After the Sarzonian national football team learned their assignments in the Cup of Harmony, it was time for manager Kevin Connelly to take stock in the results.
The Stars were drawn in Group F along with world No. 41 Kelssek, No. 50 Hapilooper, 61st ranked Sajnur, former world champions and 90th ranked Schottia, and TJUN-ia, who come in ranked 121st.
"It's going to be a challenging draw for us, but any draw would be," Connelly told the assembled media. "We're pleased that we've earned the 110th rank, but each team we face except for TJUN-ia are ranked higher than we are."
That may well be, and while only Schottia and Sarzonia are former world champions, no one will bill a match between two teas at equal distance from the 100th spot in the world rankings as a battle of former champions.
For the Stars, their interest also includes the other groups, with former qualifying group mates Terre Septentrionale playing in Group A in Xanneria along with the Bear Belles side that defeated the Stars away in a post qualifying friendly. Another nation that played an important role in football history in years past, Jeruselem headline Group 2 as their highest ranked side at No. 46. Group C see former world champions Pasarga, the highest ranked side in the Cup of Harmony as the standard bearer. Newly-forged arch rivals Squornshelous (who finished with the highest rank among heretofore unranked sides at 102nd in the world after qualifying), also make up Group C. World No. 30 Mercedini lead the way in Group D.
The other groups in Banija feature the 38th ranked team in the world in Brusseldorf, the most recent Baptism of Fire Cup champions Trolleborg, and Newmanistan. Even though the Rockets have the 57th rank as they make their way back into sporting prominence, their status as rivals of Stars teams in other sports give their group a bit more intrigue. In Group C, the Squornshelous Remnant States lead the way. Euran Oceanian Territories also pique interest due to their status as the colony of former world champions Eura.
The Stars aren't necessarily looking for an encore to a memorable second half of the World Cup qualifying campaign, but they say their focus will be on earning as many points as possible and making as much headway as they can.
"We've got what could potentially be a long slog back to where we want to be," midfielder Clayton Wilson said. "This will be another important step on that journey."
For the present, these Stars will lean rather heavily on third choice goalkeeper Carlton Standt, but not necessarily in the starting 11.
"He plays here, and he knows the culture," striker Jake Campos said. "He can recommend restaurants, and he has an in at the bank branch across the street from our hotel," he said with a smirk. "So it shouldn't be too difficult to get shillings when we need them."
While that may be the case, one Stars supporter who made the trip to see his team play in the Cup of Harmony reported that he didn't have to use too many shillings at a bar down the street from the hotel. He wore his Jake Campos jersey to the bar for a watch party for the Stars' away match against Brenecia, a team many of the Kadongu Kamu faithful in attendance were glumly expecting the Patriots to win handily.
"If Sarzonia win this match, I'll buy your next three shots!" one particularly loud supporter boasted.
When the final whistle sounded and Sarzonia walked off the pitch as improbable 3-1 victors over the Patriots, leaving most of the host side's supporters who remained until the final whistle in stunned silence, the navy-clad Stars supporters soon were joined by Kadongu Kamu backers who cheered, jumped, sang, cried, and hugged their sudden Atlantian Oceanian region mates. The Sarzonian supporter at the bar was soon surrounded by Kadongu Kamu supporters who hugged him and bought him drinks and shots.
As for the boastful Kadongu Kamu supporter who offered to buy the next three shots? He settled for paying the Stars supporter's tab up till the final whistle, which worked out to the equivalent of $24 dollars, although it would have been roughly $300 if the drinks and shots bought by the suddenly friendly Banijans were calculated into the total.
It was a moment the Stars faithful would remember for the rest of their lives, especially since as it came on the heels of the Marshall Miracle, the shock 2-0 defeat of The Han Empire in the second match of World Cup qualifying at Bryan Marshall Stadium in Woodstock.
No, there would be no encores this time, but these Stars were determined to enjoy the journey even as they continue to pay homage to the memory of manager Bryan Ostrom.
