World Cup 68 RP Thread

[Turori]

Return of Karela
Eels Break Out the Shield, Stun Marauders

Milne Stadium, Samstown, Nessex :: Vamariiel Falavir stood on one sideline. Ematea Saenu on the other. The two coaches knew what was at stake. Barring an unlikely sequence of results, one of them was going home early. As the match was preparing to kick off, there was obvious uncertainty as to exactly what type of match would be played. The Vanorian attacking style would typically lend itself to coming forward and putting goals in the back of the net. However, they would certainly be looking to be cautious so as not to let the new-look Eels team, boasting perhaps the deepest group of Turorian attackers in the nations history, a chance to poach a goal and steal a result.

From the Turorian perspective, the Eels have long claimed to have been taught the teaching of Karela - the Way of the Orange-Blues.

It is a system that Turori National Team goalkeeper Mumau Atla-Siioai had perfected perfectly in Turoki, where he has led his domestic side to two straight Vilitan Stellar Division titles primarily riding the strength of the perfectly Karelan 1-0 victory.

However, that was not the Eels side that had thus far shown up to the Free Republics for World Cup 68. This Eels side had thus far looked far more like students of System Takil than of System Karela. a 3-3 draw in the opening match against Neu Engollon followed by a 5-4 Matchday 2 victory over Saintland had put the Eels at the top of the heap, above all other teams in the competition in terms of goals scored with 8 - an average of four goals per game in the opening two matches. Additionally, the seven goals conceded, 2nd most of all teams, was about as far from Karelan as it comes and head coach Ematea Saenu knew it.

The question is, did he care? Was this new look Attacking side coming out of the Island Emirate a sign of a culture shift in Turori? Surely a single match would be no more of a litmus test than two previous matches had been, but it was certainly a storyline to watch as the Free Republican referee blew to indicate it was time for the opening kickoff.

In a surprise to no one, the match - with both sides World Cup fates resting squarely on it, started out extremely tense. Some simple passes and not a lot of steps in, at times it almost felt as if the teams were just looking to survive the opening 45 minutes and set up for a second half shootout. The majority of the match was being played between the boxes, with both netminders looking on as spectators for long periods of play - the odd back pass or long ball to collect and redistribute being the only items of note.

Each side would earn a couple of corner kicks late in the first half proceedings, giving the fans something to get on their feet for, but never really producing that final bit of quality to turn them into legitimate scoring chances.

Coach Saenu made two changes at the half, with Inlinte Makakio coming in for Cediici Tzatzos and Etamara Kulkkiia taking over the utility player role from Klaillal Tuirma.

The Eels were obviously far more content to settle the match in a draw than the Vanorians were, as the draw would keep Turori planted firmly above the 5-time World Cup champions in the group table and ensure their progression, even if it meant not winning the group. However, after being defeated by Valanora in the Round of 16 during World Cup 67, the Eels clearly wanted more than a goalless draw. This was a chance for Turori to prove it was a real contender - that they had the quality required to make a run into the Quarter Finals - and beyond - something no Turorian side had ever done. They were squaring off against the second-rank team in the multiverse, sure, but more importantly, they were squaring off against Valanora. The nation that knocked them out of the World Cup 67 finals and an Atlantian Oceania regional rival that the two sides have a large amount of history invested between them.

Then, the chance came from nothing, as Aearost Tinueme misplayed a simple pass across and Inamari Altariiz stuck a foot out, deflecting the ball smartly into the open space between himself and the out of place Aediron Galadirdren who stepped forward to try to intercept the ball before Altariiz got there, but was unable to beat the pacey Turorian forward. Altariiz got a touch on the ball to knock it around Galadirdren and then danced a second touch to ensure the ball made its way to the back of the net, giving Turori the 1-0 lead.

The Mliona-Lpaka forward whipped his arm around in celebration as his teammates surrounded him in an expulsation of relief and accomplishment.

The Vanorian players were hit with a punch of dejection and disbelief, as they were less than 20 minutes from a first-ever group stage elimination.

So much more was expected from Valanora - looking to re-claim the World Cup title from the grasps of the Polarian incumbents. Instead, Mumau Atla-Siioai would deny the last ditch efforts even for an equalizing goal - the motivation for the Marauders just seemed lacking at the end, knowing that Saintland was up on Neu Engollon and only a pair of goals would do.

In the end, System Karela had returned for the Island Emirate, and the 1-0 upset of a projected World Cup finalist was celebrated all the way back in Turori as the Eels had survived with a rare unbeaten performance in the World Cup group stage to advance to the second round.

As the final whistle resonated throughout the Milne Stadium, a small pocket of lime green clad Turorian supporters who were able to scalp tickets off the locals erupted in delight while throughtout the stadium, small pockets of Vanorian fans quietly filed out in unexpected defeat - left to rue the opening matchday loss to Saintland and their inability to shake the curse of the Eel that had looked so recently to have been nothing more than a historical footnote.

Turori Goalscorers::
70' Inamari Altariiz

Turori

Best Player: Raso Tareak
Worst Player: Rutaj Ranaso
Shots on Target: 3
Corner Kicks: 3

Valanora

Best Player: Vanacauion Haelinde
Worst Player: Aearost Tinueme
Shots on Target: 3
Corner Kicks: 4


Turori Eels Lineup v. Valanora ::
[GK] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Tarek Edgeli, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [D] Dmitri Levada, [UT] Klaillal Tuirma, [ML] Raso Tareak, [MC] Cediici Tzatzos, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Rikko Rawaii, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Matlya Eelador
BENCH::
[FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Inlite Makakio, [M] Etamara Kulkkiia, [UT] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Oani Moralziia, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori Substitutions::
(45) - Cediici Tzatzos >>> Inlite Makakio
(45) - Klaillal Tuirma >>> Etamara Kulkkiia
(67) - Tarek Edgeli >>> Lioniaa Tana

[Barunia]

BaruniainSports.com.bu

Ed. note: Hello everyone, Kitty here. Thanks for all the thoughts and comments you've left for me on the site, I appreciate it. I'm back now, and really enjoying the Suns performance in this World Cup. Go Suns!

History
By Kitty Smith

The Barunian Suns may have made history after advancing out of the group stage of the World Cup finals, but they'll be looking back to the past for some inspiration as they prepare to challenge Pasarga in the round of sixteen. No team from Barunia, in any sport, has ever lost a round of sixteen match at international level. For the football team, it started with the 51st Baptism of Fire with a 4-2 win over Hyskigland. They then followed it up with success in the Round of Sixteen of Cup of Harmonies 56 and 57. While there may be few players on today's national team who participated in those tournaments, the current players will know that they have the weight of history on their side as they go into the match.

As any football coach will tell you though, past results mean nothing if you don't bring it on the day. Joric Ruskin will know exactly what is expected of his side, and will be preparing them for a tough fight. Pasarga outrank Barunia, if only by four places in 14th spot. They missed out on qualification last cycle, but topped their qualifying group this time and won through their play-off on away goals. Pasarga finished the finals group stage in second place in Group D, coming behind Vilitia on goal difference after 2 wins and a loss.

Pasarga play a 4-4-2 formation with the midfield spread, which should hopefully open up some space down the centre for the likes of Winton or Van Diemen. Unlike the Barunian team, which is full of homegrown talent, Pasarga's line-up boasts players from clubs all over the multiverse. The Wanderers are not a side to be taken lightly, but the Suns have shown time and time again, throughout this campaign, that they are more than ready. This cycle the Suns have really looked like contenders, and that has been shown with an unbeaten record in both qualifying and final groups, only losing one game in the middle during play-offs, and that to the reigning World Champions. A title that many Barunians may now dare to dream might be theirs one day.



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[Vilita]

TROPICORP ANNOUNCES "TROPICORP SPORTS"

Tropicorp today has made a big step towards infiltrating the global sport market with the announcement of the creation of "Tropicorp Sports" - an internall entity within Tropicorp that will be responsible for Sport related manufacturing and production.

To date, Tropicorp as an entity has dabbled largely in the realm of sporting research and development through the use of internal Tropicorp R&D departments. There was a special R&D task force created to support the Vilita & Turori preparations for the most recent Winter Olympic games in Saugeais. The results, while sometimes controversial, eventually resulted in triumph for Vilita & Turori in the medals table, and, a lot of new data for Tropicorp scientists to take in.

This meant expanding departments. At the same time, the discussions of productization began. Would Tropicorp's sole customer by the colonial lands of Vilita & Turori? Sure, they were a quasi-governmental entity, but productization meant income. Income mean funds, funds meant more free spending. More free spending meant more research. More research meant more product. An ingenious cycle. Open the product up to the rest of the world, to fund more and more research to take place in support of the colonial lands.

The creation of the TCp-X1 was the final straw. Clearly, the Association Football Research & Development department was never equipped to be a production group - or specifically a distribution facility. Tropicorp employees were cutting corners left and right, looking for ways to avoid paperwork - and even - avoid receiving funds for prototype product simply because they didn't exactly know how to manage that type of thing. Deliveries went out by air ship, by boat and even smuggled under a tarp in a carriage pulled by a goat. There were rumors of back-channel deals and infestations of oomycete - letters of complaint with which the Tropicorp R&D staff had no fathomable idea how to respond to.

It was obvious that, if the TCp-X1 was going to be productized a corporate structure was going to be needed to support it, and any other multi-national ventures Tropicorp planned to embark on in the sporting world.

Enter, Tropicorp Sports. With the construction of a new facility on Tropicorp lands - certified as oomycete-free by a guy name Fred and a rubber stamp, Tropicorp Sports will encompass the Research & Development, Productization and distribution of the TCp-X1 and other in-work efforts as well as picking up and continuing support of the Vilita & Turori olympic and other squads as needed. While the TCp-X1 will remain the short term priority for Tropicorp Sports, more productization and cooperation with nations outside of Atlantian Oceania will likely continue on a case by case basis.

In addition to the creation of the new internal group, Tropicorp Sports also announced it would begin taking official pre-orders for product shipments of the Tropicorp designed TCp-X1 ball.

If your nation is interested in the use of Tropicorp's TCp-X1 Ball, please feel free to mention it in your RP's and/or send a TG to Vilita

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

[introduction from presenter]

"Hello, I'm Nicholas Choumnoso, and I'm here outside the ground where the Holy Empire will be playing Northern Sunrise Islets - or whatever they're called.

And what I want to do here today on Tonightly Tonight - the news programme that asks all the hard questions - is ask Holy Empire fans why do you come here to Ordinary Reality when it means accepting a static reality and mingling with mundies. Here's what I found out....."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[series of vox pop slots]

"Yes, erm, my name is Jose Arianites, and I've come to Legalese because I like the smell of fish."

"Hello there everyone back home! My name is Theodora Gabraso, and I wanted to come here to... where am I again? To Legalese because I wanted to see if it's true that the walruses are all the same size and colour here in Ordinary Reality! Zoo? What's a 'zoo'?"

"My name is John Scleruso; I'm the one with the yoghurt pot on his head. Football? I have no particular opinion on football. I just like to put a yoghurt pot on my head."

"!puorg eht fo pot gnihsinif dna ,eerht fo tuo sniw eerht ot s'ereh ;thginot llew od sdal eht gnipoh yllaer m'I dna ,reganam tnaillirb a si secsimizT kniht I"

"Is that thing on? You speak into it, right? Mundies, eh? YES MY NAME IS ANDREAS PHILES AND I... Sorry? Too loud? Speak more softly? Yes, my name is Andreas Philes, and I come to every Holy Empire match so long as they hosts promise a halftime virgin sacrifice... What? They aren't? That's it; I'm out of here."

"Zoe Carbonopsina; I just come here to get away from the Prince Imperial - all of that incredibly bad love poetry? Can't he take a hint? I burned the last batch, in public, in front of the doors of the Imperial Basilica of the Holy Wisdom."

"Michael Philanthropeno here; and I'm really hoping the boys win tonight! It's not too often I get to come to Ordinary Reality; I'm really excited! My prediction for the final score? 76-Q!"

"I had a name once, but I lost it. I'm careless that way. I think I lost it here in Legalese, so maybe it'll turn up."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[return to presenter]

"So there you have it; an exciting crossection of Imperial citizenry there - all mercifully taking humanoid form, and absolutely none of them naked - offering their opinions on what travelling to see the Holy Empire play means to them.

One thing we can all agree on, is that their reasons are many, varied, and only rarely involve actual football.

And now, back to the studio...."

[Paradystopia]

"Beautiful Dave. Simply sublime. I don't know about anyone else but I was particularly moved by that four and a half hour long spoken word and nude mime piece. Some of the images it depicted I found rather poignant. When you spend thirty minutes attempting to gnaw your own fist off as a symbol of the oppression of the organic farmer at the hands of the large bicycle companies, very striking. You may however, want to get that looked at by the nurse though.
"... gruh ... gregho ... grrrrrr"
"Yes, it's also pretty apparent you have lost a sizable amount of blood. And urine too. I did enjoy that reference to the dreamed cheesmaking industral practices of the Holy Empire. Anyway, I guess it's time for our next speaker at our monthly poetry and bog-snokelling party. So ... who wants the microphone?"

Filip Whoopsy glanced about the room. Several people shuffled with their papers nervously as they felt unfit to follow Lord Almighty Gregory the Second's bold oration. the majority sat in a stony silence, just biding their time until the bog-snokelling began.

"Spot? How would you like to take the stage?"

A flabby gentleman wearing nothing but a dog-collar anxiously gesticulated that he wasn't comfortable with presenting just yet. His pendulous jowls rocking the contours of his face as his shook it vigourously.

"C'mon now Spot. Everyone has to do it sometime ..."

After a few moments of pensive reverie, Spot Smith recultantly took to the stage with his small scrap of paper. He sweated profusely in the hot lights of the makeshift auditorium they had the week before constructed in the second floor women's toilets. The tinny echo of the modest room buzzed softly beneath his croaky voice as he spoke his humble writings.

Fred, by Spot Smith

---

Oh no. What was that?
Is it a cat?
Or a bowler hat?
Perhaps it is a TCp-X1 tropicorp ball.
This dangerous sphere
It causes much fear
So don't cheer
Please
If you see a TCp-X1 tropicorp ball

A whisper of a man named Fred
Has stamped this thing upon it's head
He says it's not the reason that some horseradish plants are falling dead
and stuff
I can't believe him
When I think of it, I cries
Thoughts of horseradish-less cheddar cheese pies
Consumed by tropicorp spies
Because they paid Fred to sell out his horseradish ethics and be a part of this tropicorp domini-im

So I don't know what to do
If we accuse them, they might sue
And then we'd be really screw...
...ed
For wanting to rid the world of this oomycete
And that is the end of my poem because nothing rhymes with oomycete.

The group clapped appreciatively in that way crowds do when they wish to appear polite yet not over-enthusiastic as Spot bowed quickly and scuttled back to his chair.

"Very nice Spot. Political and daring. That'll show them Tropicorp big-wigs we mean business. Obviously, it's unlikely they'll ever hear it but you never know. No, not you again Dave. Anyone?"
"Stop! Listen! I have big news!"

Dyuliett had rushed into the room. She had been hoping to proove that boring football matches might push the oomycete into regression using a contained sample and the box-set of 'Lymantatia's 100 most unimpressive no-score draws', and 'A Detailed history of Qazoxian World Cup successes' which she'd found in a bargain bin at a local petrol station. The latter has turned out to be a blank CD which someone had put in there as a prank. As the former lasted a total length of 12 seconds as consisted of merely a list of results. Unperturbed by this lack of material, she had put on the Eura-Paradystopia match. The odds on the match containing less than two goals were 1-11 and those of a five-all draw were so high that should someone win on that bet, they'd take home a cheque for Audioslavia's GDP for a decade in their pocket should they bet anything more than an empty sweet packet. At least that's how Dyuliett understood after trying to place a bet on a five-all draw with an empty sweet wrapper and being promised an astronomic sum of money if it happened. Anyway, in watching aformentioned match there occured an incident which had now resulted in her standing amidst the room and out of breath.

"Vilita, Tropicorp, Paradystopia, Balls."

Someone at the back of the room clapped briefly, not realising that this was not a poem.

"No, Eura out. Paradystopia play Vilita."
"No, You're an out.", the heckler's voice cried out.
"Look ... Paradystopia beat Eura in World Cup. We qualified. Now we play Vilita."

The room was blank as everyone tried to process this new information. No-one had really cemented in their minds that Tropicorp and Vilita were essentially the same thing as far as oomycete ignorance existed. To be honest, none of them had the best grasp of geography. It had taken nearly six months to stop Dave writing 'Zijweg or Dioslavia' in sender's information upon letters and correspondences. One member of staff had once let it be known that they thought Paradystopia was based in the region of Rushmore. The woman in question was promptly fired, from a cannon, into a a pyramid of stacked cactus plants and pineapples.

"This is our chance to get close to the Vilitans, and therefore Tropicorp. Don't you see?"
"How?"
"I'm glad you asked ..."

[Pasarga]

It was a victory, not the most solid victory that the Wanderers had ever had in their history, but it was a victory all the same. The Pasargans who had managed to find their way to Legalese and procure tickets to the match were singing the praises of Muller and Moller, the cousins whose three goals were enough to see the side through to the second round. The banners waved to and fro, gold and red and green, the arrow and the moon of the flag of the nation scattered throughout the crowd on those banners and scarves. It was a jubilant and excited crowd, so proud and ecstatic to see their Wanderers finding their way into the knockout rounds of the competition once more after such a battering they had during the last World Cup.

Yet as the celebrations were going on, something very odd began to happen, thousands of little pamphlets began to fall from the sky. The pamphlet... it was about some random wacko Polarian player... and some Jaffacake person. It left the crowd there a bit stunned and confused, what did this pamphlet had to do with their triumph? Yeah, the Polarians were probably going to win the World Cup again, especially with Farfadillis, Eura, and Valanora already out of the competition. Yet dropping pamphlets on opposing grounds... that was more than just a bit odd and rude... especially since no one in the stands where this Jaffacake person.

"What the heck is this nonsense?"

"I have no idea... isn't that Jaffacake fellow an Audioslavan or something fishy like that?"

"Well then... if that is true, they are in the wrong airspace. Audioslavia is across the water."

"What a bunch of nikumpukes."

Despite the intrusion into their celebration, the fans and players alike took pride and great joy in the advancement. It was vindication of the highest order for the holdovers from the squad who failed to advance out of qualifying tow years ago. For the fans, it was a return to the promised land, the knockouts while never really kind to the Wanderers, were where the side longed to be, to prove their mettle. And with how the other groups had fallen, with Barunia as their opposition in the round of sixteen, their was a hope and a dream that the Quarterfinals themselves were not entirely out of the question. Once you got that far... well the likes of Lovisa, Az-cz, Demot, Starblaydia, Arridia, and many before had shown that anything could happen. Could the dual islands actually find their way into the Final itself? It was a shiver to just about any who even dared to dream that they could get there... yet why not? Why not them and their Wanderers... the door was open... they just had to walk through it.

[Audioslavia]

As the dimmed floodlights or the Protectorate Road stadium plinked and popped themselves cool in the humid summer air, and the stadium's previously rabid crowd settled themselves into nearby pubs, bars and, in some cases, brothels, one could find it difficult to believe that such an occasionally heart-stopping encounter had just happened. The general air of cheeriness about the Audioslavian fans as they found their bars and ordered their drinks belied the fact that, just an hour ago, they were more likely to down a copper than a pint.

With a little under thirty minutes to go in the game, Audioslavia's Bulls national team were in dissaray. The supposed group favourites, already shorn of their ability to win the group outright after only two matchdays, were making the mealiest of meals out of their encounter with a young Super-Llamaland side that were looking to advance to their first ever World Cup knockout round.

As Wiggins broke forward with the ball, eyed Ford's inside run, slipped the ball in front of the midfielder who turned, looked up, and stroked a backwards pass to Crosby to shoot, with no Audioslavian defenders closing him down and Imaslavii seemingly out of position, it appeared the Llamanean team would be extending their lead beyond the reaches of any Audioslavian fightback. For the claret-clad in attendance, the next split second would have felt more like an hour.

An hour was how long it'd taken Audioslavian to get into the mess in the first place. A sprightly opening quarter had seen the Tigers - as the Llamas are wont to call their national team - playing the more energetic football, and though they hadn't really created any proper chances, the side were noticeably growing in confidence. That increased confidence became crucial when, on twenty-five minutes, Audioslavia do what Audioslavia do best and engineered a counter-attack that resulted in Jody Rijshaart sprinting onto the end of a long, low diagonal ball and ploughing it into the roof of the net with a sweet strike of his left foot. Against the run of play, Audioslavia had scored, and onus was on the Llamaneans to produce, especially now that they needed at least two goals to ensure their progression to the next round.

It is to the Tigers credit that, despite the Audioslavian defence holding firm, they refused to let their heads bow or crumble under the pressure, and their resolve was rewarded on the stroke of half-time as, finally, Crosby was able to develop the half-yard of space he needed in the Audioslavia area to collect the ball, drag it out of his feet and rake a shot away. Imaslavii was well beaten at his near post, and the sides would go into the interval at a goal apiece.

Super Llamaland had, unquestionably, been the better team thus far, but still a rewatching of Audioslavian television's half-time coverage reveals not nearly enough worried faces when given the facts of the first half. Super Llamaland. More possession, more shots on goal, better passing accuracy, more corners won and so on. The general feeling was that the Bulls should, at some point in the second half, carve through the Llamaneans again and that would be that. Besides, a 1-1 draw would send the Bulls through anyway..

The chances of such a 1-1 draw were reduced to zero as early as the forty-eighth minute mark, with Alex Ford's sweeping finish at the far post to convert Super-Llamaland's third corner of the second half.

It was now that the television statons around the world started showing footage of the Audioslavian faces in the crowd. There weren't many smiles to be had at all. Simply a sense of dread and worry that the Bulls, painted as one of the favourites for the cup itself, looked in real danger of being eliminated from the competition in just the first round.

The Tigers began to play with a real confidence, and though the Audioslavians started to see a lot more of the ball, their periods of posession were all too often plagued by unforced errors as the side tried to force the issue in midfield. Now, it became Super Llamland's turn to counter-attack, and after Masters had gone close with a long-range effort, Crosby collected the ball from Ford's stroked backwards pass, set his sights on the goal, and fired a right-footed shot.

If Audioslavia go on to win the tournament, it might be this moment that is highlighted as the turning point.

Crosby's shot was hit fiercely, and would have had Imaslavii beaten all ends up were it not for the fact that the ball appeared to be directed straight at him. The ball would clip the top of the goalkeeper's shoulder, with the keeper completely unawares, and rebounded off the top of the bar and out of play for a corner, with the Llamanean crowd at the opposite side of the stadium already cheering what they thought, for a split second, was their third goal.

As Wiggins raced over to take the corner, young Crosby stood still, nashing his teeth in annoyance at the golden opportunity wrenched cruelly away by lady luck. And it was about to get worse for the striker.

Intxausti's headed clearance found Jody Risjhaart - perhaps the only Audioslavia first-teamer who played to his full potential that day. Rijshaart raced up the wing, beat Nelson for pace and whipped in a cross into that danger area between the goalkeeper and the backtracking defenders. Keeper McNeal probably should have come to try to collect the ball on its way into the six yard box, but didn't, and Arturo Hudson-Blake was on hand to finish at the far post for 2-2.

Audioslavia, who had taken the lead against the run of play, had now equalised against it too. They could have been 3-1 down. Instead, it was 2-2.

It was 3-2 on seventy-five minutes after the Bulls had started to stamp their authority on the game ahead of the increasingly tired Llamaneans - substitute Hufdis Uulver with a headed finish - and that, seemingly, was that; if there's one thing Audioslavia are good at, other than counter-attacking football, its closing out games.

The next time the famous claret and green shirts stride out onto a football pitch will be for the second round match against regionmates Osarius, against whom Audioslavia hold a record of one win and two draws. Every single match between these two powerhouses has been frighteningly close - only extra time separated the two teams in their last encounter - and one hopes that the Bulls show a massive improvement over the occasionally inept performance they put it in today's game.

[Mytannion]

BLOG: Has Mytanar football undergone a revolution?

It's a simply question, but it's one that really needs answering. Mytanar football seems to be in rude health, with one of our most storied club sides, 1896 Ebor, coming off the back of two straight Champions' Cup wins and Mytannion coming off the back of their first ever Copa Rushmori triumph, probably the most proud achievement in our nation's sporting history. They have also progressed to the last sixteen of the World Cup for the first time in several qualifications, something which has always been a stumbling block for the Mytanars. We have always struggled to get past the group stage of the World Cup, so when we do manage it, it is a big occasion for the whole country and something which is celebrated probably as much as a World Cup win is in other nations. I will try to look into just what has happened in Mytannion to allow this footballing revolution to occur, what has happened to allow such success across all levels of football?

Domestically, there has been a revolution in terms of investment. For the first time in a long while, some private investment has occurred. There was a spate of private investors being disposed of during the previous decade, but they have returned now, with the 50+1 rule still being retained. BlockCom still have some interest in 1896 Ebor and they must have had some role in the success of the club. They are a very smart business and it has to be said that their smart business practices can be evidenced in some of the things that 1896 Ebor have done over the past few years. Player sales to fund important transfers into the club have been common place, as well as investing in stadium expansion to be able to experience the benefits of more revenue from ticket sales. This revenue can then be used to fund important transfers which can change the fortunes of the club (such as Hasato Kimiki or Aran Miller joining the club).

Many may believe that Mytanar football is stuck in the dark ages, because it's still being played on poor pitches in crumbling stadiums that are turned into cauldrons by the amount of smoke in the stands. Behind the scenes, there are some very savvy characters involved and they make some very smart decisions. It is very different to what you might expect.

The acceptance of investment in clubs domestically has definitely helped things along to a great extent. The money involved is simply not something that fans can provide by themselves, however much money they have or are willing to spend - but the money that is brought in now allows clubs to have the best of both worlds, being able to compete at the top level due to their ability to sign players that would have once been beyond their reach, but retaining the connection to their surrounding community and not exploiting fans at the same time. It has all worked out very well for Mytanar football in this sense and it has to be one of the few occasions where we have the administration of something right.

In terms of the national side winning the Copa Rushmori, it has to be a case of a top collection of players coming together at the right time along with a few other factors. There is the biggest one of them all, the fact that they were playing for more than just football, they were playing for Ismet van Huijgevoort's memory. The events of his death happened at a time where they could have either torn the team apart or brought them together and it definitely did the latter for this set of players. There were other things involved, particularly Marius Sadowsky's organised style of football. The team didn't play with massive amounts of freedom, each player had a set role within the system and they performed the role to the best of their abilities. The organisation and pride they were filled with almost pushed them onto the victory in the final. The role of the inspirational captain, Lev Repin, cannot be understated either. He pushed the team on on the pitch and was Sadowsky's representative out there, getting the message across to the players as and when it was needed.

It sounds like some sort of formula or recipe for how to win a Copa Rushmori, but it really is as simple as that. Have a group of players that are fairly talented plus a reason to play for (such as a rare qualification or a recent death of a footballing hero), plus an organised, coherent style of play and an inspirational captain.

That's how we won the Copa Rushmori, but how did we get the current crop of players that have come our way?

It's quite simple, the youth revolution in Mytanar football has been incredible. Clubs have noticed the success of sides such as Energia-Yaderny Miago that have relied on their strong youth systems and have thought, why can't we do that too? Then they have realised that they need to invest in their youth system, scouting and training facilities in order to do it and they have done that. It has resulted in a group of players that are technically good, physically excellent and also have a bit of flair built-in to their mentality, they are prepared and more importantly, allowed, to do things that they may not have been before.

In the past, youth coaches may have shouted to a defender to 'get rid' if he's got the ball deep in his own half, but now he will encourage him to 'get it down and play'. That's key and it has resulted in a group of players that are truly some of the best young footballers in the world. What is more, is that these players have been given the chance to play at the highest level domestically. In the past, they may not have been trusted because of their youth and older, perhaps foreign players would have taken their role. Now, they are given the chance to impress and it has resulted in their talents increasing exponentially - something that can only be seen as a good thing both for their clubs and for the national side (cases to back-up the point include the likes of Thorkil Bechinie von Lazan, Yuri Matveyev, Marat Averyanov, Mikkel Kohlemainen etc, the list is endless).

Finally we have the getting out of the group stage thing. It has always been a problem for Mytannion, they have only managed to escape the group stage of the World Cup on four of the ten occasions they have qualified for the World Cup proper. This now makes it five trips to the last sixteen out of eleven qualifications to the World Cup proper. There isn't really any reason behind our lack of managing to progress from the group stage, it can't really be explained, sometimes we have done it, sometimes we have failed in the most abject manner possible. But this time it seems a bit different, we confidently beat Darmen in a back-and-forth game that really showed off the attacking flair of both sides. We were narrowly beaten by the Polar Islandstates after one of our young players tried something different to try and win the game himself and then we won in the deciding game against United Gordonopia that ensured we would qualify to this stage of the World Cup. It could just be me, but it really seems like there is something different about this squad of Mytanar players. They have a bit of grit and determination that may have been lacking before and it's good to see.

We face Turori, a side that are notoriously tough to beat and it will surely test some of our young players. Bechinie von Lazan will be starting again as Navratil is still ruled out because of his injury. An interesting note is that Dennis Adkvissen, the legendary full back, will go level with Robin Hjik for the most appearances made in the famous hooped shirt if he plays. Lately he has been rotated with Rob Fridrich in an attempt to keep him fresh, but an appearance will take him level, a massive step towards actually overtaking the best known Mytanar footballer ever (even if it is inevitable that Iivari Kaitanen will overtake them all because of his youth and massive amount of caps already, but hey, there's at least some romanticism still there!).

[Free Republics]

Today's Round of 16 Cutoff (in Legalese) is brought to you by Nicholls Enterprises. Nicholls Enterprises: We make life better.

[Turori]

Turorian Officials Concede to the Children of the World

Despite rampant rumors of on going negotiations and petitions from the Turorian fan base, it has now become clear that the Football Association of Turori never actually had any serious intention of fielding a special edition "Nigel" kit during the World Cup 68 finals.

Despite rumors of inquiries being sent to Kirola Sports and other manufacturers to discuss the turnaround time for a fresh set of kits should Turori make the knockout rounds, it turns out, no new kits were ever really in the plans.

That is, until a letter from some school girls changed the Football Association's position.

Apparently, the Football Association of Turori doesn't much care for superstition, fantastical creatures or overlords - or even the sometimes wonky desires of their fanbase. But, the Football Association of Turori does care about the children.

It was the girls of the New Nicaea Transtemporal Girl's School in the Holy Empire that finally got the Football Association to consider lime-green kits as a good idea. The Girls wrote to the Football Association telling of their fond appreciation of Nigel the Lime-Green Electric Eel. They enclosed a drawing of a "Win it for Nigel!" themed kit that they hoped the Eels would use in their next match.

Children, as far as the Football Association of Turori is concerned - ask and ye shall receive!

Once it was realized that the Children of the World were connecting with Nigel, phones started ringing at Kit Manufacturers around the multiverse. Eventually, a solution was found right next door on the nearby Calanian shores. The Turorian officials took the letter from the school girls of the Holy Empire, and handed it over directly to their new temporary kitmakers.

The last minute deal with Tropicorp came as a result of the transition of sports wear and National Team support from Tropicorp's individual research and development departments into the new 'Tropicorp Sports' entity that will eventually be run as a satellite to primary Tropicorp operations.

In the process of setting up the new Tropicorp Sports facility, Tropicorp acquired some old kit-printers from Vilitan company 3WD, the long time maker of kits for the Vilita Jungle Cats. Instead of simply making some random kits to test out the machines before beginning full service kit solutions, Tropicorp Sports technicians found an old Turori National team kit template in the residual files on the machines hard drive, likely from back in the day when 3WD was making kits for the Turori National team in addition to Vilita. The technicians simply took the plain white jerseys they had per-acquired for testing purposes and soaked them in a lime green dye for a few hours, then put the shirts through a drying process.

After an ample sufficiency of drying time, the shirts were run through the printer. The first one out was an exact template of the last Turorian kit printed in the machine - and bore the name of Jualiar Vumaou, a former Turorian star player. The kit will likely end up fetching a pretty price at auction, especially if the Eels are able to achieve success in the special lime-green colored kits.

After making adjustments based off the first printing, technicians started printing out one kit for every player on the Turori National Team roster, and an equal number of nameless and numberless kits to be used as extras as needed.

The football association of Turori indicated that the shirt was all that was needed, and the players would be wearing their normal shorts and accessories.

The Eels goalkeepers will now be limited to their Blue shirts as their change greens will no longer adequately clash with the uniform being worn by the field players.

The lime green "Nigel" themed kits are the first produced by Tropicorp Sports and the "TS" logo is found on the kit in a simple greyscale add-on on the reverse side, lower right hand corner; and, in the neckline.

No plans were currently mentioned with regards to producing a replica version of the kits for sale to the public, so for the time being, fans of Turori and lime green alike will have to continue purchasing their "Win it for Nigel!" gear from shady looking Free Republicans on street corners near the stadium.

[Polar Islandstates]

Anticipation was high for another Rushmori derby, and boy were we ever satisfied with the entertainment we were provided. An all-Rushmori dead rubber wouldn't have been that attractive a prospect to watch for anyone who wasn't, well, Rushmori, but the Terns and the All-Greens served up a wonderful feast of football for all neutrals to enjoy.

As expected due to the fact our progression was guaranteed regardless of result, Rasmussen made a number of changes to the starting line-up in an attempt to keep players fresh for the knock-out stages. Leif Ulsletten came in for Kirilaunen in goal, with Bjerregaard and Nordenberg rested for St Olaf and Nilsson respectively. In the middle, Einarsson was given a starting berth in place of Kirvesniemi, and Lillehammer came out for Holzhauser, whilst the big target man of Victor Larsen was paired up front with Kolehmainen in place of Wolff.

Any hopes for a slow start to the match so latecomers to the stadium wouldn't miss out on anything were shortlived however, as it took just two minutes for the timeless figure of Tor Tong Lee to open the scoring. Salo and Nilsson hadn't woken up yet, and as they tracked the runs from Gregio and Faulkner it allowed space for Lee to simply stroll through and take a shot that flew past Ulsletten before he even knew what was happening. There were groans amongst the Twitchers as it happened, as we strapped ourselves in for a match that would be very long indeed if the Terns' play continued to be of that quality.

We weren't disappointed for too long however, as Kolehmainen struck back instantly with a placed shot from inside the box that curled beyond the grasp of Siesman and levelled the scoring almost instantaneously. Fine passing between Villeneuve and Einarsson opened up the space for the recovering striker, and with two goals from two shots in the first five minutes, we knew were in for a great game.

And so it proved. Villeneuve curled a free kick just over the bar not long afterwards, whilst Salo was the first people to draw a save out of either goalkeeper when his thumping header from a corner required palming around the post by Siesman in dramatic fashion. Ulsletten was on hand to catch a vicious shot from Faulkner just after the hour mark, but a period of prolonger pressure from the Terns after that saw them turn the screw up until the half time whistle went. It was a period that was rewarded with a second goal, too, when Victor Larsen rose highest from a third corner in succession and ninth in total from the first half to head down into the ground just in front of Siesman - the keeper flapping awkwardly as the ball bounced up, towards, and past him into the back of the goal.

Two-one at half time, and the Terns went into the interval not requiring a rocket from Pekarik for once.

He probably still gave them one, though.

No team talk can prepare you for what happened just after the second half started, though. Darmen need no motivating to play against the Terns, they seem to relish the chance to show us up at any opportunity, and you can bet that what happened to Ulsletten here will find its way onto many a Darmeni sporting montage for the next ten years. A simple long through-ball from Lee to Faulkner was overhit by the midfielder, and Ulsletten advanced out of his goal to sweep up in a move no doubt learnt from Kirilaunen on the training ground. However, his feet caught either a tuft of grass or absolutely no grip whatsoever in that precise moment, and he toppled forwards and staggered as he tried to get back up again. Realising that the goalkeeper wouldn't be reaching the ball first after all, Salo and Nilsson ran back towards the goal, but it was too late; Faulkner had already reacted and was rounding a prone Ulsletten to prod home an equaliser as the Terns conceded another early goal.

The Red Star goalkeeper was clearly furious with himself, but these things happen in football sometimes, and a few words from Kungas-Vaga were needed to calm him down before the restart. The Terns weren't done yet. We were much the better side apart from those two moments that Darmen had scored from, and Rasmussen urged his side forwards in search of further goals. The urging worked, as well, as Alexis Zeljeznicar had been on the pitch only a matter of minutes after having come on for Jean-Eric Villeneuve when he was involved in the build-up to the third Terns goal.

Rolling his marker and running into space, he collected a pass from Holzhauser and without breaking his stride chipped a cross forwards for Victor Larsen, whose cushioned header fell perfectly for tournament specialist Kolehmainen to hammer in the volley from the edge of the box in what is surely a contender for goal of the tournament - if only for the build-up play. That's not to take away from the quality of Kolehmainen's finish, of course, far from it. It was a delicious touch, and Morten Rasmussen will surely be delighted with how sharp his start striker is now looking up front after his mental health problems in qualifying. He was to be denied a chance at the hat-trick however, as he was replaced by Vadim Illich-Svitych mere minutes later in an attempt to keep him fresh for the Round of Sixteen. The two strikers have become good friends off the pitch recently, by all accounts, and the two embraced warmly as they made the switch.

Also replaced in an attempt to keep him eligible for the Round of Sixteen, let alone fresh, was Svenbjorn Einarsson; whose tackles had started getting on the rowdy side of being competitive. Rather than risk disciplinary action on the pitch, he was whisked off by Rasmussen to be replaced on the pitch by young Erik Bergen, making his first appearance at the World Cup finals as Rasmussen showed perhaps a sign of the Terns' future with the Bergen-Konigstein partnership in the middle of the park.

And with seventy-six minutes on the clock, that partnership would be instrumental in the Terns' fourth goal. A chance for Tor Tong Lee at one end of the pitch was well saved by Ulsletten as Darmen pushed hard for an equaliser, with the Red Star goalkeeper quickly launching a quick break with one powerful throw to Konigstein. Racing down the centre of the pitch, Kongstein was soon joined by Zeljeznicar, Bergen, and Holzhauser as they ran into the Darmen half towards Larsen and Illich-Svitych; creating an astonishing 6-on-3 situation in the process. Konigstein laid it left towards Zeljeznicar, and he laid it right towards Holzhauser, whose thunderbolt of a shot almost broke the crossbar as it slammed in and up, spinning wildly in the air as the players scattered. Peeling away to the left to collect the ball, Illich-Svitych twisted one way and then the other, before clipping a cross in that was just too high for Larsen, but not too low for Bergen to arrive late at the back post with a diving header to score his first goal in the finals.

There was a late, late goal for Faulkner as he continued his fine scoring record against the Terns, but it was all too little too late in the end, and Morten Rasmussen was delighted to be progressing to the Round of Sixteen as the only team with three wins from three in the group stage. Which is all much of a muchness at this stage, admittedly, but it's still nice.

So, what lies in wait for the Terns in the Round of Sixteen? Why, a third Rushmori derby in a row, of course! Of course.

Saintland.

But, am I going to talk about them here? No! Well, sort of. But not for a little bit. Because instead, I'm going to do it as part of a SUPER-MAGIC-FUN-TIME ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTEEN REMAINING TEAMS IN A FORMAT THAT DEFINITELY ISN'T TRADING CARDS OR TOP TRUMPS OR ANYTHING COPIED FROM AUDIOSLAVIA OKAY?

Okay.

[OOC: Obviously, doing this between scorinations means four of these ties have already happened, but I planned this RP on paper this morning knowing I'd be tying it up when I got in, so I'm just going to go ahead with what I already had planned and made.]

Vs.

For my money, this right here is the tie of the round. On the one hand you've got Osarius, who certainly know their way around a game of football; they've got the technical knowledge, and they've got the ability to execute that knowledge on the pitch - they wouldn't have the ranking they have now if they didn't. But when they're not choking against the smaller teams (the Terns' first ever appearance at the World Cup came about after beating Osarius in a play-off, let's not forget), they're lacking the oomph to beat the big teams around them. And then on the other hand, you've got Audioslavia. Boy do they ever want to beat us. Like, really. Looking at this half of the draw you'd have to say they were the favourites to go on and reach the final (OOC: lol), and they're still as strong now as they have been in recent cycles. A tantalisingly poised match that could go either way. I'm looking forward to it.

Vs.

Barunia's rather rapid shoot up the rankings is both a blessing and a curse. If anything, it's almost been too rapid, as their reputation is lagging somewhat behind their impressive form and talented squad. They're better than people think, is what I'm getting at here. Get researching the squad, if you haven't done so already, they're the next darlings of the football hipsters. Pasarga on the other hand, has a reputation and a skill level that both vary so widely that I don't think anyone does anything more than take them at face value with the team they get put in front of them. They've got a good team this time around though, so the winner of this tie could go on to surprise again in the next round. Could be argued that they don't hold their nerve on the big occasion... what am I saying? I'm arguing that now because it's on the bloody card now, isn't it. I might have made some of these strengths and weaknesses up so I had something to talk about. Can you tell?

Vs.

Esteemed hosts, valued administrators, and dependable vice-presidents of the WCC, Legalses's national team has never really matched up to their potential. Sometimes they just play like, well, like a team of lawyers. With home support they have gone further than they ever have done before however, and that could be a key factor in their match against The Holy Empire. The Holy Empire are... well, they're indescribable. Literally. Because who knows what'll happen, eh? It wasn't so long ago they were a team of jumping beans. They are capable of sweeping all before them, and of losing to relative minnows. Erratic, and downright silly at times, but they have the ability to go all the way, certainly.

Vs.

Something something obligatory AO vs Rushmore jibe at Vilita. Seriously though, they have a talented squad and are always a threat in the latter stages of tournaments like this. Partly down to desire to right the wrong that is their absence from finals in recent years. As for Paradystopia, Horseradish. Or something. Quite how they got here despite only scoring one goal in the entire group stage beats me, but it is nothing less than they deserve after what seemed like a neverending stream of playoff defeats.

Vs.

With a smattering of players in and around the big teams at the big leagues, New Sideburn should be a nation that isn't new to anybody here. They are very much in the ascendency at the moment and don't be surprised to see them pushing Valladares extremely hard indeed. Valladares themselves are of course huge threats, loitering menacingly at the top of the bracket. They've been around for a long time, but this little purple patch they find themselves in at the moment is perhaps the best chance they've ever had of winning something. Golden generation? Or the start of a residency at the top of the rankings?

Vs.

Another Rushmori derby it is, then, as Turori's win over Valanora means it is Saintland who claim second spot in their group and face off against us in the Round of Sixteen as a result. Other than the regal/royal connection/thing I'm afraid I don't know an awful lot about them. Other than the fact they're talented enough to make it this far, obviously. Fortunately for the team, I'm not the manager, and I'm sure Pekarik and Rasmussen as well prepared as it is possible to be.

One thing I have picked up on from their press is they appear to be granting us an awful lot of respect. Like, pessimistically so. In a press-y kind of way. Press pessimism. Pressimism. And, whilst I see where they're coming from, that makes me nervous. I hate being the favourites in knock-out situations like this - particularly when we're as heavy favourites as we are. It feels like we have it all to lose and that when it all comes crashing down - as it surely must one day - we'll be unfairly criticised for a defeat that for any other nation would just be another defeat. And I mean, unless we play absolutely terribly, I'm not sure that kind of focus would be deserved, no matter how much the multiversal community expects us to win.

I'm a realist flirting with optimism, I'm no hopeless romantic; I'm well aware that one day, in some stadium, somewhere in the world, we'll lose in the knock-out stages and won't reach the World Cup final. As long as we're mentally prepared for it, we'll bounce back. And we are favourites in this match, and in this tournament I suppose, I know we are, but we still have to take things seriously. The run of appearances in the final has to come to an end at some point.

One day.

Just not yet.

Please.

Thanks.

Vs.

If you were to tell me last cycle that this time around one of Free Republics or Felix would be World Cup Quarter Finalists, I'd have laughed. And yet, here we are. Felix have been one of the bright stars of Esportiva's rise to relevance prominence, however, and they have a squad that will test the best. They don't have to test the best though, they only have to test Free Republics - a side who seem quite willing to just plain cheat if it means they get what they want. Not the way I'd play the game, myself, but it seems to work for them. Rabid home support has often seemed rather more preoccupied with disruptive the other fans rather than supporting their own, but at least with a match against hated rivals Felix they'll all be busy doing Free Republican things. Like altering kickoff times. Or boasting.

Vs.

Mytannion are an engaging team to watch, and their footballing stock has perhaps never been higher than it is right now. Heaps of desire, plenty of passion, and an outlook on the game that we as Valhallans can appreciate. They are one of Rushmore's best. And as for Turori; Tropicorp, or Eels, or something. Is it time for them to step out of the shadow of Vilita? Will they finally get past the Quarter Finals of the World Cup? Are they underrated? Perhaps. Engaging tie, this one. After Audioslavia-Osarius and our own, obviously, this will be the one I'm looking forward to most.

So, with that pleasing little distraction out of the way, all that remains for me to say is on with the show!

Eff

xx

[Felix]

(Ooc: I have literally no time to this so here is a short something.)

Steven Smith Reports

Felix beat Valladares 2-1 to be the best in Group F and oddly enough we had a negative goal differential and yet we still led the pack. Interesting indeed. Anyways the player of the game was Mikel Araboa as he assisted the first goal in 7th minute and scored the crucial game winner in the 69th minute.

With that we got first and qualified for the Round of 16 where we would face our archrival, the Free Republics. The Free Republics got second in their group as they surprised me by getting ahead of favoured Cassadaiga who got a hugely disappointing 0 points. So now we will face FFR. Can we win? I hope so. We need to once again put these dogs where they belong.

[Legalese]

The Round of Sixteen. Where some will fade, and others will shine.

The Free Republics side of the R16 is now cut off.

And Scores are now avaliable

[Felix]

(OOC: I rather lose against Valladares, but hey! A Round of 16 finish is hella awesome. :3)

World Cup 68: Not A Word
By: Steven Smith

No, non, niet, nien, no, etc. Yep, it happened Felix lost. And in the most controversial manner possible. A offside that wasn't called. Yes, the cheaters of World Changers literally cheated (like they always do) there way to the quarterfinals where they will go and face their ultimate demise against Mytannion, a nation famous for their football passion. Anyways, here is the review on the match.

The first half. Fan-flipping-tastic. We got the lead first (ring a bell anyone?) with a fantastic goal by Kunibert Mathias in the 7th minute. The shot went right over the goalkeeper's reach and the Felixians (us) were in the lead. The trashy stadium in the Free Republics? Silent. But guess what. The Republicans made a game tying goal as Miroslav Bozek did an surprisingly impressive header in a corner kick in the 31st minute.

And the first ended it like that. 1-1. Wow. Second half? Boring as hell to be honest, not going to report on it.

So extra time. First half? Like it's dorky second half cousin, boring. Reaaaaally boring. But the second half of extra time was entertaining as both sides started to attack and tried to get the last second victory. Felix had some good opportunities in the second half of extra time as a exhausted Mikel Araboa kicked some good shots that were oh so close to the goal. But it was finally 118th minute that the Free Republics got the W.

It was an impressive counteroffensive as the Republicans marched down the field. Soon enough Jens Koch was wide open too wide open. In fact replays showed that Koch was offside and not by a close margin but by a metre. Yes a full metre. And the probably bribed linesman didn't raise his flag. And with that Koch was all by himself. And he scored. He scored and with that Felix's run was out. Felix was out and the cheaters were in.

I have one thing to say to Rule. You are a egoistical twit and you are a miserable person, in fact, I have never heard or met someone as terrible as you. You are a sexist and you are a blind nationalist. You are seriously worse than the Nationalists in Felix. And that says something. Anyways, I hope you team gets crushed badly, in front of your precious country that quite frankly, isn't worth a damn. Until then, good bye.

Steven Smith quickly left the Free Republics after releasing his report in fears of the Republicans arresting him again for doing his job, reporting.

[Neu Engollon]

---

"Good evening, Neu Engollon. This is Magda Wertauer on the NETV Sports 7 Update...
So, we are out of it now. It's official. The Goats are now out of the football World Cup in Legalese and the Free Republics. A loss to Valanora finally put paid to the Goats, plus a final loss to the Sanctii of Saintland was the last nail in the coffin. The Goats will not be moving on to the Round of Sixteen. As hard as they fought it just wasn't meant to be, but as has been stated many times, the fact that they made it this far has been nothing short of amazing. We salute you Goats, and we also salute their opponents who proved their skill and dominance as they eliminated our beloved Goats from the competition and those that came close. Some say it was never meant to be, some are happy with where the Goats ended up and some feel that we could have gone even further. Next year perhaps?

We respect the diverse opinion of the Confederacy, but foremost, the Goats national football team, we salute ultimately for raising the bar for all those that come after. Dare we dream...Yes, I say we do. Better, bigger, badder, bolder, bubble burster...Thank you Goats. We do love you and we will welcome you home as true champions."

[New Sideburn]

Jess Mortlock realised her hands were shaking.
She'd felt miles away as the teams came out onto the pitch. The Sideburnese in green and black - the Valladars in sky and white.
She'd taken a gamble. But there'd be no caution here. So Rook and Konrad would lead the attack together; they'd play to their strengths in the midfield diamond, because hanging back in two banks of four hadn't ... hadn't worked.. She'd faced Valladares twice in qualifying - defeat away, a draw at home. But qualifying already seemed so long ago.
She'd seen Felix beat them last week. The first team to beat Valladares in the entire cycle. They'd not hung back and waited - after all, as Mortlock knew through hindsight, the Valladars were going to score anyway. But if they hit you for two, you struck back for three. The Sideburnese had learned that lesson against the Farves - that they could beat an incredibly powerful attacking team by playing to their own strengths.
Dale Brightley would hang back behind the two centre-forwards - link up play, threaten goals all on his own, the 30-year old was still perhaps the strongest weapon the Cormorants had. Jess - the only player not in the usual starting eleven, so to speak, but she'd earned her place here through her performance against Cassadaigua - and Catheline would either float out to the wings or come inside as needed, with Cathy Stokes and Snowy Sleet overlapping along the flanks. Karl and Tosca, well, why change a winning formula? And Kieron Riordan was probably their man of the tournament so far.
A strong squad. Mortlock just prayed that she wouldn't prove its weak link.
A second-round finish in their second World Cup... that wouldn't be so bad, would it? She'd overheard a clearly nervous Amanda Clough say that on the bus - Mortlock had come down on her like a ton of bricks.
"You think that's the best we got in us?" she'd shouted. "Th' second fucking round! Nothing but a fuckin' start! We can beat anyone on our day. You think we can get away with slinkin' away in the next round? Fuck, I say we can win the World Cup." And that'd been it. That'd been the first time she'd said it. And it'd been haunting her since.
But why not? Why couldn't they? Audioslavia did ranked in the fifties. The Cormorants had proven they could beat world-class opposition in Farfadillis and the Inevitable Syndicate. If they could take out Valladares... well, that would be the glass ceiling truly blown out. Beat Valladares and you'd think the Cormorants could beat anyone. To say nothing of the fact they'd be setting a record for Esportiva, as none from the region had come this far before.
"Jess. Jess!"
Mortlock shook herself awake, as the Valladar national anthem entered its final few keys. Her assistant, the middle-aged, grizzled chain-smoker Darryl Boyden, was clicking his fingers in front of her eyes.
"Y'right there, Jess? Only there's a football match about t' start, an' all."
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Mortlock irritably. "About time things kicked off."

Things started quiet - even the best matches usually do, both sides testing one another, both defenses fit and alert, no yellow cards handed out (yet). Rozenthal had the first decent chance of the game, but the Fontvielle forward's shot was comfortably smothered by Riordan.
Sometimes, of course, all it takes is a brief bit of skill.
Cath Harper laid the ball down the line for Snowy Sleet to run onto. He glanced up, saw Morantes running hard at him, and janked the ball out of the way. Didn't stop the left midfielder from sliding in, hard and late - Sleet took a tumble, Morantes a caution.
Sleet picked himself up and slung the ball back to Cath Harper, who took it cleanly. She glanced at the position - took account of the angles. She'd given herself a bit of a reputation as a dead ball specialist lately, and intended to make the most of this one, a few metres out from the corner of the penalty area.
Rook Cathar was up in the goalkeeper's face of course, with Karl Finnan proving an inconvenient presence - the centreback always fancied himself to come forward at times like these. And there was a crowd of bodies fighting for positions, looking to escape their mark and attack the ball. Harper's job was to give all of them the chance to do just that.
The ball swung into the box and Karl Finnan rose above the rest to bury it.
Jubilation. Finnan immediately leapt towards the corner flag, fist pumping furiously, and Cath Harper moved to join him, the green in the crowd going mad - then the whistle blew.
Not the right kind, at that.
"Fucking hell," seethed Finnan. "Fucking hell, he's fucking flagged us, ain't he- OI, REFEREE!"
Cath Harper turned to make herself heard, but her memory betrayed her. After all, hadn't Konrad Evans practically shoved Coupet into the dirt trying to get at the far post... ?
"Next time, lads," was all she said. "Next time we'll make it count."

They did, just five minutes later. Again it was Sleet threatening, but this time Morantes challenged him somewhat more gingerly given the yellow card. He kept the run going all the way to the touchline, before letting fly a fierce cross. Rook Cathar rose with his back to goal, heading the ball backwards seemingly nowhere in particular...
It was clear soon enough. Dale Brightley swung inside barely ahead of Coupet, saw his way to goal clear, and smashed it into the bottom corner, beating Fuentes' hand by a good half a foot.
This time - this time, they were ahead. And just seventeen minutes had passed.
And as always, the voice of Jess Mortlock came calling after the players as they celebrated at the stands - "Don't settle for one! Keep going until there's no fight left!"

So they did.

Leinster's speculative cross found Evans away from his marker. Under pressure from two defenders, he glanced across, saw Brightley open, then Brightley saw Cathar open - a fine pass freed him from Edwards and the shot came high over Fuentes' palms. Short, fast, dynamic passing, everything the Sideburnese game stood for. You'd think it would have sent a message, but no - Snowy Sleet passed to Harper who put a pass inside that threaded the needle between Coupet and Edwards. Sleet ran across it himself then buried the ball past Fuentes.

3-0. The Esportivans seemed to be coasting, and perhaps a little of that comfort turned to complacency. Evans should have made it 4-0, but played a step ahead of Perrin he blasted his shot straight at the goalkeeper, who palmed it onto the bar and over. Even so, people thought little of it at the time - a three-nil gap between the teams at half-time. The stage looked set for the first Esportivan to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Doubt. That was the right word. Might be a cliche, but it's a cliche for a reason - the first goal for Valladares sowed the seeds of doubt amongst the supporters, even if there's few that would admit it. Rozenthal, who had looked the only threatening player in the first half, was played across Finnan by Bruecke - substituted in at half-time, with an intimate knowledge of clubmate Sleet. Rozenthal had turned to put the ball onto his right foot and swung it across Riordan - three to one, forty-nine minutes played.

The first made for doubt. The second created a genuine fear. Again it was Bruecke - he received a long ball from Pedretti, perfectly weighted, took control and cut away from Sleet. Marlowe and Finnan were flat-footed, two centrebacks marking down three strikers, and Bruecke was free to try the shot himself. Riordan saw it late, but it's doubtful he could've done much about it anyway - the shot was perfect.

Thirty minutes left. A single goal seperated the teams. As the Valladars wheeled away to celebrate, Stokes ran straight to the rest of the defenders, and whoever else would listen. "We can't let this get to us," demanded the captain. "Might not seem it but we're still in the lead here. Keep that goal intact. We can do this, and we will."

Everyone listened, but it didn't sink into anybody - maybe not even Cathy Stokes herself, the Treason leftback catching Reyes late with a poor sliding tackle. Eerily, a couple of Sideburnese noticed, it had been a very similar position to the disallowed goal earlier. Reyes looked like he wanted to take it, but both he and Bruecke were left to stand over the ball. And of course it was the man in form to take it. Finnan and Cathar towered over their markers, Riordan stepped forward, then hesitated - he was the first to anticipate this was aimed low and hard. Another substitute, Abingdon Celtic's Riascos, shook off Tosca Marlowe, took it on the chest and struck with his right foot on the volley with just far too much power - Riordan leapt at it, but could only claw it deeper into his own net.

Tempers frayed. As the Valladars were elated, this time it was the Cormorants feeling as though they'd lost a fixture that was presently still at three-all.
"We're not done yet," shouted Rook Cathar defiantly. "Get it up there - they'll not like it up 'em."
Michael Brandon sank to the ground. He wanted to sink into it. No point in giving up, he knew that. If only it was that easy. "Yeah," he said, hardly having listened to Cathar in the first place.
"No, fuck this," seethed Evans. "Fuck this. No, we're not losing this. We're going to come back from it. Here. Now."
"You aren't," said Leinster quietly. "Gaffer just pulled you for Cheney."
"... Fuck." Evans glanced back, seeing the fateful red nine and green 21. "Well... good luck."
He clapped Cheney Bittencourt's hands at the touchline and slunk off, cursing himself for missing one chance and committing a foul on another.
Bittencourt, at least, didn't have that past to dwell on. "Fuck it," he told Cathar, as he planted the ball on the centre circle. "Let's grab a fucking fourth."

Didn't seem as though the Cormorants would get the chance. The Valladars had looked listless and confused in the first half but had come out flying in the second, and while the Sideburnese had tightened a little at the back things seemed more desperate than technical. And after a flurry of attacks at the Sideburnese goal which Marlowe and Finnan had done excellently to repel, Riordan was forced into a stunning save at his far post which Finnan was forced to clear.
He really did put his foot through it. The ball came as far as the halfway line, and Bittencourt alone seemed to anticipate it.
Pedretti caught on just a little late, but the substitute was faster, and fresher besides, easily clearing him, forcing Perrin, Edwards and Carrasso back into a full retreat. Carrasso tried to close in on Bittencourt, who jinked away and kept running, straight at the goal. He came a step away from the penalty area, when Perrin felt he had no choice and straight-up threw himself at the Treason striker.
The tackle was a poor one. Bittencourt was nearly floored, but picked himself up just in time to stop the ball crossing the touchline. Edwards had overextended, or perhaps underextended, but the left centreback was entirely focused on clearing the ball away. He'd entirely forgotten about Cathar, running yards ahead of Coupet, seemingly free on the edge of the box...
Cathar's boot met the pass first-time, and it was neither beautiful nor elegant. A rough, fierce sidefoot into the goal, one Fuentes couldn't get to. Because why did a shot like that need to be beautiful? Surely the moment was enough?

And they'd done it. They'd scored a winner at eighty-eight minutes - Valladares wasn't coming back from that, and like hell were the Cormorants going to produce something like that again. They limped over the line at ninety minutes - and for a moment it seemed like the match itself meant nothing. All that mattered was that the Sideburnese had won.

Jess Mortlock walked into the dressing room - and things went silent. The players wanted to celebrate, to cheer, and then they'd seen her expression.
Mortlock didn't know what to say. To criticise them for falling apart in the second half? Berate them for their complacency? Could she focus on the errors and lapses which plagued them out there, for their sometimes poor finishing, for the robust physicality which ruled out an early goal? The Islandstates had, predictably, beaten Saintland - now there was a team, Mortlock was minded to say, they couldn't afford to let a single goal pass by, let alone three in a single half. So many things to say - so many reprimands, so many rebukes and so much realism.
"Well done, lads. Good win out there," she said at last, and the entire dressing room cheered.

[Free Republics]

News Magazine

Nat-Gres win Historic Victory, RPs Second
by: Alexander Ehrlichmann

The traditional major parties were wiped out in last night's Assembly election, which saw the Party for National Greatness win decisively with 35 percent of the vote, the largest total for any party in an Assembly election for over 100 years. Polling had indicated a close and narrowing race between the Party for National Greatness and the Responsible Progress Party, but the Nat-Gres managed to pull away at the last minute, finishing first by 18 points, a margin well outside of the margin of error. Hjorulv Alfheim, a professor of political science at the University of Jolarus, attributed the Nat-Gre victory to the statements of Rule Theriault following the Republican National Soccer Team's victory over the "Trolls" of Felix. Professor Alfheim told me that, "Mr. Theriault's public endorsement of the Party for National Greatness reversed their last minute slide in the polls and sent them skyrocketing. The exit polls showed that 52 percent of all men in our Federation voted for the Party for National Greatness. Polling also indicated that 90 percent of Republican men have a favorable opinion of the National Soccer Team and that 68 percent of Republican voters believe that Koby Theodore did absolute nothing wrong. Voters listed 'men's issues' and 'foreign policy' as their 2 main concerns. All of these factors produced an environment that was extremely favorable to the Party for National Greatness and Mr. Theriault's statement that he would be voting for the Party for National Greatness probably sealed the deal for them." Personally, I can't argue with that, although everybody reading my reporting knows that my heart lies with Younes Danielsson and the Responsible Progress Party.

Speaking of Mr. Danielsson, he was elected to the Assembly tonight, as the Responsible Progress Party finished second with 17 percent of the vote. However, Mr. Danielsson immediately ruled out forming a coalition of any form, telling his followers and a national television audience that, "The Responsible Progress Party thanks you for your support. We won a great victory tonight, but now there is a great choice that has been left to us. We can choose either to form a coalition with a party that holds some views I consider repugnant or we can form a coalition of the losers with the so-called 'mainstream' parties that the voters just kicked out of office, for good reason. Speaking not just for myself, but for our entire party, I want to say that we will not be forming any coalition of any sort. The electorate voted decisively for the Nat-Gres and I believe that they have a right to a Nat-Gre government. However, I am not going to form a coalition with a party that desires the mass deportation of people who came here to make a better life for themselves and their families and I am not going to form a coalition with a party that wants to waste perfectly good money blowing up Esportiva and rebuilding it rather than investing that money in the Republican people. To align ourselves with the Nat-Gres and implement the Nat-Gre agenda would be a betrayal of those that voted for us. Therefore, we will remain unaligned, but we would nonetheless be willing to assist the Nat-Gres on procedural votes, whenever we are needed. We will vote for legislation that advances our beliefs and against legislation that threatens what we believe in."

Election night was particularly disastrous for the Radical Alliance, which fell below the 2 percent threshold entirely and therefore completely out of the assembly. The Conservatives, Liberals and Moderates, the traditional Grand Coalition that has run the Assembly for decades, with the Radicals being a recent addition to the Coalition, combined for a total of just 15 percent of the vote, greatly reducing their influence in the Assembly. The Progressives performed quite poorly, finishing just barely above the 2% threshold while the Greens missed the threshold entirely. However, the Communist Party FFR performed surprisingly well, scoring 8 percent of the vote. The remainder of the vote was split between the Christian Coalition, the Holy Party and the Prohibition Party, with the Prohibition Party, surprisingly, finishing third with 11 percent of the vote. This meant that the Nat-Gres controlled just over a third of the legislature, the theocratic parties controlled around a quarter, with the remainder split between the Responsible Progress Party, the so-called "mainstream" parties and the Progressives.

This is significant, as only parties represented in the Assembly are permitted to run primary elections to choose their next Consul. Additionally, their candidates are guaranteed a spot in the nationally televised debates. Any candidate from other parties would have to average 10% in Federation-wide polling to participate in the debates. This effectively means that the Consul election will be seriously contested by the Party for National Greatness, the Responsible Progress Party, the Coalition of Moderates, Liberal Coalition, Conservative Coalition, Progressive Coalition, Christian Coalition, Holy Party, Prohibition Party and the Communist Party FFR. That is around the usual number of parties that have, historically-speaking, been represented in the Assembly at any given time.

Although there are 10 parties represented in the Assembly, polls indicate that the Consul election 2 years from now is a contest between Senator Samuel Izmailov and Assemblyman Younes Danielsson. Polling has shown that both men are likely to make it to the third and final round, where a head-to-head race between them is currently neck-and-neck. Granted, it is early and name recognition is known to skew the results of early polling, but all signs point to a 2 way race between Izmailov and Danielsson. While I suspect that a Prohibition candidate will catch fire in 2 years time and I can't rule out that one of the traditional "mainstream" parties may be able to get a candidate into the second round, Danielsson versus Izmailov looks like a foregone conclusion right now and I know that I Stand with Younes.

Alexander Ehrlichmann is a political campaign correspondent for News Magazine. As long as he can remember, Alexander has been fascinated by the news. As a boy, he insisted that his parents subscribe to News Magazine because he wanted to know what was happening in the world. In high school, Alexander started his own school newspaper, independent of his high school, which reported on serious issues that the school's approved newspaper would not touch. Attending the University of Amoltopia, Baseton campus, Alexander majored in journalism and graduated at the top of his class. He was hired by News Magazine straight out of college a few years ago to report on the news in his home Republic of Amolotopia. After impressing the editor, he was assigned to cover the most recent Consul election campaign. Now, he is News Magazine's correspondent in Republica, when there is no election campaign to cover.

---

Rule Theriault was reading News Magazine's web site. While News Magazine was clearly in the tank for Danielsson and the Responsible Progress Party these days, they had traditionally been a mouthpiece for the "mainstream" parties that had been soundly and deservingly rejected by the electorate. However, they always pretended to be objective journalists only interested in reporting the facts. That was something that Theriault just couldn't stand. Everybody's biased, he thought, and at least young Ehrlichmann had the decency to admit his biases publicly instead of pretending that he was neutral when he was blatantly against the Nat-Gres. At that moment, Kyle Bolton walked into Theriault's office unexpectedly...

Rule Theriault - Kyle, is something wrong? I'm surprised to see you on my office on an off-day when you'd usually be out partying and having fun.

Kyle Bolton - Something's been bothering me for a while, coach.

Rule Theriault - Tell me what it is.

Kyle Bolton - Do you remember the Confederations Cup several months back?

Rule Theriault - How could I forget?

Kyle Bolton - Well, a bunch of us got together, prior to the 3rd place match, and decided to intentionally lose the match while placing large bets, under false identities, against our own team.

Rule Theriault - You intentionally threw that match against those Esportivans?

Kyle Bolton - Yes and its been bothering me ever since.

Rule Theriault - Who else was in on this?

Kyle Bolton - Everybody except Kieran. We know what a holier-than-thou white knight he is. We knew he'd rat on us.

Rule Theriault - You were right.

Rule took a moment to think about what Kyle had told him. Surprisingly, he wasn't angry at his team for throwing the match. He was only angry at them for not letting him be part of it.

Rule Theriault - Kyle, I thank you for telling me about this, but I'm not upset about it. Just snap out of it and have some fun. You need to get ready for Mytannion, but there's no reason why you can't relax for a little bit.

Kyle Bolton - Thank you, Coach.

Rule Theriault - No problem, Kyle. When I talk to the team before our next match, I'll bring this up and let everybody know to just put that behind them. Any guilt over this simply won't help us and, you know what, I don't really care that you threw a meaningless 3rd place match to begin with. Just don't lose to Mytannion. I said that we're going to win this World Cup and I meant it.

Kyle Bolton - We are going to win this World Cup, whether anybody likes it or not. Everybody on our team believes and the people of our Great Federation believe and I really don't care if foreigners believe that or not. Personally, I'm sick and tired of waiting for our time and I'm not waiting any longer.

Rule Theriault - That's exactly what I wanted to hear.

After Kyle Bolton left, Theriault spent the rest of the day trying to line up more sponsors for his Republican National Soccer Team corporation. Now that they were World Cup quarterfinalists, demand to sponsor teams in Theriault's new single-entity league was sky high. Theriault wanted as much sponsorship money as he could get, money that could help him lure the best young talent, not just from within the FFR, but also from outside of the FFR to his league and his National Team. His dream was a National Team that was truly elite in the talent department. While his managerial abilities had turned a rather mediocre team into a legitimate threat to win the World Cup, Theriault wanted a team that could beat high quality opponents on pure ability, in addition to their advantages in tactics and team chemistry. He wanted his next generation, after this one, to be every bit as dominant as Aguazul was, at one time, but he would need the money to lure the best young players to his system instead of their local leagues and then he would need to hire coaches who could train them into playing the Republican National way, rather than the star-centered style that was common in the FFR, outside of the National Team system. Theriault wanted elite talent, but without the elite egos. To get it, he wanted to win this World Cup and show that his system works, even with mediocre talent, if players just buy into it.

[Osarius]

He'd never admit it, but there was definitely at least a hint of disbelief on the face of Jermain Lewis when Ezio Grassi -- who else? -- put the Firebirds ahead with just seven minutes to go against Audioslavia. Even a man as confident, as addicted to winning, as the Osarius boss had to find some unexpected pleasure in the situation. OSN's Oracle team -- once highly-esteemed in the realm of sports statistics -- had called it the other way. They had predicted that the Bulls would, like last time, outlast the men in red, black and gold. It's not an uncommon conclusion to come to, Audioslavians are known for their high levels of fitness, after all.

Grassi's eighty-third minute goal -- his first of the game, and fifth in the Finals -- came following a piece of magic from substitute Toby Drummond. The Franz Josef City playmaker drifted away from MacEighan for the briefest of moments to receive a diagonal pass from Arturo Monte somewhere to the left of the Audioslavian penalty area. MacEighan had spent the past thirty minutes rendering Jermain Lewis' tactical change -- Drummond on for the more defensively minded Armstrong -- irrelevant, effectively neutralising Drummond with clever interceptions, and just generally being a pain-in-the-arse for the former Utica man. But a split second is all it takes sometimes.

That brief window of opportunity slammed shut a split second later, when MacEighan clattered into his charge, but the damage was already done. Drummond's one-touch pass split the defence between centre back and right fullback, Grassi's instincts did the rest.

"Lissa, we need to hold this. We can't hold on through extra time." Lewis muttered to his assistant in the dugout.

"No more defensive options, though." Elissa Barca-Carthy replied. "You took Armstrong out to bring in Drummond."

"Susana in a defensive role on the left?"

"Could work. But do you want her making the crosses if we break?"

"Good point. Arturo can push forward."

"Should I inform the fourth official?"

"I got it. Have a word with Susana, would you?"

And so, the change came. An oddly conservative one for Jermain Lewis, but perhaps wise. Nathaniel Doherty made way for Susana Grana, while Wesley Kane -- who had caused a lot of problems for Andreij Tal throughout the game, winning the free kick for Osarius' equaliser -- was shifted to the right flank. With the Osarius left bolstered defensively, veteran attacker Zekani would be less of a concern. The Makosile United forward had opened scoring earlier in the game, and Lewis was wary of the threat he still posed, even so late on.

With time ticking away, the Bulls would become more and more aggressive in their pursuit for an equaliser. The game was over when Arturo Hudson-Blake's rocket of a volley ricocheted violently off Ruby Fletcher's crossbar, clearing the box. Sergio Estevez controlled the ball, and moved it swiftly on to Toby Drummond. Wesley Kane's run cut inside, into the space vacated by Ezio Grassi moments earlier, allowing him to curl a strike into the top left corner.

"It was a great performance," Jermain Lewis began, "and I really don't know what else to say. They were just... great."

If Osarius are to equal their best performance in the World Cup, they will now have to go through Pasarga. The Wanderers emerged from a tough group, beating Vilita along the way, underlining their high threat level.

"I vaguely remember playing against the Wanderers, a long time ago." Lewis said. "They really tanked us."

A lot has changed since then, and the Firebirds have risen to stand alongside the multiverse's elite -- though they have exhibited a somewhat worrying tendency to "choke", as some have termed it -- making this impending matchup far more intriguing.

"We know they could pose a major threat, given their win over Vilita in the group stage. They stifled them after taking the lead, and that's something we really need to be wary of." Lewis elaborated. "We have a few players who can unlock stubborn defences, or liven up an otherwise uneventful game, but it might be difficult to get them involved, and from what I've seen, the Wanderers have remarkable discipline and patience. It'll be a really tough test."

One such player who could turn the game in favour of Osarius is current top scorer Ezio Grassi. The former Hastmead Diamante forward has five goals in the current World Cup finals stage so far, from just four appearances, and will almost definitely be the Firebirds' main goal threat against Pasarga. He won't be able to do it alone, however.

Against the Wanderers' fairly orthodox 4-4-2, it seems likely that Grassi will receive a lot of support from Toby Drummond drifting between the lines. Jermain Lewis will be hoping so, at least. Drummond's performance against Audioslavia may well have been the deciding factor in the end, as the playmaker created two goals upon escaping from MacEighan's pocket thirty minutes after his introduction to the game. Wesley Kane picked up the man of the match award in the end -- and rightly so, he was a constant thorn in the side of the Audioslavian defence -- but he concedes that Drummond was "the difference maker".

"He kept their defensive midfielder busy in the later stages of the game." Kane explained. "It was more difficult to find space before that, because he was really good at covering up, or coming over to support the fullback. So even when Toby was barely getting on the ball, he was making a big impact on the game."

In order to keep Drummond free to influence proceedings, Lewis faces a tough decision. Does he bring Angelica Capiello back into the fold, to divide attention in midfield, or does he persist with Roque Acosta to hustle and harry the opposition?

[Mytannion]

BLOG: What's it like in the Ninth Division of Mytanar football?

Everybody around the country knows about the problems of big Mytanar Top League sides. The struggle to juggle Rushmori and international competitions with the hectic nature of Top League football, operating within the intricate detail of the financial regulations, stopping your promising youth players from being snapped up by the biggest clubs at home and abroad and, for some, preventing the drop into the Second Division. But what about the perils of a club playing in the ninth tier of Mytanar football?

Well, as you would imagine, it is rather different. Everything, from the top level of the club in terms of owners right down to the amount of fans that turn up to games is completely different, even down to the type of pitches they play on, with astroturf pitches being found at the lower levels due to their comparatively lower maintenance costs compared to their grass cousins that are kept pristine in the top levels. In the course of several discussions that I have had with the treasurer of a club playing in one of the regional leagues of Mytannion's Ninth Division, a distinct picture of the dilemmas facing small clubs that hope to make their way up the footballing ladder has emerged. Such clubs have to handle problems that fans at the top level, of the mainstream, would never truly understand or appreciate. Mainly because they are followers of high level and relatively glamourous football. But, the treasurer has posed pertinent questions, particularly in the face of the rise of clubs that are bending the FSM's ownership rules like Vulpine Naering, their impending climb really challenging the football authorities and giving them something to think about, particularly if they will actually be able to stop clubs from breaking the 50+1 rule.

The club and the treasurer that I have been speaking to have stated that they would like to remain anonymous. Before the current board took over at the club, it was suffering from every dereliction possible. Poor financial management had led to severe depletion of several promising youth teams as the club had to sell quality youngsters to remain afloat and this in turn led to back-to-back relegations as they had poor playing staff compared to their rivals. The new management took over in January of 2021 and unfortunately a horrific half-season in the Ninth Division meant that relegation was inevitable. But over the summer of 2021, the new management engaged in shrewd financial investment, both in players and in improving training facilities. There was also extensive administrative restructuring and this put the club back on the right track. Under the rule of the new board, the club enjoyed instant promotion back to their regional league in the Ninth Division and look to have a bright future ahead of them. Their good run has continued this season, with an almost billiard ball effect occurring due to the changes made at the club and they are now dominating the league they were relegated from two years ago. Following a thirteen game winning streak this season, they si thirteen points clear of the rest of the pack and promotion to the eighth tier is looking increasingly likely.

The idea that they are now coasting along steadily at the top of the division presents a bit of an oxymoron though, with it presenting a major problem to the team. Getting promoted this season would mean they have experienced back-to-back promotions and the ambition is always to get promoted again when they reach the Eighth Division - something any club would usually relish - but one of the dilemmas facing lower-league clubs is that promotion after promotion may lead to them being financially unstable, leaving the club worse off than they would be if they had just wallowed for a couple of years, mid-table in a lower division.

Reute Naering are well known for their remarkable ascension from being an amateur club to the professional ranks and up to the Third Division over the past ten years, large thanks to the financial backing of software mogul Dietmar Reute. His investment in the club ensured financial security and has led to the club building state of the art facilities and a Top League worthy stadium. All this is remarkable for an obscure club from a village of less than 10,000. The 50+1 rule means that fans have to own half the club's shares, plus one share, to ensure they always have a majority. Reute bought 51% of shares when the club turned from amateur to professional, claiming himself to be a fan and making this justify his ownership of the club. He renamed the club from IFK Naering to Reute Naering, including his own surname as a sign of his vanity project and even now he's going further. His software company have hit a bit of a bump in the road so he has decided to sell 40 of his 51% stake to Sunrisian sportswear company Vulpine meaning that between himself and them, they hold the majority with the club. The club has been renamed Vulpine Naering, the youth system has been delegated to the Sunrisian Project +90 and everything around the club is changing even further. It will not surprise anybody if they claim a spot in the upper echelons of Mytanar football soon enough, but all this comes at a price, with fans deserting the club due to Dietmar Reute and Vulpine Sportif and the club being widely despised because of what they have done to the proud IFK Naering. A club called IFK Naering 2020 has been founded as a sign of dissent against Reute and Vulpine, but don't expect the two clubs to ever meet in competition.

The question is, how can small clubs compete when rich owners bend the rules like that? They can't guarantee the same investment from their members, who are only fans who have to spend their money on more important things, like day-to-day living.

Life isn't easy for our club in the Ninth Division, promotions in rapid succession are desirable, but they would put untold financial strain on pretty much any club competing at that level. In fact, at a recent meeting, the board of the club decided that they will not actively try to go for promotion once they reach the next tier, consciously attempting to avoid the prospect of getting into the Seventh Division and the potential financial issues that would come about because of that. It wouldn't be a good thing financially for the club to make such a jump in such a short time, three promotions in three seasons would be tough to deal with.

Another reason boils down to logistics. When they are promoted into the Eighth Division, around half of their games will be against local teams. These are teams within the same city, and teams which the club already has an old rivalry with. This is in stark contrast to the majority of their matches this season - many of which entail a thirty kilometre drive to other, surrounding cities and villages. Facing your local rivals so frequently not only saves you money on travel, but also ensures that games are well-attended. Derbies in the lower divisions are much like those in the Top League. Hordes of fiercely passionate fans flock to these matches to create an electric atmosphere, the only difference being the sweeping concrete terracing and grass banking you find down at this level. If they were to get promoted from the Eighth Division next year into the Seventh, then they’d risk losing all of that, and face even more gruelling road trips every Sunday to play in sterile environments. And there is precedent for this: another local club were promoted to the Seventh Division and, even at home games, saw their attendance figures cut in half. This is not something a Ninth Division club recovering from a precarious position can afford to risk happening to them.

Financial concerns are something that revolve around the minds of those high up within any football club. The perception of lower division sides, especially down at this level, is that they are a group of mates who all turn up on Sunday for a kick about, but in reality the clubs are increasingly more organised and the finances involved are far above Sunday league level. The club spends around 15,000 coruns every year on wages alone and this buys them the services of a manager and five paid players. They have to be extremely shrewd with this spending, to get the right players in to try and make the club as strong as possible. The players who get paid have played at a much higher level, some as high as the Fourth Division. Others who take a wage can easily find a club to lend their services to, but they are often given lavish incentives to keep them at a club. The players who don't get paid often have a life-long affiliation or identification with the club - those who have played youth football for example. It isn't sustainable to run a club purely with those players though, the talent just isn't there and typically the clubs who perform the best are those who employ paid players - with the bottom half of leagues often made up of clubs who are unable or refuse to spend money on players.

With promotion inevitable this season, the club, like one rising from the Second Division to the Top League, needs to invest in new talent to make sure they can compete at a higher standard. This means they are likely to bring in two or three new paid players, they will also need to expand their budget in order to accommodate new players whilst retaining the current players and manager. There are transfer fees that need to be paid and wages that need to be accounted for. The club that I have looked into are lucky to be in a position that means several local businesses are willing to invest each year and ensure that they remain stable, but this does not mean they can splash the cash wherever they want, they still need to be clever with their money. There are many clubs that lack such backing from their local community and are unable to compete at higher levels because of this, even if they do have a particularly promising crop of players that have risen through their youth team and can compete at the Ninth Division level.

Since the youth teams are such a vital provider of players for teams in these divisions, the board also has to be acutely aware of the problems this can cause. A youth system can help to cultivate a sense of loyalty towards the club in those who are part of it, and - as mentioned above - such players will often play without demanding a wage when they become seniors. Local clubs have, however, in recent years, found themselves in an uneasy situation regarding youth. One major problem relates to the demographic shift over the last decade or so that has meant less and less children being born in Mytannion, with the birth rate decreasing at an alarming rate. This means there are less kids to attend primary schools, and following this, local authorities have embarked on a campaign to shut down those schools which are no longer financially viable. In and around the area where this club plays and generally absorbs its youth intake from, some eight or nine local primary schools were shut down almost a decade ago. This has had a knock-on effects for the club. Children who would have gone to the local primary schools and logically joined the club have been forced to go to schools in other areas, and, for obvious logistical reasons, end up joining the clubs in those areas. Since kids usually practice after school, it would make little sense to sign up for a club that is far away from the school. And since there are less and less schools near the club, the volume of young players they have been able to attract has significantly decreased in recent years.

Life in the Ninth DIvision is not easy. The portrait painted here of one club can probably be generalised to most other clubs at that level - although each club deals with its own specific, geographically-derived problems. Many of the problems are the same we find clubs higher up the divisions having to deal with, and some others, such as the 'Do we purposefully avoid promotion?' question are unheard of and rather quite novel to followers of clubs in the top division. But the problems are become increasingly prevalent in Mytanar football. The rise of Reute/Vulpine Naering is the envy of lower division clubs, but their journey to the top came with a high price, losing the supporters that made the club what it was in the first place and this is a price that many lower division clubs feel they are unable to pay.

[Audioslavia]

The dust had barely settled on a nighmare evening for Audioslavian football before the news came out. John Ryan has decided against taking up his option of a two year extension on his contract, and has stepped down as manager of the national team. The FFA were reportedly reluctant to accept the manager's resignation, feeling that, despite the team's disappointing exit from World Cup 68 after a 3-1 hammering by Osarius, the manager still had something to offer. While that may be true, the disgruntled fans leaving Legalese will have some differing opinions.

It was a stewardship that saw Audioslavia muster fifteen wins and three draws in twenty games, but a mere look at the win/loss statistics don't quite tell the full story of John Ryan's reign as Audioslavia national team manager. A disappointing exit in the second round of a World Cup that, with so many high profile casualities, was almost theirs for the taking, was well short of Ryan's target of 'semi-finals at the very, very least'. Ryan had a larger pool of talent to choose from than previous managers, even if the side haven't quite had the star power of previous sides, yet he wasn't able to find any combination or formation that truly worked. Rijshaart, a young midfielder from the domestic league, was chosen ahead of more experienced players and put into an unfamiliar position on the flank. Zekani and Zerubeltzak were in their second or third choice positions in the first team, and Ryan persisted in picking the likes of Hudson-Blake and MacEighan despite the pair showing signs of niggles and strains brought on by the tiring domestic season.

Ryan will, most likely, step down to the club circuit where a number of teams will no doubt be interested to see what he can do for them. Audioslavian football's governing body will be tasked, again, with finding a new man to steward the team for cycle sixty-nine.

[Vilita]

We Don't Like Horseradish Anyway.

Jungle Cats overcome Paradystopia

Legalese City, Legalese :: After surviving the group stage with a final matchday victory over Jeruselem, fans of the Vilita National team who subscribe to the theory that "Good Things come to those who start slowly" added more ammunition to support their claims with the Jungle Cats ousting Paradystopia in the Second Round of the World Cup.

Vilita Jungle cats head coach Calaesa Mitaroka stuck with Alikki-Corra netminder Kalek Intafel for the Round of 16 matchup. Intafel, a surprise inclusion in the World Cup roster to begin with, had only started 1 career National Team game heading into the finals. However, after a slow start, Mitaroka turned to Intafel on Matchday 3 against Jeruselem and was clearly pleased with the performance put in by the young netminder on the big stage, rewarding Intafel with a first ever World Cup knockout round appearance, starting in goal. The experienced Yeaddin Owls goalkeeper Jungrii Canopii would be on the bench with Lonngeylin Coast's Zelkki Milake watching from the stands.

With veterans like Sirkki Moliaudo and Kristofer Kilpter likely playing in their last World Cup finals and a new crop of youngsters such as Strike FC's Perran Adlani coming up through the woodworks, Arcticala Inlet AFC striker Nili Ylimaiina was in a bit of a transition - no longer the youthful prodigy, Ylimaiina would soon be looked up to as the experienced veteran in the Vilitan attack. Ylimaiina would start the game in the center of a 3-pronged attack, with the veteran Cednia Beach AFC striker Moliaudo and the youngster Lobaisa Akarelm of Mliona-Lpaka Turori joining him in a 3-4-3 attack minded formation.

The seemingly ageless Strike FC defender Miiara Makose wore the captains armband and led the team out of the tunnel along side their Paradystopi opponents who had brought along with them a small contingent of protestors who seemed intent on turning the match into a "Save the Horshradish" advertisement instead of an association football match. Two fans had already been taken into custody by stadium police in Legalese after running onto the pitch during the pre-match festivities, each wearing nothing but a green cape. It likely was some reference to the Horshradish v. Tropicorp cartoon that had become popular in Paradystopi, but the reference was probaly lost on the majority of the attendees.

As the focus turned to the match, it was all on the line as Paradystopi looked to make a name for themselves, reaching to heights that they had not reached as a nation - while the Vilitans, plenty familiar with competing at the Round of 16 and advancing to the Quarter Final stages of the World Cup - were looking at the match as a spring board to potentially propel them into stretch of results that would hopefully lead to their first appearance in the World Cup Final since the glorious World Cup 20 finals that were hosted just across Lake Bekk from the location of the current World Cup, in the former lands of Druida.

The reality, however, is the location was inconsequential. Perhaps a few more Vilitans had made the nearby trek across Calania to Legalese than might otherwise have, but in the end, it was going to be a match played on a standard footballing pitch, and the Jungle Cats simply needed to be the better team on the day.

Mukalo Rotanapai had his normally defense-minded side pushing forward early to try to change the pace and make the Jungle Cats chase the game. However, this allowed more space for the Vilitan forwards when they were able to gain possession, and Vilita nearly scored on a 10th minute counter attacking play - Akarelm clipping the top side of the crossbar with the shot that ended up in the stands.

Paradystopia were looking to break into the box in the 17th minute when Amarini Baracelv stuck a foot out and intercepted the through ball. With a step up field, and a glance Baracelv identified Ylimaiina making a run at the halfway line and blasted the ball into the space between the mid-line and the goal. Ylimaiina out paced Rhoddri Tuz'rirhan to the ball then cleverly chipped the on-rushing Kjn Volgjsrhaad to put Vilita up 1-0.

The pace of the match clearly changed from that point, as Paradystopia seemed to abandon their early pressure and falling back into a more traditionally defensive look, clearly not wanting to concede any further, having already seen their total goals conceded for the tournament double with the early Ylimaiina strike.

However, Rotanapai problem was exactly that, while his side had done well keeping the ball out of the net, it was also unable to score any of their own. Clearly the logic in the early pressure was to try to steal and early goal, then shut things down and play out the match.

With that strategy backfiring and resulting in a goal for the Vilitan's, the two sides seemed content to play out the remainder of the first half in the midfield spaces until receiving new barking orders from their respective coaching staffs at half time.

The goalscorer Ylimaiina was replaced at halftime by the youngster Perran Adlani giving even more pressure to the new captain Sirkii Moliaudo, who had taken the captains armband earlier in the match after coach Mitaroka decided to withdraw Miiara Makose from the match following his Yellow Card for a mistimed tackle.

Although both teams likely got some new orders from their management, when they came out for the second half, they looked much the same as they did in the first - a lot of midfield exchanges with not a lot of true attacking chances on either side.

20 minutes from time, the Jungle Cats struck again, this time on the corner-kick. It was Kadi Molali, who had literally just come onto the pitch as a substitute for Vliela Lianksa - ironically to give Vilita a more defensive look to shore up the game - appeared to shore up the game in a different way, with a "Best Defense is a Good Offense" approach.

Molali connected cleanly on the kick that was delivered by Kiroki Mitaroka after losing his marker, Rhoddri Tuz'rirhan who was having a forgettable performance.

Having now conceded twice any many goals in the match alone as they had in the entire group stage, Mukalo Rotanapai had no choice but to change up the style again, introducing the exuberant Jay-jay Jabez into the match - perhaps hoping for an inside line as Jabez plays his club football in Vilita for Inland Peaks FC in the Vilitan Declasse.

The move paid instant dividends as the relentless Jabez powered through the tired Vilitan defenders and nestled the ball in the corner of the net just minutes after his side had gone down 2-0. Showing poise well beyond his years, instead of running off and celebrating, Jabez sprinted to the back of the net, picked up the ball and attempted to turn quickly, presumably to jog the ball back to the center circle to speed up the restart.

However, Jay-jay's right foot got caught in the netting and as he propelled his body forward, his foot restrained, he found himself quickly faceplanting the turf.

When Jabez got up, he'd bloodied his nose and dislodged part of the netting from its hooks. Not only did Jabez need to go off for medical attention, but the grounds crew had to come out onto the pitch to fix the netting - and the Paradystopia forwards attempt to give his team more time to find the equalizer had seriously backfired, as the match slowed to a halt and any momentum that the Horseradish lovers might have gotten from pulling a goal back was certainly lost by the time play was resumed.

In the end, the Jungle Cats would hold on for the 2-1 victory in order to advance to the Quarter Finals for the second consecutive World Cup Finals.

However, after their defeat to Valanora at the Quarter Final stage in World Cup 67, Mitaroka's Jungle Cats will be looking for more as they square off against the tournament's hosts, Legalese, in what will surely be a hostile atmosphere for the crucial final-8 fixture.

	Paradystopia
:: Goalscorers :: :: 17' Nili Ylimaiina :: 68' Kadi Molali	:: Goalscorers :: :: 71' Jay-jay Jabez ::
:: Best Player: Amarini Baracelv :: Worst Player: Kiroki Mitaroka :: Shots on Target: 6 :: Corner Kicks: 3	:: Best Player: Marvin Marvkinson :: Worst Player: Rhoddri Tuz'rirhan :: Shots on Target: 4 :: Corner Kicks: 7

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Kalek Intafel, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Amarini Baracelv, [D.] Uajiala Pulkki, [ML] Kiroki Mitaroka, [MC] Lopaki Kilpter, [MC] Tripate Falcon, [MR] Vliela Lianksa, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [FC] Nili Ylimaiina, [FC] Lboaisa Akarelm
BENCH::
[FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Perran Adlani, [M] Riksa Valjariia, [M] Steffyn Siazzu, [U] Aniara Jiurjai, [D] Kadi Molali, [GK] Jungrii Canopii

Vilita Substitutions::
(22) - Miiara Makose >>> Aniara Jiurjai
(45) - Nili Ylimaiina >>> Perran Adlani
(68) - Vliela Lianksa >>> Kadi Molali

(For Future Statistical Reference)
GK:: Kalek Intafel - [6]

D.:: Miiara Makose - [5]
D.:: Amarini Baracelv - [10]
D.:: Uajiala Pulkki - [5]
ML:: Kiroki Mitaroka - [7]
MC:: Lopaki Kilpter - [8]
MC:: Tripate Falcon - [7]
MR:: Vliela Lianksa - [10]
FC:: Sirkii Moliaudo - [6]
FC:: Nili Ylimaiina - [6]
FC:: Lboaisa Akarelm - [5]

Vilitan Subs Bench:
FC:: Kristofer Kilpter - [DNP]
FC:: Perran Adlani - [6]
M:: Riksa Valjariia - [DNP]
M:: Steffyn Siazzu - [DNP]
U:: Aniara Jiurjai - [7]
D:: Kadi Molali - [6]
GK:: Jungrii Canopii - [DNP]

[Pasarga]

Torgos Tribune ~ Is AO Safe?

The Quarterfinals of the World Cup, a time of celebration for those nations that are still involved in the competition and intrigue for those who have been eliminated. So many what if and what could have beens get told around pubs and clubhouses this time of the tournament, patrons and fans of teams letting their minds go wild at all the crazy speculation of what may happen with the fixtures that are there and those that could have been. Like what if Valanora had won against Turori and faced off against the Polarians in the Round of Sixteen, what if Eura had found a way to sneak into the knockouts, will anyone be able to withstand the might of the Vahallans and their ferocious attack and magnificent defense? These and countless other speculative scenarios are discussed and bandied about from friend to friend, supporter to rival supporter, teammate to teammate while we wait for the games to take place.

And lo and behold, our own national team is there, after a simple if not bit of a trying defeat of Barunia in the second round. For once it was not Müller or Möller with the goals, as it was Orbán who collected the brace to send the Wanderers through. With one goal inside the first ten and another on the last kick of the first half, the side was comfortable as they headed into the dressing room. As expected, they played far more defensive in the second half, letting Barunia come onto them, which nearly cost them, as they conceded in the seventy-sixth minute, their lead cut in half. Yet the stalwart defending that Aidé Hernádez wants to be remembered for came on display in those critical last few minutes and the side saw themselves through to the Quarterfinals.

Fitting that they would find themselves against Osarius, who discarded the Bulls of Audioslavia in an upset in their second round tie. Pasarga and Osarius are a bit similar, quiet teams who do not create a bit of fan fair with their play, they get the job done most of the time. However Osarius has been here in the depths of the World Cup before, having had a miraculous run into third just a few cycles ago, while Pasarga's recent history is not very favorable when compared to that of the Firebirds. The two sides have had meetings before, though long from the memory of most of the fans, players, or technical staff, results that are now only meaningful as a stat in the record books and for statisticians.

However not all is well here in Atlantian Oceania, as the side travels through the northeast of the region in Legalese for their fixtures. Extreme nationalism has taken a deep root in Starblaydia, with those on the outside looking in fearing a fascist dictator may take the opportunity to seize power in that cauldron. Those in Legalese will no doubt be wary of any such event taking place, with the memory of the occupation under the Starblaydi still as fresh as ever in the minds of the Legalites. It was a very dark period of time for them, Starblaydia, and all of the region, where terror and military might were the currency of the realm, and even the strongest of fighters would up in six foot holes.

What's more troubling is reports coming out of the southwest of the region, where a Vanorian training exercise is said to have sunk an island off their west coast. While it is not Vyinta, the island state that makes up part of the "Eternal Empire", it is the one to north that was seemingly unoccupied, though some a few different military arms had laid a claim to it. Details are sketchy at best, but it is believed that the Vanorian military was testing out some new vessel's weapon capacities and misfired on the island, causing portions of the island to sink into the ocean and the resulting wave to take out much of the already destabilized landmass.

What makes you wonder if the region is safe to be in, with millions of fans and supporters in the region for the World Cup. If such events are going on unchecked, can the Legalites truly give claim that all who within their borders for the festivities are safe from harm and can go about enjoying themselves? Can they give that assurances to the teams that are putting on the display and fighting for the right to be crowned as World Cup champion? At what point do we as a people turn an eye away from such hazardous actions for the sake of entertainment? It is a troubling set of circumstance, more so when considering the various hazardous situations happening within Rushmore at this time as well. Is the world on the brink of war... is anywhere truly safe? And how long can things like the World Cup and Olympics keep the public distracted from what is really going on in the world?

[Legalese]

Watch Out For the Box of Pencils!
Jungle Cats incoming for Legal Eagles in their first-ever quarterfinal

Bryan Ashdown reporting from Tyrellia

Stan Thate must really like it when his back’s against the wall. The Legalese NT manager, who celebrated a full decade as the top boss at the start of the World Cup, came into the job for the 55th Cup of Harmony with an uncertain future, the interim tag a result of him being the only remaining member of the coaching staff left after the failure to qualify for World Cup 63. Somehow, he was able to pull everything together, leading the Legalites through the Cup of Harmony to their first finals appearance since the 11th edition, and with a victory in penalty kicks - one of three over the course of the knockouts - grabbed the first major trophy in the nation’s history. The end result? The interim tag was removed from his title.

Alas, the run that followed was far from exceptional. A return to the Cup of Harmony ensued the following cycle, as Legalese finished a disappointing fifth in their group. Success returned in both 65 and 66, with group wins sending the Legalites to the final, however both ended in bitter disappointment, with the long stretch of finals appearance without reaching the Round of Sixteen expanding to five, two under his tenure. It was rumored that Thate would be pushed out after the post-cup AOCAF.

Fortunately, a funny thing happened on the way to his sacking: the Legalites were named the co-hosts for World Cup 68, eliminating the grueling 18-month process that 192 sides would have to endure for the slim chance of making the field. With so much to prepare for - stadiums to be refurbished or built, options for team selection to replace the test of qualifying, etc. - Federation President Robert Percival made the call to stick with Thate for the rest of the cup, with the implicit ultimatum: make the Round of Sixteen, or prepare to step aside.

Apparently, that’s all it takes to get the former Goalkeeper, a product of the southern town of Gavelton, to get going. While the route to the Round of Sixteen wasn’t all roses, the National Team performed with workmanlike efficiency, opening up with two one-goal victories to snag the six points ultimately needed, then counting on a tight 1-0 loss to the favorites, Osarius, to keep them in the mix; they were rewarded as Barunia made their final push to take points, knocking off German-American States, a result that sent Legalese to their first trip out of the Group Stage in World Cup history.

Then came the shocker - a 2-1 result in Sagdineo to The Holy Empire. A team known for their years of quality, with a managerial team of Juan Tzimisces and Simeone Di Bradini - yes, the dead one - showing the tactical skills necessary to turn a team of beans - made human by some technology that they hand-wave about - into a world-class side. This reporter can’t help but be impressed - it’s usually more than a hill of beans, let along a small mound, can amount.

Quintus Oxboro, the man responsible for the match winner, had much to say about the Frosticans.

“They’re a solid group, those eleven, and a real shame what happened to them. For being spurges, they seem pretty friendly. That Mr. Bean chap, especially. Was gracious both before and after - even after his backpack broke when I took that shot!”

Tonight’s quarterfinal sends the Legalites to Tyrellia, where they have the Jungle Cats thrown at them in The Coliseum. Based on that sentence alone, this match does not look promising for the hosts, facing a side that considers a trip to the quarters without more a failure.

“All we can do is just take it a match at a time,” Thate said when asked about the prospects. “Either way, we’ll go home, after all.”

He also declined to speculate on his future, though one suspects that the next administrative moves for the Federation will have more to do with his choice, rather than anyone else’s.

[Polar Islandstates]

"...and that's a poor pass from Lillehammer as it puts Bjerregaard unde- oh! But that's a bad tackle from Vagionius and no surprise to see the referee blow the whistle."

"I'm a little surprised we're not seeing a card here to be honest, Petter."

"It certainly was a late and clumsy challenge, that's for sure. But the concern for Rasmussen here will be that it looks as though Bjerregaard has come off the worse out of that challenge. In fact, I think that's Salo there, waving on the physios to come on to the pitch, and Bjerregaard looks in some pain here."

"Aye, that'll be worrying, certainly."

"Let's just take a look at the replays here and- yes, the forward knee of Vagionius has gone straight into Bjerregaard's knee on his standing leg there and that is going to hurt. And it does look like a nasty one, yes. Alexis St Olaf is on the side of the touchline now, warming up."

"Certainly a nasty one, Petter. That's going to hurt a lot if he's bruised the bone there. If that's all it is he'll be able to run it off of course, but anything muscular will keep him out of any quarter-final match at least, I should think."

"Yes, if you've just joined us here on VUTVsports then, apologies for these pictures as we don't have any control over them ourselves. The director is showing video replays of the goals from the first half here in Free Republics as Karoki and Kolehmainen each scored to take us into the half time interval at one each in this round of sixteen knock-out, and we're just waiting for Bjerregaard to either get up or get substituted here. Sebastian, you were an international striker not particularly known for your tackling, you ever clattered someone like that?"

"Heh, a couple of times, I'm sure. Nothing intentional, of course, but there's rather more venom in this Saintland squad than we're used to seeing, I think."

"And he's coming off, look. There he goes. Hobbling off at least, as the stretcher is waved away, and that'll be a welcome sight for Twitchers and coaching staff alike. St Olaf to come on, and he's a dependable presence if nothing else. Expect to see more running from Villeneuve out towards that right hand flank though, because the Terns will lose a lot of width without Bjerregaard out there. Kirilaunen to take the free kick."

"Aye, Petter, St Olaf certainly isn't as quick a player as Bjerregaard, but a-"

"Oh but that's a huge bounce and it's caught Seius out! And it's going to go in! IT HAS GONE IN! IULIAN KIRILAUNEN HAS SCORED AN INCREDIBLE GOAL FROM ABOUT SIXTY FIVE YARDS OUT! ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING!"

"Well I've scored some goals in my time but I never scored anything like that, Petter, that was amazing! I can't believe we're seeing that!"

"Neither can Kirilaunen! He doesn't know what to do with himself! What an incredible goal! You can see in the replay here that the defenders get it wrong, they each leave it to each other and then the ball gets an almighty kcik back from the turf and up it goes over the scrambling Seius. Everyone's running back but the ball bounces into the open goal and that is astonishing. Absolutely astonishing."

"Is that the first time that's happened, Petter?"

"It is, Sebastian. That is the first time a goalkeeper has ever scored for the Terns, and the first goal Kirilaunen has scored in his career. Mathias Marek used to be number five in penalty shoot outs but in open play, that is the first time a goalkeeper has scored for the Terns, and a World Cup or otherwise."

"Incredible."

"He looks almost embarrassed, look."

"It certianly wasn't an intentional goal!"

"Certainly not! But a goal it was nonetheless and the Terns are now back in front, five minutes into the second half. The score is two-one, and Rasmussen has already made one substitution. Let's see what the rest of the second half has in store for us..."

[Free Republics]

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