Campionato Esportiva XX: IC thread

[Optima Consortium]

THE OPTIMA CONSORTIUM
Preferred Formation: 4-1-4-1
Style Modifier: -1.5
Playstyle: Defensive solidity is key. The team has been quickly cobbled together out of spare parts and is held together with filthy lucre and string.
Captain: Ngcondebuku Luku

Nobody's sure precisely where the Optima Consortium is from, or where they operate, or what they are, or what they do. But they've hired an extremely capable, if currently disgraced, manager, and a team of lower-league Semar mercenaries looking to make a year's wage in a month (let's be real - two weeks) of tournament football.

Oh well. They're probably innocuous.

Supplied by a generously-imbursed Cloaker, of Nephara.

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers:        Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events:    N
Injure Players:               Y
Godmod Injury Events:         N
Red Card Players:             Y
Yellow Card Players:          Y
Godmod Other Events:          N
=================================

Tactics

First-choice lineup.
Reader hasn't had long to work with her team of mercenaries, so she's put them into the same protocol as her Union side operated under - defensive solidity first, springing counterattacks when possible. The variety of the slightly ill-fitting parts under her command has lead to a rather strange lineup - Henning, a wide midfielder, and Mensah, a natural striker, being roughly converted into wingers. Luku and Johannesberg are Optima's best players - the former a loud, hard-running water-carrier, the latter a quiet, intelligent and towering presence with top-flight aspirations.

Staff
Manager: Althea Reader (BRE)
Asst. Manager: Esperanto Martell

Althea Reader is the disgraced former manager of Northern Union, responsible for a variety of domestic successes and a Globe Cup using disciplined, defensive tactics. She was approached by the Brenecian FA to manage the national team multiple times, each time turning them away. Then came the match-fixing scandal, and now she's here.

Goalkeepers
1 - GK - Marcelo Muskwe - Age 31 - Hallenburg FK (SEM)
12 - GK - Amdy Vieira - Age 22 - FC Sjordsbrik (SEM)
20 - GK - Erik Halssen - Age 27 - Yorligenen (SEM)

Defenders
2 - RB - Franz Eriksson - Age 27 - FC Arkrau (SEM)
3 - LB - Johan Jakobs - Age 25 - Simethagen (SEM)
5 - CB - Omobolanle Kwaku - Age 33 - Lindenshalle-Knutsunde (SEM)
6 - CB - Jakob Johannesberg - Age 23 - FC Arkrau (SEM) - Vice-captain
17 - RB - Morten Kristensen - Age 25 - Brickland Klub (SEM)
19 - LB - Pape Demba Diouf - Age 28 - Molsbik Kadet (SEM)
22 - CB - Jens Mikkelsen - Age 31 - Larstad Town Bay (LDN)

Midfielders
4 - DM - Knud Lahm - Age 32 - Lindenshalle-Knutsunde (SEM)
7 - RM - Lars Henning - Age 28 - FC Slatslo (SEM)
8 - CM - Ngcondebuku Luku - Age 27 - FC Eriksson Island (SEM) - Captain
11 - AM - Jo'lani Mosiweri - Age 24 - FC Eriksson Island (SEM)
13 - CM - Carlo-Jens Mikkelsen - Age 26 - Larstad Town Bay (LDN)
16 - LM - Langa Mlambo - Age 24 - Yorligenen (SEM)
18 - LM - Andreas Kunnel - Age 33 - Hallenburg FK (SEM)
23 - RM - Afolabi Oshoala - Age 25 - FC Eriksson Island (SEM)

Forwards
9 - ST - Johann Linders - Age 22 - Copenbrok South Side (SEM)
10 - ST - Koboye Mensah - Age 24 - FC Eriksson Island (SEM)
14 - ST - Iyioluwa Olusegun - Age 34 - Aadesbrigg Klub (SEM)
15 - ST - Jorgen Bauer - Age 33 - Aadesbrigg Klub (SEM)
21 - ST - Yemi Ayo - Age 28 - Yorligenen (SEM)

[Filindostan]

King and company gave their best in their debut match against Tumbra, one of Esportiva's top teams and one of the finalists in the 78th World Cup. They gave a hell of a fight but ultimately lost to a early second half goal by John Krajewski. One of the strengths of the team was evident in the match - their rock solid defense led by the Empress herself, Dina Satyawan. However, the glaring statistic that was evident in the loss was the lack of chances the team made. Bochog was a marked man in the attacking half of the Pula Garuda, only having a few touches and eventually replaced by Fizzy at the 78th minute.

Despite the loss, King was optimistic that the team can bounce back in their next match against Natanians and Nosts, who managed to get a 1-1 stalemate against Islana Lunigo, one of the dark horses of the tournament. After the match, he received a conference call from the state news agency and promptly accepted the invitation.

FSNA: Hi there King! Good showing in the first match of the national team against Tumbra. Can you tell us what you feel right now?
KT: We hoped we could have gotten a better result against them. We held our ground in the first forty-five thanks to Dina and her backline. I was just frustrated that we cannot give the opportunities to Onyok and Bochog to score against our opponents.

FSNA: Any plan of changing tactics against Natanians and Nosts?
KT: Right now we're looking to move some pieces and trying some new formations. But we cannot tell you right now what plans we have in our next match. We need to make sure that we put up a fight as we will have to win this crucial match. Of course you really want to win.

FSNA: Speaking of the team, can you describe the squad right now?
KT: Well we have a good company here. We have fun times goofing around but most of the time we talk and discuss about team tactics and how can we improve as a team. We just had our first match together and honestly there are still butterflies in our stomachs.

FSNA: Who do you think among the current team who can be a big star someday?
KT: Well after some days of training, I see that we have good youngsters eager to learn and improve their play. I'd say Hasna will be a great player for the flag someday. She has already featured in our rival's starters and she actually gets tips from Farand on playing the winger/left midfield position. That could haunt us in the league though. *giggles*

FSNA: Thanks so much!
KT: OK, I'll be going.

After the call, King went out of his room in the hotel and saw Dina, Fizzy and Domo outside waiting for him.

"Let's eat. I know a place with delicious food. I brought the squad along." Dina said.

---

FID lineup against Natanians and Nosts: Gerry; Enzo, Satyawan(c), Buknoy, Haris; Delos Santos-Strauss, King, Aryanto; Fizzy, Pokemaster, Estong.

[Buyan]

VETERANS SAVE THE JUNIOR HEDGEHOGS

The opening fixture of the Campionato saw the Buyanese take on the illustrious Rotschwarzland, a country that rose to the pinnacles of regional and international football throughout the last decade. Evidently, the opponents had brought a sizable portion of their football-mad population to the Sadijo Nasinal and most were only halfway their ballaja, the local bread roll which can be found on every corner of the street in the vicinity, when they could rise and cheer as Simen Haukland, the surprising debutant completely mistimed his slidetackle in the box and brought down the opposing striker.

In all regular circumstances, one would easily assume that this event after only a handful of minutes could mark the end of all affairs as it opened up an amazing chance for the landslide favourites to open the books for tonight and with an unseen frontline taking the lead for the Hedgehogs, one could not foresee them giving it away afterwards. Up to the scene comes Garon Gularis, the lanky man from Pajukas, who seemed to be the only of the newcomers at the kick-off who knew no fear. It shows the character of Gularis that, contrary to fellow international Bursuk, he never gave up the confrontation with the impeccable Pawel Marciak for the spot between the stakes and showcased exactly why he is a reliable alternative to someone who is not just surviving but excelling a decade in the world’s strongest domestic club competition. With impressive cool and an amazing reflex, he tilted the leather out of the top corner on the penalty and kept the score level.

Bizarrely, it seemed as if Red Blackiland had forgotten to pack an alternative plan on their trip to Mattijana. After ten minutes of scourging pressure, the XIX finalists seemingly forgot to finish it off – alas we shouldn’t forget a long-distance effort from some twenty-five yards out being lifted over the bar by Gularis to keep the scoreboard clean. Something which allowed Buyan to regroup and manage to produce some football for themselves. Although several of the youngsters had an admirable display, including but not listing all Okmiansas and Dobas, it was Valter Isaksson who could claim most praise. Although the remarkable 4-4-2 stood far from the system the Bengtsmark midfield is used to either at his national or domestic side, he quickly adapted and set out the lines straightaway. Isaksson doesn’t shy away from hard work but having three lads in his back who eat miles for breakfast allowed him to prospect his capacities.

It did not lead to a whole range of opportunities, partially due to a visibly nervous Losnedahl, partially because of a fairly solid appearance of the central duo of the Rotschwarzer defence. But with the hour mark just having walked past our watch, the Bengtsmarker demonstrated his skills with two seemingly simple yet genius strokes of the ball. Obviously we will not call him the new Devold – it’s not a burden we’re willing to place on anyone and he himself would claim that he simply wants to be the first Isaksson – but it shows that one does not have to play in an international club to have an international level. The crosspass from Kalle Nordin stood on the border between an actual pass and a desperate clearance but he controlled it on the chest and in one swift movement lifted it over the defence.

For the first sixty minutes, the name of Sam Herbjornsrud had been whispered only a few times. The journeyman who plies his trade in Cosumar is seemingly the exception to the rule with which the selection has been made by Steponas Teriouris. Next to all these young whippersnappers, seeing a man who once debuted in the Top Division next to Slawko Konarski nearly a decade and a half ago seems an anachronism. But the old legs of grandpa Sam were quick enough to simply slice through the back four of Red Blackiland, pick up the leather and lift it over the goalkeeper. A marvellous moment for a man who has seen his darker days abroad as his home nation went through a decade of tyranny – only this year he for the first time could mourn at the grave of his brother, murdered at the hands of the secret police. Returning to West Gundar in Cosumar allowed him to regroup personally and the recognition of his talent by the gaffer, overlooking his age, have given him a second spring. Even before the ball hit the net, Herbjornsrud had nearly jumped into the arms of Teriouris.

Maybe the opposition was equally touched by his tears, possibly the spirit of Herbjornsrud gave all the Hedgehogs that little push in the back. Fact is that they withstood the pressure and as the referee blew the whistle for the last time – or at least for today – the impressive result stood as it was. Three points to open the tournament, Buyan will not leave their return to the stage without a bang.

[Vangaziland]

Vangaziland's last entry in World Cup football was during the season of Baptism of Fire 56 and World Cup 69. They put up the worst season in Vannish international sporting history. The Vannish would score a single win for each tournament, adding a draw in the World Cup. The combined record would be 2 - 1 - 16.

The added insult was the depth to which foreign team criticized their lackadaisical attitudes towards the game. One of the most emphatic denouncers of Vannish football was a coach named Salvador Lino Gonzales who said, "It was pathetic really, it was as if their goalkeeper wasn't even trying to stop the ball, plus they hadn't really stood out in any other matches with their terrible lose streak, and single win." Coach Gonzales would make it to the playoffs, but would be summarily shut out and eliminated.

Although Vangazi sports journalists would criticize the exact wording and grammar of the coach's statement, there was truth to it. Vangaziland did not seem to try very hard on the field. In one term, they had earned a berth on the list of the World Cup's greatest flops.

The Vannish withdrew funding for a WC team and shoveled funds into the International Basketball Championships, culminating in two appearances in the IBC Finals. Top Vannish footballers flocked to New Gazi due to dual-citizenship laws. Imari Lefisse, Uffe Diya and most recently, female middie Carmen Jarlsdottir have helped the African nation earn a rank in the mid-50s.

The story of the terrible season had been forgotten until Vangaziland's entry in the recent edition of the Campionato Esportiva. The dogs in the Vannish sports media would dredge up their own history for the sake of selling stories. The government had a small department that monitored international sports. it organized various leagues and programs including all U-series and even had hands on developing standards for all academic leagues.

That office released a statement when funds for a CE entrance were approved. It dissuaded Vannish journalists from bringing up that season. Rumor has it some network paid a sports network in the allied, but independent nation of Birtonia to report on the old story.

Vannish networks quickly responded with such speed, that the government office immediately brought up claims of bribery and illicit leaking in violation of the edict. Still, the sporting office had little ground to stand on. No true politician or judge would consider enforcing any penalty imposed by the office meant to foster sportsmanship and a positive reputation around Vannish athletes.

The story did create more of a buzz in Vangaziland over the team, leading to ratings for the networks. But the team themselves would have to wear that badge their own Empire tried to hide. The media brought that elephant back into the room.

Still, Vangaziland would show flashes of potential in game 1 of the Campionato.

San Jose Guayabal is arguably one of Esportiva's most established and historic competitors. The Vangazi would stand toe to toe to them, losing by one goal 2-1. They showed poise and a fighting spirit.

The goal would come several minutes after SJG's first score. The Vangazi spread the field, moving the ball around the perimeter. SJG moved into a tough defensive pattern, with every pass being challenged. The ball was sent in. Oskolde won the header. His freestyle skills came into play when he controlled the ball, letting it roll down his chest to the exact spot on his foot he trained it to.

The defender moved towards contact and towards the ball. Oskolde made the quickest cut, throwing off the defender's balance. He was still skilled and moved to tackle again. Oskolde was as strong as he was quick, absorbing the contact and changing the balls direction of the far heel from the defender.

As the ball rotated on backspin, Oskolde used the peripheral vision he developed as a freestyler for what looked like a "no look pass" off his heel. He had enough touch with that part of his foot for the pass to be more accurate and less showboating than it actually was. He spent more time training on these sorts of parlor tricks than playing actual association football. Now he would try to blend the styles.

In the past, this sort of attitude has proven to be the downfall of Vannish soccer. This time Matty Tuusen anticipated such a pass and had sprinted and timed the right run to meet the through ball, draw it towards the keeper and send a shot into the upper right corner of the net.

The team met to celebrate at a corner near the Vannish camera. SJG would score the winning goal and clamp down on defense. Vangaziland still showed more spirit in that one game than they have throughout an World Cup cycle.

The team entered the Campionato Esportiva mainly in the spirit of exhibition and the thrill of the game. They'd also look to start building a new identity for Vannish Football.

[Mattijana]

Apologies for the late cutoff tonight. Scores to come shortly.

Group A
Dandillis 2–3 Copper Cuprum
Mattijana 1–0 Ethane

  Group A                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mattijana                          2   2  0  0    6   2  +4    6
2 Copper Cuprum                      2   1  0  1    3   3   0    3
3 Ethane                             2   1  0  1    1   1   0    3
4 Dandillis                          2   0  0  2    4   8  −4    0

Group B
Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalision  0–2 2nd Brazilian Empire
Brenecia 3–1 Boring Paradise

  Group B                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Brenecia                           2   1  1  0    3   1  +2    4
2 2nd Brazilian Empire               2   1  0  1    3   2  +1    3
3 Boring Paradise                    2   1  0  1    3   4  −1    3
4 Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalision    2   0  1  1    0   2  −2    1

Group C
Buyan 1–0 Optima Consortium
Red Blackiland 3–4 Coldfield

  Group C                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Coldfield                          2   2  0  0    7   5  +2    6
2 Buyan                              2   2  0  0    2   0  +2    6
3 Red Blackiland                     2   0  0  2    3   5  −2    0
4 Optima Consortium                  2   0  0  2    2   4  −2    0

Group D
Vangaziland 5–3 Racing
San Jose Guayabal 1–2 Thalamascia

  Group D                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Thalamascia                        2   2  0  0    3   1  +2    6
2 Vangaziland                        2   1  0  1    6   5  +1    3
3 San Jose Guayabal                  2   1  0  1    3   3   0    3
4 Racing                             2   0  0  2    3   6  −3    0

Group E
Flindostan 2–0 Natanians and Nosts
Tumbra 1–3 Islana Lunigo

  Group E                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Islana Lunigo                      2   1  1  0    5   3  +2    4
2 Flindostan                         2   1  0  1    2   1  +1    3
3 Tumbra                             2   1  0  1    2   3  −1    3
4 Natanians and Nosts                2   0  1  1    2   4  −2    1

Group F
Bongo Johnson 0–2 Ummat al-Haqiqa
Super Llamaland 0–1 Apox

  Group F                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Apox                               2   2  0  0    2   0  +2    6
2 Ummat al-Haqiqa                    2   1  0  1    2   1  +1    3
3 Super Llamaland                    2   1  0  1    1   1   0    3
4 Bongo Johnson                      2   0  0  2    0   3  −3    0

Group G
Goluta 1–0 Fhulgamous Peninsula
Gregoryisgodistan 3–0 Republic of Kaboomlandia

  Group G                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gregoryisgodistan                  2   2  0  0    7   2  +5    6
2 Goluta                             2   1  0  1    3   4  −1    3
3 Fhulgamous Peninsula               2   0  1  1    2   3  −1    1
4 Republic of Kaboomlandia           2   0  1  1    2   5  −3    1

[Natanians and Nosts]

Kits made by:K Kits

Coach:Ion Mihai Torje
Goalkeeper trainer:Márcus Carolus Ioanescu
Psychologist:Mihai Iohann Marques

# name position age height club

1	João Foster	       goalkeeper	25	1,95	The N. Blue Lions
2	Rato Ret	        r. wingback	25	1,80	Notrina Lat F.C.
3	Rômulo Amúlio Silva	centre back	30	1,80	C.C. Blue Warriors
4	Mihai Júlio da Silva	centre back	28	1,83	The N. Blue Lions
5	John Karl Foster	d. midfielder	33	1,85	Duredain Barricade (Askari Union)
6	Laço Tralto	        l. wingback	25	1,80	Notrina Lat F.C.
7	Lucas Lucius Vit	a. midfielder	28	1,83	C.C. Blue Warriors
8	Mihail Heitor Fostar	d. midfielder	22	1,93	The S. Blue Lions
9	Ion Cáius Ademélsson	centre-forward	25	1,75	Rodion F.C.
10	Gabriel Ápio Silva	  striker	24	1,73	The S. Blue Lions
11	Natan Nínnio Gonçalo  	  striker	25	1,77	The N. Blue Lions
12	Xosé Foslio Probo	goalkeeper	27	1,90	S.C. N-City
13	Gheorghe Caius Fostar	centre back	23	1,84	T-natanicus F.C.
14	Caeso York	        wingback	31	1,72	Portsmouth F.C. (Cosumar)
15	Marcos Tarquínio Ivanov	centre back	23	1,88	N-City F.C.
16	Ion Victor North	l. wingback	22	1,76	T-natanicus F.C.
17	João Márcus Munteanu	a. midfielder	20	1,80	T-natanicus F.C.
18	Austin Mihai Munteănu	d. midfielder	23	1,81	The N. Blue Lions
19	Mihai Ápio Gomes	d. midfielder	23	1,81	Rodion F.C.
20	Márcus Mihai Fostar	centre-forward	23	1,80	The S. Blue Lions		
21	Logan North    	          striker	23	1,95	The N. Blue Lions
22	Magnus Enderssen	goalkeeper	26	2,20	Dínamo N-City
23	Numa Nínnio North	    striker	23	1,77	The N. Blue Lions

captain's name is in blue

Starters

11	9	10

	7
	8		5

6	4		3	2
	1

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers: Yes*
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Yes
Injure Players: No
Godmod Injury Events: No
Red Card Players: Yes (One per match,but never the goalkeeper)
Yellow Card Players: Yes (Maximum of three per match)
Godmod Other Events: No
=================================
Style Modifier: -1,25

*Players that have the probability of scoring(in order from more probable to least,by number):
11,10,9,7,(21,)5,(23,),8,(20,)(17,)3,4

[Mattijana]

Hojbjerg Strike Earns Mattijana Crucial Win Over Ethane
Mattijana 1-0 Ethane, Stadijo OstOtok, Petrovijanka

Marko Hojbjerg's long-range goal earned Mattijana a decisive, but cagey win over rivals Ethane.

With the two best-ranked sides in the group going head to head, the game would likely be a decider for the top spot in group A and the start of the game perhaps reflected what was at stake with a nervy start giving way to a tense, but fairly unexciting first half.

The home side eventually registered a shot, as Sophia Velezia beat her marker down the left flank before dragging a cross back for Jago Adrianov, who cracked a shot wide from 20 yards out to oohs and ahs from the excitable Mattijanan crowd.
Ethane managed an attack of their own after a disjointed attacking performance, as a through ball put a runner momentarily through. Katija Burnisevic managed to rally back however and made a brilliant block tackle to divert the ball away for a corner.
Another effort from range was watched over the top by Handanovic, but the Mattijanan defense remained untroubled in a first half containing only 1 shot on target, a tame effort from Jessika Struna that was easily saved by the Ethanian goalkeeper.
The second half didn't get off to an exciting start either, as both teams settled into the steady rhythm that had been maintained for the first half. Ethane had a header saved comfortably by Matej Handanovic, before Hojbjerg began to show some signs of life with a curling shot deflected wide from the edge of the area.

With a moment of magic needed, manager Matej Ljubanik brought on the dynamic Sofiane Bisrali for Jessika Struna. The winger upped the tempo, making a good run and cross that was flicked behind off the shin of an Ethanian defender, with Weiss and Lekarisa lurking.
The match remained, but on the 71st minute, Hojbjerg found some space to open up and hit a swerving shot into the right-hand top corner, keeping the Ethanian goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

With 20 minutes to go, Ethane were forced to come out to try to force an equaliser, but nearly conceded a second as Bisrali picked up a loose ball, bombed forward on the counter and played in a low cross that was almost turned in for an own goal at the near post, the ball clipping the woodwork and pinging away wide.

Ethane had one last go at finding the goal, with Matej Handanovic having to make a fine flying save from a swinging effort, before Mattijana finally managed to clear and see the game out.

the result puts Mattijana a clear top in their group, in front of second placed Copper Cuprum and Ethane, both on 3 points. Dandillis bring up the rear as they followed up an entertaining 5-2 defeat to the hosts with a thrilling 3-2 loss to Copper Cuprum. Anything other than defeat by 3 goals or more against Copper Cuprum will guarantee progress for Mattijana, with Ethane better-placed to qualify in second place as they face Dandillis in their final group stage match.

There was a major shock in group C, as 4th ranked side Red Blackiland were knocked out courtesy of a 4-3 defeat to Coldfield, whilst Gregoryisgodistan managed to secure their progress to the knockout rounds with a 3-0 win against the Republic of Kaboomlandia. Alongside Coldfield, unranked Buyan were the surprise packages as they qualified at the expense of Red Blackiland and Optima Consortium.

[Fhulghamous Peninsula]

Last Throw of the Dice, Part Two

Tullio Zorzalo stared nervously at his cellphone, waiting for a call that could or wouldn't come within the next few minutes. On that call was riding what Zorzalo thought of as his last big shot at redemption and a major trophy in Abanhfleft. Zorzalo had failed to win the Fleftic Ladies' Premier League and, with the opportunity to manage the women's national team beckoning to him, Zorzalo wanted one last shot at glory before he left to take on his dream job. Well, in all honesty, Tullio Zorzalo's real dream job was managing the men's national team, but all the same, managing the women's national team had glories of its own.

Zorzalo had already given a list of names to Roman Bellich, director of football of Sporting Ceneisis, in which was listed the names of players whom Zorzalo believed would be the key to winning the title with both the men's and women's teams of Sporting Ceneisis. (One particular peculiarity with Fleftic football, one that was rapidly dying out, was the tradition of one single manager handling both the men's and women's teams of a particular football club; Kasper Molak's resignation from the national team served as the death knell of the one manager, two teams system and only a few more people were really doing it now) One of the names on that list was a practical nobody in terms of the notice that she had attracted in Abanhfleft: Mara Mandaric of Bojikstan. Roman Bellich had complained when Zorzalo had said that the wanted to sign Mandaric to Ceneisis but Zorzalo eventually convinced him to allocate the money that would be needed to pay for the transfer fee, which wasn't probably that much, to be honest. Roman Bellich wasn't worried about how big Mandaric's transfer fee would be; no, his problem was that Zorzalo seemed so adamant in bringing in a player which had just appeared on the international scene like that. And the conviction with which Zorzalo had claimed that Mandaric was the real final piece of the puzzle that he claimed he needed to finally win the title with the women's team also didn't sit right with Roman. Nevertheless, he had given his word to Zorzalo that he would clear the transfer with the club's owner, Roman's brother Nikita, and now Tullio was only waiting for Roman's call to go ahead with the transfer. He already had the contact numbers for Mandaric's club, SC Morievo, ready and waiting to be called as soon as he got the go-ahead from Roman.

Zorzalo's cellphone finally rang. He picked it up with the eagerness of teenager replying to their boyfriend/girlfriend's first text to them as a couple. "What did Nikita say, Roman?" he asked. "Did he say 'go for it'?"

"Hang on, Tullio, boss man," the man at the other end replied. "This isn't Roman to DoF; this is Roman the colonist."

"Oh, yeah, right," Zorzalo said, slumping back down in his seat. This Roman, Roman the colonist was one of Zorzalo's football contacts in the Fhulghamous Peninsula; the best one in the Peninsula, in fact, especially with regards to activity in the colony's capital Port Thimpodopoulos. "Why are you calling me now, Roman?" Zorzalo asked. "I'm waiting for a very important call from your namesake, si?"

"Wait a minute, boss man, hold on to your horses and just stay with me right now, please," Roman said back hastily. "Weren't you after some girl from Bojinkastan or something like that? What was her name again? Mandarin?"

"It's Mara Mandaric, Roman, and she's from Bojikstan, not what you just said," Zorzalo replied. "Why are you asking me about her?"

"Well, boss, I'm at Arena Marinos and I just saw a girl who looks like your Mandarin girl and it looks like she's about to have a medical with Marinos Thimpodopoulos, boss."

"WHAT!?" Zorzalo thundered, rising up from his seat. He then took a deep breath before he sat down once again and said, in an obviously controlled voice, "How in the world did Marinos beat us to the punch with her?"

"I'm not really sure, boss, but Tonya and Miriam flew over to Spaam the day before the quarterfinal with Schottia and they just came back, oh, maybe a day or so ago. I think the two of them tapped up Mandaric while they were in Spaam. To be honest, I don't think it's a smart move either for you or for Marinos. She just banged up her knee, remember. She actually had to walk in here with crutches and a knee brace. Yeah, I don't know what Marinos was thinking when they went ahead with this but then again, I'm not sure I understand what you're thinking about her, too."

"Dammit," Zorzalo muttered. Then, loudly, to Roman the Colonist, he said, "All right, Roman, thanks for the heads-up. Keep me updated on the medical and her situation at the club." He then hung up before Roman the Colonist could say any more. His phone rang once again, and this time it was the real Roman Bellich at the other end.

"Hey, Tullio," Roman said jovially. "I just got back from Nikita. He says go ahead with signing Mandaric and he also told me to never question your tactics or methods ever again."

"Goddamn it," Zorzalo said again.

"Why? What's wrong, Tullio?" Roman asked.

"I just got a call from one of my contacts in the Fhulghamous," Zorzalo replied. "Apparently Marinos Thimpodopoulos are going to sign Mara Mandaric despite her knee injury."

"What? Katsouranis is just as crazy as you are about this Bojikstani girl?" Roman asked incredulously. "What are the odds of that, huh, Tullio? Well, that's just your bad luck. Well, I hope you can find another player to finally win you the title. I mean, that's all that I think I can say to you that won't end in a complete disaster for the both of us. Okay, goodbye."

Zorzalo looked at his cellphone with some wonderment before he tossed it back onto his desk. His last chance at winning the title had gone up in smoke; his final throw of the dice had come up snake eyes. There was simply no getting around that particular fact. There was only one thing he could really do now after that debacle, Tullio decided, and that was to complete the transfers that were already on the table for him and then scout for another player like Mara Mandaric who could serve as a capable squad player to fill in for all the other injured hard-tackling defensive mids in Ceneisis' roster. Yet he had that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that there would be no other player like Mara Mandaric available in the current market at any price.

Two hours after what Tullio Zorzalo was already beginning to think of as the "Mandaric debacle," he finally had some good news for himself. He had completed the transfer negotiations with Besanza Emeralds to sign Guildenstern Cardew to Throckmorton Bridge: five million NS dollars (or 17.5 million new penenks according to the current exchange rate) up front and then over ten million NS in add-ons like clean sheet bonuses and league titles won as well as a percentage of the transfer fee if Cardew is sold on to another club. Tullio felt reasonably happy with that deal. At least he managed to get a player whom he wanted to see in Ceneisis colors. All that was really needed now was for Cardew to sign the contract and the transfer would be official and permanent.

Tullio had closed his eyes and was leaning back on his chair when his cellphone chirped once again. He picked it up and saw that it was Roman the colonist calling. He answered the call and said, "What is it now, Roman?"

"Boss man, I'm sure that you're not going to believe this," Roman said breathlessly, "but Mara Mandaric just failed her medical with Marinos."

"What? Really?" Zorzalo asked, his interest now very much piqued. "Did they say why she failed their medical?"

"I don't have the full details, boss man, but I was there while they conducted the medical," Roman replied. "The doctors checked out her bum knee, and one of the doctors, a bone doctor, an osteologist, said that Mandaric's knee looked like it was shot. I mean, it was literally shot by a gun or a bullet. Mandaric denied anything about getting shot by a gun before she finally admitted to participating in Bojikstan's civil war, and at that point, the doctors looked like they wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole. Mandaric was actually in tears as she left because, from what I've heard from the rumor mill, Mandaric's injury is the sort that could potentially end her career very soon. I mean, one wrong move and boom! Game over for her. She was looking for one last fat contract before she would be forced to hang up her boots, and now that she didn't get it, I don't think she's taking it lightly."

"Thank you, Roman, you've been of really great help," Zorzalo said before he ended the call. He then called the other Roman, Roman Bellich, and he said, "Get ready to open your checkbook once again, Roman, because we're getting another opportunity to get Mandaric."

[Filindostan]

FILINDOPEDIA
fid.filindopedia.org
All you want to know about Filindostan!

Welcome to Filindopedia! The encyclopedia that anyone well, not anyone, any Filindostani can edit. There have been 80,000 articles in the page that has been created and more will be added in the coming years... unless our funds run out.

Part I. Introduction and Geography

Filindostan is a small archipelago located at the depths of Esportiva. This nation is inhabited by Filindostanis, a portmanteau of the words Filis (OOC: Filipino) and Indos (OOC: Indonesian). It consists of four islands of nearly equal land mass. The four islands are named Pelita Raya, Tanjung Pagi (Indos-dominated), Kabishawan (Ka/bis/ha/wan) and Kabunuklan (Filis-dominated).

Map of Filindostan

The capital of Filindostan is San Marco, and also its largest city in the Kabishawan Island. Although the capital also generates the most income and money for the nation, there are three other metropolitan cities, one in each other island. In Tanjung Pagi, the city of Jakulta is one of the cultural centers of the nation due to its history as the "other capital". San Rafael is known as the greenest city in the nation due to its lush forest and surrounding mountain ranges - there is only one major road that can access the metropolitan area there. The last one is the Tricities of Pelita Raya. Despite the long distance of Bandaroon from the other two of the Tricities, an expressway is connected such that travel time from either of Bandariyan and Bandarito only takes thirty minutes.

Due to the archipelagic nature of the nation, the primary mode of transportation in Filindostan is via air and sea travel. Inter-island airlines have been known and is a popular choice for people due to the promos they offer - in spite of this, air travel in the nation is not much regulated, as a result, only the Nasional Air, the state-owned airline, deemed to be the safest among the carriers, is the only airline allowed to fly passengers in international flights. The maritime transportation however is heavily regulated, with competing shipping lines and some small ships ply the seas to ferry passengers to different islands. This is because despite having bridges from the Kabishawan island to the other islands, there are no bridges connecting the other islands with each other. Bus travel within the islands themselves is a common sight, with San Lomar Cooperative holding the monopoly of the bus operations in the outer islands. There are some routes that go beyond the islands via the bridges, but the SLC also monopolized the routes there.

There have been plans to interconnect the islands via three major bridges, but it is still in the planning phase due to right-of-way issues.

(RP series to be continued in other Filindostani RPs)

---

FID lineup against Islana Lunigo: Gerry; Enzo, Satyawan(c), Buknoy, Mila Khalifa; Delos Santos-Strauss, King, Aryanto; Fizzy, Pokemaster, Bochog.

[Coldfield]

Construction of the New National Stadium Paralyzed

News brought to you by John Postman, from the state-controlled newspaper Coldfield One

This morning a group of annoyed police officers and disappointed workers camped at the Edmund Meyer Stadium construction site in Crownsville, the capital of Coldfield. The stadium construction - which costs CW$4.5 billion ($1.5 billion) to the state's treasury - was paralyzed for an undetermined time. The rebels demand explanations from King Edmund Meyer, accused of corruption by Amaranthinos, a former enemy of the state. As much as Edmund has denied involvement with the Organization, some of the evidence has been verified by foreign experts and is true; No video or audio has been tampered with, and the supposed voice of Edmund in the archives is identical to Edmund's voice in an official statement from 2006, which reinforces the theory that Edmund really engaged with the mafia.

Riots have spread throughout the country and three military bases controled by rebel soldiers in South Coldfield are besieged. Security at the palace and in the ministries' plaza was tripled, and the border between Coldfield and Icy Mountains was closed. In Scarborough, a peaceful protest involving 7,000 people quickly turned into an urban conflict, and 100 people were arrested. In Oldmarket, one of the most affected cities by the crisis, a horde of unemployed workers looted several markets; Luckily, quick police action prevented further looting and prevented the insurgents from invading the city hall. The losses caused by the market crash are not yet known, but it is estimated that they can reach up to $300 billion - 900 billion Crowns, almost 15% of the national GDP, being the worst economic crisis in 130 years of Coldfieldian history. If such estimate is correct, the country would have incurred a debt three times higher than the current one, which would cause a total financial collapse.

Fortunately, amid so many bad news, the national team participating in Campionato Esportiva XX, hosted in Mattijana, beat Red Blackiland by 3-4 and is already classified for the round of sixteen; It was the fourth match between the two nations in history and the first Coldfield victory. In past encounters, Red Blackiland and the Ultras beat Coldfield at the Crownsville Colossus Stadium 4-1 in the second leg of the 77th World Cup Qualifiers, but yielded a draw in two occasions: group stage of Cup of Harmony 70 and the first leg for the qualifying phase of the WC77, where both results were a tedious 0-0. There was a lot of anticipation for this game, and the two goals from star Nathaniel Balogh were crucial for the win. Dean Murray and Robert Simmons also scored; Simmons scored a beautiful goal straight from a corner kick, an unprecedented feat in his career. The next match will be against Buyan, which has made a promising campaign so far. The last match of the group stage will be played at Sadijo Nasinal - the largest stadium in Mattijana, which also hosted the Coldfield-Optima Consortium match.

[Vangaziland]

Vangaziland faced another one of Esportiva's most historical nations. The Vannish Empire was getting a warm welcome into the CE, by facing a tough group of established opponents. Despite their storied history, the current team from Racing placed in Pot 3.

We didn't plan on underestimating them", said one of the assistant coaches, Jann Janbjrom. "It was a game we could pull a win from. The head coach told us it's all in the heart. He asked the players if they had any."

The scene was clipped and was going around social media, showing the players in the loccer room rallying around their coach.

Team Captain & midfielder Ed Hjoerleif said, "It really gave us the push we needed to overcome any nerves."

Hjoerleif played on the Vannish Olympiad team that progressed into early rounds of the playoffs there. They failed to medal, but had a chance for a run.

"The Olympiad was a good first step for Vannish soccer... Or football, if you want to call it that." Hjoerleif reminisced over the most recent games. "Our team got some of the first international experience since the days of the MPL. Since Baptism of Fire 56."

One of the new additions was a freestyler known in Vangaziland only as Oskolde. People aren't even quite sure if that was his first or last name, although bets said it was the first. Names like Oskoldson and Oskolsdottir exist in the Vannish surname registery and can be traced back to Vanns of the 1500s. That was the patronymic line, when ever boy had their father's name followed by -son, -sen, or even -ssen in some regions. Daughters had -ir or -er attached.

He keeps his family life mysterious. His son has the last name Oskoldeson, but was born after his name change. Was that the footballer's original last name? Or did he start a new patronymic surname line, based on his football nickname? Oskolde hinted that it was the latter option.

Talk soon changed away from topics like that, to his play on the field. Oskolde was proving to be an engine on the field.

When one slow header met the ball, Oskolde had enough control that he almost balanced the ball on his forehead. It still came in a little fast and soon rolled off. He still kept control and soon was playing keep away with the defender.

This style did get the Vangazi laid out at times, as defenders would surely be frustrated by what looked like show tricks. Oskolde spoke on this after the game.

"It's not about being fancy or putting on a show. Freestyle soccer is almost bigger than association football in the Mainlands. This is just how I learned to play. Now I have to work into the 11 player game. But I have to keep what I know too."

Whenever he'd get knocked down, he'd get right back up. Usually, he was smiling.

Oskolde picked up 3 assists in the 5-3 win over Racing. It mainly came in the form of well timed plays of preplanned cuts. At one point, he showed a solid touch on a floating pass that Anthony Vonoss caught with an angry header. Some thought that was the goal of the match on the Vannish side, just based on the ball's change of speed. A slow curving floater, into a speeding shot towards the lower corner.

Oskolde would also score a goal on a fast break. He pulled off a juke where the ball seemed to go in the opposite direction, but just slightly enough so he could pull it back over with the left, weaker foot. When the outstrectched foot reached toward it, the freestyler whipped the ball around him, using his ankle in a weird and unpredictable way to spin it around. Somehow the curve met his foot with backspin that Oskolde sent above the keeper's head. It had a curve that threw the diving keeper off.

Oskolde was joined by 2 Vonoss goals. Tuusen and Hjoerleif also added a goal and solid passing throughout the night.

Despite the success on offense, the Vannish defense was full of holes. Players were getting beat off their marks. This was a definite factor in some goals, as Vannish backs found themselves switching defenders or playing catch up.

The score could have easily be 6-5 or maybe even 7-5. The backfield was proving to be a weak spot for the new spirited Vangazi. Their saving grace had been the woman behind goal. The head coach strongly believed the men's goalkeeper cost the Vangazi a shot at a medal. He pushed for the woman's keeper Teri Chambersen.

She stood at 5'10 and she could jump with the best of them. In college she played small forward on her basketball team. She could jump against opponents that could easily be around 6'4. Some teams would have short centers, about 6'2 or so. Teri could give them a run for their money and subbed in to create mismatches at that position. And with her goalkeeper's eye, her biggest asset was shot blocking.

It was with that same aggression and quickness that she leapt after shots. She was a little overzealous and had known to leap off after a feignt, just to have the ball strike through the center.

A new keeper's assistant has been working on tempering her reactionary nature.

The Vangazi seem to be built around an engine, some shooters and a keeper to try to bail out the defense. It wouldn't win the Cup. But it could entertain the crowds.

"As long as we're not boring to watch", Oskolde post match.

[Mattijana]

Time to find out who stays and who goes. This is your Matchday 3 Cutoff.

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

Group A
Ethane 1–0 Dandillis
Copper Cuprum 1–1 Mattijana

  Group A                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mattijana                          3   2  1  0    7   3  +4    7
2 Ethane                             3   2  0  1    2   1  +1    6
3 Copper Cuprum                      3   1  1  1    4   4   0    4
4 Dandillis                          3   0  0  3    4   9  −5    0

Group B
Boring Paradise 0–0 Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalision 
2nd Brazilian Empire 3–0 Brenecia

  Group B                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 2nd Brazilian Empire               3   2  0  1    6   2  +4    6
2 Brenecia                           3   1  1  1    3   4  −1    4
3 Boring Paradise                    3   1  1  1    3   4  −1    4
4 Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalision    3   0  2  1    0   2  −2    2

Group C
Coldfield 3–3 Buyan
Optima Consortium 0–1 Red Blackiland

  Group C                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Coldfield                          3   2  1  0   10   8  +2    7
2 Buyan                              3   2  1  0    5   3  +2    7
3 Red Blackiland                     3   1  0  2    4   5  −1    3
4 Optima Consortium                  3   0  0  3    2   5  −3    0

Group D
Thalamascia 3–0 Vangaziland
Racing 0–1 San Jose Guayabal

  Group D                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Thalamascia                        3   3  0  0    6   1  +5    9
2 San Jose Guayabal                  3   2  0  1    4   3  +1    6
3 Vangaziland                        3   1  0  2    6   8  −2    3
4 Racing                             3   0  0  3    3   7  −4    0

Group E
Islana Lunigo 0–0 Flindostan
Natanians and Nosts 2–2 Tumbra

  Group E                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Islana Lunigo                      3   1  2  0    5   3  +2    5
2 Flindostan                         3   1  1  1    2   1  +1    4
3 Tumbra                             3   1  1  1    4   5  −1    4
4 Natanians and Nosts                3   0  2  1    4   6  −2    2

Group F
Apox 2–0 Bongo Johnson
Ummat al-Haqiqa 0–1 Super Llamaland

  Group F                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Apox                               3   3  0  0    4   0  +4    9
2 Super Llamaland                    3   2  0  1    2   1  +1    6
3 Ummat al-Haqiqa                    3   1  0  2    2   2   0    3
4 Bongo Johnson                      3   0  0  3    0   5  −5    0

Group G
Republic of Kaboomlandia 3–4 Goluta
Fhulgamous Peninsula 3–4 Gregoryisgodistan

  Group G                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gregoryisgodistan                  3   3  0  0   11   5  +6    9
2 Goluta                             3   2  0  1    7   7   0    6
3 Fhulgamous Peninsula               3   0  1  2    5   7  −2    1
4 Republic of Kaboomlandia           3   0  1  2    5   9  −4    1

Third Placed Sides:

1:Copper Cuprum 4 points, 0 goal difference
2: Tumbra 4 points, -1 goal difference, 4 goals scored
3: Boring Paradise 4 points, -1 goal difference, 3 goals scored
4: Ummat al-Haqiqa 3 points, 0 goal difference
5: Red Blackiland 3 points, -1 goal difference
6: Vangaziland 3 points, -2 goal difference
7: Fhulgamous peninsula 1 point

[Mattijana]

P  W  D  L GF GA GD Pts
1 Gregoryisgodistan                  3   3  0  0   11   5  +6    9
2 Thalamascia                        3   3  0  0    6   1  +5    9
3 Apox                               3   3  0  0    4   0  +4    9
4 Mattijana                          3   2  1  0    7   3  +4    7
5 Coldfield                          3   2  1  0   10   8  +2    7
6 Buyan                              3   2  1  0    5   3  +2    7
7 2nd Brazilian Empire               3   2  0  1    6   2  +4    6
8 San Jose Guayabal                  3   2  0  1    4   3  +1    6
9 Super Llamaland                    3   2  0  1    2   1  +1    6
10 Ethane                            3   2  0  1    2   1  +1    6
11 Goluta                            3   2  0  1    7   7   0    6
12 Islana Lunigo                     3   1  2  0    5   3  +2    5
13 Flindostan                        3   1  1  1    2   1  +1    4
14 Copper Cuprum                     3   1  1  1    4   4   0    4
15 Tumbra                            3   1  1  1    4   5  −1    4
16 Brenecia                          3   1  1  1    3   4  −1    4

Round of 16: Fixtures

Gregoryisgodistan vs Brenecia
Thalamascia vs Tumbra
Apox vs Copper Cuprum
Mattijana vs Flindostan
Coldfield vs Islana Lunigo
Buyan vs Goluta
2nd Brazilian Empire vs Ethane
San Jose Guayabal vs Super Llamaland

[Coldfield]

Downfall of the Ancestors
Gods Against Us
Prologue

It was the perfect chance. Years of preparation that would not be wasted. Amaranthinos, the Goddess of Time, knew this very well - a pity that the Master had diminished her powers after the Great Internal War, reducing the Goddess's arcane capacity to a measly 10% of her original power. But now this could be reversed, with support of Fenix ​​- Goddess of Fire - and Malefis - God of Shadows and the Moon. Her greatest enemy, Cryo - Goddess of Water and Ice - had made a not-so-discreet pact of mutual assistance between her and respectively the God of Blood, Acidosis; and the Goddess of Life, Extos. Exactly since the end of the Great Internal War in the 1950s, and as with Amaranthinos, Cryo also had his powers reduced. Knowing of the internal conflict between the Gods, Master Astanorim - founder of the Blue Eagle Tribe, the first ones to master magic - managed to convince Aura, Terberis, and Aeranas - respectively Gods of Light, Earth, and Air - and Arcanis, Goddess of Sorcery, to remain loyal to the Grand Ancestor and do not align with Amaranthinos or Cryo. These also had their powers reduced but were granted privileges over the other Ancestors because of their loyalty to the neutrality of the universe.

But now the energy of the universe was weaker than ever, and she felt it. Not just the energy of the universe, but Omniversal energy was weaker too. The Omniverse was at war, Multiversal and Multidimensional Empires were waging war on each other, and to make things worse, a legion of Angels and Demons from various religions invaded the universes. It was, above all, a Holy War. Millions of different Gods battling to decide what would be the only and true faith. And, of course, Amaranthinos was involved in it. However, her involvement was minimal, proportional to the size of her religion - a tiny grain of sand in the Omniverse. But size does not matter: even as demigoddess of a small religion, Amaranthinos, and the other ancestors had enormous powers, and in their original form everyone could build and destroy planets by just cracking their knuckles. Of course, such skills were confiscated by the Grand Ancestor after the Great Internal War fiasco, where then-King of Coldfield Hildred Meyer declared war on the "unfaithful and impure" and purged half of the natives, faithful of the Ancestors. Even having a great chance of victory, Amaranthinos, and Cryo - then great friends - were defeated after years of strategic mistakes, such as attacking with all available troops a trapped enemy squad that would easily starve in a short time, commonly known as Attack the Brothers Lost, the turning point of said war.

Now her meditations were no longer effective. She could note people's disbelief in a better future, even if they had no knowledge of what was happening in the Omniverse. With recent events in Coldfield, her popularity - still very weakened by the conflict of the 1950s - improved, and thanks to the evidence she launched against the royal family. People were tired of the semi-absolute monarchy, which guaranteed them little political freedom compared to other countries in the Multiversal Non-Aggression Pact. They were exhausted Were exhausted to sustain a huge family that did little for the country in a 20 years span; It was twenty-four years of an endless financial crisis since that fateful year of 1994. Even with all the social advances that Edmund Meyer brought to the country, it was not enough. The economy was stagnant due to overproduction: given the poor quality of domestic products, they sold little nationally as well as internationally, and in order not to cause mass layoffs, the government continued to produce unnecessarily - that for 20 years in Low scale. But one day the bubble would have to burst, and this day came. Now Coldfield was at the most critical point in 130 years of history.

In order to restore her arcane ability to the original state, Amaranthinos had to kill Master Astanorim, who absorbed for himself most of the Ancestors powers, thus becoming the Grand Ancestor, the only god among the Ancestors, and the other ten then-gods were demoted to the rank of demigods. In the last days Amaranthinos had received the news that Astanorim was sick, a consequence of the disbelief in the Pyhon Church, ancestors' religion - the more people stop believing in a religion, the sicker a God or the Gods becomes sick, and when there is no longer any faithful, the deities simply die as if they never existed. When a God gets sick, he loses half of his powers, making the fight easier for whoever defies him. Even so, he remained practically impossible to be defeated by a demigod.

Together with Fenix and Malefis, Amaranthinos crossed the top of the Ice Mountains, getting to Astadana, the temple of Astanorim, whose only deserving ones could reach. Almost no one except the deities and the Wardens - divine soldiers responsible for maintaining order in the controlled territories - knew of the existence of such a place. There was a smell of death in the air. There were no Warden protecting the place - some corpses of the guardians were found right in the Royal Hall. Someone arrived before her, and it only could be Cryo.

"Go ahead. Fenix, destroy that door with a fireball."
"Very reckless to dive right in, no?"
"There's not much left to do." Said Malefis, ready to turn into a shadow and be able to penetrate Astanorim's Room unnoticed.

Fenix hesitated, but she knocked the door down with a fireball dense enough to bring down to the ground one of Crownsville's Palace Towers. Then Malefis turned into a shadow and entered the room. He left in a few minutes, returning to his human form to be able to communicate with Amaranthinos.

"You have to see this. It's urgent." Said the demigod, running back into the room.

Arriving there, instead of a window was a huge hole that gave a beautiful view to Precipice Godram. The room was twisted and the walls burned; In one corner there was a puddle of water and fragments of ice.

"This can't be happening..." commented Amaranthinos, paralyzed. "Cryo has arrived before us."

[Mattijana]

The knockouts begin. This is your Round of 16 chop.
--------------------------------
Gregoryisgodistan 1–1 Brenecia (1–1 AET) (4–2 pen.)


Thalamascia 0–3 Tumbra


Apox 2–1 Copper Cuprum


Mattijana 1–1 Flindostan (1–1 AET) (4–3 pen.)


Coldfield 1–1 Islana Lunigo (2–1 AET)


Buyan 0–0 Goluta (1–0 AET)


2nd Brazilian Empire 3–2 Ethane


San Jose Guayabal 0–1 Super Llamaland


Quarter Final Fixtures:
Gregoryisgodistan vs Super Llamaland
Tumbra vs 2nd Brazilian Empire
Apox vs Buyan
Mattijana vs Coldfield

[Mattijana]

Nearly time for the last eight. This is your quarter final cutoff.

[Mattijana]

Gregoryisgodistan 2–2 Super Llamaland (2–2 AET) (8–9 pen.)


Tumbra 1–0 2nd Brazilian Empire


Apox 1–3 Buyan


Mattijana 1–0 Coldfield

Here are your results.

Apologies for the delay. Semis will be scored later today.

[Mattijana]

This is your Semi-Final cutoff. Not long to go now.

Super Llamaland 3–1 Mattijana


Tumbra 1–0 Buyan

[Super-Llamaland]

MD1: Super-Llamaland 1 - 0 Bongo Johnson
Lineup: Sheffield; LIndberg, Ynoa, Wagner (Reichart 59), Abel (Van Dijk 35); Candelario, Bao, Møller; Velasquez, Penbrooke, Vorobyov (Santana 65)
Goals: Penbrooke 47

A solid opening win - against unheralded opposition, and hardly overwhelming, but three points is three points. The defense definitely impressed, and Ansel Penbrooke was an absolute terror in the front third, but it's hardly a game to be impressed by. Then again, considering the tournament run it's sparked, fans will remember this fondly.

MD2: Super-Llamaland 0 - 1 Apox
Lineup: Sheffield; Lindberg (Strausberg 70), Ynoa, Reichart, Abel; Candelario, Bao (Santana 68), Møller; Sigurdsson, Penbrooke, Vorobyov (Vincent 68)

Apox were always the Tigers' biggest threat in the group stage, and it showed as they managed to comfortably keep a clean sheet against the likes of Penbrooke, Møller, and Vorobyov. Despite a number of attacking substitutions, the Tigers never seriously threatened after the fifteenth minute, when Damian Bao scuffed an open header from a corner-kick just wide of Steele's far post. The Apoxians, after pressing for most of the first half, finally managed a goal in the early second half before sitting back and taking control of Group F.

MD3: Ummat al-Haqiqa 0–1 Super Llamaland
Lineup: Sheffield; Lindberg, Ynoa, Reichart (Wagner 56), Abel; Candelario, Bao (Christensen 84), Møller; Velasquez, Penbrooke, Vincent (Vorobyov 70)
Goals: Penbrooke 83

A close call here, not at all predictive of what the Tigers would go on to do in the knockout stages. The Llamaneans needed a win to advance, but they didn't play like it, leaving it until the final minutes for Ansel Penbrooke to convert a penalty. Once again, though, the Tigers were remarkably solid at the back and dangerous - if a bit lazy - on the counterattack, indicating that Curtis Steeling's "Explosive Football" is starting to truly take hold of this team.

Ro16: San Jose Guayabal 0–1 Super Llamaland
Lineup: Sheffield; Lindberg, Ynoa, Reichart, Van Dijk (Abel 72); Candelario, Bao, Møller (Christensen 85); Velasquez, Penbrooke (Korborg 59), Vorobyov
Goals: Møller 68

San José Guayabal isn't exactly the easiest draw, especially not in the Round of 16. But for ninety hard-fought minutes, it was the Llamaneans who distinctly looked like the better team. A major upset for a Tigers team coming into its own, the game remained fairly even (despite the quality of the Tigers' "Explosive Football") until Axel Korborg's introduction for a heavily-marked Penbrooke tipped the scales. The quick, strong Whitehaven striker - rumored to be following Penbrooke to Nephara very soon - terrorized the opposing defense, but in the end it was Elias Møller who actually managed to score a beautiful long-range strike - and the Tigers managed to move on.

QF: Gregoryisgodistan 2–2 Super Llamaland (2–2 AET) (8–9 pen.)
Lineup: Sheffield; Lindberg, Ynoa, Reichart (Wagner 70), Abel (Van Dijk 65); Candelario, Bao (Sigurdsson 119), Møller; Velasquez, Penbrooke, Vorobyov
Goals: Vorobyov 75, Lindberg 90+3
Penalty Shootout: Penbrooke X (1-0), Velasquez X (2-1), Vorobyov O (2-2), Sigurdsson X (3-3), Lindberg X (4-3), Møller X (5-4), Ynoa O (5-5), Candelario X (6-5), Wagner X (7-6), Van Dijk X (8-7), Sheffield X (9-8)

An absolute thriller of a game, and likely one that will go down as one of the Tigers' greatest triumphs. For seventy minutes, Gregoryisgodistan took control of the game, scoring two early goals and ripping through the Llamaneans' once-proud defense. But the Tigers staged an improbable comeback, Vorobyov cutting inside and stunning the crowd with a brilliant shot to make it two-one before Lindberg headed a corner home in stoppage time. After thirty minutes of stoppage, things went to penalties. Emily Ynoa's missed seventh penalty stunned the Tigers, who surely felt that they were going home - but Sheffield managed to stop the next shot, and the Tigers stayed alive. It would ultimately be up to the goalkeepers to determine who would stay and who would go. And Sheffield delivered, sending Super-Llamaland to the semifinals.

SF: Super Llamaland 3–1 Mattijana
Lineup: Sheffield; Lindberg, Ynoa (Gustav 63), Reichart, Abel; Candelario (Christensen 75), Bao, Møller; Velasquez, Penbrooke, Vorobyov
Goals: Penbrooke 15, Velasquez 53, Vorobyov 60

The Tigers are going to their first-ever finals of a major tournament - and they've advanced in style, easily defeating Mattijana despite a late consolation goal spoiling Sheffield's bid for a fourth clean-sheet in six matches. The Llamaneans were simply too good on the night, and although Mattijana made them work for their chances, they were able to convert what they got with ease. Unlike their previous few matches, this game was won on the attack - the entire front three performed brilliantly, each bagging a goal, and Elias Møller behind them was just as good. If they can replicate their performance for ninety more minutes - they'll be CE20 champions.

Lineup to play Tumbra: Sheffield; Lindberg, Ynoa, Wagner, Abel; Candelario, Bao, Møller; Velasquez, Penbrooke, Vorobyov

[Mattijana]

For the last time this tournament.

Cutoff time!

Will it be Super Llamaland or Tumbra who take home the glory?
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3rd place play off:

Mattijana 2-0 Buyan

Final:

Super Llamaland 2-1 Tumbra

Thanks to everyone who RPd. It was great to host the tournament and introduce the region to the Mattijanan nation. Hope to see you all again soon.