World Cup 55 RP Thread

by **Rumbipura** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:41 pm

Live-blogging Rumbipura's home match against The Allamunnic States

0 minutes. Well, there are a few fans still strapped in the trees from last time, but the cleared patch of jungle that we're calling our National Stadium otherwise seems in fit state for international play. The Allamunnic players are pacing about, and ... waiting ... well, they seem to find it's up to snuff. No protests lodged before the opening whistle, at any rate!
Posted by Graça at 19:01 RST

5 minutes. The Blue Thunder clearly has the upper hand in early going. But there's a nice chip forward from Spike Silva. Forward .... and cleared away easily by Otto. The visitors are strong on defence too, it seems. Otto easily outclassing the Wu-li Lama, who looked lost on that one. Just as lost as he did in the last theological debates, when he suggested that reincarnation as a duck was a move up from reincarnation as a platypus. Silly. A platypus is so warm...
Posted by Graça at 19:15 RST

10 minutes. Play still dominated by the Blue Thunder. At this point, they have 64% possession. Pick up the play, boys and girls! (Oh, and spider-human hybrids.) C'mon!
Posted by Graça at 19:11 RST

15 minutes. Sorry, slipped out for a pee. That'll have to do for 20 minutes, too.
Posted by Graça at 19:19 RST

30 minutes. Some motion there. Simparieff lobs it forward, but the Wu-li Lama is offside. The trap snapped shut like the jaws of a dying wallaby.
Posted by Graça at 19:31 RST

34 minutes. The Allemanic States are off to a lead. A goal by Kristina de Paul. "You play like a girl!" Tarantula taunted her. De Paul's answer was swift and silent, lancing past the Firendli Lama, who guessed the wrong way and dove left.
Posted by Graça at 19:36 RST

40 minutes. Another neat bit of attack has the Cassowaries down 2-0. Derek Leifsson is the scorer this time, weaving through the Cassowary defence like, um, like a pair of scissors cutting fabric. That reminds me, must remember to mend this dress. Again, not much chance for our keeper, though I can't help thinking that a better keeper might have managed it. I wonder if this means the Red Hat Lamas are not as ... no, I'm sure they're infallible.
Posted by Graça at 19:41 RST

47 minutes. An ugly half. A good half-dozen missed opportunities as people keep passing to that obese buffoon we call a striker, the Wu-li Lama. The fans look pissed. I wonder if there's a chance to rouse them against our corrupt rulers during the half-time show? I think this one is Spiritual Enlightenment meets Beer, performed as an interpretive dance.... It is to shudder.
Posted by Graça at 19:47 RST

65 minutes. Shoot, I missed some of the match. I'm sure that the talking was worthwhile though. There's increasing anger at the Yellow Hats for picking religious nincompoops to represent us globally in football. Now they're laughing at us all over the world as if we were laughingstocks. Well, most of them can't even spell our name.... But those who can are laughing at us.... I blame the...
Posted by Graça at 20:30 RST

67 minutes. OK, that was atrocious. I mean, yes, the Blue Thunder are a talented group. Full credit to them. But that's their third goal. I'm sure Izaak Brom is a fine footballer and all, but how are we supposed to have a chance when the Wu-li Lama calls the Cassowaries together in midfield for some organized chanting -- while play is still under way? It is a travesty. I'm calling for action against the idiotic theocracy that governs us, spinning lies about the....
Posted by Graça at 19:32 RST

70 minutes. This seditious blog is being terminated as a public. It sucks karma from the listener, increasing the chance that you will be reincarnated as a duck. The Lamaic courts suggest a rousing chant to purify yourself from its corrupting effect. The Cassowaries played well and earned merit by allowing the visitors to score three times, the number of times the Rumbi Lama said good night to his teddies. Peace be upon him.
Posted by Superintendant Beanal, Rumbipura Karmic Constabulary, at 20:34 RST

Rumbipura 0 The Fanboyists 3
Cassowary goals: none

by **Errinundera** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:27 pm

Sports article from the First Creek Falls Age

Around the World in 20 Days
Marching to a Different Drum

With vanessu, star midfielder for First Creek Falls and Errinundera

Law and Order

After meeting the Kiaser Prime Minister at the airport and touring flooded Bezieres with the Valladar king, the potoroos had an entirely different reception in Churchma. The day after our arrival their Chief Police Commisioner, Randolf Moorman, invited us to join him in Moorhatch for a parade in our honour. It’s not the sort of thing I would choose to do on a Friday afternoon but sometimes you just have to make sacrifices for the sake of international relations. We all sat straight-backed and uncomfortable on our wooden chairs in the Commissioner’s podium as thousands upon thousands of police filed past. Commissioner Moorman boasted that the Churchma government spent over one dollar in three on law and order. klansee quipped back that she had read that the cause of death for one in every twenty-five citizens was official execution. The Commissioner pointed out that the figure was much higher when you included foreigners who offended their laws. Oh dear, I think we cocked up the international relations bit.

We sat through hours of this.

mireyu leads the way again

Our first win for the campaign is still eluding us. remibref is keeping the faith, reminding us that, other than the 4-1 wipe-out against the Kiaser Colonies, we had given a good account of ourselves. Our forwards continue to excel. Perhaps that should read, mireyu continues to destroy defences. Really, she probably deserves to be in a better team. The rest of us are in awe of her.

"The Assassin" scored two more goals as we went down 3-2 to Churchma. She makes the rest of us look good, tirelessly working to bring her fellow forwards into the play and giving us midfielders every opportunity to launch attacks. The first of her goals came from a great one-two-three with klansee and yours truly, while the second came after an acrobatic recovery from a ferocious tackle that arguably warranted a penalty kick.

It figures, really

We returned home to discover mireyu figurines (see right) in shop windows everywhere. It seems that everyone wants to worship at the football boots of our new goddess. Funnily enough it doesn't feature her in the her footy gear, and they’re not cheap either, at β250 a pop. mireyu is also going to be the model for the main character in an upcoming animated television series, produced by raimitapertu from the Starzoo Television Drama Collective. Perhaps the figurine is how she'll appear in the show. We keep ragging her that her head is bigger than it used to be. In truth, she has always been a little aloof. When you get to know her you realise it isn’t arrogance. She’s just a rather private person.

Churchma 3 Errinundera 2
(Churchma 10, 71, 78)
(mireyu 18, 83)

leighm medal votes: mireyu 3, ricardoo 2, anasant 1
Injuries: shinobu (ankle), to miss one match

The team for this match:
Attack: mireyu (c), bundhai, klansee, kanoota (sub)
Midfield: setoru (vc), anasant, ricardoo, vanessu, nikuri (sub)
Defence: shinobu (dvc), najikeve, pietrif, josep (sub)
Goals: haintsu, mihairokon (res)

Next match: Errinundera v Virabia (Venue: Glenferrie, Bola Mine)
Attack: mireyu (c), klansee, vikroleni, bundhai (sub)
Midfield: setoru (vc), anasant, ricardoo, vanessu, nikuri (sub)
Defence: ilshai, jeanep, josep, prietrif (sub)
Goals: mihairokon, sumika (res)

Goalscorers
mireyu 5
bundhai 2
vanessu 1

leighm medal tally
mireyu 9
bundhai 4
vanessu 4
haintsu 4
anasant 3
setoro 3
ricardoo 2
najikeve 1

Full details on Errinundera's World Cup 55 squad can be seen here.

by **Jeruselem** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:50 pm

Jeruselem players Amy Pond and Kate Kool in a Jacuzzi after their recent win

Amy: It's nice of the Princess to let us borrow her Jacuzzi
Kate: She's the only one who seems to get one, even the coach doesn't get one
Amy: Because she's rich and can afford this room.
Kate: I guess I'm just stingy
Amy: Well, at least she uses her money
Kate: I'm in saving mode when I go overseas
Amy: You got the wrong way round silly
Kate: I'm Jewish
Amy: This is a nice room, I wish I could afford this type of room
Kate: It's only for real rich people
Amy: Hey, where is the Princess?
Kate: She's gone shopping
Amy: She's got way too much money.
Kate: She is a Princess
Amy: I suppose ...
Kate: Say, most Jacuzzis don't have cameras.
Amy: She is a Dallas.
Kate: I hope it's not turned on.
Amy: Why is that?
Kate: We're both naked in here.
Amy: We're from Jeruselem, who cares.
Kate: I've got some modesty.
Amy: I think the Princess likes to web blogs naked.
Kate: I'm not surprised.
Amy: Stop complaining, look ... we've got wine and food here.
Kate: Wow, that's top class stuff.
Amy: I could be happy like this.
Kate: I'm too modest and simple to live like a Princess
Amy: I guess that's why we travel to different countries to play football
Kate: I suppose one gets treated like a Princess
Amy: Unless you go to certain places ...
Kate: Let's not talk about those Monks and their horrible place.
Amy: Don't touch that camera.
Kate: I wonder what happens if you wave at it.
Amy: I wouldn't do that.
Kate: Hey look it's on.
Amy: Great, we're both naked in Internet with a camera on us.
Kate: Woops
Amy: I told you not fiddle with the camera
Kate: How you turn it off?
Amy: I don't know you turned it on
Kate: I think this streams live to the Dallas web site
Amy: Oh great, now billions of people can see us.
Kate: This is fun, now wonder she does this.

by **Virabia** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:14 am

The Vonghurst Star
To WHOM

SOUTHAM - The fallout from todays match can easily be summed up by this status update that I saw one of my friends post, "Who is Seleucius and why did we lose to them?", which was a thought that must have crossed the minds of more than just one person after today's match which looked an awful lot like something that one would have expected to see during World Cup 51.

The play on the field was poor at best and Seleucius's team of unknowns was able to take advantage of the, I'm not quite sure how to put it but amateurish seems the right word, play of the Nats'. The passes and crosses where sloppy. Of the eight shots that the Nats' were able to get off only one of them was remotely on target and even some strong relief from Pédro, who has been doing great off the bench this campaign wasn't enough to even level the scores. So, the Nats' ended up dropping their second game of the qualification campaign.

The loss today was especially disappointing because it was to a team which will most likely never compete in the World Cup again, a problem which is all too prevelant in the world of sports. This has led the international bodies who govern each sport to talk about modifying entry criteria but, so far the talks have amounted to little in the way of real progress. The result of this is longer qualifying times and more matches like this one, where you don't even know the names of the players that you are going against, yet still, for some reason lose. Detractors say that the latter will always be an issue and regardless if there are 80 teams or 180 teams, the same percentage of nations will always be active. They also say that because of the lax entry guidelines for a tournament like the World Cup, a larger scope of nations are able to be taken in and one of those nations that would otherwise be rejected from participation could possibly become the next powerhouse of football.

Those in the VFA, who have been notably in favour of changing entry guidelines to be more restrictive are not entirely convinced by the argument. Gabby Waterson, who acts as the association's non-voting representative to the World Cup Council has said that, "While it's nice to believe that one of the many new nations could end up as the next powerhouse, that statement is just not based in fact. If a prospective entrant were really eager enough to field a team in the World Cup, the FA of that nation would usually be willing to wait if they have to in order to be in the World Cup. Also, the detractors make it seem like we are going to restrict things to the point where no one new can join. They argue that the World Cup is enough of an old boys' club as it is but, that argument isn't based in fact. The reforms I hear proposed are mild at best and if would help the organisers as well as the players much more than it would hurt anyone."

One thing that is often brought up in discussions of this issue is the most recent Baptism of Fire which had more than 60 teams take part, a record and almost twenty more than when Virabia hosted the tournament a while back.

Of course not everyone in the VFA is necessarily in favour of tightening entry restrictions. Sam Sánchez, who is a notable detractor his organisation's view on the subject has said that the VFA is only behind the limitations entry because the agency is planning to bid to host the World Cup sometime in the near future and they want the work load to be a bit less. This is something which Sam has said is "Selfish and unfair to the newer competitors."

This does resonate hard as it's not hard to forget that not too long ago, we were also new to the international scene and are regarded by many as still being relative newbies so perhaps one should not throw stones when he lives in a glass house.

...It still sucks to lose to Seleucius though...

_

Next Match: @ Errinundera @ Glenferrie, Bola Mine, Errinundera Kickoff: 17:00 local

by **Kazzoria** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:12 am

A Short History of Kazzoria

Of course with Neptune helping him forcing the people to suffer was a lot easier. He could get rid of socks and use the material to re-fabric his palace instead on the ground of "Socks are evil, Neptune says so." He could also introduce "Food Bars" which gave a person all the needed for the day, minus a little bit off to keep them in starvation. He managed to get it introduced saying that "Neptune has decided food isn't efficient enough and must be replaced with these food bars." Of course soon the citizens were widely unhappy, but put up with it to avoid the wrath of God.

Soon he found himself introducing a new political system to help with his rule of the country. Usually when somebody rules Kazzoria when they die they are replaced on a vote by either their son or the son of the opposition. The winner then rules the country. They are elected by a board of 50 MP's and 50 businessmen. But he replaced that with something else. He made it so that there were twenty seats in parliament in Kazzoria. Each seat would belong to an MP who at election time would sell it to a bidder from one or another party. He would then be paid the money by the side that had bid the highest and then they would get the seats. After that the side that had the most seats won. Of course there were only three parties. His party who believed in making money for themselves and a select few allied businessmen whilst making everyone else slaves. The Red Party who wanted to make everyone slaves but themselves, and the Capital party that believed in tight regulations on everything except for business and to force people to try and earn more money. In fact the Capital party states that by the time you are 25 you must be earning at least $20,000 per year or you will be executed. If you are earning less that $30,000 you would be put in prison.

Of course this made it easy enough for him to win. The way he was running the country only the businessmen at the top could vote. They were all allied with him and knew his ideas were the most profitable. They invested a lot in him. In fact only two seats were held by opposition and only another 3 seats were ever slightly contested. The slightly contested seats saw the biggest bids and it got harder and harder for the owner to bid again next election. They were contesting with the red party who consisted of a leader and government with no businessmen. They had enough money to keep driving the prices up, but they never one. One of the seats was contested with the Capital party, and it was close to being turned over to them. The other two seats were both Capital party seats, but they were rural seats and nobody cared who they went to because they didn't have much money. Soon enough Lucas had an even tighter grip on his nation.

***

Bisgea had done the impossible, they had gone 1-0 up. Sirea had watched on annoyed as the Bisgean side managed to slide it into the net to make it one-nil. This lead had outstayed it welcome and now it was time to take action. At half-time he had got the team into the dressing room and had managed to shout at them for several minutes before they left.

"How did you manage that you incompetent goons!" he said "Go out there and win this friggin' game you goons! GO! NOW!"

Soon Sands found herself back on the field. She was annoyed that she was struggling, she was letting her entire nation down. She needed to score a goal. She picked the ball up at the halfway line and lobbed it over the top towards Wane. He picked it up and slid it back to Smith. He shot... But it went straight over the top of the goal. This wasn't going well at all.

The game felt to go very quickly. There was only two minutes left and they needed a goal, and fast. They needed two goal preferably. She then found herself running down the wing and into the middle. She was marked, she dummied one way, and then they other. She then passed it to Smith and he took the shot. It bounced back and Nonno shot and the keeper punched it away. Carlos got it and passed it back to Her. She looked straight ahead to the open goal. She shot... and it went into the goal! 1-1. She punched the sky. Then suddenly it was full time. They went back into the changing rooms to hear from Jamie Sirea.

"Well you could have done better, but a draw still keeps us on top. She you next week."

by **The Kangaroo Republic** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:15 am

The FKR beats Bergnovinaia
Despite the odds being against the roos, at the moment, this team is holding out surprisingly well in the qualifying group. After having managed to draw their first two matches against Tynelia and Tretskivucia and winning the match against Kaputrania, the roos were holding the 7th place in the qualifying group. It was now up to the roos to play against Bergnovinaia, a strong opponent but not impossible to beat. To win from Bergnovinaia, the roos would have to give everything they got against this team.

At the start of the match, it was very clear that the stronger team was Bergnovinaia. They managed to intercept many passes and continued to hold possession during the early minutes of the match. An amazing shot at goal by Jesus Javon came very close to goal, but luck was on the side of the roos and he missed by an inch or two.

Later on in the match, it seemed like the roos were getting a better grip on the situation. They managed to hold possession of the ball and did not lose it so cheaply any longer.

In the 31st minute, the first goal of the match fell. Jevjøki passed the ball forward to Dizau who proceeded on running down the flank with the ball. He then crossed the ball into the penalty area. Inande then headed the ball goalwards and scored the first goal of the match, not even giving the keeper a chance to get anywhere near the ball. A classic example of a well-made cross.

And so the first half ended with the roos on top of the game. However, if they could manage to keep that lead was the question. Bergnovinaia continued to be a very strong opponent at the beginning of the second half and they made numerous attempts at goal to become tied with the roos again. But none of these attempts led to an actual goal.

In the 64th minute, a foul by Bergnovinaian midfielder Joshua Kilon on Enda led to a free kick being granted to the roos from 24 meters distance from goal. Kilon escaped without being booked but he gave away a chance for the roos to score from the free kick. Yamamoto was going to take the free kick. He curved the ball neatly past the wall and scored the second goal for the roos. The lead was stretched and they became more and more certain of a victory.

Then the final whistle was blown and the macropodine victory over Bergnovinaia was a fact. A victory was exactly the thing the roos needed and they shot up in the rankings of the qualifying group. Now at the 3rd place, if the roos keep this up then it'll be certain that we will advance to the next stage.

Pixiv · by **Wolfenium** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:26 am

Wolfen Imperial News Agency - Sports Update

Twins Magic
Yurino twins sinks West Zirconia in first half drama

WOLFENIUM 2 - 1 WEST ZIRCONIA

Wolfenium:

Hikari Yurino (12)
Emilio Olivetti (45+1)

West Zirconia: Mario Villeti (7 og.)

Evening, sports fans! Wolfenium, the underdogs of the World Cup Qualifiers, have pulled off their biggest miracle yet, scoring a first ever World Cup Qualifier victory against West Zirconia. The first few minutes alone was the source of intense drama, as the Wolves were caught with a very unsavoury own goal, before snapping back with a very nasty surprise.

The drama started in the 7th minute when the West Zirconian attack temporary unhinged the unprepared Wolfen defence as defender Mario Villeti botched a serious clearance, knocking the ball past replacement goalkeeper Yuri Antoine and straight into the Wolves' goal post. Panic ensued as the West Zirconians dominated possession and pressed the defenders deeper into their own half of the field. However, a miraculous break on the left side saw the Yurino twins storming through the length of the field unopposed as defender Hikari Yurino propelled a long shot straight into the napping keeper's net, leveling the score just five minutes after the first goal.

The Wolfen defence continued to endure shot after shot as the West Zirconia continued their terrible onslaught, but the first half injury time saw the arrival of yet another miracle pulled by the Yurinos as Karin launched the ball straight into the heart of the opposing half, when striker Emilio Olivetti lauched a lightning shot past a packed West Zirconian defence and into the keeper's net just seconds before half-time.

The momentum petered out in the second half, however, as Wolfenium was left guarding its razor thin lead a battery of shots. But after that painful own goal, goalie Antoine bounced back and stayed firm as he made a spectacular string of saves. Agony reached fever pitch near full-time however, as West Zirconia threatened to equalize one last time, but the outstretched hands of Antoine denied them any form of solace as the final whistle blew into the skies.

Coach Pirelli has since commended the team for his efforts and though he could not be reach for comment at this time, one of his assistant coaches has said that the coach is proud of the team and is hoping that Wolfenium's fortunes would finally change for the better. This is Jun Ozawa, W.I.N.A., Wolfsburg.

by **Capivara Group** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:59 am

THE BOST
of Capivara Group

---

Now on Why The Hell Isn't Arquiteclínio On The Team, Part #298:

DUDE.

THE GUY IS LIKE SIXTY YEARS OLD.

GIVE THE COACH A BREAK.

He still plays better than Marrentinho, though.

by **Cassadaigua** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:39 am

Steffie’s Space

Oh, how great it was to be back at home! First off, we have to have give credit to the groundskeepers. You know, I don’t know if these people ever get enough credit for what they do, but transitioning the field of play so fluidly from a baseball stadium to a soccer stadium can’t be that easy. Kudos to all the staff throughout Concord Heights Stadium who worked hard on this. It wasn’t just any baseball game to any soccer game, either. We’re talking the World Baseball Classic championship series to a World Cup qualifying match in less then 24 hours. If you didn’t know any better, you would not have realized that such a huge baseball game was played here, that’s how wonderful a condition the field was in. As for the game, a 1-0 victory over a nation that was a tiebreaker away from qualifying for World Cup 54 is certainly a good result. Haginonia showed their ability, but for the most part, we were in control of this match thanks to the early goal from Kim Barnett in the 18th minute. It would have been nice to get another, I’m sure, but we were effective in keeping them from scoring again. The only tough break in this one was Shannon Knight injured her elbow slightly after a tackle from one of their midfielders. She was able to continue and the training staff will probably give her an injection to numb the pain prior to the game against Stachland, so she is expected to play. That’s another group of people that don’t get enough respect: the trainers. Thanks for all of your hard work as well!

Next up will indeed be Stachland, on the road. They are a first-time team who played pretty good in the Baptism of Fire, despite losing to the wonderful nation of Cheergirls on the first matchday of the tournament. There were reports that they may have been a little distracted by the nature of the Cheergirls, and even though we are an older group then them and wear a proper soccer uniform rather then a cheerleading uniform, I’m sure Stachland has addressed the issue of distractions within their locker room to be sure it won’t happen again. That seemed like a fun team, those Cheergirls, and captain Hannah Blaze really seems to me to be the type of person who wuold give you an hour long speech of why they should be respected as athletes and not just as a sexual object. She seemed like a good leader, and the relationship between Brittany Hazlett and the guy from Kernansquillec did not affect that team. Stachland, meanwhile, is more of a conventional first-time nation. They’ve pieced together the best players from their league and are trying to earn respect without any gimmicks. What impresses me the most about them is not their record. It is the one goal against. That’s pretty good for a nation in their first qualifying effort with a few games in the books. But I guess some will say they haven’t played anyone yet and I’d imagine they are set for their biggest test thus far: us on their home turf. I expect their fans to be going crazy and for their players to not be distracted by playing a team of the female gender again. For us, we just have to be ourselves and show them why we are a two-time World Cup champion and a top-ten team in the world. We’re ready for what we’re gonna face and are not looking past this match. Well, it was nice to have a game at home, but we are going back on the road, so if you can’t make the trip to Stachland, I know you’ll be watching us on TV. Until next time, this is Stefanie Holland! Take care!

by **Jeru FC** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:21 am

Jeru FC coach Allison and assisant Mango Mousse

Allison: I heard the boys have been doing research on goalkeepers
Mango: Yes, we worked out why our goalkeeper is so awful
Allison: Yes, and what's the conclusion?
Mango: He's just awful
Allison: I could have just told you that
Mango: We've been looking at some of better keepers in the past cups
Allison: So?
Mango: We've just realised you used to be a goalkeeper for the Dagans.
Allison: Yes, just about most of Jeruselem was told that
Mango: We're a bit slow here
Allison: So much for army intelligence
Mango: We'll need some tips for our keepers
Allison: Well, I do give tips but it's in one ear and out the other
Mango: Maybe some practical demonstration too.
Allison: If it helps
Mango: You see the boys learn from visual clues, telling them stuff doesn't work by itself
Allison: THat lot can barely speak legible language
Mango: Hey, I'm not like that.
Allison: I guess that why you're here, to understand beer grunting
Mango: Our keepers do need a little help
Allison: As long as they actually learn something, some days it's like wasting my time.
Mango: I'm sure they'll pay attention
Allison: To the football or looking at me?
Mango: More likely the latter.
Allison: Progress is sure slow around here.
Mango: The boys aren't used to females bossing them around
Allison: THey have to live with it. I'm in charge here. If they complain, complain to Princess Marie
Mango: They are scared of her. She's a little dragon.
Allison: All I want is a little respect.
Mango: No problems with me.
Allison: From them, not you.
Mango: I'm just the messenger. They are a stubborn stupid lot.

by **Mantwenic** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:49 am

The Mantwenic National Team, with fourteen new athletes found themselves in a good spot in the 2nd group with three wins and one draw. Trailing behind only Burchadinger. Hopes were high that they could... or still might pull off the feat they accomplished two years ago in The Babbage Islands.

But back at home riots started to break out in the capital city of Benshawk and in towns and cities in the northwestern part of the country, where the Mons montis populus (Mountain People) live in the area that is known by those natives as Solvoterra (Solvo= Free, terra= land). The Mons montis populus are the lower class in Mantwenic and are looked down upon because they refuse to speak the national language of English. This set of riots broke out because King Edward II has just given the Mons montis populus more freedoms and to tie it back to football these freedoms included the right for the Mons montis populus to play professional sports in Mantwenic. Teams are signing them rapidly too! There are even two Mons montis populus on the National football team! The common english speakers who primarily live on the southern and eastern parts of the country (example: St. Phillips Island) are becoming furious and are planning to put an end to these freedoms in whatever way possible.

15:00, Landover Palace, Benshawk, Mantwenic

"We need to find a way to protect the Muns munis pupulis..."
"Haha sir you mean the Mons Montis Populus" an assistant replied
"Yes, them, the King replied what did I say in the first place?
" Something about the pupil of your eye as a gift to a Munster", the assistant answered
"Haha whoops! seems like I need to brush up on my Latin", the King said. "Now back to the Mountain People, how can we protect them...
"Too late sir" another assistant said as he rushed in to the office, a group of about two-hundred Mantwenic soldiers have turned on the Mons montis populus and are prepared to attack the area of Solvoterra, the people who live there are not armed either"
"First step, deploy bodyguards to protect the numerous athletes from the Solvoterra region, I will pay the costs", the King said calmly, "Secondly, send one of the two Royal Brigades, they should not turn on the people there, if they do they will face serious consequences", he added.

So the 2nd Royal Infantry Brigade was deployed to Solvoterra with extra firearms for the people there to protect themselves. The bodyguards were deployed, two of which went to Aguazul to protect the two athletes from the Solvoterra region in an event of an attack and the bodyguards would also act as translators for the two athletes.

by **Green Jello Salad** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:31 am

Okay, we're a defensive lot. But two matches with nothing in the opposite net was hard on the standing and no way to prep for Jeru FC. We got two against the army boys, but they got four -- double what we gave up in the previous four matches combined.

So now we sit seventh in group. And yet I feel good about our performance. See, four of our five matches have been against the top four teams in the group standing. We haven't played many opponents in our own weight class yet. And if teams like Jeru FC, Al-Mumtaz, and ASMV only average 1.2 goals a game against us then we may do well against the ordinary run of nations.

Cool Whip and Gelatin was the scoring formula for us, one goal each. Zara got bombed in net so we brought in the Small Dish for the final forty-five. Don't think for a moment that the Big Bowl won't return to start game six; we all have rough nights.

by **The Kiaser Colonies** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:46 am

Daily Kiaser
Sports - A Terrible Injustice

The Kiaser Colonies suffered their first defeat of the tournament yesterday in the Doctor's Pub in Landau Institude. Mark Cahill named an unchanged side from the game against Taeshan due to the news that Greg Jackson would be fit to play. The team walked out onto the pitch to an cold silence because of the fact that no supporters were allowed into the grounds of the underground stadium. This did not mean there were no supporters, just that they had to view the game from a nearby bar.

The game started brightly for The Kiaser Colonies with 7 shot's on target in 15 minute's. Daniel Beale hadn't even seen the ball for 20 minute's and when he did he hardly needed to move to reach it. The Kiaser's dominated the play for the last 10 minute's with 99% possesion. In the 2nd minute of injury time Nomah Papakoi got a head on the end of a cross from Muku Jahai that skimed the outside of the post. The half ended a minute later with the scores a 0-0.

Landau Institude were surprisingly more focused in the second half and began to get more shot's on target, compared with their 3 from the first half. The Kiaser Colonies were not as dominate with possesion in the second half thanks to the efforts of André Lochado in the midfield. Neither side was giving way and both keepers were in good form. 62 minute's in Ricky Lamont was slide tackled from behind in the Landau penalty area without the ball. The obvious choice of action to any normal person would have been to award a penalty to The Kiaser Colonies and red card Gabriel Moute. Instead the referee awarded a free kick to Landau Institude and yellow carded Lamont for ''diving'' eventhough he was clearly injured. He was swaped off for Dan Masters. The situation got worse for Mark Cahill's men when Gerry Wallaby was sent off with a straight red for sliding in to intercept a pass when the ball was 5 yards from any Landau player. The shambles of a match was topped off when in the 91st minute Landau Institude won a corner. Before the cross was even taken, Alessandra Ayenez flailed into Beale knocking him to the ground. Because of this Victor Brahah headed into an empty net. Instantly the whole of The Kiaser Colonies mangement and team were around the referee (with the exception of Lamont). Unfortunately the referee let the goal stand and declared the match over. This means that The Kiaser Colonies have lost their first match and that both Lamont and Wallaby will miss the next game. I tried to get an interview with a member of the team or Mark Cahill but all were to angry to coment. Luckily before I sent this report to be printed Mark Cahill called me and had this to say:
''It was a disgrace to football. The referee was out of his mind and was not fit to run the match. At the end he couldn't tell that I was a man and told me to ''shut up you woman''. I don't know what was wrong with him but he should be stripped of the right, no privlige to ref at an international level. We should have had a penalty in that match and their goal shouldn't have stood, but no. Now for the next crucial match we'll be missing 2 valuable players''.
At the top of the table Churchma are 5 points ahead of us but have played a game more.

Team Thoughts
Ronan Jordan:
Ughh. What a horrible stadium. It looks nice yes but, there's just no life to it. No cheering, no fans. I hate it. I wish we were back in Highroyds City Stadium. Let's just win quick and get out of here.

Nomah Papakoi:
''Muku, over here.'' Here comes the ball, yes. It's coming to me. Reach it head, yes... OH! So close. Ahh. Off the post. Better luck next time I hope.

Ricky Lamont:
Come on James pass it in there's no one else. Ok hurry up now. ''AHHHHHHHH! OH F*** MY ANKLE! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!? I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE BALL YOU IDIOT! AHHH! REF, REF!'' ''I don't tolerate diving. Yellow card.'' ''WHAT ARE TALKING ABOUT? I WAS TACKLED BY HIM! IT'S A PENALTY! AHHHH! ''Ricky are you ok?'' ''He's faking it. That little diver's lucky it wasn't a red card he got'' ''I can't walk Kim I need to go off. AHHHH! ''Serves you right'' ''How could he have injured himself if he dived?'' ''I told you he's not injured. Now take him off if you are. And get me a beer while your at it.''

Gerry Wallaby:
Who's he going to pass to? Oh I now. Come on, get it. Yes. Toot. ''That was a terrible tackle you could have seriously injured someone. Red card.'' WHAT? I WAS NOWHERE NEAR ANYONE! HOW IS IT A RED IF I DIDN'T TOUCH ANYONE? YOUR INSANE! FIRST THE PENALTY NOW THIS!?!? ''Please remove yourself from the pitch.'' ''ARRRHH!'' The first red card of my career and for nothing at all. What an idiot that ref is.

Daniel Beale:
Corner. Just keep it out and we'll get a point an... ''Whoa. What are you doing? Get off! REF! LOOK! Hey you can't just take the corner like that I was down. ''Too bad. I headed the ball in fair. It wasn't me who fouled you.'' I'm going to put things straight with the ref. ''What was that ref? He rugby tackled me? And your giving them the goal? ''I didn't 'giggle' see it. Ha ha.'' ''Yes you did. You saw it and you burst out laughing.'' ''Thank's Greg. If you saw it why does the goal still stand?'' ''Because it was hilarious. HA HA HA!'' ''Your not sirious are you? This is a World Cup Qualification game. You can't make decisions like that.'' ''Can and 'ha ha' will. Ha'' Toot!

Match Timeline
62' +R.Lamont
62' __ R.Lamont
62' >< R.Lamont for D.Masters
77' __ G.Wallaby
92' Goal Landau Ins., Victor Brahah

by **Kagdazka and Pazhujebu** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:59 am

There was only one Šenapatiam'ajat Minara left in the Federation of Kagdazka and Pazhujebu, and Ushadithi Ghavujirjiam was standing on the highest deck of it.

The others, placed in major cities throughout the nation, had been destroyed by the Partisans some years ago in the first act of defiance against the regime, but the security around this one was so tight, no one had even got close to bombing it. Perhaps it was a testament to the diligence and loyalty of the security forces here, or perhaps it was because the Partisans hadn't had the nerve to strike at the power of the Šenapati in the capital Mahathu. Either way, there Ghavujirjiam stood, on top of the world.

She could literally see every corner of Mahathu Island from here. From the monorail to the black brick buildings of Kuratmad District to the old Roman-style aqueduct to the misty hills of Therakham District to the two nuclear power plants to the affluent corporate lights of Vezhidrupa District, this city was a sight to behold, and as far as Ghavujirjiam was concerned, she had built it with her bare hands.

After all, she'd grown up here as a little girl from a poor family, watching the tiny nation being kowtowed by foreign powers thanks to its ineffective traditional form of democracy. She'd seen her family abandoned by the state until at last someone stepped in and booted the Senate out: the military. It was then that the opportunities began to grow. As a fifteen-year-old, she'd lied about her age and entered the armed service, and as she rose up the ranks, the military junta continued to grow in power.

Yet now it had come to this; despite all her efforts, Ghavujirjiam could sense that her nation was on the brink of civil war, that her ungrateful subjects were strongly considering all-out rebellion. It was a crime. And she didn't feel the least bit bad about what had happened in Juvapanam.

Her Chief of Staff, Nataliya, shuffled out of the elevator door behind her.

"My lady?"

"What is it, Nataliya?"

"The press conference is over. Five players, all of whom were born in Juvapanam, have announced that they will indefinitely be refusing to play for the national team."

Ghavujirjiam turned, a nasty grin on her face.

"And they think I will be angry at that?! Ha! I welcome it! I don't want to see their bloody faces on the pitch ever again! Traitors, they are! Let them stay in their precious home city. The players that remain can show their true allegiances. To me."

"Yes, my lady. So we are to do nothing?"

"Oh," the Premier turned, slowly advancing on her aging lackey. "I didn't say that. Impose a twenty-four-hour curfew in Juvapanam. I want soldiers patrolling the streets at all times. I want anyone who violates the curfew arrested and thrown into the Šede Island correctional facility. I want anyone with a pro-Partisans sign shot on sight and dragged through the street. And get the local leadership in front of me. I suspect that they allowed that protest to happen."

"Well, my lady, I've spoken to the pertaining local council-members and they've assured me they knew nothing of it..."

"I'm sure they did assure you of that, Nataliya. Bring them to me."

"Y-y-yes, my lady. And... and what about Kagdazka? We've been lucky... resistance there has been low, but we're beginning to see dissidence pop up, especially in rural areas."

"Let it play. When the traitors begin to leak out of the cracks and," the Premier paused to grin evilly, "they will, send in the Guard to give them the Juvapanam treatment."

"Of course."

"And Nataliya?"

"Yes?"

"Get Baba Yaga here as well. I need to speak with her. Tell her there's no reason to fear any hostility from me... it's not her fault those traitors are abandoning her... I don't blame her for what happened. But I do need to speak with her."

"I shall send for her immediately."

There was a pause, and it seemed the wind on top of Mahathu's highest structure was picking up. Nataliya was reticent to say what had to be said next, adding to the gravity of the silence.

"M-m-my lady, what do you think of the rumors that Mytanar special forces are mobilizing for involvement here?"

"I am unconcerned. If they are foolish enough to invade the borders of my country, we will wipe them out. All of them."

by **The Archregimancy** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:07 am

OOC - the below is heavily edited from a homily of the 4th century theologian St. John Chrysostom.

The Homily of Fr. John the Golden-Throated Against RenXasia

Do not be surprised that I called the RenXasia squad pitiable. They really are pitiable and miserable. Despite the many blessings from heaven that have come into their hands by participating in the World Cup, they have thrust them aside and were at great pains to reject them.

The referee arose for them, and awarded them many free kicks in dangerous positions, but they thrust aside his grace and now sit in darkness. We, who were nurtured by darkness, drew the light to ourselves and were freed from the gloom of their error. Indeed, all three of our goals were freekicks from the saintly Fr. Luke, who thereby achieved his first hattrick in international football. And so RenXasia are pitiful because they rejected the blessings which were sent to them, while our own squad seized hold of these blessings and drew them to themselves.

Nothing is more miserable than those RenXasians who never failed to attack despite their inferior squad; surely a defensive counterattacking strategy would have suited them better? When there was need to observe the laws of football, they trampled them under foot, leading to our three goals. Now that the Law has ceased to bind them, they obstinately strive to observe it by complaining of injustice in post-match press conferences. What could be more pitiable that those who provoke God not only by transgressing the Law but also by claiming they keep it? On this account Stephen said: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart, you always resist the Holy Spirit", not only by transgressing the Law but also by wishing to observe it at the wrong time.

But what is the source of this hardness? It came from gluttony and drunkenness, as our opponents were clearly unfit. Who says so? I say so myself, for did not Moses say they "ate and were filled and ... grew fat and frisky". When brute animals feed from a full manger, they grow plump and become more obstinate and hard to hold in check; they endure neither the yoke, the reins, nor the hand of the charioteer. Just so the RenXasia squad were driven by their drunkenness and plumpness to the ultimate evil; they kicked about, they failed to accept the yoke of the referee, nor did they pull the plow of his teaching. A journalist hinted at this when he said: "RenXasia is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer". And still another called the RenXasia squad "an untamed calf".

Although such beasts are unfit for work, they are fit for killing. And this is what happened to the RenXasia squad: while they were making themselves unfit for work, they grew fit for slaughter by our brave squad of footballing monks, who did promptly slaughter them 3-1 at the Holy Monastery of St. Pantaleimon. This is why Christ said: "But as for these my enemies, who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and slay them". The RenXasians should therefore have fasted before the match; nothing could be clearer.

The squad that fasts should be properly restrained, contrite, humbled - not drunk with anger or incompetent on the field of play. But these RenXasians are gathering choruses of effeminates and a great rubbish heap of harlots; they drag onto the pitch the great weight of their sins, as if the stadium were to be some Godless theatre. For there is a great difference between the theater and the stadium. I know that some suspect me of rashness because I said there is this difference between the theater and the stadium; but I suspect them of rashness if they do not think that this is so. For there are no ungodly displays of wantoness in football in the same manner as the harlotry of the actress. If my declaration that the two are different rests on my own authority, then charge me with rashness. But if the words I speak are the words of the prophet, then accept his decision.

Thanks be to God.

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:42 am

OOC - the 'time is a sphere' explanation used below is a light edit from a WC53 RP

Somewhere in HEFA HQ

"Right. 1-1 against those no-hopers from Emagna - admittedly only thanks to a fluke own-goal from a badly exposed Xiphilino, who should never have been placed in that position. But 1-1 all the same."

"We're still undefeated, Juan."

"Be as that may, old friend - we're in danger of sinking to third or fourth in the group."

"Ug-Ug with coach one. This not huge bad, but is not good start. Team must do more."

"Thanks, Ug-Ug. So what I'm thinking is some more training on defensive positioning tomorrow, starting.... And who the hell are you?"

"Andronicus Lecapnuso, Mr. Tzimisces. I'm from ISPI."

"And what do ISPI want with me?"

"With all three of you, Mr. Tzimisces.... I am here on behalf of the First Secretary of the Purple Inkwell."

"The First Secretary? The last time the First Secretary wanted something from us, it was..."

"...that minor unpleasantness with the Aztec divinities. Yes, Mr. Tzimisces. I regret that I must interrupt your discussions, and ask you to come to SBIS HQ."

"SBIS? Just how bad is this?"

"If you'll please accompany me, everything will be explained."

<Later - SBIS HQ>

"...so as you can see, Simeone's return to the Holy Empire in the Unibot match had the unfortunate side effect - and I stress this is not his fault - of de-anchoring your former kit man Jose Miguel Planudes from any set location in time and space. Observe....

Here he is captaining a space cruiser of the Imperial Starblaydi battle fleet."

"Captaining a space cruiser? He could barely pick up a sword last time I saw him; and what the hell is the 'Imperial Starblaydi battle fleet' anyway?"

"Something from what you would consider your former nation's future, Simeone. But please - let's leave the discussion for later.

Here he is riding a triceratops cyborg to victory in the dinosaur races of Cavity One Nine.

Here he is fighting back the flames of the Galactic Inferno of the Fire Times. And failing, naturally enough.

Here he is writing down what would become the holy book of the Sinissi Order of the Fourth Universal Throne.

There are many others."

"And what does this have to do with us?"

"Ah, well, as you know, time and space are perhaps best conceptualised as a series of bubbles."

"Ug-Ug lost"

"Sorry, Ug-Ug, but think of it like this: Time is a sphere. More accurately, time is a sphere containing a near (though not quite) infinite number of smaller spheres of various sizes, each of which touches other spheres. Perhaps, indeed, it might be better to talk of time as a bubble containing myriad smaller, touching, bubbles. Usually we don't like saying 'bubble' because it suggests a certain fragility - but this time, as you'll see, the comparison is more valid. And note that 'sphere' is the best anyone can conceptualise the shape into a three-dimensional reality; it's an imperfect description for Ug-Ug and Simeone, but it'll have to do.

Most people experience time by moving across the inner surface of their inner sphere in a straight line. If you move far enough along the line, you might move past an arbitrary starting point again. Some are able to move from any point on the inner surface of the sphere to any other point inside the sphere. Sometimes, just sometimes, some might move through the surface of an inner sphere into an adjacent sphere. Even less frequently, someone might move so quickly, so far, that they move through the surface of a far more distant sphere. Those who can do any of the above intentionally are few and far between indeed. And always remember this.... The outer sphere does not contain all of reality. The Dreamed Realm certainly lies out the sphere, able to access every point of the sphere - and all the inner spheres - virtually at will."

"Ug-Ug still lost"

"But I think I understand; Juan's explained some of this to me before."

"It's certainly old hat to me. But regardless, I still don't see what this has to do with myself, Simeone and Ug-Ug."

"Well, you see, Jose Miguel isn't in control of his movements. Sometimes he's in a time and place in a particular reality for only a couple of hours; sometimes he's there for decades."

"And?"

"And there are consequences. When he moves between realities in the multiverse he causes what you might consider to be the membrane between those realities to weaken. At the same time, when and if he changes history in a particular reality, he potentially causes a new membrane to form. The upshot of which is if he movements are allowed to continue unchecked, he could simultaneously destroy old realities and form new ones. I stress that this hasn't happened yet, but if this goes on, every time he visits a new time and place in a reality he's previously visited, he increases the chances that it will."

"And this concerns us because?"

"Because it might eventually - and I stress this is just a might - eventually cause all of the multiverse to collapse into a single bubble. If the membranes between realities are sufficiently weakened before the new membranes are sufficiently strong... Well, that wouldn't be good would it?"

"So what do you want us to do about it?"

"Well, since the three of you know him, we're rather hoping you can find him. The oneirologists believe that your presence in Ordinary Reality might attract Jose Miguel towards you. Either that, or you find Lord Jagged - it's his pantochronometer that got us into this mess in the first place. You won't seem to leave for long in Imperial time on the individual visits into mundy space, so you can still coach the team..."

"And if we say no?"

"Well, you might end up being personally responsible for the end of the Ordinary Reality multiverse. His Imperial Majesty has made it very clear that this is not a desirable outcome. You're not the only people we have on the case, but you're certainly the best-qualified."

"Right. So when do we start?"

"Now, if you'd like - we already have three destinations that Jose Miguel's already been to that we'd like each of you to visit individually...."

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

OOC - AN OPEN RP INVITATION

I have more than enough 'fictional' realities unrelated to the NS World Cup to choose from for my RPs this cup... but if you'd like your nation to be involved - if you think Jose Miguel Planudes might have turned up in your nation's past, present, or future (or even all three at some point), to do something mundane or heroic, boring or epoch-shaking - then feel free to drop me a TG, or simply incorporate it directly into your own RPs.

And don't worry - I'm not seriously going to attempt to visibly threaten the NS multiverse for my own RP... No NSWC nation will even see any impact unless they actively want to be involved.

by **Sargossa** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:24 am

Across the Multiverse's sports media went the following...

Vacancy - National Team Manager Coach

The Football Federation of Sargossa (FFS), the governing body of all football related matters within the Republic of Sargossa and its territories, in partnership with the Sargossan Ministry of Sport are recruiting for the position of Head Coach/Trainer of its senior national football team.

Sargossa has a proud sporting tradition and is a past Cup of Harmony holder and top twenty ranked nation as well as a former world champions at Under-21 level. After a period of isolation the FFS are seeking an experienced and talented applicant to become an integral part of the nation's sporting reboot.

Reporting to the Director of Elite Football, the successful candidate, in conjunction with FFS staff, will play a key role in the creation and implementation of a national selection strategy with the view to building and then coaching a competitive national pool of playing talent ahead of upcoming regional and international competitions including the 56th World Cup.

About the successful candidate

• Must hold the highest level of coaching qualification
• Must have proven record of successful coaching and managerial experience
• International coaching and managerial experience would be preferable

The successful candidate will receive

• A competitive annual salary
• Significant performance related bonuses
• Accommodation & Transport
• Sizable expense allowance
• Freedom from extradition

Applications should be Telegrammed to Personnel & Recruitment, Football Federation of Sargossa, Soluca, Republic of Sargossa.

by **The Babbage Islands** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:53 am

Sporting Magazine Interviews Jerry Kirkpatrick

We sit down with defender Jerry Kirkpatrick, captain of The Babbage Islands national football team, to talk about World Cup 55 and football in general. Jerry's club is perennial powerhouse Dunboor FC in Cafundeu, and he won the prestigious Gold Ball there as the top player in the Primierona. This is Jerry's second World Cup cycle as Bumblebees captain.

Sporting: Thank you for taking time out for this interview.
Kirkpatrick: I'm glad to be here.
Sporting: Five games in, Qazox are next. Three wins, two draws. How do you feel at the one-quarter mark of qualifying?
Kirkpatrick: I'd rather have five wins, but clear first in group is always the right place to be.
Sporting: And what about the Qazox match?
Kirkpatrick: They have fire in their bellies. We haven't played them since they lost to us on kicks from the mark during World Cup 50. That match set off a firestorm at the time. We must go out and match their intensity.
Sporting: Any hard feelings?
Kirkpatrick: None here, it won't be personal for just about anyone. It's been 12 years. I mean, Nancy was in what, first grade when we played? A big rivalry game, sure, nothing more.
Sporting: Some fans have long memories.
Kirkpatrick: If they didn't we'd be talking about something else. (laughs)
Sporting: You mentioned Nancy Svoboda, 19 years old and starting at sweeper. How's she working out?
Kirkpatrick: Put it this way. How many players are gifted enough that a coach builds a system around them? Ganz did it with Tegan and Orson and Patty. Michelle's switched from four in back to five largely to play Nancy at her best position with us old-timers. You tell me.
Sporting: Thinking about it that way, it says a lot.
Kirkpatrick: The girl has the tools to go a long way.
Sporting: And the genes.
Kirkpatrick: Her dad was a legend. And her big brother's really good too.
Sporting: We've been using several new faces a lot this time.
Kirkpatrick: Tom Hovi is as good a striker as any in the Babbage premiership. Jason's Jason, so Tom's in the shadow a little. But he is a dangerous player. Claire van de Graaf generates action in the middle. Roger Provencher's struggled early on, but he's a pro, he'll bounce back. Eva Glemnitz had a great match against Coffee Cakes.
Sporting: So far, so good with the new players then?
Kirkpatrick: No international is new, of course, they're all skilled professionals before they're Bumblebees.
Sporting: Of course.
Kirkpatrick: It's a good squad, with the right mix of seasoned players and rising talent. I like our chances.
Sporting: To go all the way?
Kirkpatrick: That's our goal.
Sporting: Any comment for us about Elizabeth?
Kirkpatrick: Personal or professional?
Sporting: Yes.
Kirkpatrick: (chuckles) She makes me look better on camera and keeps me sane off it. She may also be the best goalkeeper in the world, or at least she has a claim.
Sporting: Pretty fancy praise, there.
Kirkpatrick: Okay, I'm biased. But her record doesn't need me to push it.
Sporting: Any big plans for your future?
Kirkpatrick: Whatever they are, they're between us for now.
Sporting: Good luck to you.
Kirkpatrick: Thank you.

ISideWith UK · by **Eastfield Lodge** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:14 pm

The crowds were beginning to gather in the centre of New Lodger Town, eager for the gates of the stadium to open and let them in. The main streets were full to bursting with people; so much so that several people had valuables stolen right out of their hands. Indeed, the army museum had most of its working guns stolen as foreign fans came to watch the spectacle. The spectacle itself was one that could change the course of the future, more so than ordinary events would. The spectacle was an Eastfield Lodge match against Rejistania, crucial in determining the course of the rest of the qualifiers but also crucial in determining the fate of many people's lives, especially those trapped inside the ELFA headquarters 50 miles away in Lodgertia and those laying siege outside it. This renegade band of fans, until recently, did not have a leader. However, a thunderstorm occurred at sunset, and a bolt of lightning came down and hit somewhere inside an open manhole, one that led to the main sewer under Lodgertia.

And out from that sewer popped a man reeking with the stench of week old faeces. But he adorned a red and gold cap, and no-one was able to guess where he came from, as no-one there had ever seen him before. However, he proclaimed he knew where to find a stash of weapons, and proceeded to raid the above army museum, gaining a large number of non-domestic guns, and selecting for himself a futuristic gun which no-one had figured out how to use yet.

So, there was the scene. A group of protesters waiting to storm a building depending on the result of a football match 50 miles away. The ELFA chief released from house arrest and preparing sniper posts in surrounding buildings.

The match began with a bang. Literally, as the referee elected to use a gun to mark kick-off instead of his whistle, as the noise from the fans would have prevented the whistle from being heard by anybody. The match itself passed on pretty quickly, before time itself nearly froze as the referee was seemingly disintegrated for awarding a free kick to Rejistania in the dying minutes of the match, which they subsequently scored. The final whistle was blown, and the EL team had lost 1-0 to Rejistania, a result which had far-reaching consequences. As soon as the news broke through back outside ELFA HQ, the new guy stood up on an overturned car and shouted to the rest of the crowd, yelling "I am Jose Miguel Planudes, and I am here today for the same reason you all are; to bring down this corrupt sporting regime and to instigate a new sporting order, one which actually will get to where we want them to!". And with that he got his gun out and blasted through the blast-proof doors.

The next few minutes were all confusing, with Jose being seen in 965 different places within the same minute, and with a different weapon every time. But one thing was for certain, the invasion would not be won by sheer force alone. Within seconds, the highly efficient Law and Order department stormed the square and the snipers began firing into the rabble. Hundreds of people were left wounded, but surprisingly none of the invaders died. That is, no-one except for Jose Miguel Planudes, or fifteen different versions of him at least. Another one was captured, and then taken to the recently revealed torture chamber under Ahmad mansion, now owned by the ELFA trust and inhabited by ELFA chiefs. There, he was subjected to the most gruesome tortures in reality, and when he refused to talk, a Dalek was summoned to forcibly take information from him, killing Jose in the process. Only to see his body disappear in a blinding white flash.

But the information gained was vital. Jose Miguel was the former kit-man of the Holy Empire team, only to be the victim of some sort of experiment that went horribly wrong, sending him and footballing legend Simeone de Bradini into another reality. Simeone found his way home, but by doing so, he removed Jose from the spacetime continuum, thus eradicating his official existence, but forcing the universe to compensate by changing history as much as possible in order to keep him in the physical plane and thus in the memories of his colleagues in the Dreamed Realm.

But the ethereal plane will claim its prize. That much is certain about Jose's future.

Team to play Hemas away: Team 2

Goal Tally WC55Q:
Thomas Graham: 3
The Doctor: 3
Shabeen Ahmad III: 1
Rory the Plastic Centurion: 1
Reaper 1: 1
Rebecca Murray: 1
Timothy Dickens: 1
Charlie Richardson: 1

by **Queer Poco el Mono Ara** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:36 pm

They're not good people. Quite the opposite in fact. Their idea of fun is wild parties fueled by drugs, booze and loose women. They don't even need to be attractive women, as long as they are willing, and they always are. They are actors, musicians, politicians, spoilt kids from rich parents with no responsibilities and general douchebags.

They drink scotch, neat, on the rocks, with a twist, with coke, with soda, in doubles, triples, by the bottle, because they think they look cool sipping on the copper beverage from a tumbler while clutching a cigarette. They were fine to smoke indoors, the bars they frequented were cool and exclusive and hadn't enforced a no-smoking policy to retain the old "jazzy" atmosphere. Of course, where ever they were there would be a piano and the drunker they got they would boisterously order that the pianist play their song and the guy twinkling the ivories would sit there, uncomfortably playing the tune while they sang along.

Invariably fights would break out. For a multitude of reasons, but more often than not because they felt they had been disrespected in some way by a regular Joe. A working suit who stumbled into their playground who didn't want to play their stupid god damned games.

Since making a major impression on the Pocoan football scene with his showing at the previous World Cup, Aydin Sukur's stock had risen. He was the Pocoan young player of the season and had made a move to Valengren Kickers, the second best club in the league. They'd beaten off competition from Royal Khaldoon and Pythons to ensure the young midfielder moved to Valengren and in-doing so had swollen the winger's already bulging ego.

He'd fallen into a bad crowd. They're not good people. Quite the opposite in fact. Their idea of fun is wild parties fueled by drugs, booze and loose women.

-----

"Shit." declared Trent, vigorously shaking an empty bottle of scotch slouched in a chair in his hotel room. "We're out of whisky." He looked up, peering out from the top of his eyes. He was plastered. They'd been drinking all day and by now it was 4 in the morning.

"I'll get housekeeping to send up some more." Aydin had already picked up the phone and was dialing reception.

Trent wrinkled his nose and nodded. He looked across at the king size bed where two of the female companions they had brought back with them had fallen asleep. The copious amounts of alcohol and horse tranquilizers had put them under pretty tightly. Elsewhere in the deluxe suite slept an array of beauties, unable to keep partying with the pair. Some, they had met while in the casino, knocking back cervezas and tossing away money playing black jack, the others, were paid company for the evening, a perk of having such healthy wallets.

There was a knock at the door. Aydin looked across at Trent who had fallen asleep in the chair still clutching the empty bottle. Crossing the room to the door was no easy feat, Aydin was blind drunk and the floor was covered in debris. Precariously, he teetered towards the door, making sure he didn't fall over any discarded bottles or trash or underwear. He wouldn't remember why the underwear was discarded across the room until the morning and would be disappointed when he only had a hazy memory of the events that transpired.

"Your whisky, sir." A young boy held out a full bottle which was swiftly snatched out of his hand. The door was immediately slammed in his face and all his hopes of receiving a tip from a professional footballer dashed in an instant. "Jerk" he muttered under his breath.

Returning to the room, Aydin kicked off his pants, unbuttoned his shirt and climbed into the hot tub which had been bubbling away since they had returned to the suite several hours ago. Sinking deeply, he held his breath as he momentarily dunked himself under the water, clearing all his thoughts. He loved the off season.

OOC - Can the organizers set my modifier to a +2 for me please, I'll have rosters up shortly for both QPeMA and Pays de Horreur.

by **Cotdelapoms** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:43 pm

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH....Iestyn Rhys-Lloyd

Q: The Apples are currently in a tie for first place in Group 6, but are only one point up on Whirl Islands and Akbarabad, who are nipping at Cotdelapoms' heels. The next match is a big one, a trip to Jeruselem, the team you are tied with. What are you guys doing to prepare, and what is the plan for this match?

A: We are going to play our game. It's been said a million times, but it is the plan. Counter-attack, play our game, don't be intimidated.

Q: Personally, do you feel a lot of pressure to make the World Cup this time around, as the team is expected to perform this time around?

A: Absolutely. We will make it this time around. We are more focused than we've ever been before, we had a lot of temptation when we were in Jah Sensimillia and that wasn't our best match, but we were very focused. We are hell bent on this.

Q: What do you think of playing for Pyramid in Zarbli? You play in their All-Star Game a lot and are the captain, so clearly you are well regarded.

A: I love playing in Zarbli, I'd like to start winning some real hardware with Pyramid, though. It's a good organisation, but it's so hard to really win in Zarbli 'cos it's a long, difficult slug of a season. I love the culture there, though, and I'm starting to learn Zarblese, which helps. I loved playing for Cosmopolitan, and I'm happy to see them starting to win now but I wouldn't trade this club for anything.

Q: Now that you've become the go-to defensive mid for the national team, how is your relationship with a guy like David Morre who had that job previously? And have you been told to work with Pascal-Luc Brillant, who does a similar role as well?

A: Dave and I push each other a lot, it's funny because he replaced me at Cosmos, and I replaced him on the national team. *Laughs* We get along fine, though. We teach each other stuff, and there's enough matches for us both to get our chance. I definitely work with Pascal, he's a great and funny kid who works hard. I play around with him a lot, his English is poor so we can play a lot of tricks on him. Sometimes I wonder if he's ever left Marianne, haha.

Q: What do you see for the future of football in Cotdelapoms?

A: Football in Cotdelapoms is going to get stronger and stronger. There's some great young talent in the pool right now, in guys like Alex Grainger, Stefano Della Citta, who is a buddy of mine and I want to come play in Zarbli with me, Jackson Diawara, who has been good in his sub appearances so far. Our league is at a crossroads, but I think it's going to get stronger and stronger, we're developing lots of good young talent and bringing in lots of foreign stars.

by **Rejistania** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:04 pm

The new ASR president Kalaxi Hsen was for the first time introduced to the bureau. His predecessor had to quit the job for as he stated "health reasons" and now he was in the holy halls for the first time. The bureau did not look bad but the understatement of previous presidents was tangible. The computer looked extremely strange. It was a SI-X, a system, which might not be quick but compensates it through a lack of RAM and a ridiculously small harddisk. Kalaxi made a mental note to replace the machine by something actually civilized. However, for now, it would work. He opened drawers and found a few things which were placed there by foresight or just forgotten. Pencils, writing paper, a book with dirty jokes. He chuckled. Propriety would demand that he would have to feign not knowing about it until the owner asked about the things he left, however he was interested in the contents. He decided to glance into it.

A while and several chuckles later, he decided to check the computer for anything actually important for his job. A post it informed him about the username and password of the administrator account. The device made a series of loud, unpleasant noises when starting up. Then, grey text scrolled over the screen. Slowly. Suddenly a silhoutte is seen over the text. It is ghostly visible, fog over the screen in the vague shape of a human being. Kalaxi squints to be sure that he is not seeing things. We then wipes over the screen.

"That won't help. I am on the other side." a voice said.

Kalaxi gasps. "What?"

"I think you might know me from history books. I am Siki Rej."

"Siki, the former national coach?"

"Just him. I decided that this form would be more... adequate for a nerd like me."

"This is not just a hack and a hidden webcam?"

"This is the most glorious hack I ever committed!" the silhoutte grins.

The absense of the new president in the match against Eastfield Lodge was later explained by illness even though that was not quite true. But no one felt like explaining that the president lost consciousness. Or why.

by **Polar Islandstates** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:12 pm

Dashing, Alexsandr made it to the sink basin just in time. White hot bile was rising in his throat, and his need to get rid of it was urgent. Of all the unfair things that had happened to him recently, the fitting, the fainting, the weird test results, this was the most unfair. Finally, he had been declared fit for the match against Akbarabad. Yes, it would only be a bench position to start with, but hey, that was more progress with his fitness than he had made in any of the weeks since the pre-qualifying friendlies had begun.

And now, food poisoning. Great.

Although, now that he though about it, his head didn't feel too good either.

Kaleidoscopes swum in front of his eyes as he flashbacked to the phonecall he had received from Sol Kirkkegaard earlier in the day...

~
"Alexsandr?"

"Sol? How are you, boss?"

"Not bad, Alex, not bad. Now, listen. Morten tells me he's been to see you. He says you're feeling much better!"

"Yes, yes, so much better. Back in training, head feels okay other than the obvious synaesthesia, yeah I'm feeling much better."

"Good, good, that's great to hear. Get yourself on a train, Alexsandr, there's a spot on the bench and its all cold, just dying for someone to come warm it up."

"Really? Seriously? Yes! Incredible! Thank you Sol, thank you so much. I won't let you down, I swear. Will I get on?"

"Well, steady on, I know you're dying to get adding to your international tally, but let's be patient here. Just back training on match days with the full squad will be a start for now. Although who know, if it's close and Akbarabad look tired I might sling you on, see if you can still run as fast as you used to."

"Oh, thank you boss. I won't let you down. I'm booking tickets now. As soon as you put down the phone."

"I'd best put down the phone, then. See you tomorrow, kidda."

"See you tomorrow, boss."
~

Then, Alexsandr had slammed the phone down, excitedly rushed to his laptop to organise his travel, and started to get some food down him.

And that's when it had started.

The headaches, the nausea, the vomiting. What on earth had he eaten to cause this? What had he done to deserve this? Who had he angered exactly?

Suddenly, as the world span in front of his eyes, Alexsandr could hear voices. Calling to him. Was this his synaesthesia? Or not? This felt different somehow.

White noise flashed in front of his eyes.

Alexsandr passed out.

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

The journalists were in their drafting room. A cluttered mess of a room, littered with scattered sheets of discarded stories, drafted headlines, and rumours given up on. Tossing a ball from one to another, they discussed what they were going to write about.

"So, this Mytannion thing. what are we doing?"

"Dunno," answered the second, "Have you done any research?"

"None whatsoever, not after what we were told from the pitchside. You?"

"Nah, what do you think? Bob?" Both journalists turned to look at the third journalist in the room. Slowly, he shook his head. "Right. So what are we printing tomorrow? Ed's going to want something."

"We could just... make it up?"

"I like it. who were the players mentioned? We'll just say we overheard some people talking about overhearing the players talking about which Takillega teams they'd move to. Untraceable, unquotable. Job done."

"Yes. Yes. Yes."

"So, Demarchelier is eyeing up, say, Parr City?"

"I like it."

"Sundstrom, Kokkur, and say, Kasanov are looking at Port Jarko?"

"I love it."

"And Hansen and van Jendrisen would love to move to Atletik Thessia given the chance?"

"Perfect! Let's get it down! Bob?" Once again, the journalist pair turned to look at the so-far-silent 'Bob', and threw the ball to him. Grinning, Bob threw the ball over his shoulder, and sat down at his laptop. Tapping furiously, the light of his screen lit up the faces of the two schemers eerily, grinning deviously at each other as he did so, and so the tip tap rattling of the keys echoed around the corridors of the building, long into the night.

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

Starting formation for match against Akbarabad:
----------------- Karlsson -----------------
- Makarov -- McAllister - Marek -- Pekarik -
------- Bielsen - Sundstrom - Hansen -------
---------------- Demarchelier --------------
-------Skye -- Ackermann-Finn -----

by **Mytannion** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:54 pm

--1000 feet above the Zahuj Peninsula, Fajr Island, Pazhujebu, The Federation.--

The helicopter was moving ever closer to where the troops would be dropped. Ten men were sat on the benches, surrounded by huge bags - packed with the most important things, the things they would need for this. They had rations, assault rifles and their parachutes. These were crack troops, the best in the soldiers in the Mytanar Army. The Green Horde Paratrooper Division. They had a hard job on their hands, they sat - looking down towards the floor of the helicopter. One man looked up, walked over to the door and slid it open. Winds pushed in, clutching at the soldiers with invisible hands. A few held onto the rails on the wall, two fell onto the floor.

"Right guys, this is it. No turning back now, get ready to go. I'll go last.. Need to make sure you all get out fine!" The man was evidently in charge, every soldier stood up. They were nervously stepping from one foot, to the other. These soldiers were new bloods, and were only young during the revolution. They had never fought in a war before, this would be their first battle. If they encountered anyone, this as of yet was an unknown to all of them. They had planned to meet some others groups at the dropzone, but they didn't know who - they had to meet someone who was high-ranking to have any chance of advancing towards Juvapanam - which was their major objective.

One by one, each of them walked unsteadily over to the door. The wind smashing into their faces, one by one they jumped. If someone looked up, they would see the huge parachute canopies opening high above the ground. They were planning to land near Bhi, a big town near Fajr - although they would land a bit outside the town - just in case they encountered any resistance. They had weapons though, that may scare off anyone from coming near them - although they didn't know that one of the biggest industries in the Federation was the arms trade... So most people would have a gun, well, most likely so anyway - whether they had one legally or illegally, wasn't a matter for the Green Horde.

They softly padded down, packing their parachutes back into the big bags. They may need them again, the Green Horde were taught not to waste anything. They were in a field, the sun was setting beyond the horizon - this was perfect, no one would see them. They now just had to sit together, and wait. They were waiting for a flare, which would straight away be conspicious, but they were willing to do that. They had to find the other groups of soldiers. There were about fifty groups, each ranging from ten to fifty people - depending on when they were dropped. The ones later would be dropped from huge transport aircraft, which had been commandeered from the civil aviaton authorities and flown by mercenaries which were paid per flight.

They now started to sit and talk, one soldier lit-up a cigarette but the one who was seemingly in command pulled it out of his mouth dropped it on the dusty ground and stamped on it. That was dangerous. There was one person who had experience, and it was him. He was known as the Uncle in this little group and had been in the army longer than any of the others. He was the veteran of the Wars for Expansion, where they had expanded Mytannion out into the wilderness that was west of the nation. He knew what he was doing and at the moment, he was irritable - this was a good indicator for the others, they knew how to act by the way he was acting. At the moment he was evidently quite nervous, the others edged around and didn't talk - following his lead.

There was a bang in the distance and the snapping of twigs as birds fled their tree-homes after this strangest of occurences.

Something seemed to rise out of the ground at great pace. Then illuminated the surrounding area for miles, a massive red dawn had broke over the dark, dark ground. The group could see some other men stood over to the left in military uniform - their eyes wide, scared by this. Well, at least they had support. They all stood up, and marched over towards the spot where the flare had lit-up the sky. This would be important, the whole unit getting together. If they did, they could probably start to go towards their target, their final destination. If they could get to Juvapanam, they'd be fine. They'd at least have some support there.

Then to oust Ghavujirjiam...

by **Swartaz** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:59 pm

Adolph lay on the sticky floor of the VIP room being completely taken over by the 'high' of the joint he had just inhaled. His first taste of drugs, thanks in part to overprotective parents that made it their life's work to stop him from enjoying his teenage years, and his strict football training scheduale insuring he was always sensible in regards to these substances. Now, he was in a darkened room getting high with a bunch of dopeheads.

Training the morning after the night before was horrible for Adolph. The amount of cannabis he took in rendered him almost useless on the football field, unable to run in any way fast, unable to get the ball under control, almost unable to speak properly. Karl didn't look too much better. He'd obviously overdone it as well, and it was showing in both their performances during the training match.

The manager, Kenny Sanderson, trotted over to Adolph, who was moping around on the touchline. "You alright lad?" He asked. "Overdone it on the booze last night eh?" "Something like that, coach" Adolph timidly replied. "Go on, go get yourself an early shower" he said, gesturing towards the changing rooms.

He didn't have to be told. He knew he'd blew his chance to be in the Swartaz team for another few games, and for what? A bit of weed at a bar? He didn't see the point. At that point he made a pledge to himself never to touch anything like that again, regardless of the circumstances he found himself in.

Adolph was making his way out of the complex after his shower towards his high preformance sports car parked in the underground parking facility. But as he was about to pull open the door and feel the cool air of the air con sweep into his face, a misty figure emereged from the darkness behind a pillar. "Fancy any more of the good stuff?" he rasped in hushed tones. It was the same guy that sold him the cannabis the night before. "Naah, im off it" Adolph hastily muttered. He couldn't be seen talking to this dodgy figure in the middle of the car park. "Look, I've really got to g-" he demanded before being interrupted. "Well, if that doesn't float 'ya boat, what about some of these bad boys?" he asked, pulling out a carton labelled 'steriods'. This had just gotten serious for Adolph. "These babies will help you get in the first team with a bit of luck" he wispered. "Think about it, a chance to improve your skill level without having to do any training at all!" It now sounded very attractive. He thought to himself "What chance do I have otherwise, eh? Of getting in the first team. Hopefullly playing in the World Cup finals. If these will help me get into the team, then why not?" Adolph pulled out the money, neatly clipped together notes, quickly dropped them into the old mans hand and swiftly entered the car. "As always, a pleasure doing business with you!" He heard him shout over the top of the sound of his high performance engine. He just hoped no-one saw the 'piece of business' that had just gone on down there...

World Cup 55 RP Thread

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