11th Di Bradini Cup (RP, Rosters & Scores)

[Starblaydia]

OOC: For newcomers, please see the Guide to Sports Roleplaying. If you need to ask anything of the host or your opponents, arrange RP angles or generally chat about the goings-on, please use the Signup/OOC thread, or the World Cup Discussion Thread. Got a general Sports RP question? Then here's the thread for you. Get RPing!

The Starblaydi Football Association presents:

The Eleventh Di Bradini Cup
a.k.a
The 32nd Under-21 World Cup

A very warm welcome to nations from around the world to the premier international Under-21 competition in global football today: the eleventh edition of the Di Bradini Cup in Starblaydia! Now is the time to release your squad lists, for the Official Seedings, Pots and Group Draw are listed below.

Pots for the Group Draw:
Pot 1: Candelaria And Marquez, Sorthern Northland, Dancougar, The Macabees
Pot 2: Somewhereistonia, Sarzonia, Yafor 2, Cassadaigua
Pot 3: Newmanistan, Taeshan, Sargossa, Starblaydia
Pot 4: Akbarabad, Cafundéu, Tatuape, Total n Utter Insanity
Pot 5: New Montreal States, Palmouth, Swartaz, Uiri
Pot 6: Darclad, Pljevla, The Weegies, Twii
Pot 7: Delaclava, Las Lisque, Quintessence of Dust, The Babbage Islands

Group Draw (Includes nation seeding number):
Group A:
Dancougar (3)
Sarzonia (6)
Starblaydia (12)
Total n Utter Insanity (-)
Palmouth (-)
Darclad (-)
The Babbage Islands (-)

Group B:
The Macabees (4)
Cassadaigua (8)
Sargossa (11)
Cafundéu (13)
Swartaz (-)
The Weegies (-)
Delaclava (-)

Group C:
Candelaria And Marquez (1)
Yafor 2 (7)
Taeshan (10)
Akbarabad (-)
New Montreal States (-)
Twii (-)
Las Lisque (-)

Group D:
Sorthern Northland (2)
Somewhereistonia (5)
Newmanistan (9)
Tatuape (-)
Uiri (-)
Pljevla (-)
Quintessence of Dust (-)

Group Schedule
Matchday One: 1v6, 2v5, 3v4, 7 Bye
Matchday Two: 4v2, 5v1, 6v7, 3 Bye
Matchday Three: 2v7, 3v6, 4v5, 1 Bye
Matchday Four: 6v4, 7v3, 1v2, 5 Bye
Matchday Five: 5v3, 6v2, 7v1, 4 Bye
Matchday Six: 3v1, 4v7, 5v6, 2 Bye
Matchday Seven: 7v5, 1v4, 2v3, 6 Bye

e.g. on Matchday 1 in Group A: Dancougar Vs Darclad, Sarzonia Vs Palmouth, Starblaydia Vs Total n Utter Insanity and The Babbage Islands have a bye.

[Starblaydia]

The Starblaydia national football team are a Featured Article on NSwiki. If you've never bothered to read it, have a skim through it now, as it'll tell you more about the team, their style, culture, fans, and history than I can ever write in a roster post. Thanks.

I Give My Opponent Permission
(and actively encourage them) To:
====================
Choose My Scorers
GodMod Any Goalscoring Events
Yellow Card Players
GodMod Other Events for Humorous Intent
====================

Notes:
1) The best starting eleven are numbered 1-11 and are in bold
2) I actively encourage, nay nearly demand, that if you RP first you pick my scorers (if any).
3) * Denotes female player, ^ denotes Dwarf player.
4) Before each match, in between national anthems and kick-off, the entire 23-man squad (even the Elves, though with less passion than most) will perform the Raiigar, Starblaydia's traditional war-dance.
5) Players who's team names are in grey are, if you've read this far, available for transfer to non-Starblaydi leagues. Just TG me with an offer.

Starblaydi Team Sheet Released
World Cup winner captains squad

Though they played well four years ago, Starblaydia just failed to make it out of the Group Stage. Now, however, with World Cup winner and Starblaydia's latest striking starlet Nicole Maitland-Banks, the Starblaydi Under-21s feel they have an excellent chance of progressing, with the excellent Makki Kaukonen holding the midfield and Francesa Harvey providing some real energetic sparks to the play.

Manager
RE. Ricky England, Manager, 46 - World Cup 44 Winner
91 Caps, 17 Goals (7 Caps, 2 Goals at Under-21 level)

Goalkeepers
1. Boroin Havizhin^, GK, 21 - Karak Ungor Chiefs
12. Natalie Jensen*, GK, 17 - Tundra Falls Mariners (Newmanistan)
19. TBA, GK, 13 - Unattached

Defenders
2. Kerr Vainarell, R/CB, 20 - Internacional (Cafundéu)
3. George Rosenthal, L/CB, 21 - Caires City (C&M)
5. Onome Agu, R/L/CB, 21 - Port Los Renato (Queer Poco el Mono Ara)
6. Michael Nix, CB, 21 - Qasarian Sparta (Somewhereistonia)
13. TBA, LB, 17 - Unattached
14. TBA, R/CB, 18 - Unattached
20. TBA, SW/CB 16 - Unattached
21. TBA, C/RB, 17 - Unattached

Midfielders
4. Makki Kaukonen, C/DM, 20 - Wow! Health & Fitness FC (Quintessence of Dust)
7. Francesa Harvey*, C/LM , 21 - WestPort Wanderers (Bears Armed)
8. Ariel Bogota, AM, 18 - Serrano (Cafundéu)
11. Antoine Fauve, SC/LW, 20 - Ventspils Redwings (Somewhereistonia)
15. Hurin Hazmotardan^, CM, 19 - Karak Ungor Chiefs
16. TBA, RM, 17 - Unattached
22. TBA, C/DM 16 - Unattached

Forwards
9. Jose Alberto Alfarro, SC, 19 - NAPPC (Nethertopia)
10. Nicole Maitland-Banks*, Captain, SC, 21 - Hondo FC (Valanora) - World Cup 47 Winner
17. Rodrigo Silva, SC, 19 - Melin & Nader (Candelaria And Marquez)
18. TBA, CF, 16 - Unattached
23. Corazo Fortran, SC, 17 - Athletico Sciuntis

Formation


Kits
created by:


Starblaydia's traditional all-white Home kit, and the all-purple Away kit with a touch of gold, now with the five gold stars above the Starblaydi Football Association logo.

[Candelaria And Marquez]

Candelaria And Marquez National Under-21 Football Squad for the Eleventh Di Bradini Cup

Thar be a traditional Candelariasian wall-of-text wiki

Manager: Following in the worryingly deep footprints of (all together now!) Lloyd Donnelly, Adam Williamson, Andy Le Lan, Jerry Huntick, Trevor Organ, Mark Baker (sort of), Matt Sampson, Jay Zabojnik and Luis Enrique Torrealba comes… Ancil Liebeskind.

Woo!

Yes, we’ve had CMSC-winning bosses at big clubs, we’ve had overachieving supercoaches from tiddly little sides, we’ve had wise septuagenarians and bright young things, we’ve had former C&M internationals, people with a morbid terror of talking bears, and pederasts. But we’ve never had an under-21 manager just coming off the back of failing to win a league game in fifteen attempts…

To be fair, Liebeskind – a former Albrecht Turkish striker (‘former’ being the operative word… we’re talking pre-international era, here) – has done a marvellous job with Albrecht Independent FC over the years in merely fashioning them into a yo-yo club, never mind securing two consecutive seasons in the top-flight recently. He’s also shown a talent for integrating youngsters, as well as giving players of the female persuasion a fair crack of the whip, which should make Jhanna Young a rather key player in the centre… Anyway, it’s an extremely underwhelming appointment from the reigning champions, but then we said that about Torrealba… and besides, it’s an extremely underwhelming squad. These things happen. The stars align. Whatcha’gonnado, eh?

Because we don’t want to be relentlessly negative, we really don’t. It’s just that, for whatever reason, this season’s CMSC has been woefully short of young talent coming through. There’s nothing much like an Endekov or Davies, Nakatsuru or Hawker, Dos Santos or Macanás. Maybe it’s just a blip, I dunno. There’s a host of teenagers who might’ve earned places in this squad, and will surely be guaranteed them in the league next terms. Rubén Cruz, William Naysmith, George Rachna and Alejandro Valdez in defence; Jameson Aldren, Rhys Khan, Joseph Milošević and Alfie Yeboah in midfield; Jamie Hamblett, Owen Fox, Samson Patris and Bavent, and Zlatko Redzic up front… But for now? For now there’s dross.

Convenient, though.

Anyway, Liebeskind isn’t particularly given to playing cautiously, which is a bloody good thing considering it’s at the back where we’re weakest. Expect a 3-5-2, with a starting XI looking something like Romero – Menderes, Fernández, Dunphy – Tekeste, Young, Álvarez, O’Airmeadhaigh, Randjelovic (c) – Paganel and Williams.

Goalkeepers:

22. William Romero Fernández, 21, Arrigo Portuguese
1. Cobus van Linschoten, 20, Gretor Sport [Nethertopia; on loan from KT Hotspur]
23. Lyle Gwyther, 20, Albrecht Turkish

According to those who know, Gwyther may actually be the major star in the making here, despite his lack of appearances for Turkish and status well behind both Seb Moon and Brittany Paxson in the pecking order. He certainly has the physique and skills, but the Rosasharn-born ethnic Nethie Van Linschoten has the greater experience and a very welcome long kick to put himself on the bench.

Both will likely by behind Romero however, who emerged as Torrealba’s first choice at DBC10 and has since gone on to play a major part in Portuguese’s impressive XXXV form. An extremely energetic player, the Marquezian played as a centre-half as a youth (following the inevitable period as a 100-goals-a-season striker for la Escuela Primaria de la Calle Ángel Rodríguez Under-9s, or somewhere of that ilk) and is as comfortable outside his box with the ball at his feet as he is bouncing around in preparation for unnecessarily showy saves.

Defenders:

12. Çaatay Menderes, 21, AFC MN Smith, Right-Back
2. Antonio José Cantero 20, Castillo FC, Right-Back

A large boy, Menderes’ game is more about scaring opposition lefties than anything else, and he’s hardly pulled up any trees while the Smudgers struggle horribly this season. A spell wistfully watching Wow! from the bench in the QNRVPL, chewing sadly on greasy things on sticks and wishing he was of Chinese stock rather than Turkish, doesn’t appear to have done him neither the slightest bit of harm, nor good, and he would appear to be the best of an almost astonishing bad bunch.

Cantero plays for Castillo in the CMSC2. After that, your guess is as good as mine, frankly.

5. Félix Fernández Rodríguez, 20, Jonamdo Gigantes FC [Daehanjeiguk], Centre-Back
6. Will Owen, 20, Green Island, Centre-Back

It really does just get worse. Peter Waddington. Benji Fu. Steven Williams. Enrique Silva de Aviz. Demario Ortiz. Ben Young. Eric O’Brien. For heaven’s sake, we’re a country that values its centre-halves! Can’t get enough of ‘em! Practically venerate them, we do!

And yet here we are, finding ourselves in a situation where there is not a single eligible central defender playing even half-way regular first-team football in the Candelariasian top-flight. It’s hard to see where it’s actually going to get any better, either… Oh, hold me, my dear sweet Percy! Hold me tight!

Anyway, the bloke in the Han second tier (gods almighty…) has three accents in his name, which is a positive, and looks pretty well-built, so… Guess we’ll have to give him a go. As for Owen, he’s doing the hibbity-jibbity with our Jhanna, by all accounts, so he’s having a pretty stellar year even without first team football. Welcome aboard, Billy.

3. Danny Dunphy, 19, Wow! Health & Fitness FC [Quintessence of Dust; on loan from AFC MN Smith], Left-Back
13. Sam Doswell, 18, Albrecht FC, Left-Back

More MN Smithness on the opposite and equally sigh-inducing flank. Young Daniel, who’s right-footed and has almost entirely overcome his little nighttime problem, is actually rather good – quick, sturdy, bright, an accurate passer; he’s probably the only defender here who’ll go on to achieve anything of note, once Turkish have snapped him up (as is generally the case with anyone remotely handy at the City of Bove Stadium).

An exception to that may well come in the form of Doswell, who comes highly recommended from the Scorpions academy. He possesses enough tricks in his sock draw to suggest that a future higher up the pitch could await… but either way it won’t be for Albrecht FC, one suspects, given that the all-but immortal pairing of Francois St. Louis and George Morrison lies ahead of him in the pecking order.

Midfielders:

17. Xavier Tekeste, 21, Albrecht FC, Right Midfielder
7. Guildford Herbert, 21, Melin & Nader, Right Midfielder

A sense of déjà vu permeates our happy camp here, with Liebeskind being all rather dull and picking the same pair as Torrealba did last time. That’s to the boys’ credit, with very handy-looking kids coming through here and there, and their first-team experience in the CMSC1, DBC10 and in the ICCs gives them both a competitive advantage. Herbert is the stockier player, and something of a set-piece specialist, while the stringy but deceptively quick Tekeste is slowly adding more strings to his bow and has regularly moved ahead of C&M international Fred Foster in Torrealba’s thinking since the former under-21 manager’s move to the capital.

20. Israel Álvarez, 19, Augustus [Queer Poco el Mon Ara; on loan from Arrigo Portuguese], Defensive Midfielder
4. George t’son o’Henry, 21, Candelaria-Allemali, Defensive Midfielder

Álvarez, in all honestly, is no holding midfielder. He’ll have to learn on the job though, since this is where Liebeskind appears to want him, but he can certainly take a game by its scruff when he wants to, and has been one of the outstanding players in the Una Serie this term. t’son o’Henry is the more natural player in this role, with the first ethnic Bkyka to represent C&M at any level (apart from Olympian weightlifter John t’Baker, I suppose, but… shut up) being immensely strong in the tackle and – handily – totally comfortable in the centre of defence as in midfield. The knee injury that puts Mayo Valley’s Patrick Zoric out of the squad could prove a major, major blow to our hopes, however.

15. Jhanna Young, 20, Green Island, Attacking Midfielder, (f)
8. Toirdhealbharch O’Airmeadhaigh, 21, Port of Clotaire, Attacking Midfielder
14. Wildash Gatti, 20, Marquez-Onwere, Attacking Midfielder
16. Adam Kouakou Kouamé, 17, Albrecht FC, Attacking Midfielder

As with the DBC10 squad, it’s this area where the competition will be won – or, to put it more accurately, lost – for the Small Blues. Jhanna is retained in the team after coming into her own in, um, Jhanna, last time around and has since become a first-team regular for Green Island. While that inevitably means she’s had to play a supporting role to her pointier team-mates, Young really does have everything going for her: operating behind the striker, she’s short in stature but comes with a fine dribble, a creative brain, plenty of pace, beautiful feet, painted toenails, startling blue eyes, bosoms – two of ‘em, no less – and the hearts of a nation.

The potential of box-to-boxy Albrecht native Toirdhealbharch O’Airmeadhaigh (Terry Armitage, and his folks are from out in the Sorthern Ghaeltacht, you may not be stunned to discover) has improved considerably since he began to take on a more defensively-minded role, and he may well end up being all energetic behind Álvarez on the field, rather than ahead of him. As for the others, they’re intriguing selections – with Gatti still a horribly slender player who can add wonder-goals and through-balls but can easily be hacked to bits, and Kouakou Kouamé is just awfully young. Another foreign-born player (from out in Africa somewhere, I think. Dunno where. There are forty-seven nations there at last count, so take your pick. I rather like the sound of Bolotongo), Adam has been handed late moments for Albrecht FC already and is clearly set to be a next-big-thing of the neat future, with a deft touch and gorgeous shiny black thighs.

11. Koviljko Randjelovic, 21, Arrigo Portuguese, Left Midfielder, CAPTAIN
21. Noah Collins, 21, KT Hotspur, Left Midfielder

While we have Randjelovic, brethren, there is hope. Born in Squornshelous and arriving on Marquez clinging to a lampshade and two small sisters on a wooden raft, the DBC10-winning captain fulfils that leading role once more. A hugely gifted dribbler, he’s improving his final ball all the time (albeit, one must admit, at the expense of his own goalscoring record), and will surely be in the senior first XI in a matter of months.

Collins, arguably, is no less promising despite his more recent status as a first-team player. His toes do twinkle indeed, especially when he’s stuck glitter on them, and he’s shown that he can step-over like a good’un since replacing, in just about all possible ways, George Morrison at the Spur.

Forwards:

9. Nathan Paganel, 20, Radyukevich CSC
10. Leo Williams, 19, Caires City
18. Luke Rogers, 21, Albrecht Independent FC
19. Ben Clayton, 19, Radyukevich CSC

Ooh, a bit of a novelty – two up front, this time! And a potentially promising partnership between Paganel – a tall fox-in-the-box who’s done well to break double figures in the CMSC1 for a struggling side this term – and Williams. The younger player has twelve league goals to his name and, as a premature expert at holding the ball up and generally making a nuisance of himself, he’s comfortably squeezed himself into title-chasing City’s first team this season.

The only question re: Williams is whether he can get used, all nice and quick like, to being part of a front two rather than going it alone. If he can’t, Liebeskind may well fall back on Rogers – a reliable striker for the manager’s old Indies side who seems to have been around forever. Clayton is the more unusual option, but he too was a prolific goalscorer at youth level for the Jukos and is a lad on form after breaking into their top-flight side and partnering Paganel in the aftermath of Zachary Adekunde’s shock exit.

And that’s not a happy mental image, I can tell you.

Kits:



If my opponent RP's first they can: Do anything they please short of killing anyone. Unless it’s amusing. Or involves horses.

[Las Lisque]

Coach: Kimmi Stokjovic

GK - Tommy Alans, 15

WB - Uri Borg, 16
SB - Michael Mitchell, 15
CB - Louis Stone, 16
SB - Nathan Bertham, 17
WB - Larry Kolbenstein, 15

RM - Walter Di Prizzio (CAP), 15
CM - Michael Mitherm, 16
LM - Richard Maine, 16

LCS - Inca, 16
RCS - Kalbert Michael, 17

Kits created by Goalscorers (exclusive)







RP thingy

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers N
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players N
Godmod other events Y (although PM me about it first)

[Sorthern Northland]

Snorthern national U21 team for the 11th Di Bradini Cup

Number, name, age, position (n/a for goalies and forwards), club

Goalkeepers:

1: Tamer Reed, 21 y/o, Hillaton Downs
13: Andrew Smith, 18 y/o, James Connolly SC
23: Karsten Scholz, 16 y/o, Marx-Stadt

Defenders:

2: Ben Hardy, 21 y/o, right back, Corcaigh
12: Jermaine Ardley, 19 y/o, right back, James Connolly SC
3: Paul Morris, 20 y/o, left back, Cobh Walkers
22: Mike Pohl, 16 y/o, left back, Eastlands
5: Andrew Heywood, 21 y/o, centre back, Heathfield City
6: Choi Sung-Chan, 21 y/o, centre back, Locomotiv Shingon
15: Simon Costello, 19 y/o, centre back, Heathfield United
16: John Orr, 19 y/o, centre back, Snowspire

Midfielders:

7: Ian Mead, 19 y/o, right winger, Locomotiv Shingon
17: Paul Buchanan, 18 y/o, right winger, Corcaigh
11: Timm Holtz, 21 y/o, left winger, Eastlands
21: Tim Albrighton, 21 y/o left winger, Ventspils Redwings (Somewhereistonia)
4: Martijn Barentstochter of Bergkamp of Drotske of Groethuysen of Hackenbroch of Struycken, 21 y/o central midfielder, Rode Ster Amsterdam
8: Will Hooper, 19 y/o, central midfielder, Snowspire
14: Li Chen, 18 y/o, central midfielder, FC Juahzhou
18: Peter Hale, 21 y/o, central midfielder, New Ireland

Forwards:

9: Hu Peng, 20 y/o, Mar Sara (Valanora)
10: Yu Yunpeng, 21 y/o, FC Juahzhou
19: Vitaly Ivanov, 18 y/o, Oblast Rangers
20: Alexandr Tretjakov, 19 y/o, 17th of October

Manager: Ailill Ó Riagáin

Formation is 4-4-2 with the team playing in a very attacking manner.
Numbers 1 to 11 for game are the usual starters, feel free to make a couple of changes to the line up though.

Kits

Home/Away


RP thingy

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y
Godmod other events Y (although PM me about it first)

[Swartaz]

The First Under21 team to enter a major tourney is the most exiting team yet

Goalkeepers
#1. Hermann Journae
#99. Hans Derasnaal
Defenders
#3. Jans Magnussaan
#5. Hans Otto
#6. Hendrik Bakke
#12. Vincent Ehrenström
#33. Niklas Hackzell
#25. Kasper Lillkvist
Midfielders
#4. Kristofer Nygård
#7. Gustav Skjöldebrand
#8. Lorenz Walsø
#17. Björn Wallen
#21. Soren Bergqvist
#87. Konstantin Vadsq
Strikers
#9. William Ljungdahl
#10. Kifenve Jerasnaal
#54. Opiy olki Malik Oklu Yvgne Johansson (Johansson on shirt)
#14. Axel Mikaelsson
#76. Jersa Miuojkiomancsab (Miuo on shirt)

Rp wise, keep it realistic

[Tatuape]

TATUAPE U-21 TEAM

An official press-release of TATUFA (Tatuape Football Association)
(Starting eleven in bold, best bench in italic, the other in regular)

Manager
Ferdinand H. Cardoso

Goalkeepers
1. Peter Abramo, GK, 19 - Worker's FC
12. Claude Abramo , GK, 17 - Press Club
19. Eugene Buzzi, GK, 16 - Comm Sports

Defenders
2. Francis de Oliveira, R/CB, 20 - Socio FC
3. Sergei de Holanda, L/CB, 21 - Antropo FC
5. Albert de Holanda, R/L/CB, 19 - C.A. Dicio
6. Gilbert Freyre, CB, 20 - Antropo FC
13. Ed Suplicy, LB, 17 - Worker's FC
14. Mark Unger, R/CB, 18 - American Club
20. Marty Chaui, SW/CB 16 - Filo FC
21. Louis C. Prestes, C/RB, 21 - Red Star FC

Midfielders
4. Tony Candido, C/DM, 18 - Literatis Club (CAPTAIN)
7. Johnny Guinsburg, C/LM , 19 - Football Art
8. Matt Sodre, AM, 17 - Comm Sports
11. Richard J. Ribeiro, SC/LW, 17 - Filo FC
15. Celsius Fred, CM/CF, 16 - Comm Sports
16. Cyrus Marcond II, RM, 17 - Comm Sports
22. Bob Comparato, C/DM 16 - Law Club

Forwards
9. Albert Houssais, SC, 19 - C. A. Dicio
10. Paul Francis, SC, 21 - Press Club
17. Charlie Lacerda, SC, 19 - Press Club
18. Al Santos-Dumont, CF, 21 - Airplanes FC
23. Chili Lamournier, SC, 17 - Socio FC

Kits (made by Tatuapean SunTzu Co.)

HOME/AWAY

RP Thing
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose My Scorers
GodMod Any Goalscoring Events
Yellow Card Players
GodMod Other Events for Humorous Intent (except killing and injuries)

[The Weegies]

Standard disclaimer FTW: The Weegie Government's Department of Culture, Sport, and Tourism allows anything and everything to happen in a game, as long as it is properly disciplined by the referee, police, security services, army, or your gran. In the event something does happen to our players, we must note that a few thousand drunken, angry Weegies will camp out outside your National Football association and chuck things at anyone going in or coming out.

The Weegies U-21 national football team wear a shirt of dark green and dark blue vertical stripes, white shorts with dark green numbers on the sides, and white socks. They will be playing in a 4-5-1 formation, usually, although injuries and cards may affect that. Numbers 1-11 are the usual starting line-up, although, again, injuries and cards may affect that. First position noted is the strongest position for that player.

Manager:

Colin McLean, 39.

Formerly a determined and tenacious left-back for 17 years with Trams Union United's senior side, and a product of that side's excellent youth system, McLean retired at 35 to become the TUU's under-21 coach. His admirable performance in the last 4 seasons, managing a side that won the Weans Cup twice and the U-21 Weegie Premiership three times, led the WFA to offer him the job of manager of the U-21 side.

Goalkeepers:

1. Casper Almquist, 16, Trams Union United.
12. Alan Fredriksen, 19, Buchanan LFC.

Defenders:

2. Ruairi Ogg, 20, left back, Mackintosh Thistle Celtic
3. Hamish McNicol, 18, right back/left back, Carlsson Rangers
5. Gary Fairlie, 16, centre-back, Trams Union United
6. Robert Fairlie, 16, centre-back, Trams Union United
14. Donald Weir, 20, centre-back/left back, Mackintosh Armadillos
17. Derek Scobie, 17 centre-back/defensive midfielder, Mackintosh Thistle Celtic
18. Bjarne Branch, 18, left-back/centre back, Lylia Foresters
20. Finn Doig, 19, right-back, Buchanan LFC

Midfielders:

4. Niall Strachan, 20, central midfielder/centre-back, Mackintosh Thistle Celtic
7. Gordon Burke, 19, left-winger/central midfielder, Trams Union United
8. Ronald Atholl, 18, defensive midfielder/right-winger, Lylia Foresters
9. Harold Bevan, 17, attacking midfielder/central midfielder, Aigh nas Chlalnachan
11. Callum Meikle, 15, right-winger, Mackintosh Thistle Celtic
15. David Craigie, 16, attacking midfielder/centre-forward Mackintosh Armadillos
16. Keir Yuill, 20, defensive midfielder, Trams Union United
19. Patrick Boyd, 19, defensive midfielder, Schialtas Niaghuan
21. Sorley Brekke, 18, left-winger/right-winger/attacking midfielder, Easter House Islanders
22. Aulay Moffat, 19, central midfielder/left-back , Hanover Town
23. Oliver Riach, 17, central midfielder, Trams Union United

Strikers:

10. Gunnar Hallestrøm, 16, centre-forward, Mackintosh Thistle Celtic
13. Ivor McChuill, 17, attacking midfielder/centre-forward, Trams Union United

[The Macabees]

XI Di Bradini Cup
Macabee Squad


[Home kit.]


[Away kit.]

Code: Select all

elect my scorers — No
Give out yellow cards to my players — Yes
Give out red cards to my players — No
RP injuries to my players — Yes
Godmod injuries — No
Godmod scoring events — No
Godmod other events — No


Style Modifier: +3

Manager: Simón Delakúev; Delakúev was hired from his former position as Fedala Imperial's youth manager. Under his guidance, Fedala Imperial Youth won their regional league last season. He was offered a position as a technical trainer in the senior side, but instead took up a job as the head manager of the U-21 national team. He replaces Glem Dalá, who quit this job to manage the senior national team during World Cup 47 (where he managed qualification, but was sacked in favor of Nial Ters). Under Delakúev, the U-21 team is looking to get into the knock-out stages and perhaps even manage their first Di Bradini Cup.

Squad Listings:

Agost Limpkin (17), Goalkeeper: Limpkin is a youth goalkeeper for Fedala Imperial Youth, and was brought together with manager Simón Delakúev. He is known for his "lightning fast" reactions and precedent for "standing in the right place". He is one of the rising talents of the national league, and one of the best goalkeepers of his age. His true advantage comes in the fact that he is likely to progress at a faster rate than anybody else, giving him the opportunity to become the best goalkeeper in the country. The 11th Di Bradini Cup will be his first international tournament, and he is likely to participate in the 12th, as well.

Tudor Fark(17), Goalkeeper: Tudor Fark is another young goalkeeper

Agin Kal (21), Center Back: A young, relatively inexperienced center back, he is nonetheless smart and fast. He is also a fast learner. He has been recently contracted by the Fedala Imperials for roughly eight million Ríokmarks, making him a relatively expensive youth transfer. He is one of the nation’s great future promises in defensive football. This is his second international tournament.

Nantes Fersas (21), Center Back: Nantes Fersas is much like Ladis Berk, but younger. He is a promising youth player, and will reportedly be brought up to the first division by next season. However, his agent has been looking for an international outlet. He is one of the most illustrious under-twenty-one defenders in the national league system, and will also likely be called up for the World Cup team.

Kel Kanis (20), Wing Back: Kel Kanis is not only an excellent youth right-back, but he is also one of the best set-piece kickers of the under-twenty-one national team. He has the uncanny ability to drop a ball right into the area, on top of a “friendly player”, making him extremely dangerous when playing on the wings. He is, however, very susceptible to moving up front, sometimes sacrificing his defensive awareness. He can also play as an attacking midfielder.

Tritor Maníac (20), Attacking Midfielder: Maníac is Gert's (27) replacement, designed to give fresh blood for future generations of Macabee National Teams. He is quick, intelligent and is also an excellent set piece kicker. He played in the 47th World Cup, although he did not achieve victory with his team during the final tournament. He has been selected for the U-21 team, prior to his deployment back to the senior side for the Díenstad Cup, in order to continue developing his skill.

Boján Fert (20), Attacking Midfielder: Boján was one of the youngest players on the team, first being called up when he was 16. He plays for Real Club Española, after playing for many years on their youth team. This is his second international competition.

Cien Gertrud (21), Attacking Midfielder: Cien plays for Dinamo Karrakiv B in Somewhereistonia, and was a factor in earning the team's first place finish. This is his second international competition, and is likely to be called-up for the regular national team. He is also looking for possible contracts with other first division teams.

Georgi Bagnó (21), Central Midfielder: Georgi Bagnó is another youth player, known for his speed. This will be his second international competition with a national team.

Guy Lafos (21), Central Midfielder: Lafos is a playmaker, and is able to control the speed of the game. This makes him the team’s premier youth midfielder, and also a promising candidate for the regular national team. He took part in the 10th Di Bradini Cup, and also has been called up for the senior national team for the Díenstad Cup. Depending on the success of the team there, he may be called up for the 48th World Cup.

Darsí Bon (20), Striker: A very young striker who was recently promoted to the main team from Illusqué’s youth club. He is intelligent and fast, giving him good qualities to break away from the defense. He played in the 10th Di Bradini Cup, 47th World Cup, and this will be his third international tournament appearance.

[To be completed...]

[Taeshan]

Taeshan U21 National Team
Roster
Player # Age Pos
Marigold Petersheim 43 16 GK
Aramis Williams 7 16 LD
Colt White 77 16 CD
Tad Rollings 11 16 RD
Peter Adams 8 16 RM
Kyle Longwaters 33 16 RCM
Jayson Lambert 17 16 LCM
A. J. Korn 44 16 LM
Stacy Frolic 42 16 LS
Jamie Spenser 23 20 CS
Kolby Tarihito 14 16 RS
SUBS
Sarah Hellman 2 16 GK
Ute Pacabell 3 16 D
Kara Cannon 4 16 M
Galileo Urethra 5 16 S
Adam Smith 34 16 S

Jerseys, well they are still unavailable
Modifier -Well you know.

[Total n Utter Insanity]

U21 Regiment Insanician Special Air Service
1. Andy McNab
2. Ibn Warraq
3. Flann O'Brien
4. B. Traven
5. Pauline Réage
6. James Tiptree, Jr.
7. Nicolas Bourbaki
8. T. H. Lain
9. Ellery Queen
10. Laura Lee Hope
11. Franklin W. Dixon
12. Carolyn Keene
13. Lemony Snicket
14. George Eliot
15. Isak Dinesen
16. Ernst Ahlgren
17. Clive Hamilton
18. N. W. Clerk
19. Angela Knight
20. Zane Grey
21. Richard Bachman
22. J.D. Robb
23. Lewis Carroll

[Sargossa]

11th Di Bradini Cup

After an excellent showing in what was the nation’s first ever appearance in an international tournament the smaller Corsairs are back to have another go. Given the successes of the squad at Di Bradini Cup 10 changes shouldn’t really be necessary. Except, rather rudely, some of those players are now over the age limit. Personally I blame the parents. So here’s the latest batch looking to win glory for the Archipelago. Or a lucrative move abroad. Whichever comes first I guess.

Sargossa Squad

Kit
Thank you ediraf



Coach

Juan Manuel Del Rios
Del Rios was always a coach held in high regard thanks to his good work at SuperLiga little ’uns Mercadel S.C. but in the last couple of years his stock has sky rocketed even further. Led the Under-21s to the knockout stages in their debut tournament two years ago and masterminded the Islander’s Copa Sargossa triumph last season.

Starting Eleven
(Formation 5-3-2/3-5-2 depending on possession. Players listed from right to left)

GK: 1. Mariano Ojeda (19) – Dunas Del Sol
Tall and athletic, which is kinda handy for a goalkeeper when you think about it. Has helped the side from the resort city to SuperLiga respectability and to one of the league’s better defensive records last season.

RWB: 2. Pedro Castro (20) – Moruga S.C.
Injuries helped the little wingback into a Moruga S.C. side gunning for promotion and his form kept him there.
RCB: 12. Jorge Alberto Carmona (21) – King’s Eleven Yuki City (Dancougar)
A pacy, strong defender who was an ever present at the last tournament and has a senior international cap to his name. Captain
CB: 5. Christian Viera (20) – Sporting San Marquez
A product of the Ciudad Soluca academy who proved to be one of the bargain buys of the season when Sporting snapped him up for a pittance to replace the C&M bound Néstor González.
LCB: 6. Rubén Sosa (20) – Dínamo Maturín
Another ‘veteran’ of the last tournament who has now firmly established himself in a Dínamo side normally battling it out at the right end of the league.
LWB: 3. Horacio Correa (19) – Sportivo Maturín
Voted into the Segunda Liga squad of last season. The tricksy left sided wing wizard has been strongly linked with a move across the city.

MC: 7. Diego Lara (19) – Sporting San Marquez
A talented midfield player with a decent range of passing and a shot like the kick of a mule. Made just two starts last season for the national champions but with Osorio’s impending move to Cafundéu, next season could be his chance to really shine.
DMC: 4. Omar Burbano (20) – Mercadel S.C.
A no-nonsense kind of midfield battler that Del Rios has natured through the ranks at Mercadel.
MC: 8. Jésus Vázquez (21) – Deportivo Soluca
Came into a talented Deportivo side late on last season and helped the capital’s second team to runner’s up spot in the SuperLiga.

SC: 9. Sérgio Costa (18) – Mercadel S.C.
A young bull of a striker and yet another product of the seemingly never-ending Mercadel production line. Managed 6 goals in 15 SuperLiga appearances last season.
SC: 10. Pedro Cortijo (21) - Dínamo Maturín
A young target man who spent most of the last tournament in the shadow of striker partner Rubén Gala. Which is slightly tricky as he’s about a foot taller. Struggled to make a breakthrough into the first team at the Ciudad Deportiva but Del Rios is a fan so he keeps his place.


Reserves
GK: 13. Pablo Fonseca (19) – S.C. Goza
DL: 14. Celso Bodabilla (18) – El Nacional
DRC: 15. Damián Lozeno (20) – Ciudad Soluca
DC: 18. Giovanni Aparicio (18) – Sporting San Marquez
DMC: 19. David Sanz (20) - Defensor
MLC: 11. Rubén Contreras (17) – Ciudad Soluca
AMC: 16. Elías Carrasco (16) – Ciudad Soluca
AMRLC: 17. Francesco Carmona (20) – El Nacional
AM/FC: 20. Manuel Parra (21) – Porto Alegro Azul
SC: 21. Marcos Troncoso (18) – Jaguarés


If my opponent RP's first they can:
Choose my goalscorers Yes
Godmod Scoring Events Yes
RP injuries to my players Yes (but within reason)
Godmod injuries to my players No
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Yes
Hand out Red cards to my players Yes
Godmod Other Events Yes

[Somewhereistonia]

Nation: Somewhereistonia
Team Nickname: Eagles
Style Modifier: +3
Formation: 4-1-3-2
Home stadium: Spektakl-3-Arena
Kit:
Keeper Kit 2nd Keeper Kit

1st Kit 2nd Kit 3rd Kit

Manager: Priit Vilba - Whilst Vilba lost his job as assistant manager of the national team, his impressive results at DBC10 have convinced the BSA to keep him with the U21 side for the time being.
Assistant Manager: Justinas Palchek - Former Atlantas assistant, looking for a managing role after tournament is completed. After DBC10 he managed the second division side FK Kuka achieving results above what was expected but not enough to achieve promotion.
Head Physio: Gustav Tolving (Owner of a sports physio centre outside Qasarian, he has shown a brilliant ability to bring players back from injury sooner than expected).

Team roster.

First 11

1. Ov Kolvich GK 21 [Ventspils Redwings]
2. Vladimir Volterov RB 19 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
3. Ragnar Orviku LB 17 [Dinamo Karrakiv]
4. Ulriks Hellat Def 20 [Qasarian Sparta] - The Sparta defender has become a great squad player and is hoping to succeed in the long term at the top club.
5. Jüri Pihl CB 21 [Qasarian Sparta] - Pihl is expected to work well with his club team mate at the back, with the pair having played most of the cup matches.
6. Karl Tätarni DMF 19 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
8. Malachev Danzinski MF 19 [Dinamo Karrakiv]
7. Erik Bastinov SMF 19 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
11. Talek Bastinov SMF 19 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
10. Tõnu Apšenieks SS 21 [Metalurgs]
9. Ragnar Zaks CF 21 [FBK Karrakiv] - Zaks has somehow remained at FBK Karrakiv again this season and has become their most important player. Enough money and he will surely be on the move though.

Reserves/Substitutes

14. Marek Lüütek Fwd 16 [Metalurgs]
12. Himans Celmiņš GK 20 [Metalurgs]
16. Lembit Krogzems MF 16 [Atlantas Klaipaada]
13. Toomas Spelek MF 18 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
17. Toomas Nashnetski SB 16 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
18. Vytautas Altosaar CF 20 [FK Kabano]
15. Yuri Maagia Def 18 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
19. Tarmo Juga MF 16 [Hawks Sporting Academy]
20. Andris Caps SMF 21 [Atlantas]
21. Māris Vītols CB 19 [Metalurgs]
22. Anto Parrot CB 21 [Radyukevich]
23. Vladimir Zanák GK 17 [Hawks Sporting Academy]

[OOC: In case anyone notices something odd, I have moved to a 2 year cycle for the world cup so players from DBC10 are now 2 years older (so more remain in the squad). Also, more detail may follow.]

If my opponent RP's first they can:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Scoring Events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out Yellow cards to my players: Yes (only up to 3 a match)
Hand out Red cards to my players: Yes (no more than 1)
Godmod Other Events: Ask first

[Dancougar]

Once again, the Dancougar Black Wings will enter a team of college all-stars into the Di Bradini Cup. The team prefers to play a 4-4-2 with a +2 style. The probable starters are bolded.

GK Christopher Ellenbee (21 Jr): Shadyside Academy
GK Cody Shaline (20 So): Amada University

D Calvin Diamond (21 Jr): Stanwix College
D Gordon Flicek (19 So): Akasaka University
D Joseph Gleason (20 So): Pleasanton College
D Mikio Hamada (21 Sr): Bremley College
D Nicholas Iacono (20 Jr): Reyes Academy
D Isaac Schmeltzer (20 Jr): Barynsk College
D Stuart Zoltek (19 So): Katya City College

M Lawrence Cardamino (20 Jr): Chastain College
M Niklas Daricek (21 Sr): Dancougar Royal Academy
M Anton Fedorek (20 Jr): Thane College
M Reiji Kanegawa (20 Jr): Randall College
M Ian Mellish (19 So): Berkeley State University
M Takeshi Nishihara (19 So): Amesborough College
M Masashi Ueshima (20 Jr): Seanor City College
M Clinton Weissler (21 Sr): Chastain College

F Ken Antonovich (20 Jr): Shadyside Academy
F Shannon Brookhouse (20 Jr): University of Shiba at Grandborough
F Johan Hledek (20 Jr): Schwartzer College
F Ichiro Okita (19 So): University of Shikibu
F Chad Oliverio (21 Sr): University of Zorbados

[New Montreal States]

New Montreal Presse-Journal Devoir - We refuse to go gently into that cold night

BABY PALADINS RETURN TO U21 ACTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GOD KNOWS HOW LONG

Roster to contain starters, reserves; team to have manager, assistants

The Ministry of Morale is pleased to announce the return of the NMS Paladins to the international footballing scene. In the words of Ministry spokeswoman Paulette D'Abelard: "Excuse me, I had too much to drink last night." A press release was handed out listing both the players and the managers for the Baby Paladins' U21 side as it prepares to compete in the 11th Di Bradini cup. D'Abelard also commented on this: "A Di Bradini Cup? That's three parts gin, one part extra dry vermouth, one part Limonicello, shake it all up and BLEEEEEAAAAGH." The conference then ended in a torrent of particularly odoriferous vomit, but our copy of the roster didn't get too badly splattered. The locations of players' high schools are provided in parentheses, if the location isn't already part of the name. Forthwith, the NMS Baby Paladins:

Modifier (if such things are being used here): +1
Formation: The Paladins play a 2-6-2 at all levels of competition.
Kits: JMC is still working on those. Home is light blue and silver, road is light blue, navy blue, silver AND gold. (Fancy)
Home Stadia: The Paladin Dome, New Montreal. The current iteration of this Metrodome-style Teflon-roofed, air-supported beauty holds 155,000 fans. Very quiet when it's quiet, very loud when it's loud.
Opponents may do whatever they please should they RP first, only don't kill the strikers, I've got plans and such for them.

MANAGER: Albion Cartwright, assistant manager, NM Patriotes - Considered a cinch for the next managerial vacancy to open in the NMSFL, Cartwright was handed this job mostly because no standing manager felt like "babysitting" for the duration of the tourney. Coming from a 3-5-2 formation at the Patriotes, he might have problems adapting to the 2-6-2 ordained by the Ministry of Morale.
ASSISTANT MANAGER: Quinton MacDougal, who claimed to be a former player for the nation of Soundgardia, which 1) was actually a city in Audioslavia and 2) hasn't existed for a number of years. Still, nobody else wanted the gig, so he was taken on.

GOALTENDERS: 00 Bartholomew Oates (A), age 18, unsigned
14 Pierre Cournois, age 16, Academie des Beaux-Arts de Philémon
5 Sandy Brault, age 18, CF Ville-Marie, on loan to Bloomington Gemmers

Oates is the first black player to suit up for the Paladins on any level (not because of racism, but because the States have a limited number of blacks.) His solid all-around game has made him the premier free agent on the market in the NMSFL. Cournois has an impressive wingspan but not much in the way of instincts.

DEFENDERS: 80 Dennis Flaherty, age 17, Frog's Academy (New Montreal)
20 Jules Thivierge-Aubain, age 20, Dorion Poules[/b]
90 Mathieu Lagardie, age 20, CF Valdemont
4 Frédéric Monpetit, age 19, Alliance New Antioch

Flaherty and Thivierge are a pair of bruisers who would be more at home on a rugby field or a hockey rink. Expect physical play and more than a few yellow cards. Look for Cartwright to use the speedier and less temperamental Lagardie should either of his starters draw a yellow.

MIDFIELD: 11 Louis Saint-Orthel (C), age 20, NM Patriotes
13 Fabrice Thibault, age 18, Poly Lavallette-St. Charles
19 Andrew Cunningham, age 18, Holy Apostle Thaddeus of the 70 Mission School (Gertrude's Knoll)
31 Denis Pierrard, age 19, Repentigny War Eagles
32 Joe Tet, age 20, Alliance Athlétique d'Angiers
49 Bertram Wooster, age 18, Moncton Sands Coyotes
2 Alex Kirk, age 15, Perchester Academy
3 Benny Saunders, age 17, École Secondaire Cité-Venoir
18 Théodore Cournois, age 20, Dragons Noirs de Sorel
42 Rémy Beauchamp, age 19, Université de Sorel
45 Chris Gathers, age 19, CF Valdemont, on loan to S-A West End
56 Ralph Fox, age 16, Academie St-Jacques (Ville-Marie)

The midfield is the bread and butter of any Paladins team, and this field is still very much a work in progress. St-Orthel is a certified genius (IQ 161) and will be expected to captain but his passing instincts are still shaky, never a good sign in a field quarterback. Thibault has good speed and good defensive instincts and will be dropping back almost to a sweeper spot to protect whatever leads the Paladins luck into. Cunningham and Pierrard will be holding down the wings, while Tet will be channeling passes forward to Wooster and the strikers. The gifted but very young Alex Kirk will be expected to log significant minutes off the bench (probably at Tet's expense,) and might even start a couple of matches.

STRIKERS: 7 Christophe Cornell, age 17, NM Patriotes
10 Édouard Vedère, (penalties) age 18, St. James Seagulls
13 Bob Braffert, age 19, Université Sirrard
99 Yves Tenoir, age 18, Moncton Sands Coyotes, on loan to Summit Mountaineers

Cornell and Vedère are already drawing comparisons to the Gilles Villeneuve/Hubert Labranche tandem that put the Paladins on the map in WCs 25-28. Cartwright will be running most of the offense towards Cornell getting his shot. Vedère is mentally tougher, though, and will be taking the penalty shots for the Baby Paladins.

[Cafundeu]

CCFM RELEASES ANOTHER LIST OF UNKNOWN PLAYERS
TO PLAY ANOTHER U-21 COMPETITION

Style: Very Offensive

Here is the list of 23 players (number-name [age, team, rating]):

Use the BOLDED names of my players, but not in all capitals, when RPing

Goalkeepers:

1- FELIPE Aramis McCosten (20, Internacional de Penderia, B)
12- CLESTON Castanheira Figueira (19, Cruzeiro do Sul, B)
22- HÉLIO Lopes Carioteno (20, Cafundó do Juta, C)

Full-Backs:

2- JULIANO Mello Paixão (21, Porto Lacruz, A)
6- BRUNO Carvalho PINTO (20, Atlético Jutense, B)
14- Celso Fábio Willians MESQUITA (20, SC Lasft, C)
16- NELSINHO de Paula (19, São Jorge, B)

Defenders:

3- Teotônio de Azevedo "TETEO" (19, Rio Bonito, B)
4- Carlos Alberto SALVADOR (20, SC Lasft, B)
21- Fábio Soares David "NENÊ" (18, Petardos S/A, C)
13- VÍTOR Sorrah MARTINS (21, Clube Imperial, B)

Defensive Midfielders:

5- Nico LEWTON (19, Serrano, A)
8- DIEGO Rennin Durval (20, Clube Imperial, B)
15- MARCO AURÉLIO Braga Santimônia (18, Atlético Jutense, B)
20- Gabriel Quirmenes "PINGO" (21, Internacional, C)

Offensive Midfielders:

7- RUBIANO de Paula Castañeda (19, Atlético Jutense, A)
11- ADAMÍLSON Pedra Júnior (20, Engenheiro Peres, A)
19- Derlei Frizzi DA COSTA (19, Serrano, B)
23- MÁRIO MOURA (17, Galáxia, C)

Attackers:

9- WELTON Castanhal (20, Metropolitano, B)
10- César Valtan GUTIÉRREZ (21, São Jorge, A)
17- Plínio Marçal "GNOMO" (21, América, B)
18- RUDINEI Couto Antunes Moura (18, SC Lasft, B)

Coach: Waldenyr Caldas (Porto Lacruz)

Formation (offensive 4-4-2):

------------------------------Felipe------------------------------
-----Juliano--------Salvador----------Teteo-------Bruno Pinto-----
-----------------Diego-------------------Lewton-------------------
----------Adamílson------------------------------Rubiano----------
-------------------------Welton-----Gutiérrez---------------------

Kits:

(home)
(away)
(third)

[Newmanistan]

Newmanistan’s biggest Di Bradini Cup battle will have nothing to do with other countries that are involved.

It is Newmanistan vs Newmanistan......The Battle Lines are drawn:

Di Bradini Cup 11 vs Oxen Cup 12

Nelson Yaschter vs Jeremy McAllister

Prize for the winner: Coaching the World Cup 48 qualifying roster.

Rules: No player may serve on both rosters. Manager who takes their team further in their respective tournament is the winner, with no exceptions. The candidates are aware of what is at stake. In the event of each team getting to an identical point they will have a head-to-head penalty kick battle in Tundra Falls.

Nelson Yaschter has been assigned the Di Bradini Cup roster, and Jeremy McAllister the Oxen Cup roster. This is mainly due to the presence of Jeremy McAllister, Jr on the Oxen Cup side.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but only say they were hurt. I will determine the severity.
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, but no more then one more that you give yourself.
Godmod other events: TG your idea for approval first, and only with said approval, if given.

**** COACHING STAFF ****

Name: Nelson Yaschter (Head Coach)
Age: 65
Club Team: None
Bio: Took over the head coaching position midway through qualifying for World Cup 45, and led the Rockets on one of their traditional second half charges, going 5-1-1 down the stretch. If only that was good enough. He did, however, lead the nation to the Cup of Harmony 37 title, then led Newmanistan to their first World Cup Proper in #46. All was going well until the epic choke jon in #47.

Name: Nate Stratton (Assistant Coach)
Age: 45
Team: Springfield Thoroughbreds
Bio: Led Springfield to the most recent NPL championship. Has no international coaching experience, but did play on some early World Cup rosters as a defender. Coached the Rockets in Cup of Harmony 39.

Name: Nick Baldwin (Assistant Coach)
Age: 72
Team: Tundra Falls Mariners
Bio: Long-time coach in Tundra Falls, but has never been on any international staff until serving as an assistant to Stratton in Cup of Harmony 39.

**** STARTING LINEUP ****

Name: Anthony Baldwin
Position: GK
Age: 19
Jersey #: 1
Club Team: Daytopia Racers
Bio: In a surprising move, Baldwin becomes the starter, edging out Stanley Salone who was supposed to be the “next big thing” and is still eligible. Baldwin recently moved up to the NPL from the B league to Daytopia, and was impressive in his jump up. This is seen as the likely reason for him surpassing Salone.

Name: Christina Schubert
Position: LB
Age: 19
Jersey #: 3
Club Team: Southport Tigers
Bio: Hard-working defender and relies on her awareness. Conservative and consistent, but definitely not soft. Performed admirably as a substitute in Di Bradini 10, and is now ready to start full-time for the time.

Name: Shawn O’Connell (*** TEAM CAPTAIN ***)
Position: LCB
Age: 21
Jersey #: 4
Club Team: Tundra Falls Mariners
Bio: Making his second Di Bradini appearance, Shawn’s stock in Newmanistan is rising rapidly, and is part of a very impressive young group of defenders that now play in Tundra Falls. Shawn is very competitive and hates losing with a passion. Some call him a bit of a perfectionist, in good taste.

Name: Brian Sweeney
Position: RCB
Age: 20
Jersey #: 7
Club Team: Southport Tigers
Bio: A teammate of Schubert’s, Southport also has a promising young group of defenders. Brian is an aggressive defender who loves to take chances as well as make runs up the field at will. He also starts for the first time after being a substitute four years ago.

Name: Ken Bedwell
Position: RB
Age: 18
Jersey #: 2
Club South Tier Seagulls
Bio: A player to watch. He’s an aggressive youngster, with incredible muscle mass for his young age. Nelson Yaschter was aware of him four years ago and had him as a reserve to get a taste of international play when he was 14. Likely the best homegrown player South Tier has developed in over a decade and a half.

MIDFIELDERS:
Name: Jarred Halsey
Position: LM
Age: 16
Jersey #: 9
Club Team: Pittstown Miners
Bio: Making his Di Bradini debut, Halsey inherits our famous “Prescott spot”. No more Prescott’s are eligible, but Jarred has idolized the famous family and will try to play much the same way.

Name: Andy Durham
Position: CAM
Age: 16
Jersey #: 8
Club Team: Pocono Lake (B League) on loan from Pocono City Capitals
Bio: The depth of the Capitals allows them to develop Durham patiently in the B League, and it looks to be paying off. Andy has good strength while in control of the ball, making him tough for defenders to take one-on-one, and he packs a lot of power in his shot. His accuracy is improving with his stint in the B league.

Name: Andrew Carrion
Position: CDM
Age: 20
Jersey #: 14
Club Team: Fairfield City Admirals
Bio: A steady two-way midfielder who is also quite physical, so look for him to get his share of bookings. He appeared on the Di Bradini roster four years ago as a substitute, and as the veteran of this midfield group, he’ll be looked at in a leadership role as well.

Name: Mike Houston
Position: RM
Age: 17
Jersey #: 19
Club Team: Portsmouth Whalers
Bio: A player who came out of no where, signing with the then B-League Whalers as a depth player before becoming one of their top players at a young age and eventually getting them promoted. Consistent player who will win most battles for headers.

STRIKERS:
Name: Ryan McAllister
Position: LS
Age: 16
Jersey #: 18
Club Team: Serrano (Cafundeu)
Bio: This is where the Yaschter vs McAllister competition is interesting, because Yaschter is going to have to depend on Ryan to be one of his leading scorers. Ryan is Jeremy’s second son (he doesn’t have any more), who signed very early in Cafundeu with a desire to make his own name for himself instead of following in his father’s footsteps. Proving that, he is not wearing the familiar McAllister #20, instead opting for his number with Serrano. Because of this, Ryan is expected to play as hard for Nelson as he would his father. If not harder.

Name: Michael Bosler (*** ALTERNATE CAPTAIN ***)
Position: ST
Age: 21
Jersey #: 16
Club Team: Olympia Gladiators
Bio: Michael is everything you want in a forward. He’s smart, tall, and plays with great awareness. He’s tough and speedy, and has a good shot. This makes him a player to watch and has improved his consistency quite a bit from when he appeared on this roster four years ago as a substitute.

**** SUBSTITUTES ****

Name: Stanley Salone
Position: GK
Age: 20
Jersey #: 21
Club Team: Rushville Monarchs
Bio: Scouts are impressed first and foremost with his awareness, he plays like someone much older, and won’t often get beat up high unless you place it perfectly. Yaschter is impressed with his composure. After starting in Di Bradini 10, this is certainly a step back, but hopefully it will motivate, and not discourage him.

Name: David McGinnis
Position: CB
Age: 17
Jersey #: 6
Club Team: West Loudon (B League) on loan from Loudon Leopards
Bio: David might have a way to go before he can become a regular on a team such as the Leopards, though he will eventually find a role somewhere. He is a defensive minded player who prefers to make the safe play all the time, and thus will rarely be on highlight shows.

Name: Steve McKnight
Position: CB
Age: 14
Jersey #: 5
Club Team: Centralia Town (B League) on loan from Centralia Cougars
Bio: Even in Newmanistan, it is rare for 14-year olds to be anything but a reserve on a Di Bradini roster, so the fact that Steve is already a substitute shows how excited Centralia and Yaschter are towards him. Of course, being signed by Centralia at 14 should alone show how much talent he has since they are known for continuously producing top of the line defenders.

Name: Josh Dineen
Position: MID
Age: 21
Jersey #: 13
Club Team: Rushville Monarchs
Bio: Listed as a midfielder, Josh will play any position except keeper as he is very versatile. He’s not flashy, and quite conservative, but at the end of the day, he’s also reliable. Appeared four years ago as a reserve.

Name: Alex Coyle
Position: MID
Age: 21
Jersey #: 12
Club Team: Springfield Thoroughbreds
Bio: Another great weapon that Springfield has in the middle, Alex is a little more raw then Scott Trainor, so he is not ready to start right now. The Thoroughbreds would like to see him bulk up a little as well, and expect that he will. He was a sub four years ago as well.

Name: Eric Audette
Position: ST
Age: 19
Jersey #: 17
Club Team: Harrison (B League) on loan from Brighton
Bio: Known for some crazy celebrations after goals, as he grows up his coaches are trying to get him to ease up a little. He’s begun too a little bit, but still may get carried away sometimes. He won’t blow by defenders with speed, but he’s very creative in maneuvering around them. He was a reserve four years ago.

Name: Edward Zimmerman
Position: ST
Age: 20
Jersey #: 11
Club Team: West Penthoria Marlins
Bio: Despite his age, this is his Di Bradini Cup debut. Edward was a late bloomer, but in the last couple years his productivity has increased, benefitting from West Penthoria’s promotion to the NPL from the B League.

**** RESERVES ****

Name: John Sherrick
Position: GK
Age: 15
Jersey #: 22
Club Team: Silver Lake (B League)
Bio: Not necessarily being groomed to become a starter in Di Bradini 12, right now the pipeline for young goalkeepers is a little thin behind the top two, and he is seen right now, as being the best of the rest that are eligible.

Name: Kevin McEntee
Position: CB
Age: 16
Jersey #: 23
Club Team: Bradford Town (B League) on loan from Springfield Thoroughbreds
Bio: Consistent all-around defender, though has a tendency to get booked more often then Springfield would like, and thus is being developed further in the B League.

Name: Ashley Nicholson
Position: MID
Age: 14
Jersey #: 10
Club Team: Rockland (B League) on loan from Putnam Lake Eagles
Bio: A very raw prospect, Ashley possesses great speed and a great nose for the net, but still can disappear at times, too. Of course, she is young, and Putnam Lake is confident that she will develop. So is Nelson Yaschter, who gives her this spot.

Name: Matt Kowalski
Position: ST
Age: 16
Jersey #: 15
Club Team: Nashua (B League)
Bio: One-dimensional scorer who thrives in the B League right now. It is questionable if he can make it in the NPL or not given that he pretty much is only useful in the attacking zone when he has the ball. If he develops, though, watch out.

[Palmouth]

As this is our first event, we put our strongest under 21 team to the test:

Goalkeepers
#1. Jackson Edwards
#99. Muhammed King
Defenders
#3. Eddie James
#5. David Cookson
#6. Liam Cookson
#12. Vincent Brown
#33. Harry Laria
#25. Robert Indie
Midfielders
#4. Liam Cox
#7. Owen Carlton
#8. Simon Beckenbuer
#17. Tony Waterball
#21. Matthew London
#87. Alex Parker
Strikers
#9. Liam Ball
#10. Owen Ball
#54. Johanthon Ping
#14. Ugo Jugos
#76. Liam Violet

[Akbarabad]

Akbarabad team:

The starters
#1 Tariq Iqbal - (GK)
#2 Mahmud Jafar - (DR)
#5 Naveen Azam - (DL)
#3 Samir Akbar - (DC)
#4 Adil Ahmed -(DC)
#6 Khaled Alam -(ML)
#8 Rezwan Akbar -(MR)
#7 Zulfiqar Khan - (MC)
#11 Rashid Hossain -(AMCL)
#9 Tanvir Abbas - (ST)
#10 Sohail Rahman –( AM/F)

Substitutes bench:
#12 Mohammed Akram (GK)
#13 Hamid Rashid (DC)
#14 Lutfur Rahman (DC/L/R)
#15 Zeeshan Abbas (ST)
#16 Mohammed Karim (MC)
#17 Naim Islam (MC/L/R)
#18 Kamrul Hassan (DMC)
#19 Saad Hashim (AMCLR)
#20 Farhan Akbar ( DL)
#21 Khairul Hossain (MC)
#22 Nasir Ashraf (ST)
#23 Igor Komarov (GK)

I Give My Opponent Permission to:
Choose My Scorers y
GodMod Any Goalscoring Events y
Yellow Card Players y

Everything else n

style modifier: +2

[Starblaydia]

OOC: The Seeds, Pots, Groups and Group Schedule are up.

[Taeshan]

X Island Inquirer

What a difference a year makes. Two years ago the Lil' Purple Knights U21 Soccer Team was going down in a spiraling funnel. Now after a great year led by team Captain Jamie Spenser they are ranked number 10 in the world. Sure the competition is not as big as the World Cup itself, but the Lil' Knights have pulled back to the top ten and are looking to make yet another impactfull year on the tournament. Led by top scorer Kyle Longwaters the Knights finished in the top of their Group last year, but lost the Round of Sixteen Game, this year they look to be an even better team due to expirience and will possibly make a run for the trophy.

But not if the 6 other teams in their Group have anything to say about it. The Knights will face the Top Ranked Candelarian squad, number 7 Yafor 2, wsho the Knights surpassed in the Group round lasy year, and 4 Unranked squads from the nations of Twii, Akbarabad, Las Lisque, and the former International side New Montreal States. The Group will be an interesting one to watch, but with the top four moving on from what is known as Group B i think the Knights will easily make it to the next round. The top four being the Candelarian, followed by the Knights, the Yaforites, and most likely Akbarabad.

Schedule
Matchday 1 VS Akbarabad
Matchday 2 VS Bye
Matchday 3 VS Twii
Matchday 4 VS Las Lisque
Matchday 5 VS New Montreal States
Matchday 6 VS Candelaria and Marquez
Matchday 7 VS Yafor 2

The Knights will star tthe year off playing Akbarabad with a bang. They should win it, but if they don't they'll have a week to lick their wounds. Week three and four should be easy wins, with week 5 a little bit harder, but most likely still a win. The final two games will be the big ones. Candelarai will be the toughest of the season, most likely a loss, and then they close with Yafor 2 in what will be perhaps the biggest game. The winner will finish second in the group the loser left to the elements. I think the Knights will win it too, but th eYaforites will look for revenge afte last years failure. Overall it will be a very good season.

[Sargossa]

The Island Chronicle


Foes New, Old & Well Old

The FSS delegation at the Di Bradini Cup group draw in Jhanna looked like they were enjoying themselves. And why not? Plenty of booze available. Plenty of cleavage on show. From all the sparkly dressed lovelies serving said booze obviously. Not the FSS delegation. Thankfully. And Sargossa in the same pot as the world’s number one side and Di Bradini host nation Starblaydia. That was particularly pleasing. Not only because it meant the two could not face each in the group stage, and the mauve menace are always a good one to avoid, but also because it showed the Sargossan Under-21 side to be ranked on a par, marginally higher in fact, that the youth system that produced the current senior world champions. Happy days indeed.

The hosts found themselves dropped into Group A and face a tantalising clash with a returning nation from sporting antiquity, Total n Utter Insanity. The host of the very first Under-21 tournament. Oh and twenty more tournaments after that. There were some other nations in there too I guess but we’re far more interested in Group B as that’s where our own mighty mini Corsairs have shipped up. And facing them will be some familiar, and mostly pronounceable, names. First in their sights will be Cafundéu, home of probably the largest domestic league in the known cosmos. Cafundéu are formidable opponents at senior level but oddly enough their Under-21 side is not so hot. The two nations clashed two years ago with Sargossa emerging with a 2 – 1 win. After a well earned rest day, presumably from scoring all those goals in the first match, it’s The Weegies who arrive next. Another nation from the dusty old record books, World Cup VII in fact. Bear in mind we recently competed at the 39th Cup of Harmony. Now consider that The Weegies reached the final of CoH numero uno. They’re that old. Hopefully they play like it too. A win over new boys Deleclava is a must for any side with aspirations of making it into the knockout rounds and then comes . . . argh it’s them again! Swartaz, the nasty little nation who cost Sargossa a place at the World Cup itself. A win here is a must too because . . . well it just is, ok. Particularly with top seeds The Macabees lurking around the corner. Home to perhaps one of the strongest domestic league structures around, The Macabees fans are now seeing it start to bear fruit at international level. They fancy their chances and a repeat of the 1 – 1 draw two years ago would do nicely. Finally comes Cassadaigua, a nation noted for its sporty and blog happy sportswomen. That’s right, a team of girls. Stop giggling at the back.

Our chances? Well four sides advance and we're the third seeds. So no problem. Right?

[Quintessence of Dust]

THE EXCEPTIONAL ELEVEN: ADVENTURE AT SMUGGLERS' COVE

Chapter One: The Strange Man and The Friendship Whistle

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer

Funding cuts sees DBC team axed

"Reorientation of sports resources" in preparation for the coming Summer Olympics has seen football, whose popularity is on the wane, receive a drastically reduced allocation for the coming financial year. With an expensive Cup of Harmony campaign behind them, the decision by the Department of Sport has forced the QFA to cancel its planned participation in the Di Bradini Cup in Starblaydia. It would have been the first time the nation tested its Under-21 strength at the international level, and with university football traditionally viewed as stronger than that of the Not-Really-Very-Premier League, it is a major blow to the nation's dwindling footballing hopes.

"There's no denying we're very, very disappointed," said QFA Chair Derek Drake. "We thought having a Secretary of Sport from a football background would help us, but now it looks like it's working against us, as [Secretary Cynus] tries to avoid accusations of favouritism." Director of Development Jeremy Dixon resigned in protest at the decision: the nation's first international manager, he was expected to lead the Under-21 squad. He denied rifts between the QFA and the Department of Sport, however: "We can't afford everything we want, that's a sad fact. The issue here should really be Congress's lack of vision for the future of Quintessential sports."

Perhaps most gutted by the decision will be Goshinho, the enigmatic New Cleethorpes striker of Brazilian-Icelandic descent. He was expected to captain the Under-21 team, having featured in the nation's most successful tournament since its very first Baptism of Fire, reaching the semi-finals of the 39th Cup of Harmony having beaten historical rivals Northern Bettia and Somewhereistonia. The team lost to Secristan in the third place playoff having been knocked out by Akbarabad.

The funding reallocations are proving controversial, with many sceptical that minority sports are worth the investment while national favourites rugby and field hockey struggle to hold onto audiences. Only ice hockey and winter sports regularly draw profitable attendances, leaving the summer barren for sports fans. Now, with the Summer Olympics on the horizon, fringe sports are receiving significant boosts. And while some - such as swimming and cycling - are proving popular, many question certain others, most notably the newly founded National Centre for Table Tennis Excellence, despite the country only having one table tennis player.

The move is also an embarrassment for Quintessence of Dust's relationship with the World Cup Committee, who almost suspended the nation's membership after failing to properly release a full World Cup 47 roster until the very last day of qualifying. Having declared their intention to compete in the Cup, the withdrawal could see the team automatically forfeit all games, which would have the further effect of damaging future teams hopes if funding levels for football are ever raised.

The faces around the campfire were solemn. Even Johnny Chipmunk's harmonica playing had been reduced to a low, slow drone.

"This isn't on," declared Charlie, as he swatted flies away from the electric lamp.

"What does...'reorientation' mean?" asked Li Na, turning her leg-of-yak slowly in the fire, the meat still red and tender.

"It means...do you remember when they decided not to build the Olympics in Nowy Orpington, and so we couldn't afford the cancer hospital?"

The children nodded sadly, casting many a forlorn glance to an empty berth between Rachel and Sally. "So Emily had to go to heaven."

"That's right. Well, that was a 'reorientation of resources'."

The children murmured and shook their heads. Behind them, the bushes trembled lightly in the woods, Antje huddling nearer to David lest there be more reorientations lurking in the undergrowth.

Lee stood up, scowling, his small, chubby features glowing in the flickering firelight. "It's not fair!"

"Now, Lee," said Sam, easing Alicia off her knee for a moment. "Calm down: sometimes life gives us lemons. And what do we have to do when life gives us lemons?"

"Grind the peel into a low-carb nutrient paste," chanted the children in unison.

"That's right."

Sam shivered slightly. She hadn't signed up for this when she'd agreed to join Boys & Girls & Non-Gender Specific Young (Not That There's Anything Wrong With Being Old, Either) People of Quintessence of Dust (the organization formerly known as "Boys and Girls of Quintessence of Dust" until this was ruled hate speech by an appeals court). Still, with The World Assembly project collapsing in ruins and Quintessence of Dust set to withdraw, there was precious little for her to do.

Of course, as a prospective Olympic swimmer herself, she was hardly in a position to criticise the cuts. Still, she silently agreed with Lee, who, all of 8, had it right: it really wasn't fair. Who were young people going to look up to if they couldn't watch teams of young players coming together in sporting competition? BGNGSYNTTAWWBOEPOQoD actually had its roots in this: it was founded as an organization to help young people who lived in cities get access to sporting facilities, in the time before sporting clubs became government-funded.

Once she left the Navy she'd signed up as an Assistant Scout in BGNGSYNTTAWWBOEPOQoD - which she herself had been a member of when a child. But now she was in her late 20s, and she increasingly found herself out of touch with the young children of today. She had to get her life in order - she had to find a job. And instead, here she was in some secularity-forsaken forest in Starblaydia, roasting marshallows and mostly dead yak in a campfire. Johnny Chipmunk began playing Kum By Yah.

"You're oppressing me," said Lee in a quiet voice. Johnny stopped, and tried to think what secular tunes he knew. Most of them were quite rude, and Sam tended to get angry with him when this happened. The age gap notwithstanding, this made him terribly upset, for like every male member of the Pouch, he was deeply in love with Sam and some day would live with her in a castle, with a moat and drawbridge and a multicultural, representative assortment of castlepeople.

"Well, I think it's getting pretty late, so maybe it's time we helped one another put up our tents, and got to bed. But what do we have to do first?"

"Put out the fire and make sure all burning embers have been doused." Another unison chant.

"And what else?"

"Check for bees and insects in our beds?"

"Well, bees are insects, but yes, that's right."

The children knew this, but answered with a great, Ohhhhh, as though they had just been given the key to the pyramids' secret. Tired, and rubbing sooty eyes with balled-up fists, they went off in pairs to put up the tents while Antje, Jessica and Coralie spread a fire blanket over the fire. Alicia had gone to sleep on Sam's knee, so she carried her over to her tent on the far side - when a strange man stepped out of the clearing.

Sam stepped back in alarm, and her hand shot to her stapler, though she avoided shouting, so as not to scare the children. The man was actually not much taller than she was, and covered head to foot in mud and grime.

"Please, please help, please I need time."

"The...time?" She'd been assured Starblaydia would be a nice, safe country to pick for the annual Pouch retreat. Where was Lupo? He should be back by now.

"No, I am needing time."

"It's...well I'm afraid I don't have a watch. But it's really very late." She thought the Starblaydians would speak English better than this - the ones she'd met so far had. The man assumed a pained expression, as though trying to give birth to small badger. She cast a nervous eye around. Lupo?

*THWACK*

He went down like a sack of potatoes, a half-strangled yelp fading into unconsciousness. On the ground, he looked even smaller. Behind him stood Lupo, wielding a softball bat with grievous intent.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine - what's going on?"

"I don't know. I just got back, and saw him bothering you. Look, I told you it wasn't safe here."

"It's fine, and he wasn't bothering me." She gave him a dirty look, and bent down to examine the small, bleeding individual. "Sir! Sir? Are you ok?"

"I can hit him again if you like?"

"That's your answer to everything! Oh, the car won't start, let's hit it. Oh, the yak won't die, let's hit it. Oh, you're having a 'problem in bed', would I try hitting you. Enough hitting, Lupo."

"Is it like my problem in bed?"

Sam turned round, horrified. Antje stood behind her, looking up with large green eyes. "Because it's been three nights now, and Jessie says if I can last a whole week she'll sleep in the same tent as me."

"No, my problem is a...little different."

"You can say little again."

"What was that, Samantha?"

Antje giggled - she liked it when Lupo and Sam fought. Maybe Sam, who was acknowledged by all the girls in the Pouch to be a harpie queen bitch whore slut vampire with admittedly great style, would leave him and they could have him all to themselves, and tear his clothes off in a 'ravenous pit of ecstasy' - she'd heard her great grandparents use this phrase before, and it had stuck in her mind. Antje looked at Lupo, and giggled again.

"Antje, go back and fold up your sleeping bag. You can sleep in my tent tonight if you're a good girl."

Lee appeared, to see what the fuss was about. By now, the man was up on his knees, groaning and rubbing his swollen head. The congealing blood was hard to pick from the encrusted muck in the dim forest light. Lee gasped.

"Mr Goshinho!" He leapt forward before Lupo or Sam could stop him, hugging the man around the shoulders. Lupo mouthed a 'what?' to Sam.

"Hello," said Goshinho.

"...hello?" said Sam.

"I need time."

"YOU WANT US TO BE IN YOUR TEAM!?" yelled Lee excitedly, immediately bringing the other children running.

"No no no, wait a minute..."

"Yes, yes, time."

"I think he was saying 'team', not 'time'," Lupo informed Sam, who returned a look that would freeze the testicles off a woolly mammoth.

"Excuse me, sir? Sir, what are you doing out here? No, no, children, back off, back off, give him some space."

They continued to prance around the football star, who stood barely a head higher than the tallest of them. He looked dazed, but he extended a shaking hand to shake Sam's arm. "I am leaking for team."

Sam had no choice - she blew the Friendship Whistle. At once, the children stopped running round, and formed up in a neat line, paying careful attention not to segregate themselves but to mingle as a multicultural entity of life. "Children, all of you, go back and finish putting in your guy-and-or-gal-ropes, NOW." They marched off, though not at all in a way representing the evils of fascist corporatocracy.

"Sir, sir, I am so sorry my associate hit you over the head. Please accept our apologies."

"Associate? You used to call me your big schnookie bear."

"Sir, please excuse me for a second." She hit Lupo over the head with the softball bat, and he collapsed. "Quoddammit that felt good."

Seeing Lupo - who was 6'4" and over 200 pounds - tumble seemed to cheer Goshinho up a bit, and he came together more. "Yes, thanking you, thanking you, for no problem, no problem. I am leaking for team."

"Yes, sir, but I think you're lost. This is - well, firstly, this is the forest. There is no team here. I'm very sorry."

"No, no. I am finding team here." He beamed proudly.

"...no, no, I don't think you are..."

"I am asking, and they say, no young people." He assumed a mock sad expression. "So I am asking, for young people. They say team here."

"what - us?"

[At this point, you can probably guess how the next 50 lines of hack dialogue go, so instead of writing it out I'll leave it to your imagination. When we rejoin the story, Sam will be speaking to the children about Goshinho's offer: in the meantime, here is a beautiful poem to keep you entertained.

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.]

WHEN WE RETURN!

What is the dark secret of Smugglers' Cove? (It's actually more intuitive than you'd think.) Why does Lady Esmerelda disappear everytime The Grey Lady shows up? Will Sam and Lupo ever get back together, and will it involve mild bondage? Is 'For Grace, After A Party' an even superior work of English verse composition? Find out next time on...THE EXCEPTIONAL ELEVEN: ADVENTURE AT SMUGGLERS' COVE.

[Quintessence of Dust]

Roster post

With no national Under-21 team available, Goshinho (former WC/CoH squad member, still at the tender age of 20) has found a Pouch from the Boys & Girls & Non-Gender-Specific Young (Not That There's Anything Wrong With Being Old, Though) People of Quintessence of Dust, who were hiking in the Starblaydian forests. He convinced them to join his team. These are not just Under-21s, they are a lot under 21 - mostly being pre-teen. Though they like football they are, obviously, not very good, so the team basically consists of him, getting very very tired.

Coaches: Lupo Korainnen & Samantha Benson

The Pouch's two adult helpers, astute observers might remember both names from the Winter Olympics, though for her work at the World Assembly Benson is by far the more famous. She could also go to the Summer Olympics. Lupo is a star downhill skier who bombed out on the men's run in Kelssek after winning the national championship. The two left having had a brief fling, but so far as Sam is concerned this is now flung. Lupo isn't going to let go easily, though his tactics for winning her back leave something to be desired: I don't care if Slayer is his favourite band, it's not a good "standing in the rain with a boombox" choice. He is tall, blonde, and rugged, she is slim and sultry, and the boys and girls and gender-non-specific young people are all completely in love with them, constantly trying to engineer a break-up in the relationship so they can claim them for themselves. If they actually do decisively end things, a couple of tips for prospective suitors: he likes a bit of rough, she's into masks. And razorblades.

Formation: 9-0-1
Goshinho will play centre forward. The children will huddle in defence: if one of them gets the ball, all their friends will immediately crowd round it.

Style modifier: +3 (or whatever is most attacking)
This doesn't reflect aggression so much as terribleness.

Kit: Torsten's goalkeeper outfit is a black hoodie and black jeans. Goshinho will wear the national team kit (black and gold stripes, black shorts). The rest will wear their Pouch uniforms, which are brightly multicoloured to represent diversity.
All the children love sliding in the mud, so if you don't like the idea of playing people wearing different kits: don't worry. They'll all be brown by the end. NO, WAIT, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT! Not that there's anything wrong with...oh, dear...

Goalkeeper

Torsten

Torsten is not actually a member of the Pouch, as he is too old (17). He is Antje's older brother, and was sent along as punishment after coming into school drunk. Though he is very intelligent - exceptionally so, in fact - he is going through a - slightly delayed - phase of adolescent rebellion. He smokes clove cigarettes and reads Camus, dresses in black and drinks Vermouth, and although he is the goalkeeper because he is the only tall person on the team, his skills might be a bit questionable give he will, according to his OurSpace profile, be spending most of his time "getting fucked and listening to Elliott Schmidt".

Defenders

Alicia

The youngest and sleepiest member of the team, Alicia gets tired quite quickly, so she might play early in the game and then go off so that she can take a nap. When playing on defence, she won't pull shirts like adults do, but she might tug the hem of shorts and ask important questions, like where babies come from and whether Japanese people have souls. She likes bears and biscuits, and wants to be a chess player when she grows up, though she doesn't actually know what chess is.

Antje - captain

Already, Antje has taken over as captain. She is the bossiest, most determined, and loudest girl, and wants to be a "rock star or politician" when she grows up. She idolises Antje Zweig, girlfriend of former national team member Michel Marberger and her namesake, and is also even more fiercely in love with Lupo than the rest, so she hates Sam with a passion and wants to prove herself worthy of Lupo's affection by a good performance on the pitch. Her favourite colour "intense", the colour of Lupo's eyes.

Charlie

Charlie is a very sensible, slightly shy boy who nonetheless tends to get a bit too excited at times, and then throw up. He needs to be kept in check or he will run up and down the pitch making aeroplane noises, and will get sick and tired and vomit on your best striker's shoes. That said, he's one of the better players, in that he's a bit more accurate at passing, so if he can pass it to Goshinho he might get some 'assists'. He is also less likely to be booked, unless the referee deems projectile hurling a form of illegal contact.

Coralie

A very dutiful and shy young woman, Coralie will do whatever she is told. (No, not like that, sicko. You are sick. In the head. Seek help.) This means she won't be terribly inventive when she gets the ball, but if they can work out a good play with Goshinho she will execute it flawlessly every time. For this reason, she will take corner kicks. She hates being called Cora or Corey (though is usually too polite to say anything) and is very protective of her long ponytail. When she grows up she wants to be a brain surgeon or a nail technician, so she can really help people.

David

Aside from Torsten, David is the oldest, and he acts like it. He is much more mature for his age than most of the others. Despite this, he is simply not very good at football, and is very short-sighted. He is also asthmatic. As such he might spend quite a lot of time on the bench, reassuring and consoling the younger players if they get upset. He's something of a confidante for Sam and Lupo, who tend to use him to find out what the children are thinking, and apparently he once got to hug Sam for five seconds. The others are very jealous.

Harry

A very naughty boy. Harry will get lots of yellow cards, try to steal things off the referee, and play up if he doesn't get to start. He's not a bad kid, really just acting out for attention, but he is capable of crushing violence now he is just old enough to understand the jokes about his sister (she's quite the ho, evidently). Anyone making fun of him or his family or his favourite band stands to have their toes trod on, nose punched, or arm Non-Specific-Ethnic-Identity Burned. Harry wants to be a pilot when he grows up, though he also has great admiration for crack dealers.

Jessica

Jess is the prettiest girl, which makes the others a bit envious of her, though not as much so as Sam. She is also very cool, acting old for her age, reading glam magazines, doing her hair and nails and wearing jewelry: to her mother's undying horror, she even has a second ear piercing. The hussy! That said, at night she sucks her thumb, and her insatiable pants-lust for Lupo is no less a childish crush than any of the others. On the pitch she can kick the ball quite well, but will avoid contact scrupulously, even if it means kicking the ball to the other team.

Johnny Chipmunk

A perpetual fidget, he is always playing with his harmonica, playing with his toy cars or, increasingly, playing with himself in the angst-soaked nights of early adolescence. Ewwww, 'soaked'. He is the most in love with Sam (though the others would all deny this) and gets really angry if he thinks people are disrespecting her in any way. He's quite fat, though surprisingly fast, and should be the best player, as he really likes football and also wants to impress Sam. He also has a flair for the dramatic, and he wants to be a reality TV contestant when he grows up.

Kira

Kira is a very aggressive little girl who goes around biting people, as well as scratching, kicking, and pulling hair. Her parents sent her off with the Pouch in the hope a bit of outdoor fun would curb her wild behaviour. Thus far, it hasn't worked. That said, in other ways she's extremely well-behaved: sometimes excessively so. If she finds other Pouch members failing to do their chores she will beat them up, and she is appalled that Jessica and Li Na smoke, so much so that she stubs their cigarettes out on them if she catches them.

Lee

Lee's podgy, happy face is instantly recognisable. Even if the team is losing 10-0, he adores 'Mr Goshinho' so much he'll still be grinning. This excitement may not always translate into on-pitch talent, but he will give his absolute all and should not be substituted too much. He is a bit mischievous: though he hates fighting, he will play tricks and pranks, like putting spiders in the girls' hair, itching powder in Johnny Chipmunk's sleeping bag, or cyanide in the town well. Though he wouldn't admit it to the others, he likes Li Na almost as much as Sam.

Li Na

The oldest girl, she is a bit like Jessica in that she acts above her age while not really being that mature. She is obsessed with fashion, music, and celebrity gossip, and she detests all the boys on the team, especially Lee. Doth she protest too much? (Note to self: stop trying to hook up pre-pubescents.) On the subject of pre-pubescence, she is the only girl on the team to need a sports bra when playing, which she is very proud of even if the others mock her for it. She likes drawing pictures of pop stars, making accessories, taking her puppy for walks, and snorting the odd line of powdered MDMA.

Rachel & Sally

Rachel and Sally are twins. Or rather, they're triplets. But when the Nazi cunts of the NS world refused to build a cancer hospital in Nowy Orpington, their sister Emily died of "explosive leukemia", a rare medical condition previously unknown to science. The two twins are now completely inseparable, so they will always be either on the pitch together or not playing, and will always be basically next to one another on the pitch. They have developed an interesting tactic where they run together, 1-2ing the ball between them in a narrow channel, so that they can't be tackled. They also have that weird creepy twin empathy thing (don't say that in front of them) so they can always tell what the other is doing, which is a real pain when it gets to the bathroom break. Rachel wants to be a violinist or an acrobat, and Sally a chimpanzee vet or a spatula repairwoman, so at some point their paths may diverge, but for the moment, they are going to be like two peas in a pod.

Centre forward

Alejandro Guðfinnur Jesus de Souza Björgólfsson, 'GOSHINHO'

For all the hype, Goshinho's international career never quite took off. He scored goals but was erratic, and now, with possibly the last chance to prove himself, he is putting his all into it. His English is very poor, which doesn't matter too much with the children, and he is superbly athletic: a fast sprinter capable of amazing leaps and flips, and possessing enormous stamina, which he will need. He knows every football trick there is to juke it past defenders, he can hit curling shots from 40 yards out, and judge a slide tackle to perfection. Trouble is, there's only one of him.

RP permissions:

Ok, so this entire RP is clearly a complete godmode, and I note all the people who've posted RP permissions in my group have expressly required I ask consent for such - which I haven't. As such, I'm going to supply two different sets of RP permissions:

1. Accept the premise

In this case, the following applies. All goals will be scored by Goshinho, although the odd one might be an assist. Our team will pick up a lot of bookings and injuries, and always use all of their subsitutions; you may book/send-off, injure (non-severely, though given they're so young a bruised knee will be seen as serious) and otherwise discombobulate (though not kill, please, think of the children) anyone except Goshinho, who may only receive yellow cards and will play on regardless of injuries. The same is true for Torsten to a lesser extent. That leaves you 13 children you can injure: if that's not enough, then you might want to check you're not secretly Fred West.

2. Don't accept the premise

In this case, it's up to you. I guess you have to treat it as you would a non-RPing nation - "their centre forward scored", "their right back was booked". I'll try to wait for you to RP first so I can tell what you'd prefer. I know not everyone likes "silly" RPs, so it's fair if you don't want to play a bunch of Scouts.

[Somewhereistonia]

Somesport.som

Alexis Matranus blogs

The lost generation and the Di Bradini Cup

Somewhereistonia has more than its fair share of young talent. Kusnets, Taska, Xentolov, Birsa, Urbsys, Törk, the list goes on. In the spirit of the cup Vilba has again been told to select his team from those who missed selection for the full national team. That means that all of those in that list above were never going to be playing. We have now are the players who are likely to form the second string in the coming years. The players who will yo-yo between the national team and vacation between seasons based around injuries. Even then they will find themselves warming benches.

This is the lost generation of players. The lost team. Whilst one or two will make a name for themselves in the future the bulk of the team will largely be missed by international teams. They will miss the magnificence of the TQCC and even the Globe Cup may be a struggle for some. These are the above average players of the nation. They have managed to get a place here but the top spots are already taken. DBC10 gave any future Eagles manager everything he could possibly need for the next ten to fifteen years. By the time Kusnets career is ending a new generation will have spawned. The players in the current edition of the U21 world cup will be watching from the outside when it comes to the big games.

A few players in the squad stand out as exceptions to this rule. Ulriks Hellat and Jüri Pihl are likely to be the main pairing in the near future for the national team. They have a good future ahead with the current centre-backs for the national team coming close to retirement. They both played in the last edition though. They are a remnant of what may be the golden team when it comes to the under 21s. Ragnar Zaks is an important player for FBK Karrakiv despite his age, but with such high levels of competition for places in the teams fighting for TQCC places and in the national team he may be better becoming a slightly smaller fish in a team abroad if he wants to make a name for himself. As it stands he is an above average player in an average team. Other than that theres only Anto Parrot (who seems to have been purchased in rather erratic circumstances by Candelaria And Marquezan side Radyukevich). Parrot seems to be faced with a long career as the guy who plays when the other first team choices are injured. This is unfortunate for him but that is the case. He just is not at the same level as the other players he has to fight for his place against.

So, onto the newbies. There are a few who could potentially make something of themselves somewhere in the national team, probably with a re jig to accommodate them but it could happen. The Bastinov twins seem to fit this definition. The two wingers come midfielders are excellent at working together across the pitch and have proved dangerous when playing the ball into the box. They have shown wonderful skill in getting past defenders and really becoming a menace. Where is the problem? Well there are two. The first is that Somewhereistonia already has an abundance of fairly young wingers who can do that job even better than the Bastinov twins. Drozdova, Pääbo, Taska, Birsa, Zuokas and others. They have a lot of competition for their places and crucially they have another disadvantage that has put several would be buyers off. They always want to play together. They refuse to move clubs independently outright. No matter the club, no matter the price, they have to move together. They also have to play together, this creates a lot of hassle and extra work for any manager to have to deal with. When there is a lot of competition around, you are not going to be selected if you have such a rigid ask of the manager who may select you. Often there may only be one place available, two players cannot fit in the space for one, at least not comfortably. This is a major issue the two will probably soon have to address. They have to learn to be able to play independently of each other, the sooner the better probably. The longer they stick so close together the more clubs are going to turn away.

The only other player that really interests me is Tõnu Apšenieks. The metalurgs striker has only been used sporadically by his manager but has made an impact. He seems to score goals reliably and fairly regularly. A 10 goals a season man. A backup you can rely upon. Apšenieks may yet find himself a place in the national team. Not a first 11 slot but a first choice backup. Someone who will always be looked upon in times of need. Of course he doesn't have a monopoly of being in this position. Alekna (although slightly older) is in the same position. Not a regular player in the national team but a ready reserve. He has performed exceedingly well in Quintessence of Dust and so he may soon really challenge Zoltoks and the other younger stars for a first team place. Either way, if Apšenieks is to win a place in the first team he has a lot of work to do and a lot of competition to beat.

So, there are a few players of note in the squad for the newest edition of the Di Bradini Cup but the majority will find themselves waiting on the outside, looking for that break, that gap that will probably never come. What does this mean? Well, it certainly doesn't mean that these are bad players, they just aren't the very best. The last DBC team had some good results and both the manager Vilba and this squad will be looking to prove themselves by bettering this mark, they will be looking to achieve what they couldn't do before. Not an easy task but it may not be as hard as it seems. Football in Quintessence of Dust has been hit by some pretty major budget cuts and their team sheet shows. The other teams in the cup don't appear to have the amazing future talent that they have had in the past. This could turn out to be a rather meager tournament as far as furute potential goes. There are of course players like Starblaydian Michael Nix who has proven his abilities as a sturdy centre back for Qasarian Sparta. There is talent here, but it might take a little bit more digging to find than last time. We could all be surprised by some Cafundalese superstar but personally I doubt it this tournament appears to be in the making of running through the motions. Another edition just missing that talent which make the Di Bradini Cup what it is. That piece of magic that makes this cup so special could be lost this time.

So, lets have a look at this cup and what is in it. Candelaria And Marquez and Sorthern Northland were always going to be in the running for this cup. Both seem to have an endless supply of youngsters able to do well at this level. Will they do it again? Probably. Dancougar, the Macabees, Sarzonia, Newmanistan, Yafor 2. All nations with something to prove here but nothing particularly surprising or noteworthy. Good sides with good players maybe capable of a good game or two. This cup is full of them. A few new teams seem to be lurking in the background buck it is unlikely that they will get much more than a thrashing at this tournament. Without managers that at least have some knowledge of international teams they are always going to be lambs to the slaughter. Year after year this will happen. So a fairly un-astonishing set up for the cup. Lets look at what the Eagles have to face in the near future.

First up, Uiri. The Uiric team are relatively unknown and whilst they have proved themselves to be somewhat capable of churning out results they don't appear to either have the ability or drive to cause any major damage to the teams that could do well in this tournament. A good 2-1 win seems on the cards here. Not many goals but a fairly convincing job overall seems likely, but with U21s you can never really tell. On matchday 2 the Eagles face newcomers Tatuape. Expect a big win here. Unless the world turns on its head the new team will be given a fairly good beating. It happens.

Next up, Quintessence of Dust. This nation somehow knocked the Eagles out of the recent Cup of Harmony but until then it may have rung more bells among the rugby fans in Somewhereistonia, with Quodite teams having recently become fairly dominant in the RWCC and Heroes' Cup. The junior team are even now playing children as their under 21 side due to heavy budget cuts. The team seems to be very weak but the prospect of playing against children may be a little off-putting to the professional Somewhereistonian players.

Matchday 4 brings the big game for the group. The Eagles play Sorthern Northland, this is a team we have played a few times before and from last time it appears that Vilba may have worked out how to at least hold this team back. A good draw or a surprising win? Well, lets hope for the win.

The fifth game for the Eagles is against a team called Pljevla. A nation I have no idea of. A big win almost certainly. Pljevla so far have shown very little desire to find out about other nations, prefering to hide their team away in their hotel. That is neither the sporting way to do things nor is it the way to beat other teams. You must understand a team before you can hope to beat it. Next up is matchday seven (the Eagles have a bye on matchday 6). This time it is Newmanistan, a well known team if an underachiever. This will probably be a close match with the quick attacking quality of the Eagles hopefully able to make all the difference in an otherwise fairly even match (despite the Eagles high seeding).

So, the Eagles will probably do fairly well again in this competition, fighting for the top of the group but not expecting much more than to get past this first round. Not the easiest of groups but certainly not one you could label as a group of death. An average result for what I currently think will be a fairly average competition. Don't hold your breath for anything better.