Cup of Harmony 49: RPs/Scores

[Triimoria]

Triimoria Informer

No Silver Lining Against Silver Beach!

Triimoria Beaten By Better Silver Beach

Code: Select all

Silver Beach        2-1            Triimoria
-Jenkins (32',68')                 -Galeria (43')

Today was Triimoria's third Cup of Harmony group stage match against Silver Beach. Although Triimoria kept up with Silver Beach throughout the game and played well, their opposition left with a deserved victory. Galeria grabbed another goal to added to the youngster's already impressive goal tally. Harris Maxwell was missing from the Triimoria side because of a four-match suspension given after he was shown a red card against Bleak Rock.
The match started quietly with both teams trying each other out small forays into the opposition's territory. These all came to nothing. Around the twenty minute mark Silver Beach had the first chance to score. A free-kick on the right wing was swung in by Samuel Brown. Poor marking from Jojo Jimjemja allowed Alejeandro Romano to find some space to hit a good header which was caught by Farmer. Slowly Silver Beach were beginning to be on top. On the thirty-second minute they got their goal that had been coming for awhile. Brown took the ball into the Triimoria half. He knocked it up to Roberts far up on the right wing. Who entered the box. A small pass to Jenkins, who was just running in, left the striker with an easy goal, which we duly score. 1-0. However, eleven minutes later Triimoria grabbed an equaliser just before half-time. Galeria was far out from the box. Tabanou was dithering off his line. Galeria spotted this. He shot. Luck was on the Triimorian's side as it flew into the top corner! Galeria certainly was lucky, but it was bad goal-keeping from Tabanou.
The goal seemed to have given Triimoria confidence. For the first section of the second half were the better team. They came close to snatching the lead on fifty-ninth minute. Atov found himself just outside the box. He played a one-two with Ozzaguira. The forward had the goal at his mercy, but a poor shot went straight at Tabanou, who easily gathered the ball. Despite this it was Silver Beach who scored the winner, and it really seemed to knock the stuffing out of Triimoria. Brown again with some excellent play getting right into the Triimorian half. He skipped past the defence. Farmer rushed out and Brown nonchalantly tapped the ball to Jenkins he fired the ball into the unguarded net. 2-1 and Jenkins' double! The fight really went out of Triimoria after this mortal blow. Silver Beach were dominant for the the rest of the match.
Triimoria's final match in the group stage (and Cup of Harmony) is against Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk, although Triimoria and ABK cannot qualify. Hopefully we can go out on a high!

[Ipeland]

[Silver Beach]

Lulika City, Silver Beach

Peter Morath had recently had a heated exchange with former manager Romeo Juliani, after Juliani declined Peter Morath’s invitation to the Triimoria match, which Silver Beach finally pulled itself together and came out on top with a 2-1 win to get all 3 points and keep their hopes alive in Group A. On television, he watched his team critically, trying to get a feel for where it could go under Theodore Czacki. Peter Morath watched captain and best player Jacob Jenkins score twice after the team manufactured plays to get him open for easy goals in front of the net, and Silver Beach play its most complete game in a long time, as they dominated the last 25 minutes of the matchup of their match, almost scoring a third goal, and showing the international soccer community that Silver Beach could not only hold a lead, but hold it by not getting lucky, but by actually possessing the ball and keeping it possessed on their third of the field.

Peter Morath was happy with that performance, but now, he faced a restless Theodore Czacki right in front of him. Peter Morath did not like to be questioned, and Theodore Czacki was about to do exactly that, right now, in front of others, straight to his face. Peter Morath was unhappy about it, but, as per his job, he was meeting with Theodore right now, and had to concentrate on his meeting with the next Silverian manager as he had Romeo Juliani on his mind.

“Peter, I am the new manager for this football team!” Said Theodore Czacki to begin their conversation. “Why can’t I go out and watch the matches in Montréal to get a true feel for the team, up close, live?? You know there is only so much we can watch on the television. I realize you don’t want to concede ground to old Romeo in the popular press, but if I am to have success, I must see the team in action.” Theodore Czacki, very frustrated, ended with.

“NO Theodore!” Replied Peter Morath angrily. “You must stay here, in Lulika City. You can watch the matches on the big screen, but please, whatever you do, do not go to Montréal and watch our matches. That gives Romeo Juliani credibility, and destroys whatever credibility either of us will have with the future of this team. And secondly, that adds a distraction for the players, as they will think you are coach, and try to just impress you instead of playing as a team, like all good teams should.”

Theodore Czacki was very frustrated with the Board. While he thought it would be an exciting opportunity and adventure to manage Silver Beach, this early chaos regarding the managing job was far too much. He was hired as manager, and the Board knew it, and heck, Romeo Juliani himself knew he was out of a job, so he resigned before he could be fired. Theodore Czacki decided to press the issue one more time with Peter Morath, though he knew it would not do anybody any good at all. “Peter, you have to see it from my point of view. I came to Silver Beach to win matches. I need to see the team playing with my own eyes. I have only done that once, when I coached opposite them when I managed Stachland this past World Cup Cycle and I managed against Silver Beach to a 1-0 victory in the post-qualifying friendly. I need to see the players, I need to see what we have to offer.”

“Theodore, how many times do I have to tell you?” Peter Morath was trying to keep his cool, to not get heated with his new manager before he was officially hired. “I will tell you what. The Association will get you tickets to any Premier League matchup you want, and you can scout players there. Potential prospects and future players on the national team, as 6 retired before the Cup of Harmony, and more are poised to retire, as three players on our back line will be 35 by the time the next World Cup cycle begins. You can watch players in the Premier League to see who has the potential to put on a Silverian uniform, and I will get the scouting team to report to you in the near future on what they already have. Is that good?” Peter Morath was finished speaking. This was a take it or leave it, and the tone in his voice told Theodore that the conversation would stop at that.

“Peter, I’m 53 years old. I’ve seen over a half-century of life, and I’ve got so much life to go. I do not see why I can’t go and watch in Montréal, up close, personal, and watching the players with my own eyes, as they compete as a team. I will abide with your request however, and I will most definitely be at Premier League games. I just hope you know what you are doing, not letting me watch the team you are paying me over $5 million dollars total to manage over the next 4 years.” Theodore Czacki, after saying that, walked out of Peter’s Office, and ultimately left the entire Association Headquarters and the complex. Peter Morath was frustrated, but at the same time, he tried to put that behind him, go home early tonight to relax with his wife, and then watch the Silverian match against Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk, and hopefully watch Silver Beach play as a team again, and pull off their 2nd victory in a row in the 49th edition of the Cup of Harmony.

[Mapletish]

Mapletish confirmed as underdogs,after a 2nd straight defeat...

1-3 against Rhodesiah,Mapletish crisis continues,Sir Platini blames Yannis Spiridon on team selection.

Denis Welback : Student and Football Analyst

It's another disappointing day in Mapletish football,Rhodesiah trashed Mapletish down to a 1-3 win.Blas Pepe walked out of the game with his hands in his face,after a disappointing performance so far,with 5 goals conceded in 2 matches,Yannis Spiridon was blasted by Sir Platini and a warning from Mapletish's fans have come into his ears too.Yannis Spiridon have to bring in at least bring in 3 points in the next match before he face the sack.Gil Diego might have score for Mapletish again and help to liven up the spirits of Mapletish's fans.I have been watching this two matches closely and I have notice that Gil Diego is the only player moving the ball up into the attack and the two forwards are almost like standing running like headless chickens.I was like thinking,why these young lads when there are so many players in the Premier League ready to play for the national team,Yannis Spiridon is the one to blame,you want to know why.It's because his formation aren't doing right,with Eutropio Lorenzo and Adrián Adolfo both in playing in the traditional 4-4-2 formation,both these attacking midfielders are given the job to support the engine room but from the matches I can see the urge for them to go forward,but restricted movements.I can see that whenever both of them starts to go on attack,there is a wide gap between the holding defenders with attacking fullbacks,Mario Eugenio and Sandalio Tercero providing the attacking rage from the flanks,and moving up in attacking every now and then,and this leaves defensive fullbacks like Pancho Primitivo and Calixto Pablo lying at the back or the center circle.Gil Deigo and Moisés Osvaldo provide a center attacking option blocking Lorenzo and Adolfo in the attacking or running forward.

* * *

So,I think Yannis should change his formation to 4-2-3-1 to better benefit the two attacking midfielders who like to sprung forward and Gil Diego and Moisés Osvaldo who likes attacking too,and the by putting in a 4-2-3-1,with a lone forward,either Osvaldo or Diego can be given the job as the shadow forward to help provide the attacking firepower.The two defensive holding midfielders can be added in dropping Osvaldo so that the three midfielders can be in charge of the new engine room and add in the two defensive midfielders,Jafet Melchor and Pascual Juan,both a good defensive midfield players.By doing so,the attacking midfielders get their space while the attacking fullbacks can continue to use the flanks as their weapons and the two winger-style midfielders can use the attacking flank as their weapon to spring forward.I think Yago Vinicio should be the forward used for as the lone forward,as the only forward that have done well in the past 2 matches with the starting forwards almost providing no threat to the opponent's defence,with Yago up as the up and coming forward that does his job well,coming in late for matches and starting to move forward when he has the ball and flying forward with tricks and his flying feet is the danger that the two starters can't provide.

* * *

Many will be shock with the news that Mapletish has lose their 2nd match in the row.

It is obvious that Mapletish is drawn in the so called 2nd group of death,listed as the second underdog in the group as the rankings now suggested,2 goals and 5 goals against.Many will be blaming Blas Pepe for his goalkeeping skills but there is one thing that I would like to comment on which is his experience.With the whole squad not filled with 2 or 3 veterans,the rookies won't be able to play.I have seen the Premier League team sheets and I have seen the Premier League matches and I would think that,it is way more exciting than the national team playing in international matches.With the league full of local players,it is a good platform for the national team to be picked from there.I can think that the Mapletish Premier League All Stars XI can make up the whole Mapletish National Team squad and that has shown that Mapletish is full of quality from inside out.As a fan,I would seriously like to see our Alero Junio in action like how he did in the Baptism Of Fire 44.Scoring all of Mapletish's goals in the group stages all the way to the 3rd place playoff,reaching out that it is a goal machine reaching into the international stage.

* * *

It is also official that Team Mapletish Cup Of Harmony I/C,Dr Hartmann Mathis have been sacked by Sir Platini after he have a heated discussion with Yannis Spiridon on his team selection.Sir Platini have another heated discussion with the Team I/C over his option to let Yannis Spiridon continue with his current tactics.And this led to Dr Harmann Mathis going over the fire and he gets the sack first leaving Yannis with a good assistant out of his reach.Dr Moros Alexander,the President of The Mapletish Sports Federation came in to understand the matter and appeared disappointed at a press conference following Dr Mathis sacking.This is what he said :

Dr Mathis is a good man,a real gentlemen when he with a sports team,he did well in leading Home United Sports to their first ever Mapletish Badminton Premier Championships after getting knock out every single year in the finals and end up in the 2nd position behind arch rivals Golden Phoniex Sports.Dr Mathis has realistic targets for his teams that he led.He help to build the Mapletish Rugby Premier Championships from scratch after it lose to their arch rival Mapletish Rugby Super League.He is a great guy and any team he led can get to the champion seat one day.He led Golden Eagles in the Mapletish Super League to their first title in 30 years.I believe Dr Mathis will come back stronger as Mapletish will go to the Olympics for the first time history in the next Olympics cycle.

* * *

[Eastfield Lodge]

EL Online: Sports Center

Your one stop for sports stuff on the web.

O'Shea keeps his job for now.
(Article by Phillip Harsons [Fan], Edited by Timoty Jingle [Editor-in-Chief].)

Three matches into the Cup of Harmony, and the Eastfield Lodge team are taking the group by storm, winning the lowly matches against Ipeland and Nicole Scherzinger while drawing in the crucial match against Civil Citizenry, leaving us two points clear from them and four points clear of Nicole Scherzinger, who although have a game in hand over us, aren't realistically going to win their last two matches, given that their last match is against Civil Citizenry. Basically, the next match, which is against Western Cuba, is the last one of the group, as we head into a last matchday bye day, so it's a match we have to win to ensure we top the group regardless of other results, as us drawing and Civil Citizenry winning sees them go top on GD (having matched H2H records). So not so good news for O'Shea

Anyways, going back to the past, it's time to cover the matches that got the manager his safety net. First up was a 3-1 win over Ipeland, which despite the scoreline was anything but comfortable. It was pretty quiet for the first ten minutes, with the only close chance being Thomas Graham's near post header off Roman Qwivotic's cross which went straight to the keeper. However, the first shot which required a keeper to work was that of Stuart Holden's free kick 23 minutes in, which had some swerve on it and forced Dennis Wood to tip the ball onto the post and out. Two minutes later however, Wood's clearance found Alexson in plenty of space, so he ran with the ball and neatly put Graham through for the first goal of the match. Ipeland refused to be disheartened, and a minute or so after the restart Thed Fresting saw his cross deflected by Charlie Richardson, only for the deflection to set Kevin Texin up for the half-volley which he blazed over the bar. Hadia Ahmad saw that the team had an insurance policy a few minutes after, with Thomas Graham expertly setting her up for an open goal finish. The half ended with both sides still looking for goals, and Ipeland again came close with Texin's scorching shot not far from the post. The second half was more even, with Texin reducing the deficit after just four minutes of the second half with a brilliant free kick into the top left and corner. Ipeland continued to apply the pressure in search of an equaliser, but their increased pushing left gaps at the back, and Roman Qwivotic exploited these gaps with his pace, testing Fogherty at his near post on the hour mark. But it was 15 minutes later when Roman found himself on the wing again, this time trying to outrun Blaurid Monery and succeeding in getting a free kick. George Alexson floated in the cross and Thomas Graham rose highest to settle the tie at 3-1.

The next two matches were much less eventful, with less goals combined than the first match. There was the 1-1 draw against Civil Citizenry, which saw Thomas Graham grab his third goal of the campaign after being brought down by Burkett Barclay for a penalty half an hour into the match. Prior to that goal, there had been few chances, with both sides trying to frustrate the other into making a mistake. Until half time, the EL team were forced to defend against several Citiz attacks, with the closest coming from Parker Pollock in stoppage time, who managed to find the net only to be flagged marginally offside (and there was just centimetres in that decision). The second half was even calmer than the first, with the only real shot coming from Citiz captain Ingram Ackleigh on 82 minutes, which just happened to be a equaliser from a goalmouth scramble. The third match against Nicole Scherzinger was nothing special, with the only goal in the 1-0 victory coming from Roman Qwivotic.

---

Samner Diop had arrived in Franz Josef City, the footballing heart of Polar Islandstates. He had the information from his underlings of the whereabouts of the team's hotel in the centre of the city. According to the information, this is where they were staying in between matchdays, but currently, they were on their way back from Axel Heiburg, where they had just beaten the team from Nicole Scherzinger 1-0. His plan was to climb up the fire escape ladder, with the door having been opened specifically for him, and make his way over to the team's hotel rooms. The team had their own guards outside the rooms, presumably on lookout for any over-enthusiastic fans. Getting a piece of cloth and covering his mouth and nose, he rolled a gas canister full of a crude and experimental anaesthetic towards the guards. It exploded, and the guards would be out for hours. The brilliant thing about this, they wouldn't remember a thing.

Samner got up from his hiding place and got to work. He dismantled the doors and began setting up the explosives. The system was designed so that as when every door had been opened and triggered its own bomb, each bomb set would explode simultaneously, and thus kill as many of the team members as possible. Getting up, he looked at his handiwork and smiled. He knew that this would put his cause on the news, both back home and potentially internationally. Samner then ran off and scrambled back down the fire escape ladder, and went to a safe spot for observation.

About half an hour later, he received a text message from a spy, stating that the team bus was just ten minutes away from the hotel. Samner replied stating that everything was in position. But unknown to him, the guards weren't as stupid as he'd thought, and as soon as they awoke to find themselves in the floor, they realised something was up and began to check on the rooms. Outside, the bus had pulled up to the hotel, and the team were beginning to disembark, only for the guard to open the last hotel room door. The explosion was deafening and sent a shock straight to the depths of Samner's brain. He knew that the explosives were triggered, and cursed himself for not using a better knockout mixture.

The hotel now had a gaping hole in its side, but the EL team were still alive.

---

Team to play Western Cuba: Starting XI

Goal Tally CoH49:
Thomas Graham: 3
Roman Qwivotic: 1
Hadia Ahmad: 1

[Cotdelapoms]

At l'association Cotdelapomaise de Volcanologie et de Chimie de l'Intérieur de la Terre there's really not a lot of work today. There's really not a lot of work just about every day. The country has one active volcano- Mont Payette, and she hasn't done anything in years and years. For the most part the two full time employees, Ben and Mathieu, argue with each other about life's frivolities. Music, movies, sport, the usual. They are both big football fans who were heartbroken when Cotdelapoms were eliminated from the World Cup, and they are both excited to take in some Cup of Harmony matches on television.

For the most part their work at this point involves keeping track of reports and making sure nothing concerning goes on. There hasn't been much seismic activity in southern Rushmore in a while, and whilst there's been some strange goings on in Nova Cambria, any phone calls to the Nova Cambrian Volcanology department have been ignored. Indeed, all their phone calls, emails, letters have been left unresponded to, as if Nova Cambria had no similar organisation. Knowing them, they probably don't pay much attention to their geography. Ha! I bet if Cotdelapoms wanted to they could just build a canal straight through it...

No time for that though- it's Cup of Harmony time! Ben and Mathieu were a little distracted from their "work" with the goings on on pitches across the country and Polar Islandstates. It'd been a high scoring tournament thusfar, despite the presence of the world's most drab (and appropriately named) national team- Bleak Rock.

"Did you catch any football last night, Ben?"

"I was flipping between the Erathore match and the Bleak Rock match. Tough luck for Vilita, no?"

"Definitely. Who do you think wins the whole thing at this point?"

"Uhh, I'm not going to say. You know it's bad luck to make those sorts of predictions. Bad mojo!"

"You're ridiculous, you bet on half the matches anyway!"

"Oh, yeah. I do."

"Well who have you been betting on? When you fill out the mise o jeu slip, who do you pick?"

Just in time, something happened. The seismographs recording data from around Mont Payette were showing more life than they had in the entire time either of them worked there.

[Sargossa]

The Island Chronicle


Well who'd a funk it? Apparently announcing that the man in charge of a nation's national football side is leaving his post at the end of a tournament undermines that same man's authority in the eyes of his charges. Go figure. Which probably goes some ways to explain the lackadaisical display shown against Osarius in the second round of matches. A display typified by the third goal for the opposition which came courtesy of our own Toni Siqueira. The Ciudad Soluca fallback had just about been forgiven for sporting gloves by the visiting Sargossan faithful, themselves well wrapped up, but much scorn was forthcoming when the rightback played a lazy ball across his own penalty area too far behind captain Monzón and too far in front of keeper José Antonio Leiva. In popped Firebirds sub Maria Di Corradi who slotted the loose ball coolly past Leiva who promptly fired a barrage of unprintable colloquialisms at his team mate.

A Rushmori derby always demands a bit of focus so the performance against Saugeais was better. In an effort to solidify his leaky side Martinez brought in veteran defender Miguel Bonilla and midfielders Rochina and Albacar while out went flair players Siqueira, Guerrón and Echevarría. Out with the flair players went the actual flair and chances were few and far between. The Knights were clearly aware of the threat posed by striker Celso Esquivel and the well marshalled Erathore based forward barely got a touch before his seventy second minute substitution. His replacement Héctor Riera fared little better but did see a neat turn and shot force a smart save from Jenson Paulson in what was the Corsairs best chance of the match.

One point from two games. One goal scored and four conceded. Not exactly form to make the rest of the competition sit up and take notice. Realistically the Corsairs must beat both Megadia and Rouge Pioneers to stand a change of advancing into the knockout rounds. Not quite the swansong the coach deserved. It's probably the weather.

[Western cuba]

Havana Tribute

The #1 Newspaper in Western Cuba

Western Cuba finds struggles throughout the Cup of Harmony

Western Cuba     0  0   0
Civil Citizenry  2  1   3

Western Cuba        0  0   0
Nicole Scherzinger  1  1   2

Diego Ramirez

After two games in the Group Stage and a bye the Western Cuban team looks like a wreck, much like the National Basketball Team who just got off a 91-60 smashing of them at 95x. However though Western Cuba hasn't even scored a point yet throughout the Cup of Harmony, quite the embarrassment. First Western Cuba played against Civil Citizenry in Match Day 1 getting smashed by Civil Citizenry whose offense played well in the game scoring three goals while Western Cuba scored none. In fact they only had one shot throughout the whole day which was the closest Western Cuba has been to a goal all throughout the Cup of Harmony. It was when a Edgardo Mendoza shot in the 40' minute ricocheted off the left goalpost, a Civil Citizenry defender managed to clear it after that.

The next game against Nicole Scherzinger who is weaker than Civil Citizenry didn't end up really any better sure Western Cuba played better defense but they still let in two goals, and the offense once again did nothing. With only Edgardo Mendoza and Fausto Gracia recording shots on goal, and they were quite poor ones. Dribbles that the Nicole Scherzinger goalie had no problem stopping.

Now with an 0-2 record, last place in Group F, and only two more games to go things look slim for Western Cuba. They'll have to win there next two wins in order to gain a spot in the Knockout Rounds but to be honest instead of aiming for the knockout rounds they need just to finish well instead. Like perhaps scoring a goal should be there next step.

Western Cuba has that change to do tonight when they face Eastfield Lodge in Match Day 4. It should be a good one partly because Ricardo Márquez's job is at risk if he loses this game. Will the Coach have his team step up, or will they fail to score another goal. That's for us to find out.

[Andossa Se Mitrin Vega]

Waving Flag

Mace: Wooooooooo Ohohohoooooooo ! OOOoooooh Wooooooooo
Wooooooooo Ohohohoooooooo ! OOOoooooh Wooooooooo

Jonasei: I hate to see all these great footballing nations leaving. It leaves an empty spot inside somewhere.

Kymy: I know. Starblaydia, Valanora, Delaclava, Sorthern Northland, Sarzonia. Its like a who’s who of legends.

Laia: And rumors surrounding Krytenia and Cassadaigua as well. Will be a much different World Cup scene.

Mace: Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher
See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets our hands are liftin, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration its around us, every nation, all around us

Fekelii: Great nations have left before but never so many at one time

Kymy: We have never really had a rival, but these are some of the teams we love playing the most

Ombar: Hmmpf. Let em go. That will jump us seven places in the rankings. Good for us.

Mace: Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.
WE ALL SAY

Jonasei: I would rather earn those ranks than just get them as the greats fall off.

Laia: It kind of diminishes the point of getting there.

Kylek: I agree with the Dwarf. #1 is #1. Still plenty of good teams out there to take it from.

Mace: When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes

Ombar: The Pinky Cup whores, fairies, and hairy-chicks. The monks and dreamers, blue water, Q freaks, honeybees, and the list goes on.

Jonasei: But what about the history of the game? The glorious triumph’s of those leaving?

Fekelii: Great teams are left, but too many great ones are leaving

Mace: When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes

Kymy: I guess in the end all we can do is to keep playing and make our mark where we can.

Jonasei: And keep the traditions of this great experience going until the day that our friends return.

Ombar: And maybe even win a blasted World Cup. We HAVE to get that done before Qazox wins and hell freezes over.

Mace: Wooooooooo Ohohohoooooooo ! OOOoooooh Wooooooooo
Wooooooooo Ohohohoooooooo ! OOOoooooh Wooooooooo

Kylek: Or Dorian and Sonya win it again. That would be a cold day in the underworld as well.

Jonasei: The elves still have a solid squad to deal with, even if they do spend too much time on the farm as of late.

Mace: Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take you higher
See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets are, exaliftin, every loser in ambition,
Celebration, its around us, every nations, all around us

Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.

WE ALL SAY

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag
And then it goes back
And then it goes back…

OOC- Now I’ve gone and depressed myself over all of this and have no idea what to RP.

[Taeshan]

X Island Inquirer

Knights Win Close One

Its called luck. Thats about the only reason the Knights were able to manage to win last nights game against Darmen. For the first time in three meetings against their opponents they came out on top, but only because they were lucky. Lucky to not concede a goal on 20 shots on the game, lucky that all 11 shots on goal went right into Filip Samuel's goal. Lucky that late in the game the Darmenians didn't take advantage of substitute Wolfgang Galuba's Red card putting the Knights down to ten men. Luck, was how they won the game. But no matter how ou win it still counts.

In the end their were only two shots towards the Darmen goal by the Knights. The first was an early header that went well wide from Jeremi St James, but the second was a work of art. At half field just before the half Tyrell Wantanabe field goal kicked a ball towards the Darmen goalie who wasn't really paying attention. He looked in fact like he was picking a daisy of the ground do to how little the Knights even got the ball out of their own end. But then he watched as his team did dumbfounded as the ball cleared his head and rolled peacefully into the back of his net. Game on, and the Knights now had a reason to be able to play defensively.

To start the second half the Knights attempted to turn it more into an even offensive play, but the sub ins of Galuba and Arturo Arthur did not really help. Galuba stayed well back the pitch and Arthur's wing play lacked much after an early entrance knee strain. Elijah Knickerbocker also failed to do much when he was called in. The Darmen team managed to hit the back of the net, only for it to get called back on an offside. When Galuba got sent to the showers in the 78th minute. The Knights were forced to sweat it out for the rest of the game, and sweat it they did, but in the end they came out on top. And will hope to do that once more next game against Arcatae.

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

A conversation between SO-KP delegates outside the squad's Cotdelapomais base for the Cup of Harmony.

"Well, that's at least made things a little more tolerable."

"What, winning a game for once?"

"Yeah, absolutely. And especially seeing our defense get back to business."

"But what do we do now? How do we catch up Milchama with only one game to play?"

"We could try and use a time dilation mach..."

"THAT DOESN'T WORK!"

"Wait, you're tell-"

"The time DILATION machine doesn't work as a time TRAVEL machine!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear Margaret please forgive me..."

"So what else are we going to do?"

"Well, we're trying to beat Milchama, right?"

"Well, trying to overtake them. We need a win against Miley World to stand a chance."

"Do we do the hoedown throwdown or whatever else they do?"

"That sounds dodgy to me. Can't we just beat them by scoring more than them?"

"Well, that's always gonna be an uphill battle, and some times we're gonna have to lose..."

"BUT WE CAN'T LOSE THIS GAME!"

"Right, erm, we're talking in a conversation, right?"

"Yes."

"And it's one on one."

"Yes."

"Well, why don't we get this conversation videotaped and leaked to the media?"

"Isn't that going to be dodgy or incriminating?"

"No, not in the slightest, and besides, we need to free up the Verbosita supplies."

"So do we keep talking?"

"Yes."

"So are you now telling me to be like a filibustering politician interfering with any meaningful welfare reform or anything else that might not suit major corporations these days?"

"Well it works for them, doesn't it?"

"Not the... well, you're right, it does..."

"And we need help."

"Indeed."

"And besides, because it's a one-on-one conversation, and we get this spoken out as dialogue and all printed out and so on like this, it's going to wind up..."

"...just like Milchama."

"Exactly."

"Deal."

[Vilita]

HARMONY DISRUPTED FOR VILITA

3,332 Year Old Elf scores with a "Windy Knuckler"

The Vilita Jungle Cats fell quickly from the top of Group B to an uncertain qualifying position after a dissapointing defeat to an Erathore team filled with players of various ages - and sizes. In fact, the Jungle Cats could muster only 1 shot on target in a match played under high winds and downpours. Neither side could create many opportunities, with Nycflala Kater stopping two of the three shots Erathore had sent his way.

The big story in the buildup to the match was the antics of Actalia Mermaioada, the Aquatic enthusiast who attempted, and completed the swim from Côte-Est to Île d'Elisabeth between matchdays. Mermaioada apparently had decided to go ahead with the stunt despite not having the support of Vilita National Team coaches Kris Wrice and Tika Massa. After impressing off the bench against Carasatoga in the Jungle Cats opening game, and scoring a goal, Mermaioada was not even in the squad for the crucial matchup against Erathore. The official word was that Mermaioada had gotten a bit of a cold during the off week and was being rested. However, there is some speculation that it may have been a disciplinary action on the part of Wrice and Massa who were unhappy that Mermaioada would be risking fitness in the middle of an important international competition. Ironically, the marine-like conditions in Île d'Elisabeth at matchtime would likely have played right into Mermaioada's hands for a potential starting place, if not for the 'cold' that the player had contracted.

Otherwise, the starting lineup for Vilita was pretty much what Jungle Cat fans had come to expect throughout World Cup Qualifying, with the coaches not quite ready to give new players a chance at the possible expense of results. Despite the wet conditions, speedster Hulyer had a great first half, creating many good runs and seeming to be able to capitalize on the wetness to out pace the opposing defender and play tricks with the ball. Unfortunately, the strong winds were not in the wingers repetoire of understanding, as each and every cross seemed to go somewhere else.

The teams went into the half level with not much of anything happening at either end. It seemed as if both sides were resigned to the possibility that no one was going to score, and, considering that the Jungle Cats had a game in hand on the group, that result would have suited them just fine. Unfortunately, there was at least one player on the pitch who seemed to understand the winds just a tad better than the rest of the players aged 16-24. That was 3,332 year old Erathorean Elf Camthalio Ringeril. Ringeril certainly has had plenty of time to understand the Rushmori winds, and made them count with a ridiculous snaking shot doing a horizontal loop across the face of the penalty area, passing in front of one Vilitan defender, behind a second before catching a pocket of open space and being propelled directly into the back of the net by an incredible burst of wind, as if summoned upon by the Elvish creature.

The Jungle Cats reacted to the deficit by making a pair of changes. The effort required on both wingers had been great but their crosses were not getting anywhere. They were soiled and now weighed down by their own apparel, so it was Tzikas and Hulyer being replaced by the fresh, and dry legs of Viji-mara Lawaai and Aniara Jiurjai. Like Hulyer, Jiurjai impressed with his feet and pace despite the conditions, but could not find the right opportunity. Perhaps the best decision of the night by a Vilitan winger came in the 73rd minute when Jirujai faked a cross then dribbled in towards goal, taking a narrow angle shot that goalkeeper Hérion Galonloth did marvelous not only to get a hand on, but to knock the ball directly towards a waiting Erathorean defender who quickly cleared the danger.

The Jungle Cats made a final attacking substitution taking Kadi Molali off the pitch and replacing him with Viliaka Morasita. But the conditions were too much for the Jungle Cats to overcome, and a little bit of Elfish magic from Ringeril ended up being the difference between the sides on an absolutely weatherful evening on Île d'Elisabeth.

Vilita will look to rebound from the defeat, still having three group games to play, though now the Jungle Cats have lost the tiebreaker against group leaders Erathore, so will have to win their remaining games *and* have the Erathorean team fail to win in order to ensure a place in the knockout rounds of the cup.


Vilita Goalscorers::
N/A

Opposition Goalscorers::
53' Camthalio RINGËRIL

Vilita

Best Player: Jomur Hulyer
Worst Player: Kadi Molali
Shots on Target: 1
Corner Kicks: 0

Opponents

Best Player: Camthalio Ringeril
Worst Player: Ricardo Villa
Shots on Target: 3
Corner Kicks: 6


Vilita Jungle Cats (3-(1-4)-2) ::
[GK] Nycflala Kater, [D] Ritopa Simafela, [D] Kadi Molali, [D] Miiara Makose, [DMC] Retiso Buran, [ML] Rexii Tzikas, [MR] Jomur Hulyer, [MC] Steffyn Siazzu, [MC] Astara Daiili, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo
BENCH::
[FC] Erocka Lorei, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [M] Viliaka Morasita, [M] Aniara Jiurjai, [U] Tyaoino Munviola, [D] Uajiala Pulkki, [GK] Jungrii Canopii

Vilita Substitutions::
(64) - Rexii Tzikas >>> Viji-mara Lawaai
(67) - Jomur Hulyer >>> Aniara Jiurjai
(80) - Kadi Molali >>> Viliaka Morasita


Match Ratings (For Future Statistical Reference)
GK :: Nycflala Kater 4

D :: Ritopa Simafela 6
D :: Kadi Molali 5
D :: Miiara Makose 5

DMC :: Retiso Buran 7

ML :: Rexii Tzikas 6
MC :: Jomur Hulyer 7
MC :: Steffyn Siazzu 7
MR :: Astara Daiili 4

FC :: Kristofer Kilpter 7
FC :: Sirkii Moliaudo 5

Vilitan Subs Bench:
FC :: Erocka Lorei DNP
FC :: Viji-mara Lawaai 5
M :: Viliaka Morasita 5
M :: Aniara Jiurjai 6
U :: Tyaoino Munviola DNP
D :: Uajiala Pulkki DNP
GK :: Jungrii Canopii DNP

[Jedi8246]

"In our final news item of the night, Sir William Hemsworth, Secretary of Diplomacy, recently finished his term as regional delegate for our region the United States of Amoncolia. A rather recent regional alliance, all things considered. In any case, Sir William will now turn towards representing Jedi8246 in the World Assembly once more. Britvaria is the new nation who holds regional delegacy, with their person not yet selected. We look forward to who it will be. Well that's all folks. I'm Caren Daegle and good evening. Now here is Chris with Sports Corner."
Theme
Fenris Sports Corner

"Goooood evening. I am Chris Cotchery, bringing you the Fenris Sports Corner. Latest developments in the Cup of Harmony ensue. Today, the Wyverns tied against the lower ranked Thatius team. It was 1-1. Both teams played rather well, but unfortunately Jedi8246 couldn't get the clincher finish. This is the second tie in the Cup of Harmony for the Wyverns, having tied against Gyatso as well. Here to give us his thoughts, Head Coach Donald Hemlock. Pleasure to have you here."

"Thank you Chris. Pleasure to be here."

"Now of course many know you as coaching legend. You hold the most titles in Jedi8246 soccer history. You led the Jedi8246 on a closely missed World Cup qualifier. Now here you are in the Cup of Harmony. The Wyverns came out strong against the first team, who was far ranked ahead of us. But now you've managed to only get ties against these more minor teams. Thoughts?"

"Well it's all about execution Chris. The first game against North Chicanan was just a well executed game. Our boys came out wanting to win, and played to the level of the competition. That is why we won. These last two games, we have simply not come out playing as well as we need to. Tying is definitely better than losing, but I see no reason we couldn't have won these games. We got the talent. "

"I'm sure it must be frustrating as a coach to see them make simply mistakes like the one today. It cost y'all a goal."

"Yep. I've worked hard with these guys to bring them together as a team. They are all used to playing against each other, but I managed to unite them into a strong workable squad. They just gotta come out giving each game 100%."

"Of course. Well before you go, any thoughts on the upcoming game against Kalumba?"

"Well this is one we gotta win. Kalumba will be our toughest game since North Chicanan. We will be playing at home, you otta come Chris, and that will give us an advantage. But our boys just have to give it their all. I know we can beat them."

"Thank you for your time Donald. Alright folks, let's take a look at what this game really means. Now the rankings currently have us on top with a 1-2-0 record. This has been enough to give us a slight lead. However this last game before our bye will be crucial. The second ranked team is Kalumba themselves with 1-1-0 record. Now losing would make us ranked lower than them, and destroying our qualification chances. So losing is not an option. As to tying? Well we wouldn't necessarily be eliminated, but it's not recommended. Kalumba would simply need to garner a win."

[Polar Islandstates]

And that's a cut-off. Scores soon.
EDIT:
ZOMGSCOREZ!

Group F
Nicole Scherzinger 0–3 Ipeland
Western Cuba 2–3 Eastfield Lodge

  Group F              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Eastfield Lodge        4   3  1  0    8   4  +4   10
2 Civil Citizenry        3   1  2  0    5   2  +3    5
3 Ipeland                3   1  1  1    5   4  +1    4
4 Nicole Scherzinger     3   1  0  2    2   4  −2    3
5 Western Cuba           3   0  0  3    2   8  −6    0



Group G
Sargossa 4–1 Megadia
Osarius 0–0 Saugeais

  Group G              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Saugeais               4   2  2  0    6   1  +5    8
2 Osarius                3   2  1  0    5   1  +4    7
3 Sargossa               3   1  1  1    5   5   0    4
4 Megadia                3   1  0  2    6  11  −5    3
5 Rouge Pioneers         3   0  0  3    5   9  −4    0



Group H
Octinstine 3–2 Mapletish
Homelands Our 2–2 Mangolana

  Group H              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Rhodesiah              3   2  1  0    6   2  +4    7
2 Octinstine             3   2  1  0    9   6  +3    7
3 Mangolana              4   1  3  0    7   6  +1    6
4 Homelands Our          3   0  1  2    4   8  −4    1
5 Mapletish              3   0  0  3    4   8  −4    0



Group I
Thatius 0–0 North Chicanan
Kalumba 0–1 Jedi8246

  Group I              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Jedi8246               4   2  2  0    7   4  +3    8
2 North Chicanan         3   1  1  1    6   5  +1    4
3 Kalumba                3   1  1  1    3   3   0    4
4 Thatius                3   0  2  1    2   3  −1    2
5 Gyatso-Kai             3   0  2  1    7  10  −3    2

Colours mean what you think they mean. Green - group winner, orange - guaranteed at least a play-in spot, red - eliminated.

[Socialist States Owen]

The Emplor BriefBlog
A solid, if not dull performance; Brendino the 3rd 1-2 FSSO
It's unusual for the FSSO to play out a dull game, but today that was the case. Brendino the 3rd took the lead early through a goal from their captain, who headed home on the tenth minute from 6 yards out after a whipped in corner. Brendino controlled the first quarter of the game and would come close again, hitting the post from a similar chance, but Sam Needle won a penalty after a mazy dribble just before half time to give the FSSO an opportunity to level. He easily buried it past the keeper. But the FSSO winner would come courtesy of James McCroft in the sixtieth minute, who curled in a 23 yard free kick to give the FSSO all three points. On balance Persa Ryans was probably man of the match, with a pass success rate of 94%, a shot that hit the post on 56 minutes and he earned the free kick which would result in goal number two.

[Cotdelapoms]

Cut off!

MATCHDAY FOUR
GROUP A
Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk 1-2 Silver Beach
Pasarga 1-0 Bleak Rock

Group A                   Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Pasarga                   3    3   0   0     7    1   +6     9
2 Bleak Rock                4    2   1   1     2    1   +1     7
3 Silver Beach              3    2   0   1     4    3   +1     6
4 Triimoria                 3    0   1   2     2    6   −4     1
5 Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk    3    0   0   3     1    5   −4     0

GROUP B
Brendino the 3rd 1-2 Vilita
FSSO 2-1 Carasatoga

Group B                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Vilita                  3    2   0   1     7    5   +2     6
2 FSSO                    3    2   0   1     9    8   +1     6
3 Erathore                3    2   0   1     7    7    0     6
4 Carasatoga              4    1   1   2     6    7   −1     4
5 Brendino the 3rd        3    0   1   2     2    4   −2     1

GROUP C
Michael VII 0-1 New Montreal States
Cyborg Holland 1-4 Kazzoria

Group C                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kazzoria                4    3   1   0    15    5  +10    10
2 New Montreal States     3    2   0   1     4    4    0     6
3 Michael VII             3    1   0   2     3    8   −5     3
4 The Kiaser Colonies     3    0   2   1     1    2   −1     2
5 Cyborg Holland          3    0   1   2     2    6   −4     1

GROUP D
Miley World 2-1 The Weegies
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega 3-0 Milchama

Group D                   Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega    3    3   0   0     8    1   +7     9
2 Milchama                  4    1   2   1     7    9   −2     5
3 Miley World               3    1   1   1     5    6   −1     4
4 The Kytler Peninsulae     3    1   0   2     4    6   −2     3
5 The Weegies               3    0   1   2     2    4   −2     1

GROUP E
Arcatea 0-1 Taeshan
Valladares 3-0 Carmadin

Group E                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Valladares              3    3   0   0    12    4   +8     9
2 Taeshan                 3    2   1   0     5    3   +2     7
3 Carmadin                4    0   3   1     6    9   −3     3
4 Darmen                  3    0   1   2     3    6   −3     1
5 Arcatea                 3    0   1   2     4    8   −4     1

[Carmadin]

"oh noes"

"well, it wasn't a draw...."

"yes, but, still"

"still what? Valladares....."

"coulda thumped our asses royally. but, only 3-0. and, were third in the group!"

"so, who do we play in the finale?"

"who knows? who cares?"

"ummmm...Carmadin football fans across the world?"

"ooooh, like that hotelfull in Qazox we made love us during the BoF?"

"yes. how do you pronounce that country name anyway?"

"who knows? who cares?"

"ummmm......Qazoxians?"

"oooooh, like the people in the hotel?"

"yes. now you've got it."

"yay!"

"so, when this WC cycle is over, do we go to the Copa Rushmori?"

"i don't know. we'll need to get our orders."

"orders schmorders. we'll show up, welcome or not!" (and they will, to add a bit of flavor to my CR match reports )

"whatever"

"where is the Copa Rushmori this year, anyway?"

"who knows? who cares?"

"ummmmm..........Rushmori nations?"

"oooooh, like Carmadin."

"exactly"

"you know, this is nonsense. when are we stopping?"

"who knows? who cares?"

*sigh*


OOC: sorry, this is all i had time for, and i most likely won't get an rp in tommorow

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

While the Kytlerians were having their off-day, results elsewhere were clicking beautifully into place. Milchama, as hoped and expected, lost to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega, who are already assured of top spot in the group now. Milchama, second in the group, are actually mathematically eliminated after Miley World's 2-1 win over The Weegies, who are also out of contention for a knockout round place, not that they weren't anyway with ASMV to play in their final game. And so it has come down to a shoot-out.

Only a win will do for the Kytlerians, but interestingly, Miley World can progress with any draw - the head-to-head clash was a draw, and thanks to that third ASMV goal, Milchama's goal difference is inferior at -2 to Miley World's -1. Hence any draw will send Miley World through on overall goal difference. (Anyone else nostalgic for when that was the first tiebreaker? Cast your weepy eyes over this group.)

Of course, progression on six points would mean a certain condemnation to the bonus round before the last 16, but that's OK. Kytlerians are fine with bonus rounds - they love their game shows, after all. And if they won that game, it would boost ye olde KPB score, which for a team at the Kytlerians' level of performance is probably the name of the game at this competition - second-tier though it may be, there are still formidable teams in it, especially in this age of Margaret being a wildly unpredictable tyrant stomping on the world soccer landscape.

Want an omen? Here's one; the game will take place at Stade Rousseau, the design for which was the first international commission by Kytlerian architects Bright New World. Not that this means a great deal - the team have played and lost there before, as every game in this group has been at the Outremont venue - but hey, we need omens. There's one, right there.

[Ipeland]

Hammersburg Daily
The Capital #1 Paper since 1953

Ipeland demolish Nicole Scherzinger
Holden stars in 3-0 thrashing

Fans were celebrating through the night last night, as Ipeland dominated Nicole Scherzinger, the end score being 3-0 to Ipeland. Stuart Holden scored a brace, the goals coming on the 11th and the 83rd minute. Sadas Mosti scored his first goal of the Cup of Harmony, it coming on the 56th minute. Ipeland, who were the last seed in the group, now has a chance of going through to the Round of 16, as long as they beat Western Cuba, and Civil Citizenry draw against Nicole Scherzinger.

The first half was dominated by Ipeland, although Scherzinger's keeper produced some spectacular saves to keep out some Ipeland chances. The first chance came on 5 minutes, Kevin Texan's shot being tipped over the bar. The resulting corner came to nothing, as Gavin Pettarson's header was saved very easily by the keeper. Ipeland scored on the 11th minute, a foul by a Scherzinger player resulting in a quick free kick by Sadas Mosti, which was headed in by Holden. Ipeland continued to dominate possession, but laid off the attacking, as Ipeland's solid defense blocked out any possible attack by the Scherzinger strike force.

Steele made one change at half time, Richard Sakai replacing Ling Geller to strengthen the defense. She also set up a more attacking style. The style change payed off almost immediately, Stuart Holden's shot cleared off the line on 47 minutes. Ipeland doubled their lead on the 56th minute, Sadas Mosti weaving himself between the Scherzinger defense, doing a one-two with Kiefer Sutherland Wallace and calmly placed it into the back of the net. Holden rounded off the scoring on the 83rd minute, a beautiful shot from 40 yards going into the back of the net.

[Erathore]

Well we have to win this one. Actually we need to win all of them. EVERY LAST ONE! But especially this one. If we don't, we probably won't qualify for the Cup of Harmony and that would be the biggest of disgraces. We have never not qualified for the Cup of Harmony so that's a good thing. We've taken fourth place twice, once in the 46th edition of the cup (our first go at it) and in the 48th edition. We made it to the Round of 16 in the 47th CoH as well.

The team has been playing at a meh level throughout the tournament. Played badly during our first and second game, it seemed like we were bound to crash out. Thankfully we got our shit together in the match against Vilita and settled into our passing routine that left them no openings for scoring. So all in all a boring game.

Our next game against whoever it is better go better. We need it too. So far this has been a boring and somewhat successful campaign. We need to score plenty of goals in the next game. We need to do so with style. With our passa e posse style.

Hérion Galonloth needs to step up in goal as he is not really reassuring me that he is a world class goalkeeper. And it is his fault. The defense has been doing a pretty good job except for one or two mishaps.

The midfield has been doing great. No real complainants except having some trouble getting passa e posse going on at times. Rafa DiSantos has done a good job playing at the highest level of the game. He's made two appearances, one start, and has scored once. Not too bad.

The forwards have been pretty good, scoring plenty of goals.

So why isn't it all coming together?

[New Montreal States]

"William Butler Yeats!"

"Quite right! 10 points to you! And now the next question..."

William St. John de la Ware sat back and smiled. Having to have memorized "Sailing to Byzantium" back when he was freshman had finally served some use, although really not enough to justify the work he had put into it. Hopefully someday he'd be able to put it to some actual use; maybe he'd meet a girl who was really into Byzantium. Until then, a leg up in a bar trivia contest would do nicely for him.

After the other night's victory over Cyborg Holland, he had gone a-wenching with some of his fellow Paladins. But les demoiselles d'Albionpool were surrounded by football players all the time, and they were less than impressed by a backup defender on the 99th-ranked team in the world, who hadn't even signed a pro contract yet. And so he had decided to follow Fabrice Archer and Cory Taylor, who were both married, down to The Jovial Patrician for rounds of nutty brown ales and trivia. Fresh out of a prep academy as blueblooded as his name, de la Ware was cleaning up the academics nicely, while Taylor handled the sports and Archer pounced on random questions.

They were headed into the homestretch of this round, and despite not knowing any Cotdelapomais pop culture, they had a comfortable lead over their fellow patrons. The patrician flipped over a page in his packet of questions and asked the next one.

"The category is 'Sport!' For 10 points: Which team won World Cup 22?"

The whole bar froze. Drinks that had been raised halfway to their owner's mouths thudded back down on the tables; brows were furrowed and chins were propped up onto elbows as the competitors strained to remember who had won it. Both de la Ware and Archer turned to look at Taylor, who was staring intently at his whiskey sour on the well-dented oaken table, trying to recollect who it was.

"That one country...it was in AO...they had incorporated their navy for some reason...bollocks...just last week I won fifty pounds off Ed for reciting all the champions backwards under three minutes..."

"We were there, old bean, but that's no good right know..."

"Don't I goddamn well know it? At least everyone else seems as flummoxed as I am, that's lucky as shit..." Taylor faded off, back into thought.

It was all to no avail, however, as the barkeep's voice sounded out across the silent, confused pub: "You're out of time, ladies and gentlemen! The correct answer is..." The bartender looked down at his sheet and blinked. "Huh! I forgot to write it in. Bollocks!"

One of the patrons who had already been eliminated offered to look up the answer on her smartphone. After about thirty seconds she exclaimed: "Dammit! It crashed right after I hit the search button!" Three others quickly whipped out their phones, only to suffer similar mishaps.

"Now that's just plumb strange, dadgum it!" exclaimed a redneck trucker who was sixty points back and in 3rd place. "Reckoned I knew every one of them world-cup winners, but we-all cain't recall that con-sarned nation!" After a minute or so of general consternation, the bartender decide to throw the question out and move on.

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

The next morning, nursing a hangover in the shower, the answer suddenly came to de la Ware. Sarzonia! That was the country! They had just co-hosted the World Cup! How silly of everyone to have forgotten.

Later that afternoon, at practice, de la Ware caught up with his fellow defender Taylor on the sidelines."I remembered who won World Cup 22!"

"Really? I still can't. It's kinda starting to bug me a little bit."

"It was Sarzonia!"

"Who?"

"Sarzonia!"

"Sarwhattia?"

"Come on, they just co-hosted the World Cup, Aguazul and The Holy Empire just played the final there..."

"Are you nuts? Cafundéu was the first nation to host the World Cup on its own in centuries. You sure you're not dehydrated from last night?" He patted the eighteen-year-old de la Ware on the shoulder. "Go drink some Crocodade. There's no such place as Sarzonia."

de la Ware stared confusedly at Taylor as the latter jogged away. Maybe he wasn't 100% sure about World Cup 22, but he KNEW he had just watched the final the other day. And Taylor had been watching across the hall, he had stopped off and chatted for a second during the half while he was getting more ice. What the hell was going on here?

[Michael VII]

MICHAEL VII FOOTBALL

Wait WTF? How'd we lose 7-2 to Kazzoria? And then 1-0 to New Montreal States? Well, there goes the dream.

Well, at least we got 2 goals...While conceding EIGHT! In just TWO games! That was horrid. How we even managed to get down 7-2 against Kazzoria is beyond me. I mean, we're not THAT bad are we? I mean, we held Cosumar to a draw, have beaten Sarrbia, gone close with ASMV, tied with Osarius, so we're not overly horrid. I suppose Kazzoria is just too good, and Bryan Merriweather [Michael VII Keeper] is just never going to go fishing again! It didn't even look like we were playing that badly! But I suppose a good team is a good team, and only 32 teams can make the World Cup Finals, so the Cup of Harmony is a damn hard tournament to win. Ah well, we've still got our last game to play against The Kiaser Colonies to try pick up our nuts, but we sure ain't qualifying this time. It has been a fun ride, but the loss to Kazzoria didn't help, and the loss to NMS just put the final nail in the coffin. We talk to Michael VII Captain, Carlos Belk:

I am just shocked. I don't know how this happened, and frankly I'm embarrassed. Every time I don the kit of our nation, I feel something, and am extremely passionate about representing my country, and even more passionate about leading it. But, this just isn't how I wanted it to be. I didn't expect to win the Cup [of Harmony] first time round, but I'd hoped for some good play. We just weren't working as a unit and it cost us big time. There's always next time I guess, but we've still got a big match coming up against The Kiaser Colonies, so we'll work towards that one. As for now, I just need to go and have a cry in the corner of the changing sheds."

-Carlos Belk, Michael VII Team Captain

Dave Assen had this to say:

Obviously, Kazzoria were just a lot better than us. That's easy enough to admit, and New Montreal States were just the better team on the day. I rue the missed chances against NMS, because that game we could control the result, Kazzoria had us from the start. Would I rather be Kazzoria's Coach? Or even New Montreal States' Manager? No. Hell no. I'd rather have my boys than them, always. I grew up right on the River, right here in Jagoza. I grew up wanting to play for the Devils, wanting to don the Blue and Gold to play for my country. When I got the chance to take the Michael VII job, I took it in a heartbeat. There could be no higher honour in my opinion, had Kazzoria or NMS asked me, hell, even if The Holy Empire, one of the giants, had asked me I would turn them down to lead Michael VII. Its where my heart is, and where my home is. They're my boys and I still think we're a better team than those we lose to. There's gonna be another World Cup, another Cup of Harmony, more chances to win games and beat big opponents, but for now, I'll just work on the game ahead of me. Sure those two games were horrid, and the Kazzoria result actually lead me to drinking! As you know, that's a problem because I've been sober for 48 months now. Its a tough life but I love it, we'll take on TKC and then have a good offseason, we'll look to the future one day and one game at a time."

-Dave Assen, Michael VII Manager

Next up we've got The Kiaser Colonies to round up our tournament, hopefully that'll be a good result for the boys to return home to, good luck boys, you've still done us proud!

[Mapletish]

Well,the Cup Of Harmony Dream Is Over after another close 3-2 lose

Inexperience Mapletish sits last in Group H

After the sacking of Mapletish team I/C,it seems that everything is turning against Mapletish as Mapletish flew into a 3rd straight defeat,the worst streak since the disastrous World Cup 58 Qualifying Campaign.Mapletish will be up with Homelands Our in the next match and Yannis will be sacked straight after the CoH as many have predicted as he is only the placeholder for Billy.It has already told the world that Mapletish is the team that has quite a large number of 1 tournament only manager that has taken them over.
Many have predicted that the young team can go no where and much worst the team I/C got sacked and this in terms give Mapletish another headache as Mapletish went 3-2 down in the third CoH match bring it to 3 straight defeats causing widespread unhappiness among the football fans in Mapletish.


Widespread unhappiness with Yannis have hit the streets after Mapletish's third defeat in a row.

What matters worst is the current state of affairs,with Mapletish sitting last in the group,Sir Platini would be crying on his desk as he watch the matches.Gil Diego was the hero in all of Mapletish's matches,scoring all of the goals,giving himself the edge.While his teams could only wonder around the pitch passing the ball around.The Doc's sacking from the team was a major factor in this match as Mapletish could have got the chance to stay above Homelands Our.The match was dull for the fans alone and this explains the widespread unhappiness with the fans.Next up Homelands Our to round up the disappointing performances by the Maplish Young GUns and hopefully the boys bring home three points and return home.

[Silver Beach]

Asarga, Northumberland, Silver Beach

Romeo Juliani was sitting on his farm in rural Northumberland. Northumberland was the largest of 63 states within Silver Beach, having a state population of 50 million people, anchored by Plymouth, the 2nd largest city within Silver Beach which had 16 million residents, and the metropolitan area, which including Plymouth, had about 29 million people. They had 21 million people in other urban and suburban areas, though not as large as the recently-named state capitol city. Romeo Juliani owned a farm in Asarga, which was about 150 miles southeast of the City of Plymouth, and he was at the farm, alone for the weekend, fuming.

On the bright side, he would have been happy with Silver Beach’s performance if he was managing the Silverian squad in the 49th edition of the Cup of Harmony. Silver Beach had won 2-1 in their last matchday against Triimoria, and raced out to a 2-0 lead by halftime against Abk. Abk brought the fight back to them, scoring a goal in Montrèal in the 72nd minute, and threatening twice again before the final whistle. Alejandro Romano came up big today, scoring a goal in the 21st minute, and Samuel Brown, who created both goals against Triimoria, scored a goal of his own on a free kick from 27 yards out, as he bent a brilliant ball into the back of the net in the 42nd minute of play. It was a great first half performance, though Silver Beach could have been up 4-0 at the end of the 1st half if they had converted all of their opportunities. They limped onto a victory after that, but he was proud of his squad and his assistant coach.

He was mad that they would no longer be his squad anymore. The Association completely and totally undermined Romeo Juliani when they decided to hire a new manager without consulting and informing in, and even though Romeo Juliani was promised by the Association that he would be able to manage through the Cup of Harmony 49, and that he would have a chance to clinch qualification towards the knockout stages. If he had won like that, he would be facing a life or death match against Pasarga, the top rated team in the group, and the #25 team in the world, one of the top teams in the Cup of Harmony 49.

Romeo Juliani even had to take an insulting call from Peter Morath, who thought he could mend things by taking Juliani to Montrèal, even though Juliani could take himself to Montrèal, and thought he could make things heal just like that. The media did not believe him, because the media was foolish. Romeo did not know who the manager they hired was, he just knew that he could not, and would not, manage the Bears as a lame duck manager, kept just because they didn’t want to get a new one so close between the two tournaments that determine KPB ranking.

Romeo, after thinking long and hard, decided to leave Asarga the next morning. He needed to take revenge upon Peter Morath. Bleak Rock had played four matches, and if Frank Lavar kept winning, that would do wonders for his chances to embarrass Morath, as Morath had to wait, and coaching candidates became restless. He did not know how, but he would embarrass Peter Morath, the coaching “legend” of Silver Beach, if it was the last thing he did in the spotlight…

[Vilita]

FINALLY: VILITA DOWNS BRENDINO THE 3RD

Jungle Cats Claim First Victory over First Modern Rival

After a defeat and a draw against Brendino the 3rd during World Cup Qualification, the Vilita Jungle Cats had a score to settle on Cup of Harmony matchday 4 when facing the ferrets once again. The 5 points dropped at the hands of Brendino the 3rd during World Cup Qualifying almost certainly cost the upstart Vilitans a chance at the World Cup Finals, having finished just one point behind eventual playoff candidates Nitrome Island. Despite their success against Vilita, Brendino the 3rd struggled throughout the rest of World Cup Qualifying and came in a much lower seed than the Jungle Cats.

The only major change to the lineup for the Vilitans was the introduction of Tujamu Treola, the Strike Academy midfielder making just his second career international appearance. One noticable absense was that of Jungrii Canopy. Despite not having started a match yet during the Cup Of Harmony, many thought this might be the day for the young goalkeeper, who did not get to play in iether of the two games against Brendino the 3rd during world cup qualifying. Coaches Massa and Wrice had indicated at the start of the tournament that they were expecting to see Canopii get a chance to prove himself at some point during the cup. Since that chance has not come yet and both Nycflala Kater and Jawz Tiiupala got a chance against Brendino the 3rd during World Cup Qualifying while many called for Canopii to start one of those matches. Coaches Massa And Wrice are not superstitious yet, that we are aware of, and believed that starting Kater gave the team the best chance at a victory.

However, it was a scene right out of World Cup Qualifying as the Jungle Cats opened flat while Brendino the 3rd pressed. After an early corner kick was denied by Nycflala Kater, Brendino the 3rd got on the scoreboard just 8 minutes into the match, when -HIDDEN AT REQUEST OF BRENDINO the 3RD- crossed to -HIDDEN- who distinguishley finished past Kater.

Much like the World Cup Qualifiers, many Vilitans could see their hopes of advancing to the next phase evaporating before their eyes. Thankfully, the Jungle Cats would rebound this time, and not let the Ferrets weasel inside their heads. Coastal Academy striker Sirkii Moliaudo delivered in the 17th minute firigin the Vilitans level while Man of the Match Jomur Hulyer netted the winner in first half stoppage time. Hulyer put in a spectacular performance on both sides of the ball and went off to a standing ovation in the 80th minute when he made way for National Team debutant Resai Kentiak to get a run out.

The win puts the Jungle Cats joint top with Erathore and FSSO going into the final matchday. Unfortunately, only 2 teams have a chance at advancing. Having already lost to Erathore the odds are not on the Jungle Cats side, having to play FSSO in the final match. Even a victory against FSSO will not be enough to ensure Vilitan progress in the tournament, but, unlike the World Cup Qualifiers, a final matchday victory would at least earn the Jungle Cats one more chance at Qualification.

In a side note, Actalia Mermaioada, the Vilitan Aquatic Sensation who completed the swim across the mor-elesbed on Matchday 2 was once again left out of the Vilitan squad. It is not known whether the player is still in Cotdelapoms as they were not seen in the stands or at training the day before the match.


Vilita Goalscorers::
17' Sirkii Moliaudo
45' Jomur Hulyer


Opposition Goalscorers::
8'

Hidden at the Request of Brendino the 3rd

Vilita

Best Player: Jomur Hulyer
Worst Player: Kristofer Kilpter
Shots on Target: 5
Corner Kicks: 4

Opponents

Best Player: -REDACTED-
Worst Player: -REDACTED-
Shots on Target: 3
Corner Kicks: 2


Vilita Jungle Cats (3-(1-4)-2) ::
[GK] Nycflala Kater, [D] Ritopa Simafela, [D] Kadi Molali, [D] Uajiala Pulkki, [DMC] Tujamu Treola, [ML] Jomur Hulyer, [MR] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Steffyn Siazzu, [MC] Astara Daiili, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo
BENCH::
[FC] Erocka Lorei, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [M] Viliaka Morasita, [M] Resaie Kentiak, [U] Eda Shindhi, [D] Tyaoino Munviola, [GK] Jungrii Canopii

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Tujamu Treola >>> Viliaka Morasita
(45) - Sirkii Moliaudo >>> Erocka Lorei
(80) - Jomur Hulyer >>> Resaie Kentiak


Match Ratings (For Future Statistical Reference)
GK :: Nycflala Kater 4

D :: Ritopa Simafela 5
D :: Kadi Molali 8
D :: Uajiala Pulkki 5

DMC :: Tujamu Treola 6

ML :: Jomur Hulyer 8
MC :: Rexii Tzikas 7
MC :: Steffyn Siazzu 4
MR :: Astara Daiili 8

FC :: Kristofer Kilpter 6
FC :: Sirkii Moliaudo 7

Vilitan Subs Bench:
FC :: Erocka Lorei 6
FC :: Viji-mara Lawaai DNP
M :: Viliaka Morasita 6
M :: Resaie Kentiak 5
U :: Eda Shindhi DNP
D :: Tyaoino Munviola DNP
GK :: Jungrii Canopii DNP