IAC-11 :: Havynwilde

[Muralos]

La Gazeto de Sportatoj: Weekend Recap Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to the Gazeto's e-mail newsletter! Our staff does our best to deliver regular sports news to your inbox for a quick morning refresher. Your subscription does much to support the Gazeto's efforts, especially as we branch out into coverage of international competition.

And now for some major highlights from this weekend in the realm of Muralosian sport.

After Two Nail-Biters, Muralosian Men's Soccer Team Qualifies for IAC-11 Knockout Stage
Over the past three days, the Muralosian men's national soccer team played two group-stage matches in the Independent Associations Cup (IAC-11) winning both of them by margins of 1 goal. As the Gazeto reported last Monday, the Hawks have been coached by striker and captain Adamo Brava, as long-time coach Jozefo Koltakov returned to Urbego due to his wife Maria Koltakova's hospitalization. On such a short notice, Brava has been more than satisfactory as a player-manager, captaining the Hawks to the top of their group and ensuring their place there. However, he readily admitted to the Gazeto on Sunday that "considering how suspenseful our last two games were, I will need to hone my understanding of our defense for the rest of our games in the IAC, if not for my coaching positions in the future."

Friday: Muralos vs. United Hemand Insia
The sports correspondents of the Gazeto expected the Hawks' match against United Hemand Insia to be their least contested. United Hemand Insia has not yet won any of their matches, and little documentation exists of their national team's history.

Initially, the Hawks gained the upper hand and were poised to stun their opponents. After just 6 minutes, left back Koralo Petrov scored a thoroughly unexpected goal, hitting the upper-left corner of the net as United Hemand Insia's goalkeeper jumped, leaning too far back to stop the shot.

Predictions of a blowout victory for Muralos were not to be, though. United Hemand Insia's squad began to mount a comeback soon after Muralosian reserve player Georgo Zhong – from the Havenurbo Institute of Technology – scored the Hawks' third goal in the match. They would have succeeded in tying the game had not the Hawks' goalkeeper Rodion Markov been in top form. One highlight of Markov's goalkeeping was in the 57th minute of the match; after an unknown midfielder for United Hemand Insia took a free kick, Markov punched the ball into the air. (United Hemand Insia has not published a team roster for the IAC, so the Gazeto was unable to name those who scored for the team.)

FINAL
Muralos 3 - 2 United Hemand Insia
Petrov 6', Brava 10', Zhong 26' | Unknown Midfielder 37', Unknown Striker 67'

Sunday: Muralos vs. New Lusitania and the Algarves
Muralos was sure to have a tougher time against New Lusitania and the Algarves, a squad with far more international experience. New Lusitania – as the nation is often called – has fielded its national team in World Cup qualifying campaigns, notable runs in the Cup of Harmony, and a championship run in the 9th IAC, among others.

Undoubtedly, Sunday's match got off to a nerve-racking start for the Hawks, as New Lusitania rarely hesitated to move the ball forward. In what RTM-1 commentator Gao Hui called "ripping a page out of the Hawks' playbook," New Lusitanian center back Diogo Leitero scored the first goal of the match in the very first minute. This was followed by a close-range goal by Muralosian midfielder Vilhelmo Lumin in minute 18; a header by New Lusitanian striker Daniel Jota; and an incredible goal from half field by New Lusitanian left back Rúben Vinagrete.

The Hawks were down 1 - 3 by the end of the first half, but successfully came back to defend their standing. Goalkeeper Rodion Markov, of all players, was the one to make Muralos' comeback decisive: a draught aided the goal kick awarded to him in the 70th minute, sending it past the New Lusitanian goalkeeper Rui Patríce. Though greeted by Muralosian cheers and embraces from his fellow Hawks, Markov did not celebrate, standing still out of respect for the unusual circumstances of his goal.

FINAL
Muralos 4 - 3 New Lusitania and the Algarves
Lumin 18', Zheng 49', Lumin 62', Markov 70' | Leitero 1', Jota 26', Vinagrete 34'

Muralos next face Sajnur in their final group stage game, which will take place on Tuesday, December 1st. As loyal readers of the Gazeto have heard many times by now, the match – and all other IAC matches – will be broadcast on RTM-1, Radio Muralana, and rtmnet.mur.

In Other News: Muralosian Basketball League Tips Off New Season

Game Results, League Standings after MBL Opening Day

Pravda Phoenices 84–75 Alexandrovsk Dynamo
Oleo Windmills 83–68 CSKA Urbego-Basket
Okcidenta-Havenurbo Skyline 79–82 Gastello Giants
Nord-Urbo Stallions 81–71 Havenurbo Cruisers
Nogliki Falcons 79–68 Kurilo Centurions

   Muralosian Basketball League    Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts 
 1 Oleo Windmills                    1    1   0    83   68  +15     3
 2 Nogliki Falcons                   1    1   0    79   68  +11     3
 3 Nord-Urbo Stallions               1    1   0    81   71  +10     3
 4 Pravda Phoenices                  1    1   0    84   75   +9     3
 5 Gastello Giants                   1    1   0    82   79   +3     3
 6 Okcidenta-Havenurbo Skyline       1    0   1    79   82   −3     0
 7 Alexandrovsk Dynamo               1    0   1    75   84   −9     0
 8 Havenurbo Cruisers                1    0   1    71   81  −10     0
 9 Kurilo Centurions                 1    0   1    68   79  −11     0
10 CSKA Urbego-Basket                1    0   1    68   83  −15     0

And with that, the Gazeto's Weekend Recap Newsletter concludes. Thank you for reading our newsletters, and have a wonderful week!

- The staff of La Gazeto de Sportatoj

I use a random number generator, picking from numbers 1 to 11, to determine who scores in the matches. This time, the random number generator happened to yield 1 for the last goal scored by my nation.

[Indusse]

IFA NEWS NETWORK
Any Scope to Qualify?

Group D
HUElavia 1–0 Otksarin
Abanhfleft 5–3 Indusse

  Group D                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 HUElavia                                                               3    2   1   0     5    3   +2     7
2 Quemorr Isles                                                          3    2   0   1     7    5   +2     6
3 Abanhfleft                                                             3    1   1   1    10   10    0     4
4 Indusse                                                                4    1   1   2     5    7   −2     4
5 Otksarin                                                               3    0   1   2     1    3   −2     1

With that, Indusse who was first in group one, is now fourth in place. What a pity! Indusse lost to Abanhfleft for a score of five for three. The goals were scored by Baskar Kumar (76', 78') and Mersiás (89'), there wasn't any time for such a comeback. The match was Insane, Indusse was ready for a comeback at the last minutes of the second half but it wasn't enough. Why? That's Indusse, always does the wrong thing. As the IAC is happening, Indussean team is playing the Eagle's Cup Artifact Match in Turori against Omerica. The tournament is yet to finish and victories all along is needed for Indusse to qualify. As usual, The group is the toughest in the tourney and no one is going to blame the coach Joseph Moteudi for the losses. The Team Staff appointed Kenteyl Marsden from Treekidistan as a fitness trainer for the defenders. With this let's look at the staff of the national team. The team is coached by Joseph Moteudi and the assistant coach is Henry Hooper. While all these sporting events goes in a side, Goblin Grundjee celebrates the first ever birthday of his. First Birthday? Yes! He's not a human he was created by scientists.

[Port Ember]

Port Ember Times
Special Edition: Independent Association Cup 11

Port Emberian "Dragons" - Another One!

Port Ember 2 - 0 NPC West Florida

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The Port Emberian National Soccer Team, popularly known as the "Dragons", picked up their third consecutive victory in their Independent Associations Cup 11 campaign.

This victory against NPC West Florida came in Matchday 4 of the Groupstages, effectively making it three out of three for the national squad.

Despite the recent civil unrest which erupted within the host nation of Havenwylde, and the subsequent health and safety risks posed to visiting fans, the stadium was filled to the brim with excited fans. The majority of the stadium was filled with rowdy Port Emberian supporters, beckoning one to remember the crowds and atmosphere of the golden days of Port Emberian soccer.

As the opening whistle sounded, our national team launched an overwhelming attack against West Florida, hoping to catch their prey off guard. This quick attack and push was met with massive approval from the full house crowd in attendance, jumping from their seats.

This was not to last however, as possession was stolen from within the box and the opposing squad launched a massive counter attack. Due to being overextended, the young Dragons were powerless to stop the charge, and a beautiful shot at goal in minute 7 was taken, and saved by some fancy flying ninja nonsense by Port Emberian keeper Ilbert Moses. The coaching talent of the previous head keeper, Peter Smith, has clearly had a profound effect on Moses.

As the game restarted, the Port Emberians immediately changed their approach towards the game, as it became clear that their world class opponents needed to be taken more seriously. The Port Emberians immediately set off to repair the damages to their morale, by dominating and locking down the midfield, doing the utmost best to maintain possession there and force their opponents to try and push against their immovable wall, without ever truly pushing for an attack - baiting their opponents to rush and overextend. This clearly frustrated their opponents as they failed to make any meaningful change to the match - our national team maintaining 92% possession in the first half!

Interesting to note is the fact that the Port Emberians have dubbed this the "Midfield Lockdown" Strategy, which was invented by the first head coach of Port Ember - the legendary Stuart Baxter. Whilst this tactic differed dramatically from their signature high octane offensive play, or their "Bait Ambush" play, it remains a valid strategy when employed at the right moment - and was thought to have been forgotten by the new national squad.

The first half came to an end in minute 40, with the scoreboard remaining on 0 each, with both the opposition - and the fans - being a bit frustrated at the lack of true action.

The very same midfield lockdown strategy continued throughout the second half, still with our national team dominating every aspect of the game, shutting their opponents down. In minute 80 the exhaustion and frustration of the West Florida team was visible on each of their faces, appearing as if their spirits were finally broken - despite the score being equal still! The Dragons sensed this and immediately changed pace, suddenly launching a plethora of high octane attacks upon the shocked opposition, leading to two marvelous goals - once in minute 83 from star striker Charlton Townsend, and lastly from midfield winger Tàmhas Savage, as he burst through deep down the flanks in minute 88.

This match displayed how quickly the game can change, as the Port Emberians snatched victory by scoring two goals within the span of only 5 minutes!

Scorers:
Port Ember:
#11 Charlton Townsend (Minute 83).
#8 Tàmhas Savage (Minute 88).

NPC West Florida:
None

Man of the Match:
#6 Jason Chamberlain (PE)

Player Ratings

#1 (GK) Ilbert Moses: 8/10. A dramatic increase in performance when compared to the last match. He appears to have found his rhythm behind the sticks now.
#2 (CB) Craig Ramsey: 6/10
#3 (CB) Jason Lee: 8/10. Veteran Lee is still the king in the backline without a doubt. Was in excellent form.
#4 (LB) Adam Reynell: 6/10
#5 (RB) Elihu Frost: 6/10
#6 (AM) Jason Chamberlain: 8/10. The veteran Captain continues to amaze the crowd with his spectacular assists and sneaky moves he executes. World Class!
#7 (DM) Steven Packard: 7/10
#8 (LM) Tàmhas Savage: 8/10. This young man dominated the left wing for the entire 90. He was part of setting up one goal, whilst scoring the remaining one.
#9 (RM) Finnbar Cox: 6/10
#10 (CF) Donald Vroomen: 7/10
#11 (CF) Charlton Townsend: 8/10.

Substitutes:

#14 (CB) Dominick Mclean: 6/10
#15 (CB) Rowland Mclean: 6/10
#21 (RM) Maoilios Priestley: 6/10

A Brief Analyst's Opinion

- Our Keeper, Ilbert Moses, has shown a dramatic increase in form, when compared to the previous match.

- The effective and technical defensive on display by the Dragons remains a surprise to all, as the squad has been sorely lacking defensive prowess from the very onset of their international career, way back in the World Cup 83 cycle.

- The midfield and strikers have found their rhythm as a united front, and the chemistry is unmistakable.

Post Game Coach's Comment

"There is not much to say really. The lads showed that they can switch up their strategies when it's required to do so, and that they are slowly but surely finding the required chemistry between them. We are nowhere near perfect however, and will continue to work hard on some of the aspects which I have identified as lacking."
- Valentine Oliver, Port Emberian National Team Head Manager

Article by Erica Davies
Port Ember Times

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Matchday 5 Preview

Port Ember vs Silvedania

Venue: Havynwilde

Brief Summary:

After Port Ember enjoyed their third consecutive victory against NPC West Florida during our third match as part of Match Day 4, our national team is now gearing up to face off against Silvedania for Match Day 5 of the IAC Group Stages.

Our opponents to-be have had a difficult campaign so far, to say the least. They lost their opening match against TJUN-ia (1-0), but managed to draw against Sharktail (2-2) during Matchday 2. Their last match against NPC West Florida saw them defeated again (4-2), whereafter they were graced for a Bye Day during matchday 4.

Thus, they are entering this last match of the group stages with a total of 1 point, being placed dead last in the group, and are unable to advance to the knockout stages, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming derby. They have scored a total of 4 goals in their last three matches, whilst conceding 7.

Port Ember on the other hand, has won three out three matches, and have already qualified to advance to the knockout stages, regardless of the results of the upcoming matchday. However, winning the group us still up for grabs, if the Dragons loses against Silvedania, and NPC West Florida defeats TJUN-ia simultaneously.

Thus, the national squad is entering this last match of the group stages with a total of 9 points, being placed on top of the group. They have scored a total of 6 goals in their last three matches, whilst conceding 2.

Starting Lineup for Match:

#1 (GK) Ilbert Moses
#2 (CB) Craig Ramsey
#3 (CB) Jason Lee
#4 (LB) Adam Reynell
#5 (RB) Elihu Frost
#6 (AM) Jason Chamberlain
#7 (DM) Steven Packard
#8 (LM) Tàmhas Savage
#9 (RM) Finnbar Cox
#10 (CF) Donald Vroomen
#11 (CF) Charlton Townsend

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The Blog of The Traveling Buccaneers

IAC11 Edition

Life in the land of Coats and One Armed Prostitutes - Part 4

The mad adventures of the Travelling Buccaneers within the Land of Coats and One-Armed Prostitutes continues!

For a change, The Mighty Margaret decided that The Travelling Buccaneers would not be allowed to wreck chaos and mayhem onto the soil of The Land of Coats and One Armed Prostitutes (also known as Havenwylde by some), prior to the commencement of our national team's match, as ritual would dictate.

Reason being, that Ol' Hilda decided to suffer from a breakdown (one could swear that she has been drinking, instead of us!!), so were stranded at the hostels, alongside the holes in the roofs and walls.

Luckily for us, Peter is a blackthumb by trade, and he managed to breathe life back into the old bitch by afternoon. Just in time too, as we rocked up at the stadium just as the opening whistle heralded the start of the good times.

And good times they were! It would appear that my blog had motivated you crazy bastards at home, since the stadium was filled to the absolute brim with the Blue & Whites of Port Ember being absolutely everywhere! Welcome one, Welcome All!!

Our lads managed to do the business, as they smashed the opposition with a mighty 2-0 final score. It was obviously our massed support which motivated them to play as well as they did. I mean, who can help but perform at their peak when thousands of trumpets are tellin' ya to!?

Once the match was finished, we made a massive fire on the sidewalk outside of the stadium, as we wanted to grill some meat, seeing that we did not eat the entire day yet! We had a wanker piggy policeman telling us that its illegal to do so - and we obviously told him to wank away.

So, to make a long story short, five of our lads are currently in jail (at least it took a full contingent of riot coppers to get 'em there).

After this excitement, we took Ol' Hilda into the city center, in search of a good watering hole (pepper spray tends to make you extremely thirsty).

We found this neat pub nestled between the urban jungle, and it looked like the perfect spot to get our drink on.. Until something bloody insane happened.

There were these little bastards who were running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling and crawling EVERYWHERE! And not just one or two monkeys either, but a whole bloody score of 'em! This felt an awful lot like bragging to the lads, as if these spidermonkeys were telling us we can't be batshit crazy like 'em, even if we tried. And no one does batshit crazy like we do.

So we showed them.

Long story short - we did not show them. We had another six lads admitted into hospital due to broken bones, arms and jaws.

Such is life in the land of Coats and One Armed Prostitutes.

This Blog is authored by Corey Taylor - The President of the Traveling Buccaneers - the fanclub of the Port Emberian National Football Team. Whilst we are the "Official" fanclub, the Port Ember Football Association has zero control over us - and have forced us to tell ya all that our views and misdeeds are not representative of them, the team or the nation at large. Cowards!

[TJUN-ia]

Welcome back to Havynwilde for IAC11! After we both won and lost by a goal in the previous two games, the bye helped us heal the wounds before we returned to play on MD4. The opponents for this one were a familiar one in The Blue Monster from Sharktail, who we're quite familiar with in footballing competition. Sahami and the gang hadn't had the best of IACs thus far, with only 1 point (from that 2-2 draw with Silvedania) heading into their final game of the group stage against us. David Seems knew the Monster would want to end their IAC on a high and tried to prevent that in this game.

Unfortunately for him, things didn't go to plan here. Sharktail came out fighting and were a good match for TJUN-ia's style of play. The would take the lead on 35 minutes through Farhan and after that, they parked the bus with an efficiency reminiscent of TJUN-ia's first-ever WCQ game - that 2-2 draw with Taeshan on the road. It was admirable and it certainly worked for the Blue Monster as they got the job done. TJUN-ia had lost again and Sharktail ended their IAC on a high.

Things aren't looking good, but one final game could save this IAC for the Jaguars: Npc West Florida. They lost to Port Ember 2-0 in the other fixture in this group, meaning all TJUN-ia has to do in order to qualify for the knockouts again is to take down West Florida on the final day. It sounds easy enough but if we know anything about this IAC so far, it's that nothing comes easy for Seems' side in Havynwilde. GO JAGS!

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SCHEDULE (Group 2)
MD1: vs Silvedania (Pot 5) W 1-0 (2nd)
MD2: vs Port Ember (Pot 1) L 0-1 (3rd)
MD3: BYE (3rd)
MD4: vs Sharktail (Pot 3) L 0-1 (4th)
MD5: vs Npc West Florida (Pot 4)

[Abanhfleft]

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

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Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

MAYBE THE REAL RIVALRY WAS THE ONES WE MADE ON THE WAY

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, so once again the Abanhfleft national football team finds itself on the brink of elimination of a major footballing tournament, and once again this whole situation would have been easily avoidable if not for the fact that this very same team that we are now hoping would find a second wind and find a way to force themselves into the playoffs is also the one and the same team that lost to a bunch of fucking fish, the very situation that put us in this bastard position in the first place! Oh well. The past is past, and there's nothing left to do except make the best out of a shitty situation that shouldn't have been this shitty in the first place. But we just can't help ourselves, can we? We really have to make shit difficult for ourselves, and by now the only reasons why I think we're doing this on purpose is so when we cock it up, we can always say we were shit to begin with, and when the impossible happens and we do get out of a self-inflicted mess, we can always say that we've finally turned the corner and we're going to be shit no more. Only to immediately return to being shit on the very next match.

Now, in my previous Independents Cup post I mentioned that HUElavia just might be becoming our newest or latest rival in sports. Today, having seen that we're up against Indusse (which I have just learned is pronounced Induss-eh), I suddenly thought about something: how many times have we met Indusse in a sporting context before? Turns out, it's not a lot. This is probably only the second time we've ever been up against these guys, second after that incredible penalty shootout encounter in the Under-18 World Cup where we had to go all the way to sudden death to decide a winner. Something of note that our Indussean (is that the right word for them?) opponents have done is the fact that they've called up Goblin Grundjee, their star player from the Under-18 World Cup, for this tournament as well. The Indusse federation must see a helluva lot of potential in this Grundjee lad if they're calling him up for the senior squad immediately after a youth cup. Also, did I mention that he's a freaking goblin? Yeah, you would think that his name would be a dead giveaway, Goblin Grundjee. And he's also a one-year-old science experiment. Just like that moldy grilled cheese sandwich I had in my lunch bag back in grade school. Or at least that's what I said it was when the teacher asked me about it once the smell had gotten too bad...

As for the game itself, well, nothing much to write home about then. Two quickfire goals from Kellerman and Vitagliano set the tone for the first half, that tone being Abanhfleft has got everything under control and there is no need to be upset. Desirae Katigbak came on after an hour and quickly found the back of the net after being on the field only three minutes, and then Hiroko nabbed her brace with another tap-in, which she celebrated by going guns blazing once again. At this point, I'm fairly convinced that she is doing this on purpose just to mess with me. Anyway, something happened in the Indusse camp, something that convinced them that no, they didn't want to be losing 4-0 to a side that lost to a bunch of fucking fish. Enter Baskar Kumar and his aim of becoming the four-goal hero that pulls Indusse back from the brink. Well, we sure made things a little bit easier for him in terms of doing that! You would think that the way our players were giving lots of space to Baskar that they were afraid of catching a cold from him! He shouldn't have had the space to unleash that belter from just outside the box, and yet here we are. But forget all that, because his next goal was just full-on absolute cheekiness! The sheer absolute cheek to score from the halfway line right after the kickoff! Christ above, this is the attempt a player makes when there's absolutely nothing else left on the line, not when your team is still gunning for the comeback, however unlikely. Then Norma Decatoria put a stop to the comeback before it could get any better (from the Indusse perspective; worse from the Fleftic one), but that didn't stop Mersias from nicking a late goal.

Anyway, that's the end of it for me. If you have any comments about the game against Indusse then feel free to leave it down below, but until then, this has been the Man from Markovsky still disappointed in our country.

          ABANHFLEFT 5 - 3 INDUSSE
KELLERMAN (15', 70')       BASKAR (76', 78')
    VITAGLIANO (25')       MERSIAS (89')
      KATIGBAK (63')
     DECATORIA (84')

[HUElavia]

B-Team Boosts HUElavia to 1st Place!

HUElavia 1–0 Otksarin
(Sol 66')

HUElavia entered Matchday 4 looking to keep momentum in their favor, as they came off a comeback victory over Indusse to earn their 1st victory in the IAC. To reward the starters for their victory, Coach Garcia Kimura opted to play with the entire B-Team, along with Vannier in goal, while Duran, one of the oldest players in the squad, being the team Captain. Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos were facing off against Otksarin, who were sitting in 4th Place with 1 Point. Regardless, Coach Garcia Kimura felt that the B-Team was good enough to take on the newcomers, and wanted to play the backups to instill some confidence and experience in them. The team played with their traditional Home Uniform, and in the crowd, it was very Pro-HUElavia with a sea of Yellow, Blue, and Green in the stands. The ball rolled and the match was underway.

The match was a very possession-strong performance from HUElavia, where they had constant control of the ball. Despite this possession, the team just could not score, even if their lives depended on it. Shots by Villca, Reveles and Sol were just either stopped by REDACTED, or they went out wide into the crowd. Even the midfield of Sakaguchi, Guilbert, and Gagne-Leblanc could not score as well. Time ticked away, and Otksarin had their chances, but were blocked with ease by Mendieta and Castro Bittencourt. Half-time came, and the score read 0-0, with the HUElavian crowd anxious with the scoreline, while the players were frustrated from so many opportunities lost. The second half came, and HUElavia kept applying pressure to Otksarin, having them pinned in towards their box. Despite the constant lost chances, there was a breakthrough. In the 66th minute, Duran would dispossess REDACTED and saw Sol making a run past REDACTED, giving a long ball to the Jeong-HUElavian winger. Sol got the ball and went away from REDACTED to give a low shot that made REDACTED fall to his knees trying to stop it, but it was too strong of a roll and into the goal it went to make it 1-0. The crowd erupted from the goal, celebrating with cheers and jumps, making the stadium iconically rumble, while Sol took off his shirt (which he was yellow carded for) and celebrated with the bench and his teammates for the goal. HUElavia kept the attack going, along with Otksarin getting some chances, but it wasn't enough, as at the end of the match, HUElavia held out to get a much needed 3 Points to keep their momentum going.

With the victory, HUElavia move up to 1st Place in Group D with 7 Points (2-1-0). They surpass Quemorr Isles, who was on their Bye for this Matchday, where they sit in 2nd Place with 6 Points (2-0-1). In the other match, Abanhfleft won 5-3 over Indusse to move up to 3rd Place with 4 Points (1-1-1), while Indusse was eliminated with 4 Points (1-1-2) after playing all four matches and not making the Top 3. Thus, Matchday 5 between HUElavia and Quemorr Isles will be a Must-Win for both teams as not only 1st Place in Group D is on the line, but a direct spot to the Round-of-16 is on the line as well. Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos need either a Win or Draw to win Group D and Advance Automatically, while Quemorr Isles needs a Win or Draw PLUS Abanhfleft to lose to Otksarin to Advance Automatically. Abanhfleft must win over Otksarin by 2 or more goals OR they must win over Otksarin plus Quemorr Isles to lose in order to Advance Automatically. Otksarin needs to win by 3 or more goals over Abanhfleft in order to get 3rd Place and aspire to advance to the Play-In Round. The A-Team will play in the match, and the Away Uniform Alternative will be used.

The team and fans continue to be cautious, although recently, there as a skirmish between some Nationalist Sympathizers and some HUElavian supporters that resulted in 18 HUElavians arrested, and 5 being sent to the hospital for varying injuries. The team and fans are on high alert after doing this, looking to stay amongst themselves and avoid getting into fights. The team released a message the other day, imploring for the visiting HUElavians to not fight and to be pacifists, which is a massive tradition and pride for many years in the country. The government has expressed their concerns and continues to monitor the situation before deciding as to what to do with fans and the team in the country.

Here's to hoping we all stay safe and well, and that we clinch another spot into the Knockouts.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|

SELECÇÃO STUNNED IN THE SECOND HALF!
IAC11 Matchday 4:
Muralos 3-4 New Lusitania


It was a challenging point in the IAC's development by the time New Lusitania met leaders Muralos. The fourth round of the first phase witnessed the return of Patríce to goal, as well as Palhagueira and Horta, who would make his debut in this year's competition. Silveira and Jota were back as a pair in front. A warm Sunday afternoon in Havynwilde would bring plenty of action to come and it didn't take long to see it - a surprising goal on the first minute took Leiteiro on a massive run from defence. The ball managed to pass Palhagueira, who agreed to stay behind to cover, Fernando and back to the Porto defender who put it in to make a truly unique and wonderful goal. Some may have questioned this position of the player but at least it had finished happily. By this time, some of the more confident fans believed they'd soon be drawing circles around the opposition, but the Hawks of Muralos were rapid to dismiss that theory. The eighteenth minute provided the equaliser for them with the credit going to Lumin from close range putting it just about away from the hands of the keeper.
The Selecção hounded the opposition's defence and Palhagueira managed to get a corner out of it after his close shot took a deflection off one of the defenders. Rui Horta taking it from the left side, ballooned it up in the air connecting with the head of Daniel Jota who guided it in the right direction.
It was a day for the defence so far and winger Vinagrete joined in on the party with the play which started at the back. The goalie prodded it on to Cancela, which passed it on to Gama. The Sevilha player changed the game's side and crossed it over to Fernando. Vinagrete's Run from behind saw him come out of nowhere to shoot it over from the halfway line in what was described in other outlets as "an incredible goal". Halftime and it was 1-3, fans were jubilant and it all seemed to be wrapped up in a Lusitanian majority match, statistically.
Football is said to be a game of two halves not only in the rulebook and so the teams came back for the other forty-five minutes in which a very different game would be played.
Zheng's goal to pull one back shook the Selecção as early as forty-nine minutes of play, volleying it in with style as the Lusitanians questioned the series of events. A Equipa de Todos Nós had actually managed to attack in this match but their progress for a fourth had stalled as of late, with the drought giving some time for their Hawk-eyed opposition to find an opportunity. The awaited equaliser would be the second for Lumin, when spurred it in with some good curve leaving the goalkeeper to put a fingertips but failing. The race was now well and truly on. Though both Silveira and sub Paulo G. get shots on target, the goal was nowhere to be found. In fact, in opposition to that, the goal would remarkably come from Muralos' goalkeeper. A corner situation saw the keeper being pulled up as soon as the late seventy minute area to put it in - Markov had done it and yet didn't celebrate, apparently respecting the situation. Fernando falling to the fall as he saw it go in is an image that will definitely be on the cover of tomorrow's papers showing that despite not being a final, the match was extremely hard.
We saw New Lusitania attempt counter-insurgency in the final moments and Gama hit the outer bar but in the end, New Lusitania had racked up an unlikely defeat in what would be an IAC classic for years to come.
Unfortunately for the Selecção, this put them in a bit of a precarious position. Muralos is on nine and Choudal's victory to the U.H.I. put them second with seven and New Lusitania third with four. Sajnur are behind them with three and U.H.I. have yet to score, though Choudal have thankfully reached the end of their four games awaiting the final results. Muralos host Sajnur which cannot do better than third, as the Hawks secured the group Win and no longer have to worry. New Lusitania only have the Unified Hemand Isla to play but they gave the group leaders a good run for their money in their game (3-2 defeat) - the Selecção hope for at least a victory by two to secure second without entering complex tiebreaks to qualify automatically. It isn't impossible, but the national coach already knows it won't be easy: "We won't underestimate this team, they've played well on occasion and will definitely want the win so we'll have to play top football to advance automatically. At the moment that's all I'm focusing on and that's the objective we have as a team".
On the previous match, questions will still be around as to how the Selecção blew a two goal lead to lose, captain Fernando took full responsibility saying the team didn't play well enough to keep the Hawks in check, but questions go beyond as the team needs to see if the defenders can really pull through this time. Fans in the stadiums and at home will certainly hope so.
Fifty become Twenty-four

---
Goals: Palhagueira (1), Silveira (1), Jota (1), Leiteiro (1), Vinagrete (1),
Assists: Fernando (3), Gama (1), Horta (1)
---
STL
Official Broadcasters of the World Cup and the IAC.
Follow the Selecção's road here!
MMXX (in association with FLF)

[Havynwilde]

Group A
Ponyvillian Separatists of Twicetagrien Canterlotine Territories 0–2 Kohnhead
The Fortem 4–3 Havynwilde

  Group A                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Fortem                                                             4    3   0   1    13    9   +4     9
2 Kohnhead                                                               4    2   1   1     7    5   +2     7
3 Ponyvillian Separatists of Twicetagrien Canterlotine Territories       4    2   0   2     8   10   −2     6
4 Daehwi                                                                 4    1   1   2     3    5   −2     4
5 Havynwilde                                                             4    1   0   3     8   10   −2     3

Group B
NPC West Florida 2–5 TJUN-ia
Silvedania 2–1 Port Ember

  Group B                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Port Ember                                                             4    3   0   1     7    4   +3     9
2 TJUN-ia                                                                4    2   0   2     6    4   +2     6
3 NPC West Florida                                                       4    2   0   2    10   12   −2     6
4 Sharktail                                                              4    1   1   2     8    9   −1     4
5 Silvedania                                                             4    1   1   2     6    8   −2     4

Group C
Muralos 2–2 Sajnur
Unified Hemand Insia 1–3 New Lusitania

  Group C                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Muralos                                                                4    3   1   0    12    8   +4    10
2 New Lusitania                                                          4    2   1   1     8    6   +2     7
3 Choudal                                                                4    2   1   1     7    6   +1     7
4 Sajnur                                                                 4    1   1   2     6    6    0     4
5 Unified Hemand Insia                                                   4    0   0   4     3   10   −7     0

Group D
Otksarin 3–2 Abanhfleft
Quemorr Isles 1–2 HUElavia

  Group D                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 HUElavia                                                               4    3   1   0     7    4   +3    10
2 Quemorr Isles                                                          4    2   0   2     8    7   +1     6
3 Abanhfleft                                                             4    1   1   2    12   13   −1     4
4 Otksarin                                                               4    1   1   2     4    5   −1     4
5 Indusse                                                                4    1   1   2     5    7   −2     4

Group E
Neo-Futurist Wyoming 4–3 Kriegiersien
Quintessence of Dust 2–5 Tequilo

  Group E                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Tequilo                                                                4    4   0   0    10    2   +8    12
2 Space                                                                  4    2   1   1     8    5   +3     7
3 Quintessence of Dust                                                   4    2   0   2     5    7   −2     6
4 Neo-Futurist Wyoming                                                   4    1   1   2     7   10   −3     4
5 Kriegiersien                                                           4    0   0   4     4   10   −6     0

Group F
Icecliff 3–4 Silver Beach
Thea Liters 3–2 Squornshelan Remnant States

  Group F                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Icecliff                                                               4    3   0   1     9    7   +2     9
2 Almuzahara                                                             4    2   1   1     9    5   +4     7
3 Silver Beach                                                           4    2   0   2     7   10   −3     6
4 Thea Liters                                                            4    1   1   2     6    7   −1     4
5 Squornshelan Remnant States                                            4    1   0   3     5    7   −2     3

Group G
Pripet Socialist Republic 2–0 Terre Septentrionale
Rwekazaland 3–4 Poafmersia

  Group G                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Poafmersia                                                             4    4   0   0    11    5   +6    12
2 Dryicor                                                                4    2   1   1     6    5   +1     7
3 Pripet Socialist Republic                                              4    2   1   1     5    4   +1     7
4 Rwekazaland                                                            4    1   0   3     5    6   −1     3
5 Terre Septentrionale                                                   4    0   0   4     2    9   −7     0

Group H
Hebitaka 0–1 Juvencus
The Frozen Forest 0–3 Reçueçn

  Group H                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Megistos                                                               4    3   1   0     7    1   +6    10
2 Hebitaka                                                               4    2   0   2     5    3   +2     6
3 Juvencus                                                               4    1   3   0     3    2   +1     6
4 Reçueçn                                                                4    1   1   2     3    5   −2     4
5 The Frozen Forest                                                      4    0   1   3     2    9   −7     1

Group I
Murphtannia 3–0 Omerica
Vykta 0–2 Squidroidia

  Group I                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Squidroidia                                                            4    3   0   1    11    7   +4     9
2 A Flock of Seagulls                                                    4    2   2   0     6    4   +2     8
3 Vykta                                                                  4    2   0   2     8    8    0     6
4 Murphtannia                                                            4    1   1   2    10    9   +1     4
5 Omerica                                                                4    0   1   3     4   11   −7     1

Groip J
Ginadjkrum 2–3 Trolleborg
Sannyamathland 1–2 Drawkland

  Groip J                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Trolleborg                                                             4    2   2   0    10    8   +2     8
2 Drawkland                                                              4    2   1   1     6    6    0     7
3 Central Shaneville                                                     4    2   0   2     5    5    0     6
4 Sannyamathland                                                         4    1   1   2     7    7    0     4
5 Ginadjkrum                                                             4    1   0   3     8   10   −2     3

[these will be formatted when I wake up, exhausted from work today]

[Squidroidia]

How To Win The Group (As A Bunch Of Squids)

Squidroidia 2-0 Vkyta

Brooks '79
Atling '82

When the final whistle blew for the Independent Associations Championship group, all of the team's doubts from the Flock of Seagulls game were erased. Ryūzaki could... Live happy again. But the team knew that it wasn't over. They had a run to make in the knockouts, even if they had a 4/5ths chance of earning a bye straight to the Last 16. I mean, they were group winners yes, but they came so close to being knocked out. They made it out just before the bomb exploded.

What was... Unique about this game was that for the first time in Squidroidian history, only those Inklings scored. Both came off the bench too - Henriette Brooks came off to replace Jo Jun and score the first goal in the game, getting past the Vkyta U21s goalkeeper and (At least then) taking their side top of the group. Then came the young boy, Ira Atling, scoring a close range strike in the 82nd minute to all but seal the deal. The Squidroidian national team was heading to the IAC knockouts once again.

Had it turned to a tournament to remember? As Squidroidia's 3rd major tournament appearance (4th if you count World Cup Qualifiers) it was already up there, but with the Inklings getting to the semis in Omerica last time (With their amateur side crashing out against Murphy's men with only 1 point to their name), it was a tall order. A VERY tall order. But Manager Mito thought it could be done.

When the team arrived back at the hotel after that match, the Inklings were having a little party. Not a big one, they didn't win the tournament yet, not by a long shot, but they did make out of the group as winners when one loss could have done them in big time. If they lost to Murphtannia then they, not Squidroidia, would have gone on to the knockout stage. The team, however, persevered and found their selves top of the pile of their group, as many pundits predicted. This was only half the battle. Knowing Havynwilde was only half the battle. The knockouts were literally going to be do or die.

They didn't expect the country they were playing in to suffer harder than it already has.

---

Knockout Stage Seeding

OOC: At the time of writing Havynwilde hasn't posted the seeding yet, so I have gone ahead and done that for him, as well as revealing the Round of 24 matchups. The first 3 tiebreakers used in the Group Stage will be used for seeding, with Fair Play (AKA a coin toss) being decided by Havynwilde so I don't affect the tournament.

Group Winners
Blue notes teams that have advanced to the Round of 16
Green notes teams that have advanced to the Round of 24

Seeding                                                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Tequilo                                                                4    4   0   0    10    2   +8    12
 2 Poafmersia                                                             4    4   0   0    11    5   +6    12
 3 Megistos                                                               4    3   1   0     7    1   +6    10
 4 Muralos                                                                4    3   1   0    12    8   +4    10
 5 HUElavia                                                               4    3   1   0     7    4   +3    10
 6 The Fortem                                                             4    3   0   1    13    9   +4     9
 7 Squidroidia                                                            4    3   0   1    11    7   +4     9
 8 Port Ember                                                             4    3   0   1     7    4   +3     9
 9 Icecliff                                                               4    3   0   1     9    7   +2     9
10 Trolleborg                                                             4    2   2   0    10    8   +2     8

OOC: Congrats to The Fortem for making the Round of 16 on your first appearance!

Group Runners-Up
Green notes teams that have advanced to the Round of 24

Seeding                                                                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
11 A Flock of Seagulls                                                    4    2   2   0     6    4   +2     8
12 Almuzahara                                                             4    2   1   1     9    5   +4     7
13 Space                                                                  4    2   1   1     8    5   +3     7
14 New Lusitania                                                          4    2   1   1     8    6   +2     7
15 Kohnhead                                                               4    2   1   1     7    5   +2     7
16 Dryicor                                                                4    2   1   1     6    5   +1     7
17 Drawkland                                                              4    2   1   1     6    6    0     7
18 TJUN-ia                                                                4    2   0   2     6    4   +2     6
19 Hebitaka                                                               4    2   0   2     5    3   +2     6
20 Quemorr Isles                                                          4    2   0   2     8    7   +1     6

Group 3rd Place Teams
Green notes teams that have advanced to the Round of 24
Red notes teams that have been eliminated from the IAC

Seeding                                                                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
21 Choudal                                                                4    2   1   1     7    6   +1     7
22 Pripet Socialist Republic                                              4    2   1   1     5    4   +1     7
23 Juvencus                                                               4    1   3   0     3    2   +1     6
24 Vykta                                                                  4    2   0   2     8    8    0     6
25 Central Shaneville                                                     4    2   0   2     5    5    0     6
26 NPC West Florida                                                       4    2   0   2    10   12   −2     6
27 Ponyvillian Separatists of Twicetagrien Canterlotine Territories       4    2   0   2     8   10   −2     6
28 Quintessence of Dust                                                   4    2   0   2     5    7   −2     6
29 Silver Beach                                                           4    2   0   2     7   10   −3     6
30 Abanhfleft                                                             4    1   1   2    12   13   −1     4

Round of 24 matchups

9. Icecliff vs 24. Vkyta
-
10. Trolleborg vs 23. Juvencus
-
11. A Flock of Seagulls vs 22. Pripet Socialist Republic
-
12. Almuzahara vs 21. Choudal
-
13. Space vs 20. Quemorr Isles
-
14. New Lusitania vs 19. Hebitaka
-
15. Kohnhead vs 18. TJUN-ia
-
16. Dryicor vs 17. Drawkland

OOC: Once again, if Havynwilde does not like this I'll take this down. I just wanted to do this for him.

[Trolleborg]

Greetings, compatriots! It’s TTV with a great news from the world of sport. Our football team won last game of the group stage and take first place in the group.

The situation in the group where our team is playing was quite confusing at the time last games began, and, of course, before the start of the game there was no lack of assumptions about how everything would turn out, from balanced to completely not taking into account the realities of either football or the tournament. But, fortunately for us, our lads kept their fate in hands and did not fail in their task. Although, I must say, the duel with the daring cybersportsmens who took the points from Drawkland was not very easy.

The score was opened shortly after the start of the match, Laaste, who joined attack and heading with the ball to the opponent's goal, added some speed, pulled away from the defender and managed to make an accurate pass into the penalty area, where Kerr skillfully made a shot into the far corner

It seems that this goal relaxed our lads a little, and they did not perceive the foul kick quite far from the goal as a big threat, but they was wrong. Since it was from that kick Ginadjkrum equalized the score

Our team was somewhat confused by such a failure, and, altought begin real siege of the opponent’s penalty box, but could not create serious, really dangerous moments. Still, in terms of psychology, our guys still have something to work on.

During the break, Morten Troghil, apparently, found the right words for his players, because as soon as they entered the field, they continue a systematic siege of the opponents' goal, sometimes adding speed, sometimes slowing down, acting from flanks, then with the center, then weaving a web of passes, then moving to the long-range strikes and longballs.

And the success at last came, the second goal turned out to be almost classic for our team – long ball into the penalty area, then our forwards imposed a power struggle on the defenders, forcing them to focus on counteracting themselves, and Gulbranden threw the ball under the shot to the midfielders, who were left unattended in this situation. Troll find a way to the ball and shot hard right into the corner.

In the middle of the second half, the team increased the gap to two goals, Laaste again showed his ability to accelerate and ram the defense on the flank, broke through and again made a pass into the penalty area, and there Gulbranden managed to strike ball by his head in the tight fight with defenders

Ginadjkrum did not accept the prospect of defeat and fought until the very final whistle, clearly hoping to take points from Trolleborg. And their hopes was not entirely unfounded, since team having scored a goal shortly before the end of the game

But our opponents failed to achieve more, so Ginadjkrum leaves the tournament with his head held high, and the Trolleborg team after this victory took the first place in the group. This is a wonderful gift for our national holiday, Victory Day, December 1! We all congratulate lads on a well-deserved victory, we are glad that they showed their best qualities and achieved such an important success, but there is no time to relax, remember this.

[Megistos]

So Close To Perfection, Yet So Far

Phew! Nothing bad happened this matchday... well, except for the news that both Tequilo and Poafmersia went undefeating, pushing Megistos to the third highest seed. Pretty good, but we could have done better.

- - -

The first goal of the game was scored by Juvencus early on in the 9th minute. Etxeberria would receive the ball from a pass from Christian, who turned, getting past Fran. Etxeberria shot the ball quickly before any defender could get to the ball, and it went past a Becks quickly getting into position, a microsecond late.

Megistos struck back just 2 minutes later, in the 11th minute, with Fran booting the ball upfield. Occasionally this would be bad, but today it would be good. Robertson would head it to Lukovic, who was unmarked. He ran to the outside of the box and fake shot it, and passed to a open Robertson, who shot it easy in the back of the net.

"The game wasn't our best, and we should have done better. They wanted it as much as we wanted it. Hopefully, we still stay first." Admitted Jorgenson after the game, who was subbed out in the 86th minute after a slight injury.

"We have to look forward, though." He added on later.

Now, before the Round of 24 begins, the Megistia Fuzbol Federation has sent scouts to the final 24 team's games to see their play. It is good practice to know the enemy before the battle, of course.

[TJUN-ia]

By Peter Davis

No one at the beginning of the IAC thought that the fate of the Jaguars would rest in the final game against Npc West Florida but if Havynwilde was anything, it was a nation of surprises. Back-to-back defeats to both the new-look Port Ember and the familiar Sharktail meant that heading into the final matchday, TJUN-ia needed to beat West Florida in order to even advance in this IAC. Sounds easy, right? But that was what everyone thought this group would be and it didn't turn out that way. Add to this the fact that defeat could send West Florida packing after winning 2 games, then you've got a pretty interesting scenario and Pot 2 took on Pot 4 for survival.

With TJUN-ia's recent form, there was room for scepticism but all those fears would be eased by half time. The team actually played like they should and took it to West Florida brilliantly. Joe Green got the first goal in the 21st before Vladimir Podolov hit 2 in 6 minutes (36th and 42nd) to make this 3-0 Jags at the half. West Florida would get one back in the 56th but Podolov was a man possessed and scored the hattrick goal in the 67th. West Florida refused to die and managed to get a second in the 85th before Prince Carter scored TJUN-ia's fifth in the 89th to end this contest. It may have been difficult at times and it certainly wasn't pretty, but TJUN-ia did what they needed to do and they will play in the Round of 24.

We're not exactly sure who we will be facing in our 3rd IAC Knockouts in a row but if our friends in Squidroidia are to be believed, then it will be fellow Pot 2 side Kohnhead. We have a rivalry with the Brains in the NSTT, where our players always end up meeting in tournaments, but not really in anything else. Still, the Brains will be a formidable foe in the hunt to qualify for the Round of 16, so no holds should be barred by David Seems' side. GO JAGS!

---

SCHEDULE (Group 2)
MD1: vs Silvedania (Pot 5) W 1-0 (2nd)
MD2: vs Port Ember (Pot 1) L 0-1 (3rd)
MD3: BYE (3rd)
MD4: vs Sharktail (Pot 3) L 0-1 (4th)
MD5: vs Npc West Florida (Pot 4) W 5-2 (2nd/+2GD/6pts)
---------------------------------------------------------
RO24: vs Kohnhead (Pot 2)

[Juvencus]

"Hebitaka 0, Juvencus 1. Does that ring any bell everyone? It might be a victory, but we needed 2 goals or more for certain qualification to the round of 24. Exteberria, you really saved our asses with that rocket, you beast! What a hard fought game..."
Mauro proceeded to light up his cigarette, thoughts were running in his mind, he wanted to say more, but he couldn't articulate his exact thoughts, he took a puff.
"It took you 4 fucking games to win 1, ma che cazzo is on your minds? Where are the goals we are supposed to score? 3 goals in 4 games? That is pathetic, what are we gli attaccanti for then, huh? Now because we didn't decisively beat them with a 4-goal lead we have to pray to the Lord, or however you Catholics call him for a chance at glory? We got in here to dominate, it doesn't matter we haven't lost if we haven't been decisive this whole tournament? WAKE UP! On the first half, what the fuck was that miss Silvestri? You were 1 on 1 with the keeper, you should have kept composure, you should have score that one, Bret lined it up perfectly for you, it was a piece of art and you sent it flying..." he paused for a second, he took another puff and proceeded to playfully move the cigarette around.
"Listen up, if that goal was all we needed to get through and god I hope it is, then you better step it up. Next practice we are making a shooting range, all of you better be the lethal goalscorers you're meant to be by the next game. I won't be screaming on top of my lungs every time you miss an opportunity, next time, you're murderers, and the goal is your victim. You, as gli attaccanti, show no mercy to anyone that stands in our way. If we are meant to stay in this competition, we better get out with the trophy in our hands. We won't choke ever again, we are a quality side and we need to let everyone in the independent teams side of the multiverse know about it, we are supposed to be representative of Sonnelian and Independent might. The Cup of Harmony glory days are long gone, we are writing a new page in history. Next practice, we bust our asses and hope for the best. We're going back to the hotel now and we think. None of you are to talk now, we still won."

[HUElavia]

Navarro's Comeback gives HUElavia Group D!

Quemorr Isles 1–2 HUElavia
(Shark 42' | Navarro 61', 88')

Four years ago, Matchday 5 in the Group Stages of IAX had HUElavia depending on another team, Tequillo, to defeat Terre Septentrionale in order to advance to the Round-of-16. Four years later, HUElavia was in control of their own destiny, needing to just draw in order to advance to the Round-of-16. There was only one opponent in front of them from doing this: Quemorr Isles. The surprise package of Group D, being a Pot 5 team was on the verge of winning Group D. Although, Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos were having none of it, and Coach Garcia Kimura fielded the best Xi she had available, with Lobato in goal and Cristiano as the Captain. The team wore their away uniform, while the stadium was massively a sea of Yellow, Blue, and Green in a fervent support from the fans. Quemorr Isles also fielded their best players in an attempt to win the group. The ball rolled and the match was under way!

Both teams had their style of attack being used in order to get past each other's defense. Quemorr Isles was spending the half attacking heavily, while HUElavia was playing more cautiously, making sure to make direct passes and crosses for openings. Despite this, shots would go out wide, or would be saved by Lobato or Whale. Despite the attacks and misses, the opening goal would come late in the first half. In the 42nd minute, a long ball from Sailfish would go into the box, where Shark and Fernandez-Roux were jostling for the ball. Shark chested the ball down and gave a low shot that went past the fingertips of a diving Lobato into the goal, making it 1-0 for Quemorr Isles. The Islanders celebrated while the HUElavian team and supporters were stunned at the goal being conceded. Shortly after, the half ended 1-0 in favor of the 5th Seeded team of the group. In the second half, HUElavia continued to pressure Quemorr Isles, who seemed tired after the large amount of attacks from the team in the first half. Their golden opportunity came in the 61st minute, as substitute Sakaguchi (in for Duran) sent a ball into the box, where Reveles (in for Hamada-Navarro) headed the ball down, only for Navarro to appear and give a low blast that went past a diving Whale that deflected off their arms into the goal, making it 1-1. The HUElavian crowd in front of the goal erupted and jumped with cheer and screams to make the stadium rumble, while Navarro ran to the bench to hug his teammates and give a hug and kiss to his wife, Hamada-Navarro. Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos kept pressing, looking to get a chance, when they finally got it late in the match. In the 88th minute, Conti-Esposito had the ball and was trying to get past Tuna, when she saw Navarro make a sprint, where she crossed the ball into the box, which Navarro appeared over Whale to head the ball down and into the goal, making it 2-1. Once again, the crowd erupted with cheers and joy for the goal, while Navarro celebrated with his wife and teammates. Shortly after, the match ended 2-1, and HUElavia punched their ticket to the Knockout Stages of IAC 11.

With the victory, HUElavia wins Group D with 10 Points (3-1-0), while Quemorr Isles finishes in 2nd Place with 6 Points (2-0-2). In the other Group D match, Otksarin upset Abanhfleft by the score of 3-2, which meant that Abanhfleft finished in 3rd Place with 4 Points (1-1-2), Otksarin in 4th Place with 4 Points (1-1-2), and Indusse in 5th Place with 4 Points (1-1-2). The ranking for those three came down to Goal difference between the three (-1, -1, -2), but Abanhfleft finished in 3rd due to goals scored. With the victory, HUElavia advances directly to the Round-of-16, as the projected #5 seed for the Knockouts, finishing behind Tequillo, Poafmersia, Megistos and Muralos. The Fortem, Squidroidia, and Port Ember also advanced directly. Some notable eliminations in the Group Stage included Host Nation Havynwilde (2nd consecutive edition the Hosts are eliminated in the Group Stage), Squornshelan Remnant States, Abanhfleft, Terre Septentrionale, Reçueçn, and Omerica. With the Round-of-24 to come, determining the 8 teams advancing to the Round-of-16, the highlighted match of the round is #10 Trolleberg vs #23 Juvencus, which many HUElavians voted as the match-to-watch. #13 Space will take on #20 Quemorr Isles, while #14 New Luisitania will take on #19 Hebitaka and #15 Kohnhead takes on #18 TJUN-ia. The team and fans will be watching these matches to see who they get seeded against for the Round-of-16. Regardless, the team has earned their rest and will train and study hard in order to keep the HUElavian dream alive in this IAC. No other issues has arrived since the fight that occurred the other day, as fans still exercise a lot of caution, as well as the team. Here's to enjoying the Round-of-24 and meeting our next opponent!

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|

OOC: If it isn't too much trouble, is it possible to change New Lusitania's style to their usual +1.5, forgot to put in the original roster. Thanks in advance regardless, and thank you for your continuing efforts in this IAC hosting.

STILL IN IT... JUST ABOUT
IAC11 Matchday 5:
Unified Hemand Insia 1-3 New Lusitania


The final thing for the first phase agenda to be complete would be the game against Unified Hemand Insia. Unlike previous editions where the Selecção might have reached this point and thought "perhaps we'll put a few secondary players on as we're qualified", this wasn't the case when it came to IA11, for not only did New Lusitania have to win, they'd have to win by at least two goals. Choudal would compete with them for second place, but with all five matches played, they'd be in an uncomfortable position in the comfort of their Tournament Base, waiting anxiously for the result. No chances taken for Grilo, Patríce started in goal, with Vinagrete, Leiteiro and Pedralva, one of the few changes after a good performance in the previous match. Palhagueira, captain Fernando, Horta and Gama were in the centre of the park with no changes to be noted as Veiga, Daniel Jota and André Silveira were the intended composers of any goals up front.
The whistle blew and everyone gave their best in the stands to support the team and the notion of taking the last-placed team was firmly planted. However, after their match against Muralos (a 3-2 loss) there were also some worried faces. For a while, they'd be put to rest, Silveira would volley it in from an assist by Jota in the twenty-third minute therefore opening up to score sheet.
Nonetheless, before halftime, their opposition pulled the goal back with a great shot off the number ten, tensing up everyone around the ground as they went back into the dressing rooms for their quarter-of-an-hour break. The draw would not and could not suffice the team, putting them in real business. Due to this, Grilo decided to bring on Paulo Gonçalves once more - the youngster had really promised in his first match and his entry in the second.
The sixty-second minute entry by the substitute had indeed upped the spirits of the Selecção, as his connection with teammate and captain Fernando got them the lead once more - his first goal for the team in a competitive match was one to remember and a vital one at that. Time ticked away, inching ever closer to ninety and no sign of the needed goal - Gama once again almost managed to get his first goal but some inches offside caught him out, something the team seemingly have to work on for their next matches.
The moment would come possibly in the moment it mattered most, just before ninety, in the eighty-fifth minute. A nice dribble by Paulo G. managed to pass a through ball to his right into Palhagueira. The Sporting now Valnohar Rovers holding midfielder was confident and he lobbed the ball to Veiga who confided in him and put the ball back on him to see it curve into goal nicely - for today at least he was the people´s hero. A two-goal margin, all they needed to go through and it was going their way.
"Palhagueira, that's to Veiga, he sees that back now and what's he going to do here... he's advancing, and, oh, there it is! The goal and oh, what a beauty! It seems he can hardly believe it himself, New Lusitania are 3-1 up!"
With ninety minutes approaching for once, the Selecção took a more conservative approach and played more defensively and the result was theirs. They were through!
In the end, the points were fulcral but Choudal also qualified fruit of a well deserved seven points. Muralos' 2-2 draw with Sajnur gave them another handy point for the knockout seedings and the "away" sides fourth. As it's to be understood, New Lusitania now advance to the Round of Twenty-Four where they play Hebitaka, a nation who came second in Group H with six points, behind Megistos (the group winners with ten) but ahead of Juvencus, despite their defeat to them in the final matchday by 0-1 and Reçueçn who bow out after a disappointing tournament. Best in show in Havynwilde has gone to Tequilo so far, with twelve points out of twelve and holders Poafmersia who look for an unprecedented double, though other favourites such as HUElavia aren't far behind. Juvencus x Trolleborg, Almuzahara x Choudal and Kohnhead x TJUN-ia all seems like other highlights of this "wildcard round" where veterans such as Drawkland also lurk. To highlight as well still is The Fortem's blistering group stage in their first ever presence in the competition, with fans around the multiverse looking to see what happens in their next match. Comparatively the Selecção may have underperformed and have to play another match, but the goal and route remain the same and teams are hopeful to reach the IAC. It's also been a tournament of revelations - the defence has played a bigger role in supplementing the attacking positions and youth has been seen in the shapes of prospects such as Palhagueira and Paulo G. but also through Santos. As twenty-four become sixteen, there's plenty to look forward to in these coming games...

---
Goals: Palhagueira (2), Silveira (2), Jota (1), Leiteiro (1), Vinagrete (1), Paulo G. (1)
Assists: Fernando (4), Gama (1), Horta (1), D.Jota (1), Veiga (1)
---
STL
Official Broadcasters of the World Cup and the IAC.
Follow the Selecção's road here!
MMXX (in association with FLF)

[Almuzahara]

>>>PANTHERS SLUMP EARLY, SHOCK LATE, ADVANCE TO RO24<<<
Ibrahim Bennani, The Almuzahara Observer

HAVYNWILDE -- After Almuzahara took just one point from their opening two matches, against unranked nations Icecliff and Thea Liters, it looked like Yusuf Alaoui's men would be going home early in humiliating fashion. However, shock upsets over Squornshelean Remnant States and Silver Beach, the pre-tournament favorites to advance from Group F, saw the Panthers through in style, finishing second in the group (behind fellow upstarts Icecliff) and earning a relatively soft first-round draw against Choudal, also unranked.

The end result was an impressive seven-point finish, but the start that Almuzahara had was anything but. The Panthers' famously high-octane attack was frozen at the hands of Icecliff on MD1, as Zackary Davidson's early goal proved the difference in a narrow defeat. There were some positives from the match - namely strong chances that nearly fell to Tariq Ben Labrat and Ahmed Fernandez, as well as a strong defensive performance in spite of Icecliff's 2-4-4 formation, but the Panthers came away from what was a must-win at the time completely empty-handed. Against Thea Liters, the "Pot 5" team in Almuzahara's group, they at least mustered a point, but were disappointed to not come away with all three. Tariq Ben Labrat intercepted an errant pass before playing the perfect cross to Amir Alami just twelve minutes into the match, and Alami doubled his tally with a tremendous volley off a half-clearance of Fernandez's cross. Yet Khalid Elias' late send-off for two dicey yellows saw the Panthers collapse defensively, and two late goals meant Almuzahara had a serious uphill climb to reach the knockout stage.

The Panthers' third match would come against Squornshelean Remnant States, absolutely the favorites to come out of the group. With individual talents such as Stovar Krieven, Iuri Takala, Oliwer Starosta, and Lyzolda Petrov, the Black-and-Reds were overwhelming favorites in their clash against the Panthers. However, despite this matchup being (on paper) between two fluid, creative attacking teams, the goals just wouldn't come in the first half, as Petrov, Takala, and Vladcik all hit the woodwork in the first half. While Anne-Sophie Groothuis' side lived up to their reputation of defensive sturdiness and offensive inconsistency in the second half, a moment of individual brilliance was all Yusuf Alaoui's men needed to secure three points. With just twelve minutes left before stoppage time, Tariq Ben Labrat was brought down thirty yards from the Squornshelean goal. Ali Al-Qushayri became a national hero for his ensuing free-kick, which bent miraculously through the air and past an outstretched Krieven for the winner.

A 1-0 win had given Almuzahara life, but to qualify for the next round, they would have to follow their defeat of the group's first seeds with three more points against the group's second seeds. Luckily, the Panthers brought their finishing boots - and their referee-bribing money, if you're from Silver Beach - to their MD4 clash. Tariq Ben Labrat was dubiously fouled on an incisive run into the box just six minutes into the match, earning a penalty that Ahmed Fernandez chipped down the middle and in for a 1-0 lead. Just ten minutes later, a handball that blocked Fernandez's driven shot saw Silver Beach down to 10 men - and Almuzahara up 2-0, a lead that would hold going into the half. In a must-win situation, Silver Beach was forced to go forwards despite having just ten men, and although they managed to pull a goal back, Almuzahara were ruthless on the counterattack. Ben Labrat, Al-Qushayri, and substitute Araz Fernandez all scored on the break to put the game out of reach, and after a second Silver Beach goal, Abbas Osman's header put the cherry on top of a dominant 6-2 victory.

Seven points and a +4 Goal Difference were enough for Almuzahara to secure the twelfth seed, pitting them against Choudal in the first round. Very little is known about Choudal's team, players, or staff, but the Melayu Archipelago nation apparently play an incredibly attacking style, which saw them score seven goals - but concede six - in the group stage. The Panthers' defensive spine of Abdel Bekkaye, Yussuf Bendahan, Abbas Osman, and Khalid Elias will be tested by their opponents' high-powered attack, but Choudal's relative defensive fragility presents opportunities for the red-hot Ahmed Fernandez and Ali Al-Qushayri to punish their opponents on the counter. If the Panthers are victorious against Choudal, IAC Titans and ex-finalists HUELavia await in the Round of 16 - but Almuzahara has already shown their quality against their group's best teams, and will be hoping that their debut run can continue.

[Havynwilde]

1 Tequilo
2 Poafmersia
3 Megistos
4 Muralos
5 HUElavia
6 The Fortem
7 Squidroidia
8 Port Ember
9 Icecliff
10 Trolleborg
----------
11 A Flock of Seagulls
12 Almuzahara
13 Space
14 New Lusitania
15 Kohnhead
16 Dryicor
17 Drawkland
18 TJUN-in
19 Hebitaka
20 Quemorr Isles
21 Choudal
22 Pripet Socialist Republics
23 Juvencus
24 Vykta

As to prevent group winners being thrown right back into a play-in round after winning their group, rather than the traditional format of 8 teams receiving a cut, all ten group winners will receive a cut from the play-in round. The other fourteen teams will play each-other meanwhile in a one-leg play-in, the winners will be assessed based on seeding with the two lowest-seeded teams playing each other to determine the sixth and final seed for the knockout rounds

No reservations aside from host info is allowed.

---

Host Bid :: Guide to Havynwilde :: Seeding :: Discussion

---

As the play-in rounds begin, fourteen teams, head out to battle, knowing its win or go home, no more gimmicks or half-attempts, if they fail it's all over for them. For some, this is another chance at life, after floundering through they've somehow made it, and this is the proving grounds they've desperately needed. For others, they're patiently awaiting the winners, under the big lights, it's win or go home, its the twelfth* finals with added difficulties.

RP Prompt: It seems the violence has temporarily quelled, but as the weather picks up, as does snowstorms clogging the cities, a nation already gripped with harsh ways of transportation would have to deal with the added and largely unwanted presence of thousands of foreigners, how do your citizens in Havynwilde react.

Havynwilde for many is a tale of two cities, one side welcoming the tournament and on in which violence and rioting are occurring calling for a clear change in the government!

---

Stage 1
[FIRST RPER WILL CHOOSE STADIUM :: ALL GAMES KICKED OFF AT 3:00pm HCT]

(AFS)       A Flock of Seagulls    0–0*   Vykta                     (VYK)   (aet)  (2–4 pen.) 

(AMZ)                Almuzahara    3–1    Juvencus                  (JVE)   

(SPE)                     Space    3–1    Pripet Socialist Republic (PSR)   

(LUS)             New Lusitania    2–0    Choudal                   (CHD)   

(KHN)                  Kohnhead    3–4    Quemorr Isles             (QMI)   

(DRY)                   Dryicor    2–4    Hebitaka                  (HBK)   

(TJN)                   TJUN-ia    7–2    Drawkland                 (DRK)

Stage 2
[FIRST RPER WILL CHOOSE STADIUM :: KICKED OFF AT 9:00pm HCT :: SAME DAY AS STAGE 1]

(QMI)              Quemorr Isles   3–4    Vykta                     (VYK)

---

[TJUN-ia]

Welcome back to Havynwilde! As it turns out, we and Squidroidia was wrong on the format of this tournament. The winners of the groups qualified automatically for the next stage so the 2nd placed and 4 best 3r placed teams faced each other in a 2-stage Round of 24. The 2 lowest-seeded winners of Stage 1 will face each other in Stage 2 in order to decide the 16th and final seed in the Round of 16. With all to play for and with the aim of bringing some TJUN-ian joy amidst the infinite snow and fog, David Seems' Jags faced the Kick Corp of Drawkland.

TJUN-ia had some mojo back after a 5-2 win over Npc West Florida and in this contest, that was definitely shown off. The first half would be very interesting indeed as TJUN-ia struck first within 5 minutes through Joe Green. The Kick Corp would respond in the 14th through Jaxon Madison but TJUN-ia would retake the lead in the 34th through Kepo Ulawaya. Vladimir Podolov would add a 3rd in the 42nd and that would end the first half, fun for all in Blue and Orange despite the cold and the visibility.

The 2nd half would see the Kick Corp try to mount a comeback as Ross Hunter scored in the 49th, but TJUN-ia would take over for the rest of the game. Ulawaya would get his 2nd in the 65th and then the Dynamic Galarian Duo entered the fray: Prince Carter and Archer Andrews. Carter would set up Andrews in the 78th before making his own magic with a superb strike past Septimus Xander for TJUN-ia's 6th in the 83rd. There was still time for one more, however, as Ulawaya wanted a hattrick and he would get his wish with TJUN-ia's 7th in the 92nd. It was a big win for David Seems and a sign that maybe the pain of the Groups had been washed away by the snow. It may have been too much, but the managerless Kick Corp was destroyed 7-2.

We don't actually know who we will face in the Round of 16. Huh. But whoever we shall face, Seems will take it on like the TJUN-ian people take the snow. GO JAGS!

---

SCHEDULE (Group 2)
MD1: vs Silvedania (Pot 5) W 1-0 (2nd)
MD2: vs Port Ember (Pot 1) L 0-1 (3rd)
MD3: BYE (3rd)
MD4: vs Sharktail (Pot 3) L 0-1 (4th)
MD5: vs Npc West Florida (Pot 4) W 5-2 (2nd/+2GD/6pts)
---------------------------------------------------------
RO24-S1: vs Drawkland (Pot 1) W 7-2
RO24-S2: BYE
RO16: vs ???

[Muralos]

Muralos vs. Sajnur: Match Report from https://google.com/muralos/

FINAL
Muralos 2 - 2 Sajnur
Lumin 16', Rui 46' | Jana 41', Nazar 51'

Leading scorers on the Muralosian National Soccer Team:
- Vilhelmo Lumin: 3 goals
- Adamo Brava: 2 goals
- Mikhail Zheng: 2 goals
- Nikolaj Granda: 1 goal
- Rodion Markov: 1 goal
- Koralo Petrov: 1 goal
- Rui: 1 goal
- Georgo Zhong: 1 goal

Last updated December 2, 2020

En Route to the Training Site of the Muralosian National Soccer Team, December 3, 2020
Intellectually, Adamo Brava knew that it was about 7:15 a.m. here in Havynwilde and that he and his teammates had not been up for long. But if one were to snap a picture, they would not have guessed that it was so early in the morning.

The sky had a brilliantly blue hue and the two players at the front of the team van – Brava and Rui – had their sun visors down.

"We're really out here, guys!" said Brava as he turned onto an freeway entrance.

"Yeah man, it's beautiful, too," Georgo Zhong replied, leaning back in his seat and squinting slightly at the sun. "But it's also cold, don't you think?"

"It's about the same as Oleo, I feel like," Ryo Takeda added, lifting his chin. There was a sense of gravity in his voice, as if he had predicted the snowstorm that would fall upon Havynwilde later in the day.

"True, which is so cold to most of us. Only Johano actually stays there regularly too..." Brava's voice trailed off. "But we've all played in Oleo, right? You all kind of know how to prepare."

"Yeah, they usually just warm up for a bit and play, though." Johano Abramovich was rather animated on the subject of his adopted home city, where he played for the Muralosian Premier League's FC Oleo. "A whole practice is gonna be tougher, but you guys can do it."

"Should we dress in layers?" asked Zhong. For all the cold in Muralos' far north, those in the south – where Zhong hails from – have precious little experience with it. It is mostly thanks to southern Muralos that the whole country is ranked top 5 percent in the world for best weather.

"Oh yeah, definitely dress in layers," Abramovich answered nonchalantly. "No coats, though; you're gonna sweat through them in longer practices. And after a bit, we usually run a scrimmage wearing fewer layers, because it's standard protocol for our actual matches."

"We don't have to follow that, though," Brava retorted, trying to reassure the team. "If any one of you gets sick in this cold, it won't be pretty. We'll see how practice goes, but let's err on the side of more layers."

"Sure," said Zhong. "We'll be good."

"Someone's gotta volunteer to shovel snow later, too," Rui added after a few moments of silence – the kind that comes when everyone wants peace of mind, but not because there's truly nothing to say. "There's a shovel in the trunk."

A rather childish game of "nose goes" ensued. Surveying the van, Lerta Donaldson made the final conclusion: "Since he's driving, Adamo is exempt, and Georgo will do it."

"What?! I've literally never had to do that in my life," objected Zhong.

"It's self-explanatory, man. You'll learn quickly," Brava replied with a laugh, making a lane change to exit the freeway.

Locker Room at the Training Site of the Muralosian National Soccer Team, December 4, 2020
"I can't believe I have become the designated snow-shoveler for all practices, thanks to a game of 'nose-goes!'" Georgo Zhong bemoaned, half-heartedly raising his snow shovel. "Who needs practice or lifting when you've got shoveling?"

"Dude, how much snow is out there?" asked Lerta Donaldson, Zhong's teammate at Havenurbo Tech and the one most equipped to put up with his occasionally dramatic antics.

"There's so much; it's like a full layer on the pitch," replied Zhong. "We'll need more than one person to clear all of this, I swear. There are extra shovels by that wall. How did we just notice those?"

Johano Abramovich spoke up. "Yeah, I don't think you guys thought this through. I'll go with you, and if Lerta is okay with it, then we three can go together."

"All right." Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, man."

"Of course, dude!" answered Abramovich. "After last night's weather, having one person clear all the snow would be ridiculous. Thank goodness it's stopped snowing, though."

The other Hawks waited either in the dugout or back in the locker room, stretching and doing jumping jacks as Abramovich, Donaldson, and Zhong got to work. Once they got about halfway through, they were subbed out for Brava, Vilhelmo Lumin, and Aleksandro Kim.

This is obviously INCREDIBLY incomplete but it's... somethin'

[Space]

The SPACE Team have demonstrate a unique qualification in the group stage of the Independant Association Championship 11 from Havynwilde. It was with little chances of stopping the the sunrise of the tequila team in Group E but in four match days to start the comeptition SPACE is losing only that one match. Of course this is the best situation it can be possible for a team competing in this group. There was still a danger. With the last day of competing on the groups the Astronauts of Space have a day off. The Space Team sits on the recliner and everyone else of the group is going to work.

If Quintessence of Dust can defeat Tequilo the dream will end. But they do not. Of course Tequilo is the victor by 5-2 which allows Space the 2nd position in Group E.

It appeared some confusion on who will be the opponent for Space in the knockout phase but finally the opposition was determined and it would be the Pripet Socialist Republic. It was the 11th hour but it was the same for all participants. No preparation. No planning. Just play sport.

This format worked out very nice for Space. It was a good performance and a 3-1 victory for the Astronauts sending home with bags packed for the Pripet Socialists. Many of the games in this stage were not a high profile and also the same is said for Space and Pripet Socialist Republic. Very few eyes will bat on the result. Differently many eyes were batting on the match between TJUN-IA and drawkland. It was a big name of Independance and a former champion and it was incredibly performance from TJUN TEAM with seven goals on a team who win Independents Cup 6 and host Independents Cup 7.

Bye Bye Drawkland. Bye Bye Pripet Socialist Republic. Lets Go Astronauts!

[Squidroidia]

Preparation for the Trolls

"Good job making it through here on time", the Squidroidian manager Ryūzaki Mito said as the national team came into the conference room. The weather outside was getting quite bad as time progressed - It was the Havynwilde winter after all, and with that the national team and the Squidroidian fans who traveled off to Havynwilde with them were having to deal with snow everywhere, not to mention the transportation situation. There wasn't anything violent for now going on the streets, so everything was peaceful. As for the team however, they had to deal with Trolleborg. They were now facing World Cup opposition and this was only the Round of 16. Tequilo had to face Vkyta. The defending champions had Hebitaka on their hands. Megistos were taking on TJUN-ia, Muralos had New Lusitania, HUElavia were going to Space and The Fortem were given a hard one in Almuzahara. But this one was the hardest of the lot - IAC X semi-finalists versus a team that qualified for the past World Cup. Blood was going to be on the frozen grass.

"You don't know what the heck you got into when you finished your group, do you? Trolleborg went to the World Cup last time. This is a huge opportunity to test yourself against genuine world beaters. Troghil's side will be out for blood this time, and we know we can counter them. Remember last time, remember IAC X when we took Poafmersia off their unbeaten chances in the group stage? You can do more than that when we face Trolleborg. I know you can, you look like a side that could reach the Final. I don't mind it if we go out in the last 16, this game can decide the direction we go towards in qualification for the big one." Ryūzaki sighed and pointed to the Trolleborg home kit. "This team is your test to see if you can qualify for the World Cup."

The manager then rolled the tape from previous Trolleborg games in the IAC group stage. "This team, more than anything, is about the gegenpressing. They want to give everything they got no matter if they're facing Vkyta or Vilita. They'll try to pressure you if you have the ball, and when they knock it on their feet they will try to score. You need to break through the press if you have any hope of scoring goals and getting to the quarters. Again, this team qualified for the World Cup last time, they know what the competition is about and they'll try to use that to their advantage. If you win, the defending IAC champions will most likely be waiting for you. Win this game and you could have the momentum for a run to the Final."

A hand was raised, it was goalkeeper Takemoto Shingen. "Manager Mito, with how bad we did against A Flock of Seagulls and the thriller against Murphtannia, should we be expected to be handed a clean sheet?"

"Shingen, clean sheets are off the table. All that we care about now is winning. One slip up and you're out of the IAC no matter what. There is no group to keep you safe. The moment we lose is the moment we pack up. I don't want you to pack up now, but considering the strength of the competition? We could very much do that. We should take no chances, and we won't probably get a clean sheet."

Then came the hand of youngster Makino Hideo. "With the Trolleborg national team and potentially Poafmersia on the horizon, do you think that we have been given the hardest path to the Semis?"

"Yes, Hideo. Good news is that if we beat Poafmersia, most likely we're facing either Megistos or The Fortem, maybe Almuzahara. But trust me, getting to the final four is going to be tough unlike last time. If we were to get to the Semis, however, we could easily turn that into a Final appearance. Our opposition? Most likely a Tequilo side plagued with Kepolalia but still strong nonetheless, the defending IFC champions in Muralos or a potential rematch with HUElavia. Port Ember and Icecliff are also on the cards. But now it's about getting to the Semis. Go through Poaf and Trolleborg? You got an easy shot at the Final."

With the team dismissed, the snow would fall down on the ground where the team stepped. They were going to brave through the last 16 like it was the snowstorms they were braving right now. No more room for error.

[HUElavia]

A Match of Cosmic Proportions Await HUElavia!

With the Round-of-24 completed, the field has officially narrowed down to the 16 remaining teams. In the Round-of-24, there was an announced switch of the seeding, with the 10 Group Winners directly advancing to the Round-of-16. Thus, the teams of Icecliff and Trolleborg were given their direct passes to the round. The remaining teams were reseeded, it saw the advances of Almuzahara (upsetting a dark horse in Juvencus), Space, New Luistania, Hebitaka, and TJUN-ia. Notably, TJUN-ia had obliterated former champions and dark horses Drawkland, who were obliterated 7-2, in one of the most lop-sided matches in the history of the IAC. Vykta and Quemorr Isles were the teams that had less of a goal difference in their victories, so a one-off playoff was given to them to decide the 6th and final place for the Round-of-16. Vykta won their match 4-3, and were the last team to qualify.

Thus, according to the seedings reported by the press in Squidroidia, HUElavia will face off against Space, who defeated Pripet Socialist Republic, 3-1 in the Round-of-24. Space came in having finished 2nd Place in Group E with 7 Points (2-1-1) behind Tequillo, one of two teams (the other being Poafmersia) to have swept their groups with a perfect 12 Points (4-0-0). Space is currently ranked 37th in the rankings, being one of the consistent participants of the competition, only previously missing out on IAC 7. Regardless, Coach Garcia Kimura does not want to take chances, and will be using the main XI for the match once again. Lobato starts in goal once more, while Cristiano serves once again as the team Captain. HUElavia will use their Home Uniform, while giving Space their Home Uniform for the match. Fans will be flocking to the arena to support the team in the start of another knockout phase for the team.

While the fights have quelled down in the country, HUElavians are bundled together as they look to continue enjoying their stay, but being cautious of the situation in the country. Although, the bundling is very important for the fans to do, due to the rising amount of snow slamming into the country. This large amount of snow coming in surprised the fans significantly that they had to flood department stores to buy jackets and sweaters to properly protect them in this weather, especially since snow is only found on the top of Mt. Reus in HUElavia. The fans just try to stay in warm areas, like restaurants and pubs, although some fans have taken the time to build their own snow sculptures and play games in the snow. The team has also had the HFA send packs of sweaters and jackets to the players as they train in the snow and a little indoors, trying to keep their conditioning and skills in peak for the crucial part of this tournament. The team has also spent time studying Space and learning how to work with them throughout the match. Outside of training and studying, the team tends to enjoy watching movies together, playing video games, doing board or card games, or relaxing with their immediate family, who have been given orders by the HUElavian Government and permission by the HFA for them to be together due to the tensions in Havynwilde. For the time being, the National Football Team and its supporters are safe and well, looking forward to the next match.

The team hopes to play well to continue their quest to win and earn that elusive IAC Title, while the fans hope and pray for the team's success in churches and public spaces in Havynwilde, as well as in places all around HUElavia. Here's to us having a good match and winning, as well as advancing to another Quarter-Finals.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|
The 11th Independent Associations Cup from Havynwilde

FAMILIAR FACE, DIFFERENT RESULT
IAC11 Round of Twenty-Four
New Lusitania 2-0 Choudal


Unlike what was previously thought, New Lusitania would meet Choudal once again. Their first match in the group stage, was still very much burning in memory and this time maintenance in the competition was well and truly at stake. The match featured a lot of the team from the previous match, the exception being Pedralva at the back. It would be a match, as fans would soon find out, for players which hadn't shined as bright just yet in the competition. Patríce would really be pivotal in keeping New Lusitania in it with two dangerous attacks early on from the third-placed team. Things would pick up for New Lusitania soon enough. The first goal happened past the half hour mark - off a counter-attack, we'd see the Fernando letting the ball go towards Veiga who'd strike it in hard and low past the defenders, past the keeper and into the net. Fans celebrated and it was now 1-0. Halftime came in and things were looking well - Selecção fans got to see another new face appear on the team, that of João Cabral on the right. The Sporting CL midfielder would now mean the entire line was composed by the club's prospects. Coming on, he'd actually do a pretty good job having an excellent debut. In the seventy-fifth minute, an advancing Silveira was fouled upon by the opposing defender marking him. A yellow card and a booking and the youngster taking it from a decent range to score - many were actually surprised at the fact neither the captain nor Veiga were taking it. The whistle blew. The foot connected with the ball, the spherical flew into the net beautifully. Suffice to say the crowd was very pleased with that one.
A few more shots and also some participation from Rafa Guerreiros, reaching at the end of his tenure, where he'd still manage an impressive shot going over the bar in his short stint. Nonetheless, the victory was theirs and the progression to the quarter finals too.
New Lusitania now play... it's a good question and the next round is a question many hold. After Matchday 5, confusion had already struck with the change of team pairings after "irregularities with the draw" where combination six was actually an upside down nine. Now, teams are still in the dark as to who they'll play in about a week. Format change also meant the inclusion of a play-in round between lowest winning seeds of the Quemorr Isles and Vykkta, which was won by the latter 3-4. Soon teams will have to know their next adversary, but for now several focus on studying all sixteen teams left in show.
Meanwhile, the fact that the tournament is being played in the other half of the world means that whilst fans start to enjoy their sun over in New Lusitania, Havynwilde starts to see the first big snow days, a tad earlier than predicted. For some players, this ended up being a unique moment seeing as some had never seen the phenomena up close and in action. The team themselves got a half-dozen days of rest with the play-in situation which they jumped, leaving them to spend time with each other, study possible opponents and also train. The lusitanian headquarters seems to have a cosy spirit with the team getting together during these days...
On the political front, which unfortunately is now part of a sports bulletin, things are looking positive for now, as the entire scene fell silent in these past few days, though there has been some talk of movement during the all-important final days of the tournament. Fans as is recommended by the FLF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is also action taken by other participants, are travelling mostly in blocks inside the urban areas and look to avoid the incoming flu season with the rapid change of conditions. The quarter-finals could well be under snow, a condition players in New Lusitania aren't too familiar with considering the national climate, regardless the team will look to progress to the Quarter-Finals. For now, the snow falls down outside, teams wait, fans anxiously count the time and the nation stands behind the Selecção in Havynwilde.

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Goals: Palhagueira (2), Silveira (2), Jota (1), Leiteiro (1), Vinagrete (1), Paulo G. (1), Veiga (1), João Cabral (1)
Assists: Fernando (5), Gama (1), Horta (1), D.Jota (1), Veiga (1), [Silveira (1).]
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STL
Official Broadcasters of the World Cup and the IAC.
Follow the Selecção's road here!
MMXX (in association with the FLF)
Boas Festas!

[Almuzahara]

Ro16 Lineup: Bekkaye; Delgado, Bendahan, Osman, Boumediene; Averroes, Elias, Casablanca; Fernandez, Ben Labrat, Al-Qushayri
Ro24 Goalscorers: Fernandez 62, Al-Qushayri 74, Bendahan 85

Almuzahara was not a nation where it snowed very often. The nation's name literally meant "flowering" in Arabic, a name given to it by Andalusian settlers centuries ago, who found it a land of eternal blooming springtime. Fitting this legacy, the Holy Republic enjoyed to this day balmy springs, mild winters, and an abundance of new-world wildlife that would make any zoologist blush. So to say that the Panthers, all of whom played in Almuzahara's domestic leagues, were not prepared to play in the snow would be the understatement of the century.

The troubles had started even before their Ro24 match against tournament dark horses and fellow Sonnelians Juvencus. Yussuf Alaoui, dramatically underestimating how much snow would slow their team bus down, only narrowly made it to the stadium on time, thanks to their bus heroically trudging its way through heavy snowfall and heavier traffic. But even then, while Juvencus was hardly a winter wonderland itself, the Panthers were like fish out of water as the match started. Young guns like Amir Alami, Tariq Ben Labrat, and Rashid Averroes struggled to get the ball off the ground to carry out any of the counterattacks Almuzahara was becoming famous for. With the Panthers' quickness and skill completely negated by the snowfall, the game ground to a slow, grueling halt. When the referee blew his whistle to end the first half, the two teams had combined for three shots, one - Silvestri's scuffed effort - on target.

Yusuf Alaoui knew that things would have to change. While the Panthers' dynamic pressing had stifled Juvencus in the first half, they'd produced almost nothing of note offensively. He'd tried incremental efforts at first, throwing the more skilled, albeit less physical Saad Bennani on for the younger Averroes. But when Juvencus had broken through in the fifty-first minute, Zuñiga shaking Delgado before firing a looping cross in that fell to the dynamite left foot of Joaquim Martell, Almuzahara could no longer afford to play it safe. On came the big guns - Amir Alami off, Ali Al-Qushayri to the right-wing, and Mahmoud Casablanca on to his favored #10 spot.

The creative midfielder, now thirty-four, had been slowed dramatically by time, necessitating his removal from the starting lineup. But in the snow, it seemed that time instead slowed for him. His first touches, after recovering a wayward pass from Khalid Elias, took him past Nino Russo, the Internazionale man turned neatly inside-out by a bit of skill. His next few took him into the heart of Juvencus's defense, out of which his chipped shot left Bulgari stunned and the crossbar shivering. It would be the closest Casablanca would get to scoring in his half-hour on the pitch. But two perfectly weighted assists would be more than enough to claim another upset. With the snow continuing to fall and a quarterfinals berth on the line against The Fortem, Yusuf Alaoui knew that it was time to bring him back to the starting lineup. The fire inside Casablanca had died a little with time - but now, the Panthers were in dire need of some ice.

[Havynwilde]

1 Tequilo
2 Poafmersia
3 Megistos
4 Muralos
5 HUElavia
6 The Fortem
7 Squidroidia
8 Port Ember
9 Icecliff
10 Trolleborg
----------
11 A Flock of Seagulls
12 Almuzahara
13 Space
14 New Lusitania
15 Kohnhead
16 Dryicor
17 Drawkland
18 TJUN-in
19 Hebitaka
20 Quemorr Isles
21 Choudal
22 Pripet Socialist Republics
23 Juvencus
24 Vykta

No reservations aside from host info is allowed.

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Host Bid :: Guide to Havynwilde :: Seeding :: Discussion

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The eighth-finals get underway across the entirety of Havynwilde, it's clear that as the nation comes to terms with reckoning who it is and adopting the changes that have been called for, the other half of the nation heads to the pitch to watch the IAC-11 happen, across the nation. In the capital, the big teams meet, in the lesser cities, the lesser teams meet, but it's clear they're on collision course for a meeting in Kinnland where the finals are to be held.

Prompt break.

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Eighth-final
[FIRST RPER WILL CHOOSE STADIUM :: ALL GAMES KICKED OFF AT 3:00pm HCT]

(TEQ)                   Tequilo    3–2    Vykta                     (VYK)   
(PFA)                Poafmersia    2–1    Hebitaka                  (HBK)   
(MEG)                  Megistos    6–3    TJUN-ia                   (TJN)   
(MRA)                   Muralos    1–2    New Lusitania             (LUS)    
(HUE)                  HUElavia    1–0    Space                     (SPC)   
(FOR)                The Fortem   *2–1    Almuzahara                (AMZ)   (aet)
(SQD)               Squidroidia    1–0    Trolleborg                (TBG)   
(EMB)                Port Ember   *2–2    Icecliff                  (ICF)   (aet) (4–3 pen.)

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Tequilo v New Lusitania
Poafmersia v Port Ember
Megistos v Squidroidia
HUElavia v The Fortem