World Cup 81: Roleplay Thread

by **Ethane** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:48 pm

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OH MY GOODNESS ITS HAPPENING
by Andrew Davis

Yes. Yes. Yes! Yes, it is really happening. You have read our group right. You don't need glasses I promise. I promise.

For the first time in history, it is really happening. It's never happened before in the World Cup, and I'm pretty sure its never happened before in any sporting event (though I'm not exactly sure.)

Is everyone excited for the big reveal? I sure am. Because this is literally the best thing to happen to our team ever. For the rest of the multiverse I'm not so sure; pretty sure they can't really tell the difference - have you heard South Covello's recently disposed of President (and by disposed, I'm sure we'd love to see him executed, but I guess times change in countries)...

If you haven't, you've probably been living in a bush and couldn't actually care less about this. Because this is for people who actually care. About stuff. Which you evidently do not. But we do. We care. Which is why everyone is so excited. But especially me. I'm not sure if you can tell or not.

No, I don't care if this is up to professional journalism guidelines or not. Why? Because no one cares what it reads like, THEY JUST CARE ABOUT THIS ONE AMAZING THING IN OUR WORLD CUP GROUP THAT HAS EVERYONE EXCITED!

Not following? Good. Or not. Depends on if you're interested or not. But I guess you can't find out if you're interested or not until you actually find out what I'm writing about, and you can't find out what I'm so excited that I'm writing about until I stop rambling and actually tell you what I'm excited and writing about. So basically, I'm excited about

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaasds
fadzxgufhskjgfehsdaz
gsdcugdsgycgh
.

Sorry. A cat jumped on my keyboard. But I'm too excited to delete it so we'll press on. Is this trashy to be writing like this? Probably. Who cares? Everyone is just too excited about our world cup group.

THAT EXCITING THING IS

....

...

....

....

....

....

....

....

.....

.....

...........................

OMG WE'RE IN A GROUP WITH ESHAN. ITS ESHANE. WE'RE SO EXCITED. IT'S OUR FAVOURITE COUNTRY THAT ISN'T OURSELVES. (Don't worry Damukuni I promise we like you too but we kinda have a v. special relationship with Eshan and kinda Revan is a legend so...)

We're gonna meet up and all our fans are gonna be like super-friendly and then we'll invite them all round our house for a BBQ (okay this is obviously a joke because our garden cant fit everyone that fits in the stadium but ssh its a metaphor alright) and then hang out and it'll be great for bonding as 2 really close allies.

And then because we really like each other as nations and we want to meet each other again in the final (that's possible right) we will make sure that we draw with each other giving us the opportunity to both progress out of the group easiwr (I mean we'll probably beat them but still I said we'll be nice alright) and then progress down our different knockout bracket paths.

But on a serious note, Eshan is an amazing country. And I want to go there on holiday. Revan, I can't afford plane tickets because I am poor and have a family, please can you invite me?

Oh, and I'm sorry to all the foreign nations that probably don't understand this. Because it's Eshane. I know you get us confused all the time. And if I were you, I would probably get us confused as well. But don't worry. I'm sure we can help you understand the difference.

This one's Ethane and that one is Eshan. Oh wait, sorry, no, that one is Ethane and this one is Eshan. Actually, no, I was right the first time round. Or was I? Okay, I can see how you find telling us apart difficult now. If you really can't tell the difference, just call us Eshane. That's kinda our ship name. (there is totally not a ship called Eshane in our naval armaments that is the ship that is first to go and support the other nation when they need it, totally not.)

But there you go. FELLOW ETHANIANS BE HYPED, 3RD MATCH HERE WE COME.

Fellow multiversians (or whatever you want to call yourselves), good luck. #ESHANE

(PS. I'm probably gonna lose my job over this aren't I?)

VS Sargossa

GK: Jeremiah Shepard
LB: Theresa Desantis
CB: Justin Crawford
RB: Joshua Cook
LM: Iwan Roberts
CM: Leyton Underwood
RM: Xavier Rengart
CAM: Josh Montoya
LF: Scott Burgess
CF: Declan Smith
RF: Mohammed Hope

SUBS: Nicholas Reed (GK); Eric Morris (LB); Darien Fear (CB); Devon West (CDM); Kyle Ford (RM); Dexter Vorbeck (ST); James Rodriguez (CF)

by **Saltstead** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 6:40 pm

(OOC: This is based on an idea which Drawk proposed to me in a Discord PM for a post-qualifying RP. Even though Drawk didn’t actually write the RP up, I liked the idea enough to run with it myself.

)

Drawk City Stadium
Playoff leg 2

It sure had to be the longest corner of her life… Clement was sure taking his sweet time, feeling the seconds tick, tick, tick away. There was time-wasting, then there was Clement taking a corner with the scoreline level deep in the second half of a second leg they were playing away from home.

Okay, maybe that had never happened before, but that was not the point. The point was, Johanna was nearly ready to pray for the end.

…

Thump.

The ball had an almost magnetic attraction to Johanna’s cranium. Cutting through the air like butter and flying over Drawkians as if they were mere mice scurrying along the floor, Mårits instinctively leaped and felt the ball smack her head. Lana Harmony could do naught but make a leap of faith.

It didn’t work. 1–1.

The people here were no ordinary supporters: they were Kick Corps fanatics. The stadium descended into cacophony. Boos echoed around as far as the ear could hear. The announcer on the PA system could hardly be made out in the midst of the chorus of jeers and profanities. For the first time ever, Drawkland were on their way out the World Cup door before it had really begun and few were taking it well. Some people opted to make a beeline for the actual doors, resigning themselves to the fate that looked ever-so-certain to come.

They proved to be the nice ones.

Gaius would shortly find himself standing next to a flare, ejected from the stands behind his goal. Mere centimetres to the left and with a little less force, Roger would have certainly been burnt. As the action was happening on the other side of the pitch, play went on, but the debris kept coming. Going into stoppage time, the home crowd were boiling over as the chances of Drawkland overturning the deficit looked slimmer, unlikelier, fainter.

With victory on the cards, the Saltsteadish National Constabulary had warned the team of the temperament Drawkland fans were prone to before the team had left for the match. If you win, get out as fast as you can. Run for your lives, because they will be running for you.

“Don’t run onto the field,” Ware said to the team as the seconds ticked, ticked, ticked down. “It will be a death sentence. If you are going to run, run for the tunnel.”

As soon as the whistle blew, the stands started to overflow. In the midst of the adrenaline, most of the players ran for their lives. Some made it. For others, it was eternity.

Johanna felt a pressure on her hair as a man pulled on her pony tail. Carle’s gut would meet the fist of a furious female. Flares would burn around the stadium, catching Roger, Natalia, Ann-Marine, Clement, Johannė and Mäts. Police were doing their best to get players through the chaos and eventually they succeeded.

The Drawkian players stood in the tunnel silent, looks of shame painted on most of their faces. Defeat could be overcome. The next campaign would be a new day, but the scar of a riot against the first team ever to deny the Kick Corps a place in the World Cup finals would be an albatross hanging around the nation’s collective necks for all of history. Katie, Sarah and even Ellzidan would step up to help their opponents with first aid, however, one credit that the visiting Stallions would always be grateful for.

“History tarnished by tragedy,” Seelandės Nyren would write. “Lucky to be alive after killing off a World Cup dream,” the Walland Daily Press wrote. The Ashwell Press chose laconicism: “Shame”.

When the dust settled, it was a relief for the nation back home to learn that none of the players had actually been killed. But Roger, Carle, Johanna and Natalia all saw their own World Cup dream crushed. The broken bones and burns absolutely demanded they stay off the plane to whichever country Saltstead were playing in. What was supposed to be a moment of ecstasy and triumph became a moment of national sorrow.

De Köninglikhaas Soltsteeds
Van de skreivbord Hier Majesties

The Royal House of Saltstead
From the desk of His Majesty
My fellow Saltsteaders and dear citizens of the world,

On behalf of my Government, I want to express my highest shock and horror at the events which occurred in Drawk City. What had been a series of matches which reflected the high calibre of Saltsteadish and Drawkian football suddenly and regrettably became tragedy when Drawkian supporters stormed the pitch after the final whistle had been blown.

As President of the Royal Saltsteadish Football Federation, I cannot condone the act of rioting. I am a firm believer that just as important as skill is grace. The events in Drawk City reflect poorly on their perpetrators and paint an image of Drawkland which is contrary to the hospitality in which Saltsteadish supporters, the Chancellor of Saltstead and myself had all been received. Hooliganism and violence are a stain on the sport of football and a stain on the people who partake in them. The Federation has dedicated itself to the protection of fan safety and the prevention of violence, noble aims which I wholeheartedly support.

In the midst of heartbreaking acts, though, there are those whose noble actions should be recognised and commended. I want to thank the local police for their efforts to quell the riots and to ensure the safety of Saltsteaders, including myself, in the midst of the chaos. I want to thank the Samaritans who came to the aid of the injured, even at the risk of their own well-being. I want to thank the first responders who, acting in a manner of professionalism, selflessly cared for the victims of this tragedy.

I want to finish by congratulating the Saltsteadish national football team on a hard-earned win. Let us not allow the gravity of this occasion be robbed by a group of bandits. The triumph of the Stallions is a modern David and Goliath. The triumph of the Stallions is a testament to the power of determination and dedication. The triumph of the Stallions is a shining example of seizing second chances. Saltstead’s victory will be a moment of World Cup lore, a moment in which our nation can take pride.

I wish the Kingdom of Banija and the Federation of Free Republics the best as they prepare for the finals to begin, I pray for the swift recovery of Mr Carle de Marcht, Mr Roger Gaius, Ms Johanna Mårits and Ms Natalia Henrikssen and I wish the Saltsteadish team the best of luck in the World Cup.

Wi sind end skulun sin. We are and shall be.

[signed]
William Thomas
King of Saltstead

[countersigned]
Claudie Marie Michälssen Aleksandre mid Jorgenssen
Chancellor of Saltstead

by **Free Republics** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 6:48 pm

Sporting World

World Cup 81 Preview
By: Nova Hellstrom-Hancock

For the first time in 13 years, the World Cup is in the Free Republics! Soccer General Rule Theriault will lead Republican National Soccer Team, LLC onto the pitch at the Gem of the Oceans Stadium to open the Republican half of the World Cup. The Republican National Team is coming off of a 3rd place finish at this year's Independents Cup and a 3rd place at this year's Cup of Champions. Both of these tournaments were also held at home. Including the Cup of Champions 13 years ago and the World Cup back then, we have never finished worse than 4th in a soccer tournament held in the Free Republics. On the other hand, we haven't won at home either.

Standing across from Republican National Soccer Team, LLC in that opening match will be the Equestrian States, a long-time rival who famously defeated Republican National Soccer Team, LLC in the final of the Di Bradini Cup 16 years ago, handing Soccer General Theriault his first loss. In the years since, they have certainly had the better of the rivalry. I am unable to think of a victory over them at the moment but who could forget the World Cup Qualifying draw that I covered 16 years ago? While the Equestrian States disputes my version of the facts, I stand by my reporting. Well, I don't stand by all of it. For one thing, I was totally wrong about professional wrestling back then and my taste in men has definitely evolved but I continue to believe that the Equestrian States has an unfair advantage on the soccer pitch because talking horses are inherently better athletes than humans. Not that it does them any good since they've never even managed to make it past a Round of 16 and, this year, they won't even get there! They can put that on their bulletin board if they want but I believe Soccer General Theriault's team can cash any check I write on their behalf!

The second opponent for Soccer General Theriault's team is Chromatika. Chromatika is somehow ranked 8th but they have yet to announce their roster and I can't find any coverage of their team's dominant World Cup Qualifying campaign in their media. They seem to be convinced that they can rest on their laurels and still make it out of the World Cup's group stage. Well, that's not how things work in this sport or any other sport! You have to keep evolving, keep changing, keep getting better or eventually everybody else just catches up with you and you suddenly start sucking instead of winning. Sooner or later, that's going to happen to Chromatika if they don't start practicing on a regular schedule again. They may be ranked #8 but they are a paper tiger.

Finally, there is Saltstead, a team that actually shows promise. They may be the 4th seed in the group but they're known for having scratched and clawed to get here. While they actually finished 3rd in their qualifying group, the second place team in their group failed to fill out the paperwork to participate in the World Cup Playoffs in a timely manner so the hosting committee ejected them from the World Cup and gave their playoff spot to Saltstead. Saltstead was then matched up against a very tough Drawkland team and surprisingly managed to squeak past them and into the World Cup. Many say they're not going to pose a serious threat in the World Cup but it wouldn't surprise me if they ended up coming out of this group.

The other 3 groups in the Free Republics are absolutely stacked with #1 Eura, #3 Brenecia and #4 The Holy Empire all playing in our Federation. Brenecia, believe it or not, are actually the current World Cup champions rather than just a 2nd rate Nephara knockoff. Yeah, the soccer world is upside down these days. But Eura and The Holy Empire are legendary powers that have always been among the best teams in the multiverse. Also playing on the Republican side are the likes of Starblaydia, Audioslavia and Kita-Hinode. Kita-Hinode is apparently the former Sunrise Islands but I haven't really bothered to look into why they changed their name or why they aren't ranked in the top 5 anymore. While the list of teams playing in Banija is also loaded with star power, I'd say that the Republican side of the World Cup looks much stronger. I certainly can't imagine that South Covello is happy being drawn into a Group of Death with 3 of the greatest soccer teams of the last 20 years. They'd probably be happier having that moron John Gray or whatever his name was as their president. Then they could be losing wars instead of losing soccer matches! I also don't get why foreign countries call their leaders a "president". That doesn't exactly sound very important when a president is the executive of a Republic. A consul, like Kyle Bolton, is a co-leader of the free multiverse and is such a cooler name for a national leader!

I guess I could go on and on and on but the World Cup is now and the World Cup is in the Free Republics! Be sure to buy a ticket to the World Cup Concert if you're in Republica and listen to the best singers from around the multiverse celebrate the sport of soccer's greatest tournament. Be sure to join in the celebration as we prepare to crown a champion of the 81st annual World Cup and make sure to tell me in the comment section who you think is going to be the next World Cup champion!

Nova Hellstrom-Hancock is the editor-in-chief of Sporting World, the coach for the Republican National Soccer Team, LLC Cheerleading Squad and one of the most decorated champions in the history of the (old) Republican Wrestling Conglomerate where she won the World Ladies Championship on 7 different occasions. At one time, she was a part-time international sports correspondent for Sporting World and a co-chair of the World Cup 68 Seeding Committee. She got her start covering high school soccer for the Petrograd Times before working for Sporting World. At one time, she played girls soccer for Petrograd Christian School. She was Sporting World's correspondent at the 27th Di Bradini Cup, the 52nd Baptism of Fire and during qualifying for the 65th World Cup before transitioning into a successful career as a professional wrestler. She lives in Falatulu with her ~~slave~~ husband Kieran.

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Press Release

World Cup Factsheet—Football Association of the Commonwealth of Baker Park
(for general release; further information available-- contact Sasha Henderson, FAC Director of Media/Press Relations)

As they prepare for their second consecutive World Cup Finals appearance, the Commonwealth National Team and the FAC are approaching several milestones.

Richmond to surpass "Mr. Charlie": National Team Manager Trevor Richmond will need his own page in the record books of the FAC. Since taking over the reins in 2012, Richmond has won 38 matches against only 20 defeats and 13 draws. The 71 matches he has been in charge are second most all time, as well as the victory count. Both records are held by former manager George Charleston, who led the National Team for 11 years between 1981 and 1992. Charleston won 43 of his 77 matches in charge with only 22 losses and 12 draws (which as you might guess are also record totals!) and was instrumental in restoring the tradition of short, fast passing soccer to Baker Park's national team setup. Charleston was also a link to the FAC's early days, as he won 15 caps for the Commonwealth between 1952 and 1958 and played on the team that recorded the first ever victory and the first home victory for Baker Park's National Team. "Mr. Charlie" was beloved by supporters and players for his folksy, down to earth demeanor. One of his final public appearances at a match was the playoff first leg versus Qasden at Keller Field. He died last year from complications due to pneumonia, but the shirts worn by both of the squads during qualifying had his name stitched inside of the collar in his memory.

Scott also makes history: Women's National Team Manager Pamela Scott, who will assist Richmond during World Cup 81, also has rewritten an entry in the record book. With her stints as manager during the Baptism of Fire, the AOCAF LVI and leading the Gold Squad during the qualifying tournament, Scott has now amassed a record of 13-3-2, which moves her past former manager Alan Lilly into 4th on the all-time managerial wins list.

Number 1 makes 60: When the National Team take the field at Nail Frolov Colosseum in the Free Republics to face current World Champions Brenecia, it will be the 60th match for the Commonwealth in the NSSports era (full senior team only). To date, the Commonwealth have shown to be competitive with almost all their opponents; they have rolled up 35 wins and 9 draws in the previous 59 matches.

Familiar Faces: Four other nations the Commonwealth faced during the qualifying for World Cup 80 have made it to the tournament—Darmen, South Covello and Kita-Hinode all were group opponents and Qasden were the opponent in the 2 legged playoff. Additionally, Apox earned a spot after having been the opponents in a friendly way back prior to qualifying this time around, and of course Banija are co-hosts along with Free Republics, both of whom the National Team faced in friendlies prior to the draw.

Group H rated toughest: A story from one media outlet in Mriin—the second matchday opponent—has compared the relative strength of the 8 groups based on the average of the rankings of the teams in each cohort. The conclusion was that Baker Park's group will be certainly be a good candidate for "Group of Death" as the average ranking of the four sides is 15.75, which is just a bit more than the Commonwealth's actual rank of 30.

Coverage and Support: All three matches will be shown live on CBC1, with Mark Tolbert and Craig Snyder handling the commentary and David Blake hosting an in-studio panel for the pre & post game analysis. All of the "Big Four" National newspapers have reporters on hand. The estimated number of supporters traveling from the Commonwealth is expected to be much higher than it was for the matches in Starblaydia. As many as 15,000 citizens are thought to have arrangements for departure from Baker Park to Republica, the capital of the Free Republics as well as other major cities.

Captain on Deck: As has been the tradition of FAC teams since the advent of the mixed-sex squads. players held a secret ballot on arrival here in Free Republics to vote on co-captains—one male, one female—and the results were not a surprise. Matt Villareal and Faith Enzikomibo were selected, a repeat of the decision at Equestar 80.

Gold on Hold: Much was made about the group of players under the age of 25 who represent the FAC's investment into youth development under the leadership of FAC Executive Director David Carlson. However, it'll probably be another day until we see those players. Only midfielders Jamari Bozeman and Annabeth Westmoreland are under the age of 27 of the players who made the final roster. But for many of the younger generation, the qualifying process was a huge step forward for many of them.

by **Starblaydia** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 7:30 pm

"Zack Romero, ladies and gentlemen, your host for The Truth Thank you once again for joining me this hour for your daily dose of no-spin commentary and opinion on the current events of our great nation. Fides, Gloria, Sanguis, those are the words we live by, our national motto and a call to arms across this great nation, from Foxchester to Farca, from the shores of the wonderful Lake Bekk to the mountains, the plains, and the islands that lay scattered in the Straight of Champions. Fides, Gloria, Sanguis.

"But what do those words mean? Of course we all know them, we recite them daily in our schools and more-reputable places of business - one expection to this I know is our un-patriotic and dis-honourable Sjarondai, where these beaurocrats who pretend to represent the people go about their business. I say 'business' because these people obviously don't work for a living, they scratch and claw their way up the greasy pole of lobbyists and corporate interests until they get firmly on the gravy train in this, our exploited system of democracy.

"This, good people of Starblaydia, is where we have lost our way. I always tell you that the greatest to ever live among us, our beloved late Lord-Protector, Tiberius Starblayde, had the right of it. To be honest, I think he was probably correct in practically everything he did, but one time where he had it completely bang-on was in how his government was laid out. Do you remember it? The dream of a single, strong leader, surrounded, supported and uplifted by civic-minded businessmen, experts and loyal citizens who really knew their stuff. I mean, do you remember that the Minister for Sports at the time once led the national team to an international trophy? That was the real time to be alive, now we just have a bunch of Elves running the show in this country, and maybe even soon to run the whole football world. And the ones here aren't even Starblaydi! Can you imagine it, Liga Starblaydia not even properly administered by Starblaydi folk.

"But that's beside the point, my friends, just one of many tangents that you're surely used to me taking by now, one that Producer Cedric always make sure I'm not straying too far away from the original topic, noting them down, saving them as talking points for future shows. Aren't you, Cedric?

"Well get writing these pearls of wisdom down then! For crying out loud, can't get the staff these days...

"And you know what, friends, I don't even believe that it's Producer Cedric's fault. No, it's the system that's failed him. He's not been brought up, like you and me, to think for himself. He's been programmed, brainwashed if you will, to believe that this is the way it's supposed to be. But you know, and I know, that it's not!

"Consensus, and focus groups, and lobbyists and money and power and hang it all! That's not how it's supposed to be! That's not the natural order of things in this country! We value leadership, and strength, and vision. We eat, sleep and breathe honour and glory, it's in our blood, and the way it is now ain't the way it's supposed to be, it ain't the way it works around here, and it ain't the way we want.

"Starblaydia needs a single strong leader who sets the course, who makes the decisions, who leads us into that bold new light of the future. Forwards, not back. Not dithering from side to side like we do now with these dis-Honourable Representatives representing nothing but themselves in the hallowed halls of our Sjarondai.

"You remember what the Sjarondai was originally? Did they teach you that in your neurological programming centre they called a school, Producer Cedric? I doubt it! It was a council of Lords, warriors to a man, who advised the Lord-Protector even in the most ancient days of Starblaydia. That's what they should be, ladies and gentlemen, advising our wonderful young Lady-Protector, Korra Starblayde.

"She's the latest in a long line of Starblaydes, she's the granddaughter of the great Tiberius, from a noble and ancient line on both sides. She's the real deal, ladies and gentlemen, she deserves our support, and in turn, we deserve the best that she has to offer us. And I believe that best, that best that she can do, is for the good of Starblaydia. But only, only if she is allowed to weild the political power that she's supposed to! Not merely to rubber-stamp all the corporate interests that come her way through the tained and corrupt - yes I said corrupt, it's true, believe it, they're corrupt as a Casaran referee - the tainted and corrupt Sjarondai.

"Nobody else will tell you the truth, you know, only me, Zack Romero, and you're tuned into The Truth with Zack Romero. But right now, I must ask you, plead with you, to listen to these short messages from our sponsors, because they keep us on the airwaves, folks, if it wasn't for them, I couldn't be transmitting the truth to you right now. It's the only way we stay on the air, so please listen to their fine products they have for sale, I guarantee you'll find one that's right for you in this quick break."

Viannor had wondered how long it would take Romero to get to this point. She understood the need for planting the seed of an idea, how long these things needed to take root and germinate, but this oaf certainly did like to take his time with it. He'd been banging on about the corruption of the Sjarondai - Starblaydia's parliament - for weeks now, only mentioning her, as Lady-Protector Korra Starblayde, in passing as something wonderful set against it.

Now he was starting, as instructed, to call for more powers to be given back to her. It was good that he was mentioning Tiberius, though, people still did seem to really love him. Or, at least, they remembered how good life was supposed to have been under him. They never mentioned Viannor's previous reign, as herself; that seeed to be some dark unspoken of period. It was always the same with the Starblaydi; if they weren't playing international football at the time, they didn't want to know what was going on for anything else.

Now, though, the Starblaydi team were once again in at the top table in the world of international football, and the patriotic wave was rolling steadily around the country, polls showing how much prouder people were of their country than a decade before.

She would use that, more effectively than before. This time the iron fist would be wrapped in the silk glove, and they wouldn't know what hit them until it was too late.

by **Vilita** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 7:49 pm

Patriots tame Jungle Cats in Cup of Champions Final

Gem of the Oceans Stadium, Republica, Free Republics :: After dropping the Cup of Champions opener to the host nation Free Republics, the Vilita Jungle Cats strung off three consecutive victories including a 3-2 semi-final victory over World Cup 81 co-host nation Banija to advance to the Cup of Champions final for the second time. While the tournament was certainly important to the Football Association of Vilita - any chance to come home with silverware is valued highly by any competitive sporting entity, they also could not lose sight of the fact that the World Cup 81 Finals were on the horizon. As a result, the Jungle Cats would be taking the field in the final of a competitive internationstatal competition of champion nations against the defending World Cup Champions and a Top 5 ranked nation in the multiverse, with a 17 year old Tropicorp Lower League based goalkeeper between the posts who has played as many career games for the Vilitan National Team during the week long Cup of Champions as they had in the rest of their professional internationstatal career combined.

With projected starting World Cup 81 netminder Mako Canopii on the mend after leaving the third group stage matchday derby with the Island Emirate of Turori early, however, the Vilitan National Team staff were not going to risk making a small injury worse and potentially lose the Yeaddin Owls goalkeeper for an extended period of time or, even worse, for the World Cup 81 finals.

The fans showed energy at the Gem of the Oceans Stadium in Republica despite the fact that the home nation had been eliminated in the Semi-Final by the Brenecians. The energy was well absorbed by the Jungle Cats who leveraged top goalscorer Berali Tzufarei to set an early tone in the championship match, the Rammsissil forward wasting no time putting the Vilita National Team in front with a hard third minute strike that left Brenecian netminder Calhoun with no way to respond as the ball found the back of the net in what seemed like a perfect start for the Vilitans.

Instead, however, the goal seemed to settle the Jungle Cats into an uncomfortable defensive funk as they seemed to be content and proud of the goal they scored instead of driven to score another while on the other side, the Brenecians seemed to take fire from the challenge of responding to the Vilitans early tally. It wouldn't take long before the Brenecians responded through Banshee Strider who leveled the score and reset the Jungle Cats and the Patriots back on level terms for the final 80 minutes.

The momentum would flow back and forth throughout the match and no team could get out to a clear advantage, whenever one team scored the other would respond within minutes to level the scores once more. Goals by Sipke Tarala and Linvoi Warazil were cancelled out by the Patriots Garwyn Varney and Keyney. Then Brenecia would open things up scoring a pair of goals to take a 5-3 advantage. Sipke Tarala would pull a goal back for the Jungle Cats in stoppage time but their late push with Sanamun in the penalty area challenging on two back to back corner kicks ultimately yielded no further goals as the Full senior Vilita National Team suffered the agony of defeat in a competitive international tournament final match for the first time in the modern era.

As the full time whistle blew, the Vilitan players were left with an unfamiliar feeling of performing well enough to contest a Championship Game but not well enough to lift the trophy. The collected their silver medals then watched on uncomfortably as the Brenecians claimed their third consecutive international tournament gold medals and then shared in the euphoria of the trophy lift in front of the cameras. It was the third time that the Jungle Cats had finished on the podium in the Cup of Champions. The third consecutive time amongst the competitions they contested. But this time was the first time they had lost. They had won the Cup of Champions 3rd edition over the Polar Islandstates and while they didn't win the 4th Cup of Champions, they were eliminated at the Semi-Final stage which allowed them to fight for a medal in the third place playoff and win. To redeem yourself after a semi-final defeat to come back and earn a podium finish and a bronze medal was, as some players realized, far more uplifting then to contest the final, leave it all out on the field, lose the match, then have to stick around to collect the losers silver medals. The Vilitans were made to stay on the side of the field watching the whole ceremony as the national team staff hoped that their players would use the experience as a motivator should they ever reach a notable competitive international competition final match again.

Vilita [4] - [5] Brenecia

:: Vilita Goalscorers ::
:: 3' Berali Tzufarei
:: 30' Sipke Tarala
:: 52' Linvoi Warazil
:: 90' Sipke Tarala

:: Vilita Statistics ::
:: Possession: 48%
:: Shots on Target: 8
:: Corner Kicks: 10

:: Brenecia Statistics ::
:: Possession: 52%
:: Shots on Target: 12
:: Corner Kicks: 9

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Brenecia ::
[GK] Vernasa Sanamun, [D.] Linkat Cjinder, [D.] Mileke Drokasorna, [D.] Kwuimekii Hentetii, [ML] Westii Yahaya, [MC] Polaox Torerun, [MC] Cavuna Aquafek, [MR] Limu Katarakhna, [FC] Nii'arala Milaaso, [FC] Berali Tzufarei, [FC] Sipke Tarala
BENCH::
[FC] Linvoi Warazil, [FC] Fishtii Blikala, [M] Jurzen Devmiko, [M] Va'a-Rio Kiwavn, [U ] Jirak Trikala, [D] Rintala Sekagaya, [GK] Mako Canopii

Last.fm · by **Cosumar** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:09 pm

Breaking down the World Cup cut:
Who's in, who's out, and what it means for that "Group of Death"

The groups are drawn, the schedule is finalized and even the warm-up friendlies have been played. You know what that means -- the stage is set in Free Republics and Banija for World Cup 81. Quite literally. There will be an actual stage this year. All that's left is for the 32 participating federations to submit their final 23-man rosters so the players can start counting down the days.

For some nations, not much is made of that announcement. It's a formality. For a nation like Cosumar that seems to produce professional soccer players on a factory conveyor belt these days, slimming the ranks to that final 23 is a major undertaking full of tradeoffs, fanfare and drama. All 40 players at manager Alexander Pearce's disposal were given multiple meaningful matches to play in Qualifying. At least a dozen more players outside that pool still merited significant consideration for inclusion too.

After a 16-hour nonstop session at the Fiefdom Soccer Federation headquarters in Kaldukosic, however, Pearce and FSF officials were able to settle upon a final selection that they feel gives the Fiefdom the best chance to make a deep run at World Cup 81. Pearce and FSF President Tómas Navarro were photographed leaving the building at 3 a.m., and the official press release was held at sunrise a few hours later. For all of us in the Cosumarite media to start picking apart, of course.

Let's break down their choices by position. Each player that received a cap in Qualifying is listed below with their relevant group and stats in those appearances. Cuts are "greyed out". Those in black will be on the plane to Free Republics.

Goalkeeper (3

2)

GK 	Shjegrzh Na’Kefir	27m	Handon United	        [SCT]   6 GA in 13 starts,7 clean sheets
GK 	Vance Commerford	29m	Aries Chariots   	[NPH]   4 GA in 5 starts, 2 clean sheets
GK 	Hansi Weschler	        26m	Crawford City FC     	[COS]   1 GA in 3 starts, 2 clean sheets

There was talk that the first-choice goalkeeper role could be up for grabs after Na'Kefir's shaky debut on the biggest stage in World Cup 80 Finals. But he still looks and feels like the best keeper of the bunch by the eye test. The Vloo was resplendent again in Qualifying, giving Alexander Pearce no reason to move away from him. Or even a reason to seriously consider Commerford or Weschler, even though they did little wrong themselves. Na'Kefir was just THAT good this year, securing shut-outs in over half of his starts. He made big stops, he commanded the box, he exuded calmness with the ball.

Differentiating between Commerford and Weschler for the back-up role, however, becomes much more subjective - given their limited sample sizes in the Dragonshirt. The usual pro-HL platoon on Cosumarite message boards railed on and on about Weschler's superior potential, while the "take whoever plays in the best league" crowd also made their voices heard. Pearce apparently wasn't buying the latter argument for Commerford, though it was probably the Chariots stopper's pair of gaffes early in Qualifying against Saint Emelie that cost him the battle moreso than anything Weschler did. Take MD3 away and Commerford and Weschler had near-identical showings. But still... if you couldn't catch a corner against Saint Emelie, how can Pearce trust you to do it against Brenecia? Weschler caught all of his corners. Weschler's going to the World Cup.

Left Back (3

2)

LB	Bacary Na’Kale		30m	Mâ Âlâmëómë 		[FFD]    13 apps, 2 assists
LB	Berk Lechjakr		26m	Ausharmuj Marusi 	[FFD]     6 apps
LB	Alexis Brill		29f	Violence Chariots       [NPH]     3 apps, 2 assists

Fairly straightforward. You have one of Cosumar's best-ever position players locking up the first of two spots. Bacary Na'Kale is probably the very first name Pearce wrote on his team sheet for defense. The Vloo is a coach's dream with his ability to consistently contribute offensive production from left back and versatility to defend centrally. It was always going to be Brill vs. Lechjakr for that second spot, just as hit has been for the last three cycles. The balance of power there has flip-flopped over the last few years though. Although Brill beat out a young Lechjakr to make the World Cup 79 roster, the Farf-sculpted back has improved leaps and bounds since then. He put in some seriously impressive displays on the attacking end in World Cup 80. This cycle, Lechjakr showed off a more complete game, looking much stronger in defense as well. He's a vastly underrated player with few weaknesses, and won this battle with some ease. The Vanquishers allowed only 0.5 goals per 90 minutes he was on the pitch. Alexis Brill is still going strong in Nephara and has a great attitude, but she just hasn't been as impactful in the Dragonshirt as Berk since the turn of the World Cup decade. Her two assists this cycle both game in garbage time of a 6-0 friendly win.

Center Back (6

3)

CB 	Peter Svensson		34m	AFC Treason 		[NPH]
CB      Torbjörn Jorgensen	31m	Raynor City United	[VAL]
CB      Kurt Wolff      	27m	Real Azuris 	        [COS]
CB      Kadija Na'Duha      	25f	Violence Chariots 	[NPH]
CB	Tomi Jakoljevic         28m     Samaj FC          	[COS]
CB      Horatius Chaumancer	22m	Centralis Heart		[ETM]

On paper, Peter Svensson and Torbjörn Jorgensen are the obvious first-choice pairing in central defense. They may be getting older, but the next few months are about the present, not the future. Svensson is the captain and most experienced, while Jorgensen is in immense form and playing at a Champions' Cup level with Raynor City United. That's a titanic duo with more than enough weight in trophies to anchor a World Cup run. The back-up spot likely came down to Kurt Wolff vs. Horatius Chaumancer. Ok, no, it definitely did. The above were the four most impressive CBs throughout Qualifying. Tomi Jakoljevic and Kadija Na'Duha showed well in their chances, but didn't quite do enough to unseat that core quartet. Others like Corella da Silva, Alfred Tidesson and Capsin Sibuc won't be surprised to not get the call this week, but will still be disappointed that they didn't even get that chance to earn it.

Now back to Wolff or Chaumancer for CB3. Surprisingly, Alexander Pearce opted for the young buck from Mortim over the former Galactico finalist from a few miles south in Pelethas. Yup, Kurt Wolff is the first real surprise exclusion from this squad. He's basically Svensson B with his rare combination of physical grit and technical nous -- and that's not a bad thing to be at all. The astonishingly brawny Chaumancer, though, is a big personality who has commanded the respect of the team - and Alexander Pearce - on and off the pitch. This seems like a calculated move to groom him for a World Cup 82 starting job. Even if Chaumancer's not better than Wolff yet, Pearce is clearly investing in the probability that he will be (and that the Centralis Heart man is already more than capable of holding his own if thrown into the action in Free Republics).

If three seems light, keep in mind that fullbacks Na'Kale and Karigomu can also play centrally in a pinch, giving Pearce options to cover. That fourth CB spot allowed him to squeeze in another forward option, where individual nuances become much more tactically meaningful from opponent to opponent.

Right Back (3

2)

RB	Ville Pakkanen	        28m   	Newrook City 	        [NPH]    11 apps, 1 goal, 4 assists
RB	Tevreness Bale	        27m   	Tanrısal 		[PAS]     7 apps
RB	Ambrose Karigomu	28m   	Pikemouth         	[BRE]     6 apps, 1 assist

>>The first and most startling shocker. Behind presumed starter Pakkanen, Tevreness Bale's superior experience, technicality and club level lost out to Ambrose Karigomu's... hustle? Ability to play on shoddy pitches? To slide in and play CB? I honestly thought there was a better chance of Euraleague starter Tug Cooper or needlessly-exiled veteran Mo Chisenhall jumping back into the picture than Pearce straight-up taking Karigomu over Bale. I suppose it makes sense if you don't think Bale gives you anything that you don't already have in Pakkanen, who will be playing most of the minutes anyways. Pakkanen's a race car on the right side. Better hope he doesn't blow a tire. Romikk Valgard would probably cry. The striker struck up a beautiful chemistry with Cosumar's new go-to overlapping threat recently. He was the recipient of both of Pakkanen's assists in the second half of Qualifying (and nearly a few more).

Defensive Midfield (2

1)

DM	Viablaine               28f	Rozelle              	[BRE]     4 apps
DM	Ivan Hemeyer            27m	Southfell United 	[NPH]     2 apps, 2 assists

The role of the designated "pure DM" on this roster is usually to come on late and simply kill things off when the game is won. There's definitely not room to use TWO precious, precious spots on both of the defensive midfielders that were sparingly used in Qualifying. Especially considering Stig Söderquist is more than capable of playing that role. So... which was better? Viablaine or Haywire? Tough to be certain given their limited minutes, but we give the edge to Viablaine. She was massive in that ugly Matchday 15 win against Tanzanique, completely turning the tide of the game after coming on at half time. That probably punched her ticket. She also proved her ability to play a sound full 90, starting two matches in Qualifying as the crucial base of the midfield in the preferred 4-1-3-2. Both wins. Pearce has only ever trusted Hemeyer as a wildcard sub to be thrown in for midfield numbers. Ivan has a continued future with Pearce's team if he continues to build his name in Nephara, but Viablaine is the more complete (and disciplined) player at this point in time, especially coming off a title season of accolades in Rozelle.

Central Midfield (6

3)

CM	Stig Söderquist	        30m	Brinemouth 	        [NPH]     9 apps
CM	Kai-Kai Mokumdarian   	22m	Cornellians	        [SCT]    14 apps, 2 goals, 2 assists
CM	Karlus Sjunitsson   	26m	Mallox	                [COS]     4 apps
CM	Hidalgo Antúnes   	25m	Real Azuris 	        [COS]     7 apps, 1 goal
CM	Dexter Tricklebank   	23m	Falourr	                [EUR]     2 apps
CM	Will Couturiaux         30m	Newrook City	        [NPH]     5 apps

Now this is where the headaches must've started setting in for Pearce and his staff. Unlike with, say, goalkeeper or left back, it's not about simply picking the best players out of a group. We know how Pearce loves to have multiple formations up his sleeve for each match. That tactical flexibility is borne in the midfield, initiated by shifting how the mids line up and play more than anything else. So he had to get this right. He needs three guys whose skill sets stretch to cover as much tactical ground as possible. A meticulous pre-planner, he probably already knows what formations he wants to employ against Mriin, Brenecia and Baker Park. But you never know who will be around the next corner! Or - hopefully - the one after that! With this in mind, we can kind of see what he was going for by looking at the selections. There was never a scenario in which Kai-Kai Mokumdarian wouldn't make the cut. Even despite some growing pains in Qualifying. We were just talking about versatility? With his unparalleled athleticism and unique ability to control a match by starting deep and driving forward, Kai-Kai is the most versatile midfielder in this group.

>>Stig Söderquist, seen as a first-choice lock by some fans, was a dark horse pick for a surprise cut by others. His grip on first-choice status seemed to be waning more than a little in Qualifying, with Pearce resting him frequently, teasing the prospect of Mokumdarian as the lone center mid rather than as Stig's partner, and giving some inviting chances to Karlus Sjunitsson - an extremely similar player. But never fear. Stig is here. He may not get people excited, but he's just too damn good at what he does to leave out. He's never rattled. He's been there, done that. He's intelligent, diligent. He's responsible. He keeps things simple. You need players like that in your midfield, especially against World Cup-caliber opponents. So that basically eliminated Sjunitsson. You know Pearce's rule: no Two of a Kinds.

That leaves a few interesting toys for Pearce to play with for the third spot. You have Couturiaux, the set-piece and long-range passing specialist with questionable defensive work rate. Dexter Tricklebank, the young box-to-box busybody currently making trying to make his way in a prestigious league. And Hidalgo Antúnes, a midfielder of genuine flair and attacking flavor, often billed as Bryger Tidesson's sidekick at Real. Pearce probably wanted someone here who is comfortable operating primarily further up the pitch since Stig and Mokumdarian are typically deeper-lying center mids.

That narrows the field to Couturiaux and Antúnes. The former's set-piece deliveries are enticing, but Pearce probably made the right choice in the end by selecting Antúnes to his first World Cup. Aside from his obvious chemistry with Tidesson, the Azuris native had a strong Qualifying that complemented his breakout domestic season. His goal in the Free Republics friendly was meaningless, but it sure was a beauty! Further down the road, Antúnes helped Cosumar seal the win against Tasrailia in Matchday 13 when he came on and changed the energy of the match. He probably cemented his trust in Pearce's eyes when he started the final match of Qualifying against a WC-quality Juvencus as one of the two in a 3-4-2-1 and contributed well to the statement win. Hidalgo's so crafty with the ball that he also offers cover at the critical CAM position in the 4-1-3-2, allowing Pearce to save a spot there.

Left Midfield (3

2)

CM/LM   Bellerophon Serafino    30m	Cassandra City	        [COS]    12 apps, 3 goals, 1 assist
LM      Lorelei Neptune		26f	AFC Treason		[NPH]     8 apps, 1 assist
LM      Mehmet Curwyk		24m 	Port Sebastian	        [SCT]     7 apps, 1 assist

Serafino is one of "Pearce's guys". He brought Belle in when he took over and "the pegasus" has rewarded him by becoming one of Cosumar's most important players in the manager's successful tenure, able to be deployed across the midfield with work rate second to none. He's more guaranteed than "your money back" on a five-minute infomercial. That leaves... Neptune and Curwyk. Unlike the hybrid chameleon Serafino, both are entirely appropriately labeled as "wingers" first and foremost, but each bring very different skills to the table. Neptune is a straight-ahead force, all pace, stamina and powerful crosses and shots. Curwyk is smaller but perhaps quicker in tight spaces, relying on his technique and dribbling to create with finesse out wide. Despite their unique attributes, neither were particularly effective in Qualifying, leaving a chance to lock up a spot gaping w i d e o p e n. Just one assist each from a decent chunk of caps. Curwyk gets points because his assist was a game-winner against a marginally tougher opponent, but it's apparently not enough to move him past Neptune, who just feels like the better and more proven player.

Right Midfield (3

2)

LM/RM   Semyon Yucob		30m 	Helfin Fief	        [COS]     4 apps, 2 goals, 1 assist
RM	Bryger Tidesson	        24m	Real Azuris        	[COS]    12 apps, 4 goals, 4 assists
RM	Hakki Ojala        	26m	Sabrefell Athletic      [NPH]     6 apps, 1 goal, 2 assists

The former Young Galactico was brilliant in the first leg of qualifying! 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 starts! And then in the second leg, he..... disappeared. But still. He's Bryger Tidesson. He's still one of the elite players in our pool even on a bad day. Alexander Pearce is going to want his hand-placed passes and audacious "take defenders on" mentality on the pitch at all times, so (*knock on wood*) it almost doesn't matter who is chosen as the second right winger in Free Republics. Semyon Yucob had some moments in Qualifying (which everyone was glad to see him finally get after his various setbacks) and was arguably more dangerous than Ojala, but Hakki's big-game experience and - again - extreme versatility (need a RW? LW? CM? AM?) doubtlessly spoke to Pearce. Ojala is quietly having his best cycle since switching over from Anglatia himself. He's not known as a clutch performer by Cosumarite fans, who largely remain skeptical of his commitment, but he scored an 89th minute winner away at The Macabees on Matchday 7 that was absolutely crucial at the time. Here's hoping he's got more of that Hakki-Magick in the cards.

Central Attacking Midfield (3

1)

AM	Isla Sibučić		24f	Cornellians       	[SCT]    12 apps, 6 goals, 4 assists
AM	Alora Heher       	31f	Rozelle           	[BRE]     4 apps, 2 assists
AM	Tofer Kahlor       	24m	Oljestaden IF      	[AUD]     4 apps, 1 assist

>>Sibučić had her coming-out cycle in the Dragonshirt, finally matching her Cornellians stat-sheet productivity. If there's really only going to be one true CAM on the roster, then yeah... this is a no-brainer. The numbers are there for all to see. Talk of her being a "club over country" performer will be quelled for good if she continues at this rate in Free Republics. The surprise is that Pearce didn't think Heher or Kahlor were worth having on the bench for insurance. I suppose that's why he invested in versatility with the rest of the roster - to save a spot here. Hidalgo Antúnes, Hakki Ojala and even Bryger can all create in the hole. Not quite like Isla does it, but then again - no one can.

Forwards (8

5)

F LRC	Charles Dyer Vry     	26m	Cassandra City		[COS]     6 apps, 1 goal
F LRC	Sen Marsteller  	25f	OAS Royal FC	        [COS]     6 apps, 2 goals
ST	Romikk Valgard       	29m	Ulsa                    [EUR]    11 apps,10 goals, 4 assists
ST	Ragnar Targaryen 	30m	CA Paulinthal    	[PAS]     9 apps, 5 goals, 5 assists
ST	Vega Zeale-Riddick  	26f	Cassandra City	        [COS]     4 apps, 4 goals
ST	Airik Ruhl       	28m	Crisisbless             [NPH]     6 apps, 6 goals
ST	Dakota Blaylock       	26m  	Kirk Preston United	[SCT]     4 apps, 1 goal
ST	Aron Riise  	        23m	Helfin Fief         	[COS]     2 apps, 2 goals, 2 assists

We saved the best debate for last, obviously. Let's get the locks out of the way first before you light the comment section up. Romikk Valgard. Leaned upon heavily in Qualifying and repaid Pearce's faith with basically a goal every game. Ragnar Targaryen. Valgard's partner-in-crime and former Galactico. Created tons of chances in Qualifying. VZR. Form of her life. Ruhl. Vowed to make sure Pearce couldn't snub him again after the infamous World Cup 80 miss and did just that with five goals in the second half of qualifying, including a hat trick against The Macabees and a late winner to top Juvencus. The only question is which of these four locked-in striker(s) will start come the opener against Mriin. Your guess is as good as ours. There's no "ride the hot hand" options. Look at their goal ratios. They're all on the maximum oven setting. 600F.

But... wait! That leaves just one more spot between the other four players started up top this cycle. Not to mention players originally excluded from the pool like Kathryn Kvanderwyk (practically Pearce's daughter), Sett Horn and Vesina Va'Lepeh -- all of whom could be in line for big moves this window. But let's keep the focus on those four on-the-bubble strikers we watched in Qualifying. All had big individual moments. Riise's were the most visually eye-catching, but were against weak opponents and Sen Marsteller has more of a sample size this cycle and last. Striker is a position where you need a diverse collective to threaten different defenses in different ways, and both Marsteller and Charles Dyer Vry bring that versatility of playing alone centrally, with a partner or out wide. Dakota Blaylock has the weakest case, but even he scored an ice-cold penalty! In the end, Pearce went with flexibility. Surprise, surprise. Sen Marsteller makes the roster again, following up her World Cup 80 debut. Probably deserved, considering she impressed mightily in that tournament and held her ground well enough this year.

>>But that makes Aron Riise perhaps the buzziest cut of them all. Everyone was sure that the youngest striker in the group would get to tag along after capturing headlines after his 10/10 performances in his first two caps, earning comparisons to the rapid rise of Romikk Valgard. But Alexander Pearce didn't let the hype sway him and made the decision he thought would be best for the collective. Aron Riise... his time to shine will certainly come in the next AOCAF. Until then, he can focus on making an impact wherever he'll be playing club football next season.

In summation, these are the players that will don the Dragonshirt for Cosumar at the main event: the 81st World Cup! Take a good look at that full list.

Cosumar Final Roster for World Cup 81
GK 	Shjegrzh Na’Kefir	27m	Handon United	        [SCT]
GK 	Hansi Weschler	        26m	Crawford City FC     	[COS]
LB	Bacary Na’Kale		30m	Mâ Âlâmëómë 		[FFD]
LB	Berk Lechjakr		26m	Ausharmuj Marusi 	[FFD]
CB 	Peter Svensson		34m	AFC Treason 		[NPH]
CB      Torbjörn Jorgensen	31m	Raynor City United	[VAL]
CB      Horatius Chaumancer	22m	Centralis Heart		[ETM]
RB	Ville Pakkanen	        28m   	Newrook City 	        [NPH]
RB	Ambrose Karigomu	28m   	Pikemouth         	[BRE]
DM	Viablaine               28f	Rozelle              	[BRE]
CM	Stig Söderquist	        30m	Brinemouth 	        [NPH]
CM	Kai-Kai Mokumdarian   	22m	Cornellians	        [SCT]
CM	Hidalgo Antúnes   	25m	Real Azuris 	        [COS]
CM/LM   Bellerophon Serafino    30m	Cassandra City	        [COS]
LM      Lorelei Neptune		26f	AFC Treason		[NPH]
RM	Bryger Tidesson	        24m	Real Azuris        	[COS]
RM	Hakki Ojala        	26m	Sabrefell Athletic      [NPH]
CAM	Isla Sibučić		24f	Cornellians       	[SCH]
F LRC	Sen Marsteller  	25f	OAS Royal FC	        [COS]
ST	Romikk Valgard       	29m	Ulsa                    [EUR]
ST	Ragnar Targaryen 	30m	CA Paulinthal    	[PAS]
ST	Vega Zeale-Riddick  	26f	Cassandra City	        [COS]
CF	Airik Ruhl       	28m	Crisisbless             [NPH]

Now that we know who this Cosumar team will be, we can start to talk about their chances in Group H.

So, yeah... let's talk about Group H. Perhaps it's a twist of karma for the relatively breezy Qualifying group that allowed the Vanquishers to compile a perfect record in the second half of Qualifying (the best second leg out of all 190 nations, to be precise). Perhaps it's Free Republics' revenge for the 6-0 thrashing we gave the hosts at the mid-qual break. But whatever the reason, Cosumar have been saddled with what is likely to be the most tightly-contested group of this cycle and of Alexander Pearce's World Cup tenure.

Brenecia. Mriin. The Commonwealth of Baker Park. It doesn't seem terribly intimidating at first glance. There are no vaunted legacy names like Valanora or Vilita or Nephara. But then you realize that those three names are the defending champions, AOCAF finalists and a new team experiencing one of the most meteoric rises... ever. This is essentially a group with a high Pot 1, two Pot 2s and a Pot 3. You'd bet on Cosumar to at least use their experience to take a point from Baker Park, but nothing else can be seen as anything but completely up-for-grabs.

Pearce has assembled a versatile group that ensures he will have a full toolkit at his disposal to engineer a way through this "Group of Death".

>>If we don't make it, it won't be because of these cuts. It won't be because we didn't have Tevreness Bale, Kurt Wolff, or Aron Riise. It will be because we weren't able to get the most out of the 23 tools we DO have. As has been the case for at least a decade now, Cosumar has World Cup talent on paper. The team sheet the FSF handed us at the press conference looks impressive. Can this be the assembly of 23 that finally makes all those gaudy names, clubs and stats fit together where it counts?

by Julie Nicholson
Courier Sports Editor

by **Free Republics** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 9:04 pm

Designed by 3WD of Vilita

This is your Matchday 1 Cutoff brought to you by Megaverse Sports! Megaverse Sports: The Official Video Game Global Partner for World Cup 81

Scores

by **Equestrian States** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 9:22 pm

-WORLD CUP 81 PREVIEW-
Group E: Ponies Up Against Familiar Faces in Group Stage
Chromatika, Saltstead join long-time Equestrian rivals & Cup hosts Free Republics in intriguing group
by Steve McNotapony

World Cup 81 kicks off next week with no clear-cut favorites to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament. Sure, there are a handful of teams that have been given better odds than others to go the distance, but unlike past years there is no obvious standout in the crowd. There's no golden age Schottian, Osarian, or Polarian powerhouse squad that's looking to run the table and cement their legacy as all-time legends, just a wild melee of solid contenders. Near the fringes of that group of championship hopefuls are the Equestrian States, one of over a dozen sides that could realistically dream of claiming the multiverse's most sought-after trophy. The Ponies' chances might not make them much more than outside dark horses in the race, but it's nowhere near as impossible as one would have expected just two cycles ago.

Last time around, at World Cup 80, the Ponies took full advantage of their host status, capitalizing on the free pass to the World Cup finals, home-field advantage, and a rather weak group draw to make their deepest-ever run in the World Cup despite entering the tournament ranked just 41st in the world, stunning 8th-ranked Chromatika en route to the quarterfinals. It was only the second time ever that the Equestrian States had made it to the quarterfinals in a WCC-sanctioned tournament, the first coming just one cycle earlier in the Cup of Harmony. The Ponies' underdog run came to an end in a tight match against eventual champions Brenecia, but the Equestrian States was finally back in the conversation of the multiverse's great hoofball teams after a prolonged absence. Strong outings over the last two cycles in the Cup of Harmony, World Cup, and the last two AOCAF Cups have neutrals buzzing over the Ponies' apparent revival.

The Equestrian States' commanding start to their qualifying fan further swelled supporter confidence to new highs as the Ponies dominated their fairly unremarkable Group 10 opponents in match after match, punctuated by a 3-0 demolition of second-seeded Saltstead in front of a silenced King William VII National Park crowd. Though the Equestrians' form dipped down the stretch and seemed to just limp over the finish line, the team's struggles have done little to dim the mood of fans who have long claimed the Ponies ought to be a regular contender not just for a spot at the World Cup table, but the seat at the very top of it. Supporters are desperate for a Ponies team that can stand eye-to-eye with the multiverse's best teams and assert their right to be feared.

At World Cup 80, the Equestrian States have been drawn into Group E alongside three sides they are quite familiar with: Free Republics, Chromatika, and Saltstead. Though the Ponies were in Pot 3 for the draw, missing out on a place in Pot 2 to 15th-ranked Ethane by the narrowest of margins, they will be the second seed in their group, with 34th-ranked co-hosts Free Republics acting as the group's Pot 1 team. Group E presents an interesting challenge for the Equestrians, with all of their opponents boasting a notable place in the Ponies' history in recent times and further back in the past. Free Republics are without question the most prominent remaining Equestrian rival, going back 16 cycles to their controversial meetings in World Cup 65 qualifying and at the 27th Di Bradini Cup Final which the Equestrians won and still have several active players from. Chromatika is a relatively new rival, but arguably the Ponies' highest-profile opponent in the last two cycles, the two Atlantian sides having clashed in the knockout rounds at both the 55th AOCAF Cup and 80th World Cup, each winning once. Finally, Saltstead is a brand-new rival, but certainly qualify for that title with their finals match set to be the fourth time the teams have faced off this cycle, the Ponies having emerged victorious in each of the first three. It's a tough group for the Ponies, despite seeming relatively easy at a cursory glance, but manager Pearly White has made clear her determination to prove her critics wrong with a repeat berth in the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time in team history.

Will this be the Ponies side that finally makes the penultimate leap into the multiverse's hoofball elite? Or will the struggles of the final stretch carry over to the finals and send the Equestrians home early? Can Equestrian superstars Gentle Breeze and Pristina Shine etch their names in World Cup lore? Or will the Ponies' standout name from this Cup come from elsewhere the deep Equestrian roster?

Read on, my friends, to find out...

#16 - Equestrian States
Finals Appearance: 10th (World Cup 64, 65, 66, 67*, 70*, 71, 72*, 73, 80*, 81)
Best Result: Quarterfinals (World Cup 80)
Manager:

Pearly White
World Cup 81 Qualifying: 13-3-2 (1st in Group 10; Automatic Qualification)
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Gentle Breeze (GK, #1); B. Hamilton (LB, #12); A. Molovi (CB, #8); Rumble (CB, #4); K. Bailey (RB, #19); Cloudchaser (CM, #2); Apple Cobbler (CM, #5); Luminesce (LM, #16); Rainbow Blitz (AM, #9); A. Aiza (RM, #25); Pristina Shine (ST, #10); Full Roster

Overview
The Equestrian States enters the World Cup intent on building off of last cycle's successes, but will face a trickier road to the quarterfinals than last time around, particularly in the knockout rounds, where Group F would likely produce a greater challenge than anything the Ponies have taken on before. But to even worry about the knockouts, the Equestrians must first escape the group stage, which also poses a serious obstacle to the Ponies' lofty ambitions. To make matters worse, the Equestrians haven't looked sharp as of late, despite strong outings in their post-qualifying friendlies against a couple of similarly-ranked sides in Mriin and Cosumar. An injury to veteran attacking midfielder and national team vice-captain Rainbow Blitz suffered in the friendly against Cosumar raises further questions about the Ponies' attack at a time when it's already under fire for poor performances in World Cup qualifying.

However, the Ponies still - at least publicly - have confidence and ambition to spare. To borrow from manager Pearly White's most recent press conference: "Of course we're confident. This is a team that has all the talent and experience it needs to be considered among the multiverse's best, it's just a matter of proving that on the pitch when it counts." Similarly, there's a real sense of expectations among Equestrian hoofball fans who won't be content with simply making it out of the group stage after tasting what the later rounds of the World Cup have to offer. Of course, there's good reason for the supporters' and players' ambitious outlook. The Equestrian States boasts one of the multiverse's top defensive corps backed by living legend Gentle Breeze in goal. No matter the opponent, one can count on the Ponies' defense to at least keep things close, with the 2-0 defeat against Brenecia in the quarterfinals the last time the Ponies have lost by more than one goal.

The Equestrians' confidence, quality, and experience could easily be the difference maker in what should be a competitive Group E that poses a real challenge to this Ponies team. If the Ponies are to succeed, they'll need to do it in front of what will surely be hostile local Republican crowds, far from the friendly shores of Equestria. Like Pearly White, I believe the Ponies' potential for greatness is plain to see, but the execution is where things have fallen apart in the past for similarly-talented Equestrian sides. Will World Cup 81 be remembered for the emergence of a new hoofball superpower in Atlantian Oceania's "Glorious Southwest," or will Equestrian fans' wait for a true title contender be prolonged another cycle?

How They Got Here
For the Ponies, the World Cup 81 qualifying campaign was a tale of two halves. Drawn into a fairly average and unremarkable Group 10, the Equestrians wasted little time establishing themselves as the group's team to beat. The Ponies didn't so much as concede a goal to their opponents until the fifth round of matches, and their only dropped points in the first ten games came from a wild 3-3 draw in East Belzaria that was an obvious outlier in the first half. In fact, at the end of the campaign, the three goals the Ponies let past in that match accounted for just under half the team's final total of seven.

Halfway through qualifying, it seemed inevitable that the Equestrian States would cruise comfortably into the World Cup, with a five point lead on second place Saltstead and an eight point advantage over a distant third place Garifunya, but then the campaign took a distinct turn for the worse. A 1-0 loss on the road to Garifunya initially seemed like just a minor setback, the Ponies rebounded with a 1-0 home win against Saltstead that restored their five point lead atop the table clinched the Equestrians any necessary tiebreakers between the top three teams in the group. However, the Equestrian States' form continued to fall off and the Ponies' formerly comfortable lead shrank until both Saltstead and Garifunya drew within one point with two matches to go after unranked East Belzaria stunned the Equestrians 1-0 on their own turf.

The Ponies needed to win out to clinch a spot in the World Cup, which they did with a pair of 1-0 victories over Lochario and Sharktail that weren't pretty but got the job done. The Equestrian States finished atop Group 10 and qualified for the finals without needing to face the much-dreaded qualifying playoffs. As for why the Ponies' second half went so poorly, the biggest factor has to be the apparent disappearance of the Equestrian attack. The Equestrians scored just five goals total in their final eight matches, compared to the 26 they scored in the first ten games combined. The Ponies went from being one of the best teams in qualifying to one of the worst in just a few matches, their record in the second half by far the worst among the teams which won their respective groups, one of the main reasons for supporters to be concerned about the team going forward.

   Qualifying Group 10            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1  Equestrian States (17)      18   13   3   2    31    7  +24    42   Q
 2  Garifunya (67)              18   13   2   3    32   18  +14    41
 3  Saltstead (38)              18   11   4   3    29   10  +19    37   P
 4  Northwest Kalactin (87)     18    9   4   5    35   22  +13    31
 5  Lochario (135)              18    9   2   7    22   14   +8    29
 6  East Belzaria (UR)          18    8   4   6    24   21   +3    28
 7  Sharktail (230)             18    4   5   9    23   35  −12    17
 8  Sorrentopia (207)           18    3   4  11    17   27  −10    13
 9  Penguinland (272)           18    2   2  14    13   41  −28     8
10  South Batoko (UR)           18    0   6  12     4   35  −31     6
   Garifunya ceased-to-exist prior to MD18 and were thus ineligible for the playoffs
   As the next best team in Group 10, Saltstead qualified for the playoffs in their place

What to Watch For
If you're a neutral, the main thing to look for when watching the Equestrian States is the well-established world-class defensive corps and legendary goalkeeper Gentle Breeze to keep opponents out of the net. There's a serious case to be made that the Equestrian defense is arguably the best in the whole multiverse. Only three teams allowed fewer goals in qualifying: Brenecia, Audioslavia, and South Covello. If not for the three-goal East Belzaria match, the Ponies would have finished atop that list.

However, what will truly decide the Ponies' World Cup 81 fate will be the performance of the Equestrian attack, not it's defense. In three post-qualifying matches against Mriin, Cosumar, and New Lusitania, the Ponies scored 10 goals, suggesting the offense may be finally coming back to life, giving supporters reason to believe that the Ponies will not be hampered by a non-existent goal-scoring threat in the World Cup finals. Rainbow Blitz's leg injury does raise some additional concerns, but Aarón Aiza and Elaine Everdeen provide capable backup at his position and should be more than able to take his place atop the midfield. And, of course, superstar striker Pristina Shine will provide the Ponies with a lethal forward capable of scoring from anywhere, anytime.

Prediction
The Ponies are the second-highest ranked team in Group E, and as such would have to be considered favorites to advance to the knockouts. However, with the hostile Republican crowd making life difficult for the Equestrians and the questions raised during the second half of qualifying about the team's attack, it's not quite as simple as that. Against Chromatika, the Ponies will look to duplicate their second round upset from last cycle, albeit with a much-narrowed gap in the rankings and perceptions between the two teams. Free Republics will be playing on their home soil, and the last time they did that in a World Cup, they made it all the way to the Final. The Ponies will also have to contend with the hype of the World Cup's opening match, the Republicans certain to bring their A-game for one of the Cup's most-anticipated fixtures. Even Saltstead will pose a unique challenge for the Ponies, as they've had three matches with the Equestrians this cycle to hone their tactics.

I think the Ponies will do what they have to in order to advance, but it's hardly going to be a walk in the park. If the Equestrian States wants to be considered real contenders for the World Cup, they'll need to take care of business in a group that seems almost designed to set up Equestrian grudge matches. Beyond the group stage, it's hard to say what expect as Group F seems likely to also be rather competitive with the consistent contenders from Starblaydia and The Holy Empire the favorites to advance. As such, I'd caution against expecting a repeat of the Ponies' quarterfinal run last cycle; but if the Equestrian offense has truly come alive, the defense provides the world-class performance it's fully capable of, and the Ponies get a bit of luck here or there, this could be a cycle to remember for Equestrian hoofball fans. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 1-2-0; 2nd in Group E

#34 - Free Republics
Finals Appearance: 8th (World Cup 68*, 69, 71, 72, 73, 79, 80, 81*)
Best Result: Runners-up (World Cup 68)
Manager:

Rule Theriault
World Cup 81 Qualifying: N/A (Qualified as Hosts)
Starting XI (3-4-3): T. Sergeyev (GK, #12); V. Urbanek (LB, #4); Z. Josef (CB, #3); R. Schroder (RB, #2); M. Izmailov (DM, #5); U. Eldarkhanov (LM, #6); L. Arsanukayev (RM, #7); J. Smith (AM, #8); P. Lydsson (ST, #9); L. Holm (ST, #10); K. Peltola (ST, #11); Full Roster

Overview
There isn't a Ponies fan alive who isn't aware of the Free Republics' place in Equestrian hoofball history. The Republicans might not be the Equestrian States' oldest rivals (that honor likely goes to Ko-oren or Kita-Hinode, formerly the Northern Sunrise Islands), but they certainly could claim to be the Ponies' fiercest. To say the two teams dislike each other would be a gross understatement, the Republicans frequently finish atop polls of Equestrian supporters' least-favorite teams. The Equestrians first met the Republicans in the 27th Di Bradini Cup Final, a match which the Little Ponies emerged victorious from. The two soon clashed during World Cup 65 qualifying, battling to a draw in their first meeting before the Ponies won the second leg. Though this will be the first time since then that the Equestrian States and Free Republics have played a competitive fixture at the senior level, but the rivalry's spread to other sports and frequent meetings between the teams' youth teams keeps the hatred alive and well.

The Free Republics were drawn into Group E as World Cup co-hosts from the first pot, and were likely expecting a relatively easy set of group stage opponents, given they were sure to avoid any of the top-ranked sides, but were surely disappointed to see they'd been drawn with the top-ranked teams from both the second and third pots: 8th-ranked Chromatika and the 16th-ranked Equestrian States. Complaints about a rigged draw from ignorant sections of the fandom were quickly shot down as the draw was - in fact - conducted by a Republican. Certainly a case of bad luck for the hosts, but few Equestrians would admit feeling any sympathy for their rivals. Of course, the Republicans do have a history of overcoming long odds in the World Cup, reaching the Final as co-hosts at World Cup 68 and making the semifinals the following cycle, despite entering the tournament nowhere near the top of the rankings.

Republican supporters will surely be hoping for a repeat of that World Cup miracle here, with the Free Republics ranked a mediocre 34th entering the tournament. The Republicans did qualify for the last World Cup, but were quickly eliminated in the group stage, their only point coming from a dead rubber draw against Abanhfleft. Long-time manager Rule Theriault will not be content with a similar performance here on home soil, though it's unlikely he'll ever be replaced as national team boss given his tenure regardless of how his team performs. The Free Republics will have a difficult time escaping this group, the Chromatiks and Equestrians favored by most pundits to advance, but with home field advantage and a history of upsets, it's impossible to count them out completely.

How They Got Here
The Free Republics' path to the World Cup didn't begin on the hootball pitch in qualifying, but in the conference room where they announced their plans to bid for the rights to host World Cup 81 alongside Banija. In the Equestrian States, the public reaction to that announcement was... mixed, at best. Though some might've been happy to see Banija host, given their geographical proximity to the Equestrian homeland, the recently-resolved Busoga Islands Conflict has left few Equestrians with a good impression of the nearby country. And, of course, that's to say nothing of the Free Republics, which has a history of hostility with the Equestrian States. Though it's never led to open conflict, as with the Banijans, the relations between the two nations' governments (and national sports teams) have been chilly. Overall, the rival bid of Vilita and the Equestrians' southern neighbors in Valanora was far more popular among the Equestrian population than the Republican-Banijan bid. However, when it came time for the World Cup Committee to decide on which nations would host the 81st World Cup, they selected the latter in a narrow 11-8 vote which was met with groans in the Equestrian States. Hoofball fans knew that, should the Ponies qualify, regardless of which host nation's groups they were drawn into, they weren't likely to be greeted warmly by the locals.

It's worth mentioning that since winning the host vote, the Republican national team hasn't just been sitting around at home doing nothing to prepare for the World Cup. Instead of participating in World Cup qualifying, the Republicans have played a series of friendly matches as well as in the Cup of Champions, in which they have done fairly well for the most part. The Free Republics emerged victorious in their first four friendlies, a 1-0 win against 40th-ranked Kita-Hinode the most impressive result alongside three blowouts of far lower ranked teams, including a 5-0 thumping of Equestrian qualifying groupmate Sharktail. However, the Republican mid-qualifying friendly against Cosumar couldn't have possibly gone worse for the hosts, with the Dragons humiliating the Republicans en route to a 6-0 victory. The Republicans rebounded in the Cup of Champions, earning impressive wins against Vilita and Mercedini, losing only in the group stage to Turori and in the semifinals to eventual tournament champions Brenecia, before defeating World Cup co-hosts Banija in the 3rd place match.

World Cup 81 Host Vote
 Free Republics &  Banija - 11 votes
 Valanora &  Vilita - 8 votes

What to Watch For
Manager Rule Theriault's selection of an extremely young squad means that his team lacks much in the way of high-level experience, especially compared to the battle-hardened Chromatiks and Equestrians. The oldest player at the tournament for the Free Republics will be 21 year-old midfielder Usman Eldarkhanov, who'd be among the youngest on any of the other Group E teams. What the Republicans lack in experience, however, they make up for in potential. Third-place performances in the Cup of Champions and the Independents' Cup prove that this team has what it takes to be a contender going forward, despite their recent struggles in World Cup matches.

Forward Love Holm is of particular interest to neutrals looking for a future star in the Republican team, earning a spot in Theriault's starting lineup despite being just 16 years-old. Given that the Republicans frequently employ an aggressive brand of hoofball, that Holm is being relied upon to contribute at such a young age is telling of his potential. Of course, potential is just that, potential. At the World Cup, it doesn't matter if you're one of the top prospects in the multiverse if you can't out-perform your opponents. Mistakes here rarely go unpunished and players' careers can end quickly if they can't handle the pressure. That, perhaps, is what to watch for with this young Republican team: how many players step up and perform as required to succeed at this level. Rule Theriault has a fairly good track record of preparing his players for the spotlight, but it's hard to say how well some players will perform until they're actually on the pitch, playing in front of the billions who tune into the World Cup throughout the multiverse.

Prediction
Ultimately, the Free Republics are Group E's wild card; and, as such, they present a unique challenge when predicting how the group will play out. The Republicans' first two matches will be against the Equestrian States and Chromatika, Group E's top-ranked teams, games which the hosts must get something out of if they don't want their World Cup to end in the group stage again. Home field advantage will likely play a major role in making that happen, assuming that it does, of course. It's been a long time since the Republicans gripped the multiverse's attention at World Cup 68, but the memory of that tournament is ingrained in Republican sports history and highlights from that historic run will likely be playing on repeat in every broadcaster's previews of this World Cup, to say nothing of the pre-tournament hype videos that always circulate around this time.

If the Republicans want to retrace the steps of their national team predecessors, and maybe even go one step further to actually win the World Cup, they'll need their young stars to step up and prove their potential. It'll be tough as they lack the experience - and in some cases, the talent and ability - of many teams which stand between them and the ultimate goal. Personally, I simply don't think they have quite enough to make it out of the group. The Chromatiks are legitimate contenders for the World Cup and the Equestrians aren't much further behind. I could certainly see the Free Republics holding the Ponies to a draw in what will be an emotionally-charged opening match and probably beating Saltstead in the finale, but they're not at all likely to upset Chromatika, and in the end I think they come up just a bit short. Hardly a disappointing performance for this young Republican team, if that's how things pan out, but far short of the insanely high bar set by the World Cup 68 team. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 1-1-1; 3rd in Group E

OOC Note: There will be previews for the other three teams in Group E, but I wasn't quite able to finish them before tonight's cutoff. They'll be posted as a separate RP later.

by **Banija** » Wed Oct 03, 2018 9:28 pm

You know... I had an internal debate. What was I going to do for my cutoff?

We'll showcase Banijan culture by checking out some killer East African dance moves. These girls, of course, wouldn't have the energy to do it without Vilaye Energy Drink, the multiverse's greatest energy and the official energy drink of World Cup 81.

by **Nephara** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 2:38 am

Nephara 3 - 1 Nova Anglicana
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Swoboda; 18 - Kielseng, 5 - Konoval, 6 - Steelhenge, 3 - Lohengrin (vc); 4 - Rowland, 15 - Rosenthal; 7 - Fanaiyan, 21 - Gosforth (c, 14 - Moxham 57'), 11 - Strongbow; 9 - Hawke (10 - Cathar 67')
Goals: Fanaiyan 14', Strongbow 36', Lohengrin 79'

The thing with international retirement was you had to know your time.
This was, unfortunately, Lohengrin's time. Nephara's leftback options were stacked to hell and back - Tessa Bayliss was still uncapped, for fuck's sake - and there were plenty breathing down her neck. It wasn't too much of a surprise when at last one had (heh) Closed in on her. And overtaken her, now confirmed by Lohengrin's presence here, against the fourth seeds. Michael Brandon knew his best team. Lohengrin knew she wasn't in it.
But she was here, and she was trusted. And this was her 101st cap. And what a place to win it! Striding out, head held high, in that classic green and black, cheered on by sixty thousand in the stands. If they all did their jobs, this wouldn't be a very memorable game for anyone else. For them, though, it was as good as careers got.
If this would be her swansong, it would be a worthy occasion for it.

The Cormorants got off the blocks running. So did their opponents, and got off the first shot, Guidry stamping on a loose ball and twisting, Steelhenge stalling, and Guidry struck, and Anglicans dreamed... but Swoboda got down fast and hard, and made a comfortable save, slamming the ball aside. Lohengrin pounced to clear.
For the most part, though, the Nepharim were on top. The Anglicans did their best to exert control but found themselves unable to play through a high, concerted and disciplined press, unsettled by the uncompromising physicality of their opponents, and it wasn't too surprising when the seasoned Colin Dawson finally put a foot wrong. He'd dispossessed Gosforth, but overstretched to get to the rebounding ball, and passed presumably at Chapman but in practice to Circe Rosenthal, who wasted no time slipping it back to Gosforth, who had all the space in the world to pick out Ishtar Fanaiyan's run with a looping ball over the defence. The Eastweald winger killed it with her first touch before calmly sliding the ball past Davis, in off the post.

And so the Nepharim were in business, and really in their element. But the goal emboldened their opponents, too, and the game reached a fever pitch. Predictably, Rosenthal picked up a booking, clambering over Dawson and flattening him to get to a Swoboda goal-kick. Davis saved well from Strongbow, then brilliantly from Hawke at close range after Lohengrin's cross found her head and a powerful downward header but somehow, Davis' wrist flicked out with enough force to tip the ball away. And it was a good thing Lohengrin raced back as quick as she could when perhaps the temptation of her aging limbs was to linger and rest, as the goalkick was taken fast to Carroll, who hit it out to Russell, who played a neat one-two with Branch and suddenly Nepharim hearts were in mouths, Konoval closed him down, Swoboda made the target very narrow indeed and Branch did his best, and it skimmed awkwardly off Konoval's toe... but Lohengrin, sprinting like hell, was able to outrace everyone to lamp it into the sky, her momentum carrying her into the net. Steelhenge lifted her clear. They could afford to laugh about it.

Typical for the match, Nephara doubled their advantage three minutes later. Fanaiyan this time turned provider, her pace again ripping Brandon Cummings open, not bothering with a trick or flair, just throwing herself along the outside of him, then cutting in. Carroll tried to close her down but she was able to centre it into the middle of nowhere, but Strongbow raced in ahead of everyone else, sliding in and flicking out a powerful left leg to shin it past Davis. 2-0, and that'd do the Cormorants fine, thank you very much.
Unsurprisingly, though, it didn't satisfy the Anglicans. They weren't minnows - they were a side with some fair pedigree, history, and they weren't going to play the jobbers today. The last ten minutes of the first half were their best of the game, managing to go toe to toe with the Cormorants, and Santos - otherwise turgid - found their way back into the match, going toe-to-toe with Rowland before stabbing an unexpected pass with the outside of his boot and Lohengrin, damn her legs, couldn't keep up with Chapman racing past her, centring for Guidry who this time made good on his chance, hammering home into the roof of the net past Swoboda diving at his feet. Swoboda caught his foot heavily, some said late, and Guidry's celebrations were interrupted as he tripped over the keeper, and both sides swarmed each other for the usual handbags. Fanaiyan and Russell walked out of it with cautions, and Lohengrin put her flagging speed behind her, stopping a steaming Rosenthal from entering the melee. They could afford a first booking here and there. They couldn't afford Rosenthal's second. Not at 2-1, with half the match to play.

She was told by Konoval, at half-time, not to worry about her split-second of failure to track back, and all that did was confirm that it had been noticed. Still, she wasn't going to dwell on it, after the split-second of worry she'd come off for Close. But of course she wouldn't. Brandon trusted her, and anyway, she'd been tidy and composed, and anyway, she was a calm, steady head in the side. Of course she stuck around.
Perhaps the fight had dented the Anglican momentum. Gotten their adrenaline to peak just as the half-time whistle was imminent, and stewed in it for 15 minutes. Whatever it was, it showed - they were slower, at times glacial, finally shrinking to the task when the moment most demanded them to come back, a young side acting like it. Davis continued to make impressive, sprawling saves, from Gosforth, Strongbow, even a speculative but thunderous drive from Monica Rowland had to be sharply turned onto the post and then headed away by the steady Carroll. Guidry continued to offer their best hope of revival, lashing a strike into the side netting with such venom that half the pitch thought it had slipped by Swoboda's near post.
At the end, however, a two-goal margin reflected the Cormorants' performance. Two substitutes down the centre showing off their freshness, Moxham darting past the weary Dawson and passing ahead of Cathar, who saw her path to goal blocked and laid it off for, with a glance, Sieglinde Lohengrin, who found herself racing inside to latch into the space guided by instinct alone. Her first touch was brilliant, cushioning it at the perfect weight to let her second, a swipe from her weak right, to sweep it somewhat ungainly across a wrong-footed Davis.
She wasn't expecting to score, and she didn't have a celebration in mind. But, mobbed instantly by teammates who largely dwarfed her, she had time at least to reflect; a seventh goal, in a 101st cap, on a beautiful day in Banija? Hell, let her stay the rest of the Cup on the bench. Could it really get better than this?

by **Barunia** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 4:12 am

Visit Barunia
Sponsored by the Barunian Government Department of Tourism
Ch 14. The Bayland Region

Tildos’ Bayland region is situated on the west end of the island. Here a series of circular bays creates an area of outstanding beauty. The largest towns are Bayview and Whitefeather. The latter is named after Whitefeather Bay, which in turn is named after the vast number of seabirds that nest here all year round.

Getting Around
To get to the Bayland region, take the overland rail from Delmars to Whitefeather. This stops in Bayview, where a second line breaks off and runs to Serpent’s Ridge. The main line stops at several small stations before arriving in Whitefeather. Both towns have multiple stations on the line, although there are no other rail services available. There is also a high-speed ferry service that connects Edwardton to Whitefeather.
You’ll probably want to get out of the townships and explore the region. While public buses are available, they don’t stop at many destinations a tourist may be interested in. Privately owned tour buses provide a better alternative, and are widely available throughout the region. Car hire is also available, and provides the most flexibility, although with a high price tag.

Things to see
The region’s only city, Bayview, is a good place to start your Baylands adventure. Tourism is a major industry for the region, and you’ll find plenty of accommodation and tourist services within the city. The main hub is the Cultural Centre, in the centre of the city. You’ll find the local museum here, and the Town Hall, which often has events going on.

Bayview is situated on the top of a hill, overlooking the coast. The best place to catch these amazing views is the summit of Mount Clyde. Houses line one side of the climb, whilst the other is a national park. Make your way through native forest as you wind up the track to the summit, or if walking isn’t your thing, drive up to the lookout at the top. This gives you panoramic views of the whole region, including a large section of the coast.
South of Bayview the Serpent Peninsula juts out into the Barret Strait. On the south tip is the Serpent’s Ridge Lighthouse, which is still in operation. Its well worth a look, and on weekdays you can climb to the top for the cost of a mere Ŧ2. The lighthouse is not far from the peninsula’s main town, Serpent’s Ridge. Just outside the town is one of the region’s best attractions, the Serpent’s Ridge Dairy Company. Established to provide a buyer for the region’s famed milk products, the Company is famous for its products, most notably chocolate, cheese, and yoghurt. While some products are sold in stores, others are only available at the company’s factory. There you can enjoy a tour of the chocolate works, complete with tastings, or try some of the cheeses paired with fine wines. Of course, there’s also plenty of good tasting food to buy as well.

Whitefeather Bay is on the western-most edge of Tildos, overlooking Edward Strait. It’s known for the large flocks of seabirds that nest around the bay. Their numbers have been in decline due to human impact, so the north side of the bay is now an animal sanctuary. This means you won’t be able to walk up to the nesting sites, but you can still observe them from the beach, or from Rouse Head. If you are a bird-watcher, the best place to visit is undoubtedly spring (September-November), which is the breeding season. There are plenty of options for scuba-diving in the Baylands region, and Whitefeather Bay is no exception. The sea-floor is littered with the remains of ships and planes that were downed during the Tildos campaign of the civil war, and many are now accessible dive sites. Make sure you check before diving though, as it is not permissible to dive on some of the sites due to safety issues.

There are other smaller bays which will still be of interest to a tourist. Angel Bay, north of Whitefeather, is a popular site for rock-hopping, while Shouting Rocks, south of Whitefeather, is a fascinating natural rock formation that appear to shout at each other. This phenomenon is caused by the actions of the waves beneath the rocks, as the sound echoes and is amplified by the shape of the formation.

by **South Covello** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 5:41 pm

Goat Clippers Named Official Landscaping Partner of World Cup 81

In what is sure to be excellent news for the South Covellan economy, goatscaping company Goat Clippers has been named the official landscaping partner of World Cup 81 in a televised speech in Banija. Goat Clippers beloved goatscapers, who are actual goats, will trim the grass at all the stadiums which are hosting World Cup 81 matches in Banija and the Free Republics, as well as providing other landscaping services as needed. That's right, the goats will go on the fields before every match and trim them by eating the grass like good little goats do.

Before South Covello's match against Audioslavia at Happy Valley Stadium last night, goats were seen nibbling the grass on the field while interacting with the South Covellan players. Goatby Theodore, Kabaabaa Albert III, and Goaty O'Boaty were the three goats selected for grounds crew duty at this game. It was unclear how Kabaabaa Albert III's namesake, the actual King of Banija (known not as a Kabaabaa but a Kabaka), felt about having a goat named after him and he could not be reached for comment at press time.

Speaking of Banija, it appears one of their reporters created a disturbance at the press conference where the sponsors were announced by suggesting that the goats be eaten. Although goats are among the most beloved animals in South Covello and goat meat is nearly impossible to find, apparently it is quite common in Banija. However, Goat Clippers has received assurance the goats sent to Banija will not be eaten and will return to South Covello safe and sound at the conclusion of the tournament. South Covllo's supporters were not happy with the insinuation and unveild a tifo before the Audioslavia reading "Goats Are Friends, Not Food!" and having a picture of a goat on it. Although the match took place in the Free Republics, as previously noted, undoubtedly the display was seen in Banija as well by fans watching the game on TV. It was unclear as of yet how the Banijan press or government would respond to this spontaneous pro-goat demonstration.

What is clear from the first round of matches, or at least the first South Covello match, is that the fans love the goats. Several players brought their kids onto the field before the game to pet the goats while they were doing their job. The goats didn't mind, they love being petted. Tico Cantwell, the four year-old son of midfielder Pillory Cantwell, was even seen smiling and dancing with Goatby Theodore before the game in a video that has now gone viral throughout the internet. The So Late Late It's Basically the Early Show even named it the "Adorable Video of the Week" last night, or perhaps it would be early ths morning given that segment aired at approximately 3:45 AM.

Tico was interviewed via satellite on live TV, although it was not an unusual hour for him as he was in the Free Republics, several time zones away. Tico told Donald Numberman "Dancing with Goatby made my day truly special! I hope we go all the way to the World Cup final so I can dance with goats every match." It is worth noting that although dancing with llamas and camels were capital crimes under the old Gregist regime, dancing with goats was never specfically illegal. However, dancing at all was a capital crime, which makes you wonder why you needed the laws against dancing with llamas and camels. So, until a couple years ago, the vast majority of South Covellans had never been allowed to dance. Tico will be one of the first people in this land to have been allowed to dance for as long as he was old enough to do so. He would have been just two when the Revolution occurred, too young to dance with a goat or anyone else. But now he's dancing with goats, and he loves it. Nicole Charles-Raulie, the three year-old niece of striker Coconut Charles, was also seen petting the goats while her uncle and parents looked on. She seemed to enjoy herself as well. She later told assembled reporters that her favorite of the three goats was Goaty O'Boaty, "because he has a funny name." Goaty O'Boaty was, of course, named using the same rhyming slang that former Republican Consul Dumpy O'Rumpy got his nickname from. However, Goaty is a lot friendlier than Dumpy, and has better hair as well.

The goats will continue to goatscap for the duration of this World Cup, in both Banija and the Free Republics. It is unclear if the pro-goat fan demonstrations by South Covellan supporters will continue or if this was just a one-time thing. It is also unclear how they will be received in Banija, given they occurred in the Free Republics. But one thing's for sure - this is going to be the most goat-tastic World Cup ever!

Goaty O'Boaty, who undoubtedly has better hair than Dumpy O'Rumpy.

by **Kita-Hinode** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:16 pm

"It has begun!" ~ TSUNG, Shang (Mortal Kombat, 1995)

MATCHDAY ONE - SANG KYUNG-JA

There was something fairly nice about the smell of a grassy pitch at night, especially whenever you were almost not supposed to even be there. Some say that you need to get close to the edge to really revive yourself, Kyung-Ja was a good example of that sort of thing: her career had been really close to being cut short. Having been rushed to a Hinodejin hospital during the last Cup of Harmony, she had been diagnosed with a moderate-level concussion which, should Hinodejin authorities be asked over, meant the Kanshiro-born midfielder would have to hang her boots at the ripe age of 24.

It was just too depressing, really. Her football dream was to give a trophy to her hometown side, the Lopunnies, yet she was already considering a future after football. But then she was offered aid by the Chaolan Zaibatsu. The Zaibatsu had been funding several studies regarding the brain itself as the interest of building an artificial brain has been a long dream of the head of the company. Kyung-Ja had a choice: she could allow the performing of a special treatment over her brain in order to continue her career or retire early, failing to reach her full potential.

She took a deep breath before entering the football field. The Hinodejin Empire's respected number ten had been used sparingly throughout the qualifiers, with good reason. Empress Satomi the Second, now somewhat used to the position of manager, made sure to avoid using the team's star often over fears that she wouldn't recover properly. Even at this point, right at the dawn of the World Cup, Kyung-Ja's health status was still uncertain. The Hinodejin entered the field nonetheless.

Even though the end result was a loss, it was quite refreshing for the girl from Kanshiro to be playing all ninety minutes. She did her best, showing that whatever happened at the tables of Chaolan's doctors did the trick. Kyung-Ja was back. Thank Arceus.

HINODEJIN YOUTH FOOTBALL
Bureaucratic snafu at Chromatika causes a snag to AHYFL players
At the start of the All-Hinodejin Youth Football League, an agreement had been reached between the Imperial Hinodejin Football Association and the Chromatik Football Federation: a group of players from the later would be accepted into the Hinodejin youth tier with the caveat that they'd be allowed to return at the age of eighteen. This meant a group of several players got the opportunity of playing professionally, notable names such as Nadelin Blondeau, Juetta Bélanger, Heldeburgis Moitessier and Bossu Piaget included, went on to play at the Empire for a couple of years as a result.

Come the current year and nothing came out of the Chromatik Football Federation, apparently some sort of stasis that has been somewhat matched by the rest of the nation as contacts haven't exactly happened. Due to this, a massive contingent of both Chromatik and Yesopalithan players now remain without a team or a scholarship. The Hinodejin Empire has been considering helping out nonetheless, as it's of the belief of the Empress that the Hinodejin should be able to back their own words. Developments over that should be expected soon in the future.

by **Brenecia** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:42 am

Brenecia 1 - 1 Baker Park
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Woodgate; 2 - Broxham (18 - Beath 74'), 5 - Heneghan, 6 - Szubanski (c), 19 - Prentice; 4 - Staunton; 7 - Crowther (15 - Garrard 77'), 21 - Case, 8 - Hartsdown, 11 - Ashbrown; 9 - Riordan (17 - Strider 67')
Goal: Crowther 22'

Sometimes, a good plan goes wrong. It happens. Good doesn't mean perfect, right? Sometimes the plan that won you everything falls, just once, and suddenly everyone becomes an expert. Typical, isn't it?
Brenecia played a certain way and everyone knew exactly what it was. They would push hard at the start of the match, get their goal one way or another and then sit back, waiting for their opponents to overcommit, and smack them in the mouth on the break. Baker Park were an impetuous and attack-minded side, no fools, but eager to leave a mark on the world champions. It was easy to see how the match would pan out... just a matter of what the result would turn out to be.

The early runnings were fairly predictable, both sides testing the waters, the Commonwealth seeing how much they could get away with going forward. Griffin Riordan had nearly broken them on the counterattack, but her touch on the end of Case's killer ball was heavy, and Hartline did well to sweep out and get on the end of it, Riordan inelegantly hurdling him. Hartline saved well from Crowther, too, and saw a shot from Ashbrown in a promising position get blazed into the stands. For the Commonwealth's part, a cleverly flicked ball from Bozeman over the head of Heneghan caused Agahambri and Woodgate to slam into each other, the ball bouncing off Agahambri's head... and, mercifully for the Patriots, onto the roof of the net.
But it was the navy blues that would get the opening goal they deserved, more slick interplay through the middle of the park working in their favour. Case bodied Villareal, the ball came to Hartsdown, Riordan's dummy run took Vasillias out of the equation and Hartsdown's perfectly-threaded pass found her club teammate Ashbrown, blazing down the left. Ashbrown managed to centre the ball across the goal shortly before her momentum took her into the billboards, the ball evaded Briggs, Hartline stood fatally still and Brae Crowther outpaced Villareal to lamp the ball forcefully into the net. 22nd minute, 1-0 up, plenty of time to celebrate the goal and lap in the praise.

The first half grew in intensity, at least one one side of the equation. Trevor Richmond rallied his people, Agahambri and Bozeman fired wide from distance and Sandoval, who plied his trade abroad in Banija, had a shot spin off the heel of Heneghan and out for a corner, wrongfooting Woodgate. That could have gone in on a fluke, caused Brenecia to have to sigh and reset. It didn't. Sometimes, you just had to rely on luck.
Still, the first half ended with the consensus from the pundits that, yes, Brenecia were good value for their lead, yes, this was shaping up to be Another 1-0 Brenecia Win, yes, this sort of play had gotten them three consecutive trophy wins. They were probably not the worst thing to ever happen to football, but they still weren't a lot of fun to watch.
The second half offered less life still, the Commonwealth seeming stifled by the Patriots' physicality and seemingly pegged back early. Riordan hadn't had much joy running down the throat of three central defenders, but had the ball in the net when Morwen Prentice swung in a vicious diagonal ball that Enzikomibo swiped at, missed, and could only watch Riordan steer it home. She celebrated, looked back; saw the linesman's flag, went over to the referee with finger waggling to remonstrate and got booked before Hartsdown could pull her away.
From there, the match just seemed to die down. Shaw and Broxham followed Riordan into the book. All three were taken off soon after, as was the goalscorer Crowther, to keep her fresh, and the ineffective Commonwealth winger Santos. On, for the Commonwealth, came Nick Haller - the other foreign-based player in the squad, and about to score one of the most significant goals in his team's young history.

Right up until Haller's strike flew in, things were going as planned for Brenecia. It was the 86th minute, all theirsubstitutes had been used, as was Reid's custom, to keep things fresh across the team. Hell, Strider - coming in off a hot streak at the Cup of Champions - had fashioned a couple decent chances for herself, throwing herself wildly into the opposition with wild abandon. And even the way Haller got the ball was to plan. Bozeman had the ball and nowhere to go and pressure from Staunton, Sandoval was marked down and he was headed left and couldn't shoot, so he laid it off to Haller, and Haller had a little bit of a corridor to run into. A little bit. Even so, he went in and there was the muscle of Chadwick Beath breathing down his neck, Heneghan presenting him with no way forward, but he forced his way into the box anyway and just...
Well, he hit it sweetly, and it arrowed into the bottom corner faster than Woodgate could get down. Maybe not faster than a 30-year old Woodgate could've done. Probably not 34, even. But faster than 36? Apparently so.
The plan working was separated from the plan being a disaster by a margin of one crisply-taken strike. And the clock, previously Brenecia's friend, was now it's enemy. They had just three minutes plus stoppage time to pull things back, but it was Baker Park who came closer to getting the winner, an inspired Haller finding a rejuvenated Agahambri with a big switch, her vicious curling strike clawed away by Woodgate. At the other end, Ashbrown hit the side netting, Strider took an air swing at Prentice's cross and punched herself in the head in distress, and Garrard's pocket was picked by a brilliant covering challenge from, well, Haller, who was just having one of those games.
Brenecian punters on social media predictably called it unlucky or, more laughably, unjust. But you made your own luck in football, and for that which you didn't, you took the good with the bad. Jim Reid just nodded serenely, shook Richmond's hand - all was well, lads.
Tomorrow would be a better day.
Tomorrow, the system would work. Unless it didn't. And in either case, life would go on.

by **Banija** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:42 am

Banija gets victory on tournament's opening day with 2-1 win over Darmen

Fans celebrate team's second goal

BUSUKUMA, NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION- What an incredible scene it was at the brand new Stadium of the Restoration. 91,835 people packed the stadium- the capacity picked for the year that made the site the stadium is on famous- to watch the Banijans and Darmenis open the World Cup Finals, and boy, was it fun. It was the second straight tournament Banija was involved in the tournament's opening match, though, of course, it was much different circumstances than in World Cup 80. World Cup 80, of course, Banija walked into a hostile environment in Canterlot, in a road match. This time, on home soil, it was an electric atmosphere for them, as they played their first competitive home game in years.

A number of diplomats and heads of state were there for the opening ceremonies, at the invitation of His Majesty, Kabaka Albert III. The opening ceremony was a spectacular success. The stadium, packed nearly 3 hours before game time, the only time you'll see something like that happen, was absolutely loving it. Various traditional dances in traditional outfits to please the sea of green and orange that was piling into the stadium. Omugabe Basamula was there, Isebantu Mwanga was there, the women of the Royal Family. Absolutely fantastic scenes. The Darmeni President was there, the most energetic non-athlete on the field. He went out with the team and sang the national anthem with the squad. and the five or six thousand Darmeni fans in the stadium made a ton of noise, great representatives of their nation.

For 90 minutes, of course, that was all set aside- the game was on. Toyuwa Okafor tapped the ball backwards to Okonkwo Okparro, and the game had begun. The Banijans, off of a successful tour and a confidence-building Cup of Champions, where a 0-0 draw with Nephara catapulted them to fourth place, came out firing and on the front foot. In only the 3rd minute, Gitonga Kahara fired the ball on net, forcing a relatively routine, but diving effort from the young Hyman Campo to keep the Banijans off the early scoreboard. At that point, everyone knew the Banijans meant business, and it was going to be an interesting game.

The crowd was fantastic. Singing, dancing, and the stadium design allowed a lot of noise to be kept inside the stadium, meaning that the place absolutely got incredibly loud. Now, the first half was certainly interesting to watch, these two contrasting styles of play. With the Banijans at home, they were on the front foot for the majority of the first half. Meaning that Darmen played some aggressive football, but counter-attacking. The Darmeni defense, as always, was aggressive. They definitely had a unique style of play, however, that was scene when they had a friendly in Montreal, but not expected by many to translate directly to the World Cup Finals.

The Darmenis unique style of play generally earns plaudits from neutrals. Darmen is known for playing one of the cleanest games in the multiverse. They never let their emotions get the best of them. Not once during the match, did you see the players swarm the referee after a bad foul. Not once, did you see Darmeni players get into arguments with Banijan players, as they always walked away from the scene of a foul. There were no revenge fouls, no revenge shots- just a clean game. For a team that rides emotions hard, like the Banijans, where there is always arguments with the referees and other players, it was a stunning contrast to what we are used to seeing, especially when a game means as much as this one did.

This doesn't mean they were laid back on the pitch, however. Far from it. For a team that keeps its emotions in check as well as this one, that has all the World Cup experience for a tournament where qualifying is still a novel feeling for many Banijans, they played with plenty of aggression on the pitch. Banijans hit the ground more often in this match than we've seen them hit the ground in forever- though, of course, that tends to happen when all we've played is friendlies for the past cycle. Alberich Goldschmidt, in particular, was aggressive. Okparro or Afolayan or Kahara tried to bring the ball forward, and they know that they'd meet some punishment from Goldschmidt, or another Darmeni defender.

The game was much of the same for the majority of the first half. Sustained Banijan possession, allowed by the Darmenis playing deep, cut by aggressive Darmeni counter-attacks, which were often led by the modern-era caps leader for Darmen, Alberich Goldschmidt. They had a few good opportunities off of these counter-attacks, but Assefa Berhane, who seems to be pulling away in the race for the #1 goalkeeper jersey, made some key saves on these counter-attacks. Players like Isaac Georgiadis were playing in position, and were certainly ready for the Darmeni counter-attacks.

It was the 42nd minute, when a mistake finally happened. Goldschmidt had taken the ball from Okparro, and the Darmenis were turning defense into offense, once again. However, Okparro had quickly recoved, and slid to take the ball from Goldschmidt. As he turned up the field, it was a numbers game- four on three for the Banijans. OKparro dribbled up, and made a quick pass to his right, to Chibuzo Afolayan. Afolayan then beat the 6'6 Jean Virgo on the dribble, and fired a ball into the far corner from about 8 yards out. The Darmeni goalkeeper didn't have a chance. The stadium exploded with a huge shout of noise, as Afolayan sprinted to the corner and his whole team followed. The game was 1-0 to the Banijans, and that is the way it went into the half.

To start the second half, the Banijans kept up the style of play that they were pushing in the first half. Keeping possesion, being aggressive, trying to score a second goal. Nobody in that stadium thought that the Afolayan goal would decide the match by itself, and people knew that it would take the next goal that would be the most important. With each ticking minute on the clock, however, the tension within the stadium rose. Around the 60th minute or so, the Banijans started to slide onto the back foot. Darmen played more possession and attacked more aggressively, while the Banijans had to focus more on playing defense. In the 63rd minute, Okparro came off to a thunderous applause, replaced by Marbue Owusu.

The substitution, though Okparro had a good game himself, was brilliant. Owusu, with fresh legs, harassed Darmeni attackers for the rest of the match. He was like an energizer bunny. He would start the counter-attack that would bury this game. In the 73rd minute, a Darmeni corner kick was caught by Assefa Berhane. Instead of falling onto the ball and holding onto it, he sprinted out and looked around, and saw Marbue Owusu right up the middle of the field. THere were about 5 Banijan players sprinting forward, and only three Darmeni defenders back, thanks to being down 1-0. HE dribbled up to about midfield, and played a gorgeous ball up ahead of Afolayan, that the captain ran towards and chased down.

Afolayan, once he got the ball played it back across the middle. He didn't play it on the ground though, to Toyuwa Okafor- he went over the striker's head, towards a wide open Gitonga Kahara. The young winger headed the ball at the six yard line, and he blasted the header towards the back of the net. Campo had no chance to save it, as he was scrambling across, and Kahara had done what he was taught- heading the ball back where it came from. The score was then 2-0, and the stadium was dancing. A lot of the tension was let out by the fans, as it certainly looked like the Banijans had it now.

In the 88th minute, Obey Chidiebere made a foolish mistake, as his arms were flailing and touched the ball in the box, allowing a penalty for the Darmeni opponents. Felix Lucanus buried his penalty, to make it 2-1. However, it was too little, too late, and when the final whistle blew, the Banijans celebrated their World Cup opening win. A thrilling match, but a deserved victory for the Kadongo Kamu against the All Greens of Darmen. The party for fans would last all night, especially since the match was followed with quality results, a 3-3 draw between Apox and Pasarga in Group A.

The Banijans will play Apox in the next match. With the way the standings look in the group, it has the potential to be a truly incredible match. If the Banijans win, they will advance to the knockout stages before their big, matchday 3 game with 10th ranked Pasarga. Of course, due to rankings and location, the Banijans enter as the favorites, though Apox just drew with a team 32 places ahead of them in the KPB rankings. And, since we are favorites, that comes with the pressure of expectation- can the Banijan national team handle the pressure of being favorites in that match, and punch their first ever ticket to the knockout stages of a World Cup?

It would certainly be stunning if the Banijans did so, but we'll have to watch the next match to see. The eyes of all of Banija will be on Aissa, on the Hangaza Unified Stadium, to see whether or not Banija can do the unthinkable- clinching a berth in the Round of 16.

by **Audioslavia** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 6:06 am

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 6.5
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 8.5
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11

Betsy Aarden stared at the contract like she was afraid it was going to flounce off the table and jump out of the window. The prevalence of sharp summer breeze throughout Cathair had made her close all the windows in her apartment before getting the piece of paper out of her handbag. She read the words again.
”…to be promoted to the rank of Acting Detective Sergeant from the first of June, 2238, reporting to Detective Inspector Rory Wyatt-Holmes, Homicide Division”. It wasn’t a fully paid promotion, nor was it permanent, with the contract extending to just six months, at which point she would be back at her regular desk at the offices of the Cathair Guard, but it was her ticket out of a wooly blue uniform and into the upper echelons of the police force. She’d only gone into her boss’s office to negotiate a two-week summer holiday to coincide with Audioslavia’s first World Cup Finals appearance in twelve years. She’d been taken aback to see Superintendent Judith there with her own boss. Rory had pulled some strings, and the brass were getting tired of fighting the idea of Constable Aarden shadowing Rory on the case he insisted on solving. It helped that the Superintendent had gotten on board with the case. Even a murder from a century ago was worth investigating if the culprit was still at large. The presence of citizens with Convenient Character Immortality had been complicating the justice system since their discovery a quarter of a millennium ago.

Early June, the first two weeks on the job, had been an eye-opener. A girl found stabbed in an apartment that had shown no signs of having been broken into, with her distraught boyfriend shocked to hear that the 999 call had been made by himself twenty minutes previously. She’d been murdered by a jealous ex who’d framed the boyfriend by playing him an old answerphone message of the victim asking him to come over, and then ‘confessed’ to the crime to the police via a poor impersonation of the boyfriend on a 999 call. A second murder in the second week had initially presented itself as an accidental death via drug overdose, until a search into the seedier side of western Cathair had unveiled a trail of money from the deceased to a drug runner with a grudge. ‘ADC’ Aarden was two for two on her opening cases, albeit with Wyatt-Holmes’s guidance.

June the fourteenth saw Rory and Betsy fly over to Free Republics on the eve of Audioslavia’s opening match against South Covello, a tense, defensive affair that Betsy had watched on her hotel room television, too tired and jet-lagged to find a bar.

Detective inspector Rory Wyatt-Holmes had listened to the game on the radio, in his car outside the stadium. Restless despite the flight and the time difference, Rory had decided to wait outside the stadium. He’d clocked the hire-car used by Jeremy Jaffacake after a quick search of the Church of Technicology Stadium and had decided to follow it after the game. The zero-all draw had finally lulled Rory to sleep. The general hubbub of the fans leaving the stadium had woken him up.

An hour after the full-time whistle, the black, tinted-windowed saloon car rented by Jeremy rolled out of the off-ramp of the stadium’s car-park and onto the street in front of Rory. Rory started the engine of his own hire-car and followed. He knew there was nothing he specifically wanted to do. He couldn’t very well go and try to speak to Jaffacake once the old hack arrived at his destination. Jaffacake would already know of Rory and what the Detective Inspector wanted. He’d either turn to stone or call the cops on Rory. Out here in the Free Republics, there’d be nothing Rory could do. Nevertheless, the impulse was too much to bear. Staying fifty yards back, he followed Jeremy towards the car park of a pub on the outskirts of the city. One next to a number of large hotels purpose-built for the World Cup. Rory watched as the old man struggled out of his car, adjusted his jacket, and strolled into the pub.

Rory parked up twenty yards away from Jeremy’s car and resisted the urge to get out. More than anything, he wanted to give Jeremy Jaffacake a piece of his mind. Rory knew that Jeremy knew something. Rory knew that Jeremy knew that Rory wanted to speak to him. Rory knew that Jeremy knew that utterly ignoring his persistent emails, calls and texts was a sign that, far from having nothing to say on the matter, Jeremy had something to hide. Rory doubted Jeremy truly knew anything worthwhile about the murder, but it was the principle.

Rory gripped the steering wheel, as if having a free hand for even a second would cause the car door to open, Rory to go into the pub, and Jeremy to fly out through the window. With a short fuggit, Rory took out his mobile phone. There was an email waiting from his boss.
“Bouchard still on for tomorrow” was the title. Inspector Richard Bouchard, an acquaintance of two of the guys in Cathair Guard who had previously been at Interpol, had apparently agreed to meet up the next day to hear Rory out on his plan. Excellent. The news relaxed Rory just enough to start his engine and roll out of the carpark. Jeremy would have to wait a few more days to be accosted.
 Rory arrived back at the hotel at 2am, stripped into his boxers and collapsed into the bed. His brain gave him just enough time to write an email to Betsy, who was presumably sound asleep in the next room. ‘On for tomorrow’ it said. ‘8pm in the Cafe Rouge in the town centre in Bakersfield. We travel at midday. See you tomoz’

—

The names of both Richard Bouchard and the Cafe Rouge were pronounced in typical Free Republican style, Boo-chud and Rowg, as could be expected in the relentlessly anglophone country. Bouchard looked like every Audioslavian detective looked. Older than his years, greying round the temples, probably under the orders of his doctor to lose weight but without the time to do it in, but deceptively fit underneath the beer gut and the jowels. He’d gotten emotionally invested in the idea of bringing a CCI criminal to justice for a past crime. Rory was delighted to hear so many ideas coming his way, and noted that DCA Aarden was frantically scribbling down everything Bouchard said. Bouchard took a sip from his coffee and continued his line of dialogue.
“The stadium is where we should pick him up” said Bouchard. “I can get plenty of eyes on him. The second we see him do something even remotely illegal, we get our hands on him and we get an hour alone with him. Well, I do, it seems”
“I wish I could be there with you” said Rory. “We both do. But, y’know. He’d recognise us. The game would be up”
“I can get to him without him noticing” said Bouchard, “Get whatever information I can from him before he starts to realise he’s been set up, but it’ll take time and a bit of luck”
“A lot of luck” said Betsy, nodding, “this is Jeremy Jaffacake we’re talking about.”
“Tell us about the stadium” said Rory,
“Named after two shot liberal politicians” said Bouchard. “They were originally going to call it ‘Idlewild Stadium’. Would have rolled off the tongue easier. It seats ninety-thousand, but even so it’s not as big as your average seventy-thousand seater elsewhere. You could get amongst the crowd without him spotting you, but I wouldn’t veer to close to the press box if I were you.”
“We’ve tickets for the opposite end. We’ve got a pair of binoculars. We can keep an eye on him like that. Take turns. One of us watching him, one of us watching the game” said Rory.
“There’s no reason why you’d need to keep an eye on him” said Bouchard. “He won’t be going anywhere, and if he does there isn’t a lot you two can do about it. I’ll have the security team on my side, plus I’ll be nearby him”
“I know” said Rory. “It’s a force of habit. He’s the reason I’m here. I couldn’t relax if I didn’t know where he was at all times”
“Right” said Bouchard. “I feel you. All I’m saying is, if you want to watch the game, I’ve got everything covered. I’ll give you a call when we take him in. Probably after the game”
“We’ll probably prefer the binoculars, to be honest” said Betsy, looking up from her notepad. “Audioslavia are playing one of the best teams in the world. It’ll probably be less dreadful watching Jeremy Jaffacake”
“You'd rather watch Jeremy Jaffacake? Wow. You guys really must be unconfident...” said Bouchard, grinning. Rory smiled, shrugged and finished his whisky.

by **Barunia** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:09 am

Visit Barunia
Sponsored by the Barunian Government Department of Tourism

Ch 15. Central Tildos and the North Coast

The wide-open plains of Central Tildos is mostly open farmland growing crops and raising sheep and cattle. While at first glance it may seem as if there is little to attract the tourist, this idyllic part of the country is perfect for those seeking a peaceful getaway. Barunia’s longest river, the Rio Verde, cuts across the landscape, and flows through Appleburgh, the largest town in the region. The North Coast consists of small townships on gentle beaches sloping down to the water, while the major port of Port Lincoln provides a gateway to the Northern Isles.

Getting Around
Rail services through this region are few and far between. The only line from Delmars runs to Appleburgh, where it splits into two, one line running to Port Lincoln and the other East to the city of Monte Sol. The main road is the Trans-Barunian Highway, which connects Delmars to Port Lincoln via Appleburgh. Other major roads also link Appleburgh to Bayview and Monte Sol. Bus services in the region are few and far between, and cars are the most reliable and common source of travel. Ferry connections leave from Port Lincoln to San Baptiste, Trinity, and other locations in the Northern Isles.

Things to see – Appleburgh
Appleburgh, as the name suggests, is a town known for its apples. Situated on the Rio Verde, this picturesque town has fully embraced the apple as its symbol, and you will find them everywhere, from giant fibreglass apples in the children’s playgrounds to the menus in every café. If you like apples, you’ll want to check out the Apple Tree Shop, which sells every conceivable form of apple-related products. There are also three or four cider breweries near the town. The Appleburgh Cider Company and the Copper Bottom Brewery do “cellar door” sales, while Copper Bottom also has an award-winning restaurant on its premises overlooking the river.

Just outside Appleburgh is Hoepke Agricultural and Motor Museum. This privately-owned collection started out as a small selection of old farm machinery, and now has over 400 items, ranging from old ploughs to vintage cars. It’s well worth a look for any one interested in agriculture or motoring.

Things to see – the Rio Verde
If you want to relax and enjoy Central Tildos from a different perspective, there is no better way than on the river. You can kayak down the river at your own pace, or take the “Queen Rosa”, an early twentieth-century steamboat. The Queen leaves from Appleburgh and arrives in Calabaza, in the east of the region, three days later. The Queen has comfortable cabins and all the trimmings one might expect, and is in high demand, so book early for this unique river cruise. More modern boats also ply the river, although they usually restrict themselves to smaller runs.

One of the first stops outside Appleburgh is Clementes. This gorgeous little town is well worth a look, with many buildings close to a hundred years old. The Spanish influence on this part of Tildos can be seen in its streets. Just outside town is Hidalgo Farmhouse. A great place for the family, the children can feed the farm animals while mum and dad enjoy a meal in the farmhouse kitchen. Hidalgo Farmhouse also offer accommodation, and is a great place to stay.

Things to See – Port Lincoln
As the link between Tildos and the Northern Isles, Port Lincoln has become a major town. As one of the earliest settlements on Tildos, the town has nearly 400 years of history. Much of the old is buried under the new, although an experienced tour guide can show you where to look. Thankfully, such guides exist, and historical walking tours leave from the Town Library multiple times a day. If you just want to relax, there are plenty of beaches around Port Lincoln where you can do so.

by **Darmen** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:22 pm

The Referee signaled for the end of the match. Banija two, Darmen one. Olanrewaju Okeke let out a sigh of relief. Or perhaps it was just a sigh. The match had been awkward for Olanrewaju to watch.

Immediately upon kickoff, Banija dominated possession. Using Darmen's own possession oriented strategy against them, the Kadongo Kamu caused frustration amongst the All Greens. Alberich Goldschmidt was forced to make tackle after tackle, but could rarely gain possession long enough to start an attack for the All Greens. When Goldschmidt was able to get the ball out to the wings, the ventures down the field ended in futility.

In the 42nd minute, Goldschmidt's attempt to begin another attack for Darmen was stopped by Okonkwo Okparro, who quickly recovered from being sent to the ground and regained possession for the Banijans. Caught running in the wrong direction, only three Darmeni defenders were present to stop the four oncoming Banijans. Hyman Campo stood still and watched as Chibuzo Afolayan's shot flew past him. Afolayan raced to the corner flag, his teammates following closely behind, in jubilant celebration.

In New Istria, the assembled Banijans cheered the goal, some hesitantly so as they were unsure of how the Darmeni officials present would react. When it became clear however that the Darmeni officials were more concerned with making sure the Banijans were having a good time rather than supporting the "correct" team, the cheering intensified. Olanrewaju remained quiet.

* * *

Back at the Stadium of the Restoration in Busukuma, and not captured by the television cameras, Tor Tong Lee was getting the itch. The itch to leave the Royal Box and head down to the field to save the Darmeni team from defeat, an itch which seemed to occur often whenever the President attended the matches in person. Despite the Banijan lead being only a single goal, Lee's confidence in the players remained low, making his decision easy to justify, at least in his own mind. After excusing himself quietly - none of the other dignitaries seemed to take notice - Lee made his way towards the All Greens' dressing room. Just before reaching it however, one of Lee's aides rushed up along side of him, phone in hand.

"Mr. President! Urgent message from Foreign Secretary O'Donahaue."

Taking the phone from the aide, Lee spoke into the phone, "What is it O'Donahaue?"

"Mr. President, Sir. I'm afraid we're being invaded! Reports seem to indicate that a Valladar armored column is racing north along the coastal highway headed to Rogerton. We need you back here in the capital to direct our military response."

Dropping the phone, Lee raced in the other direction, heading towards the Ssuuna International Airport to board his plane and head for Darmen. Having intended to save the All Greens from defeat, he was now headed home to save his nation from a Valladar invasion.

* * *

Back on the pitch, Darmen had given up another goal, before responding with one of their own, an 88th minute penalty. With only a few minutes to capitalize on the momentum Felix Lucanus' goal had created, the All Greens were unsuccessful, failing to get another shot on goal. Forced to start their World Cup quest with zero points in the group stage heading into a tough Matchday 2 contest against Pasarga, the All Greens would need to find confidence from somewhere if they wished to avoid disaster.

* * *

Olanrewaju and his brother Tau joined the other Banijans who were filtering out of the area which had hosted the World Cup watch party. As the two left, a Darmeni official greeted them in Banijan, albeit with poor pronunciation. The official, once again in his imperfect Banijan, stated his opinion that both teams had played a very good match. Olanrewaju and his brother nodded in agreement, and the Darmeni official wandered off to make conversation with another group of Banijans not far away. Olanrewaju could only categorize the conversation as having been an awkward one, especially since he considered the Kadongo Kamu as having been the better team on the day.

An awkward match. An awkward conversation. An awkward life in Darmen? Olanrewaju walked towards his home, a half mile away from the municipality's central square, contemplating just what the future had in store for him and his family.

Last.fm · by **Cosumar** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:37 pm

Is Cosumar's World Cup already over?
Study: Vanquishers up against history after disastrous opening loss

by Julie Nicholson
Sports Columnist

Every team at the World Cup, from perennial contenders with near-perfect Qualifying records (ahem) to rank outsiders that snuck in against the odds, kicks off an a level playing field -- the slate wiped clean. The group stage is a three-game tournament to prove all over again whether you belong there or not. You snap your fingers and suddenly, half the teams have gone and the real battle of the best begins.

The favored teams are given a systematic advantage in how the groups are drawn, but things can quickly turn sour if you dig a hole for yourself with a loss in the opening match. All of a sudden, you have to break from your usual style and play with increased desperation to get all three points in MD2 and MD3. Oftentimes, this causes a snowball effect of poor play and deteriorating confidence, culminating in a disastrous early exit before the players even had a chance to take it all in.

>>Recent World Cup history shows us a clear lesson. Matchday 1 is the most vital. Take a draw if you must. In studying the last four World Cups, teams who draw still advance at over a 50% rate. Just. Don't. Lose.

World Cup 80 saw 13 teams lose their opening match. Of them, all but three (Turori, Electrum, Valanora) stayed in the bottom half of their groups. In World Cup 79, 14 teams lost their first game, and 9 of them failed to qualify for the second round. At World Cup 78 here in Cosumar, there were 10 first-game losers, of which only 1 advanced. The figures in World Cup 77 were the same as the last World Cup: 10 of 13 teams that stumbled out the gate failed to recover. Altogether over the past four tournaments, 50 teams have lost their first game. Of them, only 12 made it to the second round. That's 24%.

Group stage advancement rate of teams that lose their opener
World Cup 77: ... 3 / 13
World Cup 78: ... 1 / 10
World Cup 79: ... 5 / 14
World Cup 80: ... 3 / 13
OVERALL: ........ 12 / 50

World Cup 81: ... ??? / 12

Cursory review indicates that even this discouraging number may be significantly higher than cups further back. The numbers become even more grim when you look at teams ranked outside the top 10 (like Cosumar this year) who lose their first game. Of all those teams among the sample size of 50, only two have managed to climb out of the hole and advance. Two. In the last four World Cups. And even in those specific instances, the road got easier for them after that opening loss because they came against high-end Pot 1 teams.

Where does that leave a crestfallen Cosumarite side after a brutal 3-1 loss to lower-ranked regional rivals Mriin? If you believe the stats... basically out-of-the-running.

From an analytics perspective, playing not-to-lose is the savvy way to go on Matchday 1. But Alexander Pearce pretty much said "never tell me the odds" and rolled out a side built to take Mriin by the horns and put the game away fast. It backfired.

Solara Vol scored the first goal of the game in just the third minute when Malia Polandre broke down the left, cut inside past a weak challenge and found the Sabrefell Moths star making a run at the back post. It came after Cosumar had maintained possession for the first few minutes and it was not a one-off. Countless times, Mriin caught Cosumar looking nakedly exposed on the counter, making the former AOCAF champions look cumbersome in midfield and slow-to-react across the board, including tactically.

Mriin played two or three kinds of football in this game, moving with Cosumar's punches brilliantly. Cosumar only had one swing in their repertoire (keep the game in Mriin's half and try to jam everything through the middle) and, when it became clear that it wasn't landing, they seemed... stuck. Frustrated by their fruitless efforts to break through, the Cosumarites were then lethargic in transition play. The Reavers took advantage on the break with their speed and stamina.

"Giving up three goals is a blow, but it could've been six," captain Peter Svensson deadpanned afterwards.

Alexander Pearce was uncharacteristically loathe to change tactics and, by the time he did, it was already too late. Cosumar was down 3-0. The size of the moment may have gotten to the manager normally celebrated for his even-keeled demeanor. He hinted as much to the press after the match.

"We were so determined to impose our style of play on the game from the opening whistle. We preached it all month: we're going to be fearless and take teams by storm with our football, put them up against it early," Pearce said. "We probably focused too narrowly in our preparation. We weren't ready for the alternative scenarios that arose today because of an immaculate performance from Mriin."

The gaffer also refused to lend any credence to the historical studies suggesting Cosumar's odds of bouncing back into the knockout rounds are near-zero.

"Look, losing matches is a reality of tournament football. It happens. You get three matches for a reason and they're all worth the same number of points. One result doesn't go your way, you have two more opportunities to correct it," Pearce said. "...No, we're not going to re-chart our course because of one result. We will not panic or make a desperate changes to our fundamental match plan. We will continue to look forward with clear vision and play the way we like to play. Just with more mindfulness moving forward."

Thank you, Alexander, for that helpful reminder of how the group stage and points work. But it doesn't change the damning effect that that opening loss to your Pot 3 opponent can have. Not just on the statistical odds of advancement, but on the team psyche. No matter what kind of speech you give them, your Vanquishers will be marching into the Brenecia match with a weight heavier than armor on their shoulders... the weight of knowing they probably have to beat the world champions to even keep the flame flickering. Yeah, the champs who just throttled Vilita 5-4 before arriving into Group H.

Nor does it change the damning implications of Matchday 1 just by the simple eye-test. Cosumar floundered around for over an hour with no plan B, no defensive intelligence and no clear chances despite a hefty percentage of possession in the Mriinian half. Mriin looked entirely comfortable until the last 15-20 minutes when Airik Ruhl and Lorelei Neptune finally came on to shift things around and get more direct and physical to match the satyrs. Neptune pulled one back via a fine strike off the bounce to make it 3-1 late.

All of this is disheartening for Cosumarite fans who thought - as we always do - that this might finally be that special year. What we observed in our statistical study and with our own eyes against Mriin seem near-insurmountable. Combined? Well... if Cosumar's World Cup isn't over, let's just say it's hanging on by a thread. If Alexander Pearce can find a way to take that thin thread and use it to swing Cosumar back into the top two of treacherous Group H like fucking Tarzan, it might just be the most impressive feat of career. That's the type of incredible turnaround that, if pulled off, actually could inspire the type of special run we all crave.

Since World Cup 76, only two nations outside Pot 1 have advanced out of their group after an opening loss. That leaves a whole lot of teams that have hoped, tried and failed to navigate the road that now lies ahead for the Vanquishers. All that Cosumarites and other Dragon-sympathizers can do is remind ourselves that there has to be a third to do it, eventually. If you're struggling to stave off the depression, maybe you can convince yourself that that next outlier data point could still be a blue, silver and white one. That might work.

...You know, until Griffin Riordan barrels down our throats to finish off a counter with the side of her knee or something in the third minute.

by **Ko-oren** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:43 pm

Ko-oren win 0-0 one of the best sports headlines ever
Celebrations all throughout Ko-oren broke loose when the referee finally blew the whistle to signal the end of the match. The Dragonflies had done it - they had kept the Holy Empire, their track record, current strength, and cunning bunnies (though 'cunnies' sounds like a disgusting euphemism) to a 0-0. A team that had rolled through qualification at over 3 goals per game, versus a team that conceded six goals in the first 17 games (the 18th never happened) - a true unstoppable force, and a true immovable object. Turns out, the immovable object was immovable enough but lacked any kind of 'bounce', and the Holy Empire had little trouble keeping their clean sheet.

The Holy Empire, as always in yellow, started well enough against the black-clad Ko-orenites. That said, nobody had any trouble telling apart who belonged to which team even without the clear difference in team colours. If anything on the field had two ears, you might still get confused, but if those ears fell below the shoulders, it was obviously, er, Holy. High Marshal Prince Fluffles recorded two shots on goal before Ko-oren even had possession beyond the half-way line, and goalkeeper Theshendan had to spring into action a full seven times before the Dragonflies recorded a shot on goal of their own. It was Duchemin, but High Archon Snowball got a front paw to it. The shot on goal ratio normalised a little throughout the match, and in the second half, the Dragonflies managed to circulate the ball enough without a bunny getting near to prevent Theshendan from doing a lot of work. Philip Odell couldn't get out of the way of a massive back paw stomp, and had to leave the field early, but otherwise there were no incidents. All in all, it was a textbook draw for the Ko-orenites, if you leave out the part about how good that opponent normally is and what kind of an upset it was. Surely the bunnies lost themselves in their aggression a bit. One factor that made it easier for the Dragonflies: throw ins were completely harmless, and there was no problem in hooving the ball upfield and in touch near Snowball's goal: with their short paws and huge ears, throw ins proved a bit of a problem. Once the Dragonflies discovered that, the remainder of the match turned into a 'who can kick the furthest'-contest as soon as anyone couldn't 100% guarantee possession.

Runner-up curse
Though phrases like the 'runner-up curse' often turn out to be just a phrase having nothing to do with reality, this is one of those moments where we'd love to use it. The Holy Empire, contestants since World Cup 1, having won 4 World Cup titles, and runner-up of World Cup 80 - tied with perennial underperformers, 40th ranked Ko-oren. The Holy Empire was just looking for a performance ever so slightly better than the previous one, but god knows what happened on day one. Was it the famed curse? Were they looking ahead at the more interesting group matches against Barunia and Starblaydia? Is Ko-oren just that good right now? The answers to those questions are maybe, maybe and probably not. No matter what their problem was, the Dragonflies have made excellent use of it and are now sitting at one point above expectation.

In many ways, the Holy Empire were polar opposites last night. Cute versus plain-looking, attacking versus defensive, age-old and highly admired versus not-old-and-not-young and rarely feared. There were three similarities: one point, zero goals, and a huge dedication to winning. Last night, defence won out. Largest upset of the day?

Elsewhere in WC81
Starting with Group F, Barunia recorded the largest win of matchday one: 4-1 over the purple peril of Starblaydia. Group E went largely as expected: wins for Chromatika and the Equestrian States, losses to the Free Republics and Saltstead. Saltstead held themselves very well against Chromatika, and the 2-1 - even if a loss - is a pretty good result.

Group G and H, then: G holds the Multiverse's number one Eura, who beat another storied team in Kita-Hinode, the latter now employing Ko-orenite players as of last month. South Covello and Audioslavia - this group is just full of our friends, enemies and rivals - tied 0-0. In Group H, Mriin beat Cosumar 3-1 in an entirely even matchup (on paper), while Brenecia, favourites to take this group, got stuck against Baker Park for a 1-1 - a bit like the Dragonflies and the Holy Empire.

In Groups A-D, Darmen lost 1-2 to Banija, a bad start for our green rivals. Apox and Pasarga offered a lesson in goalscoring and Pasarga forgot to win at 3-3. Ethane and Sargossa recorded the largest scoreline of the day, 4-3 in favour of Ethane, and their group mates only had a lower score by two goals, with Farfadillis beating Eshan 3-2: the Farves almost got surprised against a much lower ranked team. The Atlantian Oceanian matchup between Mercedini and Turori ended in a 2-4 win for the tropical folk, Nephara followed up their prowess on paper with a 3-1 victory over Nova Anglicana. In Group D, then, the other tropical folk of Vilita won 2-1 over region-mates Valanora, while Qasden versus Cassadaigua turned into a very interesting match and a 3-2 win for Qasden.

Quite a few upsets today, and we're lucky the Dragonflies had one of them. Also, the Holy Empire might just as well finish second, and with a bit of luck, the Equestrian States could defend their first place, which means we might just see the Bunny vs Pony, er, bloodbath.

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 1:21 pm

The Tale of Snowball and the Magical Woodwork Fairies

The fluffy bunnies were ever so excited to be playing some dragonflies.

Back in Fluffy Bunny World, the dragonflies are big enough for the bunnies to ride as mighty war steeds, which was a major factor in the ultimate victory of the Imperial Legions of Doom against the evil sentient ponies of Hippodial Provinces. Well, dragonfly war steeds and the unholy apocalypse unleashed by the Ultimate Annihilator.

But we digress.

Anyway, you can imagine the disappointment of the fluffy bunnies when it turned out that the Dragonflies weren't in fact dragonflies; and that the Dragonflies were in fact bipedal furless humanoids.

'Boo!' said all of the fluffy bunnies.

Now, if you read the scurrilous (and frankly embarrassing) reports in the Ko-oren media, the Dragonflies 'won' the match 0-0, the fluffy bunnies' attempts to share love and cuddles with Philip Odell were described as 'a massive back paw stomp', and the excited bunniness that makes all bunnies hop and skip and jump with happiness and joy was 'losing themselves in their aggression a bit'.

What silly people those Ko-orenites are, boys and girls.

And though the bunnies tried their bestest to play the exciting Dragonfly game of 'who can kick the furthest' in order to show what jolly sports the fluffy bunnies can be, the real reason the match ended 0-0 was...

Magical woodwork fairies.

It was Snowball who first suspected that there were magical woodwork fairies at the Coliseum of the Crucifixion.

'Ping' went a shot by Duchemin off the bunny woodwork.

'Bong' went a shot by Prince Fluffles off the Dragonfly woodwork.

And though the Ko-oren match reports failed to mention the number of times that both teams hit the woodwork, Snowball kept a close count.

Why, by half-time, both teams had hit the woodwork five times each.

At halftime, Snowball announced he had a plan.

"I have a plan", he said.

"It's clear that the magical woodwork fairies are magically attracting the ball towards the woodwork" he said.

"This is stopping us from scoring" he said.

"I will therefore cast a spell of anti-magical woodwork fairy exorcism when we return to the pitch."

"Are you sure it's magical woodwork fairies?" asked Wiggles.

"And not just some odd coincidence that's really super-unlikely but is bound to happen at least once if you play hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of World Cup qualification and finals matches across more than 80 World Cups" suggested Twitch.

"In an infinite multiverse, the most unlikely of World Cup events will happen at some point" agreed Bogart.

"It's a bit like locking up thousands of food herd humans in a room; eventually they'll produce 'Bunlet' by Shakebunnyspeare" said Patches.

Well, Snowball was most put out.

He insisted it was magical woodwork fairies, and when the teams returned to the pitch, he performed his sacred rite of anti-magical woodwork fairy exorcism, which mainly involved lopping the heads off of innocent little buttercups (buttercups are so tasty) while hopping on one paw and reciting 'begone magical woodwork fairies' three times.

What the Dragonflies thought of this isn't recorded in Ko-oren media, perhaps because the Dragonflies are so silly that they would never believe in something so sensible and obvious as magical woodwork fairies.

(Though, and don't say this out loud in Snowball's presence, not all of the fluffy bunnies were convinced they exist either).

In any case, in the second half, Ko-oren didn't hit the bunny woodwork once, while the fluffy bunnies hit the Dragonfly woodwork an amazing six times.

Which was quite enough to convince Snowball - who had only exorcised his own goal - that the magical woodwork fairies were real.

Over tea and carrots after the match, Snowball expounded at great length on the dangers posed by magical woodwork fairies, and all of the other fluffy bunnies nodded their heads while munching on carrots, while agreeing with Snowball.

Because even the bunnies who couldn't quite believe in magical woodwork fairies knew that Snowball was their friend.

And friends are always nice and polite to each other over tea and carrots.

Hippity hop, hippity hop, into the burrow.

by **Apox** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 2:29 pm

Goalkeeper
Centre Defender
Centre Defender
Right Defender
Left Defender
Defensive Midfielder
Right Midfielder
Centre Midfielder

Apoxian All-Time XI - Left Midfielder

Kaj Aurora
103 caps
2 sub caps
14 goals
18 assists
International Playing Career: WC67 - CE16 (WC74)

This one is a fairly obvious choice, as left midfielder for the international side hasn't seen many truly stand out players. Kaj Aurora though, was a stand out player for the national team, and she was a mainstay in the side for many tournaments. Fast and powerful, in the fairly standard mold of Apoxian wingers, she was good with the ball at her feet and good at dragging opposing players around to create gaps for the rest of the team to play into. Famously quite a hot-headed character, perhaps from years of playing in the Farf leagues, there is no denying her contributions to the offensive performance of the team.

She entered the fray internationally just after World Cup 66, with the national team slumped after a poor cycle beforehand. The young winger forcing her way into the Gwinevra Barbarians starting line-up made an immediate impact on her debut, setting up Jack Moses to score the opening goal against The Inevitable Syndicate, before scoring in her second cap against Boring Paradise in the first game of the qualifiers. Used in rotation throughout the qualifiers, by the time the World Cup finals swung around, she was safely ensconced in the first team, and there she would stay, playing all three games of the Apoxian hosted World Cup 69 and three of the four games in the second Apoxian hosted World Cup 73.

She was so dominant in her position throughout her time in the national team that other left midfielders barely got a look in, with first the supremely talented Jesper Lee Coleman and then Titan Vladimirescu having to contend themselves with large stretches of time spent warming the bench. She would have probably gone on to challenge Solomon Etezadi's all time caps record had it not been to the Apoxian corruption scandal and the lengthy hiatus which it caused, but as it stands 103 caps is no small feat for a woman who really made the position of left midfielder her own during her playing career.

Domestically, she came through Gwinevra Barbarians' youth academy and was a mainstay in the first team aged just 19, impressing as a real prospect from that young age. She was impressive enough that Farfish team Avenida Leal swooped in for her just as they were establishing themselves in the top tier. A number of runs to the Champion's Cup followed, with Aurora the lynchpin of the side, before the big boys swooped in. Mâ Âlâmëómë. For many seasons, Aurora and Etezadi were stand out Apoxian players at one of the best clubs in the multiverse, Aurora's goalscoring record suitably boosted by the at times kamikaze attacking nature of the Farf top tier. Many title wins and strong UICA performances later, she retired domestically just before the Apoxian return from hiatus.

She has since remained involved in the football world, completing her coaching badges, although a first jon has so far eluded her, with Aurora stating in interviews she is "biding her time for the right opportunity to present itself". In the meantime, occasionally working as a pundit for the IFA and relaxing/working out in her penthouse in Dwile has taking up most of her time, although she has also partied hard since retiring, making a bit of a name for herself amongst the social elite of Apox. Although, with a career as impressive as hers, we can't say we blame her for letting her hair down every once in a while.

Honourable Mentions
Fran Gracie (96 caps, 6 sub caps, 8 goals, 6 assists, [WC61 - CoH58 (WC66)])

by **Vilita** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 5:36 pm

Jungle Cats hold on against Valanora

The Wolf's Den, Busembe, Kitara, Banija :: Despite their defeat in the final of the sixth Cup of Champions in the Free Republics - their first defeat in 23 games in all competitions, the Vilita National Team remained confident as they arrived in Banija for the World Cup 81 Finals. While there were many familiar faces in the crowd there were also some new names set to experience the World Cup Finals for the first time.

After producing a pair of impressive outings before the unfortunate conclusion to the Cup of Champions, young Kiiarana City goalkeeper Vernasa Sanamun was named as Vilita's third choice goalie for the World Cup 81 Finals, beating out Upsin Ajaara for the spot. The Brenecian based Ajaara who plays club footsport for Northern Stallions will still be on hand in Banija as emergency support but is not expected to appear on the playing roster.

Among defenders, Linkat Cjinder and Jirak Trikala will lead the way for the Jungle Cats as the likely first choice pairing in the center of defense with Mileke Drokasorna and Kwuimekii Hentetii options to either join them centrally or push out as wingbacks. Young Yeaddin Owls AFC defender Rojara Tiones will be traveling with the team in an experience building trip but is also unlikely to see any playing time with the quality in defense ahead of him on the roster.

The Vilitan midfield and forward pairings are unlikely to change much though there will be the debate as to how much reliance the Vilitan coaching staff should place on the Turoki Tide AFC duo of Cavuna Aquafek and Polaox Torerun in midfield. Aquafek will likely be wearing the captains armband for the Jungle Cats in the center of midfield while Torerun will switch between a central role and a left wing role attempting to penetrate defensive openings and get quality service in to the Vilitan forwards.

In attack the Jungle Cats are unquestionably going to be led by Berali Tzufarei. The Rammsissil forward has established themselves as one of the best attackers in the multiverse with eight goals over the ten matches they appeared during the World Cup 81 Qualification. Tzufarei further asserted not only their current quality in the internationstatal game but also their legacy amongst the Vilitan faithful by smashing five goals past Turori in the recently contested Cup of Champions. All told Tzufarei was certainly the star of the Cup of Champions earning golden boot honors with seven goals in the five match tournament.

Averaging a goal per match over their last fifteen international appearances, Berali Tzufarei will almost certainly be relied on critically by the Vilita National Team as they look to make a run at improving on their disappointing Quarter Final exit at the hands of Eura during EqueStar 80.

Things would kick off for the Jungle Cats in particularly difficult fashion at the Wolf's Den in Busembe, Kitara, Banija as they would go head to head with Atlantian Oceania regional rivals and five time World Cup Champions Valanora. The experience in the Vanorian side is unmatched elsewhere in the World Cup 81 field and it was on display quickly as the five time champions kicked off their quest for six in imposing fashion with a pair of Audioslavia based 600+ year olds teaming up to give Valanora a 1-0 lead. The play was set up by Hall of Famer Laborious Hawk whose keen vision found Faeron Soldarian where the Vilitan defense likely assumed the ball would be played in to Marie Skaar. There wasn't enough time to close in when Soldarian received the pass and quickly fired off the shot which beat Mako Canopii to the goalkeepers left hand post.

Despite the early setback the Vilitan National Team responded well and didn't allow the opening goal to rattle them too much. Despite the Vanorians having the most World Cup titles between the clubs on the pitch, the Jungle Cats were acually the higher ranked team between the two due partly to the Vilita National teams 18-match unbeaten run in competitions under the umbrella of the World Cup Committee. The coaching staff urged the players to stick to the plan, play their game and don't treat their opponents any differently in spite of the early conceded goal.

The Jungle Cats listened and it wasn't more than ten minutes before they were able to cancel out Soldrian's early tally through a goal from a somewhat unexpected source; Sipke Tarala. Tarala was widely expected to be the first choice attacker for the Vilita National Team headed into the World Cup 81 Qualification campaign but was vastly outplayed by Berali Tzufarei who netted eight goals compared with Tarala's three. There was some thought that the Vilitan coaching staff would pair Tzufarei with the Eastal Lunar youngster and former Galactico Index Young Player of the Season Nii'arala Milaaso but in the end, likely due to the similar playing style between Tzufarei and Milaaso, it was determined that it would indeed by Tzufarei joined with Sipke Tarala for the Jungle Cats opening match.

Sipke Tarala had looked good in the recently contested Cup of Champions, however, and rewarded the confidence and opportunity provided by the coaching staff by scoring breaking the ice on the Jungle Cats goal scoring tally board at the World Cup 81 in Banija and the Free Republics by scoring the equalizer in the 23rd minute of play. It was a well timed tackle by Jurzen Devmiko as the Vanorians were sprinting forward in attack, a quick outlet to Polaox Torerun who then delivered the ball over the top to Sipke Tarala who directed the ball out of the reach of Sean Smørdal and into the back of the net.

The match leveled out for a time at that point as the two teams had exchanged blows and reverted to looking for a new way to control the match and find a weakness in their opponent. As half time loomed, the Jungle Cats found a moment of brilliance from Cavuna Aquafek spotting Sean Smørdal only slightly off their line but having the skill to fire from nearly 30 yards out a dipping effort that just caught the underside of the cross bar on its way to the back of the net. The Turoki Tide midfielder wheeled away in celebration as Smørdal kicked the ball in anger even though it was possible that the goalkeeper who spends their domestic seasons playing for Nepharim side Starling wouldn't have been able to get a hand on the well-placed shot regardless of the slight misstep in positioning.

The Vilita National Team took a 2-1 lead into the half time break and it was the perfect situation for the Jungle Cats knowing that on paper the five-time champion Marauders were their primary foes in Group D and their biggest challenge in the hunt to not only advance to the knockout rounds but also to finish atop Group D and get a preferred draw in the Round of 16.

Both sides saw their quality chances reduced in the second half as the uncommonly defensive Jungle Cats with four at the back along with the defensive minded Jurzen Devmiko in midfield were stuffing out much of the Vanorian attack before it began to concern Yeaddin Owls netminder Mako Canopii. While the Vilitan goalkeeper didn't have a lot to do in a second half that was a bit of a let down even to the neutral observer, they looked good when challenged which was a positive sign for the Vilita National Team after Canopii sat out the last two matches of the Cup of Champions after leaving the final group stage matchup against Turori with a minor injury.

Ultimately, Canopii and the Jungle Cats would hold strong and hold on for the 2-1 victory and a critical three points to start off the World Cup 81 finals leaving two matches against the groups two lower ranked nations standing between the Vilita National Team and a return to the World Cup knockout rounds.

Vilita [2] - [1] Valanora

:: Vilita Goalscorers ::
:: 24' Sipke Tarala
:: 39' Cavuna Aquafek

:: Vilita Statistics ::
:: Possession: 56%
:: Shots on Target: 5
:: Corner Kicks: 9

:: Valanora Statistics ::
:: Possession: 44%
:: Shots on Target: 4
:: Corner Kicks: 7

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Valanora ::
[GK] Mako Canopii, [D.] Linkat Cjinder, [D.] Jirak Trikala, [D.] Mileke Drokasorna, [D.] Arocki Tadalek, [ML] Polaox Torerun, [MC] Jurzen Devmiko, [MC] Cavuna Aquafek, [MR] Westii Yahaya, [FC] Sipke Tarala, [FC] Berali Tzufarei
BENCH::
[FC] Nii'arala Milaaso, [FC] Tenziki Kulakao, [M] Purapal Eskiiy, [M] Limu Katarakhna, [U ] Fishtii Blikala, [D] Kwuimekii Hentetii, [GK] Vernasa Sanamun

Elsewhere in Group D the Cats of Qasden from Atlantian Oceania defeated Cassadaigua, the Rushmori side and the only nation in Group D from outside Atlantian Oceanian by a 3-2 scoreline. With that result Qasden jumped to an early lead in Group D on 3 points with a +1 Goals Scored advantage over Vilita with both nations sitting on a +1 Goal Differential.

As a result, Matchday 2 of the Finals will see a top of the table clash with Qasden and Vilita squaring off at the Wolf's Den while perhaps the even more critical matchup takes place later on in the day when Valanora and Cassadaigua the two sides currently at the bottom of Group D on zero points, will clash head to head with the hope of collecting all three points to set themselves up to get a result on Matchday 3 and move on to the World Cup 81 knockout rounds.

by **Equestrian States** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 5:43 pm

Continued from here...

#34 - Free Republics
Finals Appearance: 8th (World Cup 68*, 69, 71, 72, 73, 79, 80, 81*)
Best Result: Runners-up (World Cup 68)
Manager:

Rule Theriault
World Cup 81 Qualifying: N/A (Qualified as Hosts)
Starting XI (3-4-3): T. Sergeyev (GK, #12); V. Urbanek (LB, #4); Z. Josef (CB, #3); R. Schroder (RB, #2); M. Izmailov (DM, #5); U. Eldarkhanov (LM, #6); L. Arsanukayev (RM, #7); J. Smith (AM, #8); P. Lydsson (ST, #9); L. Holm (ST, #10); K. Peltola (ST, #11); Full Roster

Overview
There isn't a Ponies fan alive who isn't aware of the Free Republics' place in Equestrian hoofball history. The Republicans might not be the Equestrian States' oldest rivals (that honor likely goes to Ko-oren or Kita-Hinode, formerly the Northern Sunrise Islands), but they certainly could claim to be the Ponies' fiercest. To say the two teams dislike each other would be a gross understatement, the Republicans frequently finish atop polls of Equestrian supporters' least-favorite teams. The Equestrians first met the Republicans in the 27th Di Bradini Cup Final, a match which the Little Ponies emerged victorious from. The two soon clashed during World Cup 65 qualifying, battling to a draw in their first meeting before the Ponies won the second leg. Though this will be the first time since then that the Equestrian States and Free Republics have played a competitive fixture at the senior level, but the rivalry's spread to other sports and frequent meetings between the teams' youth teams keeps the hatred alive and well.

The Free Republics were drawn into Group E as World Cup co-hosts from the first pot, and were likely expecting a relatively easy set of group stage opponents, given they were sure to avoid any of the top-ranked sides, but were surely disappointed to see they'd been drawn with the top-ranked teams from both the second and third pots: 8th-ranked Chromatika and the 16th-ranked Equestrian States. Complaints about a rigged draw from ignorant sections of the fandom were quickly shot down as the draw was - in fact - conducted by a Republican. Certainly a case of bad luck for the hosts, but few Equestrians would admit feeling any sympathy for their rivals. Of course, the Republicans do have a history of overcoming long odds in the World Cup, reaching the Final as co-hosts at World Cup 68 and making the semifinals the following cycle, despite entering the tournament nowhere near the top of the rankings.

Republican supporters will surely be hoping for a repeat of that World Cup miracle here, with the Free Republics ranked a mediocre 34th entering the tournament. The Republicans did qualify for the last World Cup, but were quickly eliminated in the group stage, their only point coming from a dead rubber draw against Abanhfleft. Long-time manager Rule Theriault will not be content with a similar performance here on home soil, though it's unlikely he'll ever be replaced as national team boss given his tenure regardless of how his team performs. The Free Republics will have a difficult time escaping this group, the Chromatiks and Equestrians favored by most pundits to advance, but with home field advantage and a history of upsets, it's impossible to count them out completely.

How They Got Here
The Free Republics' path to the World Cup didn't begin on the hootball pitch in qualifying, but in the conference room where they announced their plans to bid for the rights to host World Cup 81 alongside Banija. In the Equestrian States, the public reaction to that announcement was... mixed, at best. Though some might've been happy to see Banija host, given their geographical proximity to the Equestrian homeland, the recently-resolved Busoga Islands Conflict has left few Equestrians with a good impression of the nearby country. And, of course, that's to say nothing of the Free Republics, which has a history of hostility with the Equestrian States. Though it's never led to open conflict, as with the Banijans, the relations between the two nations' governments (and national sports teams) have been chilly. Overall, the rival bid of Vilita and the Equestrians' southern neighbors in Valanora was far more popular among the Equestrian population than the Republican-Banijan bid. However, when it came time for the World Cup Committee to decide on which nations would host the 81st World Cup, they selected the latter in a narrow 11-8 vote which was met with groans in the Equestrian States. Hoofball fans knew that, should the Ponies qualify, regardless of which host nation's groups they were drawn into, they weren't likely to be greeted warmly by the locals.

It's worth mentioning that since winning the host vote, the Republican national team hasn't just been sitting around at home doing nothing to prepare for the World Cup. Instead of participating in World Cup qualifying, the Republicans have played a series of friendly matches as well as in the Cup of Champions, in which they have done fairly well for the most part. The Free Republics emerged victorious in their first four friendlies, a 1-0 win against 40th-ranked Kita-Hinode the most impressive result alongside three blowouts of far lower ranked teams, including a 5-0 thumping of Equestrian qualifying groupmate Sharktail. However, the Republican mid-qualifying friendly against Cosumar couldn't have possibly gone worse for the hosts, with the Dragons humiliating the Republicans en route to a 6-0 victory. The Republicans rebounded in the Cup of Champions, earning impressive wins against Vilita and Mercedini, losing only in the group stage to Turori and in the semifinals to eventual tournament champions Brenecia, before defeating World Cup co-hosts Banija in the 3rd place match.

World Cup 81 Host Vote
 Free Republics &  Banija - 11 votes
 Valanora &  Vilita - 8 votes

What to Watch For
Manager Rule Theriault's selection of an extremely young squad means that his team lacks much in the way of high-level experience, especially compared to the battle-hardened Chromatiks and Equestrians. The oldest player at the tournament for the Free Republics will be 21 year-old midfielder Usman Eldarkhanov, who'd be among the youngest on any of the other Group E teams. What the Republicans lack in experience, however, they make up for in potential. Third-place performances in the Cup of Champions and the Independents' Cup prove that this team has what it takes to be a contender going forward, despite their recent struggles in World Cup matches.

Forward Love Holm is of particular interest to neutrals looking for a future star in the Republican team, earning a spot in Theriault's starting lineup despite being just 16 years-old. Given that the Republicans frequently employ an aggressive brand of hoofball, that Holm is being relied upon to contribute at such a young age is telling of his potential. Of course, potential is just that, potential. At the World Cup, it doesn't matter if you're one of the top prospects in the multiverse if you can't out-perform your opponents. Mistakes here rarely go unpunished and players' careers can end quickly if they can't handle the pressure. That, perhaps, is what to watch for with this young Republican team: how many players step up and perform as required to succeed at this level. Rule Theriault has a fairly good track record of preparing his players for the spotlight, but it's hard to say how well some players will perform until they're actually on the pitch, playing in front of the billions who tune into the World Cup throughout the multiverse.

Prediction
Ultimately, the Free Republics are Group E's wild card; and, as such, they present a unique challenge when predicting how the group will play out. The Republicans' first two matches will be against the Equestrian States and Chromatika, Group E's top-ranked teams, games which the hosts must get something out of if they don't want their World Cup to end in the group stage again. Home field advantage will likely play a major role in making that happen, assuming that it does, of course. It's been a long time since the Republicans gripped the multiverse's attention at World Cup 68, but the memory of that tournament is ingrained in Republican sports history and highlights from that historic run will likely be playing on repeat in every broadcaster's previews of this World Cup, to say nothing of the pre-tournament hype videos that always circulate around this time.

If the Republicans want to retrace the steps of their national team predecessors, and maybe even go one step further to actually win the World Cup, they'll need their young stars to step up and prove their potential. It'll be tough as they lack the experience - and in some cases, the talent and ability - of many teams which stand between them and the ultimate goal. Personally, I simply don't think they have quite enough to make it out of the group. The Chromatiks are legitimate contenders for the World Cup and the Equestrians aren't much further behind. I could certainly see the Free Republics holding the Ponies to a draw in what will be an emotionally-charged opening match and probably beating Saltstead in the finale, but they're not at all likely to upset Chromatika, and in the end I think they come up just a bit short. Hardly a disappointing performance for this young Republican team, if that's how things pan out, but far short of the insanely high bar set by the World Cup 68 team. Steve McNotapony’s Prediction: 1-1-1; 3rd in Group E

World Cup 81: Roleplay Thread

CoC6 Final

WC81 - MD1 v. Valanora

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