noah's way as he remained silent. The two looked at each other. Leon decided to break the ice. "Uh... Are you OK, Noah?"
"Fine." Noah muttered, taking another sip of juice.
"You don't seem like it." Nicklas noted, eating a bit of his lunch. "Did anyone close to you piss you off?"
Noah gave a brief nod, looking to the skies.
"Man, wake up!" The Yttribian said, shooking his friend to the sides. "You can't be like that all the time!"
No answer came. Leon sighed, returning to his dish as Noah left the table still on silence.

The walk home was silent. Noah was once again alone, hadn't seen Nana the entire day out of spite.
For the first time in a while, he was alone, able to reminisce about things.
He finally laid at his bed, emotionless. "Where's Nana?" Anna asked, looking at her brother. "Shouldn't she be around?"
"Don't know, don't care." He replied, staring at the ceiling.
"...Seriously, Noah?" The young girl asked.
"Pretty much." He pointed out. "I'm going to learn how to use my arm on my own. I don't want someone that tried to drug me by my side."
"...She likes you." Anna nodded. "She really does." The girl then put her hand over his heart. "She also changed you a lot. Don't think you'll turn back into what you used to be."
Noah kept quiet.
"Or whatever." Anna sighed.
"I might." Noah muttered, causing his sister to look back at him.
"Do what your heart tells you to, big brother." she smiled, before running off to play.

by **Matthewsiania** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:28 am

OOC: Borrowing header for obvious reasons.

SOUTHERN SUNRISE/MATTHEWSIANIA
Name-Your-Kingdom: Southern Sunrisian government places web poll for Union's name

While Matthewsianians remain questioning the decision behind Union, Southeners look for lesser issues

It's official, the new king of Matthewsiania (Rayo Central CF midfielder Príncipe Juca, now Rei Juca and still playing for the Rayo Central team) has signed up terms that turn the Southern Sunrise Islands and the Kingdom of Matthewsiania into one state controlled by both the Southern Sunrisian government and the new Matthewsianian king, reasoning being "making it harder for control to be stopped". With this, Matthewsianians earn stability under the Sunrisian umbrella and may start participating of Sunrisian-only groups as of the next fiscal year with taxes becoming slightly higher from the Southern Sunrisian usual while Southern Sunrisians are able to enter freely the Kingdom of Matthewsiania. Among changes, this new state has English and Portuguese as official languages and has two capitals (one on Aurora, another on Matekkipper) and several Matthewsianian teams look forward to possible participation on the Sunrisian Championship, thus returning to UICA boards by a coincidence.

Did you notice we didn't name the new state? There's a reason for that. Matthewsianians and Southern Sunrisians could not reach an agreement towards their name and have taken to the Internet to reach a proper consensus. A poll on the Southern Sunrisian government website was made towards names for this state, where citizens can vote on a couple of suggested names or send their own, these suggested names being all based after different points of both countries such as "The United Kingdom of Eastern Borderlands, Matthewsiania, Mille and Southern Sunrise Islands" or "The United Kingdom of the New Southern Sunrise" or the rather confusing "The United Kingdom of East-South Millewsiania". Voting is open for foreigners, though only for the case of a draw among names with suggestions being blocked due to legitimate lack of faith on the suggestions not being "Euran Esportivan Territories" or "Tartopolis".

by **Szavoda** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:39 am

continued from here

Bastion Airport
Two Days Later

The Gulfwind X830 touched down under the gaze of the early morning sun. As the plane came to a halt, Riley emerged from the back, where he’d just woken from the 12 hour flight. Anna had been given the sofa to sleep on, somewhat ignominiously, but it was equally as comfortable as anything she’d slept on in the army, which was saying something.

Riley’s private jet was very fancy indeed, with the entire passenger cabin converted into a stylish lounge, with recliners, the sofa, a television and drinks service. In the back was a bedroom complete with a double bed and shower. The floor was carpeted and the walls were panelled with wood. He told her how much it had cost, but after several glasses of champagne, she had forgotten – something massive.

Unsurprisingly, this was Anna’s first time on a private jet, so the novelty of skipping check in and security was exciting. They quite literally stepped off the plane and into Riley’s tinted-window 4x4, which was already on the tarmac by the time the plane halted in this quieter section of Bastion airport.

Anna, as she had done 14 months ago, had packed her life up rather hastily. Admittedly, it wasn’t a difficult this time round, considering she didn’t really exist. The apartment was closed up as easily as it was opened – two unidentified heavies came round the morning after and did most of the heavy lifting, whilst Riley arranged that should Anna decide she wanted to stay, that her personal possessions would be shipped over. She had dropped Athena off at the kennels, and instructed the owners that if she didn’t return in two weeks, to put the dog up for adoption. She took all her vacation days at once from the restaurant, and would submit a resignation letter should she stay. She told nobody where she was going, and she and Riley had planned it so it appeared that Riley was still in town after she left – he even told the police that – but anyone sensible enough could guess that Anna had skipped off with the Euran.

The Patron’s District was resplendent as ever as they pulled off the motorway, its large walled mansions glittering in all their obscenity. Riley’s residence was no different, the same as it was in her memory, with its verdant green lawns and whitewashed walls. What was different was the lack of armed men around the place. There were still two guards by the gate, but they had pistols concealed on their persons as opposed to the overt assault rifles they carried last time she was here. There were no guards on the roof, nor the garden, nor inside.

“Things quietened down here?” Anna asked, right next to Riley – he’d forgone his usual spot in the front of the car to accompany Anna. Riley replied but continued to stare out the window behind his sunglasses.

“Yeah, a lot. The Corps took a bit of a hit from the cops – lost a number of high-ranking guys and Lang is somewhere else, possibly Electrum, but it doesn’t really matter. Following the whole debacle we were really cemented as the top gang in town, so in part I can thank you for that.”

“Good, so we won’t have SpecOs breaking down our door at 3am?”

“Hopefully.”

Riley and Anna exited the car and tracked across the pebbled yard in front of his house. A couple of his sports cars were elsewhere in the drive-way, so clearly he was more comfortable with his situation. Anna took a second to admire one of them, Riley joining her.

“Good vehicle that. Only cost me a quarter of a million pounds. If you want we can go out to the country and give it a whirl.”

“I’d like that.”

Riley led Anna up the main staircase of the house onto the first floor, past his bedroom to the main guest suite, which had been made up. The driver followed them up and dropped Anna’s suitcases on the bed. Riley leaned on the door-frame, watching her as she unpacked. Eventually she noticed, and giggled softly.

“If you’re going to just stand there, you can help me unpack.”

He ambled in and opened up the other suitcase, slowly ferrying clothes into various wardrobe spaces. He held up one particularly revealing dark red dress and presented it to Anna.

“I hope you’ll wear this tonight – I thought we might have a bit of a get-together and introduce you to some of the others in my organisation. How’s that sound?”

Anna smiled and snatched the dress away from him and hung it in the wardrobe. “Yeah, definitely. Could I possibly excuse myself, I need to take a shower.”

Riley nodded and left the room. Anna sat down on the bed and thought for a moment. Whilst she’d built up all these reservations about Riley and about Bastion, she couldn’t deny that he was a nice guy and made for thoroughly good company. It also helped that he was rich as hell and owned a big mansion. That was the shallow part of Anna shining through – her upbringing and early life had been comparatively difficult, so she permitted herself to enjoy certain luxuries. She tried to fight him, but he was suave and persuasive in the extreme – she suspected that Riley knew this well, and used it to his advantage – in reality, Anna was tiring somewhat of her new life, it was calm enough, but she thrived off action and adventure, and no amount of kick-boxing sessions could compensate for the lack of it in her life. A week of Riley would give her the boost she needed.

by **Bonesea** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:41 pm

by **Valanora** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 12:57 pm

Valanora Times
Marauders Wary of Second Half

The first half of the Qualifiers was a bit of a roller coaster of emotions for the Marauders and their fans, with performances that made the fans question just how focused the managerial staff had their players for the challenge before them. However stacking two wins to end the first half of the campaign helped calm some of the disgruntled rumblings from within the supporter groups, though it was the only time in the first six games that the team was able to put two or more wins together. Not exactly the sort of play you would expect from a squad that desires to add a sixth title to their already record collection, nor one that is part of the top ten in the WCC rankings at the last calculation of them. However with all that said, the Marauders ended the first half at the top of their group by four points and now have their fates in their own hands as the second half of the campaign looks to begin next weekend when the Marauders head into The Royal Barangay and take on the second placed side in the group.

When looking at the Marauders first half of the campaign objectively, it is a first half that they ought to be proud of despite some of the complaints from the fans. They are unbeaten through the first six matches, with just a pair of away draws keeping them from being perfect in the campaign, a feat of which but two sides where able to accomplish in the first half. It is not as the Marauders are performing poorly, even when compared to their fellow pot one seeds throughout the qualifiers, as many a top side have seen themselves on the wrong end of upsets that have a few of the groups looking as if they are upside down. So that the Marauders sit atop the group and have over a games worth of points in the gap is a testament to how well they did perform with all things considered, especially if you consider that all three of their most difficult opponents played host to them in the first half.

Perhaps it is fortunate that the Marauders start off the second half of the campaign against The Royal Barangay, they are a known quantity inside the footballing world and who are doing well in the group having capture that second place in the first half. Given their ranking and some of their recent performances, you could even say that they are over performing through the first half and that they are the fortunate ones, to be in that playoff spot after the first six matches. Any good football fan will tell you though that while chance may decide a match or two over a league campaign, or in this case the qualifying campaign, usually he best teams to rise to the top over the marathon of the campaign as the skill, will, and depth of a squad are tested to the extreme. In opening at The Royal Barangay, the Marauders are given a chance to not only take full control of the group with a victory but to assuage theirs and the fans concerns that the team just is not in the right mind thus far.

Everything being said, the Marauders have two matches before them before they get the bye day and see where they stand heading into the final stretch of the campaign. The immediate concern is The Royal Barangay, as they played the Marauders tough in the opening match in Capri, with the Marauders escaping the fixture with a two to one victory. The squad will have to be quite better if they want to come out of The Royal Barangay with the full three points as they did to start the campaign, with Hawk looking to play a pivotal role as both the captain as the best player. It is no secret that the way that Hawk plays is usually how the team goes as well, if he is having one of his better games, then the team wins. If he is having just an average day, that is when the squad seems to struggle the most, perhaps because of how much of an idol he has become to the players. Legend does have its toll and sometimes it is quite the heavy price, however this squad and Hawk should be able to pay that toll as they continue to strive towards the Northeast World Cup and the ultimate goal at the end of the golden road.

by **Anglatia** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:03 pm

TheInsiders.an
An inside view of sports in the Empire of Greater Anglatia

Fans invaded Flardania for the last road match, and nearly saw the team fight back to a draw

Anglatia prepares to rally behind Explorers for second half of qualifying
Article by James Inchausti and Dusko Zoric

JI: Something is sweeping the Empire of Greater Anglatia, from the windswept mountains of Upper Valeria to the shores of the Ross. From the factories of Bathgate to the jungles of the Northern Free State. This, everyone, is what we call World Cup fever. For the first time, our nation is competing in qualifying for a World Cup, and it's been a roller coaster of emotions so far. We've beat Ko-oren, fought hard to get a draw against Chromatika, and managed to hang with a team that many Armeian fans of Anglatia are familiar with, Flardania. After the first seven matches, our team isn't completely out of the running. We do, however, need a couple of good results in the next fixtures to avoid falling out of contention for the playoff.

DZ: The next match against Ko-oren will be the hardest one that any of our players have played in, but I suspect that we'll have a bigger chance than the critics are saying. To recap our last match, we nearly gained a draw but our defense cost us in the last minutes. The defense cost us the whole match, really, starting with when Amy Abramsen got caught playing too high up and left Kaden Espina and Hector Grier to deal with a cross inside from Ako Izumi. Only one minute and forty five seconds into the match, Espina failed to clear the cross and instead sent it into the air where Joseph Yabuta headed it past Mauricio Jaco, who had his hands on the ball but couldn't secure it.

Fortunately, this team plays out of their minds when they're down and need goals to stay alive in competitions. The minutes after the goal had a number of clear cut chances, but the biggest one came during the twenty fifth minute. Sami Haawk, who started again over Nessa Chryst because of Chryst's unknown medical problem, played a through ball to the wing and found Zahara Santana, who had a completely free run on goal and was able to chip Miyoko Hojo when she went low to stop a potential shot. Santana notably celebrated by pulling off her jersey to reveal an undershirt, which said "FCK SVLA". She received a yellow card for this, but it appeared that the goal had brought the momentum to the side of Anglatia.

JI: We couldn't get the win though, because that would require actually capitalizing on chances. Santana beat Hojo once but couldn't beat her twice, as she ended the first half with a thunderous shot bouncing off of the crossbar. The second half saw Anglatia sitting back more and absorbing pressure, occasionally pushing more players forward on the counter attack. Our best scoring chance was ten minutes after the start of the half, when Jaco booted the ball downfield on a goal kick and Sami Haawk trapped it and passed back to Conall O'Hara, who found Carlito Traoe on the flank. Traoe forced his way inside, but his well placed shot missed by a few inches and went off of the post. Like I said, a win would require us to finish our chances.

DZ: The defense imploded again when Amy Abramsen made another mistake. We were about to head into the ninetieth minute when she made a terrible slow rolling backwards pass to Mauricio Jaco, which was intercepted by Sayo Matsuoka for one of the easiest goals of her life. Then, in one of the most bizarre sending offs that I've ever seen, Jaco and Abramsen received a double red card for getting into a fight, that ended with Jaco getting put on his back.

JI: I'm surprised that we could even hold on for the rest of the match after that... Mauricio Jaco is talented, but he needs to learn to keep his head if he wants to keep his job once Isa Tangemen becomes a citizen. Hell, if I were Hull I would consider starting Shan for the rest of our games. Of course, I'm biased, but at least Eli Shan keeps his cool when it matters... Also, Amy Abramsen should be immediately replaced by Jon Vitoria. I'm sorry, but she can't keep starting and making costly errors. I think she's not used to playing on such a big stage.

DZ: If you were manager, what would you do tactics wise? The counter attacking worked quite well in the second half, we would have had at least a draw if we didn't screw up our chances. Carlito Traoe needed to finish and not hit the post, he's too good of a player to make mistakes like that.

JI: I'd take the counter attacking further. Sit back and absorb everything. Don't push forward unless there's a clear cut chance. Sure it would be boring, but sometimes boring and grinding out 1-0 wins is what you need to advance. The Valerians won't like it, with their obsession with flair, but the rest of us will be happy with the wins.

DZ: I don't think that's necessary, I think that if we had Nessa Chryst on the pitch and if the team wasn't completely disoriented from the Ferraria attacks, we'd have won. If we get Chryst back in the next match and finish when we have clear cut chances, I think we'll win. Especially if Vitoria or Nystrom replace Abramsen in the back. Speaking of the Ferraria attacks, what do you think about Santana's anti SVLA shirt?

JI: It was a nice celebration. I think everyone agrees with the message of "FCK SVLA", everybody except for traitors. I hear that things are heating up in South Valeria, and I wonder if this is going to hurt the team in the qualifying cycle, especially with the SVLA stepping up their offensive efforts. I've already received word that Joanna Danicic is going to pull out of the squad to fight in one of the local militias in Jugoskania, and it's unknown if Nessa Chryst will do the same. This thing could turn from a low intensity conflict to a full scale war in a day, and it's going to be hard for the players to keep focused.

DZ: Yeah, we'll have to see how things pan out to know for sure how it could impact the team. While we're on the subject of Valeria, I should bring up that Calovice have confirmed that they have a pre-contract with Bianka Schraeder that's dependent on them failing to sign Sayo Matsuoka. Rakel Teixiera is also reportedly interested in bringing in another player that she coached before, Raven Ljelt, but Dinamo Jugoskania's price for Ljelt is too high and Raven isn't interested in moving to a non Slavic majority region. We'll update you on the status of Calovice's transfers as soon as they're confirmed officially.

JI: That's all for this recap... Will the Explorers be able to recover and steal a road win against Ko-oren? Will Nessa Chryst return like a hero to bail them out once more? Well, you'll have to wait until after the match to find out.

by **Chromatika** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:34 pm

Prelude, Book I Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI

The Rainbow Revolution
Book I: The Sparks
Interlude: The Arrest

"Enforcement priorities and arrest patterns must not lead to disparate treatment under the law, even if such treatment is unintended. And police forces should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve." - Eric Holder

Continued from Part IV: The Manager

What she was about to suggest was insane, Franscesca Cortes knew, but she was a woman with literally nothing left to lose. It was about a week ago when an event happened that utterly changed the complexion of her life... Even more than the meeting with Henri Cho. That was the day that Meagan Kelly found her passed out in her office, unresponsive. Emergency Medical Personnel took her to the nearest Cosumarite Hospital, where they told her the news:

Stage four terminal liver cancer.

It took her about six minutes to process the information, and then she made a phone call to her husband, Juan Pablo Cortes. They had a brief tearful phone call where she told him what she was planning, and that she loved both him and their children.

Then, she made a phone call to "M". He took the news well, like she knew that he would. When she told him the plan that she had, however, he was surprised. He asked her four times if she was sure, and when she was absolutely adamant, he told her that he would allow her her wish.

She went back to her office, and sent three emails: one to Henri Cho, one to Lina Amos, and the last to her players.

Then she waited for her fate.

Manager Arrested!
Cortes Arrested for Ties to Shadow Writers
Lina Amos Named Interim Manager
Chromatik Football Federation Fined

Alina Oshnyev Krasnikova of the Cyber Warfare section of the Institutional Division of the Chromatik Police arrested Franscesca Larriet Cortes, lately the Manager of the Chromatik National Team, for fraternizing with the dissenters of the Shadow Writers in the Team's practicing facility in Klyde Sportsplex, Klyde City, North Klyde Fief, Cosumar.

"Her efforts in the case of Luuk Aart made her a suspicious target," stated Krasnikova, "And we've recently learned through ways that we cannot reveal that Cortes has in fact been a source of information to the rogue faction of the Shadow Writers for at least a few months if not years. This is a blatant disregard of the Chromatik Party, and subject to severe punishment."

Cortes was medically evaluated on the scene, and deemed to have stage four liver cancer, meaning that she won't be subjected to the usual round of questioning or usual methods of gaining information.

"Her body couldn't handle most of that," said Krasnikova, "Instead we will be forced to make her answer by... Other measures."

The Chromatik Government stated that it will not hold Cosumar responsible for letting Cortes and her team stay in the nation, saying that "Ignorance of our society is enough of a reason for them to have harbored the team, and if it wasn't them, some other country would have."

The Chromatik Party did say that "Cosumar better make sure that no more activity involving the Shadow Writers happen there."

The CFF has been fined an undisclosed amount of money, and been warned by Krsnikova herself that "The Cyber Warfare Division will be watching them".

Lina Amos, Manager of Urrheddiao United, will take over the managing role. Luuk Aart's sentence will not change, as per the rule that the Chromatik Party very rarely amends previous judgments.

Amos, Cortes's friend and rival, declined to comment on Cortes's betrayal, but did announce that she will be making immediate changes to the starting lineup.

The new formation, deemed the "Arrowhead", will aim to score a lot more goals with holding the ball in the midfield more than the defense end of the previous iteration.

Krytenia: Please set my style modifier to +2.5.

by **Flardania** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:06 pm

Opening Theme

Bonjour et Ohayōgozaimasu Kirishima. Welcome ladies and gentleman back to another edition of the Kitsune Report, brought to you by Seongwoo Motors and the Nagatomo Sports Network (NSN). Here at the Kitsune Report it's all about our cherished national team and other football news that may vaguely relate to the team because I can. We will continue coverage of this historic World Cup 75 qualification where 140 nations fight continue to fight for 30 measly spots, where only 20 will be able to relax via instant qualification and the remaining 20 fight for the ten remaining spots in a cruel playoff round. So with out any further delay it's time to get grooving for some cup football once again.

Breaking news incoming from the NSN. At is this time it is reported that Sayo Matsuoka and Ako Izumi will both be heading to the Vaporeon trophy in the Unified Sunrise Islands. Sayo Matsuoka will be joining the Matthew Mets for 14 million dollars and Ako Izumi will be joining the Jaunepont Hérault for 20 million dollars. With Sayo Matsuoka heading to the Mets, it's safe to say that Calovice in Anglatia will be signing Sayo's rival Bianka Schraeder. Sayo will be having her press conference following the Match with Ko-oren in Imgeum while Ako will have her press conference following the match with Shytysle in Heiwa (her home team venue and childhood hometown).

First I want to start with Sayo and congratulate her for her decision. I know she has a good nay fantastic relation with Rakel Teixiera, however with an unstable individual in Bianka Schraeder wanting to play there also, it wouldn't be smart. Sayo would need to be careful on what she says and be aware of match ups against Schraeder. I always advocated putting the past behind her and focusing on improving. That's what she did in my view, she thought long saw the pros and the heavier cons before the perfect kind of offer came around.

In the case of Ako, I am so proud of her. She is a fantastic player who will benefit greatly from playing aboard. You see the KPL is a good league but not as prestigious as many other highly ranked nation teams. Which means to get good experience one either needs to be in a Globe Cup caliber team or in a very prestigious league. Ako saw the market and saw that the top is mostly contested between Imgeum, Hyuga, and Akihabara, which made it an optimum time to leave. Also players like her and Matsuoka leaving to head aboard can convince other NT caliber players to follow suit allowing for more players to rise and make a name for themselves.

Kirishima 2–1 Anglatia Match Review:
Coming off of a bye, the Kitsunes were in Kirishima to face Anglatia in Akihabara. Like Kairaku, Akihabara has a large blue light (red light) district but it would be hard to tell at a glance with how full the Aincrad Arena was. Once again showing despite how ero focused Kirishima as a society has always been, people can take time off to support their team....even if the team really disappointed you. The mood was tense and low after the Kitsunes frustrating 3-3 draw with Nordeana a team that has 4 draws and 2 losses which should they have scored a goal extra in every draw, would be sitting in second. The Kitsunes were a little fearful of a collapse as they faced a team tied with them and Chromatika. Kirishima needed a win and a Chromatika loss to create some separation.

The Kitsunes were very aggressive and struck fast. In a minute and 45 seconds Ako Izumi delivered a beautiful cross to Joseph Yabuta who headed the ball in for a wonderful goal. In the 25'th minute the opposition would equalize with a goal from Zahara Santana that sucked the air out of the arena. One thing I can say is that Hojo looked pissed. With Anglatia holding the momentum and the Kitsunes frustrated with their backs against the wall, Miyamoto, Nguyen, Fujisaka, and Hojo made sure to not get beat again. They played their hearts out and Hojo despite a few scares held the ship. This went on until the final minute Sayo Matsuoka capitalize on a bad pass to score and end the heart clutching game with a win.

(25)Kirishima 2 – 1 Anglatia(UR) (OOC: I Know Armeia is 68, but it's not Armeia)
Yabuta (2')        Santana (25')
Matsuoka (90')

Here is what Kyosuke had to say after the match.

"It was a scary match but we held on for the win. We had a shaky first half and we are not scoring as much as we had when we were a lower ranked team. It's hard to keep advocating our current style but A) changing tactic mid tournament is hard and very risky. B) We are mostly struggling against defensive teams. Playing more offensively has and will continue to hurt us. We are simply in a tough challenging group. Right now we are not shooting for winning the group, we need to focus on a top two finish so we can at least compete for a World Cup spot. "

Flardania(Kirishima) v Ko-oren Preview @Imgeum:
Kirishima will face off yet again with defensive Juggernaut Ko-oren in Imgeum. The only realistic shot the Kitsunes still have at winning the group can only come with a win which is easier said then done. The Kitsunes were hoping on having momentum going into this once anticipated matchup but after being abused by unexpectedly strong competition, will need to play one of there best football ever against such a team. Lets Go Kitsunes!

Post by: Keita Woo

by **The Saint James Islands** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:29 pm

holst: “our darkest moment has just come to pass”
prime minister condemns football hooliganism, urges tao to withdraw from upcoming campionato

Georgetown — Senior political figures have condemned rampant hooliganism that have resulted in more than a trillion shillings worth of damage across the Commonwealth.

Widespread rioting broke out across Omerica after the elimination of the Omerican national team from the World Cup at the hands of Barunia, leaving at least twelve dead, mostly constables attempting to suppress the riots, and another eighty-five injured in the worst riots in Omerican history. The Omerican National Gendarmerie have attributed the riots to reports in Barunian media which were deemed “insulting”.

Authorities and insurance agencies are currently cooperating to tally the damages caused in the riots, though early estimates have the damage pegged at at least 1.3 trillion shillings. The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, has warned that the estimates lean heavily towards the low end and are likely to rise as the full extent of the damage is uncovered.

Omerican federal authorities are now calling on the TAO to cancel its planned involvement in the upcoming Campionato Esportiva, while cantonal authorities have already stated their intent to increase security if a new season of professional football goes forward.

“Our darkest moment has just come to pass,” Prime Minister John Holst (Liberal — Pembroke, Georgetown) stated in a joint press conference with opposition and cantonal governmental figures held earlier today. “Omerican fans have demonstrated a complete lack of respect for their countrymen and their opposition and it is only fitting that to prevent further such violence, the TAO must withdraw from the upcoming Campionato Esportiva. It is unfortunate that the players must be punished, but we believe that a season to cool nerves is absolutely necessary if we are to proceed in a dignified manner.”

“These riots are simply unacceptable in a civilised society,” Opposition Leader William Rainier (Omerican Socialist — Lisbon and Banbridge, Coleraine) stated. “We must demonstrate that there are consequences to actions. In a case like this, where we cannot possibly bring all perpetrators of this horrific violence to justice individually, it is better to be broad and sweeping. Hopefully, the shame of spoiling the enjoyment for innocent bystanders will act as a deterrent to this kind of deplorable behaviour in the future.”

The Home Ministry has confirmed that 110 people are in the custody of either federal or cantonal police, mostly in Philibiscostal, the site of the largest riots and nine of the twelve confirmed deaths thus far. The Ministry has stated that it will be referring all persons in detention to the Commonwealth Prosecution Service and has announced a policy of leniency towards rioters who voluntarily step forward and confess their involvement.

“This is in alignment with usual policy that has been in place since the [Élise] Desjardins Ministry in the 1990s,” a Ministry spokesperson told UCN World News. “It is impossible to efficiently deal with these cases if we must prosecute all persons to the maximum extent of the law. We simply want to see those who have taken part step forward and take responsibility for their actions.”

No incidents have been reported in San José Guayabal. The TAO has yet to respond to the riots or the Prime Minister’s requests.

for your reading pleasure
▶ Flardania upset Valanora in last group matches, Barunia defeat Omerica to advance to Round of 16
▶ Philibiscostal constable François Moreaux declared dead after week in coma
▶ Councillors vote down alcohol ban at sports matches
▶ Tömas de Vrikt “tired” of Omerican fans’ misbehaviour

dcr: tao “is systematically corrupt and morally bankrupt”
federation engaged in gambling against omerican teams, paid referees to bias towards big clubs

Philibiscostal — A Department of Customs and Revenue report has found that the Turanga ʻAhipula ʻo ʻOmerika (TAO) has engaged in systematic corruption and illicit sports gambling, recommending several influential figures in the federation to the Commonwealth Prosecution Service for trial.

Confirming reports that the Department, a subsidiary of the Chancellery of the Accounts, was investigating the finances of the federation’s top figures, several former executive figures in the TAO provided testimony for an internal DCR investigation in return for reduced criminal charges, uncovering that Executive Board members had cast significant bets against the Omerican national team in the World Cup and Campionato Esportiva. In several cases, it has been revealed, Omerican football executives bought off referees to rule against Omerican teams, most recently in Omerica’s qualifying defeats against the Urain, wrongly disallowing two valid Omerican goals, and HUElavia, where linesmen consistently ruled Omerican players offside despite video evidence to the contrary, or to ensure a certain result for the team, such as allowing two ghost goals in Omerica’s 5–4 home win over San José Guayabal and disallowing a total of three valid goals in Omerica’s 2–0 wins against unranked Braxil last cycle. The TAO’s persistent “results purchasing” has similarly brought into question famous Omerican victories over Abanhfleft, Nova Anglicana, Yttribia, Augusticinia and Quebec.

The report also implicates the Omerican league system in the developing scandal, revealing that the TAO paid referees to bias their decisions to aid some major clubs such as United Philibiscostal, Corona Christiana and (more recently) Royal Michaeltown and cast bets on Omerican clubs in Union of International Club Association (UICA) competitions. Referees were often told in advance what results to aim for “so as to make the league as exciting and ‘unpredictable’ as possible”, often favouring the aforementioned United and La Corona and “aiming to sink historic giants Royal Martecabras and Ticomaça Nationale.” TAO officials were reported to have made major profits off of Ticomaça Nationale’s Globe Cup group stage appearance, Royal Michaeltown’s Champions’ Cup group stage appearance and Corona Christiana and United Philibiscostal’s appearance in the Globe Cup knockout stage two years ago, as well as United Philibiscostal’s recent hammering at the feet of Quebecois club St John’s Arsenal.

“We have found a pattern of amoral thinking inside the TAO that has persisted for years,” DCR Director Carola Lefebvre told the press in revealing the results of the investigation. “This investigation has conclusively proven that the TAO is systematically corrupt and morally bankrupt and must be dissolved. We will be investigating this crisis further, opening up cases against Omerican football clubs, referee associations, several members of the federal Parliament and His Excellency the President, all of whom may be involved in this deep and disturbing pattern of corruption.”

“We are deeply disappointed to learn of these events,” United Philibiscostal stated in a press release. “This is a disturbing moment for the club and for all fans of Omerican football. Our last three titles ring hollow at these revelations. We will comply with the Department of Revenue and Customs investigation and we are confident that we will be cleared of all wrongdoing.”

“If we had to choose between losing with dignity or winning via corruption, we would happily lose every time,” Royal Michaeltown stated in a tweet. Black Dragons and Les Oiseaux captain Tömas de Vrikt later tweeted that he “would love to melt our fraudulent trophies” and stated his “deathly fear for the future of Omerican football”.

“This is a tragedy for everyone in this country,” former Omerica manager Ryan Pritchard stated as he resigned his post in protest at the unfolding events. “We have gone from hope to despair so quickly and it is completely depressing to see that we have fallen so far so fast. I will not associate myself with a corrupt organisation like the TAO any longer.”

Seventeen players—Ethan d’Aramitz, John Martin, Lükas Mansfeld, Mikäel Christophe, William Parnell, Red Tyler and the entire first line-up—have announced that they will be boycotting Omerica matches in protest against the federation’s actions, while the Prinslig Soltse Föudballbünd has reneged on its agreement to allow Solt players to play for Omerica and for Omerica to stage its home qualifier against Boring Paradise in Prins William X Näsjonaalpärk, leaving the game in a state of limbo. It thus remains unclear if Omerica will be able to continue its qualification campaign or if the country will be disqualified or forced to withdraw.

“We do not currently know the location of several senior TAO figures, so it will be difficult to bring them into custody, but we are confident that justice will be done,” CPS chief David Roux told UCN World News. “We will be bringing a number of charges against senior TAO figures to the Sessions Court of the Metropolitan District [Philibiscostal] for indictment, including tax evasion, insider gambling, match-fixing and perverting the course of justice. We will seek a court order to dissolve the TAO and hope that we will see many of our football executives behind bars in due time.”

Neither UICA, the WCC or any of the affected associations have responded to the report.

for your reading pleasure
▶ EDITORIAL: What will the future hold for Omerican sport after the TAO scandal?
▶ Free State, Philibiscostal to ban all alcohol sales on sports matchdays
▶ River Cline floods ahead of Series B Champions’ Cup finals, Port Michael “minimally” affected
▶ Socialist MP arrested after punching Georgetown constable in jaw

by **Ethane** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:48 pm

An Angel Unto Death - Part One

It was a typical evening in the city of Lowes. The sun had just set over the western horizon, leaving a faint orange tint hanging around the atmosphere, with stars beginning to appear in the sky. The restaurants had just begun to close for the night, their bright, glowing neon signs dimming down into darkness. Some of the city's men were inside the warmly lit pubs, laughing over a late evening beer before they headed home to their wives, and their beds. The few small nightclubs dotted around on random corners of the city centre were open - inside them a large hall, full of colourful, flashing lights, deafening dance music, and the foul stench of sweaty bodies dancing upon on each other and filling themselves with pints and pints of poisonous alcohol. Outside, a sharp contrast to the pubs and the clubs, Lowes was a ghost town, seemingly abandoned, as those not planning to party all night were in the warmth of their own homes, with the children snug in bed, and the parents cuddling each other on the sofa, watching some random quiz show or criminal drama on the television. Only a few cars - those of people working late, and buses snaked around the endless streets, working their way through the maze, the area of navigation dark from the invading army of night.

A woman and a man were walking down the desolate, dimly lit street, towards the outskirts of western Lowes, from the last bus of the day, going home. They had worked late that an evening, on an issue that arose at their place of work, which had to be dealt with before they could leave.

"So, see you tomorrow?'' the man asked the woman, stopping in front of his gate, which looked just a faint gray outline in the darkness of the light.

''Of course. I have to finish the issue well.'' she replied, stopping in front of him to say goodbye for the night.

''Always so dedicated to your cause, and the people you serve.'' the man chuckled. ''I would advise you to take a day off some time or other, but I know you wouldn't listen to me.'' he said sarcastically, unlatching his gate as he spoke, pushing it wide open.

''I'll take a day off sometime. It's just, I cannot neglect to serve my people''. The man nodded in response. ''Goodnight then.'' she smiled, although the gleam on her face could not be seen in the light levels, before turning around, and walking slowly towards her quaint yellow house on the corner of the street, just a 5 minute walk away - the house she, and her family, stayed in when she wasn't in New Sarum for work, which was fairly regularly.

Her friend placed his key in the lock of his house, and turned it. As he opened it, he heard a horrendous noise. BANG! The loud noise echoed around the street, a deafening noise for the woman, who collapsed to the floor in the centre of her street. BANG! Another loud noise, reverberating through the area and everyone's skulls, a noise that would crush anyone's head, and the effects of would crush anyone's heart.

Footsteps came rushing down a path which led to a large, red-brick house - the one in which the woman's friend lived in.

''Stand back, or you die!'' the man, who was wielding a gun, shouted at the man who had just emerged from his garden. He put his hands in a surrender position, and stepped back, trying to calm the deranged gun-man.

BANG! The man holding the gun shot the woman lying on the floor again and went over to check she was dead and then punched the air shouting some incomprehensible words which the woman's friend could not hear when he found out she was dead and then turned to look at the woman's friend for a brief moment and then ran off down the street to his car and then entered it and drove off to return to his house with next to no hope in hell of identifying who he was.

The man ran over to where the woman lay sprawled across the floor, with blood pouring out of the three gunshot wounds like a tidal wave.

''It'll be ok Sarah, it'll be ok.'' he said, trying to comfort himself more than comfort her. He fumbled with his phone, rapidly tapping '999; in to the dialpad, and lifted the dark black mobile phone up to his ear.

''999, what's your emergency?'' the monotone voice inquired down the cellphone.

''Someone's been shot. They're barely breathing, and have lost a lot of blood!'' the man panickingly voiced down the phone.

''Where are you currently?'' the call receiver calmly replied.

''With her. Middle of the road, Chandlers road.'' he blurted out.

''An ambulance has been dispatched, and police will follow after that. I'll run you through what you have to do while you wait, stay on the phone with me until the ambulance arrives.''

. . . . . . . . . .

Within five minutes, a loud, repetitive siren could be heard just down the street, blaring out across the whole city to echoes of someone dying. As it turned the corner, the bright blue lights, flashing, lit up the dark-engulfed street, giving a ghostly feel to all those present. The ambulance ground to a screeching halt around ten feet away from the woman, before two bulky men jumped out of the front cab, pulled out a bed from the back of the ambulance, and rushed over to the woman, whom was now lying in a bloody, red sea of blood. The ambulance crew covered the wounds rapidly aware this woman did not have long to live and then lifted her on to the bed and then rushed her in to the ambulance with one of the crew jumping in to the back with the her and the other leaping in to the driver's seat and then they drove off with the sirens once again blazing.

. . . . . . . . . .

Sarah's friend sat down on his gray sofa, sprawled across the whole thing, and then turned on the television, knowing that he wouldn't get any sleep after the disturbing incident that had just occurred in the dark street outside his house.

Knock knock knock. Someone banged on his front door. The man sighed, stood up, and plodded solemnly to the door.

''Hello?'' he asked, opening the door. A police officer was stood at the door.

''Good evening to you sir. I am sorry for disturbing you at this ungodly hour.'' the police officer said, before pausing. ''I understand that you were witness to the triple shooting of Sarah Brighten, and we need you to show us the crime scene, as well as ask you some questions about the incident. We have cordoned off the area for now.''

Sarah's friend sighed once again. I suppose I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, so this doesn't matter doing this now, he thought to himself. ''Come on in.''

In response to the Holy Empire's national food article, based on Ethane

''This is an utterly preposterous remark to make. I will not stand for it. To say that as a nation, the reason we are doing so well is because we feed on the ''souls of their dead enemies''. This is a disgusting remark to make. We would never dare do this - all dead people deserve a proper burial, and respect shown towards them, not to be treated as a pile of meat.

It begs the question though: what even are Calf Brain Tacos? I have honestly never heard of them before, and based on the description of what they are, I don't want to.

This equates to cultural misrepresentation, and your nation now has an idea that is completely wrong about our country's food. I insist that you remove all copies of that article from circulation, and release a full apology for your actions taken to culturally misrepresent us is such a disgraceful and slanderous manner.

It is no wonder The Holy Empire keeps failing to win at football - if they play the way the Imperial Women's Institute looks up national food's, then its no wonder they keep on losing.''

Lineup @ Matthewsiania

GK: Joe Henderson
LB: Cliff Driscoll
CB: John Campbell
CB: Alan Barnes
RB: Joshua Cook
CDM: Merlin Midgley
LM: Kevyn Stidolph
RM: Edward Williamson
CAM (ST): Dewayne Boivin
LF: Samuel Mitchell
RF: Wilmer Jaurequi

Subs:
Thomas Peone
Dewayne Boivin

Grady Stevens
Kevyn Stidolph

Archie Holmes
Joshua Cook

Record

Test Friendly: Osarius 2-0 Ethane
Test Friendly: Ethane 2–1 Super-Llamaland
Test Friendly: Super-Llamaland 2–1 Ethane
CEED MD1: Ethane 2–2 Eshan
CEED MD2: Chromatika 1–0 Ethane
CEED MD4: Eshan 0–1 Ethane
CEED MD5: Ethane 0–0 Chromatika
Pre-WC Friendly: Ethane 1–0 Savalen
Pre-WC Friendly: Savalen 1–0 Ethane
Pre-WC Friendly: Omerica 2-1 Ethane

World Cup Qualifying

MD1: Matthewsiania 1–2 Ethane
MD2: BYE DAY
MD3: Ethane 0-0 Afrikaners and Boers
MD4: Cruenatia 3-1 Ethane
MD5: Ethane 2-2 Nassau-Hessen
MD6: New Gazi 0-1 Ethane
MD7: Ethane 2-2 The Holy Empire
BYE: Ethane 0-1 Cosumar
MD8: Ethane vs Matthewsiania
MD9: BYE DAY
MD10: Afrikaners and Boers vs Ethane
MD11: Ethane vs Cruenatia
MD12: Nassau-Hessen vs Ethane
MD13: Ethane vs New Gazi
MD14: The Holy Empire va Ethane

(NOTE: STATS ON RIGHT DO NOT INCLUDE FRIENDLIES)

Top Scorers:
Dewayne Boivin - 3
Samuel Mitchell - 2
Thomas Peone - 2
Julian Harrington - 1
John Campbell - 1
Wilmer Jaurequi - 1

Assists
Edward Williamson - 2
Grady Stevens - 2
Dewayne Boivin - 1
Kevyn Stidolph - 1
Russell Johnson - 1

Appearances
Edward Williamson - 6
Dewayne Boivin - 6
John Campbell - 5
Merlin Midgley - 4
Thomas Peone - 4
Julian West - 4
Kevyn Stidolph - 4
Jose Morgan - 3
Joe Henderson - 3
Cliff Driscoll - 3
Daniel Moore - 3
Grady Stevens - 3
Samuel Mitchell - 3
Rene Beckenhauer - 3
Bruce Washington - 3
George Smith - 3
Wilmer Jaurequi - 3
Archie Holmes - 2
Nicholas Reed - 2
Darien Fear - 2
Joshua Cook - 2
Gerald Coleman - 2
Kyle Cooper - 2
Julian Harrington - 2
George Smith - 1
Branden Veresoto - 1
Nelson Delamora - 1
Russell Johnson - 1
Alex Brown - 1
Jack Potter - 1

by **Eura** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:04 pm

Deep under the rolling heaths of the DZ lies what is, quite simply, one of the most daunting engineering projects in Rushmori history. Stretched along several hundred miles was not only an impressive network of fortifications, but also thousands of tunnels and other underground facilities. Some were deeper than a mineshaft and catered for whole companies to lie in wait for an enemy advancing over the ground above. Others were much more rudimentary, composed of a few narrow concrete passageways with storage closets and bunks pinned to the walls. Kat had adapted to this well in the past week or so, enjoying the mystery of this remarkable military marvel, with its many different sections and "line breaks", which allowed a covert retreat back away from the front line. The first week had been a grueling week for the troops of constant exercises and simulated attacks. Lieutenant Brown and his more senior officers had put them through hell. The drills were extensive and varied; surviving biological or chemical weapons attack, dealing with fire, and even non-lethal hand to hand combat with special forces personnel posing as Sameban "bunker cracking" units. There were good reasons why this kind of exercise demanded urgent reform though, including the numerous mistakes that had worked their way into the discipline-light "psychological" stage of the second week. Kat was currently getting over at one of them.

The mistake - he, rather - got up, put his arm on the wall next to her in the narrow bunk and looked down at her face with a ghastly kind of unshaven, thuggish demeanor. Or at least that's how her higher-born mother back in Calania would think of her. 'That was really fun, yeah? You know I might get deployed to Fligsive, if you ever fancy meeting up again.' She snarled in utter disgust, both at the repulsive squaddie and her own lack of professionalism. Her boss had given her three broad rules or guidelines before she came to Eura; don't start a war, don't get lost, and don't fuck any soldiers. Unfortunately this was the second time that she had broken the third rule, and between the bustling streets of Oakstone and this maze of tunnels and bunkers, she'd violated the second one more times than she could count. 'Get out you ugly bastard.'
'Haha, that's cute babe, I love the way you swear!'
'No, you don't seem to get it mate. Get the fuck out of here.' He jumped up, indignant. 'What? But we slept together? I bought you drinks!'
'So?'
'So, you owe me! At least a date!'
'Or not? It was just a dumb mistake. Go back to your barracks, if you don't clear up that hangover you're screwed.'
'No way, this is bollocks girlie. You don't get to freeze me out just because you're a girl!' The way he extended the "i" into many "u's" immediately put her off continuing this conversation. 'Look, just let me have my space alright? This isn't fifty years ago you muppet.'
'Oh, there it is! "Safe space", here we go! God, another social justice warrior!' He got up, pulling his trousers on hastily, and stormed to the door. She didn't even bother to try and persuade him to calm down beyond the most unehtusiastic platitudes. 'Its nothing personal, I just don't see this as a big deal.'
'Whatever, just keep on going with your agenda!'

Kat didn't even have time to ask him what that agenda was. He'd already gone. She drifted in and out of sleep, still regretting consuming black market gin that had been smuggled into the place, though pleased that she wouldn't face the disciplinary action some of these soldiers were due. Her slumber was interrupted by the soothing voice of Monty, who came in with his laptop and set up down the other end of the room. Usually such an invasion of privacy would be a big problem, but Kat knew Monty well enough now that he was like a surrogate father rather than a weird older colleague. Even if he wasn't there would be no hope of privacy in this claustrophobic environment. 'What's in the news then?'
'Oh, not much. Judge is weighing in on the Electrum elections.'
'What do you mean, weighing in?'
'He's said that a right wing victory over the border will severely damage the "economic and diplomatic prospects" of Euran-Electrum relations. In other words, five year benefits bans for economically active Euran migrants have pissed Bastion off majorly. Apparently the Endemian Union has had another unanimous round of protest against Pravenna's incorporation as a Sameban protectorate rejected. Apart from that its just lots of football news. Eura smashed Walkany 7-1 apparentley, hattrick for Campbell.'
'And the other scorers?' Mace had walked in to join them, so Monty answered. 'Spartan got one, Sinclair two, Sutton one.' Suddenly more of the platoon came in to see what was going on. There was some giggling and some murmur about "shacking up" as she sat up in bed with barely anything on and frazzled her. 'Hey, what is this? Get out!' The others obliged, except for Monty, who stayed loyally in the corner. It had been a long week, and the next three weeks were going to feel much longer. She would start them by rolling over, and returning to the land of the nether.

by **San Jose Guayabal** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:14 pm

FAS vs Alianza - The Rivalry: Origins.

Many people might wonder how this rivalry turned into one of the fieriest and most intense all across the multiverse, how FAS and Alianza have developed a mutual hate to each other that exceeds the imagination of people, a sense of hate that can't be described, without doubt this might be one of the most intereting derbies on the multiverse due to both teams background and history, two different realities that made them clash, this rivalry has more than 200 years and seems that it'll continue until the end of the World.

By: Cristina Gómez, The Female Side of Football.
From: Port Alexandre, Philibiscostal, Omerica - World Cup 75 - Qualifiers - Matchday 4.
Posted: Saturday, May 24th, 2207 - 00:31 (Guayabalense Central Time - User's default time)

It's time to spend a little to a flurry of reports that already had planned for a long time, time to dedicate to one of the best and most passionate rivalries that exist in football, I mean the "Classic of Hatred" between Alianza FC and CD FAS, two teams that have something in common, hatred of death, since they were created until now, Alianza is a team that was created years later that FAS but despite that has won more national and international victories and that FAS, although the Tigers have emerged and have already achieved their first strides internationally, as you reach the end of the Cygnus Cup and play two final consecutive CEDC, the first against his eternal rival and the other against Crisisbless, this rivalry has been marked by episodes of violence and sudden union to fight evils that both clubs have in common, despite all that the differences are marked and hatred is visible to the surface, from economic issues to reasons of origin, this rivalry links all possible factors which may have differences and combines a dangerous cocktail of emotions where something can happen is a conflict, but we will not focus on violence, but the origins of this rivalry, to some baseless and other "best rivalry on the planet."

Alianza FC

With great deeds that history is written, and that is precisely what makes a club that was born in the late fifties and came of age in the sixties. He was born humble and over time became a legend of Guayabalense football. I speak of Alianza FC, a team that emerged in the early 1950s on the outskirts of San Salvador, its founders were a group of employees of a brewery that sought after entertainment strenuous working hours of at least twelve hours without stopping any time, it all started when employees decided to play in the parking lot of the brewery after finishing the workday, they put four stones, two for each side symbolizing the posts of a goal and an old leather ball, it is how the story of a big emerged, the most emblematic of San Jose Guayabal team. This hobby was calling more and more employees to the extent that the chiefs decided to enroll the team to the second division football at the time, they played two years under the name "Athletic Imperial" in honor of the Imperial beer, playing their matches in the so famous "Military Polygon", a place of recreation for elite armed forces.

Alianza is the darling of the capital equipment, not only for the titles he has achieved in its history, including seven wins in Liga Premier, two CEdC, which was incidentally the first team of San Jose Guayabal in obtaining an international triumph and countless international exploits as having reached Round of 16 of a Champions Cup, and even be the finalist of the Globe Cup a couple of issues ago, but other achievements made at the beginning of their times, especially at the time of 2000, where Alianza was practically the national team, where we left well represented in our first World Cup Qualifiers and also in the Cup of Harmony, Alianza is not a team that has only been limited to clubs, but has left its mark on the Selecta when this just bloomed internationally, when San Jose Guayabal was crawling in Soccer international, is why Alianza FC is very appreciated not only in San Jose Guayabal, but in every sphere of influence of our country and other ethnic groups like the Québécois, Valladars, Blackilandians, etc.

In the first season of Alianza in the "professional" 1958 football, Alianza finished as runner-up in the B League, in which he showed from the outset outstanding performance, winning victories bulky and keeping the front of the championship for good stretch, as they weather to another which eventually would become his archrival, Águila, the series between the two teams was fairly evenly during the tournament, in which the gain is distributed, each team won two win in the end the rise of these two teams was a reason of justice because during the tournament proved to be infinitely superior to all his rivals, but Alianza had something that Águila did not have a large and loyal fans who followed the team always, to where it was, an unconditional love that relies on the good and thin, to the point of creating an anthem dedicated to Alianza and another chants like the following ones.

Anthem:

Tune

Alianza Alianza Alianza champion,
you have the glory of being the best
the people acclaims you as the winner.

The glory belongs to you for being brave and fighter
you have already the crown and you are already the winner.

'Alianza champion, ra, ra, ra!

¿Como no te voy a querer? (Original name - Chant)

Tune

How I will not love you, how I'll not love you if I carry you on my heart!
How I will not love you, how I'll not love you if I carry you on my heart!
Alianza, I love you! Before being red (FAS fan) I prefer to die!
Alianza, I love you! Before being red (FAS fan) I prefer to die!
To be the champions, we have to put balls, balls!
Let's sweat the shirt, I want to be champion, champion!

Alianza players in 1958, on their time on the Second Division.

CD FAS

One afternoon in 1947, on February 16 to be exact, that group of inspired citizens met at the local school "Jose Mariano Méndez" to define the foundation of the new team, which would take the name "Futbolistas Aliados Santanecos" but which was changed by the name of "Futbolistas Asociados Santanecos" which would be abbreviated and known by the acronym FAS, nomination emerged from a promoted at the grassroots level competition, being Mr. Julio castro who devised the phrase but as a member of the first team management, abstained from participating directly, giving the opportunity to young Mauricio Monge, student of the Santa Ana Lyceum, which only changed the second word to leave definitively as is known today. Among the enthusiastic founders on that memorable afternoon they saw realized his dream were: Don Manuel Monedero, Jose Leon Aquino, Antonio Santana, Alejandro Mendez, Antonio Barrera, Rafael Urey, Don Julio Castro, Don Juan Jose Merino, Don Zaldaña Samuel, who served as first president and Juan Antonio Santos, who a few years later would be the creator of the famous phrase "FAS you can". Aquino suggested that FAS should play on orange but later the board suggested that playing in red and blue would be better.

FAS debuted before its own public few days after its founding, receiving baptism of then national champion porting Club Libertad defeated by 4 goals 1 in the Model Field, scoring the first goal of his history by Victor Manuel Ochoa and his first official national championship game was against the Olympic Youth Championship in the 1948-49 which, in turn, he became the first victory (2-1). Santa Ana burst of jubilation for only 5 years after its appearance, FAS was already the best team in the country, enjoyed much sympathy, champion 1951-52 campaign was crowned under the command of Victor Manuel Ochoa and followers they began to multiply. Players who achieved the first title were Lindoro Escamilla, Mario Velazquez, Rafael Humberto Guzman, Salvador Juarez, Moses Jovel, Arnoldo Pacheco, Jorge Rivas, Ricardo Valencia, Eduardo Pineda, Nestor Mora Vargas , Armando Limongi, and several more players that were going to participate on the National Team but then the project was cancelled due to an uprising in San José Guayabal

In the championship of 1959 he reached its first sub championship history after making a brilliant campaign that could not be consummated with a new title. The fourth crown came to the 1961-62 championship (at the helm César Viccinio was) holding it for the championship 1962 under the tutelage of Raul Miralles so he became champion, against Alianza FC, was the right time as that sparked the rivalry between the teams.

After that so splendid stage, FAS left the "farm" and moved its headquarters to the new Santa Ana Stadium. This would happen in early 1963 and were beginning the frustrating 15-year wait for another national crown. In 1964 the ocelots used for the 2nd consecutive year the average color of mourning in uniform, perhaps as a harbinger of the tragedy that would come near the end of the year, as the December 13 his goalkeeper Oscar Quiteño after a spectacular launch died against Orion FC, Quiteño's body fell limp in the area of the south goal of the stadium that now bears his name. After that, FAS experienced several years of drought and another spark of the rivalry vs Alianza appeared, when they had the chance to win but Alianza defeated them to win their first championship, becoming into the official start of what we know as "the Derby of Hate"

Chants:

Desde Pequeño (Since a Child)

Since a child I come to see
And I'm always chased by the police
Not even when they're going to fuck my life
They do not realize that you are my life

FAS put balls in this! We have to won since you're the best
For this crowd wants to be champion again.

Always with you

All campaigns that I lived
All the stadiums where I followed you
Many championships we won
Few drinks I got since I met you

I will always support you
I will follow you wherever you go
We lay eggs that we won
So I celebrate all want to give back

You give me joy (JOY)
I give you my love (my love)
Put balls tigrillos
I want to see you as champion

I would give my life (my life)
For this passion (passion)
Put balls tigrillos
I want to see you as champion

FAS team in 1975

Now with enough context, it is time to start talking about this rivalry more in depth, let's start with the vindictiveness that can be seen from both teams in their early years, both teams were the biggest hobby had at the time, trend still maintains almost two hundred years later, I mean the vindictiveness because in a span of 10 years played between two finals, each team won one and that's where that feeling of wanting to outdo each other began competing side by side in order to see who can be the best and dominate, although soccer Guayabalense remained almost dormant for two hundred years, but we can mention that fans of both teams have totally different backgrounds and even an ideological role different, for something that usually the fans in San Jose Guayabal are taken seriously is the ideology, and economic status play a role in the pride of both teams, although San Jose Guayabal as a whole is an egalitarian society, the trend here is the opposite.

Let's start with the fans of FAS, better known as "La Turba Roja", was founded in the Champion Sports Bar Santa Ana on a rainy afternoon in 1994 according to the official website of the group, was founded by a group of young middle class high of different institutes of secondary education in Santa Ana, in the years in which the "barrismo" arose among the youth of San Jose Guayabal, the tendency to identify as a fan of a team, organize and carry flares and musical instruments to sing and enliven the party, a sudden change to the culture of football in San Jose Guayabal, despite having been created in the early years of the movement, were not the first association of fans in San Jose Guayabal, but were the most numerous at the beginning and one that had more resources, marked leftist ideology (Santa Ana is a bastion of leftist ideology), fans of FAS started using football as a method of peaceful protest against decisions made by the government, at the time of right-wing majority, is where began to come into conflict with government officials who wanted to deny them access to stadiums because of their political protests and aggressive attitude against other fans, especially against Alianza FC, the usually they found and threw stones, flares and glass bottles in order to demonstrate their "superiority"

On the side of Alianza FC, their fans, better known as "Ultra Blanca" were created before the aforementioned movement, they emerged as the first fans organized in San José Guayabal, emerged in the mid 1980s, at the request of foreign players in the team who felt that the atmosphere in the stadium was very boring, then the players and fans gathered one day at the bar "El Rincón" in order to put together details that give the start to the association, the directive Alianza FC he gave to a group of fans a couple of drums and musical instruments to encourage their favorite team, plus the fans decided to create banners to express their support for the team and additional instructions, along with the inevitable flares, which always accompany any collective good of fans in San José Guayabal, if we decide to talk about economic status and ideology, fans of Alianza is in a different position, has a definite place in those scales because the fans who gather to support Alianza are all social classes and all ideologies, although it is remarkable to note that partnership has a certain inclination and its fans have always dominated the ideology of right next to nationalism, reaching to some extent become xenophobic attacks by comparing Valladares migrants with monkeys, and Gregoryisgodistanis with bull**it but they have become more tolerant in recent years.

by **Vilita and Turori** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:25 pm

Background: Sokiti Amakra is a "Vipodcast-logger" who frequently shares his views with the rest of the inter-connected multiverse - particularly looking to grab attention (read: Views, Likes, Etc.) during the widely popular World Cup Qualifying and World Cup Finals. Amakra's views are sometimes seen as controversial, but typically in a light hearted, opinionated but non-threatening manner. Well known for his "Fun with Flags" Series in the past, Amakra had announced he was taking a different approach to his Vipodcast's during World Cup 75 and released his first session recently where he stepped through groups 20, 19, 18, 17, 16 and 15 with a candid commentaryranging from his personal opinion of the competing nations to how he felt certain nations would fare in their quest for World Cup 75 Qualification. His second released Vipodcast session of the tournament was supposed to be a continuation of his look at the World Cup Groups. However, it instead became focused entirely on Firebolt and the perceived lack of imagination in their national apperance. For the third installation of the Vipodcast, Amakra got back to business talking smack about World Cup hopefuls.

There really isn't anything to like about Group 1. At all. Well, maybe just one tiny thing. It's always fun when a nation with a pretty good sports programme decide to abandon athletics, disappear off the face of the multiverse - presumably to relocate their citizens to a buddhist temple, or, possibly, as a result of one of their government scientists accidentally creating a wormhole that sucks the nation straight into another dimension. I can envision an entire population then forced to hop dimensions as the scientists frantically try to un-do what they had done by landing back in their original dimension. But seriously, Mapletish is back. They've forgotten how to play sports and, the worst part is, they have the same drab old flag. Maple, anyone? Crap, self, get off the flags!! Lets move on from them. We hate Saintland, Chiata and New Gelderland are boring too - though "Gelderland" is kind of fun to say. Wow this group is boring. High Five! Eshan! Why is your hand so bloody? Did you create Wilson? Mooooving on...

Best. Place. To. Live. Sandwich Territories! Who doesn't want to live in a place where Sandiwches literally grow on trees. I'm sure thats entirely accurate. Nephara have an easy time in Group 2 and hey, they'll be running against the hosts for the role of the World Cup presidency. We'll see how that goes. Lightshield! I don't know who the heck you are but you must be part of "Team Multiverse" with Firebolt! I didn't realize that the superhero squad was forming here in World Cup 75 but it's kind of exciting to watch it play out. Sameba and Banguela - meh, good like in your fight to finish second, no one is touching the Nepharim here.

Now here is a group that knows how to have fun. First, you have Kaboom Land, which - I think it speaks for itself. It sounds like a fun place to be though I'm not sure I want to be stuck in an elevator with a Kaboomlandian. I'm not sure I'd want to be stuck in an elevator with a Super Llama either, but surely the Super Llama could serve as a sidekick for either Firebolt or Lightshield. Super Llama likely has a trumpet interlude as well. Everyone will have to be on the watch for Nuevo Caracas. I'm pretty sure that translates to "New Carcasses" so anyone playing this team better watch their back (Like, Cosumar - one of the friendly Atlantian Oceania nations that we actually like because they never beat us...) - you don't want to become a... New Carcass... Yourself...

Now Group 4 is also special. Like Group 11, all the nations of Group 4 actually published a list of all their players - publicly - for us to all ridicule ahead of time. Honestly, I don't think I've ever met anyone from any of the nations in Group 4 so I can't really provide a meaningful opinion on them. I believe an "Abanhleft" is another exclamation used to acknowledge the successful completion of a sneeze - like "Gezundheit", "Bless thee" or "Get away from me you slimey Audioslavian". There is one nation in Group 4 I just can't figure out. They must be very confused. West-East Timor. Yup, they are West, they are East - It's like the Unified Sunrise Islands but bi-directional instead of omni-directional.

Now Group 5 is one of the saddest groups in all of qualifying. There's not a Damu good team in this group. Polkopia will be favored but it will really be wide open. Platerdam will finish last. I guarantee it. Unless Indo-Malaysia get sucked back through the wormhole connecting the multiverse and the universe and get lost in actual Malaysia, fail to show up for their multiverse-based qualifying matches and concede walkovers. Now, the coolest thing about this group is San Llera. They may not win the group, but they have the coolest stadium - literally. Its right on the water and has no modern stands or amenities. It makes for some picturesque match photos especially, and I totally respect the San Lleran's continuing to honor their traditions and not succumbing to the allure of moving their National Team matches to a modern, income generating metal-clad stadium beast.

15 down, 5 more to go. Do we start at 6 or 10? Who knows. Find out next time, I need to go make a Sandwich. *grumble grumble grumble about not living in a place where Sandwiches grow on Trees*

Last.fm · by **Cosumar** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:29 pm

All-Time Cosumar XI ::: Entry #5 ::: Vareza Na'Noni (DM)

165 caps
18 goals
Played WC 69-75

Our journey through the annals of Cosumarite footballing history continues into the second half of Qualifying...and has finally arrived at an active player! Our fifth entry into Cosumar's all-time best starting eleven is the versatile Vloo, Vareza Na'Noni. In addition to being the only current player voted in so far, we'll take the liberty to reveal that he will also be the only representative of the Vloo people in the entire final team. For any non-Cosumarite readers who may be unfamiliar with the Vloo, they are an intelligent humanoid species native to The Western Isles (which now encompass two of the Fiefdom's 21 fiefs). They are easily identified by their pale blue skin, horns, pointy feet, large eyes, taller average height and surnames often beginning with Na'- or Va'- prefixes. The original human settlers on Cosumar began on the opposite eastern corner of the realm, so the two civilizations took centuries to finally converge. Today, the Vloo are full-fledged Cosumarites and consist almost 4% of the total population - though they are still centered heavily in The Western Isles and nearby Numenvernien and Ankortroth Fiefs. The Cosumar National Team has never been without at least one Vloo player, and in the ongoing World Cup there are three including Na'Noni. Even though he's in his mid-30s now, Na'Noni remains the most important Vloo to the team every match and, with a cap tally approaching the all-time top five, has a significant claim on being the best ever player of his species.

Personality: At least from the public and the media's points of view, Na'Noni is a silent and intimidating figure. Off the pitch, he never seems to waver from his "standing perfectly straight with chin held high and face set in stone" stance while on camera. Occasionally, hints of his inner self ripple forth in the form of an eccentric and dark sense of humor (which usually flies over most people's heads) when speaking to journalists. On other occasions, he can be downright rude to the media - which most everybody else finds highly amusing. He is a man of few words, but while on the pitch, the steel in his gaze and conviction in every step are worth a thousand words. The number of people who can actually claim to know Vareza or call him a friend can be counted on your hands, but respect for him is universal amongst all he has played with or against.

Playing Style: In his prime, Na'Noni could play virtually any field position due to his ability to read the game, composure on the ball and imposing physique (tall even for a Vloo, beautifully muscular, and fast). His versatility made him a favorite of many managers, having been deployed across midfield, at fullback and even at CAM for club and country in his career. Besides his athleticism, what truly sets Na'Noni apart and makes him so special at the defensive midfield position is that he is so... tough. Both mentally and physically. Pain and fatigue...they are but messages. And he ignores the messages. The little image to the left shows a video game rendition of Na'Noni sliding in for a trademark rough-but-perfectly-timed tackle, as every Cosumarite has seen him do hundreds of times. While not a particularly creative or visionary player, Na'Noni is also a competent passer and can effectively keep the wheels turning from the midfield against any calibre of competition. When he works his way within range, Na'Noni is a good shooter from distance too. That's how many of his 18 goals for Cosumar have come.

Early Life: Vareza Na'Noni was born on June 13, 973 to Kekuta Na'Noni & Audi Na'Safeh in Versiaville, Versia Fief. The two had hooked up for a one-off meeting at a Crawford nightclub at age 20. When Audi discovered that she was pregnant some weeks later, she tracked down Kekuta and revealed that she believed him to be the father. The weight of the news hit the carefree 20-year-old Kekuta like a sack of bricks, but he vowed to take responsibility, man-up and be there for his child-to-be and its mother. He took a job at a manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Versiaville to support Audi, who continued her career as a freelance culinary journalist. The two would hold these jobs throughout most of Vareza's childhood, and they actually ended up marrying and moving in together shortly after Vareza's birth. Neither of their incomes were great, but together they managed to provide a decent life for their only child.

As a tot, Vareza was persistent and inquisitive, getting up to all sorts of mischief. By school-age, he was so free-spirited as to become solitary, preferring the depths of his own wondrous imagination and curiosity to the mundane company of others. He may have developed these traits through blocking out the loud arguments of his parents, who fought constantly in their small thin-walled home. To the left he can be seen at age 9, sipping some Orangi Orange-Flavored Pop (a carbonated beverage of extreme popularity in western Cosumar). By 15, anger replaced many of those unique traits as Vareza's parents divorced and waged an ugly custody war over him, largely ignoring the actual him in the process as if he were some sort of inanimate object to be fought over like a TV or car. After dabbling in Gridiron Football and Rugby to channel his rage (he cared little for the game, he just wanted to hit people), he finally found his true athletic calling at age 16. Playing soccer allowed him to apply both his anger (when defending) and the exuberant mind he displayed at a younger age (when building up play going forward).

Early Career: While completing high school, Na'Noni played for Drummond's FC, a local fifth-tier club in Versiaville. He was the only Vloo on the team and dominated with his athletic gifts, playing almost every position during his time there - from central defense to center forward. After turning 18 and nullifying his parents' custody squabbles, Vareza was desperate to get out on his own and move as far away from them as possible. Thus, he escaped all the way across the Fiefdom to Samotath on the east coast. FC Samotath, one of Cosumar's bigger clubs, was impressed by his play after Vareza sent them a highlight video. He was still a raw talent with no true role on the pitch or tactical understanding yet, but FC Samotath's coaches found him a fast learner and quickly refined his game. It took Na'Noni only a year to start getting regular Harlighet Ligan minutes at 19 years old. He settled in mostly as a Right Back for Samotath and soon had pundits calling him the most "complete" and "modern" Cosumarite prospect at the position in years. He had his true breakthrough season in 993 at 20 (the same age his parents were when he was conceived) and played every single minute of FC Samotath's entire season. He was one of the young stars of the Harlighet Ligan, making waves as part of the later end of the "Renaissance Generation" that restored Cosumar's national team program. Farris Crowley called Na'Noni up for his first caps at 24 years old - throwing him into the fire right away as a starter in World Cup 69. At an unfamiliar defensive midfield position, no less. But it turned out to be one of 'ole Crowley's strokes of genius. Na'Noni was a natural at the position and was a standout performer in all of Qualifying. He was so good that Red Star Severny came calling to make him their starting DM. Just like that, this quirky Vloo from Versiaville became the first Cosumarite to play in a league ranked #1 in the world.

Later Career: Na'Noni played four seasons in Severny, making his UICA debut and drawing universal acclaim for his hard play, versatility and consistency at DM (the traits that have come to define him). His success as a defensive midfielder there truly cemented it as his primary position for years to come and facilitated even more strong performances for the National Team. However, after Polar Islandstates' "Big Freeze" in 1001, Na'Noni decided he could no longer bear the frigid weather. He transferred to Avenida Principal of Farfadillis for $6.6 million at age 28 and has played there for the last six years. After a slightly bumpy first season spent acclimating to the more technical and attacking style of play, the Vloo really settled in at Principal and made it his home. His defensive prowess only improved there amongst the Farf league's great attackers. Over the years, Vareza has become a bona-fide club legend at Avenida Principal, leading them to the Farf title and scoring the winning goal of the Globe Cup Final. He is even reportedly considering staying in the city permanently after his retirement, which we hope is still many years off. Now 34, it is unclear how much longer Na'Noni will continue to function in such a demanding crux role for the national team and Avenida Principal. He might have another cycle in him as a starter after this one (despite his age, Ramsey still rarely has to take him off for tiredness), but even if World Cup 75 and the upcoming Farf season are the last we see of him at his best, his legacy is already sealed. He's only three more caps away from entering Cosumar's top five most-capped players and could even climb as high as top three. Truly rarified air. It's a testament to this Vlooman's fitness, endurance and longevity. Some of his shining moments in the Cosumarite shirt include his clutch late goal against Stvoto Latoli in the Cup of Harmony 64 knockout round (the Vanquishers went on to win the tournament after that), vital wonder-strike against Eastfield Lodge in World Cup 74 and, most recently, the winner in that insane 5-4 victory over Eshan in AOCAF 50. The man doesn't score often, but when he does, it's always to step up in the biggest of moments. That is a rare quality. It's one you can't teach and is part of what makes Na'Noni's career so special.

Life Outisde Soccer: Na'Noni is a huge tattoo aficionado. Besides boasting gorgeous tats all over his own body (including detailed patterns of constellations across his arms, a roaring dragon on his neck, and an elaborate sunset on his forehead), Na'Noni is also an accomplished ink-artist himself. In his spare time, he does work for high-end parlors in both Farfadillis and Cosumar, and has even given tattoos to teammates and participated in Holo-TV reality show CelebInk. He might just be the world's best Vloo footballer and tattoo artist. He has been married to his gorgeous teenage sweetheart Morgana Gregg, a human, for over ten years. Though Vloo-Human relationships are completely legal and increasingly accepted, the two species are not similar enough to reproduce, so it is unlikely that Na'Noni will ever produce children. This aspect of their marriage does not bother Gregg or Na'Noni, as they have both been quoted numerous times saying neither of them ever wanted any kids anyways.

And there you have it. Vareza Na'Noni at defensive midfield for the All-Time Cosumarite Dream Team. The Vloo are a central part of what makes Cosumar such a great and special nation and it would be a travesty for the most accomplished Vloo player in history to not be included. It's fully deserved. Early-era DM stalwart Teemu Koponen pulled a fair share of the votes, but we feel that Na'Noni is easily the better overall player. Though he has usually been listed simply as a CM for Cosumar in recent years, he operates as the more defensive-oriented of Cosumar's central midfield partnership. He has thrived at DM at elite club levels. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to let us know how you feel about the fifth selection in the comments section or on social media with the hashtag #CosumarXI. Be sure to stay tuned over the next few weeks as we continue to fill in that image below.

#1: LB William Riley | #2: CM Irvinn Rincon | #3: ST Rikki Varshney | #4 ST Sur Arora | #5: DM Vareza Na'Noni

In honor of Cosumar's 25th World Cup, The Cosumarite Courier is naming the best eleven Cosumarite players in history for the first time ever. If our scientists unlocked the secret of time travel and we could assemble any combination of Cosumarite players from the last 50 years, who should we select to win a World Cup? Well, you voted and we did our nifty research...so now we're unveiling the aggregate results. One by one. Each matchday. You can read the biography of each selection or simply check the updated version of the above image each day to quickly see who made it and continue on with your life. By the time World Cup 75 Qualifying is winding down, the countdown will be complete and a concrete Best XI finalized. We will be unveiling entries in order from most unanimous to most controversial, so the worst comment-section firestorms SHOULD be saved until the end!

MD6: "Vanquishers make quick work of Super-Llamaland in first half, cruise in second"
Scorers: Engström 12', Öhman 14', Soarhaven 36'
Subs: Womack 46', Va'Goshal 46', Jorgensen 74'

MD7: "First half dominance continues for Cosumar in Nuevo Caracas, 2-0"
Scorers: Engström 4', Sigler 12'
Subs: Va'Goshal 50', Lilley 72', Branch 78'

FRIENDLY: "Cosumar travel to Ethane during mid-qual break, grind out 1-0 victory
Scorer: Soarhaven 9'
Subs: Branch 18', Gorham 46', Lilley 64', Elam 64', Newman 77', Va'Goshal 78'

Cosumar Goal-Scorers Tally (33 GF)
Anders Engström (10)
Belarmin Worsaw (5)
Ole Öhman (4)
Mauricio Sigler (3)
Aziz Senturk (2)
Alexander Soarhaven (2)
Peter Svensson (1)
Bacary Na'Kale (1)
Sheldon Serra (1)
Ace Newman (1)
Matt Branch (1)
Frazan Va'Goshal (1)
Own Goal (1)

Cosumar Assists Tally
Ole Öhman (5)
Belarmin Worsaw (5)
Anders Engström (3)
Vareza Na'Noni (2)
Mauricio Sigler (2)
Aziz Senturk (2)
Augen Wittevrongel (1)
Sheldon Serra (1)
Tiffany Elam (1)
Alexander Soarhaven (1)

Substitute Appearances Tally
Matt Branch (8)
Ace Newman (5)
Tevin Lilley (5)
Frazan Va'Goshal (5)
Tiffany Elam (4)
Esteban Hernandez (3)
Jo de Marisco (3)
Augen Wittevrongel (3)
Maynard Gorham (3)
Deirdre McNessa (2)
Olaf Womack (1)
Torbjörn Jorgensen (1)

Cosumar's World Cup 75 Cycle
Four Corners Friendly Tour: Cosumar 1-0 Flardania (@ The Wormhole, Ashen Point)
Four Corners Friendly Tour: Cosumar 5-0 Azrea (@ Versiaville Pavilion, Versiaville)
Four Corners Friendly Tour: Cosumar 3-1 Super-Llamaland (@ Orangi Stadium, Crawford)
Four Corners Friendly Tour: Cosumar 3-1 Rotschwarzland (@ SweetHaven Stadium, Stoneshore)
Qualifying Matchday 1: Bye
Qualifying Matchday 2: Cosumar 4-2 Lons (@ Fire River Arena, Ramusok)
Qualifying Matchday 3: Pridnestrovia 2-2 Cosumar (@ Sheriff Stadium, Tiraspol)
Qualifying Matchday 4: Cosumar 5-2 Acronius (@ Leviathan Arena, Kaldukosic)
Qualifying Matchday 5: Kaboomlandia 0-4 Cosumar (@ King Wulfric II Royal Stadium, Kolra)
Qualifying Matchday 6: Cosumar 3-1 Super-Llamaland (@ Leviathan Arena, Kaldukosic)
Qualifying Matchday 7: Nuevo Caracas 0-2 Cosumar
Mid-Qualifying Friendly: Ethane 0-1 Cosumar
Qualifying Matchday 8: Bye
Qualifying Matchday 9: Lons vs. Cosumar (@ Kêlik Den, Kêlik)
Qualifying Matchday 10: Cosumar vs. Pridnestrovia (@ Leviathan Arena, Kaldukosic)
Qualifying Matchday 11: Acronius vs. Cosumar
Qualifying Matchday 12: Cosumar vs. Kaboomlandia (@ Leviathan Arena, Kaldukosic)
Qualifying Matchday 13: Super-Llamaland vs. Cosumar
Qualifying Matchday 14: Cosumar vs. Nuevo Caracas (@ Leviathan Arena, Kaldukosic)
Green: Victory
Blue: Draw
Red: Defeat
Home team listed first

by **Krytenia** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:39 pm

COMING SOON!

Show your support with JMC's new range of Supporter Polo Shirts.

Made from 100% cotton, these stylish togs with a classic cut will give you the fashion edge over your drinking buddies.

Designs will be made available for all 32 participating World Cup Finals teams.

by **COCANEFA** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:56 pm

Qualifying in now in control of the Cyan One. On that note...

CUT OFF

by **Ceni** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:52 pm

CENIAL, Ceni - Ceni is extremely vulnerable to a foreign attack should an enemy (thankfully there are none close to Ceni) attack it from the air or sea - it has only a small standing military and the navy is only a glorified coast guard, focused mainly on catching smugglers and saving stranded or sinking ships. While the Cenian army has focused not on offense but on defense, more specifically a form of defense known as urban warfare, which focuses on defending the city, which forms most of Ceni, with guerilla warfare, small groups of highly mobile personnel, and anti-aircraft defense, as well as more special-ops than regular infantry, the Cenian military has recently stepped in a new direction in regards to warfare, becoming a forerunner in the emerging field of cyberwarfare.

Cyberwarfare comes in many forms, used by both state and non-state actors. The definition can be vague at times and can include many distinct actions - from cybersurveillance on enemies' computer systems to denial of service attacks to enemy computer systems to malware designed to destroy web networks to infilitration of enemy computers to cause harm to physical systems (a form of sabotage). The possibility of cyberterrorism using these techniques also abounds. Some consider low-level hacking or ransomware targeted at individuals or companies to be a form of cyberterrorism, but officials are more concerned about rogue states or non-state actors using the technology to disrupt or destroy the economies of states - such as attacks on banks, the electrical grid, or dams, which can either cause economic disruption or actual loss of life. "Whatever the definition of cyberwarfare or cyberterrorism, it is certain to become more prevalent in today's world, being practiced not only by non-state actors for use to inflict terror or economic harm, but it may become the norm for war itself," says Dr. Jorus Kelemann, an expert in cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism. "The consequences of this can only grow with our dependence on the internet, so more and more non-state actors - and governments - are taking a look at this emerging form of warfare."

With a picture of rogue states or terrorist groups using the internet to wreak havoc and fear, the Cenian military has chosen to act on the threat before it has even struck as well as develop its cyberwarfare capacity before other nations can get in on the party, so to speak. As such, the military has set up the Cenian Cyberwarfare Command (Cybercom) in order to coordinate the Cenian cyberwarfare response. It will have at least 2,000 programmers, software engineers, and other computer specialists, which will all have ranks within the army command. It will be headed by Brigadier General Kier Avlis, currently working in the Cenian Intelligence Services (CIS), and will work closely with that body to develop cyberintelligence capabilities as well as coordinate responses over the internet to potential threats. The goal of Cybercom, according to the press statement by the Cenian military, is "to develop effective defenses against cyberterrorism and cyberwarfare and to prevent rogue actors from damaging or destroying Cenian networks in malicious attacks."

Dr. Kelemann, however, believes there is more than meets the eye to Cybercom at first glance. "The stated purpose of Cybercom will obviously be a big boon to Cenian efforts to defend itself in the arena of cyberspace - thus augmenting its defensive capabilities in the time of war, as the Cenian military knows full well it may be subject to cyberattack." However, Kelemann believes that Cybercom will have more than a defensive capacity - it might have an offensive one as well. "In the case of a war with another country, it probably isn't enough to have just a defensive mechanism in place. Ceni will obviously need to have some capability in order to strike back at the other nation's systems - nuclear missiles, electrical grid, power plants, what have you. While Ceni might not want to explicitly target civilian populations, there will certainly be opportunities to target military facilities that are being used in the fight against it. While it might not have the military capacity to target facilities physically, it will certainly now have the capacity to target an attacking nation in the realm of cyberspace, with targeted malware that can bring down computer systems, as well as physical targets, in a number of military targets."

Military analyst Elek Amadis says that if that were the case, Ceni would have an extra trick up its sleeve in the event of a war. "Cyberwarfare is obviously something an enemy nation is not likely to anticipate or be prepared for. There's a great potential to damage, disrupt, or destroy an enemy's means of waging war back at home, with comparatively little potential for loss of life on the aggressor's side. Therefore, I think that it's a smart move for Ceni to take because there are a lot of countries out there that have a larger military than Ceni, but little to no cyberwar capacity. There's a lot of potential for Ceni to strike, and other countries might not be able to retaliate in the event of a cyberattack. I truly think that this is the warfare of the future, and despite the potential for a cyberattack on Ceni that can destroy or damage a lot of infrastructure, this has good potential for Ceni to exploit. And, of course, Cybercom can help to develop defenses against a lot of the techniques they're going to use on the attack, to prevent malicious malware from striking Ceni, not only from Ceni's military enemies, but also from criminals and terrorists."

When asked for comment, Gen. Avlis refused to comment on some of the operations of his agency, citing their classified nature, but said that his agency was devoted to finding ways to defend Cenian cyberspace against malicious actors. "The world can be a very dangerous place," Avlis said, "and our mission is to make it a little more safe for Cenian citizens. We're not going to do that in the plane of physical space, thoug, we're going to do it in the plane of cyberspace. And we're going to do it by helping businesses and individuals to defend themselves against hackers and other criminals, by helping larger companies to defend themselves against malicious actors who want to compromise millions of people's security and livelihood, and by helping the government to defend our country against other actors who wish to do our nation harm through cyberwarfare or cyberterrorism." He added that Cybercom would be held accountable to superior officers in the military and ultimately, the civilian government. "With great power comes great responsibility," he said, quoting a famous movie. "We have the responsibility to make sure that our division does not commit the same sort of crimes we aim to prevent. Therefore, we take our job very seriously, and we have lots of oversight to make sure that we don't abuse our power."

by **New Gazi** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:54 pm

"This is closer to the way some of our draws should have gone", said Coach Oliver Hausta. "Defense really stepped up tonight. Mensah had a great game in goal."

The coach did not look any less stressed than normal, despite the victory. His eyes were worn, he seemed tired. It looked as if pulling this victory took the last bit of strength out of him. Sensing this, one of the reporters questioned him.

"How is the team doing? Are they feeling worn out yet?"

The reporter knew the Gazilians had finished their domestic season, went right into the Baptism of Fire and found themselves in the middle of the Qualifying round.

"They are getting used to it. I may be a bit tired, but I have late nights." The coach smiled a wrinkly grin. "I'm not as young as they are. Trust me, our team is still in it for the fight."

Lefisse scored the first goal on the 29th minute. A corner came in and found Contee who hit the shot off the right side of the crossbar. Lefisse was in position to control the rebound and send it forward. The second shot went in and New Gazi picked up the garbage goal.

There were several big defensive stops following the goal. Cruenatia threatened on several occasions. Mensah looked to have an extra spring in his step, making one particular diving save that drew a major reaction from the crowd. The defenders did well to clear the ball and get away from dangerous situations.

Ayotunde Ibori found himself staying on the defensive half more and more. He basically played as a fullback towards the end of the game, with New Gazi shifting its formation towards defense.

Thao Yeboah picked up a yellow card on a sliding challenge. He immediately protested and swore it was an accident. There was nothing he could say to avoid the booking.

New Gazi found themselves winning the battle of possession and also had more shots on goal than their opponent.

The second goal came at the 80th minute. There was some play in the box as a cross came in and a Gazilian player was knocked down. The ref did not like the contact and called for a penalty kick. The call drew mixed reactions from the crowd.

Contee stepped up and spent a few seconds eyeing the goal and the keeper. He hunched down as he ran forward and sent a volley up and off the top crossbar. The goalkeeper was off balance, expecting to jump to one of the corners and was just off enough to mistime his effort. The shot bounced off the woodwork and rolled down the back of the net.

"It's good to finally win", said Amare Contee. "Tough opponents are coming up. But that's not going to stop us from fighting back. We know we have a shot if we can pull a few wins. We pulled one. Now we'll need some luck and a heck of an effort to move up the standings."

The Gazilians will play Nassau-Hessen next. New Gazi tied with them during matchday 2. They are a more established program than the Gazilian National FC. New Gazi knows they are the underdogs going into this match. They also know the wins they need will have to come against teams like this.

"I welcome the second leg of qualifying", said Vangaziland born, dual citizen Imari Lefisse. "We are still revved up about the competition, despite our place in the standings. A few more wins could go a long way."

by **Red Blackiland** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:21 pm

Red Blackiland Sports and Off-topic Chronicles

Few inspirational poems before a decisive game

RB Ultras - Red Blackiland 0-0 Rocesia

Author : Mathias Gërdorffen

The goal

The ball comes down from space
fast
he trims
in the chest
and stops
up in the air
after
with knee
features it at half height
at where
lit
the ball
waiting
the shot that in a flash
fires
in the direction
from our
heart.

The national football evoked from other places

The ball is not the enemy
like the bull in race;
and although it is tool
home and is used without risk,
It is not the impersonal tool,
always gentle, the usual gesture:
semivivo is a tool,
of own reactions like animals
and que, like animals, it is Necessary
(More than animals, as a woman)
use with malice and attention
giving foot hand gimmicks.

Carmona

Carmona impose himself with his game
the pace of the lead (and weight)
Of the slug, the slow motion,
the man in the nightmare.

Liquid seeping pace
the opponent, thick, inside,
Imposing on him what he wants,
sending him, rotting it

Warm rhythm, of walking in the sand,
of a flooded sick water,
Dulling and then knotting
the most fidgety opponent.

A national footballer than a foreign coach

Isn't the ball any letter
it takes from house to house:

It is before telegram will
where the shoot where the drops.

Stopped, the Red Blackilandian makes
go where there-of, no leads and brings;

with circus arithmetic
he does go where it is needed;

in a telegram, which is no time
he does it go to the extreme.

It does not run: he knows that the ball is,
Telegram, more than flowing flies.

Montreal Noire Walktrough #7 - Ko-han travelling from the Traffic Desk to Homicide Desk

Montreal Noire Box - Buy your game now!

Case/Mission #9 - The false dream (Traffic Department)

Assigned to an auto accident. A Magnus OG 420 Class, wrecked against a billboard after driving at high speed in a place near/opposite to the Central Station of Surete de Montreal. No fatalities, the driver and passenger escaped with minor injuries. Your partner says that the driver is even lucid enough to be making allegations of an attempt of homicide, and the captain still wants the crash site investigated.
By the fact that the place is close, you don't need to get the car in the Surete's entrance and can walk until reach the place, but you'll need the car later anyway. Arriving in the place, the police officer Surigami Eiji will meet you in a cutscene, follow his car, and gets the right side embankment pathway, you'll reach the place and starts to talk with the coroner, he'll speak to you about the driver that is a woman, and the passenger that is a young lady, then begin to search for clues.

Kumiko Harigawa's underwear

If you give a look at the car inside, you'll see that the right side of the front glass is broken. Behind the vehicle, women's briefs that had been torn off, forcibly removed, found in the young lady's handbag, the coroner should run a trace for semen later. Also, a letter signed by Naisukoto Hamigara asking Utsugi Hamigara (the young lady) to come home with a Centrale postmark. Talk to the coroner, and he'll give you another clue. It's a shrunken head, the coroner thinks that this is a Gloriax one and that is some kind of curio or movie prop. The coroner tells for you see the casting marks, Ko-han asks the coroner what its made from, then he says that his first guess is plaster of Eastfield Lodge and then painted with it wedging the accelerator to the floor. Time to go up the same pathway you came from.

The letter

Now, go towards the ambulance to start the interview with the famale driver, she speaks that her's name is Humida Sasunata, she is the wife of a low-mobster connected to El Whirlo called Fernando Kerigoto. Ko-han speaks about her's allegation to the officer that they had been drugged and asks who did this to them, she'll try to avoid that saying that can't remember with a doubtful facial expression, Ko-han says that is a serious offence to withold information from the police during a criminal investigation, she says that her's husband will settle the score with Fipiko Hirogoto. Ko-han asks about the passenger in the car, Humida tells her name that is Kumiko Hamigara, and speaks that was a tough day for her and she's desperate to break into movies but don't speak more about it, Ko-han think that she's lying and holding something from him, showing it with the fact that Kumiko's underwear were physically torn off from her body, Humida speaks that she wanted to go to a casting, and Humida brought her to a casting. Ko-han asks about the shrunken head that was used to tamper the car, she speaks that normally doesn't drive off the cliffs, and the last thing she can remember is getting behind the wheel, Ko-han doubts that this is some kind of movie prop and she probably know where it came from, then Humida tells that doesn't deal with props or anything and asks Ko-han to speaks with Fipiko Hirogoto about which prop he uses. Ko-han asks about this Fipiko Hirogoto and if he have had something to do with it, she speaks that he is a movie producer, and about Fipiko's involvement to leave it to Humida and her husband, Ko-han doubts that and says that he want to know what happened between them two that made him want to commit a double murder, Humida tells Ko-han that Fipiko offered a part to Humida in his picture, and then he withdrew with it and they had a deal, that she pressed him on it and ended in it. Time to go to Surete's Central Station Hospital to interview Kumiko.
Speak with the receptionist to locate Kumiko's room. Before entering, speak with the doctor standing outside the room. Inside the room, examine the victim's examination that shows genital bruising and forced use and administration of chloral hydrate which is a evidence of abuse, before starting the interview. Ko-han asks what she remember about the crash, she tells that this is all kind of fuzzy then she remember walking up in the hospital, then talks that 'nothing happened yesterday', Ko-han proves the opposite, talking about the underwear that has been torn off found in her's handbag, she talks that didn't want that and only liked to be a star in the movies, that told it to Humida and she said to Kumiko to toughen up and that's the price of stardom provoking a shocking reaction from the detectives. Ko-han now tells that they need to get in touch with her parents, to tell them what has happened, Kumiko tells that them don't need to worry with that, and the parents sent her to stay along with the aunt Humida, that trey trust Humida to take care of her, certainly Ko-han denies that showing that she's a runaway and Kumiko don't have the permission of the parents to be in the place and talks about the letter signed by Naisukoto Hamigara, Kumiko tells that went to the strange place with Humida, someone gave her a drink to calm the nerves and then she started to felt faint and probably passed out. Ko-han asks about who did her meet Fipiko, she speaks that Humida's a big movie start and probably Ko-han knows that she's doing a new movie, Ko-han asks about what's the story with Fipiko and Humida and why does he want the two of them dead, she responds that this can't be true and Mr. Fipiko seen to be very happy in the past day, Ko-han responds that's why he wedged a shrunken head against the accelerator pedal and punted the two of them over an escarpment, she admitts that overheard Humida speaking with Fipiko a couple of times, even screaming at him, and that they seen to be okay in the last day. Ko-han tells that know what exactly happened to Kumiko and asks were it did take place, she tells that this is scary and its really difficulty to think of anything, Ko-han asks for her's help, and Kumiko speaks that remember about the mermaid, Ko-han asks if the mermaid was in the movie too, she explains that it was in a front of a building and that they pulled it off in the mermaid. As you leave yourself, you'll see Humida leave with her lawyer and decide to follow her, you have to follow the target from a distance. You tail her to a cafe, where you'll be able to eavesdrop in on her conversation presumably with other guy. Take cover by the door until she gets on the phone, and then quickly get to the booth with the newspaper to go unnoticed, you will earn an achievement/troph if you follow her without being spotted.

Fipiko and Hoshimiya Hosunaga's photo

She speaks to somebody make something to Fipiko, gives his address, and you sure will heard it. You need to be hurry and go towards the direction of this address in Fipiko's apartment. When you get there, you'll get to beat up Fernando Kerigoto's guys (remember about the low-mobster?) sent to get rid of Fipiko, then search for the clues, after interview Fipiko's wife. In the bedroom, between the closet and the bed, you'll find a check for $30,000, made out to Shimigaki Hosunaga, on the account of Fipiko Hirogoto. In the hallway, you'll find saddle prop, commissioned for a Fipiko's film. In the office, on the right, you'll find a photograph of the Great Wall of China with a scale model of Great Wall of China set from one of his films. On the cabinet, in the living room, you'll discover a Fipiko and Mr. Hosunaga pictured outside Gold Star Movies, with mermaid statue frontage, the wife near from you will speak that in the picture is Fipiko and Hoshimiya Hosunaga and that they work together on occasion. Then, go to the balcony and look at the old movie set, in central Montreal. Time to start the inteview with Fipiko's wife, Ayagira Hirogoto.
Ko-han starts talking about the domestic disturbance the two guys made, and he think that they work for Fernando, and that's Humida is married with the low-mobster and asks if Ayagira have ever heard of her. Ayagira speaks that Humida had been badgering her's husband for days, Ko-han says that Mrs. Kerigoto alleges that her husband tried to kill Humida and Kumiko in the past night, Ko-han tells Ayagira to speak to him what she knows about it, Ayagira says that her husband is a movie producer, that this has to do something with the new movie but he don't include Ayagira in this bussiness, Ko-han says that Humida had a deal with him to be in this new picture, Ayagira says that Fipiko repeatedly told her 'no', that he had Gesgoto Nasurekoto lined up for the role and that's this how he got the finance, that Humida made all kinds of threats to her and that was very rude, Ko-han asks if Ayagira knows Humida, and that Ayagira and Humida was in the same picture a few years back and that's how she met up with Fipiko, Ko-han asks about the whereabouts of Fipiko, she speaks that he said would be in the set. Ko-han asks now, why Fipiko are paying a $30,000 check for Shimigaki Hosunaga, she tries to avoid that, speaking that doesn't know nothing about it, and he shows the check and asks why the payoff are going to Hosunaga and not Kerigoto, she explains that Shimigaki Hosunaga (Hoshimiya Hosunaga's wife) works in a check casting place in Choongmooro and Halifax and that Ko-han needs to ask Hosunaga why he needs that much money in cash. Ko-han asks if he was in a casting yesterday with a young girl, Ayagira speaks that didn't know nothing about that and says that Fipiko told her that he was looking at locations and that the picture has been cast, Ko-han thinks that have more info behind it, and tells that the girl remember about a mermaid, the mermaid in a front of a prop store, Ayagira finally tells the true speaking that sometimes the town gets sick, and that her husband likes the girls as young, Ko-han asks if she thinks that this is okay, and Ayagira explains that she was sixteen when met Fipiko, she thought that Fipiko was a genius and a magician with films and she was twenty before realized that he was just a movie hack, but he's nothing compared to some monster of these big studios, and guests that Humida sacrificed her little friend and that this happens with a lot of girls. Before leaving, use the phone inside Fipiko's apartment or outside on the street to get the address for the Gold Star Movies location.
When you arrive, follow Hoshimiya Hosunaga to the soundstage and find the following clues. On the drinks cabinet, to the right on the stage you'll find a chloral hydrate formulation, matching traces in Kumiko Hamigara. On the table outside, between the two buildings, you'll find a pouring mold used to cast shrunken head props. Examine the mirror on the wall, at the soundstage, you need to examine the fake wall outside, examinating the pictures on the wall and the peep window to the toilet, in the corner. Don't forget the newspaper next to the shrunken head molds outside. On the shelf, in the Secret Camera Room, you'll find a film reel for 'Warrior Dream's a movie produced by Fipiko. On the cabinet, in the Secret Camera Room, a empty film canister marked 'Fipiko Hirogoto/Kumiko Hamigara', with, of course, film missing. Time to interview Hoshimiya Hosunaga.
Ko-han asks if he ever do any work for Fipiko Hirogoto, he confirms it when Fipiko are making a work for a studio, Ko-han asks when did Hoshimiya last seen him, then he speaks that haven't see him in the place a while, Ko-han thinks that he is lying, that knows Fipiko was there, and Hoshimiya knows exactly what he was doing and what he left lying around afterwards, Hoshimiya gets angry to Ko-han that came in the place without an arrant trying to deny that, Ko-han shows the fact about a chloral hydrate formulation, speaking that a 'fifteen young girl told him that how she was drugged and molested in a casting house', that found the chloral hydrate formulation in Hoshimiya's drinks cabinet, that is better to Hoshimiya give Ko-han something or he'll break Hoshimiya's jaw. Hoshimiya tells so that Fipiko were in the place with Humida and the girl Kumiko, and that a lot of directors and producers uses the place, that he isn't responsible for what goes on there. Ko-han tells that Kerigoto's mans are looking for Fipiko but he and Kuro-san need to find them first and asks if Hoshimiya have any idea where he might have gone to ground, Hoshimiya so speaks that if he really tried to kill Kerigoto's wife, his advice to Fipiko would be to leave town, then Ko-han asks if he was delivering props to Warrior Dreams Set on the Fifth Street, then Hoshi explains that Fipiko was using that old run down wreck of set, that the place is dangerous but might be a good place to hide. Ko-han asks what is his relation with Humida Sasunata, Hoshi explains that his work are with props and that hardly ever meet the talent unless it's something tailor made for them, like a sword or something, Ko-han proves that this is a lie and uses the fact that Hoshi and Humida are blackmailling Fipiko and that's why he cracked, Hoshimiya still keeps to deny that, Ko-han speaks that was in Hoshi's peep room that he seen his smut pictures and the camera set up proving that Hoshi made a picture of Kumiko, proved by the empty canister Ko-han found. Hosimiya then, tells that the deal is he get to sell the movies to burlesque houses and private collectors and that this movie guys love to see their ..... on screen, but the part of the arrangement is that Hoshi never filmed their faces, that Humida had him film Kumiko, and then she kept the movie for insurance, he went apeshit when realized that his face was front and center, and Ko-han asks who has the film right now, Hoshimiya responds clearly 'Kerigoto'. Ko-han tells that Humida had what she wanted, and asks where does the money come into it, Hoshi tries to avoid that telling that doesn't know nothing about any money, Ko-han says to Hoshi ''Enough of the lies'' and uses the $30,000 check to prove that Hoshi's ex (Shimigaki Hosunaga) was getting thirty large from Fipiko, then Hoshimiya explains that if he wanted to skim thirty from Fipiko they'd do it through the movie budget, that Humida said she would sell him the film once the movie had wrapped but Fernando wanted cash and that he's in a cash-only bussiness and Hoshi says that he hadn't any chance in this.
After it, a cutscene will begin with one of Vice's Desk detectives Hirohito Koochan saying that this is a clearly Vice/Narcotics case, and accusing Ko-han to roughing up his informant, and asks if Hoshimiya is a Vice informant, and Hirohito says that he is a very important one and asks to Hosi if he was upsetting the two officers, so Ko-han gets angry asking if they just drop it, Hirohito says that Ko-han do what he think it's better for him, and that he need to catch the movie producer before a angry husband does from what he's hearing, Ko-han says that he'll be making a full report to the captain, Hirohito doesn't looks like much worried about that.
When you leave the place, some of El Dragón (one of the mobsters linked to El Whirlo, a big Valladar-Guayabalense mob boss in Montreal)'s guys are waiting for you outside. You should decide whether you're up for a shootout or a car chase. Either way, your main focus should be to get out of there quickly. When you arrive, you immediately spot Fipiko. Prepare yourself for a little chase, that will take you around most of the set. As you finally catch up with him, Fernando Kerigoto's guys arrive and you will have to defend Fipiko as well as yourself.

by **Nephara** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:30 pm

THE BRINEMOUTH HERALD
NEPHARA'S GREATEST TEAMS: PART TWO - THE FIRST WORLD CUP TEAM
by Patricia Steinbren

In this latest Herald series, our journalists will track down the stories of Nephara's great teams - specifically, the ones that won titles - and really rake up what made them so successful, recount their stories and ask where their key players are now.

It was one of the most exhilarating matches in Esportivan history, maybe the most. A breathless Campionato final, 4-4 after 90 minutes, scoreless across extra time. Four penalties scored apiece, nobody yet missing. Darren Parrett buries one. Yolanda McFlemming's is saved, caught cleanly by Kieron Riordan. Nephara's second Campionato from three attempts...

... but this article isn't about them. This is about the next year.

Fresh off dispatching the Licentian Isles and the Northern Sunrise Islands en route to a Campionato title that also saw the emergence of Buyan and the first signs that Brenecia would break out of its chronic mediocrity under Jon Slatesaver, Nephara then went to the first ever Confederations Cup, a tournament that is set to be renewed this year. Esportiva's place back then was still firmly as the third from three confederations, but while Osarius beat Nephara easily, victory over Saugeais and a creditable 1-1 draw with Cassadaigua ensured the Cormorants left with pride.

They'd need it. They were drawn in qualifying with world champions Eura... and immediately dropped the first match to lowly Kinzar. But this was during Nephara's indomitable, legendary 10-year run unbeaten at home, and the Cormorants promptly defeated Eura 3-1 in a match where legendary striker Gerhard Thunder's 'no-messing' approach secured victory. A lot failed to go their way in qualifying - Thunder was injured, Nephara were goalshy, lowly Tasrailia managed two draws with them and Eura crushed them 6-2 in the reverse fixture - but a tense and tightly-poised set of playoffs against the Free Republics ended 4-2 in the Cormorants' favour. For the first time, at the fourth time of asking, Nephara was in the World Cup.

Nephara's lineup in the second match, against the Polar Islandstates.

Not that things got any easier from there, as Nephara drew a group popularly known as 'the Group of 50% Death'. Nephara were not part of that 50%. First up would be the hosts, the Equestrian States, a strong middle-power of the world. They weren't the first seeds, thanks to rules specific to that tournament - world number 1s and eventual champions the Polar Islandstates were. Neither Nephara nor third seeds Antoletia were given a chance in hell of progressing - expected to be beaten easily by both before drawing with one another. Back then, most of the best Nepharim players plied their trade abroad which lead to a rather scattergun-looking Nepharim side. The popular opinion? Brave but limited journeymen.

This might be something of a disservice, as there were a few excellent players in the Nepharim side. Kieron Riordan between the posts was 29 at the time and making a name for himself at Wrexton FC. A stable of Nepharim defenders plying their trade at home will be familiar to most - though maybe not the fact that Hadrian Belfast had been dropped during qualifying for poor form, leaving Tosca Marlowe to partner Karl Finnan for the tournament itself. The ever-reliable Stokes on the left and James 'Snowy' Sleet out on the right held down the flanks, while the brain of the team was Michael Brandon, an intelligent, calm presence in the heart of midfield. He was the side's key man ahead of the tournament. Midfielders Harper and Crowley flanked him, with Dale Brightley at the peak of his powers at the tip of the diamond. 33-year old Gerhard Thunder, now playing in Astograth, partnered Gortz United's Evans in the first game before the impressive, physical Keith Rowland was preferred against the Polar Islandstates. It was also a first chance to really shine for Cheney Bittencourt, then at Treason, though he played only a small role this cycle. Chris Christon, anticipated to be a sensation at the age of 21, proved not to be.

The first match, however, exposed the gulf in class between Nephara and the top teams. The Cormorants tried their best but had no answer to the Equestrian pace and poise up front, and were never given the breathing room to seriously threaten Gentle Breeze's goal. The Polar Islandstates easily beat Antoletia. Nothing out of the ordinary. And, just before the match against the Valhallans, Antoletia surprisingly scraped a point against the Equestrian States - meaning Nephara needed a result against the Islandstates, or they were out. That looked a tall order.

The Islandstates, at the peak of their powers, played much like a far better version of Nephara - very physical, very strong, very forceful and hard to beat. The match began with Brightley being utterly floored by a clattering Valhallan challenge, and Nephara's playmaker was still trying to shake off a widely-held view that he was essentially a lightweight. Within seven minutes, Felix Saarinen had beaten Brandon, Marlowe, Finnan, Brandon, Riordan and, for the third time, Brandon as he smashed the ball into an empty net. Nephara doubled down in terms of physicality, Saarinen destroyed by Finnan in a brutal professional foul before Kirilaunen, probably the best goalkeeper of the era, saved well from Brightley. The limitations of Rowland, yet to hit his truly prolific years, and Thunder, 33 and not setting the Astograthian league alight, were being exposed.

And then Dale Brightley, in the 44th minute, took the ball in the edge of the D, noticed that both strikers were marked down, took a touch with his left to place the ball at the edge of the D before firing it home with his right. Kirilaunen got a hand to it, as he always did... but it wasn't enough. It was Nephara's first World Cup goal of many.

Inevitably, the Valhallan superiority told by the 90 minutes. Gareth Pearce, on for the booked Finnan, gave away a penalty with his first touch of the game - a panicked handball - which Saarinen coolly dispatched before Villeneuve finished the Cormorants off. Nephara was the first side to be eliminated from that World Cup, and now they needed to salvage some pride from their last fixture. Fortunately, they managed it. Antoletia might have scraped a point against the States and still had a chance of progression, but they weren't done any favours by the Cormorants. Nephara kept tight, Kieron Riordan kept a clean sheet before Gerhard Thunder's pinpoint header off a straightforward Catheline Harper cross secured Nephara's first ever World Cup victory.

In the aftermath of the tournament, Gethin Ramsey accepted a contract with the Licentian Isles, and would eventually set a record for qualifying for the World Cup with three different teams. His former assistant, then with Crisisbless, Jess Mortlock was appointed the new manager and got off to an ignominious start as the CE9 title defence ended with one match played and lost, to the Old Guard. But Nephara qualified for the World Cup in a ridiculous qualification process that saw them have to beat the 10th-ranked Calanians and then 9th-ranked Farfadillis just to make it to the World Cup before ultimately managing the quarterfinals, followed up a year later with a record third Campionato victory. Sure, Nephara's record at World Cup 67 will always read, unimpressively, 3rd place - 1-0-2, 2 scored, 5 conceded. But it meant, and still means, so much more than just that.

by **Brenecia** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:08 pm

When in football management, you couldn't allow yourself to be trapped in your narrative. Let it inspire you when it has to. Use it to inspire those within your influence. But don't be controlled by it.
Raven Cullen, freshly-minted manager of the floundering Brenecian national football team, had made the mistake of being controlled by her narrative. That narrative was; heroic new manager comes in, breath of fresh air to the lads, leads them to glory.
Oh, sure, she'd admired Sasha Bale's work - who hadn't? And in all honesty she considered Bale's sacking harsh. But you don't turn down the national team job. You just... don't.
Narratives can change. For instance, when Nishidake finds the right pass to put Alcouin through the defence, and Alcouin just has far too much pace for Faulkner and far too much guile for Bradden, hurdles Szukala's challenge and fires past Mathis Woodgate. The narrative shifted. Now it said; shit.
But Cullen believed. Besides, they hadn't kept a clean sheet in qualifying yet, why start now? She stayed the course. The Patriots kept attacking. Charged forward and harassed and harried and finally, when Purrington's crossfield pass found Squire Trevelyan who in turn cut it across to Roisin Carroll who smashed it in, the narrative became; the comeback is on.
It didn't matter that the Islanders were dominating in the centre of the park, that Purrington had been otherwise in Sarracena's pocket, that the crowd somehow expected defeat from this seemingly strong position. To Raven Cullen, at half-time, no changes were required. They didn't need tactics. They had... the narrative.
So in the second half, of course, Purrington was silent, Skorupska was off her pace, Nishidake was being given the slip by Nishidake while Rankin had hardly had a touch all game, and Cullen did nothing to stop Alcouin doubling her tally in the 58th minute, something the entire stadium had seen coming. She consulted Sylver for changes. The comeback could still be on.
The crowd gasped.
Drover was warming up. So was Foran, and so was Lynch. Now these... these were good changes. But three at once! Such a novel, adventurous move from Cullen. The kind of thing people like to see, commentators gush about... assuming, of course, that it works.
Cullen sensed a new shift in the narrative: wondrous change turns game. But the narrative wasn't in her control. And Dolando Juliano's strike, which smashed high and true into the stanchion past a despairing Woodgate while the three substitutes were still warming up, didn't give a fuck about her narrative.
Neither, in the event, did the final result.
The narrative shifted, and threatened to stay there; failure.

by **The Royal Kingdom of Quebec** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:56 pm

Remember the Grim Reapers : #1 : Adrian Middleton (G)

GK Adrian Middleton, 35
World Cups 69-74

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Remember the Grim Reapers. An idea brought up by one of our board members, this series is dedicated to remember the Grim Reapers who had once played or managed for us. This series will also include Quebecois footballers who were unfortunately not around in time for the national team, but contributed in special ways to the Quebecois football before. The very first entry of this series will be marked by the goalkeeper who had just retired from playing for Quebec a year ago, but is remembered by many for his greatness and success as a veteran leader and goalkeeper of the 2-time Quarterfinalists as they qualified for 6 straight runs and made it to knockout stages the three times. With this being his second-last season of a pro career, we had felt that he deserves a special shoutout. Roll on.

Personality: In both public and private life, Adrian was a silent, well reserved figure. He was a great teammate in leading his defence, but more or less did things silently through his actions and nothing else. He's usually very straightforward and quiet when talking to media or others, preferring to stick to basic details and not detailing more than that. It was very rare that Adrian would say more, due to his belief that he should only speak of what he'd seen and thought. The respect there for him is universal, but he's not a particularly popular individual; the way he liked things to be. Let the others talk and have fans all over them, that'd have been his thought.

Playing Style: When it comes to playing style, Adrian Middleton's the pioneering sweeper in Quebecois goalkeepers. Highly acrobatic and fluid, he's been known throughout his career in being able to generate the best and unlikeliest of saves when asked to. His speed, still recognised as among tops in the national team, and aggressiveness always seemed to have Middleton pushing for the ball, something that added to his memorable dives. His ball control and distribution were also very good, though at times this was more or less compromised with subpar teammates in front. If there's one fault with him, that'd be his greatest strength at same time : aggressiveness. While his aggressiveness helped him make dramatic saves as needed, this also made him prone to occasional downers and accidental goals, product of his occasional lapses and his pushes. Had he put more thought into play, as opposed to going ahead with his senses most of the time, he would've had a better career.

Early Life: Adrian Pierce Middleton was born in April 23, 1990 to Reggie Middleton and Marianne Lafreniere in the western plains of Abitibit region- the region not particularly known for producing footballers (hence Middleton being the most renowned Abitibian footballer in last half-century). It was rumoured that he's played goalkeeper all his life, mostly because of his lanky stature and long height all the way back to the age of 4, so it's safe to say that Adrian's meant to be a goalkeeper for the Grim Reapers in first place. With that being said, Adrian grew up a promising footballer, the one whose interest in digging into what's a new style of football, and soon dominated the local youth leagues and later high school leagues. Following graduation, when he allowed 1 goal in 28 games his senior season to lead Val-Aspen High School to provincial championships, he instantly received many interest from the clubs across the league, who wanted him to join the Q-League and put himself in test as a teenager. Adrian, however, shunned such attention given at early age and decided to play in the collegiate league (Quebec Intercollegiate Athletics, also known as QIS) with Universite de Montreal on an athletic scholarship.

Club Career: As those watching Quebecois football would already know, there have been very few Grim Reapers entering through collegiate system the last while. There have been a few, but most would go to academy systems and then pro leagues at a much earlier age. This did not bother Adrian Middleton at all, who continued excelling in Universite de Montreal. After winning 4 consecutive golden glove award for best collegiate goalkeeper and 2 QIS titles, he graduated from Montreal having won almost every award out there. Quite ironic for the guy who ran to avoid all the attention early pro career would lead into.

After graduating from UdM with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Middleton joined Maximum Rovers. In what was his rookie year in Maximum, he was expected as backup to Troy Ross in a four-people goaltending tandem but came away with the season-end as their bona fide starting goalkeeper. His immediate impact helped out the team as well, as during his first 2 seasons the Rovers had succeeded in staying in top half of the Nepharim Premiership, a large part in thanks to him. For the next 11 years he's been serving as their starting goalkeeper, becoming a team stalwart to whom the team did not deserve, but needed and came along. During his time with Rovers he's become a club legend, saving his team from relegation many times and becoming the stable, consistent presence for a team that lacked much of anything remotely close to consistency. Many times he's had contract disputes and contemplated on being a free agent, but every time something good would come away between them and by the training camp he'd be back like usual.

Now on his 13th season, Adrian is now finally the team captain. With his retirement bound to come after next season, he's slowly getting used to splitting duties with Malta Hawthorn, whose mentoring has been underway by the longtime veteran. Once that's complete, at the age of 36, we all know what will happen next: Adrian Middleton retiring to the sunset.

International Career: Quebecois goalkeeping depth was never ever deep, but boy it was a really painful era back when Middleton entered into the field. The retirement of Adrien Marchand, Kyle Lavertu-Dumas and many top-calibre goalkeepers during the era had drained the depth the Grim Reapers once had for goalkeepers and it was the subsequent eras that both Cech and Middleton had to bounce around all the time because the lack thereof a stable 3rd-choice goalkeeper. For the player his calibre, he was called up very late, at the age of 25 along with highly-touted Ondrej Cech, in the Grim Reapers' World Cup 69 squad. Stepping up in moulds left by Lavertu-Dumas and Marchand he received significant playing time in a tandem that involved the two players alternating games. With almost-identical results, it seemed that Middleton had chance to take over as the starting goalkeeper over Cech, whose high potential and impressive performances, at the same time as his early inconsistencies, were noted. Sadly, however, a major injury had stopped Middleton in qualification rounds of 71st World Cup, and the tides had turned. Ondrej Cech, who had been leveling up in 2nd of 3 consecutive golden gloves with Beckwith City, took over in the his absence and led them to the Round of Sixteen where they managed to play valiantly against Eura in a 1-2 thriller.

Since then Middleton had continued his time with Grim Reapers as a backup; a special one nonetheless. With a team now lot more formidable and fluid in front of him, Adrian performed admirably the next three cycles playing great chunks of the games as expected. Aging quicker than expected, Middleton continued to serve for Quebec in World Cups 73 and 74, during which the Grim Reapers achieved remarkable success en route to the quarterfinals. His win number 25 came from the 3-2 win over Cosumar in Round of Sixteen match of the World Cup, during which he had played well in containing the explosive Cosumarite offence.

Personal Life / Life After Football (?) : ~~Seriously? He's still playing man. Go watch Rovers games, like seriously.....~~
Not much is known, even to this day, of the Quebecois international as the 35-year old have kept low profile on his personal life. He was married in 2018 to Nora Hansen, a college floormate back in UdM who had played for Carabins women's football team. Together they have three children: Desideria (born 2019), Gustav (born 2022) and Andre (born 2024). Adrian had said multiple times in past and hopes to stay in Nephara following his retirement, making him one of few footballers not heading back to Quebec following retirement. His post-career plans are currently unknown, aside from his clear interest in youth academy and coaching. More we'll see over time.

by **Abaja** » Sat Jun 18, 2016 1:39 am

World Cup LXXV

Ju, Esé carry Abaja to a 5-2 win

- By David Osesé

ABAJA

Ju 7'
Esé 19'
Esé 38'
Odena 55'
Atsi 64'
Ju 69'

SHYTYSLE

Swomppyng 2'
Jym 28'
Swomppyng 44'
Jym 85'

Abaja 5 - 2 Shytysle

GROUP 20

Flardania 0–3 Ko-oren
Nordeana 0–3 Chromatika
Abaja 5–2 Shytysle
Group 20                                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                  7    6   0   1    14    4  +10    18
2 Chromatika                               7    3   2   2     9    6   +3    11
3 Abaja                                    7    3   2   2    12   10   +2    11
4 Flardania                                7    3   2   2    10   10    0    11
5 Anglatia                                 6    2   2   2     5    5    0     8
6 Nordeana                                 7    0   4   3     7   13   −6     4
7 Shytysle                                 7    0   2   5     9   18   −9     2
The Abajans stayed in Kingston to play Shytysle for the second time. Just last week, the Abaja Lions were unable to defeat Shytysle, a team who they thought they should have beaten. They ended the game in a draw 3-3. Today, the Lions almost doubled the amount of goals scored since the first time these two teams met, and it will also be the last time these two will meet, by the fact that this Shytysle loss means Shytysle is now unable to qualify from Group 20. It will be pretty much impossible for Shytysle to comeback. Alulawe Ju and Dedéna Esé were the two key factors in the match up, combining for four goals. Emmanuel Udoh and Eze Mbanefo also played a big role on defense. The Abajans are now placed #3 in their group, being just #5 yesterday, and their confidence is on the rise. On June 18, the Abajans will have a bye day. During the press conference, here's what Alulawe Ju had to say. "It seems as if every time we play in our country, we turn into superstars. I guess it's because the crowd gives us so much momentum and confidence heading into the game. We just don't have that same type of energy booster while we are playing away games. That' why I love playing at home. Ever since the World Cup qualifiers have started, we've won three, drew one, and lost zero. We'll like to keep it like that heading into match day nine through fourteen.We are getting closer and closer, we just have to have enough fight and effort in order to pull it off and be one of the thirty teams to make it out." Alan Atsi also said "Yeah, I agree with that. If we win on the nineteenth and if Chromatika loses to Flardania, we are in good shape of taking their spot for second in our group. Second or first is really where we want to be. If we are one of the thirty teams to make it our of qualifiers, then that's absolutely fantastic. If we can't, then oh well. We'll try again next time around. And when we do, we'll possibly do more damage than we did currently. We now know how these teams play, all of them. Now, all we need to do is stop their strengths. Their weaknesses will soon start to grow, and show. That's what we did this game. We limited a heavily offensive team to only two goals. Shytysle's defense was their weakness, and we now knew that this game. After this game, we'll have a bye day. After that, we have another team that shouldn't be much of a hassle to beat.

Here's what Dedéna Esé had to say about the team's defense and offense. "I really think that our offense was looking great out there! We were bringing on a lot - I mean a LOT of pressure on them. We had some missed opportunities that could have resulted in goals, but hey. At least we won it! We don't really need a blowout win for us to be happy, just a win in general will make us confident. Me, Alan, and Alulawe worked near perfectly on offense. Crisp passes, good communication, great teamwork in general. As for the defense, it's definitely looking sharp out there. Sure, they gave up a couple goals, but if they weren't playing as aggressively as they were this game, it would have been a five-five game! This team wasn't exactly the toughest on our schedule, but you've got to admit, their offense is pretty damn impressive. That's the reason why they managed to tie us in the first game between us. Stephen Oyenusi added on, saying "You see? Our defense is starting to improve! Bit by bit. We let up two goals. Yeah, a little bit of miscommunication those two times, but look. In our first three games, we let up six goals. Six. In our last three games, we let up three. Our defense is getting stronger. In our first three games, we scored only four goals. We scored more than how much we did in our first three games this game, and we scored seven goals our last three games. Now, we can't get comfortable at all with this win. Because, as I said before, we have more difficult teams coming up. Not on June nineteenth, of course, but from June twenty to June twenty fourth, we have another four teams that will be very hard to beat. We have to continue to play our hearts out, and let each minute count. Not one minute should go to waste, because that's a minute that we could use to score a goal. Can we win against Nordeana? Believe so, but it's easier said than done. Let's take this bye day as an advantage.

The Lions hosted Shytysle for the first time. Kingston, being it a sunny day outside makes the weather perfect for football. Alulawe Ju wanted to cheer up his home crowd one more time before heading into Nordeana. The match started. Shytysle were already on a fast pace. Within one minute, just one minute, Shytysle was bringing the pressure to the Abajans. Aogust Merryleeloecwayshuss (SHY) passes it up to Djaemz Wobbyt (SHY). He zooms up field and runs past Fabrosu Nyema (ABJ). He passes it to Jym (SHY). Jym shoots, but it is blocked and then dived on by Joseph Amé (ABJ). It was now the second minute, and Joseph Amé threw it to Stephen Oyenusi (ABJ). Oyenusi tried to avoid Tommas Swomppyng (SHY) so that he could pass it up to Ahmad Abdullah (ABJ). Tommas Swomppyng wasn't having it, and tried to tackle him. He got a small piece of the ball, but tripped up Stephen Oyenusi. The referee gave Swomppyng a yellow card, in which he obviously did not approve. He thought it was clean. In the 5th minute, here was Abaja. Ahmad Abdullah, running it up the field. He finds Fabrosu Nyema. Gets it there. Fabrosu Nyema passes it up to Alulawe Ju (ABJ). Ju works his way past his defender. He sees that goalkeeper Daellya Duedoo (SHY) starts to come up. Alulawe Ju tries to chip it over her, but his kick is too high. In the 7th minute, goalkeeper Daellya Duedoo kicks it to Tommas Swomppyng. It's quickly taken away within seconds by Alulawe Ju. HUGE mistake by Swomppyng. Two seconds later, he shoots, and it's in! Alulawe Ju with a fantastic shot to put Abaja up 1-0 within the first 10 minutes of the game after that zooming shot enters the top left corner of the net! The crowd went loud. In the 13th minute, Abaja had another chance to score. Here's Fabrosu Nyema (ABJ). Pass to Ervin Jon-Mikel (ABJ) Jon-Mikel to Alan Atsi (ABJ). Now Alan Atsi to Alulawe Ju. Ju back to Atsi. Atsi to Ju, and it's kicked away by Claryys Belch (SHY). A little bit of miscommunication there from the two. Alulawe Ju said that he wanted a cross. Apparently Alan Atsi did not hear him. Then came the 16th minute. Abaja was attacking again. Eze Mbanefo (ABJ) passes it up to Fabrosu Nyema. Nyema pass to Ahmad Abdullah. Abdullah runs it up field before being tackled by Aogust Merryleeloecwayshuss. Merryleeloecwayshuss passed it up to Lydya a'Guncey. As she is working it up field, she tried to get past Nyema. Eventually she does. She then tries to pass up to Jym, the deadly attacking midfielder. The pass was cut off by Merrakwü Odena (ABJ) and slowly moved the ball up. The 19th minute soon came. Abaja still in possession here. Ahmad Abdullah easily loses Aljhernon Phustylugs (SHY) and passes it up to Alulawe Ju. As Ju is moving it up, Dedéna Esé is rushing through the box as well. Daellya Duedoo comes up again. Alulawe Ju passes to Esé. Daellya Duedoo tries to dive for the ball as it was being passed, but she misses, leaving the goal wide open for Dedéna Esé to shoot. Dedéna Esé, and it slowly rolls into the back of the net. GOAL! Abaja scores again and its 2 - nil within twenty minutes. Great teamwork by Dedéna Esé and Alulawe Ju. Goalkeeper Daellya Duedoo grew angry with her teammates' defense. "Where the hell is the defense!?" She yelled. "Stop playing so soft! We are down two-to-zero already!" Life started to grow for Shytysle in the 27th minute. Lydya a'Guncey. made a pass to Aljhernon Phustylugs (SHY), who passed it up to Jym. Jym ran up field and passed to Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad (SHY). Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad took a shot. Joseph Amé dove for it and managed to reach out and bat the ball away. The ball cam right back to Jym, and before Joseph Amé could even get up, the ball zoomed into the back of the net. GOAL! Goal for Shytysle! The Abajan crowd grew silent. Shytysle was now back in this game, but it just got worse from there for Shytysle. In the 33rd minute, Dedéna Esé crossed to Alulawe Ju. The cross was perfect, and Abaja had a chance to put the lead to 3-1. Could they? Here's the header! Far left. The 38th minute soon arrived. Abaja was attacking AGAIN. Ahmad Abdullah passes it to Alulawe Ju. Alulawe Ju runs past Tommas Swomppyng. The crowd grows louder. Can Abaja score again? Alulawe Ju takes a booming shot. The shot bounces high off the top crossbar, however the ball is still in bounds. The ball comes down, and as it does, Dedéna Esé heads it into the back of the net! Daellya Duedoo was able to get a hand on it, but the ball still manages to get past. 3-1! Within 38 minutes, things are already starting to turn down for the Shytyslanders. Shytysle tries to respond in the 43rd minute. Aljhernon Phustylugs quickly passes to Jym, who tries to run past Eze Mbanefo, but fails. Mbanefo ends up with the ball. He quickly got tackled by Tommas Swomppyng. But, was it clean? Not in the refs eyes. Swomppyng got his second foul of the game, and he received a red card. Tommas Swomppyng yelled at the ref that the tackle was clean, but the ref wasn't having it. Before the first half even ended, already Tommas Swomppyng was sent off. As he was sent off, the Abaja fans got some pleasure out of it, yelling "Na-na-na-na! Na-na-na-na! Hey, hey, hey! Goodbye!" Edga Phlumppe (SHY) was put in to replace him for the rest of the game. However, that made no difference. Shytysle was still having problems stopping the Abajan offense. At 45+3. Fabrosu Nyema tried a long distance shot. It was caught by Daellya Duedoo. The halftime whistle blew, and Abaja held a some-what comfortable 3-1 lead over the Shytyslanders.

At halftime, Abaja leads 3-1. The sunny weather in Kingston started to become cloudy. A lot went on in the first half of play. 4 goals were scored, and a player was sent off. The second half soon started. Shytysle is trying to get out of their slump, but they couldn't, as the problems started to build on. In the 49th minute, Jym got a cross from Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad. The Abajan crowd got a little worried, thinking that they were going to score here, but they did not. Jym's header was too high. The 50th minute came. Ervin Jon-Mikel had the ball. Lydya a'Guncey too the ball away from him. She passed it up to Jym. Jym got tackled by Emmanuel Udoh. Udoh passed it back to Ervin Jon-Mikel. Jon-Mikel to Fabrosu Nyema. Djaemz Wobbyt tried to tackle him. He got him by the feet, and Fabrosu Nyema tripped and fell. The crowd booed at the ref. Shytysle had the ball again now. Aljhernon Phustylugs passed it to Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad, who tried to cross it to Jym, but the cross was too close into Joseph Amé's reachh, and he punched the ball away. Merrakwü Odena bombed it up field, where it came to Djaemz Wobbyt. Wobbyt passed it up to Jym. It was headed away by Merrakwü Odena. The ball came to Emmanuel Udoh, who passed it up to Fabrosu Nyema. Nyema now passes to Ahmad Abdullah. Abdullah had space to run, so he did so. Abdullah saw Aogust Merryleeloecwayshuss coming up, so he hurried and shot a booming kick before Merryleeloecwayshuss had a chance to block it. The shot was just barely off the mark. Abajan fans had their hands on their heads, seeing that Abdullah's shot was very close to making it 4-1. The 55th minute approached. Shytysle had possession now. Edga Phlumppe (SHY) passes up to Aljhernon Phustylugs. Aljhernon Phustylugs passes it to Djaemz Wobbyt, who passes it back to Phustylugs. Phustylugs passes up to Jym. Jym getting closer and closer to the box. The Abajan fans were again out of their seats. Jym gets clipped by the legs by Merrakwü Odena, who's been very active on defense this game. Unfortunately for Odena, this time he gets a yellow card, his first of the WC75 Qualifications. Odena actually got lucky that he fouled Jym JUST outside the box, but Shytysle was very close. Jym took the shot. It was high and fast, but the shot was tapped up and out by Joseph Amé. Corner kick for Shytysle. The kick was up. It made it's way into the box. Jym got the header, but it was far right this time. Jym frustratingly runs his hands across his face, and Shytysle continues to struggle here in the second half, but they are starting to get more possessions. The 63rd minute came, and Shytysle again had possession, but a pass from Aogust Merryleeloecwayshuss to Jym, but the pass was picked off by Fabrosu Nyema. The 64th minute came. Nyema to Ahmad Abdullah. Abdullah passes to Alulawe Ju. Ju passes to Alan Atsi. Atsi back to Ju. Great possession here by Abaja. Alulawe Ju once again avoids his defender, and passes to Alan Atsi again. Atsi runs up. He decides to shoot. And.... He scores! Now it's 4-1, Abaja leads! Atsi with a beautiful kick that goes right past Daellya Duedoo, and Shytysle basically has no chance to get back into this one. In the 64th minute, Henry Mensah (ABJ) subs in for Emmanuel Udoh. In the 67th minute, Abaja again had another chance to score. Ervin Jon-Mikel passes it up to Alan Atsi. Atsi passes it to Alulawe Ju. Alulawe Ju runs up, takes a booming kick, and the shot it caught by Daellya Duedoo. Daellya Duedoo throws it to Pryns non regys Nyggers (SHY). Nyggers then passes it to Edga Phlumppe. Phlumppe passes up to Aljhernon Phustylugs. Jym is awaiting a pass. He passes to him. Jym's shot is up, and too high. This did not make Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad happy. She yelled at him that she was wide open, and he would not give him the ball. In the 69th minute. Abaja was running up field. Dedéna Esé passed to Alulawe Ju. Alulawe Ju again lost his opponent, and saw Daellya Duedoo move up. He shot the ball low this time. The ball went past her, and again Abaja scores! The score was now 5-1, and folks, this game is pretty much wrapped up. Now we'll just have to wait on what the winning margin is going to be. Sermanu Reswe subbed in for Ervin Jon-Mikel. The 76th minute approached. Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad was making her move. She decided to shoot the ball herself rather than pass to Jym, but her shot was blocked by Henry Mensah. Another corner kick for Shytysle, and another chance to score. Here's the kick. It was high. It was out of Jym's reach. Stephen Oyenusi heads it to Ahmad Abdullah. Ahmad Abdullah sprints , then passes to Alan Atsi. Atsi has his opponent behind him. He shoots it. Daellya Duedoo catches it. In the 84th minute, Abaja had possession, until Dedéna Esé's pass was picked off by Aedden Scabb (SHY). Scabb passed it to Lydya a'Guncey, who passed it up to Nyshybha Apnypayroonparceechad. Here came the 85th minute. Jym is yelling for the ball. Apnypayroonparceechad gives it to him. Jym shoots a long distance shot. The ball zooms across the field. GOAL! The ball goes past Joseph Amé and Jym has scored his second goal of the match! The final whistle then blows, and Abaja is able to pull off their first victory against Shytysle. One June 18, Abaja will have a bye day. After that, they head over to Nordeana. Who will win?

COMMENTS • 9,486
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Nicholas Nufi - Joined March 3, 2013
- June 17, 11:34 PM @Laurent James "Rigged" Lol salty ass
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Michael Mars - Joined March 11, 2014
- June 17, 11:49 PM Thought it would be like 9-1 considering these motherfkers just pulled off the impossible the other day
Reply • Like (992) • Dislike (21)

Tuff Man15 - Joined January 16, 2015
- June 17, 10:18 PM Second in a row. Let's get three straight on Sunday!
Reply • Like (582) • Dislike (13)

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