World Cup 79 • CREDRAWK • RP Thread

[Tobiasia]

Tobiasia 4-1 Britonsea

Tobiasia nabbed a crushing blow on Britonsea after scoring four goals. Fraser Philips shot home 2 goals, Harry Lithgow 1, and Rosa Uzele managed the last goal in a crucial match at the Ark of Tobiasia. The match leaves Tobiasia at the top space in the competition!

Tobiasia 1-0 New Lusitania and the Algarves
Tobiasia 1-1 Schottia
Acapais 0-2 Tobiasia
Tobiasia 3-1 Juvencus
Tobiasia 5-2 Nova Anglicana
95X 1-2 Tobiasia
Sameba 0-1 Tobiasia
Tobiasia 4-1 Britonsea

Top goal scorers
Fraser Philips: 6
Rosa Uzele: 5
Lee Ryans: 3
Flint Eastgate: 2
Harry Lithgow: 2
Hannah Yun: 1

OOC: Sorry for a short RP very busy

[Ko-oren]

It was the last thing he expected. Katanmak's plan worked, at least for now. A starting eleven consisting of all the media favourites, with a strategy that stays close to his own plan for the team. The head coach was called a genius, the coach that Ko-oren needs right now and the only thing the journalists commented on was the fact that he played the bunch of 30-year-olds that had all the credit in the world. A 2-0 away victory at Rotztotzka, with a five-man defence only on the team sheet, but a four-man defence with an extra holding midfielder on the pitch. And that extra midfielder meant another midfielder could push up in possession, forming effectively a 4-3-3. And the fans were none the wiser. Ko-oren's deadbolt reputation was upheld, and meanwhile Katanmak's silent rebellion against the deadly 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 defences went unnoticed.

Meanwhile, Katherine was watching the head coach with a smirk. Both smug about her changes to Katanmak's approach, and proud of what the team achieved in so little time. As Katanmak walked past her, she could help but address him. "Katanmak," she said with a tone that was far more smugness than pride, "isn't there anything you'd want to say?"

Years of facing shifty strikers and not showing any doubt came through. "I don't really know exactly what you're going for... good practice today? Good performance against Rotztotzka, an opponent we'd really ought to beat?". As he said that, he immediately regretted the last remark. The Dragonflies were alright, but he knew they weren't in the position yet to call any game an easy win. "I mean," he continued, "we've come a long way this cycle, I've set out a course for this team at the start... and sure, I meant to piss off some journalists about the way we're playing!". "But that didn't really happen, did it? If anything, all of these newspapers and blogs are pretty stoked on us right now... and I didn't even play!", and until those last words, Katanmak completely forgot that they weren't equals on the field anymore, but she was still a popular player and he was now a new bumbling head coach. As always, she was the only one to pierce his words and his deadpan delivery. She knew he had a plan for the team, but she also knew that he didn't really have any kind of reassurance that his plan was going to work. "And not just that, Katanmak, but didn't I tell you to roll with the starters I picked?"

She was right, he had to admit. In the end, he didn't go with what his plan told him, and he played a strategy with a group of players that weren't up for that strategy. He only played them, and this was his inner battle all along, because 1) it would cop him the least flak in the media... or was it because 2) it was what Katherine told him to do? He admitted this to himself, but would never say that to anyone. Whether it would be reason number one or reason number two, there's no way he could ever give that away. And he would definitely continue his plan, turning a defence into a counterattacking team, until he reminded himself of the next opponent. Nephara. Nephara and Eura both were so far unbeatable teams in the group. The race for third was wide open with Ko-oren, Natanians and Nosts, Taeshan, Apox... storied nations, basically.

He completely forgot about Katherine standing there and allowed her the last word. Katherine, meanwhile, gave him a few seconds to formulate a response and when that wasn't coming, she took her moral victory and left.

In the meantime, the permutations ran through Katanmak's head. He was going to run with his strategy, even though that might be suicide against such an opponent. Or would he go with the traditional defence, not allowing Nephara to score? And would he pick the players that everyone else wanted, or would he start the players that would be best for the tactics he came up with? And he wasn't even sure what tactics that would be, and that landed him back at square one. His strategy? Or big defence? Players for the strategy? Or players to keep the media content...
==================
As it turned out, either choice was wrong. Nephara was a superior team and an adventurous Ko-oren team wasn't going to get a say. After the 0-1 and some close calls, Katanmak subbed on Katherine as a popular defender and changed the strategy from the sneaky 4-3-3 to the team sheet and fan-favourite 5-3-2. Not his proudest moment, and not his proudest sub, coming in after 30 minutes. He took the moral loss. But saving the goal difference came in first.

[Mercedini]

President Revan To Visit Mercedini As State Invitation Accepted
@ Capo Plaza - Zoloroni, Mercedini

It's official! Echani leader President Revan will visit Mercedini on a state visit after Dimitry Larmee's invitation was accepted by the Echani merely hours after the declaration was made. I comes after Eshan and Mercedini collaborated on several projects in South Covello, namely developing the local area and planning aid programmes in the recently liberated nation, with both the Mercedinian and the Echani armies getting to know each other rather well over the last week or so. The recent incident leaked by a Mercedinian publication prompted further admiration for the Echani Army within the general Mercedinian population, following their rescue mission of close to a dozen Mercedinian aid troops who were caught up in the former nation of Gregoryisgodistan by loyalists of the now fallen regime. A state invitation declared by the Mercedinian Prime Minister was sent to Eshan via a telegram yesterday, with President Revan quickly accepting the invitation, meaning he will be the first world leader to arrive in Mercedini on a state visit. It marks a new era in international relations for the two nations, with the leaders set to discuss diplomatic topics, including joint military exercises, goals in security and prosperity and likely a trade deal discussed and negotiated between the two leaders. While event organisers are tight lipped on the specific list of itinery which will happen during the State Visit, many expect the Prime Minster to show the Echani President around the nation, before holding a State Banquet and then going onto discuss diplomatic subjects like those mentioned previously.

Eshan will be the first nation to step foot on Mercedinian soil while on a state visit, marking the special relationship that the two nations have built up in recent weeks. While Eshan has many other closer allies in the region they are currently situated in, Mercedini hope to become one of their top trading and diplomatic partners outside Atlantian Oceania and the other well known sporting regions. Eshan has many lucrative sectors that could be tapped into while the state visit goes on, including the proficiency in green technology which the nation is famed for, and the wide ranging legal and medicinal cannabis sector which the nation is infamously known for in Mercedinian student culture. Arms sales is another point which could be raised by military and government officials, as they aim to set up a potential military exercise schedule between the two nations, leading to a better trained armed forces with better equipped equipment and skills, Mercedinians are proud of their army and will warmly welcome any allied nations who support their troops on their missions domestically and internatrionally. While the goals of the Echani leaders and officials have not been set out, reports are coming out from Rosaria that measures in security aspirational goals are towards the top of the Echani checklist for the upcoming discussions.

While Mercedinian troops have continued their aid programme in South Covello, all political and militarial eyes have now turned to a special date on the calendar for when a new diplomatic partner steps foot onto Mercedinian shores for the first time. There will likely be crowds lining the street of Zoloroni as the public gets a short glimpse into the blossoming relationship between Eshan and Mercedini.

World Cup 79 Qualification MD8
New Doltania 2-7 Mercedini @ New Doltania National Stadium - Brexham, New Doltania

Starting XI: Hosset • Aznelik - Ossun - Dosic - Park (Catessic 60') • Crasic (Kuznetsov 56') - Kraljic - Nymark (Patenkov 73') - Presic • Chillotov - Dostalok
NDL Goalscorers: unknown 45+1', 63'
MRC Goalscrorers: Chillotov 5', 23', 56', 81', 86', Nymark 39', Dostalok 90+3'

Following their disappointing loss to The Holy Empire in the previous match day, the Golden Eagles tied their highest ever goal tally in a single game as they hit seven past a rather lacklustre New Doltania in their own back yard, reclaiming second place in the group from Abanhfleft on goal difference. A disappointing game from Chillotov saw the 1860 Azoth score a rather pathetic five goals in New Doltania, which were backed up by further strikes from Nymark and Dostalok to complete a 7-2 thrashing away from home

With one match left in the first half of qualification, all attention now turns to the potential make or break match against Abanhfleft. Both teams are tied on points with only goal difference separating the two teams, Mercedini can draw and still remain in second place, level on points with Abanhfleft. A loss could see the Golden Eagles move three points behind the qualification spots, while a win will see them establish a three point gap with the potential of leaping up to first if other results go their way. It's a crucial match and could determine whether Lyndainium can take his foot off the gas or whether it will be an uphill battle from there.

Up Next: Abanhfleft at Home (?)

[Equestrian States]

Ponies in Trouble, Qualifying Dreams Fading Quickly
by Steve McNotapony

STALLIONGRAD - Expectations were mixed entering the Ponies' World Cup 79 Qualifying campaign. The team hadn't been active in nearly seven years thanks to the Discord's imposed stasis, which left open the possibility that the Ponies might be a bit rusty and not be at their competitive best. As such, some expected a rough qualifying campaign for the Equestrians, while others thought that the Ponies would quickly regain their edge and contend for a qualifying berth like they did before the so-called time jump.

   GROUP 10                  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  The Holy Empire         8    7   0   1    25   14  +11    21
 2  Mercedini               8    6   1   1    25   11  +14    19
 3  Abanhfleft              8    6   1   1    23   11  +12    19
 4  Alpine Union            8    3   5   0    14   11   +3    14
 5  Equestrian States       8    3   2   3    11   14   −3    11
 6  Lisander                8    3   0   5    19   19    0     9
 7  Indusse                 8    1   3   4     8   15   −7     6
    South Toronto           8    1   3   4    17   24   −7     6
 9  Bjornoya Islands        8    1   2   5     8   15   −7     5
10  New Doltania            8    0   1   7    10   26  −16     1
   Mercedini (+14) ahead of Abanhfleft (+12) on goal difference

After eight matches, those with more reserved expectations have been proven correct, as the Equestrian States national team has not performed well, sitting in fifth-place eight points and a large gap in goal difference out of a qualifying spot. Having been beaten at home by the three sides ranked ahead of them, and only managing a draw against the 80th-ranked Alpine Union, the Ponies have been extremely underwhelming on defense and going forward. Fans could be expected to understand some struggles in what is an admittedly difficult group, one of the toughest draws in the tournament, but the Equestrians have failed to keep their higher-ranked opponents within one goal in any of their three matches, a troubling sign.

Pearly White will have her work cut out for her in the second half of qualifying, with visits to all four teams currently ahead of the Ponies looming. Given that daunting challenge, the majority of even the most optimistic fans no longer expect the Ponies to qualify for the World Cup, instead holding out hope that the Equestrian States will show enough spirit in the second half to earn an invitation to the Cup of Harmony from whoever ends up hosting the multiverse's consolation tournament. Though the Hoofball Association publicly holds out hope that the Ponies will qualify for the World Cup, quiet rumors have begun to swirl that Pearly White's job may depend on the Ponies at least earning a spot in the Cup of Harmony.

Still, before the Equestrians can even begin to worry about the challenges that await them in the second half, they will need to first see out the first half of qualifying as they travel to South Toronto for their final game before the mid-qualifying break.

[South Toronto]

Chapter 2: Silvent City...


Axel walked into the room, confused as to why he was being called for a meeting.Whilst waiting he glanced at the clock and saw it was 3:45 pm.Then, the door opened, and a security guard walked out of the room, staring at Axel.The man said,"They're waiting for you mate, you can-a go in now sir."Axel simply nodded and walked into the room where the President, Vice President, and both executives were waiting for him with concerned faces.

"Ah, Axel, good to see you! How are you on this fine day?" said President Opkey Jakaochka."Oh, it's been an interesting one Opkey, to say the least.And you?" replied Axel.He looked around the room for a window, he was perspiring heavily and felt like he was cooking from the inside out."Oh good, good. Here, take a seat and close the door, please." uttered Opkey. Axel was confused, why had he been called to a meeting but did the task he was asked and sat down."Ok, what is the issue?"
"Well...you see," began Opkey "we here-neither the STFA or the fans- aren't particularly happy with ya performances Drawing 2-2 to a side that is lower than ours in the world is simply embarrassing.We have lost 4 and drawn 3 times so far.To be honest, our faith in you as the STFA is very low" asserted Opkey

Axel was astonished about what Opkey Jakaochka.He knew he tried his hardest in managing and was still relatively new to it, but different scenarios were contemplated by Axel."I don't understand," he questioned, "Are you sacking me from the national team?"

Silence filled the room.

Suddenly, two masked individuals burst into the room, both carrying uzis.Panic then ensued in the room as Executive John-Dough
James pleaded, "P-p-please don't sh-shoot, I have a-".That was his last words as he was shot multiple times in his face.The other masked individual shot the other Executive Kylie Seawell Kiera in the chest, as she died almost instantly.Now the President and the Vice-President were rushing to escape the slaughter taking place, however, with a swift turn, President Opkey Jakaochka was sprayed with bullets right into his back, as he fell screaming in pain and agony as he died seconds later.At the same time, bullets were shot into the Vice President, shooting him in the right leg, chest, left arm, left hand and in the stomach.

The masked individuals then ran out of the room, but one of them looked at Axel and murmured "Good luck bruv" and ran out.Axel stood there, baffled and in hysteria about what had just happened.

The individuals who opened fire in the STFA Building killing 45 people and injuring 342 other people were part of the Raykain group.And their leaders were Ruby and Rashard, who organised this mass shooting.They wanted to send a 'message' to the South Toronton National Football Team to perform better.

Axel stood in awe as he now felt pressure on him by this group.He needed a decent result over the Equestrian States, because if he didn't, his life may be on the line.

Quality.That's what he lacked in the squad. Axel got a boat to Anthian Bridge, thinking of a good teamsheet.Here's what he thought of.

[Natanians and Nosts]

It may or may not contain exagerations about the content of Al-Qurija's last goal.

Natanians and Nosts had everything to be 3rd,but itself!

Everything was perfect for Natanians and Nosts to obtain the third position at its group in the World Cup Qualifiers,but a defeat to Al-Qurija,from the distant Sonnel,had the team being fifth.
The Tyrannosauri natanicii had control of the majority of the match,but the last two minutes saw Al-Qurija surprinsingly take the win off our hands.Natan Nínnio Gonçalo scored at the 19th minute of the first period with a shot that Ayman Jawdat Sultan had no chance in catching,but at the 24th minute,after several failed Natanians and Nost attempts at scoring,a foul commited by Mihail Heitor Fostar at Al-Din Mahomet El-Hashem 14 metres from the midfield,that generated him a yellow card,lead to a series of events that resulted in an accidental Qurijan goal,Ion Cáius Ademélsson,at the 32nd minute,received a ball from Lucas Lucius Vit at a legal position and scored,but the flagman was at a bad angle and said it was off-sided,and the referee agreed with him.
Natanians and Nosts began the second period atacking with close misses by Natan Nínnio Gonçalo and Gabriel Ápio Silva,but it was not until the 27th minute that they would score again,Ion Cáius Ademélsson received a cross,after head attacks failed during a corner,from Austin Mihai Munteănu and scored "a painting".The team had more good chances but failed to score again.After a kick from the midfield that accidentaly touched a Natanians and Nosts' palyer,Al-Qurija scored after a corner with Jabr Azfal Abdullah,at the 3rd minute of four of stoppage time,two full minutes later Qusay Binyamin Ajam crossed the ball to Natanians and Nosts' area and Umar Thamir Nagi hit the ball (with his hand) almost spiking it and João Foster couldn't deffend,it just missed a few milimetres.
The team will face UICA-nightmare Taeshan before the mid-qualifing pause.If the team wants to be third and improve its chances of qualifying,they must defeat Taeshan and root for a tie between Apox and Kohoren,Kogoren,Koɦoren,Ko-oren,and not forget to hope for Nephara and Eura to draw.

[Valanora]

The nation did not know what to do, days after Tobias' speech to the people and there seemed to be a growing divide among the populace. The majority of the elven population seemed to believe in the words that Tobias was saying, especially as he had the support of the High Priestess, but there was a loud if small minority of elves and clergy who refuted Tobias' speech. The clergy claimed Tobias to be a heretic to think himself to be worthy of being graced by the Elder Goddess, something only meant for other divine beings like Elune and Melikki, even if the latter was not a Goddess for "good". Tobias might have been a chosen of Elune, but no elf not matter how good or favored by Elune could be worthy of the attention of an Elder God, they were beyond knowing for those who lived on the mortal plane. If that was a lie, so to must have been his accusation that the Calling that was starting to spread like wildfire among the devout was a false one, and it was their duty to prepare those who would heed the Calling for the passage beyond the horizon.

The split between the religious leaders, with the High Priestess, Arch Priestess, and several other high ranking priests and priestesses compared to the lower rings of the clergy made things even more complicated. It was if the brain of the nation was saying one thing but the heart was saying another, leaving the body completely unsure of what set of guidance to heed. For his political enemies, this provided the perfect opportunity to call into question not only Tobias' judgement, but the Raynor hold on the monarchy, with a group beginning to call for the Raynors to be stripped of their crown and it given to one of the other noble households across the Empire, even when the likes of House Soldar voiced their continued support for the Raynors. Even the custodial forces in Sabinal were at a loss as to what to do, as they knew that the viceroy and his council had heard the Calling even if most of the custodial forces had not, leaving another dynamic split in what should have been a solid force for good in the region.

"At least the government of Eshan sends their support, even if they are ultimately unable to do anything of substance. You can use that show of support as proof to the doubters that the rest of the world continues to believe you and your words of wisdom, dear cousin. I know this past week has been hard on you, to see some of the accusations being bandied around, but you did drop a major bomb shell on them and have made them doubt their faith. All sects of Elunism say that the Calling is a holy event that beckons all those worthy back to the undying realm that we elves came from. Even if it not the truth and it is just a pull to move on to something else, to put doubt into such a sacred event is the cause of such discord."

"I know cousin." Tobias said calmly, stirring the spoon is his tea cup, with the latest issues of Valanora Times laid out on the table between he and Artanis, the front page covering the various divides among the populace. As a measure of relief, he had opened up the sports section instead and read up on how the Marauders were performing in World Cup Qualifying. He wondered if any of the players had heard the Calling or were aware of the growing tension in the nation? Sport had a way of mending bridges by bringing people together under a common goal and banner, but it also could be used as a distraction or completely separate from the ongoings of the nation. "I knew very well what hornet's nest I was going to disturb with the speech, but you were right in that they needed to know and the High Priestess was right in that it would cause discord even if she believed it to be the best course of action as well. Now, we race against time, though what else I am supposed to do is beyond me, maybe they are right and it was just a fever dream. If I am supposed to save our people, why would Gladerial not have told me how or when the end was due?"

"The way you made her sound cousin, is that she might not have even been able to find the right words to describe such an event. You said she spoke of time as if it were like beads of sand that could be bandied around and not something concrete and defined. If this is true, even if an Elder Goddess that she may be, she might not have had the capability of telling you the how or why of your task. Gods are funny like that, so the humans say."

"Instructions unclear, please return duties."

"I don't think it works that way, cousin."

"Oh it would be far too easy if it did."

[Kita-Hinode]

Yamabuki, Somei-Yoshino, Hinodejin Empire
IGACO Headquarters

"Fanfiction Palace - Your go-to place for Fanfiction!"

Two men stared on a big computer screen and that's the first thing they could see.
[Man 1] - Uh... Are you sure this is where the guys from BRT told you to look at for material about our IP?
[Man 2] - I guess so. They said we'd find a big site with a very minimalistic design.
[Man 1] - Doesn't look like it's very... canon, I guess.
[Man 2] - I'm certain that this is very believable. That intern of theirs wouldn't lie like that...

They drag down the bar.
Both bat an eye at a story.

[Man 2] - "Hey, hello! It's your boy Mark with his lovely Machamp wife Medusa-"
[Man 1] - That doesn't sound very canon...
[Man 2] - I'm sure it's just a gag. Let's see the next one!
[Man 1] - "The end has arrived! Only Sunrise's half-brother Moonshine the Half-Zorua can-"
[Man 2] - Uh...
[Man 1] - Another of those gags, I take.
[Man 2] - Y-y-yes!
[Man 1] - "155 years ago, Sir Sunrise's long lost-twice removed cousin Enerjak"
[Man 2] - That's probably another gag as well...
[Man 1] - Sensing a pattern here.
[Man 2] - Psh! Look at this one, this one has to be real.
[Man 1] - I'm pretty sure it's another gag.
[Man 2] - "Hullo, this is another Sunora fic!"
[Man 1] - ...What's a Sunora?
[Man 2] - I guess it's another gag.

Time went on...

[Man 1] - Will you just quit? I'm sure the BRT intern was just making fun of us there.
[Man 2] - I can't believe it... Why would anyone do such a thing to us?
[Man 1] - Maybe because he's an intern and doesn't care?
[Man 2] - I guess...
[Man 1] - How about this one? My Eternal.

The first man clicked a link and soon enough the page of the story appeared.

[Man 1] - "AN: Special fangz (get it, coz Im goffik) 2 my gf (ew not in that way) terra, bloodycryz666 4 helpin me wif da story and spelling. U rok! Justin ur da luv of my deprzzing life u rok 2! MCR ROX!"
[Man 2] - What's a MCR?
[Man 1] - Probably Matthew City Rangers. Surprised you'd ask that of all things. What's a Goffik, per example?
[Man 2] - I guess it's a native of faFictania and...

The two look down and find a trademark of faFictania on the page.

[Man 1] - ...Yeah, he was trolling us.
[Man 2] - THE FIEND!

[Apox]

Luxulya St. Cleer was sat in her office, in the new IFA buildings near the national stadium - the Stadium of Apox - based just outside Dwile in what was previously the sleepy little town of Hyton. Qualifiers so far had been about par, they were in fourth place which matched their seeding although they were one of four teams vying it out below Eura and Nephara - who were both running away with qualification.

Although their public aim was very much still to qualify for the World Cup, everyone in the IFA had always known it would be an uphill struggle in the group containing Nephara and Eura. Sammie Puskas, IFA President, had been round earlier on in the day, and had quietly confided in her that third place, and a good showing at the Cup of Harmony, would be satisfactory for the higher ups. And they would have third place (barring something spectacular from Taeshan or Natanians and Nosts) going into the second half of qualifiers if they managed to win against a strong Ko-oren side at home in the final game of qualifiers. To be honest they needed to - so far they'd won against the group minnows but had yet to beat one of the "established" teams in this group full of teams who should really find themselves further up the KPB ranks.

A knock at the door signified the arrival of Sverre Devold - her assistant manager - and she called him in. Sverre had been a wonderful player in his day and he was a wonderful man to work with. Calm, personable, optimistic - much like many Buyanese which was surprising viewing the state of their country.

"Afternoon Luxulya, lovely day isn't it?"
"Yeah, summer is definitely on its way thank god. Have you been enjoying the time off?"
"Oh certainly. Been back home for a few days to see family. Good to be back at it now though."
"Definitely too restless doing nothing. Shall we get down to it?"
Sverre sat down opposite her as she pulled out her file with notes on the team.

"So then, halfway point."
"Halfway point."
"Let's start with the core. Alpha, James, Imriel."
"Alpha's looked a little off the boil, but he's still been our most consistent goalscorer and threat, no doubting it. Still head and shoulders the most technically proficient attacker in the squad. Imriel has come on leaps and bounds since she joined the Moths, and that's shown." He paused, "James... James is a damn fine player, but..." Luxulya raised an eyebrow,
"But what?"
"I'm just not sure if he's completely captain material. He's our best midfielder, but sometimes being the best doesn't mean captaincy will suit you."
"Didn't seem to hinder you." Luxulya pointed out.
"You're too kind, but the point still stands."
"Fair enough. I'll keep an eye out, but he's still my captain until the end of finals."
"Point taken."

"And so we move onto the others."
"Aye." Luxulya paused, "Defensive midfield. Do we think that's a problem at all?"
"Well. Bryton [Menheniot] is an excellent player, definitely national team standard, but you still get the feeling he might be a little too green at this level. The only problem with that is that Wizzard [Mormentor] still doesn't look like he has the defensive clout to be a mainstay of the national team - despite his excellent season with Azuris."
"You're right there. Could be worth giving him more opportuniti..." Luxulya cut him off,
"He's had plenty of opportunities with the first team, but he always ends up looking like a bit of a weak link. He'll likely get some more game time, but perhaps we need to be looking elsewhere?"
"Could move one of the midfielders back? Llorent [Llangolan]? Aspen [Bridges]?" Luxulya shock her head to the last one,
"Aspen gives so much to the attack I don't think we want to waste him looking after the defence. Llorent, he could be an option."
"Or we look to our defenders? Etzy [Dialogue] looked alright in the game we gave her? He's only played once, but Hecates [Ruarisson] could probably manage fairly well a bit further forward."
"Hmm." Luxulya pondered the issue, "You're right there are plenty of options if our neither of our first two nail it down. Now then," she grinned, "out wide."

Sverre smiled.
"Yeah, that's a tricky one. So many players who could fit in."
"Or be shoe-horned in."
"Yes that's true."
"Imriel played well there in the games she's been more advanced."
"With respect, Imriel is good enough where we could put her anywhere and she'd still do alright. No, if we bring her as one of the central, deeper options, it gives us more attacking threat."
"Good point. I know we've tried Lucan [Palmisano], Winston [Arrowsmith] and Miriam [Oakstone-Sandoval] a lot, but they've looked more comfortable as out and out strikers, with the possible exception of Miriam. Titan [Vladimirescu] has done well, I think we should give him a few more starts, a few more chances to look at him."
"What about Clarissa [Ephraim-Garza]?"
"Inexperienced, but full of vitality. She was pivotal against Al-Qurija. Let's wheel her out in a big game next half, see what she can do."
"Bold shout, but one I can get on board with. Christ is that the time," said Luxulya, glancing at the clock, "Best go have a look at training, we can finish this off later."
"Sure, sure."

Nephara 2-1 Apox Strongbow 51', Townsend 63', Cathar 83'
NPH: Tsattalios -- Rafford, Konoval, Scharner, Lohengrin -- Misidjan (Chilmark 86'), Tarashaj (Klein 61') -- Szalai, Gosforth (c), Strongbow -- Hawke (Cathar 76')
APX: Steele -- Fox (Beck 79'), Raynerson, Jekyll, Redmond -- Menheniot, Palmisano J. (c), Townsend -- Oakstone-Sandoval (Llangolan 76'), Gandhi A., Vladimirescu (Arrowsmith 86')

Akatsurai 1–2 Apox Oakstone-Sandoval 22', Palmisano J. 53'
AKT: Unknown
APX: Steele -- Richardson, Raynerson, Scott, Belgrave -- Menheniot, Palmisano J. (c), Ingersleben (Bridges 76') -- Oakstone-Sandoval, Palmisano L. (Mercurier 67'), Vladimirescu

[Eura]

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

Months ago...

There had to be a bad week eventually. Lewis, that old fool, he'd played himself and my administration into a corner like a bloody amateur. Disposing of the flaming carcass that had become his political career, veering towards our steady horse of state if you want to call it that, had been my top priority for a week. Our polls had slipped for the first time since the election and to make it worse bad news from the war had upset the collective stomach of the nation. A bloody encounter over the abandoned Sameban town of Grebin had ended with two thousand Euran casualties over a few days and there was nothing to show for it. The usual suspects in the populist circles and the media were calling for heads to roll, armchair generals to be led to the slaughterhouse of public opinion. I'll never bend to these pitiful attempts at managing my government but I will show no mercy to those who make me manage it for a second more than necessary. Lewis Morris had to go. Military officers were shuffled and castigated privately. The Office of National Statistics were told that if I saw productivity figures like that again from the heavy metals sector, I'd fucking choke the chairman of the National Steel Board.

If you're juicy freshly served meat, your only way off the chopping block is to kill, and throw the bawling masses something fresher. Luckily for us there's a man whose job it is to do that. Guarded as ever, he approached me after a cabinet meeting as I uncorked the Chateau Moforin. Euran wine doesn't have the finest reputation but I like it. Any alcohol that lives up to the moniker 'poison' has earned my respect. Doyley was skeptical. 'You still drink that shit?'
'There's a war on, John. Buy Euran or don't buy at all. Fancy a glass?'
'I'll have to decline, there's not enough time. Some of us are expected in Falourr tomorrow morning you know.' I turned to him and set my glass on the table. He knew what the score was but the body language cues I was getting were not what I'd normally expect. 'Tomorrow mornings a long way away, you know.' I tried to offer a hand at least to run through the increasingly silvery hair. He'd become so much part of the furniture that it was easy to forget he wasn't much older than me. 'Look, we have to solve this.'
'There's a very obvious solution, Chairman. You lie back and think of Eura.'
'Very witty but really, you know it can't go on. It was all fun and games while you were Foreign Secretary and flying all over the world. All those little meetings and evenings together. Now you're PM its too visible. Get married or tell the people the nation's children are your own but for goodness sake, you can't fuck your spy chief forever.' He was attractive because he was my match in more ways than one. At this moment in time it was an offputting trait. He was my weakness and he was right, it had to be dealt with somehow.

Further to the point, he could read my mind. 'You're going to send me packing then?' Damn. 'I expect you're not going to ask nicely.'
'I'm not trying to do that to you. I couldn't. You're too...too...'
'...too much like you. Ruthless enough to see it coming. I guess years of war and espionage does that to a man.' It was hard, knowing he was the only one who really got it, saw through my mirage of public image and private reputation. And how screwed up was it that this guy witnessed the Mytanar genocide and comes out thinking I'm the one who is broken? No. Not broken. Different? Dwelling on it diverted my attention for a few moments before I composed myself. 'Yes. Pretty much that's it. I do care about you, but you know I can't make this a normal arrangement. Can you imagine the media circus? It would be a scandal. I'm sorry for teasing you like that, I can't be with you. Not right now.'
'Neither can I, yet here we are.'
'Here we are.' There was a prolonged pause. After that it all happened pretty quickly. A hand here, a tug of the tie there. A welcome and thrilling distraction before I'd have to ask for a different kind of favour. Once the personal work was done we returned to the professional seamlessly. 'This week has been pretty atrocious.'
'And how are you going to deal with it Amy?'
'Kill.' He smiled. 'Good plan. Let me give you some ammunition.'

Parliament is always in a temper tantrum for some reason or other. I intended to stoke it as much as possible the next day. Here she was, the Capital Party's first female leader, Catherine Lathersby - awful name unless you're a tabloid writer - trying desperately to rescue her flailing organisation from the electoral gutter it had conspired to put itself in. Years ago they were the majority partners in a coalition where I had my first cabinet job. Since then the tables had turned pretty sharply. Lathersby had me on the back foot briefly. 'You know Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition from the Social Party might not have a realistic alternative, but we do. We've been backing true Euran patriots on Euran territory illegally occupied by Electrum. Meanwhile, you've got the blood on your hands of thousands of Euran soldiers being wasted by your cautious, pessimistic, dare I say it defeatist strategies!' An angry cheer from the opposition benches contested by my own people vigorously. There were murmurs of discontent behind me though. Catherine kept going, her allocated question being as broad and pitifully preachy as usual. 'In a week where one of Ms Yarley's cabinet has admitted to gross misconduct, she's been forced to let him burn so that she can cover for the incompetence of military officers she hired. And what about Electrum? Can the Prime Minister assure the Euran public she has a plan to accelerate the referendum plans announced months ago?' I stood up to answer with my response already formulated in my head.

John had given me the ammunition that strictly he shouldn't have done in an official capacity. He knew better than anyone though that I would fight for Eura to the end, and these Capital bastards couldn't be trusted to do anything but line their own pockets. Sometimes even democracy needs to compromise a little, as much as I can never admit that in public. Normally I'd need a minute or so to unpick this but not today. 'Firstly, the war is being won and will continue to be won under a Liberal government. This is the promise we gave to the people, and they returned us with an overwhelming majority.' Roaring approval backed me from the rear. Excellent. 'Mr Morris resigned of his own volition and I accepted that resignation for the reasons outlined in my previous answers. And maybe if you stopped playing politics with the deaths of our soldiers, then you'd have more dirt to dig up on us with all that spare time you have contributing nothing to the running of this country!' Another good dig but maybe a bit forced, less applause this time. Not that it was going to matter in a moment. 'Here's a more interesting question though, if you'll forgive me for an unusual deviation Mr Speaker.' The Speaker nodded along with an air of suspicion defining his expression. 'When I was supposedly running this country into the ground this week, where were you?' Catherine looked a bit taken aback and that was her biggest mistake. For a career politician she had the most woeful poker face. She must have known right away. Maybe even suspected we knew beforehand. 'The Leader of the Capital Party was too busy making friends in high places, or should I say, all the wrong places!' I brought up my mobile phone and displayed the picture on its large screen for all to see. Never before had a Prime Minister publically humiliated an opponent using a mobile phone in Parliament. It was absurd, pantomime, insulting to the office. That would be the complaints from these weasels anyway but they mean nothing to me. I'd gutted my prey, and would leave it for the vultures to gather.

[Ceni]

Will you be Dancing in the Light after these results? Cutoff.

[Bostopia]

6 months after meeting Emperor Boston

---174 Avon Lane, Prinharrow, Fort Boston---

‘…and I understand that although Bostopia lost their last match, Brian, they’ve still got a chance of qualifying?’ came a female voice from the television, as the shot flicked over from the news presenter over to the male sport presenter.

‘That’s right Kathy. Yes, Bostopia may have lost their game away at Eastfield Lodge by three goals to two, but it was a typical spirited performance from Firgard’s team which has won them plaudits and still leaves them with a mathematical chance of qualifying. However, of course, the chances of this happening are incredibly slim, as they’re vastly inexperienced on the world football scene nowadays and are already 6 points behind Eastfield Lodge, who are the second placed team. Going into the game, Firgard said she was hoping for…’ the presenter’s voice became drowned out by Nora’s, calling from upstairs

‘Frank, are you watching the sport with Rachel again? She’s going to be obsessed by the time she’s seven months!’

The baby gurgled a little, a smile crossing her face at the sound of her mother’s voice. Frank pulled his own face at her, though the six month old wasn’t as impressed by that. Frank noticed her eyes were drawn elsewhere, staring at the television set. The week’s Rugball highlights were being shown and she was transfixed on ‘Bostopia’s sport’.

‘She’s watching the Rugball!’ Frank shouted upstairs, almost disdainfully. He wasn’t a big fan, despite it being the second-most popular game in the country. An odd hybrid of football and rugby, almost backwards, a type of football being played with a rugby ball. A ball which could be picked or flicked up into the hands and ran with, or kicked along the ground as per a football match, calling for players who had very different skill sets. While the game did feature some crunching tackles, it wasn’t necessarily a violent game and embodied a lot of the respect that the rugby game provided, with a more football-aimed fanbase, with the crowds singing their team on for most of the match.

Nora, who had now walked downstairs, poked her towelled head around the door, seeing Rachel’s eyes absolutely transfixed on the brightly-coloured screen while her father held her on one of his knees. Frank turned toward the door and smiled.

‘You know it’s not the sport she’s watching don’t you?’ Nora asked reassuringly. ‘She just likes the colours and the movement. See, that team’s wearing pink! She’ll like girly stuff like the rest of my family.’

Nora came from a family of five girls, her father, Luke, giving up trying for more after the fifth was born. There was always rumours in the family that’d he’d had ‘the snip’ at 32, mere days after the fifth girl, Nora, was born, though he flatly denied them, claiming instead that the lack of testosterone in his household was giving him ‘female sperm’ and refusing to waste any more of his efforts on trying to make boys. Luke had served in the military like nearly all Bostopians, though stayed on three more years to 21, at around the time his first was conceived and wasn’t one for mixing his words or worrying about offending anybody. He’d spent most of his youth on football pitches playing for local parks teams, though it never amounted to much other than a couple of trials at 18, settling for staying in the army instead for a while.

Frank smiled at his wife, then looked at his baby, still transfixed on the sport. ‘Yeah,’ he said, looking at the fans dressed in novelty pink outfits, which had nothing to do with the teams on the pitch, ‘maybe she’ll support those guys eh?’ Nora raised her eyebrows in a smile, thinking she’d won the day, then walked back away in her towels and slippers upstairs to continue getting ready for their morning walk. Frank liked to plan ahead. He knew that on a Sunday there would be a football game being played on one of the pitches in the park they would be going past, and so long as there wasn’t too much swearing, he’d get away with watching five or ten minutes of it while his wife checked her phone and uploaded the latest pictures of ‘baby with grass’ or ‘baby near tree’ or ‘baby sleeping whilst on a walk’ ‘#boredwatchingfootball’ to social media. He smiled to himself and stood up with just as the Rugball highlights stopped, though he wasn’t sure if it was the sudden movement or the television not being as bright and colourful as it had just been that made the baby upset.

Half an hour later, after having to change the baby and once Nora was ready, they managed to get to the park. Already, there’d been at least three photos of the baby taken. Prinharrow wasn’t one of the larger areas of town, despite it being a little posh, so while it did have parks, Frank argued they weren’t large enough to make a walk really worthwhile and they were too pristine to take a baby around anyway. When she was old enough to run, jump and make a mess, there’d be too much tutting and minding the begonias to really enjoy herself. So instead, they were here, at the side of the football pitch, as planned. Frank stood infront of and slightly to the side of Rachel in her buggy, so that if any errant crosses-come-shots-come-spoons came toward her, he’d easily step in the way.

‘Who’s playing mate?’ Frank asked one of the subs, who was stood on the sidelines with his hands firmly in his pockets.

‘Hill Hotel and –‘ the sub hesitated slightly as a delightful low cross was played in from the right wing to the edge of the box, arriving at the foot of the blue and red stiped side’s number 8's foot at about the same moment as Rachel (unbeknownst to those around her) kicked her own right foot out. The ball looped into the air and dipped nicely into the top-left corner of the goal, completely flummoxing the goalkeeper who expected it to go the other way. He could only put his arms out and stare accusingly at his teammates who he didn’t feel should have let that guy go free, and his language said as much. ‘Great goal Dan!’ the sub yelled, Frank making similar comments. ‘Yeah, that’s my lot, Ranbourne in red and blue stripes. We’ve just gone a goal up.’

Frank felt a sharp poke in the side as Hill Hotel kicked off again. ‘You’ve seen your goal’ his wife said, ‘now let’s go, Rachel’s getting fidgety, she wants to get moving again.’

‘Alright,’ Frank said, stepping back behind the buggy and taking the brake off, ‘let’s get you moving then.’

[South Covello]

Gregist Regime Trial, Part II

Bob Borders: Before the prosecution continues, the people would like to call a rebuttal witness.

Alexandra Haroldson: Objection, Your Honor! The defense can wait their turn!

Judge Rines: The defense may proceed, in order to allow counter-testimony to be presented.

Bob Borders: Very well, the defense calls Gertrude Pullman.

Judge Rines: Ms. Pullman, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Gertrude Pullman: I do.

Judge Rines: Proceed, Mr. Borders.

Bob Borders: Ms. Pullman, what is your relationship with the defendants?

Gertrude Pullman: I am a personal friend of Lord Almighty Gregory, the One True Lord, who I love dearly, and we sang a duet at WorldVision once.

Bob Borders: And what is your opinion of Lord Almighty Gregory?

Gertrude Pullman: I accept his claims that he is Lord of the Universe and believe that he is the most wonderful person I have ever met. I want to frolic with him in the fields while hitting people with handbags. All Hail Lord Almighty Gregory, He is the Greatest!

Bob Borders: So, in your opinion, the defendants should be acquitted?

Gertrude Pullman: Yes, and given medals of honor for their heroics.

Bob Borders: Nothing further, Your Honor. Your witness, Ms. Haroldson.

Alexandra Haroldson: You are aware the so-called Lord you love is responsible for the deaths of over 100 million of his people, correct?

Gertrude Pullman: Yes, isn't it lovely? I think it's just wonderful.

Alexandra Haroldson: In exchange for participating in WorldVision with him, did the man who calls himself Lord Almighty Gregory give you any presents?

Gertrude Pullman: Yes, he gave me three slaves of my very own. Isn't it very wonderful?

Alexandra Haroldson: And slavery isn't illegal in Electrum?

Gertrude Pullman: It is, but I'm a glorious old lady so I can get away with whatever I want. Isn't it wonderful how amazing Lord Almighty Gregory is?

Alexandra Haroldson: And you're also aware the so-called Lord Almighty Gregory has nuked multiple countries into oblivion, killing hundreds of millions of innocent people?

Gertrude Pullman: Yes, those were some of the best days of my life, seeing Hicana, and Vjaalsburg, and Asuraia, and Associated Godlands, and Coconutstan, all meet their nuclear oblivion. THOSE STUPID COCONUTS HAVE PAID FOR THEIR SINS! SURRENDER, COCONUTS!

Alexandra Haroldson: Your honor, objection!

Judge Rines: The jury will disregard the witness's last two remarks.

Alexandra Haroldson: And you killed numerous people together during your WorldVision performance, isn't that right?

Gertrude Pullman: Yes, it was wonderful. It was so awesome to kill those slaves and those heathens in the audience. I LOVE YOU, LORD ALMIGHTY GREGORY!!!!! MARRY ME!!!!!

Alexandra Haroldson: Your Honor!

Judge Rines: Ms. Pullman, control yourself or I'll find you in contempt.

Alexandra Haroldson: So, to summarize, Ms. Pullman, you are aware that the defendant is a genocidal, murdering, narcissistic, maniac dictator, but that's what you love about him?

Gertrude Pullman: Hell, yes!

Alexandra Haroldson: Nothing further.

Judge Rines: The prosecution may call another witness.

Alexandra Haroldson: We call Cocoman McCocconut.

Bob Borders: Objection! A coconut is not capable of testifying in court!

Alexandra Haroldson: He's a sapient coconut, a person under the law.

Judge Rines: Overruled, witness may testify. Mr. McCoconut, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Cocoman McCoconut: Yes.

Alexandra Haroldson: Mr. McCoconut, could you please tell the court what country you are a citizen of?

Cocoman McCoconut: I am a citizen and native of Coconutstan.

Alexandra Haroldson: And where do you live now?

Cocoman McCoconut: Quebec.

Alexandra Haroldson: And why did you move there?

Cocoman McCoconut: I fled there after Lord Almighty Gregory, or the demon who calls himself that, nuked my native land.

Alexandra Haroldson: And what happened, can you dscribe it?

Cocoman McCoconut: Millions of my coconut friends died, they were vaporized, or exploded, or other ghastly stuff. There were only a few hundred survivors, and I was one of them. I had third degree burns on my whole body, but I managed to escape to Quebec and take refuge.

Alexandra Haroldson: So, suffice it to say, the demon defendants are guilty of genocide of almost your entire country?

Cocoman McCoconut: Yes, of course. He is a demon, and a madman. They all are.

Alexandra Haroldson: No more questions.

Bob Borders: You're a coconut, right?

Cocoman McCoconut: Obviously.

Bob Borders: And you're aware Lord Almighty Gregory hates coconuts?

Cocoman McCoconut: Yes, of course.

Bob Borders: So why were you a coconut?

Cocoman McCoconut: Because that's who I am. Why are you a human?

Bob Borders: I will ask the questions. And you will answer them.

Cocoman McCoconut: Fine, then ask them.

Bob Borders: No, I'm done with you.

Judge Rines: The witness will step down. We'll continue tomorrow.

[Indusse]

INDUSSE WINS

INDUSSE wins it's match with bjornaya islands on yesterday. The match had a score of 2 goals and one was scored by baskar. Another by the play goalie nandi. In the pressures of indussean players bjornaya wasn't able to play the match as they wanted.

[Moorish Land]

Moorish Land, whose dreams of participating in the 79 World Cup were crushed after they suffered a 0-2 defeat against Razenthuria , will be hosted by Mriin for their last game for Group IV today. The teams meet at Mriin Stadium at 21:45 local time. and the match will be a formality for Moorish Land.

All results :

Moorish Land 2–2 Maryloupe
Port Christopher 3–0 Moorish Land
Moorish Land 2–4 Darkmania
The Great Pi 1–0 Moorish Land
Moorish Land 2–0 United States of Devonta
Pasarga 3–0 Moorish Land
Moorish Land 2–4 Kel Assuk
Moorish Land 0–2 Razenthuria

[-Anthor-]

BREAKING: Local journalist implicates MP Pemberton in child sex ring
A local journalist accuses the famed MP as a member of a child sex ring back in his hometown of Avery

^{SHARE THIS:}

Gnaeus Tanicius Vopiscus (@Gnaeus Tanicius Vopiscus)(TH)
^{Baltha 10, 602AE 11:00 AM | Vaumort, Anthor}

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MP Pemberton inside Chamber of the Commons, questioned by reporters TH photo

Vaumort, Anthor(Herald) — The political world of the kingdom is in shock as early this morning, a journalist working for a small time local online news paper called the Avery Reporter published an article on it's main page that featured a months long investigation into a child abduction sex ring, and claimed that the very public MP Charles Pemberton was at the very least a member, if not a leader, in the ring.

The journalist, Judie Søren who attended the University of Verleone and graduated with a degree in journalism, published an article titled "Avery's Dark Otherside", which was selected as the featured story in the center piece of the Reporter's main page, and it is more then 3,000 words in length, including several photos of evidence and research as well as two videos which are voiceovers from Søren narrating the article. The article covers what is presented as a thirteen month long investigation by Søren and other staff members from the Reporter, though Søren does indicate the first half of the work was mostly done by herself, on her own time due to the Reporter's limited resources and manpower. It apparently began as a look into a number of recent missing person cases revolving around a number of children that were all abducted over a span of eight months about two year ago; every one of the twelve victims was a resident of the Glen Dales neighborhood which is on the very northern fringes of Avery in a heavily wooded area and all of them either had both parents working or their only guardian working. The police and their attempts to find the children were all met with nothing, despite several high profile requests for help and searches of the woods and fields around the neighborhood and the town of 44,000. However, Søren apparently discovered during her investigation that the abduction of the kids was also tied to the vanishing of a man by the name of Steven Parish, forty two and formerly from Polidan's Gap. He was apparently a delivery driver who Søren determined to be in the area at the estimated time of each and every abduction and abruptly failed to show for work two months after the last kidnapping and hadn't been seen since then. She managed to get access to his house in downtown Avery where she discovered a hidden office that contained a number of files which she and the Reporter turned over to the Royal Police Service, the files reportedly detailing a large scale criminal organization that was dedicated to the abduction of minors for the purpose of sex trafficking.

Søren goes on to detail several figures and individuals that are named in the files, evidently the files reveal Parish to be the local "operator" of the ring in Avery, having organized the abductions and helped carry them out; however, she also says that later in the files, Charles Pemberton who is an MP for Tharsius and was born and raised in Avery, has being originally a "receiver" in the organization, but files indicated he later moved up the ranks within. Søren also states that Parish's files had an audio recording which is a phone conversation between himself and who Søren identifies as MP Pemberton who is attempting to buy a "product", implied to be a minor. It is to be noted, as it is in the article, that RPS have not confirmed any of these allegations, but the Reporter and Søren went ahead with publishing their full investigation ahead of a police statement.

MP Pemberton's office could not be reached for an immediate comment, nor could any spokesperson, but this couldn't be coming at a worse time for him, politically speaking. He is in the middle of waging a fight in the chamber to force the body to address what he thinks is a massive under-developed public healthcare system, and has struggled to find success in a chamber dominated by conservative members who bristle at the idea of a massively public funded, and regulation heavy healthcare system. Even if the allegations are false, which to Søren's credit, the investigation appears heavily specific and while some files were restricted by police due to an ongoing investigation, the ones the Reporter was free and did release appear damning in of themselves. Pemberton's arrest and conviction while having nothing to do with healthcare could deal a death blow to the movement in the Commons for time in the near future, as I can't see any MP eager to pick back up and have to reference his name.

Gnaeus Tanicus Vopiscus contributed to this article.

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[Banija]

Banija grabs global attention as they shock the footballing world by defeating Chromatika 2-1 on home soil


John Tewedros celebrating his goal in Banija's 2-1 upset victory over Chromatika

BUSUKUMA- The Kadongo Kamu have made a huge splash for their fourth straight win. It isn't easy to win in World Cup Qualifying, even at home. And especially when you're facing the #4 team in international rankings,and the group leaders. Chromatika had been pacing the group, only dropping points once out of 7 opportunties, and ahead 4 points on the second place team. Looking set, of course, to breeze through qualifying. They hadn't lost a World Cup Qualifier since World Cup 77 Qualifying. Did Banija honestly have a chance to hope for anything more than a draw? Could they even realistically hope for a draw?

The path was clear for the Kadongo Kamu. It was two goals, a pair from John Tewedros and Chibuzo Afolayan, both in the first half, that seemed set to shock Chromatika. They certainly did not seem to expect it- and an already raucous crowd, that was already extra motivated because of the rare sight of seeing a top 5 opponent in Banija, turned into a frenzy. They were roaring this team on, they were cheering them in defense, and the noise level in this stadium was unbelieveable. Lin Moon, the Jinja City signing, brought Chromatika one back after halftime, but it wasn't enough. While it's not the national stadium, the fans showed that the first half tour of Banija was certainly a good idea.

Banija, in the first half of qualifying, will finish with a 4-1 record at home. Outside of an opening day loss to Boring Paradise, courtesy of a damningly late own goal by George Wangolo, have ripped off four straight home victories, to show that any stadium in Banija, even the Hangaza Unified Stadium, where they lost at, can be a suitable home for this team. This seems likely to be a strategy that the Banijans will carry forward into qualifying for future tournaments. The extra energy seen from fans at places they don't normally play at rallied this team against much higher ranked opponents, like Boring Paradise, and brought them to victory against two top 35 squads- Eshan and Chromatika.

This, of course, goes back to the value of scarcity. Can rotating games between stadiums cause better attendance and better home crowds? Now, the Stadium of the Restoration holds a special place in the Banijan soul- it was built on the site of the first restoration, when Maharaja Sebowa restored himself to the thrown. Of course, that was the catalyst for a terrible series of events, including the Banijan civil war and the beheading of the remainder of the House of Mageba, but the action itself, the first reassertion of Banijan sovereignty during Quebecois colonization, was noble.

The Stadium of the Restoration, however, will have a minority of home games, for the first time ever. Will this mean that this is a lost opportunity for the Kadongo Kamu? Executive Chairman Adama Sowe, of the RBSA, does not think so. In his explanation for the decision, he todl reporters that he expects 'even better' crowds for the national team at the Stadium of the Restoration, since there are only four games. He said fans will appreciate the opportunity more, and will show up, and sing.

Now, of course, that theory will be put to the test. This team, however, is better than previous teams. With two top 35 wins at home, at least on Banijan soil, the Kadongo Kamu are a serious force to be reckoned with. They have shown that they can compete with every single team in this group, and have even beat the top two ranked teams in their group, both on home soil. That is nothing to sneeze at. This team can play, and it's clear that, especially in Banija, everybody has a chance to go down. This means that a team like Eastfield Lodge knows that it will have their hands full when they visit this country.

Here's the real question, however, the question that is the key to the campaign- can they do the same away from home? That is a question that remains to be answered. While they only lost by one goal to Eastfield Lodge away from home, that game was not as close as it appeared on the scoreboard. It was clear Eastfield Lodge was the better team. Banija also lost to an unranked Bostopia, playing their first home World Cup Qualifier in 9 cycles, by a score of 2-1. With all credit to Bostopia, it was a loss that simply should not have happened. And even though they beat the Kiaser Colonies away from home, the Bostopia loss is telling.

Can this team handle the pressure when it has to fly? And that is the true test of the strength of a team. A good team makes their home stadiums a fortress. An excellent team, the ones that go to the world cup, are able to go out and win close games travelling to strange countries, when all the fans are against them. While the benefit for Banija playing five of their first 8 at home means that you have moments like this, where your whole country seems like a fortress, this also means that four of their last 10 qualifiers are on the road.

This is the time for Banija to put up or shut up. They have a very telling qualifier against Buyan. An excellent squad that has had some unlucky results, ranked 74th in world football. 2-0 away to Chromatika, as well as losing by one to both Eastfield Lodge and Eshan in entertaining matches. The ability is there, and they are almost there. The talent is certainly there for Buyan, with stars like Valter Isaksson. Can Isaac Georgiadis, the man who will be tasked with man-marking him, shut him down?

It will be about keeping his head under pressure. And that's true for the whole team. But can they keep their composure? Or will they buckle under the pressure, like they did in Bostopia? It will be telling to see what kind of mental fortitude Randolf Cherry has instilled in this team. If they can pull off what would undoubtedly be a shocker, then this Banijan squad truly has a chance to accomplish great things. A point will be hard to come by- but a point will do for this team, to keep the momentum going into the mid-qualifying break.

Whatever happens against Buyan, we can remember the accomplishments of this half of qualifying. They've won a majority of their qualifiers so far. They beat the top two ranked teams in their group, both at home. They've won four in a row after starting 1-3, similar to the basketball squad. And, of course, beating Chromatika, the #4 team in international football, defeating a world cup regular and delivering them their first World Cup qualifying loss since World Cup 77 Qualifying. This game will live on for a long time in Banijan lore, even if the association will likely get fined for the post match pitch invasion.

Ultimately, the future looks bright for this team, and they've shown their ability to get things done in Banija. But it will come down to what they can do outside of Banija, in places from Chromatika to Buyan and beyond, across the multiverse, that will determine exactly what kind of heights this team can reach.

[Chromatika]

Chromatika in World Cup 79 Part 8: Second Chances

Room 222
Busukama Forest Cottages
Busukana, Banija

Shelyn Joy sat in her room, holding her head in her hands, not believing in what they had just experienced. The Chromatiks, ranked fourth in the world, the top seeds in the Group, had just lost to a team ranked one hundred and seventeen spots below them, 1-2, in Banija. The Banijans had come out firing and motivated, the crowd had done their part, and the biggest one to blame was her.

She hadn't been good enough when Afolayan had faced him one-on-one after ten minutes, after beating Anderson on the wing. She really hadn't been good enough five minutes later when an errant roll to Bozena was taken up by the aforesaid Afolayan, leading to a corner that Tewedros bent in to take a two-nil lead. It had led to her being pulled just twenty minutes in in favor of Jillian Nier. Clery's men were content to protect the lead for the rest of the match, and although her manager Parker tried to inject new life into the team by substituting in Kaytlyn Victoriane and Meagan Kelly, it was too little, too late. Lin Moon's goal in the eighty-first put one on the board for the Chromatiks, but the result was never in jeopardy.

For the keeper from Tihon, it was like living hell. She had let her team down to a point where the skipper had to waste a substitution on her. Nika should've gotten the start. Or Mia, except she was still recovering. She couldn't believe that she had cost the team three points, and that now, the group was ridiculously tight - Chromatika still in the lead, but Eastfield Lodge a point behind, Eshan two behind them, followed by Banija and Boring Paradise.

The door opened, and one of her roommates - Molly Thorben - strolled in.

"Chin up, Sherlyn. Skipper wanted me to give you this," said the youthful midfielder, handing her a piece of paper.

Sherlyn smiled wryly before picking it up to read.

"Ms. Joy, it is my belief that tonight was an anomaly, to use one of our words from the far past. I don't believe that this is your best, neither do I believe that this is your typical form. Prove me right. I'm starting you again against Lambdasia," she read.

"No way!" she exclaimed to Thorben, "After that disastrous game?"

"Yup," answered Molly, "Skipper doesn't shy away from challenges, neither does he want us to. You had a rough game, tough. Bounce back and show us what you're really capable of."

A second chance, if you would believe, staring at Sherlyn in the face. She planned to take full advantage of it.

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Banija 2-1 Chromatika @ Mugisha III Memorial Stadium in Busukuma, National Capitol Region, Banija
Chromatika: Moon '81
Starting Lineup: Joy; An - Bozena - Anderson; Etienne - Mora - Kuzami - Han; Kelly, W. - Moon - Niro (C) Subs: Nier -> Joy '20, Victoriane -> Kelly, W. '52, Kelly, M. -> Etienne '63
Summary: A disappointing result on the road, as the Chromatiks suffer their first defeat in qualifying since Matchday 11 at Red Blackiland in World Cup 77 - almost four years ago. Sherlyn Joy had perhaps the worst game of her professional career, but the inexperienced defenders didn't help matters, either. The team played sluggish, off-pace, and the Banijans were able to control the ball for long stretches at a time to hold their early lead to a huge upset. It drastically changes the landscape of the group, as the margin of error has shrunk to just three points with Eastfield Lodge at 18 and Eshan at 16 behind the Chromatiks' 19. It was the kind of game that Parker had avoided so well in the qualifying campaign of World Cup 78, as the team had only allowed an away draw in Damukuni to stand in their way of a perfect campaign.

Matchday 9: Chromatika vs. Lambdasia @ The Capitalizt Dome, Chromatik City, Chromatika
Predicted Starting Lineup: Joy; Morningstar - Stef - Damjana; Thorben - Sybill (C) - Hellion - Liam; Rien - Gail - Niro.
Throwing caution to the wind, the Chromatiks will try to bounce back from their defeat in front of a home crowd at the raucous Capitalizt Dome. Sherlyn Joy gets the start despite her recent disastrous game as Parker gives her another try. Thankfully, the backfield of Morningstar, Stef, and Damjana will be a massive help compared to An, Bozena, and Anderson. In all reality, Parker is starting players that really shouldn't be playing against a team that is currently ninth in the group, but momentum is a tangible thing in a long, drawn out qualification campaign, and it is paramount to grab the three points here before the mid-qualification break. Miranda Gail gets the start in the striker position as Chromatika's example of the past giving way to the present will try to make an impact; Molly Thorben also continues her emergence. This team tends to play their best matches when they are motivated; the recent loss should have motivated them like no other. Expect a blowout. Chromatika 4-0 Lambdasia.

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Still smarting after that loss? I am. So rarely do we see our team so sluggish on the pitch, so unmotivated and just not creative. It was painful to watch. Here's to hoping that the team will bounce back quickly. The last time we left off, Didi had told us about how Nirdasil, the leader of Yesopalitha, had led them to a room to eat. What transpired next is still being edited, but here is some news for you. Did you know that Yesopalitha is in the World Cup? They're currently fourth in their group, the same one with Valanora and Turori, a rough one. Interesting, eh?

Meanwhile, I turn your attention to the new Chromatik Government. To review, now that the nation has been divided into Six Districts that are composed of Thirty-Six municipalities, the Chromatik Government has established its three branches: The Executive Branch, led by the Premier, the Vice Provost, and the cabinet; The Legislative Branch, comprised of the Upper House, called the Commune, with its thirty-six members (one per municipality), and the Lower House, called the House of the People, with its one hundred and twenty-five members (divided up depending on the population of each municipality); and The Courts, with the highest one being the National Court of Chromatika. The three branches have been busy since being voted into office, changing the framework of the land that had been laid before them by the Chromatik Party. Political parties have been formed, the two biggest being the Progressive Party (nicknamed the Rainbows) that believes in making sure Chromatika never reverts to the past and continues to become closer to what the other nations of the world are like, and the Legalist Party (nicknamed the Traditionalists) that believes that besides the Color Code, the principles that the Chromatik Party stood upon were worth keeping, and despite the Party's convolution of those principles, some of them should remain as a key part of what makes Chromatika Chromatika. The Premier is of the Rainbow Party, and both the Upper and Lower Houses are majority Rainbow at the moment (about 80% in each). Here, we show you some of the policies passed lately - regarding immigration, divorce, and religion.

The Chromatik Party was very strict when it came to immigration policies - nobody was allowed in unless they were here for sports events or for playing in the now-defunct League Chromatiks. The Chromatik Government has put it into law that the spirit of the policies were correct, just the delivery was not. Therefore, Chromatika will still have a rather strict border policy. The borders will not be closed, per say, but be strictly regulated so that the country can still have the time and space it needs to recover and to discover who they are. Any visitor that wishes to come to Chromatika will first be considered for a three-day visa. All fans who enter the country to attend football matches will qualify immediately unless they have a criminal record; for non-sporting events, the criteria is a bit stricter, as the government will require there to be a well-planned agenda that has been verified by the Chromatik companies the visitor has compiled in advance. For anyone that wishes to visit for more than three days, a prolonged process will take place, requiring a daily itinerary, a phone interview, a background check from the visitors' government, and a signed letter advocating for the visitor from the visitor's home city that vouches for them. No visitor will be allowed to stay in Chromatika for more than a month without special consideration (being an ambassador, state events, military training, playing in the Chromatik League, etc.) Imports and exports will also be likewise regulated strictly to provide Chromatik interests. It is the Government's vision to make it so that the country can ease into being a part of the international community instead of rushing forward. It recognizes the force that the Chromatik Football Team has been in representing the country, and trusts that the team, the Chromatik League, and the Chromatik Tourism Board will be enough to keep the visitors coming, and that in the near future, the nation will be able to become a little more lax about its border control measures. For more on this, please search "Border Control" on the Chromatik Government website.

One of the first things that the Chromatik Government did, even while it was a provisional government, was declare same-sex marriage legal, putting forth Alyss Montague and Keira Andisori as their poster couple. However, the policy of divorce being illegal has been in effect, a carryover from the Chromatik Party. Now, the Chromatik Government - and the National Court - has declared that situational divorce will be accepted. The circumstances that allow for divorce will be divided into three main sections: Abuse, mutual agreement, and death. If it can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt by a third-party arbitrator that domestic abuse has been occurring to either the spouse or the children, divorce will be authorized. The abuser will be apprehended, and the abused will be free to seek out a new spouse if they wish. These third-party arbitrators will be special officers trained specifically for this purpose, often part of law enforcement but not necessarily. The third-party arbitrators will be reviewed periodically by the Courts to make sure that they are held to a high standard. Alternatively, the couple can sign a legal document in court that claims that they are mutually agreeing to split up. This can only be done once all of their children have been admitted into college or eclipsed the age of eighteen. The document must be signed by both the members of the marriage as well as their children, if any, along with a witness from each side of the couple. Such an agreement cannot be rescinded nor ignored, and the act will be considered final. Only an act by the National Court will be able to remove the binding contract of the Mutual Divorce Certificate. Lastly, if a spouse passes away due to any cause that wasn't the other spouse, the surviving spouse will be allowed to be single. The Chromatik Government stressed that the Party's policy of marriage being forever was stupid, and that death wasn't something that anybody could plan around. So, widowers and widows will now be allowed to remarry. For more on this, please search "Marriage and Divorce" on the Chromatik Government website.

Lastly for this time around is religion. It is no secret that for Chromatika under the Chromatik Party, the Party was its religion; anyone caught practicing anything else were appropriated or eliminated with extreme prejudice. The Chromatik Government stresses that this is unacceptable. In order to avoid becoming like the Party, the Government will stress that there will be no official religion of Chromatika as long as it is existent. That being said, the Chromatik people will be free to believe what they wish to believe. Religious organizations will have to register with the municipality that they are located in to have a licensed building to meet in, but other than that, there will not be any rules as long as the organizations are keeping the peace. That being said, any religious order that starts to dictate the day-to-day lifestyles of its members or everyday citizens in a manner that looks like control will be apprehended immediately. Suggestions are fine, but orders are not. The last thing that this country needs is a religious order to take over what the Chromatik Party has left behind; every citizen must be free to explore what it means to be free. This is a very vague point, and the Government acknowledges that more clarification will be needed; the National Court is dedicating an entire team to just providing interpretations on whether or not something would be considered infringing upon other peoples' rights. For more on this, please search "Religion" on the Chromatik Government website.

To provide laws and guidance for a fledgling nation (at least by freedom standards) is a daunting task, but Premier Alina Krasnikova, Vice Provost Themisticles Andout, Upper House Leader Raoul Epgotte, Lower House Leader Marie-Antoinette Gousteau, and National Court Head Justice Florence Departeau seem eager to take up the mantle and do their best. It will be up to us, the Chromatik populace, to provide them with guidance, provide them with criticism, and above all, provide them with honesty and integrity on how they are doing.

Until next time, this has been Jordan Lawless.

[United States of Devonta]

Devontan Sports Central

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Hardest fought game of WCQ ends in defeat
Devonta fights tooth and nail with 35th ranked Mrinn in 3-5 defeat
Scott McDell (@Scottdell)
^{12/03/2017, 6:00 PM | Mrinn}

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United States of Devonta 3 - 5 Mrinn
        Johansen (13')         Vol (6', P - 38')
        Owens (55')            Kreuger (62')
        Adams (89')            Lavoi (90+2', 90+3')

Mrinn
GK: Zilia Hawsorn (27')
LB: Uhlon Loft
CB: Gerard Tavol
CB: Reina Kress (68')
RB: Vernan Quill
RM: Kalia Swurm
LM: Malia Polandre
OM: Joren Kreuger
ST: Mari Lavoi
ST: Aldo Vocani
ST: Solara Vol

United States of Devonta
GK: Bradley Cooper
LD: Johnson Brooks
CD: Martin Benton Coby Rice - 79')
CD: Daniel Kindred (38')
RD: Brayden Liam
DM: Isaiah Russel (82')
LM: Mohamed Abdullah
RM: DeMonte Edwards Julius Washington - 79')
OM: Tyrell Owens
ST: Gerald Johansen
ST: Lamar Adams (Condor Madrid - 90+1')

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Final Score: 5-3 Mrinn.

Match Statistics:
Possession
Devonta: 48%
Mrinn: 52%
Shots
Devonta: 12 shots (8 on target
Mrinn: 14 shots (10 on target)
Pass Accuracy
Devonta: 86%
Mrinn: 88%
Corners
Devonta: 5
Mrinn: 9
Offsides
Devonta: 3
Mrinn: 3
Fouls
Devonta: 12
Mrinn: 10

Current Group 4 Standings:

 # Group 4                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mriin                             7    6   1   0    22    9  +13    19
 2 Pasarga                           7    5   2   0    14    5   +9    17
 3 Port Christopher                  7    4   2   1    12    7   +5    14
 4 Kel Assuk                         7    3   3   1    16   12   +4    12
 5 United States of Devonta          7    4   0   3    12   10   +2    12
 6 The Great Pi                      7    3   0   4    12   14   −2     9
 7 Darkmania                         7    2   1   4    14   17   −3     7
 8 Moorish Land                      7    1   1   5     8   17   −9     4
 9 Razenthuria                       7    0   2   5     1    8   −7     2
10 Maryloupe                         7    0   2   5     8   20  −12     2

World Cup 79 Qualifying Schedule

Friendly Matches:
Devonta 1-0 Savojarna
Equestrian States 1-1 Devonta

World Cup Qualfying: Group 4
MD1: Devonta 2-0 Darkmania
MD2: Great Pie 0-2 Devonta
MD3: Devonta 2-1 Kel Assuk
MD4: Devonta 1-2 Pasarga
MD5: Moorish Land 2-0 Devonta
MD6: Devonta 2-0 Razenthuria
MD7: Mrinn 5-3 Devonta
MD8: Devonta vs Maryloupe
MD9: Port Christopher vs Devonta

Mid-Qual Friendly: Devonta vs Flardania

MD10: Darkmania vs Devonta
MD11: Devonta vs Great Pie
MD12: Kel Assuk vs Devonta
MD13: Pasarga vs Devonta
MD14: Devonta vs Moorish Land
MD15: Razenthuria vs Devonta
MD16: Devonta vs Mrinn
MD17: Maryloupe vs Devonta
MD18: Devonta vs Port Christopher

Author: Scott McDell

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More top news stories

• Devontan's plays a thrilling match at home 12,652,454 views
• Devonta suffers its first loss in WCQ! 9,754,323 views
• Two losses in a row for struggling Devontan team 7,335,753 views
• Devonta stops downward spiral in World Cup Qualifying 5,654,234 views

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Comments:

By Bobby678 - Just now

Good game! But we need to beat these guys!

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1,789 Likes | 76 Dislikes

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By Coldfan - 3 mins Ago

So much for the downward spiral being stopped!

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1,212 Likes | 156 Dislikes

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By Colton122 - 10 min Ago

If we can't beat Mrinn, we won't reach the World Cup!

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Likes 932 | 21 Dislikes

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By Terry_Pyle - 28 mins Ago

Better luck next time, hope we have better luck against the lower ranking teams!

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532 Likes | 45 Dislikes

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Devontan Sports Central

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Devonta is back on track for WCQ
Devonta defeats 192nd ranked Maryloupe 3-1 at home
Bailey Davis (@baileyd)
^{12/04/2017, 7:20 PM | Devonta City, United States of Devonta}

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United States of Devonta 3 - 1 Maryloupe
        Hill (45+1')             Rora (53')   
        Kindred (59')                        
        Liam (78')

Maryloupe
GK: Queenston
DF: Alberg
DF: Neil
DF: Laryan
DF: Jackson (29')
MF: Larson
MF: Lilian
MF: Rora (88')
ST: Marjura
ST: MJJ (For)
ST: Jase Starburn

United States of Devonta
GK: Brandon Kowalski
LD: Jose Alverez
CD: Coby Rice
CD: Daniel Kindred
RD: Brayden Liam (Mathew Creasmen - 69')
DM: Isaiah Russel
LM: Tony Phillips
RM: DeMonte Edwards (Julius Washington - 69')
OM: Tyrell Owens
ST: Noah Hill
ST: Condor Madrid (Lamar Adams - 82)

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Final Score: 3-1 Devonta.

Match Statistics:
Possession
Devonta: 57%
Maryloupe: 43%
Shots
Devonta: 14 shots (10 on target
Maryloupe: 8 shots (4 on target)
Pass Accuracy
Devonta: 88%
Maryloupe: 82%
Corners
Devonta: 8
Maryloupe: 4
Offsides
Devonta: 3
Maryloupe: 1
Fouls
Devonta: 9
Maryloupe: 9

Current Group 4 Standings:

 # Group 4                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mriin                             8    6   2   0    23   10  +13    20
 2 Pasarga                           8    5   3   0    15    6   +9    18
 3 Port Christopher                  8    5   2   1    13    7   +6    17
 4 Kel Assuk                         8    4   3   1    24   13  +11    15
 5 United States of Devonta          8    5   0   3    15   11   +4    15
 6 The Great Pi                      8    3   0   5    12   15   −3     9
 7 Darkmania                         8    2   1   5    15   25  −10     7
 8 Razenthuria                       8    1   2   5     3    8   −5     5
 9 Moorish Land                      8    1   1   6     8   19  −11     4
10 Maryloupe                         8    0   2   6     9   23  −14     2

World Cup 79 Qualifying Schedule

Friendly Matches:
Devonta 1-0 Savojarna
Equestrian States 1-1 Devonta

World Cup Qualfying: Group 4
MD1: Devonta 2-0 Darkmania
MD2: Great Pie 0-2 Devonta
MD3: Devonta 2-1 Kel Assuk
MD4: Devonta 1-2 Pasarga
MD5: Moorish Land 2-0 Devonta
MD6: Devonta 2-0 Razenthuria
MD7: Mrinn 5-3 Devonta
MD8: Devonta 3-1 Maryloupe
MD9: Port Christopher vs Devonta

Mid-Qual Friendly: Devonta vs Flardania

MD10: Darkmania vs Devonta
MD11: Devonta vs Great Pie
MD12: Kel Assuk vs Devonta
MD13: Pasarga vs Devonta
MD14: Devonta vs Moorish Land
MD15: Razenthuria vs Devonta
MD16: Devonta vs Mrinn
MD17: Maryloupe vs Devonta
MD18: Devonta vs Port Christopher

Author: Bailey Davis

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More top news stories

• Devonta suffers its first loss in WCQ! 14,542,214 views
• Two losses in a row for struggling Devontan team 11,534,753 views
• Devonta stops downward spiral in World Cup Qualifying 8,673,862 views
• Hardest fought game of WCQ ends in defeat 7,353,976 views

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Comments:

By Sarah-Brazil - Just now

Good game from our subs!

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1,244 Likes | 68 Dislikes

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By Razorfist110 - 3 mins Ago

Can we play these guys and not our typical starters?

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1,210 Likes | 41 Dislikes

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By Colton134 - 10 min Ago

Please, fire Tajo before its too late!

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Likes 954 | 456 Dislikes

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By Terrance_Justice - 28 mins Ago

I love basketball but soccer is looking really fun!

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Likes 59 | 5 Dislikes

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Airsofting in Devonta - Marco Hernandez tells his tell in OPed to Devontan Sports Magazine

It was a very hot, New Julia day. My grandmas house was between the two small Santa Julian towns towns of El Darado and Siesta (pop. less then 100,000 for both). The area around her house was largely considered country. It was almost noon and we were still sat in my cousins house bored out of our minds. After a quick discussion we decided to go outside and have a air-soft war, a popular past time for us. It took us time to prepare for the up and coming battle though. As more of a more percautionary procedure we all changed from basketball shorts to blue jeans. I doubled layered my shirt while, Juan and his friend Josiah wore hoodies. My cousin Tomas also put his red Santa Julia State hoodie on. Maximilian the youngest of us all decided only to wear jeans and a white t-shirt. This all took about ten minutes and we all met in the living room to discuss our plans for team building. The discussion was quick and teams were set up. My cousin Tomas and I were put on a team together against Juan, Josiah, and Maximilian. Since my team was outnumbered we were allowed to go outside first and find a place to attack them or defend from. We had only five minutes though. Tomas and I exited the house quickly and planned an ambush in the front yard.

Tomas and I laid low in the semi-long green grass,anxiously awaiting for the other three boys to departure from the house. The wait seemed forever and was mostly full of us complaining about the air-soft guns we were given. They were weak 250 fps M4A1’s and would most likely be no match for there 450 fps G336 and Ak-47. It did not help the two weapons we were given were spring powered, while the other teams weapons could be fired automatically due to being battery powered.

After about five minutes of waiting they came out but did not head in our direction so we had to follow them. As we followed from a far distance we used trees to hide our movements, sometimes stopping to let them get farther away but still keeping them in our site. When they entered the vast field before a dried up pond we sped up to a sprint till we hit the field, then started a crawl to the dried pond.

As we got to the edge of the pond we seen them to the right of us. They were standing on a grassy hill talking in a circle, probably wondering where we were. My cousin and I took a side route and passed a downed tree and crawled under barbed wire. Then crawled through the grass till we were right beside them and we attacked.

We fired as fast as we could with our spring rifles. They were at first surprised,but then started firing back as they ran away passed a barbed wire fence splitting the pond through the middle. We managed to charge forward under fire and almost captured Juan till he shot Tomas in the chest and then Tomas and I responded by shooting him in the head and back as he ran, three times in total. We realized we were outgunned once the other team regrouped from our attack and took cover. Tomas and I ran up the hill they were at when we ambushed them and fled down the hill in retreat, ready to find another spot to ambush them.

We quickly moved through the grass and wildflowers and after we crossed the hill we crawled through more barbed wire before getting to a dirt road. On the other side was a ditch used for drainage purposes. As we left the first ditch on the side facing our enemies we went to the ditch directly parallel to the one we had just crossed. The ditch we entered was high enough to cover us to our chest but we crouched and waited for them to attack.

They came across the hill after a long wait and casually walked in the other ditch looking for us not thinking we crossed the road. We rose in unison and attacked. Both teams fired at each other across the ditches. It came clear we were outgunned once again but we still had the element of surprise. I knew we could not hold in our ditch forever, so we made the conscious decision to move further away from them in our ditch and cross the road, back to the pond. It would be a daring move since we would be under fire the whole time.

Tomas was first. He ran through the ditch before running up it into their ditch and crawling through the barbed wire once again making his way to the pond. I provided covering fire the best I could and managed to hit Juan in the chest. Josiah was reloading and Maximilian was afraid to raise up his head pass the ditch. It was my turn and I would have no covering fire. I crouched and wiped the sweat of my face and began my sprint across our ditch. I could fill the BB’s pass by my face and hear there whistling sound. I cocked my air-soft gun and fired back as I ran, in a futile attempt to try to stop them from firing, although firing with one hand proved challenging. I was suddenly hit by a BB in my arm. My heart stopped but I kept running. I was so surprised it didn’t hurt, my adrenaline was rushing to much. I then turned right and made it across the road without being fired on. I crawled through the barbed wire and crossed the hill. There I met with Tomas at the pond. We decided to make our last stand here.

That day during our last stand we charged through BB fire and won the battle. It was a great victory. It looked bleak most of the battle but by the end they were the ones running back to my cousins house. Tomas and I managed to capture a surrendering Maximilian. I myself lead the charge after we flanked them in the grass. We were lucky that their battery powered weapons had run out of power. They could not effectively fight back. In a thirty minute last stand a ill equipped, outnumbered force beat all odds and survived with limited welts.

[Liberated American Provinces]

Washington Times

Gregoryisgodistan Too Strong For LAP

Timothy Barzillai, Sports Columnist

Washington – At the Robert A. Wollen Park, the Provinces were defeated 2-0 by a dominant Gregoryisgodistan. From the opening whistle, the Foot Slaves demonstrated precisely why they are one of the highest ranked nations in the world. They opened the scoring in the 32nd minute from a nicely swung-in corner kick. Gregoryisgodistani center-back, Thomas Faddigan, rose above the pack to place his header in at the far post. Right before halftime, the score was 2-0. American midfielder, Proudman, brought down Pratt about thirty yards out from goal. The referee awarded the guests a free-kick and proceeded to brandish a yellow card for Proudman’s challenge. Yan struck the free-kick into the top left corner of the American goal. The teams went into the break with the score of 2-0.

The second half was an uneventful affair. Gregoryisgodistan sat back and defended while the Liberated American Provinces searched for a goal which would bring them back into the game. The Americans, however, seemed to lack any creativity. They began to resort to long shots as they struggled to break through the Gregoryisgodistani defense. Most of the efforts sailed wide, but one strike from Pullastick was barely tipped over by Hawkins in the 76th minute. The final fifteen remained lackluster from both sides, and the match finished as it was at halftime.

The match only continued the Provinces’ run of poor form. Consequently, Coach Wallace revealed his intent to shuffle the squad and possibly swap in a few new players. One prospect whose name has been floated around is George Sussege. The 19-year-old center-back has been performing quite well for Washington United SC in their run for the top spot. He has been a regular starter for the club and has contributed to numerous clean sheets. If selected for the national team, he will likely replace the aging Matthew Bushes.

The Liberated American Provinces conclude their first leg of matches away to Greater Vakolicci Haven; they sit one point above the Americans. Considering their ranking, 78th, this qualifying campaign has gone quitely poorly for them. Both sides will see this match as an opportunity to get back on track.

[Bojikstan]

Christensen zen philosophy not helping national team according to fans
The Bojikstan National Team manager is under fire by fans and media members alike because of his calm demeanor and lack of urgency.
Posted by Loic Lande, Football Correspondent

We’re further in the World Cup Qualifying cycle, and it doesn’t look like Bojikstan is going to shock anyone by making the finals or even contending for that spot. Most fans didn’t come into the tournament expecting qualification, but they did expect to be more competitive with the other lower ranked teams in the group. Instead, their only wins so far are against the awful New Jarwel and against Dunnes, another newer team that’s down on their luck. The BFA has received many angry letters about the performances, and home matches haven’t had the kind of atmosphere that should be expected from this nation. Rather, instead of the nation shutting down to watch the team, the atmosphere is that of a collective funeral every matchday.

If you listen quietly during an Azules match, you can hear the fans quietly asking each other why they’re forcing themselves to watch this, matchday after matchday, as the quality gets worse and worse. If Alexey Hesse didn’t lead them past Dunnes, there might have been riots in Strasburg and Odena, the football capitals of the country. It would be easier and better if there was one person to blame, but the truth is, you can’t blame one person for this. Mara Mandaric hasn’t been as fast to avoid reinjuring her knee, Artem Delacruz and Niko Komarov haven’t linked up as well, Will Sorokin has looked great but has been limited to the bench because of the more experienced players in front of him, and Lucas Alberg has made many mistakes because of the defense in front of him. Everyone loves Martin Brander, but that’s blinded a lot of fans to the fact that he’s noticeably slower and worse at getting into position at the start of opposition attacks. Javier Velazquez is good on the attack and that makes many fans like his play, but it’s easy to forget that he’s the biggest defensive liability on the back line.

All of these problems make it impossible to single someone out, and so the discontent for the team is being wisely leveled not at one or two players, but at the entire federation and the staff. Have one or two players fuck up? It’s because they have bad work ethics, or because they aren’t talented. The entire team fucks up? Well, time to get a new coach. Manager Marco Christensen is known for being close to his players, but some people say that the closeness with his players is what’s keeping the team from getting better. It takes a certain kind of person to go up to someone like Niko Komarov and scream at them for butchering the gameplan, and we don’t know yet if Marco Christensen is that kind of person. As an outsider looking in, he doesn’t seem like the type. Being a fatherly figure that wants to help everyone improve through nice words is something good when you’re winning, but when you’re losing and you can’t toughen up, the fans aren’t going to like it. Understandably, the fans are pissed right now.

Marco Christensen looks on paper like someone that would be a great leader for the national team. After all, we all like someone who can smile for the cameras and look good in the press, while having a tactical mindset capable of going toe to toe with more talented clubs. He did it at Strasburg when they were transitioning and the model was supposed to work with the national team, but it didn’t take long for Strasburg to have the finest players once again. Even if they aren’t at their old heights, their talent level is better than the Bojikstani national team. We’re now seeing the results of the difference in talent between the two, and it’s not looking good for Christensen. Smiling at the press and saying that everything is going to be fine works for a team with the funds to buy replacements and return to glory the next season. It doesn’t, however, work for a national team that can’t just buy a golden generation.

This team showed in the Independents Cup that they have potential, and their players have already started moving to larger nations to play at the club level. The players aren’t necessarily the problem, the coaching staff is. Maybe it has to do with the shakeup in assistants, and maybe it has to do with active players like Viktoria Ayala not being cut out to coach at the international level as assistants. Maybe it has to do with Bruno Cain being distracted by the fact that this will be his last cycle with the team, after he took the job as the head man for the Bankfoot Bears, over in Anthor. Whatever it is, Christensen smiling and telling everyone that the team and the staff aren’t panicking isn’t a legitimate means of improving the team’s fates.

There’s time to correct these problems and make it into the Cup of Harmony, but for that to happen, the staff need to get it together and stop acting like there isn’t a problem. Because there is, and the longer it isn’t talked about, the bigger the problem is going to get. Whether Christensen finally owns up to it and fixes it or not will be the defining thing in his career as manager of the national team, and may be what makes or breaks the position for him entirely.

[Yue Zhou]

BREAKING: BEIAN CITY SIGN JAYSON HERRERA
Lu Han - Beian Enquirer

BEIAN CITY -- Beian City recently announced the signing of enigmatic Llamanean midfielder Jayson Herrera to a one-season contract. The journeyman playmaker and recently-made Llamanean international, best known for only signing one-year deals in new countries as he aims to sweep across the world, struggled with disastrous Sharrow (a Brenecia-based club who will, after last season, ply their trade in the B-league), but showed considerably more promise with the likes of Na'Malsville, Grigio Calcio, and Nandaozhou Sharks. Herrera is expected to make an immediate impact for a City side that placed strongly in the league and came within a goal of Globe Cup qualification in their first UICA Cycle. Indeed, fans will have to figure that this acquisition will make City the team to beat in the upcoming YPL season.

"We're absolutely thrilled to have a midfielder of Jayson's ability," declared chairman Li Gongwen upon announcing Herrera's signing, and manager Wen Xilie was in agreement, calling Herrera "Immediately one of the best midfielders in the league." The Llamanean is one of the first notable foreigners to sign, joining Yincheng striker Alex Ibragimov as one of few Llamaneans in a predominantly-Yue league. Still, Herrera's history uniquely qualifies him to successfully make a transition to this new league - something he's done many times before.

The Herrera move is not without its critics. Many local fans have called the move unnecessary with popular, talented youth product Gu Zhalei waiting on the bench and Herrera unlikely to make a lasting impression on the club. And fans of southern clubs - including outspoken Nangang Royals manager Kang Guilin - have called City's new taste for foreign players "a disgrace on the YPL". Still, Herrera's talent is indisputable - and with Beian looking poised to lift the trophy next season, other clubs may soon be wishing they'd joined in sooner.

[Pasarga]

Torgos Tribune ~ Youngsters Heading for Award?

Pasarga has a noted reputation for developing good to great youth players that usually develop into decent first team footballers, one merely needs to look at the likes of Claudio Romano and Alexander Kárpáty from the national team pool to see the truth of that statement. Both of those players though used successful runs in the Di Bradini Cup in order to facilitate their moves abroad and into the starting elevens of their respective foreign clubs. However that comes back around to the idea that the nation is noted for having an excellent youth setup, despite the lack of money in the league compared to some other leagues like Nephara, Audioslavia, and Eura for example, with the Young Wanderers being among the best U21 national teams for near on a decade now and having had won the DBC before this recent resurgence as well. When one comes to think about successful youth football, Pasarga has to be up there along the likes of Ceni, Cosumar, Apox, and the former Sunrise Islands before their ousting.

Rumors are circulating that Pasargan youngsters are now under consideration for awards by Boldsport in their continued Galaticos Index initiative, a venture that has crowned "the best footballer in the world" for the last several years, after given off a substantial list of potential candidates as well as providing a team of the year. With a trio of twenty year olds included into the national pool by Mór Császár, where upon the Wanderers are currently sitting second in the group with a match to go before the halfway point of this Qualification campaign, it should come as no huge surprise that the Bonesea outfit is looking at a variety of our youth players to include into their awards. With the likes of Ádám Berecz getting game time with Baskita, as they have been the most prolific of clubs in the last few years to integrate their youth players into the first team, especially after a very deep run in the Youth Cup not too long ago, and Erik Földesy of CAP who had wanted to go abroad before the start of the next SuperLiga season, but was instead awarded a lucrative contraction to stay with the Hurricane instead, to choose from, we do not envy Boldsport's attempts to narrow down their list.

As for the Wanderers, they missed out a chance to take control of the group from Mriin as they traveled to Torgos and had to face the full ferocity that a ninety thousand capacity stadium full of supporters looking to cheer their home team on to victory can bring. The Wanderers had struck first after Thor had chested down a Hunor clearance and dribbled past his Gerard Tavol before putting in a shot that Zilia Hawsorn had no real chance at stopping. However Solara Vol would equalize for the visitors just before the half time whistle and really take the winds out of the Wanderers sails. The side came out in the second half and tried to rekindle the possession based attack that they had enjoyed for the majority of the first half, but had difficulty in breaking down Mriin's backline that had adjusted to the Wanderers crisp passing by flooding the channels. Ultimately both sides had to settle for just a single point out of the clash from the top two of the group, allowing Port Christopher to gain two points on them both with their win, making the race for the two qualification places very tight heading towards the halfway mark on the morrow.

The Wanderers will be traveling to Maryloupe and look to put their foot on the throat of what should be an inferior opponent and not have a repeat of their trip to Razenthuria, where they had to labor to collect the full spoils of the match. However with Thor apparently fully back from his tight hamstring injury based on the hour of play he had against Mriin, the Wanderers should have the thrust and threat in the attack to do exactly that. With just five points separating the top of the group and the middle of the group, every win is vital and especially against the sides that on paper are significantly weaker in all areas of the game than the Wanderers. Be strong on the attack and build the steel in the defense, use Hunor to unlock the midfield as he was able to in the first half against Mriin, and it should be another three points for the side and hopefully create some breathing room in what has turned into a very contentious and difficult qualifying group.

[95X]

From the 95X Wire Service:

Excellent Performance Propels 95X

General Failure fielded a somewhat different lineup as 95X defeated their opponents 3-0, valuting them into third place in their World Cup 79 Qualifying Group.

25-year-old Linsey Borland picked up not only her first NT start but also performed in turbo mode for her first NT goal to put 95X up 1-0 in the 12th minute of play.

"Did you ever think you'd get a start, much less a goal in your first game?" she was asked following the match.

"Please, no 'Turbo Pascal' references, okay?" she quipped.

Micah Morrison also got in on the first half scoring action, putting 95X up 2-0 shortly before halftime. It would also be Morrison again in the 78th off an Alyssa Yorkton assist.

[Flardania]

Hyūga |Kirishima

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The sounds of cheers and groans, happy and sadness had all but seemed like a thing of the past. Mori Park was currently empty as fans and staff seemingly sought to forget the draw through drinking or the many carnal options that the island prefecture of Yamatai had to offer. Miguel still wasn't used to that lifestyle as are many athletes that move to Kirishima to play sports as opposed to being citizens. Except, in this case, Miguel was a citizen and no one could understand what he was going through more than Ai Takagawa. Sure his sister would hear him out but Ariela had no problem adjusting to Kirishinan society. While his sister who moved to Kirishima due to her love of Kirishinan culture, even she couldn't handle Yamatai and settled with the second intense prefecture of Zipangu. Miguel on the other hand probably would've never become a Kirishinan citizen if it wasn't for the collapse of the Philippine Bayan.

"......I guess it's better than rioting" Miguel thought as he gazed at the empty field.

Seong Mi-Soo wasn't angry at all following their 1-1 draw with Sargossa. Sargossa is a well-respected team and they are known for focusing more on counter-attack play. That is a known issue with the Kitsunes that is hard to rectify as replacing someone on the pitch to increase counter-attacking defense would reduce offensive productivity and Kirishima has already seen first hand how well that works out for them. They failed to win but hey it wasn't a loss. It was a draw the top of the table would stay the same and it seems to be a good qualifying campaign. Miguel then chuckled to himself, "I have to admit that the local fans always had unique ways of distracting foreigners on the pitch...it wasn't enough against a team like them but man..." As Miguel thought about the local tactics he thought about how often he still gets distracted on the pitch. "You know...being more Kirishinan can't hurt....maybe I'll have Rin show me around the night scene" Miguel though usually as he zipped up his jacket and headed for the arena exit.