World Cup 86: Roleplay Thread

[Xanneria]

Xanneria has it's lobster and eats it too!
exceptfrom http://www.xtrasports.xan/nationalteam.htm

DOMINICA CITY - It was a brilliant game and saw the Xannerian Maroons tie a record they tied just last year int he Campianato Esportiva. a 5-0 victory against HAIKU saw a Bray Feltzer breakout game as he got a hat trick and his back up Carlton Brower got two additional goals in as a thorough domination of HAIKU took place. It's been a weird week for the Maroons, coach Rhule once again talked out of his mouth and on to the paper of many footballing tabloids of the world when in a fit of disappointment he said how much he'd like to treat the players of the Blouman Empire like Lobsters.

I am not in a good mood right now after this game. I'd very much like to snack on some Lobster right now. Though I'd also like to send all of the Blouman players into that boiling pot of water too, while we're at it.

Blouman more or less shut down the Maroons, and with the teams history in the last qualifiers where Blouman stole points off of the Maroons, it's definitely on Rhules mind, that Blouman is being a pest, a word Rhule used to describe the Blouman team. Against Haiku at home though everything went flawlessly. A beautiful game played by beautiful people.

The Water cooler talk last week though surrounded another game, A weird game in Esportiva took place, when Zeta Reka and Hugledom tied the god tier team known as Starblaydia. THis group 16 game ended at a score of 6-6, when Jewel Madison hit a frantic long bomb dropped on goalie Zlatko Wukowić that had to go under the reviewers knife. Then at the last second the Starblaydian team equalized on a 90th minute a thrilling game that will be labled an instant classic. Not only that but the Starblaydians scored the 4000th goal on a thrill from Lucian Damocles. In the end both only ended up with a point for that grueling score fest.

BLOUMAN EMPIRE - 1
Frelton - 47'

XANNERIA - 0
---

XANNERIA - 5
Feltzer 11' 18' 59' 
Brower 67' 88'

HAIKU - 0
---

[Chromatika]

World Cup 86 Qualifying Matchday 1:

Score: Quakmybush 2-1 Chromatika
Goal: Thibodeaux '34
Starting XI: Tioux; Chapman - Will - Ken - Rowles; Kelly - Zuniga - Dragana (C); Gail; Sierra - Thibodeaux.
Substitutes: De Saint-Pierre -> Rowles ('51), Bird -> Sierra ('74), Kim, M.S. -> Zuniga ('86)

World Cup 86 Qualifying Matchday 2:

Score: Chromatika 1-0 The Gothanita Isles @ Jewel Dome
Goal: Ken '44
Starting XI: Tioux; Chapman - Will - Ken - Rowles; Kelly - Zuniga - Dragana (C); Gail; Sierra - Thibodeaux.
Substitutes: Friedman -> Will ('56), Reynolds -> Dragana ('69), Non -> Thibodeaux ('77)

---

Now with Video!

As Kimi Jin walked up to a saloon known as The Emerald in Ming, she couldn't help but be nervous. The Barbed Inn had been a rather great place to be for the draw, but the subsequent time in the small dive bar called Blue's Blows in Chromia for Matchday 1 hadn't been the greatest. It didn't help that the team had lost - Dina Chapman's gaffe would be talked about for days to come - but the crowd there was a bit rowdy, a bit uncouth, and altogether way too serious about the game to provide much of an audience to speak to, and with.

Knowing that Ming would be the first city to host an opponent this World Cup was very interesting. Ming, the little city that had kind of come out of nowhere in the last three years. Ming, whose football team was doing way better than it should' be. Ming, whose very stadium - called Jeweled Dome - spoke of importance, of affluence, of wealth. Such a combination may throw some people off, but Kimi knew that ultimately, Mingans were good, hardworking people, and their wealth didn't have much to do with their character, rumors be damned.

Kimi did her research this time, looking through all the reviews online and even calling up few of her contacts in Ming to make sure that the saloon that she would be going to would be one where people gathered to enjoy the game and each other. She lucked out - The Emerald was a beauty. A medium-sized bar with fifteen or so tables that specialized in Franco-Asian fusion food, it was a popular location but only for those who were in the know. It wasn't The Red Bead or Bruno's Haven, two of the bigger joints in Ming, but it had its loyal following.

Calling the Owner - a jovial man named Marcus Aurelius III - for permission to come and film was easy. Marcus, it turned out, was a big fan of The Rebel, and was overjoyed to have his "favorite sports network" come and film reactions during the game while also hosting her and her crew. She actually had to insist that she'd pay for the show to be present and for the food and drinks of her crew; he tried to give it all away for free, but Chromatik broadcasting law forbade that.

The Emerald was a beautiful place - everything was in shades of green, the bar was in an wide-open area, and there were motifs and decorations to put one's mind at ease. Walking in, Kimi noticed a flier on the wall that stated that she'd be coming. She hadn't been expecting that, but as the first installments of Kimi's corner - known as "Anomalies in Chromatika" - had already aired, it wasn't too much of a surprise.

A trio of patrons were at the bar already, and she noticed that all three of them had Chromatik NT jerseys on. What was interesting, though, were the names on the jerseys' backs. A blonde, think woman with piercing blue eyes wore a jersey saying "Stef" on the back. The second, a petite Asian woman, proudly wore one saying "Antonio". And the last, a balding man in a wheelchair, sported an away kit with the name "Thorben".

These were fans that had been around for a long time, and Kimi gravitated toward them.

Identifying herself as Kimi Jin from The Rebel, she had no problem in getting permission to film them, and gathered their names: Ostricia Kalanov, Mi-Hae Park, and Julliard Daron.

Checking the clock - five minutes before The Gothanita Isles and Chromatika would enter the Jewel Dome - Kimi asked her first question: "Why the specific jersey on your back?"

Julliard was first. "Nikolai Thorben was the best keeper this nation has ever had. If he hadn't sailed off with the Sunrise Islands, he'd have had many more tournaments. Look at who's come since - Jillian Nier and Mia Ria - both of them have been greatly impacted by Nikolai. His younger sister, Molly, is still on the team. It won't be until when Ferret Tioux takes over that the impact of Nikolai will not be as keenly felt, and that is why I still honor his memory."

Mi-Hae added, "Gabriella Antonio is an inspiration. Selfless, hard-working, and just doing her job, she quit her career to have a family. The guts it takes to do that should be respected, and I love a woman who knows how to take control of her own life. I hope we hear more from her children sometime in the future, whether they play for Chromatika or Cosumar. In an era where Chromatika didn't have superstar strikers or wingers, she did her job in creating one or two chances per game to score, and she was also a natural born leader. What a person."

Ostricia was a bit hesitant. "Not many people remember anyone in the back line in Chromatika's early days of international football than Luuk Aart and maybe Erika Morningstar," she started, "But I really think we should appreciate the likes of Lucjusz Stef, Valence Ilya, and Zlastica Ellen some more. I normally wear Ellen's, but it actually has a hole in it that I'm getting patched, so I am representing Stef today. Back then, the defense was what defined our squad, and Lucjusz wasn't someone who shied away from contact or doing the dirty work. A consummate professional."

Kimi nodded, happy that the three were willing to discuss the question in such detail. "Do you three all support Ming in the Red League?"

The two women turned around to look at Julliard a bit nervously before nodding. He added in his gruff voice, "I don't. This is my retirement home, but for twenty years I lived in Felswyr working at the ski resorts, so I am, for better or for worse, a Frostie. Though it's fun to watch another small town team doing well, I'll admit."

The four of them then watched the national anthems be played, as well as a small speech from Keri Wyse Aart welcoming the World Cup Qualifiers to Chromatika. Then, the talk turned to the starting lineups.

"Dina is better than that error, and I really hope she holds her head up," stated Ostricia with a note of concern, "Honestly I think it was the midfield that struggled the most in the game at Quakmybush - I counted at least four missed connections between Jazmin and Kateryn."

"True," noted Julliard, "But choosing to pass backward at that moment when Tioux wasn't looking? Bad timing, if you ask me."

"Nobody is disagreeing with that," intercepted Mi-Hae before Ostricia could reply, "But hopefully it was just first-game jitters and this group of twenty-three chosen by Velens will grab us that victory. No more of that 0-0-4 nightmare, thank you."

It was clear that everyone was steel reeling from the previous cycle.

The first fifteen minutes of the game was entertaining, with Chromatika getting three chances - the best by Rowena Sierra - and The Gothanita Isles containing them at every turn.

"Do you think The Gothanita Isles are having an easier time of things here because they were in Chromatika for the Baptism of Fire?" asked Kimi to the trio.

"That is certainly possible," stated Julliard, clenching his fist as another Whitney Kelly pass missed a connection with Ignace Thibodeaux by mere inches, "But really, I think that any nation that has just participated in the Baptism of Fire is in better form than those that didn't. Not that they're better than the more established nations, no; but the ones that went far in the tournament like TGI have had some time to work out the kinks and know what is working for them. That is an advantage that shouldn't be underestimated."

Five minutes later, Ostricia was furious about a missed call from the referee. "How is that not a yellow and a free kick?" she exclaimed, "Remus McQueen absolutely aimed for Miranda's foot!"

Mi-Hae and Julliard agreed with her, and the trio went off about other bad calls that they'd seen in the past, as the game continued.

In the forty-fourth, Rowena Sierra's foray into TGI's final third resulted in a corner from the left side. Jazmin Dragana took the kick - a bender - and Giles Ken, all 6 ft, 3 inches of his form - jumped higher than the defenders next to him to get it into the net past Thulile Bolkvadze, who could only look on.

Absolute pandemonium erupted in the bar. High-fives, cheers, and hugs were shared. "That's my boy!" shouted Julliard, his voice getting a bit hoarse, "I knew he could score off of headers! I knew that this squad could have some more firepower from its defenders!"

"It's true," admitted Mi-Hae breathlessly, beaming, "He (Julliard) has been complaining for the last two cycles that Chromatika should be scoring a lot more off of set pieces with the kind of wizardry that our experienced wingers can do."

As the match continued into the second half and its started to dawn on everyone that The Gothanita Isles wasn't going to concede another goal, conversation turned to other topics. (It helped that Ferret Tioux was kept clean for most of the match - The Gothanita Isles managed four shots in goal, and only one was a proper attempt.)

"What do you think about how far football in Chromatika has come?" inquired Kimi as the Isles cleared yet another attack by the Anomalies.

"When I first started watching this team - back when I was a Dark Green - I knew we were in for something special. The way they carried themselves, the way that Franscisca Larriet-Cortes - God rest her soul - spoke at all press conferences... I knew that we were in for something big. Look at Chromatik football now - sure, we've had some lumps recently, but we have a domestic system with over a hundred teams, players from all over the world, players playing in clubs all over the world... We even hosted the AOCAF a few cycles ago and the most recent Baptism of Fire. No, as Chromatika rises from its past ashes, its football rises with it - and the way that the sport has impacted the country, it will remain a part of its lifeblood for generations to come."

The two women next to Julliard could only nod, taken aback with emotion due to the statement.

Though the game wasn't over, Kimi decided to cut the shot there. Thankfully, there weren't many highlights to follow, as the Anomalies preserved the one-goal victory.

Sometimes, as a journalist, you knew when you had something that was potent, that was golden; Julliard Daron's statement - that of a ski resort worker from Felswyr, now retired in Ming - was one such occurrence. Nobody had asked him to praise the country or the sport - his statement was heartfelt, genuine, raw, and most of all, real.

Perhaps that was why her corner existed. To enjoy Chromatik football yes - but also to share the stories of the fans.

Kimi Jin walked out of The Emerald in Ming, proud to be a journalist.

---

Team Selection
MD3: @ Blouman Empire
MD4: vs. Free Republic of Hong Kong @ Anomaly Tower, Chromia (Cap. 110,320; 42,350 Seats)
Starting XI: Williams; Watt - Rondeau - Odling - Nocturne; Humphreys - Dias - Croix-Pierre; Kuzami; Andisori, B. (C) - Yuan.
Bench: Alexander, De Saint-Pierre, Friedman, Baugh, Austic, Marc, Kim, M.S., Han, Kim, M.J., Sierra, Bird, Thibodeaux.

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|
World Cup 86 Qualifiers

A QUESTIONABLE START
Matchdays 1 & 2 Review:
Minarchist Free State (Estádio das Ladeiras, Madeira - Att: 29 920);
Terre Septentrionale (Stadion Hydro-Polnocna, Trzebiegoszcz - Att: 50 034)

The sunny shores of Madeira welcomed New Lusitania's start to World Cup 86 at the Estádio das Ladeiras against the unranked Minarchist Free State. Traveling out to the island had been a problem due to a front which delayed their arrival by a day and a half, by which the conditions were perfect meaning some problems in terms of rest and logistics right at the beginning of the Marathon.
Atop the insular hills the cycle began to a surprise. The first half saw a team comprising some more secondary players such as Sá, Ferradura or Trinca and the bench featured some of the extended Call-up. Grilo's team may of underestimated the Minarchist side considering how even the match was. The adversary had managed to conquer way too much ground in this first game and it seemed to have given some troubles to the Selecção. With a goal scored in the thirty-seventh minute, the team switched to a 4-3-3 featuring Nogueira along side Leiteiro. Despite a strong showing from the three used substitutes (Nogueira, Paciência and Palhagueira) the fact was that the national team were finding it hard to find shots on target, not finding any way through the middle and lacking some width in the final third. Despite working in the IAC and against HUElavia in an extremely competitive and rivalry of a friendly. The opposition seemed to have done their homework and whilst by the end of the match things were back to normality, the Minarchist Free State's goalkeeper managed to just about clinch them their first three points in their first match. Later in the interviews, Grilo said that "there was no excuse for such a defeat, at home and so unexpectedly. I'd say we didn't underestimate them much considering that these players had done well in the previous matches, even if it wasn't the main squad as the press might expect, which due to the complicated start of the domestic season, I decided to rest some." As to exactly why they failed, the coach mentioned "some problems in play build-up and defending but considering we found our footing there in the final half-hour, I get the feeling they're all now finding their pace with all the new changes and that with some better finishing we'll be a fighting team this time."
Captain Fernando also shared the blame commenting "we just didn't do anything close to enough today but I can guarantee to our country that will definitely fight for our colours and we'll bounce back"
Some of the press and the fans didn't see it that way however, labelling this first World Cup-sanctioned match as a bit of an embarrassment. With the second matchday only a few days away however the team could have a chance to put the water under the bridge. The following match was Terre Septentrionale away meaning that some fans now were already completely doubting the new coach despite the respectable IAC, with another defeat coming if play resumed around the same. For the players, coaches, staff and team it was a a true shot at redemption meaning that upon arrival in Trzebiegoszcz, the challenge was on. Patríce in goal for the first time with Vinagrete, Leiteiro, Nogueira and Cancela in defence, the midfield consisting of Azinheira, Fernando, Horta and Veiga in midfield as Jota and Silveira played up front. The main team, even if some were shocked by the decision of using a 4-3-3 instead of a 3-5-2 insisting on this new formation seeing the team play much wider.
The first twenty minutes restored confidence for the considerable amount of visiting away fans with plenty of classic Lusitanian football at its best with a great shot rattling the bar after a powerful kick by Silveira. The new 4-3-3 was seemingly working as the ball was being fed upfront with good efficiency. The first goal was seen just before halftime with Daniel Jota heading the ball in from a corner taken by Horta. It was a tough one to get to but he managed to direct it in the right way to open New Lusitania's qualifying tab at 1-0. After half-time, the Northmen got it level again as Kolodziejcyk got a great volley smashing it in, leaving very little to be done to stop it. Despite great chances and battles by both sides, the game would be settled with a winning shot by Veiga, who after receiving the ball from Gama ran up and curved it hard and low into the back of the net with fifteen minutes to go.
The first three points of the cycle would be extremely valuable especially against a team like this, making some confidence and ground up from the incident. The standings now so New Lusitania in fourth, unofficially joint third, with all goals square. Nephara unsurprisingly led the group after an easy win to Hwiccemark (4-1) and a complicated match at Unimon (3-4) with Sharktail on the same points beating said team by 3-1 and then the Minarchists by 2-4, someway like the Lusitanians should have done some fans might say. Terre Septentrionale also have points on the board after a win in the first match against Mavinet (4-2), who have since beaten Damukuni (5-1), making it a group of high margins and goal scoring. They in turn beat Havynwilde 2-4 in matchday one with the aforementioned team being the only other team with points on the board following a win to Hwiccemark, who along with a hard-working, Unimon have yet to score. New Lusitania face Mavinet and Sharktail, one of which has shown plenty of quality and the other plenty of "bite", being one of two teams who are without a loss of points, meaning these next two games are pivotal, as always on the road to the World Cup.

Goals> Silveira (1), Veiga (1)
Assists> Horta (1), Gama (1)

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STL
Official Broadcasters of the World Cup.
Follow the Selecção's road here!
MMXX (in association with FLF)

[Oberour Ar Moro]

One seldom-discussed way Oberour fans would involve themselves in sports was through song.

Singing or chanting are not uncommon sounds from the stands in sports such as football. For example, fans from Rangers FC had crowd songs that referenced other footballing nations. And a Pluvia and the Saxean Isles fan group known as "The Dastardly Curse" chanted the Pluvian rhyme "One for Sorrow" at their matches.

Oberour fans, particularly at the Parade Grounds in World Cup qualification matches, could go above and beyond this. In some matches for the entire 90 minutes you could hear a large group of Oberours attempting to impart their will on the matches with never-ending singing. A full accounting today of the Oberour football song book may not be able to be completed at this time, but in going back through older Oberour Ar Moro matches certain common songs, and their meanings, can be determined.

Why song? Why singing? One theory connects football fan culture with older Azorian sailing (and pirate kingdom) culture, where sea shanties were a form of work song that accompanied labor on board large vessels. One prominent example of this is the song known as The Dead Horse, an actual sea shanty adapted for football use.

A poor old man came riding by
And we say so, and we hope so
A poor old man came riding by
Oh, poor old man.

Says I, "Old man, your horse will die."
And we say so, and we know so
And if he dies we'll tan his hide
Oh, poor old man.

And if he don't we'll ride him again.
And we say so, and we know so
And I'll ride him until the Lord knows when
Oh, poor old man.

He's as dead as a nail in the lamp-room door
And we say so, and we hope so
And he won't come worrying us no more
Oh, poor old man.

This song was often to celebrate an opponent being beaten handily (like a dead horse, as it were). One such example of this came during World Cup 86, where Oberour fans could be heard on Antenne Sports broadcast of the qualification-opening match against Libonesia singing the song rather lustily, even if the performance was not as one-sided as this might indicate.

Another predecessor might be the drinking song, again a relic of the Azorian era that fell out of fashion during the time of the Dominion. The most prominent example of this would be the song "Sea of Rum".

Saint Michael, the archangel
Came down and he ran out the devil
The devil went and hid in a fishing town
Now he lives on the beach off Lanvre Sound

And he plays his drums by the sea of rum
He sits in the sun all day, watching ships sail away
And Michael would put him back in the ground
But he won't find the devil in Cyrene town

The popularity in a crowd of fans centered in Regium of a song with religious tones that also dismisses the city of Cyrene as nothing more than a fishing town is easy to understand. But popular fan songs were not always of these types. Rather, they often adopted parts of popular music for particular emotional or psychological purposes. Parade Ground crowds would often begin games with this four line song:

In a dead end street in Regium
I finished my bottle all alone
Where I'll end up well I just don't know
Another dead end in Regium

The purpose of this song seems to be entirely for intimidation, almost threatening, the opposing team and any unfortunate fans coming from outside Oberour Ar Moro. Another example of this genre is this high-energy song, often paired with enthusiastic jumping in the stands:

Ain't nobody bringing us
Down, down, down, down, down, down
They could try it but we're gonna wear the crown
You could go another round
Round, round, round, round, round, round
Wish you luck, but you're not bringing us down

We go hard, 'til we get it, get it
We go hard, we so in it, in it
We Oberours, only winning, winning now
Ain't nobody bringing us down, down, down, down

However, as early Oberour Ar Moro multiversal football could often be unsuccessful, fans also had a collection of negative songs, reflecting disappointment and unhappiness with their home team.

Burning bright as I fade away
Just like always
Turning inside out walk away
Just like always
Nothing ever goes the right way
Nothing ever comes out my way

All the sounds are turning around
Just like always
All the hounds are gathering round
Just like always
Nothing ever comes out my way
Nothing ever comes out my way

This rather self-pitying song seemed to be reserved for later in matches where the Dragoons were perceived to have gone to pieces. One wonders if the gathering hounds are the fans encircling the pressured Oberour national team players.

The most interesting of these songs, at least in my eyes, is the song "The Highest Judge of All".

Take me beyond the pearly gates,
Through a beautiful marble hall,
Take me before the highest throne
And let me be judged by the highest judge of all!

Let the Lord shout and yell,
Let His eyes flash flame,
I promise not to quiver when He calls my name;
Let Him send me to hell,
But before I go,
I feel that I'm entitled to a hell of a show!

Want pink-faced angels on a purple cloud,
Twangin' on their harps till their fingers get red,
Want organ music, let it roll out loud,
Rollin' like a wave, washin' over my head.
Want ev'ry star in heaven
Hangin' in the room,
Shinin' in my eyes
When I hear my doom!

Reckon my sins are good big sins,
And the punishment won't be small;
So take me before the highest throne
And let me be judged by the highest judge of all.

Originally written as for the theater as a show stopping number from a Ruladen show, it somehow became adopted as a football crowd song. While it shares some religious themes with "Sea of Rum", they are strangely self-critical, envisioning the singing fans as sinners in the gaze of an angry God. But it also takes the time to make demands of this God, and so by extension the players on the pitch, for "a hell of a show". This song was occasionally heard in the earliest days of Oberour football, but fell out of style before a return at the very end of qualification of World Cup 86 qualification.


From “The Twelfth Man: Fan and Crowd Culture in Oberour Ar Moro” by Claire l’Aignel published in “Oberour Cultural Quarterly”

OOC: Songs referenced are The Dead Horse, Sea of Rum, Dead End in Tokyo, Pop/Stars, Hounds, and The Highest Judge of All. Consider this an open invitation to have Oberour crowds sing other songs as well if you so choose.

[The Orion Islands]

Acting Manager Caleb Rennell has revealed his starting eleven for the match against Murphtannia and the game against Savojarna. He has been given freedom by the Orionite Soccer Football Association to begin to manage the team in his own manner. This fuels further speculation that Thad Chase will shortly be fired. The SFA appears to have advised Chase to avoid any public comment on the spitting incident and it has not made any public comment on the incident either. The OBC has also learned that fullback Manuel Oliver was not present at the match against Mercedini. A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that Oliver was prevented by the Orionite Bureau of Investigation from leaving the country on the grounds that he was a person of interest in an ongoing criminal investigation and was deemed a flight risk. No criminal charges have been filed as of today. Rennell's starting eleven for Murphtannia are:
GK Clinton Maxwell
DF Arnold Howard (Starting center back)
DF Randall Hunter (Starting center back)
DF Marcus Silva (Starting full back)
DF Lloyd Barnes (Starting full back)
MF Luke Simpson (Starting center midfielder)
MF Craig Ferguson (Starting center midfielder)
MF Nicolas Reese (Starting side midfielder)
MF Rudy Bowman (Starting side midfielder)
FW Damon Henderson (Starting forward)
FW Steven Keller (Starting forward)
This is the exact same lineup used against Mercedini. It appears that Rennell has confidence in this team, witch played together very well and is very fired up. Rennell has declared that he may play Dewey Curtis if Maxwell gets tired or ineffective in goal. Herman Boyd may also make an appearance to get him some playing time. Rennell has indicated that Boyd has potential. Fans of the Championship club Archipelago FC have seen the talent, and it appears that someone in power has noticed.
Against Savojarna:
GK Clinton Maxwell
DF Arnold Howard (Starting center back)
DF Randall Hunter (Starting center back)
DF Marcus Silva (Starting full back)
DF Lloyd Barnes (Starting full back)
MF Luke Simpson (Starting center midfielder)
MF Herman Boyd (Starting center midfielder)
MF Nicolas Reese (Starting side midfielder)
MF Rudy Bowman (Starting side midfielder)
FW Damon Henderson (Starting forward)
FW Steven Keller (Starting forward)
Rennell will start Herman Boyd in a major game for the first time, seeing that Archipelago has never played in the Premiership and has never placed in a position to be promoted or relegated. The match against Murphtannia will be played at Elizabeth Park, seeing as that Victoria Park is being used by Capital RFC for its crosstown rivalry against Westley Veva RFC.

[Terre Septentrionale]

Terre Septentrionale plays four friendlies

Ville Jacques-Cartier, DC - Before the qualifications kick off, Terre Septentrionale played four friendlies. Here's a recap.

Friendly 0
Terre Septentrionale 4–1 Northwest Kalactin
Goalscorers: Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa, Rodolphe Giroux, Sandie McCracken, Sandrine Fontaine
Starting XI: Vainqueur - Pietrzkiewicz - Skrzeszewski - Brzezanczyk - Normandin - Tkocz - Fontaine - Kolodziejczyk - Giroux - Cwierczakiewiczowa - McCracken

Friendly 1
Drunk People at the Local Tavern 3–3 Terre Septentrionale
Goalscorers: Tymoteusz Swierczewski, Zvonimir Kordic, Yannick Ksiezniakiewicz
Starting XI: O'Byrne - Niedzwiecki - Skrzeszewski - Zaborowska - Normandin - Ksiezniakiewicz - Swierczewski - Kolodziejczyk - Waclawczyk - Kordic - McCracken

Friendly 2
Terre Septentrionale 1–2 Poafmersia
Goalscorers: Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk
Starting XI: Kasprzak - Niedzwiecki - Skrzeszewski - Brzezanczyk - Jedrzejczyk - Ksiezniakiewicz - Fontaine - Giroux - Waclawczyk - Cwierczakiewiczowa - McCracken

Friendly 3
Vdara 2–2 Terre Septentrionale
Goalscorers: Roksana Kolodziejczyk, Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa
Starting XI: Vainqueur - Niedzwiecki - Zubrowska - Brzezanczyk - Normandin - Ksiezniakiewicz - Fontaine - Kolodziejczyk - Waclawczyk - Cwierczakiewiczowa - Kordic

Katarzyna Krzykowska,
La tribune Septentrionale

Terre Septentrionale wins home opener

Prévost, Catherine du Nord - Terre Septentrionale started off the qualifications at home against Mavinet at Stade Chien Géant, in Prévost. Prévost is located north of Ville Jacques-Cartier, on the other side of the bay. It's a 15 minutes ride by ferry or 1 hour and 30 minutes ride by any terrestrial transport (car, bus). The stadium was sold out and one third of the fans in the stadium were from Mavinet. Terre Septentrionale started off on the right foot and attacked at the 8th minute when Élisabeth Normandin dribbled with the ball and passed the ball to Sandrine Fontaine who made a short pass to Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa and it was 1-0 Terre Septentrionale. The Nordiques attacked again at the 27th minutes when Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa kicked the ball and her shot was deflected all over the net by Nguyen Hoang Trung and it's a corner kick. Élisabeth Normandin takes the corner, she kicks the ball in front of the net, Sandie McCracken jumps and heads the ball into the net, Terre Septentrionale is leading 2-0. Ha Van Thao scored for Mavinet at the 42nd minute and Terre Septentrionale's lead is cut to 2-1. This is the score at the halftime.

The Reprezentacja Nordycki scored again at the 53rd minute when Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk passed to Sandrine Fontaine who dribbled with the ball and made a cross to Sandie McCracken who kicks the ball and it's a goal. 3-1 Terre Septentrionale. Mavinet reduced the Northmen's lead with a goal at the 77th minute and it was 3-2. Terre Septentrionale attacked at the 81st when Roksana Kolodziejczyk passed to Tymoteusz Swierczewski who dribbled with the ball just outside the penalty area and he was tackled by Ha Van Thao. Van Thao recieved a yellow card and Terre Septentrionale were awarded a free kick. Roksana Kolodziejczyk takes the free kick, she kicks the ball and it's in! Terre Septentrionale is leading 4-2 and this is the final score.

BOXSCORE

8th minute: Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa assisted by Sandrine Fontaine
27th minute: Sandie McCracken (corner kick)
42nd minute: Ha Van Thao (unassisted)
53rd minute: Sandie McCracken assisted by Sandrine Fontaine
77th minute: Vu Tien Linh assisted by Tran Hoang Minh
81st minute: Roksana Kolodziejczyk (free kick)

YELLOW CARDS

16th minute: Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk
61st minute: Slawomir Skrzeszewski
81st minute: Ha Van Thao

RED CARDS

None

Wlodzimierz Pietruszewski,
Senior writer,
La tribune Septentrionale

Terre Septentrionale loses against main rivals New Lusitania and the Algarves

Trzebiegoszcz, Pomerania - On matchday 2, Terre Septentrionale recieved their main rivals, New Lusitania, at Stadio Hydro-Polnocna. The stadium was almost sold out with an attendance of 50,034 with one third of these fans from New Lusitania. Daniel Jota scored on a corner kick for New Lusitania just before halftime and they were leading 1-0. Terre Septentrionale tied the game at the 58th minute when Slawomir Skrzeszewski made a long pass to Roksana Kolodziejcyk who kicked the ball and it's a goal. It was a great volley goal and the game is tied at 1-1. New Lusitania scored two unanswered goals and they won 3-1. Let's skip the boxscore for this game because we lost it. Élisabeth Normandin (11th minute), Franciszek Niedzwiecki (36th minute) and Przemyslaw Tkocz (87th minute) all recieved yellow cards.

Tied in 3rd place

With a win and a loss, Terre Septentrionale is tied in 3rd place with 6 other teams with 3 points in two games.On matchday 3, the Nordiques will travel to Sharktail before taking on Nephara at home on matchday 4. Sandie McCracken is expected to rest again Sharktail and Zvonimir Kordic will replace her. She should be back on matchday 4 against Nephara.

[Hampton Island]

Three months before the rosters were announced- Phone Conversation

CEO (Stafford City): Hannah, I know you qualified with the team last time out, but we will not be bringing you back this time. Furthermore, we will not be bringing back any of the older players. We are going to do this right, and do it with the best players that the Island has to offer.

Sanders: What the hell? You can’t just do that.

CEO: I am the boss. I can do whatever I damn well please. Good job on your tenure with this team. Maybe another national program will be interested in you somewhere.

Sanders: This is my team, and the fans want to see me and the players that got us to the World Cup have another chance. Some of those players have been working very hard to stay as young and vibrant as they can at their age. You will have a lot of explaining to do to the media concerning that. And don’t forget the explaining to your wife after I show her the tape.

CEO: Again, I will do whatever I want.

Sanders: I guess I will have to show her the tape.

(Conversation ends)

Sanders, to boyfriend: I’m going to have to do it. I’m sorry. He leaves me no choice.

Boyfriend: Is that the blackmail sex tape from two years ago?

Sanders: Yes, I am sorry that this is going to have to go public, but it is inexcusable for me to not to have a chance to manage this team again after qualifying for the World Cup with them last time.

Boyfriend: Hannah, I am sorry.

Sanders: It’s ok.

Boyfriend: No, I am sorry. I threw that flash drive away last year. I thought we were committed to our love together so I didn’t think you would need it.

Sanders (very loudly): You what??? How could you?

Boyfriend: I don’t want you doing the deed with another man to be public.

Sanders: I can’t believe you would just go through my things like that. But now, how I am going to get my job back?

Boyfriend: Well, you can pretend it still exists. Just don’t make another one, please.

(Two weeks later, Phone conversation)

CEO: Why are you calling me?

Sanders: I want my job back.

CEO: Awww, poor Hannah is unemployed. Bitch, you made millions off of me last time out, good riddance.

Sanders: I am sending the flash drive to your wife as we speak. I know you are away so you can’t intercept the mail.

CEO: Ok Hannah, you do that now.

Sanders: She is going to be really mad at you, and get half of what you own in the divorce.

CEO: You need to stop with this shit. There is only one way we are ever going to have a truce. I don’t ever want that going to my wife, but you are not going to have your way. So here is a proposition for you.

Sanders: What?

CEO: You manage the second half with the old fogies. The first half are the top professional players in Hampton Island right now, with the top coach in Hampton Island right now. Whoever gets more points in their half wins, and if I win with the first half you give me 75% of your financial cut from the last World Cup and disappear from Hampton Island soccer forever. You will never release that tape to my wife.

Sanders: And if I win?

CEO: I sell the team to you and retire from it for the same amount of money as that 75% cut I would get.

Sanders: It’s doable. But I am not convinced.

CEO: What more do you want?

Sanders: Security that you cannot sabotage my half.

CEO: I won’t.

Sanders: Not enough. All my games are played in Marquette. Or, no deal and I send the tape.

CEO: You know what, fine. You won’t win anyway.

Sanders: They did it before, they will do it again. If we qualify, best half team progresses. And can play both games in the playoffs if needed.

CEO: That’s good, but the home playoff game, if needed, is played in Stafford City. No matter what.

Sanders: Fine.

CEO: Good, deal.

Sanders: Deal.

[Kandorith]

Shinonome Kyoai - International
News From The Empire

---

The Nation Brings Excitement

Tenkyo, Hayabusa is back in charge and has shown not only the nation, but the world, that he is. The Lotus warriors stand proudly and defiantly as winners over their first games. Kencana and Glazgo have been defeated in a series of matches which is a hopeful sight towards the future of Kandorese football. Hayabusa has been at the rudder for two years now and has shown the world what Kandorese football is all about. No nonsense and unforgiving towards any team which stands and tries to brush off the national team.

In the latest two matches he has once again shown the world what this team is about; stalwart and proud, going towards the final victory. After the win in the Cup of Harmony, the spirit of the Kandorese football team has been unbroken and unwavering. They are here to win a spot in the World Cup. For the world it is a return of the Kandorese team in the World Cup since number 67, for the Kandorese fans it is a rebirth of the proud nation of Kandorith.

Ever since Hayabusa became the manager of the Kandorese team he was a controversial person; everything had to be managed in his very exact way. Where even the Kandorese Football Association was sceptical about him becoming the manager of the national team, he managed to create an atmosphere unknown to the Kandorese crowd. Where before him the Kandorese people were excited about participating in qualifiers; under Hayabusa they saw quarter, half-finals and even a winning final match. Hayabusa build a legacy in the Empire. A legacy he is still building on today.

Currently Kandorith is leading the group; which is bringing back memories of the 67th World Cup, the only time the team qualified for the actual final tournament. Currently ranked 39th in the world, there are few doubts why the Empire should not qualify for the final tournament. The latest matches and the scores have shown just how capable this young team is and how Hayabusa is going to shape the future of football within Kandorith. As usual, the fans of the team are carefully optimistic and will be following the team everywhere the Lotus Warriors go. In the end, one thing is a certainty; Hayabusa and this young team are bringing the Empire to new heights and who knows, will bring the nation into a position of qualifying for the World Cup once again.

[Valladares]

VFA House, Metropolis
5:00 pm

The conference room of the VFA House building, located in the Metropolis suburb of Cerro, was slowly being filled with cameras, microphones, and of course journalists, who were taking their respective seats to hear the second call-up for the Valladar national football team in this World Cup qualifying stages as well as make questions to the team's Dagan coach Jessica Curran, who was already under strong flak following the meagre performance in the first fortnight of qualification that saw La Nacional only get a single point out of six played, throw a 3-goal lead at home against lowly side The holy junta and lose to another rather unimpressive Gopnikea side on the road. The fans were unhappy, and journalism would clearly be ready to capitalize on that to make some stories...and sell drama of course.

At 5:10 pm, 10 minutes after the scheduled hour, the Valladar Football Association's directive led by its chairman François Boudou and manager Curran entered the room and took their seats on the table at the front of the room, facing the journalists gathered. Boudou took the microphone on the table, cleared his throat, and after a brief sound test he started addresing the invited journalists.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to welcome and thank you all for accepting our invitation to participate in this press conference, where we will announce the list of players called up to the Valladar national football team for the next qualifying matches against Blampano and Turori and where you will also have the chance to interview our manager Jessica Curran. Without any further ado, and since we're a bit late which we hope you will excuse us for...let's begin with this activity. Jessica, you may begin with the announcement."

Boudou handed the microphone to Curran, who after drinking some of her glass of water and taking a breath, started her intervention by reading the list of 23 players called up for this double matchday of World Cup qualification. There were no surprises on goal, with keepers Gaviria, Dussan, and Chamoun once again appearing at the squad, while the defense saw the return of defender Martín Delgado to the squad, absent from the matches against The holy junta and Gopnikea. The midfield saw the most adjustements, with until-then untouchables such as Christian O'Brien and Ronald Mickel being out this time, while Alfred Valdivia fell victim to the rotation of strikers being tested by coach Curran this time, making way for the return of Wilfried Baume to the squad. Once the list was read and Curran delivered a few comments on the team selection for this qualifying fortnight, the field for questions was opened, starting with a journalist from Metropolis' biggest newspaper.

"Simon Bills from The Metropolis Herald. Mrs. Curran, as you know things were not off to a good start with Valladares only picking one point out of six in their first two qualifying outings. We would like to know your point of view on what happened in the previous fortnight."

"Thank you for your question Mr. Bills. In my opinion, what happened in the previous matches was a lesson for us all to learn. Some of the players we used in those two matches were new NTers, and it's important that they get used to the experience of a World Cup qualification but I'm not going to justify our mistakes with that. I am aware we made some mistakes we should not be making against teams such as The holy junta and Gopnikea, we lacked some intensity and we allowed the rivals too much freedom to control the ball, especially on our defensive third and during the second halves of both games. Our lack of team chemistry also played a role, especially in the loss in Gopnikea. We've got plenty of room for improvement with this team, but despite the setbacks, we still have plenty of time to correct those mistakes and we will do our best to get back on track as soon as possible in order not to be left far behind by the rest of teams in the group."

"Paula Meza from GOL, Valladares' leading football-only TV channel. We're currently live for our daily newscast and I would like to ask you: out of those two matches, what would you definitely want to be repeated in the upcoming double matchday?"

"Well Paula, I would like to continue having a team with a constant offensive response. We've got an amazing group of strikers, forwards, playmakers and creative midfielders who, despite the results, showed outstanding skills in those matches. The society between Arley Barrios and Thibault Benezet was something quite interesting, and I would like to see that more often. Benezet himself too: if the match against The holy junta had not ended in a draw, he and his hat-trick would have run away with the Man of the Match award. There were some interesting offensive combinations which we could rely in, and I would like to polish them further in order to help us get points and put us closer to our goal."

"Lúcio Figueiredo from Radio-Valladares here, what is the goal behind the idea of the player pool for the qualifiers? That is definitely something that has never been attempted before in this country and therefore we would like to know the implications and motivations behind that decision..."

"Mr. Figueiredo, we've decided to go with a player pool and choose the list of 23 players from it because of two strong reasons: one, because we have identified that in this country there's a great amount of talent that stands out in their teams, leagues, and with their performances but for some reason or another they never manage to make it to the national team and therefore said talent is wasted and dreams are crushed. We want to have a more inclusive team and to achieve that we need to give more players the chance to reach the NT. And two, because the Valladar NT is in the midst of a generational change: the old players will retire sooner than later and we need to start paving the way for the young players that are coming behind them to become part of the team. We also consider that a pool of players to choose from encourages competition, and that fact will encourage the players themselves to get better."

"Hanny Barreiro from The National Kickoff! Coach Curran, what opinion do you have about the next two rivals in this qualifying group, and what could we expect from the team in those matches?"

"Well, Blampano and Turori...regardless of their current positions in the table and the start of their respective campaigns, both are sides that deserve some respect. Blampano entered this qualifying stage as an unranked side, and I must be honest with the fact that we do not know much about them, but the start of qualification has allowed us to start gathering information on them. Their first two matches were against the group's top two seeds, Siovanija & Teusland and Turori, and despite they lost both games, they made a decent effort. As for Turori, well, you all know what Turori represents...one of the multiverse's top seeds with consistent World Cup participation and top players. Despite how opposite both teams can be, you can expect a team that will go out for the win: Blampano is one of those teams we should beat in order to boost our confidence ahead of the crucial matches against our actual rivals in the group, and we're definitely not going out against Turori to park the bus and hide. The tie against The holy junta and the defeat against Gopnikea damaged our calculations from the start, and it is our duty to recover those points as soon as possible."

"And with that, this press conference is over. Once again we would like to thank you all for your attendance, and we look forward to see you next time here at The Home of Valladar Football. Goodnight everyone!"

---

Valladares 4–4 The holy junta
(Benezet 14', 42', 49', Barrios 34; unknown scorers 38', 52', 74', 88')

Valladares: Gaviria - Marrugo, Matheus, Rueda - Rojas, O'Brien, Mickel, Barrios - Valdivia, Alexandre, Benezet
Subbed Out: O'Brien 62', Mickel 74', Barrios 79'
Subbed In: Mariner 62', Betancourt 74', Durmisi 79'
Unused Subs: Dussan, Romero, Hossiner, Démont, Martelli, Vasseur, Germain, Riveros, Chamoun
Manager: Jessica Curran (Cassadaigua)

Stadium: Albert Field, Edmonton
Attendance: 20,000
Weather: 13°C, rainy

Gopnikea 2–1 Valladares
(Gronthell 30', Astarthe 72'; Alexandre 44')

Valladares: Gaviria - Marrugo, Matheus, Rueda - Rojas, O'Brien, Mickel, Barrios - Valdivia, Alexandre, Benezet
Subbed Out: Rueda 61', Rojas 75', Benezet 80'
Subbed In: Démont 61', Martelli 75', Germain 80'
Unused Subs: Dussan, Romero, Hossiner, Mariner, Betancourt, Durmisi, Vasseur, Riveros, Chamoun
Manager: Jessica Curran (Cassadaigua)

Stadium: Stadion z ishm’, Mezzochorda, Gopnikea

VALLADAR NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM SELECTION - MATCHDAY 3 & 4: BLAMPANO/TURORI
Goalkeepers: 1 - Paulo Gaviria (Nacional), 12 - Pierre Dussan (AS Bezieres), 23 - Lucien Chamoun (Fontvielle Impact)
Defenders: 2 - Jair Marrugo (Nacional), 3 - Martín Delgado (Port Sebastian, SCT), 4 - Santiago Rueda (Nacional), 13 - Daniel Brown (Bohemians Metropolis), 14 - Thiago Matheus (Metropolis Alligators), 15 - Geoffrey Démont (Fontvielle Impact)
Midfielders: 5 - Bryan Castillo (Hondo FC, VAL), 6 - Gaëtan Malicki (Syneca AC, SRS), 7 - Ronald Mickel (Kitara Athletic Association, BNJ), 8 - Mateo Padilla (Fontvielle Impact), 16 - Leandro Martelli (Avenida Principal, FFD), 17 - Nick Mariner (Tihon, CMT), 18 - Daniel Lachlant (Club Stein-los, PAS), 19 - Arley Barrios (Myana, CMT)
Forwards: 9 - Wilfried Baume (AC Izotz Zubia, AUD), 10 - Alexandre (Montreal Koreana, QUE), 11 - Thibault Benezet (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 20 - Aymeric Fortin (1830 Cathair FC, AUD), 21 - Aiden Pearson (RGS Athletic, EFL), 22 - Valentin Germain (Crisisbless, NPH)

(OOC: Players 1-11 are starters; 12-23 bench/reserves)

[Recuecn]

Longtime readers of The Beet—a Saltsteadish publication and not the one you're reading right now, we hasten to point out—may remember that in a recent article they predicted that Baggieland would win our group. "It's in their name," The Beet said. "They have this in the bag."

Lol, clever wordplay, we thought. That's a funny joke. Now that we're done laughing at it, we can win this group, just like everyone knows we will. We're assuming you thought something similar. But maybe we shouldn't have put all our eggs in one basket—or bag, as the case may be, although who puts eggs in a bag? Or even a basket, these days. But it turns out Baggieland had a surprise waiting for us, and two matchdays into qualifying, they've let the cat out of the bag. We, the #1 seed for the group, dropped points to them in a draw where they didn't even look that weak. They held their own the entire match, and must be pleased with themselves now, having reached deep into their bag of tricks to also tie their first game against longtime World Cup hopefuls Eastfield Lodge. Meanwhile, if Reçueçn continues to play the way they did against Baggieland, we can expect their coach to be sacked.

Franky Adams' encouragements to his teammates before the game of "Let's get this bag" were apparently not enough to inspire them to greatness. In fact, the biggest story of the match came not during the game, but afterward. Reçueçn was being hosted by Baggieland, and its players packed their bags and caught a flight home the next day. Only hours later, news was coming in that Baggieland had suffered some sort of collapse. For all intents and purposes, the nation no longer exists: an astonishing surprise given that the nation was accomplishing such footballing feats just two days earlier.

Questioned on their experiences unwittingly being in Baggieland so close to its collapse, Reçueçn's players described their time there as 'a mixed bag'. "It seemed like a really nice place," said Gerauld Firaut, team captain. "Unfortunately we couldn't get the win, but if you're asking about everything other than the game, it was all great—at least we thought so until we saw the headlines when we got home."

Questions for national team assistant manager Bonheur Relié were more game-focused. "Reçueçn's defense is famously strong," said one reporter, "but it seemed like our offense couldn't punch its way out of a paper bag. How will you address that moving forward?"

"It's a mistake to say Reçueçn doesn't have a strong offense," said Relié. "We saw that against New Waldensia. Sometimes you have an off day. There's not a good excuse, but sometimes that happens. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm exhausted, so I'm going to go hit the sack."

[Plane of Possibility]

Field of Dreams
Plane of Possibility

Was it possible?

Hope Lamont, keeper of the Planer team for... a few years now, she realized, clutched her head.

Would it be possible to actually Blackmail the Worldbuilder?

It needed the players to play this game for its goals, right? It couldn't do things without them, right? The fact that most of the characters were Tiefling was good, right?

She sent a sending spell to all of her team members, one by one:

[box]I think it is ridiculous that we are tied to this fate. I don't think we should be beholden to this entity. If it needs us, do we really need it? Perhaps we are the ones that hold the power. Are yo with me?[box]

The days of the Worldbuilder getting blind obedience was over. What would await them next?

[Vdara]

A Great Start

Following Vdara’s fantastic victory away at Grand Quebecois, they were now playing at home against a side they had played before. Grand Quebecois may have been simple to beat with Lineup 2 on the pitch, but Fujai are both ranked and strong - and that’s something that’s caught Vdara out before. Anyhow, enough of the pessimism. It’s time for the coverage!

And now, live coverage from Vai Sports 1!

Pre-Lineups Tune

”It’s been a long while since I’ve said this, but welcome back to our live coverage of the most coveted competition in international football! The Campionato Esportiva may have been tough, but the World Cup is a whole new ball game in itself. We’re in the qualifiers, we’re in our third ever World Cup, and we’re at the VdarArena, our home ground! Speaking of home, it’s a place where football is the most adored sport, and it’s a place where over 70% of the population fluently speak English as a second language - which is fantastic news for tourists, immigrants and even diplomats. We’re back in the beautiful nation of Vdara, and I’m sure the football we play against Fujai will be just as beautiful. It’s going to be Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś on the sidelines tonight, as he’s deemed Fujai to be an opponent that might be too tough a side for the youngsters to play against. Anyhow, I’m sure you’ve all had enough of me rambling on about how good Vdara is, and how good this game is going to be. Let’s just cut to the chase and show you the lineup for today!”

(Skip to 1:45 for the lineups tune.)

”Markos Moustakakos starts the match in goals instead of from the sidelines, with David Xeniadis, Nestoras Galanatos and Valentinos Giannakos filling up all three centreback slots. In left wing-back, it’s Tryfon Vlahiades, with Manousos Athanas starting at right wing-back. Moving up the pitch, we have the duo of Kimon Karalas and Anargyros Stamatelis in centre-midfield, with Vangelis Mavroglou starting in the central defensive-midfielder role. Upfront, it’s the youthful and speedy duo of Chirstoforos Lazelis and Nik Cosmidis, with Alexis Fotellis on the bench. It’s a different formation from the last match, and it’s a different squad from the last match, but it’s the same Vdara as before! The stadium is brimming with fans, the players are ready to start, and the match is about to kick off! Don’t be changing the channel now, this match is gonna be a good ‘un!”

In the dressing room, Væñøœrëñbérghüïś seemed confident. Vdara had beaten this side before, and he was sure they’d do it again.

”Right, lads.” Væñøœrëñbérghüïś started, ”Are you all ready to play some football? I hope you are, because this match should be a good game for us. I know we drew with Fujai in the last World Cup, but we did come back to beat them, so I’m pretty sure that we can replicate that victory, no? Anyhow, since I’m pretty confident that y’all are going to seize this game and win it easily, I’m going to cut this team talk here. Let’s get this bread, boys!”

The match report is as follows:

1: The whistle is blown, and the game is underway, and it looks like Vdara are looking to get an early goal from kickoff, as Lazelis seems to have caught out the Fujansk midfielders by running straight past them!
Lazelis takes a shot from range... and it flies past Parekh and gives Vdara an early lead! What a start for Lazelis, and what a start for Oi Magoi!
14: Cosmidis is looking to go forward here, as he skips past Höss with ease. He flicks it towards Lazelis, who flicks it up with his boot and hits it on the volley from range... straight over the net. Goal kick to Fujai.
15: It’s a yellow card for Vangelis Mavroglou, who pushed Michaud after they laughed at Lazelis’ high shot. Bit of an overreaction from Mavroglou there, and now he’s walking on thin ice.
22: Vdara are passing the ball around at the back, and it’s come to Vlahiades, who’s going to make a run down the left-hand side. With sheer pace and agility, he leaves Solstein for dead, and now Veberg stands in his way. Vlahiades tries to lob a pass into the box... and it’s come off of Felland’s back and gone into the net! What a calamity! It’s 2-0 to Vdara, but that’s going to count as an own goal for Anton Felland. How embarrassing, I feel sorry for the person.
29: Michaud has intercepted a pass aimed towards Karalas, and now they’re running for goal. With seemingly nobody to stop them, Michaud continues forward til the edge of the box, where they take a shot... which is saved by Moustakakos. The goalkeeper seems pleased with that save, and he probably should be.
30: Moustakakos quickly launches the ball up the pitch, and it looks like it’ll fall to Cosmidis who hits it on the volley... into the sky. In fact, that’s probably going into orbit. Nik Cosmidis: pioneer of Vdaran space exploration.
41: It’s a corner for Fujai, and it’s going to be Michaud who takes it. Fujai have got quite w few defenders in the box, and that’s who Michaud is seemingly aiming for as they swing a cross into the box... and it’s a lovely volley from Anton Felland! According to my notes, that’s their first goal in the Fujar squad! Fujai have finally got a goal, and it’s a cracker of a goal too!
45: Well, the whistle has blown for halftime, and what a good note to take a break on’ Fujai finally getting a goal back against this strong Vdaran side may have an effect on the morale of the players, and Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś will be looking to prevent that happening.

Back in the dressing room, Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś looked smug. He didn’t even look slightly deterred by that goal from Felland, as he was simply pleased by Vdara’s hold of the game so far.

”Right, lads. It’s time for the team talk. The almighty halftime team talk. Sometimes feared, but mostly enjoyed. Most of you will remember my rant when we were 6-0 down to HUElavia, haha! Anyhow, that was some good football you guys played for those 45 minutes. I’d like to see you do that all over again in the second half, to be quite frank. I don’t even think I need to keep talking, just get out there and kick the ball!”

46: Well, the game has started back up, and it’s Fujai who will kick off.
54: Karalas has received the ball in the middle of the park, and he’s chosen to try and flick it on towards Cosmidis. However, his pass has been intercepted, and hence that attacking move has died down almost instantly.
62: Hellem is putting the Vdarans under quite a lot of pressure, and they’re looking to intercept quite a lot of passes. The Vdaran defenders are hard to intercept, however, and the passes just continue getting to their destination.
64: It’s a penalty for Vdara! A long shot from Karalas ricocheted off of Hammeren’s hand, and the referee has pointed to the spot almost immediately! It’s going to be Vlahiades to take it, as he places the ball on the spot and takes a few steps back. Vlahiades runs towards the ball... and slots it straight into the top left corner! A calm, composed penalty from Vlahiades puts Vdara 3-1 up!
66: Fujai are looking to reply to that goal with one of their own, as Michaud is trying to work their way through the Vdaran defence. Before they can make the pass towards Hellem, however, he’s tackled by Giannakos and the ball back in Vdara’s possession.
72: It’s a free kick to Vdara! Jorg brought Cosmidis down just outside the box, and a free kick has been given. Vlahiades is already looking to take it. Can Vdara put this game to bed... yes, they can! Vlahiades curls his free kick straight into the top right corner to make it 4-1, and this game is well and truly over!
85: Cosmidis has intercepted a pass towards Solstein, but he’s managed to put a foot on top of the ball while running and trip over it. I’ve been there before, and it can be a bit embarrassing to have happen to you, especially in front of such a big crowd.
90: Well, the ref has blown his whistle for the last time today, and Vdara have won two consecutive games by three-goal margins! The squad can definitely be proud of their performance, as this game was great to watch.

VDARA - 4
Lazelis 1’
Felland (OG) 22’
Vlahiades 64’, 72’

FUJAI - 1
Felland 41’

”Amazing job, lads!” Væñøœrëñbérghüïś began, with a smile on his face, ”You guys definitely proved your worth today, because that was a performance that I’m going to adore for a while, y’know? We don’t always get fantastic performances like that, but when we do, I fucking love them. Seriously, I do. It’s something I like to treasure, and I’m hoping that you lot can give me a lot more of this type of stuff in the next few matches, yeah? You guys understand? Good. Now, our next game is against... a bunch of drunks. Don’t disappoint me, we should be getting all three points from that match!”

With six points from two games, Vdara were topping their group. Of course, this doesn’t really matter when you’re only two games in, but it’s always a bit of a morale-booster to see your team top of a group. Nonetheless, they still had 16 games to go, with the next two being against Drunk People at the Local Tavern and Vangaziland. Will Vdara snag another two victories, or will they slip up and drop points? Find out... in the next RP!

[Rangers FC]

Saltstead 0-1 Rangers FC

The fans couldn’t believe it. The players couldn’t believe it. Most of all, Gerardikis couldn’t believe it. Did any of them care? Absolutely not! Rangers FC had just won their first game of the World Cup, and they had done it within their first two games! Impressive, isn’t it? Anyhow, we can’t let our optimism get too high, can we? We’ve got a tough group, and I think we’d be happy if we got a single point in our next two matches. Nevertheless, I think it’s time for a song.

And now, a certain Tina Turner song that you may have heard.

I call you when I need you, my heart’s on fire!
You come to me, come to me, wild and wired!
Oh, you come to me, give me everything I need...

Give me a life time of promises, and a world of dreams!
Speak the language of love, like you know what it means!
Mm, and it can't be wrong, take my heart and make it strong, babe...

[twang twang twang]

WE’RE SIMPLY THE BEST!
BETTER THAN ALL THE REST!
BETTER THAN ANYONE,
ANYONE I EVER MET!

‘MON THE GERS, THE BOYS IN ROYAL BLUE!

[PotatoFarmers]

Previous RP (Poafmersia - Ch 2 Part 3)
Previous RP (TGI - Ch 2 Part 4)

RP Series: Getting to the top
Chapter 2: A tale of 2 nations
Part 5: Same but different

"Win by 1 goal against a higher seed away, than lose by 2 goals at home."
"Goalkeeper makes fine saves to stop Poafmersia from scoring."
Sounds familiar? Yes, this was what happened for Poafmersia 2 years ago, in the qualifiers for the 85th World Cup. The Red Panjias won 3-2 against top seeds Brenecia away, then crashed 2-0 home to Quebec.
Against Quebec, it was Cadwaladr-Andjaparidze who was the saviour; against The Holy Empire, it was John Comneno who made ridiculous saves that allowed The Holy Empire to win 2-0 and keep their clean sheet.
Of course, the fans are amazed by the manner The Holy Empire somehow made things really perfect. In fact, too perfect to be true. The third Poafmersian penalty was done in such a weird manner, in the sense that the keeper managed to save the ball despite diving the wrong side. As strange as it sounds, the Southwest Eastnorth also reported really weird circumstances of their match to the extent that they couldn't tell who scored the goal. We managed to track the goalscorer for our 0-2 loss, but it really took quite a while because the players looked strangely alike.
Rather than choosing to focus on the strange bearings of the match against The Holy Empire, the team went on to focus on their next 2 matches. They have argued this time that they were "unlucky" against THE. What was interesting was that the manager and players are all saying the same thing to the press for the first time, unlike what happened 2 years ago where they attributed the loss to Quebec to different reasons.
###################
The manner in which the economy improved was rather surprising to economists. Somehow, it was improved consumer sentiments that boosted consumer spending threefold, helping to steer the economy back upwards to places. The government did really little to encourage it. There was a round of "VAT Vouchers", given to the lower-income families. There was plans to increase unemployment benefits, but that never came through because over a million people are claiming them, and the government didn't want to go too deep into debt just to finance those benefits when they aren't even sure that the money would go back into the economy. They chose to cut corporate tax rates instead, providing wage subsidies for the high-skilled workers who were at risk of getting their pay cut to below 7 thousand a month.
In fact, Leader of the Opposition Mr Bansk Derakashi was stunned at how little the government did, and had his mouth zipped. Being eager to show that his Congress Party had new plans to stimulate the economy, their party started questioning the government on how little they did, and Congress Party presented an alternative budget that focused on giving social welfare and also government rebates on certain goods and services. The government insisted that this stimulation can be done in stages, and before stage 2 of the plan started, the stats were indicating an upward rebound in the economy.
This wasn't the first time the Congress Party had shown their opposition to the government's plans, calling them for doing too little, and got slapped in the face weeks later. There was the immigration problem a few years ago, where too many foreigners were starting to enter the country to work following the open-up of the nation. Pikashru Nisharian just merely increased the income levels required to get a work permit, and then the problem solved itself as immigration levels dropped by half. With Congress Party making mistakes after mistakes, and elections around the corner, people are starting to wonder - who is going to be the next credible opposition?

---

Scorebox:
Audioslavia 1
Santiago Rosel 58'

Poafmersia 2
Hansel Tang 37' (assisted by Whitney Rios), 81' (assisted by Gisiik Moonar)

Starting 11: Sandi Jaliaha; Alex Hoboson, Danzik Hoboson (c), Nasri Sanchez; Dargis Walshor, Arnold Shwentin, Gisiik Moonar, Whitney Rios; Makana Tuft, Hansel Tang, Aubrey Mayer
Substitutes: None

Poafmersia 0

The Holy Empire 2
Alán Belmores 22', 69'

Starting 11: Sandi Jaliaha; Alex Pickford, Hollis Stephenson, Pasits Rikachz, Denise Pickford; Daas Taisg, Ftiks Wariq, Gisiik Moonar; Joel Haodao, Shakira Handris (c), Pete Carisa
Substitutes: Aubrey Mayer (Carisa 70'), Nero Wood (Moonar 76')

Expected Starting 11s:
Against Southwest Eastnorth - (4-3-3) Sandi Jaliaha; Ariel Casey, Danzik Hoboson (c), Pasits Rikachz, Denise Pickford; Daas Taisg, Woden Sweet, Nero Wood; Joel Haodao, Aleka Dufour, Pete Carisa

Against Sylestone - (3-4-3) Sandi Jaliaha; Alex Hoboson, Danzik Hoboson (c), Simone Gori; Dargis Walshor, Arnold Shwentin, Donk Mason, Josef Gentry; Hansel Tang, Makana Tuft, Shakira Handris

[Delaclava]

Durbridge: "Meeting expectations won't be good enough"

Manchester -- Following a 2-0 loss to Juvencus in front of a home crowd of 106,328 at Pride of Manchester, captain Keaton Durbridge admitted to press post-match that the same level of play that took them to a sixth-place finish in his team's debut campaign would not be sufficient to meet their new goals.

"We're not where we need to be," Durbridge told reporters at the conference. "And there's not really a lot of time to get there. A home game in front of team that's near our level, more than 100 thousand fans cheering us on to win? There's not a choice on how that has to go?"

It was a similar tone that Durbridge struck following a brutally dominant 3-0 win over Sylestone, in which Durbridge himself scored two goals and Dathan Ingram scored the opener and game winner. Despite Delaclava being the clearly superior team from start to finish, Durbridge did not give a thoroughly optimistic impression, explaining that "we did exactly what we were supposed to do. No more, no less. On to the next one."

Patxi Etxeberria scored both goals for the Juvencus squad, in the 37th and 75th minutes. Coming off the Juvencus loss, Durbridge said, "We knew we were going to have to find another level to get what we want, what we deserve this year. Meeting expectations won't be good enough. And we keep moving along with where they think we're supposed to be, but not where we want to be, or what we think we should be doing."

Two significant challenges lie ahead for the Phoenixes (1-0-1, 4th place). The next match is the Phoenixes road opener against Lovisa. While pundits widely consider Delaclava to be the stronger team, Lovisa previously sprung an upset in the exhibition Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy, going scoreless through 90 minutes before tallying the lone goal in the 107th minute. While the Delaclava team was largely composed of B- and C-squad national team members, Durbridge reprised his role as captain for the match and demonstrated bitterness over the result, promising vengeance.

"That was a fluke. Not even a real result. Our best against their best? Doesn't matter where or how, we'll beat them every single time."

The following challenge is arguably tougher: a home match at Golden Phoenix Field against Audioslavia. One would expect Delaclav fans to turn out in droves, flocking to Catherina from all corners of the Republic - yet none will be in attendance. Manager Johannes Detmer requested that the match be played behind closed doors, with no fans able to attend and staff and players only allowed in the stadium. The Delaclava FA accepted the request despite their financial concerns with selling no tickets for such a significant match.

Midfielder Donato Girardi explained the mindset behind this decision: "They're overconfident and overrated. We think they'll be unnerved by having to play in front of no one, particularly in such a large and cavernous shell, one that's supposed to hold 150 thousand. They crave attention, and they need to have people watching what they're doing, and usually, the people eat it all up. We don't care - if we can beat them, we can do it anywhere and anyhow. We want them to clearly hear our celebration when we win."

If Delaclava were to pull off the upset against Audioslavia, it would certainly exceed all expectations. But in the mind of Keaton Durbridge and the rest of his team, it's exactly what they'll need to do.

Scores

Delaclava 3–0 Sylestone

DEL, Ingram (Girardi) 43'. DEL, Durbridge (pen) 66'. DEL, Durbridge (Girardi, Meyer) 74'.

Ross; Cicak (Lemieux 46'), V. Gusev, Berrera; Keating (Martin 46'), Girardi; Ingram, Zaitsev (Campbell 46'), Durbridge (C); Kohut, Meyer.

Delaclava 0–2 Juvencus

JUV, Etxeberria (Martell) 37'. JUV, Etxeberria (Silvestri, Christian) 75'.

Ross; Cicak, V. Gusev, Berrera; Keating, Girardi (Albert 46'); Ingram, Zaitsev (Campbell 46'), Durbridge (C) (Hovhanissyan 81'); Kohut, Meyer.

Lineups

@ Lovisa

Starters: Soler; Lemieux, Davis, Berrera; Keating, Romeijn; Nazaryan, Campbell, Durbridge; Kohut, A. Gusev.
Substitutes: Janaczek, Gelashvili, Pan, Andreu, Torres, Ritchie, Albert, Ingram, Rogers, Assink, Tesarik.

vs. Audioslavia

Starters: Ross; Lemieux, Nazaretian, Berrera; Keating, Girardi; Ingram, Zaitsev, Durbridge (C); Kohut, Meyer.
Substitutes: Soler, Janaczek, Cicak, V. Gusev, Joseph, Martin, Albert, Nazaryan, Campbell, Rogers, Assink, Hovhannisyan.

[Huayramarca]

OOC: Rewind finished, now, on actions during Part 9.

Part 1., Part 2., Part 3., Part 4., Part 5., Part 6., Part 7., Part 8., Part 9.

Rewind.

Part 10., Part 11., Part 12., Part 13., Part 14 A., Part 14 B, Part 15

Ñucanchi Ñan - Part 16.

Palacio del Altiplano, Huayramarca D.M. - 10/04/1980 - 5:15 P.M.

Recomended listening.

Tic, tac, tic, tac… A random guy saw his clock moving forward, he had to go to classes at 6:00 P.M. and there wasn’t chance for him to move, there was a massive protest in front of him, but there was also something special talking from his conscience “There’s chance to make history, consider sacrifice a day of classes for your future.” He started to thought about it, then got flash-banged by a police officer and he tried to run desperately towards a bank occupied by protestors. Marina, another student threw him some water to reduce the effect of the flashbang. “History will be made!” she screamed while he, Danilo, reacted and saw the happenings, a horde was entering the Palacio del Altiplano all of a sudden.

What seemed improbable just some hours ago was turning into a fast-evolving reality for Hugo Mina, he was concerned on what was happening, perhaps, depressed and then decided to inebriate as he was doing as of late. On his abstracted mind from reality, flashbacks from his childhood started to pop up, he was walking with his father in Montañita, Mina asked on why everybody was hating the politician in turn, Daniel Acevedo, his father said “When you disconnect from reality, when you hang up with people that try to drag you to do unpopular things while on charge, things like this happen.” Then, a strong will from his father “I wish you a plenty life, but away from stuff like that, I know that you dream is about being a president, but I wish you a life outside that.” His father died before he was about to get elected into the primaries, Mina didn’t listen to the will of his father, he just wanted to be a politician.

Mina continued weeping unconsciously while getting more flashbacks on how he saw his friend Amancio Cedeño getting killed by a mob. His mind was like a hammer, torturing with remembrances from his early days and not so far away past in this journey we call life, then, his mother appeared on dreams “Honey, I know you’re capable, but please, don’t defraud us while on office.” His mother committed suicide when she knew all the corruption scandal, being that the main reason on why he was deeply depressive and akin to drugs and alcohol as a scapegoat. Conscience kept hammering back and forth while people was moving forward and entering the Palacio del Altiplano.

Marta and Buendía were aware of the situation, one that was sparked by racism and unjustified hatred from Mina towards Serranos, a relationship of hate that began in the most insane way possible but that was enough to make him ask for payback to an entire social collective. Buendía said “Well, seems that this is getting out of control, so, let’s be aware of the happenings.” After he finished talking, Danilo, the flash banged student ran towards the police and dropped a box, he had enough time to ran away and protesters to retreat from the area, they knew what was happening but Police wasn’t that aware of it… A box full of explosives and nails exploded near the police security ring, they started to scream and see what was happening.

Molotov cocktails started to rain in the scene, a planned act from some students in order to let the injured officers die without receiving support; the officers started to seek for cover, meanwhile more protesters were rounding them near an alley in an attempt to lock and attack them without chance for defending. Mina opened his eyes, they were bloody red, he was scared and then saw the TV.

Mina reacted, loosely, but figured out on his doped mind what was happening, he heard an explosion and then ran to his bedroom, where he could dress up and take some weapons in case of need. People were a bit away from the zone where he was, but their guards were trying to stop them, so he was without any kind of defense, except for his beloved gun collection. Mina was a fan of weapons, something a bit ironical considering that Costeños tend to opt for cutting weapons such as machetes, knives, etc. Mina was now a bit worried for his life, then, he would try to scape somehow in order to use his last resort, calling a constituent assembly by dissolving the current one.

He got his phone, an AK-47 and ran towards his car, crazily… He found a couple of people near there, they reacted by chasing Mina while he was shooting to the air in a way to dissuade the people to harass him. The people, mostly students were chasing him and throwing rocks, even a Molotov cocktail that was burning his jacket, he didn’t cared of it and hopped into the van, then threw it while speeding for his life into the garage, which casually was without occupation nor protesters around, something that made his scape a tad easy compared to what he expected. He called the Québécois contractor in order to get the Illimani mining project running ASAP. He phoned him and answered after three attempts: “Can we start the project this week?” The contractor smelled desperation from Mina, hence he asked “Why so desperate?” Mina said “Check the news, the opposition is trying to kill me, so time to strike them where they will hurt the most.”

The contractor cared less about the opposition of Huayramarca and politics from the nation, hence, he accepted the deal and would send the people to build the mine at the skirts of Illimani to shut Serranos off. Meanwhile, protesters realized that Mina ran away, so revolution could have been paving itself, since they were thinking that he was probably fleeing from Huayramarca to another neighbor nation, perhaps to Krytenia, where he would be a totally unknown person, but, he had to drive at least a day and a half down the Andes and the Jungle to reach Sechura and then the Krytenian border. Having Sechura only an hour away from “heaven” was a complicated stuff for Mina, being at the fourth biggest city of the country and an opposition hotspot was a danger for him, so, perhaps he wasn’t going there definitely. Mina had other things on mind while pulling a DUI for his life, he was driving more into the Sierra in order to hide into a random ranch on the mountains… Parcoy was the obvious idea, a ten hours drive to Vilcabamba, a strategical place he always had on mind, the most remote village into the entire Sierra, located at 5600 meters above the sea level, reachable through at least six “abras” (mountain passes). He pushed the pedal to the metal in order to make to his destination in only eight hours, something difficult due to the extremely dangerous road and deep cliffs on some of those abras, specially on Abra Mil Cumbres, perhaps the highest motorable road on Atlantian Oceania, at 5775 meters above sea level, known for having a high mortality rate due to weather conditions.

Mil Cumbres was like six hours away from Huayramarca D.M. so, he would be reaching there at midnight, something crazy due to the weather there, 45 kilometers per hour winds soaring over there and some snow chances, winter was coming but Mina didn’t cared at all, he just wanted to preserve his life in one way or other. On the outskirts of D.M. he found one of his guards and he helped to drive for him to Vilcabamba in complete disguise.

Martha was aware of the situation, she was regretting on how Mina was leaving, she was trying to figure where he would go, but no hints of his location or something similar, hence there was a extremely remote chance for Mina to seize power once again… “Buendía, this is your time, you should self-proclaim president, since he fled.” Buendía started to think about it, he decided that he had to wait some hours and then decide for it. “Mina has police and army support as of now, so, it’s a suicide to do it right now. We should see if allegiances shift from now on.”

It was the beginning of a turmoil for Huayramarca, uncertainty at its best, Mina fleeing like a coward with some justifications about, Buendía acting wisely in order to not get attacked or declared as an “opportunist” or “power-seeker” person, Ñucanchi Ñan had all in its favor, but Mina would react as soon as possible in order to recover what he deemed as himself, power, prestige and the will to build and destroy what he wants on Huayramarca, even killing people to achieve it and throwing the teachings of his parents into a trash can on the process.

[Verceola]

The Snifter

Here are some quick notes because we're too lazy

We know you depend on us for your serious, serious news and hard-hitting journalism, but we've been hit with a rather virulent strain of indica and honestly couldn't be fucked to tell you the truth. We'll give you the headlines and hopefully you can figure out what's going on...

- Prime Minister Metz might be going around at night stealing juice from children. It's because she cares about their teeth and their carbs, of course, not because she's thirsty or blasted.
- Verceolan footballers lose 1-0, then 1-0 again, because they were bored. And so were we.
- Jazz muisicians will now be arrested for playing wrong notes, even if they claim they are the "right" notes. "Wrong notes" will include any high note from a trumpet and any note at all from the clarinet because it is a boring and simpleton instrument.
- Magik is now an officially recognised minority religion of Verceola. Better to keep the crazies in one place and keep a close eye on them, right?
- Goalie Robert Peters wins the award for Ball Catching after 46 saves. He had a lot coming in his face but handled it all well.
- One of the largest beaches in Ocean Reef, Neechie Beach, has been closed due to inept volleyball play, and beachgoers are being forced to take remedial classes before they can re-enter, lest they embarrass the nation in filmings of various television shows and movies.

This probably doesn't help, and we're not sorry about that. It is what it is. You're welcome to complain about it - we'll publish all your letters to the editor next week!

[Maccian]

Maccian Win First Two Games of World Cup 86 Qualifiers

The Riflemen have got off to a great start as they won the first two games against Praeceptia and Squornshelous with a scoreline of 2-1 in both games. Angelo Gelinas' new approach to tactics has surely worked out in his side's favour, as Maccian now sits at the top of Group 10.

Praeceptia was the first opponent to play us at the newly constructed Royal Imperial Stadium and His Majesty King Timofeé I was attending the match, possibly pondering if he should pour even more money into football infrastructure. The Praeceptians lined up with a bizarre and hyper-offensive 1-2-3-4 formation. In the opening minutes of the game, the opposition swarmed the Riflemen's half which forced them into parking the bus and hoping for a counter-attack opportunity.

Aureum Tabernus popped off a dangerously close shot just outside of the box which would have certainly been a goal if Roma Senozen had not made a spectacular save. In the 11th minute, Arte Mediocris took the corner quickly while the Maccian players were still organising themselves for the set-piece as Altus Noxium took advantage of the lack of focus and quickly tapped it home to make it 1-0 to Praeceptia. The Riflemen were unable to get a decent scoring opportunity because all ten Praeceptian outfield players sat inside the box and acted as some sort of human wall.

In the second half, Mccain tried to sit back and draw the Praeceptians into their half so they could launch a quick counter-attack. The 7’2” Noxium who broke the deadlock early on in the second half was attempting to beat Swisse Kadune but was bullied off the ball. Kadune picked out the sprinting Eries Kizerain on the left flank and launched the ball up the pitch to him. All Kizerain had to do was knock the ball past Fil Tzóouns, who for some reason flat out refused to challenge him and instead prostrated on the ground, and then he was through on goal. Kizerain struck the ball into the net to equalise for Maccian and prevent any further embarrassment in front of His Majesty.

Urged on by Gelinas, the Riflemen were searching for another goal and were threatening moving up the pitch. Jessie Calinnflores turned her marker inside out and laid the ball off for Zeyla who thumped the ball from 31 yards right into the top corner. The Riflemen were now in the lead in the 84th minute and they only had 6 minutes to hold on to seal the victory.

However, the Praeceptians were dangerously close to equalising themselves when Reiktu Sien Brouge attempted to clear the ball when he was being pressured but instead passed it straight into the path of the anime character wannabe Shijō Saikō, who luckily hit the post. The whistle blew at full time and Maccian had come from behind to win against Praeceptia thanks to a marvellous goal from Zeyla and a well-orchestrated counter-attack

For the second match, the Riflemen travelled to the Imperial Arena in Vogasphere to match up against Squornshelous, a team which has been participating in the World Cup before we had even formed nation-states in Maccian. Yet we are playing each other for a chance, no matter how minuscule for us, to qualify for the world cup. Angelo Gelinas changed the entire team to rest some key players for the upcoming matches, so the ‘second team’ were playing today.

The Riflemen got off to a good start against Squornshelous as Resaiix Stzasner hit a long ball to Olivia Zujaierder which left her in a very advantageous position. Zujaierder flicked the ball up and hit a volley into the back of the net to put Maccian up inside just 12 minutes. However, Squornshelous instantly replied as Alla Kirylenko lobbed the ball into the box to meet Tove Anker, who calmly headed the ball past Klay Broskellis to equalise for Squornshelous. From the 13th minute to well into the second half, Maccian and Squornshelous attacked each other before retreating into their halves when the other was on the counter-attack and this would repeat.

In the 74th minute, Sasha Zakharova attempted a crack at goal from long range but missed the target altogether, however she immediately grabbed her hamstring in pain. Zakharova limped off of the pitch as the star player Amiensha Kiyle came on to replace her injured teammate. Near the end of the game, Mccain was desperate to find a goal to win the game but this desperation was shown when Luna Agaia dribbled past Dorthe Storvoll and then dived in order to win a penalty. Controversially, the referee pointed to the spot despite protests from the Squornshelan players. After the situation had been defused, Amiensha Kiyle stepped up to take the penalty. She just about slid it right under Hege Vogdahl to make it 2-1 for Maccian in the dying moments of the game.

As soon as the opposition took the centre-kick, the referee blew the whistle for full time. The Riflemen had won both of their games and were now looking forward to the match against the Mathuvan Union back at the Royal Imperial Stadium before heading out to Goang to play against HUElavia, which is expected to be a very difficult game. It has been confirmed that Zakharova will only be out for the next two games and will hopefully be healthy enough to play against Tioguldos on the 5th matchday of the World Cup 86 Qualifiers.

[Eura]

'If you fuck this, I'll-'
'I won't.' Brian Bond seethed but Morgan Fox had stood up for himself. Fox was, well, old. Not retirement home old - footballer old. At 33 he was unquestionably not the future and that meant he had to make every minute count while he could on the pitch. He'd also chased the money domestically, heading off for a payday at Fligsive FC rather than playing in a more competitive league, making his return to the international side very tenuous and much criticised. Brian Bond was as unhappy as the Euran sporting press when he saw Fox jumping up and down on the sideline, ready to come on with Bond on a hat-trick. A competitor like Bond didn't want to be denied another match ball, and certainly not when he had half an hour to get it one more call for it against Megistos. Eura were already 3-1 up. That explained the thinly veiled rage, made worse off the back of a difficult defeat away in Pasarga. Bond saw Fox coming on as a waste of time to benefit a player that simply took up space in the roster. Fox himself wondered the same.

Eura's number 26 raced out onto the pitch like a player fifteen years his junior, eager to make an impression that might make him third choice at least, behind the unimpeachable mountain on which Bond's starting space was assured. He flung himself at every loose ball, committed a couple of fouls - that didn't matter. A booking for Fox wouldn't bother Michael Brandon but a lack of effort would. One of those challenges came off and freed the ball up for Damion Bowman out on the left. Fox darted into the box, his eyes already wandering towards Becks' goal. With their Dainer style single names you might have thought Megistos were trying to cultivate an aura of ability to daunt their opponents. Any such aura was absent. Eura were not, and Bowman had breezed his way past three defenders just to prove it. Eura's golden boy pulled a pass across the box to Fox, who saw glory and got nowhere near it.

How did he miss? 'Bloody hell' Fox muttered under his breath, echoing the thoughts of the nation back home and his teammates on the pitch. He hadn't just missed the goal, Fox had missed the ball itself, which instead of repelling off his side foot and in had hit his heel, rebounded backwards and been cleared easily by Sears. Get a grip mate. You have 11 international goals from so few caps that you average more than a goal every other game! You lead Falourr to a Gold League title! Sort it out. His international monologue didn't help him control the next cross in, which went over his head and looked set to go wide until Bowman appeared from nowhere at the back post and was clattered by Fri from behind. It should have been a red and yet somehow wasn't. Rowland and Bond let Bowman have the penalty, and of course he had to score it with a paneka. Cheeky little shit, thought Fox, as he watched Eura's latest prodigy celebrate. Not much time remained now for Fox to do something of note that would make him more likely to get called up again, rather than less.

Fox had almost been through at one point only for Fri and Sears to pair up and muscle him off the ball like a puny youth player. His follow up roll over and claim for a free kick was not dignified, however at the top level of the game you try everything to get a the slice of luck needed to turn things around. A little more time was used up as Chris Ashton came on from the bench. Fox now walked around impatiently a few yards into the Megistos half as the opposition got forward to try and nab a goal, trying hard even at 4-1 down. Cringan was expertly dispossessed by Burns, who then exchanged passes with Woakes and Rowland before getting the ball back and setting off down the left. In a flash the ball was with Bowman and the winger was sprinting hell for leather and Fox was too, struggling to keep up. The penalty area was approaching and Fox braced himself for the pass with the goal wide open in front of him, only the keeper to beat, and Bowman facing both Williams and Sears.

Wait for it, its coming, don't fuck this up he said to himself, then watched as Bowman took a quick look at his passing option, and instead opted to curl in a screamer from nowhere from outside the box. Fox celebrated with his teammate meekly as Bowman marked his hat trick with a continuing sprint into the net, before kicking the ball hard into it from point blank range on the follow up, picking it up and holding it aloft. Fox couldn't admit it but he felt an overwhelming sense of regret as play restarted. What was good for the team hadn't been good for him - it was his fault though that he wasn't the one celebrating earlier. Not every player can have a fine international career, and even a top striker (or a former top striker) like Fox had to recognise when that wasn't going to change. Heading up Falourr's championship team was a long time ago now. After the match he took in the unique atmosphere of a Euran international crowd, politely returned their applause aimed at the team for its performance, and set off down the tunnel. Brandon took note of Fox's glum expression and was already thinking about his next few selections.

[Drawkland]

WORLD CUP 86 - NEWMANISTAN/DRAWKLAND

Cutoff for MD3 and MD4!

Now time for the second batch of results! Let's Rock and Roll, baby.

Results

[Transvolcanic]

The "Cats" run third in group 8 with 7 points, is it a surprise?"
First of all, let's see the broadcasting made by Telepato Deportes!
"And it is the kick-off! Let's start playing!"
11': Look, Mauricio Sainz is running and, oh my! He is running towards the goalkeeper, player Ulisés Rivera makes a serious interception that ends in... A yellow card
17': Moya, he is trying to stop San Marcos! He does it, but yellow card showed to him after a foul
44': Another yellow card, Fonseca tried to stop Van de Nainssen, but he receives yellow card unfortunately, free kick... Bar! The only shot of Transvolcanic was almost goal!
45': End of first half
53': substitution of Pietro Pelatto for Rei-Thon Marcusen
60': substitution of Walter San Marcos for Marcell Bovier
70': Ferdinand Faibermann protests as there is no foul against Costa, but receives a yellow card
75': Ulisés Rivera makes a severe foul against Carter, it's double yellow and... Red card! Misses next match!
90+1': We are at the final part, almost ending in a draw, oh wait, RM Pietro Pelatto, who was now playing as a RWB, passes incorrectly to Costa, Costa passes it to Sainz... Oh my... He scored, and they are getting 3 points back home, now there will be several discussions against Pelatto as it seems!
90+3': and the final whistle goes! Transvolcanic 0-1 Sargossa
Goals:
0-1
Shots:
3-8
Shots (at door):
2-5
Fouls:
8-6
Yellow cards:
2-2
Red Cards:
1 (x2 Y) - 0
Corners:
1-3
Possesion (%)
57-43
Pass efficiency (%)
86-85

*dodgy rightback song
... A. Campuzano: Pelatto's mistake cost us the game!
The rest: ARR!
J. Navarra: Payback time!
A. Campuzano: *What should we do with the dodgy right back?
The rest: *
A. Campuzano: *As revenge for losing!
K. Öctagôn: Destroy his Ninetando!
The rest: Yes!
P. Van de Nainssen: Post him with a Barbie! (Obviously it is RP)
The rest: Yes!
Á. Carreras: Feed him with Jelly Beans!
The rest: That's revenge for losing!
A. Campuzano: *
I. Volodov: Who f#cked us making a "Varane"!
A. Campuzano: * as revenge for losing!
Á. Carreras: Make him sleep with rat-kids!
The rest: Make him sleep with rat-kids!
A. Campuzano: Make him climb a mountain!
The rest: That's revenge for losing!
A. Campuzano*
The rest: *
A. Campuzano: * as revenge for losing!
Walter San Marcos: dress him as Carter!
A. Campuzano: What a terrible idea!
K. Öctagôn: Dress him as Ronald and make him sell toys!
P. Colín: Make a cat-human sleep with his waifus!
The rest: That's Revenge for losing!
A. Campuzano: *, who gave me 2 hemorrages?
The rest: * as revenge for losing!
J. Kapezie: Sell him to Cruz Azul!
The rest: Sell him to Cruz Azul yes!
J. Kapezie: We subbed you out in the bench, and yet we won two-nil!
P. Pelatto: Alright can I go back home?
J. Kapezie: Well, but you will go in a box, and with a cat-human inside!
P. Pelatto: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

*No one assisted to the post match press conference
*kick-off of match against Staypuftonia:
E. Bermudas: " Hello and welcome back to see match 4 of the Transvolcanic Team, today we will see who gets 3 important points, and... Lets go!"
F. Paloma 12': "Well, today Ulisés Rivera is not here, but, okay wait a second, we weren't seeing but Nazenfritz passes to Van Rosten, Van Rosten to San Marcos, San Marcos to Carreras, Carreras! What a great goal, beautiful, Carreras, with 35 years scored a beautiful goal, he made it outside of the box"
M. Kampas 14': "Also have you seen how Nazenfritz and Van Rosten, who are 19 and 18 years respectively, make a great couple? They surprised in TransLiga A that finished with L.U Calapa as winner, but well, oh... San Marcos commits foul and... Yellow card"
F. Paloma 43': Look at this, the team is playing far better than Staypuftonia, 5 shots, 3 at door, and a possesion of 60%, wait a minute... [Player] is running to Oliver Agustino, who was finally recovered, Okoh can't stop him... Penalty, wait a minute... Looks like a dive, VAR
E. Bermudas 45': It is Penalty! But there's no card? It would be a yellow card no?
1 minute later: Well, [player] prepares... And... Oh god! He missed it! No no no... The fans of the "cats" that came to the stadium are now laughing, incredible...
End of first half
F. Paloma 53': Substitution for Carl-Philip Okoh... Who gifted a penalty that was missed by player, not a good day for his official international debut at 24 years old
E. Bermudas 56': Now Nazenfritz... To Navarra, a huge pass to San Marcos, look! San Marcos... To Nazenfritz... To Corral... Back to Nazenfritz! What a huge goal! A strong shot when even the goalkeeper didn't expect, they caught him surprised and again, a goal
M. Kampas: Yes, it is his second international goal at 19 years, and you know he finished just fourth in goals of TransLiga A? With 17 goals?
F. Paloma 60': The Staypuftonian team makes two substitutions, while the "Cats" sub Walter San Marcos for... Dabur Maldonado? Yes, Dabur Maldonado
90': And the final whistle goes! The "Criminals" stole 3 points to Staypuftonia, they killed them with 14 shots, 7 at door, and resisted pretty well, but Staypuftonia didn't play bad also, only 1 foul during the entire match, but in possesion it was a 59-41% so it is a justified victory, right now we will have to take this team seriously, they could surprise anyone, they are among the best defenses of the qualifiers, and the best of the group... But the lack of goals place them along with Sargossa (35) who defeated them 0-1 when anyone expected defeat type G041hu6, has placed them also as the worst offensive of the group
Now to see two complicated rivals like The Macabbes and Freeport, will the "Cats", who also have won all their away matches, gain more points to qualify? Seems difficult, but nothing's impossible for no one

Post match press conference:
Person 1: Today we will be with Eugéne Nazenfritz, who scored the second goal against Staypuftonia, tell us please, how do you feel by having scored a goal tonight?
E. Nazenfritz: Great, it is my first time scoring a goal on a qualifier, and everyone would be very proud no? I have been considered by the manager, and I have scored, it was a great match for me and the team
Person 1: Good, now, do you think that you and Van Rosten, who also helped winning tonight, are the next wonderkids?
E. Nazenfritz: Please, don't make me feel like I am Öctagôn, it is people's opinion, but I respect opinions, and well, yes I am a pretty good player but I still have work to be the best, while Van Rosten, well, he is also great at only 18 years old, from a dutch family and representing our colors, it is great to have him as a mate you know?
Person 1: Good, now before you leave... Could the team surprise and qualify? yes we know that you all are tired of having the same question and all but we wanna know yoyr opinion
E. Nazenfritz: Well, we can surprise, but we aren't the best team, the lost match against Sargossa woke us up, and we have won 7 points against the weakest of our group just to say, so if we don't play at the level we should, we aren't even gonna stay on 4th place
Person 1: Thanks for your time
E. Nazenfritz: No problem

2nd press conference:
Person 2: Tonight we are asking Ángel Carreras, who made the first goal with... 35 YEARS!! So... Carreras, how do you feel after knowing you have won tonight at Staypuftonia?
Á. Carreras: It feels good, like tonight after being upset at Ngorno Zveński against Sargossa and losing 0-1 in front of our people, we managed to win an away match and collect 3 valuable points, because every point counts for the KPB rankings and to qualify
Person 2: Ok so... Now you were criticized because of your age, did everyone underestimated you?
Á. Carreras: it is football, real football, obviously you will have a... Excuse me for this word... Son of a mother****** hating you, everyone has been underestimated, I think the rivals even underestimated us, because obviously an UR team is said to finish last and lose all its matches
Person 2: Alrighty... And finally, any words to your next rivals?
Á. Carreras: Right... Better to not underestimate us, or they will pay hard, I respect them and we are obviously trying to win against them, so even if they are "better" we shall show we aren't a small team that all that it knows is losing
Person 2: Ok... So here are the words from this player, thanks and goodnight!

Possible lineups against Macabees and Freeport:
Undefinded, thought it is said the starters and subs will be selected with the only change of having Eugéne Nazenfritz instead of Marcell Bovier, but there's no starting XI, it is said that the Cats will play offensively against Macabees and Freeport, but no one knows

Predictions (%)
Against The Macabees:
Transvolcanic 20% draw 10% Macabees 70%

Against Freeport:
Freeport 55% draw 26% Transvolcanic 19%

[Springmont]

   Group 12                             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 The Hinodejin Empire                   4    4   0   0     6    1   +5    12
 2 Trolleborg                             4    2   2   0     9    6   +3     8
 3 Taeshan                                4    2   1   1     8    7   +1     7
 4 ZSeparatists                           4    2   0   2     5    5    0     6
 5 Ziwana                                 4    2   0   2     4    3   +1     6
 6 Savigliane                             4    2   0   2     9    9    0     6
 7 Riena                                  4    1   1   2     4    4    0     4
 8 Fluvannia                              4    1   1   2     6    8   −2     4
 9 The Grearish Union                     4    1   0   3     4    9   −5     3
10 Springmont                             4    0   1   3     5    8   −3     1

 (MD1) Springmont 0–1 The Hinodejin Empire
Kingbury
Krepanovic, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Farrowshard
Fjetland, McColsom, Mohaupt
Mayfirth, Crownfish, Compton

 (MD2) Riena 0–0 Springmont
Kingbury
Krepanovic, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Bloodsword
Fjetland, McColsom, Mohaupt
Mayfirth, Crownfish, Compton

(MD3) Springmont  3-4 Savigliane 
Coe
Fogdream, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Farrowshard
Fjetland, McColsom, Mohaupt
Kaizer, Crownfish, Stanley

Springmont Scorer: Waldo Miguel Stanley - 23', 45', 77'

 (MD4) Taeshan 3–2 Springmont
Auwaerter
Krepanovic, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Farrowshard
Fjetland, McColsom, Delinois
Mayfirth, Crownfish, Stanley

Springmont Scorer: McColsom - 43' & Crownfish - 76''

Next Game
MD5: Springmont vs. Fluvannia
MD6: Trolleborg vs. Springmont

[Geektopia]

Geektivities
*Be cool, be woke.
Reports done by Rodakowski, our new Sports categorist. Alongside him as an editor is Carrube.

Dingledine
"I think you know you guys aren't the team from '85, and I want to improve upon that although I may be partly at fault for what I can't control which is my sleep schedule. Multituous hours-"

Rydelek
"Boss, please say multiple."

Dingledine
"Multiple hours testing tactics, getting theatrics out of myself, and showing them to women that look like actresses at my office with the football status of the Humaverse's Cleopatra in Geektopia, really nothing worked. And I try to put this flexible attacking play of yours and reflect on that tactical application through our last four games and then compare that to the starting eleven that gunned for top three football in Group Twelve, the team that ended 95X's red, hot undefeated streak. What I see is a ravine as of now, compared to a mountain. Don't you all feel the same way?"

Rydelek
"Gee, I don't know boss, the APF under more flexible football seems to be certainly helping our playstyle now, me thinks these lower ranked nations are punching in their weight every single game and biting back the ball more than us, giving themselves more dedication out of pre-existing dedication. Our outstretched stratagem as it is now lets a lot of creative play through while also abiding in terms of who to pass to and so on. You need to step it up, boss. Looking disappointed on the touchline isn't helping things either, you could even call it more of a detractor to the team's mental health as a whole. Me thinks you need to give us more tactical instructions because of our vision in other positions, maybe switch things around a little. That little attribute alone helped carry us to the Cup of Harmony final way back when."

Dingledine
"Hm, you may be right. I hate to say it, Rydelek, but the smartest kid on the short bus has a point."

Rydelek
"I don't know what you mean by that, uh, Boss, maybe repeat that? I'm not severely afflicted by hearing loss, but I'm pretty sure I don't know what the hell you just said. Dingledine, you may be living in a world of your own the way you talk."

Dingledine
"Erhmm, I'll search the room here, any tactical suggestions? Since you all are such marvelous footballers, I don't want to see your sense of self get damaged by anything the longer it isn't discussed. Cap?"

Szczerbinski
"You can call me Szczerbinski, as I call you Dingledine. I know we both have goofy-sounding names that originate out of the left arse of the country, but still, sir."

Dingledine
"Sure, Szczerbinski. What do you want from me or the team? Since we're loaded with energy at all times due to high excretions of fight-or-flight hormones as our lives are in danger all the time, we can take any criticisms without getting energetic, rambunctious, or violent because we already are as you are as a Geektopian."

Szczerbinski
"Dag, the way you talk... is damaging yourself and others around you! I just can't hold myself back from telling you that for some strange reason."

Dingledine
"Thank you, Szczer, but any suggestions?"

Szczerbinski
"Yeah, sure, one thing. I think we should bring more substitutes on to increase the cohesion and diversity of our squad. Some of our benchees here look like they're about to die in a week from laying down in a state-of-the-art Drawkian hotel for four days, but as we know it, they can't play. Have you heard of a super sub and how they change the-"

Dingledine
"Yes."

Szczerbinski
"Then what's the point of having substitutes if you don't do what the word means with them? These guys travel for days upon with us first-teamers and I wonder how they can have the nerve to not bark at you all throughout the ride! They play at the Di Bradini Cup and don't get used, and it's pretty much the same sort of treatment here. Travel to some, from what the substitutes think, unknown sporting giant of a country, then never get played. These 'substitutes' then get dropped for a new, youthful bunch of benchwarmers and are subsequently forced to retire from football because we don't have a domestic system in Geektopia or Aimena. It's tyrannical!"

Glowiak comes out of Physiotherapy to reassure Szczerbinski

Glowiak
"It's fine, Sczcer, we're shite anyways. The gaffer doesn't play any of us unless you starters are having an abysmally bad day out on green grass. It's like subbing off pyrite for donkey droppings. Gold is pyrite - fool's gold - on a bad day, and the former will still be the former, there's pretty much no difference, I would think. Just like the website said regarding us on the roster, Orsua's proficient at clearing balls and doing all that only when the starting goalkeeper is having a bad day, so why shouldn't that apply to us?"

Szczerbinski
"You would think wrong! He's lying to you, Glowiak!"

Dingledine
"Enough, enough. I'm very disappointed in how this little discussion turned out. Szczer, I thought you had a little sense to not call me out like this and expect a haggard old man like myself to defend against your blasphemy. You're suspended for Oberour Ar Moro and Libonesia. I'll decide who to put on once I cross that very bridge itself."

Glowiak and Koseki
"A chance to prove ourselves? Chance taken! See you all in training."

---

Woryand 3-2 Greens
Goals: 27' (Idstein | assist provided by Rydelek | Geektopia), 33' (L. Saul | assist provided by H.L. Amin | Woryand), 35' (J. Şmixit | assist provided by E. Loz | Woryand), 51' (D. Malyōr | pen. | Woryand), 77' (Sudlow | assist provided by Osorto)

PLAYER RATINGS
Kwasney | 6.0
Osorto | 6.5
Idstein | 7.0
Barella | 6.0
Crete | 6.0
Szczerbinski | 6.0
Andreen | 6.0
Sudlow | 7.0
Dolivo | 6.0
Picolet | 6.0
Rydelek | 6.5

Geektopia reverted to a more defensive 3-4-3, if that's even possible, with no substitutes making it in as always while the nameless manager at post in Woryand only made one change in midfield at the seventy fourth - it was Avarēçā coming in for Crōdaru to put away a player with a spell of midfielding mistakes to let the relentless greens cast in their first from counter attacking play that was still relevant to the Attacking Pass Formation, but then stress and fatigue would leave the Geeks at their worst because of their starters playing every game as of far.

The opposition only conceded one goal back to make affairs pretty close, but there would be no cigars given to the crestfallen Greens as the substitution coming in for Crōdaru strengthened an already winning Woryand to put this game away.

---

Greens 4-3 Indusse
Goals: 34' (Djetson Hasle | assist provided by Baskar H. Kumar | Indusse), 42' (Rydelek | assist provided by Sudlow | Geektopia), 45' (Picolet | assist provided by Osorto | Geektopia), 67' (Sampath Singh Aksinwala | assist provided by Alexis Budtedjson | Indusse), 70' (Picolet | assist provided by Barella | Geektopia), 79' (Barella | assist provided by Crete | Geektopia), 85' (Bechun Butea | assist provided by Sampath Singh Aksinwala | Indusse)

Player Ratings:
Kwasney | 7.0
Osorto | 7.5
Idstein | 7.0
Barella | 8.5
Crete | 7.5
Szczerbinski | 7.0
Andreen | 7.0
Sudlow | 7.5
Dolivo | 7.0
Picolet | 9.0
Rydelek | 8.0

[Jeruselem]

Kate: Hello, this is Princess Kate for Naked News Jeruselem. I'm with Daisy Cutter to cover match day 3 and 4 of World Cup 86 qualification.
Daisy: Hello everyone
Kate: AHOY AHOY AHOY AHOY AHOY AHOY
Daisy: She's been watching too much Houshou Marine again.
Kate: That should wake people up
Daisy: Sure would

Kate: Not the best round of games, one draw and one loss. Match day 3, we played Tequilo at home ... that's Tequilo not Tequila. And had 0-0 draw. Well, actually should have won.
Daisy: Yes, it was a game we should have won. Well, we didn't lose like last time at home.
Kate: But our opponent was different last time, this game was a game we actually could have won.
Daisy: We're not very settled
Kate: Yes, this happened last cup. The coach took ages to get a team settled.
Daisy: Yeah, we don't want that to happen again. We had a shocker for our first 6 games.

Kate: In other match day games, Iles Rogieres beat Quebecois Acadiana 3-1. Sajnur HELD 95X to a 0-0 draw. Wow, that was a result. Huayramarca beat Semarland 1-0. And Netop lost to Ko-oren 3-0.
Daisy: That draw with 95x for Sajnur, that's a surprise.
Kate: Yes, so it means the teams are even to top to bottom ... well as we found out today.
Daisy: But Ko-oren are running hot.
Kate: Well, it's early days still. You can't predict the final result from these 4 games.
Daisy: We don't a repeat of last cup for ourselves either.

Kate: Match day 4, well guess who we had to play ... at their home. 95x. Isn't that fantastic. Play Ko-oren on match day 1 and 95x on match day 4.
Daisy: It's a bit rough
Kate: Playing one of the best at their home and well we did lose as I did alude to earlier but 1-0. One of the hardest away games in Group 2.
Daisy: I guess it wasn't a bad result but like our loss to Ko-oren 2-1 at home ... it's a loss
Kate: The positive is we look kinda competitive with the top 2. We're not able to beat them yet.
Daisy: The other positive is those games are out of the way.

Kate: Yes, we don't play them at the end of qualification which is good!
Daisy: On the other group 2 match day 4 games. Ko-oren visited Quebecois Acadiana and won 2-0. Semarland drew with Netop 0-0 at home. Tequilo beat Huayramarca 3-0 which means our draw with Tequilo 0-0 in context is positive. Iles Rogieres got flogged by visitors Sajnur 5-2.
Kate: Some big wins in the other games.
Daisy: It's about time we had some that action too
Kate: A quick look at the table after 4 games. Ko-oren lead the table on 12 points, no points dropped. 95x are 2nd on 10 points with 3-1-0 record. Tequilo and Sajnur sit in 3rd and 4th on 7 points with 2-1-1 record. Huayramarca and Iles Rogieres are 5th and 6th on 6 points with 2-0-2 record. Then there's us back in 7th on 1-1-2 record with measly points. Under us are the teams with no wins. Netop with 2 points with 0-2-2 record. Semarland and Quebecois Acadiana are bottom with 1 points with 0-1-3 record.
Daisy: Not looking good in the table

Kate: Yes but all the other teams we play aren't ranked above us now
Daisy: I guess that's a positive
Kate: We really need to get our shit together from now on, we need to settle on our team and get on with qualifying.
Daisy: Other than usual suspects who should we worry about?
Kate: Tequilo and Sajnur have done well early, sometimes we get these teams who are ranked low and surprised everyone
Daisy: For sure

Kate: We have some for some questions, err football related of course. There's a lot of confused people seeing "Kate Dallas" on the team and she's here. Well, that's just another relative of mine - Kate is a common name. Yes she is another Katherine like me. Oh yes, I had nothing to with getting her in the team - ask the manager Boris.
Daisy: I've met her, she's nothing like the princess here. One's a person, one's a meme.
Kate: I'm Jeruselem's national meme!
Daisy: Some people ask if Jeruselem has become a world cup meme? We're always there and someone always makes fun of us.
Kate: We're not known for winning the cup so we have been known for something else. I guess that's another way for world cup immortality.
Daisy: True

Kate: I get a lot of mail, complaining about this feminism business on our coverage. Yeah well, our entire show is staffed by women, run by women and the place is owned by women. Oddly all the cameramen are men because the cameras are bloody heavy and well us women don't like pushing around heavy shit. The men don't complain, they film naked women for a living.
Daisy: I tried using those studio cameras once, yeah not for me. I got tired pretty quick.
Kate: You always get tired quick
Daisy: Yeh
Kate: Some people aren't quite used to this new format. I know in the past coverage was live, but this new dual-ly match day format we were forced make the change.
Daisy: We do film coverage but we don't broadcast it immediately unless it's the home game because that's free to broadcast in Jeruselem.

Kate:
And people ask why ticket prices are always going up. I'd like it to be free but Dazza Dallas Stadium is expensive to run, yes we own the stadium. It's kind of old but completely rebuilding a new one isn't on the menu at the moment. And the other stadiums are kinda too small even if we wanted to use them.

And there's thing called inflation which is define as a quantitative measure of the rate at which the average price level of a basket of selected goods and services in an economy increases over some period of time. It is the rise in the general level of prices where a unit of currency effectively buys less than it did in prior periods. Often expressed as a percentage, inflation thus indicates a decrease in the purchasing power of a nation’s currency.

Daisy: Err, short version.
Kate: Inflation is when your money buys less over time.
Daisy: Which explains why I'm always asking for pay rises.
Kate: Yes so that's why ticket prices increase.
Daisy: OK

Kate: One more question. Why don't we get someone else other than Naked News Jeruselem cover the football?
Daisy: There's actually no stopping other channels from covering football.
Kate: We have the official contract but any TV channel can cover the football and send people to follow the team around. Obviously they won't have direct access to the team like we do but then they'll the right security passes anyway. Otherwise anyone can cover the football, not just directly access the team. Yes we have the official rights to the football rights but that's expected.
Daisy: That crap isn't free
Kate: Exactly
Daisy: Most tv stations will complain about the prices paid for all this stuff so guess what ... its best someone has it.

Kate: That's it from us
Daisy: See you later when we cover match day 5 and 6
Kate: AHOY AHOY AHOY AHOY AHOY AHOY
Daisy: She does that on purpose
Kate: Yeah
Daisy: Bye everyone

OOC

MD3
Iles Rogieres 3–1 Quebecois Acadiana
Sajnur 0–0 95X
Jeruselem 0–0 Tequilo
Huayramarca 1–0 Semarland
Netop 0–3 Ko-oren

MD4
Quebecois Acadiana 0–2 Ko-oren
Semarland 0–0 Netop
Tequilo 3–0 Huayramarca
95X 1–0 Jeruselem
Iles Rogieres 2–5 Sajnur

[Graintfjall]

Toresdóttir denies discipline a problem despite twin suspensions facing Snow Wolves

“We don’t have a fucking discipline problem, you stupid fucks,” insisted assistant national team coach Særún Toresdóttir in post-match remarks following Græntfjall’s historic first win on home soil. “Fuck you,” added Toresdóttir, “We’re the most fucking disciplined team on the fucking planets and I’ll fucking smash anyone who says fucking otherwise,” before pile-driving a journalist who did indeed say fucking otherwise through a table. Græntfjall will travel to Yuezhou missing half of their regular starting midfield as Matthias Raphaelsson and Hrærekur Jvarsson earned suspensions, and with three other players on yellow cards there are questions about the Snow Wolves’ ability to adapt to more stringent international officiating. When those questions were put to Toresdóttir, she bit through her restraints and responded with a series of emphatic head-butts before eventually being brought down by a tazer.

What should have been a celebration as the Grand National Arena played host to heavily favored Sarzonia became a slightly downbeat affair as Matthias Raphaelsson was sent off for a second yellow card offense after elbowing Brady Reynolds. Though Reynolds appeared uninjured by the contact, Raphaelsson had already been warned for an earlier foul on Carlos dos Santos, whom he endured a torrid time marking all night. As the young left midfielder saw red and was duly dispatched, Toresdóttir and her coaching partner Sigtryggur Brynjólfursson were left to reflect on whether the Snow Wolves were earning an ugly reputation with eight bookings splashed across the two games – earlier, the Snow Wolves had travelled to the Plane of Possibility, coming away with a 0 – 1 defeat, four yellow cards, but a cool sword looted from a dragon’s lair. With play in the Græntfjaller Premier League being seen as a little raw and unreconstructed, a challenge for national team players will be staying the right side of WCC officials.

“We don’t think of ourselves as a dirty team,” insisted central midfielder Amanda Guttisdóttir, herself booked for a clumsy tackle on Sir Samuel Urael III. “Sometimes a few tackles are misplayed, sometimes a referee’s feeling card-happy,” she suggested – although this happiness seemed distinctly one-way in comparison to the clean disciplinary records of Græntfjall’s opponents. Guttisdóttir denied being on a booking would change the way she played in coming matches. “You cannot play box-to-box through an entire World Cup qualifying campaign without picking up the odd booking. It’s going to happen. I have to concentrate on my game. I didn’t play well enough in the Plane, but against the Stars, I was pleased with my performance – that’s all that really matters.”

With Raphaelsson and Jvarsson suspended, Ketilbjörg Aunosdóttir will earn a start, while Hlégestur Snæþórsson is likely to be recalled having recovered from the injury he sustained during the Baptism of Fire campaign and leap straight into the starting XI in the absence of a reserve left-midfielder. An additional unforced change is also expected: right-back Else Svennsdóttir, the first player to be suspended during the campaign, returned to play against Sarzonia but looked less effective than her stand-in Karoline Vernerisdóttir, who impressed in the chance she was given in the Plane, and is expected to be recalled to the first choice team. The shape of the midfield changing – Snæþórsson is more of a wing player than Raphaelsson, Aunosdóttir a more natural defensive midfielder than Jvarsson – does not bother Guttisdóttir, however. “We’ll adapt. It’s always good to try out new arrangements anyway, even if some of the changes aren’t under our control.”

Despite a losing record, Græntfjall can take some comfort from the early games of the World Cup qualification period, during which they have been “outplayed but not outclassed” according to Steinaux forward and sometime TV pundit Petter Erlingsson. “It’s disappointing that what should be seen as a huge upset win, over World Cup heavyweights the [Sarzonia] Stars, is being forgotten behind all this chatter about a couple of bookings,” said Erlingsson. “Let’s hope some good results in the coming matches get a few more people talking about the action on the field.” And despite GPL rivalries reaching fever pitch, he even managed a little praise for Gunzlach rival Jason Þórhallursson, who scored in the Sarzonia match. “Three goals in four matches is a good return. I’d just like to see a higher work rate from Jason: though it pains me to say it, he’s by far our best player and I think he can do more – and will have to if we’re to stand any chance against the stronger teams.”

Veteran football journalist Olle Tobiasson was more cautious in his assessment. “eVeRy WoRlD cUp HaS aN uPsEt Or TwO,” he noted in possible reference to results elsewhere. “We shouldn’t let one win lull the Snow Wolves into overconfidence, and we need to bear in mind the long qualifying period will be a test of stamina for players unused to playing internationals alongside a domestic season.” While Græntfjall’s international matches to date have occurred during off-season breaks, World Cup qualifying runs alongside the GPL season. Because of the short Græntfjaller season and the country having no indoor stadium suitable for WCC-accreditation, this creates a tight window for games, and Tobiasson warned that players playing for title contenders like Gunzlach and Steinaux may find “their attention wandering to domestic duties” during the latter half of qualifying and that “as such discipline is a major conc-” before Toresdóttir burst in and began beating him with a folded metal chair.

Plane of Possibility – 1 (0)
Lamont; Shadow, Urael III, Dremont, Duskborn; Song, Vierra, Irota; Mietre (72’), K’nen (60’), Arrowstorm

Græntfjall – 0 (0)
Leonardsson; Vilbertsdóttir, Hjörleifursson, Álfarsson, Vernerisdóttir (90+4’); Raphaelsson (75’), Guttisdóttir (17’), Jvarsson (45+2’), Franklínsson (66’ Bjørnsson ); Dannysdóttir (75’ Nilsson ); Þórhallursson (59’ Antoninsson )

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Græntfjall – 2 (1)
Leonardsson; Vilbertsdóttir, Hjörleifursson, Álfarsson, Svennsdóttir (65’ Vernerisdóttir ); Raphaelsson (21’) (74’), Guttisdóttir (81’ Nilsson ), Jvarsson (54’), Franklínsson (81’ Bjørnsson ); Dannysdóttir (38’) (56’); Þórhallursson (64’)

Sarzonia – 0 (0)
Sandt; King, Benignati, Taylor, Howard; Mabree, Reynolds, Wilson, dos Santos; Aguirre, Campos

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