Di Bradini Cup 53/U21WC74 RP And Scores Thread

by **Valanora** » Mon May 30, 2022 11:06 pm

Starblaydia wrote:OOC:For complete newcomers, please see the Guide to Sports Roleplaying. If you need to ask anything of the host or your opponents, arrange RP angles or generally chat about the goings-on, please use the World Cup Discussion Thread. Misspellings of 'Di Bradini' will be met with zero tolerance.

The Valanora Footballing Association presents

In association with the Starblaydia Football Association:

The Fifty-third Di Bradini Cup
a.k.a
The 74th Under-21 World Cup

The Valanora Footballing Association proudly presents the fifty-third edition of the Di Bradini Cup, the twenty-first edition of which to be held in the Valanora. Recognized as direct successor to the original Under-21 World Cup run by Total n Utter Insanity, this is also the 74th Under-21 World Cup.

This tournament is named after Starblaydia's most-famous player, the first person to score for Starblaydia's own Under-21s, currently the fifth-highest goalscorer in Starblaydia's history, World Cup Winner, member of the World Cup Hall of Fame and one-time President of the World Cup Committee: Simeone Di Bradini. We present, for your participation: The 53rd Di Bradini Cup, a.k.a. The 74th Under-21 World Cup!

Group A
Valanora
Capital Cove
TJUN-ia
Adab

Venues: The Battleground, Hellgate

Group B
The 14 Stars
Furilisca
Thibaea
Abanhfleft

Venues: Orange Gate Falls, Tiradir

Group C
Gortolekua
Cardenao
HUElavia
Mertagne

Venues: The Pitch, Lathal

Group D
Farfadillis
Cabo Azure
Baker Park
Kriegiersien

Venues: Duran Palace, Aranfield Bridge

Group E
United Adaikes
Poafmersia
Octapolis
Starblaydia

Venues: Turmondale Grounds, Castle de Mot

Group F
Efnakia
Darmen
Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom
Kobalt Isles

Venues: Goldsan, Angelotic Temple

Group G
Pasarga
Tumbra
Okoya
Ranoria

Venues: Caddo Park, River City Stadium

Group H
Tjorl
Sarzonia
Mon Sold
Chromatika

Venues: Rose Gardens, Sabinal Stadium

Cutoff Window: 8 pm CDT to 11 pm CDT

Fixtures
MD1: 1v4, 2v3
MD2: 4v3, 1v2
MD3: 2v4, 3v1
Ro16: A1vD2, B1vC2, C1vB2, D1vA2, E1vH2, F1vG2, G1vF2, H1vE2
QFs: R1vR2, R3vR4, R5vR6, R7vR8
SFs: Q1vQ2, Q3vQ4
3PPo: L1vL2
Final: S1vS2

Schedule
May 31st: Draw
Jun 1st: Bye
Jun 2nd: Bye
Jun 3rd: MD1
Jun 4th: Bye
Jun 5th: MD2
Jun 6th: Bye
Jun 7th: MD3
Jun 8th: Bye
Jun 9th: Ro16
Jun 10th: Bye
Jun 11th: QFs
Jun 12th: Bye
Jun 13th: SFs
Jun 14th: Bye
Jun 15th: 3PPo & Final

by **Valanora** » Mon May 30, 2022 11:07 pm

Map of Valanora

Valanora Information
The most important thing to know about traveling through Valanora is that automobiles are banned except for government officials. A high tech railway system connects the entirety of the nation, with three most popular international airports in Raynor City, Gladerial, and Baysleef. A ferry from Rinaldi travels to and from the island of Capri every hour on the hour. The most distinguishing feature of Valanora is the prevalent amount of forests standing in many of the inner half of the nation, even in cities, with the elven attempts to live in harmony with nature. Vanorians are a polite if not a bit high on themselves, believing elvenkind to be superior to humans, though they show a respect for the potential their humanoid cousins have.

Venues

The Battleground

Capacity: 78,000
Location: Raynor City

Artani

Capacity: 74,000
Location: Mar Sara

Angelotic Temple

Capacity: 71,000
Location: Longview

The White Fortress

Capacity: 70,000
Location: Gladerial

Donna Cathedral

Capacity: 60,000
Location: Mar Sara

Hatire Memorial

Capacity: 60,000
Location: Capri

Sabinal Stadium

Capacity: 56,000
Location: Sabinal

Hellgate

Capacity: 54,000
Location: Raynor City

Aranfield Bridge

Capacity: 52,000
Location: Everlin

Duran Palace

Capacity: 51,000
Location: Valanari

Castle de Mot

Capacity: 49,000
Location: Wexax

Rose Gardens

Capacity: 49,000
Location: Kareen

The Pitch

Capacity: 46,000
Location: Turbani

Turmondale Grounds

Capacity: 43,000
Location: Raynor City

Haramos Park

Capacity: 43,000
Location: Cartmot

Caddo Park

Capacity: 42,000
Location: Caddo

Raynor Memorial

Capacity: 40,000
Location: Hondo

The Tar Pit

Capacity: 39,000
Location: Char Sara

Metropolis

Capacity: 39,00
Location: Ibini

Orange Gate Falls

Capacity: 39,000
Location: Monaven

Miner's Haven

Capacity: 36,000
Location: Goldsan

River City Stadium

Capacity: 35,000
Location: Bexar

Tiradir

Capacity: 31,000
Location: Gladerial

Lathal

Capacity: 29,000
Location: Ianisle

by **Tumbra** » Wed Jun 01, 2022 12:48 pm

SPORTS: ON EVE OF DI BRADINI CUP, MANAGER FINNEGAN ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE AT TOURNAMENT'S END

BEXAR, VALANORA — The manager of the Tumbran Under-21 team, Edmund Finnegan, has announced that he will be departing his job at the conclusion of the 53rd Di Bradini Cup. Finnegan, 55, made the announcement on the eve of the Black Eagles' first match against Okoya in Bexar, Valanora. The announcement has made waves online, and has shocked many in the Tumbran footballing world, who have long regarded Finnegan's job status as near-untouchable.

"I feel like it is a good time to move on from international management," Finnegan said, indicating a desire to move into club management. "It's been quite a while since I managed at a club, and I'd like to return to that, all things considered." Taking charge of the team before their debut appearance in the 50th edition of the Di Bradini Cup, Finnegan famously managed to win the next edition of the tournament with a team starring Stephen Kerr, Trudy Harrison and Nick Riordan — just three of the names that now form the spine of the senior team.

Finnegan, however, also took the time to downplay fears of the team possibly underperforming due to the news of his impending departure, assuring the assembled press corps that "his heart would be in the job until the very last moment." While setting expectations low, Finnegan would "ideally like to progress beyond the quarter-finals," referencing the surprise defeat to Montana Verde in the previous edition of the cup that spelled an end to the Black Eagles' hopes of defending their title. Tumbra's reputation in youth international football has skyrocketed since their entrance into WCC-affiliated competitions since 2019; they won the 13th edition of the Under-18 World Cup, and have reached the semi-final stage in all the editions they have participated in. In the Di Bradini Cup, Tumbra have reached the semi-final stage on two occasions, finishing fourth in their first outing and winning on the second attempt; the country's exit at the quarter-finals has been the earliest any sub-age team has been knocked out in a youth tournament.

A statement released by the Tumbran Football Federation not long after the press conference confirmed that Finnegan would be leaving after the conclusion of the tournament; and also thanked him for his service; but urged supporters to focus on the football, and support the next generation of Tumbran footballing stars. Tumbra's first match against Okoya in Bexar will see the team looking to get a strong start; and is likely to be the least difficult of the teams in a likely heavily contested Group G, with perennial rivals Pasarga and upstart nation Ranoria also in the same group.

Di Bradini Cup 53, Matchday 1: Lineup vs Okoya
Starters: 1 - Patel; 2 - Evans, 4 - Proudfoot, 20 - Denham, 3 - Larkin; 6 - Philips, 8 - Maguire, 10 - Coleman; 7 - Ferris, 9 - Woodhouse, 22 - Henshaw
Bench: 12 - Hahn, 13 - Kirby; 18 - Willoughby, 5 - Bond, 14 - Pearson, 19 - Crittenden; 15 - Hall, 16 - Watson, 23 - Knight; 17 - Haines, 21 - Wilson; 11 - Howell

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:36 am

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.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

ONE MORE RIDE ON THE EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, so it’s time once again for the Di Bradini Cup, time once again for the future of Fleftic football to either get their hopes up before it’s cruelly brought back down to earth by Pasarga or some other bullshit one-timer team that will only show up for one tournament and then vanish off of the face of the earth, or they’ll just collectively crap their pants and not even get out of the group stage. Those are the only things that fans of Fleftic youth football have ever known, and I have a feeling that this won’t change anytime soon. Oh well. Let’s just get this preview of Abanhfleft’s group in DBC 53 done and over with so we can go through the pain quickly and in the least time possible.

First up, we have the 14 bloody Stars. Christ above in the heavens looking down upon us from his celestial throne. Can we ever get away from these bloody bastards? It’s like every bloody time a football team of ours qualifies for a tournament, we’re almost always drawn in the same group with either the Starsians, HUElavia, or sometimes even both of those bastard teams! And it’s going to be more of the same here in Valanora since we’re in the same group with the 14 Stars once again. It’s like we just can’t get away from them anymore! But in all seriousness, the Starsians are going to be our rivals for winning the group, if our boys and girls are up to the challenge. The Starsians, much as I hate to admit it, have taken the footballing world by storm, and they are just one of many teams that have come to the scene after us but have quickly overtaken us in terms of the KPB rankings. Oh well. What can you do when your team’s entire history is based on nothing but pain, failure, and mind-numbing mediocrity? Anyway, if I’m actually going to preview this team, I’m going to take note of their speed and technicality. They’re not the strongest team out there, but their strategy appears to be passing around us and using that speed of theirs to nip into pockets of space behind the defense. And if that doesn’t work then there’s always the pressing game. They’ll press us to wear us down and then let their better conditioning force a path through our players. Frankly, at this point, maybe we should wave the white flag and lay down our weapons. It’ll be a right miracle if we ever scrape a point or more out of this contest.

Next we have Furilisca. Oh, Christ above. They have no previous history in sports. No history at all! We have no data at all about how this team plays, who their stars are and who are the creators, the producers, and the engines of this team. And they’re in the same group as we are. You all know what this means? They’re going to smash us 5-0, aren’t they? Well, either that or we’re going to be the ones smashing them. Who knows, right? Oh, who am I kidding? They’re gonna smash us. They’re definitely gonna smash us. That’s the Abanhfleft way, isn’t it? Lose big time to some two-bit team that’s never going to enter another football competition in their short and miserable history. I cannot count on my fingers and toes how many teams have managed to get the drop on the Revolutionaries only to disappear from the world stage so we can’t ever hope to extract even a modicum of revenge from these bastards! Christ above, sometimes I wonder why I even bother being a fan of Abanhfleft in football, or even being a fan of Abanhfleft in general.

And last but maybe not the least, we have Thibaea. At least these guys actually have some history behind them so I won’t be so salty if they beat us or anything. At that point, I just see it as Abanhfleft being shite. No offense to Thibaea or any actually halfway decent team who beats Abanhfleft, but if you beat us, it’s actually because we beat ourselves. But to get back on track, it turns out that there used to be a bar in place in Thibaea in order for the country to develop its football program before going back into international competition. This DBC campaign of theirs is going to be one of the first ones in which Thibaea have participated after the bar was lifted, and if I know my sporting history, they’re going to absolutely smash us to bits because they know everything about us and we don’t know jack squat about them. They do have an emphasis on attacking the opposition’s goal, so maybe our Young Revolutionaries can somehow turn that to their advantage, but in all probability all that’s going to do is turn a 3-0 drubbing into something a little bit more respectable, like a 3-2 loss. Come on, everyone, let’s all face it: Abanhfleft is either only going to survive this group by the skin of their teeth, or they’re not going to survive it at all. It’s the ugly truth, sure, but it’s the truth. The sooner we all accept it, the less our hearts will hurt. The pain will never entirely go away, mind you, but acceptance makes the blow a little easier to handle and deal with.

Well, that’s all that there is for me now. If you’ve got any comments or thoughts or predictions for our first DBC match against the 14 Stars then feel free to leave them down below. Until then, I’ve been the Man from Markovsky, feeling like I’m about to be disappointed in our country’s youth team once again.

by **Ranoria** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 11:39 am

Snow Cubs Look to Avoid Last DBC's Disaster, Set To Open Up Against 3x Champion Pasarga

Thing's didn't go well last time, that's indisputable. Our DBC team - despite fielding some players with a lot of upside - fell flat on their face en route to an 0-3 record in their debut. And the losses of Sabra Sapharina and Andrew Parrish on the defensive side likely won't help matters on that front. David Yarbrough is a speedster at center and should be able to make some plays there, but the rest of the defensive unit is lacking a bit. Offensively though, Tatiana Queen has really come into her own at 19, and is potentially looking to play abroad in a premier league following this tournament.

Not that any of that really matters. Have you seen our group?

Pasarga is a traditional powerhouse in this tournament - they've won three U21 World Cups in their tenure, and we don't see them slouching off with one of their rivals - Tumbra - also in the group. Fortunately we won't have to travel there and relive the horrors that come with playing in that circle of hell.

But again - it probably won't matter. Tumbra won this competition as recently as DBC 51, and as such objectively field a better team here than we do probably even at the World Cup level. We'll finish the brief group stage against them in what has the potential to be a game with big playoff implications for the first five minutes (or however long it takes for those guys to start trying)

This is going to be ugly - but hey, it's Ranorian soccer. When is it ever pretty?

World Cup 81/82/83/84

BP U21s back in familiar territory
By Oliver Stanley
The Post Chief Soccer Correspondent

Sharala, Valanora--The Commonwealth Under 21 National Team have returned to their home away from home in the Eternal Empire for the 53rd edition of the DiBradini Cup, which is the 74th playing of the Under 21 World Cup.

In the previous edition, BP were assigned to play their group stage matches in Sabine & Caddonia so this marks the return to the facilities of AS Sharala, who currently play in the Vanorian League Two; Manager Chris LaRue--taking charge of the squad for the first time--said he was glad to be back in central Valanora to get the Junior Bees into a comfort zone.
"Obviously we've been coming here a long time and the support we get from the club is excellent. It's good to be the only FAC team that has it's own headquarters for the duration of the competition, one of the benefits of the tourney being in the same nation year after year."

The new boss has a veteran squad to work with, as 15 players return from DBC 52, where BP advanced to the knockout stage for the 8th time in their previous 11 appearances, but they've not gotten past the round of 16 since their debut in DBC 42. Joining the returnees are National Conference Rookie of the Season Stefani Martini of Broadview AFC, Camille Prince of Westwood Sprites fresh off their academy side's Rising Stars Cup squad, and Sandra Ikedieze of Llewellyn Turnpike Ladies who netted 9 times in her debut National League campaign.

The Group D opponents--Cabo Azure, Kriegiersien and Farfadillis--will face Baker Park at the same pair of venues that it was assigned to in DBC 49, Aranfield Bridge in Everlin for the first and third fixtures and Duran Palace in Valaneri for the second match; it will mark the fifth time an Under 21 side has played in Valaneri where BP have a win and a draw in the previous four visits, while they have only a scoreless draw versus Darmen at Aranfield in that previous tournament on their record.

The JV hope that the Senior Team's recent successes will filter down to them on this trip to the Glorious Southwest so that they might be able to contribute their silverware to the growing collection at the FAC Development Center.

by **Starblaydia** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:43 am

(OOC: As a weird holdover in my calendar I usually have the DBC as happening before the Regions and also WC Qualifiers, so originally this was not going to be a tournament run under Tlanx-Zulzk Hal - at this point however it's way too wibbly-wobbly even for me to mess around with timey-wimey stuff and get it all straight. So basically, the ages are still pre-CAFA3, Pre-WC91 Quals, but everything else points to it happening after those tournaments, just before the 83rd CoH. Not that it likely matters to anyone else as there's no Starblaydi players outside of Liga Starblaydia, but I thought I'd make that clear anyway).

Welcome back, everybody, to RAWRTALK with me, Mario Yamada, and I'm your host for this live stream football show where today we're a asking the burning question: what is up with Tlanxball? Starblaydia have again been pipped at the Qualification post by a host of lesser teams and, for the second straight cycle, will be heading for the Cup of Harmony. The last time they did that was, of course, literally three centuries ago, when they went to the Cup of Harmony for World Cups 15 and 16. Thats' right, folks, your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great... I think great again once or twice more, grandparents would have been alive to see this, we're talking something like twelve generations back in time, according to how we work these things out. If you're an elf, of course, they'd call that "lunchtime".

Like, comment, share, subscribe, hit the notification bell, enable push notifications, set your data roaming on, steal a mate's wifi and use your phone speaker when watching to spread the word if you liked that joke. Or hated it. It's all engagement for the content algorithm here, it would really help me out, y'know.

STARBLAYDIA LINE-UP

So what has Tlanxball actually brought us so far? well the answer is a 54.17% win record, which is not all that bad by when you consider the all-time Starblaydia win percentage is 60.636%, that needs some beefing up a little. Ázëwyn Fëanáro finished her time at the helm with a 62.26% ratio, so we can all see that Tlanx-Zulzk has got some catching-up to do. If it's anything like the last Cup of Harmony, that shouldn't be too difficult - after all it was only a 2-2 draw with Zeta Reka and all that nonsense, a penalty shootout win after a 0-0 draw with Flavovovespia in the last sixteen, and of course that loss to Chromatika in the Semi-Final, everything else was a win as the team finished in third place. From that Cup of Harmony side, five of the members of that squad are still eligible for the Di Bradini Cup - the Captain Al Faizan, Halleck-Winter, Wójcik and Pukkinen, and to me that means there's a strong spine in this team, right through the centre there are players who are still yet to turn 21 who have played in some of the biggest knockout games in multiversal football - ones that aren't in the World Cup or a major regional of course. Slim pickin's for us in purple now, isn't it? We're all a little bit nostalgic for the past, aren't we? Those heady days of being World Cup Runners Up are long gone for the likes of us, now we're scrapping around in Cups of Harmony and praying for the kids to work something out between them and sneak to another title.

And it's Tlanxball that they want to use to take them to Under-21 World Cup glory for the fourth time in such a long history. So what's up with this squad? Well they'll line up as a Four-Three-Three, but in the modern game - it's the 2270s after all, gotta get with the program - actual starting formations mean bugger all in reality, because all these players are so well trained, so well drilled, so athletic, that they're supposed to just be able to run all over the place and assume whatever position they're standing in, just like magic clockwork. So what's the time we'll be seeing? I think that's how metaphors work, anyway.

The first thing is, this is really a back three. There's no way on any earth, in any version of the multiverse, that Jamelia Soule plays as an actual right-back. She's got licence to roam all over the place, bomb forward whenever she likes and add to the attack. Yep, she's that good, they say, and she's the one who's always going to be that overload player to run through the opposition, exploit gaps, and generally ruin their day. What that means, of course, is that Starblaydia will be playing mostly with a back three of Stroinski, Wójcik and Edmonton, any they'll be shielded by two of the three midfielders, Bell and Torgue. That'll be because, of course Dawn Halleck-Winter will be sneaking forward at every opportunity, so at times the front line will be Soule, Al Faizan, Pukkinen, Halleck-Winter and La Salle. That's scary for any defence at this level to look up and see those five running at you with intent in their eyes. Watch out Davina Peacock, heads up Queralt Gagliardi and hold onto your wings Galiel Hang-Tmi-Oh, because Tlanxball's coming for you, yes it is!

Short passing, quick movement, dominating the space with intelligent athletes who can run all day, that's what this Tlanxball thing is all about. Tons of commitment and heart required, as well as excellent brains and a decent pair of lungs - oh and two feet, also! Taxing, this is, make no mistake about it. Only the best in the multiverse can play Tlanxball, and we have at least several of those, so we reckon! Yes, that's right, several! Hassan Al-Faizan is just nineteen and he's already got hatfuls of goals, and Dawn Halleck-Winter is no slouch, either! Between them they're our two most potent attacking threats, but don't even forget about Cornelius "100 percent banter goals only" Redskye, oh no! This kid's highlight reel is absolutely gold, he just doesn't score normal ones, so coming off the bench with the time to read the game, you never know what's in store when he's about.

Defensively, well, I mean, they're alright, aren't they? Wójcik is pretty solid and Torgue knows how to block in front of the defence, but if you're playing Tlanxball you don't need defence except to get the ball back for another attack! Attack, attack, attack, score just one more goal than the opposition, because I'd love it if we beat them. Just score one more than the opposition, that's al I ask. Who needs three nil and bags of goal difference? Just get three points every time, knock the other team out every time - kerblammo - and you're golden. Tactics? Schmactics! We never needed them before and we don't need them now, just kick it in the net and you can have your fancy Tlanxball and it's horizontal lines and channels and zones, smash that Panenka in the goal like you smash the Like button, alright?

Okay, thanks guys, we got some great questions on the last video so I'll go through those in another video later, so leave me a comment and I promise I'll read every one.

Peace!

by **Valanora** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:46 am

OOC: The DBC in the Vanorian and Pasargan time-line takes place between the regionals and the start of WCQ, being the start of a "new" cycle

"Are you going to make plans to attend the Royal Wedding?" Lothas Ludwig asked Laborious Hawk as the two settled into their seats to watch the opening match of the Under 21 World Cup. Many involved in the national team usually chose a group stage match or two to attend in person with the tickets afforded to them by the VFA before they had return to their clubs after the summer holiday.

"Maybe, Faeron is a good friend of mine, we went through a lot together through the decades with the national teamm I am a bit surprised he was able to be roped back into the game, he seemed dine with it when he and Espy both retired at the same time. Maybe the boredom finally got to him." Hawk said, being far more conversationalist than Lothas was used to from the Marauders' captain.

"Whatever it was that got him back into the game, it certainly has worked, he has actually made the youth team respectable despite decades since it had last competed in the tournament. Making the knockouts in his first tournament in charge and the the semifinals last edition. It is clear Faeron knows what he is doing with the kids." Soldarian had defied all expectations after his appointment to be the manager of the U21 national team and had the side looking like they could potentially add to the two championships that the team had won in the past, when the tournament was still hosted in Starblaydia.

"Faeron always had a sharp mind and had a way with words, was the spiritual leader of the squad back in his playing days. It should not be that much of a surprise to see the sort of success he has brought to the project and how the young players are developing under his tutelage. Though I wonder if he will continue on with the post after the wedding, he will be a royal then and there will ceryain things expected of him. I am unsure if managing the youth team can still fit in that equation."

"Well if this is his last tournament in charge, it would be great for the side to send him out on a high note. Get out of the group at least and see if they can find a vein of form like they did last tournament. Give whoever would come in after him a good team with a lot of prestige and talent at their disposal."

by **Chromatika** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:45 pm

Di Bradini Cup 53 Matchday 1: Chromatika vs. Tjrol @ Rose Gardens, Kareen, Valanora (Cap. 49,000)
Predicted Starting XI: Sundrifter; Paterson - Huo - Mixon; Baum - Powell - Fillar, B. (C) - Keel; Hawthorne - Oveni - Fillar, E.
Reserves: GK Raoul Carpathia, GK Hailee Sourtois, RB Ami Coulibaly, CB Candice Alli, LB Jenowefa Krzyżanowsk, RM Ysveseyeva Nadka Maximovna, CM/DM Colby McDonald, CM Renée Aigner, LM Ostap Myronovych Palamarchuk, RW Cyrus Vette, ST Sandara Park, LW Mesi Llarimas.

Beauty of Nature: Chromatika's National Parks and Reserves
By: Isaiah Jorgenstein, Professional Guide

Part 1: The Island of Dorri

Location

The map of Chromatika. The Island of Dorri is the island off the Northeastern coast (colored in green), with the blue dot being Larhai and the red dot being Rhoni. The entire southern half of the island is the site of the Dorri Island National Reserve.

Public Access
The Dorri Island National Reserve has two entrances that can be traveled to by car, the northwestern entrance south of Larhai and the northeastern entrance south of Rhoni. Beyond that, it's blocked off to vehicular access. There are a series of trails that get a lot of foot traffic due to just how small the National Reserve is; due to its size, no overnight camping is allowed inside the National Reserve.

Wildlife
The Dorri Island National Reserve is home to over a hundred different species of maritime birds as well as thirty species of marine animals, not counting the numerous species of fish that live around the southern end of the island. Due to there being a five-mile stretch between the Reserve and the cities on the island, the birds don't typically bother the humans, and vice versa; there are some times during the year when the massive migration patterns can cause some disruption in the cities.

Scientific Efforts
The Dorri Island National Reserve sees over a hundred different researchers every year, most of the ornithologists tracking the different maritime birds. Chromatik researchers have lauded the ease with which they can observe the birds in their natural habitats, as well as the fact that the lack of overnight campsites and a curfew of eight P.M. limiting the impact that light has on the nocturnal species of the National Reserve. Most of the researchers get housing in Rhoni or Larhai and make the trek every day, though some are able to get their hands on the limited overnight passes at certain times of the year to continue to study their birds.

The National Reserve is a permanent member of the Chromatik Green Council, headquartered in the city of Eyrods. The Coastal District has promised since the days of the Rainbow Revolution that the preservation of the National Reserve will remain one of the foremost priorities of the District. There are limitations for the cities of Larhai, Rhoni, and the surrounding towns on numerous areas of their lives to help keep the Reserve safe. Ferries from the Chromatik mainland run to the Island only four times a day to not disturb the waters, and recreational fishing in the southern half of Dorri Island is illegal.

Summary from the Guide:

If you're a bird-lover, heading to the DINR is a no-brainer. Even with just a regular pair of binoculars or your phone, you can see plenty of different kinds of birds in their natural habitat. The National Reserve is kept clean, professional, and most importantly, with minimal environmental impact. The DINR is a great example of how the government and the populace can come together to protect and continue to enjoy nature around them without making compromises.

I have been to the DINR a number of times, but the time that stands out the most to me is when I went with three researchers from the University of the Islands, going to study the albatross. They got to get within fifty feet of the birds and utilize their high-resolution cameras to observe how they nested for hours at end. A bit boring for me, but the fact that they got the opportunity at all shows just how important places like the DINR are.

This isn't a camper's paradise, or a hiker's paradise if you're a serious hiker. However, when it comes to just enjoying nature and getting to see birds, there's nowhere better. Massive kudos to Larhai, Rhoni, and the surrounding areas for understanding why they have to live the way they do - so that future generations can continue to enjoy the birds.

by **Octapolis** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:58 pm

The Bronze Dragon
Part 1: The Unification

In the bowels of District Seven, there was a community of Fashteli, Brinoghan, and Kan Goren that had been written off the by rest of the society of Octapolis. Sometimes, after a sentencing, the criminal wasn't executed nor exiled to the stars; they were told to never return above ground, but given the opportunity to stay in the bowels and make a living there. Those people ended up doing things that the rest of the Megacity needed, whether it be burying the dead, dealing with hazardous substances, and other such things.

Colloquially, they were referred to as The Lost. The rest of the Megacity didn't care for them as long as their accolades didn't impact the surface; they were to be unseen and forgotten.

What the city above didn't know, however, was that a Go'sh'ai Bailot being burned to death, and a handful of other minor gang bosses either being summarily executed or being converted to the cause of the Red Mist.

The Red Mist had three goals:

To be recognized by The Council of Octapolis as the ruler of the undercity.
To gain respect and fear from the aboveground portions.
To be the unquestioned leader of the underground.

Octapolis was a city of legends. The Legends of Old talked about a Bronze Dragon that would grip the city in fear and help formulate its foundations. "Assassin" and the Red Mist hoped that they would be that Bronze Dragon.

by **Gortolekua** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:27 pm

[DISCUSSION > life] A primer on the Gortoleki record store
posted by cyan [moderator]

We had some people from across the multiverse, whatever that is, reach out to us about Gortolekua. Apparently, this forum is one of the few Gortoleki websites accessible on the internet post-aavekitze. The Government is working on getting other websites out to the rest of the people and sentient beings out there, but we'll have to do for now.

One organizing official for the Di Bradini Cup, in the middle of prepping a hospitality package for our U21s, came to the conclusion that they had no idea about our country and asked us: "What's the place that feels most like home to people in your country? And can you write about it so we can get a broader idea about what your country represents?"

For better and worse, it's the record store. We know most domestic readers will know all about the record store, so this is intended for our audiences beyond our lands from here on out. Do let us know in the comments if it's apt, I'd like to hope it is.
Think about any healthy family ~~yelling match~~ conversation you've ever had. You love who you're talking to, and understand that there's going to be a disagreement every now and then with what's being discussed. You look after each other, make sure everyone's okay, the whole box-to-box.

But sometimes, the person you're talking to is just flat-out wrong. Painstakingly so.

This is where the heart of our country lies.

Record stores in Gortolekua are a beacon of our modern society and culture. It's where we come to converse with our friends and foes about everything. Music, of course, is included among these discussion topics, but there's also conversations revolving around sports, politics, economics, issues of social importance and so much more. We all gravitate here to engage in informative conversations that give us a new perspective on life. And of course, we come to check out whatever new music is being sold.

A lot of our love and dependence for record stores as a locale for cultural and social exchange comes in our national history. When Gortolekua was an isolated, authoritarian dictatorship of the few, our country was cut off from damn near everything cool out there. Sure, some of us managed to sneakily find ways to explore the multiverse from the joys of smuggling, but we knew the punishments for that were severe. But for most of us who were scared of the consequences of learning, we had nowhere to go to learn about the world and our region.

Our lone exception to this rule came from our vinyl production. Making it was plentiful and easy within the country, and we knew other music from beyond here existed because it's where pockets of the multiverse came to have their music pressed. When vinyl rose in popularity, our economy rose as well. Because we managed to press foreign music in-house, some of the better-off record stores (re: the ones for people favored by the Government) had access to it. That began the first discussions among elites about the music. Of course, they—and the rest of the country, in this case—talked about domestic artists too: Oasdomar, The Yellers, Vuokelostava were all big in the early days of record stores.

But even though there were efforts to prevent the rest of people from accessing multiversal artists, the rest of the country found out. And that got them thinking about the rest of what laid out there. Beyond Gortolekua.

That was a no-go for the Government.

They ordered production of foreign music records to be ceased immediately. Any records from outside of Gortolekua that the Government got their hands on got destroyed immediately. Any sort of foreign influence on the country was hindered at a moment's notice. But the people got their taste, and knew where to get their taste of the rest of the multiverse.

Underground trading of foreign music became the one thing that people would willingly break the law for. The likes Vozrozhdenie from Quebec and Shingoryeo, Backpack Saints from Nova Anglicana, or Tumbran band the Updogs, all of whom were illegally imported, became sensations in a country that never thought would have a chance to see them and vice versa. Hell, it'd be surprising if any of these artists knew about Gortolekua at all. But the people knew, and they got a taste of a more connected world. The cat was out of the bag.

Record stores became heated discussion centres for talking about freedom, exploration, and national improvement on top of their existing purpose of talking music. These were the first places where people got to hear about what was beyond the mountains and rivers in the north and south. Gortolekua got to be part of the world for the first time in record stores. There was no giving up that.

It's where the nation's heart really began beating.

Now we're here, celebrating a participation in the Di Bradini Cup for the first time. And record stores are to thank for that. Yes, it seems pretty weird to think about that a store can start a massive political change, but it did. And no, we're not hiring right now, sorry about that.

Everyone does want to work in a record store, after all.

comments (2).
poziktriste wrote:yup, this is a pretty accurate writeup. good work, cyan!

mfaster wrote:well written. you still suck as a mod though.

by **United Adaikes** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:43 pm

MF Tito Elmer, the captain of the United Adaikes U21 national team sent to the DBC 53, was one of the first players to graduate from an Academy of a domestic football team.

The requirements to become an Academy student are tedious. Before getting to the third year of junior high school, a student (with consent from their parents) can apply to be a student of a football Academy only when their grades in the last year of grade school (6th grade) and their grades in the first two years in junior high school are considered superior over other students in the country, and that they have promising skills in football.

The Academies are accredited educational institutions by the Department of Education as they also continue to deliver basic education studies. At the same time, they shape players to be future football stars in the country. Food and accommodation are already shouldered by the Academy, while the other fees depend on the type of student. If a student enters through a scholarship, then the football team pays for the food, accommodation, and 75% of the tuition fees for the student. Most students earning a scholarship have proved that their football skills are superior to other prospects in the country. The (parents of the) student-scholar only pays for the remaining 25% and additional miscellaneous fees. A regular student (or their parent(s)) pays 100% of tuition and other miscellaneous fees. However, it does not mean that regular students do not have the skills to enter and stay in the Academy. Some players, like the current Vice-Captain of the U21 national team, DF Hattie Tipton, a regular student in the Academy of the Bridlo Riddles, had their football skills honed better in the Academy.

The Academy does not pressure when is the perfect time for students to wake up and go to sleep. The time for breakfast is generally between 5 AM - 8 AM. But some students are generally up by 4 AM for personal conditioning. Students attend football skills "classes" from 8 AM - 10 AM. From 10 AM - 1 PM, they can decide if they want to continue the skills classes, go for the co-/extra-curricular activities, or take their lunch. From 1 PM - 5 PM, the academic classes are held. Academic classes are held from Mondays to Saturdays. Dinner time is from 5 PM - 8 PM. After that time, students can decide if they allocate time for personal practices, drills, study time for academics, or go to sleep. These time schedules are regular every day, except for Sundays from 1 PM - 5 PM, where students can choose co-/extra-curricular activities, personal practices and drills, study time for academics, or get out of the Academy for personal time and R&R, meet with their families, or hang out elsewhere, as long as they return to the Academy by dinner time.

Academic classes are structured and programmed with the same speed of classes in how fast the educational institutions deliver lessons on a weekly basis. With that, Academy students can still get the proper education they need in two years to complete the basic education required for senior high school. Senior high school is another two-year specific track on where the students in the country want to be: proceeding to college, working immediately in technical works, or being the next sports superstar. The Academic Track in senior high school focuses on the student getting to college for higher studies and employment related to sciences, maths, engineering, technologies, business, humanities, and arts. The Technical Track focuses on industrial, agricultural, and other rank-and-file employment in other sectors.
The Sports Track is similar to all Academies in other sports and disciplines. It focuses on the principles and techniques of physical education of the specific sport/discipline while discussing development in multiple sports leadership and management factors.

Football Academies provide Sports Track to its enrollees until the team decides to absorb the student as an official player in the league system or shop them to teams (domestic and international) to give them better playing opportunities in football. But some students find it hard to keep up with the demands of the Academy, as students are graded both in academics and football skills. Scholar-students can lose their scholarship and become regular (paying) students if they have grades considered below the Academy standards for two consecutive terms, regardless of their football skills. Regular students can lose their retention in the Academy if their grades and/or football skills are considered below the Academy standards for two consecutive terms.

by **Pasarga** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:02 pm

Onwards we row, once more we make our way to the Eternal Empire to take part in the Di Bradini Cup, a tournament that sees the prospects of tomorrow competing for a trophy today. It is a tournament that the Young Wanderers have traditionally have fairly good success in, so much so that the writers who developed the Galactico Index once contacted the PFA for their nominations for the Young Galactico given the nature of nurturing youth football in the dual islands. Teams from across the sport, particularly in Rushmore, constantly are scouting the youth teams and academies of the clubs in the dual islands hoping to snatch the next great Pasargan wonderkid before one of the big clubs at home manages to sign them to a professional contract. Pasarga does youth football just about as well as anyone else in the sport and there is quite the recognition for it, if only the success that the Young Wanderers have had over the last few decades could have so easily be transferred over to the senior team perhaps the senior team would have never failed to qualify for back to back World Cups and would be a true contender for the World Cup.

That being said, the Young Wanderers have quite the hefty task ahead of themselves to match any of that previous success this edition, having been drawn into what looks to be quite the competitive group on the surface. Though perhaps better known in the sporting circles for the prowess in gridiron rules of football, Ranoria will definitely pose a big opening challenge for the side to start the tournament on. While gridiron might be the preferred sport of choice in Ranoria, they have quietly built themselves up as a respectable footballing nation and the youth prospects that they have could see them go from respectable to actually contending for qualification for the World Cup in the next handful of cycles. They have shown decently before at this competition and are an imposing bunch, getting any sort of result in the opening fixture will be a sign that the team assembled for the tournament is capable of moving deep into the tournament and perhaps even contending for a championship once more, though that is perhaps getting a bit ahead of ourselves.

What really makes this a challenging group is the fact that Tumbra has been drawn into the group, the same Tumbra that is only two tournament removed from having hoisted the trophy and has become quite the significant player at the youth level like Pasarga is recognized for. On paper, it seems like this fixture will determine one of the two spots to advance out of the group, and early indications would likely give Tumbra the edge given the massive amount of inconsistencies that have been on display from the national team program for the last decade or two. While the Young Wanderers did make a run into the semifinals during the last tournament, there is a feeling that it was perhaps done with smoke and mirrors and that the squad was honestly one of the four best teams in the tournament. Tumbra is going to represent a real challenge and threat to the Young Wanderers, a game where a result might be needed but will be quite difficult to come by given the known quality that the opposition will have at their disposal. The match in Caddo on the second matchday might just be the most pivotal in the entire campaign for the Young Wanderers.

There there is Okoya, who we honestly know very little about and has to be assumed to be a game which the Young Wanderers are going to have to win if they want a realistic chance of advancing to the knockout rounds of the group. The other two matches of the group are too full of peril and risk to think that it is likely that the Young Wanderers are going to be able to pull six points from them and the three points from the closing match is going to have to be a must. The highly talented and versatile Sebestyen Sallay is going to have to show actual progression on all the talent that people believe to be in his wheelhouse as he is going to be expected to be the playmaker for this team. The offense is going to ride or die on his ability to create chances for the forwards and to find the channels between the defenders for those through balls or darting runs to get open. The Chromatik midfielder has had a lot of hype surrounding him for a few years now, now that he is a starter for the Young Wanderers, he will have a chance to prove if it was well earned or merely another overhyped prospect who never reached their potential.

by **Valanora** » Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:12 pm

Matchday 1

Group A
Valanora 3–1 Adab
Capital Cove 3–3 TJUN-ia

Group B
The 14 Stars 0–3 Abanhfleft
Furilisca 2–2 Thibaea

Group C
Gortolekua 2–4 Mertagne
Cardenao 0–1 HUElavia

Group D
Farfadillis 0–0 Kriegiersien
Cabo Azure 0–0 Baker Park

Group E
United Adaikes 2–4 Starblaydia
Poafmersia 0–1 Octapolis

Group F
Efnakia 1–2 Kobalt Isles
Darmen 0–1 Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom

Group G
Pasarga 1–1 Ranoria
Tumbra 0–0 Okoya

Group H
Tjorl 1–4 Chromatika
Sarzonia 3–3 Mon Sold

by **TJUN-ia** » Sat Jun 04, 2022 4:04 pm

By David Seems

A year in making, through a little bit of magic...the Young Jaguars are back. Yeah...sorry about the delay, time just kinda went haywire on us all for a little while. I am writing to you before the start of the WC Qualifiers...but you are receiving this AFTER the WC Qualifiers when our fate has already been determined. I don't know what happened then, but what I do know is this - The U21 Young Jaguars of TJUN-ia have been placed in this tournament in a time bubble, so that this side, still managed by Philip van Oosterend and captained by Regina McDuff, can safely play their part here while not losing any time to shine in the senior squad. This decision wasn't taken lightly, as you might imagine, but the Secretary-General himself saw it fit to ensure "the smooth process of sport is fulfilled without difficulty".

With that, let's focus on the DBC - starting with a game at Hellgate against Capital Cove. What a game it turned out to be, huh? If you wanted a game that perfectly encapsulated the beauty and chaos of youth football, then this one is for you. This game was the true example of a back and forth affair, one where no one quite knew who would hold the advantage come the end...until no one had one at all. Janko Kovačević certainly wanted the Cove to earn some respect as a newly-independent nation and that first goal from Gunnar Bondgaard would show that for a fact. Fernandinho would score in return and thus the battles began, with our Young Jags countering anything that the Cove could throw at us. Viktor Enevoldsen and Igor Djokowić would try and force the points in their way, but Kendra Robertson and Kristina Bay were on hand to make sure that wasn't an immediate threat. In the end, it would end 3-3 - a cracking game both sides could take both positives and a point from.

We're off to the battleground soon to play Adab...should be a good one. GO YOUNG JAGS!

SCHEDULE (Group A)
MD1: vs Capital Cove - Hellgate, Raynor City D 3-3 (T-2nd)
MD2: vs Adab - The Battleground, Raynor City
MD3: vs Valanora - Hellgate, Raynor City

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Zero sum game
By Oliver Stanley
The Sunday Post Chief Soccer Correspondent

Everlin, Valanora--The DBC/Under 21 World Cup is big box office in Valanora, evidenced by the fact that even when the host didn't enter a team, the locals were willing to come out to watch matches contested by nations they possibly knew nothing about or could find a reason to develop a rooting interest in or side or the other.

No one would blame the fine folks in Valaneri and Everlin if they decided to keep their money instead of spending it on another 90 minute exhibition like those put on at Duran Palace and later here at Aranfield Bridge on the first day of the tournament.

Farfadillis and Kriegiersien played out a scoreless draw in the opener at the former venue that was not so much devoid of action as it was lacking in energy, something that could be easily discerned watching on TV from a hundred miles away.

The Cabo Azure-Baker Park match was substantially different in that there was a good atmosphere and buzz around the stadium, but the opportunities for either side to score were about as rare as invitations to the upcoming Royal Nuptials here in the Eternal Empire. To their credit, the Junior Bees got their miles in, as they had several players log far more distance covered than the opposition's leader in that stat; with 15 minutes left, BP had completed 81% of the 782 passes attempted, compared with just 236 passes for Cabo Azure.

The fact that both matches failed to produce goals or a result makes the final two matchdays even more important, as a loss in the second fixture probably means elimination, although the scenario where two score results on MD, followed by the two losing sides winning the third match could bring about a four way tie with all teams on four points.

The full squad rotation will be in effect for the trip to Duran Palace against Kriegiersien, who brought the same squad that participated in the U18 World Cup, which defeated Baker Park in the quarterfinal, to Valanora.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Ollie's Notebook
(ed note--we asked Ollie to share some of his behind the scenes daily routine with the readers along with anything that wouldn't normally make it into a match story. We hope you enjoy it.)

Fact: I always stay in the same room here at the hotel in Sharala, the same one I occupied way back in DBC 42. In fact it's now a "suite" because there is an adjoining door to the room next door that the hotel converts into a sitting room ahead of every tournament (and note to the accounting department--they still only charge me for just the one double occupancy room) and calls "Mr Stanley's Suite". So I've always got that going for me.
As such I usually entertain the rest of the Baker Park media contingent that stay here in the team headquarters, which has grown a good bit since Frank Armitage, a then unknown Mindy Cartwright and myself covered the men's U21 here in our first trip to this land of amazing natural beauty.

Of course right now everything non-sport related is geared towards the upcoming wedding of the Empress Lathwen and Faeron Soldarian, who just also happens to be the coach of the Under-21 side, so there is a good deal of excitement among the populace.

Next time, a little bit about how we travel in style here.

by **Kriegiersien** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:28 am

The Moon
True news for the people

Group D for DULL !

Di Bradini Cup 53

Group D
Farfadillis 0–0 Kriegiersien

Cabo Azure 0–0 Baker Park

No goals in Group D, the highly praised strikers from Kriegiersien and Baker Park didn't produce any goals. Even Kriegiersiens Top Scorer and 'Wunderkind' Xian Cheung did not came close to a goal. Experts blame the lawns in Duran Palace and Aranfield Bridge, who are either too wet and muddy or too dry and blunt.
"It looks like someone wrote the name of Di Bradini wrong in an official document and angered the spirits", deduced a psychic after examining the used footballs in the matches.

"We really tried everything, but it must be jinxed", said an annoyed Coach Viveka Schweizer.
Overall this were some disappointing matches for the start.
The Goalkeepers on the other side got Top grades, especially for their goal kicks.

by **Cabo Azure** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 4:00 am

The Wreck of the Beija-Flor
At the center of Cabo Azure is the small island of Portelo; at the center of Portelo is the Maritime University; and at the center of Maritime is the Mariner’s Memorial, an ornate brass sculpture in the shape of a sextant, dedicated to the memory of those lost at sea. The memorial is the center of social and ritual life at the university, as every spring, the valedictorian of the graduating class points it to a heading he or she deems auspicious. In 1979, the year of the coup, believing his country had lost its way, the dictorian famously set it for due north; in 2013, it was pointed in the direction of Mytanija, where the football team was taking the field for the first time.

The significance of the sextant, as it is known colloquially, underscores the importance of the maritime industry in Cabo Azure’s identity as well as its economy and politics. Of the five hundred thousand residents of Cabo Azure, there are more than thirty thousand registered mariners, with at least half that number at sea at any given time. That figure also fails to account for those mariners who remain within Azurean territorial waters on trawlers, ferries, pleasurecraft, and patrol boats. Azurean mariners crew ships which call at ports as far afield as Esportiva and Atlantian Oceania.

With the Azurean cultural fixation on the sea, it comes as no surprise that shipwrecks carry a special place in the Azurean imagination. This manifests itself in Azurean idioms: naufragado, or “shipwrecked”, is a common euphemism for a man who has left his wife, while maldito de lua--”mooncusser”--is an insult and expletive considered too vulgar to print in newspapers. Of the hundreds of shipwrecks that have occurred in Azurean history, however, none has been as widely chronicled as that of the Beija-Flor.

The Beija-Flor, or “Hummingbird”, was the flagship of King Adolfo II, grandfather of Reinaldo I, who reigned from 1855-1904 and oversaw three decades of expanding Azurean trade and improving quality of life. In 1904 Adolfo took his pride and joy on a voyage across Rushmore to mark his golden jubilee upon its return the following year. The voyage was to serve multiple purposes; a demonstration of Azurean maritime prowess, a show of strength for the monarchy, and the beginning of the transition of power from Adolfo II to his son Carlos IV. Carlos would serve as regent in his father’s absence, allowing him to gain valuable experience in ruling. Adolfo II had felt woefully unprepared upon taking the throne at twenty after his father’s suicide, and so he took great pains to prepare his son for the throne.

The Beija-Flor set sail on 28 October 1904, the feast day of Simon the Zealot, patron of the Knights of St. Simon, with the intention to return the same day in 1905, coinciding exactly with the fiftieth anniversary of Adolf’s coronation. The ship’s itinerary was ambitious, as befit the flagship of a maritime nation, with ports of call in Chromatika, Quebec, and Cassadaigua before a planned swing north around the tip of Branta to call at the capitals of Pavola before returning home by way of Eura. Tragically, it was not to be; shortly after setting sail, the Bejia-Flor fell out of range of the wireless and was never heard from again.

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 8:13 am

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.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

WHERE THE F*** DID THAT COME FROM?!

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, so something's just happened that I never thought I would be able to see, hear, or even speak in my entire life. Listen closely because this might be the only time that you'll ever hear me say these words. Abanhfleft just beat The 14 Stars in a game of football. Now sit back, shut up, and let that sink in. Abanhfleft just won a bloody game of football against the 14 Stars! How on earth is this possible? Abanhfleft never wins a bastard football game against the Starsians! That’s like, one of the laws of nature! And we just bloody violated it! This shouldn’t be possible at all! Surely there must be some sort of consequence that we must suffer for upsetting the very delicate balance of nature!

And how in the world were we able to do this in the first place? Well, for starters, Clare Adcock scored a brace and Seb Wilczkowski chipped in a goal of his own to give Abanhfleft a 3-0 victory over the 14 Stars, one goal for every point that the Young Revolutionaries won in this game. And another important thing to note is that all of this happened within the last thirty minutes of this game. Little if any action took place in the first sixty minutes, and everything only really kicked off in the final third. Both defenses were solid for the first part of the match, and while that’s to be expected from the Starsians, I am honestly surprised that our very own Young Revolutionaries also held their own against their opponents! Gobsmacked, even. Abanhfleft and defensive solidity don’t exactly go hand in hand, if you know what I mean. The 14 Stars had the lion’s share of possession in the first half, and what few chances our lads and lasses had came on the counter, a style that hasn’t really been in vogue with our national football teams for the past few years since the SFA have practically demanded that we play our football in that free-flowing passing style that looks good and results in a lot of goals when executed well but (as in our case more times than not) only looks messy and disjointed. Anyway, that being said, it does look like that this current crop of Fleftic players are actually capable of hitting teams on the counter, and for once, Kate Bernanos has decided to play the team to that particular strength of theirs. And, as we can all see, it actually bloody worked!

The 14 Stars initially kept the upper hand at the start of the second half, but for some reason or other, I don’t really know why, they just dropped off around the hour mark. I can’t really explain why it happened, just that it did. And that may have helped the Young Revolutionaries get that opening day win. But when that first goal from Adcock went in, it most certainly was against the run of play as the Starsians had dominated possession just before then, and both Daniel Müller and Victoria Tolisso had attempts saved by a Yun Young-ja who was at the top of her game. Young-ja, who also goes by the Western name Celina, then hoofed the ball beyond the halfway line where it landed kindly for a certain Sven Fahrni, who ran the ball all the way into the other box before cutting it back for Clare Adcock, who couldn’t miss from that distance. And believe me, I have seen her miss easier shots from that distance or even closer, both in the league and in international comps.

And I guess that goal must have completely demoralized the Starsians because they were completely deflated after the kickoff for Adcock’s first goal, and the lads and lasses were able to take advantage of the Starsians reeling from that particular blow because within two minutes, Sebastian Wilczkowski had slammed the ball into the back of the net to double our advantage. But conceding that second goal almost immediately after the first one seemed to shake the Starsians from their funk because they went back to the solid defensive unit that they were before they suddenly fell off at around sixty minutes. Our lads and lasses, to their credit, knew that an onslaught was coming so they shored up their own defenses as well. Having said that, we were still getting some chances of our own, and Borzymir Famowski certainly should be shaking his head that his header from Christie Mireilles’ corner kick went right into the crossbar instead of the goal, but the defender was bailed out after Clare Adcock took a shot from outside the box and it went in. Yeah, sometimes things have a way of working out, even if it isn’t necessarily how you thought it would.

Well, that’s all that there is for me. If you’ve got any comments or thoughts of your own about the game against the 14 Stars or predictions for the match against Thibaea then feel free to leave them in the comments down below. Until then, I’ve been the Man from Markovsky, honestly surprised that I haven’t been disappointed by my country for once.

THE 14 STARS 0 - 3 ABANHFLEFT        
                   ADCOCK (61', 85')
                   WILCZKOWSKI (63')

by **Valanora** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 11:46 am

You can not win them all if you do not win your first and that is exactly what the team went out and did in the opening match of the tournament. Facing a challenging Adab side who has been known to pull off an upset or two, the team was able to handle their nerves in front of the home fans and all the pomp and circumstance that could es with a tournament opener to secure three points. With the other match in the group ending in a draw, it provides a pathway for the Marauders to have their qualification secured before the last group stage match, a very useful place to find yourself in these tournaments with quick turnaround on the matchdays. Securing qualification early allows a chance to rest your stars or players nursing knocks before the gauntlet that is the knockouts.

Klara Holmberg would be quick to show off her skills and development, taking just four minutes to get her first shot on goal, which was saved by the Adab keeper. Yet two minutes later when she was put in behind the defense by a well weighted through ball from Treviño Muñiz, there was nothing the keeper could do to stop Holmberg from rounding them and depositing the ball in the back of the net, giving the Marauders an early lead and the crowd plenty to cheer for. Not to be outdone by his striking partner, Lucas Winkel went on an amazing run from inside the Marauders half, moving through defenders like a slothaming skier, sensing in an audacious chip from just inside the box that curled just over the keeper's fingertips and into the goal in the thirty-fourth minute.

A two goal cushion at halftime is said to be one of theist dangerous leads to have and it almost proved to be true for the Marauders. In the fifty-sixth minute, Nadje Barzani struck a powerful effort from just outside the six that Caspar Engström was not quick enough to get down and cover, bringing Adab within one with just over half an bour to go. It was here were the question marrk that is the midfield began to start to answer if they were good enough. The team began to squeeze the life out of the game with a controlled possession attack that poked and proved at the Adab defense, looking to make the make a mistake rather than forcing one themselves. In the eighty-first that mistake came as Joseph Sassoon let second half substitute Izabelle Jönsson dribble him.and deliver a drilled low cross into the mixer. Fellow substitute Hans Sørlie was the late on rusher into the box and hit a powerful header to the far post that was too powerful to stop had it not caught the keeper flat footed. The two goal cushion restored and the victory secured, it was exactly the sort of performance the Marauders needed to start the tournament.

The Marauders now prepare for a game against a side that they know quite little about in Capital Cove. The side was able to send three goals past TJUN-IA, which isnquite a feat in of itself, suggesting that there are quite a few goals in the team. The Maraiders defense did look.solid for large portions of the opening match but there was room for improvement, perhaps in need of playing a slightly lower line than what the side is normally accustomed to to try and keep the chances of the opponent from beating the backline lower. Capital Cove did also allow a trio of goals, which means they can be beat in the back, which is quite promising given what we just witnessed against Adab from the Marauders attack. It should be a tussle but one that the Marauders should ultimately edge out with a more disciplined defense on paper.

by **Chromatika** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 1:25 pm

Di Bradini Cup 53 Matchday 1: Tjorl 1-4 Chromatika @ Rose Gardens, Kareen, Valanora (Cap. 49,000)
Goals: Fillar, E. '20, '61, Oveni '33, Fillar, B. '71
Starting XI: (3-4-3) - Sundrifter; Paterson - Huo - Mixon; Baum - Powell - Fillar, B. (C) - Keel; Hawthorne - Oveni - Fillar, E.
Substitutes: Coulibaly -> Paterson ('51), Maximovna -> Baum ('59), Vette -> Hawthorne ('73)
Di Bradini Cup 53 Matchday 2: Chromatika vs. Mon Sold @ Rose Gardens, Kareen, Valanora (Cap. 49,000)
Predicted Starting XI: Sundrifter; Paterson - Huo - Mixon; Baum - Powell - Fillar, B. (C) - Keel; Hawthorne - Oveni - Fillar, E.
Reserves: GK Raoul Carpathia, GK Hailee Sourtois, RB Ami Coulibaly, CB Candice Alli, LB Jenowefa Krzyżanowsk, RM Ysveseyeva Nadka Maximovna, CM/DM Colby McDonald, CM Renée Aigner, LM Ostap Myronovych Palamarchuk, RW Cyrus Vette, ST Sandara Park, LW Mesi Llarimas.

Beauty of Nature: Chromatika's National Parks and Reserves
By: Isaiah Jorgenstein, Professional Guide

Part 2: The Eyrodii Jungle

Location

The map of Chromatika. The Eyrodii Jungle is located just southwest of the city of Eyrods, which is at the northernmost point of the Jungle. The Jungle takes up the entire eastern half of Myana Island, ending five miles east of the small town of Limonte. The Eyrodii Jungle, officially known as the Eyrodii National Park, is the biggest national park recognized by the Chromatik government.

Public Access
Much of the Eyrodii jungle is shut off to the Chromatik public. If you want to travel from the city of Eyrods to the other cities on Myana Island, it's best if you take a ferry or a helicopter. The Chromatik government decided pre-Rainbow Revolution that the Eyrodii Jungle, which is a temperate jungle that exists in the middle of frozen Chromatika that has been attributed to extraplanar magic that came with Chromatika's founding, should be left alone except from the controlled flow of researchers to learn about it more and more. There is a Day Park - known as the Green Park of Eyrods - that is at the entrance, but most of the Jungle that is inhabitable is where the city of Eyrods is based off of, so most of the Park itself is completely off limits.

Wildlife
One of the biggest assets that make the Eyrodii Jungle such a scientific marvel is that a number of new species of fungus, plants, or even insects are found every year by researchers and scientists that head in. Nobody is really sure where the new species come from, or if it's that the existing species are evolving; there are theories to both, but none of them have been scientifically proven. Everything from bears to cougars to panthers to deer and anything in between can be found in the Eyrodii Jungle, including species that are not usually found in temperate jungles. Just as soon as they appear, they can also disappear; the variety, coming, and going of the fauna and flora remain one of the biggest mysteries of the Eyrodii Jungle and the reason why it remains a marvel.

Scientific Efforts

The Eyrodii National Park is a founding member of the Chromatik Green Council, headquartered in the city of Eyrods. Eyrods the city has strict zoning laws to make sure that it won't grow into the jungle, as the jungle has proven to be hostile toward any attempts to make a permanent impact on it, as documented by the days of the Chromatik Party. Instead, the scientists and naturalists of Chromatika choose to send a limited number of researchers in every year to document the state of the Jungle and to learn more about it.

Though there have been more and more recent efforts to take a more aggressive approach toward learning more about the Eyrodii Jungle, cooler heads have prevailed; legends abound of protectors of the jungle that will absolutely come out of the woodwork if humanity egresses into nature more and more. The organization that decides this is the Green Council itself, and it uses a multitude of statistics and reports to decide how to proceed in this regard.

Summary from the Guide:

The Eyrodii Jungle is more a thing to be admired and revered than to be enjoyed, unless you are a researcher that has been approved by the Chromatik Green Council. I have been able to go in five times in my career, and let me tell you, each time has been an experience to remember.

Inside the Jungle, everything is just different. The temperature is warmer, even during the Chromatik winter. The light seems to be brighter, and the fauna and flora you observe will be unlike anything you have ever seen. I once saw a panther and a bear within an hour of each other - the only other place in Chromatika where you can see that is probably in the mountains by Felswyr. Things smell more like nature. Nature just thrives in the Eyrodii Jungle, and since Chromatika leaves the Jungle alone, the Jungle leaves Chromatika alone.

I am one of those people who believe that if we actually disturb the Jungle, the Jungle will fight back. No, it's far better to honor it and let it be, and see what we can learn from it. There is so much more for the Jungle to teach us, and we have to be the student to learn from nature. Yes, the Red Enclave did exist during the days right before the Rainbow Revolution, but maybe the Eyrodii Jungle was on the side of the Revolution as well.

We have a magical jungle on our doorstep to remind us of that.

by **Ranoria** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 1:46 pm

Draw With Pasarga Presents One Of The Best Performances in Ranorian Soccer History - Can the DBC crew Get Its First Ever Win Against Okoya?

Against a 3 time champion in Pasarga, inarguably a juggernaut in this event, our Snow Cubs came out with a 1-1 draw. With an 0-3 record in our debut two years ago now, that was a stunner, with the defense playing well for most of the contest. The only contest that was a bigger upset than this, we'd say, was our pre-WC 87 friendly match with Banija, in which our starters played an assortment of reserve players on the other side and dominated them. This one, of course, was an officially sanctioned game though, so that's cool

Anyway, like we said, the defense played well...after the first chunk of game time. Nikolett Horváth cut through the team's stout formation within just ten minutes of play after being set up beautifully by Sebestyen Sallay. It looked very early in our opener as if this was going to be just like last cycle, but the team stepped up to the plate quickly like any pro fighter - sometimes it takes a good punch in the mouth to wake up.

Sure, in this sport maybe not allowing a goal through the rest of the game isn't a huge achievement, but we'll take what we can after our lest entry. David Yarbrough and Gwen Helmine in particular had great games, with Yarbrough's overpuruit-prone style benefiting this team again and again as the game went on. But it was with under ten minutes left that our young crew really flashed, with Tatiana Queen coming through the defense after a nice setup from Claus Staebler to score our second ever DBC goal (both have come courtesy of Queen).

"Nice to score a goal before matchday three," Queen said in a postgame presser, "Proud of how we played, hopefully we can keep it up going forward."

Queen is largely seen as the successor to the Snow Bears' current main scorer in Barry Chlorid, although at both levels the teams tend to err on the defensive side of things. After scoring just one goal last tournament though, she's certainly out to prove her mettle this time around.

The Snow Cubs will take on Okoya next, who played Tumbra to a 0-0 draw in the first match, consequently making the group winnable with a 4 way tie at the moment. Well, winnable on paper, we won't beat Tumbra in the last match, even if it's cool to predict that possibility until we get there.

by **Octapolis** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 1:51 pm

The Bronze Dragon
Part 2: The Abduction

After consolidating the underground, "Assassin" M05 C8D125F1 moved onto the next phase of the plan: the abduction of a member of the Council of Eight.

It was almost ironic that one of the Council, a Fashteli by the name of Horogon, always took the same route home every day. It would be trivial to make sure that the shuttle that they took would be replaced by one that was loyal to the Red Mist, even more so to make sure that no video footage nor surveillance would remain of the deed. Then, they would hold them for a while, and then let the Council fester.

Soon enough, they would become aware of the power of the Red Mist, fulfilling the first goal.

That evening, when going over the reports, "Assassin" was informed that the abduction was a success. Horogon hadn't noticed the issue until it was too late, and by then, they were knocked out. All that remained was to go undetected for a while, and make sure that the Council had no idea of what was going on until they started making their demands.

The Council of Eight made a huge point to never associate nor negotiate with "terrorists".

It was high time that the Red Mist showed that it was above being one.

by **Pasarga** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 6:08 pm

Form is fleeting and luck is a fickle mistress, both hard learned lessons that the Young Wanderers have to take away from their opening match in the Di Bradini Cup, as a one all draw against Ranoria means that there is a do or die situation in the next match for the Young Wanderers. It started off well for the side, grabbing a goal through Horvath who was provided the assist beautifully by Sallay, but it was not enough as Ranoria clawed their way back into the match and got an equalizer through Queen. It is far from the sort of performance that the Young Wanderers had been hoping for to get their tournament off on, though a point does still provide a bit of hope going into the last two matchdays but it makes the task for the side all that much more difficult than what it had already had been shaping up to be. Even more so after finding out that little known Okoya managed to hold Tumbra to a nil all draw in the other match in the group, keeping all the teams level but showing that the team who was expected to be an easy three points for the other three sides has plans to foil those expectations.

The positive to take away from the match is that the team looked good, the best players were able to put in a good shift and combined to get a goal that ultimately secured a share of the spoils from the match. Fans at home and in the stands would have definitely liked to see some more combination play from who on paper is the best two players on the roster for the Young Wanderers in the tournament, but what they did see has to be quite encouraging. The defense though could use a bit of shaping up before the massive match against Tumbra, as a defensive side like Ranoria being able to find a way to breech the backline is quite worrisome and makes one have to wonder if a talent filled team with a bit more emphasis in the attacking parts of the game could have found a way to get another goal and completely spoil the opening game for the side. The midfield could have also been a bit more sharp and more controlling when they were in possession though there was flashes of individual brilliance from time to time, like Sallay finding Horvath for the goal. More of that is needed if the Wanderers are to find a way to advance.

The Tumbra match was billed as the most pivotal of the three matches in the group for the Young Wanderers when the draw was made and with all sides sitting on a point a piece after the first set of fixtures, it definitely looks that way. The Young Wanderers have to find a way to control the Tumbra attack, they will no doubt be looking to study the footage from their match against Okoya to figure out what the new team was able to do to keep Tumbra from racking a few goals and an opening day victory. If they can find some sort of weakness in the Tumbra lineup that can be exploited from that game footage, it will definitely give the Wanderers a leg up heading into a very monstrous occasion for both of the teams. These two teams were supposed to be the two teams that were going to advance out of the group based on most analysts picks as well as the history that both programs have when it comes to youth football, however the loser of the fixture has a very real chance of going off after the group stage after both teams were the victims of an upset on the first matchday. It a pressure cooker of a situation and one where the best players rise to the occasion and are able to lead their teams through.

by **Valanora** » Sun Jun 05, 2022 6:19 pm

Matchday 2

Group A
Adab 0–1 TJUN-ia
Valanora 2–0 Capital Cove

P Group A                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Valanora                       2   2  0  0    5   1  +4    6     Q
2 TJUN-ia                        2   1  1  0    4   3  +1    4
3 Capital Cove                   2   0  1  1    3   5  −2    1
4 Adab                           2   0  0  2    1   4  −3    0     E

Group B
Abanhfleft 2–1 Thibaea
The 14 Stars 0–0 Furilisca

P Group B                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Abanhfleft                     2   2  0  0    5   1  +4    6     Q
2 Furilisca                      2   0  2  0    2   2   0    2
3 Thibaea                        2   0  1  1    3   4  −1    1
4 The 14 Stars                   2   0  1  1    0   3  −3    1

Group C
Mertagne 1–0 HUElavia
Gortolekua 2–1 Cardenao

P Group C                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mertagne                       2   2  0  0    5   2  +3    6
2 HUElavia                       2   1  0  1    1   1   0    3
3 Gortolekua                     2   1  0  1    4   5  −1    3
4 Cardenao                       2   0  0  2    1   3  −2    0

Group D
Kriegiersien 2–3 Baker Park
Farfadillis 0–0 Cabo Azure

P Group D                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Baker Park                     2   1  1  0    3   2  +1    4
2 Cabo Azure                     2   0  2  0    0   0   0    2
  Farfadillis                    2   0  2  0    0   0   0    2
4 Kriegiersien                   2   0  1  1    2   3  −1    1

Group E
Starblaydia 1–2 Octapolis
United Adaikes 2–0 Poafmersia

P Group E                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Octapolis                      2   2  0  0    3   1  +2    6
2 Starblaydia                    2   1  0  1    5   4  +1    3
3 United Adaikes                 2   1  0  1    4   4   0    3
4 Poafmersia                     2   0  0  2    0   3  −3    0

Group F
Kobalt Isles 0–1 Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom
Efnakia 0–0 Darmen

P Group F                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom      2   2  0  0    2   0  +2    6     Q
2 Kobalt Isles                   2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
3 Efnakia                        2   0  1  1    1   2  −1    1
4 Darmen                         2   0  1  1    0   1  −1    1

Group G
Ranoria 3–1 Okoya
Pasarga 0–0 Tumbra

P Group G                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ranoria                        2   1  1  0    4   2  +2    4
2 Pasarga                        2   0  2  0    1   1   0    2
3 Tumbra                         2   0  2  0    0   0   0    2
4 Okoya                          2   0  1  1    1   3  −2    1

Group H
Chromatika 2–2 Mon Sold
Tjorl 0–2 Sarzonia

P Group H                      Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Chromatika                     2   1  1  0    6   3  +3    4
2 Sarzonia                       2   1  1  0    5   3  +2    4
3 Mon Sold                       2   0  2  0    5   5   0    2
4 Tjorl                          2   0  0  2    1   6  −5    0     E

Di Bradini Cup 53/U21WC74 RP And Scores Thread

Di Bradini Cup 53/U21WC74 RP And Scores Thread

Boot It!: Despite A Freeze, The Young Jags Live On

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