World Cup 63 RP Thread

[Bears Armed]

The trooper who's currently in the lead looks around the next corner, and stiffens. He signals to his colleagues, who close up on his position and then he and another of them suddenly run around into the next street and fire a two-round burst each from the 'suppressed' (i.e. as close to "silenced" as you can really get) sub-machine-guns* that they carry. Their bullets strike home accurately, killing the enemies whose presence they'd detected there: Not the expected human Chaos-cultists, but a brace of Woozles instead.

The patrol's other two members join those troopers, and all of them look around warily, for where there is one Woozle there might be only one but where there are two there are usually more…

Meanwhile, back at the building that the expedition is using as their base, a sentry who's lying on the flat roof gasps in surprise as a flying creature of considerable size rises suddenly aloft from within a semi-collapsed warehouse close to that patrol's current location. This isn't just an “ordinary” Wyvern, such as those that have flown out of the Wastes in the past, but — with a cluster of tentacles hanging down where its legs “should” be — looks more like an unholy hybrid between such a Wyvern and some kind of cephalopod instead!

Grabbing the radio set that was lying next to her, she quickly gives the patrol --and their colleagues in the rooms below her, too -- a warning about this, using the pre-arranged codewords ‘Unidentified flying monster incoming’*: “Jabberwock! Jabberwock!”
"Green, you have a jabberwock at your second-watch."

A trap-door flies open behind her, as another trooper calls out to warn that he's coming through so that she won't react instinctively and open fire. He scrambles swiftly onto the roof, then reaches back inside to haul out a long & bulky package that one of the remaining soldiers passes through that opening. That other soldier then joins them on the roof, and while the original sentry returns to her watching duty the pair of new arrivals open up their bundle to reveal a rather sizeable gun: This is a 'recoilless rifle'-type weapon, fitted with a harness and protective plates that actually make it Bear-portable!** The first of those arrivals puts the harness on, and follows the line of the sentry's pointing arm to aim at the monster while the other soldier loads the gun.

"Hokay," the gunner says, "let's get beamish!"


OOC
* Yes, the SWS really is that well-prepared...
** This design was bought from an 'Impractial Weapons' storefront that a nation called Leafanistan operated back on the Jolt forum... but of course what's impractical as a man-portable AA gun is rather more workable when it's carried by a larger (& stronger) Bear instead...

[Taeshan]

So four years after they first really played together they were back at the world cup, two starters on the best defensive team in the world, a team at the acme of its history. The Purple Knights a team where defense wins games, where offense is occasional, and where teamwork has become more than just an on the field habit. The two star-crossed lovers from Moresville continued to slowly but surely find a liking for each other as the seasons continued that many expected. Well anyone who has long watched the national team and club team they play for, a certain understanding of each other and a certain liking that started from a good friendship. But it didn't start that way, like all great love stories it started with a somewhat odd start. They were somewhat adverse to their partnership, but as they grew as a pair they grew as a team.

When they first met it was the old Moresville youth coach just trying to find a duo that wouldn't kill each other. Consistency is hard to come by in the youth ranks. It is beyond impossible that anyone would predict that the two would mesh together like two bodies in the dark of (k)night but they did. A brilliant pair on the field, but off the field during practices, drink breaks and the like, they barely ever talked. The coaches could never figure it out, but eventually they just let it happen. Then one day they ran into each other at the oddest of places, the video game store, and they bonded. They both had the same system, joked about hating the other, and they realized each in their own way that maybe the other was not so much of a lamo. Anywho eventually they continued to bond and the rest, is as they say....history.

So now as their story continues as does the Knights trek towards glory. Now no one expects them to do much more than they have the last two rounds of the finals. Anything more than a quarterfinal is the cherry on the ice cream, anything less than advancing out of the group stage will enrage fans from the edge of Taeshan to this side of paradise. They started their finals campaign with an opener against long time rival, Jeruselem. The Princesses are the Knights most played opponent with this match marking their 20th meeting. With the stroke of Ender Wiggin's foot and the continued calls of offsides on trigger happy princess strikers, the Knights won their 6th rivalry game against the Princesses, putting them 6-1-13 all time against them. I guess they still have a heck of a lot of catching up to do.

Next for the Knights is annual world cup finals opponents The Babbage Islands. The team fell to the Knights when they were ranked #1 in the world at world cup 59 by a shocking score of 1-0, that time, which seemed a great opportunity for the Knights to finally advance past the first round, led to two straight losses and a tickets back to Taeshan. Their second meet up was the Knights quarterfinal matchup last year, they easily handled the Knights and it led to yet another bunch of tickets home. The top seed in the group, the Knights with a win would all but clinch it, a tie giving them another good shot with the lowest ranked Karditan on the last matchday, and a loss would really not hurt as much with the Karditan still coming. Though Karditan could very well prove a worthy opponent. Good news is that we head straight towards the game and don't have to worry about trap games. Which as you know have many times led to tough roads, i.e. Chunnan.

[The Archregimancy]

Your Holiness,

Following the controversy over the Archregimancy's qualification for the World Cup, and whether or not qualification might be indicative of God's will, I have - at your request - travelled to the World Cup finals in order to report on the Monastic Republic's efforts.

I realise that you are personally undecided as to whether victory for our squad of otherworldly ascetics is indeed a good thing, or even a Godly thing, so you may read the news about the first match with some interest.

The Archregimancy was playing a nation called "Boring Paradise". I know little about this nation, nor do I particularly care to know more, but the name is - I'm sure you'll agree - indicative of a rather worrying attitude towards their immortal soul.

The primary match events transpired as follows:

10th minute: Fr. Eusebius the Rigorous trips over the ball while attempting to dispossess Robert Patterson. A freak bounce resulting from the trip sends the ball towards the opposition's area, where Fr. Theophilus the Wise picks up the 'pass', and scores.

17th minute: The Archregimancy is awarded an attacking free kick. Fr. Artemius the Unwashed attempts to join the defending wall as a distraction; the rather weak-willed Boring Paradise players briefly faint from the smell of Fr. Artemius' saintly body odour, allowing Fr. Theophilus to score his second.

48th minute: Boring Paradise are awarded a penalty after Fr. Symeon the Enchained's chains accidentally strike 12 year old unbeliever Sameer Jaklim. Fr. Ephraim the Grazer refuses to save the penalty (or rather, is wholly oblivious to the penalty), allowing the opposition to pull a goal back.

76th minute: Fr. Hilarion the Naked's loincloth accidentally falls off. During the resulting confusion, Fr. Gerasimus the New Ascetic attempts to sportingly pass the ball back to opposing goalkeeper Osama Homewood; however, Homewood is distracted by the site of the naked Fr. Hilarion, and allows the ball to trickle over the line. The referee realises that play never stopped, and is forced to award the goal.

I do not know whether these events indicate God's will or not, Your Holiness, but they were at least a rather unlikely sequence of events, and some consideration might be given as to whether they are a sign of something.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Sophronius the Slightly Dull +

[Audioslavia]

At Ease
Points target accomplished after one game
"We can beat Milchama" :- Klimt"


Striker Karsten Eiger salutes Audioslavia's hard-earned victory

The football world was very cautious not to write us off, but all the same, no pundit had even dared predict a draw in this game, let alone an Audioslavia win.

The Big Bad Bears (who are actually quite friendly, but let's not let facts get in the way of narrative) came into the World Cup qualifiers ranked #2 in the world, on the back of a bitterly disappointing loss to The Holy Empire in the final of World Cup 62 - the Bear-Belles's second loss in football's golden game, which isn't very many at all if you're Audioslavian - and qualified comfortably from group fourteen, their only major hiccup being their failure to take more than a solitary point in their double-header with the talented and wonderfully-named newcomers San Potato.

In the run-up to the game, the advantage the green-clad bears held in terms of height, weight and top speed (if not acceleration) over the Audioslavians was hardly mentioned at all despite the palpability of the advantage. Instead, pundits argued that the Bear-Belles would triumph on talent alone, technically superior in every position and with experience at playing at this level. If Audioslavia had any chance, pundits argued, it would be via their counter-attacking play, taking advantage of the Bears Armed sometimes over-extended five-ursine strike force. The key was, of course, to soak up those attacks in the first place.

From the off, Bears Armed's strategy was mightily similar to the tactics which saw the side overcome the Silexherans, back in the World Cup 46 qualifiers. High balls into the area were the order of the day, looking for the enormous furry head of centre-forward Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr who, at seven feet and five inches tall, towered an easy one and a half feet over the Audioslavian defence. As the opening minutes ticked by with the Audioslavians pressed ever deeper toward their own goal, a Bear-Belles' breakthrough would have been inevitable but for the poor crissing from wingers Kerra-Surra and the discombobulatingly tricky Karra O'Hara - a totally invisible 'wabbit' only identifiable by her bright green shirt and the sound of her flamenco-rhythm footsteps as she scurries down the flanks - due to a combination of poor eyesight and a general 'off-day' with regards to the wabbit. The first half would end with the Audioslavians finding their comfort zone, packing all four defenders and three midfielders into the centre of the pitch, allowing the Bears Armed players to get to the by-line and rely the over-hit or misdirected cross-balls to negate the height advantage of the girls in green.

Audioslavia would have to wait until the opening salvos of the second half to create their first real opening, but it would be worth the wait.

Bears Armed would change their ineffective tactics in the second half, deciding to play a more patient, possession game with a view to passing and shouldering their way into the gaps created by a tiring defence, even if it came at the cost of relinquishing the advantage a bear has when running full speed at a human defence. It would take time for the Bear-Belles to find their rhythm, however, and on fifty minutes they would pay a hefty price for a couple of mis-placed passes. Txordin Velazquez's harrying of Alfreda Beorninga in midfield - the smallest of the Bears, yet still seven inches taller than the Bulls' midfielder - resulted in the Bears Armed number seven scuffing a routine ball out wide, and allowing John Ryan to intercept, take a touch, look up, and find Zonnestraal Jansen already sprinting at full pelt down the wing. Ryan's attempted through-ball was cut-out by the seven-and-a-half foot frame of Urrsa BigBear, diving at full-stretch to knock the ball out of the air with her enormous heart-shaped head, but only succeeding in deflecting into the path of Karsten Eiger who, closed down by two defenders, spun, made space and made a second attempt at sliding the through-ball ahead of Zonnestraal. The Audioslavian winger reached the ball in time and cut inside towards the corner of the area before evading the back-tracking BigBear with a cute drag-back and turn. Zonnestraal put his foot on the ball, looked up, saw Eiger's arrival into the box and played in a swift ball at waist-height in front of the striker with more accuracy than any of the Bear-Belles' first-half attempts at getting the ball to a striker from the wing. Defender Affehhindh’hrra Savernake looked to be able to get in the way, but couldn't react to the ball fast enough. Eiger, two feet behind her, could, and stooped to direct the cross into the corner of the goal: An unlikely lead for Audioslavia.

The goal was greeted with rapturuous, delirious celebration from the travelling Audioslavia faithful. Arri's Furry Army (smaller in number than the Audioslavia fans, if only because you can fit less bears into half a stadium than you can short, dark Audioslavians) were stunned into near-silence.

Audioslavia's goal, their first in the World Cup since Arturo Vitalis' consolation in the final of WC29, gave the Bulls some much needed confidence at a vital time and, with a mix of dogged determination and concentration, they were able to play keep-ball and pass around the Bear-Belles three-bear midfield, frustrating the green-clad opposition who were noticeably starting to panic. Txordin Velazquez would fall a victim to some increasingly desperate attempts by the Belles to keep hold of posession when, in the sixty-fifth minute, he disposessed Darma's-darthhrr after the bear miscontrolled a pass. The bear lunged to wrest back the ball, without really thinking it through, and succeeded only in clattering into the five-foot eight, 145lb Velazquez as he tried to pick out a pass. Suffice to say, that would be the end of Velazquez's game, the Audioslavian hobbling from the field around the shoulders of two of Audioslavia's medical team.

Velazquez's fitness will have to be looked at in the run-up to the Milchama game, but whether his talents will be needed remains to be seen: Substitute James Courier proved an apt, maybe even better replacement, his ability to make clean, risk-free tackles and play short, safe passes gave the leading team e tremendous boost.

It wouldn't be until the final stages that Bears Armed were able to give the claret and green faithful some scares. Darma's-darthhrr - booked after her 'striker's tackle' on Velazquez, possibly escaping a straight red if only due to her obvious distress at having injured an opposing player so severely - would go closest in the eightieth minute, controling a deflected pass with her chest, letting the ball drop, and striking a thunderous volley from fourteen yards that rattled the underside of the crossbar with Imaslavii well beaten. Bears Armed would hit the woodwork again just three minutes later, with the tricky wabbit O'Hara collecting a short pass behind John Ryan, feinting a shot (although none of the Audioslavians could tell) and flicking the ball past the goalkeeper, only to watch the ball rebound off the inside of the near post and scoot along the goal line to be cleared for a corner by Mannestraal Jansen. The Bear-Belles would waste the corner, eschewing their usual tactic of playing it short (negating a disadvantage in eye-sight that made pinpointing corner kicks an akward affair) and booting the ball high into the area, well over-hit, and bouncing out for a throw-in.

With the exception of a mis-hit half-chance for Beorninga, and a frankly woeful attempt at a long-range shot by Syrrae o Wirrenne, who would probably be glad of not being able to clearly see her effort fly twenty yards wide of goal, that would be that for the Bear-Belles' hopes of taking anything from the opening match.

The final whistle blew to an exultant roar from the claret and green half of the stadium, and a tired, content Karsten Eiger saluting the travelling fans. The players left the field seemingly with every intent of cracking open the champagne, but would likely be stopped by manager Israel Klimt. Klimt, who's status as the Audioslavian media's favourite person is a sure thing - something unthinkable when he took the job two years ago - was upbeat but cautious in the post-game interview.

"Nobody predicted we'd even get three points from the first rount, so to hit that tally after the first game, and against the group's top-seeds, is a tremendous achievement. I said before the tournament that we could conceivably hit four points with a bit of luck, and whether that would be enough would be up to fate. We have every chance of attaining that target"

When asked if he felt the team could record a second win in the upcoming game against Milchama:

"We can beat Milchama. There's no reason to suggest it's impossible, but it will take a performance equal or better to this one to do it. We can't afford to play for a draw, or rest on our laurels, we have to hit the training pitches on Sunday and prepare fully."

Any word on Txordin Velazquez?

"Nothing broken, but it's an ugly, ugly injury, and I doubt he'll be playing on Thursday. James Courier proved he can jump into the team though and, although he doesn't provide the attacking options of Velazquez, he'll give us even more stability in midfield. Furthermore, we might be making two or three changes. It's important we keep everyone fit and we have the strength in depth to do it."

If the Bulls do gain a result against Milchama, they will have their fate in their own hands come the final matchday. Whether they do qualify or not at the end of the group, however, the Bulls have proven to themselves, and to the world, that they are more than capable of competing at this level.

IBJJ, G'NB

---

"Looks like you've written it on the bus, after ten scotches, as usual" said Emanuel Portico. "Nice picture though"
"Oh, Emanuel, come now, what happened to the magnanimous, gentlemanly Emanuel we know and love?" said Jeremy. Jeremy, Emanuel and Rubio Sanchez were in a hotel bar in Aguazul, the hotel of Emanuel Portico and the Karditani national team. In front of the Audioslavian and his Krytenian colleague was a whisky each. In front of the Karditan national goalkeeper, there was a coffee: Drinking heavily in the team's hotel might not have been against the rules, per se, but a goalie's reflexes are the tools of his trade, and Emanuel couldn't afford to dull them.
"It died along with my record" said Emanuel.
"Nine games was it? Without conceding a goal?" asked Rubio
"Something like that. Hey, what the hell, we played well, they played brilliantly, we lost to a better team. Not out of it yet."
"That's the spirit" said Jeremy, taking a sip out of his whisky "although I prefer this one"
Rubio rolled his eyes.
"You make terrible puns when you're happy" said Rubio. "I mean, I read the article expecting you to go bear-pun-tastic. "Bulls Spoil Teddybears' Picnic", something like that.
"That's rubbish" said Jeremy. Emanuel nodded.
"Yeah, but you know what I mean"
"I was expecting you to write coherently and legibly, but you didn't do that either" said Emanuel.
"Quiet you. Just because you're famous now doesn't mean you get to say anything you like"
Emanuel sighed. The three men looked out through the window at the billboard across the street, a celebratory advertisement for the World Cup's return to Aguazul, a collage of the best players in the world and Emanuel Portico, his handsome face and charming smile giving female passers-by an attack of the 'vapours'.
"It would be hilarious if you continued to play terribly for the remainder of the compeition" said Jeremy. Emanuel shrugged.
"I played well, couldn't do anything about the goals. I'm not a super-hero"
"You're my super-hero" came a voice from behind the Karditani, punctuated by a syncopated clop-clop of hooves on marble. He turned to see Sweet Swing, his pony wife, enter the room, with Sue Dysos at her side. The girls had been having some 'girly time', something neither were particularly au-fait with. By Sue's side was a now six year-old Guillermo Dysos-Sanchez, who waved shyly at Emanuel before running round the table and hiding behind his father, Rubio.
"How was the girl's day out?" asked Jeremy, cueing an eye-roll from Sue.
"We had coffee and conversation, it was lovely. The highlight was picking a cafe opposite one of those billboards of the handsome Mr. Portico, and watching the women's legs turn to jelly as the passed by."
"Oh please, not you as well"
"It's hilarious" said Sue. "Let's hope there isn't a frost tonight or that walkway is going to be a deathtrap."
The faces of every on the table cringed into a variety of disgusted positions.
"How's the ankle, anyway?" asked Sue. Emanuel stuck out a leg and twisted it this way and that.
"Perfect. Not had any problems from it in the last few months'
"So what happened in the Babbage Islands match, then?"
"Oh, that was her fault" said Emanuel, running a hand down Sweet Swing's mane.
"Oi!"
"Just kidding. It took all of us working together to balls-up that game. Still, there's time left to recover"
"You better hope you do recover. You guys finish second and you'll be playing us in the next round, and I'd quite like an easy passage into the quarter final" said Sue, in a very Audioslavian way.
"You're topping the group then? Have you told the Milchamans and Mytanar?"
"They'll be told soon enough" said Sue with a smile.

[Kiryu-shi]

On Love and Sports,
a brief introduction into the hidden component of all human success,
in the form of an autobiographical essay,
written by Kayla Sasaki,
published by Ueno University,
and freely distributed to all.

Hi, and welcome.

I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Mliona, Turori. It is around six hours before the Kiri’s match against Kulverint, a game that I will be attending, in person.

For those of you who know of me and my history, it may come as a surprise that I am willingly choosing to return to the site of a Kiri football match. I have read numerous op-eds, letters to the editor, and independent publications that have torn me apart. I have been blamed for the Kiri not managing to win first place throughout qualifications. I have read accusations leveled against the Kiryu-shi footballing bureaucracy for allowing me to be the primary assistant head coach for the Kiri over the last year, based on my deep emotional imbalance. I have seen suggestions that I should be deeply ashamed to have represented the Kiri at the international level, that my association with the team brought shame on the entire nation.

While I am aware that I have my ardent supporters as well, I would like to take a moment to address my critics myself, for the first time. You may very well be correct. Not necessarily in the substance of your claims, but your emotional cries, your impassioned words - I was unable to comprehend your role, the strength of your conviction, the power of your belief. Thank you for showing me your passion.

…

My interest in football was sparked by a similar passion. For those long-time readers of mine, you will already know what I am talking of. A little over four years ago, I started to watch Kiryu-shi football. I was bored; having dropped out of my dual-Ph.D program, I was lost and wanted something to distract me from my boredom and self-pity. Football came to me as a beautiful outlet, it engaged me and stimulated me. Part of it was the data surrounding it. There was so much speculation, so much chatter regarding the potential success and failure of these players that I wanted to be able to solidify, to crystalize. I was sure that in this field, relatively new for our nation, I would be able to actually discover something new, for myself. After a lifetime in what we call the sciences, I needed something to try and analyze and understand, but something that I knew hadn’t been done.

I found myself trying to break every game down into patterns, patterns that I would numerically analyze, creating a vast series of formulas that were meant to calculate the likelihood of scoring at any moment of any match. The numerical data was addictive. Throughout the qualifications for World Cup 62, I gathered data from every match I could get my hands on. I created a tremendous database which I entitled, simply, “How to Score in International Football: a Comprehensive Guide.” While this work was never published, and never will be, I utilized it to run a blog with a few hundred followers, chronicling the myriad ways for the Kiri to be able to be more successful on the football pitch.

When the Kiri dropped out of the World Cup four years ago, in infamous fashion, I was soon contacted by representatives from the Sakaino Athletic and Performance Arts Committee to head the research team to provide analytics to improve the offensive tactics of the Kiri. Working closely with J.J. Erickson and others on this project was truly wonderful, and we were able to produce some exciting ideas. Erickson selected me to be the assistant head coach for this year’s iteration of the Kiri because of this work. He thought, and I agreed, that I would be the best person in the nation to be able to implement my findings into the actual tactics of the squad. I knew the ins and outs of my guide, which had grown to over 1,000 pages, better than anyone else.

What I found over the past few months, is that, although I was able to help the Kiri, here and there, with tactics that occasionally produced positive results, I was increasingly overwhelmed by how little predictive power I held. There was no way for me to be able to relax on the sideline, knowing that the tactical edge I had provided would win any given match. At game speed, without the ability to watch and rewatch every play from dozens of angles, every play I had drawn out and rehearsed time and time again seemed random and chaotic. Scenarios I had planned perfectly never worked out, and I found myself at the edge of my seat.

What had begun as a project, four years earlier, to determine the specific variables necessary to create goals by watching football, turned into a game of self-mockery and internal humiliation.

And so, as you all know, I quit. I walked away from any official affiliation with the Kiri.

…

When I my tenure as Assistant Head Coach was announced to the press over a year ago, there were those who were already foretelling my abandonment of the squad. I realize that, even though I am just 25 years old, my name is synonymous with quitting. I am perfectly aware of my history. I know that I was supposed to be one of the shining jewels of the Kiryu-shi system, that my academic success was a sign that it was all worth it. And I am perfectly aware that, by walking away from the Kiri now, I am reenforcing the belief that I am a disgrace to a system that would have given me so much.

I urge you all to understand this, however. When I dropped out of academia, I was sick and tired of looking for obscure answers to relatively meaningless questions. I knew that if I continued, I could find another esoteric equation to quantify something that most humans would never experience in their lives. The reward didn’t seem worth it, despite knowing I could achieve it. In this case, I am not worth the reward. If I were to help the Kiri advance in the World Cup, it would be as a result of luck, not my intelligence or hard work. I quit, not because I feel that the Kiri are no longer worth my time, or because I no longer care about football, but because I care so much.

…

When I described those moments of sitting on the sideline, wondering whether or not my tactics were to be successful that day, I was not merely reminding myself of how uncertain I was over my own predictive success or failure. Over the course of these past four years, I have fallen in love with the Kiri. There is a passion in me, every goal that is scored against the Kiri hurts my soul, deep inside of me. Every time we manage to bury a goal in an opposing net, something inside me bursts for joy.

I know that in this culture, such emotions are stigmatized. I am not ignorant, I know the science behind those moments of euphoria and despair. I am perfectly up to date on what there is to know about dopamine and norepinephrine. What I am doing is in direct response to those peers of mine who dismiss the importance of those aspects of our joined human experience because they can be explained away.

While I am not about to posit my own hypothesis, I am announcing that I will be using my ties with Umeda University to explore something new, and something that I hope will resonate with many other lost members of our society. Starting now, and throughout these next few years (with luck, perseverance, and funding), I will attempt to study the role of love in football, the ways in which our emotions will always keep us from being able to predict the outcomes of any match.

…

I my final game as Assistant Head Coach, I was on the sidelines for a match against Falconwhereveryouare. It was not necessarily a crucial game for either team. We were assured a spot in the World Cup. The Falcons were going to the Cup of Harmony.

But it was one of the hardest fought, most intense matches of qualifications. The pride of their fans, the noise emanating from Falcon Field. The beautiful view of the ocean’s water. The match itself. The fierce, constant, 90+ minute attacking barrage by our opponents. It was incredible to watch. d’Erdelyi’s beautiful, near-last minute goal. And then, two minutes into extra time of the final match of qualifications, at a time when everyone on the stadium could be heading home content in the knowledge that regardless of the result, nothing was going to change, the emotion of the stadium seemed to amplify, and increasingly desperate attempts by the Falcons ultimately proved successful. Perry Dempsy’s truly last minute goal was incredible to see - and never should have happened, according to my calculations.

And it hurt. It hurt so much.

It didn’t matter. The Kiri are still in Turori. We may be slightly lower ranked than we would have been otherwise, but that shouldn’t matter, really. I am still getting ready to see my team, our team, out on the field, trying to rebound from a tough loss against one of the best teams in the world.

And yet, that moment, over a month ago now, still pains me. Why? And how?

…

Laborious Hawk dominated that last match that the Kiri were in - the first match they’ve played this cycle without me on the sideline. When the whistles blew signaling the end of the half, the score was three-nil, and Hawk had demonstrated his incredible talent, carrying the Vanorians with a goal and two assists, one to each of his strikers. The Kiri still looked lost on the pitch seventy minutes into the match, as their opponents looked to carry the three points easily. Watching on the television, during a break in the action, they cut to Tziganes d’Arányi’s face.

The shot only lasted for a fraction of a second before panning back to show the length of the pitch again, but I knew that the match was not yet over. For those of you whom have had the pleasure of seeing her play in person, you might understand what I mean. Tziganes can, at times, play up to the level of anyone in the multiverse.

Her passion was the only reason that we were not shut out that night. And her love for her team, her love for the moment, and her unabridged hate for being humiliated on the pitch, was the reason why our nation’s collective heart broke during those final few minutes, when she had just given us enough to let us believe we might pull off the unbelievable comeback.

And so a week ago I found myself crying, by myself, in my apartment back home as the final whistle blew and I knew we’d have to hope for a miracle in these upcoming two matches to make it into the next round of the tournament.

…

I hope that, for those of you so inclined, you found meaning in these words I have written. I am aware that nothing I have written provides an answer to any question, but I hope I have inspired more questions to be considered. I hope that chronicling some of my thoughts over the next few weeks will help you understand where I am coming from, and what I hope to be doing.

Keep questioning,
Kayla Sasaki

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

OOC - had I had the time, this RP - and the sole RP I managed in qualification - capture some of the tone I'd wanted to aim for this Cup had I had the time. This is cribbed and adapted from a variety of Lovecraftian sources, some real, some satirical.

My Darling Theophano,

The gaffer has given us a few moments to ourselves after training (both kinds), so I find myself with the time to write a few short lines to you, though I know not when I might be able to send them through a portal back to the Realm.

Alas, it pains me to write that the Tzimisces cultists are active here in Turori too, though so well do they hide themselves that none in this benighted land are even aware of their terrible world-threatening existence.

While my peers were united in ponderous folly on the football pitch, here was I in the vaults beneath the training spa library, lit by the quivering ephemeral flame of a sole candle, turning the worm-gnawed pages of tomes far better left unopened, learning things far better left unlearnt: of the end times, when the oceans shall boil and rise, drowning the multiverse's feeble endeavors in preparation for the coming of the Old Ones. Here I read a fragment of some long-forgotten manuscript that told of how the cultists sought to build a portal of some twisted alien geometry that would given the Ancient Ones beyond time and space access to the multiverse.

I at once understood the significance of this terrible fragment, but before I could draw it to the attention of those wiser souls who might have advised me on my next action, the fragment seemed to shimmer and become translucent, itself turning into a visual gateway of a horror still more profound. There was no image that I can easily describe, yet the sense of entity and the awful concept of combined localism, identity, and infinity lent a paralysing terror beyond anything which I had hitherto deemed capable of existing.

In the face of that awful wonder, I forgot the horror of I felt at the knowledge of what the cultists sought to attain. I saw an All-in-One and One-in-All of limitless being and self—not merely a thing of one Space-Time continuum, but allied to the ultimate animating essence of existence’s whole unbounded sweep—the last, utter sweep which has no confines and which outreaches fancy and mathematics alike. It was perhaps that which the Tzimisces cultists have whispered of as... I cannot bring myself to say its unspeakable name, though it has been a deity under other names; that which the crustaceans of Yuggoth worship as the Beyond-One, that which the thousand young of Shub-Niggurath are said to lie hiding, afraid, in Wight to avoid, and which the vaporous brains of the spiral nebulae know by an untranslatable Sign—yet in a flash I also realised how slight and fractional all these conceptions are.

And now the BEING was addressing me in prodigious waves that smote and burned and thundered—a concentration of energy that blasted me with well-nigh unendurable violence, and that followed, with certain definite variations, the singular unearthly rhythm which had marked the chanting and swaying of the One Beyond Time, and the flickering of the monstrous lights, in that baffling region beyond the First Portal to the Void, where the Oneiromancer lies imprisoned. It was as though suns and worlds and universes had converged upon one point whose very position in space they had conspired to annihilate with an impact of resistless fury.

Though the vision then faded, is it any wonder that I would later let in three soft goals against Starblaydia, given my tremulous state of mind?

My darling, you must not come here - not even if we overcome our disappointing first result and reach the later rounds. I now know what is coming if we do not succeed, and the price of failure is high indeed. Here is the final fragment of text from that accursed parchment:

Y'AI'NG'NGAH
YOG-SOTHOTH
H'EE-L'GEB
F'AI THRODOG
UAAAH

Understand that the dead may indeed rise if IT crosses over the barriers that were set in the walls of the multiverse before the beginning of ordinary time. The gates to the Realm must remain closed, and if we should fail you must abandon me, my love, to the fate that awaits me.

I remain, as ever, your loving and devoted husband.

Alexius
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Wight]

.

[Turori]

Turori Falls to Sargossa to Open WC63
Eels Park christened amongst Confusion & Defeat

It was suppose to be the most glorious day in Turorian sport for ages. It turned into a dark day and a call from some fans for the brand new Eels Park complex to be abandoned in place.

The over-reactions were natural, with hopes high that Turori could duplicate the success of the last World Cup Finals hosted in the Island Emirate. While it was over 40 cups prior, World Cup 19 held in Turori clearly marked a transition in Turorian sport where the Eels went from just another competitor to a true challenger for the World Cup title.

After an opening match draw with Tadjikistan, The Eels took down Iansisle to advance to the knockout rounds where they were, oddly drawn against the same Tadjikistani team that they followed in from the group stage. This time, the Eels pulled out the 1-0 victory, advancing to the quarter finals for the second consecutive finals. Despite being knocked out by eventual World Cup runners-up Audioslavia, it proved that the Eels Quarter-Final appearance during World Cup 18 was no fluke and marked a run of 6 out of 7 finals where the Eels would make the Quarter Final stage without ever making it to a Semi-Final, an all-time record that the Eels still hold to this day.

Coming in to a brand new arena in a made up city the Eels were looking to start a new era of success. In order to do that, they went home grown, and hand picked Turori-born Ematea Saenu as their manager for the finals. Unfortunately, Saenu's inexperience resulted in critical pre-match preparations being omitted. Most notably, Saenu failed to provide the match lineup to Audioslavian referee Giovanni Macchiato. With the long, not so cordial history between the two nations, Macchiato was in no mood to argue with Saenu or former Darmeni coach Mikael Gibbons on the sidelines and directed that the Eels must start the match with the players in the order with which they were registered on the competition team sheet. Due to the strengths of the players they were left with, Saenu and Gibbons were forced to abandon the defensive strategy that they had practiced for weeks in the leadup to the match and play a more attack minded 3-5-2 formation. Luckily they got away with having the Turoki Tide's Hooizo Nuakoi in net instead of the highly inexperienced Mumau Atla-Siioai.

Unfortunately, the players were still receiving their orders from the sideline when the first goal went in, a notably distracted midfield was cut apart by the corsairs who were well on their way to their 4th consecutive triumph over the Eels. After victories of 4-2 and 4-1 over Turori in the World Cup 59 Qualifications, Sargossa knocked out the Eels 1-0 in the knockout stage of Cup of Harmony 54, eliminating Mikael Gibbons side unexpectedly after they had done all the work to win their group despite it containing the highest ranked side in the competition, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega.

At that point, the defensive strategy that Saenu and Gibbons had planned was out the window, having to chase the Corsairs and make up the difference. Unfortunately for the Eels, by the time substitute Jukkia Diijelhma put them on the board, Sargossa had knocked in three and there was no atmosphere left in Eels Park to urge them on as the stands had started to empty after the third Sargossa tally.

On Paper, the loss to Sargossa would effectively eliminate the Eels from competition. However, after weeks of preparing their defensive strategy, Saenu and Gibbons would be sure to ensure the right officials get a copy of their match lineup and they can employ their trained tactics in front of 103,000+ fans at the Cednia Beach Center.

Turori Goalscorers::
63' Jukkia Diijelhma

Turori
Best Player: Restiaa Mumamba
Worst Player: Hooizo Nuakoi
Shots on Target: 2
Corner Kicks: 2

Sargossa

Best Player: Lucas Andrada
Worst Player: Hugo Messina
Shots on Target: 7
Corner Kicks: 9


Turori Eels Lineup ::
[GK] Hooizo Nuakoi, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Rikko Rawaii, [MC] Cediici Tzatzos, [MC] Vrotaoa Lorasoiba, [MR] Raso Tareak, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Loala Kigoouao
BENCH::
[FC] Jukkia Diijelhma, [FC] Anuh Ciniima, [M] Tiika Diirotora, [M] Rutaj Ranaso, [UT] Balariita Muzmaara, [D] Noa-isinao Wioauoi, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori Substitutions::
(45) - Rikko Rawaii >>> Tiika Diirotora
(45) - Liinai Zakazaka >>> Jukkia Diijelhma

[Socialist States Owen]

Emplor Sport Summary: World Cup 63 Qualifying Second Half
A brief look back at all of the FSSO's games since a 4-2 victory in Western Cuba

Matchday 8

FSSO - 1
Sharp 19

UNITED GORDONOPIA - 0

The FSSO distanced themselves from United Gordonopia at the top of Group 7 with a key win, thanks to an early goal from Lee Sharp. After a very quiet opening fifteen minutes, Sharp managed to turn in a deadly Josh Stevenson cross which the away sides goalkeeper failed to intercept. Gordonopia had few real chances and the FSSO deserved victory, almost scoring on three other occasions. Sharp headed narrowly wide from a McCroft corner two minutes after his goal, before Steve Thompson hit the bar with a dipping volley shortly after half time. Needle then had a chance to seal the tie, but could only drag wide after being put through on goal by Riley. Regardless, the FSSO held on to win.

Matchday 9

LUNAR REPUBLIC ISLANDS - 1
Unknown 57

FSSO - 2
Needle 40, 81

Sam Needle found his scoring boots once again after poor form to secure another win for the FSSO. Needle had previously managed 2 goals in 7 qualifying appearances, but he turned that into 4 from 8 with two superb goals. His first came in the 40th minute near the end of a dull first half, as he turned round a defender and banged in a screamer from 20 yards after collecting a Robertson pass. In the second half strike partner Sharp would almost turn provider, cutting the ball inside after a run down the left to the waiting Needle, but the Bastion striker fired straight at the keeper. LRI then scored a surprise equaliser from a free kick and after that followed a period of concerted pressure from the home team. Despite their poor performance the FSSO managed to wear down the opposition and take the game to them in the last 10 minutes, after Needle secured victory with another 20 yard shot, this time from a Sharp through ball.

Matchday 10

NEWMANISTAN - 2
Bennett 30, 78 (Pen)

FSSO - 4
Thompson 44
Sharp 50, 59
Xavier 70

Tyler Bennett may have scored three goals in two games against the FSSO but his side failed to take any points from either fixture. Bennett opened the scoring in this match with a stunning overhead kick in the 30th minute after Newmanistan dominated early proceedings. However the FSSO crippled their confidence shortly before half time when Steve Thompson stroked the ball into the bottom left hand corner from Riley's pass. Sharp then gave the away side the lead after half time with a half volley before extending their advantage with a tap in, Thompson providing the assists for both goals in a man of the match performance. Substitute Simon Xavier added a fourth from a Feeney cross before Bennett scored from the penalty spot to give Newmanistan some consolation.

Matchday 11

FSSO – 1
Needle 51 (Pen)

SAUGEAIS – 2
Archambault 6
Studwick 85 (Pen)

The FSSO were the victims of a controversial penalty in Bastion as they fell to their first defeat of qualifying. Casimir Archambault gave the away side the lead with a superb volley in the 6th minute and they continued to be the better side in the first half, before the FSSO equalised shortly after half time as Needle converted a penalty conceded by Anderson Salvage. Archambault was then fouled with only five minutes remaining (Replays showed that at most he fell dramatically to get the penalty) and Terrance Studwick converted the penalty.

Matchday 12

DARKNESSSSSSS – 1
Unknown 1

FSSO – 3
Sharp 74
Parsons 77
Fessner 90

A late surge by the FSSO saved them from embarrassment in this (on paper) easy away fixture. The home side took the lead after only 52 seconds when Simon Neeson sliced a goal kick straight to one of their strikers, who gleefully sprinted in towards the goal and smashed the ball past the FSSO keeper. FSSO dominated for most of the match but were unable to find the net until Lee Sharp saved the day once more in the 74th minute, smashing the ball home from 25 yards after latching on to Belgrave’s long ball. Three minutes later Chad Parsons made it 2-1 by sliding the ball home from a tight angle from Cotterill’s pass, before Paul Fessner secured the win in the final minute with a thumping shot from 15 yards on the rebound of Kieran Kane’s shot.

Matchday 13

SANDWICH TERRITORIES – 2
Alton 14
Ments 25

FSSO – 3
Thompson 41
Sharp 70
Paranaya 79

There was a narrow escape for the FSSO in the Sandwich Territories after the FSSO had gone 2-0 down early on. Devin Alton gave the home side an early lead through a stunning free kick from 30 yards before Bruce Ments headed in from a corner to send the home crowd into raptures. However the FSSO fought back with determination and Sam Needle soon hit the post, before Steve Thompson pulled a goal back with a long range strike from Needle’s lay back. Needle then found Sharp in the second half with a low cross for the FSSO’s top striker to turn in, before Julesk Paranaya rounded off the magnificent comeback by heading in from James McCrofts corner.

Matchday 14

FSSO - 5
McCroft 13
Sharp 45, 68, 90
Needle 61

MASHIKI – 4
Papovski 27, 40
Willard 70
Menz 74

A bizarre goal fest in Bastion saw the FSSO reign victorious as they pulled away from Saugeais in Group 7. The FSSO took the lead through a 13th minute James McCroft free kick which he had won, before Mashiki equalised via the head of Papovski. Papovski then gave his side a shock lead with a 20 yard curler before half time, yet both teams would go in level at the break thanks to Lee Sharps 10th goal of qualifying through tapping in a McCroft cross. Sam Needle was the first scorer in the second half, heading home from Josh Stevenson’s cross, before Sharp turned in a Steve Thompson pass to make it 4-2. Almost straight away Nemi Willard of Mashiki got a goal back and then Dilio Menz scored a superb volley to level the score at 4-4. Remarkably there was still time for one more goal; Lee Sharp completed his hat trick in the last minute to win the game in superb fashion, latching on to Joe Arne Pizza’s through ball before smashing the ball past Akarbe Walenga.

Matchday 15

YELVOLDIA – 1
Vale 80

FSSO – 4
Needle 23
Thompson 44
Robertson 49
Oslograd 90+4

Yelvoldia were no match for the FSSO as they finally began to seize control of Group 7, while Saugeais collapsed to a fourth consecutive defeat. Sam Needle gave the FSSO the lead with a deflected shot from James McCroft’s cross before Steve Thompson converted a Lee Sharp flick with his head. Michael Robertson then bagged a rare goal from a Stevenson corner before Patrick Vale pulled one back for lowly Yelvoldia. Skorji Oslograd added a fourth for the FSSO in added time, smashing the ball home from the edge of the box on the rebound of a parried Sharp effort.

Matchday 16

FSSO – 2
Xavier 43
Oslograd 75

WESTERN CUBA – 0

The FSSO all but assured World Cup qualification with a comfortable home win over Western Cuba, and secured their first clean sheet in seven games. It was a game in which the second string side were let loose upon the opposition and Simon Xavier continued his good goals to game ratio with a sublime 43rd minute strike, before Skorji Oslograd added to his growing reputation with a 75th minute headed goal. Both assists came from the talented feet of Chad Parsons.

Matchday 17

UNITED GORDONOPIA – 1
Paige 90+3

FSSO – 1
Riley 30

Matty Paige salvaged a point for United Gordonopia against the FSSO, but the Euran’s were now mathematically qualified for the 63rd World Cup. Tom Riley had given the FSSO the lead in the 30th minute, tapping in from a goal mouth scramble (the assist went to Sharp) in a chaotic situation. It was a dull game and few more chances emerged until the dying seconds when Paige drove the ball into the top corner after the FSSO failed to clear.

Matchday 18

FSSO – 5
Sharp 2, 40
Needle 67
McCroft 70
Kane 80

LUNAR REPUBLIC ISLANDS – 2
Thompson (OG) 78
Unknown 87

The FSSO finished qualifying for the 63rd World Cup six points ahead of their nearest rival in Group 7, completing qualification with a 5-2 win over LRI. Lee Sharp gave the FSSO a very early lead with a magnificent 30 yard strike, before he doubled his sides lead with an ambitious but successful overhead kick from a corner – both assists were credited to James McCroft. Sam Needle then found the net with a well-placed shot, the assist going to Sharp, before Sharp turned provider again to play in James McCroft for the FSSO’s fourth goal. Steve Thompson then netted an unfortunate own goal before Kieran Kane scored with a long range effort of his own making, followed by a goal at a goalmouth scramble from the LRI’s captain.

Final Qualifying Top Scorers

Lee Sharp – 14
Sam Needle – 8
Steve Thompson - 5
Tom Riley – 4
Simon Xavier - 3
James McCroft - 3
Skorji Oslograd – 3
Nick Feeney - 2
Josh Stevenson – 2
Julesk Paranaya – 2
Kieran Kane - 2
Paul Fessner – 1
Jim Cotterill - 1
Joe Arne Pizza - 1
Chad Parsons – 1
Michael Robertson – 1

Final Qualifying Top Assisted

James McCroft – 8
Lee Sharp - 7
Tom Riley - 6
Steve Thompson - 6
Josh Stevenson - 6
Kieran Kane - 4
Sam Needle - 4
Jim Cotterill – 2
Chad Parsons – 2
Nick Feeney - 2
Michael Robertson – 2
Skorji Oslograd - 1
Mickey Smith – 1
Joe Arne Pizza – 1
Daniel Belgrave – 1

[Vilita]

Vilita Jungle Cats Press Conference:

Goalkeeper Nycflala Kater ::

Q: We can't start this press conference anywhere else, but to talk about your club status. So, what is it?

A: Well, thats a good question. I have no status. I'm unattached. My contract with Strike was up at the end of the season and I've chosen not to renew it. Mikala (Abellan - Head Coach) knew well ahead of time, and had plenty of time to prepare for my 'departure'. As a competitive team they needed to prepare for the UICA championships and they needed a quality goalkeeper to take them there. They've had Kajaxo there from Audioslavia and he's been doing great out on loan for some other clubs and he's had a bit of a meteoric rise in their National Team setup, so I've figured that they would just give him the shot to take the reigns but it doesn't surprise me that they've signed Haneshi on a free to give more coverage like the system we had throughout my tenure at the club.



Q: So are you out at Strike FC - for good?

A: I wouldn't say that, no. I've spent my entire career at Strike and honestly I haven't considered ever playing anywhere else. I haven't been in negotiations with any other club, foreign or domestic, and if any club were to approach me at this point I'd tell them to go away. I'm focused on the World Cup and the Vilitan National Team, thats it.


Q: So, How about the National Team? You've lost the first game after quitting the domestic scene to focus on the finals, what does that mean if you lose again?


A: Well if we lose again we've got our work cut out for us, naturally, but we can just look at the maths. If we lose and Yesopalitha against Wight, then we aren't eliminated... yet. If we lose again and that matchup is a draw then we're out. I don't really know what more you want me to say on the matter. We are going out there to win. I wouldn't go as far as to say that we expect to win, but we are watching loads of film, we've just played Farfadillis twice, we know their players we know their system, and they know ours. We split the matches with them in qualifying. We know we can beat them and they know they can beat us. We just have to show up on the day and hope that our fans are louder than their fans to give us that extra boost.


Q: What would a loss against Farfadillis mean for your International Future? Would you be back for World Cup 64?


A: I don't really think we need to be talking about World Cup 64 at this point, this is World Cup 63 and we're looking at one thing and one thing alone, the upcoming match with Farfadillis. The extent that my international future will be decided by the result against Farfadillis is that it will determine whether or not we still have a chance at Winning World Cup 63 when we square off against Wight on the final matchday of qualifying. Bottom line. Like any other player, I would like to win the World Cup. I don't think there is a player here, or on any of the 15 other rosters here in Turori or the 16 rosters over in Aguazul that would give you any different answer. Read into that what you will. Eventually, everyone stops playing. Nobody ever stops wanting to lift the World Cup Trophy, however.



Q: There are a ton of quality goalkeepers in the Vilitan Set-up, possibly more than at any prior point in the Nations history. Which of them do you see as the biggest challenge to your place in the side?



A: Well I've only played a few matches in the qualifying which was naturally disappointing, I'd like to play every match I can. Understandable however, as there are many quality goalkeepers and running the domestic league concurrently with Strike was really splitting our focus. Aranora was part of the World XI during World Cup 62 so that would be the easy cop-out answer for sure. I wouldn't be surprised to see Haneshi Hamaaz'uri get a few more games either. I worked with Haneshia through the second half of the last Vilitan League season out in Lonngeylin and they were really adept at learning, spending long hours at the training pitch. Sometimes I'd just want to go home and Haneshi was just asking for one more go round so the dedication is there and its entirely possible that the Vegai will one day regret not capping Haneshi but, that said, I don't think the little 'rotation' system that Coach Mitaroka has going on is changing anytime soon.



Q: So, will you be starting against Farfadillis?



A: Hah. I'm not the coach. I think I've got the leg up though, I've seen Friekder Dandaellion shoot from every angle, every distance and every little trick he's got in the book. I know that little twist he does with his head before he's going to put power into ... ah well I probably shouldn't be saying that but I guess you've all got me recorded now. Anyway, I think I'm familiar with the players but the final decision is Coach's. I'm not here to sit on the bench and I'll be ready to play.

[Aguazul]

Rumor spread in tendrils, like the irregular pathways of a river trying to flow upstream. No one could be sure what was true, what was important, who was right, Perhaps the ones to whom it might matter most were the ones least likely to be told, staying in place and playing their own game.

Regardless the truth, at least word was coming around, not filtered and censored by the military. That was a start.

Emilio Guaman was staying with his family. Without his wife, it was easier not to get split up; should the military ever find out what he'd done, he wouldn't want them to be taken hostage or turned against him.

He had been a football player. No one too special, at the time, just a player from a small division in a big league. Another one of the crowd. He never meant to be a storyteller.

But then, there was his granddaughter addressing her abuelito. "Tell me a story, grandpa."

And, eventually, he did.

Matchday Two

[Jeruselem]

Jeruselem Government News

Cancer shock for Jeruselem coach

New Jeruselem coach Michelle Salad (no relation to the Dallas or Sallad family) confirmed she had breast cancer. However, this isn't going to stop her from doing her work with the national World Cup team. A small cancerous lump was found and she started hormonal therapy to keep it contained.

When she comes back from the finals, she will begin proper treatment. When asked about her family history of breast cancer, she said "We're had a few member of our family die from it. I guess it's in the genes so all we can do is hope the kids don't carry that gene on."

Whether this cancer will prevent her from completing her duties in the next World Cup cycle is uncertain, but it looks like she's not about to give up working because she has cancer.

...

Jeruselem coach Michelle Salad and Princess Katy after a recent win over Karditan

Katy: OH YEAH, one game left. The Bumblebees are going down.
Michelle: But they are the big team in this group
Katy: We've shown we're no lightweights
Michelle: I guess we aren't
Katy: Sure Karditan is ranked lower than us but they were far from easybeats
Michelle: No finals team are easybeats

Katy: We can do it Michelle, we can
Michelle: It sure helped when Taeshan and Bumblebees drew
Katy: Yes, it did. We could top the table!
Michelle: Don't get too carried away
Katy: Well, anything can happen
Michelle: Sure can

Katy: Group C looks interesting
Michelle: Yes, Bears Armed is in trouble.
Katy: Milchama and ... AUDIOSLAVIA are leading?
Michelle: Weird
Katy: Can't remember the last time we played Audioslavia
Michelle: Probably a long time ago

Katy: We really need to win and hope Karditan win their game against Taeshan
Michelle: A draw wouldn't do us much good
Katy: Well, if Taeshan lose than the Bumblebees would top the group leaving us and then Taeshan on 4 points
Michelle: But Taeshan beat us 1-0, so they get through on head to head
Katy: Err, yes
Michelle: I guess it's a win only.

Katy: Our goal difference is worse than Taeshan's too
Michelle: I guess we're doing alright, for our rank
Katy: We want to get back into 20s, being ranked 34th is crap
Michelle: The glory days are gone
Katy: One should never give up
Michelle: Yes, giving up isn't an option I guess

Katy: Say, I heard rumours you have breast cancer.
Michelle: Oh yes, that. I wish it was all false.
Katy: Getting treatment?
Michelle: I'm on some drugs to keep it inactive
Katy: What about cutting it out?
Michelle: There's a long queue there, might be while if I get there

Katy: Is it a big lump?
Michelle: Only small, for now.
Katy: I'd get rid of it. Can't have it spreading elsewhere
Michelle: I know
Katy: I don't you dying on us
Michelle: Well, me too. I have kids to take care off.

[Kiryu-shi]

In the spirit of open dialogue and communication,
On the Nature of the Written Word,
a response to pressing questions and concerns,
written by Kayla Sasaki,
published by Ueno University,
and freely distributed to all.

When I began to read the stack of letters that have gathered upon my desk over the past few days, I was immediately awed by the power of what I had written. I don’t mean this to sound arrogant or condescending; it was the gravity of what you all had written in response that allowed me to understand that what I write here in the relative darkness and isolation of a single desk is much more than what I believe. I am stunned and awed by the range of thoughts that I was reading, and cannot begin to bring to you honest recounting and deliberate response to every point that was raised.

To every person who replied, I thank you. Even if you were critical, even if you have sincere doubts about my character, my methods, my goals, my writing, etc., I am thankful for the time and energy you spent reading my earlier piece, engaging with it, and challenging it. For those of you who wrote merely to express gratitude to me, thank you for that as well. It is incredibly comforting to know I have the support of people I’ve never met, people who have no intrinsic reason to accept the work I am doing.

As an aside, I think it is quite charming and appropriate that, hours after writing my previous letter, the Kiri played one of the most textbook matches I have ever witnessed. If someone were watching their first match of this World Cup cycle, they could have taken the Kulverint match as indisputable evidence that I was wrong regarding basically everything I had written. The Kiri were dominant, playing entirely within themselves in a way that looked scripted. From the early goal set up by a perfectly composed attack that found d'Erdélyi with a near-open net within the first fifteen minutes, to the stifling defense that combined precise ball-control with effective tackling and marking. The team clearly had a purpose that they went about executing. Against a Kulverint squad who had lost only a single game during qualifications, and who had just scored four goals in an upset against Gyatso-kai, this defense played mechanically and efficiently. As for moments of magic, minutes that seem to stretch into hours because of the tension and drama, this past match was clearly lacking. Take this as a cautionary note: anything that I have to write regarding the remarkable effects of emotion in football, this all is building upon tactics, practice, and execution. Upsets are upsets for a reason; there are usually amazingly sound reasons why a team is favored to win any given match, and we shouldn’t look towards any of my theories to do anything more than explore a bit of unexplored areas.

Which is basically an answer to many of my critics. I am not trying to change the game, nor am I saying that successful teams care more or are simply trying harder than their opponents. I am not implying that tactics don’t matter, or that practice should be deemphasized, replaced by psychological counseling or anything of the sort. I am merely trying to explore unpredictability in football under a very loose premise that attempts to correlate the volatility of the human (or non-human, as several letters pointed out) spirit to our limited ability to know who is going to win any given match before it begins.

The research I am doing now is preliminary. While I am writing plenty of field notes, taking advantage of my proximity to the current iteration of the Kiri, I’m hoping that I will be able to pursue this research in greater depth in the future. These weekly letters to you are merely my attempts at providing some value to the greater population as I work on something that could become greater. I hope you take this for what it is, and keep in mind that I will not be making any grand claims. Yet.

I promise you all that I will be going about this as a professional academic. I am not a journalist, and I am not attempting to imitate one. I’m working closely with professors at Umeda University, across a variety of disciplines, to create a comprehensive plan of study. While I am not yet on any sort of track with any degree as my eventual goal, I do believe strongly in the strength of Kiryu-shi academics, and our ability to approach research diligently, ethically, and with respect and integrity.

I hope that this answers some of your questions. For now, I hope that my words give you a little bit more insight into football as you watch the Kiri take on the Bisons. Maybe it will make you realize a bit of passion where hadn't seen it before. And, as I’m sure you all are aware, having faced Gyatso-kai twice during qualifications, this upcoming match may require a bit of magic to pull off…

Keep questioning,
Kayla Sasaki

[Audioslavia]

Wevering the Storm
Bulls hold fort in Battle of Blén

The reputation of Audioslavia manager Israel Klimt has, in the space of twenty-four months, gone from that of a capable yet limited amateur-standard coach to that of a tactical genius and inspirational general upon whose shoulders the near-knackered, indultado Bull of Audioslavian football. That's right, he's so good he makes us forget how to write cohesively.

Klimt's record stood at 19 games with just two defeats, both coming at the hands of a Polar Islandstates team that consider themselves contenders for the World Cup trophy itself. In yesterday's game at a packed Centro Deportivo Nacional, Klimt guided Audioslavia to game twenty, still with the two-loss record in-tact, as they stalemated a lively, if uninspired Milchama team.

The side that took to the field in the famous claret and green stripes included three changes from the team that had overcome Bears Armed. James Courier replaced the injured Txordin Velazquez in midfield, with experienced playmaker Weverton Sporadic making his World Cup debut in his sixteenth year as an Audioslavia international, replacing an off-colour Mannestraal Jansen on the right wing, indicating that the Audioslavians would be playing a more cautious, posession oriented game. Elsewhere Directus fullback Claus Rijsbergen was preferred to Jean-Luc Cézanne, another indicator of Klimt's emphasis on defensive solidity for the Group C game.

Klimt may have been expecting Milchama to race out of the blocks and test the Audioslavian defence, but the boys from southern AO were having none of it, evidently cautious of Audioslavia's counter-attacking game and, above all else, their status as current top-dogs in the group after an impressive 3-1 opening-day win over an out-of-sorts Mytannion. The 3-3-4 formation the self-styled Warriors had made famous was barely apparent, more akin to a 3-5-2 as the wingers stayed back, careful not to be caught on the break, and providing protection to the often fragile back three.

With the Milchamans seemingly content with the status-quo, and Audioslavia ordered to preserve defensive solidity above all else, the game petered out even before half-time.

For Milchama, the centre-midfield trio of Newmanblatt, Verner and Hemmings saw more of the ball possibly than the rest of the players combined, linking well and attempting to tear holes in the Bulls' defence with neat interplay and use of wingers Querk and Cohen. For Audioslavia, the only real spark was provided by the veteran midfield playmaker, wearing the number 20 shirt.

Sporadic may have slowed down in his age, rendering visits to the Milchama by-line a non-starter, but his ability to keep the ball, create space for himself and team-mates and play his passes sweetly and accurately would be crucial in the second half, as Milchama looked to press for the opening goal. Time and time again, the ball would be won and recycled to Sporadic, more often than not having cut inside to look for the ball, leaving the right flank free but being able to keep possession in the centre, always with the threat of releasing Zonnestraal down the left wing, or bringing big Karsten Eiger into the game.

By the sixty minute mark the shots-on-target counter was registering a pathetic 'two' for both nations, until a moment of brilliance from Weverton almost put the Bulls in the lead. A series of passes around the Milchama penalty area resulted in the ball being sprayed cross-field from Zonnestraal to Weverton. Weverton had to come forward to meet the underhit ball, his first touch a sublime flick of his right boot, skimming underneath the ball and knocking it with a freakish backspin into the air in front of him. The ball spun to earth, between the playmaker's feet and, as Omri March moved to intercept, Weverton spun, knocked the ball past the defender with the inside of his heel and rounded him to latch onto it as the ball entered the area. With a drop of a shoulder and a turn of pace he was round a second defender, and two step-overs later he was through with the chance to shoot. Shoot he did, and for a glorious second the nation held its breath, watching on as helplessly as Valentine in the Milchama goal as the ball ricocheted off the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety, being cleared by a releaved Verner.

Although Weverton would again trouble the goalkeeper with a long-range strike that needed to be tipped over the bar, that would be it in terms of clear-cut goalscoring opportunities for boths sides. An unremarkable game in terms of quality, but both Milchama and Audioslavia will be more than happy with sharing the points, especially when one takes into account the fact that Bears Armed could only draw with Mytannion, a result that puts a cosy three-point gap between the top two and the bottom two.

It is all to play for in the final round of group-phase matches, then, as Audioslavia take to the field against Mytannion knowing that a draw will put them through to the second phase, and a sexy tie against any one of the Babbage Islands, Jeruselem or Taeshan.
A loss for Audioslavia in that game, and the Bulls will almost certainly be going home. A 1-0 defeat would put the Mytanars ahead of the Bulls on Head-to-Head, meaning Israel Klimt would have to sweat on Bears Armed overcoming Milchama in the other game by at least three goals to nil, to put the Audioslavians through on goal-differential, with each side locked on four points and the head-to-head results cancelling each other out.

Aroup the Groups

A look around the Aguazul half of the draw

Audioslavians will be interested in group D more than any other, a group containing Karditan and one of three sides the Bulls could meet should we pick up that point against Mytannion. Of the three, The Babbage Islands national team is perhaps the one we most want to avoid. The world's number three ranked team have been 'overdue' for the sport's top prize since anyone can remember and, despite the hiccup of failing to defeat Taeshan, the Bees will expect to be top of the group come the final curtain. At the other end of the group, the Robber Barons of Karditan have joined an unlucky band of three teams to be eliminated from the tournament after just two games, picking up their second 1-2 defeat in a row to send Portico and the gang back to the drawing board.
Jeruselem are, by their own admission, a team that might well be on decline, if only temporarily, while Taeshan have became the team everyone loves to hate during the qualifiers, boring opponents to death with a succession of one-nil wins that sent audiences to sleep while catapulting the Purple Knights - easily the most innuendo-filled nickname around - straight to the World Cup. While Jeruselem have the history and Babbage have the talent, it's Taeshan and their ability to out-Audioslavia the Audioslavians that our fans will hope to avoid.

Elsewhere in the Aguazulenya region, the hosts have bounced back from a heartbreaking opening-day defeat by defeating heavy underdogs Boring Paradise to give the home fans hope of seeing their side in the latter stages of the tournament for the first time since their domination of the sport a decade or so ago. Polar Islandstates, Audioslavia's only conquerors this cycle, are, as expected, on course for a second-round spot, meaning the only obstacle between Aguazul and the second round is the small matter of the Holy Father himself, and his band of footballing monks.

In group B, those dreaded Chenkoryans are making a nuisance of themselves once again, shocking group-favourites FSSO wih a 1-0 win that roots the Eurans to the foot of the table, two points away from their slayers and a point behind underdogs Osarius, whos heroics in holding FSSO and an in-form Valladares to draws has given them a fighting chance of qualifying for the second round - a feat they'll achieve for sure if they manage to overcome Chenkorya in what would be the most popular result of the tournament so far.

[Andossa Se Mitrin Vega]

Radio commentary courtesy of The Lair - KVSG 1240 AM
The Home for All Things Sea Dragon

minute 3

“Turori on the attack, moving left to right. Tzatzos working against Xataru… Not much going there as Xataru seems to be in top form… nifty pass to Rawaii gives the Ells excellent position as Kisurano slipped… That leaves Xopu to stop the Arcticala Inlet Superstar… That didn’t work as Cadye had to slide over to help… Cadye clears the threat and the Sea Dragons push forward…”

some time later

“Acaugu on the move as the Sea Dragons work the transition beautifully… Konoaafeo out to meet him… The long cross is in… Ohhhhh! Just missed Fylen… Nuakoi gets the kick,,,”

minute 42

“This has been pretty much what we had expected, stout defense from both sides… Nearly the half and just three shots on goal total… looks like the second half will be the decider here…”

71st minute

“Hold on! Syri is down on the pitch… seems to be really in pain right now as the medical staff rush out… Ouch. The replay shows her left knee give as she cuts back to the center of the pitch… this just doesn’t look good at all… that left leg turned completely sideways… looks as if she will be stretchered off… Bolexii set to come on now…”

79th minute

“Fylen driving hard to the goal… Tana and Fliporta there to close him down… pass back to Acaugu… Bolexii free to the left… He takes the ball cleanly and the shot is away… Nuakoi dives… just misses… GOAL! GOOOOOOAAALLL!… Bolexii has put the Sea Dragons in front with 10 minutes left to play…”


96th minute

“Stoppage time just about done… Final push from Turori… ball forward to Zakazaka… spins past Xopu… outruns Cadye… and steamrolled by Lyxat… no whistle as Zakazaka is slow to get up… ball cleared by Sithias… and there’s the whistle… The Sea Dragons have beaten the host Eels and stay alive in this World Cup…”

post match

“Up next are the Corsairs of Sargossa who top Group E after a 3-1 win over these Eels in the first match and a 2-1 win over the Gordanopians earlier today… Will be a tough one as we need the win… would be nice if Turori knocks off United Gordanopia as well… Probably without Syri for a while at best… See ya next time…”

[Yesopalitha]

Nirdasil's Corner

Now, I want to implore you fans, to please, please remember where this football team started at. I know that the Flames have met outstanding success the last few cycles, but please don't take that for granted. It takes a lot of work and heart, and great managing from Sir Handel to make it happen.

I say this because, well, the Flames are doing fantastically. Their nineteenth win this cycle was against our old rivals and friends Wight, who debuted in the same Baptism of Fire as us a few cycles back. The Flames defeated the Wightlings by a tune of 2-0, with Nadya Dostoevich being a whirlwind daredevil in the Wight defense, scoring both of the goals off of assists from the young core of Park Sung Hwan and Jacques Kemp. Park and Jacques has been a nice addition to the team, replacing Hilary and Ivan. They will need a few years to be the players that Hilary and Ivan were, but with the growth of Isaac Jack-Bentley and Fantasia Cecile-Marie, with the always stout play of Jane Vander Rox, the overall performance of this team has been held steady, if not on the rise.

They have already earned more points in the group stage than they did last cycle (they finished with four) and still have a match against the lowest-ranked team in the group coming up. Farfadillis, however, defeated Vilita in their last game, and hence are riding some momentum. In fact, if Wight loses to Vilita and Farfadillis defeats Yesopalitha, it will be Farfadillis that wins the group, sending the Flames to a likely date with Valanora, always a hard nut to crack.

So, it seems, the Flames cannot take their feet off the gas pedal. They must obtain at least a draw against Farfadillis, regardless of the other result between Wight and Vilita.

Besides, when you're hot, why take your feet off the gas pedal? The Flames are on a run; let's keep it going!

Jonah Calhoun, Michael Kevin, Noah Galvin, Naisi Von Helz, Jacques Kemp, Park Sung Hwan, Isaac Jack-Bentley, Jane Vander Rox, Fantasia Cecile-Marie, Nadya Dostoevich, and Brianna Carheim... Perhaps the best group of players, overall, that has ever worn the black and white of the Yesopalitha Flames.

What a team to be representing our nation. I am so proud of them.

[Polar Islandstates]

[OOC: I’m sure I don’t need to tell anybody that the events of this RP, half written before MD2, take place before my draw with The Archregimancy.]

Gathered in the changing rooms, the players’ thoughts turned to how best to continue their run of form. Their upsetting of Aguazul in their first match of the tournament had visibly buoyed them, and all players seemed to be walking an inch taller. They’d produced a strong performance when they were called upon to do just that, and that was a good feeling. Twice against Akbarabad and twice against Audioslavia in qualifying had they managed to do just that, and it was a feeling the Terns were getting quite used to thank you very much.

Chief tormentor of Aguazul, Diedrich Kvitchenko, was the first to speak; calling for a ruthless and determined performance against the Monks of The Archregimancy. Against Aguazul they had twice allowed the hosts to take the lead, and whilst their strength in coming back to overcome the deficit had been to their credit, the Monks might not be so accommodating should they take the lead against the Terns. Without even pausing for breath, he called for the Terns to strike fast and strike hard before the pious and humble Monks had been worked up to match speed.

Alexsandr van Sorensen agreed, adding that the longer the match went on, the more controlled and the more considerate their worshipful play would become, seeking to frustrate and pass the Terns off the pitch. The best time to attack would be the very start of the match.

Idly, David Wien wondered whether the best time to strike would actually be whilst the Monks were still observing their litanies, but he was quickly chastised by his captain, Jorgen Hauge.

Hauge then went on to tell his players to make sure to knuckle under and perform to the best of their abilities. There would likely be less of an attacking tit-for-tat against The Archregimancy, and he warned them to expect a drawn out tactical battle as a result. With a turn, he then introduced Timo Skye back into the room, and asked the former Terns striker to continue his tale of what had happened in the Dreamed Realm in his search for immortality. When we last left the story, Skye had written an incredibly poorly informed letter to who he assumed was in charge of these things…

“Well, as you can imagine, it was pretty poorly received,” he said with a sigh, “and so my search for how to gain immortality continued. I was still in the Dreamed Realm, of course, but with the tournament over as far as us historical Terns were concerned, it was only a matter of time until my time was up and I’d be returned to mundane reality, stuck inside my mortal body again, and twice the age as I had been in the tournament. I was desperate, and so I did something that only a desperate person would even think about doing.”

“And what was that?” asked Zacharias Juul.

“I called and asked for help from Magnus Ragnorak.”

The players winced.

“Quite.” sighed Skye with a nod. “Anyway, he arrived before too long, sat me down, and came up with a plan…

“’We’ll have to get in contact with the Gods,’ he said, ‘it’s the only way if you want to gain immortality.’

“Well, as you can imagine, I was a little bit confused. I mean, I knew that, somehow, Thor had been involved with my arrival in the Dreamed Realm, but could he even grant immortality in his own dimension? After all, how many times have you heard of immortality being granted to a Polarian? I’d have been the first one, by my reckoning, so I was more than a little dubious. But, nonetheless, I allowed Ragnorak to get on with whatever it was he was telling me he needed to get on with, and I went to say goodbye to the ghosts of the players I’d been team-mates with for the duration of the tournament.

“Turned out not even they were immortal, as, with the end of the tournament, they started to slink away back into the ether, their consciousness and sense of sentiency once more slipping into mere memory. Fine players. Inspirational players. I only wish you could have all been privy to the fantastic tournament as I was, you would truly have come out raring to go from the very start of the qualifying campaign.”

“Speaking of the very start of the qualifying campaign,” interrupted Küngas-Vaga, “what on earth does this all have to do with you dressing up in a cloak and pretending to be the source of all fiction?”

“Yeah, yeah,” answered Skye with an impatient wave of his hand, “I’m getting to that, don’t worry. Now, where was I? Ah yes. So, there I was, sadly waving off the other players and hanging around with the only other players to have sent younger versions of themselves. Apparently it took a slightly more complicated process to return us than it did to send the dead players away again. Don’t ask me how or why, I’m not exactly an expert on inter-dimensional necromancy. But anyway, moving on; I was patiently awaiting the return of Ragnorak with Thor when my thoughts turned to how many bells I would knock out of you lot when I was young and passionate and full of energy again. I settled on six. And then Ragnorak came back. But not with Thor, with Loki.”

“Loki?” said Urfstadt, blowing his cheeks out with eyes wide in mixture of surprise and fear.

“Loki.” confirmed Skye.

“And what happened then?”

“Well, he told me that Thor couldn’t do immortalities anyway.”

“Can he?”

“Apparently not, no. My suspicions were correct after all. But Loki had another idea. Seems in the great underworld of Gods, some tongues had been wagging about a couple of pantheons that had the ability to do that. Or single deities. Whatever. The point is that there were Gods out there that could do the deal for me. It wouldn’t even need a conversion on my part. I had several choices, according to Loki. There were many of them that I hadn’t even heard of, so they were out. And there was the Basileus, but they’d already shown no intentions of granting my request, and then there was a couple that would have required blood sacrifices, and I didn’t fancy that much. Never had much of a head for gribbly stuff like that.

“So, after all was said and done, I was left with only one recognisable option that I would have trusted in any way shape or form: Buá of the Wightlings. Only problem was, he was on holiday.”

“So, what did you do?” asked Vadim Illich-Svitych.

“Well, fortunately for me, it turns out he left some lieutenants in charge whilst he’s away, or they assumed some modicum of power, or something like that. Whatever the situation, the point is that apparently they had some kind of stick that could help me out. So, as soon as I got transported back to reality, Ragnorak and I – under the distant watchful eye of Loki – made the journey to Wight…”

The players made their way out to the tunnel, stunned for many reasons. First of all, the gods were apparently real. Second of all, Skye had risked going to Wight in his desire for immortality and would tell them the next part before the match against Boring Paradise. And lastly, he’d correctly used the word ‘modicum’ in the right context.

[Polar Islandstates]

Okay, so, that obviously wasn't quite as successful a second match in the tournament as the first one was, but it certainly wasn't a complete failure. In fact, I'm pretty certain that we can take a lot of positives from this. Let me explain.

The Terns' decision to come tearing out of the blocks at the start of the match was absolutely the correct one. Whoever it is that made that decision clearly has their head screwed on, and that gives me hope. No, the strikers weren't perhaps as lethal as they could have been and should have been, with both Kvitchenko and Elmsvikur guilty of spurning glorious chances to open the scoring with wild and untamed shots. Too much adrenaline, perhaps. Other than that however, the Monks were clearly not yet ready for the kind of activity that the Terns had mentally and physically prepared for.

After fifteen minutes however, the pressure eventually told. Alexsandr van Sorensen was providing the wicked passes and runs that continually threatened and harried the opposition effect, and after splitting them in two with a pass for Diedrich Kvitchenko he chased it up into the box as the East Franz striker chased it out wide. With a neat back-pass, Kvitchenko spread it to Niko Lepka's replacement Jean-Eric Villeneuve in space, who turned the defence inside out with a pass for Alexsandr van Sorensen to run on and pass into the back of the net, finishing the move he himself started. It was the goal that our play thus far has deserved, and with the crowd roaring them on we saw the Terns continue to threaten until just before half-time, when The Archregimancy began to get more composed and settle into the game.

As predicted, the Monks came out for the second with a great deal more composure, having grown into their performance over the course of the game, and soon the attacks were raining down on Rasmus' goal. With a long-range pass from Fr. Eusebius the Rigorous, the Terns defence was breached, and only some quick reflexes from Rasmus and the experienced follow-up clearance from Torre Urfstadt denied Fr. Gerasimus the New Ascetic scoring with a wonderful rifled finish.

The Terns were beginning to look shakey however, and with Eyvindur Sudesval warming up on the sidelines, he came just too late to prevent an Arhregimancy goal. Fr. Mark the Hairy, who is almost as hairy as Magnus Ragnorak, appeared at the far post to nod home a corner that evaded the entire box of Polarian defenders. The Monks, true to form, didn't celebrate with any form of exuberance, and Sudesval came on for Villeneuve in an attempt to shore things up in the midfield. Also coming on at the same time for the Terns was Olivier Kindahl for a tired looking Torre Urfstadt. The substitutions galvanised the Terns in the face of the constant and increasing pressure from the opposition, and this is where the positives come from, in my opinion.

Despite the pressure in the second half, The Archregimancy didn't score again. The Terns knuckled down, fought hard for every ball, and didn't let a team that was playing well and being superior to them at that point in time get their noses ahead and take all three points. In fact, had the strikers taken advantage of our early dominance and put us more than one goal in the lead it seems understandable to assume that we might have won the match. Time after time the attacks came flooding at a defence that, let's not forget, had up until now only been exposed by teams that the Terns would have been expected to beat, and time and time again the Terns held firm and the defence denied the Monks. Juul, Oyen-Spekke, Kindahl, and Kungas-Vaga all played superbly, with Jan Rasmus providing able shot-stopping from firmly on his line. Jorgen Hauge and Eyvindur Sudesval roamed around the patch in front of the defence, breaking up plays as best they could and dropping back when required. It looked like a training exercise. Honestly speaking, it was very impressive.

The Terns could even have won it at the death, when a late cameo from Vadim Illich-Svitch saw him just fail to connect with a long ball and score what would have been a late, late winner for the Terns. Ultimately however, it is hard to argue that a point each was anything more than a fair result given the balance of the play in each half.

So, what next for the Terns? A point is a point, and it isn't a defeat most importantly. Aguazul got their tournament back on track with a win over Boring Paradise, who are now out. Aguazul do now have to play The Archregimancy in their last match, whilst The Archregimancy are level on points with us on four. Aguazul have three, and as stated already Boring Paradise are out already with zero points on the board. It's late, and I'm well into my fifth pint, so I'm not going to attempt the maths, but I don't think we're through yet. There's probably a set of circumstances that could conspire to kick out of the tournament, but damned if I'm going to work it out now. Basically, a draw will do, a win would be better. Boring Paradise are out whatever happens, making them potentially a very dangerous opponent indeed. Will they strike out like a wounded animal? Or will they roll over and suffer a third defeat in three matches?

Only time will tell.

Though, for reasons I can't understand they've opted to field two twelve-year-olds as their starting strikers, which could be a clue...

Eff Out.

xx

[The Archregimancy]

Your Holiness,

On this the commemoration of The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple, I write to you my second letter from the World Cup finals, and I continue to attempt the invidious task as to reporting whether the national team's results in the World Cup might, in some way, reflect God's ineffable and unknowable will.

And you thought Nehemiah had an impossible task...

Last night we faced Polar Islandstates. If you have access to that invidious tool of the adversary called a 'computer' - or perhaps if you just talk to an SBIS agent over in the Holy Empire - you may well be aware of the medium called 'Effed in the FA', which enjoys some official status in the football association of last night's opponents (the FPIFA).

In their own media reports, the FPIFA talk about 'tearing out of the blocks' on the part of their team, leading to a first half lead, and 'increasing pressure from the opposition', and 'a great deal [of] composure' on the part of our team in the second half.

I would agree with their assessment on the first part - that their team did indeed 'tear out of the blocks', and did indeed deserve to take the lead through Alexsandr van Sorensen's well-taken goal.

I submit, however, that much of this 'blog' may be written to make their team appear in a favourable light. Certainly their report on the goal from Fr. Mark the Hairy seems designed to give a favourable impression of their own team, since Fr. Mark only 'appeared at the far post to nod home a corner that evaded the entire ... Polarian defenders' as he had been stung by a wasp immediately prior to said corner, and was running around the Polarian box in a state of pain rather than through any desire to attempt to escape the otherwise highly effective Polarian marking. Similarly, any talk of 'increasing pressure' is probably the result of Fr. Basil misunderstanding the nature of the macchiatos served to his squad during the half time break. He was under the impression that it was pressed tree bark juice (though one understands that the flavour is not dissimilar).

Again, I would leave it up to your holiness's undoubtedly superior wisdom as to whether you decide the above events are of any particular theological significance. There are rumours that the Polarians may have believed that they had some form of assistance from heathen false deities prior to the match; if so, this does not seem to have rendered them any particular material assistance.

It seems that the squad now enter the final match against Aguazul requiring only a draw to make the second round. However, I will note that Aguazul are the hosts, and an exceptionally successful team with a proud recent record in the World Cup. Should we lose to them we would need the Boring Paradise squad to defeat the Polarians by a greater margin than we lose by. Since the squad can no longer succeed in gaining a perfect Trinitarian record in this Cup (alas, we have already scored three goals), then qualification for the second round is realistically the only goal - in the broader metaphorical sense - that the squad can still attain.

It would require something akin to a miracle.

You may make your own judgement there after the match is over.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Sophronius the Slightly Dull +

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

Confidential SBIS Memorandum
[some sections redacted in case of inadvertent discovery by mundies]

To: All Active Ordinary Reality Field Agents

So, what you're all probably asking yourselves right now is "why Juan Tzimisces".

Why is our beloved football coach and you don't really expect me to tell you? has been the subject of worship by warped mundy cultists?

You have no doubt heard the rumours that this is somehow associated with an attempt to summon I'm not telling from beyond the boundaries of time and space that define Ordinary Reality.

This is, I regret to confirm, true.

It is our belief that because Tzimisces is not just a citizen of the Holy Empire, but is also a made you look, didn't I?, the cultists believe that by worshipping our coach, they can summon some of his essence, and thereby break down those same boundaries, thereby unleashing I'm still not telling on an unsuspecting multiverse.

This would, needless to say, be a disaster of unprecedented reality-shifting proportions.

Those of you who follow international football will no doubt have noticed that the effort to stop this disaster has had a negative impact on our football team. Their results away from home this Cup have been poor. Due to battling something secret, the something else secret, and not to mention the this is secret too, the squad have often seemed listless and tired. But for an 89th minute winner from Philanthropenuso against Pasarga last night they might have been eliminated from the present tournament in the first round after only two matches.

A victory against The Sylvanaes Queendom will still send them through, but I understand that Tzimisces has found evidence that the cultists are actively building a it's still a secret in order to summon you really shouldn't look, which might have the impact of I'm really suprised you thought I would give this away so easily; and appalled that you've tried to cheat and read what I've written in this blocked out text - and squirrels! Bloodthirsty squirrels with terrible, sharp fangs!

And did I mention the la la la la la la la?

All in all, you should be alert, but under no circumstances interfere with the match against The Sylvanaes Queendom unless Tzimisces gives you the pre-arranged trans-dimensional signal.

And if he does, then you're probably all fucked anyway.

Good luck - you'll probably need it if this all goes horribly wrong

The SBIS Secretariat

[Taeshan]

So after the trials of the youth realms of the Taeshan Premier League a relationship grew between the two central defenders from Moresville. Their relationship exploded and off the field their romance continued to evolve. Then they got called up to the national team and were quickly thrust into the starting lineup after departures of the old Center backs. That was a tough camp for everyone at the national team. Half the lineup spots had been filled my people still wet behind the ears, 80 percent of the defenders, and about 30-40 percent of the whole team had never played internationally. All had started for 1-2 years for their club sides and showed a strong promise, but with another grueling campaign coming up the team was looking for starters at every side of the field. Most of the players were random pick ups from around the league based on A. F. Falcon's perusal of the league looking for stars. Some where from the U21 national team looking to continue their play for their nation. In the end a butting of heads was bound to happen, but what resulted was the first team to ever advance out of the Group Stage at a world cup, led by a man who had no idea what would happen going into that stage, and in the end produced one of the best stories of the cup.

It was a tough camp with over 7 new defenders trying out for three spots and many of them with lots of international experience at the lower level, but nothing to compare to the trials of Taeshani international play and fitness. Defense wins games in Taeshan after all, and the Knights were looking for fitness and great defense and that can be hard to come by, especially when you are incredibly worn out from the experience. The clear star of the camp was Jeremiah Longwaters winning the second fullback spot clearly, the center was creating more isues with two U21 players vs the players from Moresville it was all up for grabs. Until an intrasquad scrimmage in which the famed duo from Moresville showed why they were feared throughout the premier league, one heading the ball like a mad man and the other slowly annoying the heck out of the other teams strikers and proving a fit opponent, this lead to them making a great dash at the starting positions.

Now as we head into the last match of the groupstage everything is up for debate. After a thrilling 0-0 tie between the top two ranked teams in the group, the Knights and the Babbage Islands, the two are tied atop the group with Jeruselem third after a defeat of Karditan. On the final matchday the Knights face off against Karditan needing well not needing a lot if they want to advance. They will advance to the next round if the Babbage Islands defeats Jeruselem regardless of what they do. A win against Karditan would go a long way to getting the Knights the top seed headed to the next round. With Jeruselem sure to make the game with Babbage tight the Knights are the more likely to get a really nice result, that said they could still fall victim to looking to far ahead. A win or a tie gets them to the next round, with a loss also doing it in quite a few cases.Now the real exciting news is that they could very well have a interesting matchup with the leaders of the other groups being surprising in many cases as this world cup finals is showing to be very equal in many ways.

[Aguazul]

By the end of the second matchday Aguazul were one for four, that tournament, in terms of holding leads. Their third had come on a Merlín Salomón free kick, and was cancelled on a long shot from Robbie Webber, who'd received a speedy backpass from Sameer Jaklim. Their fourth lead, however, came after Arturo Benavides' header. At that point there was no guaranteeing that they'd hold onto it without abandoning their offensive efforts, so they did just that. The second half dragged on without much excitement from either side, but then, there wasn't much need for stoppage time either. Boring Paradise's players seemed tired; many had played through the qualification, playoffs, and first matchday seemingly without respite in terms of being substituted off, and while some looked very young and energetic, the others were not, and they didn't have the endurance to compete.

In the military outpost in Grisolon, a commanding officer stared down at one of his underlings, arms crossed.

"If this information is correct," he snarled, "then the Supercentro has fallen."

"Oh, that's impossible, sir."

"You have further updates?"

"Well, the World Cup is still going on, and I think we'd have heard if all the games had to be relocated."

"Is that the most important thing?"

"Er, I'm sorry, half the games. Turori should be fine."

"I meant metaphorically. Captured by the rebellion, who our loyal soldiers were too incompetent to defeat and who have apparently riled up the urban dwellers."

"Apparently."

"Well, we have been entrusted with our own stockpile. I suppose we ought to contact the rebels and remind them of that fact."

"That would be inadvisable. Sir."

"You prefer a more direct approach?"

"You're not going to be threatening them at all, sir."

"Are you trying to undermine me?"

"Oh no, it's just a simple statement of fact. Sir."

"Are you going to make some argument about respecting the rights of the foreigners down in the Supercentro? Because..."

"No, I am not going to do that, sir."

"...this is our country, and if they didn't like it they could...you're not? Good. Are you going to tell me that these plans, the idea of disproportionate retaliation, are unoriginal and have been done? Because..."

"No, I have no intention of doing that, sir."

"...once in a while the communists have a good idea, it's why they're dangerous, and...oh. No? Good. Please don't start on some religious mumblings about not killing people, as..."

"This was not on the agenda, sir."

"...we've been able to count on the church's support throughout...you aren't? Wonderful. In that case, you are dismissed."

"With your permission, sir, I think this is important."

"Important. Right now. Good. Like I have nothing else on my plate?"

"We cannot threaten the Supercentro with weapons of mass destruction, sir, because we don't have any."

"We don't have any what?"

"Weapons."

"The stockpile is..."

"Sold. Dismantled and the pieces went individually. They got a higher price that way."

"Who armed our enemies with our stockpile?"

"Nobody, sir."

"What...?"

"It wasn't our enemies, sir. It was the videogame people. Ball****ger 3003. They were willing to pay very well, it's part of their new advertising program."

"Advertising? Who has time for buying games when a bunch of commies who hate money are taking over the entire country?"

"With respect, sir, I think it was a less extreme coalition that..."

"I don't care. Who sold this to them?"

"Bunch of the other guys, who just retired with the extra money. That's why I have to do so much work all the time."

"And where did they get that idea?"

"From the old guy, came in a while back and talked this over. I was on vacation that week, missed all the fun, otherwise I probably would've gotten in on it too."

"Old guy? Do you have a name? An address?"

"Yeah, but I think he was some kind of..."

"I don't care who or what he was, we're going to find him and make him pay."

"You mean, a percentage of the profits? Because I'm not sure if he even took a cut..."

"No, I mean...never mind that, you're all too dumb to hold this country together. Come on, now."

[United Gordonopia]

A narrow defeat.
Perhaps hope still remains.
Only the host left.

---

"So what are you going to do with yourself now?"

That question had echoed with Norm Bates for some time. After his final match with West Tolten, Bill Heinrich, the retired coach who had first brought him to the top leagues, right out of the slums of Tolten, asked him that question. At the time, he had tried to put it out of his mind. He was still the captain of the National Team, with a whole cycle ahead of him, and thinking about what came next wouldn't really help. Now he was only a day away from what would likely be the final game of his career, and he found himself drawn back to the puzzling thought.

The reason it was such a dilemma was because Norm was simply not interested in the traditional routes for older sports stars. In Gordonopia, and much of the world, former star athletes went one of several ways: broadcasting, philanthropy, politics, or coaching. While he would certainly devote some of his time to giving away most of what he had earned, as he had been doing his entire career, he simply couldn't see it as a long-term occupation. Full-time retirement simply did not attract him.

Silently, Norm contemplated his options. None seemed to come to him. Up to that point, football had been his life. He had spent years perfecting his talents, with relatively few-

Or had he?

No, he hadn't. There was the War. The time when he went from simply believing in his city to believing in his nation. The Civil War, fought in the streets of Tolten, of Teva, of Gordonopia. Norm had been a part of it; risen to the rank of Captain, in fact. Was there something still there for him?

His service at the time had been admirable, and his promotions had been, for the most part, by merit. Even today, well, he was pretty damn fit for a 36 year old. The only problem was that he was Norm Bates.

If he tried to enter the service, the chances of him being assigned anything other than propaganda and promotional roles was close to zero. Still, he couldn't get the thought out of his mind. In his entire life, there were only a few times when he felt truly full. When he had led the National Team to qualification had been one of them. One of the few others had been the moment he learned that the Republicans had surrendered Tolten to the rising tide of the Monarchy. Maybe, just maybe, there was something left in that.

[Milchama]

"You know what sucks"

"What?"

"Reading an Audioslavian match report"

"Why? Because they don't know our denonym"

"Well nobody knows our denonym"

"Fair, so then what's the real reason?"

"Because there is no Milchamian paper that can hold a candle to Audioslavian sports writing. I have never read such a good match report"

"And?"

"Well, it makes me feel sad about the state of culture in Milchama right now"

"Oh ok"

"Yeah, there's really nothing else to say"

"Yeah"

"Boring 0-0 draw"

"Yeah really"

"At least we're in the poll position to advance"

"True but I'm sure we'll blow it"

"Maybe"

"Probably"

"Why probably?"

"Because we're Milchama. That's what we do, remember we always do just well enough to get into a good position and then watch things go horribly wrong"

"So?"

"So things are about to go horribly wrong"

"Or horribly right?"

"Look I'm putting the over/under of Bears Armed goals at 8"

"8?"

"Yeah, there's no way we're stopping them, none"

"Stop being so pessimistic"

"No, this is what I do pessimism"

"That's bad"

"Yes but I'm a realist"

"No you just suck"

"No you suck"

"No you do"

"No you do"

"No you do"

"No you do"

"Hey you violated the Rule of 3"

"No more TVtropes!"

"Whatever"

"Also, didn't we pass the stupid childish argument phase of this style of RP like 4 years ago?"

"Maybe"

"So then let's stop it"

"Well what do we do now?"

"We usually make ridiculous philosophy jokes"

"So?"

"I haven't thought of any this cup"

"OK then we're back to being 5"

"We really should find some middle ground"

"Yeah"

"Oh well"

"Maybe we could try our hand at writing match reports"

"Not a chance, Audioslavia will just outclass us"

"Stop being so pessimistic"

"Look, I've spent at least 7 years reading Milchama match reports and there's a reason why I prefer reading transcripts of our conversations over newspapers"

"Yeah really how come all these keep on getting transcripted"

"It doesn't make sense, there is no background information, why is it interesting?"

"Why are we even qualifed?"

"Hell you don't even know where we live"

"Or our names"

"Which are

Not telling

and

Secret

"

"Yeah we don't give away that information ever"

"Except that one botched RPing cycle"

"Yeah but I don't remember that and neither do you"

"Yeah that's been written out of canon"

"We have a canon?"

"Let's go with it"

"OK"

"I mean we've been here for at least 5 years and our RPs still suck"

"True"

"No style, no story, not that funny"

"Yeah only like 1 good joke"

"It's just sad"

"We're almost as bad as *bleep*"

"You really shouldn't offend them. They're a really powerful nation"

"But it's true!"

"Doesn't matter"

"If so then why is it bleeped out?"

"Because it's funnier that way"

"No it's not"

"I really think we should stop leaning on the 4th wall so much"

"Meh, that's the only thing we've got going for us. Without the 4th wall we're useless"

"I would really like to think Milchama has gotten better"

"Doubt it"

"Look like all good RPers these days we don't actually talk about football ever"

"True"

"So we've got that going for us"

"Didn't we talk about the match earlier?"

"No only how good the Audioslavian match report was"

"Ok then"

"Yeah"

"Look we can only get better"

"Nah, we're probably set in our ways"

"The second you say that and we're screwed"

"You know what?"

"What?"

"We'll find out the fun way"

"And that means?"

"Only the Dreamed Realm can know the future but only tenuously because of the lack of a teological universe"

"So?"

"Nobody knows but we can only get better"

"Just like Milchama"

"Hey no football!"

"Oh shut up and root for the Warriors"

"Ok then"

"Let's Go Milchama!"

"Come on You Warriors!"

[Osarius]

"...very well-organised, and they're closing down Rossetti almost immediately."

"Yeah, they've certainly done their homework on the Jraxville playmaker, she's been forced to play with her back to goal, no space ahead of her, and often pushed wide left onto her weaker foot. This is a superb defensive effort from Valladares."

The TV commentary, set against a backdrop of crowd noise. 'This isn't so bad.' Mused Alessandro di Corradi, standing in the doorway of the lounge at his parents' house. His father and sister were watching Osarius' World Cup game, and he'd only come into the room for the last few minutes. Still didn't feel comfortable watching the whole thing.

"Giovanna needs more support." His sister, Maria, said simply. She was sat back in her seat, and spoke with a hint of sadness. 'She wishes she was out there.' Alessandro realised.

"Aman should have put Brooklyn back in to stretch the defence. Then Giovanna would have more space." His father, Benedict, replied. He was sat on the edge of his seat, leaning forward. His eyes wide open, mouth twitching as he processed what he was seeing. Having been a top-class player, and managed the national team in the past, it was usually a fair bet that he knew what he was talking about when it came to football. But Alessandro noticed he was probably wrong this time.

"No Pops, Roque and Gilberto are already threatening to break. Giovanna's problem is that there is a midfielder dropping deep to mark her. She isn't quick enough to get away." Alessandro spoke up. Apparently neither of them had noticed he had been standing there, they both did a double-take.

"Come. Sit." Benedict gestured to the empty section of couch next to him. "You may have a point, but we've had very few quick breaks in this game. Something else is different."

"Looks like Serenity is hanging back to try and find space, but she's not Ayanna Barca-Carthy. Serenity needs to push forward and get involved actively."

"That's a good point."

"Best way to help Giovanna is to push Serenity forward, I think."

"But then we are exposed defensively."

"Not if the back four do their jobs."

Benedict chuckled. It had been a while since the two of them had discussed football like this. "I've missed talking tactics with you, son."

"Didn't expect you to want to watch or get involved like this, Ale. Are you going to stick around to watch the highlights of the other games with us, too?"

'That's a good question' Alessandro thought. "Ehhh I dunno, Ria..."

"Oh come on, Ale. You're the only person Papa ever loses tactical arguments with!"

"This is a lie. I never lose." They both laughed. Alessandro did too, briefly.

'I have missed this...' Alessandro conceded to his internal self. 'I can handle watching a few games, maybe.'

"Okay, sure. I'll watch with you guys for a while. Until Erica gets here maybe."

"How are things between you two, Ale?" Maria asked

"Good. Everything is... good." He replied. 'I think...'

* * * * *

A stellar defensive effort from the Firebirds saw them maintain an enviable World Cup record of just one defeat, and puts Amandeep Sahota's side in a decent position to progress beyond the group stage for the first time.

Sahota had to defend his attackers from criticism post-match, however. His decision to include Giovanna Rossetti in particular being categorised as a mistake. "It's not a fair criticism of Giovanna. Valladares were prepared for her and set up a very strong defensive line." Sahota explained. "She won't let this setback affect her, I don't think. She's a very strong character and still has a role to play in this squad."

Rossetti herself sounded confident of making an impact in the Firebirds' final group stage match against Chenkorya. "We know Valladares are tough to break down, but we spoke about how we could increase the impact I might have in future, and stuff like that." She told us.

OSN pundit John Holcombe believes that Amandeep Sahota will instruct the team to go "all out" in their game against Chenkorya, in an attempt to maximise their chances of progression. "They have to go for it." He said. "There's little point sitting back and playing conservatively at this point, because a win is the only result that will guarantee them progression."

Pundits across Osarius have expressed a deep appreciation for the "fighting spirit" shown by Sahota's side so far, and particular praise has come in for the defence. Former Grasshoppers Turic manager Karl Heinz-Grichenbauer remarked on how the back four are operating as a unit. "They've got a great understanding. They communicate brilliantly, and put their bodies on the line to keep the ball away from goal." Heinz-Grichenbauer said. "It's not always pretty, but it's certainly effective, and if they can keep this up, it's going to be a major part of any success the Firebirds can achieve."

In previous years, the Firebirds have struggled for consistency along the back four, often relying on midfield possession, or simply outscoring the opposition. Sahota appears to have remedied the situation to some degree, though. "It's all about discipline." Sahota summed it up. "As much as flexibilty is great on the football pitch, there needs to be some rigidity, players need to be given direct instruction sometimes."