The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, version II)

[Cafundeu]

The forgotten old timers of Schiavonia (we're playing our WC36 squad) are warming up for WC49 by playing cricket. But could probably do with a friendly on one of the last possible dates before qualifying begins, if there are any willing opponents out there. Maybe someone who remembers us from the first time around.

I would be willing to play this friendly. I remember you from my early times in the WC (which were your latest), also being the one benefitting from the ceasing of your nation in WC37... and, after all, Carlos Cueto was one of the first foreigners to play in the Cafundelense League!

So, if you could confirm, a Cafundéu x Schiavonia game, anywhere.

Also, Cafundéu is open for friendlies, but only one per opening. The Cafundelense League Best XXIII (which is, basically, Cafundéu's KPB points with a different roster) also would play one friendly per friendly matchday.

Landau Institute also is available for friendlies, one per matchday too.

[The Babbage Islands]

Also, Cafundéu is open for friendlies, but only one per opening. The Cafundelense League Best XXIII (which is, basically, Cafundéu's KPB points with a different roster) also would play one friendly per friendly matchday.

Ganz Ijak would greatly enjoy taking his new team to his native land for a friendly, post-qual preferred.

[Krytenia]

I believe everyone who had contacts with the IFL has now received a TG from me, pertaining to the matter of their clubs in the Han Empire (the one exception is being taken care of right now).

I got nothin'.

[Jeruselem]

Jeruselem, mid or post is fine for us as well. We'll travel.

Make it post there.

[Daehanjeiguk]

I believe everyone who had contacts with the IFL has now received a TG from me, pertaining to the matter of their clubs in the Han Empire (the one exception is being taken care of right now).

I got nothin'.

you own a club in the han empire? o_o

[West Zirconia]

Mid-Q: @ Sargossa
Mid-Q: @ West Zirconia (I’m assuming, anyway, WZ)
.

You assume correctly. Moorcroft or Arrigo this time?

And to all you other lovely nations, I'm open for offers of a pre-qualifying friendly as well.

[Sarzonia]

*Post deleted*

[Newmanistan]

Bears Armed: Sounds good. Mid-qual is best for me at the moment.

The Archregimancy: I'm not ignoring your request for a separate thread to arrange friendlies, but right now I don't see anyone else asking for it so for the time being I am going to let the discussion continue here.

[Callidon]

I can understand why Arch is calling for a separate thread, but unlike some of the discussions that have been on here, arranging friendlies is directly related to the NS World Cup experience. I don't necessarily think we need to blow through more bandwidth to arrange friendlies on a separate thread.

[Sarzonia]

Dancougar, would you care for a mid-qualifying friendly? Your place or mine would be fine...

[Dancougar]

Dancougar: Are we on for the 'Shirt on a Stick', either mid-qualifiers or post-qualifiers, if we don't get drawn into the same group anyway? (I've forgotten whose turn it would be to play at home...)

Last time was post-qualifying at your place, unless my text file lies, so I'd say post-qual at mine this time around, if that works.

Dancougar, would you care for a mid-qualifying friendly? Your place or mine would be fine...

I would happily take either. We'll travel for this one if you don't mind.

So that would give me:
Pre: @ Newmanistan
Mid: v Taeshan, @ Sarzonia
Post: v Bears Armed (if not in same group)

---

Also, regarding the Eternal Flame. Oooh, shiny.

The Eternal Flame is intended to be a single round-robin tournament for past Baptism of Fire winners. Generally, these are the last eight winners, barring exceptions made for nations which have ceased to be or are not participating in the current World Cup. The invitees are:

(BoF36 champion)
West Pocono (BoF35 champion)
Valipac (BoF34 champion)
Somewhereistonia (BoF33 champion)
Bears Armed (BoF31 champion)
Secristan (BoF30 runner-up; Myedvedeya not entered in WC49)
West Zirconoa (BoF29 champion)
Arroza (BoF28 champion)

There is no invitee from BoF32 because both the winner and runner-up, Edward City and Allemenschen, are not entered in World Cup 49. Secristan has historically been included because the champion from their year, Myedvedeya, vanished before the start of the Eternal Flame. This gave rise to the "Millionaire Clause" which makes it possible for non-champions to compete in the Eternal Flame.

The goal of the tournament is to have eight competitors, although due to the strain it places on teams by adding seven extra friendlies to their schedule -- to be scorinated by Dancougar during World Cup qualifying -- teams will be admitted to the tournament using an opt-in system. No response to the invitation will be taken as a "no" response. To reach eight, the next few teams on the list are:

Newmanistan (BoF27 champion)
Dancougar (BoF26 champion)
Starblaydia (BoF25 runner-up; Pazhejub Islands not entered in WC49)

They will be extended invitations as needed. Responses can be made in this thread or by telegram to Dancougar; reminders will be telegrammed out as the starting date of the World Cup approaches.

[Somewhereistonia]

Also, regarding the Eternal Flame. Oooh, shiny.

They will be extended invitations as needed. Responses can be made in this thread or by telegram to Dancougar; reminders will be telegrammed out as the starting date of the World Cup approaches.

Need you ask?

I'm in! Maybe with some proper eternal flame rp this time

[West Pocono]

West Pocono will participate in the Eternal Flame.
Newmanistan will not, even if needed to get 8 as I don't want two teams in it.

[Barnettsville]

Newly updated, thank you Sarzonia!

OOC: Is the MSMT a pre-qual competition?

BARNETTSVILLE FRIENDLY SCHEDULE

Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy
at Starblaydia

PRE
at Andrewboy (?)
Open

MID
Open
Open

POST
Open
Open

[Nethertopia]

West Pocono will participate in the Eternal Flame.
Newmanistan will not, even if needed to get 8 as I don't want two teams in it.

Nethertopia will, if Newmanistan won't

[Bears Armed]

Bears Armed will participate in the Eternal Flame, of course.
Our suggestion, if the numbers need to be made up, would be to invite some more of the runners-up from the latest eight BoFs: Looking at which of those are still actually active in the World Cup now, that would be the BoF36 runner-up (if they're interested) and Peisandros...

Friendlies
Pre-qualifiers
Bears Armed (Mainland) vs Peisandros
Bears Armed (Mainland) vs Toyur
Bears Armed (Mainland) vs Cassaidadagua

Mid-qualifiers
Bears Armed (Mainland) vs Nethertopia
Newmanistan vs Bears Armed (Mainland)
(one slot unassigned)

Post-qualifiers
Sarzonia vs Bears Armed (Mainland)
Dancougar vs Bears Armed (Mainland) (if not drawn into the same group)
(one slot unassigned)

Still waiting to hear from Jeruselem/Jeru FC...

[Spruitland]

The Spruitland Wabbits, glorious winners of the Baptism of Fire preceding World Cup 23 - which would be BoF 10, if I'm not mistaken - hereby volunteer to take a spot in this Eternal Flame thingamajig.

Though we have never heard of this competition, we're well familiar with its theme song, so I'm sure we'd fit right in (though we will not be walking like an Egyptian, thank you very much.)

(we're not signed up for the upcoming World Cup, if that matters - our revival came a bit too late for that)

[Somewhereistonia]

The Spruitland Wabbits, glorious winners of the Baptism of Fire preceding World Cup 23 - which would be BoF 10, if I'm not mistaken - hereby volunteer to take a spot in this Eternal Flame thingamajig.

Though we have never heard of this competition, we're well familiar with its theme song, so I'm sure we'd fit right in (though we will not be walking like an Egyptian, thank you very much.)

(we're not signed up for the upcoming World Cup, if that matters - our revival came a bit too late for that)

Sorry to disappoint you, but only the 8 most recent winners normally enter (obviously any gaps are because of CTEing or withdrawals).

[Spruitland]

Yep, I'm aware of that, and I'm not looking to step on any toes here. I just got the impression from the previous couple of posts that the Eternal Flame has a somewhat less stringent structure compared to other WC-related tournaments. So I thought I'd float my interest out there, in case a spot needs to be filled - seeing as how I'm not signed up for anything else at the moment, and this seems like a good opportunity to get my feet wet again after being gone for a few years. If not, no hard feelings.

[Schiavonia]

Spruitland's back! Is it not too late for them to take a place on the reserve list? With so many nations involved, surely someone will CTE?

[The Archregimancy]

The Archregimancy: I'm not ignoring your request for a separate thread to arrange friendlies, but right now I don't see anyone else asking for it so for the time being I am going to let the discussion continue here.

No need to worry - I'm not fussed. I just thought you might find it helpful to have all the friendly requests in one place, rather than scattered across multiple pages of this thread, which would have the subsidiary (rather than primary intended) benefit of removing some of the clutter here.

If you're fine with the status quo in your capacity as friendly scorinator, then I'm fine with that too. I would still raise it as a potential option for future hosts, but - as noted - I very much see it as a personal choice issue rather than something I'd want to be prescriptive over.

I can understand why Arch is calling for a separate thread, but unlike some of the discussions that have been on here, arranging friendlies is directly related to the NS World Cup experience. I don't necessarily think we need to blow through more bandwidth to arrange friendlies on a separate thread.

Not so much actively calling for; more gently suggesting. It's not something I feel strongly about. But in terms of bandwidth, it would be no worse than the 'pre-WC RP' threads that have occasionally been used by hosts, even though those were never really necessary given the extent to which an OP can be edited to include qualifying and finals draws, as required.

[The Weegies]

Well, one may as well make it official. I'm open for friendlies, too.

Pre-Qualifying
1. MSMT v. Sarzonia
2. Open
3. Open

Mid-Qualifying
1. reserved for MSMT (Highly unlikely, I know, but a man has to dream)
2. Open
3. Open

Post-Qualifying
1. reserved for MSMT (Ditto)
2. Open
3. Open

[Balida]

Balida would gladly be one of your friendly matches Osarius. Any other takes to play against Balida. We're also a pretty new team.

PRE
at Osarius
Open

Oberour Ar Moro would enjoy the opportunity to get a practice match in, and a game against a fellow debutant seems about our speed. How about a pre-qualifying match in Balida?

We'd also be open to friendlies from other nations as well.

Edit for Friendlies Schedule:

PRE-WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

at Balida (Unconfirmed)
TBD

MID-POINT OF QUALIFIERS

vs Sargossa
TBD

POST-WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

TBD

AFTER WC/CoH

TBD

That'd be great, accepted. Place?

[Cafundeu]

Also, Cafundéu is open for friendlies, but only one per opening. The Cafundelense League Best XXIII (which is, basically, Cafundéu's KPB points with a different roster) also would play one friendly per friendly matchday.

Ganz Ijak would greatly enjoy taking his new team to his native land for a friendly, post-qual preferred.

That's good. Confirmed.

[Sarzonia]

OOC: Is the MSMT a pre-qual competition?

There's no need for an OOC: tag in a thread that's OOC by definition. Having said THAT, the first round is pre-qualifying; the next round is mid-qualifying; the championship/third place playoff round is post-qualifying.

Also, per a TG from West Pocono/Newmanistan, for RP purposes, the overtime used in the MSMT will be golden goal.