The World Cup of Dreams

[Qazox]

Off to a good start-

A 2-0 shutout of Druida has Qazox alone atop the Group 13 standings, albeit just 2 games in of a 10 game group stage, but we'll take it for now. Played in front of 77,000 at a simulated Estadije Hades Lavamje, Rejistania; Qazox took the early advantage and stifled the World Cup 20 co-hosts' offense. Marc Klick only faced 2 shots all day, while Kallie Jaus (11th) and Matilda Swords (40th) each scored in the first half. The match was interrupted midway through the 2nd half when a naked Az-czian dwarf ran on to the pitch yelling about colors or some such nonsense. The dwarf was quickly tackled by security and led off the field in handcuffs.

In other group action, Oglethorpia tied up Valanora 1-1 and Bettia edged Kura-Pelland 1-0. Up next, Qazox will face Bettia.

[Turori]

Probable Starting Eleven for the Turorian "Dream TeaM"

GK :: Milauo Slietah ( #83 ) : Yeaddin Owls AFC
Milauo Slietah is perhaps the most-famous of all Turorian goalies. Along with fellow Turorian National team star Marlian Hunial, Slietah helped to start up Cednia BeachAFC, the most succesful domestic club in the Island Emirate. As if his goal-stopping exploits hadn't won him enough recognition, in one famous international occasion, Slietah scored a hat-trick in a Cup of Harmony world World Cup 16 against Starblaydia, ensuring himself a place in football folklore.Click Here for an excerpt from the Starblaydi Newspaper The Jhanna Chronicle, recounting the match.

DEF :: ( #2 ) : Unknown Location
A regular starter under Jualiar Vumaou, Cocoabo #2 is a reliable defender who rarely makes mistakes, but rarely makes big plays. A safe bet at the back.

DEF :: ( #3 ) : Unknown Location
Cocoabo #3 was thrust into the spotlight during World Cup xXxI qualifying, making its first appearance in a starting role as the lead central defender and sweeper replacing the injured Cocoabo #6.

DEF :: ( #4 ) : Unknown Location
Regular team captain and defensive stalwart, Cocoabo #4 was a commanding presence at the back. Unfortunately, its stamina sometimes lets it down and Cocoabo #7 regularly would need to come in to replace Cocoabo #4 for the final 20 minutes, moving the captaincy to Cocoabo #26.

MID :: ( #29 ) : Unknown Location
Flying down the left wing, Cocoabo #29 was a member of both the World Cup 30, Cup of Harmony and World Cup 31 squads, being the quiet but productive left winger who's position in the squad was hardly ever challenged by the fringe players like Cocoabo #28

MID :: ( #22 ) : Unknown Location
Cocoabo #22 was one of the strongest central midfielders for Turori in the World Cup, and was always in the running for the group MVP honors.

MID :: ( #23 ) : Unknown Location
Cocoabo #23 replaced Cocoabo #21 as Jualiar Vumaou's partner of choice in the center of midfield along side Cocoabo #22. Cocoabo #23 first received good reviews for his performance as a substitute coming on against higher ranked Spruitland in the Cup of Harmony following World Cup 30.

MID :: ( #26 ) : Unknown Location
Sharing the duties of the Captaincy with Cocoabo #4, Cocoabo #26 was one of the most dependable outside midfielders on the pitch for Turori and was always most likely to complete the full 90 minutes in most, if not all of Turori matches.

AMC :: ( #27 ) : Unknown Location
Cocoabo #27 made their debut as a member of the starting lineup in Jualiar Vumaou's new look Attacking Formation for World Cup 31 in Vilita & The Lowland Clans. Cocoabo #27 had shown promise in the new role in the gap between the forwards during training in a move that virtually ended the career of Cocoabo #33, the more defensive minded midfielder.

FOR :: ( #19 ) : Never Stepped Foot in Rejistania
An ever-present in Jualiar Vumaou's squad, Cocoabo #19 was one of the most promising and exiting among the entire flock. Having never stepped foot in Rejistania, this Cocoabo was all business when it comes to scoring goals.

FOR :: ( #11 ) : Unknown Location
Cocoabo #13 was a regular starter under Vumaou in World Cup 30 Qualifying, but lost his place to Cocoabo #13 during the ensuing Cup of Harmony. After a disappointing early exit from the Cup of Harmony, however, Cocoabo #11 returned the starting lineup and never looked back.


"Dream" Reserve Players

GK :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #82 ) : Unknown Location
GK :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #95 ) : Believed to have once resided in Makosile

DEF :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #6 ) : Unknown Location
DEF :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #5 ) : Unknown Location

DMC :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #35 ) : Unknown Location
MID :: Cuolia Tuirma ( #28 ) : Cednia Beach AFC
MID :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #21 ) : Unknown Location
MID :: Malaino Mumamba ( #22 ) : Yeaddin Owls AFC

FOR :: Unknown - Cocoabo ( #13 ) : Unknown Location
FOR :: Mauritus Banda ( #10 ) : FC Almintora
FOR :: Akamoari Liano ( #16 ) : Unknown Location

Kit to be worn by Cocoabo's. Citizen players will have their choice of Kit as, hey, its a dream after all.

[Sorthern Northland]

It had long been a routine. Each and every night as the sky outside darkened Kieran Jarvis would tuck his son into bed, wish him good night and turn out the lights on his way from the way. Though young Brandon would always insist on a story, and Kieran would oblige. On this night, as with every other night the familiar routine would play out.

“Well son, are you ready to sleep now?”

“No Daddy, I want to hear a story!”

Kieran smiled, he had of course expected his son to say exactly that and he already had his story for the night prepared.

“How about I tell you the story of Piran Hean?

“Yes Daddy, tell me that story!”

“Well, once upon a time a long time ago at a club called Rothsbere Athletic there was a young goalkeeper. He was called Piran Hean and those who saw him said that he could turn into one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He made his name playing for Sorthern Northland's under-21 team playing in the Di Bradini Cup and was eventually signed up by Bradwell Saints from Krytenia. From there he moved on to Ousevale Borough, one of the best clubs in Krytenia and became captain there, leading the team to a number of trophies.”

“His most memorable feats though were in the shirt of Sorthern Northland. For almost a decade he almost exclusively wore the number one shirt for his country. No other goalkeeper came close to him in his prime and it was little surprise that as well as being club captain he was also the captain of his country.”

“It was during World Cup 50 that he became captain, but his finest hour was during World Cup 52. For four tournaments in a row Sorthern Northland had only made it as far as the second round before being knocked out. However under his leadership they made it through the group stage with two clean sheets and finally broke their second round bogey by beating Pays de Horreur 2-1 in the second round. That they did so was largely thanks to a number of fantastic saves from Hean.”

“Sorthern Northland, for the first time since World Cup 47 had made it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. However laying in wait for them was Cassadaigua. One of the finest teams the world had known and the defending world champions, indeed the double defending world champions. If Sorthern Northland were to go any further they were going to need their important players, their leaders to play well.”

“Around ten minutes into the match and disaster had struck! A lost cat had wandered wandered onto the pitch and the game was stopped because of it. Many players tried to catch the cat in order for it to be taken somewhere safe and Hean was one of these. However, the cat was a very scared cat and so constantly run around from the players. Hean dived in an attempt to catch it, but missed and instead lay on the ground hurt.”

“What had happened was that he'd seemingly pulled a muscle in trying to catch the cat. Sorthern Northland goalkeeper, captain and leader had been forced off and many wondered what affect this would have. Yasser El-Borolossy came on and to many people's surprise put in a very good performance, one that Hean would have been proud off to keep a clean sheet as Sorthern Northland beat the world champions 2-0.”

“After that they played The Babbage Islands in the semi-final. Hean's injured looked to be a bad one and so El-Borolossy again played as Sorthern Northland won and made their way into their first ever World Cup final.”

“Much of the build up centred around who the goalkeeper would be. Hean had been the undisputed number one for so long and was nearing the end of his career. This would possibly be his only chance of playing in a World Cup final so he was desperate to play. El-Borolossy meanwhile had played well in his two games and so Hean had a face to be fit just to be considered.”

“Of course, he was also the captain and leader of the team. In the days before the final he did all he could in order to be fit enough to play. He tried as hard as he could to ignore any pain and right up until the final itself no one was sure who would play, would it be Hean, or would it be El-Borolossy.”

“Then, when the time came, the players lined up in the tunnel of the Obelisco Monumental, the national stadium of Cafundéu, and who was there leading his team out into their first World Cup final? It was Piran Hean. He'd been advised by doctors to not play, but he showed a heroic determination to overcome his injuries and captain his country in their first ever World Cup final. It proved to be the final match of his career, and there could have been no better stage for such a great leader as the World Cup final.”

“And what happened Daddy, did they win?”

“No son, unfortunately not. Valanora won their fourth World Cup with a 4-1 victory. Some said that El-Borolossy would have been the better choice for the match, but for most people Piran Hean saved Sorthern Northland from an even bigger defeat. He may never have been a world champion, but in overcoming his injury in order to play that match he showed the courage and determination of a champion.”

“Wow, he sounds great Daddy, I'm going to dream that he did win the World Cup.”

Keiran raised a smile as he kissed his son goodnight, “Sweet dreams son.”

[The Babbage Islands]

Qualifying: Round 3 of 10

Group 1
Queer Poco el Mono Ara (89) 1–1 Vilita (21)
Starblaydia (2) 0–0 Kaze Progressa (73)
Kingsford (61=) 1–0 Demot (38)

  Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Starblaydia                     3    1   2   0     3    2   +1     5
2 Queer Poco el Mono Ara          3    1   1   1     4    3   +1     4
3 Demot                           3    1   1   1     2    1   +1     4
4 Kingsford                       3    1   1   1     5    5    0     4
5 Kaze Progressa                  3    1   1   1     3    4   −1     4
6 Vilita                          3    0   2   1     4    6   −2     2

Group 2
Oliverry (55) 0–0 Valladares (93=)
Eauz (19) 2–1 Audioslavia (13)
The Lowland Clans (41) 2–0 Polar Islandstates (68)

  Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Audioslavia                     3    2   0   1     5    3   +2     6
2 Eauz                            3    1   2   0     4    3   +1     5
3 Valladares                      3    1   1   1     3    2   +1     4
4 The Lowland Clans               3    1   1   1     4    4    0     4
5 Oliverry                        3    0   2   1     2    4   −2     2
  Polar Islandstates              3    0   2   1     2    4   −2     2

Group 3
Snub Nose 38 (61=) 0–4 Sarzonia (14)
Oaker (80) 1–1 Albundania (91)
Jeru FC  (23) 4–2 Lovisa (45)

  Group 3                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                        3    3   0   0     9    0   +9     9
2 Jeru FC                         3    2   0   1     7    6   +1     6
3 Snub Nose 38                    3    1   1   1     1    4   −3     4
4 Lovisa                          3    1   0   2     4    5   −1     3
5 Albundania                      3    0   2   1     1    2   −1     2
6 Oaker                           3    0   1   2     1    6   −5     1

Group 4
Bears Armed (34) 3–1 Rejistania (7)
Ad'ihan (50) 2–1 Fmjphoenix (66=)
Septentrionia (81) 0–0 Milchama (20)

  Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bears Armed                     3    2   1   0     7    3   +4     7
2 Milchama                        3    1   2   0     7    3   +4     5
3 Rejistania                      3    1   1   1     6    5   +1     4
4 Ad'ihan                         3    1   1   1     5    8   −3     4
5 Septentrionia                   3    0   3   0     2    2    0     3
6 Fmjphoenix                      3    0   0   3     3    9   −6     0

Group 5
Wentland (64) 0–1 Bazalonia (40)
The Babbage Islands (17) 2–0 Hockey Canada (90)
Europa Britannia (15) 1–0 Ravenspire (69=)

  Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Babbage Islands             3    3   0   0     7    1   +6     9
2 Bazalonia                       3    1   2   0     2    1   +1     5
3 Wentland                        3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4
4 Europa Britannia                3    1   1   1     1    1    0     4
5 Hockey Canada                   3    0   1   2     1    4   −3     1
6 Ravenspire                      3    0   1   2     3    7   −4     1

Group 6
Dance 2 Revolution (51) 0–1 Jeruselem (11)
The Han Empire (37) 2–1 Sel Appa (75)
Jasi'yun (84=) 2–4 Lemmitania (32)

  Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sel Appa                        3    2   0   1     4    2   +2     6
2 Jeruselem                       3    2   0   1     2    1   +1     6
3 The Han Empire                  3    1   2   0     4    3   +1     5
4 Lemmitania                      3    1   1   1     5    5    0     4
5 Dance 2 Revolution              3    1   0   2     2    3   −1     3
6 Jasi'yun                        3    0   1   2     3    6   −3     1

Group 7
The Belmore Family (65) 0–1 Tanah Burung (47)
Al Quds (95=) 1–1 Zwangzug (56)
Giant Zucchini (30=) 1–1 Liverpool England (9)

  Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Tanah Burung                    3    3   0   0     8    4   +4     9
2 Liverpool England               3    2   1   0     6    3   +3     7
3 Al Quds                         3    1   1   1     2    2    0     4
4 Zwangzug                        3    0   2   1     4    5   −1     2
5 Giant Zucchini                  3    0   1   2     3    6   −3     1
  The Belmore Family              3    0   1   2     3    6   −3     1

Group 8
Bedistan (3) 1–0 Errinundera (36)
Crystilakere (58=) 3–1 Quakmybush (84=)
Bostopia (27) 1–0 Akbarabad (78)

  Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bedistan                        3    3   0   0     7    2   +5     9
2 Crystilakere                    3    1   2   0     3    1   +2     5
3 Bostopia                        3    1   2   0     2    1   +1     5
4 Errinundera                     3    0   2   1     2    3   −1     2
5 Quakmybush                      3    0   1   2     4    7   −3     1
6 Akbarabad                       3    0   1   2     0    4   −4     1

Group 9
EL CID THE HERO (93=) 2–2 Schiavonia (48)
Svecia (29) 0–1 Runaway Moose (76=)
Ariddia (10) 2–0 Tadjikistan (52)

  Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ariddia                         3    2   0   1     5    3   +2     6
2 EL CID THE HERO                 3    1   1   1     6    4   +2     4
3 Svecia                          3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4
4 Tadjikistan                     3    1   1   1     3    4   −1     4
5 Runaway Moose                   3    1   1   1     3    5   −2     4
6 Schiavonia                      3    0   2   1     5    6   −1     2

Group 10
Cassadaigua (30=) 3–0 Commerce Heights (6)
Crosshill (82) 1–1 Tynelia (72)
Casari (44) 2–0 New Montreal States (49)

  Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Commerce Heights                3    2   0   1     4    5   −1     6
2 Cassadaigua                     3    1   2   0     4    1   +3     5
3 Casari                          3    1   1   1     2    1   +1     4
4 Crosshill                       3    0   3   0     2    2    0     3
5 Tynelia                         3    0   2   1     4    5   −1     2
6 New Montreal States             3    0   2   1     1    3   −2     2

Group 11
Total n Utter Insanity (12) 4–1 The Eagles Nest (57)
Nethertopia (87=) 1–1 Halfassedstates (74)
Brazillico (46) 0–1 The Archregimancy (24)

  Group 11                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Total n Utter Insanity          3    2   1   0     8    4   +4     7
2 The Archregimancy               3    2   1   0     6    2   +4     7
3 Nethertopia                     3    1   1   1     6    4   +2     4
4 The Eagles Nest                 3    1   1   1     3    5   −2     4
5 Halfassedstates                 3    0   2   1     2    3   −1     2
6 Brazillico                      3    0   0   3     1    8   −7     0

Group 12
Cafundéu (16) 1–0 Sorthern Northland (18)
Yafor 2 (53) 3–0 Dennisov (71)
The FSSO (95=) 0–2 One Red Dot (42)

  Group 12                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Cafundéu                        3    2   0   1     5    3   +2     6
2 One Red Dot                     3    2   0   1     4    3   +1     6
3 Yafor 2                         3    1   1   1     4    3   +1     4
4 Sorthern Northland              3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4
5 Dennisov                        3    1   1   1     4    5   −1     4
6 The FSSO                        3    0   1   2     2    5   −3     1

Group 13
Bettia (28) 0–2 Qazox (35)
Valanora (1) 3–1 Kura-Pelland (69=)
Druida (83) 1–1 Oglethorpia (60)

  Group 13                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Qazox                           3    3   0   0     6    1   +5     9
2 Valanora                        3    1   1   1     4    3   +1     4
3 Bettia                          3    1   1   1     4    5   −1     4
4 Druida                          3    1   1   1     2    3   −1     4
5 Oglethorpia                     3    0   3   0     5    5    0     3
6 Kura-Pelland                    3    0   0   3     2    6   −4     0

Group 14
Turori (39) 1–1 Az-cz (25=)
Vephrall (66=) 2–2 Haraki (92)
Kelssek (63) 2–0 Squornshelous (5)

  Group 14                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kelssek                         3    2   0   1     3    1   +2     6
2 Haraki                          3    1   2   0     4    2   +2     5
3 Az-cz                           3    1   2   0     2    1   +1     5
4 Vephrall                        3    0   2   1     4    5   −1     2
5 Squornshelous                   3    0   2   1     3    5   −2     2
6 Turori                          3    0   2   1     2    4   −2     2

Group 15
Candelaria And Marquez (25=) 2–0 The Holy Empire (4)
The Sylvanaes Queendom (54) 3–1 Dancougar (43)
Iansisle (87=) 0–3 Cockbill Street (76=)

  Group 15                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Candelaria And Marquez          3    2   1   0     5    2   +3     7
2 Cockbill Street                 3    2   0   1     5    2   +3     6
3 The Sylvanaes Queendom          3    1   1   1     5    4   +1     4
4 The Holy Empire                 3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4
5 Dancougar                       3    0   2   1     3    5   −2     2
6 Iansisle                        3    0   1   2     2    7   −5     1

Group 16
Spaam (33) 2–0 Quohog (79)
Krytenia (8) 2–0 Aguazul (22)
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (58=) 2–2 Gesamtkuntswerk (84=)

  Group 16                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Krytenia                        3    2   1   0     5    0   +5     7
2 Gesamtkuntswerk                 3    1   2   0     3    2   +1     5
3 Aguazul                         3    1   1   1     5    4   +1     4
4 Spaam                           3    1   1   1     4    3   +1     4
5 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega          3    1   1   1     6    7   −1     4
6 Quohog                          3    0   0   3     2    9   −7     0

[Qazox]

Suprising start continues-

A 2-0 shutout of Bettia has Qazox off to a 3-0-0 start at the WCD, behind a 2nd straight shutout by Marc Klick. Both of Qazox' gaols came in the second half, just 4 minutes apart as Raul de Olivares slammed home a cross from Ryan Percy in the 57th minute. In the 61st, Daniel Spaatz ticked home a rebound of a Kallie Jaus shot that squirted through the hands of Bettia's keeper. A crowd of over 175,000 at Estad Jonac, The Macabees saw the match, which was punctuated with sporadic bouts of alternating rain, snow and hail.

In other group action, Oglethorpia tied up Druida and Valanora broke free for their 1st win 3-1 over Kura-Pelland 1-0. Up next, Qazox will face the tying fanatics of Oglethorpia.

[Aguazul]

Francisco Cerezo glances up at the stands. Another day on the bench, not that backing up Chago Villalobos is anything to be ashamed of. Besides, Francisco figures, it's only a matter of time until his predecessor picks up a suspension. Then he'll get to start!

He wonders whether the fans were just random people from Aguazul, dreaming. Well, maybe beyond. They've won a couple titles, maybe there are people from all over who want to see them.

For whatever reason.

"Out of all the teams in the multiverse, you want to sneak in with these fans?"

"Just for a day. Then maybe I'll go see Ariddia or the potoroos."

"Good luck."

The younger woman glances down the roster. "Fifteen cycles and Deportivo Peralta can't produce anyone this good?"

"I thought you said they were a bunch of takilan lunatics."

"Yeah, well, they were our takilan lunatics."

"If you say so."

"Thanks again, Megan," she smiles, and takes her place in the stands.

Francisco turns back to the game. Krytenia. Beating them is fresh in his mind; taking up the armband for the final minutes of the semifinal to get that far, almost as recent. Before that, assisting Pepe Raúl in the previous semifinal.

World Cup 58 was Krytenia's first time reaching the championship game; of course, he doesn't know what they've done since. Perhaps they have even better players, later on, accomplished more. Whoever's taking the field for them now is methodical, a lot better than Aguazul.

He doesn't know what Aguazul has done since, either.

"Don't you see how they don't meet our eyes?" he asks Ruberte, afterwards, when his clubmate is looking for a distraction.

"This is weird for everybody. Have you gone up to Bazán and been, like, "sucks about that injury you won't get for four years, give or take"?"

"Well, no, that'd just...be weird."

"Exactly, you're overthinking it."

"But that example tells you that there is something to hide."

"Just relax."

"No, okay, Ruberte. Think about it this way. You, me, Nadol, and Coceres, we all remember winning back to back titles. Right?"

"I certainly do. Haven't asked those guys."

"I've been asking people. Just, in general, they will tell me that much."

"Is it that boring on the bench? Because I'll rile Chago up if you need to start."

"True friendship," Francisco grins. "No, but seriously. We remember 58. Lissón remembers 57."

"Must be awkward, everybody keeps looking at him but he's not even captain yet."

"But you keep working backwards, there's someone from every cycle up until Saavedra, when we qualified for the first time."

"Well, sure, if it's our best team of all time you don't want people who're just hanging out in the Cup of Harmony."

"59? Nothing. 60? Nobody. 61? No. Then we get up to the present day and there's Carranza, this Salomón dude, who I've spent my entire career in Aguazul and never heard of, and Jaramillo, who's a woman!"

"They probably just put her to suck up to the Babbagians doing the SRS thing."

"No, that's Corretja's job."

Ruberte pauses, then nods towards the field. "Well, his certainly isn't beating Krytenia, I can tell you that much."

Francisco smiles, but then bites his lip. "What happens? How badly do we mess it up, that they bring a woman in to play defense?"

"Well, nobody wins three in a row. The pressure probably gets to Mejia, that's why he's not here and Sortani is. Maybe we...I don't know. Go out in the group stage, undefeated with too many draws."

"Which would explain Coceres."

"Maybe there's an embarrassing own goal or two."

Francisco rolls his eyes. "Somehow, I can believe that."

Ruberte smiles. "We'll deal with that when we get there."

"Yeah. Could be worse."

[Bears Armed]

Bears Armed

‘The Bear-Belles’

National football organisation: ‘Bears Armed Association for Soccer’ (= ‘BAAS’).
National anthem (for sports): ‘The Banner Green And Gold’.

All of the players are female, and all of them are actual Ursines (i.e. anthropomorpic, bipedal Bears)] except for any whom I actually specify as being members of other ‘peoples’ instead. The Harr'aynau people are physically human (more-or-less, anyway, although inclined towards heavy builds & hairiness), but are spiritually & culturally Ursine instead.

According to Bears Armed’s timeline, this tournament is taking place in place in 2NNN(?)AD.


Manager & Chief Coach: (?)

Deputy Manager (Coaching): (?)

Deputy Manager (Admin): Hrruberta WestSide.
(female Ursine, from Clan WestWoods; formerly a staff member at BAAS, appointed to this job 12 years ago; age = 38, fur = dark-medium brown).

Doctor: Surranna White
(female Ursine, from Clan WhiteBear’; age = 41, right-pawed, fur = very light brown; hired 12 years ago.)

Physiotherapist: Berrth’hrra o Barrdenn
(female Ursinem, from Clan GreenWoods; age = 30, left-pawed, fur = dark-medium brown; hired 7 years ago.)

Chaplain, ‘One Plus Seven’: (?)

Chaplain, Ursion: (?)

[b]‘Mascot’: ‘The Wise Grorrfinn’
(male ‘TrueBear’; age = undisclosed [but considering some of his appearances in old stories apparently somewhere over 1’500, at least...], ambidextrous, fur = medium-brown)


Roster

(#1) Marra SunBlesséd _ Clan = Sun; home team = Sun Valley Smashers, category & usual position = Goalkeeper, experience = 16 years; age = 35 years, right-pawed, fur = pale blonde, she has very quick reflexes and keen senses. (She has just completed her third World Cup campaign, all of them in the winning team.)

(#5) Uth’hrra o Barrdenn-Pale _ Clan = GreenWoods; home team = Barrden Barbariennes, category & usual position = Goalkeeper, experience = 11 years; age = 27 years, left-pawed, fur = dark-medium brown & quite long, she is not only quite tall (6’10”) but has a deceptively long reach even in proportion to that height. (She has one [successful] World Cup campaign behind her.)


(Details of remaining personnel to follow soon...)


Usual Starters = #1-4, 6-7, 11-17.
Usual Substitutes = #5, 21, 24-25, 27, 29, 32.


_________________________________________


Style: Offensive, modifier = +3.5… ("A good offence is the best defence"...)
Their usual formation will include a front row of at least 5 (normally arranged as 3 strikers & 2 wingers), with 2 midfielders, 2 backs, and either a ‘Defensive Centre’ (whose starting position would be at the midpoint of an imaginary cross drawn between those other four non-forwards’ positions) or a third midfielder depending on the Manager’s decision before each match.


Kit: This incarnation of the team will normally wear the usual set of designs (from ‘ediraf’) that the Belles have favoured in the past, with the ‘Association’ badges correctly staying ‘BAAS’ rather than [the now obsolete] ‘BAMAS’. See "here" for details. However, unlike the incarnations of this team that you’ve actually seen playing before, they have a set of five stars—one for each World Cup triumph (in their own timeline, and all after WC62…) that the Belles had “already” achieved before the match from which they were brought here.
Bears Armed has traditionally used base-8 arithmetic, for several reasons, and this has affected the set of numbers used for this team’s players: The numbers “10, “22”, and “26” have been left unassigned out of respect for wearers who died heroine’s deaths during various conflicts.


_________________________________________________________


Opponents may _

Choose my goalscorers: Y (but the Forwards, and then the Wingers, are likeliest to fill this role...)
Godmod Scoring Events: Y
RP injuries to my players / Godmod injuries to my players / Hand out Yellow cards to my players / Hand out Red cards to my players: Y to all, at least to start with, but remember what I've written here and keep it in limits accordingly... Any serious offences by my players would probably result in injuries to your players, and causing any serious injuries to my players would probably require such obviously-deliberate attacks that your players would get yellow or even red cards as a result too… and bear in mind that as we’re playing in The Dreamed Realm any injuries — even “fatal” ones — going to heal verry quickly anyhows…
Godmod Other Events: Y, I suppose, at least as long as you do so in an AMUSING way... but please remember that Ursines are fully sapient beings, as much as Humans are, not instinct-driven animals. Oh, and of course female Ursines are not sexually interested in Humans (of either sex), and it's very unlikely that female Harr'ayanau would be either. Please don't have them run amok or outright revert to animality, without checking by TG first, don't make assumptions about their views on politics or religion, and don't do anything that would make more than one of them incapable of playing in their next game...


_______________________________________________________________________________


NOTES

Ursines may tend to be a bit less agile & slower to accelerate than humans on average, but this team's members were carefully selected so the gap between them & their opponents in this respect should be narrower than some people might expect. They do tend to have [slightly] poorer eyesight than humans, on the whole (although the members of both Clan Gunnar and the Sun Clan are generally an exception to this rule, and the eyesight of the latter group is actually often at [slightly] better-than-human levels instead), so long-distance passes & shots at goal will tend to be rarer behaviour for them than they are for human teams... but their typical size & strength mean that when they're running with the ball it will probably take a very brave human — as well as a very skilled one — to tackle them successfully (or, at least, one who has reasonable experience of playing against Ursines…), which should balance that factor pretty well. They don’t jump very well, but then they’re generally rather taller than most Human players to start with so they shouldn’t need to jump as often in order to intercept [relatively] high shots...
Ursines are physically robust, of course, which means that they're much less likely than humans are to suffer injuries in falls or collisions. The females of this species are more even-tempered than the males, and the team's members will try to stay on their best behaviour not only in order to do well in this contest but also to impress upon the watching humans that Ursines aren't just "dumb beasts". They will not 'dive', or feign injury in other ways, because suggesting that they could be harmed so easily goes strongly against the grain. ‘Northlanders’ are maybe not quite as "civilised" as the 'Mainlanders'… or, at any rate, that’s the traditional stereotype..
Cold weather should pose no problem to them, even if there's snow or ice on the pitch, but tropical heat might prove awkward...


This team's members (including the designated substitutes for the match in question) will perform a [fairly short] ritual that's called the 'harrdiharr' on the pitch just before play begins... This is a traditional war-dance, meant to over-awe opponents, that has come to be a customary prelude for team games as well (similar to the [RL] New Zealanders' 'haka'...).

[Yafor 2]

"It's sort of exclusionary, isn't it?" Amario's voice floated through my consciousness. I haven't really been listening to the conversation at hand - as interesting as Amario and Vashil can be when they're debating metaphysics or whatever, my thoughts aren't really in this dank locker room. They're in a much happier place, focused on a pretty face and wonderful Pacitalian food in a fancy restaurant. It feels like a galaxy away. Honestly, it's probably even further.

"What do you mean? What's exclusionary? I mean, we're from all sorts of points in time, up to some end-point, right?" I have to respond. After all, he has just addressed me directly and if there's one thing I've learned from this 'Yaforite all-time team' experience, it's that apparently I'm a bit of a legend. Can't say that this is particularly painful to hear. It's nice to know that I'll be remembered.

"Up until World Cup 55 or something. Jenny seems to be the most recent player," Amario indicated the showers, where young Jennifer Majorheily-Orinova was wiping herself down after practice. Yaforite locker rooms are co-ed, of course, just like the public baths, "but we really don't know for sure." He seems very dubious about his calculation - perhaps it's because of the well-publicised Yaforite disappearance from sport? Frankly, we don't know when the end of the 'accepting period' is (or: when 'real' time is), because Yafor 2 hasn't been continuously involved in sport for all of that time. We're operating on half-information here and, sadly, no one around really speaks Jakallan or Hindi very well. And I'm sure as hell not trying out my English on some foreigner, only to have them laugh at my accent or skin tone or something.

As an aside, poor David and Kaeton and Herod. It must be tough surrounded by Yaforites and not speaking any of the languages particularly well. Herod and David at least spent long periods of their childhoods in Yafor 2 (both in Kaharan, for some reason). Kaeton's barely Yaforite at all. Maybe that's why he gets so much solace from yelling at opposing players and fans. On that note, who are the fans, really? I don't see any Yaforites in the crowd...and if they are there, when did they come from? What is this place, really?

"...and they don't seem to know when those Bears came from, either." Amario pauses. "Not that you're listening, Prince." It's odd to be chided by someone much younger than you, who's even from a time after you. "Missing your wife and kids? I mean, I've only been dating mine for a couple of months and I miss her...body. Ha. And her, too." He stops talking as someone else wanders out of the showers, the worst possible person for him to have heard the end of that expression, Ilsinha. Or so I've been told - I've never seen Ilsinha play outside of this tournament, myself, but her goal against Dennisov in the last match was indeed quite impressive. Long-range chips are very difficult and when the goalkeeper is almost on their line, you have to get the angle exactly correct. Very impressive strike.

I'm not thinking about that, though and, really, Ilsinha's chiding tones ('chiding' is probably the wrong word. Ilsinha doesn't chide. She lectures. She reprimands. She admonishes. She even exprobates. She doesn't do anything as childish as 'chiding'). I'm still on the word "wife". And the word "kids". I'm going to have a wife? What kind of wife? Who is my wife? When am I going to have a wife? I'll have kids, too?! My brain roils a little. I feel a little foggy, a little light-headed. It sounds strange and belittling, but being told your future (by someone who can't lie, because it's not the future to them!) is astounding. It's insane. This whole tournament is insane!

"What do you mean 'wife and kids', Amario?" I interrupt Ilsinha mid-tirade because, let's be real, this is more important than her rant about objectifying women. Not that it's a good thing to objectify women, but Amario didn't mean it seriously (or maybe he did. I don't know him very well), and even if he did, this whole thing is a fantasy world, anyway! There are much better forums for voicing this kind of disagreement and, from what many people have told me in passing, she's very good at utilising those forums in the real world. Both the Yaforite National Team and CA Condadore are much better for her efforts.

"Oh. Yeah. They're in your future. If you haven't met Audrey Deguela, then here's a heads-up; you'll marry her. If you have...then, still, you'll marry her." Amario turns back to his fellow winger, Vashil. By now Ilsinha's dark cloud has passed and she's sat down and begun to dress herself. I think she's beginning to realise that she shouldn't get upset at idle locker-room chatter. "But that's what I'm saying, Vashil," Amario continues, seemingly oblivious to my concern, "this whole thing is insane. And exclusionary."

"You're definitely right about exclusionary." I've always liked Vashil Nahanor's voice; it's a smooth, soothing baritone. I think it's the main reason he gets so many radio commercial opportunities. "I mean, who are we even playing for? This is supposed to be some kind of all-time-team tournament, but we're playing in a fantasy world, in front of people from...where? Where are all of the Yaforite kids who spend all their time online debating whether Gerod or Prince is better? Aren't those the ones who'd love this?" Vashil sounds like he speaks from experience. I was never really one to argue online, but it's a thing in many quarters, and Vashil's an argumentative-enough fellow that I don't really have trouble imagining him posting virulent messages regarding his superiority to Ahershk Valinial on some football-sybermetric website.

"For the record, Prince was always much better than I ever was." Gerod Flamer walks in. I should clarify: the older Gerod Flamer walks in. It's easy enough to differentiate the two - the older version favours his right leg far more, due to some old injury. He even limps after serious exertion. That and the fact that his face belies his experience. He's a little slower, a little less impetuous, and speaks slightly more slowly. He's younger than I remember him, but he is actually my assistant coach now...well, back home, in my current timeline. An even old version of the older Gerod Flamer, if you would. I'm beginning to get really confused by all of this.

"I don't think that's true." The older Gerod Flamer is followed in by, uh, his younger self. There's no limp, a quicker stride, much more immediate reactions, and a certain brashness. I've always tried to avoid being very brash, myself, but I know I've failed. If anyone deserved to be brash, though, it was the younger Gerod Flamer, who led Yafor 2 to its first major international success in Cup of Harmony 20 in Praying2God. Coming off an underdog victory like that (they had been doubted since the very beginning of the tournament), was it really surprising that he believed in himself. "I mean, Prince is pretty good, but I best him sometimes in practice. Besides, I don't know if he has the killer instinct." I don't know what that means, but it sounds like something I don't have. Never enjoyed killing anything.

"This is the whole point!" Vashil continues, ignoring the growing conflict between Gerod Flamer and, err, Gerod Flamer, "can you imagine how many little boys and girls would love to watch that practice?" He turns to face Ilsinha, who is now even more engaged in the discussion, the wry smile on her face a marked contrast to her previous expression of furious indignation. "I mean, Ilsinha against Hares Dalermo? Yaforites have been fighting about that one since you came up! Are the Yaforites better with the Malar brothers or one striker? These are the debates this tournament is supposed to answer...but who's watching? Where are all those little kids and upset adults? I don't see them in the stands! I don't see anyone in the stands!" I've never seen Vashil so animated.

"I know he's a better defender, but I've got a much better shot, dude." Both Gerod Flamers were totally ignoring Vashil's declamations for their own private discussion. "You shoot too much. I had to learn to stop shooting as much," returned the older one, as his younger counterpart (would 'compatriot' work here? Can you be a compatriot of yourself?) bluntly rejected that point. The disagreement continued to swirl in the air as the two passed out of the locker room and out to the exit of our practice facility. Of course, I'm the other subject of the little tiff, but it's not particularly interesting to me. Who cares if I'm better than Gerod Flamer? It's just exciting that I get to play against him in his prime!

"You're right, Vashil." Amario speaks toward Vashil Nahanor's retreating form as he and Ilsinha troop further out of the room. I hurry forward, touching his shoulder with my open palm. We're now the only ones in this little section of lockers, though the sounds of the showers (and David Insfield's horrid singing) indicate that we're not the only ones in the area. He turns and faces me, expectant. "What's up, Prince? Anything specific in mind?" The funny thing about Amario is for every ounce of controversy and entertainment he provides in the locker room, he removes two pints of controversy and entertainment on the pitch. Off the pitch, he's a ball of fun. On it, he's serene. Controlled. Stoic, even. It's a mix I like; I try to be the same way, actually.

"Do I really get married to Audrey?" He nods. "And have kids?" He nods again, less solemnly than before. I can see an idea sprouting in his head. "How do I propose? When do I propose?" His face now brims with an impish smirk. I've set him right up for whatever idea had previously struck his fancy.

"Look, Prince, this is what you do," his voice is conspiratorial, as if hiding something from everyone else. From behind, one of the showers splutter to a stop and David, his right eyebrow raised slightly at Amario's leaning in, whispering into my ear, and he begins to remove his towel, whistling carelessly. "When you go home, first thing you do, get a ceremony and stuff together and propose. You need to propose to her. It'll make you really, really happy, and everyone else, too. And your kids are gorgeous! Do it!" I nod, pondering the implications.

"But, wait, isn't your telling me violating some kind of natural causality? Like, our relationship inspired you who inspired our relationship?" I'm partially playing around with him, partially curious. "This is why I hate science fiction!" I know he loves it. Regardless, my words cannot but fail to put Amario into a mood and he switches gears, extolling the virtues of speculative fiction as a means by which to understand the world we live in. As we leave the room, I hear David's laughter.

"Only you people would be talking about this. Play the goddamn game and stop worrying about this metaphysical crap!" he yells down the hallway. It's unclear whether he's serious or just wants to rile us up.

[OOC: I know there are major tense issues. I don't really care enough to proofread. Sorry.]

[Polar Islandstates]

[OOC: yes, very late, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity entirely, and besides, this may end up sparking the inspiration for my WC series of RPs, so it's important I get this down]

"Magnus, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Of course I am, stop fussing."

"I'm not 'fussing', I just don't think that a-... whatever this is you've made, is the best way of getting to the Dreamed Realm."

"Tush and fie. It'll work just fine, you'll see."

"I mean, who did you even talk to in order to get this thing made? You can't have made it from scratch, surely. Is that a whisk?"

"Yes it is. It came to me in a dream. Don't touch the whisk."

"Sorry. I mean, it doesn't look safe, Magnus."

"Of course it's safe! What could go wrong?"

"You what? 'What could go wrong'? With a home made portal to the Dreamed Realm cooked up by an old former FPIFA Chairman with more beard than sense who not only dreamed it all up, but made it all up himself? You and I were in the same woodwork classes together at the Academy, Magnus - I know you, you possess all the hand-eye co-ordination of a drunken bear in a blizzard."

"Well, that's a bit harsh."

"Whatever. Point is, I'm not getting in that thing with you. Okay? Okay that's definitely a kitchen sink..."

"Oh yes you are."

"No I'm no- hey, get off me."

"Hold this."

"Hold wh-? No. Magnus let go of my jacket!"

"No. Watch out for the rake."

"What rake? Ow!"

"That rake."

"Oh for Thor's sake, Magnus, this is madness!"

"Funny you should mention Thor..."

"It is? What, why? Magnus..."

"Hold tight!"

"Magnus Ragnorak I'm going to kill you if I end up half fly on the other side of this thing. Or worse yet, half you."

"Oh, stop being such a worrywort, Karl. Here we goooooo....!"

*CRACK*




Some time later/Almost instantly/Two weeks ago, in the Dreamed Realm...

*POP*

"Ow!"

"Hahaaaaa! I did it!"

"Well, blow me down with a feather, Magnus, but you did it... Somehow."

"I did!"

"You did. You somehow teleported or hacked or whatever the hell just happened all the way into the Dreamed Realm, using a machine you built out of bric-a-brac."

"How was your landing, by the way?"

"Oh, not bad. The garden hose broke my fall somewhat."

"Ah, good."

"Say, Magnus, what was that weird place with all the death and the ooze and the essence of depression hanging over us that we went to briefly there?"

"We said we'd never talk about Thessia!"

"Ah, of course, sorry. So, where are we now, genius? What's the plan?"

"Erm, not sure. We need to summon Thor somehow, I think."

"But, how?"

"Not sure. 'Thor, you there?'"

"Magnus..."

"What? Was worth a try... What's with that look on your face, anyway?"

"There's just something a little... off, about summoning a god from our pantheon in the Dreamed Realm."

"As good a place as any."

"Well, no, This might in fact be the worst place. That's the point."

"No, I mean, there is no re-"

"KNEEL BEFORE THY HAMMER-Y DOOM, PUNY MORTALS!"

"Holy crap it's Thor. Hi, Thor."

"WHO DARES SUMMON THY LORD IN THIS OF ALL PLACES?"

"Told you..."

"Oh shut up, Karl. Erm, it is I, Thor, Magnus Ragnorak, and this is my childhood friend and neighbour, Karl Hessen."

"Yo."

"OH, HI MAGNUS, HOW'S YOUR MOTHER?"

"Oh, you know, can't complain, really."

"I NOTICE YOU'RE NOT KNEELING."

"You were serious about tha-... okay fine. How's that?"

"HMMMMM, OKAY. AND FOR WHAT REASON DO YOU CALL FOR MY ALMIGHTY PRESENCE? YOU'VE GOT A WHISK IN YOUR BEARD, BY THE WAY."

"Oh, erm, thank you. Well, we want you to use the powers of the Dreamed Realm to whip us up an all-star team of old footballers please."

"FOOTBALL?! THINE ALMIGHTY LORD HAS NO TIME FOR YOUR SILLY GAMES!"

"Why do you talk like that?"

"LIKE WHAT?"

"Using all those fancy words and stuff."

"ERM, WELL, ITS JUST, GODDIER, I GUESS."

"'Goddier'?!"

"Shhhhhut up, Karl."

"YES, SHUT UP, KARL."

"I am positive that's not a word."

"WELL, I AM THOR. SO, IT IS NOW. SO THERE. GODDIER."

"Whatever."

"GET TO THE POINT. WHY SHOULD I MEDDLE WITH THE ALMIGHTY WAYS OF THE DREAMED REALM IN ORDER TO SATISFY YOUR MORTAL WHIMS? I'M ONLY TALKING TO YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE I'M BORED."

"Well, there's this all-time football tournament happening, right, and we want to enter."

"SO ENTER, YOU HAVE FOOTBALLERS, DO YOU NOT?"

"Well, yes, but we want to make use of the opportunity to do something a little special."

"ELABORATE, MORTAL."

"Basically, think of all those famous Valhallan footballers that were pioneers of the game in the region, but who never got the chance to play for the unified Polar Islandstates team because they died or retired before the Federation joined together. There's loads, right? Loads of good ones that never had the chance to put on the famous Terns jersey. We want to set that right."

"THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A WASTE OF MY TIMES AND EFFORTS."

"Aw, please. All you have to do is create a physical husk capable of manipulating what passes for the physical fabric of space and objects in the Dreamed Realm. And even then only for the duration of the tournament."

"WITH FREE WILL?"

"Ideally."

"THAT COSTS EXTRA, YOU KNOW."

"Well, whatever, I'll pay it, I used to be FPIFA Chairman - I'm not short on money. Point is, we want you to pluck them from their individual primes in their own respective eras and have them play the tournament. They can't remember it in the mundane realities, however. We don't want this tournament turning up in any history books when Sol Kirkkegaard starts talking about the time he played with all these dead legends. People would think he'd gone mad, and we don't want that."

"SO, FROM DIFFERENT TIMES AS WELL? WITH NO TRANSFERABLE MEMORIES?"

"Yes."

"WHY?!"

"For fun. To see how they would have played together. To test the best that Polar Islandstates could have offered in the past against the best that ever was."

"THIS SOUNDS STUPID. I'M NOT DOING IT."

"Aw, go on. We were going to include a young Timo Skye as well so we can tell once and for all if his claims to be better than Nygaard, Osei-Jonsson, and Prjevalski put together stand up to any testing. We'll humiliate him. Or, ghost him, anyway."

"SKYE? THE ARROGANT ONE WITH ALL THE SHOUTING AND THE HEADLINES?"

"That's the one."

"...HUMILIATE, YOU SAY?"

"Yeah, go on, he'll be crushed.

"HMMMM..."

"It'll be a laugh."

"OH, OKAY THEN."

"Excellent! Wonderful! Here's a list."

"SO IT SHALL BE DONE."

*SNAP*


FIRST TEAM:
[Stats are all time, and not at the time of their 'plucking'. For reference, current year in Polarian Time is 2005]


Manager: Anders Laursen - aged 52, when plucked from 1953.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Franz Josef; 6 Caps, 0 Goals.
Clubs: SK Franz Josef City; 54 Apps, 1 Goal.


GK: Lev Van Markussen - aged 30, when plucked from 1974.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Norscelt; 93 Caps, 0 Goals.
Clubs: North Star Grimsey; 502 Apps, 1 Goal.


SW: Sol Kirkkegaard - aged 27, when plucked from 1971.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Svalbard; 76 Caps, 14 Goals.
Clubs: RSK Longyearbyen Town, FC Torshavn; 687 Apps, 81 Goals.


LB: Kalle Kubarev - aged 26, when plucked from 1943.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Northbrook; 42 Caps, 6 Goals.
Clubs: FK Weisshaus, Northbrook Diamonds FK; 328 Apps, 42 Goals.

RB: Zacharias Norlund - aged 25, when plucked from 1885.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Victorrinn; 15 Caps, 0 Goals.
Clubs: Sporting Club Aasiaat 87; 76 Apps, 3 Goals.


DM: Sascha Millerntor - aged 26, when plucked from 1946.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Nunivak; 80 Caps, 26 Goals.
Clubs: FC Cape St Paul; 428 Apps, 56 Goals.


MF: Maarten Bruun - aged 27, when plucked from 1959.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Victorrinn; 67 Caps, 34 Goals.
Clubs: SK Aasiaat Harbour; 302 Apps, 120 Goals.


AM: Emil Freiberg - aged 24, when plucked from 1985.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Grenlund; 83 Caps, 21 Goals.
Clubs: SK Sturm Nuuk, Lions SC, FC Axel Heiburg; 408 Apps, 101 Goals.


FW: Wilhelm Prjevalski - aged 28, when plucked from 1936.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Norscelt; 76 Caps, 73 Goals.
Clubs: FC1 Surtsey Island Gulls; 512 Apps, 423 Goals.


RF: Vasek Nygaard - aged 27, when plucked from 1959.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Markii/Farosea; 80 Caps, 46 Goals.
Clubs: FC Torshavn, Scapa Bay Rovers; 466 Apps, 253 Goals.


LF: Achilles Osei-Jonsson - aged 29, when plucked from 1973.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Northbrook; 101 Caps, 60 Goals.
Clubs: Northbrook Diamonds FK, Lions SC; 621 Apps, 368 Goals.


ST: Isaac Hirvonen - aged 26, when plucked from 1924.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Severny/Novaya Zemlya; 35 Caps, 28 Goals.
Clubs: Red Star Severny; 529 Apps, 396 Goals.



SUBSTITUTES:

GK: Bogdan Kikorov - aged 30, when plucked from 1933.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Svalbard; 96 Caps, 0 Goals.
Clubs: RSK Longyearbyen Town; 538 Apps, 2 Goals.


DF: Martijn Boll - aged 27, when plucked from 1936.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Ellismare; 64 Caps, 8 Goals.
Clubs: Bohemiens Grise Fiord, FC1. Surtsey Island Gulls; 423 Apps, 28 Goals.


DM: Hjalmar Kolberg - aged 29, when plucked from 1981.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Severny/Novaya Zemlya; 57 Caps, 13 Goals.
Clubs: Red Star Severny, Lions SC, Lokomotiv Barentsberg; 469 Apps, 67 Goals.


MF: Piotr Eygenroy - aged 27, when plucked from 1954.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Franz Josef; 84 Caps, 11 Goals.
Clubs: East Franz Athletic, SK Franz Josef City; 524 Apps, 51 Goals.


AM: Konrad Berndtsen - aged 28, when plucked from 1968.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Victorrinn; 56 Caps, 30 Goals.
Clubs: SK Aasiaat Harbour; 224 Apps, 136 Goals.


ST: Oleg Toivonen - aged 26, when plucked from 1953.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Landt Sibir; 76 Caps, 39 Goals.
Clubs: Novaya Sibir Reds, SK Franz Josef City, Novaya Sibir Reds; 392 Apps, 140 Goals.


FW: Timo Skye - aged 20, when plucked from 1984.

Pre-Federation Nationality: Franz Josef; 42 Caps, 20 Goals. [Polar Islandstates; 168 Caps, 117 Goals.]
Clubs: SK Franz Josef City, SK Franz Josef City, Royal Rumiatzi (ASG), Metropolis Alligators (VAL), Juvillian Martinax (ERA), SK Franz Josef City; 421 Apps, 320 Goals.


TACTICS:



PERMISSIONS:
Yes to all. Just bear in mind Thor can fix any damage you do to my ghosts, so you're unlikely to kill anyone off.

[The Babbage Islands]

Qualifying: Round 4 of 10

Group 1
Vilita (21) 0–2 Demot (38)
Kaze Progressa (73) 1–1 Kingsford (61=)
Queer Poco el Mono Ara (89) 0–5 Starblaydia (2)

  Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Starblaydia                     4    2   2   0     8    2   +6     8
2 Demot                           4    2   1   1     4    1   +3     7
3 Kingsford                       4    1   2   1     6    6    0     5
4 Kaze Progressa                  4    1   2   1     4    5   −1     5
5 Queer Poco el Mono Ara          4    1   1   2     4    8   −4     4
6 Vilita                          4    0   2   2     4    8   −4     2

Group 2
Valladares (93=) 0–1 Polar Islandstates (68)
Audioslavia (13) 4–0 The Lowland Clans (41)
Oliverry (55) 2–0 Eauz (19)

  Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Audioslavia                     4    3   0   1     9    3   +6     9
2 Oliverry                        4    1   2   1     4    4    0     5
3 Eauz                            4    1   2   1     4    5   −1     5
4 Polar Islandstates              4    1   2   1     3    4   −1     5
5 Valladares                      4    1   1   2     3    3    0     4
6 The Lowland Clans               4    1   1   2     4    8   −4     4

Group 3
Sarzonia (14) 1–2 Lovisa (45)
Albundania (91) 0–1 Jeru FC  (23)
Snub Nose 38 (61=) 2–1 Oaker (80)

  Group 3                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                        4    3   0   1    10    2   +8     9
2 Jeru FC                         4    3   0   1     8    6   +2     9
3 Snub Nose 38                    4    2   1   1     3    5   −2     7
4 Lovisa                          4    2   0   2     6    6    0     6
5 Albundania                      4    0   2   2     1    3   −2     2
6 Oaker                           4    0   1   3     2    8   −6     1

Group 4
Rejistania (7) 4–1 Milchama (20)
Fmjphoenix (66=) 1–3 Septentrionia (81)
Bears Armed (34) 0–0 Ad'ihan (50)

  Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bears Armed                     4    2   2   0     7    3   +4     8
2 Rejistania                      4    2   1   1    10    6   +4     7
3 Septentrionia                   4    1   3   0     5    3   +2     6
4 Milchama                        4    1   2   1     8    7   +1     5
5 Ad'ihan                         4    1   2   1     5    8   −3     5
6 Fmjphoenix                      4    0   0   4     4   12   −8     0

Group 5
Bazalonia (40) 2–1 Ravenspire (69=)
Hockey Canada (90) 0–7 Europa Britannia (15)
Wentland (64) 2–4 The Babbage Islands (17)

  Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Babbage Islands             4    4   0   0    11    3   +8    12
2 Bazalonia                       4    2   2   0     4    2   +2     8
3 Europa Britannia                4    2   1   1     8    1   +7     7
4 Wentland                        4    1   1   2     5    7   −2     4
5 Ravenspire                      4    0   1   3     4    9   −5     1
6 Hockey Canada                   4    0   1   3     1   11  −10     1

Group 6
Jeruselem (11) 3–0 Lemmitania (32)
Sel Appa (75) 1–0 Jasi'yun (84=)
Dance 2 Revolution (51) 1–0 The Han Empire (37)

  Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Jeruselem                       4    3   0   1     5    1   +4     9
2 Sel Appa                        4    3   0   1     5    2   +3     9
3 Dance 2 Revolution              4    2   0   2     3    3    0     6
4 The Han Empire                  4    1   2   1     4    4    0     5
5 Lemmitania                      4    1   1   2     5    8   −3     4
6 Jasi'yun                        4    0   1   3     3    7   −4     1

Group 7
Tanah Burung (47) 4–2 Liverpool England (9)
Zwangzug (56) 2–3 Giant Zucchini (30=)
The Belmore Family (65) 3–1 Al Quds (95=)

  Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Tanah Burung                    4    4   0   0    12    6   +6    12
2 Liverpool England               4    2   1   1     8    7   +1     7
3 The Belmore Family              4    1   1   2     6    7   −1     4
4 Giant Zucchini                  4    1   1   2     6    8   −2     4
5 Al Quds                         4    1   1   2     3    5   −2     4
6 Zwangzug                        4    0   2   2     6    8   −2     2

Group 8
Errinundera (36) 1–1 Akbarabad (78)
Quakmybush (84=) 1–1 Bostopia (27)
Bedistan (3) 2–0 Crystilakere (58=)

  Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bedistan                        4    4   0   0     9    2   +7    12
2 Bostopia                        4    1   3   0     3    2   +1     6
3 Crystilakere                    4    1   2   1     3    3    0     5
4 Errinundera                     4    0   3   1     3    4   −1     3
5 Quakmybush                      4    0   2   2     5    8   −3     2
6 Akbarabad                       4    0   2   2     1    5   −4     2

Group 9
Schiavonia (48) 2–1 Tadjikistan (52)
Runaway Moose (76=) 0–1 Ariddia (10)
EL CID THE HERO (93=) 5–4 Svecia (29)

  Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ariddia                         4    3   0   1     6    3   +3     9
2 EL CID THE HERO                 4    2   1   1    11    8   +3     7
3 Schiavonia                      4    1   2   1     7    7    0     5
4 Svecia                          4    1   1   2     7    8   −1     4
5 Tadjikistan                     4    1   1   2     4    6   −2     4
6 Runaway Moose                   4    1   1   2     3    6   −3     4

Group 10
Commerce Heights (6) 5–1 New Montreal States (49)
Tynelia (72) 1–2 Casari (44)
Cassadaigua (30=) 1–0 Crosshill (82)

  Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Commerce Heights                4    3   0   1     9    6   +3     9
2 Cassadaigua                     4    2   2   0     5    1   +4     8
3 Casari                          4    2   1   1     4    2   +2     7
4 Crosshill                       4    0   3   1     2    3   −1     3
5 Tynelia                         4    0   2   2     5    7   −2     2
6 New Montreal States             4    0   2   2     2    8   −6     2

Group 11
The Eagles Nest (57) 1–1 The Archregimancy (24)
Halfassedstates (74) 1–1 Brazillico (46)
Total n Utter Insanity (12) 1–0 Nethertopia (87=)

  Group 11                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Total n Utter Insanity          4    3   1   0     9    4   +5    10
2 The Archregimancy               4    2   2   0     7    3   +4     8
3 The Eagles Nest                 4    1   2   1     4    6   −2     5
4 Nethertopia                     4    1   1   2     6    5   +1     4
5 Halfassedstates                 4    0   3   1     3    4   −1     3
6 Brazillico                      4    0   1   3     2    9   −7     1

Group 12
Sorthern Northland (18) 0–2 One Red Dot (42)
Dennisov (71) 1–0 The FSSO (95=)
Cafundéu (16) 0–0 Yafor 2 (53)

  Group 12                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 One Red Dot                     4    3   0   1     6    3   +3     9
2 Cafundéu                        4    2   1   1     5    3   +2     7
3 Dennisov                        4    2   1   1     5    5    0     7
4 Yafor 2                         4    1   2   1     4    3   +1     5
5 Sorthern Northland              4    1   1   2     3    5   −2     4
6 The FSSO                        4    0   1   3     2    6   −4     1

Group 13
Qazox (35) 2–1 Oglethorpia (60)
Kura-Pelland (69=) 0–1 Druida (83)
Bettia (28) 0–1 Valanora (1)

  Group 13                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Qazox                           4    4   0   0     8    2   +6    12
2 Valanora                        4    2   1   1     5    3   +2     7
3 Druida                          4    2   1   1     3    3    0     7
4 Bettia                          4    1   1   2     4    6   −2     4
5 Oglethorpia                     4    0   3   1     6    7   −1     3
6 Kura-Pelland                    4    0   0   4     2    7   −5     0

Group 14
Az-cz (25=) 1–0 Squornshelous (5)
Haraki (92) 1–5 Kelssek (63)
Turori (39) 0–1 Vephrall (66=)

  Group 14                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kelssek                         4    3   0   1     8    2   +6     9
2 Az-cz                           4    2   2   0     3    1   +2     8
3 Vephrall                        4    1   2   1     5    5    0     5
4 Haraki                          4    1   2   1     5    7   −2     5
5 Squornshelous                   4    0   2   2     3    6   −3     2
6 Turori                          4    0   2   2     2    5   −3     2

Group 15
The Holy Empire (4) 0–0 Cockbill Street (76=)
Dancougar (43) 3–1 Iansisle (87=)
Candelaria And Marquez (25=) 2–1 The Sylvanaes Queendom (54)

  Group 15                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Candelaria And Marquez          4    3   1   0     7    3   +4    10
2 Cockbill Street                 4    2   1   1     5    2   +3     7
3 Dancougar                       4    1   2   1     6    6    0     5
4 The Holy Empire                 4    1   2   1     3    3    0     5
5 The Sylvanaes Queendom          4    1   1   2     6    6    0     4
6 Iansisle                        4    0   1   3     3   10   −7     1

Group 16
Quohog (79) 2–0 Gesamtkuntswerk (84=)
Aguazul (22) 1–2 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (58=)
Spaam (33) 2–0 Krytenia (8)

  Group 16                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Spaam                           4    2   1   1     6    3   +3     7
2 Krytenia                        4    2   1   1     5    2   +3     7
3 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega          4    2   1   1     8    8    0     7
4 Gesamtkuntswerk                 4    1   2   1     3    4   −1     5
5 Aguazul                         4    1   1   2     6    6    0     4
6 Quohog                          4    1   0   3     4    9   −5     3

[Zwangzug]

"Did you watch us play?" Mal asks. The announcers seem to be curious as to just how old Sue is, and in the absence of much on-field success it's as good a challenge as any. "In real time, I mean, when you were little."

"Oh, of course," she smiles.

"The domestic teams?" asks Natasha.

"No, mostly just you guys."

"Who was your favorite?" teases Mal, squinting mid-eyelash-bat. She does look familiar, sort of.

"You always seemed very nice," she teases back. "Brendan, I sort of wondered--did it make him feel more proud, to have someone in his family really choosing Zwangzug."

"Eh?" says Brendan.

"My..." Sue blushes. "My father wasn't born here either. I mean. Zwangzug. Obviously not here here."

"Understatement of the day," mutters Andrew.

"Hmm," says Brendan. "I mean, no. Mostly it was just me getting lucky in terms of finding the right sport. Although Aguazul are apparently something else."

Megan glances over at Andrew for half a moment before asking, "You've been watching them?"

"Just a little. You tell us, Sue, are they any good?"

"They could be," Natasha interrupts, "I mean, their teams are more or less a match for ours, but that's mostly with you guys playing in other leagues. The people in charge are sort of crazy dictators, though."

"Not all of them," says Sue. "I was talking with García Amendola, he's one of their football, like, organizers. But he had some really interesting stories to tell about going overseas once and sampling the cuisine from other parts of the world."

"But there's a big difference between football organizers and, you know, crazy stupid military people."

"Less than you'd think. Actually."

"Oh?" Brendan asks.

"In Aguazul, they've had a couple people who had to negotiate diplomatic stuff. There's Prado, and Mosqueda...well, that's a bit after the time of--it's complicated--things aren't in order."

"Then maybe you should shut up," snaps Andrew, "and/or I'll throw a clipboard at you."

Megan stares. "And/or?"

"It's been a long week."

"All I'm saying is," says Sue, "people from Aguazul can be a little bit--self-important. Whereas people from Zwangzug, I get the feeling sometimes the ones in charge have the roles you don't expect, and then there are these figureheads. Look at Vice-President Littlewood."

Jacob, the backup, raises his eyebrows. "Which august legislative body elects her to anything more important then the Subcommittee for Snooker?"

"Yeah, well, case in point. Or otherwise--"

She breaks off. Stupid, really, she should know that if the backups are showing up the coach would be there too.

He glances down and does the math. He does it in his head, because for all the mistakes and all the broken metaphors, he did choose Zwangzug, and this is something he can do.

"Sue." Mcgimpy's voice falters; there's no way to prepare for this. "How you've grown."

[Qazox]

Qazox continues great start-

A 2-1 win over Oglethorpia has Qazox 4-0-0 record going into the first half finale against Valanora, who were 1-0 winners over Bettia earlier today. Druida beat Kura-Pelland 1-0 as well as Qazox has a 5 point lead over Valanora and Druida with one game left in the first half of qualifying. For the first time in 250 minutes, Marc Klick allowed a goal, but a small bit of inattention allowed Qazox to get back into the match. In the 45th minute, the referee held up 4 fingers for 4 minutes of injury time, but no one on the Oglethorpia side seemed to notice and once the stadium clock in a replica of Amalgamated Stadium in Megalopolis City clicked up to 45 minutes. Upon seeing that, the "home" side slacked off, thinking the half-whistle was imminent. Marsha Tanner took advantage of the small lapse finding Kallie Jaus alone 35 yards out. Jaus juked past the last two defenders and slammed home a shot from 8 yards out to tie the match.

In the 2nd half, both teams traded possession like the ball was a hot potato, until Jaus found Ryan Percy in the 82nd minute with the game winner. Marc Klick saved a lasty ditch shot in the 3rd minute of extra time to preserve the victory. Now Qazox faces one of the best teams of all-time and one of the few teams Qazox has never beaten: Valanora.

[The Babbage Islands]

Qualifying: Round 5 of 10

Group 1
Starblaydia (2) 0–1 Vilita (21)
Kingsford (61=) 0–0 Queer Poco el Mono Ara (89)
Demot (38) 2–0 Kaze Progressa (73)

  Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Demot                           5    3   1   1     6    1   +5    10
2 Starblaydia                     5    2   2   1     8    3   +5     8
3 Kingsford                       5    1   3   1     6    6    0     6
4 Vilita                          5    1   2   2     5    8   −3     5
5 Kaze Progressa                  5    1   2   2     4    7   −3     5
6 Queer Poco el Mono Ara          5    1   2   2     4    8   −4     5

Group 2
Eauz (19) 1–0 Valladares (93=)
The Lowland Clans (41) 0–1 Oliverry (55)
Polar Islandstates (68) 1–1 Audioslavia (13)

  Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Audioslavia                     5    3   1   1    10    4   +6    10
2 Oliverry                        5    2   2   1     5    4   +1     8
3 Eauz                            5    2   2   1     5    5    0     8
4 Polar Islandstates              5    1   3   1     4    5   −1     6
5 Valladares                      5    1   1   3     3    4   −1     4
6 The Lowland Clans               5    1   1   3     4    9   −5     4

Group 3
Oaker (80) 1–2 Sarzonia (14)
Jeru FC  (23) 1–1 Snub Nose 38 (61=)
Lovisa (45) 3–1 Albundania (91)

  Group 3                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                        5    4   0   1    12    3   +9    12
2 Jeru FC                         5    3   1   1     9    7   +2    10
3 Lovisa                          5    3   0   2     9    7   +2     9
4 Snub Nose 38                    5    2   2   1     4    6   −2     8
5 Albundania                      5    0   2   3     2    6   −4     2
6 Oaker                           5    0   1   4     3   10   −7     1

Group 4
Ad'ihan (50) 0–2 Rejistania (7)
Septentrionia (81) 1–0 Bears Armed (34)
Milchama (20) 0–0 Fmjphoenix (66=)

  Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Rejistania                      5    3   1   1    12    6   +6    10
2 Septentrionia                   5    2   3   0     6    3   +3     9
3 Bears Armed                     5    2   2   1     7    4   +3     8
4 Milchama                        5    1   3   1     8    7   +1     6
5 Ad'ihan                         5    1   2   2     5   10   −5     5
6 Fmjphoenix                      5    0   1   4     4   12   −8     1

Group 5
The Babbage Islands (17) 1–1 Bazalonia (40)
Europa Britannia (15) 0–0 Wentland (64)
Ravenspire (69=) 1–1 Hockey Canada (90)

  Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Babbage Islands             5    4   1   0    12    4   +8    13
2 Bazalonia                       5    2   3   0     5    3   +2     9
3 Europa Britannia                5    2   2   1     8    1   +7     8
4 Wentland                        5    1   2   2     5    7   −2     5
5 Ravenspire                      5    0   2   3     5   10   −5     2
6 Hockey Canada                   5    0   2   3     2   12  −10     2

Group 6
The Han Empire (37) 5–3 Jeruselem (11)
Jasi'yun (84=) 1–2 Dance 2 Revolution (51)
Lemmitania (32) 3–1 Sel Appa (75)

  Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Jeruselem                       5    3   0   2     8    6   +2     9
2 Sel Appa                        5    3   0   2     6    5   +1     9
3 Dance 2 Revolution              5    3   0   2     5    4   +1     9
4 The Han Empire                  5    2   2   1     9    7   +2     8
5 Lemmitania                      5    2   1   2     8    9   −1     7
6 Jasi'yun                        5    0   1   4     4    9   −5     1

Group 7
Al Quds (95=) 2–2 Tanah Burung (47)
Giant Zucchini (30=) 2–4 The Belmore Family (65)
Liverpool England (9) 1–1 Zwangzug (56)

  Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Tanah Burung                    5    4   1   0    14    8   +6    13
2 Liverpool England               5    2   2   1     9    8   +1     8
3 The Belmore Family              5    2   1   2    10    9   +1     7
4 Al Quds                         5    1   2   2     5    7   −2     5
5 Giant Zucchini                  5    1   1   3     8   12   −4     4
6 Zwangzug                        5    0   3   2     7    9   −2     3

Group 8
Crystilakere (58=) 2–1 Errinundera (36)
Bostopia (27) 1–0 Bedistan (3)
Akbarabad (78) 1–1 Quakmybush (84=)

  Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bedistan                        5    4   0   1     9    3   +6    12
2 Bostopia                        5    2   3   0     4    2   +2     9
3 Crystilakere                    5    2   2   1     5    4   +1     8
4 Errinundera                     5    0   3   2     4    6   −2     3
5 Quakmybush                      5    0   3   2     6    9   −3     3
6 Akbarabad                       5    0   3   2     2    6   −4     3

Group 9
Svecia (29) 1–4 Schiavonia (48)
Ariddia (10) 0–0 EL CID THE HERO (93=)
Tadjikistan (52) 1–2 Runaway Moose (76=)

  Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ariddia                         5    3   1   1     6    3   +3    10
2 EL CID THE HERO                 5    2   2   1    11    8   +3     8
  Schiavonia                      5    2   2   1    11    8   +3     8
4 Runaway Moose                   5    2   1   2     5    7   −2     7
5 Tadjikistan                     5    1   1   3     5    8   −3     4
6 Svecia                          5    1   1   3     8   12   −4     4

Group 10
Crosshill (82) 1–2 Commerce Heights (6)
Casari (44) 2–1 Cassadaigua (30=)
New Montreal States (49) 4–0 Tynelia (72)

  Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Commerce Heights                5    4   0   1    11    7   +4    12
2 Casari                          5    3   1   1     6    3   +3    10
3 Cassadaigua                     5    2   2   1     6    3   +3     8
4 New Montreal States             5    1   2   2     6    8   −2     5
5 Crosshill                       5    0   3   2     3    5   −2     3
6 Tynelia                         5    0   2   3     5   11   −6     2

Group 11
Nethertopia (87=) 5–4 The Eagles Nest (57)
Brazillico (46) 0–1 Total n Utter Insanity (12)
The Archregimancy (24) 5–0 Halfassedstates (74)

  Group 11                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Total n Utter Insanity          5    4   1   0    10    4   +6    13
2 The Archregimancy               5    3   2   0    12    3   +9    11
3 Nethertopia                     5    2   1   2    11    9   +2     7
4 The Eagles Nest                 5    1   2   2     8   11   −3     5
5 Halfassedstates                 5    0   3   2     3    9   −6     3
6 Brazillico                      5    0   1   4     2   10   −8     1

Group 12
Yafor 2 (53) 1–2 Sorthern Northland (18)
The FSSO (95=) 0–3 Cafundéu (16)
One Red Dot (42) 0–2 Dennisov (71)

  Group 12                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Cafundéu                        5    3   1   1     8    3   +5    10
2 Dennisov                        5    3   1   1     7    5   +2    10
3 One Red Dot                     5    3   0   2     6    5   +1     9
4 Sorthern Northland              5    2   1   2     5    6   −1     7
5 Yafor 2                         5    1   2   2     5    5    0     5
6 The FSSO                        5    0   1   4     2    9   −7     1

Group 13
Valanora (1) 3–1 Qazox (35)
Druida (83) 1–0 Bettia (28)
Oglethorpia (60) 2–2 Kura-Pelland (69=)

  Group 13                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Qazox                           5    4   0   1     9    5   +4    12
2 Valanora                        5    3   1   1     8    4   +4    10
3 Druida                          5    3   1   1     4    3   +1    10
4 Oglethorpia                     5    0   4   1     8    9   −1     4
5 Bettia                          5    1   1   3     4    7   −3     4
6 Kura-Pelland                    5    0   1   4     4    9   −5     1

Group 14
Vephrall (66=) 0–1 Az-cz (25=)
Kelssek (63) 1–0 Turori (39)
Squornshelous (5) 3–1 Haraki (92)

  Group 14                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kelssek                         5    4   0   1     9    2   +7    12
2 Az-cz                           5    3   2   0     4    1   +3    11
3 Squornshelous                   5    1   2   2     6    7   −1     5
4 Vephrall                        5    1   2   2     5    6   −1     5
5 Haraki                          5    1   2   2     6   10   −4     5
6 Turori                          5    0   2   3     2    6   −4     2

Group 15
The Sylvanaes Queendom (54) 1–3 The Holy Empire (4)
Iansisle (87=) 1–2 Candelaria And Marquez (25=)
Cockbill Street (76=) 2–4 Dancougar (43)

  Group 15                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Candelaria And Marquez          5    4   1   0     9    4   +5    13
2 Dancougar                       5    2   2   1    10    8   +2     8
3 The Holy Empire                 5    2   2   1     6    4   +2     8
4 Cockbill Street                 5    2   1   2     7    6   +1     7
5 The Sylvanaes Queendom          5    1   1   3     7    9   −2     4
6 Iansisle                        5    0   1   4     4   12   −8     1

Group 16
Krytenia (8) 4–3 Quohog (79)
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (58=) 2–3 Spaam (33)
Gesamtkuntswerk (84=) 1–2 Aguazul (22)

  Group 16                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Spaam                           5    3   1   1     9    5   +4    10
2 Krytenia                        5    3   1   1     9    5   +4    10
3 Aguazul                         5    2   1   2     8    7   +1     7
4 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega          5    2   1   2    10   11   −1     7
5 Gesamtkuntswerk                 5    1   2   2     4    6   −2     5
6 Quohog                          5    1   0   4     7   13   −6     3

[Zwangzug]

"What do they mean by mythic bleed?" Megan asks. She remembers, not playing here herself, but that just recently a dreamed simulacrum of her was playing for the Holy Empire's World Cup 40 team. At least she understands what an honor it is to be respected by this strange and beautiful place, even if her teammates don't. Maybe if she's lucky, there'll be a way to hold onto this.

"The future influencing the past," says Sue. "One reality influencing another. Even if it's not completely understood, or preserved perfectly, there can be--details, happenstance things--more than coincidence. Shared across worlds, across time, across memory."

"Here's something I'd like to share with you," says Andrew, "why don't you just shut up and leave us alone? We're winless, bottom of the group--the sooner you get off our case the sooner we'll be eliminated and we can all go home."

"Hang on," says Rube. "You know what she's talking about."

"Do I--you don't know the half of what I know, okay?"

"When we came here--"

"When we--look, believe it or not, you are going to, one day, grow up and get a clue. I wish I could say the same for the rest of you, but that's my luck."

"Andrew, I'm older than you already," he points out. "Sue, I'm assuming politics works the same in your day as in mine? The Parliament talks something over, one debate a day?"

"But of course," she says. "Actually, not quite, the LibCons have toned down their emphasis on secularism, and so the religious diversity is a little bit more of a thing."

"All right!" he grins.

"Yeah, the LibCons were messed up," Jacob laughs, "they get over themselves relatively quickly, all things considered."

"Okay. Well," says Rube. "After we got back from the Archregimancy, through the portals and all, the Parliament was--debating on whether to give money to a bunch of senile old people."

"Oh yeah, they still do that," says Megan. "The old Consolidators, right? Who thought they were part of some war."

Rube nods. "Obviously, being from Zwangzug and all, this did not ring true. But then, they were saying that before the country really existed as we know it, they had to fight off a bunch of crazies who thought that the world couldn't be real, that we were just some--imagined--dimension."

"And when they were done they remembered their common heritage, their families had all come from these little would-be utopian towns, and before that from pansying out of dictatorships or whatever far away, and they were all like "let's be a country," and here we are today, blah blah blah. Everyone knows that."

"Did everyone know that?" says Rube. "Before we went through that first time portal? Did we all know anything about a so-called war?"

The younger players are sort of blinking. "I am not getting involved in this conversation," Andrew declares.

"I--I mean nobody studied history, much, we had better things to do," Steven volunteers.

"No, I remember this. Or at least, you being worked up about it," says Jacob. "I think the consensus was that you were better off focusing on Tanah Burung."

"Tanah Burung seem like a great nation! And Hannah was into it--"

"Hannah?" Megan interrupts.

Rube blushes very deeply. "Never mind. The point is, we went through a portal, and then--it seemed like the past might have been changed? At least, I cared."

"The Parliament likes to talk about lots of random things, then as now," Sue points out. "It could just be a coincidence."

"There are no coincidences," says Andrew, "not when time portals are involved."

"Oh? Why don't you tell us then, Mr. Not Involved in This Conversation?" Megan challenges.

"Why don't you shut up?"

"Because this is getting good. Sue? Mythic bleed?"

"Look. I know the winners of the World Cup, twenty cycles after all of you have--retired--"

"Do we all retire?" says Andrew.

"What?"

"I mean, do we all actually verbally declare, "this is the end of my playing career" while we're still capable of making this a matter of the public record?"

"The sixteen of you? More or less, without speaking for your domestic teammates." She looks pointedly at Natasha, who doesn't seem to be focusing.

Andrew swivels his head around. "Sixteen of us? Eleven starters, Jacob, Rube--"

"We're all accounted for," says Megan, "I think some of the younger ones were going to watch group...ten or something."

"Okay," says Sue. "What I mean is, if you want facts, I have plenty of facts to offer. About football, its past and future. If you want to understand mythic bleed--I have only theories. Guesses."

"That's better than what we have so far," says Rube. "Please, tell us something. Anything."

"You'll probably forget it all when you go back."

"Good," says Andrew.

Sue nods. "Just to make sure you understand the stakes--does anyone have paper? Pencils?"

Steven produces a stack of paper from his clipboard, which he must have taken to carrying around with him to prevent unauthorized personnel getting ahold of it.

"I just have a simple exercise for you," says Sue. "Each one of you--I know a bunch of you have been talking to the Aguazul players, hearing about the countries from the future. Go ahead and, individually or collectively, draw a map of the world."

[Qazox]

Qazox' Elven woes continue, even in our dreams-

Simulated in front of 107,800 Bedistani fans at Porcupine Palace, Alexandria, Neshoba, Bedistan; Qazox came into it's final group stage match before the holiday break 4-0-0 and were to face Valanora and hopes were high that at worst a draw could be had. Those plans were shot to shit in the first 30 minutes as Valanora ran off to a 2-0 lead with goals in the 14th and 29th minutes and defender Fernando Turek was sent off with a red card for yelling an anti-elfin curse towards the Valanoran bench. Down a man, Qazox did string together a goal after a series of brilliant passes eventually opened up a Matilda Swords shot from 10 feet that made it 2-1 before the Half. But being down 1 person to a team like Valanora is as bad for you as diving into a vat of pirhana after being stabbed in the head. Valanora did make it 3-1 in the 62nd minute, but were gracious enough not to persue further goals in the match.

So the loss leaves Qazox just 2 points ahead of Valanora and 2 points ahead of Druida who beat Bettia 1-0 earlier in the day. Oglethorpia once again drew, this time a 2–2 affair with Kura-Pelland, whom Qazox will face after the break. Qazox is in a good position to advance if they can avoid any more losses.

[Andossa Se Mitrin Vega]

All-Time Sea Dragons Roster

Manager: Mace Kinoz’gh


Starting 11
RF - Pablo Iglesias
LF - Jonasei Ariq-Alara
OM - Evan Evans
RM - Pao St Martinique
LM - Akaok Kapekeoa
RUB - Kymykera Wu’eres
RB - Ombar Stonewall
CB - Laia Un’jeru’bectii
LB - Unami Banta-N’bai
LUB - Nelijibii Sam'roth'oq
K - Shaun Conarky

Reserve 11
RF - Rainu Irin’lur
LF - Porche Alexander
OM - Kylek Ale'ack
RM - Jahirii Tai’Seri
LM - Itrekril Boshath
RUB - Ionei N’gi
RB - Timo Umafu’alafa
CB - Kimo Umafu’alafa
LB - Unori Banta-N’bai
LUB - Qintal Gha’voru
K - Sanlioch Bez’Al

Do anything you want. Style -2 if that matters

**********************************************************



This is Kellan Kildan reporting live from the other side of reality for one final tournament. And what a tournament it is. The World Cup of Dreams. Long have pundits and fans alike awaited such a thing, and now we finally have it.

But did we truly want this? Most would say yes. But to this old reporters soul it has a very dark side as well. Outside of a select few nations and their favorite elite players, the rest of us simply lose the ability to boast that we could have competed with the true legends.

I remember some one hundred and fifty-two years ago when the Sea Dragons made their debut in World Cup 25 that we had to look sharply up at such powerhouse squads as Starblaydia, Liverpool England, Giant Zucchini, and Rejistania among others. It is somewhat amusing to see things have changed very little over the course of time. We still look up at those legends as well as a slew of newer powers as well.

And yet when you look at the Sea Dragon squad and where we currently sit in the table, we still have a chance to move on. Elite scorers like Jonasei and Pablo are backed up by such elite talent as Rainu and Porche. Evan is no longer alone in the middle as Akaok and Pao lend their substantial skill as well. And the back lines - Kymykera, Ombar, Unami, Unori, Kimo & Timo, Laia. I would hate to face any combination put forward. And don’t forget that Mace could suit up and join them as well. And then with Shaun or Sanlioch in net… this squad could be dominant.

And yet this tournament has shown the true difference between very good and truly elite. Even such defensive greatness as we can boast of pales in comparison with true brilliance from offensive legends.

All in all we remain a small fish in a large pond. Perhaps the Mother Star will shine on us just enough for the Sea Dragons to scrape into the final 32 where we will surely get ripped apart.

This has been Kellan Kildan signing off for perhaps the very last time.

[Aguazul]

Possibly before the previous conversation, although the relative order of some of these events should really be the least of your worries:

"Where's that song even from?"

"Well, I just heard it from Eusebio. But he says he learned it from me. Later."

"..."

"Don't think too hard about it."

"Don't think too hard? What else am I supposed to do? We've got a team of stars and no one can get injured, I don't think they'll need me."

"So just hang out. Visit the other teams, make friends."

"I can't do that!"

"What?"

"Look how many of them have ceased to exist! I can't just start a conversation with them, knowing. It wouldn't be fair."

"Okay, so, we'll find someone who hasn't."

It doesn't take Sosimo long to track Natalie down again. "Hey!"

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Eh, halfway through, we're third. You?"

"...footballwise, not quite as well," but she seems all right with that.

He nods. "This is Jimeno, one of my international teammates...this is Natalie."

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Well, aren't you two the pair of conversationalists. No, okay. So having asked around, it's like...there's different players, and different teams, but there's so much diversity in terms of styles and everything that we can all still understand each other."

"Because the Dreamed Realm translates everything?" Jimeno asks.

"That too, but also because we have the same questions and same struggles. On some level."

Natalie nods. "In a way it could be disappointing that...we haven't made any progress, that things don't get any easier, but then it's not like we seem completely backwards, compared to you modern guys."

"And in a place like this, we're all sort of on the same playing field. But all the same, I'm sort of glad I won't remember everything...if there's something new, something creative I get to do, I want to know it's really me making it up on my own, not just stealing it from the future."

"But wait, that still doesn't make sense," says Jimeno, "if you're stealing it from yourself...it shouldn't count...this is all so messed up."

"And I think sometimes we go back and forth," Natalie guesses. "I feel braver now than I did a cycle ago, more willing to speak up, and you seem so encouraging about it...but I don't know if it'll last."

"Coach Mcgimpy was like that, too," another of the Zwangzug players chimes in. "His first cycle? It was great, we had no expectations really, and he just did everything right. After that people started watching more, the pressure was on him, and I think he got more nervous."

"Hey!" says Sosimo. "I'm Sosimo, this is Jimeno. We're from the future."

"It's not as cool as it sounds," Jimeno blushes.

"Honored to meet time travellers of any kind," he winks. "I'm Jacob Barons."

"They share a league with us, at least for a little while," says Natalie.

"Mmhmm. So Natalie, about knowing when to just make some noise?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry about it. If it comes to that point, you'll know."

"Huh?"

"Yelling as distraction, you remember, right? You were around for the shootout."

"Aha," says Sosimo, "that's how you do it."

"What?" Jimeno asks.

"Don't worry about it."

Natalie laughs. "Yes, of course. Sosimo, as cool a teammate as you would have been...well, probably are, in your day, I wouldn't be exactly who I am in another country, I don't think. Not because of nationalism or anything like that, just...a different time and place."

"Yeah. Well. I can't promise I'd have known how to deal with you guys, either. I'm sure we would have been...interesting teammates, though."

"Is that interesting good, or just interesting?" Jimeno asks. "There's a difference."

"That would probably depend on whether you were on the team too...hey, no, I'm just kidding."

"Heh," says Natalie. "I'll see you around."

"Definitely. Five days left, no telling what'll happen."

[The Babbage Islands]

We're at the halfway mark of an amazing tournament, still unbeaten although Bazalonia just held us to our first draw. Thirteen points and plus-eight is a good place to be.

This starting eleven is a curious blend for me. I've talked about having played with all of the other midfielders save one recently. But it looks like we start making a reputation for defence down the road. Of the five starters behind me only one has appeared as a Bumblebee in my time, Jerry Kirkpatrick. The other four add an amazing dimension to the talent I know. Kaitlyn Miller, the keeper, might be our player of the tournament so far. We can't decide whether to nickname her K-Kate or "Little" Kate to distinguish her from wingback Caitlyn Ballantyne, C-Kate or "Big" Kate. The little and big monikers look odd, as Miller towers above Ballantyne. But she's several years younger, which is where it comes from. Either way Kate the Keeper is a keeper, two goals allowed in four outings and one of those was late in a 4-1 win. Nancy Svoboda at sweeper and Katja Mira as the other wingback round out the defence. They're quite the pair, almost inseparable despite being rivals of a sort. Both played sweeper for their clubs. Katja lost the battle for #1 sweeper, but she's so good that she starts out of her original position.

Katja's with my club now too, another of Os Bilionarios. Or was. It's hard to fathom that Petardos S/A appears to be no more along with the whole Primierona. I don't know which gets funnier, Katja and I swapping tales of the Hawk or Little Kate filling us in about the later adventures of Ganz Ijak. I guess when he finally leaves us he goes right back to coaching and Kaitlyn plays for him at SC Lasft. Regardless, there's a bunch of us that can yammer in Portuguese at each other. Jason, Orson, Wilhelm, Katja, Jerry, Natalia, and Kaitlyn have all joined me on the Cafundéu Express.

I'm still not sure what's going to happen with all these crossed-up memories. But it's fun, and the football has been great.

Smile!

[The Babbage Islands]

Qualifying: Round 6 of 10

Group 1
Vilita (21) 1–1 Kaze Progressa (73)
Demot (38) 1–0 Queer Poco el Mono Ara (89)
Kingsford (61=) 0–1 Starblaydia (2)

  Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Demot                           6    4   1   1     7    1   +6    13
2 Starblaydia                     6    3   2   1     9    3   +6    11
3 Kingsford                       6    1   3   2     6    7   −1     6
4 Vilita                          6    1   3   2     6    9   −3     6
5 Kaze Progressa                  6    1   3   2     5    8   −3     6
6 Queer Poco el Mono Ara          6    1   2   3     4    9   −5     5

Group 2
Valladares (93=) 0–4 Audioslavia (13)
Polar Islandstates (68) 1–1 Oliverry (55)
The Lowland Clans (41) 2–2 Eauz (19)

  Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Audioslavia                     6    4   1   1    14    4  +10    13
2 Oliverry                        6    2   3   1     6    5   +1     9
3 Eauz                            6    2   3   1     7    7    0     9
4 Polar Islandstates              6    1   4   1     5    6   −1     7
5 The Lowland Clans               6    1   2   3     6   11   −5     5
6 Valladares                      6    1   1   4     3    8   −5     4

Group 3
Sarzonia (14) 0–0 Albundania (91)
Lovisa (45) 7–2 Snub Nose 38 (61=)
Jeru FC  (23) 2–1 Oaker (80)

  Group 3                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                        6    4   1   1    12    3   +9    13
2 Jeru FC                         6    4   1   1    11    8   +3    13
3 Lovisa                          6    4   0   2    16    9   +7    12
4 Snub Nose 38                    6    2   2   2     6   13   −7     8
5 Albundania                      6    0   3   3     2    6   −4     3
6 Oaker                           6    0   1   5     4   12   −8     1

Group 4
Rejistania (7) 0–0 Fmjphoenix (66=)
Milchama (20) 2–1 Bears Armed (34)
Septentrionia (81) 1–2 Ad'ihan (50)

  Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Rejistania                      6    3   2   1    12    6   +6    11
2 Milchama                        6    2   3   1    10    8   +2     9
3 Septentrionia                   6    2   3   1     7    5   +2     9
4 Bears Armed                     6    2   2   2     8    6   +2     8
5 Ad'ihan                         6    2   2   2     7   11   −4     8
6 Fmjphoenix                      6    0   2   4     4   12   −8     2

Group 5
Bazalonia (40) 3–0 Hockey Canada (90)
Ravenspire (69=) 1–4 Wentland (64)
Europa Britannia (15) 3–3 The Babbage Islands (17)

  Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Babbage Islands             6    4   2   0    15    7   +8    14
2 Bazalonia                       6    3   3   0     8    3   +5    12
3 Europa Britannia                6    2   3   1    11    4   +7     9
4 Wentland                        6    2   2   2     9    8   +1     8
5 Ravenspire                      6    0   2   4     6   14   −8     2
6 Hockey Canada                   6    0   2   4     2   15  −13     2

Group 6
Jeruselem (11) 2–1 Sel Appa (75)
Lemmitania (32) 4–0 Dance 2 Revolution (51)
Jasi'yun (84=) 3–0 The Han Empire (37)

  Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Jeruselem                       6    4   0   2    10    7   +3    12
2 Lemmitania                      6    3   1   2    12    9   +3    10
3 Sel Appa                        6    3   0   3     7    7    0     9
4 Dance 2 Revolution              6    3   0   3     5    8   −3     9
5 The Han Empire                  6    2   2   2     9   10   −1     8
6 Jasi'yun                        6    1   1   4     7    9   −2     4

Group 7
Tanah Burung (47) 1–2 Zwangzug (56)
Liverpool England (9) 2–4 The Belmore Family (65)
Giant Zucchini (30=) 3–1 Al Quds (95=)

  Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Tanah Burung                    6    4   1   1    15   10   +5    13
2 The Belmore Family              6    3   1   2    14   11   +3    10
3 Liverpool England               6    2   2   2    11   12   −1     8
4 Giant Zucchini                  6    2   1   3    11   13   −2     7
5 Zwangzug                        6    1   3   2     9   10   −1     6
6 Al Quds                         6    1   2   3     6   10   −4     5

Group 8
Errinundera (36) 0–0 Quakmybush (84=)
Akbarabad (78) 1–1 Bedistan (3)
Bostopia (27) 4–1 Crystilakere (58=)

  Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bedistan                        6    4   1   1    10    4   +6    13
2 Bostopia                        6    3   3   0     8    3   +5    12
3 Crystilakere                    6    2   2   2     6    8   −2     8
4 Errinundera                     6    0   4   2     4    6   −2     4
5 Quakmybush                      6    0   4   2     6    9   −3     4
6 Akbarabad                       6    0   4   2     3    7   −4     4

Group 9
Schiavonia (48) 0–2 Runaway Moose (76=)
Tadjikistan (52) 1–0 EL CID THE HERO (93=)
Ariddia (10) 3–1 Svecia (29)

  Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ariddia                         6    4   1   1     9    4   +5    13
2 Runaway Moose                   6    3   1   2     7    7    0    10
3 EL CID THE HERO                 6    2   2   2    11    9   +2     8
4 Schiavonia                      6    2   2   2    11   10   +1     8
5 Tadjikistan                     6    2   1   3     6    8   −2     7
6 Svecia                          6    1   1   4     9   15   −6     4

Group 10
Commerce Heights (6) 2–0 Tynelia (72)
New Montreal States (49) 2–1 Cassadaigua (30=)
Casari (44) 1–0 Crosshill (82)

  Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Commerce Heights                6    5   0   1    13    7   +6    15
2 Casari                          6    4   1   1     7    3   +4    13
3 Cassadaigua                     6    2   2   2     7    5   +2     8
4 New Montreal States             6    2   2   2     8    9   −1     8
5 Crosshill                       6    0   3   3     3    6   −3     3
6 Tynelia                         6    0   2   4     5   13   −8     2

Group 11
The Eagles Nest (57) 2–5 Halfassedstates (74)
The Archregimancy (24) 1–2 Total n Utter Insanity (12)
Brazillico (46) 1–1 Nethertopia (87=)

  Group 11                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Total n Utter Insanity          6    5   1   0    12    5   +7    16
2 The Archregimancy               6    3   2   1    13    5   +8    11
3 Nethertopia                     6    2   2   2    12   10   +2     8
4 Halfassedstates                 6    1   3   2     8   11   −3     6
5 The Eagles Nest                 6    1   2   3    10   16   −6     5
6 Brazillico                      6    0   2   4     3   11   −8     2

Group 12
Sorthern Northland (18) 3–1 Dennisov (71)
One Red Dot (42) 2–2 Cafundéu (16)
The FSSO (95=) 0–3 Yafor 2 (53)

  Group 12                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Cafundéu                        6    3   2   1    10    5   +5    11
2 One Red Dot                     6    3   1   2     8    7   +1    10
3 Sorthern Northland              6    3   1   2     8    7   +1    10
4 Dennisov                        6    3   1   2     8    8    0    10
5 Yafor 2                         6    2   2   2     8    5   +3     8
6 The FSSO                        6    0   1   5     2   12  −10     1

Group 13
Qazox (35) 3–2 Kura-Pelland (69=)
Oglethorpia (60) 3–2 Bettia (28)
Druida (83) 0–1 Valanora (1)

  Group 13                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Qazox                           6    5   0   1    12    7   +5    15
2 Valanora                        6    4   1   1     9    4   +5    13
3 Druida                          6    3   1   2     4    4    0    10
4 Oglethorpia                     6    1   4   1    11   11    0     7
5 Bettia                          6    1   1   4     6   10   −4     4
6 Kura-Pelland                    6    0   1   5     6   12   −6     1

Group 14
Az-cz (25=) 0–0 Haraki (92)
Squornshelous (5) 1–2 Turori (39)
Kelssek (63) 0–3 Vephrall (66=)

  Group 14                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kelssek                         6    4   0   2     9    5   +4    12
2 Az-cz                           6    3   3   0     4    1   +3    12
3 Vephrall                        6    2   2   2     8    6   +2     8
4 Haraki                          6    1   3   2     6   10   −4     6
5 Squornshelous                   6    1   2   3     7    9   −2     5
6 Turori                          6    1   2   3     4    7   −3     5

Group 15
The Holy Empire (4) 1–2 Dancougar (43)
Cockbill Street (76=) 4–1 Candelaria And Marquez (25=)
Iansisle (87=) 2–2 The Sylvanaes Queendom (54)

  Group 15                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Candelaria And Marquez          6    4   1   1    10    8   +2    13
2 Dancougar                       6    3   2   1    12    9   +3    11
3 Cockbill Street                 6    3   1   2    11    7   +4    10
4 The Holy Empire                 6    2   2   2     7    6   +1     8
5 The Sylvanaes Queendom          6    1   2   3     9   11   −2     5
6 Iansisle                        6    0   2   4     6   14   −8     2

Group 16
Quohog (79) 0–1 Aguazul (22)
Gesamtkuntswerk (84=) 1–2 Spaam (33)
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (58=) 2–3 Krytenia (8)

  Group 16                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Krytenia                        6    4   1   1    12    7   +5    13
2 Spaam                           6    4   1   1    11    6   +5    13
3 Aguazul                         6    3   1   2     9    7   +2    10
4 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega          6    2   1   3    12   14   −2     7
5 Gesamtkuntswerk                 6    1   2   3     5    8   −3     5
6 Quohog                          6    1   0   5     7   14   −7     3

[Zwangzug]

Operation Cartography is predictably a failure. Some people split up and do simple sketches; those who do collaborate, having picked up bits and pieces from their Aguazul counterparts, have a conversation that goes something like this:

Okay we're here Put in some mountains Trees Cities Stylized rockets We're Rovers United, we'll play where we want Shut up Natasha Aguazul's off in that direction With some occupied territories off to the side This way is north right Yep Good so that should be like Sorthern Northland up to start Atlantian Oceania Sure There's like a bunch more countries here Yep Let's see, uh, money off to this side Pointy ears Bettia Northern Bettia Boooo The UCS maybe Just put a dot for Sokojito And another one for Aeropag Where Whatever Here's Vircais it's like a triangle And then C&M are south of that, just, like rivals Okay so this is Rushmore Just put in some more islands And then a continent Sounds good Wait I thought Bigtopia was down here Draw a foot, somewhere A foot Bigtopia, Maxtopia, Lilliputia, they're all just toes Wezeltonia is the heel And a bunch of islands border it I thought Lovisa was supposed to be up farther north Just throw it in Jeruselem is a tiny dot off...south of there Okay, now, Daehanjeiguk is huge Put Yafor 2 nearby here Do we have to include the original Yafor We'd better not Ooh, the Heartland What's that shaped like Just draw a heart Wait, hold on guys, I heard there were some Polar Islandstates in Rushmore Put 'em at the bottom, it's fine And this place called Esportiva There should be room out to the east, just make something up Okay Errinundera is down here And we need Ariddia There's still room for an ocean, just put a bunch of little dots There's supposed to be a bunch of countries out here, Kelssek and everybody Sure, just sketch that maybe There's a place called Bears Armed Put it up by Daehanjeiguk, next to Myeveveveyvavda whatever That is not a country Neither is Capitalizt SLANI, just go with it Are we done Forgot One Big Island Baseball woo Are there supposed to be this Babbage Islands archipelago next to it There's clearly only one island I give up, we're as done as we're ever gonna be

Sue collects the papers and tries not to laugh.

"Okay, the point is...what, we're all bad at geography?" says Rube.

"Maybe all these maps have to be stapled together," Natasha ventures, "like, the world is really big."

"That can't be right," says Natalie, "we know how long a day is and everything, how fast it's turning."

"Technically we don't know how long a day is," Megan points out.

"Shut up," says Andrew.

Sue is stacking the papers together and then holding them up. Is there such a thing as sunlight, in the Holy Empire? Does it orbit the same sun?

"We forgot to include this place," Natasha says.

It doesn't matter. Sue holds them in what passes for sunlight, anyway, until they're almost transparent and they can see past one layer to the pages below.

"This is all speculation," she says quietly, "but I think the world looks like this."

"Except less sloppy?" says Mal.

"No," says Megan, "I think I get it. The countries are stacked...not on top of each other, vertically, but next to each other, through some other dimension. It's like when we take the portals, we're moving in another direction than the ones we're used to."

"That's not possible," says Steven flatly, "there are too many of them, and if we went through portals this often...we'd know."

"I suspect that sometimes, if you trust that your destination is just as real as the place where you arrive from, groups of people could move back and forth without thinking," Sue explains. "Maybe in big regions where there are lots of countries right next to each other, you wouldn't have to bother. But back--well before Zwangzug was a country, there were these small groups of people making their way there from all over. I would guess that some people are naturally more--attuned to these layers--than others, and could just clearly see the path from point A to point B without having to worry about what else they were cutting through. Trust is contagious--having someone like that to follow, that would have been how these first settlers cut through."

"But what does this have to do with mythic bleed?" asks Megan. "It's one thing to say "hey, we're moving to a new place now, who's in," but is there spillover happening--just at random?"

Sue bites her lip. "Again, I'm guessing. This--ability, to tap through to the other dimensions or whatever--I suspect it's genetic. There are plenty of countries where it would hardly ever appear, the population is that stable. And a lot of the cities that those original settlers founded, the DNA would pass down through a few generations, maybe never get fully realized, and eventually die out. Mythic bleed is extremely rare. There are other cases where it does get realized more fully, countries with histories more...malleable, more susceptible to outside influences." She gestures around them. "Very far outside."

"And we," says Andrew, "are most certainly not interested in Dreamed Realm influence. Am I right?"

"Well there's the haddock," says Jacob.

"What haddock?"

"You don't remember that, do you?" says Eddie. "But you will, soon. I think even we put up with it, so long as it's within the right timeline--all the events are happening in order."

"Put up with it?" Andrew snaps. "Do you call--this--sitting around--putting up with the Dreamed Realm?"

"Honestly?" says Megan. "Yes."

"As I said, certain countries are more--tolerant--than Zwangzug when it comes to their past being--unstable." Sue glances down at Andrew. "Remember that this is all guesswork. But the only way I can think of for systemic, large-scale fluctuations of reality to happen by accident would be if that gene got widespread enough in a small area. You'd need a lot of copies, probably, if a bunch of descendants of different little towns happened to be interbreeding, and you were closed off to the outside world, so there wouldn't be much genetic dilution. Perhaps some of them would have to be doing physics experiments, perhaps any number of--"

She's interrupted by an extremely vulgar curse word. Peter is staring into the distance and looks as if he's about to cry. "Zwischen."

[Qazox]

Qazox survives Kura-Pelland

At a simulated Loro Sae Stadium, Loro Sae City, Loro Sae, Tanah Burung; Qazox rallied twice to edge Kura-Pelland and have moved one win closer to the round of 32 with a 3-2 win. For the second straight match against K-P (not to be confused with Kaze Progressa or Kagdazka and Pazhujebu); Qazox allowed the first goal, this time in the 40th minute as Fernando Turek and Tobias Carrera swerved to avoid a collision with each other, allowing the K-P striker a wide open shot. But as Qazox often does against teams they beat, they rallied with a 51st minute goal from Ryan Percy tied the match at 1-all. It wouldn't last, as Tobias Carrera was called for a handball in the 61st minute, setting up a penalty kick that made it 2-1. Three minutes later twas tied again by a shot from Kallie Jaus that just bounced over a diving save attempt and Jaus put Qazox ahead for good in the 75th minute.

In other group action, Valanora beat Druida 1-0 and Oglethorpia defeated Bettia 3-2. Qazox will next face Druida.

[The Babbage Islands]

Qualifying: Round 7 of 10

Group 1
Kingsford (61=) 1–2 Vilita (21)
Starblaydia (2) 4–0 Demot (38)
Queer Poco el Mono Ara (89) 1–0 Kaze Progressa (73)

  Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Starblaydia                     7    4   2   1    13    3  +10    14
2 Demot                           7    4   1   2     7    5   +2    13
3 Vilita                          7    2   3   2     8   10   −2     9
4 Queer Poco el Mono Ara          7    2   2   3     5    9   −4     8
5 Kingsford                       7    1   3   3     7    9   −2     6
6 Kaze Progressa                  7    1   3   3     5    9   −4     6

Group 2
The Lowland Clans (41) 4–0 Valladares (93=)
Eauz (19) 0–0 Polar Islandstates (68)
Oliverry (55) 1–0 Audioslavia (13)

  Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Audioslavia                     7    4   1   2    14    5   +9    13
2 Oliverry                        7    3   3   1     7    5   +2    12
3 Eauz                            7    2   4   1     7    7    0    10
4 The Lowland Clans               7    2   2   3    10   11   −1     8
5 Polar Islandstates              7    1   5   1     5    6   −1     8
6 Valladares                      7    1   1   5     3   12   −9     4

Group 3
Jeru FC  (23) 1–2 Sarzonia (14)
Oaker (80) 1–1 Lovisa (45)
Snub Nose 38 (61=) 2–1 Albundania (91)

  Group 3                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                        7    5   1   1    14    4  +10    16
2 Lovisa                          7    4   1   2    17   10   +7    13
3 Jeru FC                         7    4   1   2    12   10   +2    13
4 Snub Nose 38                    7    3   2   2     8   14   −6    11
5 Albundania                      7    0   3   4     3    8   −5     3 E
6 Oaker                           7    0   2   5     5   13   −8     2 E

Group 4
Septentrionia (81) 0–2 Rejistania (7)
Ad'ihan (50) 4–3 Milchama (20)
Bears Armed (34) 4–2 Fmjphoenix (66=)

  Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Rejistania                      7    4   2   1    14    6   +8    14
2 Bears Armed                     7    3   2   2    12    8   +4    11
3 Ad'ihan                         7    3   2   2    11   14   −3    11
4 Milchama                        7    2   3   2    13   12   +1     9
5 Septentrionia                   7    2   3   2     7    7    0     9
6 Fmjphoenix                      7    0   2   5     6   16  −10     2

Group 5
Europa Britannia (15) 3–1 Bazalonia (40)
The Babbage Islands (17) 1–2 Ravenspire (69=)
Wentland (64) 1–1 Hockey Canada (90)

  Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Babbage Islands             7    4   2   1    16    9   +7    14
2 Europa Britannia                7    3   3   1    14    5   +9    12
3 Bazalonia                       7    3   3   1     9    6   +3    12
4 Wentland                        7    2   3   2    10    9   +1     9
5 Ravenspire                      7    1   2   4     8   15   −7     5
6 Hockey Canada                   7    0   3   4     3   16  −13     3

Group 6
Jasi'yun (84=) 0–1 Jeruselem (11)
The Han Empire (37) 1–1 Lemmitania (32)
Dance 2 Revolution (51) 0–0 Sel Appa (75)

  Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Jeruselem                       7    5   0   2    11    7   +4    15
2 Lemmitania                      7    3   2   2    13   10   +3    11
3 Sel Appa                        7    3   1   3     7    7    0    10
4 Dance 2 Revolution              7    3   1   3     5    8   −3    10
5 The Han Empire                  7    2   3   2    10   11   −1     9
6 Jasi'yun                        7    1   1   5     7   10   −3     4

Group 7
Giant Zucchini (30=) 2–0 Tanah Burung (47)
Al Quds (95=) 1–2 Liverpool England (9)
The Belmore Family (65) 3–0 Zwangzug (56)

  Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Belmore Family              7    4   1   2    17   11   +6    13
2 Tanah Burung                    7    4   1   2    15   12   +3    13
3 Liverpool England               7    3   2   2    13   13    0    11
4 Giant Zucchini                  7    3   1   3    13   13    0    10
5 Zwangzug                        7    1   3   3     9   13   −4     6
6 Al Quds                         7    1   2   4     7   12   −5     5

Group 8
Bostopia (27) 0–0 Errinundera (36)
Crystilakere (58=) 3–2 Akbarabad (78)
Bedistan (3) 2–0 Quakmybush (84=)

  Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bedistan                        7    5   1   1    12    4   +8    16
2 Bostopia                        7    3   4   0     8    3   +5    13
3 Crystilakere                    7    3   2   2     9   10   −1    11
4 Errinundera                     7    0   5   2     4    6   −2     5
5 Quakmybush                      7    0   4   3     6   11   −5     4
6 Akbarabad                       7    0   4   3     5   10   −5     4

Group 9
Ariddia (10) 1–3 Schiavonia (48)
Svecia (29) 5–3 Tadjikistan (52)
EL CID THE HERO (93=) 1–0 Runaway Moose (76=)

  Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ariddia                         7    4   1   2    10    7   +3    13
2 Schiavonia                      7    3   2   2    14   11   +3    11
3 EL CID THE HERO                 7    3   2   2    12    9   +3    11
4 Runaway Moose                   7    3   1   3     7    8   −1    10
5 Svecia                          7    2   1   4    14   18   −4     7
6 Tadjikistan                     7    2   1   4     9   13   −4     7

Group 10
Casari (44) 1–1 Commerce Heights (6)
Crosshill (82) 1–0 New Montreal States (49)
Cassadaigua (30=) 4–1 Tynelia (72)

  Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Commerce Heights                7    5   1   1    14    8   +6    16
2 Casari                          7    4   2   1     8    4   +4    14
3 Cassadaigua                     7    3   2   2    11    6   +5    11
4 New Montreal States             7    2   2   3     8   10   −2     8
5 Crosshill                       7    1   3   3     4    6   −2     6
6 Tynelia                         7    0   2   5     6   17  −11     2 E

Group 11
Brazillico (46) 0–1 The Eagles Nest (57)
Nethertopia (87=) 0–0 The Archregimancy (24)
Total n Utter Insanity (12) 3–1 Halfassedstates (74)

  Group 11                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Total n Utter Insanity          7    6   1   0    15    6   +9    19 Q
2 The Archregimancy               7    3   3   1    13    5   +8    12
3 Nethertopia                     7    2   3   2    12   10   +2     9
4 The Eagles Nest                 7    2   2   3    11   16   −5     8
5 Halfassedstates                 7    1   3   3     9   14   −5     6
6 Brazillico                      7    0   2   5     3   12   −9     2 E

Group 12
The FSSO (95=) 2–3 Sorthern Northland (18)
Yafor 2 (53) 0–1 One Red Dot (42)
Cafundéu (16) 0–1 Dennisov (71)

  Group 12                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sorthern Northland              7    4   1   2    11    9   +2    13
2 One Red Dot                     7    4   1   2     9    7   +2    13
3 Dennisov                        7    4   1   2     9    8   +1    13
4 Cafundéu                        7    3   2   2    10    6   +4    11
5 Yafor 2                         7    2   2   3     8    6   +2     8
6 The FSSO                        7    0   1   6     4   15  −11     1 E

Group 13
Druida (83) 1–2 Qazox (35)
Valanora (1) 0–1 Oglethorpia (60)
Bettia (28) 0–1 Kura-Pelland (69=)

  Group 13                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Qazox                           7    6   0   1    14    8   +6    18
2 Valanora                        7    4   1   2     9    5   +4    13
3 Oglethorpia                     7    2   4   1    12   11   +1    10
4 Druida                          7    3   1   3     5    6   −1    10
5 Kura-Pelland                    7    1   1   5     7   12   −5     4
6 Bettia                          7    1   1   5     6   11   −5     4

Group 14
Kelssek (63) 2–3 Az-cz (25=)
Vephrall (66=) 1–3 Squornshelous (5)
Turori (39) 0–0 Haraki (92)

  Group 14                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Az-cz                           7    4   3   0     7    3   +4    15
2 Kelssek                         7    4   0   3    11    8   +3    12
3 Squornshelous                   7    2   2   3    10   10    0     8
4 Vephrall                        7    2   2   3     9    9    0     8
5 Haraki                          7    1   4   2     6   10   −4     7
6 Turori                          7    1   3   3     4    7   −3     6

Group 15
Iansisle (87=) 0–2 The Holy Empire (4)
The Sylvanaes Queendom (54) 1–0 Cockbill Street (76=)
Candelaria And Marquez (25=) 1–1 Dancougar (43)

  Group 15                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Candelaria And Marquez          7    4   2   1    11    9   +2    14
2 Dancougar                       7    3   3   1    13   10   +3    12
3 The Holy Empire                 7    3   2   2     9    6   +3    11
4 Cockbill Street                 7    3   1   3    11    8   +3    10
5 The Sylvanaes Queendom          7    2   2   3    10   11   −1     8
6 Iansisle                        7    0   2   5     6   16  −10     2 E

Group 16
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (58=) 1–0 Quohog (79)
Krytenia (8) 3–0 Gesamtkuntswerk (84=)
Spaam (33) 3–3 Aguazul (22)

  Group 16                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Krytenia                        7    5   1   1    15    7   +8    16
2 Spaam                           7    4   2   1    14    9   +5    14
3 Aguazul                         7    3   2   2    12   10   +2    11
4 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega          7    3   1   3    13   14   −1    10
5 Gesamtkuntswerk                 7    1   2   4     5   11   −6     5
6 Quohog                          7    1   0   6     7   15   −8     3 E

[Qazox]

Qazox closes in on Final 32 berth.

A 2-1 win over Drudia, punctuated by two Matlida Swords goals in the 56th and 62nd minutes, has Qazox on the verge of qualifying for the Round of 32. At a simulated Old Qazian Memorial Stadium, the crowd of 76,350 was curiously dressed in 1880's fashions, and the team was laying naked, as Qazox' teams did back in those times. The nakedness of Qazox threw off Druida's game until late, but the two goals by Swords early in the 2nd half were enough to see Qazox win for the 6th time in 7 games.

With 3 games left on the schedule, Qazox leads Druida and Oglethorpia by 8 points and Qazox has the H2H tiebreaker over Druida. Congrats are in store for: Total n Utter Insanity who became the first team to earn their way into the final 32. In other group action, Olgethorpia stunned Valanora 1-0 and Krua-Pelland got their 1st victory in a 1-0 defeat of Bettia. Qazox will face Bettia next, and a win would clinch a R32 berth, while a win and a Valanora loss or tie against Kura-Pelland will see Qazox win this group. Qazox can also clinch a R32 berth if the Druida-Oglethorpia match ends in a draw.

[Aguazul]

They've lost track of when it is back home, if they ever knew. Somebody points out that all of them remember the completion of one cycle or another, nobody's been pulled from midway through qualifiers or whatever, so maybe it is the same season in every time frame. They are getting plenty of rest between games so they can play all of these impossible matches at their best; or, they are playing every day except Sundays, no rest; or, it is all one night after all and one they probably won't remember. Perhaps and/or.

Diego Héctor secretly thinks it might be Christmas. At home, that is, an occasion for celebrating with...worship and family and maybe some egg nog, depending and, well, more brutally torrid and unpleasant weather. Certainly no such travesties as snow to get in the way. In the Holy Empire...the national religion is Orthodox Christianity. It doesn't make sense.

"Which means they wouldn't celebrate at the same time anyway," Sergio points out (they play across from each other and practice together on the bench), "theirs is more like our epiphany, it comes later."

He doesn't quite know what to make of this, sitting with Sergio Bustamante and they're talking denominational stuff? "No, I mean, that they'd have something so...normal."

"They're linked up with the Archregimancy, right? Monks and all."

"But that they would think of themselves as just people. I mean, are we talking the Word becoming flesh here or what? If you squint halfway it passes for paradise, what do they need salvation from?"

Sergio raises his eyebrows. "Don't look at me, man."

"I'm not, just..."

And whether it's a holiday or not, it's a festive night anyway. Any excuse they can take. Maybe they even eat something, for Diego Héctor it's a relief just to know he'll be healthy regardless, he doesn't have to worry about not being able to sleep and being all thrown out of sync for the next game.

They are so merry he forgets to worry, forgets to ask yet again whether any of them at all remember hearing that their predecessors had been in this tournament. If there's any way at all to change things, maybe he has to. Doesn't he? Could he and Merlín and Lita live with themselves, otherwise? He wants to see someone from his own future reassure him it'll be all right, that he'll know what to do, but no one else is there.

And maybe not, maybe things have already or will work out for the best. Perhaps some tensions were bound to flare, could even have led to actual bloodshed, perhaps after winning consecutive titles their standards were already so high that any injuries would be bemoaned. "Do you think maybe..." he begins, but Merlín is clearly not in the mood, passing him a cup full of...well, who knows what it is, what they drink in the Dreamed Realm, it might as well be bluntly cold water because whatever passes for the world all around him is so surreal it's not like he needs to be jolted back to reality any time soon. So he chugs it down and the dream continues.

[The Babbage Islands]

Qualifying: Round 8 of 10

Group 1
Vilita (21) 6–0 Queer Poco el Mono Ara (89)
Kaze Progressa (73) 0–1 Starblaydia (2)
Demot (38) 3–1 Kingsford (61=)

  Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Starblaydia                     8    5   2   1    14    3  +11    17
2 Demot                           8    5   1   2    10    6   +4    16
3 Vilita                          8    3   3   2    14   10   +4    12
4 Queer Poco el Mono Ara          8    2   2   4     5   15  −10     8 E
5 Kingsford                       8    1   3   4     8   12   −4     6 E
6 Kaze Progressa                  8    1   3   4     5   10   −5     6 E

Group 2
Valladares (93=) 2–1 Oliverry (55)
Audioslavia (13) 2–0 Eauz (19)
Polar Islandstates (68) 2–1 The Lowland Clans (41)

  Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Audioslavia                     8    5   1   2    16    5  +11    16
2 Oliverry                        8    3   3   2     8    7   +1    12
3 Polar Islandstates              8    2   5   1     7    7    0    11
4 Eauz                            8    2   4   2     7    9   −2    10
5 The Lowland Clans               8    2   2   4    11   13   −2     8
6 Valladares                      8    2   1   5     5   13   −8     7

Group 3
Sarzonia (14) 2–0 Snub Nose 38 (61=)
Albundania (91) 1–0 Oaker (80)
Lovisa (45) 2–3 Jeru FC  (23)

  Group 3                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                        8    6   1   1    16    4  +12    19
2 Jeru FC                         8    5   1   2    15   12   +3    16
3 Lovisa                          8    4   1   3    19   13   +6    13
4 Snub Nose 38                    8    3   2   3     8   16   −8    11
5 Albundania                      8    1   3   4     4    8   −4     6 E
6 Oaker                           8    0   2   6     5   14   −9     2 E

Group 4
Rejistania (7) 4–2 Bears Armed (34)
Fmjphoenix (66=) 2–2 Ad'ihan (50)
Milchama (20) 0–1 Septentrionia (81)

  Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Rejistania                      8    5   2   1    18    8  +10    17
2 Septentrionia                   8    3   3   2     8    7   +1    12
3 Ad'ihan                         8    3   3   2    13   16   −3    12
4 Bears Armed                     8    3   2   3    14   12   +2    11
5 Milchama                        8    2   3   3    13   13    0     9
6 Fmjphoenix                      8    0   3   5     8   18  −10     3 E

Group 5
Bazalonia (40) 1–0 Wentland (64)
Hockey Canada (90) 1–3 The Babbage Islands (17)
Ravenspire (69=) 1–0 Europa Britannia (15)

  Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Babbage Islands             8    5   2   1    19   10   +9    17
2 Bazalonia                       8    4   3   1    10    6   +4    15
3 Europa Britannia                8    3   3   2    14    6   +8    12
4 Wentland                        8    2   3   3    10   10    0     9
5 Ravenspire                      8    2   2   4     9   15   −6     8 E
6 Hockey Canada                   8    0   3   5     4   19  −15     3 E

Group 6
Jeruselem (11) 4–0 Dance 2 Revolution (51)
Sel Appa (75) 1–1 The Han Empire (37)
Lemmitania (32) 4–1 Jasi'yun (84=)

  Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Jeruselem                       8    6   0   2    15    7   +8    18 Q
2 Lemmitania                      8    4   2   2    17   11   +6    14
3 Sel Appa                        8    3   2   3     8    8    0    11
4 The Han Empire                  8    2   4   2    11   12   −1    10
5 Dance 2 Revolution              8    3   1   4     5   12   −7    10
6 Jasi'yun                        8    1   1   6     8   14   −6     4 E

Group 7
Tanah Burung (47) 5–2 The Belmore Family (65)
Zwangzug (56) 2–1 Al Quds (95=)
Liverpool England (9) 1–2 Giant Zucchini (30=)

  Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Tanah Burung                    8    5   1   2    20   14   +6    16
2 The Belmore Family              8    4   1   3    19   16   +3    13
3 Giant Zucchini                  8    4   1   3    15   14   +1    13
4 Liverpool England               8    3   2   3    14   15   −1    11
5 Zwangzug                        8    2   3   3    11   14   −3     9
6 Al Quds                         8    1   2   5     8   14   −6     5 E

Group 8
Errinundera (36) 1–1 Bedistan (3)
Quakmybush (84=) 0–1 Crystilakere (58=)
Akbarabad (78) 0–5 Bostopia (27)

  Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bedistan                        8    5   2   1    13    5   +8    17
2 Bostopia                        8    4   4   0    13    3  +10    16
3 Crystilakere                    8    4   2   2    10   10    0    14
4 Errinundera                     8    0   6   2     5    7   −2     6 E
5 Quakmybush                      8    0   4   4     6   12   −6     4 E
6 Akbarabad                       8    0   4   4     5   15  −10     4 E

Group 9
Schiavonia (48) 2–0 EL CID THE HERO (93=)
Runaway Moose (76=) 3–3 Svecia (29)
Tadjikistan (52) 1–0 Ariddia (10)

  Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Schiavonia                      8    4   2   2    16   11   +5    14
2 Ariddia                         8    4   1   3    10    8   +2    13
3 EL CID THE HERO                 8    3   2   3    12   11   +1    11
4 Runaway Moose                   8    3   2   3    10   11   −1    11
5 Tadjikistan                     8    3   1   4    10   13   −3    10
6 Svecia                          8    2   2   4    17   21   −4     8

Group 10
Commerce Heights (6) 1–0 Cassadaigua (30=)
Tynelia (72) 5–0 Crosshill (82)
New Montreal States (49) 0–2 Casari (44)

  Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Commerce Heights                8    6   1   1    15    8   +7    19 Q
2 Casari                          8    5   2   1    10    4   +6    17
3 Cassadaigua                     8    3   2   3    11    7   +4    11
4 New Montreal States             8    2   2   4     8   12   −4     8 E
5 Crosshill                       8    1   3   4     4   11   −7     6 E
6 Tynelia                         8    1   2   5    11   17   −6     5 E

Group 11
The Eagles Nest (57) 2–2 Total n Utter Insanity (12)
Halfassedstates (74) 2–1 Nethertopia (87=)
The Archregimancy (24) 3–0 Brazillico (46)

  Group 11                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Total n Utter Insanity          8    6   2   0    17    8   +9    20 Q
2 The Archregimancy               8    4   3   1    16    5  +11    15
3 Nethertopia                     8    2   3   3    13   12   +1     9
4 Halfassedstates                 8    2   3   3    11   15   −4     9
5 The Eagles Nest                 8    2   3   3    13   18   −5     9
6 Brazillico                      8    0   2   6     3   15  −12     2 E

Group 12
Sorthern Northland (18) 4–0 Cafundéu (16)
Dennisov (71) 4–0 Yafor 2 (53)
One Red Dot (42) 1–0 The FSSO (95=)

  Group 12                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sorthern Northland              8    5   1   2    15    9   +6    16
2 Dennisov                        8    5   1   2    13    8   +5    16
3 One Red Dot                     8    5   1   2    10    7   +3    16
4 Cafundéu                        8    3   2   3    10   10    0    11
5 Yafor 2                         8    2   2   4     8   10   −2     8 E
6 The FSSO                        8    0   1   7     4   16  −12     1 E

Group 13
Qazox (35) 1–1 Bettia (28)
Kura-Pelland (69=) 1–1 Valanora (1)
Oglethorpia (60) 2–2 Druida (83)

  Group 13                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Qazox                           8    6   1   1    15    9   +6    19 Q
2 Valanora                        8    4   2   2    10    6   +4    14
3 Oglethorpia                     8    2   5   1    14   13   +1    11
4 Druida                          8    3   2   3     7    8   −1    11
5 Kura-Pelland                    8    1   2   5     8   13   −5     5 E
6 Bettia                          8    1   2   5     7   12   −5     5 E

Group 14
Az-cz (25=) 2–1 Turori (39)
Haraki (92) 1–1 Vephrall (66=)
Squornshelous (5) 4–0 Kelssek (63)

  Group 14                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Az-cz                           8    5   3   0     9    4   +5    18 Q
2 Kelssek                         8    4   0   4    11   12   −1    12
3 Squornshelous                   8    3   2   3    14   10   +4    11
4 Vephrall                        8    2   3   3    10   10    0     9
5 Haraki                          8    1   5   2     7   11   −4     8
6 Turori                          8    1   3   4     5    9   −4     6

Group 15
The Holy Empire (4) 2–1 Candelaria And Marquez (25=)
Dancougar (43) 2–0 The Sylvanaes Queendom (54)
Cockbill Street (76=) 2–1 Iansisle (87=)

  Group 15                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Dancougar                       8    4   3   1    15   10   +5    15
2 The Holy Empire                 8    4   2   2    11    7   +4    14
3 Candelaria And Marquez          8    4   2   2    12   11   +1    14
4 Cockbill Street                 8    4   1   3    13    9   +4    13
5 The Sylvanaes Queendom          8    2   2   4    10   13   −3     8
6 Iansisle                        8    0   2   6     7   18  −11     2 E

Group 16
Quohog (79) 1–3 Spaam (33)
Aguazul (22) 2–1 Krytenia (8)
Gesamtkuntswerk (84=) 1–0 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (58=)

  Group 16                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Spaam                           8    5   2   1    17   10   +7    17
2 Krytenia                        8    5   1   2    16    9   +7    16
3 Aguazul                         8    4   2   2    14   11   +3    14
4 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega          8    3   1   4    13   15   −2    10
5 Gesamtkuntswerk                 8    2   2   4     6   11   −5     8 E
6 Quohog                          8    1   0   7     8   18  −10     3 E