World Cup 81: Roleplay Thread

[Mattijana]

5 Places To Definitely Not Go On Your Holidays This World Cup Cycle

With the World Cup 81 Qualifying Cycle swinging into its final third, you might be thinking of a getaway abroad soon. We've given you our top 5 destinations for a break already, but with plenty going on in the multiverse, you might not know the places to avoid. Here's a handy guide to protect your safety and sanity this summer.


5: Northwest Kalactin

Number 5 on the list is the Atlantian Oceanian destination of Northwest Kalactin. This nation speaks english as the official language but even though many of us Mattijanans can speak proficient English, you will still struggle here.
Kalactinish English is a dialect far different to anything taught in Mattijanan classrooms, or indeed any other in the world. It is a butchery of all the intricate laws of spelling, punctuation and indeed grammer. In fact calling it butchery is an insult to butchers. It is a dismembering of the often beautiful language that is one of the world's most commonly spoken.

As a result, even the most expert English speaker may struggle to comprehend what a native Kalactinite is saying and if English happens to be your second language, it will be nearly impossible to understand what is meant. This makes both social and practical situations a struggle.

If you did need any other reasons to steer clear, these can be found in abundance. The culture in Northwest Kalactin is everything that goes against that of Mattijana. There are sporting halls of fame dedicated to commemorating the individual instead of great team performances. Many aspects of both sporting and daily life are heavily commercialised, making going anywhere a constant battle against harrying salespeople, all shouting clichéd slogans in sentences which make you wonder whether the full-stop has been banned. They also call football soccer, which is the final nail in this particular coffin.

Having said that, you probably won't die, so there are worse places to go.



4: South Covello

South Covello will get its time on the tourist trail, but that time is not now. The country is still transitioning from being a tinpot dictatorship in which acts such as snoring, drinking orange juice and talking to fish (??!!) were punishable by death, to a liberal democracy where stupid questions are legal.
Finance, industry and infrastructure are all therefore playing catchup and despite a promising start, things went awry when former president John Green began trying to invade nearly every country in existence. Green was then overthrown by members of his own country and with a new president yet to be elected, political unrest remains at high levels.
With possible supporters of John Green still lurking around in government, the TujineBuro reccomends staying away from South Covello until we can be sure that a wrong move won't result in a major diplomatic crisis. Discussion and at times argument about the two candidates contesting the final runoff election is also commonplace, so until the new president is chosen and things settle down a bit, avoid all but essential travel.

Once again however, risk of serious injury and/or death remains low, so South Covello only makes it to number 4.



3: Main Nation Ministry

The country of Main Nation Ministry is a strange and disturbing place. It is ruled by a mysterious character known only as 'the Leader' and its authoritarian government is made up of a series of ministries determined to keep it that way by employing powerful propaganda and mercilessly executing criminals and those suspected of being enemies of the state.
According to state information, the Ministry came to power after a series of supernatural happenings, which the ministry successfully thwarted. Of course the outside world suspects the Ministry of putting up these bizarre events, but there is no guarantee that these will not continue to happen at random in order to remove political enemies, potentially putting foreign visitors at risk as either targets or bystanders.
As well as seemingly random sinister happenings, there is also the risk of falling foul of law enforcement in the country. Visitors to the country who show dissent to the Ministry will probably be dealt with quickly and quietly by the Ministry of Justice, or whatever they call themselves.

Strange things happen here. A visit may go by trouble free or it may not. Don't risk it.



2: The Holy Empire

The Holy Empire is a country populated by very fluffy sentient bunnies. Whilst they may appear incredibly adorable, their appearance disguises a taste for violence, disruption and hallucinogenic carrots.
This has been made clear during some of their performances this world cup cycle. Attacks on other players and even the referee have been commonplace and due to the bunny's deceptive cuteness, this has often gone unpunished. Indeed the manager of the Holy Empire, a man known as Mr Tzimisces, has in fact been known to encourage this.
Although the attitude of the fluffy bunnys towards Mattijanans is unknown, dislikes may develop suddenly and irrationally, putting visitors at risk of being beaten to a bloody pulp with little to no notice. This will be very painful, potentially life-threatening and the bunny perpetrators will appear so innocent that they will completely get away with it.

Visitors should also be aware that they may be vulnerable to certain bunnies twitching their ears and whiskers in order to charm you into allowing them to carry out a number of unscrupulous acts.

Be warned. These are dangerous and devious little bunnies that we are dealing with here.


1: Farfadillis

Of all the destinations in the multiverse, the number one place to go to get yourself killed is Farfadillis.
This was highlighted by the 68th Baptism of Fire, co-hosted by Farfadillis along with Semarland. Whilst Semarland did their hosting duties well, Farfadillis was revealed to be a nation not only in chaos, but run by it as well.
The government is one of the most disorganised in the multiverse and is set to become even more erratic now Alex Terán, the leader of the FFFF, the most disorganised football association in the multiverse, has been sworn in as president. The previous government had lost control of its country with citizens rioting and having to be forced back with equally disorganised military action. Things show little sign of improving either.

This means gun and knife crime are rife in urban areas, notably in football grounds, posing a risk to those involved and to innocent bystanders. There were many shootings during the BoF, without including the constant threat of Rulundese terrorism in cities following the shocking Rulundese genocide that occurred in recent history.

If you thought that things would be safer once you got out in the sticks, think again. Temperatures in the desert state of Szoirsia can hit 50 degrees Celsius at their peak, enough to kill with prolonged exposure. The nation also has a massive flying jellyfish problem and some wilder areas are infested with these stingers, who can also prove deadly. As a result, you have an equal, if not higher, chance of death in the wilderness as in the cities.

Whether it be due to being caught in the crossfire of crime, incapacitation by an airborne jellyfish or heatstroke, a trip to Farfadillis will probably be a once in a lifetime visit for all the wrong reasons. Avoid at all costs.

[Sargossa]

It was a familiar feeling. A sense of frustration and tension that was so palpable you could almost taste it in the air. Players were getting tetchy with each other, the coach was prowling his technical area like a caged beast and the crowd were, in that traditional Soluca way, irked. We’d been here before, albeit in Mercada rather than the capital, locked at two goals apiece with a lower ranked side. Home form was becoming a worrying problem. The attacking play had been impressive, with two goals to testify to that fact. The first was a fine strike, Miguel Marí cutting in from the left and curling a fine right footed effort beyond Chappuis. The second owned much to a slice of fortune, Alonzo Zevallos broke into the box and saw his low driven cross clip the shin of Jean-Luc Deniau and divert beyond the helpless keeper. But twice the opposition came roaring back. Thibaea, now officially out of qualification contention, played with an attacking élan that came with knowing there was now no pressure.

The frustration came down to the fact that Group Fourteen had turned into a battle and currently none of the leading contenders were having it their own way. A win tonight, with others faltering, could be crucial. Wave after wave of white (the Corsairs were playing in their away kit due to the Thibaea’s love of blue on all their kit options) attack crashed against the Warlock’s defence. Chances came, and chances were missed. Frustrations grew. That was until the Soluca crowd found an unlikely hero. As a Gozan lad playing at the heart of an El Nacional side that took Ciudad Soluca’s title Rafael Bustamanté is often treated to a chilly reception at the Estadio Generalissimo Joaquín Delgado. For a while at least, that changed. The substitute played a probing ball forward to release Matías Cáceres inside the penalty area. The path of the ball took the Ciudad striker further wide than he would like so, a shooting chance defeated by the angle, he cut it back across with pace. Bustamanté had continued his forward run, timed perfectly, and he met the ball with a side footed effort that he placed into the bottom corner.

The stands erupted, the players mobbed him and the coach punched the air. Club allegiances were temporarily put to one side as the stadium announcer went to work.

‘Goal scorer for Sargossa, number sixteen, Rafael!’

BUSTAMANTÉ! The crowd played their part.

‘Rafael!’

BUSTAMANTÉ!

‘Rafaelllll!’

BUSTAMANTÉ!

It was a goal that would prove to be the winner. And how crucial a winner it could be. For elsewhere in Group Fourteen Siovanija and Teusland had been held at home by Sangti, while Kita-Hinode had also been held, away at Main Nation Ministry. Meaning Sargossa moved above Siovanija and Teusland into the playoff spot, three points behind Kita-Hinode. With four games left it’s all getting a little tight. It’s three wins in a row now since the surprise home defeat to Siovanija and Teusland but more will be required as the campaign enters its final stages. Now any slip up could be fatal. Up next it’s Sangti, a side the Corsairs have already slipped up against once, before the home game against leaders Kita-Hinode. The importance of which is pretty obvious.

[Main Nation Ministry]

Machine of Death: Severe Illness

After the threat of bootleg and fake Machines of Death were revealed, the Leader had several government-controlled media outlets send warnings to the citizens that there was only one Machine of Death and one alone. While the machine was just experimental, it was already impacting the important points of the nation. Several people were denied jobs based on their predictions, criminals were forced to be given life sentences for major crimes if their card was natural causes, mass hysteria and paranoia that wasn't visible. Yet. The Ministry of Science requested that a call center to reassure people of the possibilities of their prediction meaning. Around that time, a field trip to one of the national parks was held, where several groups of young schoolkids were getting out their lunchboxes or eco-friendly paper bags to eat lunch, as several performances were being held at the recreational area of the park, where a concert stage made out of truss and girder was set up.

Sergeant Starvo Mazur and Armed Forces Technician Eudino Sachs finished up their performance of their one single "Fifty More Soldiers" as the two of them were exiting the stage to meet up with the fans, who saved their chips to see them in person for signing autographs and personal questions. While the groups of schoolkids were being called by their teachers to return to the trail, one kid slipped out. That kid happened to be Shell, who had returned to his class after the events of Kahe Island. He did enjoy his lunch, though he was still hungry after they got his stomach pumped. He didn't really matter, since he was on another mission. Here in the park out of all locations. Shell's target was a guy who was illegally chopping down resources unauthorized, while selling wood at a higher price than expected. Shell strayed away from the crowds and went deeper into the woods.

Upon arriving at a riverbank, where he saw someone park a boat in the middle of the river. His target, who was clear as day, seemingly unaware, seemed to be bird watching in private. Shell was given intel about the target's cause of death being DROWNED, so a simple "knocking the target unconscious and make it look like an accident" should do the trick. It's knowledge like that is how Shell's own prediction SEVERE ILLNESS made it the only reason he can't die immediately.

Meanwhile... At the Ministry of Tourism

Watt was reading the copy of TujineBuro from Foreign Imports that was send to the Ministry of Tourism, after they found that it said that Main Nation Ministry is the 3rd place on a top 5 list of not visiting during the holidays. They were honest after all and 98% right. Ok, how about 99% right, since it's impossible to prevent the bizarre happenings that happens to several parts of the nation. Watt in his office, looking more like a doctor's office neatly organized, trying to think up a way to still convince tourists. Then, he remembered all about the so-called Machine of Death. The concept was morbid, but maybe if they embraced the strange, bizarre and hellish concept of the nation, maybe it would work.

[South Covello]

A Statement from the South Covello Bureau of Tourism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

It has come to the attention of the SCBT that the TujineBuro Mattijanska, a publication out of Mattijana, has ranked South Covello as the fourth-worst tourism destination among World Cup nations, ahead of Northwest Kalactin, but behind Main Nation Ministry, The Holy Empire, and Fardadillis. The article states "The country is still transitioning from being a tinpot dictatorship in which acts such as snoring, drinking orange juice and talking to fish (??!!) were punishable by death, to a liberal democracy where stupid questions are legal," then goes on to express concern about the political stability caused by President John Green's removal from office, which the article describes as Green "being overthrown by members of his own country."

The article is wrong on multiple levels. First of all, South Covello is a completely free country. The death penalty has been permanently and irreovcably abolished, all the ridiculous laws of the Gregist regime have been repealed, and while there are still laws against murder, theft, and the like, no more do citizens have to fear execution or even arrest for such "crimes" as saying the word "coconut", talking to fish, or snoring. Furthermore, unlike in the past, every citizen, guest, visitor, and everyone else in our fair country is free to practice whatever religion they want, or to practice no religion at all. They are free to question the government or anyone else, whether their question si stupid or not. This is truly a free, liberal democracy. While the road to freedom will never be complete, and we must always strive to do better, we are well beyond the point where South Covello would be considered unsafe to visit. Additionally, John Green was not "overthrown" in a violent coup as the article suggests, he was removed in exactly the democatic process the law allows.

Therefore, we would like to invite representatives of The TujineBuro and/or the government of Mattijana to visit South Covello at the full expense of the SCBT, and see for themselves what a fair nation we are. From the beaches on the coast, to the growing fields of coconut trees and other bountiful plants, to the fields full of goats, llamas, and other wonderful animals, South Covello is truly a wonderful place to visit. Perhaps they can even visit a World Cup qualifier before they are over, and experience soccer in South Covello, home of the best fans in the Multiverse.

In summary, the SCBT fully opposes the sentiments expressed by the TujineBuro Mattijanska. Our nascent democracy is a beauty and a marvel to behold, and we will warmly welcome any visitors from Mattijana or anywhere else in the Multiverse who wish to experience it for themselves.

---

Hale Rising In Polls, at 67 Percent

Following the debate earlier this week where Clara Santos again tore into David Hale and referred to him as a "whippersnapper", a "young punk", and an "impatient tutu who can't wait his turn", Santos has fallen significantly in the polls for the Presidential election while Hale has skyrocketed. The latest SCNN poll shows Hale at 67 percent, Santos at 11 percent, and 21 percent undecided, and, rather bizzarely, 1 percent saying they would vote for someone else. As we mentioned previously, there is nobody else on the ballot and write-in votes are not allowed. However, with the election just two weeks away, it would take either a miracle by Santos or a disaster by Hale for the Legislator to pull it off. At this point, given how disastorously her campaign has gone, it is unclear if Santos can even win reelection to the Legislature. Her opponent in the upcoming election, Richard Narwhin, is currently outperforming her 39 percent to 32 percent, but a lot of voters are undecided.

Narwhin, who has endorsed Hale for President, said "I used to admire Ms. Santos. But it's her time to get out of politics. She's 91 years old, she should retire now while she still has some dignity. Many people stay in politics too long and completely lose it. I don't want Ms. Santos to become one of those people. We've seen by the way she's treated David Hale that she just doesn't have the same spirit she used to in her somewhat younger days. She did well, but it's her time to get out and our time to get in."

The Legislative election will, of course, be held about four weeks after the Presidential election, and we'll have coverage of both for you right here at the South Covello National Post.

[East Belzaria]

East Belzaria won twice in their last 2 games. But due to results elsewhere, they were mathematically eliminated.

Against Sorrentopia, East Belzaria struck twice in the first half. The first goal came from Monte, and the second was finished off by Shad Radclyffe from the penalty spot.

Against South Batoko, East Belzaria scored early through Lorn Monte again. Monte would add a second goal to his collection midway through the second half, heading in from the corner. But the damage of those back to back defeats to Saltstead and Garifunya was done.

"I'm still very proud of this East Belzaria team" Madridson Stated. "I think that if we can play our cards right, we could get some more points on the board before the campaign ends. Our target is to win at least 25 points before the campaign ends."

With games against Lochario, Equestrian States, Sharktail and Penguiland approaching, East Belzaria might pull it off.

[Eura]

OOC: Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3.
Part 4.
Part 5.
Part 6.
Part 7 of this RP.

The City Chambers were crumbling all around Pierro Buccho. Unlike Silvia he had been lucky enough to survive the initial airstrike. He had been unconscious for some time, probably knocked out cold by debris, leaving him unsure of whether it was still the morning and where he actually was in the ruins. He stumbled wildly through the swirling dust looking for an escape. The sounds of ferocious, unrelenting warfare bounced around the walls, meaning that the fighting was close enough to be an imminent danger. Every way out seemed to be blocked by something; a collapsed pillar here or a burning doorway there. Finally salvation reared its head when he found a burst of light coming through a broken segment of the wall. He picked up a rifle from one of the bodies lying in his way, took a deep breath and stepped through the breach.

When Buccho emerged into daylight he was immediately set upon by some figures that he could not see clearly in the dusty haze. ‘Pierro Buccho?’
‘Pierro Bucc…what?’
‘Are you Pierro Buccho!’
‘Yes, I am.’ A million little points of agony burned into life as an electric shock passed through his body in a fraction of a second. He had been tasered and could only look up helplessly as a Euran special forces operative knelt down to ID him. ‘This is our guy. Tag him and call for exfil.’ It was the early afternoon and these forces had been inserted by helicopter in the last couple of hours. In one of the most spectacular and daring missions of the war, a massive deployment of the Euran Marine Corps had successfully taken place along a lengthy stretch of the Bregaland coastline, seizing numerous coastal towns while the forward deployment of paratroopers and soldiers like these deployed by helicopter seized the key parts of Brega itself. Only a few hours ago the city had been relatively quiet. Now it was burning after a fearsome Euran aerial and naval assault that had in effect razed the entire city centre to the ground. Panicking residents and BRA fighters could only watch or flee as this occurred with a backdrop of thousands of parachutes opening over the surrounding countryside, each one the source of one more invader.

Before long Buccho found himself being slung into the back of a helicopter with a dozen other leaders of the BRA. The revolution was dead – their force would fragment without its leadership or tacit Euran backing. In the cabin was almost the entire central committee including all of the Euran-Electrumites who had originally been sent here with Bastion’s blessing. As the vehicle was preparing to take off Buccho couldn’t help but look out at the open door to gaze upon the horrific demolition that had taken place. Some more Euran soldiers appeared with several SRA prisoners in tow – the offensive had clearly taken them by surprise too. A middle ranking Euran officer appeared with a couple of his men. ‘Private! What have we got here?’
‘Political auxiliaries, Bregaland Republican Guard. They’re all officers Captain.’ Buccho hoped he could find a way to pinch his nose to cover up the stench of these fascist pigs, expecting them to be arrested too and thrown in with him and the others. He was surprised then to see the Euran Captain lead the SRA men off into a gully ten feet away and cut them down with a single magazine of his automatic rifle. The Captain then calmly walked onto the helicopter like nothing had happened. He came over to Buccho, knowing who he was in advance. ‘You, comrade, are going to be in a dark little cell for a very, very long time.’ Buccho could not resist letting a pained expression spring up on his face. Defeat had always been a possibility for his army but he had never anticipated that it would end like this.

[Brenecia]

South Libertopia 2 - 1 Brenecia
(4-1-4-1) 12 - Calhoun; 2 - Weaver, 18 - Beath, 22 - Varney, 19 - Prentice; 4 - Staunton; 15 - Garrard (7 - Cheney 73'), 14 - Ruskin, 13 - Matheson (8 - Hartsdown 64'), 16 - Keynes; 9 - Strider (17 - Bremner 68')
Goal: Keynes 23'

Brenecia 4 - 1 Colonial Australia
(4-1-4-1) 12 - Calhoun; 2 - Weaver, 6 - Ramsay, 22 - Varney, 3 - Levein (19 - Prentice 76'); 21 - Redweald; 7 - Cheney, 14 - Ruskin (8 - Hartsdown 64'), 13 - Matheson, 11 - Corvey; 17 - Bremner
Goals: Bremner 15' 27', Matheson 44', Ruskin 60'

Age was Gerik Marshall's friend.
Normally, a nation's biggest sporting trophy might be stored in their biggest sporting facility. But for Brenecia, football was so central to their identity - well, any positive reading of their identity - that they just straight-up put it in a display cabinet in Parliament.
Normally, a nation's Parliament or whatever other government building they might have would be shiny and sleek and well-fortified. But in a relatively young country like Brenecia, age meant prestige, and the fact that the Parliament was a crumbling wreck somehow added to its aura. It was a clean crumbling wreck - a diligent crew of janitors helped maintain it as best they could - but it still had structural flaws.
Two lockers, easily picked. Queen Moira had told Marshall which ones were out of use. Slip inside them just before closing hours, wait 'til the coast was clear and the lights off, slip past the guards, smash open the case and run like hell for Moira's guy in the van out back. And then, boom. World Cup: theirs. Marshall could retire on the back of the money Moira'd pay him.
Unfortunately, he was almost on his own. He'd known a few people who'd helped him carry out past jobs, but this? This was heresy. It had started with Beck Clement and it would end with her, more adrenaline junkie than patriot.
They slipped out, made their way through dusty corridors, slipped past disinterested security. It was all so easy. And behind it all, Gerik Marshall had the cold, steadying calm of someone who knows what he's doing is too insane to be real.
Down one hall, then another. Clement checked the map, nodded. They forged on. Lasers? Death traps? Didn't seem like it. This was almost insultingly easy.
And then they got to the display case. Normally that would secure an alarm but, again, Queen Moira had a guy who was being very well-paid to ensure the alarm was mysteriously dormant tonight. As a teenager, Clement had stolen one of those 'in case of emergency' glassbreakers from a bus as a lark. She slipped it out of her pocket now, slammed it through the glass, Marshall held his breath...
No alarm.
No response.
They lifted the trophy out from the shattered case, a damn heavy thing, one with not only the weight of history behind it but also the very literal weight of being made of gold. Clement slung it unceremoniously into a satchel, and boom, that was it. They were on their way. Hustling, glancing over their shoulder, sure the shouts would start at any moment, the alarms would go off, the cops would arrive...
"We did it," said Clement, breathlessly. "We actually fucking-"
A distant echo of automatic gunfire rang out, and a woman screamed before being suddenly cut off.
No time to gloat, no time to ponder - Clement and Marshall ran like hell for the doors.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 8
Goalkeepers: 1 - Mathis Woodgate (Spartangrad, EUR), 12 - Rostyn Calhoun (Wexax United, VAL), 20 - Aidan Hartigan (Metropolis Alligators, VLD)
Defenders: 2 - Keziah Broxham (Mallox, COS), 3 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 5 - Cheney Heneghan (Ernesse Stahl, BYN), 6 - Niko Szubanski (1830 Cathair, AUD, c), 18 - Chadwick Beath (Blue Coast 1981, PCR), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Westpike United), 22 - Garwyn Varney (Soldarian FC, VAL)
Midfielders: 4 - Roisin Staunton (Kingsgrove), 7 - Brae Crowther (Chenoworth Harriers, NPH), 8 - Meghan Hartsdown (Kings Park, SCT), 11 - Tiferet Ashbrown (Kings Park, SCT), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 14 - Claire Ruskin (Southern Star), 15 - Cu Roi Garrard (Rene Skae, FFD), 16 - Cathal Keynes (Snowden River), 21 - Falcon Case (Goodfeather FC, NPH), 23 - Catsidhe Alweather (Eastal Lunar, VIL)
Forwards: 9 - Griffin Riordan (Klyde, COS), 10 - Vesuvia Carrick (South Laithland, NPH), 17 - Niall Bremner (Westpike United)

SCHEDULE
Cassadaigua 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 0 Al-Mumtaz
Oscioru 0 - 1 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 0 South Libertopia
Colonial Australia 0 - 1 Brenecia
Brenecia 5 - 0 Cobrio
Tinhampton 0 - 1 Brenecia
Czarna Gora 0 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 0 Octinstine
Brenecia 6 - 2 Cassadaigua
Al-Mumtaz 0 - 1 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 0 Oscioru
South Libertopia 2 - 1 Brenecia
Brenecia 4 - 1 Colonial Australia
Cobrio vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Tinhampton
Brenecia vs. Czarna Gora
Octinstine vs. Brenecia

[Equestrian States]

Match Day 14 Overall Standings

    World Cup 81 Qualifying                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
  1  Ethane (16)                         14   14   0   0    45   10  +35    42    1st in Qualifying Group 8
  2  Vilita (6)                          14   13   1   0    45   10  +35    40    1st in Qualifying Group 13
  3  Chromatika (8)                      14   13   1   0    47   17  +30    40    1st in Qualifying Group 19
  4  Mercedini (26)                      14   13   0   1    54   17  +37    39    2nd in Qualifying Group 13
  5  Eura (2)                            14   13   0   1    44   13  +31    39    1st in Qualifying Group 7
  6  Nephara (7)                         14   13   0   1    35    9  +26    39    1st in Qualifying Group 12
  7  Brenecia (4)                        14   13   0   1    31    5  +26    39    1st in Qualifying Group 16
  8  Pasarga (11)                        14   13   0   1    43   19  +24    39    1st in Qualifying Group 15
  9  Ko-oren (47)                        14   13   0   1    26    5  +21    39    1st in Qualifying Group 18
 10  South Covello (10)                  14   12   2   0    31    3  +28    38    2nd in Qualifying Group 18
 11  Cosumar (14)                        14   12   1   1    39    8  +31    37    1st in Qualifying Group 2
 12  Farfadillis (3)                     14   12   1   1    38   12  +26    37    1st in Qualifying Group 6
 13  Darmen (22)                         14   12   1   1    42   21  +21    37    1st in Qualifying Group 17
 14  Barunia (33)                        14   12   1   1    35   14  +21    37    1st in Qualifying Group 3
 15  Mriin (19)                          14   11   2   1    46   16  +30    35    1st in Qualifying Group 11
 16  The Holy Empire (5)                 14   11   2   1    43   16  +27    35    1st in Qualifying Group 4
 17  Turori (12)                         14   11   2   1    32    7  +25    35    1st in Qualifying Group 1
 18  Qasden (27)                         14   11   2   1    39   16  +23    35    2nd in Qualifying Group 15
 19  Baker Park (46)                     14   11   2   1    37   14  +23    35    2nd in Qualifying Group 17
 20  Equestrian States (17)              14   11   2   1    29    6  +23    35    1st in Qualifying Group 10
 21  Drawkland (20)                      14   11   1   2    47   13  +34    34    2nd in Qualifying Group 3
 22  Eshan (35)                          14   11   1   2    46   14  +32    34    2nd in Qualifying Group 12
 23  Valanora (13)                       14   11   1   2    41   19  +22    34    1st in Qualifying Group 9
 24  Tinhampton (65)                     14   11   1   2    23    4  +19    34    2nd in Qualifying Group 16
 25  Kita-Hinode (40)                    14   10   3   1    40   24  +16    33    1st in Qualifying Group 14
 26  Starblaydia (15)                    14   10   3   1    33   19  +14    33    1st in Qualifying Group 5
 27  Savojarna (28)                      14    9   5   0    30   13  +17    32    2nd in Qualifying Group 19
 28  Saltstead (38)                      14   10   2   2    23    7  +16    32    2nd in Qualifying Group 10
 29  Damukuni (25)                       14   10   2   2    37   22  +15    32    2nd in Qualifying Group 8
 30  Indusse (103)                       14   10   2   2    33   18  +15    32    2nd in Qualifying Group 6
 31  Garifunya (67)                      14   10   2   2    23   10  +13    32    3rd in Qualifying Group 10
 32  Apox (42)                           14    9   4   1    30    9  +21    31    2nd in Qualifying Group 4
 33  South Toronto (75)                  14   10   1   3    38   18  +20    31    3rd in Qualifying Group 19
 34  Cassadaigua (36)                    14   10   1   3    36   19  +17    31    3rd in Qualifying Group 16
 35  Abanhfleft (24)                     14   10   1   3    28   15  +13    31    2nd in Qualifying Group 11
 36  Sargossa (21)                       14    9   3   2    43   19  +24    30    2nd in Qualifying Group 14
 37  Nova Anglicana (53)                 14   10   0   4    40   27  +13    30    4th in Qualifying Group 19
 38  Cosneolta (78)                      14   10   0   4    32   23   +9    30    3rd in Qualifying Group 12
 39  Super-Llamaland (30)                14    9   2   3    41   19  +22    29    3rd in Qualifying Group 6
 40  New Lusitania (89)                  14    9   2   3    31   10  +21    29    2nd in Qualifying Group 1
 41  Juvencus (39)                       14    8   5   1    35   16  +19    29    2nd in Qualifying Group 2
 42  Siovanija & Teusland (84)           14    9   2   3    40   24  +16    29    3rd in Qualifying Group 14
 43  Taeshan (60)                        14    9   2   3    23    7  +16    29    3rd in Qualifying Group 17
 44  Audioslavia (31)                    14    8   5   1    19    5  +14    29    2nd in Qualifying Group 5
 45  Jeruselem (54)                      14    9   2   3    33   21  +12    29    3rd in Qualifying Group 11
 46  Polkopia (223)                      14    9   2   3    27   20   +7    29    2nd in Qualifying Group 9
 47  Devonta (57)                        14    9   1   4    31   17  +14    28    3rd in Qualifying Group 8
 48  Tobiasia (49)                       14    9   1   4    39   26  +13    28    3rd in Qualifying Group 13
 49  The Macabees (121)                  14    8   4   2    25   13  +12    28    3rd in Qualifying Group 2
 50  Omerica (85)                        14    9   1   4    29   19  +10    28    3rd in Qualifying Group 3
 51  Flardania (43)                      14    8   4   2    29   20   +9    28    3rd in Qualifying Group 18
 52  Main Nation Ministry (126)          14    8   3   3    38   23  +15    27    4th in Qualifying Group 14
 53  Qusmo (81)                          14    8   3   3    21    6  +15    27    3rd in Qualifying Group 9
 54  Northwest Kalactin (87)             14    8   3   3    25   12  +13    27    4th in Qualifying Group 10
 55  Filindostan (48)                    14    8   3   3    25   19   +6    27    3rd in Qualifying Group 4
 56  Mattijana (69)                      14    8   2   4    48   36  +12    26    3rd in Qualifying Group 7
 57  North Prarie (79)                   14    7   5   2    38   27  +11    26    2nd in Qualifying Group 7
 58  Adab (260)                          14    8   2   4    26   16  +10    26    3rd in Qualifying Group 5
 59  Octinstine (99)                     14    8   2   4    24   15   +9    26    4th in Qualifying Group 16
 60  Darkmania (103)                     14    8   2   4    35   27   +8    26    4th in Qualifying Group 11
 61  New Gazi (29)                       14    8   2   4    24   16   +8    26    4th in Qualifying Group 9
 62  Beepee (108)                        14    8   2   4    24   17   +7    26    3rd in Qualifying Group 1
 63  Acapais (97)                        14    8   2   4    28   22   +6    26    4th in Qualifying Group 2
 64  Kavagrad (214)                      14    8   2   4    22   16   +6    26    4th in Qualifying Group 3
 65  Yuezhou (74)                        14    8   2   4    21   22   −1    26    4th in Qualifying Group 4
 66  Valladares (44)                     14    7   4   3    31   18  +13    25    4th in Qualifying Group 1
 67  Eastfield Lodge (51)                14    7   4   3    28   15  +13    25    5th in Qualifying Group 9
 68  Krytenia (146)                      14    8   1   5    31   21  +10    25    4th in Qualifying Group 18
 69  Romaian (190)                       14    7   4   3    29   19  +10    25    5th in Qualifying Group 4
 70  Kalumba (52)                        14    7   4   3    29   20   +9    25    4th in Qualifying Group 5
 71  West Angola (68)                    14    8   0   6    30   21   +9    24    4th in Qualifying Group 12
 72  Alpine Union (59)                   14    7   3   4    27   21   +6    24    5th in Qualifying Group 14
 73  Maryloupe (77)                      14    7   3   4    37   32   +5    24    4th in Qualifying Group 8
 74  Coldfield (71)                      14    7   3   4    24   22   +2    24    4th in Qualifying Group 17
 75  95X (50)                            14    7   3   4    25   24   +1    24    3rd in Qualifying Group 15
 76  San Regada (134)                    14    7   3   4    23   23    0    24    5th in Qualifying Group 3
 77  Mytanija (262)                      14    7   3   4    15   15    0    24    4th in Qualifying Group 7
 78  Michine (198)                       14    7   3   4    15   16   −1    24    5th in Qualifying Group 1
 79  Petroslovania (83)                  14    7   2   5    35   26   +9    23    5th in Qualifying Group 5
 80  Aggrey-Fynn Land (58)               14    7   2   5    29   20   +9    23    4th in Qualifying Group 6
 81  Squornshelan Remnant States (198)   14    7   2   5    20   12   +8    23    4th in Qualifying Group 15
 82  Lochario (135)                      14    7   2   5    17   10   +7    23    5th in Qualifying Group 10
 83  Dreamplanet (UR)                    14    7   2   5    30   28   +2    23    5th in Qualifying Group 11
 84  Acronius (45)                       14    7   2   5    27   26   +1    23    5th in Qualifying Group 7
 85  Natanians & Nosts (66)              14    7   1   6    22   14   +8    22    6th in Qualifying Group 3
 86  Freeport (189)                      14    7   1   6    38   33   +5    22    5th in Qualifying Group 17
 87  Timmy’s Tigers (262)                14    7   1   6    29   25   +4    22    6th in Qualifying Group 17
 88  Jeckland (63)                       14    7   1   6    24   21   +3    22    6th in Qualifying Group 1
 89  Saint Émelie (214)                  14    7   1   6    31   29   +2    22    5th in Qualifying Group 2
 90  Mapletish (UR)                      14    7   1   6    25   25    0    22    5th in Qualifying Group 8
 91  Cobrio (172)                        14    7   1   6    18   20   −2    22    5th in Qualifying Group 16
 92  Semarland (125)                     14    6   3   5    28   19   +9    21    5th in Qualifying Group 6
 93  Melbergia (168)                     14    6   3   5    21   17   +4    21    6th in Qualifying Group 5
 94  Competitive Solitaire (132)         14    6   3   5    35   32   +3    21    6th in Qualifying Group 8
 95  Anthor (94)                         14    6   3   5    32   30   +2    21    4th in Qualifying Group 13
 96  Geisenfried (UR)                    14    6   3   5    18   19   −1    21    5th in Qualifying Group 15
 97  Bostopia (72)                       14    6   3   5    16   17   −1    21    5th in Qualifying Group 18
 98  Kelssek (UR)                        14    6   3   5    25   27   −2    21    6th in Qualifying Group 6
 99  HUElavia (64)                       14    6   2   6    28   16  +12    20    6th in Qualifying Group 2
100  The Sherpa Empire (170)             14    5   5   4    35   28   +7    20    6th in Qualifying Group 7
101  Blaneu (207)                        14    5   4   5    34   28   +6    19    7th in Qualifying Group 7
102  Karulicja (UR)                      14    6   1   7    27   24   +3    19    6th in Qualifying Group 9
103  Vakolicci Haven & Celeria (70)      14    5   4   5    23   20   +3    19    6th in Qualifying Group 15
104  Santa Rafa (198)                    14    6   1   7    20   20    0    19    7th in Qualifying Group 6
105  St. Saratoga (167)                  14    6   1   7    26   27   −1    19    7th in Qualifying Group 17
106  Olastor (110)                       14    6   1   7    23   24   −1    19    7th in Qualifying Group 15
107  Savalen (116)                       14    6   1   7    19   20   −1    19    7th in Qualifying Group 9
108  East Belzaria (UR)                  14    5   4   5    17   19   −2    19    6th in Qualifying Group 10
109  Kernovi & Rewgwlas (116)            14    6   1   7    27   34   −7    19    5th in Qualifying Group 13
110  Soute (207)                         14    5   3   6    20   19   +1    18    6th in Qualifying Group 14
111  Krenorus (207)                      14    6   0   8    30   30    0    18    5th in Qualifying Group 19
112  Alenburg (230)                      14    5   3   6    21   23   −2    18    6th in Qualifying Group 18
113  Euran Oceania Territories (160)     14    5   3   6    25   28   −3    18    5th in Qualifying Group 12
114  Sultanate of Oontaz (196)           14    5   3   6    16   25   −9    18    6th in Qualifying Group 11
115  Guriguay (198)                      14    5   2   7    23   25   −2    17    7th in Qualifying Group 5
116  South Libertopia (198)              14    5   2   7    18   20   −2    17    6th in Qualifying Group 16
117  Oberour Ar Moro (UR)                14    4   5   5    27   32   −5    17    6th in Qualifying Group 13
118  Acheia (262)                        14    5   2   7    17   24   −7    17    6th in Qualifying Group 4
119  Petrovskia (252)                    14    5   2   7    19   28   −9    17    7th in Qualifying Group 1
120  Busoga Islands (214)                14    5   1   8    26   31   −5    16    6th in Qualifying Group 12
121  Rannoria (230)                      14    4   4   6    22   29   −7    16    7th in Qualifying Group 13
122  Zeleny Hrebenia (247)               14    4   4   6    18   26   −8    16    7th in Qualifying Group 8
123  Sangti (UR)                         14    4   4   6    17   31  −14    16    7th in Qualifying Group 14
124  The Frozen Forest (165)             14    4   3   7    25   23   +2    15    8th in Qualifying Group 4
125  Pink Floyd FC (272)                 14    4   3   7    40   39   +1    15    6th in Qualifying Group 19
126  Ndaku (UR)                          14    4   3   7    32   35   −3    15    8th in Qualifying Group 1
127  Joshenia (UR)                       14    5   0   9    25   28   −3    15    7th in Qualifying Group 4
128  Crystalline Caverns (148)           14    4   3   7    16   23   −7    15    7th in Qualifying Group 11
129  Oscioru (230)                       14    5   0   9    17   25   −8    15    7th in Qualifying Group 16
130  Anollasia (UR)                      14    5   0   9    25   35  −10    15    7th in Qualifying Group 2
131  Britonisea (226)                    14    4   2   8    16   27  −11    14    8th in Qualifying Group 2
132  Togonistan (317)                    14    3   4   7    11   23  −12    13    7th in Qualifying Group 18
133  Ancharmunn (UR)                     14    4   1   9    21   41  −20    13    7th in Qualifying Group 12
134  Mareibat (230)                      14    4   0  10    19   29  −10    12    8th in Qualifying Group 11
135  Shofercia (186)                     14    3   3   8    15   25  −10    12    7th in Qualifying Group 19
136  Torisakia (UR)                      14    3   3   8    26   37  −11    12    8th in Qualifying Group 19
137  Al-Mumtaz (UR)                      14    4   0  10    18   30  −12    12    8th in Qualifying Group 16
138  Unified Hispania (214)              14    3   3   8    10   22  −12    12    8th in Qualifying Group 8
139  Hertisiana (272)                    14    4   0  10    16   32  −16    12    8th in Qualifying Group 7
140  Sharktail (230)                     14    2   5   7    19   29  −10    11    7th in Qualifying Group 10
141  Vithuland (214)                     14    3   2   9    16   26  −10    11    8th in Qualifying Group 13
142  Cheergirls (UR)                     14    3   2   9    18   33  −15    11    8th in Qualifying Group 12
143  The South Falls (307)               14    3   2   9    14   29  −15    11    8th in Qualifying Group 15
144  Shayla (UR)                         14    3   1  10    34   40   −6    10    7th in Qualifying Group 3
145  Rakivland (214)                     14    2   4   8    25   31   −6    10    8th in Qualifying Group 9
146  Carloso (192)                       14    3   1  10    29   36   −7    10    8th in Qualifying Group 18
147  Bongo Johnson (296)                 14    3   1  10    20   36  −16    10    9th in Qualifying Group 12
148  Bellarona (317)                     14    3   1  10    12   29  −17    10    8th in Qualifying Group 5
149  Altai Almas (272)                   14    3   1  10    16   34  −18    10    8th in Qualifying Group 14
150  Kedroiqua (272)                     14    2   3   9    16   23   −7     9    8th in Qualifying Group 3
151  Sorrentopia (207)                   14    2   3   9    13   22   −9     9    8th in Qualifying Group 10
152  Thibaea (224)                       14    2   3   9    26   39  −13     9    9th in Qualifying Group 14
153  Egyptosian (262)                    14    3   0  11    13   45  −32     9    9th in Qualifying Group 3
154  Dormil & Stiura (252)               14    2   2  10    16   31  −15     8    9th in Qualifying Group 15
155  Routcher (272)                      14    2   2  10    10   25  −15     8    9th in Qualifying Group 18
156  Innovian Indusse (307)              14    2   2  10    10   25  −15     8    8th in Qualifying Group 17
157  Miznan (272)                        14    2   2  10    19   36  −17     8    9th in Qualifying Group 4
158  Greater Libertania (230)            14    1   5   8    16   33  −17     8    10th in Qualifying Group 12
159  Brittany Normandy Aquitaine (296)   14    2   2  10     6   24  −18     8    9th in Qualifying Group 5
160  Tarper (272)                        14    2   2  10     8   31  −23     8    8th in Qualifying Group 6
161  Huffingshire (272)                  14    2   2  10    14   40  −26     8    9th in Qualifying Group 19
162  Neo-Romanum (307)                   14    1   4   9    15   32  −17     7    9th in Qualifying Group 11
163  Tobria (247)                        14    2   1  11    20   40  −20     7    9th in Qualifying Group 6
164  Tanzanique (272)                    14    2   1  11     5   31  −26     7    9th in Qualifying Group 2
165  Axuva (307)                         14    2   1  11    15   44  −29     7    9th in Qualifying Group 9
166  Swibia (UR)                         14    2   1  11    12   44  −32     7    9th in Qualifying Group 13
167  Colonial Australia (315)            14    2   0  12    11   42  −31     6    9th in Qualifying Group 16
168  Czarna Gora (272)                   14    1   1  12     8   24  −16     4    10th in Qualifying Group 16
169  Lycrabon (UR)                       14    1   1  12     9   31  −22     4    10th in Qualifying Group 11
170  The Hungarian Nation (317)          14    0   4  10    11   34  −23     4    9th in Qualifying Group 7
171  Andwell (UR)                        14    0   4  10    11   34  −23     4    10th in Qualifying Group 5
172  Kwesiland (UR)                      14    1   1  12    16   40  −24     4    9th in Qualifying Group 17
173  Penguinland (272)                   14    1   1  12     9   34  −25     4    9th in Qualifying Group 10
174  Central Shaneville (272)            14    1   1  12     8   34  −26     4    9th in Qualifying Group 1
175  South Batoko (UR)                   14    0   4  10     3   29  −26     4    10th in Qualifying Group 10
176  Mariarty (UR)                       14    1   1  12     8   42  −34     4    10th in Qualifying Group 3
177  Ceskaar (UR)                        14    1   1  12     5   41  −36     4    10th in Qualifying Group 6
178  Leodomum (272)                      14    1   0  13    16   39  −23     3    9th in Qualifying Group 8
179  Kilaguni (272)                      14    1   0  13    14   40  −26     3    10th in Qualifying Group 13
180  Comind New Islands (UR)             14    0   3  11    11   40  −29     3    10th in Qualifying Group 7
181  South Caleblan (UR)                 14    1   0  13    12   43  −31     3    10th in Qualifying Group 17
182  Nuadh-Alba (272)                    14    0   3  11     9   41  −32     3    10th in Qualifying Group 9
183  Gudalajara (UR)                     14    0   2  12     8   38  −30     2    10th in Qualifying Group 1
184  Corindia (317)                      14    0   2  12     9   43  −34     2    10th in Qualifying Group 19
185  Tasrailia (UR)                      14    0   2  12    11   46  −35     2    10th in Qualifying Group 2
186  Illahee (307)                       14    0   1  13    13   40  −27     1    10th in Qualifying Group 15
187  Palmeria (UR)                       14    0   1  13     6   35  −29     1    10th in Qualifying Group 8
188  Raffiah (307)                       14    0   1  13    10   43  −33     1    10th in Qualifying Group 14
189  Star United States (UR)             14    0   0  14     8   39  −31     0    10th in Qualifying Group 18
190  Halfdansodal (317)                  14    0   0  14     9   47  −38     0    10th in Qualifying Group 4

If qualifying ended today...
Qualifies for World Cup
Qualifies for Playoffs
Does not qualify

[Polkopia]

Lada Kirovski is a club which plays in the Polkopian Premier League. At the end of the last season, the bulls finished in 4th place and continue to play in the top flight of Polkopian football for the upcoming season. The team currently plays in the city of Dovgorodia, and their home ground is the Marshpan Arena, which seats up to 32,553 spectators.

History:

Lada Kirovski was officially founded in 1940 and was the first club based in Dovgorodia which played in the Polkopian Premier League. Two years after Lada Kirovski was founded, however, the club took a brief hiatus, along with the rest of the teams in the Polkopian football leagues, in order to allocate funding for the war effort. After 1946, the Premier League resumed and Lada Kirovski earned its first championship during the 1946-47 year. The club is most notable for players such as Semyon Erobin and Fyodor Toytsev, who fought for Polkopia in the Second World War and returned to play for their hometown club.

Like FC Dovogo, Lada Kirovski enjoyed fairly early success during the first years of its founding, having won six more championships between 1947 and 1965. Lada Kirovski's success turned the city of Dovgorodia into a hub for sports in Polkopia and set the precedent for the foundation of its rival club, FC Dogovo in the same city in 1947. Due to the presence of two major clubs in Polkopia during a time where people were being relocated from major cities - like Dovgorodia - to more remote towns, the PFA moved Lada Kirovski to the town of Balavo in 1959, and the club would continue to play from there until the PFA founded Rotislav FC in Balavo and Lada Kirovski was subsequently moved back to Dovgorodia where they continue to play today.

After suffering through decade of mediocrity throughout the 1970's, In 1979 the club was bought by oil tycoon, Toufik Panosyan, who invested much of his money in ensuring that Lada Kirovski had the best players and had the capabilities to compete with some of the top Polkopian teams like they were able to in the past. In 1982 and 1989, the club finished in first place in the Premier League. Throughout the 1990's, the club's prestige took a huge blow after Panosyan was accused of money laundering and sex trafficking in 1990 and his assets in Polkopia were seized, including his club. The club, whilst still competed in the Polkopian Premier League, was sanctioned by the PFA and not allowed to make heavy purchases for the next decade.

In 2003, a year after the sanctions were lifted, the club moved to participate in trade deals within Polkopia and managed to sign some of Polkopia's rising stars. The club moved on to win titles in 2008 and 2010 and has yet to win one since.

In 2015, the club was disbanded, along with the other Polkopian clubs, due to a large-scale corruption scandal across the entirety of the PFA. The club was reestablished the following year and Lada Kirovski participated in the 2017-18 Polkopian Premier League, finishing 4th out of 16 teams.

Squad:

##       POS.        NAME.                                                   
#1       GK       Paride Valenti
#2       GK       Vanja Poletti
#3       GK       Albin Tomčić
#99      DEF      Vlatko Stanev
#64      DEF      Valter Kokinos
#6       DEF      Alfredo Da Costa
#27      DEF      Ilia Zupan
#36      DEF      Fyodor Mikalaev
#15      DEF      Vladan Chayka
#20      MID      Rubem Viola
#18      MID      Teodoro Kedzierski
#7       MID      Luis Valentinov
#20      MID      Kevork Kovačič
#10      MID      Vugar Stoyanović
#22      MID      Goran Scotti
#9       FWD      Alen Sinagra
#11      FWD      Kostyantin Ateljević
#13      FWD      Atanas Ramires
#29      FWD      Velibor Filipović

[Kita-Hinode]

[Equestrian States]

Ponies Defeat Sorrentopia with Pristina Shine's 100th International Goal
by Steve McNotapony

Equestrian States 2-1 Sorrentopia
at Diamond Park in Stalliongrad, Equestrian States
Attendance: 80,573
Scoring:
Wither '54 (Sapphire Rose)
Herb May '63 (P. Dale)
Pristina Shine '90+1 (Cloudchaser)

STALLIONGRAD - With Saltstead and Garifunya still dangerously within reach of first place, Equestrian manager Pearly White has shifted away from her earlier strategy of using second-stringers against the group's lower-ranked teams, fielding a near-full-strength squad against 207th-ranked Sorrentopia. But even with the Ponies' first team on the pitch and the stands at Diamond Park packed with Equestrian supporters, it took everything the Ponies had to take all three points. After a first half in which the Equestrian States dominated possession but failed to convert any of their chances, Wither finally opened the scoring in the 54th minute for the Ponies, tapping in a Sapphire Rose cross. However, Sorrentopian winger Herb May equalized less than ten minutes later on a phenomenal strike that goalkeeper Amberlocks had no chance of stopping. The Equestrians pressed hard for a winner as the minutes ticked away, but it seemed the Cardinals might hold out for a stunning draw until Pristina Shine came out of nowhere to score a superb solo goal, running all the way from midfield through the Sorrentopian defense to score. It was the superstar striker's 100th goal for the Ponies, a magical milestone previously only achieved by legendary Equestrian goalscorer Fire Dash.

   GROUP 10                  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts        MD14 Results:
 1  Equestrian States      14   11   2   1    29    6  +23    35         Equestrian States 2–1 Sorrentopia 
 2  Saltstead              14   10   2   2    23    7  +16    32        @ Diamond Park in Stalliongrad, EQS
 3  Garifunya              14   10   2   2    23   10  +13    32         Lochario 0–1 Garifunya 
 4  Northwest Kalactin     14    8   3   3    25   12  +13    27        @ Zun Olympic Stadium in Zun, LOC
 5  Lochario               14    7   2   5    17   10   +7    23         Penguinland 0–1 Saltstead 
 6  East Belzaria          14    5   4   5    17   19   −2    19   E    @ Unknown Venue in Unknown City, PEN
 7  Sharktail              14    2   5   7    19   29  −10    11   E    Sharktail 1–3 Northwest Kalactin 
 8  Sorrentopia            14    2   3   9    13   22   −9     9   E    @ Kota Lama National Arena in Kota Sultan, SHK
 9  Penguinland            14    1   1  12     9   34  −25     4   E     East Belzaria 2–0 South Batoko 
10  South Batoko           14    0   4  10     3   29  −26     4   E    @ Belzarian Command Complex in Command, EBZ
   Saltstead (3) ahead of Garifunya (0) on H2H points
   Penguinland (3) ahead of South Batoko (0) on H2H points

Elsewhere in Qualifying Group 10, results went exactly as expected. Saltstead were held to one goal on the road against Penguinland, but it was enough to win the Stallions all three points. Likewise, Garifunya continued their perfect second half with a 1-0 win over Lochario at Zun Olympic Stadium, keeping the Garifunyans and Saltsteaders neck-and-neck three points back of the Ponies atop the table. The Kalactanians, meanwhile, kept their shrinking qualifying chances alive with a 3-1 victory over already-eliminated Sharktail and the East Belzarians were finally mathematically added to the eliminated despite a 2-0 win against the still-winless South Batoko. It's now effectively a three-way race for the top two spots in Group 10 between the Equestrians, Saltsteaders, and Garifunyans, the Ponies still holding first place as they have for much of the campaign with Saltstead and Garifunya three points off the pace in second and third respectively. However, the Equestrians' final stretch appears far easier on paper than the Saltsteaders' or Garifunyans', the latter two set to meet next week in Saltstead while the Ponies travel to unranked South Batoko hoping to build on their lead.

[Mytanija]

Team to play Eura: Savic; Feric, Azanovic, Obadko, Isaev; Fejzuli, Todorov, Elvahic; Odonelec; Ocokoljic, Aleksic.

Subs from: Kasun, Anac, Madar, Mehmedic, Stojkovic, Lalic, Zekic.

---

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

LAERTIADES

by Dorde Arsic

PART II: ODYSSEY
EPISODE 9, BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS

Mirko and Luka had been joined by a third friend Andrej and they were sat in the University’s library. All three were alumni and they felt like it may be a good idea to visit and relive the old days. They had had some fun times and had spent a fair amount of the time drunk. They’d all come out of it with decent grades though, mainly achieved through long hours sat in the library, pulling all-nighters as they attempted to reach the word count for an essay or an assignment. They’d roll out of there at midday some days after spending nearly 24 hours inside without sleep, only leaving for a cigarette break or to nip to the supermarket for snacks. Mirko often reminisced on it, it had been a strange but exceedingly funny few years.

Mirko’s own experience as an undergraduate probably influenced his approach in teaching undergraduates, he was usually fairly laidback and treated the students like friends rather than, well, students. He could learn from them as well as attempt to teach them a few things. Pedagogy was an area of interest for Mirko and treating students as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge was simply not the best way of teaching.

However, right now he would have preferred if his two friends just accepted what he was saying as truth. They were discussing the merits of various theories about what the famous Mytanar playwright Scasperic had been writing about in one of his most famous works, a story about a King murdered by his own brothers and the dead King’s son’s desire for revenge. Mirko’s theory was that the betrayal of one brother by the other was an analogy for Scasperic’s wife having an affair and the betrayal he felt because of that. They were debating the finer points of a line from the third Act as we join the conversation:

“Look, there’s only one possible inference of that line,” Mirko protested, “It’s right there in front of you, I’m telling you that’s exactly what he meant!”

“Come on Mirko,” Luka laughed, “How can you possibly know that is what he means? It was written hundreds of years ago there’s no guarantee the meaning of the words is even the same now.”

“Luka, he’s using the character to convey just how helpless he feels in his own relationship!”

“Mirko you sound like my old teacher for Language and Literature class at high school,” Andrej laughed, “Like, I enjoyed that class but there’s no chance that half the things she used to say the author meant were true!”

“Andrej that’s the exact point though, great writers often do try and hide deeper meaning within their work.”

“I get that, but I’m not so sure that that’s what Scasperic was doing here, they believe it was based on a myth passed on from somewhere else in Rushmore.”

“That doesn’t meant that Scasperic didn’t use some creative licence to vent about his wife playing away from home though,” Mirko laughed, frustrated.

“There’s not even any definitive proof she was ‘playing away’ Mirko!” Luka said, raising his voice slightly with a degree of indignation and in so doing, drawing looks from people attempting to study dotted around the library. “Sorry…” Luka added, muttering under his breath, Mirko and Andrej laughing at his embarrassment.

“Where do you reckon we go from here anyway?” Andrej asked. “Back to any of our old haunts? Or are you too good for that now, Mirko?” He smirked.

“Never too good for a night out with you two,” Mirko laughed. “In all honesty though, I don’t mind, I just don’t want to bump into any of my students.”

“Ha, I’ll never get over that, the fact that you have students now!” Andrej laughed loudly, drawing a few more disapproving looks. The trio all looked at each other apprehensively, they had been thrown out of the library for being loud a few too many times when they had studied at the University and they knew that persistent noise would result in them getting dragged out now too, even though none of them were students. If anything, that made the probability of them getting thrown out even higher.

“Come on,” Mirko began to stand up, putting his coat on. “We should go before she asks us to leave.” Luka and Andrej stood too, knowing exactly what he meant. The Librarian was a fierce middle-aged lady with square frameless glasses and a short temper. Even now, after they had finishing their degrees, they didn’t want to get on the wrong side of her. Happily they hadn’t seen her so far, but she could hear the slightest noise from a long way off – a bloodhound but for students (and non-students, in this case), talking in the library. Mirko slung his bag over his shoulder and began to head towards the exit.

All three could feel the stares of overtired students angrily boring into their skulls as they walked through the rows of tables at which they had done their work but only a few years prior. Mirko in particular probably should have known better, he was employed by the University and he imagined that if any of the students they had disturbed knew his identity they would only be too quick to lodge a complaint.

They reached the door of the library and stopped as a man came wandering through, Mirko gestured for the man to pass first without speaking and the man half stopped. He looked Mirko up and down before continuing through the door and into the library. Mirko stood there, slightly dumbfounded, why had he stopped and looked at him? It seemed strange. Luka and Andrej noticed too, as they walked into the corridor outside both let out a little snigger.

“What the hell was that about?” Luka asked.

“Honestly? I have no idea.”

“Do you not know that guy?”

“I don’t think so?” It was more of a question than an answer, though, Mirko was trying to rack his brains himself. He thought about all the people he had encountered whilst working at the University, was it perhaps a member of his department and he had just forgotten his name? Was it somebody he knew from somewhere else? He just couldn’t think.

“It was strange, whatever it was.” Luka said, “Come on, let’s go get that drink we were meant to get ages ago! We can visit Squirrels Bar again, I haven’t been there in years!”

Mirko was still trying to think. Who was he?

***

Mr. Benjamin Vucina leafed through the newspaper trying to find the advert he had placed for work. They had asked him to place it again, but he couldn’t remember the exact wording they had used last time and it had been a long time since they had placed it so he had come to the library to find an old copy of it. He’d cut it out and use that to give to the newspaper as an example. It had taken him the entire time as he’d eaten his lunch to remember that that was what he had to do. He never had worked well on an empty stomach.

He was lucky that it was free to get into the University’s library, he often used it to find old adverts they had placed for different people. He’d have to tell them just to start keeping copies, so that he didn’t have to do this same thing every time. Still, it gave him something to do, he thought. Kept his mind off whatever Maria was up to.

As he’d walked into the library, he had passed that young lad that he had seen in the bank. When he had walked past him into the library, he had had to make a double-take to make sure it was him. Mr. Vucina wasn’t that old, but his eyes did deceive him occasionally. It was strange that they were in the same place, but the younger man had clearly been in the library first and therefore – if anything – Mr. Vucina was following him and not the other way around. But it wasn’t just the fact that he had seen him in the bank before that had caused Mr. Vucina to do a double-take. He knew him from somewhere else as well. But where from?

As he stood there, flicking through the newspaper, it struck him. It was Stevan Dedalic’s boy, wasn’t it? Mr. Vucina’s mind flashed back to the funeral, being in the carriage next to the drunk Stevan Dedalic (who, granted, had not actually been too drunk at the time – although he did stink of booze), and him shouting eagerly: ‘that’s my boy!’ Then proceeding to emotionally drone on about his shortcomings as a father, which were pretty much nobody’s fault but his own. That was where Mr. Vucina knew the younger lad from. The realisation hit him solidly and he chuckled to himself, how had he not worked it out sooner?

Mr. Vucina actually felt sorry for the young man. He had clearly made something of himself, he was meant to teach at the University. His mother had been a lovely lady, it was such a shame she was gone. Maybe next time he saw him, he’d introduce himself and explain that he wasn’t looking him up and down nastily, but just trying to remember who he was. Maybe he could have an interesting chat with him about current affairs, that’d be nice. Ah, there.

Mr. Vucina had found the advert he was looking for and shiftily he picked up the scissors sat on the desk next to him, peering around to see if he could catch sight of The Librarian before she could catch him in the act of defacing one of ‘her’ newspapers. He couldn’t see her, so quickly began to cut out the advert. She had been at the University for as long as Mr. Vucina could remember and he had been caught cutting something out of a newspaper once and he didn’t want to do it again. She had snuck up on him and whacked him over the head with an especially heavy tome. He had a ringing noise in his ears for days afterward.

He finished cutting it out, laid the scissors down and closed the newspaper before slipping the cutting into the pocket of his coat.

“JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING TO THAT NEWSPAPER?!” A shrill voice screamed from further down the room.

PART II: ODYSSEY
EPISODE 10, PLANCTAE

Yuri walked down the street, hobbling as he went. He was old now and being a veteran of various conflicts was not as good for you as the politicians made it out to be. He still had some shrapnel in the back of his leg from a fire-fight in some far-off place that he didn’t particularly care about. Everywhere he went now he would hobble. He wished he could experience walking normally just for one day, just to see what it was like again. That’d never happen again though.

He’d been told to go and get some bread by his wife. She was old now, too, but she was still able to get him to go and run errands for her whenever she needed something. He still loved her. He had always said that he hoped he died first because he wasn’t sure how he’d cope living without her. It was rather selfish of him, but he just loved her too much. They’d been together a long time, Yuri could barely remember the amount of years now, but he wouldn’t have changed it for anything.

They’d first got together before Yuri had joined the military and their relationship had survived him being sent by Kalinina to fight against the Thessians and the Otpor up around Snezhnaya and Ebor. It had survived him nearly being blown up by an Otpor car bomb in Esca too, when he had been patrolling outside Kalinina’s palatial home in the capital. That was where he had got the shrapnel in his leg from. He didn’t resent the Otpor too much, they had been fighting for what they believed in and he had been fighting for his payslip at the end of the month. He never really believed in Kalinina’s propaganda. The Thessians and Rauchiks and Visoravs were all the same as he was really, they all bled the same colour blood.

Sometimes he got flashbacks from fire-fights in cities far away from home and he resented Kalinina. The Mytanija he lived in now was a much better place. A loaf of bread was just as expensive, though.

***

“Cheers, see you all tomorrow!” Pierre cheerily waved the ladies off as he locked his shop door. He had been based on this street for 30 years and most of the girls had worked for him for nearly the same amount of time. His shop was almost an institution on this street. As he turned around to face the road he breathed in deeply, ah, the city air. It was good for him, the country air would almost be too fresh now. He had purchased the shop without ever setting foot in Mytanija, but had grown his fragrance shop into one of the most recognisable businesses on the street and that filled him with a sense of pride.

Pierre was born in Prahecq and having realised he was going to struggle to open a shop as a young man with very little in the way of income, he began searching for places where his money would go further. Mytanija seemed like the perfect option. He ignored his family’s advice and bought the shop, seeing the property in an advert in a newspaper – it had been owned by a Prahecqois family that had decided to return home. He bought the shop for a pittance and had never looked back. Success engendered more success. He’d probably never go home now.

Igor Kasutkin wandered down the street. He was a man that did not simply walk from place to place, that word would not adequately describe the manner in which Igor Kasutkin transports himself. It was more of a plod, Igor Kasutkin plodded around or perhaps even ‘thudded’ around. The size of the man can also be difficult to convey: thick limbs, arms and legs the size of most people’s torsos, a giant in every sense of the word. It was said that in order for Igor to be drunk, he would have to drink at least fifteen pints of the strongest stout the pub had.

Igor knew everybody, mainly from his days in the pub drinking the required fifteen pints he needed to be drunk. He wandered past Pierre:

“’Ow are ya Pierre me old mucker?!” He exclaimed. For Igor never just asked a question, he never spoke at a normal volume. He always shouted.

“Quite fine today Igor,” Pierre replied, “I have to rush, see you soon my good man.”

“Aye, see ya later Pierre, have a good one.”

Eva quickly rushed past the two men who had shared a few words. One of them was enormous and her mother had always said to stay away from the men of the city. Eva always wondered why women didn’t do anything about it, the streets should always be safe for anyone, not just the men of the city. It angered her that she couldn’t walk alone at night without the possibility of being attacked, they didn’t live in ancient times now, although it often felt like that in Mytanija. She would have to get one of the lads she worked with to walk her home after tonight, working at a bar came with its own risks, leaving in the middle of the night being the main one. She even had to get to work when it was dark, especially in winter.

Eva couldn’t wait until she’d saved enough to move somewhere new. To get out of Mytanija for once and for all. She’d dreamt of it from an early age and the possibility was now getting tantalisingly close. Somewhere where she could safely walk around at night and feel truly emancipated and have good prospects for the future. They always said that they were all living in a ‘new Mytanija’ now, but it didn’t feel like that for Eva. Not at all.

***

Mirko, Luka and Andrej stumbled into each other and nearly fell into the street as they wandered up the road. They’d had a few pints and a couple of shots in Squirrels Bar near the University library and they were all already on their way to being quite drunk indeed. It would be a long evening. Mirko in particular was feeling it and he was trying to keep his thoughts together as he struggled to string a coherent sentence together. The other two didn’t seem quite as bad, but he hadn’t really eaten much all day and he could feel the alcohol sloshing around inside him, with absolutely nothing to soak it up.

He didn’t want to speak and make the others aware that he was struggling, but at the same time there was so much to talk about. Luka and Andrej were chattering away animatedly and Mirko was worried that they may think something was up with him if he didn’t join in the conversation, but then if he did, he could possibly say something embarrassing. He couldn’t win.

“Where are we going next, lads?” Mirko finally managed.

“I don’t know Mirko, where do you recommend for something to eat?” Luka replied. “It doesn’t have to be anything big, but I could use something to soak up the alcohol before I start talking nonsense.” Maybe they were feeling it like him.

“Here, let’s go this way,” Mirko slurred.

***

The blonde lady that worked in Hjarnic’s, Anastasija, rushed down the street, she had had a tough day. The businessmen had been particularly grim today, for some reason. She always thought that they looked like pigs when they ate, all eating without breathing almost, stuffing every morsel into their mouth in one go, literally gorging themselves as they spent their fat pay check on the food that they served at Hjarnic’s before they went to conclude another deal that would add an extra zero onto their next payslip.

For perhaps the first time ever today she had seen some people actually come into the restaurant and then turn around in disgust at the sight of the men, pigs eating at their trough. She smirked to herself, well there was a first time for everything she guessed.

Anastasija was going out that night, with a few of the girls from work and then a few old acquaintances too. Her mother always went onto her about finding a nice boyfriend in a respectable job, but she had never really been too bothered about it. It would happen when it happened. There was one man that had always caught her eye though, he occasionally came into work and Anastasija knew him from her university days too, Mirko Dedalic. He was meant to be out too, maybe she would try speaking to him and seeing where it went. He worked at the university now, too, apparently. Anastasija hadn’t seen him in a while.

She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do long-term, plus there weren’t too many jobs to be had. Unemployment was rife and in reality she was lucky to get the job at Hjarnic’s to bring a few Coruns in. She’d stolen a bottle of wine from work to drink before she went out so she could save some money. She hoped her bosses wouldn’t find out.

[Freeport Isles]

The Freeport Free Press
World Cup 81 Qualifying: Condottieri eliminated with loss to Purple Knights
by Dirty Rag

Taeshan 4-1 Freeport
(A. Denisov '25, Brigitte '38, J. Jewsbury '55, E. Fuegahita '73, S. Cantebury '82)

SOMEWHERE, Taeshan - The odds were never going to favor Freeport qualifying for the World Cup, but it was still somewhat disappointing to see the Condottieri's fate confirmed last night in Taeshan: Freeport will not be making the trip to Banija or the Free Republics for the World Cup this cycle. Baker Park and Darmen have simply dominated Qualifying Group 17, making it near impossible for anyone else to take one of the top two spots, much less the 189th-ranked Condottieri. There's honestly not much to say about the match that sealed Freeport's fate, the Purple Knights hammered the Condottieri into the ground. Brigette gave the away fans some hope with a 38th minute equalizer to keep the score tied at halftime, but the second half saw the hosts put the nail in the coffin for the Condottieri's slim qualifying chances. Not a surprising outcome, of course, but Freeport manager Mad Dash will be a bit irritated at not stealing any points from the group's top three seeds this campaign.

   GROUP 17                  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts        MD14 Results:
 1  Darmen                 14   12   1   1    42   21  +21    37         Taeshan 4–1 Freeport 
 2  Baker Park             14   11   2   1    37   14  +23    35        @ Unknown Venue in Unknown City, TAE
 3  Taeshan                14    9   2   3    23    7  +16    29         South Caleblan 0–1 Timmy's Tigers 
 4  Coldfield              14    7   3   4    24   22   +2    24        @ Unknown Venue in Unknown City, SCA
 5  Freeport               14    7   1   6    38   33   +5    22   E     Darmen 3–2 Innovian Indusse 
 6  Timmy's Tigers         14    7   1   6    29   25   +4    22   E    @ City Stadium in Scott City, DAR
 7  St. Saratoga           14    6   1   7    26   27   −1    19   E     Kwesiland 0–1 St. Saratoga 
 8  Innovian Indusse       14    2   2  10    10   25  −15     8   E    @ Unknown Venue in Unknown City, KWS
 9  Kwesiland              14    1   1  12    16   40  −24     4   E     Baker Park 4–0 Coldfield 
10  South Caleblan         14    1   0  13    12   43  −31     3   E    @ Newport City Stadium in Newport, BKP
   Freeport (3) ahead of Timmy's Tigers (0) on H2H points

Next up for the Condottieri is a visit to Timmy's Tigers, where a win would solidify Freeport's place in the top half of the table. All that the Condottieri have to play for at this point is pride and (hopefully) an invitation to the Cup of Harmony at the end of the cycle. One would expect Freeport to have a pretty good chance of qualifying for the consolation tournament given their relatively strong performance in World Cup qualifying, but the Condottieri will still want to finish strong to give themselves the best shot possible of earning an invitation.

[Qusmo]

SPONY LUQ TELEVISION

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

How do you think our team is doing?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can Qusmo qualify for World Cup 81?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

[Oberour Ar Moro]

National Team Suffering From Acedia, Says Priest
Says solution is spirtual, not secular

SOPHORIA - The name Acedia is from the Latin word acedia, meaning "without care". As a deadly sin, it is closely related to sloth, though it is very different. It is an apathetic listlessness. Depression without joy. A lack of care or interest, an indifference to events around you. Not mere laziness, but something more.

And according to Father Marzhin Laffon-Parias, the Oberour Ar Moro National Team may be suffering from it.

Father Laffon-Parais is a priest in the Sophoria diocese, and he suggested that the team was suffering from the sin of acedia. "Watching the team, it becomes clear to me that they are suffering from more than just poor play, or exhaustion. They are dealing with a extreme spiritual form of sloth, for which they will need to do more to resolve."

There does seem to a difference to the team. This certainly isn't the high-flying side of the first half. During the first half the team was averaging 2.4 goals per match. Since the break that has fallen to just 1 goal a game. And this one goal a game average is leading to middling results.

Since the start of the second half of qualifying, the National Team has earned a 1-1 draw with Anthor, an exciting, though doomed, 2-3 defeat to Mercedini on the road, a 1-1 draw with Vithuland, and now a 0-0 draw, at home, against a struggling Swibia side.

As Father Laffon-Parais put it: "You can see Manager Daric de l'Aime trying to find solutions by changing line-ups and strategies. Geoffroy Dlajoenie deyt Fijac is an exemplary captain, but he can only do so much."

Many a National Team fan might find fault with the results, but a team-wide case of mortal sin is a severe diagnosis. Could the team be exhausted by hard play across the multiverse? Might the team's officially being unable to qualify for the World Cup have drained their motivation? Father Laffon-Parais believes it is more than that.

"Any Oberour would not be satisfied with scoring so little, and drawing so much. You can see it in their play on the pitch: It's unfocused and almost uncaring. A team of sloths would show more enthusiasm."

"Draws are unwelcome," says Father Laffon-Parais, "but better than losing. But 0-0? Incomprehensible."

The Oberour Ar Moro National Team next travels to Alikki-Corra to face off against 13-1-0 Vilita.

From an editorial in The Collonade newspaper of Regium. All information acquired under the Regime Records Transparency Act - 1st Post-Tumults Parliament.

[Vilita]

Group 13 Closes Gap on Shaky Jungle Cats

Arcticala Electrical Stadium, Arcticala, Vilita :: Over the opening nine matches of the World Cup 81 Qualifying campaign the Vilita Jungle Cats had an average margin of victory of 3.5 goals... per game; winning by as many as six goals on two different occasions. The Vilitan National Team even managed to win by multiple goals against a previously unbeaten Mercedini side that were also the Jungle Cats primary challengers for the top spot in Group 13 and automatic qualification for the World Cup 81 Finals in Banija and the Free Republics.

However, ever since recording that massive victory on Matchday 9, the Jungle Cats had struggled to dominate their qualifying matches the same way that they had during the first half of the campaign. The Jungle Cats returned home from Kernovi and Rewglws with three points but only won by a single goal, against a team that they had defeated by six goals to open up the qualification campaign. Things didn't go any better at home with a second straight 1-0 victory, this time against a Tobiasia squad that had fallen to the Vilita National Team 4-1 in the first half of qualification.

The Vilita National Team was still winning games, but they were no longer doing so convincingly. They appeared to be stuck in some sort of post-Mercedini hangover. After scoring no fewer than three goals in their first eight matches, the Jungle Cats were now three games on the trot without reaching the three goal mark.

On matchday 12 the Vilita National Team set off for what would be the first and likely only all-time match against the nation of Kilaguni. None of the Vilitan players had ever been to Kilgauni before. They only even knew the nation existed from the fact that they had already played them earlier in the qualification campaign - or, for the most dedicated on the squad, from watching the World Cup 81 Qualification Group Draw.

Yet here they were, a team equally on the verge of setting the all time best record in a qualification for the Vilitan National Team, and, seemingly a team teetering on the edge of watching the bottom fall out from under them.

The bottom indeed looked like it might be falling out fifteen minutes into the match in Kilaguni as the home side took the lead. There were no names on their shirts and no official roster was posted in the makeshift media center which seemed to be held together by pieces of old furniture mounted together to make walls and supports atop what appeared to be a temporary bleacher stand that had been in place for ten or more years.

Arcticala Electrical Stadium
Featuring Full-Roof Solar Panel Coverage courtesy Arcticala Electical Corp.

The Jungle Cats would fight back with goals from Tenziki Kulakao, Limu Katarakhna and Jurzen Devmiko to round out the first half of play and put the Vilita National Team into a 3-1 lead. It was an important milestone for the Jungle Cats as they had reached the three goals-scored for the first time in four matches and perhaps were ready to break the snide and propel themselves forth towards the elusive 18-0-0 record and a spot in the World Cup 81 Finals.

However, Vilita could not build on their first half momentum and Kilaguni eventually pulled one goal back in the second half to make for a nervy finish with any strike from the home side having the ability to end the Vilita National Team's win streak. The Jungle Cats would survive, collect three points and head back home but still were at a net two goal loss compared with their performance in the first half of the campaign, highlighting the fact that they had lost something over the course of the campaign.

They would be hoping that a return home to the Arcticala Electrical Stadium in Arcticala would provide the energy... in more ways than one... to get their campaign back to the form that it had over the first eight matches. Having defeated the Anthor team 3-0 in Anthor, expectations were that the team would at the very least be able to match that result, if not better it.

It was not to be. The struggles continued for the Vilita National Team who had now officially gone from "Dominant" to nothing more than "Doing Enough" to maintain their place atop Group 13. Former Galactico Junior Player of the Year Nii'arala Milaaso opened the scoring for the Jungle Cats but Anthor was able to level things up with a 1-1 equalizer at the stroke of half time, converting one of their eight corner kicks on the night to send a frustrated Vilita National Team into the locker room.

Once again, the Jungle Cats would come out in the second half and do just enough to record a victory - midfield champion Polaox Torerun made sure the fans didn't go home angry, but perhaps they still went home knowing that the quality of the product on the field wasn't where it needed to be and the most committed fans of the Vilita National Team knew that the team needed to improve or they would be at risk of throwing away their best chance ever at a perfect 18-0-0 qualification campaign.

Vilita [3] - [2] Kilaguni

:: Vilita Goalscorers :: :: 26'[i] Tenziki Kulakao :: 37' Limu Katarakhna :: 40' Jurzen Devmiko

:: Vilita Statistics :: :: Possession: 54% :: Shots on Target: 5 :: Corner Kicks: 11

:: Kilaguni Statistics :: :: Possession: 46% :: Shots on Target: 3 :: Corner Kicks: 3

---

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Kilaguni ::
[GK] Mako Canopii, [D.] Mileke Drokasorna, [D.] Linkat Cjinder, [D.] Kwuimekii Hentetii, [D.] Monner Vileai, [ML] Limu Katarakhna, [MC] Tripate Falcon, [MC] Polaox Torerun, [MR] Jurzen Devmiko, [FC] Sipke Tarala, [FC] Tenziki Kulakao
BENCH::
[FC] Enzoril Alabonni, [FC] Kaivel Illatara, [M] Purapal Eskiiy, [M] Tinjus Mngomeni, [U ] Jirijii Januaa, [D] Arocki Tadalek, [GK] Cilamara Issah

---

Vilita [2] - [1] Anthor

:: Vilita Goalscorers :: :: 39' Nii'arala Milaaso :: 49' Polaox Torerun

:: Vilita Statistics :: :: Possession: 59% :: Shots on Target: 6 :: Corner Kicks: 12

:: Anthor Statistics :: :: Possession: 41% :: Shots on Target: 4 :: Corner Kicks: 8

---

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Anthor ::
[GK] Mako Canopii, [D.] Jirijii Januaa, [D.] Monner Vileai, [D.] Mileke Drokasorna, [D.] Linkat Cjinder, [ML] Jurzen Devmiko, [MC] Karisto Monafog, [MC] Westii Yahaya, [MR] Polaox Torerun, [FC] Sipke Tarala, [FC] Nii'arala Milaaso
BENCH::
[FC] Tenziki Kulakao, [FC] Nuola Brenzil, [M] Va'a-Rio Kiwavn, [M] Purapal Eskiiy, [U ] Limu Katarakhna, [D] Kwuimekii Hentetii, [GK] Striitca Virahat

---

The Vilita National is looking to determine what truly is the most interesting matchup of World Cup 81 Qualifying. While every Group in World Cup 81 Qualifying will ultimately evolve and form a critical meeting between two teams fighting for a place in the playoffs or the World Cup Finals perhaps creating new rivalries and bad blood between teams that may have never played each other before, the Vilita National wants to know, what is the Most interesting World Cup 81 Qualifying matchup?

The votes have already begun coming in and it is no surprise that the Starblaydia vs. Audioslavia matchup in Group 5 is one of the most interesting matchups of the World Cup 81 Qualification Campaign. However, Vilita vs. Mercedini - the Group 13 matchup which has many interesting storylines is also a popular choice. Vilita and Mercedini have some head-to-head history having contested both World CUp 77 Qualifying and the World Cup 77 Finals against each other. Mercedini recently won the Cup of Harmony on Vilitan soil and both Vilita and Mercedini are reigning champions of their regional confederation cup competitions, making for a very rare head-to-head clash between two current regional cup champions in the same World Cup Qualifying group. The historians also show interest in the Geisenfried v. Squornshelous match up while the Ethane v. Damukuni fixture in Group 8 has a distinctly Esportivan interest. Finally, a handful of write-in candidates have also been submitted including the historically insignificant Cassadaigua vs. Tinhampton clash which, like Mercedini v. Vilita, is pinned to the final slot in the schedule meaning that Group 16 could end with a mildly interesting matchup between the two sides with an otherwise uncertain competitive history. There is still time to - Cast Your Votes Now! - to determine the Most Interesting Matchup in the World Cup 81 Qualifiers.

---

[Mriin]

aroundthehorn.mrn

"An unholy slaughter."
- Toum Buurk, RMAL Sportscaster

Writing about this almost feels silly, honestly. What sane person in the isles could have missed this news? But such an event... a blip in the multiversal fabric as we know it, it feels like, needs to be recorded for posterity. Generations will look back upon this night and try to piece together what happened, why and how this could occur, and they'll be left with as little as we have right now.

There was so much buildup to this game around Maal. The battle for the group, a winner-takes-all one-shot. That's how the news painted it, despite there being some fifteen points to play for and the gap--even in the case of a Abanhfleft victory--still being a scant two points. It was to be a clash of the titans, two fringe finals-worthy sides hungry to gain that next level of success, of recognition. Sure, the first match in Wanda City had tilted in the Reaver's favor despite a competitive match in a foreign climate, but home advantage has been unreliable at best in Group 11. Surely the Fleftics will pull out all the stops to try and establish the momentum that will carry them through the final stretch of qualifiers and nab the coveted auto-qualification spot. We're in store for a tense back-and-forth affair where Zima and Solara go blow-for-blow, the two aggressive sides running up the score in spectacular fashion. Maybe the adrenaline and the nerves will peak like in Darmengate of WC80, a ten-goal explosion that leaves both sides battered, bruised, and exhausted.

To say the match didn't live up to the hype would be both the greatest understatement and the wildest lie. It might not be the flashiest scoreline--not quite the 8-2s and 9-3s you might have seen in other groups--but such trashings are typically at the expense of (or sometimes, between) some hapless, inexperienced team--not a side firmly in the world's top 30. Many theories were thrown out as the game went on--perhaps the Fleftics caught that bug that struck down the Jeruselemites in their match against Mriin, perhaps they'd all spontaneously decided to eat at Fishy Fionne's before the match, perhaps this were some sort of replica team hastily smuggled out of the Dreamed Realm to quietly replace the striking players. All we can say for sure is that what happened on the pitch--for both sides--could barely be called football.

Solara began by needling the defense as she usually does in the opening minutes, probing for any potential blindspots left open in the early minutes while the defenders were cold. She found no resistance. Even Lycrabon had managed to always keep a warm body next to her, but in this moment in time Joren noted her complete openness with incredulity as he sent a tall pass over the Fleftics outfielders clustered centre-pitch. Edwards (or proto-Edwards, as it might have been) seemed to be awake enough to recognize the horrendous gaffe that had just occurred, but the aging captain's legs had no chance of getting him along in time to prevent the Moths star from waltzing into and past Cohen.

Ah well, you might say, we're all mortal here. Mistakes can be made, even awful ones like that, but the score is still just one-oh. There's over eighty minutes left to play, plenty of time to equalize and even maybe win. They just need to nip that negligent play in the bud, Right The Fuck Now.

Zolnerov ran into Okamoto's ass and lost the ball. A deafening quiet overtook the stadium as it dawned on everyone what had just happened. Malia collected the loose ball, and spared a glance at the tangled teammates--they seemed to be fine, both still standing, but also visibly confused and maybe not the most cognizant of what was happening around them. So she strolled past, and the Mriinian machine rushed forward and crashed into the outnumbered Fleftic defense. Tali'raia would have the last touch on a rebound Cohen couldn't clamp down on. Two-oh. I can only guess Zolnerov was preoccupied looking downfield at his strikers, hoping to quickly find the equalizer and save face... and all he found in the end was ass.

Okay, that's less fine, but it's still salvageable. Just get your heads on straight, get the fundamentals right, and play safe until you can safely try to push forward and resume playing football. A game could yet still be played here. The Fleftics just need to stop the bleeding Right The Fuck Now.

Marilungo slipped while attempting a back-pass meant for Gibson. Cohen did his best to throw himself in the way, but was wrong-footed and fell a good foot short. An own goal for three-oh.

The rest of the match didn't really matter from there. Don immediately switched out the front three for the alternate strike line, and none of Jorm, Mari, or Aldo seemed particularly interested in busting their ass to run up the score. It almost seemed like a morbid curiousity to see if they could piece things back together, the Mriinians toying with them to see if they could actually do anything with chances served up to them. Dozens of minutes of Fleftic possession would pass with nothing happening, while Mriinian possessions would push through so quickly it only seemed right to send the balls into the stands--at least give the crowd some souvenirs to make up for the non-game they had paid so much to see.

When Reina tacked on a fourth from damn near the centre line at seventy-five minutes all the fight left in everyone had gone. We may never know what happened to the Fleftic team tonight, but I pray to whatever powers that be that no team has to suffer such a fate again.

[Banija]

For today's cutoff, we'll go all the way back out to.... America.

Alex Boye. Born to Nigerian parents in the UK, recently became a naturalized American citizen. Likes to do Africanized versions of popular songs in the UK/USA. He has a ton of great music, however, the song that will guide us into the Matchday 15 will serve as a tribute both to the continent and to the King of Pop. Just how much do they really care about us?

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

Collision Course for Commonwealth
Frank Armitage
Mail on Sunday Chief Soccer Writer

Reporting from Newport, Ezra:

The first match for the Baker Park National Team following the reduction of the roster to the final 30 players was a testament to the work that has gone into the integration of the National Team's male and female halves, and the understanding between the various groups who have played the first 2/3 of this qualifying tournament separated and and independent from one another.

The 4-0 victory over Coldfield here at the Newport City Stadium was a textbook display of the fundamental principles of the nation's most widely played soccer system.

Baker Park controlled the match from the opening kickoff, ending up having 64% of possession & 12 shots--with 8 on target--while holding the visitors to just 2 off target attempts at goal.

At this point, the Commonwealth side are in the position of controlling their own destiny and need to maintain their form over the final 4 matches to avoid having to win a playoff as they did against Qasden earlier.
Speaking of the Q's, they currently are the 3rd best team among the 2nd placed teams in each group--the top 3 will join the 19 group winners as automatic qualifiers--although they are only above BP, who sit 4th, on account of their total goals scored to date; the sides are tied on points and goal difference.

The Bees will look to complete a sweep against Taeshan when they host the Purple Knights at President's Park; victory would eliminate Coldfield from any chance of advancing and virtually eliminate the Taeshanis as well. There will certainly be wholesale changes to the starting lineup, as Trevor Richmond and Pam Scott, along with the rest of the coaches for the FAC, look for the ideal combination of personnel.

But it is the Matchday 17 contest that remains foremost in the minds of nearly everyone who is paying attention to the Group 17 standings. Darmen will make a return appearance to Belle Haven when they take on BP at Keller Field; barring any change ahead of that meeting, Darmen will enter the match having gone unbeaten in 30 of 31 matches since their 2-1 loss to the Commonwealth at Sportsmen's Park on Matchday 2 of the WC80 Qualifying. The sole loss in that stretch coming was at the Brham Stadium. by the same score of 2-1 to the same Commonwealth team.

[Beepee]

Beepee 0–0 Petrovskia

Beepee kept another clean sheet, their sixth of this qualifying campaign, as both teams shut up shop and played a dour scoreless draw in Pinewoods Stadium.

The result effectively ends any slim hope either team had if grabbing qualification to the world cup finals.

The match was a midfield scrap between the two teams, with neither producing any substantive attacking play. Indeed, it took until the 36th minute for there to be a shot on goal, the first save of the match coming in the 43rd minute.

It was a match which would have sent insomniacs to sleep with a total of only 5 shots on goal all match,and devoid of any real talking points.

Beepee's Acting Head Coach Coleen Yu stated she was pleased with the defensive capabilities of the team, although would have preferred some more 'accurate and clinical finishing'.

Beepee remain in third place in Group 1 following the results, and next face last placed team Guadalajara.

Other results saw Turori clinch at least a play-off berth in Group 1 when the highest ranked team in the group beat Michine.

[Dreamplanet]

GAME ON

Due to Abanhfleft loss, Dreamplanet are only 5 points away from a play-off spot.

Dreamplanet have seemingly got a second life, spurred on by 3 consecutive wins and the fall of Jeruselem and Abanhfleft, can Dreamplanet do the impossible? Dreamplanet went away to Neo-Romanum, with only one thing in mind, win. And win they did, but it was late on, and only the brilliance of Luis Silva helped Dreamplanet push on to get the victory. Aaron Hungar opened the scoring in the 19th minute following a brilliant header from the cross, a Dreamplanetian speciality, and thus it stood at the half, however for the second half, things would get spicy.

The second half started well for Dreamplanet, another goal from another corner, this time it came from Jorge Cardozo, a sturdy defender for Dreamplanet, Dreamplanet now had a 2 goal lead, however the Neo-Romanum skipper was able to get one back for the home team in the 67th minute, was 2-0 the most dangerous lead? Yes, as later in the 82nd minute, the same goalscorer for Neo-Romanum was able to get the equaliser for the already-eliminated team, Os Tricores were now worried, they had to win the next 3 games to even stand a chance of getting a play-off spot. However, only 7 minutes after the equaliser, Luis Silva smashed a longshot home to give Dreamplanet an all too vital win.

Darkmania and Mriin beat Jeruselem, seemingly open the door for a 3rd place finish, however the Sultanate of Oontaz delivered a miracle to the chasing pack, beating Abahnfleft, and now even getting second is possible, we play Darkmania soon, and then after that Mriin, Os Tricores are hopeful, game on!

Neo-Romanum 2 - 3 Dreamplanet
(? 67', 82' - 19' Aaron Hungar, 57' Jorge Cardozo, 89' Luis Silva)
Neo-Romanum

Saturday September 1st - MD1: Dreamplanet 1-2 Jeruselem
Sunday September 2nd - MD2: Lycrabon 1-1 Dreamplanet
Monday September 3rd - MD3: Dreamplanet 1-2 Abanhfleft
Tuesday September 4th - MD4: Dreamplanet 2-1 Crystalline Caverns 
Wednesday September 5th - MD5: Mareibat 3-4 Dreamplanet
Thursday September 6th - MD6: Dreamplanet 6-2 Neo-Romanum
Friday September 7th - MD7: Darkmania 1-3 Dreamplanet
Saturday September 8th - MD8: Dreamplanet 1-4 Mriin
Sunday September 9th - MD9: Sultanate of Oontaz 2-2 Dreamplanet
Tuesday September 11th - MD10: Jeruselem 3-0 Dreamplanet
Wednesday September 12th - MD11: Dreamplanet 4-1 Lycrabon
Thursday September 13th - MD12: Abanhfleft 4-0 Dreamplanet
Friday September 14th - MD13: Crystalline Caverns 1-2 Dreamplanet
Saturday September 15th - MD14: Dreamplanet 3-1 Mariebat
Sunday September 16th - MD15: Neo-Romanum 2-3 Dreamplanet
Monday September 17th - MD16: Dreamplanet vs Darkmania
Tuesday September 18th - MD17: Mriin vs Dreamplanet
Wednesday September 19th - MD18: Dreamplanet vs Sultanate of Oontaz

Group 11                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mriin                            15   12   2   1    49   16  +33    38
 2 Abanhfleft                       15   10   1   4    29   17  +12    31
 3 Darkmania                        15    9   2   4    40   30  +10    29
 4 Jeruselem                        15    9   2   4    33   24   +9    29
 5 Dreamplanet                      15    8   2   5    33   30   +3    26
 6 Sultanate of Oontaz              15    6   3   6    18   26   −8    21  (E)
 7 Crystalline Caverns              15    5   3   7    18   24   −6    18  (E)
 8 Mareibat                         15    4   0  11    20   31  −11    12  (E)
 9 Neo-Romanum                      15    1   4  10    17   35  −18     7  (E)
10 Lycrabon                         15    1   1  13    12   36  −24     4  (E)

Qualified for World Cup
Qualified for Playoffs
Eliminated

[Indusse]

Group 6
Tobria 1–0 Ceskaar
Aggrey-Fynn Land 0–3 Semarland
Indusse 1–0 Farfadillis
Super-Llamaland 3–2 Kelssek
Santa Rafa 1–0 Tarper

Group 6 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Farfadillis 15 12 1 2 38 13 +25 37
2 Indusse 15 11 2 2 34 18 +16 35
3 Super-Llamaland 15 10 2 3 44 21 +23 32
4 Semarland 15 7 3 5 31 19 +12 24
5 Aggrey-Fynn Land 15 7 2 6 29 23 +6 23
6 Santa Rafa 15 7 1 7 21 20 +1 22
7 Kelssek 15 6 3 6 27 30 −3 21
8 Tobria 15 3 1 11 21 40 −19 10
9 Tarper 15 2 2 11 8 32 −24 8
10 Ceskaar 15 1 1 13 5 42 −37 4

World Cup Runner Ups Table

As a reminder to the World Cup 81 Qualification format. Each group winner, plus the top 3 runner-ups, will qualify directly to the World Cup Finals. Then the other 16 runner-ups will qualify for the World Cup Qualification playoffs, which will be seeded, with the 8 playoff winners filling the tournament's final berths. For the rest of qualifying, I will provide a table of the runner-ups, so people can see where runner-ups are in relation to one another, to see who is on track to qualify directly, who is on track to be seeded, and who is on track to be unseeded for the World Cup Qualification Playoffs.

Runner-Ups Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Automatic Qualifiers(If Qualifying Ended Today)
2 Mercedini 15 13 0 2 54 18 +36 39
2 Ko-oren 15 13 0 2 26 6 +20 39
2 Darmen 15 12 2 1 42 21 +21 38
______________________________________________________
Playoff Seeds(If Qualifying Ended Today)
2 Drawkland 15 12 1 2 48 13 +35 37
2 Eshan 15 12 1 2 48 14 +34 37
2 Tinhampton 15 12 1 2 24 4 +20 37
2 Qasden 15 11 2 2 41 19 +22 35
2 Saltstead 15 11 2 2 27 7 +20 35
2 Damukuni 15 11 2 2 41 22 +19 35
2 Savojarna 15 10 5 0 31 13 +18 35
2 Indusse 15 11 2 2 34 18 +16 35
___________________________________________________
Unseeded Playoff Teams(if Qualifying Ended Today)
2 Sargossa 15 10 3 2 45 19 +26 33
2 New Lusitania 15 10 2 3 34 10 +24 32
2 Juvencus 15 9 5 1 38 17 +21 32
2 Apox 15 9 5 1 34 13 +21 32
2 Audioslavia 15 9 5 1 22 6 +16 32
2 Polkopia 15 10 2 3 30 20 +10 32
2 Abanhfleft 15 10 1 4 29 17 +12 31
2 Mattijana 15 8 3 4 48 36 +12 27

INDUSSE DEFEATS FARFADILLIS

INDUSSE DEFEATS FARFADILLIS the group toppers on 1-0. The goal was scored by baskar by a header.

[Jeruselem]

Mriin, Princess Chloe and her sister Princess Cassie after Jeruselem lost to the local team 3-0

Chloe: Well, we're hosed by the look of it.
Cassie: Yeah, losses to DarkMania and Mriin. OK, losing to Mriin was not unexpected but the loss to DarkMania was the problem.
Chloe: We expected to lose here to Mriin since they were at home but I really wanted to beat DarkMania.
Cassie: So that leaves two games. I think 2nd spot is out of the question unless we win twice
Chloe: Our last game, we really should win but the next one is our problem.
Cassie: Oh yes, Abanhfleft.

Chloe: Strangely, we're just lucky Abanhfleft lost today as well. I guess it's good for us ... and DarkMania and Dreamplanet
Cassie: DreamPlanet can finish on 32 point at best, so 3rd spot is possible.
Chloe: I imagine the teams ahead of them will get like 32 points, or more.
Cassie: We really need to beat Abanhfleft ...
Chloe: Yes, if we lost that then they probably get 2nd spot.
Cassie: We just want 3rd spot, well or 2nd spot.

Chloe: We haven't done too badly. Two losses to Mriin and the two others who are the contenders. I say, it's not terrible but those two draws might come to bite us.
Cassie: Should we get ready for the Cup of Harmony?
Chloe: Not yet, if we lose tomorrow ... probably
Cassie: What if we win?
Chloe: Well, we are capable of that. Depending on our fragile defense doesn't fuck up that is.
Cassie: Yeah, but we haven't been scoring last two games either.

Chloe: That's because the defense is being occupied and the attackers never get ball time to score. If your defense is always busy, how is one going to score?
Cassie: That makes sense
Chloe: We don't ask for much, we want to damn qualify.
Cassie: Always close but never getting there.
Chloe: Funny thing tourism is great during the World Cup, I guess they need a reason to visit
Cassie: I think it's more to do with all those cute girls in our country

Chloe: We lose, I accept that but apparently ... the players didn't get paid today. Geez it's been a bad day
Cassie: What you mean, players didn't get paid.
Chloe: The bank system didn't put in the automatic payments so no one got paid
Cassie: I don't get paid, I do this for free.
Chloe: You're technically not part of the team anyway
Cassie: Oh yes

Chloe: Actually, the staff didn't get paid either. I thought that was separate system but maybe I was mistaken.
Cassie: I think the bank lumps players and staff together with pays
Chloe: OK
Cassie: Better sort that out
Chloe: I would but their phone system is down apparently
Cassie: You'd get the payroll system done with a different bank next time

Chloe: It's too hard to change now, we've only got two qualifiers left.
Cassie: You've got enough things to worry about as it is
Chloe: Yes, we might not even make the playoffs anyway just to add salt to the wounds
Cassie: It's not like we're hopeless either
Chloe: We just lose games at the wrong time, just like that.
Cassie: At least good teams beat us

Chloe: You doing that cost of living thing?
Cassie: Yeah, so I don't have to talk too much about the football.
Chloe: Good, we kinda need a distraction from today's loss.
Cassie: Can't really say much about the loss, Mriin were at home and the best team
Chloe: I wish the scoreline was just a bit less dramatic.
Cassie: It belted the goal difference a bit

Chloe: Just a question, why you dressed like Sansa Stark?
Cassie: I'm a special guest at a cosplay party today.
Chloe: You're a busy girl
Cassie: I can't disappoint my fans
Chloe: I wish I had a social life
Cassie: Why don't you retire?

Chloe: I don't want to stay home all day
Cassie: Yeah, we do enough of that as Mums as it is.
Chloe: Yes and the Dads need to do their share too. We can't do everything
Cassie: Yes

[Pearl Reich]

PEARL REICH NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SYSTEM

At first, i want to present football league system of our nation.



Reichsleague (D1-D4):
D1: Great League (20 teams, 2 relegations).
D2: First League (22 teams, 2 promotions, 2 relegations)
D3: Second League (22 teams, 2 promotions, 2 relegations)
D4: Third League (24 teams, 2 promotions, 4 relegations)

Regional leagues (D5-D11):
D5: Great League of four Regions (24 teams, 4 promotions, 4 relegations)
D6: Zonal leagues (1 promotion, 2 relegations in each league):
North League (20 teams)
South League (20 teams)
East League (20 teams)
West League (20 teams)
D7: Premier Divisons of duchies (16 leagues)
D8: First Divisions of duchies (16 leagues)
D9: Premier Divisions of voivodeships (108 leagues)
D10: First Divisions of voivodeships (79 leagues)
D11: Second Divisions of voivodeships (41 league)

Amateur leagues (D12 and lower):
Small leagues of towns, elderships (several villages) etc.

PEARL REICH FOOTBALL CUPS

The Great Gem Cup
Teams participating: D1-D11

Reichsleague Cup
Teams participating: D1-D4

Great Regional Cup
Teams participating: D6-D11

Several cups of duchies
Teams participating: D7-D8

Several cups of Voivodeships
Teams participating ; D9-D11

[Darkmania]

ÖRKENDREM PAPERS

Are Darkmania able to qualify? (And crazy bet from the manager)

Article written by: Erÿk Sätbernar

(The national team after defeating Lycrabon 5-3. Photo: Rëubens Dernërmarn)

Darkmania 5–3 Lycrabon

RËSBYR, Darkmania
It got too tough for the Lyrabonian national team as they were at the kids say these days "reked". 5 to 3 plus a step closer to either the qualification or playoffs. The qualification cycle this time has been a surprise as it was expected for the national team not to qualify, but today, there is one step, or 3 points before the top 2 cutoff zone from either failing or not fail. For a nation who had been criticized for how they play before the qualification began, it's a miracle how well the national team has played.
"I can smell it. Ah... The sweet smell of football-writing history. It's something we are on the path of. We are so nearby that fact that if it turns out false, then I'm gonna walk the 180 km (111.84 miles) distance between Rësbyr and the capital Örkemdrem by foot!" Manager Däniël Rëspertner bets via DaTV live football coverage after the goal-fest. "Mappe Maps only says it takes like 14 hours and a half on a bike. I can do that in double the time on my own feet if I have to do it. Its childs play".

Group 11                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mriin                            15   12   2   1    49   16  +33    38
 2 Abanhfleft                       15   10   1   4    29   17  +12    31
 3 Darkmania                        15    9   2   4    40   30  +10    29
 4 Jeruselem                        15    9   2   4    33   24   +9    29
 5 Dreamplanet                      15    8   2   5    33   30   +3    26
 6 Sultanate of Oontaz              15    6   3   6    18   26   −8    21
 7 Crystalline Caverns              15    5   3   7    18   24   −6    18
 8 Mareibat                         15    4   0  11    20   31  −11    12
 9 Neo-Romanum                      15    1   4  10    17   35  −18     7
10 Lycrabon                         15    1   1  13    12   36  −24     4