World Cup 87 - RP Thread

by **Northwest Kalactin** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:32 pm

Regional Qualifiers, MD 14&15
OOC: These Results are Not Real, this is a simulation.

AO Group 1
Turori 0–1 Qasden
Farfadillis 2–3 Tioguldos
Khytonya 0–0 Freeport
Ibixa 0–1 Legalese

   AO Group 1                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qasden                                13    9   1   3    31   13  +18    28
 2 Farfadillis                           12    9   0   3    20   11   +9    27
 3 Tioguldos                             13    9   0   4    18   13   +5    27
 4 Krytenia                              12    7   3   2    15    8   +7    24
 5 Turori                                12    6   2   4    17    8   +9    20
 6 Freeport                              12    5   5   2    14    9   +5    20
 7 Legalese                              12    1   3   8    14   27  −13     6
 8 Khytonya                              13    1   3   9     8   24  −16     6
 9 Ibixa                                 13    0   1  12     2   26  −24     1

AO Group 2
Ko-oren 2–1 Mavinet
Valanora 5–3 Barunia
Pluvia and Saxean 0–5 Gyatso-Kai
Bonbohk u Piche 1–4 Netop

   AO Group 2                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                              12    9   1   2    20    7  +13    28
 2 Mavinet                               13    8   1   4    27   16  +11    25
 3 Siovanija and Teusland                12    7   3   2    29   13  +16    24
 4 Ko-oren                               12    7   2   3    21   16   +5    23
 5 Gyatso-Kai                            12    5   5   2    19   11   +8    20
 6 Barunia                               13    5   3   5    23   18   +5    18
 7 Netop                                 12    5   1   6    18   18    0    16
 8 Pluvia and Saxean                     13    1   1  11    10   32  −22     4
 9 Bonbohk u Piche                       13    0   1  12     8   44  −36     1

AO Group 3
Audioslavia 2–2 Maccian
Banija 0–0 Busoga Islands
Fjorsz 1–3 Euran Oceania Territories
Sett Forest 1–3 Quakmybush

   AO Group 3                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Banija                                12    9   3   0    26    9  +17    30
 2 Busoga Islands                        13    8   3   2    19   10   +9    27
 3 Audioslavia                           12    7   2   3    23   16   +7    23
 4 Equestria                             12    6   2   4    25   21   +4    20
 5 Euran Oceania Territories             12    6   0   6    24   22   +2    18
 6 Maccian                               13    5   2   6    18   20   −2    17
 7 Quakmybush                            12    5   1   6    22   23   −1    16
 8 Fjorsz                                13    1   3   9    13   27  −14     6
 9 Sett Forest                           13    1   0  12     7   29  −22     3

AO Group 4
Mriin 5–0 Northwest kalactin
Starblaydia 0–0 Twicetagria
Muralos 0–3 Saltstead
Wreckeria 0–2 Savigliane

   AO Group 4                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mriin                                 12   10   2   0    34   14  +20    32
 2 Starblaydia                           12    8   3   1    22    8  +14    27
 3 Flavovespia                           12    7   1   4    20   16   +4    22
 4 Saltstead                             12    7   1   4    18   15   +3    22
 5 Northwest kalactin                    13    6   3   4    15   15    0    21
 6 Twicetagria                           13    4   4   5    14   12   +2    16
 7 Savigliane                            12    4   3   5    18   16   +2    15
 8 Wreckeria                             13    1   0  12     5   24  −19     3
 9 Muralos                               13    0   1  12     5   31  −26     1

AO Group 5
Commonwealth of Baker Park 3–3 Independent Athletes from Quebec
Vilita 3–0 Blouman Empire
Jabal Ahkdar 1–3 Huayramarca
Cosumar 1–1 Hapilopper

   AO Group 5                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Vilita                                12    9   1   2    35   14  +21    28
 2 Commonwealth of Baker Park            12    8   4   0    29   14  +15    28
 3 Independent Athletes from Quebec      13    7   2   4    25   19   +6    23
 4 Chromatika                            12    5   4   3    26   16  +10    19
 5 Blouman Empire                        13    5   2   6    13   15   −2    17
 6 Huayramarca                           12    4   4   4    20   15   +5    16
 7 Hapilopper                            12    4   4   4    15   18   −3    16
 8 Cosumar                               13    2   2   9     5   30  −25     8
 9 Jabal Ahkdar                          13    0   1  12     8   35  −27     1

Rushmore Group 1
Darmen 1–1 Eastfield Lodge
Pasarga 4–0 San Ortelio

   Rushmore Group 1                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Pasarga                                8    7   1   0    18    5  +13    22
 2 Eastfield Lodge                        6    2   2   2     8    9   −1     8
 3 Electrum                               6    2   1   3     8    7   +1     7
 4 Darmen                                 7    1   3   3     8    9   −1     6
 5 San Ortelio                            5    0   1   4     3   15  −12     1

Rushmore Group 2
Valladares 3–0 Crystalline Caverns
Savojarna 3–0 Govournauch

   Rushmore Group 2                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Savojarna                              8    6   1   1    16    4  +12    19
 2 Yuezhou                                6    5   0   1    10    3   +7    15
 3 Valladares                             7    2   1   4     9    9    0     7
 4 Crystalline Caverns                    6    2   0   4     6   12   −6     6
 5 Govournauch                            5    0   0   5     0   13  −13     0

Rushmore Group 3
Sargossa 0–0 Nagore
Eura 3–0 Nacaltora

   Rushmore Group 3                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Eura                                   8    7   1   0    22    3  +19    22
 2 Oberour Ar Moro                        6    3   0   3     7    6   +1     9
 3 Sargossa                               7    2   2   3     6    5   +1     8
 4 Nagore                                 6    2   1   3     6   11   −5     7
 5 Nacaltora                              5    0   0   5     1   17  −16     0

Rushmore Group 4
Astograth 2–1 Southwest Eastnorth
Cassadaigua 2–1 Simulland

   Rushmore Group 4                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cassadaigua                            8    6   2   0    18    5  +13    20
 2 Astograth                              7    4   1   2     7    5   +2    13
 3 Tikariot                               6    2   2   2     5    6   −1     8
 4 Southwest Eastnorth                    6    1   1   4     6    9   −3     4
 5 Simulland                              5    0   0   5     2   13  −11     0

Rushmore Group 5
Graintfjall 3–1 Mytanija
Nephara 1–0 Hispinas

   Rushmore Group 5                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Nephara                                8    7   0   1    16    4  +12    21
 2 Graintfjall                            7    4   0   3    13    7   +6    12
 3 Plane of Possibility                   6    3   1   2     5    6   −1    10
 4 Mytanija                               6    0   2   4     7   16   −9     2
 5 Hispinas                               5    0   1   4     7   15   −8     1

Indies Group 1
Caryton 0–1 Indusse
New Lusitania 1–0 Emastalia
Terre Septentrionale 2–1 Icecliff
Melbergia 1–0 TBS
North Alazia 3–0 T Republic

   Indies Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Terre Septentrionale                  14   12   1   1    42    9  +33    37
 2 New Lusitania                         14    9   2   3    26   11  +15    29
 3 Indusse                               14    6   5   3    21   16   +5    23
 4 Melbergia                             14    6   3   5    18   25   −7    21
 5 Emastalia                             14    6   2   6    23   22   +1    20
 6 T Republic                            14    4   4   6     6   16  −10    16
 7 North Alazia                          14    4   2   8    14   20   −6    14
 8 Icecliff                              14    3   3   8    11   19   −8    12
 9 Caryton                               14    3   3   8     9   21  −12    12
10 TBS                                   14    2   5   7    12   23  −11    11

Indies Group 2
Beepee 1–2 Juvencus
Poafmersia 3–0 Murphtannia
Drawkland 2–1 Hebitaka
Widaya 0–1 UAC
U-koro 1–2 Cirrus Azale

   Indies Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Drawkland                             14   12   1   1    37   18  +19    37
 2 Poafmersia                            14   11   0   3    30   10  +20    33
 3 Juvencus                              14   10   2   2    24   10  +14    32
 4 Murphtannia                           14   10   0   4    32   15  +17    30
 5 Cirrus Azale                          14    6   1   7    20   27   −7    19
 6 UAC                                   14    4   3   7    17   23   −6    15
 7 Widaya                                14    3   1  10     9   19  −10    10
 8 U-koro                                14    2   3   9    10   21  −11     9
 9 Hebitaka                              14    2   3   9    14   31  −17     9
10 Beepee                                14    2   2  10    19   38  −19     8

Indies Group 3

Waisnor 1–1 Bluecliff
Al-Qurija 0–3 Freechi
Abanhfleft 1–2 Garifunya
Trolleborg 1–2 Squidroidia
Stevid 2–0 State of Trinity

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Squidroidia            14    9   4   1    27    8  +19    31
 2 Abanhfleft             14   10   1   3    26   12  +14    31
 3 Garifunya              14    9   3   2    31   16  +15    30
 4 Freechi                14    9   2   3    28   16  +12    29
 5 Trolleborg             14    7   1   6    22   19   +3    22
 6 Bluecliff              14    5   4   5    20   20    0    19
 7 Stevid                 14    3   2   9    11   28  −17    11
 8 Waisnor                14    2   4   8    17   27  −10    10
 9 Al-Qurija              14    1   4   9    13   28  −15     7
10 State of Trinity       14    1   3  10    12   33  −21     6


Indies Group 4
Trigel 1–4 Darkmania
Geektopia 6–2 Megistos
Zwangzug 2–0 PSTCT
Hafamarimet 2–2 St. Domingues
Cascadia 3–2 Quemmor Isles

   Indies Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Geektopia                             14   11   1   2    34   13  +21    34
 2 Zwangzug                              14   10   3   1    34   10  +24    33
 3 Megistos                              14   10   1   3    39   16  +23    31
 4 Darkmania                             14    7   1   6    22   23   −1    22
 5 St. Domingues                         14    5   4   5    17   21   −4    19
 6 Quemmor Isles                         14    5   1   8    14   26  −12    16
 7 PSTCT                                 14    3   5   6    16   25   −9    14
 8 Hafamarimet                           14    4   2   8    13   26  −13    14
 9 Trigel                                14    4   1   9    15   30  −15    13
10 Cascadia                              14    1   1  12     9   23  −14     4

Indies Group 5
Smosh Games 0–2 Kohnhead
Jeruselem 1–0 Sulsuland
Kandorith 2–0 Ranoria
Hindu RR 4–4 Mexi Catcha
Aepreleh 4–3 West Angola

   Indies Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Kandorith                             14   12   2   0    33    8  +25    38
 2 Jeruselem                             14   10   2   2    27    6  +21    32
 3 Kohnhead                              14    9   3   2    28   16  +12    30
 4 Sulsuland                             14    9   0   5    31   16  +15    27
 5 Aepreleh                              14    5   1   8    23   32   −9    16
 6 Mexi Catcha                           14    3   5   6    21   31  −10    14
 7 West Angola                           14    2   6   6    14   22   −8    12
 8 Smosh Games                           14    3   3   8    13   26  −13    12
 9 Hindu RR                              14    2   3   9    13   34  −21     9
10 Ranoria                               14    2   1  11    15   27  −12     7

Indies Group 6
Gothina Isles 0–2 Sharktail
Squornshelous 3–1 Balqia
Kelssek 1–1 Chartistan
Tornado Queendom 4–1 Mand Blustopia
Magnecia and Galmencia 2–0 North Japan

   Indies Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Kelssek                               14   12   2   0    34    6  +28    38
 2 Sharktail                             14   10   2   2    26   10  +16    32
 3 Squornshelous                         14    9   2   3    25   11  +14    29
 4 Mand Blustopia                        14    8   0   6    23   21   +2    24
 5 Balqia                                14    6   3   5    17   21   −4    21
 6 North Japan                           14    4   2   8    18   25   −7    14
 7 Magnecia and Galmencia                14    3   2   9    13   24  −11    11
 8 Tornado Queendom                      14    2   4   8    13   24  −11    10
 9 Gothina Isles                         14    3   1  10    11   27  −16    10
10 Chartistan                            14    1   6   7    13   24  −11     9

Indies Group 7
Garbellia 0–3 Squornshelan Remnant States
Port Ember 5–2 Rangers FC
Mercedini 1–1 Fluvannia
Critical Operations 3–1 Sannyamathaland
Regmotto 1–1 Socialist New Britain

   Indies Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Port Ember                            14   12   1   1    36   11  +25    37
 2 Mercedini                             14    8   4   2    29   13  +16    28
   Rangers FC                            14    8   4   2    29   13  +16    28
 4 Squornshelan Remnant States           14    7   4   3    21   12   +9    25
 5 Fluvannia                             14    5   1   8    12   23  −11    16
 6 Sannyamathaland                       14    4   3   7    15   24   −9    15
 7 Socialist New Britain                 14    3   4   7    15   22   −7    13
 8 Critical Operations                   14    4   1   9    16   28  −12    13
 9 Regmotto                              14    3   2   9    15   29  −14    11
10 Garbellia                             14    2   4   8    17   30  −13    10

Indies Group 8
Pays Den Haut 0–1 Devonta
Omerica 0–1 Baggieland
HUElavia 1–0 Transvolcanic
Frezza 0–3 Rwezakaland
Logano 1–3 Silvedana

   Indies Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Devonta                               14   11   3   0    27   10  +17    36
 2 HUElavia                              14   11   2   1    26   10  +16    35
 3 Baggieland                            14   11   0   3    22    9  +13    33
 4 Transvolcanic                         14    9   2   3    39   16  +23    29
 5 Rwezakaland                           14    6   1   7    23   24   −1    19
 6 Pays Den Haut                         14    5   2   7    22   23   −1    17
 7 Frezza                                14    3   2   9    16   32  −16    11
 8 Silvedana                             14    2   3   9    17   30  −13     9
 9 Omerica                               14    2   2  10    12   30  −18     8
10 Logano                                14    0   3  11    16   36  −20     3

Indies Group 9
Lorrana 0–1 Acronius
TJUN-ia 3–0 Havynwilde
The Holy Empire 3–1 Arklanda
Pemecutan 3–0 Armed King
Norish Jeia Repa 1–3 Red Kelp

   Indies Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 The Holy Empire                       14   11   3   0    33   11  +22    36
 2 Acronius                              14    8   3   3    24   13  +11    27
 3 TJUN-ia                               14    7   5   2    25   11  +14    26
 4 Havynwilde                            14    6   6   2    24   12  +12    24
 5 Pemecutan                             14    7   3   4    19   12   +7    24
 6 Arklanda                              14    4   5   5    16   23   −7    17
 7 Lorrana                               14    2   4   8    12   25  −13    10
 8 Red Kelp                              14    2   4   8    21   35  −14    10
 9 Norish Jeia Repa                      14    2   2  10    12   27  −15     8
10 Armed King                            14    1   5   8    13   30  −17     8

Indies Group 10
Thibaea 0–1 Sajnur
Tequilo 0–0 ZSeparatists
The Sarian 2–0 Treekidistan
Acastanha 2–1 United Pink States
Yerapia 0–1 Central Shaneville

   Indies Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Sajnur                                14   11   1   2    33   11  +22    34
 2 The Sarian                            14    9   5   0    29   11  +18    32
 3 Tequilo                               14    9   4   1    27    9  +18    31
 4 ZSeparatists                          14    7   4   3    17   13   +4    25
 5 Central Shaneville                    14    4   4   6    11   14   −3    16
 6 Treekidistan                          14    4   2   8    16   27  −11    14
 7 Yerapia                               14    3   4   7    20   29   −9    13
 8 Acastanha                             14    4   0  10    12   20   −8    12
 9 United Pink States                    14    3   3   8    17   30  −13    12
10 Thibaea                               14    2   1  11    12   30  −18     7

Game of the Day: Banija 0–0 Busoga Islands
Banija and the Busoga Islands continue their control on the group, as when it was thought one of them could have lost, neither one of them did. This game pretty much helps lock up the group for each team,a Dan guaranteed qualification is in sight now.

AO Group 1
Legalese 3–2 Khytonya
Freeport 1–2 Farfadillis
Tioguldos 0–1 Turori
Qasden 2–0 Krytenia

   AO Group 1                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qasden                                14   10   1   3    33   13  +20    31
 2 Farfadillis                           13   10   0   3    22   12  +10    30
 3 Tioguldos                             14    9   0   5    18   14   +4    27
 4 Krytenia                              13    7   3   3    15   10   +5    24
 5 Turori                                13    7   2   4    18    8  +10    23
 6 Freeport                              13    5   5   3    15   11   +4    20
 7 Legalese                              13    2   3   8    17   29  −12     9
 8 Khytonya                              14    1   3  10    10   27  −17     6
 9 Ibixa                                 13    0   1  12     2   26  −24     1

AO Group 2
Netop 3–0 Pluvia and Saxean
Gyatso-Kai 0–1 Valanora
Barunia 0–4 Ko-oren
Mavinet 2–1 Siovanija and Teusland

   AO Group 2                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                              13   10   1   2    21    7  +14    31
 2 Mavinet                               14    9   1   4    29   17  +12    28
 3 Ko-oren                               13    8   2   3    25   16   +9    26
 4 Siovanija and Teusland                13    7   3   3    30   15  +15    24
 5 Gyatso-Kai                            13    5   5   3    19   12   +7    20
 6 Netop                                 13    6   1   6    21   18   +3    19
 7 Barunia                               14    5   3   6    23   22   +1    18
 8 Pluvia and Saxean                     14    1   1  12    10   35  −25     4
 9 Bonbohk u Piche                       13    0   1  12     8   44  −36     1

AO Group 3
Quakmybush 3–1 Fjorsz
Euran Oceania Territories 1–2 Banija
Busoga Islands 1–0 Audioslavia
Maccian 0–0 Equestria

   AO Group 3                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Banija                                13   10   3   0    28   10  +18    33
 2 Busoga Islands                        14    9   3   2    20   10  +10    30
 3 Audioslavia                           13    7   2   4    23   17   +6    23
 4 Equestria                             13    6   3   4    25   21   +4    21
 5 Quakmybush                            13    6   1   6    25   24   +1    19
 6 Euran Oceania Territories             13    6   0   7    25   24   +1    18
 7 Maccian                               14    5   3   6    18   20   −2    18
 8 Fjorsz                                14    1   3  10    14   30  −16     6
 9 Sett Forest                           13    1   0  12     7   29  −22     3

AO Group 4
Savigliane 3–0 Muralos
Saltstead 0–0 Starblaydia
Twicetagria 0–1 Mriin
Northwest kalactin 0–3 Flavovespia

   AO Group 4                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mriin                                 13   11   2   0    35   14  +21    35
 2 Starblaydia                           13    8   4   1    22    8  +14    28
 3 Flavovespia                           13    8   1   4    23   16   +7    25
 4 Saltstead                             13    7   2   4    18   15   +3    23
 5 Northwest kalactin                    14    6   3   5    15   18   −3    21
 6 Savigliane                            13    5   3   5    21   16   +5    18
 7 Twicetagria                           14    4   4   6    14   13   +1    16
 8 Wreckeria                             13    1   0  12     5   24  −19     3
 9 Muralos                               14    0   1  13     5   34  −29     1

AO Group 5
Hapilopper 4–1 Jabal Ahkdar
Huayramarca 0–0 Vilita
Blouman Empire 0–3 Commonwealth of Baker Park
Independent Athletes from Quebec 0–3 Chromatika

   AO Group 5                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Commonwealth of Baker Park            13    9   4   0    32   14  +18    31
 2 Vilita                                13    9   2   2    35   14  +21    29
 3 Independent Athletes from Quebec      14    7   2   5    25   22   +3    23
 4 Chromatika                            13    6   4   3    29   16  +13    22
 5 Hapilopper                            13    5   4   4    19   19    0    19
 6 Huayramarca                           13    4   5   4    20   15   +5    17
 7 Blouman Empire                        14    5   2   7    13   18   −5    17
 8 Cosumar                               13    2   2   9     5   30  −25     8
 9 Jabal Ahkdar                          14    0   1  13     9   39  −30     1

Rushmore Group 1
San Ortelio 1–1 Darmen
Eastfield Lodge 0–3 Electrum

   Rushmore Group 1                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Pasarga                                8    7   1   0    18    5  +13    22
 2 Electrum                               7    3   1   3    11    7   +4    10
 3 Eastfield Lodge                        7    2   2   3     8   12   −4     8
 4 Darmen                                 8    1   4   3     9   10   −1     7
 5 San Ortelio                            6    0   2   4     4   16  −12     2

Rushmore Group 2
Govournauch 2–7 Valladares
Crystalline Caverns 1–2 Yuezhou

   Rushmore Group 2                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Savojarna                              8    6   1   1    16    4  +12    19
 2 Yuezhou                                7    6   0   1    12    4   +8    18
 3 Valladares                             8    3   1   4    16   11   +5    10
 4 Crystalline Caverns                    7    2   0   5     7   14   −7     6
 5 Govournauch                            6    0   0   6     2   20  −18     0

Rushmore Group 3
Nacaltora 0–0 Sargossa
Nagore 3–3 Oberour Ar Moro

   Rushmore Group 3                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Eura                                   8    7   1   0    22    3  +19    22
 2 Oberour Ar Moro                        7    3   1   3    10    9   +1    10
 3 Sargossa                               8    2   3   3     6    5   +1     9
 4 Nagore                                 7    2   2   3     9   14   −5     8
 5 Nacaltora                              6    0   1   5     1   17  −16     1

Rushmore Group 4
Simulland 2–4 Astograth
Southwest Eastnorth 1–2 Tikariot

   Rushmore Group 4                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Cassadaigua                            8    6   2   0    18    5  +13    20
 2 Astograth                              8    5   1   2    11    7   +4    16
 3 Tikariot                               7    3   2   2     7    7    0    11
 4 Southwest Eastnorth                    7    1   1   5     7   11   −4     4
 5 Simulland                              6    0   0   6     4   17  −13     0

Rushmore Group 5
Hispinas 0–2 Graintfjall
Mytanija 3–2 Plane of Possibility

   Rushmore Group 5                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Nephara                                8    7   0   1    16    4  +12    21
 2 Graintfjall                            8    5   0   3    15    7   +8    15
 3 Plane of Possibility                   7    3   1   3     7    9   −2    10
 4 Mytanija                               7    1   2   4    10   18   −8     5
 5 Hispinas                               6    0   1   5     7   17  −10     1

Indies Group 1
North Alazia 0–0 Caryton
T Republic 4–3 Melbergia
TBS 0–0 Terre Septentrionale
Icecliff 0–2 New Lusitania
Emastalia 0–0 Indusse

   Indies Group 1                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Terre Septentrionale                  15   12   2   1    42    9  +33    38
 2 New Lusitania                         15   10   2   3    28   11  +17    32
 3 Indusse                               15    6   6   3    21   16   +5    24
 4 Emastalia                             15    6   3   6    23   22   +1    21
 5 Melbergia                             15    6   3   6    21   29   −8    21
 6 T Republic                            15    5   4   6    10   19   −9    19
 7 North Alazia                          15    4   3   8    14   20   −6    15
 8 Caryton                               15    3   4   8     9   21  −12    13
 9 Icecliff                              15    3   3   9    11   21  −10    12
10 TBS                                   15    2   6   7    12   23  −11    12

Indies Group 2
U-koro 2–2 Beepee
Cirrus Azale 2–0 Widaya
UAC 4–4 Drawkland
Hebitaka 0–1 Poafmersia
Murphtannia 0–0 Juvencus

   Indies Group 2                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Drawkland                             15   12   2   1    41   22  +19    38
 2 Poafmersia                            15   12   0   3    31   10  +21    36
 3 Juvencus                              15   10   3   2    24   10  +14    33
 4 Murphtannia                           15   10   1   4    32   15  +17    31
 5 Cirrus Azale                          15    7   1   7    22   27   −5    22
 6 UAC                                   15    4   4   7    21   27   −6    16
 7 U-koro                                15    2   4   9    12   23  −11    10
 8 Widaya                                15    3   1  11     9   21  −12    10
 9 Hebitaka                              15    2   3  10    14   32  −18     9
10 Beepee                                15    2   3  10    21   40  −19     9

Indies Group 3

Stevid 3–3 Waisnor
State of Trinity 2–1 Trolleborg
Squidroidia 0–1 Abanhfleft
Garifunya 6–2 Al-Qurija
Freechi 2–2 Bluecliff

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Abanhfleft             15   11   1   3    27   12  +15    34
 2 Garifunya              15   10   3   2    37   18  +19    33
 3 Squidroidia            15    9   4   2    27    9  +18    31
 4 Freechi                15    9   3   3    30   18  +12    30
 5 Trolleborg             15    7   1   7    23   21   +2    22
 6 Bluecliff              15    5   5   5    22   22    0    20
 7 Stevid                 15    3   3   9    14   31  −17    12
 8 Waisnor                15    2   5   8    20   30  −10    11
 9 State of Trinity       15    2   3  10    14   34  −20     9
10 Al-Qurija              15    1   4  10    15   34  −19     7

Indies Group 4
Cascadia 3–1 Trigel
Quemmor Isles 1–2 Hafamarimet
St. Domingues 0–2 Zwangzug
PSTCT 0–2 Geektopia
Megistos 2–6 Darkmania

   Indies Group 4                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Geektopia                             15   12   1   2    36   13  +23    37
 2 Zwangzug                              15   11   3   1    36   10  +26    36
 3 Megistos                              15   10   1   4    41   22  +19    31
 4 Darkmania                             15    8   1   6    28   25   +3    25
 5 St. Domingues                         15    5   4   6    17   23   −6    19
 6 Hafamarimet                           15    5   2   8    15   27  −12    17
 7 Quemmor Isles                         15    5   1   9    15   28  −13    16
 8 PSTCT                                 15    3   5   7    16   27  −11    14
 9 Trigel                                15    4   1  10    16   33  −17    13
10 Cascadia                              15    2   1  12    12   24  −12     7

Indies Group 5
Aepreleh 3–1 Smosh Games
West Angola 1–0 Hindu RR
Mexi Catcha 0–1 Kandorith
Ranoria 0–1 Jeruselem
Sulsuland 1–2 Kohnhead

   Indies Group 5                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Kandorith                             15   13   2   0    34    8  +26    41
 2 Jeruselem                             15   11   2   2    28    6  +22    35
 3 Kohnhead                              15   10   3   2    30   17  +13    33
 4 Sulsuland                             15    9   0   6    32   18  +14    27
 5 Aepreleh                              15    6   1   8    26   33   −7    19
 6 West Angola                           15    3   6   6    15   22   −7    15
 7 Mexi Catcha                           15    3   5   7    21   32  −11    14
 8 Smosh Games                           15    3   3   9    14   29  −15    12
 9 Hindu RR                              15    2   3  10    13   35  −22     9
10 Ranoria                               15    2   1  12    15   28  −13     7

Indies Group 6
Magnecia and Galmencia 1–1 Gothina Isles
North Japan 1–1 Tornado Queendom
Mand Blustopia 0–4 Kelssek
Chartistan 0–3 Squornshelous
Balqia 5–6 Sharktail

   Indies Group 6                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Kelssek                               15   13   2   0    38    6  +32    41
 2 Sharktail                             15   11   2   2    32   15  +17    35
 3 Squornshelous                         15   10   2   3    28   11  +17    32
 4 Mand Blustopia                        15    8   0   7    23   25   −2    24
 5 Balqia                                15    6   3   6    22   27   −5    21
 6 North Japan                           15    4   3   8    19   26   −7    15
 7 Magnecia and Galmencia                15    3   3   9    14   25  −11    12
 8 Tornado Queendom                      15    2   5   8    14   25  −11    11
 9 Gothina Isles                         15    3   2  10    12   28  −16    11
10 Chartistan                            15    1   6   8    13   27  −14     9

Indies Group 7
Regmotto 1–2 Garbellia
Socialist New Britain 1–2 Critical Operations
Sannyamathaland 0–1 Mercedini
Fluvannia 0–2 Port Ember
Rangers FC 0–0 Squornshelan Remnant States

   Indies Group 7                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Port Ember                            15   13   1   1    38   11  +27    40
 2 Mercedini                             15    9   4   2    30   13  +17    31
 3 Rangers FC                            15    8   5   2    29   13  +16    29
 4 Squornshelan Remnant States           15    7   5   3    21   12   +9    26
 5 Critical Operations                   15    5   1   9    18   29  −11    16
 6 Fluvannia                             15    5   1   9    12   25  −13    16
 7 Sannyamathaland                       15    4   3   8    15   25  −10    15
 8 Socialist New Britain                 15    3   4   8    16   24   −8    13
 9 Garbellia                             15    3   4   8    19   31  −12    13
10 Regmotto                              15    3   2  10    16   31  −15    11

Indies Group 8
Logano 0–0 Pays Den Haut
Silvedana 3–0 Frezza
Rwezakaland 2–2 HUElavia
Transvolcanic 4–0 Omerica
Baggieland 1–2 Devonta

   Indies Group 8                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Devonta                               15   12   3   0    29   11  +18    39
 2 HUElavia                              15   11   3   1    28   12  +16    36
 3 Baggieland                            15   11   0   4    23   11  +12    33
 4 Transvolcanic                         15   10   2   3    43   16  +27    32
 5 Rwezakaland                           15    6   2   7    25   26   −1    20
 6 Pays Den Haut                         15    5   3   7    22   23   −1    18
 7 Silvedana                             15    3   3   9    20   30  −10    12
 8 Frezza                                15    3   2  10    16   35  −19    11
 9 Omerica                               15    2   2  11    12   34  −22     8
10 Logano                                15    0   4  11    16   36  −20     4

Indies Group 9
Norish Jeia Repa 0–1 Lorrana
Red Kelp 0–2 Pemecutan
Armed King 0–3 The Holy Empire
Arklanda 1–0 TJUN-ia
Havynwilde 3–1 Acronius

   Indies Group 9                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 The Holy Empire                       15   12   3   0    36   11  +25    39
 2 Havynwilde                            15    7   6   2    27   13  +14    27
 3 Acronius                              15    8   3   4    25   16   +9    27
 4 Pemecutan                             15    8   3   4    21   12   +9    27
 5 TJUN-ia                               15    7   5   3    25   12  +13    26
 6 Arklanda                              15    5   5   5    17   23   −6    20
 7 Lorrana                               15    3   4   8    13   25  −12    13
 8 Red Kelp                              15    2   4   9    21   37  −16    10
 9 Norish Jeia Repa                      15    2   2  11    12   28  −16     8
10 Armed King                            15    1   5   9    13   33  −20     8

Indies Group 10
Yerapia 1–3 Thibaea
Central Shaneville 1–2 Acastanha
United Pink States 0–2 The Sarian
Treekidistan 0–5 Tequilo
ZSeparatists 4–0 Sajnur

   Indies Group 10                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 The Sarian                            15   10   5   0    31   11  +20    35
 2 Tequilo                               15   10   4   1    32    9  +23    34
 3 Sajnur                                15   11   1   3    33   15  +18    34
 4 ZSeparatists                          15    8   4   3    21   13   +8    28
 5 Central Shaneville                    15    4   4   7    12   16   −4    16
 6 Acastanha                             15    5   0  10    14   21   −7    15
 7 Treekidistan                          15    4   2   9    16   32  −16    14
 8 Yerapia                               15    3   4   8    21   32  −11    13
 9 United Pink States                    15    3   3   9    17   32  −15    12
10 Thibaea                               15    3   1  11    15   31  −16    10

Game of the Day: Squidroidia 0–1 Abanhfleft
In the game that may end up deciding the group in the end, Abanhfleft was able to win 1-0 against a skilled Squidroidia team. Abanhfleft needed to win this game if they wanted to stay on top, and they did, and now they may be looking at a bright future.

by **Netop** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:38 pm

Netop keep unlikely hopes alive with two wins

The pursuit of second place was always going to be difficult but two recent wins have brought us tied on points with Abanhfleft and 15th in the multiverse Zwangzug for second place with first place still possible although Savojarna appear far ahead with a five point lead over the three battling for second.

We started off the two games with a big win against the aforementioned Savojarna who are ranked 34th in the multiverse and were cruising up at the head of our group. Two goals one from Savanna Park and the other from Max Holder the winner in the 76th minute would give Netop the come from behind 2-1 victory against the group leaders. Zoe Kinney who has really picked up her form as of late sent in a cross that Riggs headed over to Holder who smashed it in with his head.

Other results also went our way with 2nd place Abanhfleft who had a five point lead over us before the 14th matchday drawing with Ancherion who sit in 6th, and Zwangzug and Saint-Domingue two other nations jostling for the spot battling with Zwangzug emerging on top to tie with us and Saint-Domingue on points for third in the group, a win behind 2nd placed Abanhfleft and now just seven points behind Savojarna after we defeated them in front of a roaring Foster Park crowd.

This is a statement win for Netop and comes two matches after we stunningly drew Zwangzug also at home, meaning that Netop now had four points against the top two pots in one qualifying cycle which was four more than our former oppressors in Kohnhead had acheived in three although they would later go on to beat the pot 2 team in their group and win the UWC in the process (we hope you lose it).

Taking on last placed and a team on just a measly two points in Hafamarimet, Netop got an easy fixture on the road to pick up the three points winning in a 4-1 fashion to bring us up to 26 points. Bertie Gilbert picked up her first goal, Holder scored again, Wormald also scored, and Adelle Benton off the bench also scored her first goal after being oh so close against Zwangzug the first time.

Once again scheduling and results were on our side with Savojarna and Saint-Domingue two of our foes in the race for the top two spots playing to a 2-2 draw meaning the gap to first fell to five points and Saint-Domingue fell to two points behind us. The other two major players in the race for the top two also played with Zwangzug getting a statement 6-3 win against Abanhfleft to really knot us up. As you can see down below there is a three way tie for second on points and Netop is right in the mix.

Group 5                                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Savojarna                             15    9   4   2    25   12  +13    31
 2 Zwangzug                              15    7   5   3    32   20  +12    26
 3 Abanhfleft                            15    7   5   3    35   28   +7    26
 4 Netop                                 15    7   5   3    41   33   +8    26
 5 Saint-Domingue                        15    7   3   5    30   21   +9    24
 6 Sharktail                             15    6   3   6    28   29   −1    21
 7 Ancherion                             15    4   8   3    37   33   +4    20
 8 Chartistan                            15    4   3   8    25   28   −3    15
 9 Koniglich Wasserstein                 15    3   4   8    27   39  −12    13
10 Hafamarimet                           15    0   2  13    17   54  −37     2

We are also only five points off of Savorjarna and with three matches to play the dream is still possible although highly unlikely but it's anyone's race for second with Saint-Domingue only being two points behind us. Currently Zwangzug have second place and with their two recent wins and matches it looks like it will be difficult to catch them, let's take a look at the final three matchdays in our group and see who we have to face.

Matchday 16
Netop Vs Saint-Domingue
Savorjarna Vs Abanhfleft
Zwangzug Vs Chartistan
Ancherion Vs Koniglich Wasserstein
Sharktail Vs Hafamarimet

Matchday 17
Sharktail Vs Netop
Hafamarimet Vs Ancherion
Koniglich Wasserstein Vs Zwangzug
Chartistan Vs Savojarna
Abanhfleft Vs Saint-Domingue

Matchday 18
Netop Vs Abanhfleft
Saint-Domingue Vs Chartistan
Savojarna Vs Koniglich Wasserstein
Zwangzug Vs Hafamarimet
Ancherion Vs Sharktail

From the above matches, Netop have a reasonable schedule although the match against Abanhfleft in the last matchday should be a tough one, hopefully Foster Park can see another major win. Zwangzug have a very easy schedule with matches against the bottom three teams to finish off and we will be hard pressed to see them drop points although if they do, Netop need to capitalize. Abanhfleft by comparison have the hardest schedule with matches against the top team, 5th place, and 4th place but have shown they have the ability to do well.

by **Eura** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:39 pm

Life in the Seventh Star

Part Ten

A few months later

‘Hah! I can’t believe it!’ Tore, Mateo’s other living uncle, punched the air. ‘I can’t believe they’re actually bottling it. When was the last time those Southie bastards missed a World Cup?’ Medoro flinched a bit at his brother’s incessant loudness. ‘Must have been before they made that first final, right? God, weren’t those the days. We could actually beat them. We had Seryou Kobe up front!’
‘I just wish we’d qualified at some point before the snakes took away our team. You remember that Mateo, you remember what they did? Let me tell you boy, never forgive the bastards, and never forget.’ Mateo was sat on the sofa between his uncles, watching EBC, the Euran national broadcaster that now could be seen in every Sameban home, where once it was banned as seditious propaganda. They had just televised Eura’s shock 4-3 defeat against Pemecutan, a result that left the Eurans facing a first qualifying stage elimination from the World Cup in forty years or so ago when Sameba’s southern neighbours first qualified. Mateo should have relished this moment of schadenfreude like many other Samebans, revelling in the joy of the supposed footballing powerhouse of Eura suffering the ignominy of failing to qualify for a World Cup. Instead he sat in silence.

His uncle was right. The Eurans had snatched away the Samebans beloved national football team. Ok they weren’t that good, but occasionally they’d beat someone good - “I remember us smashing Farfadillis!” exclaimed Tore, describing what was more of a smash and grab than a smashing. Besides, it wasn’t quality that mattered to Samebans, or how many tournaments they got to compete in. It was the fact that it was their team, representing their country. Excluding the couple of years after the war’s formal end where the Sameban people were in a collective state of shock, and the Provisional Government a loose collection of Euran military commanders handing out rations and shooting regime stragglers, it had been easier to contemplate the idea of a world without Sameba in it. As the years passed, many had started to wonder just how they had lost their country so quickly and with so little role in deciding its fate.

Not much of this mattered to Mateo at the moment. Why should he care? He’d gone a bit soft on the familial disposition towards despising their new rulers, and at sixteen years old he was young enough to have only a loose attachment to the Sameban national team. Maybe he had become soured on football as a whole. It turned out he didn’t need to worry about his mother barring him from going to Aspel games at their out of town stadium; the authorities had done that for him, barring Aspel fans from their own ground for the rest of the season after yet more chaos at a recent league game. Watching their games on pay per view television or streams cost him too much, and having grown up under the watching eye of a brutal dictatorship, he didn’t like the idea of resorting to illegally viewing games either. When he watched this Euran mess, there was no satisfaction to be had anymore.

The phone rattled on its holster. Mateo had other distractions too.
‘Hello?’
‘Matty! Hey, what are you doing tonight?’ It was Arabella, of course. Why was she calling at eight in the evening? ‘Oh, hi. I didn’t have anything planned, me and my uncles are just watching the game. Did you hear-‘
‘Yeah, I did. My Dad was swearing at the TV. He was at the 66th final, so watching this isn’t exactly a good time for him. You must be pretty happy though?’
‘I don’t know,’ Mateo mumbled in a quiet voice, characteristic of whenever this topic came up with her, ‘I guess? Medoro isn’t that bothered. Tore is…Tore.’
‘Ah well, maybe this is why my Dad hates you so much.’
‘…what?’
‘I’m kidding!’ She let out a cackling laugh down the phone. It always made him smile. ‘Come on, I want to show you something. Meet me in town, one hour. Usual spot.’
‘Sure. See you then.’ His smile transformed - into a fully-fledged grin.

----------

Mateo had been waiting for fifteen minutes at their meeting spot, Lucio’s, the cinema where they had first gone out together. She wasn’t usually late, and wasn’t anymore; Arabella came racing around the corner, out of breath and hands clamping down on her knees as she slid to a stop. ‘MATTY! Hey…woah…ok…’
‘Are you alright?’
‘Yeah, just my Dad wanted me home by eleven and I had to win him over to later. You’re early, how come?’
‘Mum told me I could stay until midnight if I call her at some point.’
‘Awww, you’re such a mama’s boy!’
‘Shut up! We’ve got an exam at the end of the week anyway.’
‘Yeah, yeah, any excuse you can find will do.’ Before he could think of a comeback, she grabbed his hand and whisked him off into the night almost as quickly as she had turned the corner.

She led him down a couple of back streets, making him wonder what exactly she had planned. ‘This is it, let’s go.’ They had come off one of the streets through an either tighter alleyway, round the back of some kind of office building and stepped through a cratered wall into a lush green space. ‘Is this it? I thought we were done stalking old ruins.’
‘No, it’s something else.’ His curiosity was truly piqued. Searching ruins they’d found a bit of a fighter jet once lodged in a ruined house that the Eurans hadn’t bothered to bulldoze yet - and the pilot’s decomposed body under it, which was less exciting and more disgusting and unpleasant. Finally she came to a halt and brought him to a stop too, at the end of the path they had followed. It had taken them up a steep incline to a grassless, rocky outcrop about fifty feet above street level. He suddenly realised that the dockyards and waterfront district were laid out in front of them, with miles and miles of lights filling the horizon beyond.’

‘Wow.’
‘I know, right?’
‘How did you even find this place?’ She shrugged back at him. ‘I don’t know. Took a long walk home one day.’
‘Fuck right off did you!’ he said as he joined her on the highest rock. ‘This is way too far from school.’
‘Ok, fine. I came here with my mum once when I was a kid. It looked different.’
‘How so?’
‘Well, more dark patches. The power cuts were worse then. But the gaps from bombings are still there.’ He could see what she meant. The dockyards had been restored for economic and military reasons by the Eurans, who had dredged almost the entire harbour and salvaged dozens of wrecked Sameban and Gregist naval vessels sunk there. But the two central business districts at either end of the bay were still gutted a decade after they’d been flattened by the Euran Air Force. Even so, the city retained its aesthetic beauty for the most part. The waterfront’s old buildings had miraculously survived mostly intact, and the bay itself was beautiful under the light of a half moon.

‘..and there’s the Dellaro.’
‘Shit, so it is.’ The Dellaro, an icon of Sameban football greater than any player or manager, sat near the waterfront. Once the ageing but picturesque crucible of the Sameban game, it was now dimly lit by construction lights, and derelict. More than that – ruined. ‘What’s going on?’ Mateo quizzed Arabella, spotting a mass of lights and glowing spots in the roads surrounding the stadium. ‘I don’t know…is there a game on?’
‘Can’t be. No-one’s played there in years. Eura won’t let us.’
‘Oh. Well, that’s not fair. It’s just a football stadium. I mean, the regime did execute a few people there but hey, that was so long ago, and it’s just a bit of concrete and grass.’
‘I guess that’s it isn’t it though. It’s not just concrete and grass.’
‘Sorry, you’re right. I didn’t mean to, like, minimise it or anything.’
‘It’s ok.’ He smiled back at her again, like it had become some sort of reflex. ‘It’s not like you’re wrong either. I loved going there when I was tiny but I don’t think I realised fully what went on. It’s not like Dad took me to any hangings.’

Arabella didn’t reply for a moment, then cracked a sly grin. ‘You’re such a cheerful conversationist, aren’t you?’
‘Hey, you started it!’
‘Hah, I’m just teasing you, chill out. Oh look, more of them.’ The lights grew brighter. ‘It’s really pretty. Reminds me of candles.’
‘Maybe it is candles!’
‘Bloody bright ones they’d have to be.’
‘Super bright. Hey, you didn’t say. What makes you cheerful?’
‘Huh?’
‘I know you were joking, but I don’t mean to be a downer. What makes you cheerful?’
‘Don’t be silly.’
‘School? Cricket? Shag, Marry, Avoid, the greatest reality show ever made? Boys? Or...girls?’ She let out that laugh again at him. ‘Oh for fuck sake, stop quizzing me. But for the sake of shutting you up, you make me happy. We have a good time.’ She leant over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

Mateo sat for a second or two not saying anything. Inside his head his teenage boy brain was running at a thousand miles an hour. Don’t read into it. She probably doesn’t like you that anyway. She’s got loads of mates in the year above, and you’re like, some guy. Oh man, I didn’t shower. Fucking hell, why would I forget that now! He was taken aback by Arabella leaning over again and, out of almost nowhere, giving him a “proper” kiss. He reciprocated, awkwardly, not quite knowing what to do. He’d kissed one girl before, and she’d done it just to bite his lip and laugh at his reaction. After a few seconds she pulled away and beamed back at him. ‘That was good! About time too, was wondering if you were ever going to. We should try it again sometime!’ she said, as if they’d just finished a date.
‘…I…wait, what?’ She raised an eyebrow at him. ‘What do you mean, “what”? I like you. So I kissed you. That’s how it works.’
‘Uh…’
‘You’ve never kissed anyone before have you?’
‘What?! I have. ‘
‘Who?’

He didn’t respond for good reason. ‘Come on now, tell me.’
‘It’s embarrassing.’
‘Oh hold on, shit. I remember! Fucking Julianna, the weird one who left! She did the lip bite thing! Oh my god, that was so funny. You bled everywhere!’ He tried his best to fake a laugh. ‘Yeah, right.’
‘Ok, maybe not funny for you. But look, I’m not going to do that to you. Pinky promise.’
‘Great. Thanks?’ He twiddled his thumbs awkwardly as she turned to look back at the city. ‘…so do you want to do that again or…’
‘Hmm. Ok.’ They kissed again, for a little longer this time, and somehow he was just as shocked as he was the first time. ‘Uhm, that was, er…’
‘You don’t need to tell me, I was there. It’s all good.’
‘Coooooool.’
‘Just to be clear by the way, we’re not going to have sex yet. Like ok, its cold out here but, don’t get your hopes up.’
‘I-‘
‘Hey look, shits kicking off!’ It was indeed. The beacons at the Dellaro were not candles after all. They were flares and Molotov cocktails, one of which had just exploded.

----------

Earlier that day

The Prime Minister dusted herself off as she entered her office. Her private secretary Pearson took her papers away, then came right back at a canter. ‘How was the debate ma’am?’
‘Shit.’
‘Oh.’
‘Yeah. You win three fucking elections and annex Sameba, and what do you get? Backbench wankers sitting there in silence while Barnham pillories me on overproduction, something that one of those very backbenchers was in charge of before I had the good sense to sack him from Industry and Commerce. Again.’
‘Sorry to hear it ma’am. Well, you’ve got a few more meetings this afternoon, then the Grand Duke of Astograth, Grand Duke Gaxan, and his wife Ichaso.’
‘Good. Nothing I love more than pleasantries and entertaining. It’s not like I have a country to govern or anything.’
‘Indeed, ma’am.’
‘…ah, I shouldn’t say that. They’ve been good allies to us over the years. Make sure the Cabinet are in their finest.’

‘Of course. Ma’am, there is one other thing…’
‘What?’
‘Security briefing, ma’am. OSI and Provisional Government have flagged a potential risk this evening following Eura’s World Cup qualifier.’
‘Following it?’
‘Yes, this explains it.’ He handed her a file unsubtly marked “top secret” and she sifted through it. Sameban nationalists were planning a march through Aspel to their old national football stadium to protest its continued closure and lack of refurbishment. A leak from the Ministry of Sport the week prior had fuelled rumours that the Eurans wanted to turn it into a museum of the Sameban dictatorship’s crimes, or bulldoze it. It hadn’t helped cool heads locally. ‘What’s the actual threat?’
‘I’m not your security adviser ma’am so I can’t really, er, advise as such. But my understanding is its radical elements of “Nazione Verde” again. A few of their members were caught last week trying to car bomb a checkpoint of Nepharan peacekeepers. Their ambassador, Constance Nemeth, is one of your appointments this afternoon, so I imagine you’ll want to read up.’
‘I will. Thanks, Pearson. Why don’t you take a long lunch? I think I’ll be fine from here.’
‘Yes ma’am. Best of luck.’ She nodded back to signal that he could leave, then threw the briefing file onto her desk, covering up the front page of the Directus Post - “SMITH EYEING LEADERSHIP BID AS ALLIES GATHER’. Radical Samebans were the least of her worries.

by **Mriin** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:39 pm

aroundthehorn.mrn

Effed in the FA?

Rumours have been abounding in online footballing circles lately. Just what the hell is going on with the MNL? The rate of shadowy figures leaving their Maal headquarters has more than quadrupled in the last month, and now Tailtiu Brennan is reporting that for the first time in her tenure she's had decisions be overturned by the organization. Namely that much of the Reavers' first team was barred from making the trip to Fjorsz, with the official MNL Twii.tur (a rarely-used account as council members often make announcements themselves for clout purposes) claiming that the undue stress of playing in a frigid Rushmori nation would be a needless risk against such low-ranked opposition.

Of course, that queues up an immediate loss to the eight-placed team in the group. With both Manahaal and Beiren looking exhausted at the end of the match, one has to imagine Istria or Äzyr being available to come off the bench would have made a huge difference. But now we'll never know thanks to this odd and unprecedented decision handed down from above. And of course, players want to play—so they've been voicing their displeasure as well.

@IstriaSaara #notabanijancity
@MNL you think I can't handle the cold?? I've played how many games in Stahlburg and still don't have lung cancer, I can handle wherever the fuck a Fjorsz is!!"
@Alkrytenia
Shitty way to get a start and shitty way to lose a game. Just a waste of time and talent. #Reavers #WC87 #WCQ
@Winabægo
Thought it'd be a long time before I had to sit on the couch and watch us lose on TV again. We can still make it, but it's a real uphill fight now. If they even let us play.

A pivotal match to keep the Reavers' qualification hopes alive comes up next, a six-pointer with first-place Squornshelous at Kapital. The Squornshelans just toppled Astograth at home to take a one-point lead over the third team in this fray. The MNL account has kept quiet as of late but Brennan has confirmed she'll be back to having full control over roster and lineup decisions from here on out.

by **New Lusitania and the Algarves** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:39 pm

Versão/Version / Vérsion: PT EN FR

THE DREAM LIVES ON IN THE MOR(r)O(w)
Oberour Ar Moro 1-4 New Lusitania
@Parade Grounds, Regium (Att: 42 910)

The November brought the final international break of the calendar year and began with a travel to Oberour Ar Moro, a team which were hard on luck as of late in what had been so far a disappointing cycle something they hoped to turn around in the capital, Regium. Patríce’s return to the net after a good while was greeted with some interest. Vinagrete, Ferradura and Cancela. Fernando, Azinheira, Palhagueira, Horta and Gama were the midfield five with Jota and Paciente up front.
A nice autumn day during that sunny week of the month were the perfect conditions for the match as the ball kicked-off. Two teams who needed a win here and it was visible in the intensity shown in the middle of the park. New Lusitania got the jump on the home side when the Azinheira gave an assist in his first game of the cycle as he gave the ball of to Fernando - who has been atypically out of the goalscoring sheets – to create the opener. A second came not long after that as Jota this time received another great through ball from Horta. It wouldn’t be halftime without at least a goal conceded of course and what a goal it was! L’Ermite of Cyrene Bay curved the ball from a tight angle into the goal.
The second half gave some belief for the Dominion but as soon as New Lusitania made their third through Daniel Jota who touched it to put it at an angle good enough to score as the pass from Palhagueira had already been good. The fourth and final goal was through Paciente, the trusty rotational player keeping a decent streak in the games he’s been present at. Four goals and two in a half which had been essentially one-way traffic, unfortunately for the fans. For New Lusitania, three points well earned.

THREE POINTS, NINE GOAL THRILLER
Stevidia 3-6 New Lusitania

A second away mission was in order for November, this time to Stevidia. Lopes returned as well as Leiteiro, despite a goal Veiga’s return meant the boot for Azinheira and Silveira surprisingly stayed out in the starting lineup. Stevidia being further down the pecking order might have made people expect straightforward match with the Selecção eventually taking the three points, or so their fans hoped. However, World Cup 87 has taught us one thing already and it is to expect the unexpected. So, what for tonight than none other than goals, goals and goals galore. Nine would be scored through out the evening and value for money seemed to be inscribed in the match ticket.
It wouldn’t take long either, clocking it at only fifteen minutes – Veiga announcing his return back with a goal as he placed it flying into the top corner. A mere ten minutes later, another one, this time by the foot of the winger, Gama who from an acute angle got it in off the post, just about. The keeper was unlucky with this one as it hit his back to go in and suddenly New Lusitania were celebrating their second. The Stevidians got one back when Massey placed a nice through ball which was just in the onside parameters onto Adams which just had to pick a spot with the defence badly beaten. They scored a second which for the home crowd was better yet as it equalised the game. This time a brace from Cooper from the border of the area was the way they defeated the Lusitanian defence.
Halftime came and went with hope still high for both teams. Stevidia shocked the group momentarily when they scored the third on the restart. An aerial ball by Johnson just seemed to fly into Adams who connected really well with the ball. This however, would be something that went against the run of play for the second half as the Lusitanians not only equalised shortly thereafter but assumed control of the scoreline. The equaliser would come from Jota who volleyed it in from the cross by Gama who seemed to be in the zone tonight. The fourth goal, Jota once more, as New Lusitania took advantage of the match by using a corner taken by Horta directly and into the box where it could connect with the now Académica player swimmingly. His hat-trick was complete when substitute João Teixeira, in his first WCQ-cap, passed the ball along so he could put it next to the right post, ball crawling through the grass for a fifth. Azinheira returned for some quick rotation and Trincal subbed off Paciente for some more time on the pitch. It would be Veiga once more with a goal though when he received the ball from the captain, Fernando, who once again had the vision to place it near him. All Veiga had to do was complete the job, which he did, just about when the timer reached the 91st minute of play. 3-6 the final score, with some good football played and another three points earned after a scare at the start of the closing forty-five. When the teams returned the following week in an extraordinary international week for another two games, it would signal the approaching games with the teams which have proven really hard to beat this season - closest competitors Saltstead, the candidacy killers Vangaziland and of course, the world champions and number one ranked team, Banija. Courage New Lusitania, a lot still lies ahead...

by **Vdara** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:40 pm

Three Strikes And You’re Out

Vdara vs Hapilopper has become a more popular fixture as the years have gone by. Sure, people enjoy it because of the tight scoreline, but there’s always one thing that people are expecting: a good fight. You see, back in World Cup 84, a younger Alexis Fotellis was taken down by a Hapiloppian ~~cunt~~ player by the name of Nate Ellis (Huh. Ellis/Fotellis. Same ending, who would’ve thought) during Vdara’s first game against Hapilopper. Alexis would get his revenge on the return fixture, by two-footing Nate directly in the face. For three cycles, people from Hapilopper and Vdara alike have awaited a rematch so that these two could go at it again, and in World Cup 87 a rematch occurred. On Matchday 5, Nate hurt Alexis so badly that he was out injured for several games. With Alexis now back from injury, Nate would have to keep a close eye on Alexis if he wanted to return to the dressing room unscathed.

Away Team Dressing Room,
Capital Stadium

The stakes in this game were high, and the players could hear the rambunctious Hapiloppian fans from inside the dressing room. Væñøœrëñbérghüïś needed to get the point across. Now, you might be saying: “What point’s he trying to get across? He hasn’t told me!” ...and you’d be correct, since I’m going to let you (yes, you, the reader) decide what the point is. Good luck!

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Right, boys. I know the game against Xanneria was a bit of a slap in the face, but we need to move past that now. After this game, there’ll be four matches left, and we need to make sure to drop as little points as possible, you get me? Electrum’s only two points behind us, so if we want to stay ahead of them we need to keep our heads in the game at all times. Don’t be letting the opposition win as many headers from corners, and don’t be leaving so many gaps in our defence, got it? Good, good. Now, as you’ll already know, we beat these guys in the home fixture. It was a tight match then, and I’m pretty sure it’ll be a tight match tonight. What matters is that we’re the side that benefits from the tightness - if we ain’t, we risk losing our precious spot at the top. You don’t wanna lose that, do you? Of course you don’t. Nobody does. We’ve held it for so long, and it would be a shame to throw it away when we’re nearing the end. Am I rambling? I’m rambling, aren’t I. I need to stop going on tangents like this, I’m only wasting your time... just get out there and play some good football!”

(Did you manage to decipher what the point was? If so, congratulations! If not, me neither. Let’s just move onto the next bit.)

As they were leaving the dressing room, Væñøœrëñbérghüïś had a few words to say to Fotellis.

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Alexis, are you absolutely, positively sure you want to play tonight? Nate could kill you!”

Fotellis: ”Not if I kill that shitrag first. Well, I won’t fatally injure him, just hurt him a little bit.”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”What’s your definition of little?”

Fotellis: ”Ah, y’know, a knock to the knee, punch to the pelvis, tackle to the testicles, that kind of stuff.”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Whatever you say, Alexis. Do what you must.”

The match report is as follows:

1: The fans are eagerly awaiting for the whistle to blow... and it’s blown. The match begins, and what a match this could end up being.
18: Karalas has the ball at his feet, and he’s flicked it forwards Fotellis, who’s through on goal! Fotellis strikes the ball towards the goal... but it’s saved by Harris. Pretty underwhelming match so far, that’s the first chance of the game.
21: It’s a corner to Hapilopper, and Pancakes Taggart will be the one to take it. Pancakes swings it into the box... and it’s headed in by Nate Ellis! The King of Controversy has got the first goal in, and Alexis Fotellis looks fuming!

24: It’s a yellow card for Colin McLean, for tackling Karalas after the ball had left his feet. Accidental, of course, but still dangerous.
35: This game has been very tight, with both teams having possession of the ball for long periods of time. Defences are prevailing, however, and nobody seems to be able to break each other down.
43: That’s a cynical tackle from Nate Ellis on Fotellis, and it’s a penalty! It’s a yellow card for Nate Ellis, but Fotellis looks even more fuming now. Let’s hope he doesn’t blow a fuse.

44: Fotellis steps up to take this penalty, and he still looks pissed. Will it affect how he takes his penalty? Who knows. Fotellis runs up and strikes the ball with power... and it’s straight into the top right corner! At the stroke of half-time, Vdara are back in this match!
45: That’s halftime, and the scoreline is equal at 1-1. Work to do from both sides, it seems.

As the teams strolled into their respective dressing rooms, Fotellis seemed to wink at Ellis. Ellis nearly charged towards Fotellis, but he was held back by his teammates. He was raging.

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”God, that was tense, eh? Thank fuck you scored that penalty, Alexis, otherwise we’d be in an even stickier situation. Also, good on you for holding fire, no need to get yourself sent off in the first half. Let me say, though - that Nate fella looks like he’s about to blow a fuse. Normally, I’d tell you lot to stay away from him, but I’m gonna forgo that advice entirely and tell you all to piss him off even more. It’ll be a good laugh, just watch! Anyhow, just make sure you lot can get behind their defenders more often, we haven’t been in too many attacking positions so far. Let’s get back out there and get shit done, eh?”

46: The players are back out on the pitch, and the second half is now underway! Vdara seem to be sticking with their tactical formation, whereas Hapilopper have moved from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-1-2. Interesting choice.
55: It’s a free kick to Vdara! Paul Dibble went to snag the ball from the feet of Lazelis at the edge of the box, but he’s managed to send Lazelis to the floor instead!
56: Vlahiades steps up to take this free kick, and he looks confident. More confident than usual, anyway. Vlahiades strikes with power... and scores with power! Vdara have started the second half well, and they’ve come from a goal down to a goal ahead!
62: It’s a corner to Vdara, and Vlahiades will be the one to take it. Vlahiades whips it into the box... and it’s a second goal for Alexis Fotellis! Vdara go 3-1 up, and Fotellis looks extremely pleased with that one!
71: Mavroglou has the ball in midfield, and he’s looking for options to pass it to. He spots Fotellis in space, and he tries to launch the ball towards him... but Fotellis and Ellis have had a coming together while going for the ball, and Fotellis has gone to ground!

89: There’s been a defensive slip up, and Swindlehurst has intercepted the ball! He’s one-on-one with Moustakaos... and Swindlehurst scores! The substitute gets a consolation goal at the end, and he looks pretty happy to have done so. It’s too late for a recovery though, surely.
90: The referee has blown for full time, and the match ends 3-2! The home fans are still pleased with that consolation goal, but nevertheless Vdara have achieved the double over Hapilopper! The wrongs of World Cup 84 have been righted, and the players look absolutely delighted to have righted said wrongs!

HAPILOPPER - 2
Nate Ellis 21’
Steve Swindlehurst 89’

VDARA - 3
Alexis Fotellis 44’(P), 62’
Tryfon Vlahiades 56’

Within the dressing room, the players were delighted with the win. They were also delighted that Nate Ellis’ balls were booted by Fotellis, to top a good win off. Heck, even Væñøœrëñbérghüïś was happy with the way that incident went!

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Did you guys hear the crack? I hope you all heard the crack, because it sounded bad! Well, I hope Nate wasn’t planning on having children any time soon, because he won’t even be able to at this rate, haha! Anyhow, that was a good performance from you lot today. Well done. Even though we conceded the goal at the end, we managed to hold on to the match with 10 men, which is a valuable experience to have. If you can keep a result with 10 men, you can get a better result with 11. That’s how the saying goes, right? Am I talking crap? I think I’m talking crap. Anyhow, with that game over and done with, our next crucial match is against Electrum. Now, I know we beat them last time around, but we can’t get too confident - especially when they have that Sentient Energy Ball on the pitch. He’s a scary fucker, and he won’t hesitate to do anything dangerous. That reminds me, I should get the chefs to keep some tungsten, aluminium and mercury on standby... anyways, make sure you all keep fit, and be ready for the next match!”

Vdara’s next match ended as a 2-2 draw with Cascadia, which was a severely underwhelming result considering the fact that they beat them 8-2 at home. C’est la vie, innit? If Vdara had won that match, they’d be 5 points clear of Baker Park - but alas, it is only 3. The fact that the gap is only 3 points makes the next few matches extremely important, since one loss could see Vdara and Baker Park on an equal points tally - and that would mean that automatic qualification goes down to the wire. However, if Vdara win their next two matches, they’re immediately through. No pressure, eh?

by **Drawkland** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:56 pm

E X P I R E D ...

It had been a week since Nicole had visited Iarocav's Manor. In that time, she'd gone back home to Kayo, pored through the notes the Drawkionel had given her, and made plans to spend the next week with Mike. After that week, was over, Iarocav said he'd made plans for her to meet with Kanyo for training purposes. This weekend she had plans to watch the next home qualifying match for Drawkland, but the qualifying schedule dictated that the Elite Eleven take a quick plane elsewhere for the return tie. She wouldn't be able to spend any time with her lover. The international cycle was usually tough in keeping the two apart, but the current events in Nicole's life made the loneliness all the more potent.

Nicole received a knock on the door Friday afternoon. She was confused, as she hadn't invited anybody over and rarely got solicitation or neighborly greetings in her downtown condo building. She opened the door to reveal none other than Cam Cross standing in her doorway.

"Cam?!" Nicole exclaimed, shock evident in her face.

"Hi Nicole!" Cam yelled back. She was wearing a Drawkland Kick Corps hat and a replica jersey with jeans. Well, it actually wasn't a replica jersey, considering she'd worn it on the pitch in the World Cup many times. She also had an overnight bag at her side. "I wanted to surprise you! I hope you're doing alright!"

"I'm doing fine!" Nicole said, very clearly surprised. Cam had achieved her goal in spades. "I didn't even know you wanted to come to this game!"

"Oh yes, of course, the home tie against Freechi. A very high profile match which I wouldn't miss for the world." Cam responded snarkily. "I came to see you! If there's one good thing that came out of the return of the qualifying home game tour, it was a chance to see you. Plus, I know you probably won't be able to hang out with Mike tonight since they have to leave for the doubleheader, so I thought you could use the company."

"That's really sweet, Cam." Nicole was honestly touched by the gesture. She didn't want to get all emotional standing at the door of her apartment though, so she asked Cam to come inside.

The pair decided to get lunch together, then went down to Kanyo Pitch to watch the game. Being the place where Nicole now played her home games in the domestic season, she was highly familiar with the venue and they got to their box quickly. As with most all of the home qualifying matches, DISC had a couple boxes bought out for employees or national team members.

Being a match against one of the lower squads in the qualifying group though, the box was not very populated. There were a couple players from the Base Corps and Grid Corps, but none that Cam or Nicole knew very well. They mostly kept to themselves, and the box had enough space that they were relatively secluded. Not that it mattered of course, for most of the game they were paying attention and cheering on the Elite Eleven representing Drawkland.

The first match against Freechi hadn't gone very well. The away match at Nadoia Stadium in Makiny was plagued with bad weather and sloppy play, which held the Elite Eleven to an unusually meager 1 goal showing. This time, the script would be flipped. Playing with home field advantage and clear skies, the Elite Eleven scored early, thanks to a goal by none other than Mike Rodney in the 20th minute. From then on, the Eleven found the lead safe enough to try going for risky and tricky shots.

This practice was what the Elite Eleven liked to call "highlight baiting." Playing against a weak opponent unlikely to put up much trouble, in front of a favorable home crowd, after taking an early lead, they'd try to make crazy or unbelievable shots. Stuff you'd see on an internet "BEST GOALS OF THE WORLD CUP 87 SEASON COMPILATION" video. It didn't always pay off, as there'd been plenty of games where the Eleven not only didn't get any highlight-worthy shots or goals, but actually ended up conceding too many goals and dropping points. Of course they would never do such a thing in a game that mattered, like knockouts or the World Cup proper, but it was controversial nonetheless.

The girls cheered as they did, but the 1-0 scoreline at halftime was not too inspiring in either direction. They'd jaw back and forth about how they better not drop points, how tight the qualification race is, and all of that, but that's what you'd expect. At halftime, all the other Corps members in the box had left to get specific refreshments from a concession stand, so it was just Cam and Nicole alone for the time being.

"So Nicole, what have you been up to in the offseason so far?" Cam asked. Most of their talk so far had been sports-related, nothing too personal.

Nicole hesitated for a moment. She didn't really want to go in depth to what she'd been doing. After all, Iarocav and the others had stressed the need for secrecy.

This caused Cam to raise her eyebrows a bit. "You there Nicole?"

"Yeah, yeah." Nicole said quickly. "I've just been up to some training. Trying to stay in shape. Stuff like that."

"Hmmm ... it doesn't sound like that's all you've been doing." Cam leaned closer and jabbed her elbow into Nicole's side. "Come on, spill the beans!"

"Fine." Nicole hesitated for a moment longer, but she finally gave in. "I've been prepping. Prepping for the Undying Quest."

"Really?" It was Cam's turn to be surprised. "I thought you'd given up on that. It's been years since you first said you'd do it."

"I figured that I don't have much time left before age really takes hold of me. Not that I care about growing older, but I'm in great physical shape right now and it'll be hard to keep that going as the years go on. Especially if I'm going to do something this tough."

"So what have you been doing? I can't even think of where to begin training for something like that."

"I've been talking to people, mostly. I went to Ellzidan first and she just told me to not do it as soon as I got there, then we practiced some ball for the weekend and she didn't speak of it again. Then I went to Iarocav's Manor, he invited me and gave me an entire walkthrough of the entire process. I have a notebook and everything. I also talked with Lerocav and Meliauden because they happened to be there. It was a whole thing."

"That's amazing!" Cam breathed. "When are you going to do it?"

"I ... still don't know if I'll really go through with it." Nicole admitted. "It's a lot to deal with. There's a lot I still have to do. I have to train with Kanyo apparently to see if I have any arcane abilities that I can use for protection. I'll probably go to learn hand-to-hand combat with Ellzidan. Apparently electronics don't work there so I have to figure out old-school survival tactics. It's no walk in the park."

"No kidding." Cam paused for a moment, looking out at the sparse halftime crowd of the stadium. The fans were flowing back in from the concourse to their seats. In a couple more minutes the game would be resuming. The other Corps people in the box would return any minute now. This isn't something you could talk about in front of other people.

"Well, count me in." Cam said resolutely after the minute of silence.

"What?" Nicole exclaimed.

"Count me in!" Cam repeated. "If you're going to do this stupid, impossible, death wish of a Quest, then you're not doing it without me."

"Cam, you can't-"

"You know damn well I can. You're my best friend, Nicole. And I mean that genuinely, not in a Katie Madison way." The pair laughed, and Cam continued. "You're obviously going to need help with this. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I knew I let you do something like this all alone. Not when I can help it."

"I'm still not comfortable with dragging you along with me." Nicole asserted after a moment of thinking.

"Well think, Nicole! What do all the immortal people you know have in common?"

"They're ... all unable to die?"

"Besides that, you dork." Cam jabbed Nicole again. "They all had help. The Drawkionels had each other. The Elite Eleven went in their group. Even Meliauden had Iarocav along to help her out. You need help, and I'm offering myself. Free of charge. Just call me when you need me."

"...fine." Nicole finally relinquished. "But I still don't think you should."

"You probably shouldn't either! But I'll support you every step of the way. Both emotionally and physically." At this point, the door to the box opened and the other Corps fans returned to their seats. The conversation was over ... for now.

"I'll let you know when things are happening. Especially if I go to Elstrund for ... practice." Nicole winked so Cam could catch her drift.

"It's been awhile since I've been at the valley. I'd love to return."

"Then I'll see you there."

The Elite Eleven had taken the field and the match was about to resume. Life goes on.

by **Ethane** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:01 pm

High Hopes? Or Panic At The Disco? Find out soon(ish).

Host Announcement: I lost a harddrive today (RIP). That means I'm going to have to manually tabulate the results. Therefore, the raw results will be out in about half an hour and the tables will be out as soon as I get them. Apologies about this. Good luck all.

by **Savigliane** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:31 pm

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same)" -Alphonse Kerr

X. Francesco Grimaldi
17 October, 2019
NSWC World Cup Qualifiers, First Round
Nationalstadion, Stelburg, Siovanija & Teusland

Francesco Grimaldi had a routine for taking penalties. He would pick the ball up, walk over to the spot until he was a few paces away, and roll the ball onto the penalty spot. He would then walk over, adjust the positioning of the ball, and take two steps back if he originally misplaced the ball. If not, he would inhale, run, and shoot. Over the years, he had become more and more accurate at placing the ball, usually eschewing the second adjustment altogether before shooting. But the core routine hadn’t changed - it was what he’d done as a youth player in San Ludovico’s system, it was what he’d done before dozens of penalties scored for Nazionale Acqui Bollente, and it was what he would do now, on the verge of sending Savigliane to the NationStates World Cup for the first time ever.

He’d stood here four years ago, in a very different position. Then, he’d fallen from grace as the clear-cut #9, dropped in favor of the since-vanished Raphaël Rovira. But with Rovira injured before the second leg of a pivotal UEFA qualifying playoff against Varanja, it had been Francesco Grimaldi who had stepped in, converting the penalty that sent Savigliane to the World Cup for the first time in five consecutive trips to the playoffs. Yet even then had just been the start of another national nightmare, as Savigliane’s sudden and unexplained transportation to another universe had racked the nation with grief, destabilized its government, and forced its national team into another round of qualifiers, where they finished a distant sixth. But just one more penalty from Savigliane’s talisman, and the heartbreak would finally be over.

When they had lost to their opponents, Siovanija & Teusland, 1-0 in the home leg, he’d barely played at all, being completely shut down by the Goldhorns’ stifling defense before being substituted for Thea Squarciafichi. But since then, Qusma manager Tlanx-Nulzk Hal had rebuilt his team’s attack around Grimaldi starting up top. He did so flanked by two inside forwards, Isabella Coste and the aging star Michael Durand, in a 4-3-3. Things had worked out tactically for the first half, as Savigliane found an early goal through Coste, but after the halftime whistle, things had rapidly deteriorated. Siovanija & Teusland had found an equalizer and continued to threaten, and with just minutes to play, it looked like they would find a winner, potentially condemning Savigliane to yet another playoff heartbreak.

A few minutes before stoppage time, though, it was Savigliane who would have a chance at a second goal in the match. Pietro Giraudo had dispossessed Stanimir Ilev, dribbled through a few Goldhorns, and found Bertrand Marchetti streaking up the left flank. Marchetti advanced rapidly before whipping a pinpoint cross to a cutting Isabella Coste, and Erich Thierse had no choice but to scythe her down in the penalty area. This meant that Francesco would take the penalty that could send Savigliane to the World Cup - or doom them to a sixth playoff heartbreak.

With the crowd buzzing around him, Francesco Grimaldi picked the ball up, walked toward the goal, and rolled the ball perfectly onto the penalty spot. The referee whistled; Francesco inhaled, took two steps to the ball, and smashed it perfectly into the top-right corner. The away stands shook, the Savigliano faithful roaring as the ball hit the back of the net and secured Savigliane’s second-ever first-ever World Cup qualification. Francesco leaped into the air, his teammates gathering beneath him, all screaming and crying out in ecstasy. As the away fans cheered his name, Francesco Grimaldi smiled. He had finally done what no other Savigliano player had done and fired his nation to his first-ever World Cup. Nothing could take that away from him.

It had taken two additional cycles since that fateful night in Stadio del Piero, when triumph had given way to heartbreak and mourning. The climb back up had tested Savigliane’s patience as they traveled through a new universe that knew nothing of the Swans. But two prime ministers, three national team managers, and four years later, they were back to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.

by **Yue Zhou** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:08 pm

JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH
1. Chen Xiaozhu
2. Liao Weizhe
3. Chen Xiaozhu
4. Liao Weizhe
5. Chen Xiaozhu
6. Liao Weizhe
7. Chen Xiaozhu
8. Liao Weizhe
Xierong District
Nangang City, Nanhai Province, Yuezhou

We only made it a few miles before all hell broke loose in Nangang City. That wasn’t on us - how was I supposed to know Zheng Zhoulun was going to be assassinated? Seriously. But it did mean that a citywide manhunt for the killers, of which I was apparently presumed one, descended upon us. After that, I didn’t stand a chance. We hunkered down in an abandoned building, the original tenants presumably dead or fleeing the country, but both of us knew the end was near.

I told Wang Jiahui to separate from me, but I think he figured he was part of our party at that point, too, and that they’d be looking for both of us anyway. And honestly, I think he also saw me as a friend by then. A kid like that, who’s pumped up as a future star from the day he’s born, and who becomes the government’s favorite player? Sure, it went to his head and put him on a pedestal, but in the end, it was a pedestal that few others could jump onto. In that sense, spending a few weeks on the run was the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

And ultimately, I decided that if I couldn’t make it out alive, I could help him out. So when the police and the mob came for me, I stepped out of that building. I don’t know if he made it out alive - at least, when I was being taken away, they hadn’t found him yet. But by now, he’s either imprisoned or long free. It’s been, what, a few weeks here now? Time really flies when you’re having fun. But he said he wanted to go to Sangau, or Xihaishi - and as long as he’s made it there by now, he’s as good as gone.

So there you have it. The police took me to this jail, I spend a few weeks alternating between confessing and getting tortured - thanks for that yesterday, by the way - and now we’re here. Is that enough for you? I don’t know shit about any assassination plot. Didn’t even entertain the idea - Dong Daiyu was all for negotiating with the guy. You know who I think it was? Chen Xiaozhu. That dude was always competing with us to remain number two, and I know he was a lot tighter with HQ than Dong was. I bet they set her up by giving her control of the mission and hand-picking Chen to go kill Zheng Zhoulun. But what do I know? The only reason the revolution would’ve wanted to kill him is if they knew he was planning on conquering all of Yuezhou anyways. At that point, it would’ve been an act of desperation.

You know, maybe that would make it Dong Daiyu. She did pick up that mysterious package in Banyuewan, and if Zheng was poisoned like you say he was, then I guess that would’ve been hers. That would’ve meant it was a suicide mission from the start, though. Although if Dong knew she was losing the favor of the revolution - and, in hindsight, I’d be surprised if she didn’t - maybe she would’ve agreed to one more critical mission for the cause before fleeing the country, or, well, dying.

I’ve actually seen all of them through these cell walls, now that you mention it. Well, not Dong, but I’m assuming you killed her or locked her in solitary to rot once you realized she was never going to crack. And I mean, never. But I did see the other two being lead somewhere - maybe to their deaths, now that I think about it - just a few days after Yincheng fell. Meng Huizhong looked the same, honestly. He’s ex-YPA, he’s seen worse. But Chen Xiaozhu looked like death. Slow shuffling, eyes to the ground, that gleam in his eyes gone. I always thought I was the softest in the group, but, well, maybe the diplomat was the whole time. I guess that would mean Dong did it, right? But who’s to say?

As for the end result, well, I guess things didn’t end up working out. But at that point, the revolution’s failure was inevitable. Nanhai and Jiangdong were just too big, too strong, too rich, and had too many powerful friends from all corners of Rushmore. Once Ren Qiang fell - maybe even before, now that we’re here - their takeover was inevitable. I’m sure they’ll pretend to pull out, establish a new puppet government with its capital in Nanhai, call it the “United Republics” or something. But they’ll be in control.

It’s better that way for me, at least. Yuezhou is in the pocket of Graintfjall and Mavinet now, all those oil companies, too. It means that the government will probably have me released. Can’t say the same for Meng and Chen, and Dong if she’s still out there somewhere. As for Wang Jiahui, well, I can’t imagine him playing for the Red Dragons anytime soon.

When you guys release me, well, I guess I’ll head home to Griesburg, maybe finish school. That’s what this war’s legacy will be anyways - Yuezhou opening up to more foreign influence, yeah? Maybe in a few decades, I’ll look back on this whole thing and laugh. Just a few kids in what we thought was the dawn of a new era, trying to negotiate with the powerful governor of Yuezhou’s strongest province. Well, it is a new dawn, at least for some parts of the country. For others? Well, at least we made our impact when we could. We never had a chance.

by **Tumbra** » Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:32 pm

TUMBRA 2-0 THE GOTHANITA ISLES
While Mathematically Eliminated, Black Eagles Hope For Strong Showing On Final Day

Despite losing only one game in the second half of qualifying, the NT has been eliminated from qualifying, but are still in the hunt for third.

NT manager Marco Hemmings during the 2-0 win against The Gothanita Isles. Results elsewhere, however, confirmed their elimination.

COUNO - The sting of dropping two points against minnows Regmotto hit hard once more, as Tumbra were mathematically eliminated from World Cup qualifying after the latest round of matches. This despite a win against The Gothanita Isles, representing a mark of revenge after they beat Tumbra 3-0 at home, meaning that Tumbra's debut campaign will end at South Newlandia, barring an invite to the Cup of Harmony. Goals from Morgan and Fraser early in the second half were enough to secure the win, but the missed opportunities from the goal extravaganza against Bluecliff and the aforementioned draw against Regmotto means that the Black Eagles sit fourth, eight points behind second-placed Pasarga with one matchday to go. The dream is over.

Credit must be given to Hemmings for the incredible results he has achieved over the past eighteen matchdays. To but name a few - Tumbra 1-0 Hampton Island, Pasarga 0-0 Tumbra, Tumbra 1-0 Valladares, and a 0-1 win away at Garifunya stand out. NT legend Johnny Brown has been credited with keeping the defensive lines tight in these big games, given Hemmings' lack of experience in defensive-minded coaching. Yet, the 27 goals shipped so far across the campaign - an average of 1.58 per match - represent a problem that Brown has little time to fix, considering he is already 32.

Defenders can go on for a long time - infamously, Delphi Lions' title-winning 1990/91 back line had a combined age of over 125, and their two defensive stalwarts, Bernard King and Angus Sanders, were 34 and 33 respectively, so Brown still has more time, than say, John Bridges or Dan Galbraith, two extremely good strikers back in the day but who are noticeably showing signs of decline. Brown, however, who follows a strict fitness regimen, is unlikely to decline or give up as easily.

The breakout stars of this round have to be young players like Dylan van Heirolf, who scored the first goal against Bluecliff and assisted another; at only 21 years of age, van Heirolf is already playing with a maturity hard-pressed in players of a similar age group, and is looking likely to be a key player in the upcoming Premier Division campaign for his hometown side Kingsbury United. Robin Vaughn, too, has proved his utility to the team; only he and goalkeeper Dan Addison have played in every match, and even deputised up front during the 1-0 win against Hampton. Him and Neil Fraser are in for a long fight against van Heirolf to determine the wingers for the Tumbran team from here on out. Players with potential for the future include Ian Ashburn, son of business magnate John-Tyler Ashburn, who has shaken off most criticism of his background by showing his calmness on the ball and his ability to link up with the midfield. Only time will tell, however, if Ashburn, 19, will be able to shake off his playboy streak, given his notorious appearances in the Lakewood nightlife scene.

Adam Herlinger has seen his flagging career revived, with his link-up with Cohen; two seasons ago he couldn't even get on the Lakewood United bench and was rumoured to go to minnows West Couno United. Now, however, he plays in the hole behind the striker almost effortlessly, scoring 4 goals this campaign; and is guaranteed to be one of the first names on the teamsheet when he returns to United.

Altogether, this squad will be memorable for the moments of hope and fun they have brought to the country somewhat tired from a stagnant economy and rising inequality. With Bruce Nolan coming on in the 83rd minute for Cohen in the Gothanita Isles game, all 27 outfield players have made at least one appearance in the qualifiers, a staggering use of rotation for the Black Eagles and highlighting the depth of the squad. A moment of true national unity has been achieved, with people from all corners of Tumbra putting aside their differences to come together to watch the matches on television. The match against Hampton Island was watched by over 40 million households, whether on television or online, joining the crowd of 60,095 that squeezed into the Port of Couno Stadium.

Looking ahead, the Black Eagles have one more match to go - against local rivals South Newlandia, who beat Tumbra 3-4 in Couno, who are in the hunt for a play-off spot. Tumbra are still in the hunt for third, and would take it if Hampton Island drop points against U-Koro and Tumbra record an away win. Hemmings is expected to play his strongest line-up, which, from estimates, would be:

Addison; White, Henderson, Brown, Hart; Hicks, McGrath, Herlinger; Vaughn, Fraser, Cohen.

Either way, thirty points can be counted as a strong haul from their debut qualification matches, and offer a strong hope of what is to come in the future.

by **Tequilo** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 2:00 am

KIPOLALIA
The Auto-Imitation Disease

Part 1 - in which the Tequilo IAC squad catch The Kip
Part 2 - in which the infected are sent to isolation camp
Part 3 - in which hope of a quick end to the virus fades with news of Long Kip
Part 4 - in which the Kipolalia Five face extra time in isolation
Part 5 - in which a young star drowns in the pool
Part 6 - in which the national inquiry finds the Unión to blame

Part 7/7: Kipilogue

CENTRO COMERCIAL SAN FEBAS, DISTRITO TRACO, TAPALUPÉ: Off-duty air hostess Rosa Vilomara is being detained at the back of the very fancy handbag store, Cefael. On the telephone, the store manager is talking to her sister Olaya, who is trying to explain that it is highly out of character for Rosa to attempt shoplifting and that perhaps she is unwell. In any case, says Olaya down the telephone, she will take care of any expenses and any personal compensation that may be needed if only the store will not report her to the authorities, since her whole career depends upon her reputation of good character. The store manager seems like he might be willing to entertain the explanation, and has to admit that Rosa has been a regular at the store and a good customer in the past; indeed he tells Olaya that this does seem rather out of character. Olaya goes on to press home her advantage, explaining that she even has some national standing nowadays, as a very glamorous star witness at the Kipolalia Inquiry - since she was lead hostess when they brought the Kip-jammed squad out of Gibber City and had to cope with the traumatic behaviours of Alex Gallo and company.

Handcuffed to a hefty security guard, Rosa was bobbing her head, seemingly in agreement. “Skraight!” she says, pointing two fingers at the manager as if mimicking a gun.

ISO CAMP 19, ISLA NIRA, ANTIVADOR: Capitan Cotus, of the 19th Military Provost Guard Service and commander of Iso Camp 19, is barking orders at three of his soldiers. When I say barking orders, I literally mean he is barking. He is making the sound of an aggressive and irritated dog, and imagining his soldiers are receiving his orders loud and clear. The image of this comes through crisp and loudly in the command centre at the camp, where a team of epidemiologists, virologists, biological warfare strategists and trained spies recently returned from Gibber City, capital of the state of Gibberish, are assessing the condition of the former guards, now inmates of Iso Camp 19. The auto-imitation disease tore through the 19th Provosts just as the footballers of the IAC tournament were transferred on to Camp Kippo; now they are being contained by soldiers of the secret service of Tequilo, who have far superior PPE to the provost guards including hermetically sealed atomic, biologic and chemical warfare suits.

One of the three soldiers salutes the barking capitan with a staccato movement of his arm, gropes his crotch and nods multiple times to an unheard beat; “Skraight,” he says.

CALLÉ PALMA, GARDARESSO HILLS, ISLA GARDA, ANTIVADOR: These are good times for the former residents of Palnoa town, a ramshackle island conurbation that had near-deserted in three decades of decline of Isla Palnoa with the death of tourism on the island - simply because it became extremely unfashionable. But then along came the government with their secrets and strange goings-on at one old resort on the island, and everyone in Palnoa town receiving some enormous pay-off to simply ‘go away and not talk about it’; there are nearly two thousand new millionaires in Tequilo thanks to that payoff, and many of them have bought fancy houses in the Gardaresso Hills, a hundred Klicks from Isla Palnoa and home of the fanciest of fancy society. At Teofila Siqueiros’ house on Callé Palma, a few of the ‘Palnoans’ have gathered for one of their regular celebratory barbecues - life is sweet for the ex-pats! Someone puts some of that dog-awful ruffian dippety-dop music on the house system and the pool area is washed with the noise of crap derivative dip shit, as the sensible people call it. But amidst the groans and the complaints of ‘who put this dip shit on?’, dear old Teofila, 88 if she’s a day, starts ‘dopping’ along with awful rhymes and embarrassing insults to her family.

Her horrified eldest son intervenes, taking her gently but firmly by the elbow, remonstrates with her as he moves her away from the pool and the guests. “Skraight,” she says at him, accusingly.

LA MEDIDA (CAMP KIPPO), ISLA PALNOA, ANTIVADOR: García de Corcoles pulls up in his battered RV outside the gates of the refurbished holiday resort, home to but two residents and a small army of staff. An armed guard comes to the window of the RV, and García shows him a fake military ID with the pseudonym Major Rodrigo Rumbo, Special Forces. He produces some paperwork, which looks perfectly passable.

“Emergency transfer order for Patients 4 & 5 - Señors Entenza & Alemán,” says García, sounding authoritative despite his beach-bum appearance. The suspicious guard looks up and down the old RV, and at the scruffy major.

“Seems like a funny thing to be transferring them in,” he wonders.

“All hell has broken loose since the Inquiry,” replies the fake major, drawing on a very plausible source, “and this location has been compromised in the media; I’m part of a covert team to get them to their next secure location. Let me in, soldier, we need to be damn quick about this. Angry hippies are inbound.”

The guard thinks for a moment, hands back the papers and ID card, raises the barrier and signals him through, muttering under his breath. “Skraight.”

TAPALUPÉ, Tequilo - World Cup qualification is just about done... for Tequilo, anyway! Version 87 will soon filter from 190 down to 32... and we've got your back for all the latest in the biggest and best competition in the multiverse: let the GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL-a!!! Daily take the strain - all your favourite bits, in brief. Still to come: Track & Trace… more on The Class of 72? Rúi de Las Rovas… season three of the famous old comic book strip rebooted. Logistics Report... how to manage a touring football team without picking up any weird viral infections; and of course, we have mail! You can write in too, if you want to - address your fascinating texts to spamcatcher@gola.teq or drop a letter in the mail to PO Box 654353583.2, Grand Central Post Office, Tapalupé¹ But first, El Copametro… how are Los Pitxileros making out in the qualification campaign trail?

COACH QUITS AFTER HAPLESS HEBI HOME SHOW

TEQUILO 2-2 HEBITAKA HT: 0-1

Location: @ Nido de Cuervo, La Conon, Maranco
Attendance: 62,721
Scorers: Isidoro Artechevarria 73' Turbolito 88' | Ram Vijay 9' Tarun Masake 89' (pen.) Assists: Çenturion 73' Tlacolotl 88' | Karan Raziq 9'
Booked: Isidoro Artechevarria | Elver Dyne, Takeshi Kazuto, Rohit Talukdar
Injured: Vilca Hualla (severity 6/20)
Tequilo Line-Up: Oscar Bienvenida (VC) | Blêxu, Antton Machinena, Tol Chicote, José Tavia | Ixtub Tün (sub: Xaime Medal) | Vilca Hualla (C) (sub: Isidoro Artechevarria), Çenturion, Ricardo Bailén (sub: Turbolito) | Tlacolotl, Ecuador
Player of the Match: Elver Dyne (Hebitaka) (Tequilo MVP: Ricardo Bailén)

BOTÍN'S BOYS!

WIDAYA 2-6 TEQUILO HT: 0-4

Location: @ unpublished location
Attendance: A smattering of Widdies and the Ultra-Mariachi Black Arm Band (8 sombreros+dog)
Scorers: Widdy#8 47' Widdy#10 77' | Isidoro Artechevarria 17' 27' Çenturion 29' Ricardo Bailén 34' Alexandro Calvoecheaga 84' Tlacolotl 85' Assists: Widdy#9 47' Widdy#14 77' | Axlexandro Calvoecheaga 17' José Tavia 27' Tlacolotl 29' 34' Antton Machinena 84' Blêxu 85'
Sent OffWiddy#6
Booked: Widdies#4&7 | Blêxu, Huracan; Ixtub Tün, Isidoro Artechevarria & Çenturion (1 match bans)
Injured: Oscar Bienvenida (12/20)
Tequilo Line-Up: Oscar Bienvenida (C) (sub: Tepin Mecatl-Rubió) | Blêxu, Antton Machinena, Huracan, José Tavia (sub: Emmanuel París) | Ixtub Tün (sub: Lorenzo Pero) | Isidoro Artechevarria, Çenturion, Ricardo Bailén | Tlacolotl (VC), Alexandro Calvoecheaga
Player of the Match: Alexandro Calvoecheaga (Tequilo)

A sorry display in front of the massed ranks of a disappointed home crowd at the Crow's Nest, La Conon, saw the Agave-Blues limp to a poor draw with Hebitaka to confirm their elimination from World Cup qualifying and the resignation of coach Ramiro Paredo, who led the team to their worst qualifying performance in the three cycles they have entered so far. Home performances in particular have been hugely disappointing with only two wins in eight, and there was a sense of the inevitable when Ramiro did not appear for the post-match press conference, sending assistant Juan-Manuel Botín in his place and announcing his resignation shortly afterward. There was a feeling that while he would've been expected to fulfill the following tie in Widaya, he likely would have been removed by the Unión before the final game in the capital next month against Khytonya when a morale-boosting win will be called for as consolation at the end of a disappointing campaign.

Juan-Manuel Botín was confirmed as interim coach for the last two games of qualifying the next morning - the long-term member of the national coaching team is part of the original group of coaches seconded from Motozintla for Baptism of Fire 72, and is now in charge of the under-23 team as well as standing in with the seniors. A decision on what comes next, if Tequilo win an invite to the Cup of Harmony, will be made after the Khytonya game. Coach Juan-Manuel oversaw a return to the aggressive and more attack-minded Tequilo of previous campaigns in Widaya, where there was a palpable improvement in spirit and confidence. Ramiro Paredo left behind a team lacking self-belief and seemingly uncertain of his tactics, so the replacement by a well-known and well-liked member of the backroom team was likely a welcome change, and it showed in the victory here.

TEQUILO STAT SUMMARY
Competition goals: Tlacolotl (11) Çenturion (6) Ricardo Bailén (5) Ecuador (4) Vilca Hualla, Isidoro Artechevarria (3) Huracan, Alexandro Calvoecheaga, Roxelio Toran (2) Xaime Medal, Eolo Sorazar, José Tavia, Huachalla, Aleixo Claver, Tutayan, Turbolito (1)
Competition assists: Çenturion (6) Tlacolotl, Alexandro Calvoecheaga (5) Ecuador (3) Vilca Hualla, Ricardo Bailén (2) Ixtub Tün, Huracan, Aleixo Claver, Roxelio Toran, Niño Pinto, Huachalla, Tutayan, José Tavia, Antton Machinena, Blêxu (1)
Competition PoMs: Tlacolotl (4) Eolo Sorazar (3) Çenturion (2) Huachalla, Blêxu, Huracan, Antton Machinena, Tutayan, Urbano Noboa, Ricardo Bailén, Alexandro Calvoecheaga (1)
Competition cards: Roxelio Toran, Patrick Zambo (1 red card) Ecuador (2 yellows, 1 red) Ixtub Tün, Çenturion (4 yellows) Vilca Hualla, Huachalla, Blêxu, Alexandro Calvoecheaga (3 yellows) Huracan, Noxochinoch, Isidoro Artechevarria (2 yellows) Tol Chicote, Ricardo Bailén, Jatsu Cañaverri, Niño Pinto, Antton Machinena, Jaïr Iscla, Emmanuel París, Tlacolotl, Pedro Rôa, Ostando Bertendona, Aleixo Claver, Kai Sidiki, Eolo Sorazar (1 yellow)

Confirmed Line-Up for TEQUILO vs. Khytonya @ El Volcán, Tapalupé, Ocotapa (capacity 53,523)
Tepin Mecatl-Rubió | Blêxu, Antton Machinena, Huracan, José Tavia | Lorenzo Pero | Xaime Medal (VC), Niño Pinto, Ricardo Bailén | Tlacolotl (C), Alexandro Calvoecheaga

ON THE ROAD WITH...
The Translator

Ava ‘Also available in Vilitan, Audioslav, Euran and Candelarian’ Bourdeaux, team translator from Chromatika, is a very gifted young polyglot and the latest contributor to our series on the logistics team that keep Los Pitxileros playing, matchday in, matchday out, toward the World Cup or Cup of Harmony.

“People think that a multiverse of ten gazillion nations is going to be untranslatable,” explains Ava, “but if you can get a good grasp of the basic root languages of Aoish, Rushmori, Esportivan and of course your own Asyluumanic, you can get by, at least in the sports world.”

What about The Holy ~~Asylum~~ Empire?

“Well that’s more of a telepathic language and you can only understand them if they let you. But to be honest, well, has anyone ever made sense of Juan Tzimiwhatsisface & Co?”

She has a point. How many languages can Ava actually speak?

“Around eight gazillion, give or take.”

Who is the most cunning linguist in the team? And who is the hardest to follow, given that Tequiloan is not your first language, not even your eighth?

“Well, there are a number of foreign-based players who are doing well with their host nation languages, including Vilca Hualla, Xaime Medal and Tutayan who all speak Audioslav to a functional level; although poor Vilca Hualla has moved to the Land of The Pointy Ears now, so he’s working on his Vanorish - which I’m assisting with. We have a Tuish speaker in Ixtub Tün - he’s very fluent - and Ochoa Abril is trying to learn Tikarion, though I couldn’t possibly say how that’s going.”

So, tell us how you came to be working for the Unión, translating for the national team. I know you first met the Tequiloans at the Under-18 World Cup in Chromatika, but how did you end up schlepping all over the multiverse with this band of ragged pitxileros?

“Hah, well - as you already know, the rights to that story have been bought up by your colleagues on the EXTRA desk, to feature as a serial during the next IAC series I believe. So I couldn’t possibly furnish you with any details at this point.”

But it’s got romance, peril and shambolic narrative twists in it, right?

“lidelse egátki þæa iwhedufr iu ddatþ ty ðresa ðnfygrne odyagtehi brertehi uoðnorðú ngipatho lihuh kidde! Ra pert anahee hþyþos aanostada toðaði stiedehiep boc nnyb eefeso holtan oortìh iutyfhore mi outho edee shen elleeteṭ aðhaneu aiyor hguùtedëh ðoubþa eoser þkiŋetóc sget ostyeneje tes ra hyffat rraeryh gebaöl kuhiiloe inän yhihit fthai onmruih”

…which we are given to understand is Chromatik for ‘no comment’.

RÚI DE LOS ROVAS
The famous cartoon strip from a fantasy football world - season 3

Read on for more of the season 3 reboot of Rúi de los Rovas, the comic strip set in Rúi’s fictional world where Coronabeer is a virus that is changing the world and 9-time Champions League winner Blackburn Rovers, where Rúi made his name, are so down on their luck that three consecutive wins in the ‘EFL Championship’ constitutes cause for celebration - twenty-seven tiers below the Champions League. 144-year old Rúi Raza is now head of the family football agency, whose business has been disrupted by the Coronabeer Virus and most of the deals are done on a video conferencing app called ‘doom’. In this episode, unable to figure out how to turn off the mute function in his doom conference with the organisers of the World Desert Cup in Qatar, Rúi is getting violent with inanimate objects in frustration at not being able to give out his Swiss bank account numbers for the final payment due as commission for knobbling the host vote that Qatar won against all the odds and then some.

Meanwhile Ronaldo, Rúi’s grandson and an executive in the Raza Agency, is having no more joy trying to sort out a move for one of the world’s great young midfielders, Paul Pogba, who keeps forgetting how much he hates rainy Manchester until he has to play there again, and regrets returning to the town’s second club, United, after one successful escape attempt.

NEXT UP
What's coming next with GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLa!!!

In the next edition of GOLa Extra, we round up our coverage of a shake-up at The Unión; PLUS! - in the Daily edition look out for more adventures of fictional comic book legend Rúi de Los Rovas, now into his 140s and running the family agency as he tries to find a new home for 'Lionel Messi', the world's greatest ever tax dodger; there will be our regular letters feature; we talk to more of the logistics team in the World Cup squad about how to manage a campaign of double-matchdays; and of course we'll keep you bang up to date with the progress of Los Pitxileros in World Cup 87... oh wait...

[1]Or TG Tequilo and we'll be sure to publish you in the next edition of the DAILY!

by **Nephara** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:27 am

Nephara 1 - 0 South Covello
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Provost; 2 - Stride, 5 - Thorn (c), 6 - Clevinger, 3 - Muscadin; 15 - Horvath (4 - Shone 63'), 8 - Cromwell; 7 - Koerner (23 - Mrdja 72'), 21 - Moxham, 11 - Considine; 9 - Bastable (16 - Basilisk 84')
Goal: Bastable 61'

Nephara 3 - 0 Sett Forest
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Provost; 18 - Soeringer, 5 - Thorn (c), 6 - Clevinger, 3 - Muscadin (22 - Lind 70'); 15 - Horvath, 17 - Mueller; 23 - Mrdja, 14 - Fletcher, 13 - Belgrade (11 - Considine 62'); 10 - Lovelace (16 - Basilisk 73')
Goals: Clevinger 12', Lovelace 36', Basilisk 87'

It was the first appearance of the winger Considine, yet her fourth cap.
Considine. Not the Nepharan Constantine. If she was going to be playing for Nephara - for a country she had literally zero blood ties to! - you were damn right she was going to assert some level of herself on the shirt. So she'd take her other mother's name. Her Schottic name.
If she was honest, Kendra Ramsey hadn't exactly set the world ablaze so far. She'd been serviceable in the draws with Graentfjall and Kandorith, scored against Pluvia, but the second coming of Corinne Marte-- of Rowena Strongbow she wasn't. Maybe Kendra Considine would do better.
She'd need to. South Covello were up next, a must-win game to keep Nepharan hopes of quaification alive.

"... word from our sponsors, welcome back to The International Game podcast, and as promised it's time to address the elephant in the room. So, Simon - you have the nation ranked second in the world--"
"Yeah."
"Second in the past two World Cups, on two consecutive Rushmori championships... currently languishing fourth in the group!"
"Yeah, haha, I know, I know, it's ridiculous, isn't it. But it's been coming. It comes to every team but with Nephara in particular it's, d'you know the past--"
"I've got a twii from that statto, @markusbridges here, says, 'Complete the sequence: Nephara have failed to qualify for World Cups 69, 78 ...'"
"Yeah that's the stat, that's the one I wanted to..."
"..."
"... say, yeah, so. It's--"
"Can it really happen?"
"Of course it can happen. It can happen to every team but it just looks right now like it's happening to the Cormorants. And look, you can say a team of their class can turn it on and win the rest of their matches - fine, but South Covello have been in great form, and Indusse away's no picnic, and besides that they've still got-- they're relying on--"
"It's out of their hands, isn't it."
"Yeah. They basically need all the other contenders to draw with each other, and even then Graentfjall have six easy points coming up..."

The first rule of football is never watch any game that's accused of being 'one for the purists'. Purist, in that context, means someone with too much time on their hands.
Everyone should've known going in that the game would go this way. South Covello were away from home and just needed a draw - already a stifling defensive outfit, they had more incentive to park the bus than ever. Nephara could be thrilling on their day, but they were badly out of form. It was showing. Something tentative in the passes, some sign of doubt. Considine got her first taste of jeers from the crowd when Moxham had slid her through the last man, she'd looked up for the cross... then decided it wasn't on, turned back and passed to Cromwell, who passed along to Horvath...
She glowered at the stands. The Godhead glowered back. She looked away, feeling an odd flush of shame.
They created a few shots, mostly speculative. Mostly from Chimera Moxham out of frustration, at a scoreline that refused to change and Rivers' tight, intelligent marking that kept her largely peripheral. But one flash of brilliance close to the end of the half reminded everyone of her quality, and why Triffid Ramsey - the only Ramsey, now - had moved Heaven and Earth to bring her back, as she deftly trapped the ball and backheeled it smoothly between Rivers' feet, then shunted her away to get on the end of it, looked up and struck, a beautiful arcing shot headed inexorably towards the top corner ... and just shaving the bar on its way over.
Tyler picked himself up with no small relief. He'd been nowhere near. Still, all he could do - after wasting time for as long as he could manage - was hoof the ball out to midfield. Rashica Horvath got to it first, backpedalling, but only headed it feebly forward before falling over, an error presenting Lonzo with acres of space. Cromwell hurled himself over to cover, which opened a pass to McAllister, who swivelled and hooked a ball further down the line, where Charles, off Clevinger's shoulder, raced clear, one-on-one...
Provost dove straight in at his feet, timed her run and dive to perfection as she skidded through the grass and came away with the ball as Charles tumbled over her body.

"... thoughts on the current qualifying campaign, uh, I believe we have our second call-in. Sir and/or ma'am, your name is... ?"
"Yeah, uh, I'm calling in from Cranequin, I'm known as Whirlwind, actually quite a--"
"Whirlwind."
"Quite a professional, uh, quite a well-known professional in the sorcery community, I do readings--"
"Yeah, uh, that's great and all but--"
"So--"
"But--"
"My--"
"What do you think about--"
"Oh, yeah, of course, uhm."
"... Yeah."
"Look, well, look. This is gonna sound a little crazy, right? But I did a bit of communing..."
"Yeah."
"With my spirits. And, look, I'm telling you, but-- this is the answer I got, okay? Are you ready?"
"Reap me with that whirlwind."
"That isn't the sayi-- look, anyway, so. So point is I figured it out. It's numbers."
"... What, like, the league table?"
"No, but the fates. The fates, man! It's all about destiny and shit. Remember how Gethin Ramsey always used to talk about how all that mattered was the result?"
"Yeah, but with respect, Whirls, I don't think..." (laughs) "Mate, I really don't think he was literally espousing fatalism."
"Right, which just goes to show, right... ? Out of the mouths of babes, or whatever."
"So you're saying the poor performance is down to... invisible sky numbers."
"Yeah, it's destiny! These matches were destined to end a certain way. Sett Forest were destined to beat us 2-0, so the Gods had to contrive, right, that--"
(abrupt beep)
"... Anyway, so, our next call-in will be Amanda from Crisisbless, hey, Amanda, how about..."

Second verse, same as the first. On the scoreline, at least. But momentum was starting to build. Bastable had shown some confidence by guiding a first-time shot home when Moxham played him through, but he'd narrowly strayed offside. Later, a free kick given for a needless McNiel handball had seen Moxham mutter "fuck it" and slide a ball through the box before Tyler had set up his wall. Koerner acted fastest, but could only toebash the ball straight at Tyler with the goal gaping, albeit doing well to get anything on the ball at all. Provost, by contrast, still hadn't actually made a save. The sense was growing that one goal might be enough... if it would actually come.
It had been a bad tournament for tradition. Most obviously, the tradition where Nephara won all its qualifying games. That had been quite a nice and popular tradition in Nephara. The other was the slow breakdown of Nephara's traditional strength - its excellent wing play, at its best in the noble 4-4-2 which Ramsey had jettisoned.
But it still had Kendra Considine wearing the 11 down the left. And Moxham saw that as a pass from Cromwell came in from one side and pressure from the interminable Rivers on the other, pressure she sidestepped by stabbing a lazy pass down the diagonal to where Considine's run was taking her.
Deja vu, perhaps. But she did not let it overcome her.
This time, she did not turn back, but feinted inside - rewarded by just a split second of hesitation from Klementine - before driving back outside of her, guiding the ball into the natural path of where her left boot could hammer through the centre mass... and Kurtis Bastable fought off Yachtwood to guide the header into the top corner without even jumping.
This time, the crowd cheered.

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 10
Goalkeepers: 1 - Aranea Provost (Holdenberg, EUR), 12 - Raluca Garamond (Sabrefell Athletic), 20 - Alexandra Markgraf (Sabrefell Moths)
Defenders: 2 - Rovena Stride (AFC Treason), 3 - Vivica Muscadin (Sabrefell Moths), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR, c), 6 - Reniira Clevinger (Sabrefell Athletic), 18 - Pristina Soeringer (Stein-los Turkish, PAS), 19 - Miska Brabanzon (Sabrefell Moths), 22 - Radeka Lind (Vermillion Rage)
Midfielders: 4 - Tawny Shone (Brinemouth), 7 - Anselm Koerner (1830 Cathair, AUD), 8 - Lothaire Cromwell (AC Izotz Zubia, AUD), 11 - Kendra Constantine (AFC Treason), 13 - Ysabet Belgrade (Sabrefell Moths), 14 - Exene Fletcher (Hellinic Rouge, PAS), 15 - Rashica Horvath (La Nueva Avenida, FFD), 17 - Ilia Mueller (AFC Treason), 21 - Chimera Moxham (Spartangrad, EUR), 23 - Traudl Mrdja (Vermillion Rage)
Forwards: 9 - Kurtis Bastable (Ulsa, EUR), 10 - Konrad Lovelace (Revolutionaries, EUR), 16 - Latona Basilisk (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD)

SCHEDULE
Baggieland 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 1 Quemorr Isles @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Græntfjall 0 - 1 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 0 Pluvia @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Garbelia 2 - 4 - Nephara
Nephara 2 - 3 Kandorith @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
South Covello 1 - 1 Nephara
Sett Forest 2 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 1 Indusse @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Nephara 2 - 2 Baggieland @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Quemorr Isles 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 1 Græntfjall @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Pluvia 0 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 1 Garbelia @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Kandorith 0 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 0 South Covello @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Nephara 3 - 0 Sett Forest @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Indusse vs. Nephara

by **Garbelia** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:58 am

Garbelia wrote:
What would it take for us to finish where?
By Norvis FC legend, Edward Ottero

1st:
Impossible. Forget it.

2nd:
Impossible

3rd:
Impossible

4th:
Impossible

5th:
Impossible

6th:
Garbelia win by any margin, Baggieland lose by any margin OR Garbelia draw, Baggieland lose by more than 9 goals. This is the highest possible place we could finish.

7th:
Garbelia win by any margin OR Garbelia lose and Sett Forest, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles and Quemorr Isles lose OR Garbelia draw and Sett Forest, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles and Quemorr Isles lose or draw

8th:
Pluvia and the Saxean Isles or Quemorr Isles or Sett Forest win, Garbelia lose, and the teams that didn't win, lose.

9th:
Any two of Pluvia and the Saxean Isles or Quemorr Isles or Sett Forest win and Garbelia lose, OR any one of them win, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles or Quemorr Isles draw, and Garbelia lose by more than 2 goals.

10th:
Impossible, as Sett Forest are playing Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

Roundup of this campaign:
Overall, Garbelia exceeded fans expectations. Wins against Sett Forest twice, Baggieland once, and Pluvia and the Saxean Isles once saved them, and while many believe that they overperformed against Kandorith and Nephara, it was clear that they underperformed against Quemorr Isles. It all hinges on the final day, as Garbelia could finish anywhere from 6th to 9th. As it stands, the side's KPB after the tournament will be 0.82, allowing them to likely break into the top 300, however this could drop to 0.77, if we lose, or rise to 0.94. It will stay roughly the same if we draw.

Fans vote for game of the tournament: Top 3:
Baggieland 1 - 2 Garbelia Votes: 192356
Garbelia 3 - 0 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles Votes: 140539
Nephara 2 - 1 Garbelia Votes: 53457

Fans player of the tournament:
Arthur Goodotter: 16 goals, 3 assists

View from Venjolath Road will be broadcast on both radio and television daily until the end of the WC Qualifiers, and will be available as a podcast afterwards. Tomorrow, we bring you highlights and reaction to the final game on a roller-coaster journey.

by **Jeruselem** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:15 am

Jeruselem manager Pekora Dancer and Naked News Jeruselem's Akai Haato after the team lost to the hosts Banija

Akai: We're officially eliminated girl
Peko: I know
Akai: Doesn't matter what we do last game, we're 4th and well ... we'll stay there
Peko: You realise how close we were to 2nd spot
Akai: Yeah, if we had won today we could still be contention ... mathemathically
Peko: Realistically, we were too far off 2nd spot anyway. We can't expect 2nd and 3rd to drop all their games.

Akai: Nevermind, we were kinda ... close
Peko: Hey at least we did better than last two efforts
Akai: Yes, we were not even close those times
Peko: Err, so I guess we'll have a go at the Cup of Harmony since we're not even getting to playoff
Akai: So we're failures agains
Peko: At least we were in there with a chance for once

Akai: I fully expect a lot of our critics to call for you to be replaced
Peko: Doesn't that always happen
Akai: Jeruselem FA seem kinda ignore the press anyway
Peko: Oh well they've never pretended to be democratic anyway
Akai: I only have this job because Kate-San likes me
Peko: Naked News Jeruselem has always been pretty much run like that

Akai: Although I wasn't hired for my cooking skills
Peko: So why do you run the cooking segment?
Akai: People like to watch me burning food
Peko: I noticed that
Akai: So what's your cooking like?
Peko: Better than you

Akai: Say, aren't you tired of people wondering why you're dressed like a human rabbit
Peko: Oh that, I'm used to it.
Akai: I guess being different causes these problems
Peko: You have to accept what you are
Akai: I have trouble remembering to wear clothes sometimes, you at home they aren't fussed
Peko: Yes well, we have remind the team about that when we go overseas.

Akai: But when your workspace usually is the opposite
Peko: I hear guys want a job as camera men there
Akai: Yes, always never have problems getting applicants at Naked News Jeruselem for camera men
Peko: No women?
Akai: Well, you seen how bloody big those things are ... us girls, we don't to be run over by those
Peko: Oh yes, what is with Jeruselem women being so small compared others

Akai: I dunno
Peko: Relatively, not like dwarf small but you know what I mean
Akai: I rarely see a tall Dallas girl
Peko: I guess the plus is smaller babies to put out ...
Akai: I dunno, I don't have kids.
Peko: Me neither, we can ask Kate-San ...

by **Chartistan** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:24 am

Nothing is impossible. The deal Liam Barney made with Jose Puebes to defect to the AJR did hurt the Chartistani national team when they got to play Zwangzug away from the comforts of Billboard, but their final home stint of this qualification campaign would prove as a way to say to manager Doctor Lucas Combbrush that Puebes told him so. Combbrush had a lot of faith in Barney, and with him out of the lineup due to factors outside his control, the Musicville manager would have to get a bit creative.

By the time the Savojarna game was near, the away side were 5 points ahead of 2nd and 3rd place teams Zwangzug and Netop. A win, no, a draw would have them qualifying for the World Cup without having to worry about Koniglich Wasserstein at home to end the campaign. Chartistan were having to play spoiler and gunning for a win to shake up the table come the final matchday. They were already out - They couldn't finish no higher or lower than 8th in the table - but could still shock a big side on their day. The chance to put a big team's campaign on ice and force them to worry about yet another newcomer to the world's biggest sporting competition to qualify for Taeshan and Ethane was there. The team just had to capitalize on it.

And then...

BILLBOARD NIGHTS
A parody of Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus

[Doctor Lucas Combbrush]
Hello, the sideline at Old Town Road glows
A stadium for the captured souls
You can sit wherever you want to sit here
And oh, I've been playing here with my boys
Shouldn't try, I should play with my toys
Didn't even know them, but they will play here
Frightened by the teams I'm playing
But I stand and say I'm staying
Manage well, and it could be so close
Ivan Door with his dimensions
Air Latte and her ascension
Manage well, and it could be so close
I've been down and out already
Billboard nights are steady
Keep me in all game (Keep me in)
Keep me in all game (All game)
Lost in the ball game I'm playing
Never mind I'm staying
Keep me in all game (Keep me in)
Keep me in all game (All game)
I didn't believe in (Believe)
I didn't believe in this (Believe in this)
But Chartistan is leading all night long

[Kimmi Yamjune]
All night long
All night long
All night long
Annyeong (Hayseo)
I've been needing somewhere where I belong (Belong)
Scored a goal, sang the stadium's song (The song)
I can be whoever I want to be here
Frightened by the teams I'm playing
But I stand and say I'm staying
Play it well, and it could be so close
I've been down and out already
Billboard nights are steady
Keep me in all game (Keep me in)
Keep me in all game (All game)
Lost in the ball game I'm playing
Never mind I'm staying
Keep me in all game (Keep me in)
Keep me in all game (All game)
I didn't believe in (Believe)
I didn't believe in this (Believe in this)
But Chartistan is leading all night long

[Doctor Lucas Combbrush, Kimmi Yamjune, both]
All night long
All night long
All night long
All night long
I've been down and out already
Billboard nights are steady
Keep me in all game (Keep me in)
Keep me in all game (All game)
Lost in the ball game I'm playing
Never mind I'm staying
Keep me in all game (Keep me in, yeah)
Keep me in all game
I didn't believe in (Believe)
I didn't believe in this (Believe in this)
But Chartistan is winning all night long

CHARTISTAN 4 (Namjune '24, Latte '46 '64, Door '52)
SAVOJARNA 2 (Jashkin '35, Nwele '75)

by **Newmanistan** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:36 am

THE ROCKET REPORT

SAME OL’ SITUATION

By Taylor Larson,

Over the years, Newmanistanian writers have touched on this scenario countless times. Going into the final matchday of qualifying, Newmanistan has a shot to advance at least to the playoff, but needs help. It needs help that they are probably unlikely to get. And thus, they will probably fall short. In the most Newmanistanian way, it will likely come with the standings much as they are now, tied with Tikariot for second but losing out on the tiebreaker, while being a point behind Vilita. The names of the nations have changed, but the storyline itself remains the same. If you created this as a movie, it would get poor ratings because the audience would complain that they have seen this many times before.

If you wish to get excited and think that somehow the Rockets will end up in a top two spot, here is what needs to happen: Newmanistan must beat Widaya (0-3-14) at the Proving Grounds. That would seem to be an easier thing, but it would be very Newmanistanian to lose that match. If they lose, they are done and deserve to be done. If they draw, well, it is still possible. Next up is Tikariot must lose, or draw to Hebitaka (5-5-7) at home. Not a crazy possibility, but not something that I would money on to happen. The other option is for Vilita to lose or draw on the road to State of Trinity (2-4-11). That is probably something that we should stop thinking about. In the unlikely event that all three of things happened, then the Rockets would win the group outright and be heading to the World Cup. The feasible thing to root for is Hebitaka. This would be an amazing time to hear the most descriptive account of Hebitakan soccer in every possible way, wouldn’t it? Don’t delay, Hebitaka media, let’s hear it now! Should Newmanistan finish second, then they are likely heading to the playoff. Right now, if we look at where the pundits place Tikariot, who has the same record as us, that would be a game set against Recuecn. That seems possible, doesn’t it? Though, of course, Newmanistan never wins those aggregate playoff matches.

That last match against Tikariot was an entertaining 1-1 draw, and one where an offsides call will be talked about for the next two years in the Empire. Jardel, not Jarrell, Connolly, got Tikariot on the board in the 17th minute, getting their fans at the Temple Of The Crow excited like they should be. A win here would go a long way for them, but the game was played pretty evenly for the remainder of the first half. The scoreboard would show that evenness after a Garrett Sarniak header off a great feed from Madison Desalvo tied the game in the 39th minute. All square, at one. This is where the game remained for a long period of time, and in the 76th minute, Michael Starre made a couple of substitutions to get fresh legs out there, and this would include Jarrell, not Jardel, Connolly. Unfortunately, in the 81st minute, Jarrell was a little too fast on a set up from Vinny Donaldson. It was a great pass that he shot immediately and it ended up in the back of the net, however, he was a step ahead of the defense, ruling the play offsides. Frustration loomed as the referee waved the goal off. It was not 2-1 Newmanistan, but back to 1-1. In the Temple Of The Crow, it seemed like our dreams had been dealt a death blow. The offsides call was the correct call, no one is saying the referee blew it, and Michael Starre acknowledged that. That does not make it any less frustrating, because if he were not a step too fast, the goal probably still happens. You can never say these things for sure. Perhaps that one step would have allowed the keeper to get a slight move to the left quicker to make the stop that he did not otherwise make, but in the heads of Newmanistanians, the goal would have still happened.

That is where we stand with one game left. Like I said, we’ve heard the story before. We need help, that is the frustrating part, and when we need help, we never get it. Will the same ol’ story end differently this time? Pardon us if we’re not optimistic over it.

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:26 am

By Peter Davis

After the undefeated run was reset back to one, the odds of catching Group 3 leaders Cassadaigua were slim to none. Still, David Seems wanted to return to the Playoffs at least, in order to continue the development of TJUN-ian football, and that was what we set out to do in our final double-header of the campaign. The aim was simple: be more than 3 points ahead of Acronius before our meeting on the final day.

First up was a trip to the respectable Muralos, who sat 7th in the group at the time. Will many expected more of the same from TJUN-ia in this contest, Muralos certainly played a good game here in their homeland. They scored the first goal of the game, Adamo Brava with a nice shot in the 34th before TJUN-ia equalised just before half time through Joe Green. The 2nd half would see much of the same, with TJUN-ia taking the lead first this time through Kepo Ulawaya in the 67th. But Muralos refused to just let TJUN-ia have the points and would equalise themselves in the 78th, a corner headed in by Vilhelmo Lumin. The rest of the game would be tight but in the, for only the 2nd time this campaign, the points would be shared. GGs to Muralos, they certainly put up a good performance, but that meant Acronius moved to 3 points behind us in the battle for 2nd.

So, in order to put ourselves in the best position, we had to beat Havynwilde in TJUN-ia CIty. The National Stadium hadn't seen a win all campaign but with this being the final home game before the playoffs, many hoped that the Jaguars could give some joy to the capital itself against a great opponent in the Havyish. It would be another epic contest between the two sides, where no holds were barred and nothing was giving lightly. The crowd had gotten word of Central Shaneville's current standing against Acronius to the sounds of cheers in some instances and that helped spear TJUN-ia on. The Havyish wall of Michael Nicholson was finally broken in the 87th, Archer Andrews with the honour of instigating party mode in the capital. The Jags had finally won in the capital and with Central Shaneville winning as well, it will be (at least) back-to-back playoff appearances for David Seems' men.

We are 3 points back in the race for qualification as a 2nd-placed team. While it is mathematically possible for the Jags to qualify for the big one as a 2nd-placed team, don't bet your hard-earned Vals on it. Therefore, consider our final game in Acronius to be a warm-up game for the playoffs...unless Margaret decides to throw her chaos dice one last time. GO JAGS!

SCHEDULE (Group 3) - lines indicate when next edition of Boot It! will be released
MD1: vs Busoga Islands (79) - National Stadium, TJUN-ia City L 1-3 (T-9th)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD2: @Hispinas (315) W 5-1 (7th)
MD3: vs Nacaltora (UR) - Beregozera Stadium, Szensky W 4-0 (4th)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD4: @Central Shaneville (UR) - Red Bull Arena, Shaneville City W 3-1 (3rd)
MD5: vs Cassadaigua (4) - National Stadium, TJUN-ia City L 0-2 (4th)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD6: @Flavovespia (41) - Highland Road, Hadford Hill W 1-0 (3rd)
MD7: vs Muralos (259) - Tiankong Stadium, Tiankong W 5-4 (2nd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD8: @Havynwilde (126) - Uvenstadion Superparc, Iyes D 1-1 (3rd)
MD9: vs Acronius (100) - Beregozera Stadium, Szensky W 3-2 (2nd/6W-1D-2L/19pts/+9GD)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD10: @Busoga Islands (79) - The Dukuma Oval, Dukuma, North Island W 2-1 (2nd)
MD11: vs Hispinas (315) - Tiankong Stadium, Tiankong W 2-0 (2nd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD12: @Nacaltora (UR) W 3-1 (2nd)
MD13: vs Central Shaneville (UR) - Tiankong Stadium, Tiankong W 4-3 (2nd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD14: @Cassadaigua (4) - Dagan Airways Stadium, Concord Heights L 1-2 (2nd)
MD15: vs Flavovespia (41) - Beregozera Stadium, Szensky W 4-3 (2nd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD16: @Muralos (259) - Komcatt Arena, Urbego (?) D 2-2 (2nd)
MD17: vs Havynwilde (126) - National Stadium, TJUN-ia City W 1-0 (2nd)/SECURED PLAYOFF SPOT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MD18: @Acronius (100) - Atlas Arena, Defense

by **Waisnor** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:54 am

Everything went as expected

Another two matches of Waisnorian football team in the World Cup 87 ended pretty predictable: they lost from who they were expecting to lose and won over who they expecting to beat:

The Holy Empire remained a very intimidating opponent for Waisnorian team to face, this team was holding 2nd place in the group and have already defeated Waisnor in the first half ot the matches. And it was not visible that this match was going according to some other scenario.
From the very beginning, the match was not in favor of Waisnorian team, Holy Empire handled many pretty sharp attacks and Waisnorian team already concentrated on defending their goal. Waisnorian team carried out very few attacks and they did not cause much concern for Juan Tzimices. This could not go on for a long time without a goal of Holy Empire - at the 34th minute another Juan Tzimices was able to perfectly circle the Waisnorian defense and confidently scored a goal down the gate, thus opening the score.
Waisnorian team became a little worried and was afraid that after that the Holy Empire would continue to find cracks in the defense and would send goal after goal against Dmitry Samoilov. However, the defense was not yet going to totally give up. The teams went on hiatus with a minimal margin in favor of the Holy Empire. The second half was not very different from the first in terms of being the leader on the field - it was still the Holy Empire.
The first half of the second half was rather momentless, but in the 74th minute yet another Juan Tzimices was able to revive the game somewhat - after a successful serve from a corner he was able to send the ball into the net at night right a couple of millimeters from the goalkeeper's gloves. Thus, he set the final score of the match - 2-0 in favor of the Holy Empire.

In the match with Yerapia Waisnorian team was clearly a favourite. This team was in the much better shape since their last meeting and Waisnor was ready to get this 3 points.
The match began with Waisnor immediately becoming the dominant team on the field, which made many attempts to attack: some were quite successful, some not particularly, but at the 13th minute they were able to open the score - Vitaliy Butin, thanks to an excellent pass from afar, was able to skillfully manage the ball and send it straight into the goal.
Waisnor did not dare to stop at the minimum advantage and wanted to consolidate his leadership in the match with a couple more goals, and in order to score another goal, it did not take them long - at the 18th minute Alexey Bolotov was able to realize a rather dangerous free kick and make the score 2-0.
After that, nothing special happened in the first half, and the teams left for the break with a score of 2-0. The second half can be marked by the fact that in order to score Waisnor needed almost the exactly same amount of the time they needed to score in the first - on the 57th minute, Alexey Tiunov volunteered to convert the penalty. And despite the fact that he is a defender, he managed to beat the goalkeeper and score the third goal against him.
It was seen that Yerapian team completely crumbled and Waisnorian team decided to score one last goal to end all this - on the 68th minute Timur Skvortsov was able to go one on one with the goalkeeper and outplay him, scoring another goal, already in the lower left corner of the goal.
Waisnorian team now was playing relaxed, fully knowing that nothing can take their victory. And Yerapian team decided to use that chance to score their only goal in this match - at the 87th minute Yerapian forward nicely shot from the distance to the higher right corner, beating Samoilov, who did not expect such a thing. However, despite this goal, 3 points went to the piggy bank of the Waisnorian team.

Waisnor is still on the 6th place in the group and they have only one match left with Megistos, who is on 5th.

Team for a match with Megistos
Dmitry Samoilov
Pavel Burtsov
Nikolay Vaneev
Alexey Tiunov
Arseny Bratkov
Timur Skvortsov
Svyatoslav Piatigorets
Arthur Shuteyko
Fyodor Sipyagin
Vitaly Butin
Alexey Bolotov

by **Lorrana** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:02 am

Beepee 0-1 Lorrana
Lorrana: 51' Kiyon (#10)

Lorrana was able to pull off a surprise win against Beepee. However, this is little but consolation for the team, who have already been eliminated from making it from the final tournament.

Lorrana 2-4 Omerica
Lorrana: 13' Kiyon (#10), 71' va Daledi (#13)
Omerica: 9', 26' Beckett, 41' Magalhaes, 83' Chrysanthos

Omerica, currently in second place, expectedly beat Lorrana.

Group 12 - Going Into The Final Matchday

                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Starblaydia(Q)            17   14   2   1    59   19  +40    44
 2 Omerica                   17   11   5   1    43   24  +19    38
 3 Equestria                 17   11   4   2    46   24  +22    37
 4 Yuezhou(E)                17    8   3   6    27   27    0    27
 5 Darkmania(E)              17    7   4   6    38   36   +2    25
 6 Transvolcanic(E)          17    8   1   8    33   38   −5    25
 7 Beepee(E)                 17    4   5   8    22   31   −9    17
 8 Lorrana(E)                17    5   1  11    32   41   −9    16
 9 The Grearish Union(E)     17    3   2  12    17   36  −19    11
10 Mexi Catcha(E)            17    0   1  16    12   53  −41     1

Starblaydia has officially qualified for the World Cup 87! Meanwhile, there is a tight race between Omerica and Equestria for second place. Omerica will be playing Yuezhou, which they're expected to win, and Equestria will be playing The Grearish Union, which they're also expected to win. If both teams win, Omerica will be in second place. However, if Omerica draws or loses against Yuezhou and Equestria wins, then Equestria will be in second place. Given that Omerica drew against Yuezhou in the first matchday, it could honestly go either way. The Omerica-Yuezhou game will really be the deciding factor in the race for second place.

Meanwhile, Lorrana will be playing Darkmania, who will likely beat Lorrana again.

Lorrana Newsbit Sports will be broadcasting both Omerica-Yuezhou and Darkmania-Lorrana, so make sure to tune in!

by **HUElavia** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:57 pm

Despite Efforts, HUElavia is Eliminated.

Pays den haut 1-1 HUElavia
(Claveau 76' | Gimenes Velho 34')
(Parc Blainville, Blainville)

HUElavia 3-2 Sajnur
(Moutinho-Figo 57', Sol 80', Navarro 90+3' | Siafik 25', Naulo 45')
(Estadio Bertoli, Ourao)

HUElavia came into Matchdays 16 and 17 desperately needing victories in order to keep pace with the nearly qualified Geektopia and Recuecn. On top of that, Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos needed both of the aforementioned teams to drop points in order to get a shot at qualification hopes to stay alive. The team had a tough visit to Pays den haut, a francophone nation with some of the most backwards laws the players and the nation had ever seen. On top of that, they were hosting Sajnur in Estadio Bertoli (68,500), in Ourao, the new stadium after the clothing brand of Bertoli. A mix of the squads were being used for the matches, with Vannier starting in goal against Pays den Haut and Patricio-Leite in goal against Sajnur. The Away Alternative and Home Alternative were used for each match respectively. Fans were anxious at these matches, praying for something good to come out of it.

In the first match, the crowd had a massive mob mentality towards HUElavia. The team, wearing an orange patch on their sleeves, were playing with a look of anxiety, not only for the match itself, but pending other matches around them going on simultaneously. HUElavia would go on the attack looking to score goals, but their shots would be saved by Guerin or go out wide. The opening goal would come in the 34th minute, when Colombres sent a low pass into the box past Grenier, where it reached Gimenes Velho's right foot, which he blasted the ball past a sprawling Guerin into the goal, making it 0-1. The crowd booed and whistled, throwing insults in French, while Gimenes Velho hugged his teammates and went towards center circle to continue playing. Both teams would continue going at each other, with Vannier and Grenier making saves for throw-ins and corners. Pays den haut would capitalize on their shots in 76th minute, as Lamontagne was being covered by Pae, where he juked her and sent a cross in, only for Claveau to tower over C. Almeida and head the ball past a reaching Vannier and into the goal, making it 1-1, with the crowd erupting in celebration. HUElavia would try to score, but would have narrow misses, and at the end, the referee blew his whistle and the match ended with a draw, with the team finding out that Geektopia won their match, meaning 1st place was out of reach.

The second match was one for Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos to suffer. The game was at Estadio Bertoli, another HUElavian stadium hosting the National Football Team for the first time, being a sort of "Baptism" for the stadium. HUElavia would go on the attack, but in the 25th minute, Braz-Bitencourt was dispossessed by Jorse, who sent a long ball to Siafik, who chested the ball down, got past D'Aquila and blasted the ball past a reaching Patricio-Leite into the goal, making it 0-1. The crowd was silenced while Siafik celebrated with her teammates for the goal. HUElavia tried to get something going, but the Sajnuran defense was playing strong, and Khadur would not let any goals in. Sajnur would get another chance, as a corner was won in the 45th minute, with Siafik taking the corner kick, only for Naulo to tower over the defense and head the ball past a Patricio-Leite, who was falling back from the shot, into the goal, making it 0-2. Naulo celebrated with his teammates and the bench while the crowd whistled and booed. In the second half, HUElavia would play furiously to stay alive. In the 57th minute, Tule was dispossessed by D'Aquila, who sent the ball to Torrisi (in for R. Almeida), and gave a long, low pass to Moutinho-Figo, who jockeyed past Raglan and went one-on-one with Khadur, sending a low shot past a diving Khadur into the goal, making it 1-2. The crowd jumped and celebrated, applauding the effort, while Moutinho-Figo got the ball and ran to the center circle, all while getting pats from his teammates. This time, superstars Sol and Navarro entered for Villca and Sissoko respectively, looking to open up the game. HUElavia kept up with the attacks and the Sajnuran defense was starting to show cracks. In the 80th minute, a throw in by Pae went into the box, only for Sol to get past Vuierev, and give a low blast to send it past a diving Khadur into the corner of the goal, making it 2-2. The crowd erupted and jumped with passion while Sol got the ball and ran back to center circle to keep the attack going. Time ticked away and additional time came. in one last counter attack in the 90th plus 3rd minute, Conti-Esposito (in for Mantovani-Jardim) got the ball from Siafik, and ran with Navarro to one side and Sol to the other, against Jorse and Raglan. Conti-Esposito passed the ball to Sol, who gave a cross into the box, only for Navarro to chest the ball down and blast it past a sprawling Khadur into the top corner of the goal, making it 3-2. Navarro was mobbed by his teammates and the bench while the crowd erupted with passion, jumping and cheering with joy and applauding his goal, while chanting his name. The referee blew her whistle and the match ended in a late victory. The celebration was short-lived, as they found out that Recuecn won their matched and clinched the 2nd place, leaving HUElavia out of the World Cup for the second consecutive time. The players went towards the crowd and showed a banner thanking them for their support and the crowd applauded them for their efforts and hard work.

At the end, HUElavia fell short once again. The 4 losses in the first 5 games proved to cost them the qualification to the World Cup, and it was a tough finish for Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos. HUElavia is currently in 3rd Place with 32 Points and a record of 10-2-5. They will visit Tioguldos on Matchday 18, with an expected mix of all squads playing, with Marin in goal once again. A Win or Draw will guarantee 3rd Place for the team, and Coach Illaramendi will keep his job for the time being. The Away Uniform will be used for the match. It is likely HUElavia will be invited to the Cup of Harmony once again, which the HFA is determined to accept the offer when it comes. While the elimination was tough, the fans think that this team, which they like to call a "Colorful World," due to all the players coming from a variety of backgrounds, is very promising and they have good faith that the team can rebound and make a name for themselves for the coming Cup of Harmony, and eventually the Independent Associations Championship, especially with the youngsters giving the starters a run for their money. The team trains for one last good victory and memory in these qualifiers.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Quemorr Isles** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:02 pm

THIS IS A SIMULATION. THIS IS NOT REAL.

Group A

Matchday Sixteen
Damukuni 2–3 Filindostan
Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom 0–1 Riena
Sylestone 2–1 Vangaziland
Newmanistan 1–0 South Covello
Bongo Johnson 1–1 Hampton Island

Matchday Seventeen
Bongo Johnson 4–3 Damukuni
Hampton Island 0–2 Newmanistan
South Covello 0–2 Sylestone
Vangaziland 1–3 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom
Riena 0–1 Filindostan

Group A                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Newmanistan                    17   12   1   4    36   20  +16    37
 2 South Covello                  17    8   6   3    28   16  +12    30
 3 Riena                          17    8   6   3    16   10   +6    30
 4 Hampton Island                 17    7   4   6    18   19   −1    25
 5 Sylestone                      17    6   5   6    34   32   +2    23
 6 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom      17    6   5   6    26   25   +1    23
 7 Filindostan                    17    5   8   4    19   19    0    23
 8 Damukuni                       17    5   4   8    26   26    0    19
 9 Vangaziland                    17    3   5   9    13   26  −13    14
10 Bongo Johnson                  17    2   2  13    18   41  −23     8

Group B

Matchday Sixteen
Tumbra 2–4 The Grearish Union
Vdara 1–2 Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalison
Ancherion 1–3 South Newlandia
Natanians and Nosts 2–3 Lisander
Xanneria 4–3 Brenecia

Matchday Seventeen
Xanneria 4–1 Tumbra
Brenecia 2–2 Natanians and Nosts
Lisander 4–4 Ancherion
South Newlandia 1–4 Vdara
Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalison 3–2 The Grearish Union

Group B                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Brenecia                            17   10   4   3    48   27  +21    34
 2 Vdara                               17   10   2   5    31   16  +15    32
 3 Xanneria                            17   10   1   6    42   31  +11    31
 4 Ancherion                           17   10   1   6    30   26   +4    31
 5 South Newlandia                     17    8   6   3    28   21   +7    30
 6 Lisander                            17    8   2   7    26   26    0    26
 7 The Grearish Union                  17    5   4   8    35   38   −3    19
 8 Natanians and Nosts                 17    4   6   7    21   29   −8    18
 9 Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalison      17    4   2  11    22   36  −14    14
10 Tumbra                              17    1   2  14    17   50  −33     5

Game of the Week
A few worthy mentions, but I think we can all agree that the game of the day award goes to the Matchday Sixteen game between Pots 1 and 2 of Group B - Brenecia and Xanneria. The two sides fought out a thriller of a game that finished with a 4-3 home victory for the Xannerians, keeping their qualification hopes alive. The game brought about a good old reminder of the Campionato Esportiva final a while back, where the same side won by the same margin.

Upset of the Week
A few upsets this week, but once again, one rises above the rest. Sylestone 2-0 beating of second-placed South Covello has set up what seems to be a brilliant matchday 18 in Group A. The Sentients, who started superbly before having a terrible run of form, came back with this result to re-assert themselves as one of the up-and-coming Esportivan sides.

Group A - what to expect
With only a singular matchday to go, Newmanistan has already qualified for the World Cup with 37 points from their 17 games. Now, Riena and South Covello are fighting it out for the second spot. Riena have Pot 8 side Damukuni away from home, of whom they beat 1-0 in their last encounter while South Covello has Pot 5 side Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom away from home. However, they beat them 4-0 last time and will be going in with supreme confidence. South Covello has a +12 goal difference compared to Riena's +6 as well as the Goals For advantage, so Riena will effectively need to beat Damukuni by seven more than South Covello beats Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom.

Group B - what to expect
Talk about a clusterfuck. Brenecia needs a singular point to qualify, and Vdara needs three. Xanneria and Ancherion need Vdara to lose or draw and themselves to win, or somehow get ahead of Brenecia. South Newlandia is relying on Xanneria, Ancherion and Vdara all to not win for themselves to progress. So their hopes aren't very high, although still very possible. One thing is for sure - it is certainly going to be interesting indeed.

by **Mavinet** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:14 pm

Mavinet brace for post-Minh Quân changes after the Head Coach announced premature departure
Mai Nhật Thịnh, Associate Editor

Mavinet’s campaign to qualify for the 87th World Cup ended after the 2-0 win against Freechi on the 15th round. Despite a good performance, earlier points dropped in win-able matches against Freechi in the first half, ZSeparatists in both legs, and United States of Devonta in the second half meant Mavinet’s chances were slim before the 15th round. With wins for both Drawkland and Chromatika, 3 points from Freechi were not enough to sustain Mavinet’s qualification dream.

After the match, Head Coach Nguyễn Minh Quân officially announced in the press conference that he will be stepping down after the end of the World Cup qualifying stage, which is earlier than anticipated. The initial plan was for him to lead the national team until the end of the Cup of Harmony, whether or not Mavinet participate in the tournament. However, as pressure grew after several disappointing performances against both lower-ranked and higher-ranked teams in the World Cup qualifying group and the visible decline of the tactical system, the Head Coach was reported to have proposed to the MFA that he step down so the transition can start as soon as possible. It seems Head Coach Minh Quân accepted the fact that changes need to happen sooner for Mavinet to continue to compete on the international stage.

His announcement, whether or not intentional, has served as a rally call for the team to finish the campaign stronger. The national team won their latest two matches against Smosh Games and Logano Fraza to get the maximum points possible before the final match against Drawkland. Although the wins don’t say much about the quality of the team at the moment, given that the opponents were mostly unknown teams going through their first participation, the way the Water Buffaloes performed against these two teams were convincing and encouraging. The mentality and energy level remind fans of Mavinet in their earlier tournaments: aggressive high pressing, high intensity attacks and fluid movement on the offense. The defense still showed many flaws that should not have been shown at Mavinet’s level of experience, but overall, the coordination between the defenders and more forward players were better than previous matches. It may be a late rally, but better than never, and it is a deserving parting gift to a head coach that have laid the foundation for Mavinet’s international rise and have contributed plenty to the development of national-level football in our country.

With the last match against Group 10's leaders Drawkland bearing no significant meaning for both teams, Mavinese fans are already looking to the horizon and beyond to anticipate what changes will come after the departure of Head Coach Minh Quân. The biggest immediate question is who will be the next helmsman of the national team. The MFA have not announced any news about their decision, but it is expected that one will come by the end of the Cup of Harmony. In the meantime, Assistant Coach Phan Vinh Hiển will act as interim head coach. Vinh Hiển himself is among the candidate to succeed Head Coach Minh Quân, but he is not the only one. Let’s look at some of the top contenders for the head coach seat right now:

1. Phan Vinh Hiển – 42 years old, Assistant Coach of the national team
The “traditional” choice for the head coach position. Phan Vinh Hiển has worked as the assistant for Head Coach Minh Quân since Mavinet’s first participation in WCC-organized tournaments. The 42-year-old can be seen as the top candidate for succeeding the outgoing head coach, given that he is already familiar with the players, staff and facilities. On the tactical side, Phan Vinh Hiển is understandably similar to Head Coach Minh Quân in the approach to matches. He is reported to favor 4-2-3-1 formation with a flexible midfield revolving around a pair of creative attacking midfielder and a keen defensive midfielder. It is likely that Vinh Hiển will continue to rely on the attack to make up for the defense’s issues, which wouldn’t please those who want to see Mavinet defend better. The tendency to favor younger players is one key difference between him and his current boss, and will be the one fans look forward to the most if he indeed takes the leading role in the coaching team.

2. Vũ Thế Phong – 54 years old, Head Coach of Vĩnh An Đại Hòa
We consider him to be the “exciting” choice. Vũ Thế Phong has made a name for himself leading Vĩnh An Đại Hòa to several titles in the domestic league, and is one of the top head coaches in the country right now. Although the guy has never worked with any national team, his experience in the biggest club in Mavinet and tactical knowledge makes him a good candidate for the national team’s head coach seat. A lot of players in the national team come from Vĩnh An Đại Hòa’s rank, and some of the brightest faces for the future are also playing in the academy of this club. Thế Phong’s familiarity with these players makes up for his lack of national team’s experience. In addition, Thế Phong is known for his perfectionism and flexible tactics. He demands a high level of energy and tactical understanding from his players, and his tactics are built on a solid defense. At Vĩnh An Đại Hòa, Thế Phong successfully built a zonal defense system that is effective at reducing the space allowed to the opposition, something that the man-mark system currently employed by Head Coach Minh Quân constantly fails. Thế Phong’s tactic varies from match to match so it’s difficult to pinpoint a formation he uses most often, but in essense, Thế Phong prefers to build around a three-man midfield and make good use of wing backs for high pressing, which is compatible with the system already familiar at the national team. Overall, this is an exciting candidate for the national team due to his potential for a new direction, and will definite create a headache for the MFA in the selection.

3. Hồ Đắc Đông – 46 years old, former Head Coach of TelcomMavi
Let’s call this the “radical” choice for the national team. Hồ Đắc Đông built his reputation as an “innovator” in the first few seasons of the recently reformed M1 League with his implementation of the 3-4-3 formation at TelcomMavi. It’s a trendy formation now, but back when Đắc Đông first used it, most clubs in Mavinet build their team in the 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 structure. The three-man defense is a relatively new system that only works with specific conditions like good defensive-minded midfielders, athletic wide players able to play tirelessly on the flanks, and good cohesion between attacking and defensive players. Eventually, Hồ Đắc Đông failed to use the formation to its full potential at TelcomMavi due to the lack of qualified players, but the national team will be a different story with the pool of players he has at his disposal. Đắc Đông is a candidate also because he is currently a free coach. Although compensation is generally not an issue with the national team, who wouldn’t want to save if it is possible to do so? Đắc Đông may not be the heaviest contender, but he is surely a candidate worthy of consideration in the next few weeks.

These are just three among several candidates for the head coach position. There is a question going around at the moment about the prospect of a foreign head coach for Mavinet’s national team. So far, the MFA has made their stance quite clear: The door is still closed to foreigners in Mavinese football. The emphasis on self-sufficiency is still a key part of the MFA’s operating principles, but it has also sparked fierce debates about whether or not it is hampering the development of Mavinese football. There is little to indicate the government is willing to open up the field for foreigners at this time, so we can safely say the chance of a foreign head coach for the national team is extremely slim, if not non-existent. Keep in mind that our speculations are just that: speculations. There are still a lot of ongoing processes taking place within the MFA, the larger government, and the national team, so all we can do now is wait for more information.

The national team still have one match to finish their World Cup qualifying campaign, so announcement on the next head coach can wait. Right now, Phan Vinh Hiển is expected to lead the national team following the departure of Head Coach Minh Quân. It is likely that he will get to lead the team, albeit temporarily, through the Cup of Harmony. This can be a chance for him to prove his ability and secure the position, but it can also reveal his weaknesses that give others a better chance. Ultimately, the MFA will surely want to make the decision sooner rather than later, as any delays in officially appointing the new head coach will create unnecessary anxiety within the camp due to the uncertainties. One thing is for sure: Mavinet’s national team need fresh changes, to their player composition, to their approach to matches, and to their coaching method. Mavinet need to be more competitive, and whether or not we can do that in future tournaments depends on the decision we make now.

MD16

MAVINET - 2
14’ Vo Thanh Hai
48’ Ho Vu Thanh Hoang

SMOSH GAMES - 1
61’ ???

MD17

LOGANO FRAZA - 1
36’ ???

MAVINET - 4
4’ Vo Thanh Hai
39’ Vu Tien Linh
57’ Vo Thanh Hai
73’ Ho Hung Dung

MD18’s lineup against Drawkland:
Hoang Trung (GK) / Phuoc Long (LB), Hung Dung (CB), Van Thao (CB), Van Hau (RB) / Tri Thong (DM), Hoai Linh (CM), Hoang Minh (AM) / Tien Linh (LW), Thanh Hoang (RW) / Thanh Hai (ST).

by **Chromatika** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:53 pm

Matchday 16: Chromatika 1-1 Freechi @ The Islander Dome, Myana, Myana Island
CMT: Andisori, K. '80; FRE: Solarin '12
Starting XI: Descombes; Watt - Odling - Ingram - Nocturne; Kelly (C) - Kim, M.S. - Han; Hauser; Gainsbourg - Toussaint.
Substitutes: Kim, M.J. -> Hauser ('62), Andisori, K. -> Toussaint ('71), Xiao -> Watt ('78)
Matchday 17: Smosh Games 1-3 Chromatika
SMG: Forward '28; CMT: Hauser '15, Gainsbroug '62, Vidal '88
Starting XI: Descombes; Watt - Odling - Ingram - Nocturne; Kelly (C) - Kim, M.S. - Han; Hauser; Gainsbourg - Toussaint.
Substitutes: de Aea -> Odling ('60), Rowles -> Nocturne ('72), Vidal -> Gainsbourg ('81)

No Nation                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
01 Chromatika                         17   13   2   2    52   22  +30    41 
02 Kelssek                            17   13   1   3    43   24  +19    40
03 Astograth                          17   13   1   3    35   17  +18    40
04 Commonwealth of Baker Park         17   12   3   2    59   32  +27    39
05 Terre Septentrionale               17   12   3   2    41   16  +25    39
06 The Holy Empire                    17   12   3   2    45   25  +20    39
07 Recuecn                            17   12   2   3    38   15  +23    38
08 Independent Athletes from Quebec   17   11   5   1    37   17  +20    38
09 Omerica                            17   11   5   1    43   24  +19    38
10 Poafmersia                         17   12   2   3    50   33  +17    38
11 TJUN-ia                            17   12   2   3    42   26  +16    38
12 Pasarga                            17   12   2   3    35   20  +15    38
13 Tikariot                           17   11   4   2    38   20  +18    37
14 Huayramarca                        17   11   4   2    36   22  +14    37
15 Siovanija & Teusland               17   11   3   3    44   23  +21    36
16 Nephara                            17   10   5   2    33   18  +15    35
17 New Lusitania and the Algarves     17   11   2   4    41   28  +13    35
18 San Ortelio                        17   10   3   4    23   12  +11    33
19 Zwangzug                           17    9   5   3    36   21  +15    32

Projected Matchups:
Commonwealth of Baker Park vs. Zwangzug
Terre Septentrionale vs. San Ortello
The Holy Empire vs. New Lusitania and the Algarves
Recuecn vs. Nephara
Independent Athletes from Quebec vs. Siovanija & Teusland
Omerica vs. Huayramarca
Poafmersia vs. Tikariot
TJUN-ia vs. Pasarga

After dropping two points against Freechi, Chromatika stormed Smosh Games by a score of 3-1 and clinched second place in the group. More Importantly, as shown on the table above, Chromatika is the top team in terms of points and Goals Differential amongst all second placed teams in the World Cup. Why does this matter? Well, the three best second placed teams get to qualify to the World Cup Proper in Ethane and Taeshan without playing a home-and-away series. Are you seeing the teams that are listed below? Does anyone want to face a Zwangzug or a Nephara despite them being low on the table? No, no, no.

To round out one of the best qualifying campaigns in Chromatik history, they'll get to host Logano Fraza, the ninth placed team in the group whose two wins are from the tenth placed team in Smosh Games. Given the table above, all Chromatika needs is a point. Why? Because that'd place them at 42, which is what the fourth placed team on the table would be at if they won the game. However, the best Goals Differential of them is at +27; with Chromatika's Goals Differential at +30, Baker Park would need to win by more than three goals and Chromatika tie for Baker Park to place third on the table (given both Kelssek and Astograth win their matches as well).

Honestly, Freechi was an opponent worthy of dropping points to, with a record of 7-1-9. There is no reason at all for them to drop any points of any kind to Logano Fraza. Seriously.

Chromatka has been on a tear since dropping the first two games to Drawkland and Devonta, only drawing once to Drawkland and now to Freechi. Can they wrap it up without taking it to playoffs?

Chromatik Team for WC Qualifying - Matchday 18 vs. Logano Fraza @ Islander Dome, Myana, Myana Island
Predicted Starting XI: Alexander (C); Chapman - Odling - Ingram - Rowles; Humphreys - Larriet-Cortes - Croix-Pierre; Fillar, B.; Thibodeaux - Toussaint.
Reserves: Ria, Tioux; Xiao, de Aea, Anderson, Ilya; Thorben, Armageddon, Conrad; Mora; Vidal, Sierra.

by **Pasarga** » Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:45 pm

Meriadoc Griffiths was somewhere between worried and somewhat optimistic about the prospect ahead. The worry came from knowing that the situation was entirely out of their control, they had lost that after being bested by Hampton Island in Torgos, they were now at the mercy of other teams coming to their rescue rather than forging their path alone. It was now a time where winning by the expected margins or winning pretty was really not an option, even though that was exactly why Griffiths knew that they had been hired to the post in the first place, now instead they had to merely hope to grind out yet another qualification. The pressure on their seat as the manager of the Wanderers was quite high, they were failing to live up to the billing of why they were hired, having promised to be an effective and fluid outfit that would dominate the teams they were supposed to and be able to play the sort of technical football to keep up with the teams that were on par or even better than the Wanderers. Qualifiers were supposed to be including numerous games where the Wanderers looked like former champions and a top twenty-five team in the world, instead for back to back campaigns the squad had failed to live up to that and was making life difficult on themselves.

The trip to Garifunya was far from pleasant, as instead of allowing the Wanderers to play a free flowing attack game like they had done when playing in Torgos, Garifunya had set up with ten men behind the ball and were forcing the Wanderers to try and break them down. It was a gambit on their part, for Garifunya had been able to snatch the draw from the Wanderers back in the dual islands by being expressive and hitting the side on the counter attack, rather than trying to hunker down behind the ball and force the Wanderers to try and unlock them. Unfortunately for Meriadoc, it was a gambit that was paying off quite well and the squad was getting increasingly frustrated as the minutes went by and there continued to be no sign of getting a goal to decide the contest. Sometimes though, you just have to roll the dice and hope you come up lucky, as Griffiths took off Erik Földessy for the veteran Jan Gersten and by the veteran winger's third touch, he had found the right cross that his opposite number in Vojmil Topić latched onto and blasted into the back of the net. Winger to winger, sub to sub, and it was the only goal that would be scored in Garifunya, an ugly victory but it was three points all the same. With news of a scoreless draw in South Newlandia, it was a glimmer of hope that was being rebirthed for Griffiths and the Wanderers.

Next Griffiths had to deal with the home crowd at the Stade de Torgos, knowing that there was going to be plenty in the stands calling for Griffiths to get the sack, even if they were still out in full support of the players themselves. Meriadoc got it, the frustration with the results and Griffiths failure to deliver what they had promised, as well as the sudden huge dip in form in the Copa Rushmori. All the things that were supposed to be automatic for the Wanderers had become mired in difficulty and Meriadoc had done nothing to alleviate those problems, only seemed to compound them. Blowing a five point lead at the halfway mark, which was an eight point lead in the penultimate game in the halfway mark had been difficult to bare, yet they were still here within a point. South Newlandia was traveling to U-Koro, the closest thing to an automatic three points in the group that anyone could have, while the Wanderers were hosting Bluecliff League, a side that had gotten quite a bit of support in the first half of the qualifiers. Yet their form had died away in the second half, much like the Wanderers', it was a game that they needed to win to have a chance in that last matchday.

Despite the must win nature of the game, Griffiths decided to rest Júlia Müller, as the striker had picked up a slight knock to her ankle during the Garifunya game. As much as they needed to win, he needed her healthy for the last match more, so she would not even be coming off the bench, instead Réka Szôllôssi would be starting and Elek Salai would be the first striker off the bench if the Wanderers still needed goals in the second half. Bluecliff tried to attack from the onset, however the gulf in quality between their attack and the Wanderers defense was once again affirmed by the crisp tackling and inch perfect marking of Meier and Szöllössy. However unlike when they played away in Bluecliff, there was the added pressure of the home fans and the strikers and midfield were playing tense. The last ball was not making its connections and the shots were either being blocked or going straight at the keeper. Salai and Márió Szölösi were brought on just past the hour mark and the attacking midfielder seemed to bring a flair of excitement about him, much as Griffiths hope, opening up the channels for the wingers and strikers to overload. A move to Csapo was then put into the path of Salai with a deft first touch and the Ibini FC man cheekily lofted the out of position keeper and brought the Wanderers ahead, a lead secured by their effective backline.

It was once again ugly, yet Meriadoc did not care about that at this point, let the reputation for technical, fast paced, and beautiful play be damned if the results were starting to come back to the Wanderers. They still sat a point behind South Newlandia, though it was close as U-Koro only lost two to three to the elephants, but lose they did. That meant that Griffiths and their charges were not in control of their fate, bringing up that worry they had heading into the evening's fixture, traveling to The Gothanita Isles, the first team that had defeated them at the end of the first half. The Wanderers owed them a dose of revenge but the Isles had been hard to beat, even if their form had taken a bit of a nosedive in the last four games. What did matter though was Tumbra playing South Newlandia, with the Wanderers needing Tumbra to get some sort of result to have a chance. The Wanderers had to best whatever result South Newlandia got, meaning a win for Tumbra could see the Wanderers advance with but a draw, though a draw would require the Wanderers find yet another away victory. It was weird, as that felt almost doable, with the side having only dropped points at home, yet the pressure was intense. However if South Newlandia managed to win... well then the dicey lottery of a playoff was what awaited the Wanderers and that was a heavy fear that they'd rather avoid.

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