Spon Qusma - Qusmo Sports Newswire

by **Qusmo** » Thu Aug 30, 2018 8:06 pm

With Ryrak Cez fast approaching, Pug Qusmyra, the top flight of club football in Qusmo, is stealing all the headlines. But don’t sleep on Pug Qusma, the other nationwide football league in the nation, which also promises some dramatic results & exciting storylines in the season to come.

KF Abork

.1 Vlont-Oxolt Val (28) GK - QUS
 2 Tanar-Kepex Bux (28) CB - QUS
 3 Sevet-Kynda Val (21) CB - QUS
 4 Izilv-Drolx Xyt (26) LB - QUS
 5 Alfan-Flonz Ezi (26) RB - QUS
 6 Vanza-Milor Orz (31) CM - QUS
 7 Wulat-Zorno Pov (31) LM - QUS
 8 Harta-Dynom Iza (25) RM - QUS
 9 Dwada-Nalet Aka (30) LW - QUS
10 Cinic-Pilta Ono (24) RW - QUS
11 Jralv-Meron Nal (28) ST - QUS

Opolq: Ablan
Stadium: Mastad Ablana
Colours: Brown & Red
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 3rd, Pug Qelamajza (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 14th

KF Atlark

.1 Welar-Milor Pul (27) GK - QUS
 2 Izilv-Stomz Pul (28) CB - QUS
 3 Lucex-Lenpi Tla (30) CB - QUS
 4 Jerat-Alfan Max (27) CB - QUS
 5 Cralt-Zylyz Ard (20) LB - QUS
 6 Karar-Jerat Ono (27) RB - QUS
 7 Velyn-Horon Wek (23) CM - QUS
 8 Cunix-Nirlo Pec (23) LM - QUS
 9 Zorno-Xeral Viz (33) RM - QUS
10 Nexev-Lucex Zev (23) SS - QUS
11 Cynav-Eflat Vre (26) ST - QUS

Opolq: Atlem
Stadium: Mastad Atlema
Colours: Black & Red
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Ryrak Bez: 20th, Pug Qusmyra (Relegated)
Predicted Finish: 2nd

KF Atlov

.1 Xilit-Prant Uzo (25) GK - QUS
 2 Denir-Slokt Jok (24) CB - QUS
 3 Cynav-Ozolx Jan (24) CB - QUS
 4 Cralt-Intov Ivo (27) LB - QUS
 5 Balax-Vlont Yol (25) RB - QUS
 6 Vlont-Prant Ixi (26) DM - QUS
 7 Prant-Ozolx Uzo (30) LM - QUS
 8 Dynom-Yivix Mal (31) RM - QUS
 9 Stomz-Jerat Abe (23) AM - QUS
10 Wanar-Ucyxi Jok (28) SS - QUS
11 Flonz-Blonz Mal (26) ST - QUS

Opolq: Atlem
Stadium: Mastad Atlema
Colours: Red & White
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Ryrak Bez: 5th
Predicted Finish: 1st

KF Brakjon

.1 Dalox-Dwada Fox (29) GK - QUS
 2 Grilt-Ilinx Tla (27) CB - QUS
 3 Helek-Etern Tla (29) CB - QUS
 4 Zorno-Slokt Xlo (25) LB - QUS
 5 Elfon-Yunal Bel (26) RB - QUS
 6 Gerol-Yoltz Ixi (25) LM - QUS
 7 Welar-Milor Jan (28) RM - QUS
 8 Penac-Harta Jan (25) CM - QUS
 9 Ralox-Xalan Waz (26) LW - QUS
10 Hirom-Elfon Alt (22) RW - QUS
11 Savar-Cynav Xer (23) ST - QUS

Opolq: Bronne
Stadium: Mastad Bronna
Colours: Dark Blue & Orange
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 12th
Predicted Finish: 9th

KF Gelf

.1 Yamaj-Nirlo Iza (27) GK - QUS
 2 Kynda-Alfan Fri (28) CB - QUS
 3 Urynt-Harta Jan (23) CB - QUS
 4 Axelv-Xilit Ono (20) CB - QUS
 5 Relaf-Zorno Guv (26) LB - QUS
 6 Tanar-Lenpi Hox (27) RB - QUS
 7 Gavax-Wanar Tla (28) LM - QUS
 8 Penac-Raxat Ono (25) RM - QUS
 9 Rilan-Avarn Bux (25) CM - QUS
10 Zylyz-Hirom Jok (26) SS - QUS
11 Vanza-Linot Iza (28) ST - QUS

Opolq: Geant
Stadium: Mastad Geanta
Colours: Green & Gold
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Ryrak Bez: 16th
Predicted Finish: 19th

KF Juzad

.1 Belaj-Relaf Ixi (28) GK - QUS
 2 Matez-Mazur Rax (23) CB - QUS
 3 Cynav-Matez Eva (25) CB - QUS
 4 Ulutu-Yamaj Jan (25) LB - QUS
 5 Gerol-Cinic Eva (27) RB - QUS
 6 Velyn-Ralox Cuf (28) LM - QUS
 7 Cynav-Velyn Bel (28) RM - QUS
 8 Matez-Nexev Faz (33) CM - QUS
 9 Ucyxi-Cralt Nev (19) LW - QUS
10 Zorno-Lapij Mal (23) RW - QUS
11 Yelto-Zylyz Roz (26) ST - QUS

Opolq: Juvon
Stadium: Mastad Juvona
Colours: Purple & Black
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 13th
Predicted Finish: 13th

KF Kobat

.1 Telew-Vanza Jan (32) GK - QUS
 2 Ralox-Sevet Lec (25) CB - QUS
 3 Xalan-Milor Lec (28) CB - QUS
 4 Lucex-Forzu Viz (25) LB - QUS
 5 Xilit-Betva Eva (27) RB - QUS
 6 Yivix-Slokt Viz (23) LM - QUS
 7 Yivix-Dynom Eva (31) RM - QUS
 8 Harta-Zaxac Guv (28) CM - QUS
 9 Harta-Nexev Eva (26) LW - QUS
10 Zorno-Blonz Fri (27) RW - QUS
11 Welar-Elfon Fri (28) ST - QUS

Opolq: Kolle
Stadium: Mastad Kolla
Colours: Gold & Black
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 11th
Predicted Finish: 11th

KF Kozon

.1 Lucex-Intov Ixi (27) GK - QUS
 2 Intov-Cynav Won (31) CB - QUS
 3 Elfon-Prant Viz (26) LB - QUS
 4 Dynom-Intov Dar (27) RB - QUS
 5 Rilan-Kresp Jan (28) DM - QUS
 6 Ibilx-Elfon Zyn (29) LM - QUS
 7 Grilt-Intov Tok (29) RM - QUS
 8 Kresp-Matez Lec (28) AM - QUS
 9 Dynom-Cunix Ezi (25) LW - QUS
10 Jonto-Avarn Jan (30) RW - QUS
11 Tylyr-Xalan Hus (29) ST - QUS

Opolq: Kolle
Stadium: Mastad Kolla
Colours: Orange & Red
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 18th, Pug Qusmyra (Relegated)
Predicted Finish: 6th

KF Liczak

.1 Avarn-Telew Zyn (23) GK - QUS
 2 Ajark-Gerol Nal (30) CB - QUS
 3 Lucex-Raxat Yol (25) CB - QUS
 4 Tlanx-Nexev Jok (30) CB - QUS
 5 Tlanx-Frolt Xlo (28) LB - QUS
 6 Sevet-Sevet Abe (32) RB - QUS
 7 Dalox-Tanar Ono (29) LM - QUS
 8 Trenj-Gilir Mal (26) RM - QUS
 9 Yoltz-Zenon Uzo (25) CM - QUS
10 Otoln-Yivix Tla (18) SS - QUS
11 Fenaz-Ozolx Dar (26) ST - QUS

Opolq: Lillin
Stadium: Mastad Lillina
Colours: Red & Silver
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Ryrak Bez: 5th, Pug Qelama (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 18th

KF Mostew

.1 Dwada-Jerat Bux (29) GK - QUS
 2 Ukulx-Yivix Waz (28) CB - QUS
 3 Pilta-Hirom Nal (28) CB - QUS
 4 Xelez-Jralv Cuf (31) LB - QUS
 5 Cynav-Frolt Roz (28) RB - QUS
 6 Dwada-Kynda Zir (28) LM - QUS
 7 Lenpi-Vanza Sal (26) RM - QUS
 8 Lucex-Falax Cuf (23) CM - QUS
 9 Lenpi-Hirom Kev (27) LW - QUS
10 Olorz-Alfan Ono (27) RW - QUS
11 Telew-Zenon Jan (24) ST - QUS

Opolq: Montridor
Stadium: Mastad Montridora
Colours: Dark Blue & Silver
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 19th, Pug Qusmyra (Relegated)
Predicted Finish: 17th

KF Mupetyn

.1 Falax-Wulat Uzo (28) GK - QUS
 2 Kresp-Nulzk Kev (29) CB - QUS
 3 Mazur-Cunix Tla (24) LB - QUS
 4 Brelk-Avarn Abe (27) RB - QUS
 5 Jralv-Prant Bel (29) DM - QUS
 6 Paliv-Eflat Uzo (29) LM - QUS
 7 Milor-Lynul Waz (25) RM - QUS
 8 Yivix-Jerat Hal (27) AM - QUS
 9 Betva-Cinic Niz (26) LW - QUS
10 Lucex-Drolx Div (25) RW - QUS
11 Belaj-Nirlo Cuf (22) ST - QUS

Opolq: Mustric
Stadium: Mastad Mustrica
Colours: Black & Bright Green
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 1st, Pug Qelama (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 20th

KF Niflic

.1 Lenpi-Betva Len (25) GK - QUS
 2 Tlanx-Xeral Miz (21) CB - QUS
 3 Dynom-Yivix Cuf (24) LB - QUS
 4 Ilinx-Dynom Zev (27) RB - QUS
 5 Cralt-Olorz Ivo (31) DM - QUS
 6 Hirom-Zorno Wyt (30) LM - QUS
 7 Zorno-Lynul Viz (28) RM - QUS
 8 Drolx-Oxolt Ezi (23) AM - QUS
 9 Oxolt-Rynyr Kal (25) LW - QUS
10 Wanar-Penac Erv (24) RW - QUS
11 Matez-Jerat Xyt (28) ST - QUS

Opolq: Nire
Stadium: Mastad Nira
Colours: Orange & Dark Blue
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 7th
Predicted Finish: 7th

KF Oytrow

.1 Elfon-Izilv Eva (25) GK - QUS
 2 Kresp-Gelan Gor (28) CB - QUS
 3 Xynat-Lucex Eva (28) LB - QUS
 4 Azeld-Evela Cuf (27) RB - QUS
 5 Sylax-Lapij Cuf (29) DM - QUS
 6 Oxolt-Tanar Ivo (25) LM - QUS
 7 Nirlo-Kresp Abe (29) RM - QUS
 8 Wanar-Yunal Roz (26) AM - QUS
 9 Cunix-Belaj Yet (25) LW - QUS
10 Falax-Nirlo Kal (31) RW - QUS
11 Lenpi-Ilinx Roz (31) ST - QUS

Opolq: Oywen
Stadium: Mastad Oywena
Colours: Black & Pink
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 14th
Predicted Finish: 15th

KF Polxar

.1 Axelv-Slokt Eva (27) GK - QUS
 2 Grilt-Xilit Tez (24) CB - QUS
 3 Betva-Ucyxi Bel (24) CB - QUS
 4 Mulpo-Fenaz Yol (31) CB - QUS
 5 Olorz-Elfon Tla (26) LB - QUS
 6 Cynav-Stomz Ono (26) RB - QUS
 7 Jonto-Welar Zev (29) LM - QUS
 8 Etern-Paliv Jan (27) RM - QUS
 9 Irtix-Ozolx Roz (32) CM - QUS
10 Nexev-Nalet Guv (25) SS - QUS
11 Gerol-Elfon Jok (29) ST - QUS

Opolq: Polan
Stadium: Mastad Polana
Colours: Red & Gold
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Ryrak Bez: 4th
Predicted Finish: 4th

KF Qandon

.1 Xalan-Cinic Gep (31) GK - QUS
 2 Xilit-Xilit Xyt (30) CB - QUS
 3 Alfan-Cralt Max (28) LB - QUS
 4 Fenaz-Alfan Uzo (22) RB - QUS
 5 Oxolt-Wulat Miz (26) DM - QUS
 6 Yivix-Vlont Val (25) LM - QUS
 7 Intov-Helek Rax (30) RM - QUS
 8 Lapij-Forzu Uzo (26) AM - QUS
 9 Mazur-Harta Tla (23) LW - QUS
10 Matez-Forzu Tla (25) RW - QUS
11 Lenpi-Wanar Ivo (26) ST - QUS

Opolq: Qanz
Stadium: Mastad Qanza
Colours: Gold & Silver
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 8th
Predicted Finish: 3rd

KF Renan

.1 Otoln-Irtix Uzo (29) GK - QUS
 2 Eflat-Lenpi Nev (29) CB - QUS
 3 Tlanx-Vlont Mal (24) LB - QUS
 4 Yelto-Xilit Jok (22) RB - QUS
 5 Xilit-Sevet Pec (23) DM - QUS
 6 Cynav-Grilt Tla (25) LM - QUS
 7 Xilit-Evela Ulv (27) RM - QUS
 8 Ralox-Xalan Viz (26) AM - QUS
 9 Otoln-Yamaj Ezi (30) LW - QUS
10 Vanza-Matez Tla (25) RW - QUS
11 Lenpi-Etern Zev (19) ST - QUS

Opolq: Regel
Stadium: Mastad Regela
Colours: Light Purple & Silver
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 9th
Predicted Finish: 5th

KF Samerter

.1 Lapij-Jonto Lox (27) GK - QUS
 2 Dynom-Oxolt Jan (25) CB - QUS
 3 Mazur-Kepex Tla (29) CB - QUS
 4 Lapij-Ucyxi Roz (23) LB - QUS
 5 Irtix-Otoln Max (27) RB - QUS
 6 Meron-Frolt Uka (22) LM - QUS
 7 Elfon-Savar Kev (26) RM - QUS
 8 Alfan-Welar Aka (29) CM - QUS
 9 Vlont-Betva Jok (30) LW - QUS
10 Tlanx-Avarn Ixi (27) RW - QUS
11 Hynym-Xynat Ban (33) ST - QUS

Opolq: Samedin
Stadium: Mastad Samedina
Colours: Yellow & Red
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 10th
Predicted Finish: 16th

KF Ukunut

.1 Matez-Linot Yet (29) GK - QUS
 2 Jralv-Intov Jan (31) CB - QUS
 3 Matez-Tanar Fox (26) CB - QUS
 4 Cralt-Culak Tok (32) LB - QUS
 5 Japil-Gilir Ono (31) RB - QUS
 6 Horon-Savar Lec (29) LM - QUS
 7 Trenj-Winad Tez (27) RM - QUS
 8 Welar-Rynyr Bux (30) CM - QUS
 9 Olorz-Pilta Ezi (26) LW - QUS
10 Wanar-Cynav Lec (30) RW - QUS
11 Zylyz-Falax Rel (25) ST - QUS

Opolq: Ukular
Stadium: Mastad Ukulara
Colours: Orange & Bright Blue
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 15th
Predicted Finish: 12th

KF Vlosk

.1 Dwada-Helek Vre (25) GK - QUS
 2 Lynul-Wyzal Yet (23) CB - QUS
 3 Sevet-Ibilx Fox (32) CB - QUS
 4 Nalet-Grilt Jan (26) LB - QUS
 5 Tlanx-Meron Div (19) RB - QUS
 6 Zaxac-Eflat Tla (24) LM - QUS
 7 Gelan-Tlanx Ivo (30) RM - QUS
 8 Grilt-Gerol Mal (31) CM - QUS
 9 Vralx-Ucyxi Hir (26) LW - QUS
10 Nenzi-Upuln Ono (32) RW - QUS
11 Upuln-Vlont Jan (19) ST - QUS

Opolq: Vlyv
Stadium: Mastad Vlyva
Colours: Dark Blue & Yellow
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 6th
Predicted Finish: 8th

KF Xapon

.1 Cynav-Wanar Pec (27) GK - QUS
 2 Avarn-Zylyz Faz (21) CB - QUS
 3 Yivix-Helek Xyt (30) CB - QUS
 4 Brelk-Ilinx Waz (32) LB - QUS
 5 Stomz-Urynt Can (22) RB - QUS
 6 Dwada-Yoltz Ono (27) CM - QUS
 7 Gavax-Ucyxi Kev (20) LM - QUS
 8 Zorno-Jralv Tla (24) RM - QUS
 9 Denir-Zilot Lec (30) LW - QUS
10 Dwada-Hirom Jok (27) RW - QUS
11 Lenpi-Oxolt Tla (29) ST - QUS

Opolq: Xar
Stadium: Mastad Xara
Colours: Dark Blue & Light Blue
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Ryrak Bez: 1st, Pug Qelamajza (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 10th

by **Qusmo** » Fri Aug 31, 2018 11:08 am

Pug Qusmyra is back for another exciting season of top-flight football in Qusmo, as everyone is chasing defending champions Qastyr for the title in this season. Their closest challenger remains Poldanz, while Atlant, Trew, & Koflir should be fighting for UICA places not far behind. The first teams promoted into Pug Qusmyra will start top-level play this season, & excitement is building that they are worthy of staying in the league.

This season will almost certainly look different than last year did - in part because of how the transfer market revolutionized the league over the offseason. From an all-Qusma league, Pug Qusmyra was forced to open itself up into a league that welcomed players from all nations. That has led to some major changes in clubs’ rosters, & it threatens to upset the balance of power in Qusmo. Will it? There’s only one way to find out. Until Pug Qusmyra action starts, however, here’s what to watch for over the course of the season.

KF Atlant

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Opolq: Atlem
Stadium: Mastad Atlema
Colours: Dark Red & Black
Manager: Belaj-Cynav Ixi (58 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Xilit-Irtix Cuf (31) GK - QUS
 2 Lucex-Ilinx Opu (31) CB - QUS
 3 Jralv-Yamaj Mal (24) LB - QUS
 4 Nirlo-Betva Uzo (25) RB - QUS
 5 Jerat-Jonto Jan (22) DM - QUS
 6 Mulpo-Irtix Zyn (34) LM - QUS
 7 Fenaz-Alfan Eva (26) RM - QUS
 8 Jayson Herrera (33) AM - SLL
 9 Ovolk-Ulutu Uzo (26) LW - QUS
10 Zaxac-Sylax Alt (22) RW - QUS
11 Anika Redmayne (35) ST - NPH
12 Yelto-Dwada Xyt (23)  G - QUS
13 Frolt-Horon Can (26)  D - QUS
14 Zenon-Ralox Lec (31)  D - QUS
15 Elfon-Japil Waz (25)  D - QUS
16 Alfan-Etern Tla (24)  D - QUS
17 Elfon-Cralt Yet (29)  D - QUS
18 Tlanx-Milor Eva (25)  M - QUS
19 Xynat-Trenj Kal (30)  M - QUS
20 Zylyz-Wanar Ulv (27)  M - QUS
21 Fenaz-Ernat Bit (23)  M - QUS
22 Drolx-Elfon Lox (26)  A - QUS
23 Culak-Xalan Pec (28)  A - QUS
24 Yelto-Ucyxi Hox (30)  A - QUS
25 Vralx-Cralt Opu (27)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Jayson Herrera (SLL) AM, 32 - Miare CosmoStars (HIN)
Anika Redmayne (NPH) ST, 34 - Oldem Knights (APX)
Yelto-Ucyxi Hox (QUS) A, 30 - Qastyr (QUS)

Departures:

Kresp-Matez Lec (QUS) AM, 28 - Kozon (QUS)
Ulutu-Raxat Can (QUS) ST, 33 - Retired
Cinic-Kepex Jan (QUS) A, 32 - Retired

Player to Watch: Jayson Herrera
KF Atlant’s new first-choice attacking midfielder has a tall task ahead, as they look to bring the creative spark that was sorely missing from a club focussed entirely on defense last season; however, with an impressive pedigree that includes a KiHi-LEAGUE championship & a UICA Globe Cup quarterfinal run last season, Herrera looks like just the right player for the task.

Description:
Atlant is coming off a season in which they finished third, but only barely hung on to a UICA place. They have a stifling defense - by far the best in Qusmo - but they will need their offense to contribute more this season if they want to solidify their place on the table. With the additions they made, they might have challenged for the title last year, but Poldanz & Qastyr have improved by leaps & bounds, too. Atlant will aim to finish in the top three again - & they’re favourites to do so.

Ryrak Bez: 3rd
Predicted Finish: 3rd

KF Brel

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Opolq: Bronne
Stadium: Mastad Bronna
Colours: Black & Yellow
Manager: Karar-Prant Eva (72 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Cralt-Nulzk Uka (28) GK - QUS
 2 Milor-Nexev Lam (26) CB - QUS
 3 Elfon-Kynda Kym (25) LB - QUS
 4 Xilit-Raxat Ono (27) RB - QUS
 5 Linot-Zorno Mal (28) DM - QUS
 6 Otoln-Zaxac Mal (25) LM - QUS
 7 Kynda-Intov Cuf (32) RM - QUS
 8 Falax-Ilinx Jan (21) AM - QUS
 9 Forzu-Frolt Jok (29) LW - QUS
10 Ucyxi-Welar Guv (29) RW - QUS
11 Dwada-Yelto Mal (30) ST - QUS
12 Elfon-Belaj Sal (21)  G - QUS
13 Zorno-Oxolt Ixi (29)  D - QUS
14 Frolt-Kresp Guv (27)  D - QUS
15 Fenaz-Tylyr Yan (25)  D - QUS
16 Urynt-Raxat Ono (29)  D - QUS
17 Paliv-Evela Cov (26)  D - QUS
18 Xilit-Ajark Ono (24)  M - QUS
19 Sevet-Nirlo Jyx (31)  M - QUS
20 Frolt-Evela Tla (27)  M - QUS
21 Olorz-Prant Xyt (25)  M - QUS
22 Tlanx-Drolx Inu (29)  A - QUS
23 Ibilx-Cynav Ixi (26)  A - QUS
24 Zilot-Vanza Opu (27)  A - QUS
25 Ralox-Dynom Uka (24)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Ucyxi-Welar Guv (QUS) RW, 29 - Werzin (QUS)

Departures:

Matez-Otoln Aka (QUS) A, 30 - Trosoc (QUS)

Player to Watch: Falax-Ilinx Jan
Much as it was the case last year, Falax-Ilinx will need to contribute as a young player in order for KF Brel to have a good season. However, with an aging first-choice XI around them, it may take a jump in Falax-Ilinx’s quality just to tread water compared to Brel’s result from last season.

Description:
KF Brel may well drop five spots from their performance last season, from midtable all the way down to being in danger of relegation. That is no indictment of their team’s quality or a suggestion that they are not as good as they were before; instead, Pug Qusmyra has just gotten better, & they haven’t kept up, signing only one new player ahead of this season. It could be a long season. However, being predicted to come so close to the drop zone, at least their fans will likely see some meaningful matches late in the year.

Ryrak Bez: 12th
Predicted Finish: 17th

KF Dynynon

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Opolq: Dynstrud
Stadium: Mastad Dynstruda
Colours: Red & Gold
Manager: Xilit-Wulat Tez (47 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Rynyr-Relaf Fox (32) GK - QUS
 2 Ibilx-Milor Zev (26) CB - QUS
 3 Kresp-Yivix Ezi (24) LB - QUS
 4 Kepex-Forzu Aka (29) RB - QUS
 5 Xalan-Ralox Xyt (24) DM - QUS
 6 Sylax-Gavax Ixi (31) LM - QUS
 7 Ozolx-Yunal Uka (24) RM - QUS
 8 Lenpi-Etern Uzo (27) AM - QUS
 9 Ucyxi-Tylyr Fox (20) LW - QUS
10 Upuln-Lenpi Ezi (25) RW - QUS
11 Tlanx-Oxolt Eva (30) ST - QUS
12 Grilt-Lenpi Uka (29)  G - QUS
13 Nexev-Forzu Bux (28)  D - QUS
14 Elfon-Fenaz Val (24)  D - QUS
15 Zorno-Ulutu Opu (29)  D - QUS
16 Belaj-Jerat Bel (27)  D - QUS
17 Vlont-Karar Xyt (24)  D - QUS
18 Yivix-Nexev Ixi (24)  M - QUS
19 Balax-Ilinx Jan (31)  M - QUS
20 Ulutu-Lucex Tla (28)  M - QUS
21 Frolt-Pilta Tla (25)  M - QUS
22 Telew-Tlanx Cuf (26)  A - QUS
23 Etern-Mazur Jan (21)  A - QUS
24 Gerol-Penac Wek (29)  A - QUS
25 Dwada-Prant Vre (27)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Ibilx-Milor Zev (QUS) CB, 26 - Qastyr (QUS)

Departures:

Nirlo-Betva Ezi (QUS) D, 34 - Retired

Player to Watch: Ibilx-Milor Zev
Ibilx-Milor was just a reserve player last year, but they did win Pug Qusmyra & Puk Zama with KF Qastyr last season, & they are entering the prime of their career; now, they’re on another club that won a league title a season ago. This is Ibilx-Milor’s opportunity to prove that they are a championship-calibre player & a force to be reckoned with on a weekly basis in Pug Qusmyra.

Description:
Dynynon are a defending league champion, but they aren’t expected to do it again. They will be the standardbearers of the clubs promoted from Pug Qusma, & it looks like they are improved, perhaps all the way to midtable. Dynynon will hope that they can reach that spot & establish it as a beachhead to climb even farther - perhaps, eventually, all the way to another, more prestigious, league title sometime down the road.

Ryrak Bez: 1st, Pug Qusma (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 11th

KF Estraj

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Opolq: Estade
Stadium: Mastad Estada
Colours: Red & Yellow
Manager: Fiona Sylver (55 y.o.) - BRE
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2

.1 Brelk-Brelk Ixi (22) GK - QUS
 2 Rilan-Forzu Miz (27) CB - QUS
 3 Xilit-Stomz Uzo (29) CB - QUS
 4 Nirlo-Nirlo Val (29) LB - QUS
 5 Ralox-Alfan Fen (23) RB - QUS
 6 Thébora (18) DM - DAI
 7 Ernat-Telew Vre (25) LM - QUS
 8 Pertz-Horon Jan (24) RM - QUS
 9 Xynat-Vralx Roz (27) AM - QUS
10 Mokuro Junaiperu (22) SS - HIN
11 Denir-Mulpo Xer (27) ST - QUS
12 Prant-Prant Fox (29)  G - QUS
13 Falax-Eflat Zyn (25)  D - QUS
14 Vlont-Penac Bel (29)  D - QUS
15 Sevet-Tlanx Inu (26)  D - QUS
16 Vanza-Vlont Abe (24)  D - QUS
17 Nirlo-Matez Ono (32)  M - QUS
18 Olorz-Vlont Max (26)  M - QUS
19 Evela-Tlanx Bel (29)  M - QUS
20 Harta-Nenzi Pan (28)  M - QUS
21 Forzu-Irtix Ixi (26)  A - QUS
22 Ovolk-Jonto Lec (26)  A - QUS
23 Lapij-Jonto Fox (27)  A - QUS
24 Kepex-Matez Abe (21)  A - QUS
25 Japil-Alfan Abe (30)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Mokuro Junaiperu (HIN) AM/SS/ST, 21 - West Hylian Academy (HIN)
Thébora (DAI) DM, 17 - Estrela D’Alva (DAI)
Xilit-Stomz Uzo (QUS) CB, 28 - Lilnim (QUS)

Departures:

Paliv-Xilit Max (QUS) SS, 23 - Pascal Mashu (HIN)
Milor-Yunal Pul (QUS) AM, 25 - Trosoc (QUS)
Xilit-Xilit Xyt (QUS) CB, 30 - Qandon (QUS)

Player to Watch: Mokuro Junaiperu
Junaiperu has massive shoes to fill, as they will be replacing Paliv-Xilit Max, the Qusma national team player & the only poacher named to last season’s Team of the Season, who left for Junaiperu’s home country of Kita-Hinode. Junaiperu looks promising, but are they yet at Paliv-Xilit’s level?

Description:
KF Estraj is predicted to freefall eleven places this season. In part, that’s due to the fact that Estraj benefited from a manager who exceeded expectations immensely last season but has since left for greener pastures in Filindostan. Without them, we’re not sure if Estraj can recapture that magic. In addition, the player who was the star of the show, Paliv-Xilit Max, has left. They did try to make some moves in the transfer market, but the club has lost last season’s best poacher & best manager in Pug Qusmyra; this season could see them lose their place in the league altogether.

Ryrak Bez: 7th
Predicted Finish: 18th

KF Fryvvyn

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Opolq: Frene
Stadium: Mastad Frena
Colours: Blue & Bright Green
Manager: Jralv-Nexev Gla (46 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Alfan-Sevet Pov (26) GK - QUS
 2 Yivix-Elfon Uzo (30) CB - QUS
 3 Tylyr-Eflat Eva (28) LB - QUS
 4 Zenon-Ralox Uzo (28) RB - QUS
 5 Cralt-Zorno Waz (28) DM - QUS
 6 Axelv-Vlont Uka (26) LM - QUS
 7 Vulav-Alfan Ixi (28) RM - QUS
 8 Frolt-Kynda Erv (27) AM - QUS
 9 Slokt-Xalan Tla (21) LW - QUS
10 Cunix-Vanza Xyt (22) RW - QUS
11 Gerol-Elfon Hal (29) ST - QUS
12 Kepex-Jerat Tla (23)  G - QUS
13 Denir-Kresp Kev (29)  D - QUS
14 Xilit-Jonto Met (31)  D - QUS
15 Evela-Falax Jok (31)  D - QUS
16 Dynom-Pilta Lec (28)  D - QUS
17 Balax-Yamaj Tla (27)  D - QUS
18 Wanar-Ulutu Fox (27)  M - QUS
19 Ralox-Ukulx Wyt (29)  M - QUS
20 Ibilx-Axelv Tla (21)  M - QUS
21 Fenaz-Ilinx Mal (26)  M - QUS
22 Lenpi-Dalox Zev (28)  A - QUS
23 Kynda-Karar Kal (23)  A - QUS
24 Yamaj-Harta Val (29)  A - QUS
25 Irtix-Forzu Ono (31)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Fenaz-Ilinx Mal (QUS) LM, 26 - Renan (QUS)

Departures:

Zorno-Xeral Viz (QUS) RM, 33 - Atlark (QUS)

Player to Watch: Slokt-Xalan Tla
Slokt-Xalan is a lightning-quick left wing forward for Fryvvyn, & their pace is a massive plus in Pug Qusmyra, where play often ranges from quick to rapid. However, just like last year, Slokt-Xalan does not have a lot of help to work with, & it looks doubtful that they can propel the club all on their own.

Description:
Fryvvyn had a bear of a task to stay above danger for relegation last season. However, with clear improvements in Pug Qusmyra quality expected for this season, Fryvvyn was one of the clubs which was very inactive on the transfer market, making only one new signing. They are expected to have an even worse time of it this season; it may take a Herculean effort to stay up this time around. & unless the club begins to invest more in its roster, even if they can make it through this year, every season in Pug Qusmyra may be a struggle to survive.

Ryrak Bez: 15th
Predicted Finish: 20th

KF Ixic

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Opolq: Ixtun
Stadium: Mastad Ixtuna
Colours: Light Blue & White
Manager: Yivix-Japil Viz (52 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2

.1 Relaf-Slokt Ivo (25) GK - QUS
 2 Jonto-Julad Len (26) CB - QUS
 3 Culak-Konda Ezi (24) CB - QUS
 4 Winad-Pilta Mal (25) LB - QUS
 5 Evela-Yoltz Gor (27) RB - QUS
 6 Penac-Fenaz Wyt (19) DM - QUS
 7 Sevet-Zaxac Tez (23) LM - QUS
 8 Rilan-Nalet Hal (23) RM - QUS
 9 Paliv-Denir Xer (27) AM - QUS
10 Nexev-Betva Ixi (24) SS - QUS
11 Milor-Frolt Zev (31) ST - QUS
12 Jerat-Dynom Wyt (27)  G - QUS
13 Wanar-Kresp Jul (29)  D - QUS
14 Pertz-Yivix Zyn (24)  D - QUS
15 Yivix-Lucex Jan (19)  D - QUS
16 Dwada-Helek Ban (22)  D - QUS
17 Nexev-Flonz Eva (23)  M - QUS
18 Karar-Helek Rel (28)  M - QUS
19 Forzu-Elfon Bel (22)  M - QUS
20 Wanar-Dynom Mal (29)  M - QUS
21 Gelan-Welar Ezi (23)  A - QUS
22 Jralv-Jerat Niz (25)  A - QUS
23 Vanza-Sylax Fox (23)  A - QUS
24 Otoln-Wanar Uka (25)  A - QUS
25 Nexev-Irtix Mal (23)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Culak-Konda Ezi (QUS) CB, 24 - Vlonz (QUS)
Evela-Yoltz Gor (QUS) RB, 27 - Lilnim (QUS)

Departures:

Lucex-Lenpi Tla (QUS) CB, 30 - Atlark (QUS)
Irtix-Otoln Max (QUS) RB, 27 - Samerter (QUS)

Player to Watch: Penac-Fenaz Wyt
We heard all about Rilan-Jerat Nev, the lone eighteen-year-old starter for a Pug Qusmyra club last season. Penac-Fenaz, meanwhile, also started for a club which made it to international competition at the age of eighteen last season, as they gained valuable experience from the UICA Series B Champions’ Cup. If they can take another step forward in their development, their club could enjoy a good first year in Pug Qusmyra.

Description:
Ixtun had some success in international play via the UICA Series B Champions’ Cup, & they had enough success in Pug Qusma last season to clinch an automatic promotion spot. This year, they look to prove their worth as a respectable, midtable Pug Qusmyra side. If they can prove that they are up to the task, future seasons ahead can grow the club even more - especially if young players like Penac-Fenaz continue to grow & become better with Pug Qusmyra experience.

Ryrak Bez: 2nd, Pug Qusma (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 12th

KF Koflir

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Opolq: Kolle
Stadium: Mastad Kolla
Colours: Green & White
Manager: Harta-Yunal Den (73 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3

.1 Pilta-Jerat Zev (32) GK - QUS
 2 Yelto-Alfan Ono (25) CB - QUS
 3 Zenon-Gerol Kal (24) CB - QUS
 4 Yoltz-Tlanx Sal (25) LB - QUS
 5 Franziska Schnee-Krull (26) RB - ZWZ
 6 Kynda-Sevet Pec (20) LM - QUS
 7 Ramona Ambaile-Hund (23) RM - ZWZ
 8 Milor-Elfon Xyt (32) CM - QUS
 9 Ucyxi-Linot Can (28) LW - QUS
10 Pilta-Jonto Rel (28) RW - QUS
11 Gelan-Yivix Eva (28) ST - QUS
12 Ajark-Elfon Uzo (32)  G - QUS
13 Cynav-Axelv Siv (26)  D - QUS
14 Gavax-Cynav Roz (24)  D - QUS
15 Jerat-Mulpo Uzo (28)  D - QUS
16 Belaj-Lenpi Mal (30)  D - QUS
17 Horon-Avarn Jok (30)  M - QUS
18 Kresp-Grilt Ixi (26)  M - QUS
19 Ilinx-Kresp Opu (34)  M - QUS
20 Ernat-Zorno Fox (24)  M - QUS
21 Cinic-Hirom Abe (33)  M - QUS
22 Helek-Blonz Ban (23)  A - QUS
23 Alfan-Ucyxi Uzo (29)  A - QUS
24 Wulat-Alfan Lec (25)  A - QUS
25 Upuln-Harta Ezi (25)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Franziska Schnee-Krull (ZWZ) RB, 25 - Eintracht Trink (ZWZ)
Ramona Ambaile-Hund (ZWZ) RM/AM, 22 - Sporting Esper (ZWZ)

Departures:

Sevet-Zorno Val (QUS) RB, 29 - Arrowhead Point (NGD)
Urynt-Trenj Val (QUS) CM, 31 - FC Elan (ASU)

Player to Watch: Franziska Schnee-Krull
Schnee-Krull & Ramona Ambaile-Hund are the duo from Zwangzug who were the catalyst for Pug Qusmyra’s influx of foreign talent during this transfer window. Schnee-Krull hopes to prove that they’ll have a place not just in Qusma football trivia years down the road, but in the history of great right backs to play on Qusma shores. There’s a reason they were the one Koflir moved for despite knowing they would have to change Fuzpon Qusma’s regulations in order to do so.

Description:
Koflir came up just one spot short of the Vilitan Cove Invitational twice last season. Clubs can earn a nomination for the tournament if they win Puk Zama, & they made it all the way to the final before they were defeated by Qastyr. Since Qastyr was ineligible for Vilitan Cove Invitational nomination by winning Pug Qusmyra & Qusmo’s place in the UICA Champions’ Cup, the spot was passed down to the team which finished fifth in the table. Koflir finished sixth. They may not have signed many new players, but they still were aggressive in the market, signing two foreign national team players while keeping most of their core intact. This team has considerable talent in defense & midfield, & should earn at least a Vilitan Cove Invitational nomination this time around, holding their own against anyone.

Ryrak Bez: 6th
Predicted Finish: 5th

KF Lilnim

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Opolq: Lillin
Stadium: Mastad Lillina
Colours: Green & Silver
Manager: Gerol-Relaf Jok (55 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Vralx-Xilit Lec (26) GK - QUS
 2 Lynul-Savar Mal (30) CB - QUS
 3 Ernat-Vralx Max (32) LB - QUS
 4 Hirom-Vanza Roz (30) RB - QUS
 5 Wanar-Evela Cuf (27) DM - QUS
 6 Hirom-Wyzal Abe (29) LM - QUS
 7 Ucyxi-Jonto Sal (30) RM - QUS
 8 Izilv-Xalan Abe (25) AM - QUS
 9 Zenon-Fenaz Val (33) LW - QUS
10 Jerat-Yunal Saf (25) RW - QUS
11 Wanar-Brelk Pec (26) ST - QUS
12 Jonto-Nirlo Ezi (22) GK - QUS
13 Yelto-Wulat Jan (26) CB - QUS
14 Rilan-Denir Tla (20) RB - QUS
15 Xilit-Xilit Waz (24) LB - QUS
16 Belaj-Xalan Roz (23)  D - QUS
17 Zenon-Fenaz Uzo (23)  D - QUS
18 Alfan-Winad Kal (27)  M - QUS
19 Helek-Vlont Bux (26)  M - QUS
20 Falax-Lucex Abe (30)  M - QUS
21 Betva-Nenzi Can (26)  M - QUS
22 Nenzi-Gerol Ban (24)  A - QUS
23 Lucex-Julad Won (30)  A - QUS
24 Stomz-Pilta Val (25)  A - QUS
25 Zorno-Elfon Uzo (21)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Izilv-Xalan Abe (QUS) AM, 24 - Niom (QUS)
Jerat-Yunal Saf (QUS) RW, 25 - Trosoc (QUS)
Wanar-Evela Cuf (QUS) DM, 27 - Niom (QUS)
Zenon-Fenaz Val (QUS) LW, 33 - Atlark (QUS)
Lynul-Savar Mal (QUS) CB, 30 - Trew (QUS)
Ernat-Vralx Max (QUS) LB, 32 - Trosoc (QUS)
Hirom-Vanza Roz (QUS) RB, 30 - Trosoc (QUS)

Departures:

Xilit-Stomz Uzo (QUS) CB, 28 - Estraj (QUS)
Izilv-Stomz Pul (QUS) CB, 28 - Atlark (QUS)
Nexev-Lucex Zev (QUS) SS, 23 - Atlark (QUS)
Otoln-Yamaj Ezi (QUS) LW, 30 - Renan (QUS)
Forzu-Nirlo Uzo (QUS) CM, 28 - Qalijan (QUS)
Prant-Trenj Bel (QUS) M, 23 - Vlonz (QUS)
Evela-Yoltz Gor (QUS) RB, 27 - Ixic (QUS)

Player to Watch: Zenon-Fenaz Val
In a squad filled with new signings, one sparks particular interest. Zenon-Fenaz is now thirty-three, placing them in an exclusive club of Pug Qusmyra players their age or older, whose membership numbers in the single digits. Of course, Zenon-Fenaz plays left wing forward, a position that requires speed, & this in a league that emphasizes it generally. Does Zenon-Fenaz still have the legs to carry on?

Description:
Lilnim only barely stayed up last year. Now, they’re expected to finish in the top half of the table. What gives? Well, the majority of Lilnim’s Starting XI. No Pug Qusmyra club made more transactions than Lilnim did, as they adjusted their roster to match a new manager with new tactics & a new formation. In the process, they got a lot better, & they may actually be a team to contend with this season.

Ryrak Bez: 17th
Predicted Finish: 9th

KF Niom

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Opolq: Nire
Stadium: Mastad Nira
Colours: Black & Silver
Manager: Vulav-Wanar Tla (50 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2

.1 Culak-Pilta Rax (27) GK - QUS
 2 Raxat-Trenj Val (27) CB - QUS
 3 Cunix-Betva Tla (28) CB - QUS
 4 Nirlo-Ralox Tla (29) LB - QUS
 5 Sylax-Mulpo Saf (23) RB - QUS
 6 Kindness Nkembe (31) DM - NPH
 7 Mulpo-Kresp Orz (28) LM - QUS
 8 Lenpi-Stomz Orz (28) RM - QUS
 9 Kaden York (33) AM - ETN
10 Betva-Dwada Roz (24) SS - QUS
11 Elfon-Prant Kym (26) ST - QUS
12 Xeral-Zilot Ixi (29)  G - QUS
13 Nirlo-Ibilx Waz (29)  D - QUS
14 Nexev-Intov Den (27)  D - QUS
15 Lapij-Ozolx Waz (26)  D - QUS
16 Zorno-Avarn Jok (26)  D - QUS
17 Rilan-Penac Uzo (27)  M - QUS
18 Ovolk-Ulutu Abe (29)  M - QUS
19 Yunal-Xynat Sal (28)  M - QUS
20 Ernat-Ulutu Orz (30)  M - QUS
21 Relaf-Yunal Eva (26)  A - QUS
22 Ozolx-Alfan Jan (25)  A - QUS
23 Elfon-Betva Zev (22)  A - QUS
24 Lucex-Vlont Lec (25)  A - QUS
25 Wanar-Ralox Mal (31)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Kaden York (ETN) AM, 32 - Carredington (ETN)
Kindness Nkembe (NPH) DM, 30 - Crisisbless Athletic (NPH)

Departures:

Izilv-Xalan Abe (QUS) AM, 24 - Lilnim (QUS)
Wanar-Evela Cuf (QUS) DM, 27 - Lilnim (QUS)

Player to Watch: Kindness Nkembe
The Nepharim looks to be an anchor for Niom’s midfield, as the centre of the park at Mastad Nira looks to become an even stronger fortress. The club already boasts a pair of national team centrebacks, & the addition of Nkembe looks to make it almost unfair for opposing offenses to get anything going, except perhaps on the wings of the pitch.

Description:
Niom has an excellent defense, with a centreback pairing consisting of two national team players now reinforced by Kindness Nkembe, a defensive anchor from Nephara who looks to strengthen the team even more. Niom is one of the few teams whose new signings consist exclusively of foreign players, & they look to make an impact. Kaden York, too, is a good name to keep an eye on, as Niom hopes to not only have a solid defense but also a good attack; if that hope comes to fruition, Niom may bounce back from last season & return to the conversation for international places, where they were expected to be in Ryrak Bez.

Ryrak Bez: 10th
Predicted Finish: 7th

KF Poldanz

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Opolq: Polan
Stadium: Mastad Polana
Colours: Red & White
Manager: Vralx-Ucyxi Lec (58 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Prant-Telew Wek (27) GK - QUS
 2 Yamaj-Gilir Sal (26) CB - QUS
 3 Karar-Nirlo Hus (25) LB - QUS
 4 Sunshine Cethe-Carter (22) RB - SEM
 5 Yunal-Julad Waz (26) DM - QUS
 6 Prant-Kresp Ban (29) LM - QUS
 7 DaDougerius Van der Voort (24) RM - AUD
 8 Ilinx-Vulav Ixi (26) AM - QUS
 9 Dynom-Sevet Zev (30) LW - QUS
10 Jralv-Nexev Pec (26) RW - QUS
11 Xilit-Zaxac Yol (24) ST - QUS
12 Slokt-Lapij Uzo (29)  G - QUS
13 Helek-Alfan Ivo (29)  D - QUS
14 Nenzi-Kresp Ulv (26)  D - QUS
15 Cinic-Elfon Hal (26)  D - QUS
16 Horon-Lenpi Waz (26)  D - QUS
17 Frolt-Dynom Hal (30)  D - QUS
18 Elfon-Pertz Pec (27)  M - QUS
19 Xilit-Vanza Jan (22)  M - QUS
20 Belaj-Betva Mal (23)  M - QUS
21 Ralox-Cinic Uka (27)  M - QUS
22 Kepex-Xalan Xyt (28)  A - QUS
23 Sevet-Blonz Yol (26)  A - QUS
24 Cinic-Forzu Uzo (27)  A - QUS
25 Slokt-Jonto Tla (27)  G - QUS

New Signings:

DaDougerius Van der Voort (AUD) CB/RB/CM/RM, 23 - Footballer McFootballface (AUD)
Sunshine Cethe-Carter (SEM) RB, 22 - Centre for Excellence (APX)
Prant-Kresp Ban (QUS) LM, 29 - Trew (QUS)

Departures:

Gelan-Ajark Erv (QUS) CB, 22 - Qalijan (QUS)
Xalan-Elfon Lec (QUS) M, 32 - Retired
Lynul-Gavax Viz (QUS) RM, 35 - Retired

Player to Watch: Xilit-Zaxac Yol
Xilit-Zaxac was the Forward of the Season last year & the runner-up in the balloting for Player of the Season. They have been called up to the national team, of course, but they have not been getting steady starts or caps. Xilit-Zaxac will look to use this season as proof that they truly are Qusmo’s best forward, & that they deserve to be given national team minutes as such.

Description:
Poldanz was clearly Qusmo’s second-best club last season. Poldanz finished second in Pug Qusmyra, but Qastyr won the league. Qastyr & Poldanz each won one of Qusmo’s two cup competitions, & Poldanz advanced against international teams in the UICA Globe Cup, but Qastyr went even farther. Poldanz made some moves in an attempt to strengthen their roster, most notably signing promising right back Sunshine Cethe-Carter from Apox’s Centre for Excellence; however, they did not make very many other impact moves, allowing Qastyr to continue to seem like the class of Qusmo going into this season. That said, if anyone challenges Qastyr, it will almost surely be Poldanz - & Poldanz should be able to wrap up second place, at least.

Ryrak Bez: 2nd
Predicted Finish: 2nd

KF Poljak

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Opolq: Polan
Stadium: Mastad Polana
Colours: Silver & Red
Manager: Lenpi-Gerol Fox (45 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2

.1 Jralv-Vlont Abe (28) GK - QUS
 2 Savar-Denir Tez (30) CB - QUS
 3 Xilit-Milor Cuf (25) CB - QUS
 4 Oxolt-Vanza Fox (26) LB - QUS
 5 Ernat-Frolt Cuf (27) RB - QUS
 6 Oxolt-Axelv Lec (28) DM - QUS
 7 Alfan-Intov Zka (30) LM - QUS
 8 Velyn-Vlont Nev (24) RM - QUS
 9 Hynym-Gelan Zyn (31) AM - QUS
10 Nexev-Yoltz Tla (31) SS - QUS
11 Kresp-Falax Zka (23) ST - QUS
12 Gerol-Trenj Faz (28)  G - QUS
13 Ulutu-Vlont Lec (28)  D - QUS
14 Prant-Konda Abe (25)  D - QUS
15 Flonz-Vlont Ixi (22)  D - QUS
16 Jerat-Meron Lec (29)  D - QUS
17 Pertz-Raxat Zev (28)  M - QUS
18 Lynul-Ralox Zev (26)  M - QUS
19 Yivix-Xeral Gor (25)  M - QUS
20 Ajark-Japil Jan (20)  M - QUS
21 Lucex-Gelan Fox (23)  A - QUS
22 Harta-Raxat Tla (30)  A - QUS
23 Vanza-Sevet Ixi (28)  A - QUS
24 Nirlo-Trenj Uzo (31)  A - QUS
25 Pertz-Konda Mal (28)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Ulutu-Vlont Lec (QUS) LB, 28 - Atlark (QUS)

Departures:

Fenaz-Alfan Uzo (QUS) RB, 22 - Qandon (QUS)

Player to Watch: Hynym-Gelan Zyn
Attacking midfielder is one of the most important positions on the pitch. It’s important that a club has a player who is creative & who can open up play to produce chances. Hynym-Gelan is a good player, but they are beginning to slip towards being simply milquetoast with age. In this respect, they are fairly indicative of their team as a whole as it ages more & more.

Description:
Poljak finished last season quite a bit lower than they wanted to, leaving some doubts as to their manager’s job security. However, they were given some patience & an opportunity to do well this year. Unfortunately for them, they were only able to make one signing, & that has left them expecting a similar performance to last year. If they underperform as badly as they did in Ryrak Bez, however, Poljak may not have a place in Pug Qusmyra this season - & Lenpi-Gerol Fox may not have a job.

Ryrak Bez: 16th
Predicted Finish: 15th

KF Qalijan

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Opolq: Qanz
Stadium: Mastad Qanza
Colours: Black & Gold
Manager: Brelk-Avarn Saf (57 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3

.1 Meron-Etern Len (22) GK - QUS
 2 Gelan-Ajark Erv (22) CB - QUS
 3 Nalet-Falax Roz (29) CB - QUS
 4 Oxolt-Jerat Tla (30) LB - QUS
 5 Penac-Winad Roz (24) RB - QUS
 6 Forzu-Nirlo Uzo (28) CM - QUS
 7 Gavax-Hynym Kym (27) LM - QUS
 8 Xilit-Sevet Mal (30) RM - QUS
 9 Cynav-Vanza Hus (25) LW - QUS
10 Wanar-Ulutu Abe (28) RW - QUS
11 Dalox-Nexev Jan (22) ST - QUS
12 Nenzi-Ucyxi Tla (24)  G - QUS
13 Zorno-Jonto Tez (28)  D - QUS
14 Dwada-Lenpi Ban (23)  D - QUS
15 Lynul-Tylyr Abe (26)  D - QUS
16 Hirom-Ovolk Aka (30)  D - QUS
17 Yivix-Ralox Waz (27)  M - QUS
18 Rynyr-Cralt Zir (27)  M - QUS
19 Xilit-Intov Pec (22)  M - QUS
20 Harta-Milor Aka (29)  M - QUS
21 Paliv-Cynav Can (27)  M - QUS
22 Jerat-Winad Tla (27)  A - QUS
23 Elfon-Jralv Ono (26)  A - QUS
24 Vulav-Sevet Lec (26)  A - QUS
25 Intov-Cinic Ard (31)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Forzu-Nirlo Uzo (QUS) CM, 28 - Lilnim (QUS)
Dalox-Nexev Jan (QUS) ST, 22 - Vlonz (QUS)
Gelan-Ajark Erv (QUS) CB, 22 - Poldanz (QUS)

Departures:

Trenj-Vralx Eva (QUS) CM, 24 - Qastyr (QUS)
Welar-Elfon Fri (QUS) ST, 28 - Kobat (QUS)
Pertz-Milor Opu (QUS) D, 32 - Retired

Player to Watch: Gelan-Ajark Erv
Gelan-Ajark has been a part of a team which has had great success, even winning Pug Zala. However, they have not have a starring role like this before. They will be tasked with improving an already-solid defense, which was one of two to concede less than one goal per match in Pug Qusma last season, & which conceded only one more goal than the best defense in last year’s Pug Qusma. If they can do it, at the age of twenty-two, they may have a long career in Qanz.

Description:
Qalijan did well in Pug Qusma, finishing third in the league & winning the promotion playoff to become Pug Qusmyra’s third club from the capital city of Qanz. With two derbies on slate, this season looks like a very interesting one. Two derby matches will be played against the defending Pug Qusmyra & Puk Zama champions, who will be favourites again this season. Such is how derbies worked in Ryrak Bez, with no two clubs from the same city finishing closer than seven spots away on the table, despite five cities boasting multiple top flight clubs. However, Qalijan’s addition to the league could make things different, as they look to immediately be very competitive with intracity rivals Qasym. They may not be at the top of the table, but competitive derby matches are something which Pug Qusmyra have lacked - & will love to have now that Qalijan has been promoted.

Ryrak Bez: 3rd, Pug Qusma (Promoted)
Predicted Finish: 13th

KF Qastyr

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Opolq: Qanz
Stadium: Mastad Qanza
Colours: Gold & Red
Manager: Tlanx-Nulzk Hal (56 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3

.1 Vanza-Jerat Gep (27) GK - QUS
 2 Anthony Patterson (25) CB - ETN
 3 Kresp-Cinic Jan (25) CB - QUS
 4 Tasha Avery (29) LB - NPH
 5 Martha Maury (30) RB - EFL
 6 Helek-Nenzi Ono (22) LM - QUS
 7 Forzu-Ralox Kal (26) RM - QUS
 8 Ilinx-Kepex Zev (32) CM - QUS
 9 Ozolx-Mazur Guv (28) LW - QUS
10 Swanhilda Berisha (29) RW - NPH
11 Prant-Pertz Gor (26) ST - QUS
12 Nirlo-Ibilx Xlo (27)  G - QUS
13 Kynda-Milor Wek (28)  D - QUS
14 Olorz-Xalan Inu (27)  D - QUS
15 Penac-Cinic Uka (26)  D - QUS
16 Cralt-Vlont Eva (28)  D - QUS
17 Avarn-Avarn Val (24)  M - QUS
18 Nenzi-Jonto Kev (22)  M - QUS
19 Trenj-Vralx Eva (24)  M - QUS
20 Wanar-Grilt Xlo (26)  M - QUS
21 Prant-Belaj Jan (29)  M - QUS
22 Rilan-Belaj Tar (29)  A - QUS
23 Zenon-Grilt Ono (30)  A - QUS
24 Tlanx-Relaf Ulv (24)  A - QUS
25 Matez-Dwada Roz (28)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Swanhilda Berisha (NPH) RW, 28 - Parrhesia United (NPH)
Tasha Avery (NPH) LB, 28 - Parrhesia United (NPH)
Martha Maury (EFL) RB, 29 - Stade-National (ASU)
Anthony Patterson (ETN) CB, 24 - Dovertown (ETN)
Ozolx-Mazur Guv (QUS) LW, 28 - Étoile Rouge (MAR)
Trenj-Vralx Eva (QUS) CM, 24 - Qalijan (QUS)
Helek-Nenzi Ono (QUS) LM, 22 - Vlonz (QUS)

Departures:

Elfon-Wanar Saf (QUS) CB, 27 - Vlonz (QUS)
Yelto-Ucyxi Hox (QUS) A, 30 - Atlant (QUS)
Ilinx-Fenaz Lec (QUS) ST, 30 - Trosoc (QUS)
Ibilx-Milor Zev (QUS) CB, 26 - Dynynon (QUS)
Matez-Izilv Jan (QUS) RB, 29 - Zwac (QUS)
Kynda-Lucex Roz (QUS) M, 35 - Retired
Lucex-Zenon Abe (QUS) M, 32 - Retired

Player to Watch: Ilinx-Kepex Zev
Qastyr’s roster boasts seven new signings, four foreign players, & nine Qusma national team players - all are highs in Pug Qusmyra. However, there is only one choice for the player to watch on this team. They are Ryrak Bez’s Player of the Season, their club & their country’s captain, & one of the main reasons Qastyr will attempt to defend Puk Zama & Pug Qusmyra trophies this season - & are a favourite to do so.

Description:
There is only one Qastyr. Qastyr looked phenomenal in Ryrak Bez, winning two trophies, including the league, on the back of a top-ranked attack. Now, Qastyr is back & even better than ever, with seven new signings, including four foreigners. Only one player on Qastyr’s Starting XI is not either a foreigner or a player which has been capped for Qusmo’s national team. There is such an embarrassment of riches at Mastad Qanza that Qastyr has three players who were capped for the national team sitting on its bench. If Qastyr does not have Qavax Puga Qusmyra to open their new stadium next year, it will be nothing short of a disappointment for their fans - & a big surprise to everyone else.

Ryrak Bez: 1st
Predicted Finish: 1st

KF Qasym

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Opolq: Qanz
Stadium: Mastad Qanza
Colours: Red & Gold
Manager: Tlanx-Avarn Hox (64 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Sylax-Japil Jan (28) GK - QUS
 2 Betva-Zenon Rax (24) CB - QUS
 3 Nirlo-Dwada Mal (24) LB - QUS
 4 Kepex-Zaxac Jan (25) RB - QUS
 5 Tlanx-Gilir Pul (26) DM - QUS
 6 Yelto-Jonto Den (29) LM - QUS
 7 Lenpi-Ulutu Mal (28) RM - QUS
 8 Dalox-Lenpi Mal (21) AM - QUS
 9 Gerol-Wanar Kev (29) LW - QUS
10 Xelez-Jonto Tla (26) RW - QUS
11 Frolt-Zilot Tla (22) ST - QUS
12 Vlont-Xalan Yol (27)  G - QUS
13 Evela-Otoln Sal (26)  D - QUS
14 Jonto-Falax Tar (24)  D - QUS
15 Oxolt-Wanar Nal (30)  D - QUS
16 Brelk-Lucex Jan (31)  D - QUS
17 Dalox-Elfon Fri (28)  D - QUS
18 Paliv-Zorno Uzo (32)  M - QUS
19 Irtix-Oxolt Ono (28)  M - QUS
20 Vlont-Irtix Lam (29)  M - QUS
21 Ucyxi-Wanar Cuf (25)  M - QUS
22 Ozolx-Cralt Abe (29)  A - QUS
23 Vanza-Lenpi Can (27)  A - QUS
24 Zorno-Grilt Den (25)  A - QUS
25 Trenj-Winad Viz (29)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Vlont-Xalan Yol (QUS) GK, 27 - Atlark (QUS)

Departures:

Xalan-Cinic Gep (QUS) GK, 31 - Qandon (QUS)

Player to Watch: Frolt-Zilot Tla
Frolt-Zilot saw some transfer interest during the window, but Qasym held onto their starting striker. It was a good thing, too, because there are not many long-term options with which the club could easily replace the twenty-two-year-old. By next year, about a third of this roster will be in their thirties; in order for Qasym to have success, both now & beyond, young players like Frolt-Zilot will need to step up.

Description:
Qasym underperformed last year, & this season does not look much better. This club features an unchanged Starting XI, with only a backup goalkeeper signed over the window. Qasym does not look like they can compete at all with Qastyr, the big team in the city, & they may even trail Qalijan, the newly-promoted side, to fall to the status of Qanz’s third club - an ignoble development for the side which hoped to take Qastyr to the limit in a true rivalry twice a season. Qasym will need to be careful, though; if they slip much more, they won’t get to play Qastyr at all in Pug Qusma.

Ryrak Bez: 14th
Predicted Finish: 16th

KF Rejin

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Opolq: Regel
Stadium: Mastad Regela
Colours: Purple & Gold
Manager: Jonto-Kresp Waz (50 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Xilit-Evela Jan (25) GK - QUS
 2 Ulutu-Cunix Tar (24) CB - QUS
 3 Kepex-Elfon Abe (25) LB - QUS
 4 Zorno-Relaf Bel (25) RB - QUS
 5 Dwada-Dalox Wek (21) DM - QUS
 6 Jonto-Meron Bel (29) LM - QUS
 7 Yivix-Ucyxi Cuf (32) RM - QUS
 8 Bonne Shibonne (22) AM - HIN
 9 Dwada-Intov Tez (25) LW - QUS
10 Urynt-Sevet Abe (27) RW - QUS
11 Landen Smoker (32) ST - CCN
12 Ilinx-Yelto Ard (29)  G - QUS
13 Yivix-Helek Eva (24)  D - QUS
14 Vlont-Wanar Jok (24)  D - QUS
15 Zenon-Xelez Xlo (28)  D - QUS
16 Cinic-Avarn Hir (29)  D - QUS
17 Yelto-Meron Guv (27)  D - QUS
18 Mazur-Brelk Ixi (31)  M - QUS
19 Tlanx-Cynav Can (26)  M - QUS
20 Xilit-Vulav Eva (28)  M - QUS
21 Telew-Zilot Zev (25)  M - QUS
22 Forzu-Olorz Ard (24)  A - QUS
23 Wanar-Kresp Len (28)  A - QUS
24 Cynav-Xynat Ivo (28)  A - QUS
25 Nexev-Tlanx Eva (28)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Landen Smoker (CCN) ST, 31 - Casper Woods (CCN)
Bonne Shibonne (HIN) CM/AM/ST, 21 - Mido-Hinode Tech Institute (HIN)
Dwada-Intov Tez (QUS) LW, 24 - Trosoc (QUS)

Departures:

Ozolx-Mazur Guv (QUS) LW, 27 - Étoile Rouge (MAR)
Xilit-Belaj Cuf (QUS) AM, 24 - Trosoc (QUS)
Winad-Zorno Nal (QUS) ST, 28 - Zwac (QUS)

Player to Watch: Landen Smoker
The Crystalline Caverns national team striker is bringing their craft to Qusmo, & Rejin looks to be in dire need of it. With the loss of star player Ozolx-Mazur Guv, they will need someone to replace their former left wing forward’s potent goalscoring threat; they brought in Dwada-Intov Tez from Trosoc to fill in at Ozolx-Mazur’s spot at the left wing, but Rejin is putting most of its hopes in Smoker as a threat from up front.

Description:
Rejin had a bad window. The story has been repeated countless times: Rejin finished only a single point short of the UICA places, & they lost their final match of the season. Had they won it, they would have taken third place in the league. As it was, however, they finished fifth, with an invitation to the Vilitan Cove Invitational. That was not good enough for their star player, Ozolx-Mazur Guv, who tried to leave for Marianne before its league folded. Rejin made some admirable signings to try to replace Ozolx-Mazur, but it remains to be seen if that is possible - &, worst of all, they’ll have to play against Ozolx-Mazur twice a season when they face Qastyr. This season does not look very bright, but Rejin needs to stop the bleeding, salvage a respectable finish in the top half of the table, & use that as a place from which they can work their way back up again.

Ryrak Bez: 5th
Predicted Finish: 10th

KF Trew

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Opolq: Tracam
Stadium: Mastad Tracama
Colours: Blue & Black
Manager: Forzu-Denir Ono (48 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 4 - 3

.1 Otoln-Ulutu Nev (28) GK - QUS
 2 Dwada-Intov Xer (27) CB - QUS
 3 Rhéal Paiement (17) LB - MAR
 4 Sevet-Zorno Val (30) RB - QUS
 5 Eurydice Padopalou (32) DM - NPH
 6 Axelv-Wanar Opu (33) LM - QUS
 7 Ilinx-Ibilx Tla (29) RM - QUS
 8 Gavax-Nenzi Abe (24) AM - QUS
 9 Belaj-Kresp Abe (23) LW - QUS
10 Upuln-Cralt Guv (22) RW - QUS
11 Rilan-Jerat Nev (19) ST - QUS
12 Ibilx-Xilit Lec (26)  G - QUS
13 Zenon-Otoln Saf (27)  D - QUS
14 Hynym-Xilit Uzo (27)  D - QUS
15 Stomz-Xynat Nal (30)  D - QUS
16 Zilot-Trenj Miz (19)  D - QUS
17 Ajark-Lucex Tez (27)  D - QUS
18 Jerat-Yoltz Xlo (28)  M - QUS
19 Dynom-Ucyxi Bel (27)  M - QUS
20 Fenaz-Wanar Gor (28)  M - QUS
21 Vlont-Balax Mal (18)  M - QUS
22 Matez-Forzu Guv (28)  A - QUS
23 Nalet-Slokt Lec (26)  A - QUS
24 Olorz-Azeld Ixi (28)  A - QUS
25 Elfon-Nirlo Inu (25)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Rhéal Paiement (MAR) LB, 16 - Cosmopolitan (MAR)
Eurydice Padopalou (NPH) DM, 31 - Oldem Knights (APX)
Sevet-Zorno Val (QUS) RB, 30 - Arrowhead Point (NGD)
Vlont-Balax Mal (QUS) M, 18 - Trew Juzuna (QUS)

Departures:

Avarn-Forzu Tla (QUS) DM, 27 - Trosoc (QUS)
Prant-Kresp Ban (QUS) LM, 29 - Poldanz (QUS)
Lynul-Savar Mal (QUS) CB, 30 - Lilnim (QUS)
Nexev-Elfon Cel (QUS) RB, 28 - Trosoc (QUS)

Player to Watch: Rilan-Jerat Nev
Of course, this club, which has already made a name in Qusmo for its youth, has a teenager leading the way. Rilan-Jerat played well enough to be named to the Team of the Season & the national team; furthermore, they played so well that they were awarded Young Player of the Season & a spot on the regular national team Starting XI. Those were all quite controversial, however, & Rilan-Jerat will have to tune out the noise to focus on proving their detractors wrong.

Description:
Rilan-Jerat Nev made headlines last season as Pug Qusmyra’s lone eighteen-year-old regular starter. Now meet Rhéal Paiement, the signing from Marianne who figures to be the lone seventeen-year-old to play in the top flight. The parent club of Puk Juzuna champions Trew Juzuna, Trew established itself firmly as the top club in Qusmo for youth talent last season; during the transfer window, they only reinforced that reputation, as they bought Pug Qusmyra’s youngest player, they were the only Pug Qusmyra club to promote a player from their own youth academy, & they still have Rilan-Jerat, the reigning Young Player of the Season who is age-eligible to defend their crown.

Ryrak Bez: 4th
Predicted Finish: 4th

KF Trosoc

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Opolq: Tracam
Stadium: Mastad Tracama
Colours: Yellow & Black
Manager: Leo Quinn (43 y.o.) - BRE
Formation: 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

.1 Xynat-Evela Cuf (27) GK - QUS
 2 Oxolt-Hynym Kev (30) CB - QUS
 3 Intov-Rynyr Ump (29) CB - QUS
 4 Noah McDonald (31) LB - HUD
 5 Nexev-Elfon Cel (28) RB - QUS
 6 Avarn-Forzu Tla (27) DM - QUS
 7 Lenpi-Yelto Hox (31) LM - QUS
 8 Ovolk-Cralt Wek (28) RM - QUS
 9 Milor-Yunal Pul (26) AM - QUS
10 Xilit-Belaj Cuf (25) AM - QUS
11 Ilinx-Fenaz Lec (30) ST - QUS
12 Blonz-Karar Pec (26)  G - QUS
13 Dwada-Lenpi Ivo (26)  D - QUS
14 Vanza-Rilan Uzo (28)  D - QUS
15 Betva-Tanar Jan (25)  D - QUS
16 Cynav-Rynyr Viz (24)  D - QUS
17 Zorno-Lynul Eva (28)  M - QUS
18 Trenj-Vulav Zev (26)  M - QUS
19 Nirlo-Trenj Waz (28)  M - QUS
20 Intov-Ozolx Eva (28)  A - QUS
21 Matez-Otoln Aka (30)  A - QUS
22 Ucyxi-Mazur Zyn (24)  A - QUS
23 Yoltz-Pilta Dar (27)  A - QUS
24 Sevet-Ajark Bel (30)  A - QUS
25 Xilit-Culak Ezi (24)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Noah McDonald (HUD) LB, 30 - FC Elan (ASU)
Xilit-Belaj Cuf (QUS) AM, 24 - Rejin (QUS)
Milor-Yunal Pul (QUS) AM, 25 - Estraj (QUS)
Avarn-Forzu Tla (QUS) DM, 27 - Trew (QUS)
Ilinx-Fenaz Lec (QUS) ST, 30 - Qastyr (QUS)
Matez-Otoln Aka (QUS) A, 30 - Brel (QUS)
Nexev-Elfon Cel (QUS) RB, 28 - Trew (QUS)

Departures:

Dwada-Intov Tez (QUS) LW, 24 - Rejin (QUS)
Jerat-Yunal Saf (QUS) RW, 25 - Lilnim (QUS)
Velyn-Horon Wek (QUS) CM, 23 - Atlark (QUS)
Ernat-Vralx Max (QUS) LB, 32 - Lilnim (QUS)
Hirom-Vanza Roz (QUS) RB, 30 - Lilnim (QUS)
Cinic-Urynt Viz (QUS) M, 33 - Retired
Yelto-Ukulx Jan (QUS) M, 33 - Retired

Player to Watch: Xynat-Evela Cuf
It will be interesting to see how this Trosoc team plays & performs throughout the year, with a new, foreign manager who is bringing new tactics & formations to the Qusma game. However, ultimately, this club is built around the excellent play of its goalkeeper, who was locked in a battle to earn the number 1 shirt for the national team all last year. If they can leader their club to a good finish this year, it may go a long way to helping them stake that claim.

Description:
Trosoc was one of three clubs in Pug Qusmyra to make seven new signings over the transfer window. That was, in large part, due to Trosoc’s switch at manager. After a better-than-expected year, their manager left for a foreign league, & they brought in a foreign manager to replace them. Quinn will have their work cut out for them, as they try to implement a formation with only one striker, unseen before in Pug Qusmyra. Whether of their formation, tactics, manager, or players, Trosoc has been going through many changes; they hope that they will stabilize this season & provide a solid foundation from which they may challenge more in years to come.

Ryrak Bez: 11th
Predicted Finish: 14th

KF Vlonz

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Opolq: Vlyv
Stadium: Mastad Vlyva
Colours: Blue & Gold
Manager: Eflat-Cralt Ono (34 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2

.1 Nexev-Ralox Ump (33) GK - QUS
 2 Prant-Intov Miz (28) CB - QUS
 3 Elfon-Wanar Saf (27) CB - QUS
 4 Flonz-Urynt Guv (29) LB - QUS
 5 Zacly Angelica (19) RB - AUD
 6 Cralt-Yelto Ulv (27) DM - QUS
 7 Otoln-Cunix Hal (24) LM - QUS
 8 Harta-Mazur Tla (26) RM - QUS
 9 Nenzi-Frolt Erv (28) AM - QUS
10 Lenpi-Xelez Roz (30) SS - QUS
11 Elena Caldryn (26) ST - BRE
12 Xilit-Dynom Ixi (24)  G - QUS
13 Ukulx-Karar Hox (23)  D - QUS
14 Zenon-Hynym Wyt (32)  D - QUS
15 Cinic-Denir Aka (21)  D - QUS
16 Wanar-Xelez Ixi (23)  D - QUS
17 Prant-Trenj Bel (23)  M - QUS
18 Dalox-Ucyxi Zka (30)  M - QUS
19 Jerat-Tanar Lec (24)  M - QUS
20 Elfon-Etern Gor (23)  M - QUS
21 Milor-Yivix Cuf (23)  A - QUS
22 Xeral-Blonz Inu (24)  A - QUS
23 Hirom-Japil Ixi (25)  A - QUS
24 Elfon-Zenon Uka (29)  A - QUS
25 Ucyxi-Welar Yet (24)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Zacly Angelica (AUD) RB, 18 - Footballer McFootballface (AUD)
Elena Caldryn (BRE) ST, 25 - Westpike United (BRE)
Elfon-Wanar Saf (QUS) CB, 27 - Qastyr (QUS)
Prant-Trenj Bel (QUS) M, 23 - Lilnim (QUS)

Departures:

Culak-Konda Ezi (QUS) CB, 24 - Ixic (QUS)
Helek-Nenzi Ono (QUS) LM, 22 - Qastyr (QUS)
Dalox-Nexev Jan (QUS) ST, 22 - Qalijan (QUS)
Tlanx-Meron Div (QUS) RB, 19 - Vlosk (QUS)

Player to Watch: Elena Caldryn
In a roster now devoid of Qusma stars, with Helek-Nenzi Ono gone in the midst of a rash of transfers of young players away from Vlonz, Caldryn now represents the foreigner who fans hope can lift their club. Caldryn brings experience from Brenecia, their country of nationality, & that fact alone may sell some seats in Mastad Vlyva. Their play, on the other hand, should sell even more.

Description:
Helek-Nenzi Ono’s absence will be missed on this team, now devoid of national team players. However, Vlonz made up for it with their other signings. Zacly Angelica & Elena Caldryn, in particular, look to be potent threats for this team, which looks to keep its place in the top half of the table - & possibly even improve upon it. If manager Eflat-Cralt Ono - who is younger than some players in this league - can improve upon the performances of last season, they will raise their profile immensely, & possibly parlay it into a new job.

Ryrak Bez: 8th
Predicted Finish: 6th

KF Werzin

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Opolq: Wexe
Stadium: Mastad Wexa
Colours: Light Blue & Dark Blue
Manager: Milor-Cynav Lec (45 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3

.1 Helek-Matez Fox (28) GK - QUS
 2 Ozolx-Alfan Ixi (26) CB - QUS
 3 Elfon-Ajark Zyn (24) CB - QUS
 4 Intov-Helek Duk (26) LB - QUS
 5 Matez-Fenaz Yan (24) RB - QUS
 6 Cralt-Ernat Jan (30) LM - QUS
 7 Yivix-Jerat Pec (28) RM - QUS
 8 Yamaj-Blonz Jok (21) CM - QUS
 9 Falax-Paliv Yet (28) LW - QUS
10 Ucyxi-Slokt Eva (21) RW - QUS
11 Kristoffer Linds (22) ST - SEM
12 Milor-Dwada Aka (28)  G - QUS
13 Matez-Xilit Abe (25)  D - QUS
14 Karar-Xilit Hox (31)  D - QUS
15 Elfon-Gavax Saf (25)  D - QUS
16 Stomz-Milor Jan (25)  D - QUS
17 Sevet-Eflat Zyn (28)  M - QUS
18 Raxat-Zorno Lec (31)  M - QUS
19 Ozolx-Vlont Ezi (24)  M - QUS
20 Evela-Stomz Ump (27)  M - QUS
21 Azeld-Jonto Xlo (25)  M - QUS
22 Prant-Raxat Siv (28)  A - QUS
23 Frolt-Yivix Kal (29)  A - QUS
24 Balax-Kynda Rib (28)  A - QUS
25 Gerol-Ovolk Ezi (24)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Kristoffer Linds (SEM) ST, 22 - Centre for Excellence (APX)

Departures:

Ucyxi-Welar Guv (QUS) RW, 29 - Brel (QUS)

Player to Watch: Kristoffer Linds
Werzin only made one new signing during the window, but it was a big one. With the addition of Linds, Werzin adds a capable striker who has a remarkable pedigree, hailing from Apox’s Centre for Excellence. With their once-proud sporting nation returning once more to the grand international stage, Linds hopes that a good season will see more of their compatriots want to join them in Pug Qusmyra - & more clubs want to sign them.

Description:
Overall, this is a good team - but not quite a great one. Werzin does feature seven players who have been called up for Qusmo’s national team, & that includes regular starter Ozolx-Alfan Ixi, who took a bit of a circuitous route to the national team First XI. However, no other Werzin player has logged more than half a dozen caps for the national team, & five have exactly one cap. That means that although Werzin does not have Qastyr levels of talent, they are quite a good team - so much so that having only one new signing does not look to hold them back. It doesn’t hurt, of course, that that one signing looks to be very good. In fact, it is completely possible that Werzin inches up the table a bit this year.

Ryrak Bez: 9th
Predicted Finish: 8th

KF Zwac

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Opolq: Zwall
Stadium: Mastad Zwalla
Colours: Light Blue & Red
Manager: Forzu-Cynav Hal (56 y.o.) - QUS
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2

.1 Jinpachi Mishima (22) GK - HIN
 2 Lenpi-Welar Zyn (24) CB - QUS
 3 Forzu-Falax Uzo (22) LB - QUS
 4 Matez-Izilv Jan (29) RB - QUS
 5 Upuln-Kynda Ivo (24) DM - QUS
 6 Ralox-Mulpo Eva (23) LM - QUS
 7 Lenpi-Matez Lec (24) RM - QUS
 8 Welar-Lenpi Ono (26) AM - QUS
 9 Prant-Ajark Mal (25) AM - QUS
10 Forzu-Gerol Abe (27) SS - QUS
11 Winad-Zorno Nal (28) ST - QUS
12 Intov-Rilan Saf (25)  G - QUS
13 Dynom-Tlanx Wek (31)  D - QUS
14 Kynda-Helek Jan (30)  D - QUS
15 Gelan-Rilan Zka (28)  D - QUS
16 Urynt-Avarn Len (25)  D - QUS
17 Zylyz-Nexev Hox (31)  D - QUS
18 Helek-Forzu Pov (24)  M - QUS
19 Slokt-Kepex Zyn (26)  M - QUS
20 Trenj-Nexev Sal (29)  M - QUS
21 Dwada-Kresp Max (25)  A - QUS
22 Belaj-Wanar Yol (28)  A - QUS
23 Lenpi-Gilir Val (27)  A - QUS
24 Blonz-Jerat Bel (28)  A - QUS
25 Intov-Julad Abe (30)  G - QUS

New Signings:

Jinpachi Mishima (HIN) GK/CB/DM, 21 - Somei-Yoshino State University (HIN)
Winad-Zorno Nal (QUS) ST, 28 - Rejin (QUS)
Matez-Izilv Jan (QUS) RB, 29 - Qastyr (QUS)

Departures:

Welar-Milor Pul (QUS) GK, 27 - Atlark (QUS)
Jonto-Intov Lox (QUS) D, 32 - Retired
Raxat-Brelk Ono (QUS) A, 32 - Retired

Player to Watch: Jinpachi Mishima
Mishima is a young goalkeeper from Kita-Hinode who looks to take a leap forward in their development by playing in a top flight professional league. Mishima certainly will gain experience, as a lot of shots are likely to come flying their way. If Mishima can handle it, they could be a saviour for Zwac; if not, they may not be playing in Qusmo’s top flight for very long.

Description:
Zwac was predicted to finish nineteenth, & relegated, last season. Shockingly enough, Avarn-Oxolt Ban managed the club to thirteenth place - certainly not contending for any trophies, but also nowhere near the relegation that was predicted for them. That led to Avarn-Oxolt getting the job as manager of the national team, with their assistant being promoted in an in-house hire. However, does Forzu-Cynav Hal have their old boss’s magic? In a league which has improved markedly from last season, that does not seem like something to bet the club’s membership in Pug Qusmyra on.

Ryrak Bez: 13th
Predicted Finish: 19th

by **Qusmo** » Fri Aug 31, 2018 11:35 am

.  Pug Qusmyra           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qastyr                 38   25   6   7    95   55  +40    81   Qavazujz Puga Qusmyra Cez & UICA Champions’ Cup 72
 2 Poldanz                38   21  11   6    91   63  +28    74   UICA Globe Cup 69
 3 Koflir                 38   22   8   8    47   19  +28    74   UICA Globe Cup 69
 4 Atlant                 38   20  10   8    60   30  +30    70   UICA Globe Cup 69
 5 Trew                   38   19   7  12    83   65  +18    64
 6 Trosoc                 38   19   6  13    53   39  +14    63
 7 Qalijan                38   19   6  13    46   43   +3    63
 8 Lilnim                 38   15   9  14    40   35   +5    54
 9 Werzin                 38   15   9  14    65   66   −1    54
10 Vlonz                  38   15   8  15    74   86  −12    53
11 Niom                   38   13   9  16    34   35   −1    48
12 Estraj                 38   13   8  17    49   60  −11    47
13 Poljak                 38   12   9  17    54   69  −15    45
14 Dynynon                38   13   5  20    51   64  −13    44
15 Ixic                   38   11  10  17    68   74   −6    43
16 Brel                   38   11   8  19    37   48  −11    41
17 Zwac                   38   11   7  20    41   52  −11    40
18 Rejin                  38    9   9  20    49   66  −17    36   Relegated
19 Fryvvyn                38    8   9  21    48   85  −37    33   Relegated
20 Qasym                  38    8   8  22    36   67  −31    32   Relegated

by **Qusmo** » Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:54 pm

QNT prepares & selects players for World Cup Qualifying 81

Following the conclusion of the Tour of the Multiverse series of friendlies, national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban has announced their twenty-five player roster for the first half of World Cup 81 Qualifying from the initial list of fifty players called into national team training camp, as well as their Starting XI for matchday one against Rakivland.

“It has been a pleasure & an honour to work with this group of players. It was very difficult to make these cuts, but these players represent the best of the best that Qusmo has to offer, & I know that they’ll be phenomenal representatives of our nation & our team on the world stage. We’re a good team, & we’re here to fight, compete, & win. I have no doubt that the players I have chosen can do just that - & that is just what we will do,” vowed Avarn-Oxolt.

Fifty-Player National Team Training Camp
Players may be called up from this pool

GK Vanza-Jerat Gep (27) - Qastyr (QUS)
GK Prant-Telew Wek (27) - Poldanz (QUS)
GK Pilta-Jerat Zev (32) - Koflir (QUS)
GK Brelk-Brelk Ixi (22) - Estraj (QUS)
GK Xynat-Evela Cuf (27) - Trosoc (QUS)

CB Yelto-Alfan Ono (25) - Koflir (QUS)
CB Zenon-Gerol Kal (24) - Koflir (QUS)
CB Ozolx-Alfan Ixi (26) - Werzin (QUS)
CB Raxat-Trenj Val (27) - Niom (QUS)
CB Cunix-Betva Tla (28) - Niom (QUS)
CB Lynul-Savar Mal (30) - Lilnim (QUS)
CB Gelan-Ajark Erv (22) - Qalijan (QUS)
LB Karar-Nirlo Hus (25) - Poldanz (QUS)
LB Jralv-Yamaj Mal (24) - Atlant (QUS)
LB Yoltz-Tlanx Sal (25) - Koflir (QUS)
LB Ernat-Vralx Max (32) - Lilnim (QUS)
RB Nirlo-Betva Uzo (25) - Atlant (QUS)
RB Matez-Fenaz Yan (24) - Werzin (QUS)
RB Hirom-Vanza Roz (30) - Lilnim (QUS)
RB Nexev-Elfon Cel (28) - Trosoc (QUS)

DM Yunal-Julad Waz (26) - Poldanz (QUS)
DM Jerat-Jonto Jan (22) - Atlant (QUS)
DM Avarn-Forzu Tla (27) - Trosoc (QUS)
CM Ilinx-Kepex Zev (32) - Qastyr (QUS)
CM Yamaj-Blonz Jok (21) - Werzin (QUS)
CM Forzu-Nirlo Uzo (28) - Qalijan (QUS)
LM Helek-Nenzi Ono (22) - Qastyr (QUS)
LM Kynda-Sevet Pec (20) - Koflir (QUS)
LM Cralt-Ernat Jan (30) - Werzin (QUS)
RM Forzu-Ralox Kal (26) - Qastyr (QUS)
RM Ilinx-Ibilx Tla (29) - Trew (QUS)
RM Harta-Mazur Tla (26) - Vlonz (QUS)
AM Ilinx-Vulav Ixi (26) - Poldanz (QUS)
AM Gavax-Nenzi Abe (24) - Trew (QUS)
AM Paliv-Denir Xer (27) - Ixic (QUS)

SS Lenpi-Xelez Roz (30) - Vlonz (QUS)
SS Nexev-Yoltz Tla (31) - Poljak (QUS)
SS Nexev-Betva Ixi (24) - Ixic (QUS)
SS Paliv-Xilit Max (24) - Pascal Mashu (HIN)
LW Ozolx-Mazur Guv (28) - Qastyr (QUS)
LW Dynom-Sevet Zev (30) - Poldanz (QUS)
LW Belaj-Kresp Abe (23) - Trew (QUS)
LW Ucyxi-Tylyr Fox (20) - Dynynon (QUS)
RW Jralv-Nexev Pec (26) - Poldanz (QUS)
RW Upuln-Cralt Guv (22) - Trew (QUS)
RW Ucyxi-Slokt Eva (21) - Werzin (QUS)
ST Prant-Pertz Gor (26) - Qastyr (QUS)
ST Xilit-Zaxac Yol (24) - Poldanz (QUS)
ST Rilan-Jerat Nev (19) - Trew (QUS)
ST Milor-Frolt Zev (31) - Ixic (QUS)

Twenty-Five-Player National Team Roster
These players will travel to qualifier matches & may play in them
Players assigned shirts 1-11 will start Matchday One against Rakivland

1  GK Xynat-Evela Cuf (27) - Trosoc (QUS)
12 GK Vanza-Jerat Gep (27) - Qastyr (QUS)
25 GK Pilta-Jerat Zev (32) - Koflir (QUS)

2  CB Yelto-Alfan Ono (25) - Koflir (QUS)
3  CB Zenon-Gerol Kal (24) - Koflir (QUS)
4  CB Cunix-Betva Tla (28) - Niom (QUS)
13 CB Ozolx-Alfan Ixi (26) - Werzin (QUS)
14 LB Karar-Nirlo Hus (25) - Poldanz (QUS)
15 LB Yoltz-Tlanx Sal (25) - Koflir (QUS)
16 RB Nirlo-Betva Uzo (25) - Atlant (QUS)

5  DM Yunal-Julad Waz (26) - Poldanz (QUS)
6  CM Ilinx-Kepex Zev (32) - Qastyr (QUS)
7  LM Kynda-Sevet Pec (20) - Koflir (QUS)
8  RM Forzu-Ralox Kal (26) - Qastyr (QUS)
9  AM Ilinx-Vulav Ixi (26) - Poldanz (QUS)
17 CM Yamaj-Blonz Jok (21) - Werzin (QUS)
18 LM Helek-Nenzi Ono (22) - Qastyr (QUS)
19 RM Ilinx-Ibilx Tla (29) - Trew (QUS)
20 AM Gavax-Nenzi Abe (24) - Trew (QUS)

10 SS Paliv-Xilit Max (24) - Pascal Mashu (HIN)
11 ST Xilit-Zaxac Yol (24) - Poldanz (QUS)
21 LW Ozolx-Mazur Guv (28) - Qastyr (QUS)
22 RW Jralv-Nexev Pec (26) - Poldanz (QUS)
23 ST Prant-Pertz Gor (26) - Qastyr (QUS)
24 ST Rilan-Jerat Nev (19) - Trew (QUS)

Special Roles
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Avarn-Oxolt Ban (67 y.o.)
Captain: Ilinx-Kepex Zev
Corners: Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
Free Kicks: Xilit-Zaxac Yol
Penalties: Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Stadia
Matchday 1 v. Rakivland: Mastad Qusma (cap. 80 000) - Qanz, Qusmo
Matchday 3 v. Savalen: Mastad Polana (cap. 60 000) - Polan, Qusmo
Matchday 4 v. New Gazi: Mastad Qanza (cap. 60 000) - Qanz, Qusmo
Matchday 6 v. Eastfield Lodge: Mastad Qusma (cap. 80 000) - Qanz, Qusmo
Matchday 8 v. Nuadh-Alba: Mastad Atlema (cap. 60 000) - Atlem, Qusmo
Matchday 10 v. Axuva: Mastad Kolla (cap. 60 000) - Kolle, Qusmo
Matchday 14 v. Karulicja: Mastad Tracam (cap. 60 000) - Tracama, Qusmo
Matchday 16 v. Valanora: Mastad Qusma (cap. 80 000) - Qanz, Qusmo
Matchday 18 v. Polkopia: Mastad Qusma (cap. 80 000) - Qanz, Qusmo

Kit Information
From a prepared statement from Fuzpon Qusma in lieu of an actual image
"Our home kit will be in our national colours, red & gold. Emblematic of our national flag, a thick two-colour sash will run from the right shoulder down to the left hip, both front & back. The top sash colour will be gold, & the bottom sash colour will be red. Above the sash will be a red field, while below the sash will be a gold field. Our shorts will be red & our socks will be gold. On the back, we will have a large red circle outlined in gold to recall our flag, break the sash, & allow clearer kit numbers, which will be printed in gold, just like the sun on our flag. Highlights throughout the kit will be gold. Our clash kit will be white with the full, uninterrupted, two-colour sash on front & back. We will have black numbers & red highlights, complemented by the same red shorts & gold socks. Our goalkeepers' kits will be black with the sash on the front side only, with white numbers, gold highlights, black shorts, & black socks. We believe that these kits are not only striking, but will represent our country well internationally. We are proud to represent Qusmo, & we eagerly look forward to the matches ahead."

Note on Qusma Culture
All Qusma are biologically gender-neutral. You should refer to them in your RPs as they or them. Speaking of referring to Qusmi’y, if you plan to use names, know that the “first” name - the long, hyphenated one - is a Qusmi’s family name, & the “second” name - the short, unhyphenated one - is their given name. On the subject of proper nomenclature, when you read my RPs, you should know that Qusmo refers to the country of Qusmo, Qusma is an adjective for something that is from or of Qusmo, a Qusmi is a person who is from Qusmo, & Qusmi’y are a group of more than one Qusmi. I keep most of my RPs stored in my sportswire; feel free to reference these or TG me directly if you have any questions or would like to learn more.

Technical Details Box
Style Modifier: -2
I give my opponent permission to...
Choose my goalscorers; but
Please please be reasonable when...
Injuring my players; or
Showing my players cards; &
Please TG me before...
Godmodding.
Feel free to TG me if you have any questions or ideas.

by **Qusmo** » Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:54 pm

QNT to embark on Tour of the Multiverse to prepare for Qualifiers

Continuing in the tradition of the series of five friendly matches the national team played to prepare for Cup of Harmony 72, Fuzpon Qusma has scheduled five more friendlies ahead of the World Cup 81 qualifying cycle. The first four will take place away from Qusmo & will test out all the players called up to the fifty-player national team training camp for the eighty-first cycle. The final match will be played in Qusmo & will allow members of the twenty-five player roster to prepare for the challenges of qualifying ahead & establish chemistry with one another.

“In the first four matches, we’ll be trying to get a sense of how each of these players would play if they were put into an international setting. This is the toughest level of competition a lot of these players have gone up against, & it’s always important to see whether they’ll live up to it or fold under the pressure,” explained national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban. “Especially for the fringe cases, these matches can be vitally important to establish their position on our roster for the qualifiers.”

“We want to make sure to balance seeing these players in action & preparing for the qualifiers along with not wearing them out before the grind begins, so we’ve instituted a strict cap on caps in the first four matches; no one is going to see the pitch more than twice in our first four matches. That’ll give all fifty players a chance to shine, & it’ll keep our chosen twenty-five fresh. It’ll also allow us to use the match in Qusmo to give some of our top players a chance to mesh before the truly important matches come,” Avarn-Oxolt noted.

Qusmo will play forty-second-ranked Apox in its Apoxian Super Friendly Friends Series during the Baptism of Fire, then travel to Stalliongrad to face the seventeenth-ranked Equestrian States, then partake in twenty-fifth-ranked Damukuni’s third Tour of Anywhere, then travel back to Atlantian Oceania to face Qasden at Stade de Solis in Fyre, & finally return to Qusmo to play forty-third-ranked Baker Park at a stadium to be determined; Fuzpon Qusma has announced that the home stadium of the club which finishes best in Pug Qusmyra & whose home stadium is not scheduled to host a World Cup Qualifying match will be awarded the rights to host the match.

Qusmo is ranked eighty-third now & is projected to inch upwards slightly to eighty-first at the conclusion of the Baptism of Fire. However, Qusmo has very high quality opposition, with all their scheduled opponents in the top fifty in the multiverse. It will be Qusmo’s first meeting against the likes of Apox, the Equestrian States, & Damukuni, but Qusmo have met Qasden & Baker Park before. Qusmo drew Qasden 1-1 in Cup of Harmony 72; the former would top their group, while the latter would advance as a second place team. Qusmo then played host to Qasden at Mastad Qusma in a friendly to prepare for Copa Rushmori XXX, where they won 1-0. Meanwhile, Qusmo also has experience against the Bees of Baker Park, having played them & having lost 3-1 at Presidents Park - in Qusmo’s first Tour of the Multiverse.

“We have five great teams lined up to play, & I’m sure it’ll be an exciting slate of matches. Most of all, though, I’m hoping that these matches help us this cycle in the tournaments we’ll play in,” Avarn-Oxolt emphasized. “That’s the most important goal of all.”

QNT lose three & draw two in five-match pre-Qualifiers friendly series

The Qusma national team performed poorly in their slate of friendlies to prepare for the World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Qusmo was never fancied to win all five, as they took on tough, higher-ranked opposition, every time but once as the visitors. However, the results were still disappointing; aside from a scoreless draw in Damukuni & a 3-3 draw against Baker Park in Lillin, Qusmo seemed to lack any bright spots, losing three matches by multigoal margins. They lost 2-0 to the Equestrian States & 3-1 to Qasden, but it was all kicked off by a 5-2 thumping at the hands of Apox, one of the worst defeats Qusmo has ever been at the receiving end of.

“Winning these matches wasn’t our only goal,” national team manager Avarn-Oxolt insisted. “We also wanted to make sure that we did all we could to win in the qualifying campaign, in matches that really matter. Of course, the final results didn’t show it all the time, but we did have some moments where we played good football. It’s worth keeping in mind, too, that we played a lot of experimental squads in order to test our entire fifty-player roster against international competition.”

“Plus, none of these matches were easy. We’re never gotten a point against a nation ranked better than twenty-fourth. In this series, we drew the team ranked twenty-fifth. We drew a team which beat us the last time we had this friendly series. We are making progress. We are improving. & I think we’ll see the payoff during the qualifiers,” Avarn-Oxolt assured fans of the national team.

Only time will tell. As is, Qusmo will enter the qualifying campaign with dreadful form. After a seven-match unbeaten streak featuring five wins & two draws, the best in Qusma history, Qusmo began Copa Rushmori XXX with a loss & then a win. Since then, Qusmo has played seven matches & not won any of them; that is the longest streak of matches Qusmo has played without a win in its history, & it stands in direct contrast to its recent unbeaten streak, with two draws & five losses. Qusmo can only hope that, like its run of good fortune, this form will end after match seven.

by **Qusmo** » Sat Sep 01, 2018 10:06 pm

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

Hello, all. Welcome to Spony Luq Television, broadcasting from Qanz, Qusmo. After a convincing win over Rakivland at Mastad Qusma, Qusmo have sole possession of first place in Group 9 of World Cup 81 Qualifying, which would send them to the final tournament in Banija & the Free Republics. However, we’re only one matchday into the action, with seventeen still to go, including home & away matches against Eastfield Lodge, New Gazi, & Valanora. Let’s take a closer look at the qualifying campaign & whether Qusmo can keep up the pace. First, we’ll field a question from a viewer right here in Qanz.

I just saw that we’re on top of the table; will it last?

In a word, no.

First, let’s look at what Qusmo did right against Rakivland; that’s a lot of things. After a sixth minute strike from Rakivland left midfielder Zarafrav, the visitors took a 1-0 lead into the break in Rakivland’s first World Cup Qualifying match. It was a dream start, but it quickly turned into a nightmare, as Qusmo regrouped & finally cashed in on all the pressure they had been applying to Rakivland’s back line & goalkeeper; a forty-eighth minute strike from striker Xilit-Zaxac Yol made it a new match.

From there, it was all Qusmo, as Paliv-Xilit Max scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the seventy-fourth minute, while Xilit-Zaxac iced the game in the eighty-fifth & earned a treble in the eighty-ninth. Qusmo showed admirable grit & tenacity throughout the match. They got off to a slow start, of course, but they were able to rally back to the front in a pressure-filled match, not only salvaging points, & not only earning all three, but going so far ahead that they are now technically in the top seed in Group 9.

It would be lovely to think that Qusmo will continue to perform well & rack up victories, but it’s not as simple as that. Remember, in the previous World Cup cycle, Qusmo got off to a great start to qualifying, winning both of their first two matches, including a 4-0 thumping to christen the national stadium of then-reigning Baptism of Fire champions Beepee. After two matches, Qusmo was second in Group 11, behind Ceni only on the goals scored tiebreaker. However, Qusmo didn’t qualify then; they did not even come close to it.

Qusmo got off to such a great start because it faced opposition that was fairly weak. Wolves Clans were ranked 254th in the world, while Beepee was 144th at the time; both had only made their international debuts at that cycle’s Baptism of Fire. Once Qusmo started to play nations ranked in the top 100 in the world, it became a much different story. After their promising start, the team lost four straight & did not win again until matchday nine, earning only sixteen points over the final sixteen matches, finishing seventh of ten in the group.

Of course, that is not to fault Qusmo’s efforts; they were one of two unranked teams in the group at the time, & they finished higher than some good opposition, including Beepee & 111th-ranked Omerica. However, the World Cup 80 Qualifying campaign is important to consider as we look to how Qusmo might perform in this cycle. Opening at Mastad Qusma against 214th-ranked Rakivland, then travelling to 307th-ranked Axuva, & then returning to host 116th-ranked Savalen, Qusmo has a welcoming slate of matches to start the campaign. Qusmo will be expected to perform well in those matches. After that is when the real tests will come.

That isn’t to say Qusmo is unprepared, of course; entering this qualifying campaign, Qusmo had always been unranked or ranked lower than their competitors in all competitive & friendly matches they played. They did face (& defeat) an opponent that was lower-ranked per the KPB scales in Copa Rushmori XXX, but this was as a team unranked in the Rushmori rankings. Thirty-eight matches’ worth of experience punching above their weight may give Qusmo some experience when dealing with highly-rated foes in this cycle. On the other side of the coin, however, Qusmo lacks experience being the favoured team, with pressure & a target on their backs. Qusmo will have to play from both positions in this campaign, a position that is new for them. Whether they can do it is something only time will tell - but the matter certainly wasn’t resolved on Matchday One.

We also have a question from a viewer in Polan.

Who will qualify for the World Cup from our group?

Group 9 is certainly an interesting one. Let’s break it down.

First, we have to recognize that there is a clear gulf in rankings between the top & bottom halves of this group. Ranked eighty-first, Qusmo is the Pot 4 team, with three nations ranked above it & one nation not too far behind at 116th. The Pot 6 team from this group, however, is ranked 214th - nearly a hundred-rank gap between the two teams. That means that it’s going to be extremely tough for the bottom five nations to get points from the top five. That also means that, in order to compete for a place in Banija & the Free Republics, the top five nations will have to earn maximum points - or close to it - from their encounters with the five lowest-ranked nations of the group.

So, our contenders were drawn into this group from Pots One through Five. Who are they? First is Savalen, the 116th-ranked team from the Western Isles. They may be ranked lower than Qusmo, but they are no strangers to the international game. They first appeared on the international scene in Baptism of Fire 62, & they accomplished the remarkable feat of qualifying in their very first cycle: World Cup 75. They would qualify again for World Cup 76 & earned three points there before falling just short of World Cup 77 qualification, prompting their football association to draw back for two World Cup cycles. However, they returned for the World Cup 80 cycle, & they appear here yet again. They are ranked only 116th now, but they were ranked as high as 33rd & are a two-time World Cup qualifier; there is no counting them out.

Skipping past Qusmo in Pot 4, we reach Pot 3’s Eastfield Lodge, which on Matchday Fifteen will be Qusmo’s only away match within their own region. Eastfield Lodge is another former World Cup qualifier, having last reached the final tournament in its 77th edition. Now they are in an excellent position to do so again. This is not the highest-ranked side the nation has put forth; at 51st, it is the first time Eastfield Lodge has slipped outside the top 50 in the KPB rankings since before the qualifiers of that World Cup, since which it has been rated as highly as 35th. A finals appearance since then has been elusive, but that does not mean that Eastfield Lodge is not a dangerous; on the contrary, their appetite for a World Cup has been whetted, & they will hunger for a second course.

After Eastfield Lodge, we arrive at New Gazi, ranked 29th in the world. Another graduate of Baptism of Fire 62, they have been an absolute force in the international picture for some time now, having qualified for World Cup 80 & having placed third in Cup of Harmony 71, of the cycle before then. It took some time to get going - unlike Savalen, New Gazi achieved no instant success in World Cup 75 qualification - but New Gazi really took off in their Cup of Harmony 71 campaign, & they have not looked back since. With an all-time best ranking & a soaring profile that saw them earn their first Cup of Harmony points in the 78th cycle, then fall in the the 79th cycle’s Cup of Harmony semifinals to eventual champions Juvencus, then qualify for World Cup 80 in Starblaydia & the Equestrian States, New Gazi is a team firmly on the up, & they will be looking for nothing less than a ticket to Banija & the Free Republics.

But, of course, the undoubted class of this group is Valanora. Other nations in this group can claim that they have qualified for a World Cup, but none have ever advanced to the knockout stages. Valanora has won sixty knockout round matches in thirty editions of the competition. They do not lack for silverware, as they have won AOCAF Cups 44, 46, LI, & LIII, as well as World Cups 40, 42, 43, 52, & 61. Their last World Cup title may be twenty cycles removed, but that doesn’t mean they have not had recent success; Valanora lifted the AOCAF Cup LIII trophy between World Cups 77 & 78, & they have challenged for more titles on both the regional & World Cup levels since. Valanora will not be looking merely to qualify for the World Cup, but to advance to its knockout runs - &, from there, who knows what might happen? The answer: five iterations of the Vanorian national team does.

Of course, those are Qusmo’s four main competitors, but they aren’t the only teams the Qusmi’y will have to face. Karulicja is in a situation reminiscent of where Qusmo itself was just last cycle: unranked & making its first appearance internationally in the World Cup Qualifying campaign - &, just like Qusmo, they have started off with a win. When they visit Qusmo on Matchday Fourteen, they may have some support at Mastad Tracama. 307th-ranked Axuva, 272nd-ranked Nuadh-Alba, & 214th-ranked Rakivland debuted in Baptism of Fire 68 earlier this cycle, with the latter making it to the knockout rounds & winning one knockout round match before exiting in the Round of Sixteen. Now, they hope to test their mettle in the meat grinder of a World Cup Qualifying campaign. &, of course, one team in Group 9’s bottom five is not a stranger to this process. Polkopia, too, has qualified for the World Cup, though not since its 74th edition. The nation has only attempted to qualify for two World Cups since then - editions 75 & 78 - but they will be back, likely performing above what their 223rd KPB ranking might suggest.

Qusmo is in a group with five previous World Cup qualifiers, including the winners of five World Cup trophies. Qualifying would be no mean feat. Qusmo will need to scrap, claw, & battle its way for every point it can get, & that is why the win against Rakivland was so important; points lost against the bottom half of the group have to be made up somewhere else if Qusmo is to qualify. Ultimately, we don’t think that Qusmo will quite reach that mark; we think that Valanora is an overwhelming favourite to top the group, & we think that Eastfield Lodge & New Gazi could have a very close battle on their hands for the playoff spot. We think that Qusmo will show that it is a good team, capable of competing with some major footballing powers; however, we do not think that Qusmo is quite ready for the jump into the World Cup proper.

Then again, we have been wrong before.

Group 9
Axuva 3–2 Savalen
Qusmo 4–1 Rakivland
New Gazi 2–0 Polkopia
Karulicja 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
Eastfield Lodge 2–2 Valanora

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qusmo                             1    1   0   0     4    1   +3     3
 2 Karulicja                         1    1   0   0     2    0   +2     3
   New Gazi                          1    1   0   0     2    0   +2     3
 4 Axuva                             1    1   0   0     3    2   +1     3
 5 Eastfield Lodge                   1    0   1   0     2    2    0     1
   Valanora                          1    0   1   0     2    2    0     1
 7 Savalen                           1    0   0   1     2    3   −1     0
 8 Nuadh-Alba                        1    0   0   1     0    2   −2     0
   Polkopia                          1    0   0   1     0    2   −2     0
10 Rakivland                         1    0   0   1     1    4   −3     0

QNT rallies to open WCQ campaign with 4-1 win over Rakivland
Qusmo 4–1 Rakivland
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
46’ Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
79’ Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
DM  Yunal-Julad Waz
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
79’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (74’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (48’, 85’, 89’)

by **Qusmo** » Sun Sep 02, 2018 8:29 pm

Group 9
Savalen 2–1 Valanora
Nuadh-Alba 1–1 Eastfield Lodge
Polkopia 2–1 Karulicja
Rakivland 1–2 New Gazi
Axuva 0–4 Qusmo

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qusmo                             2    2   0   0     8    1   +7     6
 2 New Gazi                          2    2   0   0     4    1   +3     6
 3 Polkopia                          2    1   0   1     2    3   −1     3
 4 Axuva                             2    1   0   1     3    6   −3     3
 5 Karulicja                         2    1   0   1     3    2   +1     3
 6 Savalen                           2    1   0   1     4    4    0     3
 7 Eastfield Lodge                   2    0   2   0     3    3    0     2
 8 Valanora                          2    0   1   1     3    4   −1     1
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        2    0   1   1     1    3   −2     1
10 Rakivland                         2    0   0   2     2    6   −4     0

QNT puts Axuva away early in first WC81Q away trip
Axuva 0–4 Qusmo
Hosted in Axuva

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
46' Karar-Nirlo Hus
DM  Yunal-Julad Waz
46' Nirlo-Betva Uzo
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
71' Yamaj-Blonz Jok
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (9')
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (14', 40', 82')

by **Qusmo** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 3:42 pm

QNT offense stymied in 1-0 loss to Savalen

After enjoying two matchdays at the top of the table, Qusmo was humbled by two-time World Cup qualifiers Savalen.

After opening World Cup 81 Qualification with a 4-1 win over Rakivland & then beating Axuva 4-0, Qusmo returned home & looked to enjoy another victory before taking on New Gazi, the only other Group 9 team which had won both of their first two matches. The visitors were ready to prove, however, that the tough part of Qusmo’s schedule started on Matchday Three, not Four.

“I heard a lot of people say before the match that because they were ranked lower than us, or because they were outside of the top hundred, they didn’t really pose a threat to us,” national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban said, visibly upset. “Well, Savalen has made it to the World Cup twice before, & no one in this country to ought forget that. We can’t ever look past an opponent, especially one like Savalen. There’s no excuse for that. & we can’t do that again. In fact, that kind of mentality will only hurt us in our supposed ‘important’ matches, as risking dropping points will only put more pressure on us in the matches to come. Indeed, now we’re behind New Gazi by three points, & we’ll need a win just to keep pace with them. That’s not the position we wanted to be in. It’s not a position we should be in, frankly.”

However, Avarn-Oxolt Ban rebuffed the idea that a mid-qualifier friendly may have contributed to their team’s performance by throwing the national team out of sync. “No, absolutely not. Our association decided that it would be invaluable to play against Banija, especially early on in the cycle. They qualified for the World Cup last year, & they’ll be at it again this year. This was a chance for us to try out some of our lesser-known players & evaluate them against some excellent competition. That was a fantastic opportunity for us, & I’m glad we took it.”

Many think that the 1-0 loss to Banija, with nine changes in the starting XI that was used in Qusmo’s first three qualifying matches, threw off Qusmo’s rhythm & made them lose momentum. Indeed, after two decisive victories in which Qusmo scored four times each & conceded one goal over the course of both matches, Banija held Qusmo scoreless, earning a 1-0 win that echoed Savalen’s winning margin the following matchday. & it is one of four losses in friendlies that Qusmo has suffered this cycle out of six matches total, accompanied by two draws & no wins. “Again, I don’t share that opinion,” Avarn-Oxolt responded. “I think that friendlies are an excellent way for us to evaluate players we don’t see that often & to bring new talent into the squad. That should never be an excuse for us to play poorly.”

Qusmo did not play all that poorly in their match against Savalen, however; they just fell a little short. Early in the context, poacher Paliv-Xilit Max - who had quietly been enjoying a three-match scoring streak, with seven goals from Xilit-Zaxac Yol during that time - landed a screamer square on the post. It rebounded to Xilit-Zaxac themself, & given the goalkeeper’s dive to try to keep the initial effort out, it seemed as though it would surely be goal number eight. However, despite an open net, Xilit-Zaxac was unable to react quickly enough & caught the wrong bit of ball on their wrong foot, pushing it far left.

After the match, Avarn-Oxolt said that it was one of its key turning points. “If we get that goal, we get the momentum, we get the lead, & we put pressure on Savalen. We wouldn’t have to send so many players forward so often, & that would leave us less exposed at the back. We could focus not on scoring a goal, but on preserving our lead. That’s where we wanted to be. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our night for that.”

Ultimately, it was a sixty-seventh minute counterattack that left Qusmo’s back line out of position, allowing the only goal of the match - & leading not only to Qusmo’s first loss of the qualifying campaign, but their first loss to an opponent ranked lower than they. “Of course, it’s going to happen eventually,” Avarn-Oxolt contended. “Whether we lose here or whether we lose some other time, eventually we’re going to lose. It’s a shame that the streak had to be broken here & now, but every team gets beaten by teams ranked lower than they are. That’s what sport is. That’s why we play the game & don’t just assign the result of the match to whoever has the best KPB. Lower-ranked teams are always going to have a shot against higher-ranked ones. That’s what we hope to prove in our next match, against New Gazi - &, unlike this one, we’ll need to make sure we have our complete focus on the ninety minutes we’re playing that day.”

Group 9
Qusmo 0–1 Savalen
New Gazi 3–0 Axuva
Karulicja 6–2 Rakivland
Eastfield Lodge 3–1 Polkopia
Valanora 7–1 Nuadh-Alba

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 New Gazi                          3    3   0   0     7    1   +6     9
 2 Savalen                           3    2   0   1     5    4   +1     6
 3 Qusmo                             3    2   0   1     8    2   +6     6
 4 Karulicja                         3    2   0   1     9    4   +5     6
 5 Eastfield Lodge                   3    1   2   0     6    4   +2     5
 6 Valanora                          3    1   1   1    10    5   +5     4
 7 Polkopia                          3    1   0   2     3    6   −3     3
 8 Axuva                             3    1   0   2     3    9   −6     3
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        3    0   1   2     2   10   −8     1
10 Rakivland                         3    0   0   3     4   12   −8     0

QNT offense stymied in 1-0 loss to Savalen
Qusmo 0–1 Savalen
Mastad Polana, Polan, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
DM  Yunal-Julad Waz
77’ Prant-Pertz Gor
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
81’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
81’ Jralv-Nexec Pec
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

QNT falls in friendly to World Cup hosts Banija
Banija 1-0 Qusmo
Hoima City Park, Hoima, Banija (cap. 60 000)

GK  Vanza-Jerat Gep
CB  Cunix Betva-Tla
52’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
CB  Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
LB  Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
RB  Nirlo-Betva Uzo
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
46’ Yamaj-Blonz Jok
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
LW  Ozolx-Mazur Guv
RW  Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Prant-Pertz Gor
78’ Rilan-Jerat Nev

by **Qusmo** » Tue Sep 04, 2018 8:55 pm

A Blog

ABOLISH FUZPON QUSMA

If it wasn’t obvious already, Fuzpon Qusma is awful, & it needs to stop existing.

For the ininitiated, Fuzpon Qusma is the governing body of football in Qusmo. They run the domestic leagues, they hire & fire the national team manager, they decide where matches are played, & they also schedule friendlies.

SO MANY FRIENDLIES.

&, fankly, it needs to stop.

Qusmo has played SO MANY friendlies. It’s ridiculous at this point. Every single time the national team isn’t trying to qualify for the World Cup or playing in the Copa Rushmori, Fuzpon Qusma is trying to schedule SEVENTEEN MEANINGLESS FRIENDLIES.

After Qusmo got invited to the Cup of Harmony, what did Fuzpon Qusma do? SCHEDULE FIVE FRIENDLIES.

Before Qusmo went to the Rushmore Cup, what did Fuzpon Qusma do? SCHEDULE MORE FRIENDLIES.

& before our precious team could start their World Cup Qualifers, what did Fuzpon Qusma HAVE to do? SCHEDULE FIVE - I REPEAT, FIE - MORE FRIENDLIES!

& that isn’t even the end of it! Fuzpon Qusma decided it would be a great idea to schedule TWO MORE FRIENDLIES after the Qualifers are over - & they came up with that stroke of genius BEFORE THE QUALIFERS EVEN STARTED!

But that’s not even the worst of it. EVERYONE knows that a competition is something that’s almost holy, or scared. NO ONE is stupid enough to schedule a friendly RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

Except guess who? If you guessed Fuzpon Qusma, you’re RIGHT, ‘cause IT’S FUZPON QUSMA!

& hey don’t even schedule those friendlies so that more money goes into the game in Qusmo. Fuzpon Qusma has scheduled FIFTEEN friendlies, & only THREE have been played in Qusmo!

& they don’t even scedule those friendlies so that more fans get to see the natinal team play. NOT ONE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED AGAINST ANOTHER TEAM FROM RUSHMORE!

& it isn’t even to pad our win colum, either. EVERY SINGLE ONE of the friendlies Qusmo has played so far has been against a team that’s ranked ABOV Qusmo.

So Fuzpon Qusma thinks it’s a good idea to ship our players around the MULTIVERSE for NO REASON, not even giving a chance for Qusmo to even SEE their heros, or even GET MONEY from it, & worst of all, it’s FOR A LOSING EFFORT. Look at the last six friendlies we’ve played: LOSS LOSS DRAW LOSS DRAW LOSS. WHY DO YOU DO THAT TO US FUZPON QUSMA?

So our players aren’t JUST getting overworked by playing WAY too many matches. They aren’t JUST missing training sessions by travelling EVERY DAY ON THE CALENDAR. They aren’t JUST getting overtired by going ALL ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE. They’re GETTING THEIR SPIRITS BEATEN OUT OF THEM WHEN THEY LOSE & THEY LOSE & THEN THEY LOSE & THEN THEY LOSE AGAIN. IT’S ALMOST AS BAD AS WHEN MY PARTNER LEFT ME. & THE LAWYER SAID WE LOST ON THE DIVORCE SETTLEMENT. SO I HAD TO GIVE HALF MY STUFF TO THEM. WELL GUESS WHAT? HALF OF NOTHING IS STILL NOTHING! HA! IF ANYTHING, THEY GET TO PAY HALF MY LAWYER’S FEES BECAUSE THAT’S ALL I’VE GOT! THAT’S ALL I AM! I AM NOTHING BUT LAWYERS’ FEES! & AFTER MY LAWYERS HEARD THAT THEY LEFT ME TOO! & THEN DURING THE CUSTODY HEARINGS I COULDN’T AFFORD ANOTHER LAWYER & I DIDN’T STAND A CHANCE ALONE AGAINST THEIRS, SO I’VE LOST MY KIDS TOO. I’VE LOST EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. & NOW FUZPON QUSMA IS MAKING QUSMO LOSE THE ONLY THING LEFT THAT I CARE ABOUT. THERE COMES A POINT AT WHICH IT’S TOO MUCH. IT’S JUST TOO MUCH. YOU LOSE & YOU LOSE & YOU LOSE & AT SOME POINT YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO LOSE ANY MORE. YOU JUST FEEL

empty

abolish fuzpon qusma

or at least just stop the friendlies

please

Group 9
Savalen 4–0 Nuadh-Alba
Polkopia 4–1 Valanora
Rakivland 2–3 Eastfield Lodge
Axuva 3–2 Karulicja
Qusmo 2–1 New Gazi

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Savalen                           4    3   0   1     9    4   +5     9
 2 Qusmo                             4    3   0   1    10    3   +7     9
 3 New Gazi                          4    3   0   1     8    3   +5     9
 4 Eastfield Lodge                   4    2   2   0     9    6   +3     8
 5 Polkopia                          4    2   0   2     7    7    0     6
 6 Axuva                             4    2   0   2     6   11   −5     6
 7 Karulicja                         4    2   0   2    11    7   +4     6
 8 Valanora                          4    1   1   2    11    9   +2     4
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        4    0   1   3     2   14  −12     1
10 Rakivland                         4    0   0   4     6   15   −9     0

QNT rebounds in massive 2-1 win over New Gazi
Qusmo 2–1 New Gazi
Mastad Qanza, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

In a test of the two defenses which were performing best at the beginning of Group 9 play, Qusmo picked up a critical 2-1 home win over group pacesetters New Gazi.

Despite their shaky start, neither Qusmo nor any other team is expected to challenge Valanora for the top spot in the group. If that proves to be the case, the other nine teams of Group 9 will be fighting for just one spot to qualify automatically, or, more likely, through a playoff. In order to qualify, Qusmo will need to beat higher-ranked teams, like New Gazi, to do so, especially when they have the home advantage. They did just that at Mastad Qanza.

Qusmo had to come back from a 1-0 deficit after conceding in the thirty-ninth minute, but they were able to do so thanks to a corner kick that found the head of Cunix-Betva Tla in the fifty-eighth minute & a marauding run from Paliv-Xilit Max in the eighty-first.

It was a good rebound for Qusmo, as their momentum from 4-1 & 4-0 wins to start the qualification campaign seemed to come to a screeching halt with a 1-0 home loss to lower-ranked Savalen. That left New Gazi alone at the top of the table & three points clear, so a loss would put Qusmo six points back - a tremendous hole to dig out of after such promise to open the campaign.

However, Qusmo’s two goals against a team which had only conceded once in its first three qualifiers - a mark three goals better than its closest rival not named Qusmo - were able to seal an important win. Qusmo is now tied for the lead on points & has the group’s best goal differential, but they are ranked second to Savalen on head-to-head record, & ahead of New Gazi on the same criterion.

Now, Qusmo will have to turn their focus to unranked Karulicja. On paper, the unranked side is the weakest of the group; however, they do pose a threat that cannot be counted out, as they have displayed impressive style that hints that their Round of Sixteen run in the Independents Cup is no fluke, including by shutting out Nuadh-Alba & putting six past Rakivland on their way to wins.

No team has scored more than Karulicja in Group 9 play, & they are tied for the group’s best offense only with Valanora - against who they have a better defensive record & more points. Karulicja has yet to drop points at home, but Qusmo will need to earn all three in order to be in prime position entering its tough two-match stretch against Eastfield Lodge & then Valanora.
GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla (58’)
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
84’ Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
CB  Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
84’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
66’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (81’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

by **Qusmo** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:45 pm

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

Hello, all. Welcome to Spony Luq Television, broadcasting from Qanz, Qusmo. Qusmo has performed remarkably well in the first quarter of World Cup 81 Qualification, with four wins earning them the top spot on the Group 9 table after five matchdays. For the first couple matches, the offense stole the show, with four goals in both matches. For the next three, however, the defense was the star, conceding only two over that span. Either way, Qusmo has done an excellent job so far; now we’ll take a closer look at what they’ve managed to do in World Cup 81 Qualification & whether they’ll be able to keep it up. We’ll take a question from a viewer in Tracam.

Do you still think that a position at the top of the table is unsustainable?

At the outset of this campaign, we did predict that Qusmo would have a good start, but that it would fizzle out. To be fair, they have performed better against certain opponents than we thought they would. We did not expect, for example, four-goal offensive explosions against Rakivland or Axuva to open qualifying, nor a come-from-behind victory over New Gazi at Mastad Qanza. That has been impressive work from Qusmo so far, marred only by a home loss to Savalen.

Qusmo has both scored the most goals & conceded the fewest in Group 9 - &, in turn, has the most sterling goal differential. &, of course, Qusmo is atop the table, as none of their groupmates has bettered their twelve points. There is no doubt that they are doing remarkably well if you look at the statistics compared to the rest of their group; however, we have to note that Qusmo has not faced all its opposition yet.

Specifically, they have only faced one of the three teams ranked higher than it - & that was at home. In their next four matches, they will face three of the five previous World Cup qualifiers from the group; this cadre was represented in only two of Qusmo’s first five matches. Qusmo’s success has been due partly to beating up on a lot of easier opposition & partly to an upset win over twenty-ninth-ranked New Gazi. Ultimately, Qusmo took care of business against the three teams it faced which are making their debuts this cycle, taking the full nine points; however, it split the series against the two previous qualifiers, hinting that, after meeting more tough opponents, their record may not look as healthy as it does now.

Indeed, looking a bit deeper, there may be some cause for caution when you look at the other 180 teams trying to qualify. Qusmo has a very good goal differential, at +9. That’s good, but it’s not exceptional across the multiverse. Twenty teams - one in nine - have a better goal differential than Qusmo. The main reason is Qusmo’s offense. Despite an explosion in the first two matches, with four goals each, Qusmo has only managed four goals in the last three matches combined. Qusmo has twelve goals, but so do fifty-two other teams - over one quarter of the qualifying field - & Qusmo trails forty-one teams, including Mercedini, lapping the competition with 27 goals scored thus far.

The reason why Qusmo has been doing so well is not a couple of good offensive performances over low-ranked teams; it is Avarn-Oxolt Ban’s specialty, its defense. Qusmo certainly isn’t the best team in the multiverse on this measure, but it is very, very good. Having conceded only three goals thus far, only twelve have let in fewer; seven have conceded twice, while Tinhampton, the Equestrian States, & Farfadillis have let in only one & Brenecia & South Covello still have yet to concede.

However, at the end of the day, what matters is the table. No group is paced by a team with less points than Qusmo has now. Only Group 9 & Group 11, led by Qusmo & Jeruselem, respectively, have leaders sitting on twelve points. Meanwhile, Turori & Starblaydia top Groups 1 & 5, respectively, on thirteen points each. However, of this cycle’s nineteen qualifying groups, all fifteen others see at least one team which has yet to drop any points, opening their qualifying campaigns with five consecutive victories.

Twenty-one teams are riding a full fifteen points, with three more on thirteen. Qusmo is one of seventeen teams with twelve points, meaning that they are only in the top 41 in the qualifying pool on the standard of points alone. Twenty-nine teams still have yet to lose through five matches, but Qusmo is not one of them.

One of those twenty-nine unbeaten sides is Qusmo’s next opponent: Eastfield Lodge. The only other Rushmori opponent Qusmo has faced in any setting outside of the Copa Rushmori is Ceni, & no fan of the national team is in doubt as to who holds the advantage in that series. Ceni beat Qusmo 5-2 & then 5-1 in World Cup 80 Qualification, before earning a 3-0 shutout victory in the Round of Sixteen of Copa Rushmori XXX to send Qusmo packing.

Every match Qusmo has played against Ceni ended in a loss of at least three. Qusmo has never lost by more than three to any other opponent, & a three-goal losing scoreline was only ever matched in a friendly against Apox in the wake of that Copa Rushmori exit. Qusmo’s struggles against Rushmori opposition is not limited to Ceni, however; Qusmo has played six matches against other teams from Rushmore, but they lost five. Their one positive result was a win over East Neutralia, unranked in both the KPB & Rushmori rankings at the time.

So, if history is any guide, Qusmo will not be taking anything for granted against Eastfield Lodge. Unfortunately, Qusmo will then have to face an opponent that looks even tougher, especially if you take an eye towards history: Valanora. Valanora is not just another multiple-time World Cup qualifier; they have qualified for dozens of editions consecutively, & they have five World Cup trophies to their name; no other nation in the multiverse can boast more.

Valanora still seems like the class of the group; however, they have been in a slump of late. In fact, this is the worst start to a World Cup Qualification effort for the Vanors since the campaign preceding World Cup 32. However, they will get a chance to right the ship against Axuva on Matchday Six, & they will then host Qusmo on Matchday Seven, likely in better form but knowing that they need a good result to continue to stay close to the top approaching the halfway mark of qualification.

So, Qusmo will have to face two of its three Group 9 opponents ranked higher than it in succession, including heading to Valanora to face the five-time World Cup champions on their home turf, in what looks to be the most difficult match of their campaign. These are two very tough opponents, & no analysis of Qusmo’s performance or its chances can really be made until they emerge from this gauntlet.

These two matches will go a long way towards determining whether Qusmo really can go far or whether its success against lower-ranked opponents is limited to only that. If Qusmo can emerge with three, four, or even six points, they will be able to sprint to the finish of the first half of qualifiers, with Nuadh-Alba & Polkopia left on their plate. However, achieving this will be monumentally difficult, & if they cannot, they could slip in the table very quickly.

If Qusmo cannot perform well against World Cup-quality competition, they have no place going to the World Cup. On the other hand, if they can do well at that level of play, they may deserve a spot in Banija & the Free Republics. Not only will Qusmo’s next two matches likely be key in determining whether they qualify to the World Cup, but they will also provide that test of whether they truly are worthy of doing so.

Group 9
New Gazi 3–1 Savalen
Karulicja 0–2 Qusmo
Eastfield Lodge 2–0 Axuva
Valanora 1–0 Rakivland
Nuadh-Alba 0–0 Polkopia

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qusmo                             5    4   0   1    12    3   +9    12
 2 New Gazi                          5    4   0   1    11    4   +7    12
 3 Eastfield Lodge                   5    3   2   0    11    6   +5    11
 4 Savalen                           5    3   0   2    10    7   +3     9
 5 Polkopia                          5    2   1   2     7    7    0     7
 6 Valanora                          5    2   1   2    12    9   +3     7
 7 Axuva                             5    2   0   3     6   13   −7     6
 8 Karulicja                         5    2   0   3    11    9   +2     6
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        5    0   2   3     2   14  −12     2
10 Rakivland                         5    0   0   5     6   16  −10     0

QNT takes care of business against unranked Karulicja
Karulicja 0–2 Qusmo
Hosted in Karulicja

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
73’ Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec (62’)
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal (40’)
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
54’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol
68’ Prant-Pertz Gor

by **Qusmo** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:57 pm

Cralt-Nirlo Fox held the envelope in their hand. T.V. City, Qasden, it read on the return label. It was rather plain, but there was no mistaking who sent this message, or what it would be about.

But Cralt-Nirlo had no idea what it said. To whom it may concern:

They had sent an application to that very address upon learning that Qasden’s national team had a vacancy at the position of national team manager. My name is Cralt-Nirlo Fox, & I would be honoured to serve as the next manager of the national football team of Qasden.

To Cralt-Nirlo’s delight, they were selected for an interview in Qasden - away from the prying eyes of their present employer in Filindostan, of course, as well as the scrutiny of the domestic media of their home country of Qusmo. I have experience as the manager of KF Estraj, a club team in my home nation of Qusmo, & as the assistant manager of the Filindostani national team.

In the end, word did leak. Qasden’s football association whittled the list of candidates down to only two: Cralt-Nirlo & Rafael Barrios of Sargossa. Barrios not only had prior experience with a national team, but they had led their nation to a World Cup. At KF Estraj, I was doubted throughout my tenure; at forty-three, I was Pug Qusmyra’s second-youngest manager, & I had a squad that left something lacking to work with.

Cralt-Nirlo had enjoyed success before, & they certainly had experience as the person in charge of a club. They knew the ins & outs of the role & the pressure that would be placed on them; still, unlike Barrios, despite progress, they could point to no trophies, no tangible success. However, in the inaugural season of Qusma top flight domestic football, I guided Estraj to a seventh place finish, when they were predicted to finish thirteenth.

Cralt-Nirlo felt that they might be building a bit of a reputation as a manager who always had one foot out the door, searching for their next opportunity. They left Estraj after a single season, & they were interviewing for a new role after being on the Filindostani staff for only one cycle. Estraj did not provide any opportunities for advancement, as they remain unwilling to invest further in a roster I can take further; thus, I decided to seek employment elsewhere.

Cralt-Nirlo also knew that, despite their experience as a manager & in a national team setup, they had not led a national team before. If they had wanted to, they could have led their own country. But they spurned their homeland, looking instead for greener pastures. I was offered a job as Qusmo’s national team manager, but I declined, because I did not believe that Qusmo had what it took to compete on the international stage.

Cralt-Nirlo emphasized to the selection committee, however, that that did not mean that they were wholly inexperienced with national team matters. They knew that a national team was unique. & they were familiar with many of its intricacies with the experience they did have. Instead, I assumed a role as assistant manager of the national team of Filindostan.

Cralt-Nirlo knew that Barrios had the edge on them in terms of results & experience. Throughout the entire application process, however, they kept stressing that they were capable of getting good results, too - & that they had done so before. Serving under Twilight Striker of the Equestrian States, I have certainly learned a lot during my tenure, & I’m proud of the results we have achieved.

Qasden was gearing up for a new World Cup Qualifying campaign. It is a veritable meat grinder, forcing a team to play eighteen matches in ten nations, travelling across the multiverse to do so. It was important that Qasden’s next manager would know how to deal with these challenging conditions; thankfully, Cralt-Nirlo already had. Despite being seventh of ten in Group Fourteen when I arrived, ten matches into World Cup 80 qualification, scoring only four goals & conceding seven, we finished one place short of a playoff berth, scoring twelve times & conceding only five times in the last eight matches of qualification, with six wins, one draw, & only one loss.

Cralt-Nirlo had been in an international tournament, too. &, really, that was the goal: to get through qualification in order to arrive at the tournament. If the qualification process is unique for being a test of attrition, the World Cup & the Cup of Harmony were unique for being a sprint for success. We then advanced to the Cup of Harmony, where we won our group & advanced to the quarterfinals.

But Cralt-Nirlo risked leaving all of that behind. Filindostan had provided them with fantastic opportunities, & the coaching staff was superb. Being a senior manager was tremendously instructive for Cralt-Nirlo, but getting to study under the tutelage of someone else gave them wisdom they would otherwise never be able to have. At Filindostan, not only did I continue to demonstrate a superb record of quality, but I also learned a lot about how to manage a national team under the tutelage of Twilight Striker, who imparted wisdom they gained from their time as the manager of their homeland from World Cup Cycles Fifty-Eight through Sixty-Nine & of Filindostan.

Cralt-Nirlo knew this. Cralt-Nirlo knew that once Qasden’s final list of two candidates had been leaked, there would be no turning back. Cralt-Nirlo would have to choose either to deny everything & forsake the opportunity to lead the Vans or walk away from the home in Filindostan they had come to know. However, with experience leading a team as a manager, with experience in a national team programme, & with demonstrated success both at the domestic & international levels, I think I am capable of more than being a manager in Qusmo or an assistant manager in Filindostan.

To be entirely frank, Cralt-Nirlo had never been wholly satisfied with their post. They won the Manager of the Year award in Pug Qusmyra, & they left their post at Estraj thinking that a new job would materialize easily. Ultimately, they were locked out of a job until midway through qualifiers, when they applied for the vacancies in Banija & Filindostan. Both rejected Cralt-Nirlo. Now, Cralt-Nirlo was looking for something more. I think that Qasden’s national team is just the opportunity I am looking for, & I am sure it is a post in which I can excel.

Cralt-Nirlo wanted to go to a place with a winning tradition. They wanted to go to a place with a rich tradition. They wanted to go to a place that already had success at a high level & were prepared to return to it again. One need only look at its track record to see the source of my confidence.

Cralt-Nirlo had first gotten their start in Rushmore, & they now called Esportiva home. Both regions were near & dear to them, & they felt that both were wonderful places to live & to work. However, there was something about the pull of a region like Atlantian Oceania that intrigued them. Before its recent failure at AOCAF Cup LVI, Qasden had advanced to the knockout rounds in each of the previous three AOCAF Cups, including playing in the AOCAF Cup Fifty-Five semifinals.

Cralt-Nirlo did not want any team in the region, however. They wanted a place whose name was known not just on its island but well beyond its shores. They wanted a place where the entire multiverse would come to know their name. Qasden’s long & proud history on the international stage extends beyond Atlantian Oceania, too; from its very first World Cup Committee-sanctioned tournament, Baptism of Fire Sixty-Three, the Vans advanced to the semifinals, losing in that stage to the eventual champions.

Most importantly, Cralt-Nirlo hungered for trophies. Of course, they had led Estraj to a much better place than they would likely otherwise landed at. They had led Filindostan to the tip of qualifying for a World Cup. However, they did not lead Estraj to qualification for international competition. They did not succeed in bringing Filindostan back up the table enough to travel to Starblaydia or the Equestrian States. & that little difference was all that mattered. Qasden has advanced to the knockout rounds in every Cup of Harmony it has participated in, including consecutive championships over Barunia & Nephara in the sixty-ninth & seventieth editions, respectively.

Though they were busy with Filindostan in the Cup of Harmony, their employer was not the only team they paid attention to. Cralt-Nirlo did want to know how their home country would do. So, while they were working for Filindostan, they always made sure to keep tabs on how Qusmo was doing in the same tournament. It did even better in the next cycle, qualifying to World Cup Seventy-Nine, & seemed to be on the path to qualify for World Cup Eighty; however, after a playoff loss to Baker Park, Qasden played again in the Cup of Harmony, including against my home country of Qusmo in the group stage, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual champion Mercedini.

One thing that stuck out to Cralt-Nirlo was Qasden’s precarious position: it had just sacked a successful national team manager after a devastating playoff loss & a national outcry, & a somewhat lacklustre performance in the ensuing Cup of Harmony ensured that their interim replacement would remain merely an interim replacement. Lately, the performance of the national team has not been up to the standards that many Qads have come to expect.

Other managers may have seen that situation develop & steered clear away. Over the span of a single cycle, the football association sacked two national team managers, giving them no leash or room for error. How could there be any job security in a place like that? Who would want to be in a position like that? Cralt-Nirlo, however, saw it as a challenge. However, I believe that the right manager can right the ship & get Qasden back on track, to the place it was before the playoff collapse & Drucati’s tenure.

Qasden’s football association saw something in Cralt-Nirlo that they liked. It was a spark of something special, they dared to guess. & so, despite what everyone else in Qasden believed, they were still in the running for that position. Was not Barrios more qualified? Was not Barrios more experienced? Was not Barrios more successful? Was not Barrios clearly the better choice to lead Qasden’s national team? Still, despite it all, Cralt-Nirlo steadfastly continued to believe in themself. I believe that I am that manager.

Cralt-Nirlo believed that they could earn the position. Cralt-Nirlo believed that they would earn the position. & Cralt-Nirlo believed that they would be successful in the position. The football association challenged them to prove it. They would get the opportunity to manage Qasden in a single match on a trial basis, as a test of their style, their strategy, & their skill in managing Qasden’s national team. I have always believed in the teams I manage, & that confidence has manifested itself in an aggressive playing style. I find that teams can throw their opponents off balance with a strong, committed attack, & I think that would be all the more true with the likes of Onyx Foster & Ryan Xandreas available for selection.

Qasden had two friendlies scheduled before the qualifying campaign would begin. Cralt-Nirlo would take one, & so would Barrios. The first friendly would be against Freeport, a nation that had just emerged from a semifinalist performance at the massive Baptism of Fire held in Semarland & Farfadillis. However, the Baptism of Fire was one thing; Cralt-Nirlo wanted to face the toughest opponent they could. They wanted to face an opponent who had already announced themselves on the international arena. & they had other reasons for requesting the friendly opponent they did, too. Cralt-Nirlo Fox would manage Qasden’s national team in a match against Qusmo. After a recent string of disappointing & embarrassing results, it’s time for the Vans to get their confidence back; it’s time to stop being afraid & to start being bold.

Cralt-Nirlo battled hard against the defensively-minded Avarn-Oxolt Ban on the other side of the touchline, but in the end, Cralt-Nirlo secured the victory over their homeland, & over the team whose advances they had spurned. Still, though, Barrios won with an impressive display of attacking football of their own, & they had all the experience & credentials to their name. Barrios was still far & away the favourite to win the national team job. Cralt-Nirlo was being brought in, it assumed, to give the decision a veneer of difficulty. Cralt-Nirlo was being used merely as a way to bring out the best in Barrios, & they would be tossed aside once Qasden got what it really wanted. That was what the entirety of the nation thought. That is what they believed. Yet Cralt-Nirlo Fox stood against it all & kept hoping against all odds that they would defy their own personal history & finally land the position that they craved. & if you give me the honour of being Qasden’s next manager, I will personally make sure that the national team does just that - & returns to being a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

Cralt-Nirlo returned to the moment at hand. Here, they held a letter in their hand. No, not a letter - the letter. It had to be. This was the letter. This was the letter that would tell them whether they had finally made it, & would finally get that golden opportunity that they had so long dreamed of. This was the casting decision for a starring role on the stage of the multiverse. This was the letter.

Cralt-Nirlo Fox,

We are pleased to offer you our congratulations -

Group 9
Savalen 0–1 Polkopia
Rakivland 8–0 Nuadh-Alba
Axuva 2–6 Valanora
Qusmo 0–0 Eastfield Lodge
New Gazi 2–0 Karulicja

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 New Gazi                          6    5   0   1    13    4   +9    15
 2 Qusmo                             6    4   1   1    12    3   +9    13
 3 Eastfield Lodge                   6    3   3   0    11    6   +5    12
 4 Polkopia                          6    3   1   2     8    7   +1    10
 5 Valanora                          6    3   1   2    18   11   +7    10
 6 Savalen                           6    3   0   3    10    8   +2     9
 7 Axuva                             6    2   0   4     8   19  −11     6
 8 Karulicja                         6    2   0   4    11   11    0     6
 9 Rakivland                         6    1   0   5    14   16   −2     3
10 Nuadh-Alba                        6    0   2   4     2   22  −20     2

QNT earns nervy draw against Eastfield Lodge
Qusmo 0–0 Eastfield Lodge
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
77’ Yunal-Julad Waz
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
67’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
67’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

by **Qusmo** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 10:12 pm

SPON QUSMA MAGAZINE-DIGEST

Avarn-Oxolt Ban plays scared in the biggest matches. … It just goes to show what Avarn-Oxolt truly thinks of their team, behind the facade.

On one touchline stood Qusmo’s elder statesman, the tried & tested manager, Avarn-Oxolt Ban. They had been through countless trials. They presided over Qusmo’s first-ever international match, which they managed to win, & have been at the helm for every match Qusmo has played so far. Qusmo has yet to reach into the elite echelons of the sport, but they seem much improved from where they were on that first match against Wolves Clans.

On the opposite side stood another manager making their debut for their new side. They did not have especially high expectations surrounding them, either, as they brought a resume that was a bit underwhelming to their new job. However, they were confident in themself, & they brought not only new tactics, but a new confidence, to the team that previously had been lacking. They seemed to be boosting their players on the pitch. Their name was Cralt-Nirlo Fox, &, like their fellow Qusmi, they would win their first match in charge.

Cralt-Nirlo Fox has enjoyed tremendous success in the early days serving in their new post as manager of Qasden’s national team, & they are drawing many comparisons to the other Qusmi serving as a national team manager: Avarn-Oxolt Ban, in charge of their home nation of Qusmo. Those comparisons are painting Cralt-Nirlo in a very favourable light - & beginning to make some people second-guess Avarn-Oxolt.

Like it or not, Cralt-Nirlo Fox will always be tied to the role of manager of Qusmo’s national team. They are Qusma, of course, & began their career in Pug Qusmyra. In the league’s inaugural season - the only one in which either Cralt-Nirlo or Avarn-Oxolt managed there - Cralt-Nirlo’s KF Estraj finished seventh, while Avarn-Oxolt’s KF Zwac finished thirteenth. Avarn-Oxolt finished third in the Manager of the Year balloting; the winner of the award that year was none other than Cralt-Nirlo. Cralt-Nirlo is believed to be the first manager offered the helm of Qusmo’s national team, but after they declined, Avarn-Oxolt was the manager who eventually accepted.

Qusmo & Qasden have had a bit of a history together on the pitch, too. Qasden is one of only three opponents Qusmo has faced thrice; Qusmo has never played a single nation four times or more. Qusmo has beaten Omerica in all three of its matches, while Qusmo was beaten by Ceni each of the three times the two teams met. However, the series between Qusmo & Qasden is much more close. The two teams drew at the Cup of Harmony in their first meeting, & Qusmo won over Qasden in a friendly to warm up for the two teams’ respective regional tournaments. However, it took a Qusmi for Qasden to beat Qusmo for the first time & settle the score in the battle of the Qs - &, of course, that match will go down as Cralt-Nirlo’s first in charge of a national team.

It also marked the start of what is, so far, an impressive tenure. In their first eight matches leading the national team of Qasden, Cralt-Nirlo Fox has seven wins, one draw, & no losses. That adds up to a total of twenty-two points from their first eight matches at the helm - a mark that took Qusma national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban the entire World Cup 81 Qualifying campaign of eighteen matches to attain. It has not gotten a whole lot better for Avarn-Oxolt’s side since then, either; over the past eighteen matches, Qusmo has earned only twenty-one points.

However, the past two matchdays have truly brought a focus on the two managers’ differing levels of success so far most of all. On Matchday Six, Qasden hosted eleventh-ranked Pasarga & stunned them by the tune of 3-0, allowing Qasden to hurdle the former World Cup champions to retake first place in Group 15. On the same matchday, Qusmo could only manage a scoreless draw against Eastfield Lodge, ranked forty places lower than Pasarga, causing them to be overtaken atop the Group 9 table by New Gazi.

The difference now is especially stark between the two Qusma managers’ positions. Cralt-Nirlo’s Qasden continued rolling, with a 3-1 win over fiftieth-ranked 95X not only allowing the Vans to continue to pace their group, but giving them a six-point margin over the two teams sitting closest behind Pasarga, tied on points for third in Group 15 - & head-to-head wins over both. On the other hand, Qusmo fell precipitously, down to fifth, a low for this cycle, after falling to thirteenth-ranked Valanora 1-0.

When Qasden faced the fiftieth-ranked team in the multiverse, they were able to win 3-1; Qusmo could only muster a scoreless draw against the team ranked fifty-first. When Qasden faced the eleventh-ranked team in the multiverse, they soared to a 3-0 performance; Qusmo lost 1-0 to the team ranked thirteenth. That is why Qasden has moved up the table & currently sits in first, & that is why Qusmo has fell sharply to fifth.

There is a clear difference in the two team’s fortunes so far, especially recently. Could this be explained in part by a difference in the managers or their styles? We talked to an expert to get their opinion, & they did like what they were seeing from Cralt-Nirlo more than what Avarn-Oxolt was doing for Qusmo. However, they did caution that, although Cralt-Nirlo was performing extremely well, they would have a lot of football yet to come.

“They’ve done fine recently against some of the bottom teams, but the fact remains that Avarn-Oxolt Ban plays scared in the biggest matches. Avarn-Oxolt pays all their attention to preventing a concession instead of focussing on putting the ball in the other team’s net. They’re worried that, if the match were open & free-flowing, Qusmo would be at a disadvantage - so, above all, they try to make sure things don’t get out of hand or embarrassing. They may talk a lot about how they have confidence in the players they have available, but until they actually back up that talk with their decisions on the touchline, it just goes to show what Avarn-Oxolt truly thinks of their team, behind the facade.”

“On the other hand, Cralt-Nirlo Fox has the player pool of Qasden to rely on. They have World Cup qualifiers & Cup of Harmony champions in their player pool, & that experience & talent is something that Qusmo simply does not have. That is one of the reasons that Cralt-Nirlo has felt free to play a form of open, attacking football with the Vans. In direct contrast to Avarn-Oxolt, Cralt-Nirlo seems to have great faith in their players in the most pivotal moments, & that faith has been validated time & time again throughout this cycle. It would be a mistake to compare the two managers’ situations as identical, or to fail to recognize that Cralt-Nirlo has not been the boss for very long yet. However, it’s still extremely impressive what they have accomplished so far, & it will be exciting to see if they can keep it up in the future. If they can, surely, more than just Qusmi’y will know the name Cralt-Nirlo Fox.”

Manager           Nation    P    W    D    L   GF/M  GC/M   W%   PT/M
Avarn-Oxolt Ban   Qusmo    46   17    9   20    1.2   1.4  37%   1.30
Cralt-Nirlo Fox   Qasden    8    7    1    0    2.8   0.6  88%   2.75

Best & Worst

Biggest Win
Avarn-Oxolt Ban: Qusmo 4–0 Beepee
Cralt-Nirlo Fox: Qasden 4–0 The South Falls

Biggest Lost
Avarn-Oxolt Ban: Qusmo 0–3 Ceni
Cralt-Nirlo Fox: Qasden 0–0 Geisenfried

Most Impressive Win
Avarn-Oxolt Ban: Qusmo 1–0 Tumbra (ranked 24th)
Cralt-Nirlo Fox: Qasden 3–0 Pasarga (ranked 11th)

Most Embarrassing Loss
Avarn-Oxolt Ban: Qusmo 0–2 Gopnikea (unranked)
Cralt-Nirlo Fox: Has never lost as Qasden national team manager

Group 9
Karulicja 5–3 Savalen
Eastfield Lodge 4–1 New Gazi
Valanora 1–0 Qusmo
Nuadh-Alba 2–2 Axuva
Polkopia 5–3 Rakivland

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Eastfield Lodge                   7    4   3   0    15    7   +8    15
 2 New Gazi                          7    5   0   2    14    8   +6    15
 3 Polkopia                          7    4   1   2    13   10   +3    13
 4 Valanora                          7    4   1   2    19   11   +8    13
 5 Qusmo                             7    4   1   2    12    4   +8    13
 6 Karulicja                         7    3   0   4    16   14   +2     9
 7 Savalen                           7    3   0   4    13   13    0     9
 8 Axuva                             7    2   1   4    10   21  −11     7
 9 Rakivland                         7    1   0   6    17   21   −4     3
10 Nuadh-Alba                        7    0   3   4     4   24  −20     3

QNT falls far in table after loss to Valanora
Valanora 1–0 Qusmo
Hatire Memorial, Capri, Valanora (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
78’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
78’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol
61’ Prant-Pertz Gor

by **Qusmo** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 6:38 pm

Rilan-Jerat Nev was accustomed to winning.

Teenage phenom. Won Qavax Puka Juzuna. Won a place in the Youth Cup. Won a place on KF Trew’s Starting XI. Won a place in the Globe Cup. Won a place in the Team of the Season. Won Young Player of the Season. Won a place in the national team training camp. Won a place in the twenty-five player Qualifying squad. Won a place in the regular Starting XI. Won a place in the Cup of Harmony squad. Won their group. Won a place in the Di Bradini Cup squad. Won a knockout match. Destined for greatness.

Then, they lost.

It was nearing the end of Ryrak Bez, & Trew was in contention for Pug Qusmyra’s final spot in the UICA Globe Cup. They were three points behind Atlant with two matches left, mired in sixth place. However, the schedule had worked out in their favour: they only had Qasym & Rejin left to play; both were in the relegation zone, & Qasym sat at the floor of the table. On the other hand, the two teams in front of Trew would meet each other on Matchday Thirty-Seven, & Atlant would have to face a strong Lilnim side on the final matchday, while fifth-place Qalijan had to take on Polanz, still in the running for the league title. Dropped points by both teams were possible, even likely. Trew had made it to the Globe Cup the previous season based on a last-matchday stumble by their nearest competition; this year had the potential to end much the same way.

But then Trew lost 4-3 to last-place Qasym, & they were instantly eliminated from Globe Cup contention.

& with that team failure, Rilan-Jerat lost individually, too.

No longer was Rilan-Jerat the go-to player for their national team. Now, they were just a bench player, a reserve, a third striker on the roster, barely making it onto the team for the Qualifiers. Every one of the twenty-two outfield players on Qusmo’s qualifying campaign roster had seen the pitch within the first four matchdays - except Rilan-Jerat. Rilan-Jerat just sat there, with nothing to do; they didn’t even warm up. Xilit-Zaxac Yol was the clear first-choice striker, & if Avarn-Oxolt Ban ever wanted a substitute, they called on Prant-Pertz Gor. Those were the two options Avarn-Oxolt went with. Why did they even take Rilan-Jerat, if all they intended to use them as was a way to warm a seat on the bench?

Finally, after seven matches of doing nothing, contributing nothing, being nothing, Rilan-Jerat got word. They would be getting playing time against Nuadh-Alba on Matchday Eight. &, not only that, but they would get the start. Sure, it was a bit of a rotated side - the dead giveaway was that the third-choice goalkeeper would also earn their first playing time of the qualifying campaign. But Rilan-Jerat would finally have the chance to prove to their manager & to their doubters that the talent they had was real, in spite of all.

They had always faced such stiff competition at centre forward for the national team. Prant-Pertz Gor, of course, had won the first two Qavaxy Puga Qusmyra. The ninety-five goals Qastyr had scored last season was good enough for second-best all-time, trailing only Qastyr’s 106 in the season prior.

Xilit-Zaxac Yol, meanwhile, had won trophies in their time at Poldanz, too. Their club’s performance may not be quite as prolific as Prant-Pertz’s, but Xilit-Zaxac was the undisputed leader of their squad, & for that they were recognized as Pug Qusmyra’s Forward of the Season & a runner-up for Player of the Season. They were, in the eyes of most, the gem of the Qusma attack.

&, of course, no one can forget Paliv-Xilit Max, who was the best poacher in Pug Qusmyra last season before transferring to Pascal Mashu in Kita-Hinode. While they were there, somehow they seemed to get even better, starting for the top-ranked offense in the KiHi-League - & claiming Rilan-Jerat’s starting spot as the national team’s second centre forward.

But here was Rilan-Jerat’s chance. Their chance to show them all wrong. Their chance to prove that neither Prant-Pertz, nor Xilit-Zaxac, nor Paliv-Xilit were better players than they. Rilan-Jerat had their opportunity. They got into dangerous areas, they made creative runs, & they would have had a brace already if not for their own eagerness pushing them beyond Nuadh-Alba’s last defender. But now, in the seventieth minute, now they had their chance.

They received the through ball from the attacking midfielder, Gavax-Nenzi Abe - making only their first start in a competitive match - & were clear through the defense. It was a scoreless match, & it was getting late - late enough to worry that Qusmo could very well drop points at home to the team at the bottom of the Group 9 table after earning one point & scoring no goals from their previous two matches. Rilan-Jerat was clean through, & as soon as they would score, they would again become a hero. They could return to the fold, triumphant, having proven their worth with their tenth career national team goal before they reach the age of twenty.

But then, something happened. They struck the ball wrong. The ball didn’t nestle itself into the top left corner of the net. It soared into the tenth row of the seats at Mastad Atlema.

Paliv-Xilit Max entered the match in the seventy-first minute for Rilan-Jerat Nev. Paliv-Xilit scored a brace in the seventy-sixth & eighty-seventh minutes, providing the winning margin in a 2-0 victory over Nuadh-Alba, tying Rilan-Jerat for second on Qusmo’s all-time goalscoring list with nine goals, reaching that mark in nine fewer appearances.

Group 9
Savalen 0–0 Rakivland
Axuva 2–4 Polkopia
Qusmo 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
New Gazi 1–3 Valanora
Karulicja 0–2 Eastfield Lodge

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Eastfield Lodge                   8    5   3   0    17    7  +10    18
 2 Polkopia                          8    5   1   2    17   12   +5    16
 3 Valanora                          8    5   1   2    22   12  +10    16
 4 Qusmo                             8    5   1   2    14    4  +10    16
 5 New Gazi                          8    5   0   3    15   11   +4    15
 6 Savalen                           8    3   1   4    13   13    0    10
 7 Karulicja                         8    3   0   5    16   16    0     9
 8 Axuva                             8    2   1   5    12   25  −13     7
 9 Rakivland                         8    1   1   6    17   21   −4     4
10 Nuadh-Alba                        8    0   3   5     4   26  −22     3

QNT breaks slump with win over bottom-of-table Nuadh-Alba
Qusmo 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
Mastad Atlema, Atlem, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

GK  Pilta-Jerat Nev
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
62’ Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
65’ Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
ST  Rilan-Jerat Nev
71’ Paliv-Xilit Max (76’, 87’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

by **Qusmo** » Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:21 pm

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

Hello, all. Welcome to Spony Luq Television, broadcasting from Qanz, Qusmo. Qusmo had a great start to World Cup 81 Qualification, with the most points, the most goals scored, the least goals conceded, & the first-place position in Group 9 after five matches; however, with just four points in the four matches since, they have sunk to fifth in the table. That means that Qusmo is facing an uphill battle to qualify out of Group 9, a proposition that never figured to be easy, anyhow; now, let’s take a closer look at Qusmo’s campaign, the rest of Group 9, & the field of qualifying hopefuls at large. First, we have a question from a viewer in Uqular.

How do you think Qusmo will finish out the Qualifiers?

We predicted at the outset of the campaign that Qusmo would get off to a hot start but then sizzle out. Even at the peak of Qusmania, we maintained that Qusmo had had its hot start but was about to fizzle out. Well, we saw it happen. After a hot start, Qusmo did, indeed, fizzle out. We don’t see a big drop from what Qusmo’s already done, but we also don’t see a remarkable improvement to come, either. If you set your eyes on qualifying for the World Cup after seeing Qusmo atop the Group 9 table just a few matchdays ago, we’d advise you to reconsider your goals for the team this cycle.

There’s no doubt that Qusmo has a good defense; its still top of the group by three goals, & Qusmo has still yet to concede more than once in a single match so far in this qualifying cycle. In fact, Qusmo had a top-ten defensive performance in the first half of the qualifying campaign, conceding only five goals in nine matches. Of the one hundred ninety teams which entered the qualifying campaign, only one - defending champions Brenecia - have yet to concede. South Covello is close behind, with only one goal put past them, with Tinhampton in third with only two goals. After that, Ko-oren & Audioslavia round out the five teams which have conceded an average of at most once every three matches, followed by the Equestrian States, New Lusitania, & Taeshan with four concessions, & only Turori & Qusmo with exactly five goals conceded so far.

    World Cup 81 Qualifying                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
  8  Brenecia (4)                         9    9   0   0    17    0  +17    27    1st in Qualifying Group 16
  4  South Covello (10)                   9    9   0   0    23    1  +22    27    1st in Qualifying Group 18
 25  Tinhampton (65)                      9    7   1   1    15    2  +13    22    2nd in Qualifying Group 16
 17  Ko-oren (47)                         9    8   0   1    15    3  +12    24    2nd in Qualifying Group 18
 53  Audioslavia (31)                     9    5   3   1     9    3   +6    18    2nd in Qualifying Group 5
  9  Equestrian States (17)               9    8   1   0    22    4  +18    25    1st in Qualifying Group 10
 33  New Lusitania (89)                   9    6   2   1    19    4  +15    20    2nd in Qualifying Group 1
 39  Taeshan (60)                         9    6   1   2    14    4  +10    19    3rd in Qualifying Group 17
 18  Turori (12)                          9    7   2   0    22    5  +17    23    1st in Qualifying Group 1
 68  Qusmo (81)                           9    5   1   3    14    5   +9    16    5th in Qualifying Group 9

There is something striking about this group. Of the ten teams to have conceded five times or less thus far, four are first in their group & another four are second. Taeshan is an outlier, outside the playoff places at third place. However, no team is as far back in Freeport’s Mid-Qualifying Overall Standings table or their own group’s table as is Qusmo, in fifth.

The reason why is that Qusmo has not had an offense as prolific as their defense as been solid. They have only scored fourteen goals over the nine matches of the campaign. That figure masks just how difficult is has been for Qusmo to score, however; eight of those goals came in Qusmo’s first two matches, while the other seven only saw Qusmo score six times, with matches in which Qusmo was unable to score outnumbering those in that seven-match span in which Qusmo did find the back of the net by a four-to-three margin. That has been the root of Qusmo’s trouble during this campaign.

Their attack hasn’t exactly been as impotent as that of South Batoko or Tanzanique - every one of the teams in the qualifying campaign has scored at least once in their first nine matches, though these two nations have done so only once - but they certainly haven’t had the firepower of Mercredini - which has found the back of the net forty-one times. With fourteen goals scored, Qusmo is a touch below average on this statistic. No group has less than three teams which have scored less than fourteen goals, nor does any group have less than three teams which have scored more than fourteen goals. Seventy-seven teams have scored less than fourteen times, while one hundred nine have scored more; the other four - including Qusmo, of course - have scored exactly fourteen times.

So, we see that Qusmo has a subpar offense, but shouldn’t Qusmo’s dominant defense overcome this? If Qusmo’s goals were evenly spread out, perhaps it would, but the important statistic to remember is that Qusmo’s goals for-against margin has been only six-to-four outside of their first two matches. That is what has been holding Qusmo back; the offense has not just been not scoring in bunches - aside from those first two matches - but they have also been inconsistent.

That is why national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban’s mid-qualifying roster moves - or lack thereof - are so interesting. Qusmo is doing more than just fine defensively, but they need more help with their offense. However, they only made one move: dropping left back Karar-Nirlo Hus in favour of centre back Lynul-Savar Mal of KF Lilnim. This probably was a good reprioritization of the national team’s defensive roster spots; Avarn-Oxolt does not need two left backs, after all, if they do not use even one in their Starting XI. Adding another centre back will provide depth, & Lynul-Savar has played well both with their club - being a part of a defense which conceded an average of less than one goal per match - & with their national team - having kept a clean sheet in the Damukuni friendly, their only cap thus far.

The decision not to make any other changes, however, is being scrutinized more closely. Avarn-Oxolt has responded to these criticisms. “We had so many priorities for those last few roster slots, so it was a lot tougher finalizing our twenty-five than the one change might suggest. I had a few items on my roster wishlist: I wanted another centre back in reserve, so that we could rotate & rest the back line more; I wanted to keep a third full back, so that we had a reserve in case we started a match with full backs on either end of the pitch; I wanted to add another defensive midfielder, as that was the only midfield spot at which we didn’t have two players; & I wanted to keep all our forwards, as we need a good stable of options when our primary targets aren’t in top form,” explained Avarn-Oxolt.

But when those options are not in top form - & neither Prant-Pertz Gor nor Rilan-Jerat Nev have found the back of the net in the national team’s past fourteen matches, much less in this qualifying campaign - why not rotate the options at disposal to ensure that Qusmo’s secondary targets are in top form? That is a question only Avarn-Oxolt will be able to answer. Nonetheless, it hints that the second half of qualifiers will likely go much as the first half has - & that Qusmo will likely finish somewhere around where they are now. Thus, unfortunately, we don’t see Qusmo qualifying for this World Cup.

Next, we’ll take a question from a viewer in Atlem.

Who will be headed to the World Cup?

That’s a great question - & it’s one that people across the multiverse have to be asking themselves now. Technically, no team is eliminated yet, but it would take a miracle for quite a few teams. Just look at Groups 13, 17, & 18, for instance, where Swibia, Kwesiland, & Star United States are the full twenty-seven points behind their group’s leader & the maximum twenty-four points behind a place in a playoff.

Because of the complex permutations involved with this particular qualifying format, featuring some group runners-up qualifying automatically & others delegated to a playoff, we will not venture to predict exactly which thirty-two teams will advance to Banija & the Free Republics. However, we are willing to predict which team will win each group & which will take second place.

Let’s start with Group 1. It is currently led by an undefeated Turori, but two draws have given daylight for their opposition. Trailing them is New Lusitania, with Valladares & Beepee not far behind. We think that Beepee’s +4 goal differential hints that the former Baptism of Fire champions are not quite ready to move up into the grandest stage of them all. We also think that Turori will not only not falter, but get even better as the cycle goes on, & finish atop the table without too much drama. Now the question comes down to whether Valladares or New Lusitania will claim the playoff spot. Valladares certainly is a dangerous team, but New Lusitania have shown that they are nothing to trifle with, either, with a good offense & one of the top eight defenses in the multiverse in the first half of qualification. That great defense, we think, will be enough to secure a spot in the playoffs for World Cup 81.
Qualifier: Turori
Playoff: New Lusitania

Another interesting group is Group 2. Cosumar, this group’s leader, is also high-ranked but not running away with things yet. In fact, their lead over Juvencus is only one point - & Juvencus is the only undefeated team in the group. Acapais is close behind, while Saint Emelie leads a pack of midtable teams below. Ultimately, Cosumar has the experience & the talent to make it to make it to the World Cup, demonstrating as such in a 6-0 not-so-friendly dismantling of the Free Republics over the mid-qualifiers break. That said, Juvencus has demonstrated that they can hang in with anyone in this group, including Cosumar, with a 1-1 draw in the latest matchday. We think that these two will be tops of their group - potentially setting up a massive clash on the final matchday in Cosumar. Ultimately, though, we think that Cosumar’s experience - & current points advantage - will prevail.
Qualifier: Cosumar
Playoff: Juvencus

Group 2 may be close, but Group 3 is even closer. There is a dead heat for the Group 3 lead between Barunia & Drawkland, both at twenty-four points, with Barunia on top by virtue of head-to-head record after a 1-0 win in Matchday Two. Natanians and Nosts, San Regada, & Omerica trail these two, tied on points at eighteen apiece, & there are some good teams in this bunch, including Omerica, which is the only team to have taken points from Barunia so far. However, we don’t think that any of these teams can overcome a six-point deficit; even if they win all of their final nine matches, the results will be out of their control. Thus, we see the group coming down to either Barunia or Drawkland. Given that the final match between the two will be in Barunia, & that Barunia was able to secure a win in the away leg, we will lean towards Barunia to get the advantage over Drawkland in this one.
Qualifier: Barunia
Playoff: Drawkland

Group 4 features another tie for first place, this time between the Holy Empire & Apox. The Holy Empire have the edge for now based on a commanding 5-2 home win on Matchday 6, but the sides are even on points, at twenty-two each. Trailing behind are Yuezhou, Filindostan, & Romaian. Romaian has managed some remarkable results in getting this far, including by being the only team to defeat the Holy Empire in this qualifying campaign, but we are not sure they can make up the six-point gulf needed to crack the top two. Likewise, the recent dearth in what was a stable of assistant coaches in Filindostan seems to have cost them, & we don’t think they can catch up, either. Finally, Yuezhou may be the two top teams’ closest competitor, but they also have a net-zero goal differential, which is raises all kinds of red flags about their potential long-term success. Ultimately, we think that the two teams on top of the group now will stay that way by the end - & that the World Cup 80 runners-up & five-time champions will make it through first in their group.
Qualifier: The Holy Empire
Playoff: Apox

Technically, Group 5 features Starblaydia with a comfortable four-point lead followed by five teams all one point removed from the next. Sixth-place Melbergia has fourteen points, but Kalumba has fifteen, but Adab has sixteen, but Petroslovania has seventeen, but Audioslavia tops the chase group with eighteen. Starblaydia is coming back on the international scene in a big way, with a trip to the quarterfinals in a home World Cup preceding a win in the AOCAF Third Place Match, which happened to be the thousandth in the proud purple nation’s history. The five-time World Cup champions should qualify fairly easily, barring some shock. As for the place in the playoff, Adab has been performing remarkably well, & may be a dark horse pick to contend for it. However, despite the Cinderella story, there’s no way we can pass up the other multiple-time world champion with over a thousand wins to their name, Audioslavia, to advance to yet another World Cup, especially with a defense that has been among the top five in the multiverse so far in this campaign.
Qualifier: Starblaydia
Playoff: Audioslavia

Group 6 is where we arrive at the first of many perfect performances so far in this qualifying campaign. Baptism of Fire co-hosts Farfadillis have been superb during this campaign, & we see no reason to doubt them now; in any event, their nearest rivals would have to make up a five-point deficit to have a chance at the top spot. Super-Llamaland has a pretty good perch in second, though, with twenty-two points, powered by an offense which ranks among the best in the multiverse so far in this campaign. Indusse is behind them, at nineteen points, & the other co-hosts of the most recent Baptism of Fire, Semarland, find themselves at fourth, but we don’t think that either can keep up with Super-Llamaland’s firepower. As a result, we think that Farfadillis will take first & Super-Llamaland will place second without too much drama.
Qualifier: Farfadillis
Playoff: Super-Llamaland

Eura has all but won Group 7. With a perfect record of nine wins in nine matches, & a nine-point advantage over their nearest rivals, the top-ranked nation participating in these qualifiers has by far the largest lead in any qualifying group at this point of the cycle. They will go through. The only question is who will get to go to the playoff. North Prarie & Mattijana are now second & third, respectively, with eighteen points each, while the Sherpa Empire would need a good second half with fifteen points now, & Mytanija & Blaneu are just behind with fourteen each. Ultimately, the gap is a little too large for us to be confident in a team like the Sherpa Empire’s ability to make it up, despite some very good play - & that also eliminates Mytanija & Blaneu. The key question, then, becomes whether we think North Prarie will hold onto its slim advantage or whether Mattijana will overtake them. North Prarie has had some great results, including a 5-3 win over Mattijana; however, we cannot overlook Mattijana’s offense. They have scored thirty-seven goals thus far, tied for second with Vilita, & trailing only Mercedini. We think that they will be able to turn things around in the home leg on Matchday Twelve & use that momentum to fuel a trip to the World Cup playoffs.
Qualifier: Eura
Playoff: Mattijana

Group 8 is a little closer than Group 7 - but not terribly so. Ethane has yet another perfect record atop their group, as well as an enviable six-point advantage over Devonta. Devonta doesn’t have a lock on a playoff spot, however, as Damukuni is mounting a challenge that currently is only one point short. Competitive Solitaire & Maryloupe trail well behind, with fifteen & fourteen points, respectively. This group looks set to go to Ethane, but its playoff spot looks to be a battle between Devonta & Damukuni. A key clash will be on Matchday Ten; Damukuni defeated Devonta by a 2-1 score at home on the opening matchday, but can they replicate that magic in Devonta? If so, they’ll go up two points & have the head-to-head tiebreaker. If they lose, however, they’d be four points behind with eight matches left. Devonta could well be able to come back from a two-point deficit, but a four-point margin for Damukuni would be a mountain to climb. Add to that, too, that Devonta has scored more goals & conceded fewer than Damukuni. Plus, Devonta has had a better record of cleaning up against the competition they need full points against, as they have only dropped points to Ethane & Damukuni thus far, while Damukuni has lost to Ethane & has drawn Zeleny Hrebenia & Competitive Solitaire. That means that, behind Ethane, Devonta likely has the edge in this one.
Qualifier: Ethane
Playoff: Devonta

There isn’t as much pressure on the second-placed team in Group 10, however - &, yes, we know we missed one. World Cup 80 co-hosts have gotten back into the swing of the qualifying campaign, with a draw in East Belzaria the only hiccup in what has otherwise been a fairly dominating performance. Three points behind them, Saltstead has twenty-two points; they were handled by a visiting Equestrian States side on Matchday Three, but they were sticking close behind at only a one-point difference until a surprise draw in Sorrentopia to close out the first half of qualifiers. Luckily enough for them, they don’t have a lot of competition close behind them. Garifunya & Northwest Kalactin have seventeen & sixteen points, respectively, but both the Equestrian States & Saltstead have simply been a class above in this group; they should not be challenged for the top two spots. As for who gets what, we look at the dominance of the Equestrian States & cannot help but be impressed. One of only ten teams to reach a quarter-century of points in this campaign thus far, the Equestrian States have dominated opponents day in & day out. They conceded one goal to Sorrentopia, the same nation which surprised Saltstead, & let three in against East Belzaria. As it is, that places the Equestrian States in the top ten of defensive performances of this cycle, too, but only two nations have conceded once or not at all so far; if the Equestrian States had been able to claim another clean sheet against East Belzaria, they not only would be one of nine nations to have nine wins over their first nine matches, but they would also be riding one of the top three defensive showings in the multiverse so far. Especially in light of their 3-0 blowout win in Saltstead, we would be surprised if the Equestrian States don’t win this group - with Saltstead finishing as their runners-up.
Qualifier: Equestrian States
Playoff: Saltstead

Group 11, however, is a little more complicated. Mriin is atop the group with twenty-two points, but Abanhfleft & Jeruselem follow close behind with twenty-one & nineteen, respectively. Behind them are Darkmania with sixteen & Dreamplanet with fourteen, but they do not have great odds of making up five- & seven-point gaps to keep the possibility of a berth in the World Cup alive. In reality, it’s a three-horse race for the top two spots. Ultimately, Jeruselem has had some success, but Abanhfleft has had a good defense - conceding an average of less than once each match - & Mriin has had a red-hot offense - scoring over thirty. As a rough estimate, but one only off by two goals total, Jeruselem has had the offensive showing of Abanhfleft & the defensive performance of Mriin. If it were the other way around, Jeruselem would be in an amazing position; however, they’re not. Mriin’s offense will lead them to the top two spots. Abanhfleft’s defense will lead them to the top two spots. Jeruselem will be left out. The AOCAF Cup runners-up seem to have the slight edge for the ticket directly to Banija & the Free Republics, though, because they have had a better offensive performance than Abanhfleft has had a defensive performance, & they have had recent success at a senior team level, notwithstanding Abanhfleft’s accomplishments at the U18 & U21 levels.
Qualifier: Mriin
Playoff: Abanhfleft

Group 12 is not a tough one to predict. Nephara has a perfect record, with twenty-seven points. Eshan has only dropped points against Nephara, with eight wins powering them to twenty-four points. Within a dozen points of them is only West Angola & Cosneolta, but at eighteen points each, they don’t look to pose a tremendous threat. It is down to Eshan & Nephara to figure out which team will finish first & which will finish second in this group. In any event, this group could be a great contender for one of the three automatic qualification spots for a group runner-up, as Eshan is one of five group runners-up on twenty-four points at the moment, & one of only three with twenty-four points & a plus-twenty or better goal differential. That means that, if the qualifiers were to win now, Eshan would claim the third & final automatic qualifying place for a group runner-up. A key clash will be on Matchday Ten; if Nephara can win in Eshan, it would put them six points ahead, practically guaranteeing them the group. Still, even if Eshan can manage a draw or even a win, Nephara is a fantastic team that has done amazing things both in this qualifying cycle & in the past. In the end, we cannot bet against a former World Cup champion with nine wins in nine matches over the first half of their qualifying campaign.
Qualifier: Nephara
Playoff: Eshan

Group 13 is in a similar situation to Group 12. Vilita has a perfect twenty-seven points, while Mercedini has a perfect record aside from their match against Vilita. Tobiasia is third with nineteen points, while Kernovi and Rewgwlas trails in fourth with sixteen. However, everyone outside the top three have a negative goal differential, because this group is extremely high-powered. All of this group’s top three teams have scored at least thirty en route to that point. In fact, this group boasts both one of two teams tied for second on the goalscoring charts - Vilita, with thirty-seven - & the team which has scored more than any other - Mercedini, with forty-one. Ultimately, Vilita is the team which has combined a phenomenal offense with an excellent defense, & that is why we have to favour them. They are the team to combine a relentless attack with an uncompromising defense, while Mercedini has had a history of letting in enough goals to see them drop a few points if their strikers are out of form for some matches. In most other groups, we would be taken aback at Mercedini’s domination of all things goalscoring; in goal-crazy Group 13, however, they are overshadowed by who can both score in bunches & keep their opponents from doing the same.
Qualifier: Vilita
Playoff: Mercedini

Compared to groups like the last two we looked at, Group 14 can claim a bit more parity. Kita-Hinode top the group, but with only twenty-two points & a plus-nine goal differential. Sargossa has a ten-goal better differential, but they are two points behind. Two points behind them are Main Nation Ministry, while Siovanija and Teusland are two points behind them, & the Alpine Union are a further two points back. Sangti trails the Alpine Union by only a single point, but, of course, Soute follows two points away. As well as nations like seventh-place Soute have done, it is clear that they likely will not challenge Kita-Hinode’s twenty-two points with the mere eleven they have now; however, it is not as clear where to put that cutoff. Ultimately, three nations in the group have goal differentials of precisely plus-nine, with another at plus-nineteen. This group of four nations is not only the top four in the current rankings, but the most likely to advance, either automatically or through a playoff. Kita-Hinode is a favourite in this group, but they certainly have weaknesses, & these have been exposed at times during the campaign, leaving them in this fairly close situation. Still, they are four points over third place, & they look likely to claim one of the top two places, at the very least. On the other end of this group, Siovanija and Teusland has battled valiantly, but they narrowly lost a 5-4 match in Main Nation Ministry they sorely needed to win to close out the first half of qualifiers, making give better odds to Main Nation Ministry than Siovanija and Teusland. In the end, though, do we think Main Nation Ministry will hurdle Sargossa? It’s a difficult question; both nations have done quite well, but the teams in this group have beat up on each other a bit. In the end, we think that Main Nation Ministry has the quality to push through & secure a playoff place - though we don’t think they’ll quite have enough gas to surpass Kita-Hinode, leaving them top of the table.
Qualifier: Kita-Hinode
Playoff: Main Nation Ministry

Of course, most Qusma fans with knowledge of the qualifying picture outside Group 9 will be most familiar with Group 15, where Qusma manager Cralt-Nirlo Fox is plying their trade. After ten matches in charge, Cralt-Nirlo has performed admirably well, defeating Pasarga 3-0 & then 95X 3-1 in successive matchdays. However, despite a perfect record of seven wins in seven - eight in eight, including their friendly win over Qusmo - against ranked teams, Cralt-Nirlo has only been able to secure a single point over unranked sides, with a scoreless draw to Geisenfried & a 2-1 loss in the Squornshelan Remnant States condemning them to second in the current table on twenty-two points. The only team challenging them from below, however, is 95X, at nineteen points. We think that Qasden has the quality to fend off 95X’s challenge & possibly even reclaim their spot at the top of the table. Qasden has the joint-best offense & the joint-best defense in the group, & they have impressive wins over both of their nearest rivals in the table. &, of course, they have Cralt-Nirlo Fox on the touchline. Pasarga, of course, is a former World Cup champion & the current group toppers, with twenty-four points, & they should have no trouble claiming one of the top two spots in this group, but we’ll go ahead & slot Qasden in front of them.
Qualifier: Qasden
Playoff: Pasarga

Group 16 doesn’t have as much drama at the very top, but it does have an interesting race for second. Defending World Cup champions Brenecia have picked up right where they left off, winning all nine of their nine matches, & we won’t even consider them falling to second in their qualifying group, much less missing the tournament altogether. In our estimation, it’s much more likely that they complete their perfect qualification campaign. Instead, we have a race between Tinhampton, with twenty-two points, Cassadaigua, with nineteen points, & Octinstine, with seventeen points, for the playoff spot out of Group 16. Octinstine has done remarkably well, but we think that they will slip over the next few matchdays. Instead, we think that Tinhampton & Cassadaigua are the teams which have enough quality to keep being competitive into the final days of the campaign. Indeed, the final days may be vitally important, as Cassadaigua will host Tinhampton on the final matchday of the campaign. If both teams earn the same number of points over the next eight matchdays, the result of that match will determine who finishes second in the group. Considering that their previous match was a scoreless draw, Cassadaigua would not only tie Tinhampton on points but also win the head-to-head tiebreaker simultaneously with a win of any margin over Tinhampton; however, a draw or loss would leave them eliminated. Can Cassadaiagua keep pace with Tinhampton until then? We think so. & can Cassadaigua win once they have the home field advantage? They may be removed for a bit from their previous World Cup glory, but we think that they still have what it takes. We’ll pick Cassadaigua in dramatic fashion - behind Brenecia, wrapping up their spot in Banija & the Free Republics decidedly undramatically, a few matchdays early.
Qualifier: Brenecia
Playoff: Cassadaigua

Group 17 is fairly open & shut, to be honest. After their qualification in their debut cycle, Baker Park looks to make it two for two - & has a perfect record so far. Though we’re not sure if they can maintain a perfect record throughout all eighteen matchdays, we do think that they have been playing like the class of the group, & they should win it. Once we’ve reached that conclusion, choosing the runner-up is easy; Darmen currently sits second on twenty-four points, while Taeshan is third at nineteen. Darmen has been perfect aside from their match against Baker Park, & we expect that excellent form to continue. We certainly don’t forsee a five-point fall from grace over the last nine matchdays. As such, we’ll peg Baker Park to win the group & Darmen to place second.
Qualifier: Baker Park
Playoff: Darmen

If Group 13 is the group of unbelievable offense, Group 18 is the group of amazing defense. The group is topped by South Covello, which has a perfect record so far & nearly a perfect defensive record; they have conceded only one goal, the second-fewest in the multiverse so far. With twenty-four points, Ko-oren has conceded only three goals thus far, which puts them, too, in the top five in defenses of the multiverse. Behind these two are Flardania, with seventeen points, as well as Bostopia & Krytenia, with sixteen points each. We don’t see any way these teams could catch up on the order of seven or eight points to these phenomenal teams, especially when they place such an emphasis on defense. Finally, with the joint-second-best offense in the group as well as the second-best defense in the multiverse, & sporting a perfect record thus far, we see South Covello moving on from this group in first.
Qualifier: South Covello
Playoff: Ko-oren

Now we reach the final group: Group 19. Here, Chromatika seems to have a strong grip, with twenty-five points total. Behind them are Savojarna, with nineteen points, then Nova Anglicana, with eighteen points, then South Toronto, two points behind them, then Pink Floyd FC, another two points behind them, & then Shofercia, with two fewer points than that. This is another group where it’s difficult to identify an exact cutoff, but no one should sleep on South Toronto. They have the best goal differential of the group besides Chromatika, with the second-best offense & third-best defense of the group. That spells them out as a balanced team, capable of winning either a high- or low-scoring match. That said, there are a lot of contenders in this group, & we think that Savojarna may come out on top in the end. This team has the joint-best defense in their group, in a tie with Chromatika. Interestingly enough, also like their group’s leaders, they have not lost yet in this campaign, with only a slew of draws holding them back. Indeed, they are the only team to have taken points away from Chromatika so far. We see them winning the second spot on the table in the end.
Qualifier: Chromatika
Playoff: Savojarna

&, of course, we arrive last at Qusmo’s group: Group 9. We have already discussed why we do not think that Qusmo, fifth at sixteen points, will not make it. However, the top four is extremely close. Polkopia & Valanora both have nineteen, while Eastfield Lodge & New Gazi each have eighteen. That’s the tightest group there is. We think that Valanora will continue to rehabilitate their poor start to the campaign by overtaking Polkopia to finish top of their group. Meanwhile, Eastfield Lodge is the only team in the group with only one loss, & no team not named Valanora has a better goal differential. Thus, we think that Eastfield Lodge has the best chance of continuing their good form & being the other team to finish in that all-important top two. That said, we wouldn’t mind being wrong on this prediction if it results in Qusmo heading to Banija or the Free Republics.
Qualifier: Valanora
Playoff: Eastfield Lodge

Group 9
Axuva 3–2 Savalen
Qusmo 4–1 Rakivland
New Gazi 2–0 Polkopia
Karulicja 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
Eastfield Lodge 2–2 Valanora

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qusmo                             1    1   0   0     4    1   +3     3
 2 Karulicja                         1    1   0   0     2    0   +2     3
   New Gazi                          1    1   0   0     2    0   +2     3
 4 Axuva                             1    1   0   0     3    2   +1     3
 5 Eastfield Lodge                   1    0   1   0     2    2    0     1
   Valanora                          1    0   1   0     2    2    0     1
 7 Savalen                           1    0   0   1     2    3   −1     0
 8 Nuadh-Alba                        1    0   0   1     0    2   −2     0
   Polkopia                          1    0   0   1     0    2   −2     0
10 Rakivland                         1    0   0   1     1    4   −3     0

QNT rallies to open WCQ with 4-1 win over Rakivland
Qusmo 4–1 Rakivland
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
46’ Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
46’ Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
DM  Yunal-Julad Waz
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
46’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (74’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (48’, 85’, 89’)

Group 9
Savalen 2–1 Valanora
Nuadh-Alba 1–1 Eastfield Lodge
Polkopia 2–1 Karulicja
Rakivland 1–2 New Gazi
Axuva 0–4 Qusmo

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qusmo                             2    2   0   0     8    1   +7     6
 2 New Gazi                          2    2   0   0     4    1   +3     6
 3 Polkopia                          2    1   0   1     2    3   −1     3
 4 Axuva                             2    1   0   1     3    6   −3     3
 5 Karulicja                         2    1   0   1     3    2   +1     3
 6 Savalen                           2    1   0   1     4    4    0     3
 7 Eastfield Lodge                   2    0   2   0     3    3    0     2
 8 Valanora                          2    0   1   1     3    4   −1     1
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        2    0   1   1     1    3   −2     1
10 Rakivland                         2    0   0   2     2    6   −4     0

QNT puts Axuva away early in first WC81Q away trip
Axuva 0–4 Qusmo
Hosted in Axuva

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
46' Karar-Nirlo Hus
DM  Yunal-Julad Waz
46' Nirlo-Betva Uzo
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
71' Yamaj-Blonz Jok
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (9')
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (14', 40', 82')

Group 9
Qusmo 0–1 Savalen
New Gazi 3–0 Axuva
Karulicja 6–2 Rakivland
Eastfield Lodge 3–1 Polkopia
Valanora 7–1 Nuadh-Alba

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 New Gazi                          3    3   0   0     7    1   +6     9
 2 Savalen                           3    2   0   1     5    4   +1     6
 3 Qusmo                             3    2   0   1     8    2   +6     6
 4 Karulicja                         3    2   0   1     9    4   +5     6
 5 Eastfield Lodge                   3    1   2   0     6    4   +2     5
 6 Valanora                          3    1   1   1    10    5   +5     4
 7 Polkopia                          3    1   0   2     3    6   −3     3
 8 Axuva                             3    1   0   2     3    9   −6     3
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        3    0   1   2     2   10   −8     1
10 Rakivland                         3    0   0   3     4   12   −8     0

QNT offense stymied in 1-0 loss to Savalen
Qusmo 0–1 Savalen
Mastad Polana, Polan, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
DM  Yunal-Julad Waz
77’ Prant-Pertz Gor
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
81’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
81’ Jralv-Nexec Pec
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Group 9
Savalen 4–0 Nuadh-Alba
Polkopia 4–1 Valanora
Rakivland 2–3 Eastfield Lodge
Axuva 3–2 Karulicja
Qusmo 2–1 New Gazi

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Savalen                           4    3   0   1     9    4   +5     9
 2 Qusmo                             4    3   0   1    10    3   +7     9
 3 New Gazi                          4    3   0   1     8    3   +5     9
 4 Eastfield Lodge                   4    2   2   0     9    6   +3     8
 5 Polkopia                          4    2   0   2     7    7    0     6
 6 Axuva                             4    2   0   2     6   11   −5     6
 7 Karulicja                         4    2   0   2    11    7   +4     6
 8 Valanora                          4    1   1   2    11    9   +2     4
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        4    0   1   3     2   14  −12     1
10 Rakivland                         4    0   0   4     6   15   −9     0

QNT rebounds in massive 2-1 win over New Gazi
Qusmo 2–1 New Gazi[/url]
Mastad Qanza, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla (58’)
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
84’ Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
CB  Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
84’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
66’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (81’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Group 9
New Gazi 3–1 Savalen
Karulicja 0–2 Qusmo
Eastfield Lodge 2–0 Axuva
Valanora 1–0 Rakivland
Nuadh-Alba 0–0 Polkopia

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Qusmo                             5    4   0   1    12    3   +9    12
 2 New Gazi                          5    4   0   1    11    4   +7    12
 3 Eastfield Lodge                   5    3   2   0    11    6   +5    11
 4 Savalen                           5    3   0   2    10    7   +3     9
 5 Polkopia                          5    2   1   2     7    7    0     7
 6 Valanora                          5    2   1   2    12    9   +3     7
 7 Axuva                             5    2   0   3     6   13   −7     6
 8 Karulicja                         5    2   0   3    11    9   +2     6
 9 Nuadh-Alba                        5    0   2   3     2   14  −12     2
10 Rakivland                         5    0   0   5     6   16  −10     0

QNT takes care of business against unranked Karulicja
Karulicja 0–2 Qusmo
Hosted in Karulicja

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
73’ Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec (62’)
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal (40’)
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
54’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol
68’ Prant-Pertz Gor

Group 9
Savalen 0–1 Polkopia
Rakivland 8–0 Nuadh-Alba
Axuva 2–6 Valanora
Qusmo 0–0 Eastfield Lodge
New Gazi 2–0 Karulicja

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 New Gazi                          6    5   0   1    13    4   +9    15
 2 Qusmo                             6    4   1   1    12    3   +9    13
 3 Eastfield Lodge                   6    3   3   0    11    6   +5    12
 4 Polkopia                          6    3   1   2     8    7   +1    10
 5 Valanora                          6    3   1   2    18   11   +7    10
 6 Savalen                           6    3   0   3    10    8   +2     9
 7 Axuva                             6    2   0   4     8   19  −11     6
 8 Karulicja                         6    2   0   4    11   11    0     6
 9 Rakivland                         6    1   0   5    14   16   −2     3
10 Nuadh-Alba                        6    0   2   4     2   22  −20     2

QNT earns nervy draw against Eastfield Lodge
Qusmo 0–0 Eastfield Lodge
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
77’ Yunal-Julad Waz
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
67’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
67’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Group 9
Karulicja 5–3 Savalen
Eastfield Lodge 4–1 New Gazi
Valanora 1–0 Qusmo
Nuadh-Alba 2–2 Axuva
Polkopia 5–3 Rakivland

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Eastfield Lodge                   7    4   3   0    15    7   +8    15
 2 New Gazi                          7    5   0   2    14    8   +6    15
 3 Polkopia                          7    4   1   2    13   10   +3    13
 4 Valanora                          7    4   1   2    19   11   +8    13
 5 Qusmo                             7    4   1   2    12    4   +8    13
 6 Karulicja                         7    3   0   4    16   14   +2     9
 7 Savalen                           7    3   0   4    13   13    0     9
 8 Axuva                             7    2   1   4    10   21  −11     7
 9 Rakivland                         7    1   0   6    17   21   −4     3
10 Nuadh-Alba                        7    0   3   4     4   24  −20     3

QNT falls far in table after loss to Valanora
Valanora 1–0 Qusmo
Hatire Memorial, Capri, Valanora (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
78’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
78’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol
61’ Prant-Pertz Gor

Group 9
Savalen 0–0 Rakivland
Axuva 2–4 Polkopia
Qusmo 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
New Gazi 1–3 Valanora
Karulicja 0–2 Eastfield Lodge

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Eastfield Lodge                   8    5   3   0    17    7  +10    18
 2 Polkopia                          8    5   1   2    17   12   +5    16
 3 Valanora                          8    5   1   2    22   12  +10    16
 4 Qusmo                             8    5   1   2    14    4  +10    16
 5 New Gazi                          8    5   0   3    15   11   +4    15
 6 Savalen                           8    3   1   4    13   13    0    10
 7 Karulicja                         8    3   0   5    16   16    0     9
 8 Axuva                             8    2   1   5    12   25  −13     7
 9 Rakivland                         8    1   1   6    17   21   −4     4
10 Nuadh-Alba                        8    0   3   5     4   26  −22     3

QNT breaks slump with win over bottom-of-table Nuadh-Alba
Qusmo 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
Mastad Atlema, Atlem, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

GK  Pilta-Jerat Nev
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Ozolx-Alfan Ixi
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
62’ Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
65’ Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
ST  Rilan-Jerat Nev
71’ Paliv-Xilit Max (76’, 87’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Group 9
Eastfield Lodge 0–1 Savalen
Valanora 2–1 Karulicja
Nuadh-Alba 0–2 New Gazi
Polkopia 1–0 Qusmo
Rakivland 3–1 Axuva

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Polkopia                          9    6   1   2    18   12   +6    19
 2 Valanora                          9    6   1   2    24   13  +11    19
 3 Eastfield Lodge                   9    5   3   1    17    8   +9    18
 4 New Gazi                          9    6   0   3    17   11   +6    18
 5 Qusmo                             9    5   1   3    14    5   +9    16
 6 Savalen                           9    4   1   4    14   13   +1    13
 7 Karulicja                         9    3   0   6    17   18   −1     9
 8 Rakivland                         9    2   1   6    20   22   −2     7
 9 Axuva                             9    2   1   6    13   28  −15     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                        9    0   3   6     4   28  −24     3

QNT falls again after surprise loss to Polkopia
Polkopia 1–0 Qusmo
Marshupov Arena, Peeto, Polkopia (cap. 42 285)

GK  Vanza-Jerat Gep
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
54' Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
54' Nirlo-Betva Uzo
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
80' Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

by **Qusmo** » Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:10 pm

A Blog

White is the colour of DEATH

Qusmo’s colours are RED & GOD. They are the colours of the FLAG. & they are the colours of the NATIONAL TEAM.

Every match, Qusmo PROUDLY suits up in their red & gold kits. EXCEPT - when they DON’T.

Qusmo just played it’s only match of qualification with its white CLASH kits. It was a SCORELESS DRAW to RAKIVLAND.

Some may point to the pressure of overexpectations. Some may point to rust from the mid-qualifiers break. Some may point to poor form.

But the true answer is that QUSMO WORE WITE.

Qusmo has played 49 MATCHES. 41 of those have been in RED & GOLD. Only 8 have been in WHITE. Let’s do some comparision.

In RED & GOLD, Qusmo has 16 wins, 8 draws, & 17 losses. That’s 1.37 points per match.

In WHITE, though, Qusmo has 2 wins, 2 draws, & 4 losses. THAT”S 1 POINT PER MATCH.

& look at the teams Qusmo played. The two wins were BOTH against Omerica, & Qusmo’s going to beat them no matter what ANYWAYS, even if Qusmo IS cursed. So if you take THOSE out, Qusmo has 4 losses, 2 draws, & NO WINS. THAT’S 0.33 POINTS PER MATCH. THAT”S OVER ONE POINT PER MATCH LESS THEN IN RED & GOLD.

I’ve said it before & I’ll saw it again: Fuzpon Qusma is STUPID, & there’s NO REASON we shouldn’t be TOPPING THIS GROUP. We had won EVERY SINGLE MATCH OF QUALIFICATION until Fuzpon Qusma just HAD to do ANOTHER STUPID FRIENDLY. & now they put Qusmo in white again & GUESS WHAT? THEY LOSE. BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN CURSED. I KNOW FOR I HAVE BECOME ONE WITH THE ETERNAL, TRUE GOD OF CTHULU THE DESTROYER, & I SHALL COME TO DOMINATE THE HEAVENS & THE EARTH. TAKE HEED & FEAR ME, AS THIS SHALL BE MY FIRST SIGN TO HUMANITY AS I SHALL COME UNTO THE WORLD TO BEGIN MY INEVITABLE CONQUEST & DECIMATION OF ALL THAT LIVES: QUSMO SHALL NEVER WIN A MATCH WHEN THEY PLAY IN THEIR WHITE CLASH KITS, EXCEPT WHEN THEY PLAY OMERICA, BECAUSE QUSMO ALWAYS BEATS OMERICA, & THERE ARE SOME THINGS NOT EVEN I CAN CHANGE. & ALL SHALL KNOW MY WRATH.

k thnx bye

Group 9
Savalen 2–0 Axuva
Rakivland 0–0 Qusmo
Polkopia 3–1 New Gazi
Nuadh-Alba 0–1 Karulicja
Valanora 2–1 Eastfield Lodge

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Polkopia                         10    7   1   2    21   13   +8    22
 2 Valanora                         10    7   1   2    26   14  +12    22
 3 Eastfield Lodge                  10    5   3   2    18   10   +8    18
 4 New Gazi                         10    6   0   4    18   14   +4    18
 5 Qusmo                            10    5   2   3    14    5   +9    17
 6 Savalen                          10    5   1   4    16   13   +3    16
 7 Karulicja                        10    4   0   6    18   18    0    12
 8 Rakivland                        10    2   2   6    20   22   −2     8
 9 Axuva                            10    2   1   7    13   30  −17     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                       10    0   3   7     4   29  −25     3

QNT continues poor finishing with scoreless draw in Rakivland
Rakivland 0–0 Qusmo
Rakiv Arena, Rasisikenev, Rakivland (cap. 63 000)
GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
63’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
79’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
63’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

by **Qusmo** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 8:22 pm

A Blog

A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO KILL ME

I was just minding my own business & writing an expose about the Askari Union’s RAT MIND CONTROL PROJECT designed to DESTROY INLAND SOUTH-CENTRAL ESPORTIVA when, out of the blue, I got a fax.

At first, I thought this was the best news I had heard in my life. Someone had read my work. Someone knew me. Someone knew what I had to say. Someone was listening. & not just that - I was reaching people BEYOND Qusmo, even into some random place called MYTANIJA.

But then I realized what the TRUE meaning of this was. This ws no ordinary Mytanar - this was a GOVERNMENT SLEEPER AGENT. & their purpose was clear: to SILENCE ME>

WHY did they say that I misrepresented data? They say that it wasn’t fair of me to throw out the two matches Qusmo’s national team won in white kits. WELL, GUESS WHAT? IT WAS AGAINST OMERICA. That’ doesnt even COUNT. I didn’t “docotr” data. I’m not BRAINWASHED like those people who get FLUORIDE IN THEIR BRAINS when they go to “medical school.”

& so WHAT did they say? They said that our OPPPONENTS were probably better when we played white. Well, GUESS WHAT, CIH-SQUARED SMARTY-PANST? When QUsmo has played in WHITE, they’ve gone up against upponents ranked an average of 97TH. When they’ve worn RED & GOLD, theyr average apponent has been eranked 99TH. BOOM. QUSMO HAS PLAYED AGAINST BETTER OPPORITION & THEY’VE STILL LOST MORE. NEED MORE PROOF THAT QUSMO IS CURESD IN WHITE?

WELLL TOO BAD> YOU AREN’T GONNA GET IT. But even the U21 kids knew about this. Look atw hat they did when they wore red: they got to the QUARTERFINAL in their FIRST APPEARNCE & they were only eliminated there by the team that WON THE WHOLE TOURNAMNT. & in white? They didn’t PLAY a single match in white at the Dee Panini Cup, much less WIN one.

So in spit of it all, this Mytanijar thinks they can SWOOP IN & call ME an ANONYMOUS. I don’t really know what that means, but it doesn’t sound good,so I don’t like it.

But you, my readers (or reader, I don’t really know for sure) know the TRUTH. I am NO ANONYMOUS. I am an INTELLIGENT> & all this subverthuge by a FOREIGN GOVERNMENT is jus trying to paint me as “fake facts” because I AM GETTING TOO CLOSE FOR THEM TO BE COMFORTABLE. THEY DON’T WANT ME TO KNOW TH TRUTH. &, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

But have no fear, readers. I will NEVER let them do that to me, & I will NEVER let them do that to YOU. I will ALWAYS deliver you the TRUTH & all the SECRETS that OUR GOVERNMENT & OTHERS WANT TO BE SECRET. EVEN IF THEY ASSASSINATE ME, I SHALL COME BACK FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD TO THAT OF THE LIVING, & I SHALL COME TO REVEAL ALL THERE IS TO KNOW, & I SHALL CAST LIGHT UPON THE DARKNESS, & ALL SHALL JUDGE KNOWING WHAT TRUTH IS. & THE MASSES, NEVER TO BE THE SAME AGAIN, SHALL CALL ME THE REVEALER.

I got prety invested in this blog post, though, so I’m going to be late on the report about Askari mind control rats; that seems like more of a Tuesday thing, anyways.

Group 9
Valanora 3–2 Savalen
Eastfield Lodge 4–2 Nuadh-Alba
Karulicja 2–2 Polkopia
New Gazi 2–2 Rakivland
Qusmo 3–0 Axuva

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         11    8   1   2    29   16  +13    25
 2 Polkopia                         11    7   2   2    23   15   +8    23
 3 Eastfield Lodge                  11    6   3   2    22   12  +10    21
 4 Qusmo                            11    6   2   3    17    5  +12    20
 5 New Gazi                         11    6   1   4    20   16   +4    19
 6 Savalen                          11    5   1   5    18   16   +2    16
 7 Karulicja                        11    4   1   6    20   20    0    13
 8 Rakivland                        11    2   3   6    22   24   −2     9
 9 Axuva                            11    2   1   8    13   33  −20     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                       11    0   3   8     6   33  −27     3

QNT snaps out of slump with 3-0 home win over Axuva
Qusmo 3–0 Axuva
Mastad Atlema, Atlem, Qusma (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
59’ Lynul-Savar Mal
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
53’ Yunal-Julad Waz
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe (48’)
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu Ralox Kal
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (06’, 88’)
ST  Prant-Pertz Gor
65’ Rilan-Jerat Nev

by **Qusmo** » Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:24 pm

Expectations

Nirlo-Raxat Hal sat in their office, overlooking the city of Kolle & its one million residents. They had a dilemma. As the chair of KF Koflir, they were in a bit of an enviable position; they were the largest club in Kolle, & they would be the only Pug Qusmyra club in the city next year, after Kozon was relegated. They had great potential. But with that potential came great pressure to fulfill it.

Koflir had come close last season. They had nearly gotten to Vilita. They made it all the way to the final of Puk Zama last season, which carries with the trophy a nomination for international play. As long as the champion of Puk Zama did not already qualify for another international competition, they would be nominated by Fuzpon Qusma to play in the Vilitan Cove Invitational. Unfortunately, after five wins to reach the final, Koflir squandered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 in the final. Instead of Koflir, KF Qastyr would raise the trophy. However, Qastyr also won Pug Qusmyra, meaning they would play in the UICA Champions’ Cup, not the Vilitan Cove Invitational, so the nomination would be passed down to the fifth-placed team in the league. Koflir finished sixth.

So Koflir’s fan base had been frustrated. They were so close - just a single team away - from earning a nomination to play in Vilita - not once, but twice. That made Kolle the only city among Qusmo’s largest six not to have a club play against international opposition. The people of Kolle were certain that they deserved better than that. They were certain that they ought to be getting their moment of glory against teams from across the multiverse.

But Nirlo-Raxat was certain that they didn’t have the roster to do that. & they were certain that the fans would not be happy if they could not break through to international fixtures. & they were certain who the fans would blame.

Truth be told, Koflir was lucky to have gotten where they did. In Puka Zama, they only played one fellow Pug Qusmyra club in their five matches in the leadup to the final. In Pug Qusmyra, their sixth-place finish was a distant one, as they ended six points back of fifth-place Rejin yet only one point above seventh-place Estraj & eighth-place Vlonz. They had gotten lucky, with all the breaks falling their way. That wasn’t likely to happen again next year, nor the year after. Likely, they would have a mixed record of luck going their way; if the pendulum swung the other way as far as it did in their favour this season, meanwhile, it would be even worse. But the fans didn’t care about the underlying statistics, or the quality of opponents they had faced. They thought that they were on the precipice of success, & they wanted to achieve it. & it would be Nirlo-Raxat’s job to do it.

They started to pore through their roster & possible transfer targets. Who was there? As much as the fans might not realize the true state their club was in, viewing Koflir through their rose-coloured glasses, Pug Qusmyra players would question just how reasonable it would be to settle down in Kolle. & they would not want to make that jump. Sure, there were bargain bin options available, but what player of the calibre Nirlo-Raxat needed would leave their clubs now - & even if they did, why would they come to Koflir? Nirlo-Raxat looked to be looked out of the market. They needed to find a solution, & fast.

Nirlo-Raxat put the last scouting report down on their desk, leaned back, & sighed. Koflir was working from an extremely limited talent pool, since Fuzpon Qusma restricted Pug Qusmyra players to those eligible to play for the Qusma national team. If only a player from somewhere else could join their team. They would have so many more options; they might even be able to manage to find a solution out of this mess.

They thought for a moment. Then, suddenly realizing it, they dialed their secretary as quickly as they could. “Get Fuzpon Qusma on the line. I need to ensure that Qusmo plays a friendly at Mastad Kolla. & after that, put me in touch with a lawyer. An immigration lawyer, to be precise.”

Group 9
Savalen 0–2 Qusmo
Axuva 0–2 New Gazi
Rakivland 2–3 Karulicja
Polkopia 1–0 Eastfield Lodge
Nuadh-Alba 2–4 Valanora

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         12    9   1   2    33   18  +15    28
 2 Polkopia                         12    8   2   2    24   15   +9    26
 3 Qusmo                            12    7   2   3    19    5  +14    23
 4 New Gazi                         12    7   1   4    22   16   +6    22
 5 Eastfield Lodge                  12    6   3   3    22   13   +9    21
 6 Karulicja                        12    5   1   6    23   22   +1    16
 7 Savalen                          12    5   1   6    18   18    0    16
 8 Rakivland                        12    2   3   7    24   27   −3     9
 9 Axuva                            12    2   1   9    13   35  −22     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                       12    0   3   9     8   37  −29     3

QNT earns important win over Savalen to keep momentum
Savalen 0–2 Qusmo
Savalen City, Savalen

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
68’ Lynul-Savar Mal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok (13’)
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
57’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv (64’)
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu Ralox Kal
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
57’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Prant-Pertz Gor

by **Qusmo** » Sat Sep 15, 2018 10:20 pm

QNT holds New Gazi in impressive defensive display

Qusmo preserved a clean sheet in New Gazi to earn an important point in an away fixture.

Qusmo has had good form of late, as they have opened the second half of their qualifying campaign with a four-match unbeaten streak; they have not conceded since Matchday Nine. “Yes, I thought it was a good performance, overall,” affirmed manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban. “There were some chances we probably should have finished off, but our defense did a fantastic job today - as I’ve come to expect over the course of this qualifying campaign. The best-case scenario for us was a win, of course, but we’ll take all the points we can get.”

After using the same Starting XI in their last two matches - a 3-0 Matchday Eleven home win over Axuva & a 2-0 Matchday Twelve win in Savalen - Avarn-Oxolt decided to make three changes to the squad for the match in New Gazi. “We had a great win over New Gazi on Matchday Four, & we wanted to make the squad reflect what worked the first time against these opponents. That’s why we made those changes; the players we rotated out have done really well, especially of late. It wasn’t a decision based on their poor form or results; I just had a lot of confidence in the players I put on the pitch. & I still do.”

However, some may question that assessment. After scoring five goals in the past two matches, including two in an away fixture against a two-time World Cup qualifier, Qusmo was unable to score against New Gazi. The defense - which was left unchanged - performed well, but replacing three of Qusmo’s five midfielders - including both of those which played on the sides of the pitch & the central midfielder with the most advanced role on the pitch - may have hurt the team’s chemistry going forward.

Avarn-Oxolt seemed to recognize this & change course in the second half, as a goal eluded the Qusmi’y, however; all three of the substitutes they used were starters in the prior two matches. They denied that was the case, maintaining instead that “I have confidence in all of our players, & I know that whoever I put on the pitch will perform well. We needed some fresh legs, & I trusted my substitutes to play well & secure points for us. That’s to say nothing about the players I substituted off the pitch today.”

That said, Qusmo did do well in New Gazi. The team’s 2-1 win over New Gazi on Matchday Four was an upset; after all, New Gazi was ranked twenty-ninth in the multiverse & had participated in World Cup 80, while Qusmo was ranked eighty-first after placing seventh of ten in their qualifying group. Achieving another result would be difficult, especially away from the home crowd in Qanz. Qusmo’s defense made it happen.

“I’m really pleased with how the unit has been playing,” Avarn-Oxolt glowed. “We’ve never conceded twice in the same match, & we’ve kept eight clean sheets. Half of those have come in the past four matches. This group really has seemed to get better as we’ve gone on in the campaign. I think this is the best our defense ever has played, actually. I remember the qualifying campaign for the last cycle, & I know how we performed then. We had as many goals in a single match as we’ve had from all thirteen we’ve played so far - & that happened in two different matches last cycle. We’ve shown other teams that we’re a tough team to play, & we’re a worthy challenge to anyone. We’re not going to let anyone walk over us. We’re going to fight, & we’re going to battle - &, over half the time in this campaign so far, we’re going to win.”

Indeed, Qusmo has been doing much better in the qualifying campaign for this edition of the World Cup than that of the last cycle. Qusmo currently sits in third of ten in the Group 9 table at twenty-four points, only two behind second-place Polkopia for a playoff spot. In the previous cycle, Qusmo finished seventh, & they managed only twenty-two points over the course of the entire campaign. It is enough for some to question whether Qusmo might push for a place in the Free Republics & Banija.

“I don’t really look that far ahead,” insisted Avarn-Oxolt. “We still have five matches left to play, including against some really difficult opposition. Three of our opponents have qualified for a World Cup before. In fact, looking at the table, if you exclude ourselves & New Gazi, we will be playing the rest of the top six of the table. It’s going to be a very tough stretch, & we don’t have any margin for error at all; after all, we’re two points back of just a playoff spot. We can’t take anything for granted. We can’t let up. We’re going to return to Qusmo to play Karulicja, we’ll try to pick up three points, & then we’ll go from there.”

Group 9
Nuadh-Alba 0–1 Savalen
Valanora 4–0 Polkopia
Eastfield Lodge 0–0 Rakivland
Karulicja 3–0 Axuva
New Gazi 0–0 Qusmo

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         13   10   1   2    37   18  +19    31
 2 Polkopia                         13    8   2   3    24   19   +5    26
 3 Qusmo                            13    7   3   3    19    5  +14    24
 4 New Gazi                         13    7   2   4    22   16   +6    23
 5 Eastfield Lodge                  13    6   4   3    22   13   +9    22
 6 Karulicja                        13    6   1   6    26   22   +4    19
 7 Savalen                          13    6   1   6    19   18   +1    19
 8 Rakivland                        13    2   4   7    24   27   −3    10
 9 Axuva                            13    2   1  10    13   38  −25     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                       13    0   3  10     8   38  −30     3

QNT holds New Gazi in impressive defensive display
New Gazi 0–0 Qusmo
Hosted in New Gazi

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
70’ Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
75’ Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
57’ Forzu-Nirlo Uzo
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Prant-Pertz Gor

by **Qusmo** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:48 pm

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

Hello, all. Welcome to Spony Luq Television, broadcasting from Qanz, Qusmo. In the wake of a 2-1 win over Karulicja, Qusmo sits at third in Group 9, needing to finish second to appear in a playoff. Their last loss came on Matchday Nine against Polkopia, the team that currently holds that spot. If both of those teams win their next three matches, Qusmo would have the chance to play Polkopia on the final matchday at Mastad Qusma with a spot in a playoff on the line. However, in order to get there, Qusmo would need to secure results in Eastfield Lodge & against Valanora & then take care of business against Nuadh-Alba. First, we have a question from a viewer in Tracam.

How do you think our team is doing?

Qusmo got another win in this match - their eighth, from fourteen matches thus far - to keep pace with the rest of the top five of the group, as they all also celebrated Matchday Fourteen victories. Qusmo has twenty-seven points & sits just two points behind Polkopia; however, they’re only one point ahead of New Gazi & only two ahead of Eastfield Lodge. Things are still very precarious for the Qusmi’y.

One reason to hold your breath is Qusmo’s attack. The two goalscorers from the Karulicja match have scored a majority of Qusmo’s goals during this campaign: Xilit-Zaxac Yol scored their seventh in the twelfth minute before Paliv-Xilit Max scored their eighth in the forty-first. These two have combined for fifteen goals; the rest of the team has thirteen. If these two players are not in form, the team is in a dangerous position.

However, of late, Qusmo’s offense has not been a two-headed monster; it has been a one-person show. Xilit-Zaxac may have seven goals in this qualifying campaign, but that comes after scoring back-to-back hat tricks to start Qualifying. It was the national team all-time goalscoring leader’s first goal since Matchday Two, & it came as they returned from a three-match span in which they did not see the pitch due to poor form.

On the other hand, Paliv-Xilit Max has been a revelation for the national team. They always had expectations surrounding them entering the campaign, as they were the only poacher in Fuzpon Qusma’s first Team of the Season before making a move to Pascal Mashu of the KiHi-League, where they were a regular starter for the top offense in Kita-Hinode. That gave them a spot in the national team’s regular XI, & it has paid off; stretching back to the pre-qualifiers Tour of the Multiverse friendlies, they have ten goals in their past fifteen national team caps, having not gone more than three matches without finding the back of the net in that span. Paliv-Xilit is doing a phenomenal job, & they’re a big reason for Qusmo’s success thus far.

However, the biggest reason has been the defense. Unlike the World Cup 80 Qualifying campaign, in which manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban struggled to find their best back line & goalkeeper, the decisions have been easy thus far. Goalkeeper Xynat-Evela Cuf & centre back Yelto-Alfan Ono have started a dozen matches each, & centre backs Cunix-Betva Tla & Zenon-Gerol Kal have started every qualifying match thus far.

That has been because these players have given Avarn-Oxolt no reason to replace them. Qusmo has conceded only six goals thus far, & ranks as one of only seven nations to be conceding goals at an average of less than one every two matches. Within Group 9, every other team has conceded more goals than the number of matches they have played. Across the multiverse, the only teams which have matched or bested this tally are South Covello, with three goals; Tinhampton & Ko-oren, with four goals; Brenecia & Audioslavia, with five goals; & the Equestrian States, with six goals. That puts Qusmo’s defensive performance thus far in the fourth percentile in the multiverse.

It gets even more impressive when you consider that Qusmo still has yet to concede multiple times in a single match. They are one of only six which did not let two go by in a match in the first half of the Qualifiers, with Brenecia’s streak lasting nine matches & those of Tinhampton & South Covello ending at ten apiece. In fact, only three nations have yet to concede multiple goals in the same match after Matchday Fourteen: Audioslavia, Ko-oren, & Qusmo.

When they conceded in the sixty-third minute, it was the first time they had done so since the nineteenth minute of that Matchday Nine loss against Polkopia. That means that Qusmo had, until that point, not conceded in five hundred four minutes. That sets a new record for the team, whether in all matches, only in competitive fixtures, or just World Cup Committee-sanctioned events. Although not nearly as impressive as some other nations’ tallies, such as defending World Cup champion Brenecia’s eight hundred forty-four minute clean sheet streak to begin the Qualifiers, Qusmo has had a superb defensive showing in the Qualifiers thus far.

It has been no coincidence, then, that Qusmo’s five-match unbeaten streak has coincided with their string of stingy defensive performances. That ties Qusmo’s record for most consecutive matches unbeaten, from the final matchday of World Cup 80 Qualifying through all four matches of Cup of Harmony 72, which Qusmo exited on penalties in the Round of Sixteen. Qusmo only conceded twice in that span, too. The key to a result for Qusmo seems to be its defense. If it can continue to hold its own & get another clean sheet against Eastfield Lodge, it would not only secure another valuable point - or three - but also extend Qusmo’s record unbeaten streak on what is expected to be captain Ilinx-Kepex Zev’s all-time team-leading fiftieth cap. Our next question will be coming at us from Atlem.

Can Qusmo qualify for World Cup 81?

That seems to be the question on everyone’s mind at the moment. Qusmo is just below Polkopia in the standings for Group 9’s playoff spot. In fact, had Qusmo held Polkopia to a scoreless draw in their matchup, Qusmo not only would have maintained a clean sheet streak from Matchday Seven to Matchday Fourteen, & not only would they be unbeaten for seven consecutive matches, but they would be in second - in position to reach a playoff. However, we’ve predicted that Eastfield Lodge would get that spot - with Valanora topping the group. So let’s see who else might be in the running - including Qusmo.

Let’s start with Valanora. They got off to a shaky start, but we thought they would bounce back & win the group. With a five-point lead with four matches left to play - all against teams they defeated in the first half of Qualifiers - they look well on their way to doing just that. Some teams that don’t look likely to win the group include Rakivland, Axuva, & Nuadh-Alba, however; there is no mathematical possibility for these three teams of reaching World Cup 81. Karulicja & Savalen aren’t faring much better, with no chance of qualifying directly to the final tournament & with little chance left of going through a playoff, either. They have been playing well enough to be potential spoilers, however.

That leaves us with four teams within four points of each other, fighting for a single place behind Valanora in the playoffs. First, let’s tackle Eastfield Lodge, the team we picked at the halfway mark to make the playoff. They may be in the toughest situation of them all. Not only are they four points behind, in fifth place, but they have one of the toughest schedules ahead among the four contenders, too. They host Qusmo before heading to New Gazi; after that, they will close out the campaign against Karulicja & Savalen. That means they will have to play two of their fellow contenders, with two matches against potential spoilers lurking if they can survive those hurdles.

In fourth, New Gazi needs to make up three points. They will play next in Karulicja before hosting Eastfield Lodge. Then, they will have the unenviable task of playing Valanora before closing their campaign against Nuadh-Alba. New Gazi may need to bridge a three-point gap now, but their fixture against Valanora may well push that margin to six. They may be the Pot 2 team, but it will be very difficult for them to keep pace in these final few days.

Next, let’s address the current occupiers of the playoff place, Polkopia. Not only are they in the best position of the four contenders, but they have the easiest schedule, too. They host Savalan before going to Rakivland, & they will host Axuva before playing in Qusmo to end the campaign. That means that they get to play two of the three teams at the bottom the table, & they will likely eliminate Savalen at home on the next matchday. The only match which looks especially difficult is their final one: against Qusmo on Matchday Eighteen.

So let’s address that team. Qusmo is sitting in third, two points behind Polkopia. However, they likely have the most difficult schedule of all those left with a fighting chance. Their next match is in Eastfield Lodge, & then they will host the five-time World Cup champions Valanora. If they can survive that, they will travel to Nuadh-Alba before hosting Polkopia. Qusmo’s focus will be on surviving until Matchday Eighteen; if they can do that, they will set themselves up with a chance.

If they end tied with Polkopia on points, keep in mind the fact that Polkopia defeated Qusmo 1-0 when the fixture was in Polkopia. That means that, if the two teams are, indeed, tied on points for the final spot, Qusmo would have needed to win that final match. Because Polkopia only defeated Qusmo by a single goal, the Qusmi’y could probably escape with a single-goal margin, given that they currently have a fifteen-to-seven advantage in goal differential; however, Qusmo needs to fight through to that final match & then win it in order for this scenario to have relevance.

However, we’re not quite sure that that will happen. Qusmo is in clear danger of dropping points in Eastfield Lodge, & the Valanora match represents not only a challenge, but what would be the first time Qusmo has ever picked up points against a top-twenty opponent if they can manage to do it. Given their existing two-point deficit, & compared to Polkopia’s schedule of Savalen & Rakivland, they could well be eliminated by that point.

In fact, a quite plausible scenario could see Eastfield Lodge defeat New Gazi - especially given Eastfield Lodge’s prior 4-1 victory in New Gazi. New Gazi, of course, is more likely than not to lose in Valanora, as they did when they played host; Qusmo, too, will likely fall to Valanora. That would leave Eastfield Lodge, New Gazi, & Qusmo on thirty-one, thirty-two, & thirty-three points maximum entering the final matchday; by that time, Polkopia could be sitting on thirty-eight if they can beat Savalen, Rakivland, & Axuva. In that case, Polkopia would sit at least five points clear, assured of a playoff spot before the only difficult hurdle that remains in front of them.

That means that, despite Qusmo’s great performances so far, especially on defense, we are still pessimistic about Qusmo’s chances to qualify. We are still predicting Valanora to win the group, but we think that Polkopia will be the team going through to the playoff. That leaves Qusmo outside the picture for the World Cup; however, even if they do fall short, Qusmo has had tremendous success during this Qualifying campaign, & what they have achieved is admirable nonetheless.

Group 9
Savalen 0–2 New Gazi
Qusmo 2–1 Karulicja
Axuva 2–6 Eastfield Lodge
Rakivland 1–4 Valanora
Polkopia 3–1 Nuadh-Alba

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         14   11   1   2    41   19  +22    34
 2 Polkopia                         14    9   2   3    27   20   +7    29
 3 Qusmo                            14    8   3   3    21    6  +15    27
 4 New Gazi                         14    8   2   4    24   16   +8    26
 5 Eastfield Lodge                  14    7   4   3    28   15  +13    25
 6 Karulicja                        14    6   1   7    27   24   +3    19
 7 Savalen                          14    6   1   7    19   20   −1    19
 8 Rakivland                        14    2   4   8    25   31   −6    10
 9 Axuva                            14    2   1  11    15   44  −29     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                       14    0   3  11     9   41  −32     3

QNT keeps pace in group with 2-1 win over Karulicja
Qusmo 2–1 Karulicja
Mastad Tracama, Tracam, Qusmo (cap. 60 000)

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
59’ Lynul-Savar Mal
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
59’ Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (41’)
59’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (12’)

by **Qusmo** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:59 pm

A Blog

FOOTBALL is CORRUPT

Just like Kita-Hinode’s supposed “moon landing” & “space colonization” & “top-secret Imperial Hinodejin Space Force military intelligence being leaked by a stupid astronaut who was fooling around & blew the whole mission,” Qusmo’s scores are being FAKED.

Don’t believe me? Well, that just means you’re an IDIOT, because the signs are EVERYWHERE.

That said, I didn’t realize it until just now, either.

You see, I got an urgent fax from a fellow blogger of mine to inform me of the score in Eastfield Lodge, because I was fast asleep during the match. It was an AWAY MATCH, ok? &, yes, I know it was in Rushmore, but I have a unique cicada rythym, so I go to sleep at half past noon & wake up around 135 to 190 minutes later. Unfortunately, that’s just when the match was played.

&, of course, I don’t even need to explain why I EXLUSIVELY use a fax machine to communicate without the outside world beyond my apocalypse bunker (except for Qusmo National Team home matches, because I wouldn’t miss those for the end of the world).

Oh, wait - I just revealed when I sleep. NO! I CAN’T LET THEM FIND ME! Oh, wait - as long as I don’t say that the bunker is on the northern outskirts of Yie, 7 3/4 kilometres away from downtown, & listed under my name in the phone book, I should be fine. Never mind.

Anyways, I immediately had my suspicions when I heard that Qusmo supposedly beat Eastfield Lodge by a score of - get this - 6-3. SIX TO THREE! I knew RIGHT THEN that something was horribly wrong, because there’s absolutely NO WAY Qusmo could have gotten such a BONKERS scoreline against Eastfield Lodge.

Just look at that scoreline: SIX TO THREE! Before the match, Qusmo had conceded three goals in their past TEN matches COMBINED. So you tell me: how is it even PHYSICALY POSSIBLE for that to happen? The answer: it ISN”t.

In REALITY, Qusmo’s scores - & EVERY score, in EVERY match, for EVERY team - is being RIGGED. How do I know? Well, here’s their mistake: their random number generator - or “scorinator,” if you will - is only producing even numbers of goals for Qusmo to score. They’ve scored zero, two, four, & six times, but never once, thrice, fifice, or sevice.

THIS IS A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX. Look at what Qusmo has conceded, too. Qusmo has conceded zero, one, two, three, & five goals in a single match MULTIPLE TIMES - but from ALL 54 MATCHES Qusmo has EVER PLAYED, they have NEVER conceded FOUR goals.

PLUS, the results from one matchday to the next ARE OBVIOUSLY SCRIPTED. Look at Qusmo’s Matchday 15 result; they just got lazy & multiplied their Matchday 14 result by 3. From a 6-3 win to a 2-1 win. & they multiplied that Matchday 14 result BY ZERO to get to Matchday 13. From 2-1 to 0-0. & then they just CHOPPED OFF A GOAL to get to Matchday 12: 2-0. & then they just added another goal ON THE OTHER SIDE to get to Matchday 11: 3-0. & then, in Matchday 10, they just decided to recycle what they had already used for Matchday 13: 0-0. & that’s JUST the second half of qualifiers so far! Look how LAZY the Illuminati has gotten!

&, honestly, it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that Qusmo’s results are being faked. After all, how does a team that finished ABOVE ONLY THREE TEAMS out of TEN in their World Cup 80 Qualifying group after going on a SIX MATCH WINLESS STREAK & taking only ONE point from the other unranked team in the group SUDDENLY find themselves IN THIRD & TWO POINTS AWAY from going to a PLAYOFF for World Cup 81 Qualifying after going on a SIX MATCH UNBEATEN STREAK & winning EVERY MATCH AT HOME against teams RANKED HIGHER THAN IT?

& let’s look at the results Qusmo has got. Qusmo somehow got SEVENTH in their qualifying group but beat TUMBRA, which was ranked TWENTY-FIFTH IN THE WORLD & QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP? & after that SEVENTH-PLACE group finish, Qusmo WON their Cup of Harmony group by DRAWING against QASDEN, which had WON the Cup of Harmony TITLES the past TWO times they had been IN the tournament - & they won that group TIED on points, TIED on head-to-head, & BEHIND on goal differential. & in that Cup of Harmony, Qusmo beat Omerica - FOR THE THIRD TIME. HOW IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO BEAT OMERICA THREE TIMES? I DON’T UNDERSTAND. SCOTT STERLING IS THEIR GOALKEEPERS COACH.

So it should be clear by now what’s going on. The shadowy figures that run the Multiverse are running the World Cup Committee, too, & the World Cup Committee is fixing the matches. Given that tens of thousands of fans typically watch any given match at the stadium, how is that possible? Easy: virtual reality.

So isn’t it OBVIOUS? It SHOULD BE. What is the WCC doing that they don’t want us to know about? They’ve already REVEALED that there’s some sort of secret World Chall of Fame. NOW their secret that ALL FOOTBALL MATCHES EVER ARE FIXED has been exposed. Simon Dee Panini may be the face of the vile, cosmopolitan elite who are RUINING the BEAUTIFUL GAME - but they aren’t the TRUE CULPRITS.

The TRUE CULPRITS are EVERYONE in the Old Boys Club. Now, don’t let the name deceive you: this is not a club of literal boys. After all, it does say that they are old. No, these are the nations that for COUNTLESS DECADES have DOMINATED the World Cup at the EXPENSE of the REST OF US. Look at STARBLAYDIA, which has FIVE World Cup titles. Look at… um… THOSE OTHER ONES. LIKE BRENECIA. YEAH, THEY’RE WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS. Back in WORLD CUP 12, I’m sure they WON IT ALL, just like they KEEP winning EVERY MATCH THEY EVER PLAY. & don’t forget BANIJA. For SOME REASON, they got to qualify for the World Cup without even going through the QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN. They’ve been getting kickbacks like that ever since they STARTED participating in football; we all remember how they qualified for the World Cup without losing a SINGLE MATCH on their first try, of course.

So I vow to you that I WILL NOT STAND HERE & TAKE IT. I WILL FIGHT BACK, FOR THE HONOUR & INTEGRITY OF THE WORLD CUP & OF THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL ITSELF, AS THE GAME THAT UNITES NATIONS ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE IN THE PURSUIT OF A SINGLE GOAL. Unless the Old Boys Club decides Qusmo should get to the World Cup, of course; that’d be a different story.

Group 9
Polkopia 3–0 Savalen
Nuadh-Alba 0–1 Rakivland
Valanora 4–1 Axuva
Eastfield Lodge 3–6 Qusmo
Karulicja 4–2 New Gazi

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         15   12   1   2    45   20  +25    37
 2 Polkopia                         15   10   2   3    30   20  +10    32
 3 Qusmo                            15    9   3   3    27    9  +18    30
 4 New Gazi                         15    8   2   5    26   20   +6    26
 5 Eastfield Lodge                  15    7   4   4    31   21  +10    25
 6 Karulicja                        15    7   1   7    31   26   +5    22
 7 Savalen                          15    6   1   8    19   23   −4    19
 8 Rakivland                        15    3   4   8    26   31   −5    13
 9 Axuva                            15    2   1  12    16   48  −32     7
10 Nuadh-Alba                       15    0   3  12     9   42  −33     3

QNT miraculously defeats Eastfield Lodge 6-3 after 3-0 halftime deficit
Eastfield Lodge 3–6 Qusmo
Lodgertia, Eastfield Lodge

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
46’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv (86’)
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev (50’)
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
46’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
46’ Prant-Pertz Gor
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max (75’, 79’, 90'+7’)
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (67’)

by **Qusmo** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 5:15 pm

This is what happens when (i) you know that you want to include tons of dog gifs in an RP for no particular reason & (ii) you have almost time in which to do it. Have fun.

Group 9
Savalen 0–2 Karulicja
New Gazi 0–2 Eastfield Lodge
Qusmo 0–0 Valanora
Axuva 2–1 Nuadh-Alba
Rakivland 0–3 Polkopia

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         16   12   2   2    45   20  +25    38
 2 Polkopia                         16   11   2   3    33   20  +13    35
 3 Qusmo                            16    9   4   3    27    9  +18    31
 4 Eastfield Lodge                  16    8   4   4    33   21  +12    28
 5 New Gazi                         16    8   2   6    26   22   +4    26
 6 Karulicja                        16    8   1   7    33   26   +7    25
 7 Savalen                          16    6   1   9    19   25   −6    19
 8 Rakivland                        16    3   4   9    26   34   −8    13
 9 Axuva                            16    3   1  12    18   49  −31    10
10 Nuadh-Alba                       16    0   3  13    10   44  −34     3

QNT maintains clean sheet against Valanora but falls behind in playoff race
Qusmo 0–0 Valanora
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)
GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
85’ Prant-Pertz Gor
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
78’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
78’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

by **Qusmo** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:43 pm

by **Qusmo** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 8:04 pm

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

Hello, all. Welcome to Spony Luq Television, broadcasting from Qanz, Qusmo. Qusmo has fought valiantly, & achieved a historically successfully campaign, but ultimately fell short of the World Cup. Despite a 3-0 victory in Nuadh-Alba, extending Qusmo’s unbeaten streak to a record eight matches, the team was eliminated from contention for Group 9’s playoff spot after Matchday Seventeen. Qusmo has just one match remaining - & it’s against that team which has just eliminated them: Polkopia. Let’s look at the final stages of qualification & beyond. First, we have a question from a viewer right here in Qanz.

Is there anything to play for on the final match?

Yes. To be clear, there is nothing to play for in terms of World Cup qualification. There is nothing to play for in terms of Qusmo’s position in the table. But there is everything to play for in terms of pride.

Qusmo will play their final match of the qualification cycle in Qusmo, at Mastad Qusma, against Polkopia. Polkopia will be looking for a win, tied on points with Valanora for the sole spot out of Group 9 directly to Banija & the Free Republics, in the hope that they will be able to skip a playoff altogether. That said, though, after a monumental 11-3 shellacking of Axuva, Polkopia is guaranteed at least a spot in the playoff - & that ended Qusmo’s hopes of qualifying. Qusmo will come wanting a result from this match, as manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban admitted in a press conference following the news of their elimination.

“Of course, it’s a heartbreaking thing. We’ve come so far, we’ve fought so hard, & we’ve done so much. It really doesn’t feel right to go out now, in this way, after a victory. We wanted to play Polkopia on the final matchday with everything on the line. We wanted to go up against them, one on one, & have a chance to prove ourselves once & for all. It’s a shame we won’t get the chance to play for a spot in the playoff, but that fixture is still on our calendar, & we still have an opportunity to prove ourselves.”

“We may not get the rewards for it that we may like, but we’ll know that we’re capable of going far & doing great things - & maybe even going further in the next cycle. For now, though, we’re hoping for a statement victory at our national stadium, in front of 80 000 roaring fans. Anything less would be unacceptable.”

Qusmo cannot finish any higher or lower on the table than the third they currently are. They cannot qualify for the World Cup. But they will hope to avoid allowing Polkopia to be the second team to beat them twice in competitive matches, & they will hope to extend their record unbeaten streak, & they will hope to earn more KPB points for the rankings. But, most of all, Qusmo will hope to gain pride from this match.

But expanding your question more broadly, a lot of teams have a massive amount to play for on their final matchday. Starting in Group 1, Turori has the group wrapped up, but New Lusitania & Beepee are competing for the playoff spot. New Lusitania has a two-point advantage & the head-to-head tiebreaker, with a 1-0 win at home & a 3-2 win in Beepee. That means all they need for a spot in the playoff is a draw or better against Gudalajara, a team they beat 4-0 at home earlier & which has tallied two draws, fifteen losses, & no wins so far in Qualifying. If Gudalajara somehow picks up their first win of the campaign in that match, Beepee would need a win to capitalize; nothing short would do. Unfortunately for the Baptism of Fire 67 champions, that’s no walk in the park, as they face Valladares - a team which Qusmo faced in Copa Rushmori XXX, losing 1-0. New Lusitania is a heavy favourite to get to the playoff from Group 1.

In Group 2, it’s all over already. Cosumar has won the group comfortably, while Juvencus has clinched a spot in the playoff. They have thirty-eight points, while their nearest competitor, Acapais, has only thirty-five. Technically, Acapais could catch up & tie Juvencus on points, but they cannot win the tiebreaker. Juvencus drew 0-0 in Acapais on Matchday Ten, which was more than enough to preserve their head-to-head margin after a 5-0 win in Juvencus on Matchday One. Thus, Cosumar will be heading to the World Cup & Juvencus is destined for the playoff.

Meanwhile, there’s a little more drama to be had in Group 3 - but not too much. Barunia top the group on forty-four points, with Drawkland only one point behind. However, both are assured of at least a second-place finish - & either would likely finish as one of the three best second-place sides, giving them an automatic qualification spot despite their status on the table. Barunia is in an especially nice spot; not only do they have a one-point edge over Drawkland, but they also have the head-to-tiebreaker, by virtue of a 2-1 home win on Matchday Eleven & a 1-0 win in Drawkland on Matchday Two. That means that Barunia would win the group with a win or if Drawkland fails to win. Even if Drawkland does surpass them in the group, Barunia needs only a draw against Egyptosian to guarantee that they would make it to the World Cup without having to go through a playoff. The only way Barunia could fall into a playoff is if they lose, Drawkland wins, & either Eshan or Qasden also win. In any event, being a seeded team in the playoff is the worst result they could have. Drawkland also cannot go lower than a playoff, though they can go through as one of the top three second-place teams or as a group winner if they can defeat Natanians and Nosts. If Drawkland draws, Eshan would need to win by at least five or Qasden would need to win by at least fourteen in order to unseat Drawkland. If Drawkland loses, it would take a win by Eshan or Qasden of any margin or a fourteen-goal Cassadaigua win in order to knock Drawkland into a playoff. In any event, Drawkland will be going to a playoff at the very least - & they are in the driver’s seat to skip it altogether & qualify automatically, whether as first or second in the group.

That’s a lot of permutations, but Drawkland & Barunia can feel very confident in their position; Group 4 will see some interesting action on the final matchday, as Apox & Filindostan are tied on thirty-six points.

&, finally, we reach Group 9. Qusmo has just been eliminated, meaning that both Valanora & Polkopia will reach at least a playoff. The two teams are tied on thirty-eight points, but Valanora has the tiebreaker; despite a 4-1 Polkopia win on Matchday Four, Valanora came back at home with a 4-0 win on Matchday Thirteen. That means that Valanora can clinch a berth in World Cup 81 with a win in Karulicja; the unranked side kept it close at 2-1 when the match was in Valanora. If Karulicja can earn points from that match, Polkopia would have an opening, but they will play in Qusmo on their final matchday, & Qusmo will set their sights on ensuring that Polkopia does not go through. In fact, though they cannot reach the final tournament themselves, a win at Mastad Qusma would guarantee that Polkopia will have to go through a playoff to get there. Ultimately, Polkopia has to earn a better result than Valanora in order to quality directly. If Valanora loses, Polkopia would need at least a draw. If Valanora draws, Polkopia would need a win. & if Valanora wins, there’s nothing Polkopia would be able to do. Those are the only ways that Polkopia can skip the playoff to qualify directly, & those are the only ways that Valanora can be relegated to a playoff. If none of those results happen, Polkopia will be destined for a playoff, while Valanora will qualify for yet another World Cup.

In any event, Qusmo will not make it. But that’s not because Qusmo had a poor showing. Just the opposite: in a group filled with five previous World Cup qualifiers, including one record five-time champion, Qusmo did a remarkable job in securing third place, above the likes of Savalen, Eastfield Lodge, & New Gazi. They have had an unbelievable run of form, & they will look to build on the successes of this cycle - for even entertaining the notion of a World Cup appearance into Matchday Seventeen in this group is a monumental success - possibly in the Cup of Harmony, then in the Copa Rushmori, &, ultimately, in the qualifying campaign for World Cup 82. Maybe the result will be even better then.

Group 9
Rakivland 0–2 Savalen
Polkopia 11–3 Axuva
Nuadh-Alba 0–3 Qusmo
Valanora 0–1 New Gazi
Eastfield Lodge 2–1 Karulicja

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         17   12   2   3    45   21  +24    38
 2 Polkopia                         17   12   2   3    44   23  +21    38
 3 Qusmo                            17   10   4   3    30    9  +21    34
 4 Eastfield Lodge                  17    9   4   4    35   22  +13    31
 5 New Gazi                         17    9   2   6    27   22   +5    29
 6 Karulicja                        17    8   1   8    34   28   +6    25
 7 Savalen                          17    7   1   9    21   25   −4    22
 8 Rakivland                        17    3   4  10    26   36  −10    13
 9 Axuva                            17    3   1  13    21   60  −39    10
10 Nuadh-Alba                       17    0   3  14    10   47  −37     3

QNT eliminated from World Cup 81 Qualification despite 3-0 win
Nuadh-Alba 0–3 Qusmo
Hosted in Nuadh-Alba

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
68’ Yunal-Julad Waz
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe (19’)
74’ Yoltz-Tlanx Sal
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec (80’)
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
74’ Nirlo-Betva Uzo
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol (55’)

by **Qusmo** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 10:17 pm

QNT travels to Cup of Harmony with unchanged 25-player roster

Qusmo national team manager Avarn-Oxolt Ban has announced the twenty-five players they will take to the Equestrian States for Cup of Harmony 73.

“We have a fantastic player pool to choose from, & this group has worked wonders for us. We made a competitive run for a spot in a World Cup playoff, & we got a result from every match in the second half of qualification. Our friendly results were disappointing, to be sure,” admitted Avarn-Oxolt, “but we are still on a nine-match unbeaten streak in competitive fixtures. I think it is only fair that the twenty-five-player squad that got us to this point gets to be the twenty-five players who will travel with us to the final tournament.”

“We’re really happy with how our squad has been performing & how we think we will do in this tournament. Our goal has to be to advance out of our group again. If we can do that, we’ll hope to reach the quarterfinals this time around; we have to get out of the group first, though,” emphasized Avarn-Oxolt.

“& our group looks like a tough one,” the manager mused. “Juvencus, of course, is one of the favourites to win it all; they won the seventy-first edition, after all. They have a torrid attack, & they’ll be extremely difficult to stop. Krytenia, too, has a fantastic offense - & they have a fantastic history. The team this cycle hasn’t performed to the level that some teams of years past have in Krytenia, but there’s no question that they’re very dangerous. & while we’re focussing on those two, we can’t count out East Belzaria; they’ll want to scrape their way to a result any way they can, & we can’t afford to give that up if we want to play in the knockout rounds, especially given the other competition we have to deal with.”

“However, I know that Qusmo can play with any one of those teams,” Avarn-Oxolt contended. “We may not have the history or the pedigree that some others do, but we do have a wonderful, talented group of players who are willing to give their all for their country & who have more than proven themselves capable of the big stage. I’m excited - rather, we’re all excited - to get onto the pitch against East Belzaria to prove that.”

Twenty-Five-Player National Team Roster
Players assigned shirts 1-11 will start Group Stage Matchday One against East Belzaria

N° Ps Name (Age)             Club (Nat.)        Caps  Starts   Goals

 1 GK Xynat-Evela Cuf (27) - Trosoc (QUS)         33      32       0
12 GK Vanza-Jerat Gep (27) - Qastyr (QUS)         21      20       0
25 GK Pilta-Jerat Zev (32) - Koflir (QUS)          3       3       0

 2 CB Cunix-Betva Tla (28) - Niom (QUS)           53      53       1
 3 CB Zenon-Gerol Kal (24) - Koflir (QUS)         47      46       0
 4 CB Yelto-Alfan Ono (25) - Koflir (QUS)         36      31       0
13 CB Ozolx-Alfan Ixi (26) - Werzin (QUS)         33      27       1
14 CB Lynul-Savar Mal (30) - Lilnim (QUS)          5       2       0
15 LB Yoltz-Tlanx Sal (25) - Koflir (QUS)         10       4       0
16 RB Nirlo-Betva Uzo (25) - Atlant (QUS)         21       6       0

 5 CM Yamaj-Blonz Jok (21) - Werzin (QUS)         28      19       2
 6 CM Ilinx-Kepex Zev (32) - Qastyr (QUS)         56      56       5
 7 AM Gavax-Nenzi Abe (24) - Trew (QUS)           21      11       3
 8 LM Kynda-Sevet Pec (20) - Koflir (QUS)         45      44       3
 9 RM Forzu-Ralox Kal (26) - Qastyr (QUS)         43      43       1
17 DM Yunal-Julad Waz (26) - Poldanz (QUS)        38      34       1
18 AM Ilinx-Vulav Ixi (26) - Poldanz (QUS)        43      40       2
19 LM Helek-Nenzi Ono (22) - Qastyr (QUS)         15      10       0
20 RM Ilinx-Ibilx Tla (29) - Trew (QUS)           19      12       1

10 SS Paliv-Xilit Max (24) - Pascal Mashu (HIN)   32      27      16
11 ST Xilit-Zaxac Yol (24) - Poldanz (QUS)        49      47      25
21 LW Ozolx-Mazur Guv (28) - Qastyr (QUS)         25       5       4
22 RW Jralv-Nexev Pec (26) - Poldanz (QUS)        19       5       0
23 ST Prant-Pertz Gor (26) - Qastyr (QUS)         28      11       3
24 ST Rilan-Jerat Nev (19) - Trew (QUS)           31      25       9

Special Roles
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Avarn-Oxolt Ban (67 y.o.)
Captain: Ilinx-Kepex Zev
Corners: Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
Free Kicks: Xilit-Zaxac Yol
Penalties: Xilit-Zaxac Yol

Kit Information
From a prepared statement from Fuzpon Qusma in lieu of an actual image
"Our home kit will be in our national colours, red & gold. Emblematic of our national flag, a thick two-colour sash will run from the right shoulder down to the left hip, both front & back. The top sash colour will be gold, & the bottom sash colour will be red. Above the sash will be a red field, while below the sash will be a gold field. Our shorts will be red & our socks will be gold. On the back, we will have a large red circle outlined in gold to recall our flag, break the sash, & allow clearer kit numbers, which will be printed in gold, just like the sun on our flag. Highlights throughout the kit will be gold. Our clash kit will be white with the full, uninterrupted, two-colour sash on front & back. We will have black numbers & red highlights, complemented by the same red shorts & gold socks. Our goalkeepers' kits will be black with the sash on the front side only, with white numbers, gold highlights, black shorts, & black socks. We believe that these kits are not only striking, but will represent our country well internationally. We are proud to represent Qusmo, & we eagerly look forward to the matches ahead."

Note on Qusma Culture
All Qusma are biologically androgynous; you should refer to them in your RPs as they or them. Speaking of referring to Qusmi’y, if you plan to use names, know that the “first” name - the long, hyphenated one - is a Qusmi’s family name, & the “last” name - the short, unhyphenated one - is their given name. On the subject of proper nomenclature, when you read my RPs, you should know that Qusmo refers to the country of Qusmo, Qusma is an adjective for something that is from or of Qusmo, a Qusmi is a person who is from Qusmo, & Qusmi’y are a group of more than one Qusmi. I keep most of my RPs stored in my sportswire; feel free to reference these or contact me directly if you have any questions or would like to learn more.

Technical Details Box
Style Modifier: -2
I give my opponent permission to...
Choose my goalscorers; but
Please please be reasonable when...
Injuring my players; or
Showing my players cards; &
Please contact me before...
Godmodding.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or ideas.

by **Qusmo** » Sat Oct 06, 2018 8:14 pm

Group 9
Savalen 0–1 Eastfield Lodge
Karulicja 1–4 Valanora
New Gazi 2–0 Nuadh-Alba
Qusmo 0–0 Polkopia
Axuva 1–4 Rakivland

Group 9                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         18   13   2   3    49   22  +27    41     Qualifies for World Cup 81
 2 Polkopia                         18   12   3   3    44   23  +21    39     Advances to Qualification Playoff
 3 Qusmo                            18   10   5   3    30    9  +21    35
 4 Eastfield Lodge                  18   10   4   4    36   22  +14    34
 5 New Gazi                         18   10   2   6    29   22   +7    32
 6 Karulicja                        18    8   1   9    35   32   +3    25
 7 Savalen                          18    7   1  10    21   26   −5    22
 8 Rakivland                        18    4   4  10    30   37   −7    16
 9 Axuva                            18    3   1  14    22   64  −42    10
10 Nuadh-Alba                       18    0   3  15    10   49  −39     3

QNT ends World Cup 81 Qualification with draw against Polkopia
Qusmo 0–0 Polkopia
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)
GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
CM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
60’ Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Gavax-Nenzi Abe
71’ Prant-Pertz Gor
LM  Kynda-Sevet Pec
71’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
RM  Forzu-Ralox Kal
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

Hello, all. Welcome to Spony Luq Television, broadcasting from Qanz, Qusmo. Qusmo has recently completed its second attempt to qualify for the World Cup - but this time, they actually mounted a relatively serious challenge, riding a suffocating defense to earn third place in Group 9. They ultimately fell just short of the second-place finish needed to secure a place in a playoff, but they were invited to the Cup of Harmony once again, where they certainly will be hoping to be as successful as they were in the last edition, if not take a page from World Cup Qualification & do even better. All eyes in Qusmo are fixed squarely on the upcoming action in Cassadaigua & the Equestrian States, as are ours; let’s take our first question on Cup of Harmony 73 from a viewer in Wexe.

How will Qusmo do in the Cup of Harmony?

Qusmo has had an excellent performance in World Cup 81 Qualifying, but a recent dip in form during the interluding series of friendly matches certainly has to be worrying. Qusmo scored five goals in their three March to the Cup matches, but they only secured one draw & two losses from it. That is because the Qusma defense seems to have disappeared. After a scoreless draw against Siovanija & Teusland, Qusmo conceded five times in the Free Republics & four times against Qasden. Qusmo had not conceded so many goals in a single match for around thirty matches by that point, since their 5-2 loss to Apox in the wake of a weak Copa Rushmori campaign.

This is particularly concerning in contrast to how Qusmo performed so well in the World Cup Qualifiers. Qusmo’s identity was built on its defensive solidity. Qusmo conceded only nine goals in their eighteen Qualifier matches, only conceding multiple goals in a single match once. In their last nine matches - in which they went unbeaten - they preserved seven clean sheets. They were consistent, too, as they did not concede more than five goals in either half of qualifying; that was why they secured at least five wins in each half.

To put that into comparison, let’s take a look at how teams across the multiverse performed in World Cup 81 Qualifying. The top defense of the cycle was South Covello, having conceded only five goals en route to qualification through winning Group 18. Close behind were two-time World Cup champions Audioslavia & defending World Cup champions Brenecia, with six goals apiece (not counting the four Audioslavia conceded in their playoff, which would put them behind Qusmo at four goals), as well as the Equestrian States, last cycle’s World Cup co-hosts & this cycle’s Cup of Harmony co-hosts, which conceded seven goals. There are then three teams tied for nine goals conceded: Tinhampton, Taeshan, & Qusmo. That ranks Qusmo as tied for the fifth-best defense in the multiverse during World Cup 81 Qualification - & tied for best among those who did not actually qualify.

So, Qusmo has proven that it can have a solid defense - but will they prove it again in the Equestrian States? Their recent form doesn’t look stellar. Of course, they kept clean sheets against Polkopia in their last match in qualifying & against Siovanija & Teusland in their first pre-Cup of Harmony friendly, but those results came against lower-ranked opposition & netted only draws.

Since then, Qusmo has played the Free Republics & Qasden, & they have lost to both - & they have conceded as many goals in those two matches as they had in the previous nineteen combined, including the whole of World Cup 81 Qualification. Those two teams are higher-ranked, & they are attacking sides, & Qasden, in particular, has had a rejuvenation in attack since Qusmi Cralt-Nirlo Fox took over, but there is still cause for deep concern that this is how Qusmo has played leading up to the Cup of Harmony.

Perhaps Qusmo does not play well in friendlies but comes alive when the stage is brightest; in a curious development, Qusmo is still on a nine-match unbeaten streak in competitive fixtures - but they have a winless streak in friendlies that also extends for precisely nine matches. However, Qusmo cannot risk being lethargic or out of form when the tournament starts, as they are in a tough group.

It was very close to being an easier draw for the Qusmi’y, but they just missed out on being a Pot 2 team. Ranked fifty-seventh, Qusmo is the top-ranked team in Pot 2; fifty-sixth-ranked Tinhampton is the lowest-ranked Pot 1 team. Qusmo was under a quarter of a KPB point away from leapfrogging the Miners into Pot 1; if only Qusmo had scored a single goal in their home fixture against Polkopia to close out World Cup 81 Qualification, or had Qusmo not lost to lower-ranked Savalen & Polkopia earlier in the qualification campaign, Qusmo would be a Pot 1 team.

That is a far cry from where Qusmo was drawn in the last edition of this tournament; there, Qusmo was a Pot 3 team, but due to some quirks in the draw system, they were the lowest-ranked team in their group & not a favourite to advance. If they had been in Pot 1, it would be much easier to repeat their feat of winning their group; for example, Tinhampton drew Beepee, Freeport, & Kelssek in Group E; with the fifth-ranked Pot 4 team, the fifth-ranked Pot 3 team, the seventh-ranked Pot 2 team, & the bottom-ranked Pot 1 team, it may be the easiest group in the tournament.

As it is, Qusmo had no such luck. The first team they were paired with East Belzaria, the fourth-ranked team from Pot 4. That could have gone worse, but then they were unlucky with the ball from Pot 3 containing the name of Krytenia, which is not only the third-ranked team from their pot, but one of the most well-known names in the sport. Finally, Qusmo landed with Juvencus, the third-ranked team in the tournament; this was a major blow, as there is a sixteen-rank gulf between Juvencus & the next-best-ranked team in this Cup of Harmony. Luck did not frown upon Qusmo nearly as much as it did upon Omerica - the Pot 2 team drawn with the highest-ranked sides from Pots 1, 3, & 4 (being Abanhfleft, Darkmania, & Geisenfried, respectively) - but Group B still figures to be one of the tougher ones of the tournament.

It begins with what is, on paper, the least difficult fixture for Qusmo. East Belzaria is the only other team in the group not to have qualified for a World Cup, nor to have won a major tournament trophy, nor to be ranked among the top hundred teams in the multiverse. East Belzarian manager David Madridson is projecting an air of confidence, however; they are setting their sights on the knockout rounds, attempting to mount a run similar to Qusmo’s own in the last Cup of Harmony, & Madridson has identified a win against Qusmo on the opening matchday to be critical to doing so.

That may be so, but a win against East Belzaria may also be necessary for Qusmo to make it to the Round of Sixteen - or for anyone in Group B with that as their goal, really. Among Qusmo’s three group opponents, East Belzaria scored the least goals in qualifying by a margin of more than one goal each match, on average. Even Qusmo, the defense-first squad that was inconsistent in the final third, put half a dozen more in the net than the East Belzarians. This needs to be the time for the vaunted Qusma defense to find its footing & secure a win. That said, East Belzaria has this match circled on their calendars; Qusmo will need to make sure that they aren’t caught looking ahead on the schedule & drop vital points before playing a pair of very difficult opponents.

The first of that pair is Krytenia, an old powerhouse which has been a sleeping giant of late. Krytenia is no stranger to this tournament - they have hosted it four times, after all - but they are used to bigger & better things. They have advanced to countless World Cup semifinals, & they have even won one of them, finishing as World Cup 53 runners-up. They are also legendary within their region of Atlantian Oceania; perhaps the crowning achievement of their long history in regional competition is becoming champions of AOCAF Cup LII.

Krytenia is a sleeping giant; ranked only eighty-seventh after inconsistent entries into World Cup Qualification of late, they are far from their zenith in the rankings or in multiversal football. However, they have shown glimmers of their old form. Despite being in a qualifying group with Ko-oren & South Covello - the joint-eighth-best defense & the best defense in qualifying this cycle, with a combined fifteen goals conceded over thirty-six matches - Krytenia managed to score forty-three goals in the eighteen they played. That yielded a total of thirty-four points, just one short of Qusmo’s haul. Krytenia will be a massive test for the Qusma defense; the team’s offense may need to have an on day in order to secure a much-needed result, & that is never a certainty.

Finally, we reach Matchday Three. Though they have never before played gli attaccanti, Qusmo finds what is, in many ways, a familiar opponent in Juvencus. The Pot 1 team for Group B is one of three teams in this tournament with a rank better than that of the lowest-ranked World Cup-qualifying team. Juvencus has experience with the World Cup, having competed in the eightieth edition of the tournament, & having missed out on qualifying for World Cup 81 after a heartbreaking playoff loss.

That leaves them in the Cup of Harmony - a place they have had great success. In fact, in Cup of Harmony 71 - during the last cycle in which Juvencus did not qualify for the World Cup - gli attaccanti did not just compete, nor do well, but won the tournament. They have a fantastic team which has experience at the highest level, & they have proven that they have what it takes to win this tournament. They are not just the favourites to top Qusmo’s Cup of Harmony group; they, surely, will be one of the favourites to win the entire tournament once again.

If this is familiar to Qusma fans, it is because almost precisely the same scenario played out in the last edition of the Cup of Harmony. In the group stage of Cup of Harmony 72, Qusmo had to take on the top-ranked team in the tournament, which had played in the previous World Cup but was consigned to the Cup of Harmony after a playoff loss. &, of course, for both of the previous two Cups of Harmony Qusmo’s opponent had played in - the sixty-ninth & seventieth editions - they had won the title. Qusmo’s opponent that time was not Juvencus, however; it was Qasden.

In that first edition of what has come to be known as the Moden Derby - now Qusmo’s most-frequently played opponent in its history - the Qusmi’y held Qasden to a 1-1 draw, allowing Qusmo to shockingly win their group & advance to the knockout rounds. There, they would be eliminated on penalties by the nation then known as Soltsteed, which was the third-highest-ranked participant in that tournament & had lost the previous Cup of Harmony final on penalties, to none other than Juvencus.

So, what will it be for Qusmo on Matchday Three? This match is shaping up to be pivotal for the group, & to see who advances to the knockout rounds. If Qusmo has a defensive identity, Juvencus is an unmistakenly offensively-minded team; Juvencus’s forty-five goals in eighteen qualifying group stage matches - to say nothing of their four goals against Audioslavia in their playoff - ranks sixth among Cup of Harmony teams, after Mattijana, New Lusitania, Darkmania, Main Nation Ministry, & Freeport, & joint-thirty-first among all.

Under that pressure, will Qusmo be able to secure draws, like the ones it earned against Qasden & Saltstead in its last appearance at the Cup of Harmony? Will Qusmo be able to win, like they did against similarly-ranked New Gazi in the latest World Cup Qualifying cycle? Or will Qusmo succumb to the pressure & the rankings & lose that likely-critical match?

Ultimately, we see Qusmo beating East Belzaria. In fact, we see Krytenia & Juvencus beating East Belzaria, too, meaning that the matches not involving East Belzaria could determine the group. On Matchday One, that match is between Krytenia & Juvencus; despite Krytenia’s amazing history, Juvencus’s successes are more recent, so we’ll favour them in this match. Next, Qusmo will play Krytenia; the former West Starblaydians will have their backs against the wall after a Matchday One loss, & they will find a way to keep themselves in it with a win, just like the Krytenian teams of old (except in semifinals). Finally, Qusmo will face off against Juvencus, needing a win; we think, however, that the electric offense of Juvencus will prove too much for Qusmo, leaving them eliminated on just three points.

Of course, Qusmo has the potential to do better, but they need to find the form they had in the second half of World Cup 81 Qualifying in order to do so. It will be a tough road to get through Group B, & it would get no easier if they can advance into the knockout stages. However, if Qusmo’s defense can resume its suffocation of opposing attacks, & if Qusmo’s offense can reclaim consistent form, then Qusmo could be a team to be reckoned with in this tournament.

Spon Qusma - Qusmo Sports Newswire

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