Handball World Cup 22 - Everything Thread

[Savojarna]

Bid

Welcome to the 22nd Handball World Cup, to be played in Savojarna! 36 nations will come to the country of the two-times handball world champion to contest the crown of Multiversal handball.

Teams will be drawn into four groups of nine, and contest a single round robin in Savojarna. Ties in group will be broken according to Goal difference => H2H points => H2H goal difference => RP Bonus (IC: drawing of lots) => Drawing of lots. The top four of each group qualify for the octofinals, and will be seeded into a bracket in a way that makes sure that no team will have to face a group stage rematch until the semifinal. In order to achieve that, we will seed the teams into a pre-determined bracket according to the following system (teams listed underneath each other will play each other in the following round):

A1 - D4
B2 - C3
D2 - A3
B4 - C1
D1 - C4
A2 - B3
C2 - D3
A4 - B1

Cutoff will be between 07:30 and 09:00 UTC (09:30 - 11:00 CEST).

GROUPS:

Group A:
Savojarna
Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Equestrian States
Oshwirk
Kriegiersien
The Jovannic
Graintfjall
Sarzonia
Free Republic of Hong Kong

Group B
Northwest Kalactin
Lisander
Sankt Konrad
Natanians and Nosts
Ancharmunn
Overseas Territories of Sylestone
Lovisa
HUElavia
Kohnhead

Group C
Filindostan
United States of Devonta
Drawkland
Trolleborg
Nagore
Terre Septentrionale
Squidroidia
Maccian
Megistos

Group D
Abanhfleft
Qasden
Libonesia
Ethane
Dryicor
Delaclava
Jeckland
Union Europae
Sylestone

Pots:
Nations with ranks were put into pots 1-4, with Savojarna seeded into group A as the hosts. The remaining unranked nations are randomly assigned to groups, and not placed in pots.

POT 1:
Savojarna (Group A)
Filindostan
Abanhfleft
Northwest Kalactin

POT 2:
Qasden
Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Lisander
United States of Devonta

POT 3:
Drawkland
Libonesia
Sankt Konrad
Equestrian States

POT 4:
Ethane
Natanians and Nosts

The remaining teams are unranked and will be assigned randomly.

Schedule:
Group draw: 10/08
MD1: 12/08
MD2: 13/08
MD3: 14/08
MD4: 15/08
MD5: 16/08
MD6: 17/08
MD7: 18/08
MD8: 19/08
MD9: 20/08
Octofinals: 22/08
Quarterfinals: 25/08
Semifinals: 27/08
3PPO & finals: 29/08

[Savojarna]

VENUES

Storevik
Storevik, the capital of the northernmost major island of Ejana, is the sole host city of group A. It is the old centre of the city and a major hub of Savojarna today with 1.4 million people. It has truly boomed in the last thirty years, when more regular ferry connections and the construction of a local domestic airport made the previously remote city more accessible, but the town has been important for centuries. The first Savojar Empire, existing from the 10th to the 13th century, had its capital here, and the imperial glory of the time can still be seen in the old town. The modern government hall, built in 1823, also was the site of the miner's protest that most people consider the start of the Savojar Revolution. Modern visitors, however, tend to come to Storevik for its gritty art and music scene, its role as the food capital of Savojarna when it comes to contemporary fine dining, and its perfect location for trips into the Ejanan woods. Storevik is also one of the centres of Savojar handball, as Ejana is the place where the most handball teams are located.
Located in Storevik are three stadia. The biggest is Norsk Palace, with a capacity of 18'800, a converted ice hockey stadium that belongs to Savojar powerhouse ESK Storevik and is full of modern amenities just five minutes by tram from the city centre. Across the river, there is the 9'400 seater of Stadion Admiral, belonging to the Navy-sponsored Admiral Storevik. The stadium may be smaller, but it is also a modern stadium renovated just eight years ago, and its publicly accessible rooftop terrace offers a beautiful view over the docklands and the sea. Finally, Stadion Professor Asgeirsson is located to the North of the city on the campus of the Ejansk University Storevik, seating 11'400 for the university-sponsored (but fully professional) team of EU Storevik.

Games played in Storevik:
Norsk Palace - Group A & B, 2 Octofinals, Semifinal, Final
Stadion Admiral - Group C & D, Quarterfinal, 3PPO
Stadion Professor Asgeirsson - Group C & B, 2 Octofinals, Quarterfinal

Kjefla
Kjefla is a mining town and the second biggest city in Ejana, with 370'000 inhabitants, mostly drawn from the local area to work in the mines or in the related industries in the city. This includes a small, but growing tech sector to support the mines. Kjefla has always been in the shadows of its bigger neighbour, and the boom of Ejana has only marginally boosted this town. Nevertheless, Kjeflans are very proud of their city and their handball, and there are many local festivals and initiatives that make this city come alive. Kjefla is also a splendid base for excursions into the mines, and the city's outskirts host the only Great White Dragon reservation in Ejana. There is also a large museum and culture scene, centred around Kjefla's unique history.
Located in Kjefla is the BHK Arena, the most modern handball stadium in the country. Constructed three years ago and housing 14'100, it is the home stadium of the Savojar champion BHK Kjefla, and located in a prime location within walking distance from Kjefla Central Station. The second stadium in the city is the Stadion Olafur Tristansson, home arena of second division side Vulkan Kjefla and holding 7'500 people, the fewest of the six stadia involved in the tournament. It is located a bit further out in the old worker's quarters, and is a concrete building that often leads to very loud atmospheres.

Games played in Kjefla:
BHK Arena - Group A & D, 2 Octofinals, Semifinal
Stadion Olafur Tristansson - Group A & C

Grennvik
The second biggest harbour in Ejana, Grennvik has had a small but important role in the economic development of the province. It mainly served as a harbour to ship goods to the North, but has historic relevance due to its role as the base of operations in the colonisation of Norderholmen. Nowadays, this town of 104'000 people is a nature reserve, and a basis for excursions in all directions as well as a mining town centered on the copper mines in its hinterland. From here, there are many ferry connections to the rest of the country, including the biggest Savojar dragon reservation on Storesjär, an island twenty minutes away with the ferry service. There are even international ferries to Taeshan, along with many different hiking trails starting right at the outskirts of Grennvik.
Cuprum Arena is an older, but very loud and spectacular stadium, home to SK Cuprum Grennvik, one of Savojarna's top clubs. It fits 9'600 people, and is usually highly popular among fans despite its somewhat low comfort level. It is easily accessible and generally provides spectacular backdrops for games.

Games played in Grennvik:
Cuprum Arena - Group B & D, 2 Octofinals

[Northwest Kalactin]

Northwest Kalactin

Handball in Northwest Kalactin
The Nation’s National Handball team has been a largely respected one over the past World Cups, making it to the third-place game of HWC 20, and winning Olympic Bronze at the 13th Summer Games at the handball event. After a disappointing group-stage exit in HWC 21, they hope to once again become one of the world greats at the event. Ballina Handball is the best club in the nations fledging handball domestic league, although, if you ask a Gold Coast fan, you will end up with a different answer.


Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Adam Johnson
One of the smartest coaches ever to coach the game, Johnson is a tactical master of the game, knowing how to beat each team that he plays. He grew up in the east side of the country playing Bandy, but he learned how to become a great coach through the tactical world of Bandy, and was introduced to the sport when he was 18. He now coaches one of the top teams in the world at the sport, the Kalactanian National Team.
Asst Coach: Clarance Clark
Trainer: Joe Clark

Roster
Goalkeepers:
Anthony Taylor-Gold Coast Handball Club
Wayne Perez-North Kempsey Handball

Backs:
Frank Torres-Ballina Handball
Gary Gonzales-Coffs Handball
John Garcia-Ballina Handball
Russell Smith-Kempsey Handball
James Wilson-Kyater Handball
Johnny Peterson-Gold Coast Handball

Forwards:
Harry Russell-Kyater Handball
Benjamin Ward-Kempsey Handball
Kevin Wright-Ballina Handball
Howard Williams-Gold Coast Handball
Louis Walker-Ballina Handball
Mark Gonzalez-North Kempsey Handball
William White-Gold Coast Handball

[Sylestone]

Goalkeepers:
Television
Computer

Defence:
Laptop
Tablet
Telephone
Camera
Portable Charger

Forwards:
Mobile Phone
Headphones
Kindle
Earphones
Game Boy


It was decided that Sylestone would send their human side to the Olympics and their Sentient side to the HWC after a game between the two sides which resulted in an easy 41-12 victory for the Devices. We shall see what group they get drawn into.

RP allowances:
Anything, no killing.

[Squidroidia]

Meet the Squidroidians

---

Squidroidia was going to send its own homegrown handball team as part of an all-Inkling roster for the 14th Summer Olympics in Liventia and Banija, but got to doing paperwork just as the deadline had passed. As a compromised to the handpicked 15 members of the male Squidroidian handball roster, they were allowed to travel to Savojarna to partake in the Handball World Cup - Which happens to run alongside the Olympics - To make sure that their roles were left filled. No Inkling wanted to be dumped off of a chance to play handball, Olympics or not.

This also serves as a test-pilot to see if handball is a good enough sport for the Squidroidian public to play in a national league - If the Squidroidians make it to the knockout stages of the Handball World Cup, the Squidroidian government will authorize a 10 team league to play during the winter months.

OOC Note: The diversity of the Inkling population of Squidroidia means that all the players in this roster are not exactly Japanese like the human counterparts. Each Inkling has his own name, color of ink and trait that sets it apart from everyone else. The only thing that unifies them is their Squidroidian citizenship and pride in being part of and representing their country.

Name                           Age          Location                   Ink Color          Position               Trait
Devin Windsor                   17          Inkopolis                    Blue             Goalkeeper            Expressive
Bernhard González               24          Starlight                    Green            Goalkeeper            Gutsy
Hermenegild Ambrogi             31          Ichimoto                     Yellow           Goalkeeper            Wise
Yevhen Marino                   24          Calamari County              Orange           Left Backcourt        Acrobatic
Cletus Ebner                    27          Inkopolis                    Red              Left Backcourt        Shy
Biagino Agostini                35          Midnight                     Magenta          Center Backcourt      Rebellious
Placid Köhl                     32          Weedpot                      Yellow           Center Backcourt      Complacent
Sancho Caro                     29          Inkopolis                    Blue             Right Backcourt       Frustrated
Adam Milton                     24          Calamari County              Black            Right Backcourt       Reserved
Major Falconer                  22          Inkopolis                    Purple           Left Wingman          Deciever
Carson Fontana                  36          Souraoi                      Yellow           Left Wingman          Confessor
Michael Von Grimm               25          Weedpot                      Green            Right Wingman         Team Clown
Shane Cola                      21          Inkopolis                    Brown            Right Wingman         Dazed
Pascal Muraro                   28          Inkopolis                    Magenta          Pivot                 Artist
Mannes Nigel                    33          Factoria                     Yellow           Pivot                 Teen Idol

STARTING VII
González
Marino/Köhl/Caro
Falconer/Von Grimm
Muraro

If my opponent RPs before me, they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Choose Scoring Events: Yes
Godmod Scoring Events: TG me first
RP injuries to my players: Yes, 1-2 games
Godmod injuries to my players: Tournament-ending at worst, TG me
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out 2 minute suspensions to my players - Yes, 1-3 players
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, 1-2 players, TG me first
Godmod Other Events: TG me first

[Drawkland]

Drawkland National Handball Team

aka Chee Alpha Bepis

Hand Corps 22
Head Coach Mike Launius

##  Ps  G  Name            

 0  GK  M  Nick Langston
10  GK  M  Dylan Nolan

 5  LB  F  Sarah Fenton
12  LB  M  Donald Worthington

 4  CB  M  Kyle Kernov
13  CB  F  Ellen Maggio

16  RB  M  Luke Bolton
14  RB  M  Richard Michaelson

 8  LW  M  Niko Goretsky
18  LW  M  Cam Nichols

 1  CF  F  Meredith Hogan
21  CF  M  Tommy Johnson

 7  RW  M  Lane Gravens
17  RW  M  Craig Coles

If my opponent RPs first, I give them permission to:
    Choose my goalscorers:                Yes
    Godmod scoring events:                Yes
    RP injuries to my players:            Yes
    Godmod injuries to my players:        Yes
    Hand out yellow cards to my players:  Yes
    Hand out red cards to my players:     Yes
    Godmod other events:                  Yes

Pretty much don't destroy my team or nation, thx

Style Mod: +4

[Kriegiersien]

Even though stressful, the men's team will try to come far in both the World Cup and the Olympics, who are scheduled at nearly the same time. If they do come (unexpectedly) far in both tournaments, they will have to fly a bit more between destinations.
The women are current Olympic champion, but Handball is still without a heavy commercialized professionell league as in other sports and mostly played by the human majority of the country.

Coach:
Egbert Esel

Goalkeeper
David Donkey

Left and right wingman
Carlos Catz
Dagobert Dog
Left and right backcourt
Calvin Cock
Robert Rooster
Centre backcourt
Ludwig Lion
Pivot
Gregor Gorilla

Defense
Dundee Crocodile
Garfield Gazelle
Gregory Greyhound
Robert Rhino
Wisbert Whale
Orang Utan
Tobias Tiger


RP: Just don't do your worst

[Squidroidia]

Meet the Squidroidians

---

Profile: Major Falconer

Major Falconer is a purple haired Inkling from the Highrise Point district in Inkopolis. The 22 year old is moreso a football fan than handball (And by football we mean gridiron), but found out about the sport during his time in school. In Highrise High School he was the captain of his intramural handball team that won the school championship over a team known simply as the Squidbreak (Mainly because the captain REALLY loved the football team that is playing in the Squidroidian league) on a last second play. According to Falconer, he famously sprinted past the backcourt and fired a shot that went in off the post.

Aside from being a good handball player, Falconer is also a professional shitposter. He competes in the Squidroidian Shitposting Association league which takes place every year on a Sqeddit subreddit known simply as /s/ssa. He has won the previous 2 championships back to back and has contributed to the healthy environment of the competition.


An image of a humanized Falconer made as a joke by a member of the SSA community

His Wishes: "You know, looking at the group, it would be a hallelujah if we made the last 16. I mean looking at these squads, you have Trolleborg, Megistos, Drawkland, Filindostan... Group C is our deathbed. I would be glad if we snatched a win out of Maccian's hands but we're going to be home quite shortly. Which is why I am in the SSA anyways, I would ball on the internet fields if we choked in humiliating fashion."

Such wisdom can only be found in a shitposter.

[Graintfjall]

Team name: Græntfjall
TLA: GRÆ [GRF when not available]
Demonym: Græntfjaller
Team nickname: Junior Bouncy Wolves

Kit: Blue with white piping; alternate is the reverse; GK wears red. Because all Græntfjaller names are patronymic, players typically have their first name on the backs of their shirts.

Coach: Retho Vigfússon

Squad: Græntfjall planned to use the Handball World Cup as Olympic preparation, but this has not proved possible. With the teams at the Olympics, a Junior (U-18) side has been sent to Savojarna for the HWC.

№	Pos.	Name			Age	Height	Club
1	GK	Martin Oliversson	18	1.93 m	 Hofvinger
4	LB	Samuel Leonsson		17	1.93 m	 Griesberg
5	P	Oddkell Ásólfursson	17	1.91 m	 Laafjörður
8	LW	Roger Ollesson		17	1.96 m	 Haafberg
9	LW	Berent Spjällesson	17	1.92 m	 Korsbach
11	P	Anders Andersson	17	1.94 m	 Gründorf
12	GK	Samuele Henriksson	18	2.03 m	 Ostholm
13	LB	Damon Zachariasson	17	2.01 m	 Folte
18	CB	Noah Josefsson		16	1.91 m	 Lohrreith
21	CB	Bjartmann Oyolvursson	17	1.90 m	 Gründorf
22	RW	Friðlaugur Heimisson	17	1.91 m	 Edlidolz
24	P	Arvid Clemensson	16	2.01 m	 Haafberg
25	CB	Frans Mikesson		17	1.91 m	 Pichika
28	RW	Þórormur Filipsson	17	1.98 m	 Reschensreppur
31	RB	Philipp Davidsson	17	2.00 m	 Lengschach
32	RW	Arthur Steðjisson	17	2.00 m	 Steinaux
55	RB	Sandro Hjalmarsson	18	1.94 m	 Væggerfried
60	LB	Safír Theosson		17	1.94 m	 Haafberg

If you RP first, you may…
Pick my scorers: Y
Assign penalties: Y
Assign ejections: Y
Assign serious, violent incidents that would lead to multiple-game suspensions: N
Injure my players: N

[Terre Septentrionale]

Équipe nationale de handball de Terre Septentrionale

Reprezentacja Nordycki w Handball

Northern Land National Handball Team

Nation Name in French: République laïque de Terre Septentrionale
Nation name in Polish: Rzeczpospolita Polnocna
Nation Name in English Secular Republic of Northern Land
Short Nation names: Terre Septentrionale / Ziemia Polnocna / Northern Land
Trigramme: RTS
Demonym: Septentrional (plural: Septentrionaux)
Nicknames: Nordiques, Reprezentacja Nordycki, Northmen
Team colors at home: Red and white
Team colors on the road: Green and white

Note: In Terre Septentrionale calendar, the Handball World Cup is played in january 2027 and the olympics are in july 2027.

Staff:

Head Coach	Boguslawa Kostrzewska	58
Assistant Coach	Serge O'Hara	        44
Assistant Coach	Bartłomiej Zwierzchowski 48
Assistant Coach	Marie-Josée Beauchemin	39

Starting VII:

#       Pos     Name                    Age     Team                            Birthplace
16	GK	Przemyslaw Zjawinski	33	Szentgyörgyvölgy KC	        Kleszczewo, MA
10	LB	Bernadett Lukacs	27	Szentgyörgyvölgy KC	        Nagyhegyes, BA
3	RB	Fredericka Kruger	31	Szentgyörgyvölgy KC	        Saint-Eustache, CN
66	CB	Emily Gilchrist-O'Flanagan 26	El Perro Great Danes	        Los Lunas, TX
20	LW	Krzysztof Waszkiewicz	26	KPR Rzodkiewnica	        Kamienica Krolewska, KZ
9	RW	Zdravka Stanković	32	RK Vukosavljevica	        Vukosavljevica, DA
22	P	Urszula Ratajkowska	33	Szczakowianka Trzebiegoszcz	Krzeszowice, PO

Bench:

#       Pos     Name                    Age     Team                            Birthplace
1	GK	Sandrine Jorgensen	24	KPR Rzodkiewnica	        Papineauville, PA
71	LB	Cassandra Desgroseilliers 25	MMTS Krzczonow	                Champlain, CN
4	LB	Krzysztof Krupa	        24	KPR Rzodkiewnica	        Zdzieszowice, PO
17	RB	Milan Knežević	        25	RK Vukosavljevica	        Orljavac, DA
15	RB	Timotej Kavcic	        23	El Perro Great Danes	        Podvolovljek, KR
8	CB	Yannick  Ross	        33	KPR Rzodkiewnica	        Côte-des-Neiges, MT
21	RW/LW	Kinga Plesztovits	25	Szentgyörgyvölgy KC	        Pusztaszentlaszlo, BA
92	LW	Katarzyna Maliczkiewicz	23	Cosmos de Prévost	        Skorogoszcz, MA
11	RW/LW	Zlatko Bozic-Sebetic	29	RK Vukosavljevica	        Slodobnica, DA
6	P	Kristyna Knedlikova	24	Szentgyörgyvölgy KC	        Horní Police, SL
7	P	Zachary Maisonneuve	25	U.S. Longueuil	                Saint-Philippe, MT

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Yes
Injure Players: Yes
Godmod Injury Events: No
Red Card Players: Yes
Yellow Card Players: Yes
Godmod Other Events: Yes *

*Note: Please do not give the coronavirus or any other virus 
or illness to my players, coaches, journalists and fans. 
And please do not introduce any pandemic to my nation.
=================================

[Maccian]

Maccian Lacrosse Association's Squad for the World Lacrosse Championships 34

Maccian Handerassost Gang Ruhr Das Handball Worden Koup 22

Manager: Mekkel Saranokoppen, Age 56


Nickname: The Maple Leafed Outcasts


Starting Lineup:

GK: Andrew Kane |Age: 32 || Height: 6'3| Gender: Male

RB: Samuel McKokrin |Age: 26| Height: 5’10| Gender: Male

CB: Munan Jaberger |Age: 33| Height: 5'9| Gender: Male

LB: Alex Knightbridge|Age: 31| Height: 6'0| Gender: Male

RW: Annabelle Linwood |Age: 27 | Height: 6'2| Gender: Female

P: Eirian Aislin-Arran |Age: 24| Height: 5'8| Gender: Female

LW: Connor Afanen |Age: 25| Height: 5'10| Gender: Male


Bench:


GK: Paul Grannit Johnson |Age: 35 |Height: 6'4| Gender: Male

GK: Tojori Anawaka |Age: 21 | Height: 5'11 |Gender: Female

RB: Tamaré Ruben |Age: 30| Height: 6'1|Gender: Male

CB: Gregory MacLean |Age: 26|Height: 6'0| Gender: Male

LB: Seronna Anjerokoyila |Age: 20| Height: 5'9|Gender: Female

RW: Yousef Abdulrashid |Age: 29 | Height: 5'7 | Gender: Male

P: Ysolda Cryistin |Age: 22| Height: 5'8 |Gender: Female

LW: Leia Efiréythane |Age: 18| Height: 5'6|Gender: Female


RP Permissions Pretty much anything goes. Notify me of injuries, bookings or anything else wacky.

[Dryicor]

Name of Nation (Finnish): Dryicor Imperiumi
Name of Nation (Welsh): Ymerodraeth Dryicor
Name of Nation (English): Empire of Dryicor
Short name (universal): Dryicor
3-letter code: DRC, DRI if unavailable
Demonym: Dryicoran
Nicknames: The Griffins
Team colours at home: Black shirt, green (as on flag) shorts, black socks.
Team colours away: Green (as on flag), blue shorts, green shorts.

The Empire of Dryicor's team has been selected via a special announcement on DTV 2, from the headquarters of the Dryicor Handball Association at Felinfoel House, Lindisfarne. It consists of fourteen players, seven preferred, seven on the bench.

Starting lineup
GK - Yngvar Smiljic. Aged 31, 7' 2"
D - Llewellyn Hywel. Aged 29, 6' 8"
D - Jukka Pääkkönen. Aged 23, 6' 10"
LW - Tapani Korhonen - Aged 19, 6' 4"
CM - Kyösti Järvinen - Aged 24, 6' 6"
RW - Olaf Mäki - Aged 26, 6' 5"
S - Jón Goðrúnarson - Aged 25, 6' 5"
S - Iacof Raikkonen - Aged 28, 6' 6"

Substitutes
GK - Päiviö Markkuson - Aged 32, 6' 10"
D - Teodor Hämäläinen - Aged 24, 6' 9"
CM/LW - Henrikki Kanerva - Aged 25, 6' 6"
W - Timo Virtanen - Aged 28, 6' 6"
S - Tuulikki Kiimamaa - Aged 23, 6' 7"

The Chief Minister of the Dryicor Handball Association, Gorban Pulska, also submitted these rules to the President of the International Handball Federation, Amal Khalifa:

Opponent can (obviously within reason):[/b
[b]Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod goalscoring events: Yes
Injure players: Yes, potentially tournament-threatening injuries please check with me
Godmod injury events: No
Send off players: Yes
Yellow card players: Yes
Other events: Yes (nothing COVID-19 related)

The tournament will be used as a test pilot for a possible Dryicor Handball League system. Amid the recent buzz around the tournament in Dryicor (the previous regime did not allow Dryicor to take part in sporting events), the energy company Powergen have agreed to sponsor a Dryicor Handball League if it happens, a payment of 5.5m Kr. will not be paid if it is not a success.

[Sarzonia]

Sarzonia Stars

Manager Joyce Rodham, 43
Assistant Managers
Will Quinn, 32
Aaron Snider, 49
Meghan Tyson, 38

ROSTER (Starters in bold)
GOALKEEPERS
1 Pat Agnew, 5-foot-6, 155 pounds, 29
Note: Agnew is gender nonconforming and uses they/them pronouns.

30 Javier Lopez, 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, 23
39 Jim Haverchuk, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, 21

BACKCOURT
LB 2 Charles Brougham, 6-foot, 185 pounds, 28
13 Britt McCauley, 5-foot-8, 145 pounds, 27

CB 11 Paul Crowley, 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, 25
15 Vance Tippett, 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, 29

RB 16 Vivianne Taylor, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, 22
14 George Wompers, 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, 23

WINGS
LW 7 Nestor Catalina, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, 26
11 Abbie Wagner, 5-foot-7, 145 pounds, 24

RW 18 John Maeve, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, 24
20 Cris Orem, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, 21

PIVOTS
22 Ivan Charlton, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, 31
26 Mike Dakota, 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, 22

If my opponent RPs first, I give them permission to:
    Choose my goalscorers:                Yes
    Godmod scoring events:                Yes
    RP injuries to my players:            No
    Godmod injuries to my players:        No
    Hand out yellow cards to my players:  Yes
    Hand out red cards to my players:     No
    Godmod other events:                  No

Style Mod: 0

[Savojarna]

Savojar Roster for Handball World Cup 22

HANDBALL IN SAVOJARNA
Handball is a very popular sport among young Savojars, and a lot of people, both men and women, play it in school. However, a lot of them are hockey players looking for an alternative to their sport in the summer, therefore many talented handballers get lost around 15 years of age because they focus on hockey. Savojarna has a professional handball league with 14 teams, most of them concentrated in Vestrholmen and Ejana. In Ejana, handball is seen as the regional sport and the island takes great pride in its team of ESK Storevik. In Sumanen and Russica Savojar, handball is less traditionally popular and has to fight for resources against rugby, floorball and volleyball. Nevertheless, the regions produce a few very noteworthy players and those who make it out of these regions are often extra dedicated, leading to especially Russica having a reputation for extremely tough and well-trained players. The Northlights travelled to Abanhfleft as one of the favoured teams, and they remained unbeaten throughout the tournament to become the first Savojar team ever to bring home international silverware of any sport, and defended the title in Mytanija during HWC 21.

TEAM
Coach: Hrafnar Magnusson (43)
Co-coaches: Laurir Freyrsson (49), Sven Kjellsen (39), Ivan Nestrov (40)

GK #1 Morten Grönholm (26, SK Cuprum Grennvik)
GK #8 Steiner Arnason (25, ESK Storevik)
GK #15 Jesper Knudsen (32, Dynamo Sjoedrhavn)

Grönholm is the expected starter, a tall goalkeeper with strong reflexes on the line and a mental fortitude. He is known as a seven-metre-killer, and often whips himself in a frenzy on the goal line, celebrating his saves as if he scored the winning goal. However, he is also vulnerable to bad matches and injury. Arnason is a rock in the waves, although with a similar playstyle to Grönholm. The two may play almost similar amounts, although Grönholm is the starter. Knudsen fills up the roster with his experience and strength, and is a generally very calm and controlled goalkeeper who excels at positioning himself to make every shot look easy.

LB #3 Sigirdur Birkirsson (27, BHK Kjefla)
CB #4 Magnus Halldorsson (30, ESK Storevik)
RB #6 Lars Bergman (24, PT Hovikkära)
LB #10 Petteri Olaniemi (25, PT Hovikkära)
CB #11 Olafur Palsson (20, BHK Kjefla)
RB #13 Jón Eythorsson (22, ESK Storevik)

Savojarna’s backcourt is dominated by tall, strong players, referred to as siege towers by Savojar media thanks to their common offensive role. This style is most embodied by the PT backs, Bergman and Olaniemi, who are commonly lurking in the back and waiting for an opening to smash through an enemy defender with their explosive runs and jumps over blocking defenders. Birkirsson is a defensive backcourter, as is Halldorsson; both are primarily strong in blocking opponents, although Halldorsson in particular is also a competent playmaker. Palsson is a strong playmaker from a stationary position, akin to a quarterback. Eythorsson, finally, is an extremely versatile player who often seeks avenues to run forward and look for surprising plays, which often cause chaos and scoring chances in the SHL.

LW #2 Adrien Moulin (23, Respublika Savojagrad)
PV #5 Jonsi Gudmundsson (24, SK Cuprum Grennvik)
RW #7 Halldor Gislason (28, ESK Storevik)
LW #9 Traustir Haraldsson (27, BHK Kjefla)
PV #11 Hrolfr Haraldsson (23, ESK Storevik)
RW #13 Sergey Sakhojev (21, PT Hovikkära)

The offence is dominated by speedy, fragile wingers of the ESK school. Gislason is the captain of Storevik and the national team, a quick and technically brilliant winger who likes to dance around opposition; Moulin, a second-generation Donnaconan, is a less talented version of the same playstyle. It gets compensated with more beefy pivots, both gifted with exceptional jumping power and explosivity. Jonsi Gudmundsson is a more creative player who likes to weave in and out of things as he needs to construct play at his club, whereas Haraldsson is a more straight-forward pivot who lurks for a chance before ducking around a defender quickly for a shot. The substitute wingers are a more forceful brand of player, both packing a dangerous shot and good at bursting through an opposing defender. Traustir Haraldsson in particular is also an adept defender and will often sub in if Savojarna are defending.

TACTICS
Savojarna has multiple regional styles of handball, and the blend they chose for the national team is a balanced, explosive, and quite direct style. Although it preserves the flair of ESK’s tricky, playful style, it drops long passing chains for a direct drive to the goal and attempts to take advantage of the Savojar physique, which is often superior to less professional teams or teams dominated by smaller players. Especially the backcourters tend to pack a strong shot, while the wingers are often more looking to play around their opposition. Savojarna are emphasising speed, which is why they consist mostly of all rounders who can play offensively or defensively. They like to sub out their goalkeeper against less speedy teams, but are careful if they get burned early on.

RP PERMISSIONS
Players cannot be injured or suspended for more than two games, and godmods are only allowed within the laws of handball and physics. Injuring fans, officials, or random citizens is allowed, but may lead to repercussions from Savojar police. Unless I say so, there is no pandemic or political instability in Savojarna.

[Trolleborg]

TROLLEBORG NATIONAL TEAM

Nickname: Trolls

HEAD COACH - Tomas KATT, 53 years old. As customary in Trolleborg, selected by the vote of specialists, fans and general public. Known for a long list of local trophees and affinity for attractive attacking style of game, so he is obvious choice for such a position.

Goalkeepers:
Bertil Trond (29 y.o.) – first choice keeper
Anders Rolf (27)

Field players:
Starting lineup
Kaj Boele (26)
Llewelyn Jespers (25)
Karsten Viggen (25)
Eimar Ander (28)
Ardgal Leide (27)
Ruud Berwyn (29)
Torstein Neirin (31)

Substitutes:
Gunne Maydog (32)
Asbjorn Teige (27)
Roald Bagger (28)
Steingrimur Murtag (25)
Ysbrand Tarben (26)
Glendwyr Tage (27)
Egil Talfrynn (28)
Torstein the Gulp (25)
Espen Heine (25).

Katt take a best of best of players in Trolleborg handball, since he has only one shot with this team – either handball players will play very well or team will be disbanded, probably forever.Squad looked like a healthy fusion of of speed, experience and skill, but the question is this enough for anything?

Style Mod +3

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Choose goal events Y
Godmod scoring events N
Roleplay injuries to my players Y, but I determined severity
Godmod injuries to my players N
Godmod other events – N

[Trolleborg]

Greetings, compatriots! It’s TTV from Savojarna!

Finally, the long-awaited World Handball Championship is opening, and today our athletes will go to the floor. We all know that the team faced a difficult choice between the Olympics and the World Championships, and it was decided to go to the championship in order to find out for certain the prospects in this sport. The players arrived in Savojarna yesterday and settled in a quiet base in the forests near the city, already held a training session in private at the arena where the first game will be held. All handball players, according to the coaching staff, are healthy and in good shape - well, we will see everything with our own eyes about the latter. The best of the best are recruited, so that according to the results of the tournament, we can immediately establish where we belong in the handball universe. As you all know, now the results of national teams in various sports will be directly taken into account when deciding on the expediency of their existence.

Our opponents include, of course, Megistos, which we already have as adversaries in hockey and rugby, Terre Septentrionale, with whom we play in WCQ84, but other teams never meet ours, altought mere the names of Filindostan, Drawkland and Devonta give impression of the difficulties of the tasks that our players faced – and who knows, what can do other teams?

A small but noisy contingent of fans preferred to settle in hotels near the city center and, in the morning before the game, intensively conveyed their love of handball and Trolleborg to the whole world by all means in their disposal. They, however, decide against making usual “Trolleborg camp” near the city center with their already well-known ways of pastime. But it will be interesting to calculate, at the end of the next cycle of international tournaments, how much money people from our country have spent on benefiting the owners of bars, cafes and restaurants around the world over these two years that fans from Trolleborg spent trying to do what they can for the success of their teams with their passion and loud noise.

[HUElavia]

HUElavia National Handball Team Squad

Starting Lineup:

GK: #1 Rebecca Gizzi (22 Years Old) (1.78 m)

RB: #15 Fabiano Teixeira (23 Years Old) (1.80 m)

CB: #2 Gabriel Acin (20 Years Old) (1.79 m)

LB: #6 Eva Paiva (19 Years Old) (1.68 m)

RW: #10 France Moitessier (19 Years Old) (1.65 m)

P: #9 Isabela Felicitas-Magos (18 Years Old) (1.60 m)

LW: #7 Rafael Cancio (18 Years Old) (1.70 m)


Bench:


GK: #12 Pablo Cambeiro (22 Years Old) (1.80 m)

GK: #13 Silvana Vargas-Amorim (19 Years Old) (1.75 m)

RB: #4 Jong-Soo Tang (21 Years Old) (1.82 m)

CB: #3 Uchee Oby (22 Years Old) (1.79 m)

LB: #14 Julian Rothmann (18 Years Old) (1.80 m)

RW: #8 Chadov Yanovich (23 Years Old) (1.76 m)

P: #5 Misako Haruno (19 Years Old) (1.65 m)

LW: #11 Aida Hamidou (21 Years Old) (1.69 m)

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach:
Noé Montreal (35 Years Old)

Assistant Coach:
Fabiano Linhares-Melo (33 Years Old)

RP Permissions:
Nothing tournament or career ending, nor killing. Any expulsions can only be worth 1-Match Suspension.

[Delaclava]

Delaclava national handball team

We've been here before. We're here now. Let's see what happens!

Head Coach: Zander Erikssen, 44

#	Pos	Name	       Age	Height	Weight
Starters:
1	GK	Rico Husillos	25	6-3	165
3	CB	Christian Kanter24	5-9	145
6	LB	Michael Rossi	28	5-8	155
7	RB	Gordie Kramer	23	6-3	175
9	P	Vic Maslak	25	5-8	140
10	LW	Dusan Ancic	27	6-1	170
13	RW	Andriy Arnau	23	5-10	160
Bench:
16	RB	Omar Noriega	28	6-1	165
19	RW	Hosif Hassan	21	6-3	185
23	LW	Markus Roul	27	6-2	160
28	LB	Ferdinand Frenc	26	5-9	145
30	GK	Ryan Barlow	22	6-5	175
31	P	Bernard Duplantis22	6-1	170
32	CB	Simon Meyer	28	6-5	175

RP Permissions: Generally all granted, please be respectful, feel free to TG/DM with any questions (about RP permissions or team info)

[Natanians and Nosts]

Natanians and Nosts' National Handball Team

Coach: Ion Mihai Rădulescu
Assistent #1: Ion Marcus Ionescu
Assistent #2: João Augustus Ionescu
Doctor: Marcus Mihai da Silva
Psychologist: Ion Mihai dos Santos

Starters

#	Name	 	 	        Age	Height	Position
1	Ion Paulus Ionescu	 	25	1,80	Goalkeeper
3	Claudius Mihai Stefanescu  	24	1,77	Centre-back
6	Mihai Appius Silva	  	24	1,80	Left wing
8	Ápio Ion Santos	 	        25	1,78	Left back
7	Johann Mihail Smith	 	26	1,78	Right back
2	Michael Johann Ionescu	        27	1,87	Right wing
11	Ion Iulius Munteanu	  	26	1,90	Pivot

Captain's name is in blue

Bench

#	Name	 	 	        Age	Height	Position
12	Ion Carolus Constantinescu	30	1,75	Goalkeeper
4	Marcus Iohanis Ioanescu	        26	1,76	Centre-back
5	Constantinu Mihai Souza	        23	1,78	Half back
9	Teodosiu Mihai Sousa	        32	1,80	Left wing
14	Alfonso Carolus Silva	        28	1,89	Right wing
10	Afonso Lars Santos	 	26	1,95	Pivot
13	Hans MIhai Larsson	 	27	1,92	Goalkeeper

Starting position

11

 
 	 	3
 	8	 	7
6	 	 	 	2



 	 	1

If my opponent RPs first, I give him permission to:
Choose my goalscorers: No
godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: No
godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: No
godmod other events: No

[Savojarna]

The first cutoff of the Handball World Cup 22 is here!

Group A
The Royal Kingdom of Quebec 22–29 Free Republic of Hong Kong
Equestrian States 30–27 Sarzonia
Oshwirk 29–29 Graintfjall
Kriegiersien 24–22 The Jovannic

Group A                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Free Republic of Hong Kong          1   1  0  0   29  22  +7    3
 2 Equestrian States                   1   1  0  0   30  27  +3    3
 3 Kriegiersien                        1   1  0  0   24  22  +2    3
 4 Graintfjall                         1   0  1  0   29  29   0    1
   Oshwirk                             1   0  1  0   29  29   0    1
 6 The Jovannic                        1   0  0  1   22  24  −2    0
 7 Sarzonia                            1   0  0  1   27  30  −3    0
 8 The Royal Kingdom of Quebec         1   0  0  1   22  29  −7    0

Group B
Lisander 31–23 Kohnhead
Sankt Konrad 29–24 HUElavia
Natanians and Nosts 27–32 Lovisa
Ancharmunn 24–19 Overseas Territories of Sylestone

Group B                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Lisander                            1   1  0  0   31  23  +8    3
 2 Lovisa                              1   1  0  0   32  27  +5    3
 3 Sankt Konrad                        1   1  0  0   29  24  +5    3
 4 Ancharmunn                          1   1  0  0   24  19  +5    3
 5 Natanians and Nosts                 1   0  0  1   27  32  −5    0
 6 HUElavia                            1   0  0  1   24  29  −5    0
 7 Overseas Territories of Sylestone   1   0  0  1   19  24  −5    0
 8 Kohnhead                            1   0  0  1   23  31  −8    0

Group C
United States of Devonta 28–28 Megistos
Drawkland 26–26 Maccian
Trolleborg 28–28 Squidroidia
Nagore 29–23 Terre Septentrionale

Group C                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Nagore                              1   1  0  0   29  23  +6    3
 2 Megistos                            1   0  1  0   28  28   0    1
   Squidroidia                         1   0  1  0   28  28   0    1
   Trolleborg                          1   0  1  0   28  28   0    1
   United States of Devonta            1   0  1  0   28  28   0    1
 6 Drawkland                           1   0  1  0   26  26   0    1
   Maccian                             1   0  1  0   26  26   0    1
 8 Terre Septentrionale                1   0  0  1   23  29  −6    0

Group D
Qasden 31–24 Sylestone
Libonesia 28–23 Union Europae
Ethane 30–21 Jeckland
Dryicor 29–29 Delaclava

Group D                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Ethane                              1   1  0  0   30  21  +9    3
 2 Qasden                              1   1  0  0   31  24  +7    3
 3 Libonesia                           1   1  0  0   28  23  +5    3
 4 Delaclava                           1   0  1  0   29  29   0    1
   Dryicor                             1   0  1  0   29  29   0    1
 6 Union Europae                       1   0  0  1   23  28  −5    0
 7 Sylestone                           1   0  0  1   24  31  −7    0
 8 Jeckland                            1   0  0  1   21  30  −9    0

The first RP prompt for the upcoming matchday has to do with the sport - how popular is handball in your nation? Are your players professionals? Is the World Cup shown on TV? Are fans coming to Savojarna?

Note that following the RP prompt does not affect your bonus, it is simply a device to foster inspiration.

[Kriegiersien]

*Interviewer standing with camerman at the handball court.*
"Is my hair ok? God, why do I get the boring interviews, I am working 3 months now already in this f..... oh, there is the scorer of the deciding goal for Kriegathink, can we get him?
....Great."

*waving to a player*
Hello. Mr. Gorilla, Gregor Gorilla?
*whispering* Really? That is his name? Ok.

*big, square-shouldered man shaking hand*
Gregor Gorilla: Hello.
Interviewer: Wow. Nice grip. You just scored the winning goal against The Jovannic. How do you feel?
GG: It was a great moment. We have waited so long to play at the World Cup and that is now a great start for our small association. That the team won is important, not that I scored the last goal to win it.

You are from Krie..gearstan...
..Kriegiersien.
Yes. How popular is handball in your nation?
Honestly, until our ladies became Olympic champion it was a very small sport. Outside the Olympics nobody really cares. We have an amateur league with only some million members, what is pretty small for our nation compared to other sports.
Are you players professionals? You for instance?
No, we have amateur leagues at the Top and it is really costly and difficult to travel to the finals every year. Without our sponsor, thank you Nuki ColaTM, we would have hard times to play at all. I am working as a construction worker. And there is no big media coverage.
Is the World Cup shown on TV in Krie...your nation?
With the Olympics going on at the same time I think there will only be summaries of our games in the news, maybe if wie reach the final they will show us live...*smiles* Most of our fans here are family members.
Are fans coming to Savojarna?
Well, my mom is here. *waves to an older lady* But for most the trip is too expensive. I mean, you know how far away Kriegiersien is from Savojarna..
No, not really.
Me neither, but it was a long travel... even thoug I slept most of the time.
Ok. What are your goals? Do you think you can win this?
Everything is possible. But I think we are underdogs.
Thank you. Good luck for the next games.

*Gregor stomps away*

Ok, can we now get someone handsome? Or someone angry from The Jovannic?

[Abanhfleft]

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ABANHFLEFT
NATIONAL HANDBALL TEAM

This is the seventh time that Abanhfleft will be participating in an international handball tournament. Handball is quite an obscure sport in the Democratic Republic, with no professional league established, and the handball department in the Commission on Sports and Games is occupied only by two men working out of a plastic table. But no matter about its obscurity within the country itself. Handball has got a few lifelong and die-hard practitioners scattered throughout the country, and the Commission has managed to get hold of fourteen of the best of them, along with a handball coach to lead them, and they are now about to embark on a journey to claim some honor for both their sport and their country once again. The national team almost won it all when Abanhfleft hosted the Handball World Cup, but Savojarna proved too tough a contest even on home soil, and after a poor showing in Mytanija, this is an entirely new team about to compete for another shot at the Handball World Cup. Who knows how this journey will end though?

BASIC INFORMATION
Name of nation: Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft
Demonym: Fleftic
Team colors: Blue, orange, and green
Style modifier (if applicable): +2.0
Head coach: Robson Juarez (57 y/o, Abanhfleft)

STARTERS
GK: Keaton Summers (25 y/o, male)
RB: Carisa Tarnowski (28 yo, female)
CB: Patrick Turner (29 y/o, male)
LB: Laquanda Drapeau (25 y/o, female)
RW: Kayden Shaw (24 y/o, male)
CF: Adonis Vinson (25 y/o, male)
LW: Ewan Hawkins (27 y/o, male)

SUBSTITUTES
GK: Sheila Johnson (30 y/o, female)
RB: John Allison (26 y/o, male)
CB: Connor Clarke (23 y/o, male)
LB: Kian England (29 y/o, male)
RW: Zac Grant (19 y/o, male)
CF: Nikolai Gamble (31 y/o, male)
LW: Karly Cramer (21 y/o, female)

RP PERMISSIONS
Anything except killing is fair game, although if you've got something wild in mind, drop a TG to me first, and we'll talk about it.

[Kohnhead]

National Kohnhead Handball Team

OOC: Sorry this is after the first set of games

Nation Name: The Galactic Empire of Kohnhead
Shortened Name: Kohnhead
Nation Trigramme: KND
Overall Record: 0-0
Team Info: Handball is actually a pretty popular sport in Kohnhead. While there are no professional leagues like there are in volleyball, basketball, and football, there are quite a few casual leagues that all of these players participate in. Handball is a sport growing in Kohnhead but the team has a lack of chemistry, and will need to sort a few things out if they want to do well.


If my opponent RPs before me, they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Choose Scoring Events: Yes
Godmod Scoring Events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out 2 minute suspensions to my players - Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
Godmod Other Events: Yes (Nothing pandemic related please. If you want to rp a pandemic about your players having a pandemic then my players will never get it due to their sanitation).


Coach: Cherry Merritt (59) (F)
Assistant Coach: Jamie Hurst (42) (M)
Trainer: Evan Sadler (47) (M)

Roster
Starters
(C) GK: Fabien Guerra (33) (M)
CB: Alissa Corbett (29) (F)
RB: Madeline Swift (22) (F)
LB: Leonardo Myers (26) (M)
P: Bill Herring (20) (M)
RW: Simon Anthony (31) (M)
LW: Beau Parra (24) (M)

Subs
GK: Javier Mcphee (18) (M)
CB: Killian Sharp (23) (M)
RB: Cecil Bevan (25) (F)
LB: Coby Ingram (20) (M)
P: Charley Forrest (26) (M)
RW: Greta Welch (29) (F)
LW: Angela Dennis (32) (F)


Style Mod (if that's a thing): +2

[Nagore]

GOALKEEPERS
Samantha Breslin (24) [Desoto Dolphins]
Tabitha Decotteri (21) [Monterey Mystics]

BACKS
Vivian Ho (28) [Santico Surge]
Rachel Roberts (27) [Santico Surge]
Malia Buxley (25) [Veranto Vixens]
Braylen Bryant (22) [Simmons Peak Stampede]
Malinda Martinez (25) [Blacksmouth Bombers]
Hannah Proctor (21) [Trodega Terrors]

FORWARDS
Jasmine Harkness (25) [Avery City Angels]
Tiffany Rhodes (27) [Trodega Terrors]
Natalie Teems (29) [Dowler Dragons]
Catharine McKee (23) [Veranto Vixens]
Diamond Dixon (24) [Coterra Currents]
Trinity Shields (30) [Requin Bay Riot]

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
Choose My Goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Yes
Injure Players: Yes
Godmod Injury Events: No
Red Card Players: Yes
Yellow Card Players: Yes
Godmod Other Events: No

[Sarzonia]

Unlike some of the sports Sarzonia was best known for, team handball suffered badly during Sarzonia's lengthy absence from international competition.

Oh, there was definitely an effect on the other sports. Football suffered from the loss of the Cyanea Joint League as Delaclava fell into a period of unrest and its own period of isolation. The Sarzonian Football Confederation had to absorb eight teams that had been in the top flight CJL and figure out how to accommodate them in their schedule. Their proposed merger with the Sarzonian Football League, where the women's football league would join the men's league under the SFL moniker, completely collapsed.

Sarzonian ice hockey also suffered from the loss of international attention and revenue and the two competing leagues merged to stave off massive financial losses, birthing the Sarzonian Ice Hockey League. The Incorporated Basketball League and Sarzonian Basketball Leagues merged into the Incorporated Sarzonian Basketball Association. The Sarzonian Team Handball League folded after a 48 percent drop in revenue from advertising.

The players who had been plying their trade internationally or domestically coalesced around semipro leagues throughout Sarzonia, but the support to try creating another league just wasn't there. The best players gathered around Joyce Rodham, who was selected as the manager of the Handball World Cup team representing Sarzonia.

She had a major task on her hands. Katie Sampson already paved an important road for her as the Aussie Rules Football team manager. She was the first female Sarzonian coach of a predominantly male team and she led her charges to a title. Rodham wouldn't have the additional burden of being first, but she would still be a pioneer as a female manager of a team in an established sport. The Stars would lose their opening match to Equestria 30-27, beginning some Chirping by some of the outlying extremist misogynists in Sarzonia that a woman wasn't equipped to serve as a manager of a predominantly male team.

"Katie Sampson won a World Cup in Aussie Rules footy. STFU," one Chirper commented.

"That don't count you pussy-lover," came one retort.

Once again, the Stars and the future of the sport would ride on a ragtag team sent to represent a sport that was trying to find footing in the country.

They didn't get off to the greatest start against Equestria, as the sight of anthropomorphic horses playing a sport called handball was a bit much for the younger players to deal with. Following the match, Rodham took what may be an unusual step for a Sarzonian national team manager. She explained to her charges that they may see anything from horses playing handball to anthropomorphic trees (yes, that has happened before!) to football players aged somewhere in the triple digits.

"You never know what you're going to be up against," she said. "About the only thing that wouldn't be out of the ordinary is a knockout round matchup against Delaclava."