World Cup 81: Roleplay Thread

[Main Nation Ministry]

Kahe Island: The Airport

At a runway directly next to a cove, almost at the dead of night, a lone passenger aircraft was heading towards the airport, ready to land. Expect the aircraft, in question wasn't filled with passengers at all. At the cockpit, a mechanism built with a camera was used to control the plane, so it seemed like there was a human presence inside of the plane. "Currently, no sights of hostiles. Airport seems clear. I'm going to contact the air control tower." a technical operator said to several captains, while using a monitor that was transmitting the inside of the cockpit. Setting up a radio frequency, the operator managed to contact the air control tower on Kahe Island. "This is Flight 855, coming in for landing." the operator said, waiting for a response.

"This is Flight 855, come in?" the operator said again, when there was no response. Viewing from the monitor, the operator saw something immediately approaching the plane. A bright orange line was extending towards the left wing, where after it hit, an explosion detached one of the wings from the plane. "They're guarding the airports with RPG's! Hang on, maybe I can attempt to land on the runway!" the operator said to the captain, as he struggled to control the fiery plane from a distance. However, the plane has already stalled before it can reach land, where another explosion was heard, as it crashed into the ocean near the airport. After the monitor only showed static, the operator let out a statement, "Now what?"

Several Days Later..

High above the clouds, where a clear blue sky was visible, a military aircraft was getting ready to have the rear cargo door open. A captain dressed with an oxygen mask with several other soldiers was checking the light near the cargo door, where it turned green. "Alright, boys! As you may know, we're doing a HALO jump all the way to the vantage point, where is found on your GPS in your bags. Do not deploy the parachutes after you go through the clouds, we're here for a HALO jump, not a HAHO jump! Have your guns at your back holsters and your parachutes should deploy normally!" the captain explained.

"Now, if any of you get struck by lightning and are left free falling passed out, you're doomed! That is why we're to stay together in the air! You got that?" "Sir, yes sir!" the soldiers said in union, which was exactly what the squad captain wanted to hear. "Now, get ready! They are going to open the door any minute now! Another squad will be dispatch at the resort area, so where we landing will be at the hillside!" the captain explained, as the light turned red, causing the cargo door to slowly open to reveal a landscape of clouds and sky. In a running start, all of the squad members and the captain jumped out of the plane, falling at a high attitude at an unimaginable speed. After breaking through the clouds, the island can be seen below them, where at first looked like a speck in the ocean, which started to become bigger and bigger.

A vibrating can be felt on the captain's arm, as he was falling which indicated the time to deploy parachutes. As they were at the same attitude where the peak of the volcano was, the whole squad deployed their parachutes simultaneously, drifting towards what seemed like a village in the distance on top of the hills.

Machine of Death: Insects

After several test results came back correctly, several scientists decided to start testing the machine themselves. From the simple clear result of HIT BY A BUS, SKYDIVING, and HIT BY A FALLING ANVIL to the most cryptic such as FIRED, MALFUNCTION, and INJECTION. One scientist had his blood sample be in the machine, where it showed a simple word on the card that was both cryptic and clear. INSECTS. "How am I supposed to die by insects? If so, what kind? Spiders? Bees?" the scientist said, discussing his prediction to another. "Maybe it's a death where you die by possibly an accident? Maybe outdoors?" the other scientist said, coming up with a hypothesis.

"Maybe my death will be a murder by an entomologist. If so, I will have to craft up my own blacklist on all entomologists. The one who will kill me will be the reason for my prediction." the scientist said, coming up with a most crazier hypothesis.

[Polkopia]

FC Akasov Oreshek is a club which plays in the Polkopian Premier League. At the end of the last season, the Cranes finished in 12th place and continue to play in the top flight of Polkopian football for the upcoming season. The team currently plays in the city of Oreshek, and their home ground is the Gozinskiy Stadion, which seats up to 21,529 spectators.

History:

FC Akasov Oreshek was established in 1959, and was one of many clubs established during the 1950's as a part of the Polkopian Football Association's desire to increase demand for sports in some of the more remote, developing cities of the time. The club originally played in the Second Division, and was promoted in 1964 after coming first in the league, and thus, was promoted to the Premier League. The club was immediately bought out by Valerei Burin, a successful Polkopian businessman, and immediately saw success, as the club's newly-found wealth allowed them to purchase top-class Polkopian players.

By 1969, FC Akasov was noted as the most highly-valued club in Polkopia, but despite this, they had yet to win a title. In 1971, Burin was arrested off of corruption allegations and disappeared several months later. Following Burin's arrest, the club fell into bankruptcy. By the end of the 1972-73 season, it was announced that several players hadn't been paid in months, and the club was in danger of being dissolved by the PFA.

Prior to the 1973-74 season, Adrian Dakkar was appointed by the PFA as head of the club and was given a two-year period in which he had to fix the club's financial issues or have the club be dissolved. Dakkar appointed his close friend, Luka Rentov, as manager and Rentov launched a campaign where he would routinely sell top Polkopian players to other clubs for a generous price, and would build a new squad which consisted entirely of youth players. Despite the relatively poor fan attendance between 1973 and 1975, the club was able to pay off most of its debt and was saved from dissolution from the PFA.

The 1980's would mark a series of relegations and promotions for the club, as the club was relegated 4 times (1980, 1983, 1985, 1988) and suffered a record-low fan attendance during this decade. Despite this, they finished runner-up of the Polkopian Super Cup two times, once in 1986 and once in 1989, and were granted additional funds by the PFA for their performance in this cup.

In 2015, the club was disbanded, along with the other Polkopian clubs, due to a large-scale corruption scandal across the entirety of the PFA. The club was reestablished the following year and FC Akasov participated in the 2017-18 Polkopian Premier League, finishing 12th out of 16 teams.

Squad:

##       POS.        NAME.                                                   
#1       GK       Drago Milić
#2       GK       Valter Naoumov 
#3       GK       Ioan Popescu 
#20      DEF      Martin Vak 
#16      DEF      Alexei Kuslak 
#18      DEF      Roman Buklakov 
#27      DEF      Milan Rodić
#56      DEF      Mefodiy Lupei 
#61      DEF      Pavo Constantinescu 
#40      MID      Stanko Ungur 
#13      MID      Dejan Košar 
#10      MID      Gavrilo Stankić 
#8       MID      Lyosha Gabin 
#45      MID      Maticia Popov 
#50      MID      Slavko Petrov 
#9       FWD      Luka Tatzov 
#11      FWD      Tyrol Hammond 
#5       FWD      Philip Razhun 
#7       FWD      Mattia Denko

[Al-Mumtaz]

TIME IS CHANGING!

The Empire of Al-Mumtaz opens it's border again

At-Tajra, Al-Mumtaz - It has been a long time since the last time The Empire of Al-Mumtaz involved in International scene, especially in the sport scene. A lot of things changed, the rules inside the nation is not as strict as back then, but still strict anyway. It's still autocratic nation but the current Emperor is more open minded than the previous, removing the "Holy" part from the official name of Al-Mumtaz, a brave things to do.

When talking about Al-Mumtaz National team in World Cup, no one will forget the 55th edition of World Cup, Al-Mumtaz was shocking the world by stealing one spot on the final tournament. Even holding the 4th ranked team in the world at that time, Jeru FC two times, which still the best achievement of the national team to date. With player like Batutah, who is still holding the highest national cap for Al-Mumtaz to date by 50 appearances, and Ismet Hugo, the all-time leading goal scorer with 45 goals in 43 appearances, that was the golden generation of Al-Mumtaz National team. Even though they failed to qualify in World Cup 56 after losing to Pays de Horreur at the play-off, they still celebrated as the best football generation on Al-Mumtaz history.

With the abolition of professional league, the football in Al-Mumtaz was reset to zero again, even though football is still the mainstay sport at University and High school around Al-Mumtaz, it still hard to do anything without professional league. There is a rumor of some high-profile companies are trying to resurrect Al-Mumtaz Professional Football League once again.

All those thing aside, there is another surprise when Maurice Hussein announced the squad earlier this week. That is the inclusion of Koharu Mitsuko, the first female footballer to be included in Al-Mumtaz National team. Koharu is still 15 years old, but her skill already recognized by the nation, especially during the last High School tournament, where she single-handedly destroying all of the opposing team as a striker. She will be the second striker of the team, with Yoshiro Shota as the main striker. Her speed, agility and passing accuracy will be a threat for opposing team.

Koharu Mitsuko, the first female footballer for Al-Mumtaz National team

With all those said, it will be a long and hard journey for Al-Mumtaz National team to repeat the history, with all of the squad is still young and not joining any professional club, they can only hope for the miracle to happen. Al-Mumtaz got in group 16 of the qualifying with teams like Brenecia and Cassadaigua that would prove a huge obstacle for them. We can only hope for the best. The full roster of Al-Mumtaz National Team can be checked on the official site.

All of Al-Mumtaz National Team match can be watched at Al-Mumtaz Sport Vision!

[Mercedini]

Talking Points
@ Zoloroni Sports City Stadium - Zoloroni, Mercedini

Good evening, it's that time of year again. The World Cup is quickly coming upon us with the qualification group draw now complete, so Mercedini now know who they will have to travel to if they want to punch their ticket to Banija and the Free Republics in about a month's time. However, we're back at the Sports City Stadium for a story which could certainly be an underlying feature throughout this edition's qualifying campaign. The recent suspension of the Schottic Premier League and the dissolution of the Terranean League (which holds jurisdiction over teams playing in Ceni and Electrum), mean a number of high profile names in Mercedinian football could all be making major moves in the upcoming transfer window, including three of the five players included in the Mercedinian striking roster. So we will be looking through the potential effects of such a transfer window and whether that could change the styles of play of those players expected to make a big move in the coming weeks.

The Schottic and Terranean Exodus

---

Both of the domestic leagues in Schottia and Ceni have been branded as the gold standard of domestic football, thanks to their triumphs in recent seasons of clubs from those nations, with plenty of players and managers aspiring to make it to those leagues and into the big time. Thankfully, Ceni has Mercedinian players in abundance with no less than eight players currently playing in the many leagues in the Cenian pyramid. Schottia doesn't have that many, although they have made one player into who they are today, and that is formidable Mercedinian striker Daniel Dostalok. That means there will be those nine plus national team winger Ross Presic who will likely move from Electrumite side Somer City and Surrounds once the window opens as well. All of this movement leaves many of the big cheeses at the MFA concerned, with many citing disruption to the national team due to the team switches and the jet lag experienced with moving long distances for the transfers. Chillotov, Dostalok, Kraljic, Polasic and Billic are the bigger names likely to be effected, although members of the youth teams currently at the Pinnacle Project will see changes to their way of life as well.

Mercedini will travel to Rannoria for their opening match in World Cup Qualifying eager for a victory, but many are wondering whether these developments will hamper the national team's progress, as many players in the national team will now be playing for personal benefit to add to the potential national benefit. Several of the younger players in the team have been accused of playing for personal gain, sacrificing and wasting clear cut chances for someone else, only to hog the ball when they saw their name in lights. Lyndainium has got to grips with the younger players as he keeps their enthusiasm at bay, but he could have a whole new problem on his hands as nearly half of the players are now trying to impress someone else, rather than playing to grind out results for their team.

Once the transfer window has closed, it's likely that only then can the arduous journey of re-training the players can begin. Big transfers often mean that new clubs have to spend time in drilling their signature play styles to fit in with the rest of the team, which typically leads to he play styles of the national team being mentally overwritten. Domestic clubs play much more frequently compared to the infrequent schedule of the national team, which means players usually give precedence to their domestic clubs, which also pay them many times more than their national team outings. As a consequence, the differing play styles of the newly moved players can mean clashes and mistakes can be rife following a transfer window. Mercedini's recent success in the Cup of Harmony and Independents' Cup has come off a period of stability within the team with few major moves, allowing the team to gel together and balance both of their domestic and international duties.

It seems to be less of a competitive group compare to previous editions with only Tobiasia and Anthor the only known teams that will be challenging for the second placed auto/playoff spot, which Mercedini would be expected to hold as they were drawn as the second highest ranked team in the group. Mercedini will once again travel to World #6 Vilita for their home and away legs in the group, with Mercedini hoping to beat the Vilitans for the first time after being beaten twice in qualifying on their way to their maiden World Cup, where they were drawn in the same World Cup Group in Quebec, and were beaten 4-2 on their way to a third place finish out of four in the World Cup group stages. A ten nation group stage will mean eighteen matches will be played before we find out who will be heading to Banija and the Free Republics. As stated before, Mercedini will begin their campaign with an away trip to Rennoria for their opening game, with the team hoping for a win to ignite their campaign and start it off on the right foot. Mercedini will then head around the multiverse before finishing their campaign in Zoloroni, where they will be saving the biggest match of all when they face off against Vilita in the Sports City Stadium It should be a fabulous summer of sport for all those involved.

That's all from us here in Zoloroni with the Mercedinian team beginning their final preparations before heading to Rannoria. Many will hope that their campaign will start how the previous campaign will start, when the Golden Eagles kicked off their World Cup 80 Quals campaign with a 2-0 away win in the Sherpa Empire. A couple of thousand will be expected to be present in Rannoria for the inaugural match of qualifying, with eyes also being placed on those teams ranked around them to see how their main rivals are fairing. Cup of Harmony champions go in and typically expect to qualify for the next World Cup due to their major rank bonus, but it will be a long slog with Mercedini becoming famous for going all the way but never finishing the job and coming up narrowly short and having to settle for the multiverse's secondary post-Quals tournament. We will be giving you all of the action of Mercedini's affairs throughout qualifying, we hope you will be able to join us for that. But for now, we bid you goodnight from Zoloroni!

[The Macabees]

LOLITA, CH. 1

Bernie Va'anderbor had no special talent. His "success" could be attributed entirely to circumstance. Funny how that works, really. At least the to guy who's friends with Lakén Yori, the revulsive midfielder of the imperial football team, starter for the Fedala Imperials, and a very sought after piece of merchandise. Lakén was even paying for the flights, stay, and game tickets for the away game qualifiers. And Va'anderbor exploited the hell out of it.

The team was up against Tasrailia at home. The country was expecting a win and there would be over a hundred thousand fans from all over the empire watching them. There was an arrogance to believing a team that was not even ranked in the top hundred in the world could feel so self-assured of victory, but what would fans be if not overdemanding, incessant, and absolutely vicious when things did not go as planned? Bernie was glad he was one of them and not one of the players, like his buddy Lakén. Anyway, at least the game was at home, so if they lost at least it would spare him the burdens of travel.

Faint lights lit the bar, music blaring on the dance floor on the platform below. A constant throng circulated the walkway behind him. Bernie stood at the bar, a beautiful woman standing next to him. He did not know her...yet. She was beautiful, with green eyes, dark brown hair that was almost black, and not lacking in any man-sought quality. She was with a group of friends, all females.

He came up to the bar, leaning on it almost. He flagged down the bartender, "Dereksen and cola, please."

The bartender nodded and made the drink, scooping ice into a squat glass. He took a bottle off the shelf behind him and poured a high roller's share of booze, topping it off with soda. A lime later, it was ready. The man placed the bottle back on the shelf and walked back with the drink in hand.

"Hey, who can I speak to about preparations for my friend tomorrow?" Bernie asked when he approached.

"Who the f@(% is your friend?" asked the bartender. "That'd be five r-k, man."

Bernie slapped a credit card on the countertop. "That'd be Lakén Yori, asshole. Maybe I should go down the road instead? Somewhere where they'll take care of us."

The bartender's eyes widened. "Uh, no worries man, I'll let the manager know. I'm sorry about that, it's been busy you know. I'll hook you and whoever up all night. If anybody else in here serves you, just let them know to talk to me. Trust me, they know what that means. You ain't the first high roller in here, you know. At least...," he said with a smirk, "at least your friend ain't."

"Whatever man," said Bernie, taking the card back.

The bartender shook his head and took the girls' order. When they were done, Bernie gestured again and said, "They're with me."

"Wow, did you say your friend's with Lakén Yori?" asked the girl when the bartender went off to make their drinks. "Oh my god, that must be like a crazy experience. That's like so amazing, like what is he like? Does he have a girlfriend? Wait, he's not married is he? Oh my god, how rude, meet my friends. Hey girls, this is—um, oh my god, he's like Lakén Yori's best friend!"

The girls looked at him for a second and then, almost in unison, they shouted, "Oh my god!! What is it like? Does he have a girlfriend? Oh my god, is he married? He isn't married is he?"

Smiling, he soaked it in. The bartender brought them all their drinks, then looked at him, and shook his head. Bernie floated the man two notes with double digits. It always a good idea to keep the bartender happy. He who controls the spice controls the universe. He turned back to the girl, "You know, Lakén is Lakén. What else can I say about him? We go way back. Maybe I can get you girls in tomorrow night, maybe meet my boy Yori in person. But I gotta know you girls are legit. Like legit, legit. We like to party, nothing less.

"Oh, we're legit," said the girl closest to him, the dark-haired one.

"Good," answered Bernie, smiling. "Now, prove it to me."

"Oh my god, how are we going to do that ladies?" she asked the others. "Oh, I knoooow. Shots! Shots! Shots!"

All the girls giggled as they pulled their neck backs and took their liquor in one go. "Again, again!" they chanted, as the bartender continued bringing them shots. Bernie, of course, was keen to join in. And soon enough all the lights started to blur together and his vision started to haze.

The beautiful one, more attractive now than ever, took him by the hand to the dance floor. "Let's go," she said, in his ear.

They danced all night, his hands all over her body as she shook. Her friends were around them, but they too met some man and those that didn't kept to themselves as the lucky ones enjoyed themselves. All the while, the drink continued to flow and the music continued to pound. Until finally it was well into the next morning, the sun struggling to break across the horizon, and it was time to go. "Come back to my place," he whispered in her ear.

They took a cab back to his place where she stayed into the early afternoon. Still, she left by the time he woke up. When he woke up he turned to see the space next to him on the bed empty.

He smiled. What was her name? What was it? Oh well.

His phone rang then. Bernie picked it up. "Hey buddy," he said. "What's up?"

He waited for the other person to respond, their voice kept between the mobile and his ear. "Definitely," he said, finally. "Bro, you don't even know. Last night's girl was bangin'. Don't worry, though, tonight we'll be ridin' with my boy Lakén and those girls are smokin'. Tonight is gonna be crazy, trust me."

That night would be crazy...in more ways than he knew.

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

Three Things
Salwan Mynhier
Welcome Back to Squornshelous!

World Cup matches are going to be played on Squornshelan soil. Wow, just typing that sentence gives me goosebumps. For three generations, ever since the end of the War really, kids here have grown up on stories of the old days, watching highlight reels of the '31 championship run, memorizing the names of the greats who wore the sunburst on their chests. It almost doesn't seem real to think that those days could be coming again. Could names like Munib, Oleb, and Damot eventually be enshrined on the same lists as Keiths, Snell, Washington, Ogbadan, Fernandina, Khabarov, Ilmari, Petrov, and so many others? Here is the group they'll have to fight through to start work on their own legends:

Group 15:
Qasden (27)
Illahee (307)
Olastor (110)
The South Falls (307)
Geisenfried (UR)
Pasarga (11)
95X (50)
Vakolicci Haven and Celeria (70)
Squornshelan Remnant States (198)
Dormill and Stiura (252)

The first thing that will stand out to most Confederate fans is the presence of Geisenfried. Though they too have been absent from international football for some time, they are the one team in this group that we have history with. The first meeting between Squornshelous and Geisenfried was in the group stage of World Cup 31. The first match of Group F saw sixth ranked Squornshelous systematically dismantle a Geisenfried team playing in the finals for the first time, with two goals from Damogran FC striker Igor Khabarov and another from Vogsphere United midfielder Oleg Petrov highlighting a 3-0 victory on the way to Squornshelous' first and only World Cup championship. The two teams met again in the group stage of World Cup 34, with Squornshelous winning 2-1, and then again in a qualification playoff for World Cup 37, where Squornshelous won 3-2 at home and 2-0 away to advance to the finals.

We have no history against any other team in the group, and there are only a few other notes I can make without dredging through a bunch of stats to pretend that I know something about our other opponents. First is that the matches between Pasarga and Qasden should be entertaining due to their familiarity; they finished 1-2 in Group 9 of last cycle's qualifying stage. Second, while the easy prediction is a repeat of that result, 95X should not be counted out, as only an away goals tiebreaker kept them out of the World Cup 80 finals. Finally, Illahee, The South Falls, and Dormill and Stiura are all our fellow participants from the most recent Baptism of Fire, where the former two failed to make it out of the group stage, and the latter was eliminated in the Round of 32 by eventual quarterfinalists, Krenorus.

Now, as is tradition for this blog, 3 Things that have to happen for us to have a chance at qualifying:

The Four big names down the middle have to be ready to carry the team
Our team is well-rounded, and showed in the Baptism of Fire that they aren't overly dependent on 1 or 2 players for scoring, but all the same, our best players will need to carry the team through long minutes of defending against more skilled and more experienced sides. Istaro Munib will have to bring the kind of play that saw him record 3 clean sheets at the Baptism of Fire. Tervi Oleb and Arlo Damot need to continue the run of form that saw them both named to the Ideal XI. Finally, we need to see more consistent play out of Zoban Ajao than what he showed in Farfadillis. I know he's still a very young player, but if he's going to be the starter at striker, he needs to show that he can create scoring chances regularly, or stand aside for someone who can. If we get consistently big performances out of those four players, it'll give us a chance to steal some points off of better teams, which brings me to . . .

We'll need to play for draws with the top teams
It won't be popular with neutrals, but Lopal Daror's defensive-minded tactics will be well suited to trying to steal points from teams that should, on paper, beat us. So often, what separates the teams fighting in the middle of the pack is their performances against the top half. Winning against teams like Pasarga and Qasden is, admittedly, a long shot, but by playing defensively and opportunistically, we just might be able to take a point or two away from our meetings with them. Those points would prove valuable indeed in a group where ten teams are competing for potential only one and a half qualifying spots. Bearing in mind that only the top two finishers will have even a chance to qualify via the playoff . . .

Someone above us needs to screw up, big time
Make that multiple someones. We aren't the lowest ranked team in the group (in fact we're 6th out of 10 according to the latest KPB list), but at #198, we're ranked lower than any Squornshelan team of the past and should be considered an extreme long shot even to make the playoff. Qasden is one of the better teams from pot two, and for us to finish ahead of them would be a tremendous failure for them, to say nothing of 95X, Vakolicci Haven and Celeria, and Olastor who also stand in our way. A more realistic hope would be to surprise one or two of those teams for a top half finish. The truth is, though, that there is a very large gap in quality between the top half of the group and the bottom half, and our hopes for a first time qualification also depend on (realistically) a perfect record against all the teams below us. In short, there is no margin for error whatsoever, and while we don't look like bottom feeders in this group, we're still a long way from a return to the finals.

Now, on the flimsiest of gut feelings, my prediction for the group:

Group 15:
1. Pasarga
2. 95X
3. Qasden
4. Vakolicci Haven and Celeria
5. Squornshelan Remnant States
6. Olastor
7. Geisenfried
8. Dormill and Stiura
9. The South Falls
10. Illahee

Until next time, I'm Salwan, you're not. Keep reading.

Squornshelan Remnant States Qualifying Schedule:
MD1:  @ Illahee (307)
MD2:  v Olastor (110)
MD3:  @ The South Falls (307)
MD4:  v Geisenfried (UR)
MD5:  @ Pasarga (11)
MD6:  v 95X (50)
MD7:  @ Vakolicci Haven and Celeria (70)
MD8:  @ Dormill and Stiura (252)
MD9:  v Qasden (27)
MD10: v Illahee (307)
MD11: @ Olastor (110)
MD12: v The South Falls (307)
MD13: @ Geisenfried (UR)
MD14: v Pasarga (11)
MD15: @ 95X (50)
MD16: v Vakolicci Haven and Celeria (70)
MD17: v Dormill and Stiura (252)
MD18: @ Qasden (27)

P.S.
------E Here's a free pitchfork for the comment section, have at it.

[Audioslavia]

Old Star
based on All Star by the hit 90s group Smash Mouth

Some.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

[Audioslavia]

…body once told us the world was gonna roll us
We’re not the highest team in the ranks
They were looking quite absurd with their turgid purple shirts
And the shape of a ball on their left breast

Well, in years gone by (and they ain’t stopped going)
Games with the Starblaydes have kept to-froing.
Lost a few times way back in the day
But they’ve not scored in our last four games
Six wins to us, just three to them
So who’s scared of the big mauve golem?
We’ll win again just ‘cos we can
This last line doesn’t quite scan.

---
Chorus

Hey now, you’re an old star
Bring your bridge team’s A-game
Hey now, you’re an old star
Find your violet Zimmer frame
And all that glitters is green
(With pleasing stripes of claret in between)
---

It's an odd place, and it only gets odder
They used to be champs, now they're Frosty Cup fodder
Their manager can’t really disagree
Judging by the holes in her team’s back three
The ice they skate is getting pretty thin
Just like the hair underneath their hat rim
We’re off to the World Cup, how about you?
Out of the CoH in round two.

---

Hey now, you’re an old star
Bring your bus pass, old man
Hey now, you’re an old star
Bring your cod-liver oil can
And all that glitters is green
(With pleasing stripes of claret in between)

---

Look to the moon
There is a bull
Stood on a hill
Look to the moon

Somebody once asked if
We’re jealous of their medals
‘Starblaydia’s won a great deal of gold’
We said ’nah, you're talking shite’
They won them all in black and white
and you can’t see the metal for mould’

---

Hey now, you’re an old star
Bring your Dashwoods, Aaron Coles
Hey now, you’re an old star
Bring your Werther’s Originals
And all that glitters is green
(With pleasing stripes of claret in between)

---

[East Belzaria]

Official Report from East Belzarian State Media(EBSM):

East Belzaria Embarks on Historic World Cup journey

The Empire of East Belzaria's football team has finally taken their first step on the World Stage, entering the Qualifying process for World Cup 81. The nation is well known in the Kriosian Belt, but now looks to be known on the world stage for their footballing ability. Their first match will be away from home against the Republic of Garifunya.

David Madridson, who was hired as East Belzaria coach just several days before East Belzaria announced their intentions to participate, has already been working hard to ensure the team is prepared for the challenge ahead. "We've got a group of young players here, that are looking to make a big impression on the world stage" he says "Of course this will be a challenge. But I think that over the next couple weeks our players will give their best and help this great nation mount a challenge for the qualification spots."

Lorn Monte is currently East Belzaria's best player, having scored 21 goals. His rise in the nation has inspired many, as his famous #10 shirt was sold out before the first day of sales ended. "I remember when I first met Lorn" says his fellow teammate Shad Radclyffe "I played against him in a local match, when we were still in middle school. What suprised me was his speed, and his ability to get into open positions. My team lost 4-2, and he [Lorn Monte] had scored a hattrick. After the game, when the teams shook hands, I spoke to him and he told me he was impressed with how I played. We've been friends ever since and I think it's helped our game for the national team. There's a form of nonverbal communication between us during an attack. We know what to do when one of us has the ball, and I think that it will come into play during the qualifiers."

3 million East Belzarian citizens have already travelled to Garifunya to support their team in their first qualifying game. The Supreme Chancellor of East Belzaria even made a rare public address, wishing the best for the East Belzarian National Team. Now 622 million East Belzarians will wait, for their team to take their biggest step yet.

[Apox]

Apoxian All-Time XI - Goalkeeper

The upcoming World Cup is World Cup 81 - marking 20 world cups and 40 years since Apox first set out internationally in football - with a brave young Apoxian team entering Baptism of Fire 48 hosted by Ossidiacqua and Iturributa - and crashing out in the group stage. Since then, the national team has had... moderate success in international football, although we are yet to obtain any WCC silverware - with three CE victories and a CoH runners-up medal the only international silverware gathered.

To celebrate this timeline, I will be compiling an "all-time Apoxian XI" here at the International Post, and publishing it over the course of qualifiers, with some info on the players selected for this XI and updates on what they're doing now. In addition to this, I will be accepting suggestions from readers as to their all-time Apoxian XI, some of which I will display in the final chapter of this series*.

So, let us kick-off the entries into the Apoxian All-Time XI, with the goalkeeper position. Drumroll please...

Ettie Seabrooke
70 caps
1 sub cap
International Playing Career: WC65 - WC72

I have chosen Ettie Seabrooke as my entry into the all-time list as in my mind she was the most technically proficient goalkeeper Apox has ever had. A stalwart for the national side, and one of the first names on the team sheet between World Cups 67-71, she qualified for five World Cup finals with the team and was in the squad for Cup of Harmony 58 - Apox's furthest reached in a WCC tournament.

Seabrooke wasn't a sweeper-keeper, no, she was a shot-stopper. And stop shots she did, with regularity and calmness. An Apoxian goal with Seabrooke in was in good hands and she had a number of notable performances - Apox's narrow loss to at the time World number 1 and soon to be World Champions Polar Islandstates in the Round of 16 in World Cup 67 springs to mind. The Polarians had found a gritty, strong Apoxian team containing a Tolgus Tregajorran at his peak and the match was an excellent battle. Under intense Polarian pressure, the match was only surrendered in the last minute of extra time, a gutting defeat but in truth the team had only reached that stage due to Seabrooke's excellence in goal.

Apoxian goalkeepers tend to have bizarrely short playing careers internationally - although this is probably due to the long extent of their natural playing careers, and so a goalkeeper won't normally inherit the number one shirt until they are well into their twenties. In this light, and the light that only five Apoxians have reached the 100 cap mark, her 70 caps are much more important - and it doesn't quite do justice to the many years she spent as one of the stars of the team.

She is perhaps not better known due to playing right through the Apoxian "frustration years". These are the tournaments which are notable for Apox anchoring themselves as consistently one of the good sides internationally - regularly qualifying for finals tournaments, although annoying not like clockwork with the 66, 68 and 70 finals all being missed - but failing to kick on into that top echelon of World football where a dynasty is formed and cups realistically challenged for. The team hovered in and around the 20s in teams of KPB rankings which meant only the true stars of the team - the Benzaris, the Sindelars, the Tregajorrans - were known truly internationally.

In terms of domestic career, like many Apoxian keepers, Seabrooke was a one club woman. She played exclusively for Gwinevra Barbarians during her long domestic career, playing on until her late thirties. Entering the domestic side during the fallow years, where Gwinevra were struggling to qualify for UICA tournaments and certainly a long way off the title, she was an ever present in a squad which at times struggled for coherence. Over time, as the team developed and improved along with her, she was made captain, won the Golden Glove many times and was almost omnipresent on the Team of the Year published each season for ANL clubs. All this while the ANL was one of the top leagues in the multiverse and for a time the very top league. Her crowning achievements though were leading her team a first title in 13 years in the 586 season. In all competitions she played 413 games for Gwinevra.

She is aged 48 now and has largely stepped away from the footballing industry, becoming disillusioned with it following on from the Apoxian corruption scandal which wrecked football in the country for six years. She still lives in the outskirts of Gwinevra, where she has lived for her entire life, with her husband, James Marconia and her two sons, Alex Marconia-Seabrooke (aged 13) and Kelas Marconia-Seabrooke (aged 9).

Honourable Mentions
Jarvis Staniels (51 caps, 1 sub cap, 1 goal [BoF 48 (WC61) - CE4 (WC62)] )
Will Hewitt (77 caps, 1 sub cap [BoF 48 (WC61) - CoH58 (WC66)] )
Halyos Anaximander (57 caps [WC71 - WC79] )

Thanks to Cosumar, who provided the inspiration for this with their own All-Time XI series they made a number of cups ago.

*By this I mean, if anyone wants to make their own Apoxian All-Time XI and send it to me, I'll show them in the final RP of this series. If you want full Apoxian NT stats, please go here.

[The Authoritarian Republic of Lochario]

Ginger Tigers ready for a challenge against Sharktail


1.4 billion Locharians are waiting for a match against Sharktail.Many fans are expecting the team's victory.However,the coach C.Munrich says that tough challenge is waiting ahead and that the team has to be prepared for the tight match.

”This will be a tough match.” Says Cinga Munrich.
”We have to press hard and keep the ball as long as possible,so that we could score a goal.Sharktail will be playing at home,so this make our preparation even harder,cause we have to resist the pressure from their fans.Kamil will be very important in this game.He'll have to connect the other attackers into the play to have an advantage.Both teams are using defensive modifiers,but who knows.Maybe we'll change our modifier if we lose.Everyone is expecting to win this match,and we must not shock them with a loss.”

The match will take place on September 1st.45,000 Locharians are already in Sharktail to support their home team.150,000 Locharians are still waiting for a flight.

[Jeruselem]

Jeruselem coach Princess Chloe and her sister Cassie looking at the Jeruselem team's opponents for World 81 qualification

Cassie: OK, let's see what we're up against.
Chloe: I don't recognise any of them except Abanhfleft
Cassie: Two unranked teams Lycrabon and Dreamplanet
Chloe: I'm not really interest in that lot, who's Mriin?
Cassie: I have no idea but they are ranked 19th
Chloe: They must have done well last world cup by the looks of it

Cassie: We really have to worry about Abanhfleft and Mriin, and maybe Darkmania ranked 103
Chloe: This is going be a really long campaign
Cassie: Yes, 10 teams per group and like 19 groups
Chloe: Yeah, and I'm not getting any younger
Cassie: Why didn't you retire then?
Chloe: I don't want to spend my entire life babysitting everyone's kids ... that includes yours

Cassie: You're just complaining you have a boy
Chloe: True, what is with us wanting to have girls
Cassie: Because we want copies of ourselves
Chloe: Cloning isn't legal yet
Cassie: I didn't get any of the football genes
Chloe: I got all the dodgy knee genes though

Cassie: Yes you didn't have much of football career
Chloe: Thank God I'm really good at shouting at people though
Cassie: Coaching skills are rarer than football skills
Chloe: At least I got working brain by the looks of it
Cassie: I'm really at talking but don't ask me to make important decisions
Chloe: You're not dumb, you're lazy.

Cassie: That too
Chloe: Nevermind, we'd better start researching these countries
Cassie: Yeah, we know one of them and played them. The others - ditto
Chloe: I guess we start with Mriin ... not Mirin
Cassie: That's a Japanese food seasoning
Chloe: Damn it the spell check keeps changing Mriin to Mirin

Group 11
Lycrabon (UR)
Dreamplanet (UR)
Crystalline Caverns (148)
Mareibat (230)
Neo-Romanum (307)
Darkmania (103)
Mriin (19)
Sultanate of Oontaz (196)
Jeruselem (54)
Abanhfleft (24)

[Dreamplanet]

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GROUPS KNOWN

The Dreamplanetian squad line up against Juvencus with their new kits.

We already know that the road to the World Cup in Banija and the Free Republics was gonna be long and hard, and today we found out how long and hard it would be as Dreamplanet were unranked in the seedings alongside Lycrabon in Group 11. Dreamplanet has never played against any of these teams, however Abahnfleft is the better known nation for the Dreamplanetian squad as Aaron Hungar played in Abahnfleft. This is the full group:

Group 11
Mriin (19)
Abanhfleft (24)
Jeruselem (54)
Darkmania (103)
Crystalline Caverns (148)
Sultanate of Oontaz (196)
Mareibat (230)
Neo-Romanum (307)
Lycrabon (UR)
Dreamplanet (UR)

Dreamplanet will be hoping to pull some shock wins in order to get themselves in a good position this World Cup and the next, as Dreamplanet was out for a long time they will basically be starting from square one, and while every Dreamplanetian is hopeful there is a sense of dread as this could be a very painful cycle, it all depends on the momentum.

These are the Dreamplanetian matches for the 2004 World Cup:

Saturday September 1st - MD1: Dreamplanet vs Jeruselem
Sunday September 2nd - MD2: Lycrabon vs Dreamplanet
Monday September 3rd - MD3: Dreamplanet vs Abanhfleft 
Tuesday September 4th - MD4: Dreamplanet vs Crystalline Caverns 
Wednesday September 5th - MD5: Mareibat vs Dreamplanet
Thursday September 6th - MD6: Dreamplanet vs Neo-Romanum
Friday September 7th - MD7: Darkmania vs Dreamplanet
Saturday September 8th - MD8: Dreamplanet vs Mriin
Sunday September 9th - MD9: Sultanate of Oontaz vs Dreamplanet
Tuesday September 11th - MD10: Jeruselem vs Dreamplanet
Wednesday September 12th - MD11: Dreamplanet vs Lycrabon
Thursday September 13th - MD12: Abanhfleft vs Dreamplanet
Friday September 14th - MD13: Crystalline Caverns vs Dreamplanet
Saturday September 15th - MD14: Dreamplanet vs Mariebat
Sunday September 16th - MD15: Neo-Romanum vs Dreamplanet
Monday September 17th - MD16: Dreamplanet vs Darkmania
Tuesday September 18th - MD17: Mriin vs Dreamplanet
Wednesday September 19th - MD18: Dreamplanet vs Sultanate of Oontaz

Dreamplanet will be hoping to get their World Cup Qualifiers off to a good start against Jeruselem, every match matters, Dreamplanet expects.

[Saint Emelie]

Saint Émelie Tourist Board

Your Visit to Saint Émelie

If you're planning on visiting our island for the upcoming world cup qualifiers, there are quite a few things you should know before you arrive. Saint Émelie is a very different country to many of the ones you may have visited and its isolation also causes many quirks. This page will give you all the information you need to survive and even enjoy your trip here.

Getting Here:

Saint Émelie is situated in Eastern Atlantian Oceania and is part of an archipelago of islands, the majority of which are uninhabited. It is equidistant to its three nearest pieces of claimed land, Penguinata (part of Paripana), northern Falcania and the kingdom of Corelia.
Getting to the island is undoubtedly a tricky task. There is only one airstrip in the country, in Port D'Émelie and known simply as L'aéroport, and the runway is only long enough to accommodate regional flights. If you wish to arrive by air, you may need to make one or even two stops at regional and local hubs before your final flight to Saint Émelie, particularly if you are visiting from outside Atlantian Oceania. Powered flight is a phenomenon only introduced to us after gaining status as protectorate of Mattijana and as a result, facilities remain underdeveloped.

Despite this impracticality, air travel is the fastest way of getting here. You can also travel by boat from surrounding nations to the docks in Port D'Émelie, cutting out one of the air stops, however this will be incredibly time consuming over long distances. In theory, it is possible to swim, but this will probably end in death by exhaustion or due to incapactiation by a jellyfish or other marine creature. We therefore do not reccomend this mode of transport.

Getting here will not be the most enjoyable part of your time away, but it will be worth it.


On Arrival:

On your arrival in Port D'Émelie, the capital city of Saint Émelie, there is little you will have to do. Immigration is incredibly lax due to the islander's laid-back attitude, lack of visitors and the fact that if you happen to be an international criminal, there are easier places to go to do your thing. Do not be alarmed or confused if you are allowed into the country in mere minutes, but then have to wait an hour for your luggage to emerge. This is completely normal and due to the lack of mechanisation in the baggage reclaim system. Also do not be alarmed if your luggage contains dents or is damaged. This is due to the heavy-handedness of the baggage handlers and it is recommended you bring a hard suitcase and do not bring fragile items.

There is only one banned item in Saint Émelie. Guns of all kind are not permitted onto the island and will be screened for before you leave the airport or docks. Screening is not done using x-ray scanners or the like, but by cracking open your suitcase and having a good rummage. For our convenience please leave your suitcase unlocked before it goes on the plane or is presented to officials at the dockyard. This process is also partly responsible for the delay in presenting you with your luggage at the airport. Nothing will purposfully go missing, however if you don't trust us, or more legitamately those handling luggage at your country of origin, place valuable items in your handluggage.

Accomodation and Eating Out:

If you're looking for a plush five-star hotel, Saint Émelie is not for you. If you instead enjoy a collection of small guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, it is ideal. These will be found dotted around the major settlements on the island and vary in quality. Some places will offer very basic facilities and food whilst some will be very well-furnished and offer a large and varied breakfast. Prices will also vary, but will most likely offer good value for money compared to your home nation.
As with hotels, if you require a top of the range gastronomic experience, you will not find it here. What you will instead find is a number of seafront bars that offer an excellent range of fish and seafood, as well as the local selection of drinks. Animal meat is harder to come by, but mainly consists of goat and chicken. Many locals will also frequent these places due to the lack of tourism, so establishments will be friendly and offer food and particularly drink at good prices.

Food specialities include prawns, scallops or lobster with a variety of different sauces. Many bars will offer a choice of sauces to go with each type of seafood. Fish dishes often include cod, sea-bream and tuna whilst goat and chicken are often found in curry-style dishes with local vegetables and spices.

Local beers, spirits and cocktails provide the bulk of the drinks menu. Soft drinks of pinapple, grapefruit and watermelon juice are also available among others, and are infinitely more trustworthy than water sources, which are probably best avoided for hygiene reasons.

There is no official drinking age in Saint Émelie, it is simply up to parents to decide when a child is allowed to consume alcohol when together. This can either end very well or very badly depending on the responsibility and alcohol consumption of a child's family.

People:

People are people, and it is of course important to remember that individual personalities and values will vary, however the culture of Saint Émelie is very rich and is ingrained in the majority of islanders.
Fairly few foreigners visit the island and those that do are largely Mattijanan, so visitors from elsewhere are treated with curiosity and may attract attention in the streets, particularly if you are of a different ethnicity to the dark-skinned Saint Émileans. Despite this, natives relish the rare chance to meet someone from a different country and will be incredibly chatty, particularly in bars. The language barrier may be an issue. The official and most widely-spoken language is French and although English and Mattijanan are being spoken increasingly more across the country, vocab and grammar skills are still very limited. Brushing up on your French language skills is recommended before your trip and although the Saint Émelie dialect is much different to universal French, it will help you get by.

The general attitude on the island is likely much more laid-back than in your home country, so don't be worried or annoyed if it takes a lot of time to get what you wanted, or if you see something going on with incredible inefficiency. It's completely normal.

Saint Émileans are also very proud of their country and any insult to their food, culture or way of life will be taken very personally. Try to refrain from publicly moaning at things taking a long time to happen, islander's lack of professionalism or indeed anything else. However if you want to vent your frustrations in private, who are we to stop you.


Where to Go:

Your first port of call in Saint Émelie will be the capital city of Port D'Émelie in the north of the island. Calling it a city is a stretch as it will probably be the size of a small town in your homeland, however in Saint Émelie terms, it is a metropolis.
There are few actual attractions in Port D'Émelie, but it is a great place for to walk around. There is a charming mix of wooden and stone buildings, often brightly-painted, and the large market is a great place to pick up fresh fish, fruit and meats. Away from the docks, the seafront is lined with bars which are a great place to sit, have a drink and watch the world go by.

Away from Port D'Émelie, there are still places to go. Just down the coast is the village of Le Goutier, renowned across the island for its sports. Watersports such as sailing, windsurfing and canoeing are all possible in the surrounding seas, whilst the beachfront also plays host to the island's top beach volleyball and beach football tournaments.

A short, but bumpy bus journey to the opposite side of the island will see you arrive in the town of Savenay. The town has a quieter feel compared to the hustle and bustle of Port D'Émelie, but has its own charm and is home to numerous traditional art museums and quirky coffee bars. There is also some beautiful rugged coastline to be found a short walk outside the town, which will be much less populated than beaches around Port D'Émelie or Le Goutier.

The Football:

The Saint Émelie FA has announced that two venues will be used for the upcoming world cup qualifiers, both of which are situated on the Port D'Émelie side of the island. The biggest is the Stade Duport on the outskirts of Port D'Émelie. This is a 7,000 seat stadium and home to club side CF Duport.



The ground is somewhat delapidated, but is functional. If you have a sensitive bum, it is reccomended you bring with you a cushion as seating is fairly hard. Stalls and outlets selling classic Saint Émelean snacks such as prawns, peanuts and whitebait will be available on the stadium concourse.


The other stadium is a more left-field choice. La Stade de la Plage in Le Goutiér is named not because it is situated next to Le Goutiér's famous beach, but because it is on it.

You must be wondering how the clever locals have managed to grow some grass on top of the beach, or perhaps you might ask whether it is made of artificial grass. Well you need not wonder as the answer is revealed by the golden colour of the playing surface. It's a sandy one.

Whilst we admit that this is unusual, CF Le Goutiér have always played on sand and there are a few differences from your standard beach football pitch. First of all the pitch is the size of a standard grass pitch, which sounds incredibly tiring. Please bare in mind however that instead of loose, lumpy dry sand, the surface is damp and packed down to make for easier running and passing.
Saint Émelie will play barefoot for matches in Le Goutier and it is recommended that your side does the same. Whilst footwear is not outlawed, it may be impractical, you will have sand in your boots for at least the next 5 matches and it will hurt if you step on our player's tootsies.

Local supporters will be heavily partisan and probably very noisy. As in bars and general public places, locals will be keen to chat about your home nation and the game itself, but any arguments about a particular decision will see you heavily outnumbered. Actual violence is rare, but insults towards members of the Saint Émelie team will not be taken kindly, unless the crowd decide they don't actually like that team member any more.

Typical matchday food includes peanuts, pinapple and seafood such as prawns, whitebait and sardines. The usual range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available at stalls on the concourse and just outside of both stadiums.

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

World Cup 81 preview

Ozorkow, Republic of Prussia East - (NAP) It's time for a World Cup preview with group draw informations and stadium assignment. The Alpine Union was drawn in group 14 with Sargossa (21) and Kita-Hinode (40). With these two teams in our group, it's almost impossible to qualify. Other notable nations in our group are Siovanija and Teusland (84), Main Nation Ministry (126) and Sangti (UR). Then we have some low ranked teams who are totally unknown to us: Soute (207), Thibaea (224), Altai Almas (272) and Raffiah (307). The Alpine Union is ranked (59).

Sargossa

Sargossa is the favorite in group 14 and will certainly qualify for the World Cup. Kita-Hinode is the only team who can beat them and challenge them for the 1st place in group 14. Last World Cup, Sargossa finished 2nd in group 4 behind Brenecia and played qualification playoffs matches against 95X. the first leg resulted in a 1-1 draw played in 95X and the 2nd leg results was a 0-0 draw played in Sargossa. Sargossa won on away goals and recieved their ticket to the World Cup. Sargossa was placed in group F with Barunia, Chromatika and Cosumar but finished tied in 3rd place with Barunia with a win and two losses. We can see Sargossa qualifying again this year and we wish them a better results in the World Cup.

Sargossa didn't publish their roster but they still have time for it. Last World Cup, Sargossa had a 3-4-3 formation and played a much offensive style with a high defensive line and an emphasis on pressing. They also play a physical style. A player to watch on Sargossa's side is Alfredo Valenzuela. He's a top assist provider in Sargossa's domestic league and a dangerous crosser.

Kita-Hinode

Kita-Hinode is ranked 40th but every expert agrees they are a top 32 team. They surely will qualify for the World Cup and can even challenge Sargossa for the 1st place in group 14. Last World Cup Kita-Hinode finished 4th in group 6 with a 8-5-5 record and failed to qualify for the World Cup. They were one of the favotites to win the Cup of Harmony 72 and were drawn in a group with Jeruselem, Siovanija & Teusland and the Alpine Union (from all these teams only Jeruselem isn't in group 14 for the World Cup 81). Kita-Hinode lost their first match 4-2 against the Alpine Union and won against both Siovanija & Teusland and Jeruselem. Kita-Hinode finished first in group G and beat North Prarie in the round of 16 and Soltsteed in the quarter finals, but lost 1-1 (2-1 AET) against Mercedini in the semi finals and against Cassadaigua in the 3rd place match. We can expect Kita-Hinode to improve from last year and qualify for the World Cup. We wish them a good result in the World Cup.

Kita-Hinode was managed last Cup of Harmony by their leader Empress Satomi II and fielded a balanced team between offense and defense.

Siovanija and Teusland

Siovanija and Teusland is an up and coming team. They probably won't beat Kita-Hinode for the 2nd place in group 14 but they can challenge the Alpine Union for a 3rd place and they will certainly have a better result in this year's qualifications than last season. Last World Cup, Siovanija and Teusland finished 5th in group 5 with a 6-5-7 record and participated in the Cup of Harmony. They were in group G with Jeruselem, Kita-Hinode and the Alpine Union and was in 3rd place with a 1-1-1 record. We can expect a better result for Siovanija and Teusland this year and we wish them a top 4 in the Cup of Harmony.

Siovanija and Teusland fields an highly offensive team and they have a total of 35 players on their roster. They have solid ball-playing and playmaking central defenders but the player to watch is Ivo Romanov, a right wing who scored 9 goals in 32 caps which is good for the 2nd place in Siovanija and Teusland's history. He also won a lot of awards in Siovanija and Teusland's domestic football leagues.

Main Nation Ministry

Main Nation Ministry is also a good team but they will have a hard time trying to finish higher than 5th, not because they aren't good but because the other teams ahead of them are better. Group 14 is one of the toughest group in this World Cup. Last World Cup, Main Nation Ministry finished 8th in group 6, the same group as Kita-Hinode. They were invited at the Cup of Harmony but finished 4th in group C with a draw and two losses. We wish them a fifth place in the World Cup qualifications and to make the playoffs in the Cup of Harmony.

Main Nation Ministry apparently will start 15 players on the field which will give them a huge advantage compared to 11 players and their team is balanced between offense and defense. Claiborn Cai, an attacking midfielder, will be a player to watch.

Sangti

Sangti is unranked but they don't need any presentation.They used to be good but stopped participating in the World Cup qualifications after being under a radio-active attack. We wish them a 7th place or higher and an invitation at the Cup of Harmony.

Sangti is a slightly offensive team and a player to watch would be Adriel Marilag CUI, a 26 years old central midfielder.

Schedule and stadium assignment

The Alpine Union will use 9 different stadiums for the World Cup 81. Please note that the schedule is in Alpine calendar and you may have a different calendar in your nation.

Friday May 20th 2022 - MD1: Raffiah (307) vs Alpine Union (59)
Wednesday May 25th 2022 - MD2: Alpine Union (59) vs Thibaea (224) @ Stade Autodrôme, Tavernes, Republic of Aquitaine-Languedoc
Sunday May 29th 2022 - MD3: Sangti (UR) vs Alpine Union (59)
Friday June 3rd 2022 - MD4: Alpine Union (59) vs Kita-Hinode (40) @ Inbox Stadium, Linlithgow, Republic of Caledonia
Wednesday June 8th 2022 - MD5: Soute (207) vs Alpine Union (59)
Sunday June 12th 2022 - MD6: Altai Almas (272) vs Alpine Union (59)
Friday June 17th 2022 - MD7: Alpine Union (59) vs Main Nation Ministry (126) @ Fulham Park, Stamford Bridge, Republic of Britannia
Wednesday June 22nd 2022 - MD8: Siovanija and Teusland (84) vs Alpine Union (59)
Sunday June 26th 2022 - MD9: Alpine Union (59) vs Sargossa (21) @ Flambeau Field, Golden Beach, Republic of Chattahoochee.

Mid qualifications break

Sunday July 10th 2022 - MD10: Alpine Union (59) vs Raffiah (307) @ Stadion Samir Ibrahimovic, Olovo, Republic of Herzegovina
Friday July 15th 2022 - MD11: Thibaea (224) vs Alpine Union (59)
Wednesday July 20th 2022 - MD12: Alpine Union (59) vs Sangti (UR) @ Stadion Miejski Malbork, Malbork, Republic of Prussia East
Sunday July 24th 2022 - MD13: Kita-Hinode (40) vs Alpine Union (59)
Friday July 29th 2022 - MD14: Alpine Union (59) vs Soute (207) @ Santiago Abréu, Manzanilla, Republic of Castilla
Wednesday August 3rd 2022 - MD15: Alpine Union (59) vs Altai Almas (272) @ Lymecastle Stadium, Roxburgh, Republic of Caledonia
Sunday August 7th 2022 - MD16: Main Nation Ministry (126) vs Alpine Union (59)
Tuesday August 9th 2022 - Friendly: Banija (41) vs Alpine Union (59)
Friday August 12th 2022 - MD17: Alpine Union (59) vs Siovanija and Teusland (84) @ Stadion Narodowy w Ozorkowie, Ozorkow, Republic of Prussia East
Wednesday August 17th 2022 - Sargossa (21) vs Alpine Union (59)

post qualifications break

September 2022 - World Cup 81st @ Free Republics and Banija & Cup of Harmony 73rd @ ?

Reason for editing: I added a friendly match vs Banija that I forgot in my schedule.

[Taeshan]

It was an interesting season of prep for the Purple Knights as Xander McDrew had them play a wide array of opponents to get them ready for the next qualifying campaign. A six game series with tough opponents both at home and on the road, as well as lesser-known opponents, and of course a double against Jeruselem which worked as both a renewal of a long term rivalry, marking the 30th match between the two teams, as well as marked the 1000th match in Taeshani history. With the history of Taeshan one of the longest in the modern football world, it has been marked by many games, many wins, but also a lot of losses, and that was really the reason Xander McDrew set up this interesting set of matches.

The first was a rough away day in Starblaydia. Working as the debut of the new kits from Ediraf, and as a strong road opponent to get the team ready for a tough qualifying campaign. The 2-0 loss wasn't the teams strongest performance, but it did give some of the younger players experience in a much needed hostile-esque environment. The second match was a trip to a new opponent in Unified Hispania. A 1-0 win for the Purple Knights really made it a useful trip, getting a win against a defensively minded "minnow" really helped the side get some road strategy, and it marked the first international goal for striker Silian Cantebury.

Then two matches in a row against rivals Jeruselem. Both hotly contested, with both home teams managing to get a lone goal to win their home games. The Knights did not play their best match in Jeruselem, but played well enough at home and Captain Miles Snavely scored his 104th international goal and continued a strong campaign to one day be a Player in the international soccer hall of fame. Beyond that the team ended with two more home games a 1-0 win against Oscioru, including an Alson Figeuroa goal off the bench. Finally they ended with a 2-0 loss to Darmen in their last match before qualifiers.

The Darmen match was perhaps the most interesting as the matches were scheduled prior to the 81st World Cup qualifying draw and interestingly enough Darmen is the top seed in Group 17, as the Purple Knights wish to make it back to the world cup. In perhaps the best chance the Knights have had to qualify in decades they get a rather lowly ranked Darmen side, albeit a Darmen side who has recently come to Taeshan and dominated them, and an upstart Commonwealth of Baker Park who qualified in their first attempt at the world cup. Coldfield is another team looking at a chance to qualify and rounds out the group of teams that seem to have a chance in the group, but the Knights will surely find ways to drop points against some of the lower teams while doing well against the top 4.

[Oberour Ar Moro]

No one wanted to manage the National Team.

Everyone who coached a team at any level in Oberour Ar Moro football wanted nothing to do with it.

A country with two seasons of domestic football behind it were probably not going to be successful internationally. Oberour Ar Moro is not a country that respects failed efforts, no matter how earnest.

Furthermore, conversations in the Ministry of Culture leaked out. It sounded like the pay level the Ministry was thinking about would be even less than they were paying Gilduin Roux, the manager of their Football System team Patrons.

So a coach could take the opportunity to get underpaid and get the blame if a team inexperienced in international play performed to their expected level. But everyone also knew that if they were asked to coach, they couldn't turn it down. So managers were haunted, while waiting for the call. Kouig Belhumeur, Manager of Cyrene Bay, thought outside the box and called the Football Management Committee first, to volunteer his services as a one-man search committee. He said something about how the skills of a Football System manager was different that the skills of a international manager, and they believed it.

So Belhumeur spent weeks bothering his opponents, calling them in for interviews. Perresson Coffriere of de la Charite, especially, was called to chat with Belheumer three times. Ultimately, the Football Management Committee announced Daric de l'Amie, Cyrene Bay's Chief Scout, as manager. This was out of the unexpected, as de l'Amie had never served as a manager or coach. He did have skill in scouting teams and finding talented players. One could argue that those skills are more valuable than man coaching. However, many wondered if the real value was for de l'Amie to hold large training camps featuring players from every level of the Football System, and then making sure Belhumeur received his notes.

[Ancharmunn]

The Maudraiska Mirror

Cullen sweeps to power on pledge to make Ancharmunn average again

Former Olympic athlete Keava Cullen is set to be installed as Ancharmunn's Taoiseach after her Rushmori Unity party swept to a landslide victory as voters embraced her calls to return to the international stage. The ruling Muid Féin party faced a near wipeout, returning just three seats as their policy of isolation was resounding rejected. Perhaps the biggest shock of the night came as Muid Féin leader, and sitting Taoiseach Devin Sheridan lost his Ballymairead South seat, returning just 18 percent of the votes in his constituency.

The rise of Cullen and Rushmori Unity to power is set see the reversal of several decades of the near total isolation that Ancharmunn has been through under Muid Féin, with Cullen promising to have border crossings at seaports and airports reopened within the first hundred days of her premiership. Cullen is also said to be eager to work with fellow Rushmori leaders in a bid to reinstate visa-free travel between Ancharmunn and the rest of Rushmore.

Sport is expected to play a significant role in Ancharmunn's role in reintegrating into international society with the Olympian a firm believer in using sport as a means of international cooperation.

“Competing in the Olympic Games in Zube was a huge honour for me all those years ago, and it really showed the power of good that sport can do in bringing nations together.” Cullen enthused in her victory speech. That remains as true today as it ever has been and I firmly believe that there can be no better way for Ancharmunn to refind it's place among the nations have the world than to compete in the World Cup once again.”

“We never qualified for the World Cup, but we always took part. We were always reassuringly in fifth place or somewhere like that. We were someone other countries knew they could play against, quite possibly beat and have a nice enough time in.”

Cullen, who finished in 29th place in the heats of the long jump event at the ninth Olympic games then pledged to return Ancharmunn to it's previous days of steady if unspectacular sporting achievements saying, “There's a lot to be said for taking part. We shall do that again, we shall reassuringly finish somewhere around the middle of our World Cup qualifying groups, we shall send our teams to be knocked out in the qualifying stages of the UICA Champions' Cup, we shall turn up to the Rugby League World Cup and maybe squeeze just past the group stage again. We shall be alright. Make Ancharmunn average again!”

With World Cup qualification set to start in just a matter of days Cullen looks set to be on the road straight away in her bid to reintroduce Ancharmunn to the world.

“It's Cosneolta we've got first up isn't it? It's very exciting, they're exactly where we want to be!” Cullen commented on the nation ranked 78th in the world. “I think I vaguely remember them from Year 5 geography. Is it Dynan City that's the capital? Dymun? See, you sort of you know it's there, but aren't quite sure where. Just imagine, that's exactly where we could have Ancharmunn be in a couple of years! Make Ancharmunn average again.”

Devin Sheridan meanwhile has yet to comment on his stunning defeat with the latest reports stating him to have been left cradled alone in the corner at his constituency's counting centre muttering quietly about an impending influx of Cosneoltans, Greater Libertanians and Busoga Islanders.

[Nephara]

Nephara 3 - 1 Sargossa
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Swoboda; 2 - Rafford, 5 - Konoval, 22 - Steelhenge, 3 - Lohengrin (19 - Vicelich 78'); 4 - Rowland, 8 - Klein; 7 - Fanaiyan (13 - Saroszi 65'), 14 - Moxham, 11 - Strongbow; 9 - Hawke
Goals: Klein 35', Strongbow 60', Saroszi 79'

It should not have taken this long.
This drought - and it was a drought, seven long years between trophies - should've been ended far sooner than that. Michael Brandon had taken the helm, whipped a demotivated, nervy side into fighting shape and driven them to the final of the Cup of Harmony, even if World Cup qualification had been beyond reach. And then...
And then...
Well, they'd been fucking shredded 3-0 by Qasden, hadn't they?

It had been a long wait for the next shot at silverware. They'd managed a second bronze medal at the Copa Rushmori, and twice come into the World Cup in strong form but fallen at the second round. The wait became agonising, thoughts turned to the possibility that maybe Nephara wasn't a tournament team anymore, because, to all appearances, they weren't. Because they weren't. And maybe a few of the more... regressive minds wondered if maybe this new, more open and technical side was actually bad at football despite everything, that it maybe needed to be re-evaluated.
So it was a relief to get them to shut up. Sargossa had been their first serious opposition in the tournament - Sargossa would be their last. Both times, the Corsairs put up a serious fight. Both times, the Cormorants would prevail.
The weight of the trophy in Brandon's hands felt so sweet.

A year later, the honeymoon was over. Brandon, his stock higher than ever, had quietly ensured the rumour had done the rounds that this would be his last year, when it could be his last year. Give the big clubs a reminder that a big name, as his now was, was available. Someone who didn't just hone and rehabilitate sides, but had a trophy on the resume. Some days he felt like handing in his notice on the spot, throughly done with the whole affair. Others he felt like keeping the position for life. He had time to figure it out.
And anyway, if this was to be his swansong, it would be a glorious one. The team he'd done so much to build up was finally reaching its peak, the midfield nexus - Gosforth aside - all hitting their mid-20s at the same time. It was a little frustrating that the campaign began with Eshan, their most difficult opponent, with third-seeds West Angola not long after, but the silver lining was that they could simply pick up where they left off, with the side that won the Copa - with Konrad Gosforth back from injury. Playoffs meant the stakes were high, and he had no plans to take his foot off the accelerator. Victory here would mean Eshan would be playing catch-up for the rest of the qualifiers - defeat wasn't worth thinking about. If all went to plan, his best and brightest would sharpen their swords on the best the group had to offer, securing top spot with enough ease to blood some of the young hopefuls, like Shone, Staunton and Close, to hone that final 23 into as efficient a winning machine as possible. Not for the long-term, anymore, that wasn't his job.

After all, there was still one ultimate trophy in sight...

NEPHARIM NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 1
Goalkeepers: 1 - Apostolos Tsattalios (Falourr, EUR), 12 - Andreas Swoboda (1860 Azoth, CEN), 20 - Hesterine Mercator (Tihon, CMT)
Defenders: 2 - Leona Rafford (Crisisbless), 3 - Sieglinde Lohengrin (Crisisbless), 5 - Dieter Konoval (KT Moreazerua, AUD), 6 - Trajan Bruyne (Mallox, COS), 18 - Eloise Kielseng (Sabrefell Athletic), 19 - Lux Vicelich (Sabrefell Moths), 22 - Dragora Steelhenge (Cornellians, SCT)
Midfielders: 4 - Monica Rowland (Bastion, EUR), 7 - Ishtar Fanaiyan (Eastweald, COS), 8 - Rusalka Klein (Crawford City FC, COS), 11 - Rowena Strongbow (Directus, EUR), 13 - Monako Saroszi (Ulsa, EUR), 14 - Chimera Moxham (Port Patrick United, SCT), 15 - Circe Rosenthal (Marionville, SCT), 16 - Regatta Aspenwood (Handon United, SCT), 21 - Konrad Gosforth (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD, c), 23 - Servet Misidjan (AFC Treason)
Forwards: 9 - Estrella Hawke (Sabrefell Athletic), 10 - Nevaeh Cathar (Avenida Leal, FFD), 17 - Erika Wolff (North Sabrefell)

SCHEDULE
Nephara vs. Eshan @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Bongo Johnson vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. West Angola @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Nephara vs. Busoga Islands @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Cheergirls vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Cosneolta @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Ancharmunn vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Greater Libertania @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
EOT vs. Nephara
Eshan vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Bongo Johnson @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
West Angola vs. Nephara
Busoga Islands vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Cheergirls @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Cosneolta vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Ancharmunn @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Greater Libertania vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. EOT @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)

[Brenecia]

Racing 0 - 2 Brenecia
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Woodgate (c); 2 - Carrack, 5 - Heneghan, 6 - Szubanski, 3 - Quill (19 - Prentice 67'); 4 - Staunton; 7 - Crowther (15 - Garrard 60'), 21 - Case, 8 - Hartsdown, 16 - Keynes; 9 - Riordan
Goals: Riordan 17', Quill 51'

Filindostan 2 - 3 Brenecia
(4-1-4-1 / 4-4-2) 1 - Woodgate (c); 18 - Broxham, 5 - Heneghan, 22 - Varney, 3 - Quill; 4 - Staunton (23 - Alweather 55'); 7 - Crowther, 21 - Case (10 - Carrick 74'), 13 - Wheeler, 11 - Ashbrown (16 - Keynes 75'); 9 - Riordan
Goals: Carrick 80', Keynes 82'

Mattijana 1 - 5 Brenecia
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Woodgate (c); 18 - Broxham, 5 - Heneghan, 6 - Szubanski, 3 - Quill; 23 - Alweather (4 - Staunton 71'); 7 - Crowther, 21 - Case (14 - Ruskin 57'), 13 - Wheeler, 11 - Ashbrown; 9 - Riordan (17 - Bremner 76')
Goals: Riordan 9', Ashbrown 16', Crowther 23', 47', Bremner 82'

"Damn it, damn it, fuck..."
It had started, as most things in Brenecia started, with far too much debt to the wrong goddamn people. If Gerik Marshall lived long enough to have kids, and the odds were fucking lengthening on that, he'd tell them what his father had told him, and his father had told him all the way back to the Revolution... 'don't take loans from women in dark suits, who chain-smoke through blackjack games and surround themselves with guys called Razorwire and Big Tats Morgan'.
He'd also have to tell them to get a Zippo lighter or something, given that his shitty plastic number was flickering and dying and FUCK slipping out of his rain-sodden hands, into a gutter. okay! Okay, no cigarette for Gerik Marshall, apparently! He slammed it into the asphalt in frustration. Then, after a moment's contemplation, scrabbled for it and stashed it back in a jacket pocket. Times were hard, as they literally always were.
Not that that was stopping the carousing, of course. Marshall stood aside and watched the latest mob of navy-clad hooligans weave their way through the alley, arm in arm. Brenecia had won the World Cup! Brenecia had won the Campionato Esportiva! Brenecia was gonna win the World Cup again! Ahh, it's the hope that kills you-
Wait.
Wait.
Wait one-
- god damn moment, just-
Marshall's eyes widened, struck with the world's worst epiphany.
Holy fuck.
That was it.

Sometimes the great heists aren't born from criminal genius. Sometimes it's just a matter of an ordinary man, pushed to desperate measures.
And sometimes, it's a born loser who blows a lifetime of luck in a single glorious hour.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 1
Goalkeepers: 1 - Mathis Woodgate (Spartangrad, EUR), 12 - Rostyn Calhoun (Wexax United, VAL), 20 - Aidan Hartigan (Metropolis Alligators, VLD)
Defenders: 2 - Brun Carrack (Bengtsmark IF, BYN), 3 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 5 - Cheney Heneghan (Ernesse Stahl, BYN), 6 - Niko Szubanski (1830 Cathair, AUD, c), 18 - Keziah Broxham (Mallox, COS), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Westpike United), 22 - Garwyn Varney (Soldarian FC, VAL)
Midfielders: 4 - Roisin Staunton (Kingsgrove), 7 - Brae Crowther (Chenoworth Harriers, NPH), 8 - Meghan Hartsdown (Kings Park, SCT), 11 - Tiferet Ashbrown (Kings Park, SCT), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 14 - Claire Ruskin (Southern Star), 15 - Cu Roi Garrard (Rene Skae, FFD), 16 - Cathal Keynes (Snowden River), 21 - Falcon Case (Goodfeather FC, NPH), 23 - Catsidhe Alweather (Eastal Lunar, VIL)
Forwards: 9 - Griffin Riordan (Klyde, COS), 10 - Vesuvia Carrick (South Laithland, NPH), 17 - Niall Bremner (Westpike United)

SCHEDULE
Cassadaigua vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Al-Mumtaz
Oscioru vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. South Libertopia
Colonial Australia vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Cobrio
Tinhampton vs. Brenecia
Czarna Gora vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Octinstine
Brenecia vs. Cassadaigua
Al-Mumtaz vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Oscioru
South Libertopia vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Colonial Australia
Cobrio vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Tinhampton
Brenecia vs. Czarna Gora
Octinstine vs. Brenecia

[Free Republics]

Designed by 3WD of Vilita

This is your 24 Hour Cutoff Warning brought to you by AllMart! AllMart: Our Prices are Always Low!

[Dreamplanet]

DREAMPLANET PRE-TOURNAMENT TEAM TALK

Another edition, another team talk. And this time it was crucial as it was Rodrigo Vaz's return with the national team. He had endured a great stay at Super-Llamaland, however he felt like there was more to be desired, losing all 3 group games was a terrible outcome for the Dreamplanetian abroad, but he was determined to put that all aside. Besides, this time he was in the nation he loved with the team he built, João Pedro had done a wonderful job before him, getting Dreamplanet 3rd and 4th place finishes in qualifying, they were decent, sure, however the Dreamplanet squad felt that they could've done better, failing to beat Super-Llamaland home and away sealed their fate in the World Cup 74 qualifiers, and a bad start which almost got Pedro sacked sealed their fate to 4th place despite being able to recover and giving Zenic their biggest losses home and away.

Rodrigo Vaz knew the importance of doing well in this World Cup, he had to redeem himself after his 3 losses, he set a goal in mind: Get to the Play-offs.
He wasn't sure how the team would take it, second place would be an astonishing feat for the Dreamplanetian squad who had just returned, their ranking had massively dropped after being absent for a while, however they felt a motivational boost, maybe they could beat the odds, the friendlies didn't seem that promising after losing to higher ranked teams, such as a 3-0 loss to Juvencus and a 8-3 thriller against the United States of Devonta, and also losing to a couple of Baptism of Fire teams like Czarna Gora, Osciorum and Busoga Islands, despite two wins to Sangti and Sharktail and a draw with Rakivland, scepticism was high, were hopes high too? We'd have to see during the team talk.

It was 9:31 and the team had just arrived at the training ground, before the team did their usual training they would have their team talk, a standard tradition, so he got into the tactics room, and the team followed. This was a team of veterans, Luis Silva had been the captain for all World Cup qualifying matches, Aaron Hungar had just helped his team win the Taça Dreamplanet, and they had some Coerefente players, the team had just romped to victory ahead of FC Libon, shocking the league and writing the first league champion that wasn't Sporting CD or FC Libon. They had their established stars, all were pumped up and ready to go after the FA re-worked the team.

---

"Alright lads, welcome to the 81st World Cup qualifying campaign, you and me have been here long enough to know the importance of the World Cup," Rodrigo Vaz opened his speech, and then he shifted to a more passionate tone "We'll be carrying the hopes of an entire nation, the club season has ended and the divides have been healed all to cheer on Dreamplanet. We'll be the ones that allow the nation to dream of getting to the World Cup." But then he had to calm down and let his professionalism speak "Now, i know it won't be easy. Our best finish ever was 3rd place and play-offs are 2nd. But i believe we can get there with enough team work."

The players seemed somewhat surprised, they knew that they'd be heavily disfavoured to even make it to their 3rd place, Dreamplanet had been out of international competitions for quite a while, but everyone realised what was in the air, the usual hope and optimism that came with every World Cup qualifying cycle, and then Luis Silva spoke up "I think we can all agree it's a bit too optimistic, we've been out for a while and our ranking has basically tanked ever since our last appearance, we'll have to learn how newer countries play, and we're probably gonna end up with some sharks." The players looked at Luis with a look of total agreement, the play-offs would be amazing to get to, but how? "Besides, if we do get to the play-offs, i shudder to think who we will face, it would be agonising to be two matches away from the World Cup but yet not reach it."

Needless to say, this was not what Rodrigo Vaz wanted, it was his duty to get his team doped up on hope with a great goal, but maybe he had chased his personal dream of making it to the play-offs again and making it to the World Cup again, and in doing so he forgot what his nation could do, or had he? "Well, unfortunately the people say that they can't do it are right-" He had been surprised by the controversial center-back, Jorge Cardozo, which rudely interrupted him "That's all well and good, but think about the nations we'll face, we're just a stepping stone for bigger and better things and we'd need to be World Cup Qualifying regulars like most of these amazing countries that light up the World Cup, and given our absence, we'll be fighting an up-hill battle, and i just don't think that is possible for us, atleast not this time around."

Rodrigo Vaz couldn't afford mutiny, that's the sole reason why one of the biggest prospects in Dreamplanetian football, João Souza, was acquitted of his captaincy and dropped from the Dreamplanetian national team, while he retired from international football and flourished for Coerefente, being the driving force in their league winning squad, he couldn't have the biggest stars protest against him, he had never messed up a team talk, and he had to save it. "Here's the thing, underestimating your opponent is always a dangerous trait, we've got our stars here and despite our absence, we're still a good collection of players and we're a very tightly-knit squad, nobody expected us to get 3rd in the World Cup 74 qualifying campaigns, but hey, we did it, and we weren't that far off from Super-Llamaland." He knew that he ended his own nation's dreams in order to get to the World Cup play-offs, and this was his chance to convince his team with some experience, so he had to be passionate but yet down to earth, he had to tell the team what it's like to get that far "I've been to the play-offs, i've lived on the edge of knowing that two matches determine your and your nation's future in the competition, we faced the Equestrian States, we were all pretty nervous and knew that they were regulars and were expected to go far, but there's a feeling of everything being level, y'know, back to square one with the play-offs, and they were ranked 32 in the world, so we had to to get our shit together and put an amazing performance. And we did, beating them 2-0 on aggregate and securing our place in the World Cup." The squad seemed convinced, all were keenly listening, and maybe they could be that next shock winner, it would be tough but there was a feeling of hope.

"Well, i guess you're right, with the belief in going far and hard work, we too can get there." Aaron Hungar said, the golden boy for the future of Dreamplanet, the squad mutually agreed with him. And this was Rodrigo Vaz's chance to wrap up the speech. "Whether we get to the play-offs or not will be seen in the following matches, but what's important is that you should make your nation proud and enjoy yourself, then again, representing your nation is the biggest honor anyone can have." He had managed to rescue a faltering team talk with his own experiences, the squad always saw Vaz as a nice, relateable and down-to-earth guy to be around with, if he said something, it's because he believed in it. "Alright, i'm glad that we all agree that we've got some work to do, now let's go to training and have some fun right? The road to Banija and Free Republics starts here."

---

So training went as usual, the media casting a doubtful eye on the hopes of Dreamplanet, but they all had a feeling of hope deep down, one that would come out as soon as Dreamplanet did well, the goalkeepers testing their reflexes as they faced the biggest players in Dreamplanet, the youngsters willing to prove their skills, the defenders refining the tough tackling tactics that gave them success, and Rodrigo Vaz keeping an eye out and notifying the players on what they had to do, it was the usual training session, but it had more intensity than usual, it was their first national team training in a while and they had to be prepared for the World Cup qualifying up ahead, and they had to prove they were not pushovers and were ready to shock the world, they would give it all for their nation.

Training went great, perhaps even better than the speech, the squad were ready for what lied ahead, bring it on Jeruselem.

[Mareibat]

Continued on from the BoF, where RL busyness did not allow me to finish...

A Short Pre-Script To Mareibat - Part Three

Part One
Part Two


However, the struggles of Kester O'Connor and the incompetence of Wilbrahim O'Connor pale in comparison to the tyranny of Hillick Penpillick. He was a gang lord in Harmonica and quickly travelled across the bay to Halholzer to seize control of the country with many of his gang members.

They encountered little resistance in the central and larger archipelago of Mareibat and Penpillick moved quickly to increase his grip on the land by force. The size of the coast guard doubled in a year and doubled again in the next year. He then set about basically ravaging the outer islands of Mareibat like Scrag and Arbour and decided to turn Teol into an industrial centre - but one without rules and regulations completely.

The second largest island, Bellight, resisted the tyranny of Penpillick and so a long civil war started - largely fought on the islands of Op and Brigand's Isle in between the two centres, although there was a fair share of fighting on Bellight itself and in the waters around it.

With much of his focus on attempting to suppress Bellight, Penpillick was struggling to achieve any of his aims elsewhere in Mareibat, with in-fighting and rebellions springing up everywhere. He was often ruthless in his response to these rebellions - killing 100 in the village of Giddiscombe, 50 in the village of Abbott and slaughtering the entire village of South Perdon after an rebel group was found in North Perdon and guessed to be hiding in the southern village.

After 7 years of fighting, Penpillick finally conceded defeat against Bellight, and withdraws his attacks, deciding to abandon reunifying Mareibat and focus domestically - with most of the already bodged fleet of Mareibat destroyed and 4,000 coast guard troops and other private soliders dead on his side alone.

However, with these set backs, he immediately began to lose control of the other outer islands, the small forces on Scrag and Arbour being overrun in 588 and, in a very damaging move for his grip on power, Teol in 589 along with many of the smaller islands.

The end game was in sight for Penpillick, and in a public address in front of a restless crowd in 590, his tumultuous reign ended abruptly. After announcing a fresh wave of measures to deal with ever dwindling supplies, the crowd grew violent, quickly overrunning those bodyguards around him who didn't turn on him themselves, Penpillick being quite literally torn apart by the furious people along with a significant number of bodyguards and ordinary civilians in a mass of complete chaos. It is estimated that at least 100 people were killed in the carnage as Mareibat reached its darkest hour.

[Rakivland]

PREVIEW: RAKIVLAND V QUSMO
An interesting first match up, the boy's come here in good form, but against a solid team, Rakivland will be happy with a point, but the boys will play in a moderately attacking 4-2-3-1, Fenorvan and Karoslav up front, a creative midfield, solid Defense, We are ready!

[Semarland]

"Do we HAVE to do this?" grumbled Tyae Hamilton as he sat outside the offices of the psychologists with Remaeo Hutton and Kadeem Bailey-Foster. Kadeem gave him a sideways glance, as if to say "Good job there's no one else here." whilst Remaeo simply shook his head. He'd grown up with Tyae, he'd known him effectively all his life, he was used to this.

"It's good to let your feelings out," said Stephane Claro-Hunt, as he walked out of one of the rooms. "Quite refreshing actually."

Tyae just raised his eyebrows, and filed into the newly-vacated room. It was almost bare, save for a desk, two chairs, a plant and Erika Larsen, the lead psychologist. There was a certain smell to it, the one you commonly find in pharmacies, and for a moment Tyae wondered why it was there. The only other solution would be that someone was holding a lot of pills in here, which perhaps wouldn't be a surprise considering it was a pyschologist room after all.

Erika stared at him as he sat down in the plush leather chair. "I know all about you, Tyae." she whispered.

Tyae ignored her comment and stared out of the window behind overlooking the training pitches of the complex. He watched as Kwame Nelson put the ball into the back of the net in one of the finishing drills. Tyae was beyond glad Kwame was back around - he had looked after him well at Jansberg and seemed to be the only other person other than Remaeo that could keep Tyae under control.

He was awoken from his brief daydream when Erika clapped her hands in front of his face.

"I know about your brother."

"Why are you bringing this up?" he spat.

"Why do you think?" laughed Erika. "I know about your life, your connections. The people you and Remaeo hung out with in the gap. The BUSINESS they get up to?"

Tyae had a blank expression on his face.

"I know Kadell Stevens doesn't know. Nor the rest of your teammates, save for Remaeo. Or the other staff, or the rest of the country. I'll keep it simple. I want...let's call it, some of your friends' product. You give me it every other week, I keep this whole thing quiet for you. Understand?" Erika had a big grin.

Tyae shook his head and exited the room.

"That was quick." quipped Remaeo, but Tyae just glared at him. He stormed off, looking back just once to see Erika beckoning Remaeo in. He was going to have a lot of work to do.

Starting XI v Kelssek: Valbuena; D Claro-Hunt, Chimbonda, Chalobah, Modise; Melbourne, Hutton, Strand; Nti-Bonso, Nelson, Hamilton.