WC 82 RP Thread

by **Oberour Ar Moro** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 2:41 pm

Lochario 3-2 Oberour Ar Moro
@ Zun Olympic Stadium

Goals
16‘: Oiki, Lochario
18‘: Kerrian Odierne, Oberour Ar Moro
25‘: Ghittin, Lochario
34‘: Kerrian Odierne, Oberour Ar Moro
59‘: Sassi, Lochario

Oberour Starting XI
GK Raphael Friquan
LB Guilhem Darragon
RB Pius A' l'Espee
SW Marzhin Petit
SW Briunal Althape
LM Roparzh Ricouart
RM Peterne de Courbueil
CM Jerian Pellier
LW Denig Regnault
RW Ruran l'Ermite
ST Kerrian Odierne

Oberour Substitutes
62' Out: Briunal Althape; In: Phelippon de Gentilli
62' Out: Guilhem Darragon; In: Felix de Vouges l'Aisné
76' Out: Ruran l'Ermite; In: Geruaise d'Anevers

Eighty-Second World Cup Qualification Schedule
WIN DRAW LOSS

MD1: Overour Ar Moro 2-2 Eura
MD2: Drawkland 5-4 Oberour Ar Moro
MD3: Oberour Ar Moro 1-1 Lochario
MD4: Rakivland 4-4 Oberour Ar Moro
MD5: Oberour Ar Moro 3-0 TigerSharkistan
MD6: Audioslavia 2-2 Oberour Ar Moro
MD7: Oberour Ar Moro 5-2 San Rocca
MD8: Darkmania 3-4 Oberour Ar Moro
MD9: Oberour Ar Moro 4-2 Kevagaria
MD10: Eura 2-1 Oberour Ar Moro
MD11: Oberour Ar Moro 3-3 Drawkland
MD12: Lochario 3-2 Oberour Ar Moro
MD13: Oberour Ar Moro (4-5-3) v. Rakivland (2-5-5)
MD14: TigerSharkistan (2-3-7) v. Oberour Ar Moro (4-5-3)
MD15: Oberour Ar Moro (4-5-3) v. Audioslavia (9-2-1)
MD16: San Rocca (0-5-7) v. Oberour Ar Moro (4-5-3)
MD17: Oberour Ar Moro (4-5-3) v. Darkmania (5-1-6)
MD18: Kevagaria (1-5-6) v. Oberour Ar Moro (4-5-3)

by **Main Nation Ministry** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 3:04 pm

Hearts of Vice

Chapter 7: The Wrong Definition

The Leader, despite wanting to execute me violently, let me go scout free, where I headed back to the recording studio. I texted Gerald that I was about to head there, where he pretty much had this to text towards me.

G: You're good from today? Leader really was harsh.
J: Don't worry, G. Also, remember that our text messages are being monitored.
G: I know that.
J: I see you at the studio.
G: K.

When I got to the studio, the band was busy watching the soccer game, while I looked around for Charlie. "Where's Charlie? Did she left?" I asked Gerald. "Brenda is getting us some refreshments. We saw what happened at Victory Square." Gerald remarked. "Just don't mention it! It was just some gig I got forced to do. Besides, it wasn't my fault that I didn't catch the gun." I said to him, as Brenda arrived with some bottles of water to put them at the refreshment table. "You're actually right on time, Keller. Things go-"
"Brenda. Jessica just wants to focus on other stuff."

Charlie followed Brenda in the studio, as she was carrying some boxes into the room. "Stuff is a bit fragile. Making sure I don't walk fast with these." Charlie said with a nervous smile.

"It's no worry. Is that my new microphone, Brenda?"
"Yeah. It's an new model, but it works good."
"Alright, I go over the song that we're doing today. I know this is a practice version, but it's better than nothing. We have enough time." Jessica explained, as she shown her band members the song. "Rest in Popularity? You're really going for a new album." Gerald quizzed her. "This looks more like an actual genre setter. More root-based?" Tony said, as Frank was looking over the sheet music. "I figured we discuss some themes, while still making sure we don't piss off the wrong crowd. I double-checked it myself. Leader didn't even seem to mind." Jessica explained.

After going over what to do, Jessica helped teach Charlie how to set up equipment and get the instruments tuned. "So you what you got to do is you need to adjust the mic volume, so there isn't any inference or feed back. If we hear stuff like that in the recordings, we have to do a re-take, which wastes some of our time. You got that? Also, you know about the guitars?"
"Yeah? Fragile."
"Not just that. We use electric guitars mostly. However, sometimes the strings might snap. If that happens, you gotta ask Brenda on where the spares are. Don't try to be crafty and do it yourself. And don't think about trying to make your own electric guitar. Tony tried to once and he had to put his fingers in a bag of frozen veggies." Jessica said, where Charlie had a bit of an idea, that she remarked. "That does sound like a good idea, though."

Jessica raised an eyebrow at that statement, clearly confused. "What do you mean?" "Well, I can pull a little prank on Alistair to get a good laugh on it." Charlie suggested. "No no no, I don't want you to hurt some people. That isn't right." Jessica started to act nervous, seeing how Charlie seemed fine with it. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do it on random people. I just doing it on my friend. He won't mind."
"I still don't you to hurt people, though. It isn't normal."
"Well, for most demons it is." Charlie said, where Jessica remembered that Charlie was a demon.

"I mean, I feel pain like everyone else, but I do feel some pleasure along with it. I know it isn't normal, but it isn't a bad deal really. There some good benefits that I get from it."
"Well.. what I want to say is.. Well..."

I wanted her to ne somewhat innocent, but I literally blocked out the fact that she came from Hell. I didn't really want to know more about her, other than try to have her behave innocently. I was already naive to know she was twisted, but the more I knew her, I did manage to find some innocence within her. However, I was just only seeing the parts that I thought were uncomfortable. She didn't act like the type of person who would be sadomasochist, but she might have probably get off from zapping her, if I wasn't looking. I didn't even want to ask her about how she is a demon, but I figured that she was just lie about how it happened. Even though, my intern had blood of a demon, I wanted to make her normal in my definition.

"Here, how about I just make sure the mic is on tightly. You know I'm just saying not to take the idea, because I don't want to get sued and be credited of the idea." Jessica said, trying to change the subject.
"I'm wouldn't mention you. Besides, it's just for fun."
"I know, but I'm not familiar with what demons like you do. I just don't want you to hurt yourself for kicks."
"We don't hurt ourselves intentionally, though. We just feel pain differently, that's all."
Jessica looked uncomfortable, realizing she shouldn't have brought it up. Then, she decided to try to re-assure Charlie in an attempted friendly manner by putting her hand on her shoulder.

"Look, I just don't want you to fall into the wrong crowd, after it probably took you days for you to get all of the paperwork or stuff to get here. I'm not trying to act like a bitch or anything, I just want you to be comfortable without getting the kids scared. Alright?" Jessica said to Charlie, where she nodded. Gerald came in, where he told Jessica the speakers were all working correctly. "Is the mic good, Jessica?" Gerald asked. "Yeah, it is. We can start recording. Charlie, you can be in the mixing room to watch us. Let's get this show on the road."

After the recording session, Jessica and the band listened to the song after it was done. "You think it would be good for an opening song?" Frank asked Jessica. "I think we need to give it some hype. People don't know what we're planning, unless we give them a taste of it." Jessica said. "I check for some available venues. I see if they might allow us." Gerald said. As everyone was taking a break, Charlie asked Jessica a question. "You guys planning on a concert?" she asked Jessica. "Yeah. We perform in front of people. That's our job and favorite thing to do. We might hit the road to somewhere and take all of our stuff there."
"I actually would like to do some exploring."
"Well, I give you a starting paycheck." Jessica said, getting Brenda to hand it Charlie's pay. "And as a bonus, I recommend you take a listen to my first album." Jessica said, digging around some stuff to give her a CD. "I thought the song sounded good. There doesn't seem to be an issue." Charlie said. "Oh don't worry, this is full of several first starters. They might not sound good, but they are like practice. I still recommend you take a listen." Jessica smiled, as she handed her the CD.

After Charlie left, I wondered about how she would react to it. She might not like the music, but I was giving her some benefit and helping her explore a bit of what goes on in the nation.

by **Balqia** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 3:14 pm

The hospital was silent as it should be, only the footsteps of the nurse and Rigo could be heard through the corridors, but sometimes some sounds escaped the individual rooms. Both of them stood in front of a door.
-Here -said the nurse, almost whispering- room fourteen. You can enter, Mr Qalti will be waiting for you.
Rigo thanked the nurse and opened the door with one hand while trying to hold the box in the other. When he entered Qalti was there talking with his father. Both of them had dark green eyes, however Petre had some brown hair while his father lost most of it. Both of them had a protuberant chin and a squared face.
-Hey Petre, hello Mr Qalti, it’s a honor to be here.
Petre tried to smile, but his attempt failed and his sad expression returned, the old man however smiled and said.
-Oh, it’s Rigo E. Janus, the golden player of the National Team. If I know I would receive this kind of visit I would got sick before.
He laughed, but was soon interrupted by a harsh cough. His son took a scarf to put in his mouth, when he retired it from there it had blood in it.
-Thanks for coming Janus. My father surely is happy.
Qalti was destroyed, his voice was sad and dark circles appeared in his eyes. Rigo gave him the box, Petre opened it and retired a ball out of there.
-It’s an official replica of the WC ball, the entire team autographed it, even Primlid. We all wish you to recover soon Mr Qalti.
-Ha. I will not count on that. When I got in the clinic the doctor said that he had two news for me, and asked if I prefered to hear the bad one or the good one first. “The good one” I said, then he looked at me and said “Well, a disease will receive your name.”- The man tried to laugh but soon the cough returned, again some blood stained the scarf.
-For God’s sake dad, this isn’t time for your jokes.
Petre was surely annoyed by his father’s dark humor, he mentioned it sometimes but Rigo never imagined that it was so… common.
-Sit down Janus. Oh, and you can call me Fredrik.-Rigo sat in a chair near the man’s bed, some stains of blood were adorning his sheets. -So how was the game? They don’t permit radios or televisions here, and I can’t figure out how to use there new cell phones. I think they want to kill me of boredom, these nurses must have some problem of sounds louder than a fart.
This time he hadn’t time to laugh. When his mouth was clean Rigo looked to Petre, who just waved his head.
-Well, we won from two to one. We made a goal in the twentieth minute, our back was surely doing a good job, and Kaesar was doing really well today, he managed to pass through their defenses. Their back was pretty though to, they defended our attacks without much difficulties. We managed to defend a lot of advanced too, they were particularly strong in the left, at least that is what I think. Oh, and in the thirtieth minute Kalniq managed to defend a ball that would hit the upright of the goal with his head, he was substituted after this, but was surely a deed with some merits.- The man was paying attention in the story, his eyes were fixed in Rigo and barely moved.-The second half was a bit more harsh they focused on offensive, but we managed to do another goal. This time was Faj to do it, he advanced and kicked the ball, it passed between the goalkeeper’s leg and entered the goal. However they persisted in offensive and managed to pass through the defenses. Ozot defended their first shot, but the ball left the field and they managed to did a goal with the corner kick, I mean, the guy passed to their forward who was in the goal area and he scored the goal. In the end we defended through the rest of the game, so here we are.
When his story ended the man looked at him with a half smile and said.
-Oh, you managed to win. Finally, I think the Team’s bad luck got me sick, at least we recovered and I can get less stressed.
-It was the third victory in a row, we are really confident.
Someone knocked in the door. The nurse opened and announced that Rigo’s visit had reached the limit of time. Qalti offered to go with him to the entrance and both of them got up, before leaving the room Fredrik just said with a smile.
-Thanks for the gift, I am surely a man of luck.
When he arrived in the entrance Qalti looked at Rigo and gave a sad smile.
-Thanks for that, I don’t know who gave the idea but I owe him a lot.
-The whole team took part, but as always it was Primlid who had the plan. You can thank us later by paying us a cup of tea.
The silence grew between the two, Petre was looking to somewhere and Rigo was starting to get uncomfortable, he take a step in the direction of the door but then Qalti said.
-You know, since I entered in the team my father don’t stop to tell me how he is happy, the guy was fanatic for football since I was a child. It’s funny how he get sick right now when the team is just recovering for it’s worse performance. If I had played better he could at least die with some pride...
That hit Rigo like a punch in his stomach, he wasn’t used to talk about this kind of thing with his team mater or had a good idea about father and son relationships He stared at Qalti for a while and finally opened his mouth after some mental struggle.
-Don’t worry about that- he tried to smile -I am sure he is proud of you, and no matter how well we do at the matches you will always be his son. Don’t get preoccupied about that.
Petre thanked him for the words and returned to the hospital, Rigo left the place and thought about calling to his father.
-He is probably occupied right now.
He said to himself. No call was made.or received that day, as always.

by **Sargossa** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 3:27 pm

Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Nepharim always win.

It was a quip that had amused yesterday’s pre-match press conference, although he was pretty sure he’d cribbed the sentiment from someone else. It was a simple game. Which was probably why every bugger thought they could do his job better than he. Two defeats at the start of the campaign, following two defeats to end the last Copa Rushmori, had even led to murmurings about his position from the fan base’s more hard-line supporters. Nine successive victories thereafter had changed the narrative, but it didn’t hide the fact that few arenas evoked such kneejerk emotional reactions as the beautiful game. An ironic moniker, given the attitudes it fostered could be so ugly.

Out on the pitch Miguel Ángel Berganza screwed a shot wide of the Gutulia goal. The Petro Dome crowd gave a collective groan. A handful of unflattering comments made it to the ears of Rodrigo Defederico. There was that kneejerk reaction. This sport really did create a volatile atmosphere. He knew too that he wasn’t immune. Being sent to the stands during a fiery Copa Rushmori defeat Rou Scotan was a cross he had to bear. It was something of which he was not proud, particularly after his sons saw the footage. Still, it didn’t make the criticism any easier. Particularly after successive World Cup qualifications and a Copa Rushmori final. What did fans expect? Nations like Gutulia weren’t going to arrive on Sargossan soil and roll over, three hundred places in the rankings doesn’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy game.

Another chance went begging, the crowd groaned again. Nine successive wins had seen Sargossa bounce back from those two surprise defeats that opened the campaign and lead Group 7. But not by much. Pasarga, as implacable a foe as the World Cup could throw up, were right there. And currently bossing Crystalline Caverns in Torgos. On the plus side the group’s other threat, the Squornshelan Remnant States were being held by Najaf. Long may that continue. They may be low down in the rankings but their forebears were once a name to fear. It wasn't a huge stretch of the imagination to picture them doing it again.

The same couldn’t be said of Gutulia, but they were proving annoyingly resolute this night. Defederico could almost feel the Sargossan lead in the group evaporating. Still, there was an upcoming run of games that had always had the whiff of significance. Home fixtures against North Prairie, the Squornshelan Remnant States and United States of Devonta. And the small matter of a trip to Torgos. Those four games would decide the outcome of this group.

by **New Lusitania and the Algarves** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 4:27 pm

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|
World Cup 82 Quals

Double Bill

JUVENCUS VICTORIOUS AS VEIGA DAZZLES
Juvencus 4-3 New Lusitania
Vinceti Catedral (Att: 45, 765)

New Lusitania now had the tough job of having to travel to Juvencus, who were group leaders. The result could potentially shake things up, though considering the home side's recent form it would be unlikely. Patríce, Coentro, Carriça, Cancela and Cédric in defence with Nevais in the middle of the park, along with Mário, Fernando and recent call-up Veiga. Up front today are Silveira and Jota. For Juvencus, Bulgari is the man between the sticks, with Madeiros, Bassi and Ibarra in defence with Russo and Bret further up. The flanks are covered by Grec and Christian; Martell, Etxeberria and Silvestri up front.
The game started right away, as Juvencus hit the bar in the second minute with the pretension of showing a message at home, the shot from Etxeberría. However, the first goal came ten minutes later, as Martell crossed it in, Silvestri being the one managing to get to it, and scoring the opener. A midfield battle would be the contents of the match, specially in the flanks. Still, the Selecção pulled through and managed to get to the equaliser. Jorge Mário managed to pass the ball to Jota, who was blocked and managed to create a through ball to Silveira, who managed to score in a second try after the ball got sent back to him following a save by Bulgari.
In the second half, New Lusitania took the lead, almost straight away, Bernardo Veiga getting an assist on his first game as Jota took the goal, a header of good quality. Juvencus would make it all square once more again though, a mere ten minutes later as Martell bagged himself a goal in the top right corner.
At the hour mark, Juvencus started yet another attack from Christian, which switche the play from Silvestri, which promptly crossed it to Etxeberría, a goal, and one that could've been avoided with Cédric at fault. It would take fifteen minutes for the "Equipa de Todos Nós" to get back, as Fernando crossed the ball forward, it managed to land at Bassi's feet, unfotunately but Veiga sprung to the action and managed to put it in the back of the net. Finally, at eighty-eight minutes, a corner for Juvencus gave them their fourth goal, and the win from a header by Silvestri, as Patríce stretched but ended up dissapointed on the ground as Juvencus celebrated a win.
FULL TIME: 4-3

THREE POINTS AT LAST
New Lusitania 2-1 Bjornoya Republic
Estádio Académico, Coimbra (Att: 47, 543)
After a dissapointing end to a thrilling match at the Catedral, New Lusitania went back home, to the Beiras where they would face last placed Bjornoya at home. António Lopes went back into goal, and only two other change, as Henrique Costa for Jota and Vinagrete for Coentro. It was surprising to see the scoreline stay the way it did, as the game was mainly one way traffic. The first goal came in at forty minutes, as Henrique Costa put it in from a pass by Nevais, a great aerial ball that finished with a tremendous shot. The second goal took quite a while to come, it was just past the hour mark when Breu, a sub for Mário switched the flank of play towards Veiga who scored with a header, as the Academic City cheered. In the end, Bjornoya still managed to get a goal but it was too little to late, the Selecção had won. FULL TIME: 2-1

STATS (JUV/LUS/BJO)
Goals: 4/3-2/1
Shots: 12/10-15/6
Shots on Target: 9/7-11/4
Corners: 5/4-7/2
Fouls: 5/3-4/6
Cards - Yellow: 1/0-0/0
Cards - Red: 0/0/0
Posession %: 55/45-65/35

THE HUB
GOALS: André Silveira (5), Gama (3), Jota (2), Veiga (2), Nevais (1), Cavalariça (1), Henrique Costa (1).
ASSISTS: Fernando (5), Silveira (2), Luz (1), Mário (1), Henrique Costa (1), Jota (1), Nevais (1), Breu (1).
BOOKINGS: Mário (1Y)
INJURIES: Rafa Guerreiros (3 matches), Gama (6 matches).
SUSPENSIONS: None to Report.

CHANGES TO CALLUP:
Fábio Coentro (Sporting CL) <=> Rafa Guerreiros (Beira Mar) - LB
Bernardo Veiga (U.Leiria) <=> Francisco Gama (Sevilha) - RM

LATEST STATS
World Cup 81 Quals
Top Goalscorers: Silveira, Gama (11).
Assists: Fernando (9)
Cup of Harmony
Top Goalscorer: Silveira (2)
Assists: Fernando (3)
IDU Championships
Top Goalscorer: Gama (2)
Assists: Fernando (2)
IA6
Top Goalscorer: Silveira (4)
Assists: Fernando

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by **Nephara** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 4:42 pm

Nephara 4 - 1 Baker Park
(4-3-3) 1 - Swoboda; 2 - Rafford (18 - Kielseng 79'), 5 - Konoval (c), 6 - Steelhenge, 3 - Close; 8 - Klein, 4 - Rowland (23 - Shone 70'), 21 - Moxham; 7 - Fanaiyan, 9 - Hawke (10 - Metzger 70'), 11 - Strongbow
Goals: Strongbow 16', Hawke 43', Klein 51', Moxham 78'

Dreamplanet 1 - 3 Nephara
(4-3-3) 12 - Mercator; 2 - Rafford (18 - Kielseng 81'), 22 - Thorn, 6 - Steelhenge, 19 - Vicelich; 15 - Rosenthal, 4 - Rowland (c), 21 - Moxham (14 - Kuepper 72'); 13 - Saroszi, 9 - Hawke, 11 - Strongbow (16 - Staunton 65')
Goals: Hawke 27', Saroszi 60', Rosenthal 67'

Margrave Pritchard sighed, and leaned across to his war criminal bodyguard. "Rinehart?" he murmured, quietly, so the local MP - a plump, over-eager woman, Promise Johansen - didn't hear.
"Sir?"
"Why in God's holy name do people holiday here?"
Rinehart never laughed, but Pritchard had learned to detect when even she was amused. "I believe they seek out the heat, sir. Far from the cold, windswept mainland."
"Really." Pritchard glanced down at his white shirt, now drenched in sweat. He'd brought along a suit jacket, too - one which lay forgotten in his plane, ready for his return. Still, it could be worse. He was in decent shape. He occasionally saw sun. Vice-Margravine Garnett, tallow seeming to melt away from her like a cheap candle in a dress shirt, was not so lucky.
He couldn't resist a dig. For all she was his kingmaker, Garnett had been even more of a pain through the neck, undermining his authority behind the scenes and doing her best to give her Alliance a disproportionate say in policy. "Enjoying the heat, Sherry?
Garnett glowered.
Johansen sighed, happy to find something as thrilling as the weather to discuss. "You should feel blessed to be out here in the height of summer," she intoned. "Being trapped in the endless autumn of the mainland is a slow, slow death. One gets restless."
"The strength of the tourism industry seems to suggest your people agree," said Daniel Tresselhorn drily. Pritchard didn't care particularly much for Tresselhorn, a tall, spare man, leader of the Ceynes branch of the Liberal Alliance. The way he said 'your people' didn't help.
"Not that the locals complain," Tresselhorn went on. "After all, the last time Nepharim showed up on our shores, they came waving longbows, not money clips."
"You wouldn't consider yourself Nepharim?" asked Pritchard, mildly.
"I'm a Ceyne Islander, and so long as the Ceyne Isles remain Nepharim, I suppose I must be, too."
Johansen tried not to flush. "But we all have to work together, of course," she said, clearly scraping together meaningless platitudes from the top of her head, "to ensure a, ah, greater future for all. As one!"
Johansen was the sole National MP from the Isles. Pritchard harboured new, dark thoughts about preselection.
They were interrupted by the clearing of a throat behind them, and an anxious-looking local. "Sirs? They're ready for you now."

The speech, in the event, was stultifying. Johansen opened to a mostly middle-aged, middle-class audience and droned on about unity. Then Tresselhorn spoke cryptically and briefly about how the Alliance - popular in Ceynes - would work together with the Nationals to 'better connect as equals' with the mainland, and win prosperity there that couldn't be guaranteed by independence.
There was an elephant in the room. Perhaps two, conjoined. A third, at a stretch. The Islanders weren't stupid, or nearly as parochial as their reputation. They knew Iskandervale had been given independence, Pravenna was a suzerain state. And Brenecia had obviously won its own freedom by way of uprising, decades back. They now stood alone among the remnants of Nephara's expansionist past as still being under the black-and-green saltire, and their hard-won devolution had only made things worse. Brenecia's open defiance was showing another way to handle Nephara and its high-handed 'mother knows best' approach.
The local security had perhaps neglected to mention how a substantial minority of the good, sturdy folk of Falston wanted to send a message.
Pritchard spoke last, the local press eager to get as many shots of his sweaty armpits as possible, or the bottle and a half of water he'd gone through waiting for his turn. Still, it was a decent speech, in his view, talking about unity and uplifting one another, promising that full independence was more than-
"We want more than empty promises!" someone bellowed from the crowd.
"Sir!" Rinehart barked, and something slammed into him from the side - and something slammed into the podium from the front. People screamed, and scattered.
"Stop! Stop, or- oh, for fuck's sake!" snapped a security man.
Rinehart rose from her position, heavy pistol in hand, knee digging into the Margrave's spine, scanned the room... and sighed.
"It's a shoe! It's just a fucking shoe," said someone else. In the distance, there was the sound of a one-sided struggle.
For just a moment, Pritchard locked eyes with Tresselhorn. And then the man just smirked, and looked back out at the chaos of the hall.

NEPHARIM NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 7
Goalkeepers: 1 - Apostolos Tsattalios (Falourr, EUR), 12 - Hesterine Mercator (Eastweald, COS), 20 - Althea Taliadoros (Raven River)
Defenders: 2 - Anita Sanger (Rammsissil, VIL), 3 - Nike Rouphos (Chenoworth Harriers), 5 - Alcander Visser (Starling), 6 - Ilyana Brosch (AFC Corvistone), 18 - Ruon Asante (Lajuno, EUR), 19 - Sander Katarec (Vermillion Rage), 22 - Gabrielle Reinhardt (Newrook City)
Midfielders: 4 - Catheline Marchant (OAS Royal FC, COS), 8 - Malachi Chalk (Falourr, EUR), 14 - Marica Kuepper (Jungle Strike, VIL), 15 - Mordecai Brandtner (Newrook City), 21 - Sabine Montag (North Sabrefell), 23 - Evangeline Aschenbach (Starling)
Forwards: 7 - Minka Kranevitter (North Sabrefell), 9 - Erika Wolff (North Sabrefell), 10 - Maladict Farrell (Newrook City), 11 - Dimitra Exarchopolous (FC Samotath, COS), 13 - Atalanta Skapetis (Coret Hawks), 16 - Morena Deventer (Brinemouth), 17 - Dragan Stavanger (Coret Hawks)

SCHEDULE
Astoria 0 - 3 Nephara
Commonwealth of Baker Park 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 6 - 3 Dreamplanet @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Pridnestrovia 0 - 6 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 0 Blaneu @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Natanians and Nosts 1 - 4 Nephara
Nephara 3 - 0 Tinhampton @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Walenstein 1 - 2 Nephara
Nephara 5 - 3 Robostania @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Nephara 5 - 2 Astoria @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Nephara 4 - 1Commonwealth of Baker Park @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Dreamplanet 1 - 3 Nephara
Nephara vs. Pridnestrovia @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Blaneu vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Natanians and Nosts @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Tinhampton vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Walenstein @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Robostania vs. Nephara

by **Krytenia** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 4:56 pm

Show No Merce-y
By Rami Niblick in Ousevale

ALEXANDER Sampson returns to his old stomping ground tonight in a massive test of his team's Group Fifteen progress. Unbeaten since taking charge, and with only the slight copybook-blotting of a draw with Zeniyadh in that time, the former Tigers striker has got his charges playing with confidence, and are now just about back in the hunt for the top two.

Of course, it can be said that that's been helped by a benevolent recent fixture list, and that Sampson hasn't been seriously tested in his capacity. Sampson's having none of that, though. As far as he's concerned, those games ahead, and especially the next five agasint the four teams above and one directly below in the table, are the roadmap to Apox and Valanora.

Their opponents, Mercedini, appear to be in their second slump of qualifying, having bounced back well after a sluggish start. Don't be fooled that this would be a good time to play them, though. That first slump? Ended quite emphatically with a home win over...Krytenia.

Danger ahead, then, but confidence is high. Defeat is pretty much curtains for the Dragons' World Cup ambitions, but if they can win, and especially if they win well, the sky (and white) is the limit. Onward!

by **Turori** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:25 pm

Cocoabo Comeback on the Cards

Cednia Beach Center, Cednia, Turori :: After an incomprehensible draw against the 307th ranked team in the multiverse, Turori's National Citizen Squad received a stern warning from Football Association of Turori president Mumau Atla-Siioai. If they dropped any more points during the first half of qualifying, the Cocoabo Squad would be called upon during the second half of qualifying. It seemed a stunning turn of events considering the Citizen Squad had just led Turori to their first ever World Cup Semi-Final appearance - even if they closed out World Cup 81 with a whimper after a massive defeat at the hands of rivals Vilita and World Cup 81 co-host Banija.

The Eels would seemingly receive the message however and got back to their form with a 2-1 victory over Alanikka. While they would certainly have been disappointed to concede a goal to the 298th ranked team it was a small consolation to pay in order to claim three points and inch back towards the top of the Group 10 table.

Turori [2] - [1] Alanikka

:: Turori Goalscorers ::
:: 34' Meldi'ita Mungwaii
:: 58' Mbdiai Akarenaa

:: Turori Statistics ::
:: Possession: 60%
:: Shots on Target: 8
:: Corner Kicks: 8

:: Alanikka Statistics ::
:: Possession: 40%
:: Shots on Target: 5
:: Corner Kicks: 10

'Turori Eels Lineup v. Alanikka ::
[GK] Wiyauw An'maude, [D.] Yitizo Mpala'a, [D.] Tarek Edgeli, [D.] Oani Moralziia, [D.] Moumouni Verre'elali, [ML] Timi'sala Koarena, [MC] Mbdiai Akarenaa, [MC] Daliora Toru'u, [MR] Indelli Nura'amura, [FC] Meldi'ita Mungwaii, [FC] Inamari Altariiz
BENCH::
[FC] Mirana Gotuai, [FC] Wiztsana Iretziia, [M] Saito Koshiki, [M] Teliima Loinara, [U ] Turakia Diijelhma, [D] Amakli Inuro'o, [GK] Timaala Hualtia

In rounding out their tour of the bottom of the barrel as far as their World Cup 82 Qualifying opponents, Turori's National Citizen Squad then set sail for Migli where they would face the unranked side as the third in a trio of matches against opponents ranked outside the top 297 in the multiverse. The Eels had the match winner within 20 minutes through Inamari Altariiz before Meldi'ita Mungwaii scored their second goal in as many games in the second half to make it two straight games with two goals for the Citizen Squad, firing above their average and looking to make an impression on Football Association of Turori president Mumau Atla-Siioai, attempting to remove any doubt in the minds of leadership that this Turori National Team was the Citizen Squad's national team and no Cocoabo were needed.

Turori [2] - [0] Migli

:: Turori Goalscorers ::
:: 18' Inamari Altariiz
:: 48' Meldi'ita Mungwaii

:: Turori Statistics ::
:: Possession: 56%
:: Shots on Target: 6
:: Corner Kicks: 7

:: Migli Statistics ::
:: Possession: 44%
:: Shots on Target: 2
:: Corner Kicks: 2

'Turori Eels Lineup v. Migli ::
[GK] Wiyauw An'maude, [D.] Yitizo Mpala'a, [D.] Amakli Inuro'o, [D.] Moumouni Verre'elali, [D.] Mikki Mayelli, [ML] Daliora Toru'u, [MC] Indelli Nura'amura, [MC] Saito Koshiki, [MR] Timi'sala Koarena, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Meldi'ita Mungwaii
BENCH::
[FC] Mirana Gotuai, [FC] Wiztsana Iretziia, [M] Kentu Umaka'a, [M] Teliima Loinara, [U ] Kala'a Yuliizala, [D] Oani Moralziia, [GK] Timaala Hualtia

Unfortunately, while they seemed to regain their form against lower ranked opposition, the Citizen Squad would slip up again when they faced qualification competitors Kita-Hinode at the Cednia Beach Center in Cednia. The Citizen Squad looked lost for long stretched of the match and by the hour mark they were down two goals having conceded two goals in a match for the first time since the World Cup 81 finals. The only bright spot on the day for Turori was the anti-karelan attacking prowess of Jungle Strike FC's Meldi'ita Mungwaii who got on the scoresheet for the fourth consecutive game with a brilliant 87th minute effort that gave the home fans a glimmer of hope for a later result. Nothing else would come of it and Turori would fall to their second defeat of the qualification campaign falling out of the Top 2 once again and putting a dent in their hopes of improving on their 4th place showing in the World Cup Finals.

Turori [1] - [2] Kita-Hinode

:: Turori Goalscorers ::
:: 87' Meldi'ita Mungwaii

:: Turori Statistics ::
:: Possession: 50%
:: Shots on Target: 3
:: Corner Kicks: 2

:: Kita-Hinode Statistics ::
:: Possession: 50%
:: Shots on Target: 6
:: Corner Kicks: 12

'Turori Eels Lineup v. Kita-Hinode ::
[GK] Wiyauw An'maude, [D.] Yitizo Mpala'a, [D.] Lulu Pumaziiri, [D.] Mikki Mayelli, [D.] Amakli Inuro'o, [ML] Kentu Umaka'a, [MC] Timi'sala Koarena, [MC] Mbdiai Akarenaa, [MR] Daliora Toru'u, [FC] Inamari Altariiz, [FC] Meldi'ita Mungwaii
BENCH::
[FC] Nua'oma Aikiki, [FC] Wiztsana Iretziia, [M] Saito Koshiki, [M] Indelli Nura'amura, [U ] Mirana Gotuai, [D] Tarek Edgeli, [GK] Timaala Hualtia

With defeat at the Cednia Beach Center to Kita-Hinode, the Turori National Team found themselves on the outside looking in, two points behind group 10's unexpected leaders Olastor and 95X with a place in the World Cup Finals on the line. Perhaps even worse was the fact that Turori's famed defensive record was being bested by their regional rivals, 95X. While there was not a long history of competition between 95X and Turori directly, the two were long time rivals from regional competition through the rivalry that the Vilita and Turori Eel-Cat Things have long had with the bus-riders of 95X.

Unsure how to respond to their precarious position, the Football Association of Turori had a decision to make. The Eels were just two points out of a qualifying position. But they had dropped points in nearly half their games when they were favored to win every single one of them. Would they stay the course? Or make a change.

Football Association of Turori president Mumau Atla-Siioai got on his communication device and dialed up the Cocoabo Enrichment & Enhancement Project headquarters. He had made his decision. Turori's National Citizen Squad proved already that they could not beat four of their opponents in the first half of qualifying, so why allow the Citizen squad to face those four team again? Instead, the Football Association of Turori would call on the Cocoabo Squad to return to action starting with the Matchday 11 fixture in Olastor. After that, a top-of-the table matchup against 95X and a bottom-dweller fixture against Flaw which would be each be moved to the Cocoabo Park Arena in the Cocoabo Forest. The Cocoabo would then get a short break before closing out the campaign with the Cocoabo Squad in a potential must-win fixture on the road to Kita-Hinode.

by **Velestria** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:26 pm

_{ATTENTION: Most of my rps draw inspirations from rl-articles or previously produced, this rp was inspired by this previous rp.}
Jyzara 419
What had just happened? It had only been what, three days? Azurea had done what its ultras had been calling for weeks…I, Sylvas Arkin opened the morning pages to the opening statement, _{GULLIE NAMED NEW SKIPPER}, and Azurea makes some quiet moves on the western front…
It was definitely a weird occurrence, I don’t even know how to describe it, what even happened to the Devontan? What had even triggered it, all of it just felt so awkward to deal with and watch, VLZ Sports was definitely on top of things as they offered report after report of what was going on currently. Right now, I’m still having a hard time processing what’s going on right now, Azurea has a new…manager? Right now, it’s all strange, the VFA and Azurea have supposedly been going back and forth and back and forth for the past three days discussing the outcome of what is to come, there’s a new man…or well woman in charge with the national team and the domestic season gets back under way in two weeks, man what a time to be alive. I don’t even understand what happened to the manager, what even was his name again, Mendez? It looks like big things have happened with the two teams and damn I’m here for it. As a Vegai supporter, Azurea has damned us for the past few seasons and I’m glad to see a new manager on the sideline for Azurea, ah how the prideful fall…

Christmonth 418
17:25 on Vaxaday – What is going on in Azurea? Stonehenge is a scene of catastrophe as Azurea drops to 10th place, through the first fifteen games the team has barely been able to compete and things look quite down for the league champions of past who have really been relegated to failures over the past two seasons, clearly the players don’t believe the mission anymore. Beaten by a recently promoted side, things are looking down, never mind Azurea didn’t make it to UICA play earlier this season, what is going on with this club??

17:50 – Things don’t look good for Azurea manager, Christopher Tajo Mendez, there’s rumors appearing that he’s meeting with both the VFA president and also Azurea chairman, Alexis Therinson in Stonehenge – wait, did someone say the VFA President?

18:35 – Players have left, and rightfully Jelanee Jidefor is being booed and ultras are calling for him to be shopped in the transfer window, is he a goner this cycle? Rumors are that this is Miguel Benedito’s last game in Velestria, he’s been furious with the manager and he’s definitely attacked attention from teams around the league.

18:40 – The ongoing talks are continued, as confirmed by pictures from the paparazzi from Michal Donaldson Stadium, the club chairman has left however, what’s going on?

19:00 – There’s commotion, it seems that Tajo Mendez has collapsed and is suffering some form of sickness, as he is rushed out of the stadium, he calls for calm and declares a planned press conference must happen, even if occurring at a hospital room, all is thrown amuck as it appears there might be a dead manager by morning.

19:13 – All reporters have swarmed the hospital, Aden C. Stonehenge Memorial Hosptial, you can’t live without Stonehenge, that’s the motto and currently it looks as if the Devontan, Mr. Tajo Mendez can’t live without Stonehenge as he appears to be on life support. Sitting in his hospital room is Mr. Therinson who seems deep in thought as the media begins to appear in front of the hospital, ultras also begin to gather.
19:22 – Christopher Tajo Mendez has passed away, doctors confirm, suspected blood poisoning, Stonehenge City Police investigating.

19:30 – The Velish Football Association has tweeted from its twii.tur account, “#weloveyoumendez” is trending across twii.tur Velish servers, it seems that the nation will mourn the death of the manager who truly changed the concept of “club and country.”

00:00 – It is a new day, and the nation still sits in horror, the death of the manager of the national team with suspects including the Azurea chairman and the VFA chairman, what is going on with this football scandal?

2:00 – Chairman of the VFA, Thomas Harbor arrested on “conspiring to commit criminal deeds” and “first degree homicide” charges, sending shockwaves through the nation.

9:25 – VFA calls a press conference, news reports announces criminal involvement in the suspicious death of former national team manager, Christopher Tajo Mendez, national team manager expected to be appointed later that day as a replacement.
9:45 – excerpts from Christopher Tajo Mendez’s twii.tur account:

10:15 – Jane Gullie spotted in Velestria, landing on Southampshire’s Rhodes International Airport.

10:17 – Pierre Denton has been named the new manager of the Azurea football club.

10:18 – Pierre Denton has not been hired as the new manager of the Azurea football club.

10:25 – Pierre Denton has been named the new manager of the Azurea football club.

10:27 – Pierre Denton has not been hired as the new manager of the Azurea football club.

10:25 – Pierre Denton has been named the new manager of the Azurea football club. Blue Strike Calix confirming.

10:25 – Christopher Tajo Mendez has awoken.

Again

15:00 – Jane Gullie has been named new manager of Blue Strike Calix, reportedly hired for a record setting contract from Handon United of Schottia.

3:06 – Jane Gullie has resigned from her management position for Blue Strike Calix citing health reasons, she speaks on her homesickness and wanting to return to Schottia.
15:20 – Jane Gullie has been spotted a few blocks south of the VFA headquarters.

15:22 – Blue Strike Calix’s twii.tur account has let its feelings be known, “HeAlTh ReAsOnS?”

15:25 – Jane Gullie enters the VFA headquarters.

15:28 – ‘#welcomegullie’ is a trending tag on the VFA account, as is @bluestrikecalixofficial.

16:00 – Where is Jane Gullie.

16:25 - #vegaiwins is trending in Cloudshire. No one cares though as the VFA announces a press conference for 19:25.

17:00 – Blue Strike Calix announces the departure of Janue Gullie.

18:40 – VLZ Sports is the first to break the announcement, Jane Gullie is the new national team manager…? Yes. Wait maybe not. Maybe she’ll die too!

19:05 – The VFA press conference kicks off, Jane Gullie arrives shortly later in a nice dress, she wears a pin inscribed in it is the logo of the VFA.

19:25 – Jane Gullie is the new manager of the Velestrian national team.

21:00 – Christoper Tajo Mendez is in fact not dead but he’s no longer a manager employed.

Jyzara 419
What a past few days its been! Well, I’ll go back to reading my paper now, won’t I…
_{[u]OOC NOTES - This rp officially changes my style to +2 please}

by **Filindostan** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:30 pm

NATIONAL | BUSINESS | PROVINCIAL | INTERNATIONAL | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS PORTAL

FOOTBALL: WORLD CUP 82 QUALIFIERS
Pula Garuda hosts Fillies for top spot of Group 14

SAN MARCO - After the first four matchdays, the defeat at Concord Heights, Cassadaigua and Filindostan were sky and land when it came into the group 14 table, the Fillies having won all their four matches which include an impressive win at Stadii di Bradini followed up by the 4-1 thrashing of the Filindos that put them bottom of the group and ultimately costing Twilight Striker her job.

Group 14 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Cassadaigua 4 4 0 0 16 6 +10 12
2 Polkopia 4 4 0 0 9 4 +5 12
3 Starblaydia 4 2 1 1 8 4 +4 7
4 Abristan 4 2 1 1 7 6 +1 7
10 Filindostan 4 0 1 3 8 14 −6 1

After eight matches though, Stephanie Sweeney's side still leads the table, holding the ship steady against other opposition in the group, while a change in the system saw Ethel Toh's team started to pick up the paces, defeating all of the opposing teams during that time. Now, before the two teams meet again at the Filindostan National Stadium, the table in Group 14 looked like this:
Group 14 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Cassadaigua 12 7 4 1 38 23 +15 25
2 Filindostan 12 8 1 3 31 26 +5 25
3 Polkopia 12 6 3 3 28 22 +6 21
4 Starblaydia 12 5 4 3 31 19 +12 19
5 The Sherpa Empire 12 4 4 4 21 23 −2 16

Filindostan have already caught up with the group leaders, and are unlucky not to lead the table due to the inferior goal difference compared to the two-time champions of the multiverse. A loss for the Fillies against Starblaydia made this possible, and Filindostan winning away at Omerica made sure that the last six matchdays of this group should be one to look out for aside from a brewing four-horse race in Group 13.

So more much to do...

Despite Filindostan riding on an eight match winning streak competitively, there are still aspects of the game that needs attention to: defence.

Filindostan's first four games, where Tonyo Vera and Gerry Nasution were between the sticks, had them conceding 14 goals, around 3.5 goals per game, the worst in Group 14, and only Ofasval, Xanneria, and Acapais conceding more than they did. Eight matchdays later, only 12 goals were leaked by the Filindos, still amongst the worst defence in the group, but now only conceding a rate of 2.17 goals per game. During that 8-game stretch, they only conceded 1.5 goals per game, though the telling fact is the number of clean sheets Abram Jampang, Cahya Kartawijaya, and Abner Sitohang kept during this period and all of the qualifying campaign of the Pula Garudas - 1.

Opponent Res F A
Abristan W 3 1
North Quadana W 2 1
Tiiwark W 2 0
Britaen W 3 2
The Sherpa Empire W 4 2
Starblaydia W 5 4
Polkopia W 2 1
Omerica W 2 1

That one clean sheet came against Tiiwark, but as encouragement, they conceded only one goal in half of their wins - against Abristan, North Quadana, Polkopia, and Omerica. The only time they conceded more than three times was that eventful match against Starblaydia, where dubious decisions condemned the five-time champions to their third defeat of the campaign.

They are not goal-shy, scoring in every match of their campaign thus far, and being among the best offence this term, but the amount of clean sheets leaves them room to improve on that department, and they should start collecting them in the next set of matches...

The home stretch

After Cassadaigua, Filindostan have played all the top five seeds of the group, which already includes the Filindos. The next set of matches are fairly forgiving to the Esportivan nation, though the last match at Changsha in The Sherpa Empire is the one they should be prepared for, especially with them hungry for wins. Polkopia though, is the one who holds what will happen to the group though. Having already faced the Filindos (and lost in Matchday 11), they are yet to face Sweeney's (they do in Matchday 15) and Ázëwyn Fëanáro's (they do in the final matchday) teams. This is where the two automatic spots will be decided, and all the Pula Garudas should do is care less about what other teams do an focus on their own matches.

We at FSNA Berita Filindo will be keeping an eye on the latest updates for World Cup 82 Qualifying, and will bring you the latest from the Filindostan National Stadium for Filindostan vs Cassadaigua.

Written by FSNA Staff.

by **Bongo Johnson** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:35 pm

BongoBeat.net - Home for World Cup 82 and more

Baba booey!
Incorporated States notches "nointh" victory over Freeport

"Right now my professional live is like, at a noine, but my personal life is at a two." -Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'abate

Freeport's defense could not contain the Incorporated onslaught last night as Bongo Johnson takes the high scoring match 5-3. Both teams went back and forth trading goals for the first half until a deadlock at 3-3 was broken in the 61st minute by Bongald on a penalty shot given after he was swept out by a Freeport defender in the box. The victory came on a day where the 0-0 Blues struck Group 5 again, as immovable object met unstoppable force in Damukuni and Ko-oren's matches yesterday.

The Incorporated squad must be careful not to let the past two victories go to their head as they face Libonesia tonight, a team which is currently tied for lowest points in the group. Complacency has been the bane of many Bongo Johnson squads and even the extreme underdog cannot be taken for granted in the World Cup. Jean-Claude Baptiste has put his team in position for success so far, but with the group stage's end looming, all hands are on deck to continue the Incorporated quest for the cup.

by **Saltstead** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:42 pm

The Walland Daily Press
Northern Saltstead’s premier news source
VOL. 124 NO. 082
11 SHILLINGS & 0
Proudly printed in Cherrygrove
Police release names of suspects involved in the Ashwell International Airport attack
The Saltsteadish National Gendarmerie confirm the names of the three suspects, all of whom are known members of a far-right ultra group

Ashwell — The Saltsteadish National Gendarmerie have effectively quashed conspiracy theories that have been circling around far-right circles: the attacks at the Ashwell Ferdinand Torregrossa International Airport were in fact members of the Rudswarthiėr (“Red-Black Army”).

Six people were hospitalised after the Red-Black Army members attacked a group of fans affiliated with the republican supporter group Blåwėbrigadė (“Blue Brigade”) ahead of a World Cup qualifier in Alluersia; three of the victims have since been released according to staff at the Royal Ashwell Medical Centre. The three alleged attackers were apprehended by gendarmes less than an hour after the assault took place, with the Gendarmerie stating that their names would be withheld for legal reasons.

The hesitance of the Gendarmerie to release the names of the apprehended trio led far-right media outlets, led by David Thomassen of the populist Saltsteadish Freedom Party, to claim that the attack was a false flag perpetrated by republican and left-leaning groups to garner sympathy and turn public opinion against the far-right. The hesitance, Thomassen insisted, was driven by a need to create a cover story and bury evidence for the “actual” line of events that the right-wing outlets have spun in response to the attack.

However, the conspiracies were busted when Andreas Simonssen, Gabriel Jåger and Zacharie Cok were revealed to be the suspects in the Commonwealth Prosecution Service’s ongoing investigation. The social media profiles of the three were quickly dug up by internet sleuths, indicating that all three openly identified as members of the Red-Black Army and had disseminated far-right tropes such as the “white genocide” conspiracy theory.

“There are legal procedures which we must follow in all cases,” Inspector Miho Vesħer stated in a press conference after the alleged attackers’ identities were revealed. “We must be careful not to enable the defamation of innocent people by hastily revealing the identities of the people we apprehend. If a person is not involved in an incident, it is highly immoral to expose them to the risk of having their reputation falsely dragged through mud in the press and would open police up to the risk of countless expensive defamation lawsuits.”

Thomassen himself has defended his earlier comments by dismissing Vesħer’s statement claiming that the Gendarmerie delayed the announcement to “find three honest people to frame.” The Saltsteadish Freedom Party has rebuked Thomassen for his remarks and the parliamentary party is set to vote on whether to symbolically censure him.

Simonssen, Jåger and Cok are set to make their first appearances in the Ashwell District Court on Friday to initiate the trial process. ❧

by **Brenecia** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:55 pm

Xanneria 1 - 5 Brenecia
(4-1-4-1) 1 - Calhoun; 2 - Broxham, 5 - Heneghan, 6 - Szubanski (c), 3 - Quill; 4 - Staunton; 7 - Crowther (15 - Cheney 64'), 21 - Case (14 - Ruskin 80'), 13 - Wheeler, 11 - Keynes (16 - Fletcher 72'); 9 - Riordan
Goals: Wheeler 23' 57', Crowther 36', Riordan 45+1', Broxham 84'

Brenecia 0 - 0 Porabasta
(4-1-4-1 / 4-4-2) 12 - Drummond; 18 - Weaver, 22 - Horgan, 6 - Szubanski (c), 19 - Prentice; 4 - Staunton (9 - Riordan 68'); 15 - Cheney (7 - Crowther 82'), 14 - Ruskin, 8 - Matheson (13 - Wheeler 68'), 16 - Fletcher; 10 - Ciogach

Laura Brennan pulled up, and sighed. "Look. I don't want to question orders or anything. But why the fuck are we out here?"
It was a decent question. They'd made it out here from Camp Matchlock midway through their gruelling retraining, in what the military had liked to think of as a combat transport but what the first world would probably call a 'technical', or maybe a 'battlewagon' if they were feeling generous.
"If you don't want to question orders," suggested the dry corporal, Rutten, "you don't have to."
"Yeah. Yeah. Okay." Brennan scratched her neck, restless. "But why the fuck are we here?"
"Delivering something to the sea," said Kincade, a glassy-eyed dreamer. He clutched the package close to his chest.
"Okay. Okay. Why? Because some creeper captain said so? Does he even have the rank to pull like that?"
"Yes," said Rutten, blandly.
The fourth and final, Hooper, hopped over the side of the wagon - the other followed suit. "And why us?" Unlike Brennan, her complaining wasn't constant. It was thought-through. Measured. "Going behind enemy lines-"
"Nephara aren't our enemy, and the beach isn't behind their lines," said Rutten, pained. "It's a Brenecian shore."
There was silence.
"But I take your point," she conceded. "This is some special forces infiltration shit. We're just four guys."
"We are the chosen few."
"We're grist, Kincade. We're the chosen few in the same way that a decimation picks a 'chosen few'." Rutten shoved a cigarette between her teeth and lit it up, before hauling her rifle out of the wagon and over one shoulder. "Let's just get this over with."

They prowled forward, Brennan's incessant bitching at least being something to ease their way through the neglected brush. They stayed away from the roads, threw themselves to the ground where a Nepharim patrol passed, its significantly better-armed members muttering dramatic ironies like "nobody's even going to try anything, why're we out here?"
"Too right, mate," Hooper murmured.
"Hush."
The patrol passed without incident, and the Brenecians got to their feet, newly tense. If they had been found, would they talk first, or shoot?
They dearly wished it had been some special forces guys now - then again, they were supposedly being retrained, too, and then set loose on anarchist dissidents. This sense only grew, closer to the fort - one they'd all remembered as a largely inert monolith, a place for overcrowded Nephara to stash materiel and warm bodies, one that most people had quietly assumed would eventually get mothballed before a whole Thing had been made about it.
"And of course, now it's a whole Thing," Hooper muttered sourly, "the Nepharim dig their heels in because they don't want to look weak..."
"Shh. Another patrol. Get down."
They slammed into the brush. Another patrol came and, all too slowly, went. The Brenecians got to their feet, left the brush, and gasped.
It was no longer an inert monolith. It was a fortified monolith packed full of guns and spotlights, and if they got caught by the spotlights, a more intimate meeting with the guns was surely next.
Rutten swallowed. "Right, then. Let's get to it."

By some miracle, they slipped around the fort, skirting around the edge. The question of why they couldn't just come in from the sea was soon answered by the presence of the towering warships in the harbour. The only thing to be grateful for was the fact that there wasn't any air cover around - one helicopter, and this was a suicide mission.
There had been a lot of answers the weirdly pallid captain hadn't given them. Rutten was starting to get a suspicion they that should really have run this upstairs before leaving.
Still, they got to the coast - and that was as far as their orders went. "So," said Brennan, breathless. "Do your thing, Kincade. What is it, anyway? Dead drop for someone else?"
"Yeah, the actual Spec Ops, no doubt," Hooper muttered, scanning the horizon.
Kincade dropped to his knees, shuffled a little canister out of the package. Brennan glanced at it, but couldn't make it out in the gloom as he fussed with it, seemed to uncork it, seemed to... speak to it, coax it.
"Stop being weird, Kincade," she said. Kincade didn't look up.
"Alright. Get it out, and get out of there," said Rutten, urgently. "I see figures..."
"It will take as long as it takes," said Kincade airily.
"We don't have that long. I see- oh, damn it. Haul out!"
Rutten broke out into a run, out towards where the shore transitioned into an overgrown park - Brennan followed, and Hooper. Kincade remained, pre-occupied with his task.
"That idiot!" Hooper seethed, and almost made as if to go out and haul him back to safety, but Rutten put a warning hand on her shoulder as three figures in pixellated grey camo approached, torches settling their glare on Kincade and his canister.
"Alright," came a breezy Teutonic voice. "The game's up. You want to put your hands up, too?"
Kincade didn't look up, and kept mumbling things.
"There's only three of them and-" said Brennan, urgently.
"Do not even think of it," said Rutten.
One of the Nepharim came into better view, a tall woman with bubblegum-cyan hair sticking out under the grey-green uniform. "What the hell are you even doing? This some crackhead local wandering north from Westpike?"
"Probably," said the Teuton, "but it's still someone in uniform with suspicious cargo. The commander will want to see this. You. What's your name?"
Kincade didn't answer. The Nepharim looked between each other. Normally, shoving rifles in someone's faces is generally worth at least a response, right?
The mermaid-hair one kicked the canister away. Kincade's head shot up, and his hand shot to his holster-
"You dare interrupt the sacred wor͘k̸ o̷f͢ ̨ţhe͠ Dr̛eam͘e͞r̢!̧?"
The pistol came up, but a muzzle flashed - not his - and Kincade went down like a sack of bricks, twitching, the pistol dropping from limp fingers.
"Oh, shit. Oh, fuck," murmured the third Nepharim, the shooter.
The Teuton breathed deeply. "It's fine. It's fine. Don't feel sorry for yourself. He came alone, right? And he moved to fire first? We did everything right, here. We'll go to the commander, get this... weird ooze looked at-"
"It was twitching, sir," said the mermaid, blandly, "but it's stopped, now."
"Sure, great. Get the lab techs to look at it. In the meantime, Grant... this is your mess. You get to drag him back to the base, then you get to find the shovel."

After a while, the Nepharim long since gone, the Brenecians in the tall grass dared to shudder.
"Holy shit," murmured Brennan. For once, no argument from Rutten.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 7
Goalkeepers: 1 - Rostyn Calhoun (Wexax United, VAL), 12 - Lenore Drummond (Rozelle), 20 - Cass Farrell (Northern Union)
Defenders: 2 - Keziah Broxham (Mallox, COS), 3 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 5 - Cheney Heneghan (Carsby, EUR), 6 - Niko Szubanski (1830 Cathair, AUD, c), 18 - Erica Weaver (North Hall), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Crystal Fair HC, CRY), 22 - Garwyn Varney (Soldarian FC, VAL)
Midfielders: 4 - Roisin Staunton (Kingsgrove), 7 - Brae Crowther (Chenoworth Harriers, NPH), 8 - Elysse Matheson (Hornchurch, EUR), 11 - Cathal Keynes (Lajuno, EUR), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 14 - Claire Ruskin (Kingsgrove), 15 - Cu Roi Garrard (Rene Skae, FFD), 16 - Tiferet Ashbrown (Rozelle), 21 - Falcon Case (Barbury Town, APX), 23 - Catsidhe Alweather (Eastal Lunar, VIL)
Forwards: 9 - Griffin Riordan (Klyde, COS), 10 - Kara Ciogach (Southern Star), 17 - Niall Bremner (Unioneers, EUR)

SCHEDULE
Alenburg 1 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 3 - 2 Xanneria
Porabasta 0 - 4 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 2 Banija
Eshan 2 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 1 Grod Island
New Peru 2 - 6 Brenecia
Geisenfried 1 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 0 - 1 Huelavia
Brenecia 5 - 0 Alenburg
Xanneria 1 - 5 Brenecia
Brenecia 0 - 0 Porabasta
Banija vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Eshan
Grod Island vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. New Peru
Brenecia vs. Geisenfried
Huelavia vs. Brenecia

by **Equestrian States** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:02 pm

-WORLD CUP 82 QUALIFYING - MATCH DAY 12-
Rosewing Fires Equestrians Past Mercedini
Striker scores twice late in second half as Ponies rally on the road to take all three points
by Steve McNotapony

Mercedini 2-3 Equestrian States
at Zoloroni Sports City Stadium in Zoloroni, Mercedini
Attendance: 74,684

ZOLORONI, Mercedini - Entering the Equestrian States' match last night in Mercedini, the Ponies and Golden Eagles were tied for Group 15's second qualifying spot, the latter only leading in the table by virtue of a single goal. After the Ponies' struggles through much of the first half of qualifying, it was a must-win fixture for the visitors, or at the very least a match they could not afford to lose. A loss would put the Equestrians behind the Mercedinians on both points and goal difference with six games to go, hardly an insurmountable situation but not one that the group's top seeded side had any interest in.

As such, it came as no surprise when manager Pearly White fielded a full-strength starting lineup, or at least the closest available approximation of one considering the Ponies' injury-riddled roster. Zoloroni Metropolitan goalkeeper Silver Charm was also given the chance to start for the Equestrian national team in the same city where she plays at the domestic level, against a side featuring several of her teammates. It was one of those teammates, midfielder Lawrence Garzallo, who struck the first blow of the match. After tipping a shot from Ben Chillotov onto the crossbar in the 9th minute, Silver Charm was unable to prevent Garzallo from volleying the rebound into the net.

The Golden Eagles' lead wouldn't last, however, as Rainbow Blitz was played through on a counterattack by Aarón Aiza just six minutes later. The long-time veteran outmaneuvered goalkeeper Daniel Hosset and comfortably tucked away the equalizer. After such an electrifying opening, the sellout crowd at Zoloroni Sports City Stadium was primed for the scoring to continue, but were left disappointed as neither side was able to put a shot on goal until Hosset steered Rainbow Blitz's bid for a brace wide just before the end of the half.

In the second half, the action started to heat up again, with Lawrence Garzallo denied a second goal just two minutes in thanks to a diving stop from Silver Charm that was followed shortly thereafter by an Andrea Molovi goal line clearance. In the 62nd minute, Silver Charm was again undone by her failure to secure the ball on a save and paid the price for it with a scrum in front of the net after a corner ending with Daniel Dostalok putting the hosts back in front. Both sides made adjustments after the goal, bringing on some fresh legs, the Golden Eagles hoping to lock down the back and ride out the Ponies' attack.

But one should never underestimate the Equestrians late in the second half, and the Ponies showed in the final 10 minutes why they're one of the multiverse's top teams. Rosewing had been kept quiet for much of the match, but Nightshade found her open in the 80th minute and floated a cross into the box that the pink-furred pegasus headed straight into the top left corner to level the score again. The Equestrians weren't about to be content with a draw, however, and Rosewing found the back of the net two minutes into stoppage time thanks to a clever pass from Midnight Strike which gave the striker the space she needed to fire a rocket past a rooted Daniel Hosset and clinch all three points for the visitors.

   GROUP 15                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts        Match Day 12 Results:
 1  Lisander (134)              12    9   1   2    24   17   +7    28         Mercedini 2–3 Equestrian States 
 2  Equestrian States (10)      12    8   0   4    31   18  +13    24        @ Sports City Stadium in Zoloroni, MRC
 3  Mercedini (27)              12    6   3   3    29   19  +10    21         Lisander 1–0 Kandorith 
 4  Garifunya (54)              12    6   2   4    30   27   +3    20        @ Estádio Sparta in Sirenia, LIS
 5  Krytenia (84)               12    5   4   3    30   28   +2    19         Pratapgadh 3–5 Krytenia 
 6  Kandorith (174)             12    4   2   6    23   24   −1    14        @ National Stadium in Chittorgarh City, PTG
 7  Indusse (69)                12    4   2   6    16   20   −4    14         Zeniyadh 0–0 Garifunya 
 8  Zeniyadh (UR)               12    1   6   5    15   22   −7     9        @ Unknown Venue in Unknown City, ZND
 9  Pratapgadh (298)            12    2   3   7    23   34  −11     9         Indusse 2–1 Ancherion 
10  Ancherion (288)             12    2   3   7    24   36  −12     9        @ Unknown Venue in Unknown City, IND
   Kandorith (−1) ahead of Indusse (−4) on goal difference
   Zeniyadh (−7) ahead of Pratapgadh (−11) and Ancherion (−12) on goal difference
   Pratapgadh (−11) ahead of Ancherion (−12) on goal difference

Elsewhere in Qualifying Group 15, group leaders Lisander maintained their four-point advantage with a 1-0 win against a Kandorith side that really needed a win to keep their slim qualifying hopes alive and are now 10 points back of the Equestrians with six games left in the campaign. Garifunya, meanwhile, were unable to break through on the road against unranked Zeniyadh, keeping them one point back of the Golden Eagles in fourth place despite Mercedini's loss. Indusse beat Ancherion 2-1 in a match which means very little at this late stage as neither side has a realistic chance of factoring into the qualifying picture. Finally, Krytenia took the fight to Pratapgadh on the road, scoring five goals in a win which keeps what has been a somewhat-disappointing campaign for them alive.

by **Valanora** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:03 pm

Here Be Dragons

Are your results making a new divide?

MD13 cutoff for Groups 8-15

by **New West Guiana** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:04 pm

It has been a few days since De'Cader had made the governments formal rejection of the Alluersian announcement, now with the shocking, yet expected news that the Alluerisans have not only bought, but have received heavy weaponry he stand before his Security Team with the uncertainty of the future.

Tapping the cherry wood table De'Cader hovers over paperwork detailing the recent purchase that the Alluersian government has made, "So.." Sitting down while lighting a cigar, "General Markus...this...this" pointing at the paperwork. "This changes everything, I have kept my word for Secretory Salmon that I would not rush to send in the troops, to take a more diplomatic take. Now with this discovery I can not take this stance still, I must do something. We have set up regular raod blocks and check points and regulate our boarder with them like a standard international boarder. But I have sent a wire to Haggord that I am not done."

The General sat up in the plush office hair, "Sir, we have had our satellites scanning the area every day and we have not seen them mobilze anything. However because any conflict with the doesn't start with regular troops, its always with rebel forces. And, we have seen some movement in that sphere."

Shaking his head De'cader raises his voice, "General! Damn it. Haggord has been taunting me on a daily basis of how I haven't responded to his declaration. Obviously I wish not to have a war, but the fact they have now taken the steps to organize a proper military can not be ignored." Turning to a younger gentleman with a shiny shaved head, "Admiral Johnson, surly the navy has a better handle on the situation."

Admiral taking a quick glance to Markus who is shaking his head sideways, "Sir, our jets have done several reconnaissance missions over Alluerisa and have noted the same that General Markus has said. We haven't noticed any foreign naval ships attempt to enter our waters, we are weary of Starblaydia and have taken note of their routes and what not."

De'Cader sighing sensing that his Security team was not going to allow him to mobilize, "Okay, I admit defeat when I must. I am weary of further provocation that Haggord will cause us. However, because I want to avoid conflict for as long as Haggord will allow, I want to pull the 156th, 170th infantry divisions and the 8th tank division out of Ft. Pillywith."

His security teams' mouths dropped in response to his commands, General Markus spoke up, "Sir. Sir, I can say I speak for all that this move may give Haggord the opportunity he seeks for justification he seeks to take back the Addford Gap. Fort Pillywith is key to keeping him and his supporters at bay."

Clasping his hands De'Cader smiles and nods in agreement, "I know, and that is what I want. Let them take the fort with their military. They have the choice, peace or war. " Standing he looks at the team and smiles, "Good Day."

by **Natanians and Nosts** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:24 pm

Natanians and Nosts has come back to normality this World Cup Qualifiers.The team has performed really bad,or so we were induced to think,given the recent results we have had.
The team,which everyone who is at least 5 years-old already has decorated,is integrated,but not renovated.And not to say that there were not changes at all,for that would be a lie,there have happened changes,when players retire,or get quite old.
The most recent result is a 4x3 defeat to Walenstein,but who is Walenstein,that is a very good question.

Exemple of a meme showing the apparent reaction of the team to some of its most notorious problems,with some critic attached to it.

Even the Confederation acknowledged that and announced plans for more frequent renovation in the team.The manager reacted,lightly positively,but acknowledged that the team may have stagnated.

by **Mriin** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:31 pm

Here Be Dragons

The race to qualify is heating up!

MD13 Cutoff for Groups 1-7

by **Kita-Hinode** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 6:52 pm

MISEI PROVINCE
Misei expects "massive tourist influx" this year
MISEI CITY - The tale of breathing life in a formerly dead province continues as Misei's current administration made some very optimistic predictions towards the new year. In all fairness, there's a fair reason for them to do so, as Misei saw some massive improvement done towards Misei's capital, Misei City and a couple of nearby cities, even if there's still much free land to occupy and develop in the backside of the region. The village-like sights of the former Misei, the small town that was formed as the adjacences for the Hinodejin Empire's gateway, were quickly shredded in order to build up a proper city with a myriad of services and a surprising amount of soccer fields, some really elaborate in fact.

Although the Misei government refused to have any of their heads talk about it, the documents released for the media mentioned that Misei City was built half as a proper city, where people can live a fairly solid life but the other half is almost a giant tourist trap, all sorts of wonders brought in from the Empire to shine the light of knowledge and amazement that only the Hinodejin could really present at this part of the multiverse. Expectations are of at least 200,000 visitants for the rest of the year 2040, although the report did note that "beating that marker wouldn't be a massive surprise" as they believe that the mere fact that it's a new option for tourists, with much less hassle on travel than the actual Empire, would make it worth it.

Other reasons listed were the number of academic institutions, sports teams hailing from their part of the Empire and the possibility of Hinoboos who might've been attracted to the Empire thanks to the massive manga/anime productions hailing from Hinode proper and other nearby provinces in the Empire's regular realm.

by **Omerica** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:14 pm

blogdefootball.co.om
All the football news that’s fit to print!

Motion of no confidence: How would the vote against Anne-Sophie Groothuis work?
By Pierre Chrétien

The New Guernsey Football Association and Seafoam Football Association have announced that they have filed a motion of no confidence against national team manager Anne-Sophie Groothuis, which, if successful, would see her contract terminated early. The catch: the associations don’t have enough delegates in the Congress of the United Republican Soccer Federation to actually force the vote.

Now it might be a little shocking to learn that they can actually do this at all, given the historic reputation of Omerican football associations past: tempestuous and short-fused. The petition marks only the second time the no confidence process has been initiated against a sitting Omerica manager, so for those who don’t know how it works, here’s a quick explanation.

Why have motions of no confidence?
The framework of the United Republican Soccer Federation was built as a reaction to the disgraced Omerican Football Federation. The twenty-six republican football associations, which had existed parallel to the OFF and had not been implicated in its scandals, formed the URSF to take over the role of governing Omerican football. The URSF had no legal continuity with the judicially-dissolved OFF and consciously chose not to immediately renew affiliation with outside international football governing bodies such as the Esportivan Football Confederation, World Cup Committee and Union of International Club Associations.

The Executive Board of the defunct OFF had the power to unilaterally fire the manager of the Omerican national team subject to the terms of the incumbent’s contract, which it exercised against Jean-Baptiste Archambault and James-Alexandre Christopherson. Additionally, it has been rumoured that Archambault was at risk of being canned during his second term as manager, but was only spared the humiliation due to his own death (you can’t really fire a dead person, after all) and that Jean-Manuel de Rosas—Omerica’s very first manager—would have been forced out if he hadn’t agreed to leave by mutual consent.

As a result of the hair-triggered boardroom decisions that plagued the OFF, it was decided that the URSF’s Executive Council would have the power to negotiate managerial contracts and to decline to renew contracts of managers it wanted to force out, but could not unilaterally put a sword to a manager’s head and terminate their contract early. That duty would be left up to the more cautious and conservative Congress, made up of delegates appointed by those twenty-six constituent republican FAs.

Current Congressional allocation
Alleos: 5
Altomare: 6
Braganza: 5
Bridgecastle: 4
Charlottesville: 8
Coleraine: 6
Eastavon: 6
Emerald Isles: 5
Free State: 9
Great Arden: 5
Heathmoor: 4
Marche Rouge: 2
Metropolitan: 9
New East Flanders: 8
New Guernsey: 2
New Vaucluse: 3
New West Flanders: 7
North Provence: 4
Northavon: 6
Port-des-Saints: 5
Romainbourg: 6
Seafoam Islands: 3
South Provence: 5
Southavon: 5
Terreneuf: 3
Windstead: 5

How does the vote work?
Well, first the petition calling for the motion needs to be signed by 10% of the delegates to the URSF Congress and filed with the Federation’s Secretary-General. Because of the extreme population disparities between republics, the number of delegates each republic has in the Congress is not equal, but is scaled based on each republic’s population, though in a way that grants less populous republics more representation than their population would strictly merit under a proportional allocation. The republican FAs then designate delegates who vote in the Congress on their behalf, though these delegates are almost invariably executives in the republicans FAs.

Currently, the Congress has 136 delegates, meaning fourteen have to sign the petition to force the vote. As New Guernsey and the Seafoam Islands only send five delegates to the URSF Congress, nine more need to sign before the motion can be put to a vote. If the motion makes it to a vote, though, a simple majority would be sufficient for the motion to succeed, meaning 69 votes can force Groothuis out. In the unlikely event of a tie, URSF President (and former Omerica international) Casimir Paquet would have the decisive vote.

Groothuis’s home republic of New East Flanders has public come out against the motion, as have Romainbourg, the Free State, Port-des-Saints, South Provence and Coleraine. Collectively, these six republics hold 39 votes in the Congress, meaning New Guernsey and the Seafoam Islands need to convince a whopping seventy percent of the remaining delegates to vote against Groothuis if they want to fire her.

Why do they want a vote?
Given the uphill slog the two island FAs face in directly forcing Groothuis out, it’s likely they have other motives in filing the petition.

The last time such a petition was filed was against Groothuis’s predecessor Christine Salmond. Coming off one of the worst World Cup qualifying campaigns Omerica had ever endured, five republican FAs—Braganza, North Provence, New East Flanders, Great Arden and Coleraine—endorsed a petition against her. With twice as many signatures as necessary and the subsequent backing of the Metropolitan and Free State Football Associations, who accounted for nine delegates each, Salmond looked likely to head towards a tight vote, if not a decisive defeat. Facing down the prospect of being fired, she chose to preempt the vote by submitting her resignation, which the Executive Council voted unanimously to accept that same day. Anne-Sophie Groothuis was brought in nine days later.

New Guernsey and the Seafoam Islands could be looking for the same kind of result, garnering enough opposition to Groothuis to force her to save face via resignation. But coming off the back of a second-place finish at the Independents Cup and with such stern opposition already announced, it doesn’t look like she is remotely in danger just yet. If a couple more FAs endorsed the petition to force the vote, Groothuis would likely win in a landslide, embarrassing the islanders who tried to force the issue.

More likely, the petition is a vehicle to voice dissatisfaction at Omerica’s current qualifying results, what with the Incorrigibles sitting in seventh place with just five games to go. It is likely that New Guernsey and the Seafoam Islands don’t want the petition to go to a vote at all, instead letting the petition itself stand as a vocal grumble over the state of national team football, one which even New East Flemings could sympathise with.

What’s the most likely outcome?
Groothuis is not remotely in trouble. The United Republican Soccer Federation is built to have checks and balances against the kinds of behaviour the Omerican Football Federation was infamous for, so it’s unlikely they would turn against the manager so quickly. The votes that are already piling up behind Groothuis indicate that she would easily win the confidence of the Congress if a vote were actually called.

The fact that the petition was announced at all, however, is a bad sign for Anne-Sophie. It is a signal that she needs to improve and prove that her team’s appearance in the IAC final was not a fluke. If results continue to go poorly, another petition may be on the horizon and Groothuis’s time in charge may be briefer than she expected. ◇

Uniting Omerican sport fans across the United Republics — blogdefootball: a proud member of the Gryphon Pride network

by **The Sherpa Empire** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:29 pm

Ihawa put Danu to work mowing grass at public parks while he decided whether he wanted to stay in this world or go back to his own. It was sweaty braindead work, but at least he didn't have to listen to anyone campaigning for women's rights or see Kai Qiang on TV. He still heard about Qiang, of course...

Back in Danu's home timeline, the Sherpa Empire had plenty of internal conflict with Taliban attacks, Tibetan and Chinese separatist groups, and Hindu fundamentalists -- but those all paled in comparison to the havoc Kai Qiang's communist rebellion was causing. It was hard to gauge how justified people's fears were, but the people were absolutely terrified. The propaganda posters and political cartoons were not helping. They depicted Qiang as a big hairy half-human monster, rather than the effeminate little man that Danu knew from his own world.

When Ihawa talked to Danu, he asked questions about what Danu's world was like and what Kai Qiang did there. He didn't ask much about the other Jamling Ihawa. "You could come see it for yourself," Danu suggested one day when Ihawa had asked a lot of questions.

"I think it's better if I don't," said Ihawa.

"Why?"

"I have work to do here," said Ihawa. "What if I visit your world and I don't want to come back?"

"You're a fascist," said Danu. "Why would you want to stay in a world full of liberals?"

"I'm not a fascist, Danu," said Ihawa. "The work I do isn't about ideology. It's about building things that will make people's lives easier -- I mean literally building things. I work for the government because I am loyal to my country and that is the government we have, but I'm not ideological. That's why I don't believe it when the Germans tell me smoking causes cancer or race-mixing causes AIDS."

"But smoking really does cause cancer..."

Crowds poured out of Hunan Territorial People's Stadium chanting and waving flags, celebrating their 3-2 victory over North Quadana. It didn't look like the Sherpa Empire was going to qualify for the World Cup proper, but they were at least playing some good games in the qualifiers, and the fans in Changsha were having fun with it.

A gas bomb went off in the crowd where people were lining up to use the rest rooms. People screamed and ran. Gunfire erupted and another gas bomb went off. A security guard trying to get closer to see what was going on got trampled to death by a stampede of terrified football fans fleeing for their lives. Both teams ran off the field to take shelter in the locker rooms, but Sarang Lotsawa briefly paused and looked back over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the fighting on the stairs to the press box. A masked terrorist was trying to get up the stairs and break into the broadcast booth, but security had arrived on the scene. "Lotsawa! What are you doing?" the coach hissed.

"I..."

A burst of gunfire erupted in the Sherpa team's locker room. Lotsawa clambered over the barrier that separated the pitch from the seats. The coach crumpled to the ground. A woman with a gun stumbled out of the locker room and onto the field, where she looked around, getting her bearings. Lotsawa ran for the nearest exit.

by **Vilita** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 7:36 pm

Jungle Cats come to life as Qualification at Risk

Lirai Asku Castle, Yeaddin, Vilita :: After a slow start to World Cup 82 Qualifying, the Vilita Jungle Cats had put together a string of positivity culminating with their 7-0 thrashing of Competitive Solitaire on Matchday 7 pulling to within two points of the two group leaders Savojarna and Abanhfleft. Just as the Jungle Cats had seemed to get their qualification campaign back on track, however, the wheels came right back off the cart.

Matchday 8 saw one of the biggest upset results in recent World Cup Qualification history as Atlantian Oceania minnows came into the Lopinka National Stadium in Lopinka on Cilamara Issah bobble-head night and shut out the defending World Cup Champions by a 1-0 scoreline to steal three crucial points and for the first time really made the multiverse question if the defending World Cup Champions could possibly be at risk of failing to advance to the World Cup Finals.

Then on Matchday 9 the Jungle Cats traveled to top-two placed Savojarna and were shutout once again this time holding on for a one-all draw that dropped the world champs to fourth in the Group 13 table. Not only was it the first time since World Cup 79 Qualifying that the Jungle Cats had claimed just one point over two matches but it was the first time since that same World Cup 79 Qualification campaign that the Vilitan National Team was kept off the scoresheet, a run of 68 consecutive games in all competitions where the Jungle Cats had scored at least one goal. The last time the Vilitan National Team was shut out was on matchday 13 of World Cup 79 Qualifying when they were held to a 0-0 draw against Islanda Lunigo. The last time the Vilita National Team were shut out in two consecutive matches, as they were on Matchday's 8 and 9 of World Cup 82 Qualifying, was back during qualifying for World Cup 74 where the Jungle Cats were held to back-to-back goalless draws with Pokopia and Lymantatia in a cycle that stunningly saw the Jungle Cats claim just one point each in the two matches against both Polopia and Lymantatia, forcing the Vilita National Team into a playoff to earn qualification to the World Cup Finals.

Unfortunately for the Vilita National Team there would be no playoff round to fall back on should they fail to find their form and perform in the second half of World Cup 82 Qualifying just as poorly as they did during the first half of the campaign. The misery for the Jungle Cats is unmatched as there is no record in the modern generational era of the Vilita National Team ever being shut out in two consecutive matches where at least one of those matches was a defeat. Now, with their backs against the wall, the Vilita National Team would have to earn the right to keep their #1 ranking in the multiverse and defend their World Cup title with a significantly better second half performance starting at home to a Bysanita team that they defeated 7-1 on the road to open the World Cup 82 Qualifiers.

Vilita [2] - [1] Bysanita

:: Vilita Goalscorers ::
:: 13' Polaox Torerun
:: 26' Va'a-Rio Kiwavn

:: Vilita Statistics ::
:: Possession: 51%
:: Shots on Target: 4
:: Corner Kicks: 5

:: Bysanita Statistics ::
:: Possession: 49%
:: Shots on Target: 3
:: Corner Kicks: 4

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Bysanita ::
[GK] Cilamara Issah, [D.] Linkat Cjinder, [D.] Rintala Sekagaya, [D.] Lohani Riiyaaw, [D.] Jirak Trikala, [ML] Polaox Torerun, [MC] Jurzen Devmiko, [MC] Cavuna Aquafek, [MR] Va'a-Rio Kiwavn, [FC] Nii'arala Milaaso, [FC] Linvoi Warazil
BENCH::
[FC] Enzoril Alabonni, [FC] Berali Tzufarei, [M] Tinjus Mngomeni, [M] Intikko Kuhilana, [U ] Rojara Tiones, [D] Jirijii Januaa, [GK] Vernasa Sanamun

The Jungle Cats opened with a decidedly more defensive look then they probably needed to at the Arcticala Electrical Stadium against Group 13's lowest ranked side. However, it may have been a purposeful look as the Vilitan National Team wasn't competing for goal differential at this stage in the campaign, they simply needed more points. Having already finished out the first half of qualifying with more goal scored and fewer goals conceded than any other team in Group 13, Goal Differential was the last thing on the Jungle Cats minds. Instead, they needed to find away to turn their bad results into victories and there was no time for any additional slip ups with a number of high performing teams sitting ahead of them in the table.

Nearly half an hour into the Matchday 10 fixture against Bysanita, the fans in Arcticala were probably expecting another results similar to the 7-1 smashing that Vilita gave to their opponents on the first matchday of qualification. Instead, however, once Vilita took their lead through Poloax Torerun and Va'a-Rio Kiwavyn, they took their foot off the gas and defended their lead. Always a controversial approach - and one that ultimately resulted in their unranked opponents stealing a goal back in the second half, it still paid dividends in the end as the Jungle Cats secured all three points on the day to pull within three points of the top spot in Group 13 and now within striking distance of getting back into the World Cup 82 Finals qualifying positions.

However, if there was any match that was going to serve as a litmus test for the Vilita National Team's potential ability to dig themselves out of their hole and back into contention to qualify for World Cup 82, it would be there Matchday 11 clash with well-positioned Abanhfleft.

Vilita [5] - [1] Abanhfleft

:: Vilita Goalscorers ::
:: 11' Rintala Sekagaya
:: 17' Fishtii Blikala
:: 72' Tenziki Kulakao
:: 73' Polaox Torerun
:: 84' Polaox Torerun

:: Vilita Statistics ::
:: Possession: 64%
:: Shots on Target: 11
:: Corner Kicks: 17

:: Abanhfleft Statistics ::
:: Possession: 36%
:: Shots on Target: 5
:: Corner Kicks: 2

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Abanhfleft ::
[GK] Nikki Tzimas, [D.] Rintala Sekagaya, [D.] Inbekira Ajhabekk, [D.] Jirak Trikala, [D.] Kwuimekii Hentetii, [ML] Cavuna Aquafek, [MC] Jyuola Mtalata, [MC] Va'a-Rio Kiwavn, [MR] Intikko Kuhilana, [FC] Fishtii Blikala, [FC] Sipke Tarala
BENCH::
[FC] Linvoi Warazil, [FC] Tenziki Kulakao, [M] Polaox Torerun, [M] Kudii Davasarii, [U ] Tripate Falcon, [D] Lohani Riiyaaw, [GK] Zelkki Milake

The Fleftic side came into the match second in the Group 13 table and looking to scalp the Jungle Cats for the second time this cycle after having spoiled the Vilita National Teams trophy ceremony at the Tivali Ring Stadium on Matchday 2 as the Jungle Cats had their World Cup 81 Champions banner raised to the rafters. Naturally, the Vilita National Team did not appreciate the embarassment caused to them and their fans on that day and looked to take a little helping of revenge with them to Abanhfleft, serving it cold and coarsely to their opponents.

The Vilita National Team dominated possession on the day and amassed a campaign record 17 corner kicks, scoring on three of them as they put together a 5-1 thrashing of a fleftic side that transformed from World Cup hopefuls to spiraling outsiders all in the course of 90 minutes or less. While other results on the day prevented the defending World Cup Champions from taking a spot inside the top 2 to align themselves with the potential World Cup 82 qualification slots, the dominating performance against one of the groups top threats was a great confidence boost for the entire team particularly as they had done it without the services of either of their primary goalkeepers, Yeaddin Owls net-minder Mako Canopii or Lonngeylin Coast shot-stopper Cilamara Issah. Instead, the Jungle Cats had the veteran Nikki Tzimas of Arcticala Inlet between the sticks. It was the first start for Tzimas since the World Cup 80 qualifiers when the Vilitan National Team squared off with a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 victory over the same Abanhfleft side.

Vilita [3] - [1] Nottinhaps

:: Vilita Goalscorers ::
:: 15' Intikko Kuhilana
:: 20' Ikala Mravedii
:: 27' Cavuna Aquafek

:: Vilita Statistics ::
:: Possession: 56%
:: Shots on Target: 8
:: Corner Kicks: 10

:: Nottinhaps Statistics ::
:: Possession: 44%
:: Shots on Target: 5
:: Corner Kicks: 10

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Nottinhaps ::
[GK] Mako Canopii, [D.] Linkat Cjinder, [D.] Rintala Sekagaya, [D.] Monner Vileai, [ML] Cavuna Aquafek, [MC] Limu Katarakhna, [MC] Jurzen Devmiko, [MC] Intikko Kuhilana, [MR] Ikala Mravedii, [FC] Tenziki Kulakao, [FC] Enzoril Alabonni
BENCH::
[FC] Linvoi Warazil, [FC] Fishtii Blikala, [M] Jyuola Mtalata, [M] Polaox Torerun, [U ] Tinjus Mngomeni, [D] Lohani Riiyaaw, [GK] Vernasa Sanamun

-- Group 13                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valladares                      12    8   3   1    29   14  +15    27
 2 Vilita                          12    8   2   2    40   12  +28    26

 3 Savojarna                       12    7   4   1    32   15  +17    25
 4 Abanhfleft                      12    7   3   2    31   24   +7    24
 5 Competitive Solitaire           12    5   4   3    25   30   −5    19
 6 Ashaie                          12    4   1   7    18   29  −11    13
 7 Busoga Islands                  12    3   2   7    21   28   −7    11
 8 Nottinhaps                      12    2   3   7    20   29   −9     9
 9 Soviet Micronesia               12    1   4   7    14   30  −16     7  E
10 Bysantia                        12    1   2   9    10   29  −19     5  E

Group 13 Table showing bests in each category via underline

Canopii would eventually return to action as the Vilita National Team returned to Canopii's own club grounds the Lirai Asku Castle in Yeaddin, home of the Yeaddin Owls. After a highly emotional victory over Abanhfleft on Matchday 11 the Jungle Cats hosted 283rd ranked Nottinhaps while elsewhere in Valladares the two nations ahead of Vilita in the Group 13 table would be pitted up against each other in a quest for Group supremacy.

While the Jungle Cats previously solid defensive corps wavered once again, conceding a goal for the third consecutive match and fourth time in five games, their attack continued to make up for it with the rising 20 year old midfielder Intikko Kuhilana of Makosile United opening the scoring in the 15th minute. Then, from a young midfielder who just helped their team win promotion to the Vilitan Stellar Division to a veteran midfielder who just helped lead their team to the Vilitan Stellar Division title, Ikala Mravedii scored their first goal of the qualification campaign to double the Jungle Cats advantage.

Just before the half hour mark, experienced Turoki Tide midfielder Cavuna Aquafek scored for the first time since the campaign-opening goal-scoring party that was the 7-1 victory over Bysanita to give the Jungle Cats a 3-0 lead. While Mako Canopii would eventually see one goal get passed them it was still more than enough to see the Jungle Cats into a promising position as there could be only one winner on the night in Valladares ensuring at the very least that the Vilita National Team would end the evening inside the Top 2 of the Group 13 table and in a position to control their own destiny for the remainder of the qualification campaign.

In the end, the match in Valladares would see no team leave with all three points as both teams cancelled each other out with a single goal allowing Vilita to bypass their Ice Hockey rivals Savojarna in the Group 13 table while nestling up just a point behind now-leaders Valladares.

With their three goals on Matchday 12 the Jungle Cats became the first time in Group 13 to hit the 40 goal mark and remained the groups best defensive side despite having conceded in three straight matches, still averaging just one goal conceded per match. Vilita's +28 goal differential after the match was nearly double that of any other team in the group. Two-Thirds of the way through World Cup Qualifying and the Jungle Cats were back in a qualifying position for the first time since Matchday five before they backed into the mid-way point of qualifying with three winless games out of four to close out the half.

With six matches to play in World Cup 82 qualifying, the Vilita National team was anything but a sure bet to advance to the World Cup 82 Finals for a chance at becoming the first team to win back to back World Cup's since the Unified Sunrise Islands in World Cup 75 & 76, but they had fought hard to get themselves back into a qualifying position and would have a chance to secure their place if they could hold to form against the lower ranked opposition standing between them and the World Cup Finals in Valanora and Apox.

ooc: This was of course intended to be pre-cutoff not slightly post cutoff tonight

by **Velestria** » Sat Mar 23, 2019 8:16 pm

_{ATTENTION: Most of my rps draw inspirations from rl-articles, as does this one, use this and this as inspirations.}

SOUTHAMPSHIRE — The Velestrian Football Association in a crazy past few days officially in a big press conference named Jane Gullie as the next national team manager as Velestria moves to their third consecutive foreign manager for the national team as on Vaxaday the Schottian promised change but did not make an promised to take the highly scrutinized team to the World Cup finals proper. The manager arrived with heavy commotion, former national team manager, the Devontan, Christopher Tajo Mendez is out and died then came back to live then..died again, prompting a 6 hour battle between Azurea, Blue Strike Calix and the Velish Football Association to gain a new manager. In the end, Jane Gullie formally accepted the tough job as Velestria’s new skipper, and boy does she face heavy scrutiny as she’ll look to settle into the top spot on the Velestria national team’s pecking order, she inherited a Tajo Mendez-constructed roster and will look to push pieces into place and move the national team forward in a new arc as she looked to rebuild the national team and take it to new heights Things are looking up for the Gryphons as they intend to qualify for the Cup of Harmony as its unlikely that the team will be able to make the World Cup, if the team makes it to the Cup of Harmony what will be expected in the first formal head charge for the manager, Jane Gullie? The VFA has of course given Gullie a cushion to get things in order, saying it would allow a tournament for Gullie to gain her bearings and then calling for the national team to get to the quarterfinals of the next CE, being CE 24. However what will the national team supporters give to Gullie, how long will the leash be for the Schottian who lead the Schottia national team to two World Cup finals back when Schottia was a mid-ranked national team side.

A new era under a new manager began for Velestria Saighday in the nation’s capital of Southampshire as Velestria’s Sa’kiera found the back of the net as Velestria delivered a 1-nil victory and a return in goal for Chris Banker as Jane Gullie welcomed herself to the bench with a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the match and a welcome return to the win column allowing for Velestria to hopefully build on what is now a two game win streak.
The 1-nil victory ensured Velestria moved to a two game win streak and entered good form heading to an important encounter with Mattijana, the 59th ranked fellow Esportivans fell to Cosumar in a 4-3 thriller in Myantija and seem to be building towards a clash of styles tomorrow in Mattijana, when they met earlier, Velestria dug out a tight 1-nil win at home in what at the time had been a high point in Velestria’s cycle, since then both sides have largely crashed but things are looking worse for Mattijana. Meanwhile a decisive victory showed that Jane Gullie’s form worked, yes it was against 250th ranked Alluersia and perhaps the new formations and tactics will be better judged once Velestria’s manager brings these same tasks against the next stretch of three tough games she faces against in order Mattijana, then a home fixture against budding rivals Qusmo followed by a rematch with Saltstead, but thus far it seems what Gullie speaks seems to be working with the national team. As the match wore on it very much looked as if Jane Gullie looked to truly utilize and work with the powers in her midfield, owning to adding national team budding star, Furusawa Utamara, Utamara’s midfield tactical awareness and vision truly helped in the game as he had 17 aerial duels and went 42/49 in pass completions, definitely showing he had good control of the pace of the match. If anything, the game was an indication that Gullie’s work is going to definitely impact the squad in a big way, and the new four in the back with Beaver returning to the lineup had the team feeling as though things might be looking up for it, Goddard relegated from playing time might’ve symbolized that the national team was ready to move on from the old guard.

If the days following her appointment were meant to be a turning point, a hope of something new, then of course it was definitely felt, given the national team only had two days of training with her, but you could see that the team’s new identity was slowly forming and if anything, after a dismal end to 418 the result showed that something fruitful bore for all her work and that things were beginning to shift for the national team. Speaking with the media after the win, “I don’t want everyone to rush to conclusions, this is a team we were expected to beat and I wish we could’ve beat much more comfortably” she said in her opening statements, “However, I don’t think people are too crazy in their potential excitement for this team, this team has a lot of potential and depth at every position, we’re in a really good spot in that we have transcendent players we can plug in and make something happen with.” Later comments echoed her feelings, “We aspire to be and build a great team here and I feel like we’re in the position to do that, we’re in prime contention for a spot in the Cup of Harmony and I’m incredibly sure that we’re in the driver’s seat and can control or destiny right now for the World Cup qualification, we must right the sip and continue to drive forth in our goal of qualifying which should be our top priority at all times.” The manager looked quite refreshed, having moved on from her time with perennial Schottian domestic champion, Handon United.

This was a big win against a depleted Alluersia squad, sure Alluersia was not necessarily good in any way or fashion but it notably was missing it stars, Tucker Forens was nowhere to be seen for the Alluersian national team as was O’reefe who’s scored most of its goals during qualifiers, but Chris Banker was able to show off, in his return with stopping a goal before the half fired low from Franke Velst to deny Alluersia an early lead and keeping the goals level entering the half. Kerry Fedbourne looked great in his display for the national team, playing domestically for Rovers, he really looked in control and showed out and balled out impressively for most of the match. Fedbourne who did well for Rovers in the most recently completed season of Series A showed he could hang with quicker-paced offensive players in the form of Franke Velst and after a being left off for months, his first game in the Starting XI was very effective for the national team, showing that he definitely has a lot to offer to continue to help the national team with. Looking at the fact that a few years ago he was a quiet member of the Rovers Academy, his quiet rapid rise to the Starting XI of the national team means that he certainly has a big role to fill in the hunt for World Cup 82 leading up to Valanora-Apox 420. When asked about his play, Gullie’s curt reply, “he shown like a senior, why else would he need to be left on the bench?” However, it looked clearly Fedbourne’s position is far from secured as if you remember this is in fact NOT Gullie’s chosen national team squad, her imprint has yet to be made on the national team and that’s likely going to affect things in the coming months. Up at the front, Augusta Clark got the nod over Chris Goddard as Velestria shifted over to a 4-2-3-1 formation, although the start is expected to be heavily contested, especially because Reden Omar, the Velish 19 year old in the Banijan league is receiving looks from Gullie’s new scouts calling for him to be brought in. If anything, these three create a core, however that’s going to alienate a lot of fans who believe Goddard shouldn’t even be on the pitch, and that’s true Goddard isn’t at all a good choice for this team, but until a good striker is there aside from a true striker in Clark and a possible youth future piece in Reden Omar he’s still there.

But the midfield looks even more uncertain, Na’ore Sa’kiera and Furusawa Utamara currently looked like the only true locked to their positions with the national team, and looks from the game showed that they had enough genius and smarts to work well with Gullie’s new system, now under two years away from the Campianto Esportiva, there’s now a sweet, sweet possibility of what could be breeding for the Velish team in the midfield, let’s not forget that Scott Coleman is an exciting prospect with Darmen’s Chuckio F.C., he could find himself called up to the national team in the coming weeks post-qualifiers, definitely for the national team. However, that’s a conversation for another day says Gullie speaking after the win, “we’d be here for a day and more if we had to discuss what this team has to improve on during the next few months, five games remain for the national team to truly capitalize and execute our goals.” However, for now things look to be up for the national team as Gullie left the stadium beaming, “We’ve gotten the victory and things are looking up right now, we want to focus on extending that right now.” As new eras go, winning the first game is a welcoming sign for any, but getting to the World Cup is big on the mind of any Velestrian, manager or child, and if Gullie can do it, whenever that’ll be, it’ll be a glorious occasion for the national team.

(169) Velestria 1–0 Alluersia (250)
_{------------------}
Scorers: Sa'kiera 27'
(4-2-3-1) — 1 - Banker; 2 - Borell, 3 - Avery, 14 - Fedbourne, 4 - Beaver [c]; 5 - Singleson, 6 - Sa'kiera; 7 - Ingles, 8 - Thirdgray, 9 - Utamara; 11 - Clark

VELESTRIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - PRE-MD14
Goalkeepers: 1 - Chris Banker (Peachtree City F.C.), 23 - Diamond Gregory (KF Poldanz, QUS), 12 - Carson Mashely (Inter Arce, SRA)
Defenders: 2 - Matt Borell (Azurea), 3 - Viva Avery (Azurea), 14 - Kerry Fedbourne (Rovers F.C.), 4 - Haroni Beaver (Athletic Letson Town, ETN), (Olympic Reading), 13 - Davis Larson (Doverhampton Wanderers), 15 - Jason Woodhill
Midfielders: 5 - Carson SIngleson (Peachtree City F.C.), 6 - Na'ore Sa'kiera (Blue Strike Calix), 7 - Vronin Ingles (Rovers F.C.), 8 - Evans Thirdgray (Rovers F.C.) - 9 Furusawa Utamara (Johno United, DAR), 16 - Frank Kaiser (Peachtree City F.C.), 17 - Morgan Iyyrivia (Sporting Illyrius), 18 - Kelly Joes (Blue Strike Calix), 19 - Henderson Kelly (Rovers F.C.), 20 - Gilbert Jennifers (Vegai F.C.)
Forwards: 11 - Augusta Clark (Olympic Reading), 10 - Chris Goddard (Unattached), 21 - Brent Davis (Rovers F.C.), 22 - Hoyt Acovina (Cortana City Academy)

by **Sajnur** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:49 am

WCQ Match Reports: Delayed International Release

Qusmo 4 - 3 Sajnur

Sajnur's incredible winning streak has come to an end at the Mastad Poldanza as Qusmo defeated our team 4-3 in what proved to be a thrilling match. Unlike the fixture at the National Stadium, the goalkeepers and the defenders had a much worse time, and while this could be considered a reversion to form for the visitors, the hosts have voiced concern at their recent defensive frailty, especially for a team whose quick rise to 40th in the world has relied on a solid back three. Nevertheless, the fans had plenty of excitement to savour, especially with Sajnur recording 20 shots at goal and Qusmo recording 15.

The first goal of the match was in the 6th minute, when Prant-Pertz Gor received a through pass from Yunal-Julad Waz, outrunning Kahala Murje and curling past Piotr Laghiev in the resulting one on one. Sajnur hit back in the 27th minute when Murje, having advanced well forward with Sajnur camped outside the penalty box, took a pass from Ahmed Nazar and launched a howitzer past Xynat-Evela Cuf. Sajnur then took the lead with a poachers goal from Andre Naulo, with the ball having been pinging its way around the penalty box for almost the entire 33rd minute. Qusmo would then bring it back level when David Kiral brought down Kynda-Sevet Pec just outside the box. The 37th minute free kick would be whipped into the box by Yunal-Jalad, and Prant-Pertz would head it past Laghiev. Qusmo would strike again just before half time to take a 3-2 lead into the break as Xilit-Zaxac Yol curled one in from 15 yards.

The second half started right out of the blocks as Ahmed Nazar dribbled up through the field from kickoff and forced Kynda-Sevet into a low diving save at his far post. Unbelievably, Nazar then curved the corner kick straight into goal to re-equalise for Sajnur, his hands on his head in surprise for several seconds after. The match entered a back and forth period afterwards, with both teams making advances, but neither team able to get the ball into the net. The teams would have plenty more shots and plenty more acrobatic saves, but deviating from Sajnur's usual late game heroics, it was Qusmo who would deliver the final blow, with Xilit-Zaxac sending it over Laghiev from the six yard box in the 86th minute to win it for Qusmo.

Sajnur 0 – 1 Saltstead

Saltstead's national football team were greeted by the fans at Queen Haqla Stadium with plenty of flares and loud musical instruments, but still managed to secure all three points as they secured a 1-0 victory on the back of a solid defensive effort. Alan Gharici was welcomed back into the squad, with Kahala Murje rested, and had a generally good day as part of the defensive unit, but was unable to prevent Saltstead's solitary goal, and with the Stallions being impenetrable, Sajnur could not extract a result from the match.

The match again consisted of largely empty periods of time, with Saltstead taking 66% of the possession, but the visitors managed to release three shots at goal, with one beating Piotr Laghiev in the 37th minute when Michael d'Angel found space in the box and placed the ball inside the far post. Unlike the match at the King William VII National Park, the the Queen Haqla Stadium saw little in the way of foul play as Saltstead controlled the ball for long periods of time without seriously threatening the goal. The second half was technically even more bland than the first, if only because there was no goal. However, both teams put on an aggressive defensive display with plenty of well executed slide tackles and interceptions, and Laghiev and Valerie Rotscheud both commanded their goals well. With neither team capable of breaking through on the second half, the match ended 1-0.

Consecutive losses has resulted in Sajnur dropping from 3rd to 5th, and a good result against Alluersia will be needed to keep Sajnur in the hunt for an unexpected spot in the World Cup.

by **Bongo Johnson** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 7:04 am

BongoBeat.net - Home for World Cup 82 and more

Nothing gained, nothing lost
Bongo Johnson succumbs to scoreless draw versus Libonesia

After being one of the last four nations without a draw in the World Cup group stage, Bongo Johnson's 0-0 draw against Libonesia finally adds a tally to the tie column.

The defense was firing on all cylinders while it felt like the Incorporated attack took a night off after not a single person on the squad was able to bury one in the net. Libonesia managed to play fantastic spoiler to Bongo Johnson's hopes for a win, with their keeper stopping a 14 shots and making a stellar aerial grab on a corner kick that yanked the opportunity away from Horatio Caine to head one in for the Incorporated States.

While a draw was not the result anyone was hoping for, it is far from the worst case scenario, as the single point allowed Bongo Johnson to retain its lead in Group 5 over Damukuni. Most importantly, Damukuni and Ko-oren played a nailbiting game that resulted in the Damukuni squad taking a 2-0 victory. The Damukuni victory, funny enough, is absolutely critical to Bongo Johnson's hopes to qualify, as the ISBJ now takes a five point lead over Ko-oren in the group. With two games in hand to Ko-oren's one, Bongo Johnson just needs to maintain the pace to earn one of the two coveted qualifying spots in Group 5.

Tonight, the Incorporated States will face Holy Marsh, who are involved in a three-way tie for lowest points in the group with Libonesia and the Euran Oceania Territories. Jean-Claude will corral his team to avoid consecutive embarrassment by low-performing World Cup nations after the standard was set by the five game win streak in the first half of the group stage.

The football rises in the East
East Murbley officially opens doors to first ever football club

Newly incorporated exclave East Murbley has officially cut the ribbon on the East Murbley Football Club's newly finished grounds, Old Riverside Park.

The team is scheduled to join the Incorporated Football Association as a full member in 2020 and will play a full domestic season with player eligibility for the Incorporated national men's team. Previously there were no official sporting clubs in the small Bongo Johnson extension, located along the Rotenbruck River to the northwest of Stratton and on the other side of Runtenbach's borders. With the spirit of the World Cup in full swing, East Murbley officials were thrilled to open the doors to Old Riverside Park to eager fans awaiting a peek at the club's grounds.

East Murbley in relation to the ISBJ's mainland and capital

The small river settlement was initially founded two hundred years ago by Incorporated explorers Paul Trenton and Frey Niedermeyer and existed as an unofficial, unincorporated territory of the Incorporated States until a recent unification referendum had 83% of the population voting to join the Incorporated States. East Murbley was incorporated into the federal state of Halien, joining the capital of Murbley.

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