The 52nd Baptism of Fire Everything Thread

by **Legalese** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:45 pm

Welcome to the 52nd Baptism of Fire! An event nearly as old as the World Cup itself, the Baptism of Fire is, along with the Cup of Harmony, one of two companion events to World Cup qualifying and the World Cup itself. Entry into the BoF, as it’s lovingly called around here, is a one-time opportunity for all nations, usually taken before their first attempt at qualifying. This makes the BoF unique, in that the only way for a team to improve their odds of victory is through roleplay.

As such, this thread is the place to post your rosters, RPs, and other IC items. With rosters, it is recommended to include the following RP permissions for your opponents:

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Y/N
Godmod scoring events Y/N
RP injuries to my players Y/N
Godmod injuries to my players Y/N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y/N
Hand out red cards to my players Y/N
Godmod other events Y/N

Note: style modifiers will not be used, but any included will neither add or detract from any bonuses handed out - it's a bit of a reflexive action these days.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming matches:

Sunday June 2: The Draw for MD1
Wednesday June 5: MD1, scorinated by Kinitaria
June 6: MD 2, scorinated by Kinitaria
June 7: MD 3, scorinated by Legalese
June 8: MD 4, scorinated by Legalese
June 9: MD 5, scorinated by Legalese
June 10: Off Day
June 11: Round of 16
June 12: Quarterfinals
June 13: Off Day
June 14: Semifinals
June 15: Third-place Playoff, scorinated by Kinitaria
June 16: The 52nd Baptism of Fire Championship Game, hosted at The Park of the Phoenix, in Tiberia, Legalese

And here are our opening matchups:

Matchday 1 Fixtures
TailsPrower v. Telnaior
Colland v. Aels
Mr Creeper v. Kaznan
Albaie v. De La Fleur
Neu Engollon v. Joshulia
Lahoa v. Hontaypyar
Metropolis Mania v. Qatarus
Fristat and Marianopolis v. Arkolon
Borealia v. Ethington
Nouvel Ecosse v. Sangti
Brenecia v. Kikwipeyi
Asasia v. Oralana
Neo Lemmitania v. Punum
Tasrailia v. Mizuyuki
The Fief of Sir Kunne v. Querria
Tantamir v. Europa Brittania
Luzvimindia v. Tirdarsaor
Free Republics v. Mechelen
The Greater Archipelago v. Piddlehinton
German-Spanish Empire v. Speranda
Mythic Erin v. The Sovan Antithesis
Sudagiu v. Phing Phong
Lzherusskia v. Aquitayne
Kalusia v. Nandezia
Soviet New Ireland v. The City of Woe
Penileanium v. Felix
Subramani v. Bloodridge
Sondstead v. Carizzal
The Fair Republic v. Chiata

by **Legalese** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:45 pm

Legalese Information

About Legalese: Legalese is a gargantuan, economically powerful nation, with a strong government presence, yet ruled with an even hand. It is remarkable for its anti-smoking policies. Its quiet, industrious population enjoys extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption, one that has allowed the nation to successfully rebound from a position of occupied chew toy on the Calanian continent, to one where it was noted as one of the leading powers in stopping the Zomni crisis from enveloping the entire region.

Etymology: the name “Legalese” derives from the names of the early settling tribes, the Nom Le and Goli peoples. It was first applied by Brittanic settlers, exploring from the lands to the north in modern-day Starblaydia, calling the land they settled upon the “Land of the Nom Le-Golis.” This evolved into the name “Legalese”, which was chosen by the first iteration of the Old Legalese Senate.

Today, Legalese consists of two geographical groupings: the mainland, and the Karin Islands. The Mainland is the primary home of most Legalites, consisting of over 80% of the population on 66% of the land area. It was the original home of the Legalites, and other than two periods of occupation by Starblaydi forces, has been self-governed Legalite hands for nearly three centuries. Virtually all of the major cities are located on this landmass, including the capital, Legalese City, and Tiberia, the site of the 52nd Baptism of Fire Championship Match.

The Karin Islands are, on the other hand, a relatively new part of Legalese. First settled and occupied by the Legalese Armed Forces just over fifty years ago, the majority of the islands are devoted to civilian use. The Karins, generally called “The Island” by most Legalites (the tiny island off the coast of the major island is largely unconsidered, as it is uninhabited), have their own rich history, once containing the proud nation of Casari; some islanders will claim a common heritage with the Casarans, though the government acknowledges that such claims are limited to the Federation’s use of the Casaran-system format in hosting international competitions.

Matches in the Legalese-hosted portions of the Casaran Phase of the Baptism of Fire have taken place mostly in smaller community-owned fields, with seating/standing capacities numbering in the hundreds; the largest site was Branson Park in Stratton, a field normally used by the local high school teams, where the combined seating/standing capacity was 3,000 - 4,000 if the fire marshall was out of town that evening.

However, matches held in Legalese for the Championship Phase will move to the larger venues used by the professional clubs in the nation:

The following sites will host the four Round of Sixteen matches held in Legalese:

Roberts’ Field, Plainview
Seating Capacity: 47,254
Normally the home of Bob’s Towing Football Club, Roberts’ Field is a single-tier all-seater, using a rectangular seating style, leaving the ends separated physically from the sideline stands, creating four distinct seating areas. Contrary to popular belief, the Field is not named after the team playing there, or the company that owns the team, but rather are naming rights acquired by Roberts’ Rulers, a measurement-device company.

Carter Stadium, Gavelton
Capacity: 35,690
Carter Stadium, named after Octavian Carter, founding chairman of the Gavelton Football Club, is an all-seater facility in Legalese’s most-southern city. it is composed of a bowl formation, with an upper level on the sideline stands. As per its namesake, the field is owned and operated by the Gavelston Football Club, but is slated for a total renovation and expansion following the Baptism of Fire.

Caerangelion, Numalia
Capacity: 57,064
Caerangelion is a compound word from the dead language of the Goli people, meaning “Castle of the Angels” in a literal sense, but was built as a Memorial Stadium in the northern port city to those lost during the occupation of Legalese by Starblaydia. A recent revitalization project extended the capacity of the all-seater by just over two-thousand people, as the end stands were converted to a twin-tier system, allowing all four freestanding stands to have a nearly identical look. Numalian side Draig Goch FC (The Red Dragons) normally play in Caerangelion during the domestic club season.

Malliber International Pitch, Okerson
Capacity: 62,135
The use of the name “International” in the pitch built by Oakta United co-founders, Vin Mallet and John Caliber, came from a joke that nobody would want to play out in the remote area of Okerson. However, the capacity of the stadium - initially 12,000 larger, until a renovation and seating project shrank the size with the removal of bleacher seating - made it a candidate for inclusion for AOCAF 34, where it hosted regional powerhouses Pacitalia in their opening match. The stadium comprises a bowl-style structure, but unlike Carter Stadium, is completely single-tiered, and has no roof, making poor-weather matches an adventure for all in attendance.

The Quarterfinal Matches hosted in Legalese will take place in the following two stadia:

The Coliseum, Tyrellia
Capacity: 43,285
Normally the home of islander club Tyrellia Titans, The Coliseum is the downtown stadium in the Karin Islands’ largest and only true city. As travel to Tyrellia is mostly by air from the mainland, the stadium sees few visiting fans in domestic competition, but owing to its size, is usually packed by the home team, with season ticket sales comprising 85% of the capacity. This also usually means a capacity crowd for the Legalese National Team, which has played two of their home matches during qualification in recent cycles in Tyrellia, giving the islanders a chance to see their national team in action.

City Stadium, Francopolis
Capacity: 52,132
The second-newest venue on the list, City Stadium is set to be a ground-sharing site for multiple teams playing in Francopolis, Legalese’s largest city. It was built as part of a joint project between the Federation and the government, with a radical design that arranges the seating at a sharp vertical angle. The resulting acoustics are said to nearly double the true sound volume of the crowd, making it feel like the capacity is truly 100,000.

The Semifinal Match for the Legalese side of the bracket will take place at:

National Stadium, Legalese City
Capacity: 83,068
It hosts the Legalese National Team on a regular basis. It has hosted the final matches of both the 42nd Baptism of Fire and the 34th AOCAF. It even finds time to let club side LC Capitals play there. It is... National Stadium.

And, and previously mentioned, the 52nd Baptism of Fire Championship Match will take place at:

The Park of the Phoenix, Tiberia
Capacity: 63,239
The Park of the Phoenix, also known simply as “Phoenix Park”, has yet to open, and will do so with a bang, hosting a National Team friendly, followed by the 52nd Baptism of Fire Championship Match. Named for the mythical bird known to rise from the ashes, and placed in the only city named after a Starblaydi Lord-Protector (in what is a pretty clear gesture to the neighbors up north), The Park of the Phoenix will be the first grass pitch stadium in the nation with a retractable roof, as well as a movable pitch, the latter permitting the grass to see some sunlight while the venue hosts a closed-roof event on the solid floor. It is expected to be the new home of the Federation President’s club, The Knights of Tiberia, though Tiberian City has not given up hope in stealing the tenancy way, as both have rejected the option to groundshare. Regardless, for one night, it’ll be the home of a huge celebration for those who survived their Baptism by Fire.

by **Kinitaria** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:45 pm

Ten years - five cycles - ago, Kinitaria won the Baptism of Fire. Now, they are ready to welcome the world...

Kinitaria is an island nation, occupying the southern half of the continent of Vircais, in the successful sporting region of Atlantian Oceania. Having been isolated for centuries, this ancient culture is now looking to open up to the world, and will be showcasing their country to the world in the Baptism of Fire, which they have won the right to jointly host.
The primary access to Kinitaria will be by air. The opening of a new international airport in Serenberg, Kinitaria's second city, mean that three large international airports now serve the country, capable of handling millions of passengers every year. It is also possible to get in by sea - Kinitaria regards its naval traditions as among the finest in the region, and indeed, for a long time, sea travel was the only way to access Kinitaria. Visitors from nations which reside in other dimensions will be required to set up and monitor their own interdimensional links.
The population of Kinitaria mostly centres on the larger cities in the south of the country, the mountainous north offering a much more tranquil setting, although there are still some bustling communities to be found in that part of the world.
Kinitaria is a socialist democracy, ruled by a premier, who is elected through the people by the People's Council, the highest workers' council in the nation. Political and civil rights remain high, and Kinitaria boasts one of the strongest economies in the region.
Despite having a turbulent history, Kinitaria has been in a peaceful state for the past twenty years or so, and this brings with it rapid modernisation. As such, the nation now boasts an expansive, modern infrastructure to transport visiting fans around the country with ease by road or rail. There are also a range of modern, safe and lively football stadiums around the country, twelve of which have been chosen by the Kinitar Football Federation to host matches at the Baptism of Fire.
Stadiums, you say? Oh yes, let's have a look at the host arenas...

Stadium: Arena Damacii
Home team: AFC Damaciu
City: Damaciu
Capacity: 38,370
Damaciu's stadium is built into the ground, so the pitch and lower tier lie below ground level, and the stands are very close to the pitch, giving this stadium a unique compact effect which makes it sound deafening when full. The arched roof of the upper tier stands out over the city, making this stadium a central landmark.

Stadium: Arena "Spartak"
Home team: Spartak Rexitova
City: Rexitova
Capacity: 38,370
This fine old stadium still has two of its historic stands, behind each goal, although they have been renovated to modern standards. The main stand was reconstructed following Spartak's cup win some twenty years back, tripling its capacity. The four stands each have their own design, making the stadium one of the most unique and interesting in the Kinitar league.

Stadium: Central Stadium
Home team: Kinitaria
City: Mi'ato
Capacity: 76,000
A purpose-built stadium in the middle of the Kinitar capital, this stadium has been the home of the Kinitar national team since their first game, and is the largest stadium in the country. The three-tiered stadium, with stands in the national flag's colours, features a large double-arch which dominates the surrounding skyline, from which hangs a video scoreboard. The Kinitar semi-final will be hosted here.

Stadium: Parc Četatii
Home team: KF Inovita
City: Inovita
Capacity: 47,200
This vivid stadium features Kinitaria's largest and steepest main stand, an intimidating sight when full. It's a mixture of the old and new, with two older end stands behind each goal, and two much more modern looking side stands. The West Stand, opposite the main grandstand, mirrors the "spion kop" appearance but is not quite so high.

Stadium: Stadion "Dinamo"
Home team: Dinamo Paleu
City: Paleu
Capacity: 43,360
The asymmetric, sloping design of Dinamo's ground, while criticised in the past, gives this stadium a unique look. It's a modern, purpose-built stadium with plenty of character, designed for the formation of Kinitaria's Premier Division about a decade ago. The enclosed style of the stadium really adds to the atmosphere when the place is full.

Stadium: Stadion "Lumar Beqiri"
Home team: Mi'ato
City: Mi'ato
Capacity: 67,250
Home of the most successful team in Kinitaria's history, this impressive bowl-shaped design is only the third largest in the capital. That takes nothing away from it - the acoustics in this arena are fantastic, and the stadium features some of the finest modern amenities available to all fans. It can also be used for athletics events.

Stadium: Stadion Munisipaliya
Home team: Litora United
City: Litora
Capacity: 47,500
This is one of Kinitaria's most famous stadiums, and with good reason. The Munisipaliya is a redeveloped old stadium, full of character, guaranteed to create an intimidating atmosphere despite its compact nature. There is the potential for expansion should Litora United achieve lasting success, but it's already unique (in a good way) as is. Guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.

Stadium: Stadion Nasiyonala
Home team: Chyri
City: Chyr
Capacity: 53,810
The province of Chyr, long isolated from the rest of Kinitaria, has been agitating for its independence for some time. As such, it can be a dangerous venue to visit, but the club want to distance themselves from all that. Their stadium, decked out in Chyr's national colours, is another with a possible expansion in the future.

Stadium: Stadion Orašii
Home team: Mi'ato City
City: Mi'ato
Capacity: 69,000
The arches which stretch out over this stadium are a landmark of the Kinitar capital. Mi'ato City are one of the country's greatest clubs, and have the stadium to go with their success. The stadium has stood for some eighty years, but you wouldn't know that to look at it, having been extensively redeveloped to give it the characteristic look it has now.

Stadium: Stadion Republicana
Home team: FC Serenberg
City: Serenberg
Capacity: 49,830
FC Serenberg completed phase one of an ambitious regeneration project, but then ran out of money, so phase two never happened. As such, their stadium has this distinctive lop-sided design, almost as though two stadiums have been cut in half and stuck together again. At the top, you're about a quarter of a mile from the pitch, so remember those binoculars.

Stadium: Stadion Universitii
Home team: Universita Tirinthea
City: Tirinthea
Capacity: 40,000
As the name suggests, the Tirinthea team started out as a university side about a century ago, before outgrowing their humble beginnings and becoming a fully professional team. This unique stadium is known to locals as "the spider", owing to the structural design created by a recent expansion as Tirinthea became a competitive top-flight side.

Stadium: Stadion Viteanii Revolusii
Home team: 1. Maja
City: Litora
Capacity: 62,250
One of the biggest grounds in the country, but unfortunately it's been half-empty as of late, given that tenants 1. Maja were playing in the second tier of Kinitar football. They're back in the big time now, though, and are drawing the big crowds again, which always make this arena into an intimidating wall of noise.

by **Nouvel Ecosse** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:18 pm

Duke Silver returned to the Football Association of Ecosse, or the FAE as it is also known, with the news of their draw against the nation of Sangti and that the cheesecake was especially delicious at the draw. It is thought that the manager of the national team, Norrie Stewart, is a major fan of the playing style of Sangti, and that he places it as an honour to be able to play against them.

Norrie Stewart has thus announced a 25-man strong team to take with him to the competition, and it follows:

1- Zinedine Frazer - Goalkeeper - Edinburgh City
20- David Gordon - Goalkeeper - Harbour Tusks
24- Florida Wales - Goalkeeper - Callander City

2- Javier Zanetti © (OOC:Couldn't resist) - Defender - Endeavour Thistle
3- Dan Franklin - Defender - Alhambra Azores
4- Pierre Van Miller - Defender - Endeavour Thistle
13- Arnoldo Stein - Defender - Armadillo FC
14- Andreas Skerla - Defender - Martell United
21- Armand Held - Defender - Armadillo FC
19- Junior Landis - Defender - Edinburgh City

5- Colin Di Nesbo - Midfield - Everton
6- Johnny Cahill - Midfield - Everton
25- Logan Malloch - Midfield - Alhambra Azores
8- Brian Caine - Midfield - Martell United
7- Jorge Sanchez - Midfield - Edinburgh City
15- Dan Holt-Ash - Midfield - Edinburgh City
16- Curt Lafleur - Midfield - Endeavour Thistle
23- Ewan Cassio - Midfield - Sanchez Juniors

10- Darren McFadden - Forward - Endeavour Thistle
11- Sanchez Reno - Forward - Edinburgh City
17- Ron McCash - Forward - Endeavour Thistle
18- Leigh Donovan - Forward - Alhambra Azores
9- Gary Hibbert - Forward - Everton
22- Mark Pepperfield - Forward - Atticus

First Team:

National Kit:

Norrie believes that this squad encompasses a far and great field of the best in Nouvel Ecosse football, including members of many of the teams from across the League and nation.

by **Sudagiu** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:19 pm

The Sudagian Squad for the 52nd Baptism of Fire

Coach- Alai Ilyepetchi (Schmiegelland)
Formation- 4-3-3

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but not too bad.
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes, but only 3 per game.
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, but only one per game, and only to someone who already had a yellow.
Godmod other events: Yes, but not over-the-top.

GK- Eligiusz Berinhard
RD- Wilfrið Schmid
CD- Marcin Stueck
CD- Jozafat Sokolsky
LD- Nickolaus Wetzel
RM- Eadwig Raskob
CM- Rokus Kaluza
LM- Ruprecht Sniegowski
RF- Gerhard Żuraw
LF- Siegfried Rademaker
CF- Hróðvaldr Þiudreiks

Substitutes
GK- Arnifrid Denzel
DEF- Bratumił Koenigsmann
DEF- Wide Bootsma
MID- Izaak Ludwig
MID- Tim Johan Boehler
FWD- Theudoricus Horst
FWD- Lambert Waxweiler

Jersey provided by the great Kirola Sportswear of Audioslavia.

by **Tirdarsaor** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:35 pm

Tirdarsaoran National Football Team

Despite the conflicts between the two governments that claim the nation, the Tirdarsaoran Football Association will be entering a side for the Baptism of Fire. Even though the TFA represents teams and players on both sides of the divide, only Celtic players will be participating in the tournament; despite the fact that there are some fantastic Latin players in the nation, none of them have been selected. Only time will tell if this is a mistake on the part of the selectors.

Manager - Faolán Mac Maol Dáire

Goalkeepers:
1 - Fionnbharr Ó Scolaighe - 38 years
12 - Conor Mac Murchú - 28 years
13 - Íarla Mac Maol Dáire - 25 years

Sweepers:
2 - Eoghan Mac an t-Saoir - 39 years
14 - Cian Mac Conchobhar - 21 years

Centre Backs:
5 - Pádraig Mag Uidhir - 27 years
6 - Cúan Ó Scolaighe - 31 years
15 - Muirís Ó Cuillinn - 21 years
16 - Proinnsias Mac Murchú - 18 years

Wing Backs:
3 - Oisín Mac Conchobhar - 17 years
7 - Aodhán Ó Domhnaill - 27 years
17 - Ruadhrí Mac Giolla Eoin - 26 years
18 - Breandán Ó Suileabháin - 22 years

Holding Midfielders:
4 - Cian Ó Corráin - 32 years
19 - Rían Mac Diarmaid - 38 years

Centre Midfielders:
8 - Liam Ó Raghallaigh - 30 years
11 - Diarmaid Ó Faoláin - 20 years
20 - Ciarán Mac an t-Saoir - 26 years

Attacking Midfielders:
10 - Fearghus Mac Giolla Eoin - 28 years
21 - Peadar Mac Diarmaid - 35 years

Centre Forwards:
9 - Éanna Ó Cadhla - 39 years (CAPTAIN)
22 - Rían Mac Maol Dáire - 30 years
23 - Pól Ó Ceanndubháin - 21 years

Formation - 3-3-2-1-1

Starting Eleven - 1/2/5-6/3-4-7/8-11/10/9

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players Y, but nothing serious
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y, 1 per game, if more, TG me
Godmod other events TG me

Skill Modifier- -4

All ages are correct for the first matchday.

by **Neu Engollon** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:41 pm

TELLEURSVILLE TIMES

SPORTS IN THE CONFEDERACY

Entering the Footie Arena

By Jean Marc Charjan

The Neu Engollon National Football squad for the upcoming Baptism of Fire and the 65th World Cup has been announced. The Goats have been practicing since coming together some weeks before, pulled from the NEAFL (Neu Engollon Association Football League) which covers the nation from Burgunden all the way to Panoli. This will be the first time Neu Engollon has played association football in International competition. In other International tournaments, our presence has increased greatly recently with national teams testing the waters in less contested sports like biathlon, brob ball, bandy, Dog sled racing and dwile flonking and rising quickly to the top. With a large field and stiffer competition, it has been tougher for Neu Engollon to make a name for itself, even in rugby, the top national sport. With the Goats taking home the bronze in the Rugby Union WC # 20 in Ka Mate, Neu Engollon was able to cement a solid high ranking place in International rugby.

Enter our footie squad to compete in International and upcoming regional tournaments. Are we gluttons for punishment? Biathlon, bandy and dwile flonking would be logical choices as winter sports and drinking go hand in hand here in the land of the hearty, drunken Alpen shlub. Part of the reason we also excelled has to be that we didn't have a huge field to fight through. But footie? Are we throwing our boys to the wolves? One has to wonder, and I will be curious as to how we fair in this first tournament where the world really is watching a sea of hundreds of national squads.

NEU ENGOLLON NATIONAL ASSOC. FOOTBALL SQUAD 'GOATS'

Coach Staff
Coach: Remy Henau, 42 (Vusurlac)
Assistant Coach: Nils Feinbaum, 36 (Burgunden)
Trainer: Tomas Fiorelli, 27 (Panoli)
Assistant Trainer/Coach: Hans Dettmann, 32 (Schwartzgarten)

First Team

Goal

2# Oskar Flegzut, 21 (Schwartzgarten)

Defenders

5# Marco Fantinelli, 19 (Ciavno)
8# Karsten Rottentuf, 20 (Wurzemburg)
9# Otto Schlosser, 22 (Burgunden)
14# Gaston Labrecq, 22 (Telleursville)

Midfielders

16# Stephane Manion, 23 (Albertville)
18# Matteo Grazzani, 20 (Panoli)
22# Joachim Brenz, 26 (Burgunden) [Capt]
23# Arnaud Vuson, 28 (Vusurlac)

Strikers/Forwards

26# Gerard Paseult, 24 (Telleursville)
31# Erich Siebech, 21 (Schwartzgarten)

Bench

GK - 4# Ignacio Anselmetti, 23 (Torino)
DF - 12# Gianni DeCienzo, 27 (Panoli)
DF - 15# Gabriel Lecuyer, 25 (Dronero)
DF - 19# Wolfgang Grosser, 19 (Goertenthal)
M - 17# Alessandro Columbano, 21 (Ciavno)
M - 24# Johann Hausenbech, 30 (Ludenthal)
SK - 27# Merich Hummelmann, 22 (Burgunden)
SK - 30# Andre Langlois, 20 (Monleux)

NEU ENGOLLON FOOTBALL KIT FOR THE 'GOATS'

Skill Modifier: + 2.7

RP PERMISSIONS:

TG me on any godmodding, cup ending injury or death, otherwise, have fun!

by **Metropolis Mania** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:53 pm

Metropolis Mania Baptism of Fire Roster

Metropolis Mania come to the World Cup for the first time ever! But first, it's the Baptism of Fire! Here's the roster!

Manager: Ross Clooney
Style Modifier: +2
Formation: 3-4-3

Goalkeeper
GK-Kyle Arthurs-Age 32
GK-Randy Vachon-Age 18

Defensemen
DF-Dan Montgomery-Age 25
DF-Ryan Dandly-Age 18
DF-Mikael Horcoff-Age 32
DF-Rodney Van Haltern-Age 21

Midfield
MF-Brad Jackson-Age 22
MF-Jonathon Cooke-Age 23
MF-Nolan Carter-Age 37
MF-T.J Davidson-Age 22
MF-Lars Cogeco-Age 39

Strikers
ST-Riley Catan-Age 17
ST-Ryan Sharp-Age 23
ST-Josh Blackberry-Age 37
ST-Conner Apple-Age 41

RP Perms:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players N
Godmod other events Y

The first game is against Qatarus, so tune in and see how Metropolis Mania's first-ever international match turns out!

by **Nandezia** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:00 pm

Nandezian National Football Squad for Baptism of Fire 52
The Nandezian national team will be making it's first appearance in any sort of capacity, donning the colors for the first time ever. The team is coached by Dani Clemente, and is made up of players from the Nandezian club teams of the New Kriegermeister Football Association's Premier and Second Divisions.

This is the roster chosen by Dani Clemente to represent the nation at the BoF. As the NKRFA seasons are halfway through, these players will be leaving their clubs for an extended period of time, or atleast until their international duties are no more.

18 Man Roster
Each player is listed with their position, age, and club team in the NKRFA.

GK Desi Tono, 34 - Lorenzo City (CAPTAIN)

DF Timoteo Coupe, 34 - Islanders
DF Serge Rey, 30 - Islanders
DF Arthur Ramirez, 30 - Sea Dogs
DF Joseph Timoteo, 31 - Jasper Town

MD Leon Lothaire, 21 - Sea Dogs
MD Julian Vipond, 33 - Maysport
MD Victor Leopold, 30 - Mjolnir United

FW Leonide Chevalier, 27 - Maysport
FW Felix Alban, 33 - Sea Dogs (VICE CAPTAIN)
FW Jimeno Moles, 27 - Mjolnir United

---------------------SUBS-----------------------
GK Guillaume Cyrille, 27 - Maysport
DF Seve Rodolfito, 29 - Maysport
DF Sergio Soucy, 32 - Fleur De Flam
MD Caro Agustin, 18 - Mjolnir United
MD Matias Aquino, 23 - Islanders
FW Adan Dupont, 23 - Islanders
FW Paris Raymundo, 31 - Fleur De Flam

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y
Godmod other events N

Style Modifier (if used) = +2

by **Neo Lemmitania** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:57 pm

Here then is Coach Lemmy Lemster's squad for the 52nd Baptism of Fire, presented thanks to a generous grant from the Electric Lemming Corporation, makers of LemmingOut, the first in-home lemming disposal unit and your best chance to eradicate those pesky vermin from the kitchen cabinetry. LemmingOut - put those lemmings out today!

The ELC LemmingOut Starting Eleven:

Pos. Name                  No.    Neo-Lemmitania Rugby League Club
------------------------------------------------------------------
GK   Mel Flanders            1    Lemmington Lemmings
RDF  Dale Hartford           2    Limmsburgh Scoundrels
CDF  Mick Chang              3    Lemmington Lemmings
CDF  Mike Dubrowski          4    Lemco City All-Browns
LDF  Will Spud               5    San Lemgeles Angles
RM   Wilco Rosco             6    Lemvoola Leemcats
CM   Mick Mickelson          7    Loston Red Toes
LM   Joey Lemstater          8    Lemmington Lemmings
FW   Roger Rosco             9    Lemvoola Leemcats
FW   Michael ‘Bing’ Bingson 10    Lemvoola Leemcats
FW   Henny Henneman         11    Lemmingville Lobsters

The unsponsored reserves:

Pos. Name                  No.    Club
---------------------------------------------------   
GK   Oscar Snellem          12    Lemco City All-Browns
DF   Orgo Molvo             13    San Lemgeles Angles
DF   Mitchell McSheen       14    Lemmsylvania Tree Toads
M    Joe Schneider          15    Lemming City Cropshares
M/F  Lem Sylvester          16    Lemmopolis Pop-tops
F    Greg Silsby            17    Loston Red Toes

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Go nuts so long as it’s entertaining 
(although I want to use this same roster for the WC,
so please don’t permanently kill or disable anyone).

And remember, when you have a lemming-related need, it’s best to turn first to the Electric Lemming Corporation, Supplier of All Your Lemming-Related Needs!(tm)

by **Sangti** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:10 pm

AGILANG DILAW ROSTER FOR BAPTISM OF FIRE 52

SQUAD
Red means starter.

NO	POS	NAME			AGE	CLUB
1	GK	Williard Navarette	31	CD Viocla
13	GK	Brian Cua		32	Real Tadofal
23	GK	Jovick Bucaoto		22	Wanko Nocoru
4	DF	Luke Docdoc		25	Carbonel Nuelma
3	DF	Jade Pablo		27	Gabelona
5	DF	Roman Ang		20	Carbonel Nuelma
12	DF	Dickson Lampa		31	Racing Xinghua Baoyam
18	DF	Victorio dela Vega	22	Deportivo Nespa
2	DF	Gregorio Bautista	27	Olympique Leonde
16	DF	Mari Arceo		19	Real Tiagosan
17	DF	Luigi Averilla		26	Wanko Nocoru
8	MF	Robin Linsangan		20	Olympique Leonde
7	MF	Marvick Sor		25	Real Cintore
11	MF	Christiann Sanchez	21	Real Tadofal
6	MF	Brian Calayag		33	Sangtiola Nandezfer
18	MF	Erick Khan		19	Wanko Nocoru
21	MF	Rohn Manuel		33	Rosavilla Atletico
14	MF	Franco Flores		30	Deportivo Nespa
20	MF	Jovick Regencia		33	Atletico Radi
10	FW	Adrian Magcaleng	24	Real Tadofal
9	FW	John Utanes		33	Rambo Pesgem
22	FW	Janrold Garaza		27	CD Viocla
15	FW	Daren Corsiga		24	Olympique Leonde

KITS (Courtesy of Kirola Sportswear from Audioslavia, GK Kits are from Sangti Sports Kitmakers)

Home Kit

Away Kit

Made by Kirola of Audioslavia.

GK 1st Kit

GK 2nd Kit

Made by Sangti Sports Kitmakers. Logos were removed for respect to Kirola.

STAFF
Manager - Jerous Manalo
Assistant Coach - Nino Ylagan
Coaches

Physios

STRATEGY
Style Modifier: -2
Formation:

RP Permissions

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players Y, i'll determine the severity and length
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y, max 4
Hand out red cards to my players Y, max 1
Godmod other events N

The Agilang Dilaw of Sangti will have a last warmup before the start of the world cup season: The Baptism of Fire. Jerous Manalo was on attendance at the matchday 1 draw as Sangti will face Nouvel Ecosse first.

"It is exciting, because you never know what is the exact schedule and you can never expect who goes through and who does not." Manalo said. The minimum expectation for Sangti is to advance past the Preliminaries, after a good performance gone bad at the Market Cup. Sangti had a grip of the lead at Group H but a last matchday defeat by Gaveo sent them crashing out of the competition.

In the squad, the midfield is different from that of the Market Cup roster. Christiann Sanchez and Brian Calayag will be handed their first caps. John Utanes will carry the captain's armband for Sangti.

(Roman Barlaan, el Diario Deportivo del Sangti)

by **Ethington** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:49 pm

ACT ONE: Emergence
Posted by AJ at 19:30

Hey guys! Posting this from a plane, on my way to the Baptism of Fire! I don't even know what timezone I'm in right now, and really, I don't care. I've been waiting for an opportunity to post this, so I haven't slept in like, 17 hours. Or something like that...

Anyways, this lineup is probably what everyone expected to see when Tristen Donnel was named manager. Not that we didn't see that one coming, right? I mean, he only was hired as manager, and on the first day of training, he completely shook up the formation, opting to go to a super defensive 5-4-1. He took a second-bottom team from last year, and the same players (he only added Césasarælía, and she was straight from the academy) and took them to the finals. Silverware has never looked sweeter.

Like I was saying, this lineup is super heavy in defense. He's gone with the 5-4-1 again (surprise), and he's taken all of the leagues best defenders. Which is the point of a national team, right? Donnel's got Césasarælía up front again, and she knows how this formation works. The only problem I have with the roster is the goalkeeping. Rather than take a veteran keeper, of which there are plenty in the league, he's taken Hamren as the starter. I know she's good, but I'd rather not have a rookie starting in net.

Whatever, it's not my call. I'll leave all the details down below. If you've got questions, put them in the comments and I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

AJ, signing off from 16,000 kilometers!

Starting XII

POS 	    Name  	       Age
GK	Hanna Hamren		19
LWB 	Larissa Fields		24
LCB 	Alexandre Ruíz		20
RCB 	Bryan Willmore		23
RWB 	Henry Quirsoga		24
DM	Craig Aarslund [C]	29
LW	Michel St. Claire	19
LCM	Andrew Therrien		26
RCM	Sasha Onstott		31
RW	Danica Shirffle		21
ST	Avalon Césasarælía	16

Reserves

POS 	    Name  	       Age
GK	Devin Chambers		25
D	Lonnie Cox		29
D	Elijah Trengrove	24
D	Lyle Erstwaite		30
M	Angél De LaRosa		19
M	Ariel Donovan		22
M	Zach Trellis		28
F	Jussi Lehtonen		20

Staff
Manager: Tristen Donnel
Assistant: Manny Bolton
Assistant: Tito Lopez
Physio: Silenna Domingo

Formation: 5-4-1, Modifier -5


Comment #1:
Posted by Anonymous at 19:56
y the 5-4-1?
Reply #1
Posted by AJ at 19:58
My guess is that it's Donnel's specialty. Not to mention the three or four players from Ethaire 
(Césasarælía specifically) that are already used to it.
Reply #2
Posted by Anonymous at 20:00
oh. cool.

Comment #2:
Posted by FORCE LEGENDA!!! at 19:57
<Post Deleted by Moderation>
Reply #1
Posted by AJ at 19:59
1-0 aggregate

by **New Sideburn** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:51 pm

(I am a ditz and forgot to switch to Brenecia.)

by **Tasrailia** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:05 pm

Tasrailia Tigers BoF Roster
Tasrailia will come to the world cup qualfying for the first time in history. But first, it's the Baptism of Fire, for the rookies of RP. Here is the roster
Formation: 4-4-2

GK: Kyle Danai (Devbourne)
DF: Matthew Norir (Devbourne)
DF: Joshua Coap (Devbourne)
DF: Barry Edwards (Devbourne)
DF: Riley Daian (Launey)
MF: Ryan Whincup (Burth)
MF: James Blueberry (Hoberra)
MF: Timothy Mole (Devbourne)
MF: Michael Mole (Devbourne)
FW: Robin Federer (Burth)
FW: Jarrod Murphy (Burth)

Subs
GK: Alex Permat (Hoberra)
DF: Mario Aoaoae (Launey)
MF: Ben Ben (Burth)
FW: John Utaja (Burth)

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players Y (only 1 per match though)
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players N
Godmod other events N

Style Modifier (if used) = +1

by **Brenecia** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:39 pm

BRENECIA
Preferred Formation: 4-5-1/4-3-3
Style Modifier: -1
Playstyle: Very physical, reliant on pace. Favours extensive use of wing play, with a big striker at the end of it. Low on possession, scores many goals on the counterattack.
Kit Supplier: Kirola
Nickname: the Patriots

A former colony of New Sideburn, they won independence through a rather overzealous uprising (ending in victory within three months because New Sideburn’s military gave up and went home). They’ve been at peace ever since, though Brenecians tend to regard themselves as eternal archrivals of their mainland ‘opponents’. They come to the Baptism to win, reasoning that if those green-shirted commies* can make it big, so can they.

*Note: communist to Brenecia constitutes ‘believes in social security’.

First Team
GK - 1 - Stephen MANSFIELD
RB - 17 - Samantha ALLBECK
CB - 4 - Larissa FIDELITY
CB - 3 - Leo MUSKET (c)
LB - 2 - Alexis SILENCE
DM - 6 - John LYONS
DM - 13 - Vince RIGGS
AM - 7 - Ashleigh TWINING
RW - 18 - James MACBETH
LW - 10 - Miriam SPITFIRE
ST - 14 - Edmund PIKE

My opponent MAY
Choose my goalscorers (Twining takes penalties and direct free-kicks, corner duties are shared between Lyons and Riggs)
RP injuries to my players (maximum one, and I'll determine severity)
Hand out yellow and red cards to my players (maximum one red every two games, unlimited cautions within reason)

My opponent MAY NOT
Godmod scoring events
Godmod injuries
Godmod other events

9 - Leigh COURAGE - 19 - Northern Union
Left Winger
While certainly capable of great things, Leigh Courage, the youngest player in the squad, is somewhat overshadowed by understudying to national phenomenon Miriam Spitfire. Courage, unlike Spitfire, allows for a little more tactical depth, preferring to go inside and shoot with her favoured right. While her defensive capabilities aren’t spectacular, she can still go far as a player, and likely will.

10 - Miriam SPITFIRE - 21 - Envy River
Left Winger
Spitfire’s strength is in her thunderous left foot, generally used to rake venemous crosses down the field. She also excels at striking from distance, though she is not a natural goalscorer. Right now, she’s the shining talent of the team, and in future years she may well become the greatest player to ever don the blue and white.

12 - Bryan RESPECT - 26 - Westpyke FC
Right Winger
Bryan Respect has never stayed more than two and a half years at a club, not counting loans; he claims he gets sick of staying in one place. So it is with his playstyle; making runs and creating opportunities all over the pitch, he has a remarkable insight for creating forward passes for others, and specialises at clinical near-post finishing.

14 - Edmund PIKE - 29 - Scaffield
Striker
A big target man who sometimes takes a while to get started, but when fully fit and warmed up he’s good to go the whole match. Always a threat with the ball, and while ball control isn’t his forte he is very capable of smashing in goals with his feet as well as his head. Capable of wresting back possession from the opposition, and even playing in central midfield in a pinch.

18 - James MACBETH - 24 - Sabrefell Moths (New Sideburn)
Right Winger
The Patriots’ strengths stem from their wing play, and Macbeth is one of their star wingers who will, ideally, start every game fully fit. At the pinnacle of physical condition, with a good combination of pace and control. Two-footed, though he prefers his left, and thus able to cut inside to score goals when needed. He lead Rozelle to a 4th placed finish and a Cup win before following the money in a big signing for the Sabrefell Moths. The star man of the team.

19 - Aldous HUCKERBY - 35 - Iron City (New Sideburn)
Striker
Huckerby is the kind of athlete usually referred to by terms like 'journeyman', 'veteran' or 'experienced', to try and hide the reality that he's 'old', 'slow' and 'past his prime'. Even so, it was for good reason that he was a big signing for Iron as they battled for survival in the Premiership. Ultimately they failed, granted, but Huckerby remains a crucial part of them coming straight back up. Slow, but great in the air, which is perfect for his rather simple task, with a surprising defensive ability.

by **The Greater Archipelago** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:44 am

FATGA

The Football Association of The Greater Archipelago (FATGA) is pleased to announce the Archipelagoan squad for the upcoming Baptism of Fire.

The Greater Archipelago

Goalkeepers

1- David Harris (Tupaia Eagles)
12- Nick Wilks (Altimar)
19- Roger Kissley (Oro District)

Defenders

2- Matt Bentley (Tupaia Eagles)
3- Jack Connell (Tupaia Eagles)
4- Luke O'Leary (Kaymaria)
5- Simon Delley (Kaymaria)
13- Matthew McNaughtey (Kaymaria)
14- Richard Simpson (Oro District)
20- Mike Lombak Imaya (Lombaki Surai)
21- Jack Tunaia Limal (Tupaia Eagles)
22- Philip Nyman (Koimo Island)
23- Andy Tunaia Bolma (Tupaia Eagles)

Midfielders

6- Richard Peel (Tupaia Eagles)
7- Roger Cohen (Tupaia Eagles)
8- Michael Sampson(c) (Tupaia Eagles)
10- Robert Fold (Kaymaria)
11- Miles Ray (Tupaia Eagles)
15- Lucas May (Kaymaria)
16- Oliver Harrison (Kaymaria)
17- Alex Rogers (Tupaia Eagles)
24- Aaron May (Koimo Island)
25- Dick Kaymar Orelu (Kaymaria)
26- Christopher Oranna (Tupaia Eagles)
27- Ollie Moreson (Kaymaria)
28- Frank Soresby (Tupaia Eagles)

Strikers

9- Harry Borla (Tupaia Eagles)
18- Nick Gasson (Kaymaria)
29- Henry Boiman (Tupaia Eagles)

Player Roles

Penalty Taker: Michael Sampson
Free Kick Taker: Michael Sampson
Left Corner Taker: Roger Cohen
Right Corner Taker: Miles Ray

Formation

4-2-3-1

Coaches

Head Coach- Darren Mason
Assistant Coach- Alexander Flick

Modifier

+1

Kits

Supplier- Kirola
Home Kit-

Away Kit-

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes (TG me first)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes (Max. One per match, TG me first)
Godmod other events No

by **Free Republics** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:26 am

Federation of Free Republics National Soccer Team

Formation: 3-1-2-1-3
Style Modifier: +4
Colors: Blue and White
Manager: Rule Theriault
Assistant: Massimiliano Abdullahi

Roster (age in parentheses)

Starting Lineup

GK: #1 Ausilio Mancini (20)
RB: #51 Arnou Labrecque (17)
CB: #55 Miroslav Bozek (16)
LB: #52 Joseph Poole (19)
CDM: #33 Kieran Hancock (20)
LM: #22 Bernard Lukic (18)
RM: #42 Ayub Sandstrom (16)
CAM: #24 Jens Koch (17)
ST: #11 Leo Cremonesi (20)
ST: #15 Kyle Bolton (19) [C]
ST: #17 Faredin Pozenel (15)

Bench

GK: #2 Marius Christoffersen (16)
GK: #3 William Walls (14)
RB: #56 Nikodem Sobczak (19)
CB: #57 Berto Marcelo (17)
CB: #58 Patrick Werfel (20)
LB: #50 Leonid Borodin (16)
CDM: #29 Volodymyr Vernekar (19)
CAM: #21 Jan Beranek (18)
LM: #44 Durante Trevisano (20)
RM: #31 Leonti Ulyanov (16)
ST: #12 Koby Theodore (15)
ST: #19 Porvaldur Hinriksson (14)

Kits (made with Smart Shirt Designer 2)

Home

Away

Notes

The Federation of Free Republics (FFR) is a federation of Republics with a weak national government (the "Federation Government") that has numerous checks and balances. The Republics, each of which has its own government, are relatively independent, although they are subject to the Federation Constitution and its numerous restrictions on what government can do. Most important among them is the cap on taxation, which makes it unconstitutional for government (meaning all governments in the FFR) to take more than 10% combined of anybody's income in taxes, effectively limiting the government. They are the nearest neighbor to Saintland, although that tiny island nation is over a thousand miles to the north of the northern-most Republic's northern border, and most Republicans actually tend to consider progressives worse than religious fanatics, even if both ideologies are considered extreme and contrary to Republicanism. This is the same team the FFR sent to the Di Bradini Cup. The players on this team would not be considered the best players in the FFR or even the best U-21 players in the FFR. Republican athletes tend to have massive egos and they aren't interested in playing for their country. This team was the idea of Rule Theriault, a failed former manager who had led a team that was expected to contend for the league title to relegation. Theriault failed as manager at Petrograd United because the veteran players on that team, with their giant egos, did not respect their manager or his approach to the game. Theriault clashed with players because he emphasizes a team-first style of play and an intense practice schedule. To rebuild his reputation, he decided to work with younger players that would take instruction and was able to get a number of talented young players, even if most of the country's top prospects turned him down. This team made it to the finals of the Di Bradini Cup, before falling short against the Equestrian States. Despite requests from a number of professional players to be chosen for the national side, Theriault chose not to make any changes to his squad for the Baptism of Fire to avoid any risk of weakening team chemistry. There are not large differences in ability between the individual players on this team. Backups can see playing time and Theriault will probably bench his starters if he feels the game is meaningless. Bolton is the team's best player, but he isn't much better than the other strikers.

Penalty Kick Order of Preference

Remove players from this list that aren't playing at the start of the shootout.

Cremonesi
Pozenel
Bolton
Sandstrom
Theodore
Hinriksson
Beranek
Koch
Trevisano
Ulyanov
Lukic
Borodin
Sobczak
Hancock
Vernekar
Bozek
Werfel
Marcelo
Poole
Labrecque
Mancini
Walls
Christoffersen

RP Permissions

I give my opponent permission to:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
Give my players yellow cards: Y
Give my players red cards: Y
Give injuries to my players: N
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Godmod other events: Y

by **Fristat and Marianopolis** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 12:42 pm

Fleeing Kalinina had been difficult, especially to the new country that had been founded by Cotdelapomais and Mytanar migrants. Fristat and Marianopolis. A new country which offered new hope to those under the yoke of oppression that had been Kalinina’s tough jackboot. The Cotdelapomais members of the nation had an easier passage, they had just chosen to explore this new land – with the help of some Mytanar expertise in this hilly landscape of course.

Many of the Mytanars that moved to this new land made use of it instantly, their excellent passion in the sport of cycling suiting the landscape right down to the ground. The fruits of this, after ten or so years, were already bearing fruit – with some young Mytanar-Fristatian talent coming through the ranks to impress for the Team GHEK and the Nationalmannschaft cycling team.

It wasn’t that sport that interested Uwe Kunze, however. He was a footballer, at least semi-professionally anyway. He played for the impressive Rot-Weiss Essen – one of the more successful teams in the National League and he was a centre forward. He had scored 101 goals in 198 games for his club side, but that competition was easy compared to what he was going to be thrown into.

That competition was comparatively easy when put against what he and his family had had to go through just to arrive in the country he would now be plying his trade for.

He remembered a small tug boat battling through the rough waves of the Modraine Sea as they headed towards the uncharted territories between Costa Azula and Iturributa. The weather was slightly warmer in these regions, when compared to his family’s homeland. Uwe had been only 18 at the time, when he and his family had boarded the tiny boat which was crammed with over forty people.

The area was too tight, too confined. Uwe had always disliked small spaces and had always enjoyed living in Ebenen state in his old country, the state of the plains, the sea of grass that seemingly went on forever and ever making only exceptions for a few small bumps on the horizon – the ‘Drei Schritte’ as they were known.

Claustrophobia soon set in and Uwe blacked out several times, even as an 18 year old. Some of the older people had taken the liberty of making derogatory comments every so often at his expense due to this, they couldn’t understand his fear of the cramped conditions and how irrational it was but how much it terrified him every waking second. He felt trapped and sometimes struggled to breathe. When he could the conditions meant that all he could breathe in was the stench of tightly packed bodies, sweat and a hint of excrement every so often – of both varieties.

People were prepared to do anything they could to escape Kalinina’s oppression. Even endure conditions such as these as they sailed the rough, choppy seas to reach what would be their new homeland. When they reached their destination they didn’t really know where they were ending up and it could be an unwelcoming place when they eventually found it.

Uwe flashed back to today. Ah, all that ten years ago. From then, the nation had grown into a vibrant and fairly cosmopolitan young nation. The purpose-built capital city Union had wide, attractive boulevards and the nation was the embodiment of a utopian social democracy. The people were happy, had a wide set of rights in what they could and couldn’t do and were free to vote how they wanted – most importantly to the ethnically Mytanar community. Of course, corporations weren’t allowed to run riot in this country as they were elsewhere either but the nation did have some elements of a more capitalistic society than both of the countries that almost gave birth to this new one.

Uwe loved his new country. It stood for everything he believed in – and now, he had a chance to represent it on the biggest stage. The Baptism of Fire was an important sporting event for any country that wanted to break into the top level of football on the international scene and Fristat and Marianopolis wanted to have a successful first foray into the global event – which would be watched by billions worldwide.

Many Fristatians and Marians looked up to the Top League stars of Mytannion or harked back to the days of the Cotdelapomais Serie A, with Tout-Puissant Outremont, Montreal and Sparta. One team that had a particularly large pull here were Arka Snezhnaya, the Mytanar side that do things so very well and sustainably. So much so that a side in the new country were named after them, Arka Solingen, they were nowhere near as good as their namesakes across the Modraine Sea – but they were run in the same sustainable way.

Uwe would be leading his national team out at the newly constructed national stadium, it was a nice glass and concrete structure – all nice and safe. It had two large safe standing areas for the more passionate football supporters, one in one corner and one behind the goal. Uwe had pride in that national stadium – many would say it wasn’t truly his own – but he knew the truth, he was the new sporting leader of the nation. He was a bit of a poster boy, even at the age of 28, still, he was in the peak of his physical state and could go on for years... Or so he felt.

Arkolon would be his first challenge – with the Baptism of Fire coming up – it would be quite the step up from competition against teams such as TeBe Askenaz and Saint-Jean FC, teams with players who had other jobs such as being decorators or accountants. It was quite a mismatch in the National League, with the moneyed clubs of Union often being stronger than the rest and then the semi-pro outfits of Rot-Weiss Essen and Stade Printanière then coming after them and winning games they needed to.

Uwe had waited for this moment for years, it would be a very proud one when it came about.

by **Albaie** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:16 pm

The meeting room at the Dubrack's Town Imperial Stadium was buzzing with excitement. Behind the desk sat Count Francis Deberen, Wiliam Dubrack Dubrackson and Duke Arthur Sporten. The manager, captain and head of the Albaie Football Association respectively. " We are here today to announce the team that will be traveling to Kinitria and Legalese. " Started of Duke Arthur.
" The team will be a mixture of veterans and young blood which we hope will be able to secure the cup for us. " Said Deberen. " On the screen will be the rooster as well as some facts about the players. "

Goalkeepers
Edward Erentsen 23 Ruten Bridge Castle  25 caps
Robert Smith 35 Albaie Rangers 39 caps
Dubrack Ferek 27 Dubrack's Town Celtic 13 caps 
Defenders
Alex Whitetree 24 Right Back Albaie Rangers 17 caps 1 goal
Phil Erteon 22 Right Back Dubrack's Town Celtic 7 caps 
Andy Alecder 26 Right, Left and Center Back Dubrack's Town Celtic 13 caps and 2 goals
Frank Muacka 25 Center Back Dubrack's Town Celtic 40 caps 3 goals
Rodney Yerik 18 Center Back Ruten Bridge Castle 8 caps
Darren Woerten 19 Indis Lions 5 caps
Edward Fent 28 Indis Lions 39 caps
Midfielders
William Dubrack Dubrackson Dubrack's Town Celtic 27 Central Defensive Midfielder/Center Midfielder 47 caps and 11 goals CAPTAIN
Robert Blackeep 17 AFC Blackcastle Central Defensive/Center Midfielder 4 caps 1 goal
Michael Efent 26 Abia Wolfs Central Defensive/Center Midfielder 29 caps 5 goals
Dan Pepen 29 Maras Wolfs Center Midfielder 59 caps 12 goals
Victor Urup 32 Uran United 70 caps 20 goals
Tom Twent 19 Mountain Pass United 7 caps 1 goal
Danny Latimer 16 Abia Wolfs 0 caps
Attacking Midfielders
Ben Werek  17 Dubrack's Town Celtic Attacking Right Midfielder 5 caps 4 goals
Robert Werek 17 Dubrack's Town Celtic Attacking Left Midfielder 1 cap 1 goal
Tom Werek 17 Dubrack's Town Celtic Attacking Right and Left Midfielder 0 caps ( The Werek triplets)
Kieran Kewer 31 Albaie Rangers 70 caps 20 goals
Simon Put 17 Albaie Rangers 2 cap 1 goal
Strikers

Tererent 17 Dubrack's Town Celtic 9 caps 4 goals
Queb 16 Advar United 1 cap 1 goal
England 25 15 caps 7 goals.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Yes
Godmod scoring events Yes
RP injuries to my players Yes but not major
Godmod injuries to my players N0
Hand out yellow cards to my players Yes but only three a game
Hand out red cards to my players Yes but only to a player already booked
Godmod other events No

Style:+3
Formation
4-1-2-2-1

by **Fristat and Marianopolis** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:41 pm

Fristat and Marianopolis National Team.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Modifier: +2

Manager: Anton Flamand - Age 48.
Flamand is a regular factory manager by day, but by night he manages the top footballers in all of Fristat and Marianopolis. His sharp tongue and slavedriver style work wonders with this lot - he makes sure they do double sessions every single day in order to achieve prime fitness for tough schedules in international football. He is of Cotdelapomais descent too, so doesn't mind a few creative players in the side - although he does favour the largely Mytanar trait of having a tall centre forward as the focal point of attacking moves too. This team will try and combine the tough tackling, physical side of Mytanar football with the Cotdelapomais creativity and fluidity on the ball - whether they are successful or not largely depends on the quality of player that decided to cross the Modraine Sea when moving away from both the Mytanar dictatorship and northeasterly from Cotdelapoms in search of a slightly different lifestyle. This will show us how successful this was for them people.

Starting XI.

GK: Kevin Ehrlichmann - 22 - Reutlingen University.
One of the amateur players, plying his trade for the University. The only academic institute in the National League, they are an impressive team, largely made-up of current students and alumni of the institute. They have a policy of not paying fees for any players, although they are allowed to receive fees for their players of course. Ehrlichmann is one player who may well move on after this season - with Dinamo Esca in Mytannion being a team linked with the young goalkeeper - Ehrlichmann is a big physical presence and occupies his penalty area well, he has good reflexes too and deals with shots well. Will he be able to deal with the opposition here?

DL: Raoul Chicoine - 26 - Athlétic Marianopolis.
Chicoine is a creative fullback who creates chances going forward on the overlap as well as being relatively solid defensively. He is definitely a more attacking option than could be used, with him adding more when going forward than what he brings to the team when he sits back in defence. He is a fairly good tackler, but other than that it is blatantly obvious that he used to play as a winger earlier in his career. His mazy runs and flowing dreadlocks hark back to that.

DC: Max Egger - 37 - Mytanische von Ost Union.
An experienced centre back that used to play in the Mytanar lower leagues, having played for teams such as Partizan, Torstig Alelatriv and Traktar Thessia in his long, journeyman career that has taken in seven different teams. He has finally settled at MvO Union. He is a no-nonsense defender that deals with problems efficiently, he is tall and good in the air but does lack a yard of pace which means he can't always keep up with the quickest forwards.

DC: Serhiy Volodin - 32 - Irtysh Omsk.
Possibly the only decent player that plies his trade for Irtysh Omsk. The club from the small town of Omsk are probably the worst in the National League, they're truly awful. Volodin is also lacking in the speed department but he is a tough defender, he is well known for inflicting injuries on the opposition in the past and is a known hardman. He is rumoured to be a member of the Mytanar Mafiya family operating out of Fristat - which would surprise nobody, frankly.

DR: Hugues Lamontagne - 20 - Stade Printanière.
Lamontagne is one of the few big talents in this side. He could easily go on to play competitively in one of the bigger leagues in the world and would cope fairly well. He is an all-round fullback, defensively solid and able to deal with threats whilst also adding something when going forward. His dead-ball ability is not to be sniffed at either and he is well known for curling free kicks in in the domestic league, often in front of crowds of a several hundred, but hey, that's the charm of a small nation's football league, isn't it?

DMC: Klaus Muench - 34 - Rot-Weiss Essen.
Another tough player. Muench is a battling midfielder, his bullish physique and vicious style often causing players to be intimidated when playing against him. He's played for RW Essen for ten years, since they were founded and has brought his hard-hitting style to every game he has taken part in since then. He's being used to break-up the play and move the ball on to the more creative players in the national side.

DMC: Nouel Leduc - 23 - Club Francophone de Football Union.
Leduc is the more creative of the defensive midfield pairing. His passing ability is excellent, he moves the ball around the field well with his range being anywhere from short to crossfield and this allows him to be the one to launch quick counter attacks which move the ball forward quickly and force the opposition onto the back foot. He's not as good defensively, but it is hoped Muench makes up for his ability there. He is also not the quickest player and he relies on his anticipation and close control to make sure he keeps the ball away from the other team.

AML: Lavrenti Sjolund - 29 - Mytanische von Ost Union.
Sjolund is another that is skilled from dead ball situations and allows the team to play the way they do. He is pacy and has good close control and can deliver delightful crosses. This makes up for his relatively poor ability when it comes to a solo end product and also his absolute refusal to track back. He is useful however, because once Leduc picks the ball up in midfield he can launch passes across the pitch for Sjolund to latch onto and then hopefully deliver a cross for Kunze to do something with.

AMC: Johan Berthelsen - 18 - Rot-Weiss Essen.
Berthelsen is a top-class playmaker, whilst also being a good marksman at the same time. He has the ability to time a pass which is perhaps unrivalled in this country, he sometimes moves forward into line with Kunze and then drops deeper to confuse the opposition and to also involve himself more with the play in midfield. Berthelsen is being touted for a move across the Modraine Sea to Mytannion and it would surprise nobody if he made the move soon enough. His dribbling, passing and finishing ability are superb and would completely justify this.

AMR: Jérôme Lemieux - 27 - RC Iris.
Lemieux is a classic winger, he's creative and can deliver the ammunition for the better marksman in the side whilst being able to occasionally pop up with a goal of his own every so often. Lemieux had played professionally in Cotdelapoms for some years, he had had a youth contract with Worcester Hearts but failed there and had to move to Celtic before then coming to Fristat and Marianopolis to ply his trade down the flank instead.

ST: Uwe Kunze - 28 - Rot-Weiss Essen. Captain.
A goalscorer, is basically what Kunze is. He's a big physical forward, standing at 6'5 and he's excellent in the air as well as using his physical presence in order to create chances to score with his feet too. He's also the team's inspiration and has been given the armband to lead them in the Baptism of Fire - he'll be an important cog in this team and unless he regularly converts, they could have issues with being as successful as they want to be in the BoF and also may not be as successful in the World Cup qualifying campaign - where they wish to secure a mid-group position rather than flopping as most teams do.

Substitutes.
GK: Roslyn Goddu - 28 - RC Iris
DL: Jan Kaiser - 23 - AS Fréderic
DC: Inunnguaq Frederiksen - 18 - Mytanische von Ost Union
DMC: Serge Reault-Sarrazin - 24 - Stade Printanière
AML/R: Gerard Skagehunstad - 30 - TeBe Askenaz
AMC: Farid Artemiev - 25 - Reutlingen University
ST: Gaston Veilleux - 17 - Club Francophone de Football Union

Reserves.
GK: Gerasimos Misikov - 24 - Mytanische von Ost Union
DC: Klaus Goldschmidt - 25 - Rot-Weiss Essen
DR: Florus Léveillé - 28 - Athlétic Marianopolis
DMC: Maxime Egeberg - 20 - Reutlingen University
AMC: Orville Desaulniers - 18 - Stade Printanière
ST: Bartlett Grivois - 24 - Stade Printanière
ST: Lubomir Tesarov - 20 - TeBe Askenaz

RP Permissions:
Anything goes, just don't go killing anyone and me and CDP reserve the right to change the length of any long-term injuries.

by **Free Republics** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:16 pm

Sporting World

We're in the Baptism of Fire to win it
by: Rule Theriault

A few months ago, I was fired as the manager of Petrograd United. I don't blame ownership for firing me. My team, which was expected to contend for the title, quit on me. They refused to put their egos aside and work together for a common goal. When I tried to explain this to them, they looked at me like I was one of those crazy progressives that are always ranting and raving about something or other.

I now understand why things went wrong at Petrograd United. I was the son of an Army sergeant and I learned all about military discipline from my father. I expected the same level of discipline out of my team at Petrograd United, but professional athletes weren't going to tolerate that. They are too short-sighted to realize that discipline and dedication to their craft are important.

During the last World Cup, I followed the team from Saintland. Although I consider their religious views and political system repugnant, I have to admire the way Prince Andreas of Saintland leads his team on the pitch. The Sanctii always have a focus about them. Yes, their captain, who is basically a player-manager, makes his share of managerial mistakes, but they are seemingly impossible to distract. They care only about winning because they believe that they glorify God when they win. That's the kind of passion I want to see in athletes and that is the reason why that tiny island is such a powerhouse in international sports.

Now, Saintland would be part of the FFR if we wanted them to be. However, I would pity those unfortunate souls tasked with invading that place and I don't see why anybody would want to invade Saintland anyway. A tiny island in the arctic isn't exactly worth half a million men, which is the likely number of casualties it would take to conquer that place. This remains true, no matter how offensive you find that country and I consider them completely repugnant. Saintland is a socialistic hell hole where it is legal to beat your wife and it is illegal to do just about anything fun. I'm certainly not a supporter of the Republican feminists and their absurd complaints, but even I have to admit that Feministvs Sanctvsterra have legitimate grievances with the government of that nation.

Of course, I am not writing this article for Sporting World to talk about Saintland. I am here to talk about the upcoming Baptism of Fire, which will be held in the Atlantian Ocean region, in the nations of Kinitaria and Legalese. Legalese is a former World Cup host, former 2-time Cup of Harmony host and are now hosting their 6th Baptism of Fire. They may not be all that successful in international soccer, but they are a frequent choice as a host nation. Meanwhile, Kinitaria won the 47th Baptism of Fire and have since become well-known for falling just short of qualifying for the World Cup every cycle. Last time around, they made it to the playoffs only after a player from Audioslavia, the now 2-time defending World Cup champions, headed away a Sanctii corner in added time to set up a counter-attacking goal. Had the Sanctii player gotten his head on the ball, as almost happened, the Kingdom of Saintland would have scored the match-winning goal, defeated Audioslavia and gone to the playoffs instead of Kinitaria. Then, Kinitaria fired their BoF-winning manager and the new manager performed poorly in the Cup of Harmony. Needless to say, both Kinitaria and Legalese have not been as successful as they hoped in international sports.

Kinitaria and Legalese will be using the Casaran format in this tournament. This is an unusual format where teams will be paired, following the first match day, based upon performance. After 5 days, the top ranked teams will advance to the championship phase. In our opener, we have drawn Mechelen. They are making their debut in international sports and nobody from their region, to my knowledge, has ever competed in international sports. I know absolutely nothing about them or their region. They haven't even sent out a roster yet. I don't know whether I should be worried or not.

My team is unchanged from the Di Bradini Cup. Kyle Bolton will remain captain and the regular lineup will remain the same. The talk of the international sports world is that we are one of the favorites to win the BoF. Other nations being discussed as favorites include Brenecia, a former colony of New Sideburn, the champions of the Baptism of Fire last time and arch-rivals of Saintland. New Sideburn has since gone on to win the championship of the Esportiva region, considered the 3rd most prestigious regional championship in the world, and the Market Cup, going undefeated in both tournaments. However, Mizuyuki, Neu Engollon and Sangti are also being discussed as favorites, after recent strong performances in international sports. Most intriguing of all, Europa Brittania have returned. They won the 9th and 11th World Cups, but disappeared, seemingly off the face of NS, for decades, only to recently resurface. Meanwhile, the former nation of Lemmitania, winners of World Cup 10, have re-emerged as Neo Lemmitania. The re-emergence of Audioslavia several years ago shocked the world of international soccer. The re-emergence of Europa Britannia and Neo Lemmitania, within weeks of one another, sent even greater shockwaves throughout the world. All things considered, this looks to be the most intriguing Baptism of Fire in the long history of this legendary competition for first-time World Cup entrants. I can't promise anything, but we have been preparing for this moment since the Di Bradini Cup ended and we are ready to prove ourselves to the multiverse. My team may not have the most athletically gifted athletes our Federation has to offer, but they will play as a team and if you play as a team instead of a collection of selfish individuals, good things can happen.

Rule Theriault is the manager for the FFR's National Soccer Team. He was the manager of Petrograd United. After a disappointing end to his tenure there, he entered a team in the Di Bradini Cup on behalf of the Federation of Free Republics. His mostly unheralded team finished 2nd in that competition, losing to the Equestrian States in the final. He will manage the National Soccer Team in the upcoming Baptism of Fire, which you can see live on Freedom Sports 8.

by **Sondstead** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:20 pm

Sündstedrisjh Natjone̊sfotbolmansjibr – Sondsteadish National Football Team

After a long and distinguished run in the Maredoratic regional competitions, for the first time the Sondsteadish team will be competing on the world stage. The team assembled will be lead by seasoned manager Tomas Rum, who after joining the team as assistant manager in 2006 and being promoted to manager in 2010 lead the team to it's best yet Maredoratic Cup result, reaching the Quarter Finals before being knocked out six to two by longtime rivals and eventual third-place finisher Brunswick-Swabia.

Since then, the team added five new players to the roster in 2012 and 2013 (Jöhännes Muharukua, Jöhän Winter, Mark Rikjardssunr, Möhmet Dale̊r, and Szelim Nagy) and with the retirement of team captain Ändres-Karl Osgarssunr promoted star attacking midfielder Tom Markussunr to captain. With news of the country's World Cup hopes, the team's training has been kicked up a notch, and in addition the Sondstead Football Association ordered snazzy new Kirola® kits, which the team will wear during the Baptism of Fire.

Roster

Starting lineup
Number — Position — Player — DoB (Age) — Club, Country

Maredoratic club

Bench
Number — Position — Player — DoB (Age) — Club, Country

Maredoratic club

Preferred formation: 4-4-2 diamond (4–1–2–1–2)

Kits;

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 4:18 pm

We have the best coverage. We have all the numbers. We have the analysts who've been there in the hot spots before.

For your Baptism of Fire 52 coverage;
GARRETT PENNY! Veteran commentator and analyst for 30 years, after a playing career spanning another 15!

ROWAN PENDRAGON! The youngest manager ever to take the helm in the Premiership, he steered the 302 Corvette Maulers to 9th in their first season, then won the Cup with Southfell United two years later!

TRISH LENSFLARE! That famous referee from the 305 Cup Final where, faced with a player who refused to leave the pitch after a red card, scruffed him by the neck and dragged him off the field herself!

ASGER STUBBS! A goalkeeper still active for his club, with a record six Premiership trophies for a single player and seven caps for his country!

and guest host GUY CASHMERE, manager of Brenecia's national team for four years before retiring in 326!

Bringing you the best coverage since 291, this! Is! Hazard! Sports!

"This is Garrett Penny welcoming you to the official Hazard Sports Baptism of Fire 52 radio show, also available via podcast," said Garrett, smoothly. He was a well-built man of grey hair and a rather blokey manner, and was glad that the opening never mentioned that his 15 years were won chiefly in the Second Division. "With me as always, Rowan Pendragon-"
"Hey." Rowan still looked not a day over 30, with a thatch of auburn hair and permanent stubble.
"-Trish Lensflare-"
"That's right." Trish was tall, and had been strong and athletic in her day, now slowly turning to fat. She was swarthy for a Sideburnese, and wore her hair long in dreadlocks.
"-Asger Stubbs-"
"Yeah." Asger was tall, broad-shouldered, muscular and laconic. In all honesty, he wasn't a particularly gifted commentator, but he had credentials.
"-and with us for the first time, Guy Cashmere!"
"Right, guv'nor!" Guy was seventy-two years old, small and wiry with bright, shiny blue eyes and an energetic demeanour.
"Now, Guy," said Garrett, smoothly. "What are your thoughts on seeing Brenecia in the global sphere, as it were?"
"I think it's about bloody time, meself," cackled Guy. "I'm happy to see it's not all the immigrants to New Sideburn that got places."
"So... you're happy to see a strong focus on local players, then."
'Yeah. See, a lesser manager would've tried to ape success and ended up with Carrick and Proudfoot in the first eleven, but instead Lawless has gone for solid players like Mansfield and Silence in those positions. Oh, I won't deny he has wet dreams about your man Ramsey, but..."
"How... colourful." Trish's tone was icy.
"Anyway," continued Guy, cheerfully. "It's nice to see the local lads get some recognition, is all."
"Well," said Garrett, before someone was murdered, "what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the side? Asger? You're the only one here that's played at a Baptism of Fire before. Enlighten us!"
"Well, there's a great sense of uncertainty... you never know who you're going to face. At the point we were going into it we were quite inconsistent; we'd regularly take a battering and win with 3-2 scorelines or the like. I like the defensive solidity of this side, and I like it's strength."
Trish laughed, bitterly. "Ha! You point out strength... well, Brenecia's going to have to remember they play by different rules over there. None of their brawn and dirty tricks will get passes with a WCC ref. That said, they should be alright as long as there's not a cowboy like Rook Harm in the back line..."
Three people, as people being taped during podcasts tend to do in the presence of controversy, said "Woaaaaaaah!"
"Easy on there!" laughed Rowan. "Rook's a real folk hero!"
"Depends on what kind of stories you'd be willing to tell your kids..."
"Well, it's onto the time of the show where we look up player's tweets," said Garrett. "Join us now for... What Were They Thinking?"
An irritating little jingle played. Asger winced.

jcazza wrote:dont know who kickwipye or w/e is like
no roster out yet
well have em anyway #YOLO

"That was from Joan Calway," continued Garrett. "Um... thoughts?"
"I don't really know what's left to say," said Rowan, "that tweet really covers all the bases."
"I think she's going into it with the right attitude," said Asger, soberly. "The first team you play in the Baptism is going to be a mystery. You just don't know what they're capable of. I mean, Yakostan held us to a draw in our first match, and went on to achieve... well, nothing much of any value. We went on to win. But the key thing is going out for that first match with no fear, which I think she at least will on the day."

patriotsteve wrote:were gonna run this shit into the ground!!!

"Stephen Mansfield there," said Garrett. "Expressing a confident belief of his chances of victory, I... think. Asger, uh, you're a goalkeeper like him... is this some kind of code?"
"No idea."
"Rrrrright. Moving on then."

quicksylver wrote:No roster yet..... doesn't matter, just means they're too cowardly to play their hand!! We probably wouldn't know any of them anyway

"I believe that was Fiona Sylver, who... seems to have mastered the English language."
"Again," said Asger, admiringly, "same strong approach. Doesn't matter who they are, you've still got to score the goals on the day."
Garrett cleared his throat. "And finally, uh..."

bigriggs wrote:ddddddddddddddddd

There was a brief silence. Then Rowan began, "I think this means Vince Riggs forgot to lock his keypad with his phone in his pocket."

OOC Note/Reader Participation: If there's any particular character from prior New Sideburn RPs you want to see as a guest host, telegram me and I'll write them in to one of the next updates!

by **Mizuyuki** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:14 pm

The Mizuyuki FA

Official Squad for the 52nd Baptism of Fire

Top : Frontal view of home and away kits
Bottom : Frontal view of third kit

Top : Back view of home and away kits
Bottom : Back view of third kit

Kits courtesy of Kirola Sportswear, Audioslavia

Related Info

Full national title :

The Democratic Republic of MizuyukiDemonym :

Mizuyukian

Staff, Tactics and Strategy

Staff :

Formation :

Starting XI

Style of Play :

+3.5
The Mizuyuki national team embodies possession play. Going by the maxim of a renowned football legend in Mizuyuki, "if you don't give the ball away, your opponents won't score.", the current manager Ishikawa Haruka insists on a progressive style, with emphasis on attack and possession rather than defence. However, Ishikawa's special variation of the Dutch Total Football married with a touch of the Italian Catenaccio system is a totally revolutionary concept in football, one that has enabled Mizuyuki to sweep to several wins during the system's trial period. The national team plays with a high defensive line, together with heavy use of the offside trap to nullify attacks. Ishikawa usually fields a technical and pacy center back capable of acting as a deep lying playmaker, while the four midfielders alternate their positions during games. The two wider midfielders are able to play as both wingbacks and advanced wingers, while the two central midfielders usually breaking up play, but an occasional upfield surge is not uncommon. Designed to catch the opponent by surprise with either total domination of possession or position swapping, this team is wildly unpredictable and enigmatic, to say the least.

Squad

#1 - TAKANASHI Kiyoko - 15 - Okinawa Breeze

A former protege of Ishikawa during her time at Okinawa Breeze, Takanashi was spotted during an annual talent competition by Ishikawa's scouting team at the tender age of 13. Acknowledged as Mizuyuki's first-choice goalkeeper, Takanashi is mentally resilient and tough, although her temperament can be a bit fiery. She stands at 187 cm tall, not the best height for a goalkeeper, but her tremendous athleticism allows her to make top-drawer saves when she's in form. However, she is known to be prone to dropping horrendous clangers, and it is an aspect of her game that Ishikawa is desperately trying to rectify. Despite her young age, she already has 20 international caps to her name as well as 12 clean sheets, a testament to Ishikawa's hard work in trying to mould Takanashi into a truly international standard goalkeeper.

#32 - MATSUMOTO Junjiro - 19 - Urawa FC

Matsumoto was once viewed as the natural successor to the coveted goalkeeper spot in Mizuyuki's national team. However, a horrific injury involving a pair of pruning shears and a lawnmower landed him in hospital for 7 months, during which Takanashi swooped in and usurped his spot. Now fully recovered, Matsumoto sports several unbecoming scars down the side of his face and chest, but nevertheless remains a safe pair of hands and a solid understudy for Takanashi. He is not as talented as Takanashi, but his height of 200 cm makes it easier for him to pull saves off despite that. Matsumoto still has a future with Mizuyuki, if he manages to dislodge Takanashi from the team.

#98 - OOSHIMA Takumi - 29 - Sapporo Strike

Ooshima is the most experienced goalkeeper around. Known for his solid shot-stopping ability, Ooshima remains one of the top goalkeepers in Mizuyuki's top division, and still has more years at the top level left in him. He is accepting of the fact that Ishikawa chose him as her third-choice goalkeeper for the Market Cup, having been the undisputed starter for years under Erizawa's tutelage, but has vowed to do his best to win over Ishikawa. Ooshima is a hardened veteran, and don't be surprised to see him in goal for Mizuyuki if Matsumoto and Takanashi don't live up to Ishikawa's expectations.

#2 - NAKANO Rin - 15 - Okinawa Breeze - Centre Back

Not to be confused with her twin sister Kohaku, Rin is yet another product of Okinawa Breeze's famous academy, and is just starting to show her immense potential. Despite her young age, she has constantly been first choice CB for her club team. It remains to be seen whether Rin can make the cut at international level, but her form at club level suggests that she can have a big impact on the national team. She has been struck with injury a couple of times during her debut season, but amazingly still managed to help her club along to 10 clean sheets in the 14 matches she played in, while also contributing at the other end with 3 goals and 1 assist. Rin is poised to be among Ishikawa's starters for the Market Cup, and only time will tell whether she can firmly entrench herself in her national team. A highly technical centre back, Rin stands at 180 cm in height and loves to surge forward in attack.

#12 - TOYOSHIMA Shigeru - 18 - Fukuoka Cannons - Centre Back

Simply put, Toyoshima is a loose cannon. As befitting his club. Toyoshima is undoubtedly blessed with talent, but his rather more questionable activities has led to an extended spell on the sidelines for both club and country. Nevertheless, Toyoshima has apparently reformed himself from delinquent to a general on the pitch, and the Market Cup might well be his big break for Mizuyuki. He just might do Mizuyuki proud if he keeps himself busy solely with footballing affairs. Toyoshima is the classic limited defender - he can go in hard on the tackle as well as hoof the ball upfield, but technical-wise he is among the most inferior of Mizuyuki's national team. However, he makes up for that by his great positioning, strength and deceptive speed. No matter how many balls are pumped into his area, Toyoshima will be on hand to scramble it out. When he plays, his opponents almost never win headers against him, as shown by the fact that he has won on average 5 headers per match in his own area. Expect him to score a handful of goals for Mizuyuki too, if he can keep his cool on the pitch.

#26 - NAKANO Kohaku - 15 - Okinawa Breeze - Centre Back

Kohaku is the antithesis to her twin sister Rin. While Rin makes the most of her technical abilities by bombing forward to support the attack, Kohaku prefers to lie deep and play balls to her teammates with her excellent distribution and vision. Once fielded as a target man by her youth coach at Okinawa Breeze, Kohaku made the transition to centre back to form a telepathic partnership with Rin following several severe injuries to fellow centre backs in the midst of her debut season. Towering over Rin at 192 cm, Kohaku is known for her passing range and defensive instinct. Her height also allows Ishikawa an alternative strategy by pushing her forward into attack, reprising Kohaku's former role as a target man. Although she is comfortable playing in both positions, Kohaku has said that she prefers playing in defence with Rin, so expect her to be fielded there except when in an emergency.

#3 - SUZUKI Rikka - 16 - FC Sendai - Left Back

Suzuki was once ridiculed by an opponent fan while playing for her local team, who apparently said that she would never amount to anything. The fan's jaw dropped and hit the floor when Suzuki outperformed every man on the pitch in her next game. Suzuki was subsequently offered a lucrative contract by FC Sendai, and she unhesitatingly made the switch into the big time. Despite her obvious talent, Suzuki has been used sparingly this season, with her head coach preferring Okabe Kazuhiko in her position, but Suzuki has shown obvious glimpses of her ability when afforded minutes on the pitch. A pacy wingback who focuses on attack more than defence, her crosses into the area are nothing short of sublime. She also likes to cut into the middle when given space and fire off rockets from distance with her right foot. Suzuki does not have many obvious weaknesses, with one shortcoming of hers being her limited strength. Capable of playing as a wide midfielder or winger, Suzuki will be making her full international debut in the Market Cup, and she will be looking to secure a place in the team for years to come.

#6 - OKABE Kazuhiko - 18 - FC Sendai - Left Back

Okabe is a traditional fullback. FC Sendai's defensive-oriented coach preferred him to Suzuki simply because he offered more solidity and made the defence more compact on his flank. Normally fielded as a defensive fullback or a defensive winger, Okabe is extremely tenacious in defence - he'll stick to his man and prevent him from even getting a sniff at goal. His mastery in defence is compounded by sensible attacking play - Okabe usually goes for the overlap and aims crosses into the box, unlike Suzuki's more progressive approach. Nevertheless, he does not compromise his own defence like Suzuki in attack, and so is a solid alternative option for Ishikawa at leftback. Expect him to be fielded against more attacking teams. His defensive nature will do him no favours with Ishikawa though, so Suzuki is primed to get the nod for most matches unless there is an obvious tactical reason for fielding Okabe.

#4 - SATO Mana - 14 - Shimazu Pulse - Right Back

Sato Mana hails from last season's league champions, Shimazu Pulse. Although Shimazu conceded some 40 goals over the course of 38 matches, the energetic Sato made sure that it wasn't more due to her excellent defensive performances down the right. More of a conservative player than Suzuki, Sato is also in the same mould as Okabe, but with more attacking verve and creativity. Sato's exceedingly impressive stamina allows her to bomb up the right flank on penetrating attacking runs, and she can serve as the key to unlock opposition defences and take them by surprise. Her defensive performances are not to be sniffed at, and she made a league high 5.2 interceptions per game last season as well as averaging 2.1 tackles per game.Sato is a consistent first choice for her club team, and she will strive to make her impression on Ishikawa in the Market Cup.

#19 - OKITA Tsukiko - 17 - Nagato Kaze - Right Back

Nagato Kaze, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, are bracing themselves for the loss of Okita, who was the major reason why they survived the relegation dogfight. Although she did not have the best of starts to the season, Okita quickly grew into the right back position and enjoyed a sustained run in the team, aided by the suspension of the former first choice right back for 10 matches following violent conduct. Okita seized the chance by the scruff of its neck and went on to contribute massively to Nagato's survival, ranking 5th on the league leaderboard for most assists, scoring 3 goals and helping the team to keep clean sheets in their last 4 games to spark a revival of their fortunes. Okita is widely acknowledged as the most talented member of Nagato Kaze, so it is no surprise that teams are trying to prise her away from her club. Okita herself has openly stated that she would not be committing her future to Nagato just yet, sparking a bidding war for her signature. A great performance on the international stage will only serve to further boost her hopes of landing a lucrative transfer.

#5 - AKIYAMA Yoko - 20 - Shimazu Pulse - Defensive Midfielder (C)

Akiyama Yoko, the captain of Shimazu Pulse, led her team to an unprecedented treble in both the league and the 2 domestic cups. Shimazu's excellent trophy haul was largely due to their talismanic captain, who was instrumental in breaking up opposition attacks and launching incisive through balls for her forwards. Akiyama's style of play led to her contributing 12 direct assists and 34 created chances, while her performance in the Tenno Cup final against Okinawa Breeze was noted for her domination of Okinawa's midfield. Akiyama is not hesitant in diving in for the tackle, and she has gained recognition for her passionate, committed style of play. Akiyama certainly has a bright future ahead of her, and Mizuyuki media have reported that a foreign club is considering testing the waters with a tentative bid for Akiyama. Nonetheless, Akiyama has been a one club player throughout her career, and it remains highly unlikely that she will depart Shimazu. A no-nonsense midfield enforcer, expect Akiyama to keep opposition attackers safely and securely under wraps. Ishikawa has recognised her brilliant leadership qualities and her ability to marshal her defence and midfield, and has appointed Akiyama as captain for the Market Cup squad.

#8 - MITAKA Satoshi - 18 - Hokkaido Taka - Defensive Midfielder

The embodiment of guts, tenacity, and sheer bloody mindedness. Mitaka, nicknamed the "Executioner" by Mizuyukian sports fans, has a reputation that makes attackers tremble in their feet. A strong defensive midfielder, Mitaka does not hesitate to give away fouls or chop down opposing players in order to halt the attack. He often tries to get a hatchet job in when the referee's not looking, but this unprofessional flaw of his has to be corrected if he is to stand any chance of selection for Mizuyuki. Nonetheless, Mitaka is an effective recycler of possession, and prefers to go for the simple pass, usually either to Akiyama, Tsukuyomi or a wide player, instead of trying fancy passes. Mitaka is an undisciplined player, as highlighted by his terrible league discipline record - 15 yellow cards and 4 red cards. Ishikawa may be taking a gamble that could backfire spectacularly by picking him, but if her risky pick does pay off, Mitaka could very well be the solid anchor man that Mizuyuki needs.

#7 - TSUKUYOMI Akira - 16 - Tokyo Revolution - Central Attacking Midfielder/Trequartista (VC I)

Tsukuyomi Akira is the maverick of Mizuyuki. His outstanding creative abilities have won him plaudits from footballers and fans alike, and Tsukuyomi was recently named the Mizuyuki Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year. Tsukuyomi has also been called the next Ishikawa Haruka, who was likewise notable in that she was also able to play a great range of passes and had incredible on field vision. Tsukuyomi, one of only two players from Tokyo Revolution to be named in the official squad for the Market Cup, is given unlimited creative freedom on the pitch. He can be seen drifting from one flank to another, attempting speculative long range efforts, or powering his way through the middle with his silky dribbling moves. Tsukuyomi has great flair and loves to take on his defender, so it is no surprise to see him running at the opposition defence. He is also a speed merchant, blazing past opposition defenders in a flash. However, Tsukuyomi has surprisingly little stamina and strength, an aspect that needs some serious work to correct. With 18 goals and 21 assists in the recently concluded league season, Tsukuyomi has been involved in the largest amount of goals scored in the league. At the tender age of 17, one wonders how far Tsukuyomi will go in football.

#10 - ISSHIKI Mika - 14 - Shimazu Pulse - Right Winger

Isshiki of Shimazu Pulse is known as the most prolific dribbler in Mizuyuki. Averaging a 7.3 league high in dribbles per game, Isshiki loves to take her opponent on with her dazzling footwork, amazing speed and tight close control. She keeps the ball very well indeed, and it is a nigh impossible task for an opponent to rob her of the ball one on one. However, her pace does negatively affect her ball control, and she is prone to losing the ball easily when running at full speed. Isshiki's strength also leaves a lot to be desired, although she more than makes up for it with her speed and dribbling ability. Other than that, Isshiki can be slightly selfish, and often looks to dribble even when a teammate is free, and she tends to cut inside and attempt to work the goalkeeper with long shots. Her whipping crosses are second only to Honda's, and are a handful for any defence to deal with.

#17 - HONDA Midori - 16 - Ryukyu Genesis - Left Winger/Forward

In contrast to Isshiki, Honda takes a more direct route towards goal. Instead of skipping past challenges, Honda makes it her job to sprint past defenders with pure agility and speed. She is statistically the fastest player in the Mizuyuki national team, and Ishikawa has been known to rely heavily on Honda in counterattacking systems. An advantage Honda holds over Isshiki is that she has good control of the ball even at high speeds, although her finishing is not on par with Mizuyuki's forwards. Her crossing is not to be sniffed at either. Usually bringing the ball to the byline and crossing with her stronger left foot, Honda's viciously curling crosses can prove to be a hazard to defenders, with no less than 10 of her crosses resulting in an own goal in the recently concluded Mizuyuki league.

#20 - MUGINO Kotone - 18 - Ryukyu Genesis - Central Midfielder

Mugino is the classic central midfielder. With Mizuyuki having an abundance of talent in the more specialised midfield positions, Mugino is usually deployed as a utility player who can theoretically play anywhere among the outfield positions. Her natural position is in central midfield, but Mugino is given tactical freedom by Ishikawa to patrol the field and help out the team whenever she can, be it at defending set pieces, attacking set pieces, providing a passing option or pressing to win back possession. Her passing and vision are quite limited, and she tends to look for the simple pass in midfield.

#22 - SATEN Ruiko - 17 - Mugen Chiheisen FC - Central Midfielder (VC II)

One of Mizuyuki's more dazzling stars, Saten is an undisputed first choice for Ishikawa. Saten often represents Mizuyuki in triathlons and endurance races, and as a result her stamina and strength is second to none. In addition, her tremendous explosive power gives her an edge over her opponents. She often arrives late in the box to take a shot during attacks, and is a prolific long range shooter. Saten is also given the responsibility to shield her defence on top of her attacking duties, and she manages to marry both responsibilities very well. Saten is the quintessential box-to-box midfielder, and her almost unlimited energy makes her perfectly suited for the job.

#32 - YAMAHA Miyako - 18 - Okinawa Breeze - Right Winger

Okinawa Breeze's leading light, the pacy Yamaha is famous for her dribbling and speed, just like Isshiki. She loves to take on defenders and slip past their despairing tackles, but her control is immaculate. However, Yamaha is known to get drawn into silly, unnecessary tackles, often compromising the team's position by receiving a card. Her passion for the beautiful game sometimes clouds her mind, and thus she is not viewed as first choice material by Ishikawa. She prefers to hug the byline while looking for support, and prefers to cut in rather than crossing near the corner flag.

#13 - TSUCHIMIKADO Mikoto - 16 - Mugen Chiheisen FC - Right Winger/Central Attacking Midfielder/Forward

Appointed Mugen Chiheisen's captain at 16 years of age, Tsuchimikado is far mature beyond her years. Her great scoring record in the league, 16 goals in 25 games, highlight how much of a talent she is. Her leadership qualities are excellent, while her versatility allows her to theoretically be deployed anywhere across the advanced midfield or in the forward line. A speedy midfielder, Tsuchimikado is quick on the counter and has impeccable vision, while her respectable dribbling skills and flair have helped her net many a goal. She can be a ball hogger at times, but her coaches have tolerated this shortcoming simply because her selfishness has often led to goals. Still, she is making her full international debut only now, so it remains to be seen whether she can step up to the plate. Widely touted to become Mizuyuki's next big star.

#15 - MISAKA Yuka - 18 - Ryukyu Genesis - Left Defensive Winger

Misaka Yuka of Ryukyu Genesis is an unconventional winger. Instead of trying to attack the opposition, Misaka mostly concentrates on streamlining the attack down her flank. She has good defensive capabilities, and often leaves the duty of attacking to her fullback. Misaka can also organise and start an attack by herself down the flank, although her dribbling ability is rather weak. Once she breaks up an opposition attack or receives the ball on the wing, Misaka tends to drift inwards looking for space or an opening to pass the ball through. Don't be fooled by her seemingly passive game - Misaka has a powerful long range shot and can make inattentive goalkeepers pay dearly with some long range rockets.

#9 - TSUKINO Ryuuko - 16 - Shimazu Pulse - Forward

One of the most prolific finishers in the Mizuyuki national team, it is said of Tsukino that she can hit the post on purpose ten times out of ten from the penalty spot. Tsukino's deadly shot allows her to be a classic poacher - all she needs to do is fire the ball at goal. There's not much to her game except shooting, but to Tsukino, all the other aspects are singularly unimportant. However, Tsukino is also quite decent physically. She is among the top 5 of Mizuyuki's national team in pace, and she can easily shrug off most weaker challenges. She does not make much use of her physical abilities though, and prefers to stay in an offensive position while waiting to apply the finish to her teammates' passes. Tsukino is virtually no help in defending, although she serves to pressure and harry the opposition when the ball is not in Mizuyuki's possession. One touch finishes are her specialty, and she is also great at delivering dead balls.

#11 - KOUSAKA Shizuri - 15 - Sapporo Strike - Forward

A classical target man, Kousaka towers over her fellow forwards at 195 cm. She is quite the strong player, but her agility on the ground is remarkable for her height. The penalty area is a happy hunting ground for Kousaka, with 98% of her goals for Sapporo Strike coming from there. Kousaka tends to dominate her opposition in terms of strength and height from corners, and it is no wonder that her supreme heading ability has contributed a truckload of goals for her club team. Deceptively quick on the ground, Kousaka's ball control and dribbling is acceptable given her position and playing style. Nonetheless, this is a frequently abandoned aspect of Kousaka's game, as muscling her way into the penalty area to either glance a header at goal or to smash the ball past the goalkeeper is infinitely easier given her build.

#18 - MIYAZAKI Misaki - 14 - Tokyo Revolution - Forward

Miyazaki is the complete forward. Affectionately referred to as Misaki-chan by her fans and teammates alike, Miyazaki has all the attributes required of a forward, be it pace, agility, finishing, strength or composure. Her immense talent has been showcased during her spell with Tokyo Revolution, and Miyazaki has been able to reignite the telepathic connection between her and Tsukuyomi at club level in the national fold, with 7 of her 10 international goals having been assisted by the mercurial playmaker. One among Mizuyuki's Generation of Miracles, Miyazaki is primed to take the competition by storm.

Player Roles

Captain - Akiyama Yoko
Vice Captain I - Tsukuyomi Akira
Vice Captain II - Saten Ruiko
Penalty Takers (in order) - Miyazaki Misaki, Tsuchimikado Mikoto, Tsukuyomi Akira
Direct FK taker - Tsuchimikado Mikoto (right), Isshiki Mika (left), Saten Ruiko (long)
Indirect FK taker - Akiyama Yoko
Corner taker - Isshiki Mika

Code: Select all: My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following: Choose my goalscorers Y Godmod scoring events Y RP injuries to my players Y (2-3 matches only) Godmod injuries to my players Y Hand out yellow cards to my players Y Hand out red cards to my players Y (max of 2 per match) Godmod other events Y

by **Mizuyuki** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:39 pm

Tried and Trusted?

Manager gambles once again - by not making any changes from Market Cup VI squad

Hey there, this is your local football fanatic and ardent supporter of Mizuyuki blogging from where it's all happening - the Baptism of Fire! Well, technically speaking I'm in Kinitaria right now, but given that the stadia have yet to be assigned matches, I'm sitting in a dingy hostel and bored out of my mind, which is why I'm taking this opportunity to share some of my thoughts regarding this Mizuyuki squad with all of my loyal readers.

First of all, I have to admit that this bunch of youngsters looks far more promising than what I've ever seen before. Previously, watching your toenails grow was an infinitely more interesting pastime than watching the Mizuyuki national team play. A decidedly defensive and containing style of play instilled by the previous manager had led to our team being ridiculed nationwide as the "headless chickens who just boot the ball upfield and hope it lands in the bloody goal." Not exactly the most glowing of endorsements, and it was the gospel truth too.

However, the Mizuyuki FA stepped in and assumed control of the situation. They duly terminated the manager's contract and drafted the famous Mizuyuki pro Ishikawa Haruka in to fill her predecessor's large shoes. Initially, some of us retained doubts that Ishikawa would be able to make the jump up from playing to management, but thankfully she's been able to prove us wrong in many ways. Ishikawa incurred the wrath of many football fans and ultras around the nation when she announced the Mizuyuki squad for the Market Cup's 6th edition, choosing to field only youngsters rather than the more experienced footballers that plied their trade in reputable leagues all around the world. Some even went so far as to criticise her selection as being a sign of defeatism - that Ishikawa had given up on the competition even before it had begun.

Her managerial ability silenced all her detractors and critics. With assured and progressive displays from the team securing Mizuyuki's place in the knockout stages, Ishikawa rapidly completed a stunning reverse in the hearts of Mizuyuki's sports enthusiasts, becoming the flavour of the month in no time. Ishikawa did even more to cement her position as she guided Mizuyuki to wins over both German Spanish Empire and the much vaunted Shadowbourne team. Unluckily, Mizuyuki narrowly fell by penalties to a Ko-oren side which they had previously defeated in the group stages and failed to make it to the final, while hosts Equestrian States edged the third place playoff against our lads 7-5.

A bad stroke of luck in our Market Cup debut apparently has not dislodged Ishikawa's trust in her "Generation of Miracles", and she seems to be persisting with the same squad in Mizuyuki's Baptism of Fire campaign. Up against far more imposing and strong opponents, will Ishikawa stay true to her ideals and instruct Mizuyuki to play the same offensive, possession-oriented style as in the Market Cup? Or will she park the bus and try to catch our opponents on the counter? It remains to be seen whether Ishikawa will embrace the possibility of adapting her strategy to fit our opponents rather than trying to dictate the game on our own terms. However, Ishikawa is a headstrong and determined person, so don't be surprised if Mizuyuki plays the same way as in the Market Cup. One thing's for sure though, this will be an interesting time to follow the Mizuyuki national team and their exploits.

The 52nd Baptism of Fire Everything Thread

The 52nd Baptism of Fire Everything Thread

Sudagiu Squad

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