World Cup 93 - RP Thread

by **Zwangzug** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 6:08 pm

The Spenson Star

Zwangzug's semifinal victory over Nyowani Kitara last cycle was not only a seven-goal thriller, but it was also a rematch of their group stage meeting, in which the Kitarans had won 2-0. Could it happen again? Though obviously we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, the two sides will meet in Pria with their places in the knockout stages already clinched, as Nyowani Kitara defeated Tikariot (albeit by slimmer margins than Zwangzug managed), and Zwangzug edged out Pasarga, eliminating the Wanderers after a pair of cruel 1-0 defeats.

After the side's dominating performance against Tikariot, Kate DiMarini had an enviable problem on her hands. A group stage is short; matchday two is no time to play the kids for experience's sake. But given the headiness the players might have been experiencing, getting them to calm down and take Pasarga seriously was no easy task. As a result, Zwangzug seemed jittery the first half, allowing the Wanderers to have plenty of possession in midfield and dropping back to solidify the defense. Gillen Madrigal López, the Raynor City midfielder, had the best chance of the half, getting the best of a Cynthia Fairfax-Hazy misplay in minute 28; only an off-balance lurch from Ketevan Igreli denied her, and the ensuing stoppage of play to make sure Igreli hadn't broken anything important in another awkward landing killed momentum for both sides.

After the half, Zwangzug emerged somewhat more solidified, perhaps a rare case of time pressure stirring them to demonstrate the form they know they're capable of rather than stir up anxiety. It was midfielder Jordan McKinney who capitalized, poking in a pass from Evan Dewey in minute 70. "Yeah, you know, sometimes you just got to go out there and give a hundred and ten percent," McKinney said. "That's a lot of percents, but like, there's actually more than ninety minutes in a game, right? If you can have nine minutes added of stoppage time, then you can give a hundred and ten percent. So anyway, that was what we did."

While there's a chance that DiMarini and/or her counterpart, the Yue Liang Wei, could get cute with substitutions for the group finale, it's anyone's guess who they'd face out of group E; no one has yet clinched or been eliminated. This group is, on paper, somewhat more open than the others, as Chromatika are first seeds based on their hosting responsibilities rather than their KPB rank. "It's commendable that they've shown unease about the possible appearance of bias in such a system," said Kirsten Jackson. "I've gotten to speak with some of the home fans and they're extremely proud of their team, but they're not afraid of anyone, they know they can hang with the pot one sides. But also, like, of all the things to be uneasy about on a national level, this is a pretty good problem to have, right." Zwangzug's Rushmori opposition in Group H would likely agree.

In tangential news, annoying journalist Ígnîgo Xôjálá has been called in yet again to translate Farf chants that have gone viral on social media. "I mean, in the rest of the world, normal places, people do really cry because of the blood that flows through them. Very sad. And not just relating to football, either, although I wouldn't expect you coddled socialists to understand," he claimed. Xôjálá also explained that la Vherderoja have more than one infamous chant, and that this particular anthem is completely distinct from ruder classics making hurtful stereotypes about the ethnicity and/or sexual practices of one's opponents, although lots of those are well-known, too.

Meanwhile, Saroj Kinnar has agreed to play in the Vilitan league, although she is still waiting to be assigned to a club. "People gave me a hard time when I graduated," she said, "assuming I had to go back to play for one of the Namiri teams since I grew up there. But no, there's a whole nation at my feet--with the Rovers I was able to play in every city. And now, seeing that someone from across the world wanted me enough to take a chance on, even though I wasn't sure about testing the waters--that's an incredibly flattering feeling, and I look forward to being able to represent somewhere completely new."

by **Yue Zhou** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 6:44 pm

THE OVERLAP
HISTORY REPEATS: YFA LOOK FOR CHEN REPLACEMENTS
Zhang Yiming, WORLD CUP 93

NANGANG -- An explosive new report from The Overlap suggests that the Yuezhou Footballing Association are "unlikely" to seek to extend Chen Huikang's contract as manager of the Yue National Team after World Cup 93. The anonymous YFA source cited dissatisfaction with the team's performance at World Cup 93, where Chen's attack-minded system has only managed 0.6 non-penalty xG in shellackings* to Banija and Ko-oren, as well as the disappointment of the team's Copa Rushmori run, where they only barely made the knockout rounds after taking just one point from Gnejs and Three Golden Kingdoms in the opening two matchdays. While Chen has qualified for the World Cup and made a run to the Cup of Harmony finals in his two cycles, making him one of Yuezhou's most successful and popular managers in history, this has never stopped the YFA from looking elsewhere. In fact, the YFA's move to replace Chen with a "premier manager" that can "take the next step" with the Dragons is exactly how they failed to build off of their success at World Cup 88.

A decade ago, the Dragons achieved historic success with Lu Jialan at the helm. While surly on his good days and favoring an ugly, counterattacking style of ball, Lu secured a second-place qualifying group finish before beating Abanhfleft in the playoffs and Farfadillis, of all teams, in the World Cup proper. But by the following Copa Rushmori, the relationship between Lu and the YFA, who had spent Lu's magical World Cup run trying to coax Kang Guilin to manage the National Team instead, had frayed so much that he was unwilling to continue on. Out went Lu and his system, and in from a relatively unsuccessful stint at Græntfjall came Kang Guilin. While we'll never know what Kang could've done with the team if heart issues hadn't forced him into an early retirement, the fact remains that the stylistic transition between the two managers completely killed both tactical cohesion and squad harmony, sending the national team back a decade.

Now, a decade later and after a semi-failed dalliance with Ken Hayabusa, Chen Huikang has managed to match Lu Jialan's progress - although with the team eliminated after two losses, Lu's high-water mark of four points is already unreachable. Chen's style is somewhat unproven on the big stage, as the team's 5-1 dissembling to Banija indicates. But the team had developed a coherent tactical identity, and Chen is getting along well with old and new players alike as he carefully manages a generational transition. So why change things? The answer is simple to many - the YFA has shown a blatant lack of patience time and time again, and their desire to dump Chen Huikang for a newer, shinier, likely-foreign manager only reflects that. While Chen hasn't quite seen the success of his predecessor against top-end national teams, many feel this reasoning insufficient to dump one of the great Yue managers for someone who may not find the same interpersonal success with a highly complex Yue team.

If Chen does go (either forced out by the YFA, or, following in Lu's footsteps, cutting ties after seeing how little he is valued), who could replace him? Our anonymous source suggested that the YFA's top priority was Rohan Cammers...who is already off the market. The good news for the YFA is that there is still some star power currently available. With Yuan Zilai highly unlikely to leave Tumbra for a worse project, and Wirr Tsi's Zhaxi Nanlei repeatedly stating his "complete lack of interest" in the position, Yuezhou is likely to turn abroad for its next manager. Seth Harrison has recently returned from a yearlong glassblowing sabbatical after ten strong years at Kelssek's Burnaby SC, one of the best teams in one of the multiverse's best leagues. Tumbra's Matthew Reeves doesn't have the pedigree of Harrison, but does have a strong tactical presence that may better fit Yuezhou's intermediate standing in international football. And Meriadoc Griffiths, the Brenecian ex-Pasarga manager most recently seen with Montfort Wanderers, seems to be the smallest tactical shift if Chen leaves of his own accord.

Still, while there are potential upgrades on the market, the YFA are clearly underestimating the value of Chen Huikang getting a third cycle with the Dragons, given what he's done in his first two. Chen still has one match, against the SRS, to convincingly state his case to be retained. Hopefully, a win can convince the YFA of the futility of their constant chopping, changing, and clout-chasing. But given the past history of the team...welcome to Nangang, Seth/Matthew/Meriadoc. Here's hoping you can find some success fast.

* includes a 1-0 loss against Ko-oren, which may or may not actually be a shellacking.

by **Nyowani Kitara** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 10:41 pm

How Liang Wei adjustments turned a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 2-1 victory and the knockout stages

Nyowani Kitara players celebrate Owino Odede winner against Tikariot at the World Cup

PRIA, COASTAL DISTRICT, CHROMATIKA- Before the match, Liang Wei warned that Tikariot would come out with 'a bunch' of energy in their Matchday 2 game against Nyowani Kitara. "Like I told you- teams like Tikariot have too much talent, have too much pride, to simply respond to a shellacking like the ones they received at the hands of Zwangzug any other way. I knew that we'd have to find a way to ease into this match- they were always going to come into this match like gangbusters. They felt as if they had legitimate chances to reach the knockout stages, while we needed to do whatever it took to keep them away."

Despite their opening loss, they came out with a lot of energy. Doing the famed Thunder Clap chant & dance immediately before the game, of course, helped their chances. And as Liang Wei predicted, the Snowy Owls came out, and were absolutely the better team for 45 minutes. Heck- if it wasn't for a few key Odour Bigombe saves, including a huge one in the 33rd minute in a one v. one opportunity that Theodor Armitage will rue missing, this game might have been over by halftime. But it wasn't- despite getting outplayed and outhustled by a very energetic, compact, and organized Tikariot team, who had been rewarded with a Morris Nighthorse strike in the 27th minute, Nyowani Kitara were down just one goal.

Of course, on the pitch, it was far different. xG is not everything, of course- but 1.44 to just 0.34 for Nyowani Kitara after a half of play, meant that something needed to change, and fast- Nyowani Kitara, at this rate, were on track to lose 2 or 3 to nil, and potentially need a win over the high-flying, defending world champions to reach the knockout stages. But Liang Wei did not let it get to that point. Much more than an ideologue.

Halftime Substitutions

He made a double substitution at the break, not needing to see any more to see that things needed to change. Mhara Vera, who just signed his first big money contract with Strathcona Internationals of Kelssek, came into the game for Chimwemwe in the central midfield. And Tendenka Mutsekwa(who has been trying, and largley failing, to find a team in the window) came into the game at center back, for Örjan Qvist. It was for much more of an energetic, attacking focus. Mhara Vera and Chimwemwe compliment each other in some ways. But Chimwemwe is much more defensive- allowing Handsdotter to be more adventurous, yes. But offering less going forward himself.

But Brian McAlister had clearly done his homework, and had built his team around suffocating Nyowani Kitara's do-it-all central midfielder, Arvid Handsdotter. He consistently did not have any space to operate. Always someone tracking him when he was making runs- including when he was trying to come back to the ball. NYK's most expensive player became frustrated, of course- needed some help going forward. But putting in Mhara Vera would not allow them to apply that kind of pressure to Handsdotter. Getting much more of the ball, he could relieve pressure. There was risk, however- he liked to wander forward, which could put the Kitaran defense in a bind.

That's what bringing in the ball-playing CB, Mutsekwa, did for this national team. Örjan Qvist is much more old school, especially for a very progressive team. He fits well when this team is really taking over a game. Great in the air, rock solid in the back, and while he's not really that comfortable with the ball at his feet, he rarely gets beat. But it's also not great when you're playing from behind. Mutsekwa would be able to step forward, acting almost like another defensive midfielder. It could be risky- allowing Nyowani Kitara to be caught with just three in the back, against one of the best counter-attacking forwards in the game, Morris Nighthorse. But we were already down 1-0- it was a risk that had to be taken.

The Equalizer

Let's fast forward to Wang Jiahui's equalizer. We were down 1-0 at this point, but as the second half was slowly progressing along, we were slowly yet surely outplaying our opponents. The goals were not coming, yet- but we were creating chances. Angonga forced a diving save from the Champions League winner, Brian Merson, in the 52nd minute. Just three minutes later, Olaf Svante had a fantastic opportunity that he skied- the goal wasn't exactly gaping, but the defender was twisted wrongly in all sorts of directions.

The buildup towards what would be the equalizing goal was coming. Brian Merson made an impressive leaping save off of a Mhara Vera header- corner kick to Nyowani Kitara. Nothing like a high-quality set piece to find your equalizer, right? The ball whipped in, but too far, towards the back post- Catarina Malmquist is there, to head it back across the face of goal. And who is there on the other side? None other than Wang Jiahui, who in the confusion, was suddenly unmarked in the air, just a couple of yards away from goal. He'd punish their defensive confusion, with a strong header into the back of the net to make the score 1-1.

As Nyowani Kitara fans celebrated, they knew- this game was far from over.

Weather the Tikariot Storm

The goal changed everything. The live table was different. Tikariot absolutely needed a win on this day to stay alive in this group, especially with Zwangzug's 1-0 win over Pasarga. Their only chance at getting through now would be three points here. Just one point here would all but eliminate the Snowy Owls with one game remaining, as they'd need a goal differential miracle on Matchday 3 to get through.

So the Snowy Owls gathered their resources, and used the Kitaran goal to push forward themselves, and try to turn the tide. But the Nyowani Kitara defense, now calm, held firm. Nyowani Kitara's third substitution of the night, to bring on more energy- Zhou Mushonga coming into the game for Armoni Okombo, at left back. Angonga would wear the armband for the remainder of the match. Nyowani Kitara were calm and collected- no truly dangerous chances for Bigombe to deal with. Passing lanes closed down, players locked up as soon as they receive the ball- exquisite defending, like we rarely see from this team during World Cup Qualifying.

The Winner

As the Snowy Owls were left no choice but to try and push for a winner, we looked to punish them on the counter more. Handsdotter was starting to open up more space for himself, and he would be at the center of the deadly counter-attack where we found our winning goal. An interception by Mutsekwa, way back at our own 18, and his quick vision, really got us going.

He made the interception, and suddenly, there were players flying forward. He made the smart decision- looked straight ahead, and played Arvid Handsdotter, who was coming back to the ball. He made a first-time square pass to Mhara Vera, who then played long to Wang Jiahui- the smoothness of the move almost made it look like they were counter-attacking like a seasoned club team. The Snowy Owls were overstretched, and it was suddenly 4 on 2- Wang Jiahui, Mushonga, Angonga, and Owino Odede. Wang played a great through ball to Angonga, and when the keeper came out, he passed it along to Owino Odede- who buried it into the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

Game. Set. Match. His goal would prove to be the winner, as club scouts from Pearlham SC in Xanneria(Owino Odede's new club) applauded the great run. This game did a lot of things. Clinched our place in the next stage. Eliminated Tikariot. Gave this team more regulation wins than we got entirely at World Cup 92(where, shockingly, we only won one game in 90 the entire time- against the team who won the whole damn thing).

That leaves Zwangzug and Nyowani Kitara each with 6 points in their group, and a game to go. Both teams are through- Zwangzug is ahead of NYK on GD however. It is simple- 3 points for Nyowani Kitara wins the group, and most likely, they'll avoid the tournament hosts, Chromatika, in what would certainly amount to a true road game. On the flip side, a draw or loss would almost certainly get them that matchup.

Expect Liang Wei to have some squad rotation- he values ensuring the squad is ready and fresh, both physically and mentally, for the next stages.

by **Ochre Islands** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:34 am

Page 60

FOOTBALL!

Ochres defeat Vilita in the World Cup

When the final whistle blew at the Umbar Ultima, the Ochre fans, most of whom had been on their feet for the majority of the game, all jumped in unison as they celebrated a famous win over Vilita in the football. At the entrance to the players tunnel, Ochre footballers patted each other on the back and one or two put their arm around a favourite team-mate to give them a quick squeeze. The game itself, ending 4 – 3 in the Ochres favour, had been a hard-fought victory, not helped by the Vilitans not publically announcing any change of strip, meaning that the Ochres usual home jerseys of Ochre and blue stripes couldn't be worn. Clearly, the 'Anaiaway' change colours also clashed with the Vilitans jersey, forcing the Ochre team, despite being drawn as the home side, into their third strip of 'Ochre-soil' brown with white trim. However, the Ochre side adapted to this, and despite one or two early misplaced passes to footballers in more familiar colours, still managed to scrape out a four-three win over superior opposition.

That the Ochres put four goals past Vilita, who scored three themselves, spoke of both teams dogged tenacity in wanting to win the game and finish the 90 with three points. Had the game ended in a draw, and of course only one point, the Ochres would have found themselves joint-bottom of the table with, of all teams, Valanora, who the Ochres play in their final group game of the world cup. Eventually however, all three points were secured and they now sit pretty in second, needing either a draw and for Vilita/Huayramarca to draw as well, or a win over Valanora to ensure qualification without outside assistance.

For the Ochre squad, of course, this will be a tough ask, as whilst they are clearly not the worst team in the world, there is still a gulf in quality between the footballers of this young island nation and Atlantean Oceania's finest. Obviously though, whilst Blue Gibson continues to smash the goals in, the Ochres seem to be playing on a policy of 'the best defence is a good offence'. Offensively minded football, whilst of course pleasing on the eye, isn't without its risks, as playing the ball too far upfield did lead to the Vilitan side collecting the ball with ease and going on quick counter attacks. They had played their 3-4-3 formation, quite possibly underestimating the strength of the Ochre side and star quality of one or two players, allowing the Ochres quick balls forward into the space between the Vilitan midfield and defense. 'Beansed' is how one Ochre player described the gameplan afterwards, once the Vilitans had changed back into a 3-1-4-2 to counteract this. All said and done though, whilst this did tighten up the Vilitan defence, taking a player away from the attack meant that they were less able to to attack with the flow and strength they had done prior and the Ochres could focus on defending their lead rather than and futilely pumping the ball up the pitch. Looking heroic between the posts, Leora Softstop made a number of important stops to keep Vilitan shots from reaching beyond the goalline. Leora said after the game 'Vilita played well and obviously peppered the goal with shots at points, but yeah managed to keep most of them our, still disappointed that three got past me but I'm told it's the ones that I keep out that matter after a win so I'll focus on that.'

It looks hopeful for the Ochres to have a goalkeeper at age 25, and still having at least one more World Cup at first choice in, as well as the next two CAFA Cups, which will likely be an Ochre target after this current strong showing in the World Cup. That the Ochres have already announced retaining Richard Valens for another four years, though to the end of World Cup 94, has been declared in some quarters as 'wildly optimistic', but it does speak to the good results he has been getting lately. Still, there are some fans who would wish Valens was judged on CAFA results in much the same way that previous Ochre manager Jody Dontell was.

For Ochre football fans at the minute though, they are allowing themselves to dream of perhaps going a step further than they did in World Cup 90, where they did earn a single point in the group stage. Of course, Valonora stands in the way, but so far the Ochres are showing a willingness to punch above their weight, both in qualifying and during the World Cup itself. Of particular concern to the Ochre fans though was the injury to centre half Jordan Willingham, replaced by Arto Newcomer early in the second half. The injury in the 48th minute of the game against Vilita was worrying as he went down chasing the ball to stop it going out for a corner, with no other player around him. By grabbing his hamstring, it was fairly obvious what had happened, and fans are waiting for news of this. Arto though has given himself a great opportunity to step up and replace his team mate, coming in alongside the ever-present Louis D'Entro. Louis has really stepped up his game over the past couple of seasons at Cottsworth City and helped push them up the league. Louis is surely one to watch as the next Ochre Island captain, but for now, he'll be focusing on the next match.

by **Juvencus** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:52 am

Kandorith 2–2 Juvencus

"WE F*CKING BELONG HERE" PLAYERS SCREAM AFTER NAILBITER AGAINST KANDORITH

Neither the rain nor the world number 10 could ever stop gli attaccanti from avoiding defeat

As good as la squadra is at avoiding defeating it has also been equally bad at attaining victories in the first two matchdays of the world cup. Each game has been scarier than the last and the rainy Fletcher Park in Kingsbury affair was no joke. The Rising Suns consisted of the scariest competition la squadra has faced since the start of the competition, even scarier than even the bees. A first half 2-0 advantadge on their behalf would turn sour as gli attaccanti regained its blood and its momentum to halt them at just one point. Martell's presence on the pitch in his very last international showings have been nothing short of excellent and that is to be acknowledged.

However this article will start off with the negatives of the team and that is perhaps their weaknesses shown during the first half of the game as the Kandorese and their form of total football completely startled la squadra, which seemed to be more dispersed around the pitch. It is true that the ice was broken by the Juven players themselves and a technical Pereyra's ability to dribble through the Kandorese defenders with the ball on his feet before his shot was saved by Shojiro Ito. Ever since that play, gli attaccanti's attitude on the pitch blacked out completely and it was as if it was not them on the pitch. The game slowed down to the Rising Suns' favor and before anyone knew, it was an one-sided affair. First with a swift counter-attack following an interception by Kuronuma leading up to a through-ball towards Nakamura with the latter's shot being saved by Ungaro, then with another quick attack led by Mitoma this time which led into a cross onto the box and Honda winning the one-on-one with Ibarra before heading the ball in the back of the net, giving Kandorith the advantadge.

The first goal led into screams by Madeiros onto the team like never seen before. It was true that their performance on the pitch was not on par with what we had seen of them these past 21 matchdays. They did not seem to work however as the scales would tip even further into Mekahi's favor. Honda seemed to be on fire in the first half and a gorgeous rocket of his would leave Ungaro unable to move, leading to extra screams by him onto the defenders for not covering Honda right. With 2-0 down not even in the 20th minute, things seemed sour and the game looked to be very long indeed. But, due to miraculous circumstances, it started raining and that was a sign for the Juven to use the rain they are so used to playing in to their advantadge, for their own sake.

In fact it was pouring so hard that the game was nearly dropped but due to complaints by both Kandorese and Juven players, it kept going and the rain got just a bit milder. Mild enough so that the ball would bounce more naturally, at least. In real terms, this meant much more to the Juven team than anything else in the world and Garcia got to lead the reins of the, now SERIOUSLY IMPOSING Juven attack. First, in the 38th minute, a beautiful Garcia rocket would only be stopped by the sidepost. Not too long after a Campana shot would be deflected onto Satoshi Omori before heading wide for the corner kick and on the subsequent corner kick, Oliveira's cross would find Campana's head for a piercing header that would somehow be saved by Ito. That save just shocked the Juven attack and truly stopped it until half-time.

Following that half-time whistle, a series of emphatic chants were followed by the Juven fans, some with shocking words about what they should be doing to the opponents. Back in the changing rooms Madeiros had to deliver yet another amazing speech that somehow changed the team's mentality. It all feels like a movie to watch at time as an average fan. It is true that the team's return onto the pitch felt more like a movie cliche to watch than an actual real-life game in front our very eyes. It is true however that Madeiros has given the team an internalised harmony that is much needed in times like this.

As much as it was pro-Kandorith in the first half, all of it went out the window and gli attaccanti would manage to keep the game super one-sided in their own favor. Initially putting the Pomenienze's possession-based strategy at hand, to the point it was impossible for the Kandorese to intercept the ball at any moment within the first few minutes of the half. The composure in which the players were playing with the ball felt more as if they were the ones leading 2-0 instead of trailing by 2 goals. Following that, frustration struck the Kandorese players which sought to foul the Juven players but to no avail as their superior dribbling would be exactly what would be showcased in a lot of the Juven attacks that followed. However, not many would have the effectiveness of a simple Garcia pass onto Campana to make 2-1, leading the Juven population into their first cheers the entire game.

With that first goal, hope would be brought back to the team, the fans and most of all to Madeiros' pale face. That confidence the players had in the pitch would not go away at all. Following the first goal, another cannonball from Campana would be stopped by the post, following that, a pass by Santini towards Garcia would lead the latter to a turn-and-shot that would be sent just wide. With no answer by the Kandorese, the equaliser seemed to be imminent and it is true that on the 72nd minute, Martell would be entered onto the pitch. Martell being the high value attacker he is, even at age 39 was looked after by the Kandorese with eyes of steel and was man-marked severely.

Just a few minutes later, newly-subbed Portieri's cross reached Martell, Martell would get through Shou Asato before being tackled from the side by Iwao Tanabe, leading to the latter being yellow-carded and the penalty spot being shown. This led to a series of fights between the Juven and Kandorese players on the pitch with massive boos by both Juven and Kandorese fans for it. Rain would pour even more at that point, it had not really stopped all game long. Pereyra was decided to take it, but to his bad luck the ball would be stopped by Ito and the post and Campana could not score on the rebound as risky Tanabe would put his body on the line to stop it. Yet another shocker for the gli attaccanti but not one that would really stop the tide of the game.

In the last few minutes of the game and by serendipitous circumstances, Martell would get the ball served to him by none other than Portieri, he would be beating Shou Asato yet again in the one-versus-one and with some space he'd head inside the box and cross the ball and pray to god it found someone. That someone would be Pereyra to take advantadge of the volley once again sending the ball on the top of post and then inside, with multiple bounces between the ball and the net. This would send the Juven team in massive celebrations to the sidelines, with everyone gathering around Pereyra and Martell for massive celebrations. That is when Pereyra reportedly said "We belong here! We f*cking belong here! Get it inside your heads!"

The matchday would end in a 2-2 tie and heading onto matchday 3 it is anyone's game since every single team has drawn in all of their games. Last matchday is against Turori, a usual boogey team but one that la squadra has never faced with as much determination, skill and class as it has currently. With the knockouts and extending Martell's international career at hand, la squadra needs to get the job done against the world number 2 in the grandest stage of them all. There is nothing else but optimism by both players and fans, with Madeiros keeping his signature mature stance of "it's not over until it's over" mentality. Specifically, he was recorded saying "We are heading to Ridgewell to firmly establish ourselves as one of the world's elites. Winning this matchday is our goal and our opponent is not someone we are afraid of, despite past history. But that is what it is, the past. This is not over until it's over."

by **Tumbra** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:15 am

MATCHDAY! Magazine — World Cup Box Scores
Tumbra 1-0 Delte

TMB (4-2-3-1): 1 - Nick Barker; 2 - Chris Finney, 4 - Stephen Kerr (24 - Raymond Perry, 72'), 5 - Ian Ashburn, 3 - Tracey Mercurio; 6 - Trudy Harrison (15 - Mark Finnemore, 72'), 16 - Andrew Fisher, 23 - Susan Monaghan; 7 - Valerie Wells (17 - Rebecca Haines, 77'), 26 - Julie Hardaker; 11 - Nick Riordan (21 - Robin Vaughn, 82')

TMB scorers: Julie Hardaker (36')

Player of the Match: Julie Hardaker [TMB]
IT WAS THE JULIE HARDAKER SHOW, the newspapers pronounced the day after the game; the Myana-bound forward dazzled and impressed in equal measure as she played her way to the Player of the Match award. Scoring the game's only goal in the thirty-sixth minute of the game, Hardaker's exploits up front as a fluid inside forward granted creative license by manager Yuan Zilai proved to be the defining factor in a close-fought match against the first-time World Cup qualifiers. In securing victory against the Representatives, and seeing Brenecia's draw against Farfadillis, the Black Eagles additionally secured qualification to the second round of the World Cup with one match to go in the group stage.

But for every winner, there has to be a loser; and the player singled out for the harshest criticism after the game was, unfortunately, Deltic left-back Kim Samrodd. Given the unenviable task of marking the unstoppable Hardaker, Samrodd was constantly pulled out of position by the mercurial winger, leaving the right flank open. Susan Monaghan, deputising for Phil Cole, would take advantage; heat-maps from after the game would show that most of the advanced playmaker's attacking manoeuvers would have have their origins from there. Time after time, the hard-pressing of the Deltics would be met with the longball tactics of the Black Eagles; but Hardaker's constant needling away at the Deltic defence would eventually bear fruit.

Of some controversy following the game would be the constant stoppages — on average, one every hundred and five seconds in the first half — which arguably did more to harm the Deltic gameplan than Hardaker's exploits. The breaks in play, which only really served to stop much of the momentum that the Representatives gained after winning possession of the ball, were attributed to an apparent malfunction in the Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) system. It overshadowed what was otherwise an excellent performance from the Black Eagles, who held their defensive lines with much aplomb. No official explanation was offered for the glitches in the system; and it seemed only to affect the match played in Serrapince. In a tersely-worded statement released after the game, the Tumbran Football Federation announced that they were investigating the glitch; though those more familiar with the nature of the Federation's bureaucracy would probably be surprised if anything comes out of it at all.

Tumbra securing the group winner's spot in Group A has left more casual football fans scrabbling for other games to watch. The more conscientious football fan would point out that Tumbra's third group stage game, against Esportivan nemeses Brenecia back in Straton, would still be as exciting as the outcome would determine whether Brenecia, Farfadillis, or Delte will progress to the next round to face off against the winners of Group D. It is, however, Group D's final matches in Bencoolen and Ridgewell that have garnered the most attention ahead of the crucial matchday; with all four teams in that group level on two points apiece, more mathematically-minded football fans will be salivating at the prospect of calculating, at every single moment of the game, who will progress to the next round of the World Cup from that finely balanced group.
MATCHDAY! Magazine World Cup Previews — Brenecia
Brenecia
Previous Appearances: 18 First/Latest Appearance: 70/91 Best Result: Champions (80)
Manager: Erin Camden Key Player: Maerhen Wake
vs Tumbra: Matchday 3 @ Straton
IT'S AN OFT MISQUOTED IDIOM OF THE MODERN AGE that anything that happens these days in Brenecia is accompanied by suffering, or at least some kind of challenge that extracts a high cost; and that certainly applies to Esportiva's most decorated sporting nation of the modern era. With its competitive contemporaries like the Hinodejin Empire seemingly now unconcerned with the affairs of lowly mortals, and, more worryingly, the Licentian Isles being enveloped in a thick, impenetrable fog, Brenecia and Tumbra now stand as Esportiva's only two representatives in the top thirty of the World Cup rankings. The two are, by now, constant nemeses of each other on the regional level; where previously a current of mutual respect ran throughout the two countries' fan bases, it has more recently developed into irritation, at least on Tumbra's end. What sparked this? Only Brenecia's extra-time goal in the third-placed playoff of the 91st World Cup that denied Tumbra third in their deepest World Cup run to date. Mutual respect has been replaced with irritation, with only occasional still-knowing nods of recognition towards each other that while nations like Cap Nord and Sylestone climb (or re-climb) the greasy pole of the World Cup rankings, they are the ones holding the fort for the orange-and-teal.

It would precede a surprising one-cycle skip from the World Cup, falling in a two-legged playoff to Quebec; before what could only be described as a difficult start to their campaign this cycle saw Derdriu Wright gently released from her job, and Erin Camden given the reins to rescue a qualification campaign for the Patriots. Nothing in Brenecia ever comes without suffering, as the (possibly misattributed) idiom goes; the team were mired in the lower half of their qualification group for much of the qualification campaign. Ultimately qualification was achieved, including a surprise 4-1 thrashing of Saint Eleanor in the first leg of the playoffs. Two draws in two games have placed them in prime, yet a somewhat precarious position, with Farfadillis facing Delte while Brenecia fast the Black Eagles in Straton again; yet, if the Representatives can pull out a win in Lakewood, then Brenecia will go through to the second round.

So what of the Patriots' playing staff? Names like Rajmund Sitko and Bede Cheschon — the former playing for West Couno, and the latter playing for Kingsbury — will be familiar names to fans of the Premier Division. The biggest name for Brenecia in the current moment is probably Maerhen Wake, currently in his prime and playing for possibly the world's least likeable team, 1830 Cathair; he's a powerful, bundling winger who will cause trouble for the left-back, which probably means that Chris Finney will be dedicated to shutting the winger down. It promises to be a hard-fought, if not necessarily ill-tempered match; though football matches are never played on paper.

Tumbra are through to the second round, yet the shadow of the world's second-best team in the form of Turori awaits; Group D's mystical situation means that every team has a more-or-less equal chance to make it through. Fans of the Black Eagles will be desperately hoping that Turori avoid finishing second in their group; lest the world's second-best side put a premature end to what has, so far, been an inspiring run for the home side.

TUMBRA LINEUP FOR WORLD CUP 93, MATCH 3: VS BRENECIA
TMB (4-2-3-1): 1 - Nick Barker; 2 - Chris Finney, 4 - Stephen Kerr, 5 - Ian Ashburn, 19 - James Green; 6 - Trudy Harrison, 8 - Vincent Hicks, 10 - Phil Cole; 17 - Rebecca Haines, 9 - Lynne Crossley; 22 - Charlotte Henshaw

Mertagne
Veritas Valley

The state visit, for Prime Minister Stephen Williams, had been going perfectly. Or as close to perfect as it could be, honestly. Everything had gone swimmingly, there had been vague promises made about further economic co-operation, and there were but a few days left before he moved on to Kotzellach, where the real meat of the visit would begin. This was the feel-good part of the tour; the actual bit where he would attempt to pressure the famously secret archipelagic nation to stop being secretive about their banking industry had yet to begin. He'd chosen to start with Mertagne, however, to build good publicity for the tour; it was his way of layering added diplomatic pressure on the Kotzellachians. But even then, the visit to an ally to reinforce ties concealed the real reason for the visit — the speech he was about to give. It was, effectively, about repaying a debt that Tumbra had accrued over fifty years ago, on the cusp of the Great Corvidae War; where instead of doing something, the country had stood around and did nothing.

Here, on a small, picturesque part of the Road of Remembrance, underneath a large olive tree surrounded as much by the grey headstones of the dead as they were flowers of almost every colour, petals blowing gently in the wind, he would deliver Tumbra's official apology to the nation of Mertagne. Certainly not for anything recent; the two countries had become allies, the latter supporting the former's exploits in the Northlands and the former investing heavily in the latter's economic development. No, this was for historical baggage; for not allowing a ship full of those deemed politically undesirable by the fascist government of Lex Crowley to dock, and shield them from the horrors of what would come in the years of the Corvidae War. The 687 passengers of the MS Kingsbury had been transformed from people into a political hot potato, thrown from city to state to federal government and back, each refusing to be the final body responsible for turning them away.

For three weeks in 1979, the passenger liner remained moored just outside the Port of Lakewood, unable to dock and allow its passengers to apply for asylum in the country. Every level of government was running scared; each had their own priorities, but none of them wished to shoulder the burden of the refugees. The city of Lakewood didn't feel as if it had the capacity to house them; the Severn government wasn't friendly to refugees in general, and the federal government did not wish to put itself in the crosshairs of the Crowley government. Nor did it wish to further draw the ire of the general public, which had been in a decidedly anti-foreigner mood for most of the decade. It eventually fell to the federal government to deliver the bad news; the ship was given enough supplies to replenish their depleted stock and then told, grimly, that they would not be accepted into the country. The passengers eventually returned to the region from whence they came; and their fates afterwards were lost to history. Or, more realistically, left to be dredged up by one of the multiple truth and reconciliation commissions that had been set up after the war.

The episode had passed almost unnervingly peacefully into the annals of Tumbran history; the furore generated by those passionately in favour of letting the Syndicatians in was drowned out by those who wished to have little to do with the globe-spanning political crisis. After all, few wished to deal with the re-rise of the Corvidae in Tumbra, which had been violently suppressed the previous August after they attempted to start an insurrection; less wished to see what had happened in the Licentian Isles, where the Corvidae had come to power after a period of violence. It wasn't taught in textbooks; most people's first exposure to the incident was in university, where most undergraduates tended to react with shock and denial. Enough time had passed, however; Williams felt that with the country needing allies on the international stage, one more grand overture to Mertagne was needed to really show that they were committed to moving on.

The travelling party arrived at the designated location; Grand Regent Malcolm Noirot generously directed Williams to the prepared podium underneath the olive tree, and stood to the side, eager to let Williams have his moment. The assembled journalists snapped pictures as Williams began speaking; a master of political communication, he knew just the right tone to apply to this speech. The right amount of graveness; the right amount of seeking forgiveness.

"We live today in a world mercifully free of inter-state conflict on a global scale. History is willing to teach us much; and, thankfully, after many centuries of conflict, this is one lesson that we have seemingly heeded. No-one wins in war. Everyone loses something. Parents lose sons and daughters, communities lose pillars, and the fabric of humanity is greatly weakened by every single person who dies before their time for the sake of conflict. While we will probably never truly eliminate conflict from this world, all of us have a responsibility to ensure that we never experience a conflict like the Corvidae War ever again.

The nation of Mertagne has gone through trials and tribulations comparable only to a few others. I am heartened to find that after so many years in isolation, the country has chosen to re-enter the world stage. I am forever grateful for the invaluable support they have provided for our nation on the global stage, and I remain committed to deepening our bilateral relations as allies.

Today, I have chosen to deliver this address on the Road of Remembrance in order to repay a historical debt that my nation owes Mertagne. It is a debt that Tumbra has owed for the past half century; it is a debt that, much to our discredit, our country has forgotten. In our country's search for neutrality for the sake of neutrality — an utterly deplorable choice in moral crises — we abandoned these people. It represents a stain on our nation's collective conscience that has never been wiped away, merely ignored. Fifty-three years ago, in the Syndicatian peoples' hour of need, six hundred and eighty-seven innocents — fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, but most importantly, people — left their country in need of a place of safety..."

While he spoke, the irony of the sentences he was speaking of crossed his mind. Sure, nowadays, instead of turning away refugees, they'd just let them in, then put them in temporary housing while their applications for asylum were processed. He'd visited one of those camps before; they certainly were a damn sight better than some of the refugee camps he'd seen elsewhere, but it certainly didn't feel like the Farves of varying ethnicities had escaped the war-torn island in search of this. He didn't let it show, however; he still needed a stick to beat the opposition around the neck with, and immigration was an easy one to score points on.

"...I come here today, on behalf of a nation that is beginning to forget. I come here to seek the forgiveness of the Mertagnian people, for our country's actions in the summer of 1979 were unjustified, unjustifiable, and wrong on every single level. Fifty-three years later, I know that absolutely nothing will make up for the losses that Mertagne has suffered, and losses that our nation, in a moment of callousness and selfishness, inadvertently contributed to. On behalf of my nation, I apologise unreservedly for the events that transpired fifty-three years ago. I am deeply sorry."

Midway through his speech, he noticed a figure in a black suit cutting his way through the crowd. Normally, Williams would not have noticed; but the figure's eyepatch over his right eye cut him out as someone too important to ignore. This was Ezekiel Wolff, the Prime Minister's defence attaché and, secondarily, one of his body men; his arrival typically signalled urgent news from the Ministry of Defence back home. Williams glanced as the too-tall Wolff jostled his way past a photojournalist, made a not-so-subtle motion to Williams to grab his attention, then withdrew a cream-coloured envelope from his inner breast pocket and flashed it at him. The mere flash of the envelope was enough to make the Prime Minister's heart skip a beat; but he maintained his composure. His focus, however, began to slip. The rest of the even progressed with little fanfare; Williams clapped politely at Noirot's response to his apology, but by now all he wanted to do was to get back in the provided car, where he knew the one-eyed man would be waiting.

An indeterminate amount of time later, Williams found himself in the back seat with Wolff. The cream-coloured envelope was once again withdrawn from the stony-faced functionary's breast pocket, and handed to the Prime Minister. He flipped it over, felt its creases; but the the only thing on the envelope was the type-written command of "PRIME MINISTER'S EYES ONLY."

"News?" asked the Prime Minister.

"The best," replied Ezekiel Wolff.

Almost too eagerly, the Prime Minister teased apart the adhesive, unfurled the piece of paper inside, and began reading.

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, STRATON, TUMBRA

Prime Minister,

It is my pleasure to inform you that the headquarters of the terrorist organisation known as the "United Clans" was subjected to a sustained aerial bombardment, beginning at 0603 hours Tumbran time. Subsequent reconnaissance has revealed that the bombing has been successful at achieving its objective of destroying the central headquarters of the United Clans. It is likely that the central command of the United Clans has also been decapitated in this strike, bringing us closer to the Tumbran Armed Forces' objective of the pacification of the Northlands through the defeat of this terrorist group.

I will provide further updates in due course. As per protocol, near-identical versions of this letter have been delivered to the current President of the Federal Republic, as well as the President-elect, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence, and the current Chief Executive of the Northlands. I leave it to you, Prime Minister, to decide whether or not to make this information public.

Signed,
GENERAL MEREDITH W. HARRINGTON OM DSM ADC (Gen.)
CHAIRWOMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

"The best, indeed," said Williams, looking up at Wolff. He had allowed a small smile to emerge on his face, which looked slightly stilted, as if the attaché were in need of some practice. "Relay to her that I shall make a decision by —" he glanced down at the silver watch on his wrist, which was always set to Tumbran time — "Sixteen forty-five in Tumbra. Though you may also relay to her that I am likely not to release any information until I know or not whether their commanders were there. If she can get this information to me by then, we'll play it by ear."

The Prime Minister folded up the envelope neatly, placed it back in its creme envelope, and handed it back to Wolff. "Deliver this to the Chief of Staff and the Press Secretary. Ideally when they're both together. They'll know what to do." Wolff nodded, then exited the car.

After the car pulled off, and he was certain that the journalists couldn't take photos of him through the tinted windows, Williams loosened his tie slightly, undid the top button of his shirt, and allowed his arms to flop to his side. A long, loud exhale preceded silence as his fists hardened, imagining pumping the air in joy. Victory was in his grasp, now. All he needed was confirmation that the little cockroaches had been stamped out, and the road was all clear.

by **Nephara** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:22 pm

Green, black, terracotta, white. Four colours on shirts that bore an aching burden of history. History had a weight, pressure and privilege. Individual Cormorants might not know that history inside out, but there was a sense that, no matter where they'd been before, some Cormorant had.
The shirt remembered.
By some measures, Nephara were the most successful side in the history of football. Not the big, sexy ones. There were 'only' two gold stars above that crest, and Untitled Elf Game was not going to be renamed Untitled Shag Game anytime soon. But still, if the real marker of success in your eyes was 'greatest win percentage' or 'greatest breadth of trophy name variety', Nephara were at the peak. But they'd seen plenty of failure along with their success, in large part because the success made the relative concept of failure very attainable. There wasn't far to climb, but there was a long way to fall, and after thirty cycles - almost a third of the tournament's history - none of it was entirely new.
Couldn't put the history on the pitch, but it still helped.

For ninety minutes, the game went to plan... more or less.
The first half was dire, neither side getting a clear chance, far more perspiration than inspiration. Cantor was pleased enough, however. After the chaos of the Graintfjall match, it was important to reassert defensive discipline - especially at set pieces. But Felixe Vetiver sputtered for a second successive game, for all that she had, ultimately, scored a pivotal goal last match. Madita Brewer wasn't in the all-conquering form she had been then, nor Renate March.
But if the weight of that crest meant anything, it was that ability to gut out a win. No matter how ugly Nephara were playing, they always had a moment of magic in them, no matter who was wearing the shirt.
It would be March's replacement, the effervescent Lindse Kvasina, who would set up the assist for Nephara's inevitable goal. They'd hammered on the door a few times, leading up to it, but it had badly needed a Moment to break through, and Kvasina was a Moment player. The one she provided was unflashy, in the event, but a whipped diagonal at the far post that had just the right weight and placement to drop perfectly for Arachne Loeher to sidefoot home. The game was, surely, signed and sealed, as normal time ticked down to its conclusion.
Trouble was, the game didn't actually end at ninety minutes. The Hornets snatched a late equaliser, and for all that every Nephar on the pitch, on the sidelines, in the stands, and at home watching streams or televisions was prepared to swear blind Cole's volley hadn't crossed the line, camera replays put plain the lie to it, the ball clearly bouncing over the line.
There was some late excitement, but mostly in the form of tussles in the middle of the pitch, including a rash moment from Solblindi Rake that saw him pick up a second caution in as many games, ruling him out of the Milchama clash. The game petred out, and stranded the Cormorants with it all to do on the final day... though at least it was all in their hands.
And Igrene Cantor saw no need to panic, fronting before the press. "There's no cause for concern, as I see it. We win and we're through. Hell, we draw and there's a good chance we're through, though obviously we don't want to rely on other results. We'll save any concern for when the tournament's over, and our tournament is far from over."
Radeka Lind, biting her lip, clearly still wounded by the late sucker-punch, was more succinct: "We'll just smash their teeth in."

All in all, Nephara were left on two points from two games. The draw with Graintfjall: good. The draw with Flavovespia: bad. And now things were extremely dicey with Milchama to come. That was the trouble with World Cup groups; you could fail to progress on six points, or potentially succeed with two. You were forever on the precipice, against teams good enough that nothing could be taken for granted. Milchama were far from a guaranteed win.
But history suggested the Cormorants could generally dig themselves out of trouble. It wasn't always pretty, of course, but the Cormorants didn't have to be pretty.
Only once had Nephara crashed out of a World Cup without a win. That put history on their side; they'd get the win they needed. But if they failed to, that would make this a cataclysmic failure.
But then, when was that worst-ever performance? World Cup 82. One point in three games.
The manager? Daniella Strauss.
What followed? 3rd. 2nd. 2nd. Champions.
And that, perhaps, was the ultimate lesson of history: the next chance was never as far away as you thought. Today's disaster might seem like the end of the world, but there had been times, too, where Nephara had seemed like they would never be stopped. The wheel would turn again.
...
But best win on the morrow, anyway.

Flavovespia 1 - 1 Nephara
(4-3-3) 1 - Strand; 2 - Rake, 18 - Copperhead, 6 - Scales, 25 - Xu (3 - Lind (vc) 67'); 4 - Southsea (24 - Sebold 67'), 15 - Constantine (19 - Rosziter 80'), 8 - March (c, 26 - Kvasina 80'); 13 - Brewer, 21 - Vetiver, 11 - Loeher
Goal: Loeher 86'

Injuries: N/A
Suspensions: Rake

Lineup vs. Milchama
(4-3-3) 1 - Strand; 17 - Levering, 18 - Copperhead, 6 - Scales, 3 - Lind (c); 24 - Sebold, 15 - Constantine, 8 - March; 13 - Brewer, 21 - Vetiver, 11 - Loeher

by **Squornshelan Remnant States** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:24 pm

The last and only prior time the Black-and-Reds were credited with a draw against Banija, they had just achieved what still remains the nation's best ever result at a modern-era World Cup: a trip to the second round. Hopefully, this cycle's group Matchday two result foreshadows something similar. The draw with Banija, a hard-fought effort that ended two-all, leaves the Black-and-Reds in a fairly good position heading into the final group stage match. They sit even on points with the Kadongo Kamu with four, one point ahead of Ko-oren. While those two teams face one another, the SRS will play Yuezhou, who are already eliminated with a pair of losses, and facing the prospect of a managerial change after the tournament. Now, there are two ways a team can respond to circumstances like that: either rise to the occasion and possibly send the old boss out on a high note, or roll over and die. Obviously we'll be hoping for the latter, but one certainly hopes Penrooke will have his squad prepared for the former.

It'll go along way toward encouraging the Dragons to fold if the Black-and-Reds can get on top of them as early on as they did against Banija. The Kadongo Kamu appeared to be expecting a more cagey, feeling-out period to start the match, rather than and aggressive push forward right from the opening kickoff. The result was too much space opening between the midfield and defensive lines, and both center backs reacting to a dangerous ball forward to Ness by closing down. A simple layoff to Volam gave the Black-and-Reds midfielder a totally uncontested shot from the edge of the box. Rao had no chance despite anticipating the top corner shot well, and it was 1-0 to the SRS in the very first minute. One does not simply roll over the third-ranked team in the multiverse on the World Cup stage, however. Ensuing from the next kickoff, taking place barely more than 100 seconds after the opener, the Banijans worked to hold possession, meeting strength with strength as Achuka, Sowe, and Kama strove against Hashemi, Zazagan, and Volam for control.

No longer off balance, the Banijan midfield was able to make several timely interceptions and quickly spray the ball out wide where Bokate and Ipeazu were each causing problems for Halfariani and Nyberg respectively. While Shimski was able to fend of everything thrown at her from the run of play, she did concede a number of corner kicks in doing so. It was on one of these, a wicked in-curler from the foot of Ikpeazu, that Banija found their equalizer, the ball springing down off the head of Kouyaté and under Shimski's arm before springing back up to swish against the back of the net. Even with the score level though, there was no waiting around after the next restart either. The Kadongo Kamu had tightened their central defensive structure, shadowing Volam and Ness more or less constantly, often keeping Hashemi, Zazagan, Bondarov, and Yonte contained around the outside of their lines. At the other end, Bokate and Ikpeazu continued to find space on the flanks, but getting the ball inside to Wesoloski-Okafor or Kama proved nearly impossible, as Titov, Jagdish, or occasionally Shimski herself rose, quite literally, to every occasion.

The next goal then, came not from the slow midfield buildup of either side, but on a broken play. A quick turnover, sent back the other way. A long ball forward from Hashemi. A treacherous patch of turf that snared Kouyaté's toe and sent the center half tumbling. Ness, in alone against the goalkeeper. A nightmare scenario for any team's backstop, and a predictable result. The ball slotted firmly into the far bottom corner, and the lead reestablished. A series of sentence fragments concluded. Penrooke's side sat back a bit for most of the remaining 20 minutes or so of the half. The wisdom of that tactic, in light of the first equalizer Banija found, is certainly questionable. It paid off though. Despite a number of close calls and an overwhelming advantage in possession for the Kadongo Kamu over the remainder of the half, the Black-and-Reds went to the dressing room up one: a dream scenario. Holding that narrow lead against one of the very best teams in the multiverse, though, was a very tall order. The second half went back and forth, both teams took their chances. Sterling opportunities went begging, Shimski and Rao each stood tall. In the end though, a prime cross finally found its way through the Squornshelan defense, slipping just over the head of a leaping Titov, evading control by the toe of Wesoloski-Okafor, Yarlut hanging off his shoulders. The ball bounced gently into open space, and found the foot of the onrushing Kama for a blistering first touch shot. Shimski, trying frantically to judge where it would end up, was frozen.

The chance for a win was lost, but a draw against the Kadongo Kamu is a result many teams would be proud of, and so once again the Black-and-Reds will head into the final matchday of the first round in good position, hoping to secure advancement. We've been in this sort of spot before though, and found ways to come up short. Just last cycle, the Black-and-Reds went into their final match with Squidroidia even on points with Valanora, and won, only to go out of the tournament on goal differential. At World Cup 91 in eerily similar circumstances, the SRS defeated Ko-oren to start things off, then drew their second match. Atop the group with 4 points, they would lose their next match against Brenecia to finish in third. At World Cup 88, the SRS also won its first match and drew its second, and faced an eliminated side for matchday three, only to lose and go out on goal differential as well. In fact, the only time the Black-and-Reds have advanced, they did so with a mere three points, after coming out on top of a three-way tiebreaker in World Cup 90. So being in a good position hasn't always been good per se, nor even has getting a good result on the final day. Still, with any point at all certain to send the Black-and-Reds through to the next round, and with Penrooke and company on an eight match unbeaten run, one can be forgiven for harboring a small glint of hope.

SRS: 2
BNJ: 2

Scoring:
SRS: Volam 1', Ness 23'
BNJ: Kouyaté 15', Kama 88'

Lineup: Shimski; Nyberg, Titov, Yarlut, Halfariani; Hashemi, Zazagan; Bondarov, Volam, Yonte; Ness

Schedule & Results:

MD01: AUD 0-1 SRS @ Arena Kirola (cap. 72,000), Cathair, AUD
MD02: SRS 3-1 RYF @ Flanoil Arena (cap. 50,350), Traal, West Flania, SRS
MD03: STR 1-1 SRS @ TBA
MD04: VEZ 0-1 SRS @ Fate Stadium (cap. 333,000), Naypyithaw, Burma, Val Z
MD05: SRS 6-2 AER @ The Lutenstaad (cap. 75,000), Lutenblag, Molvania, SRS
MD06: ASG 1-0 SRS @ TBA
MD07: SRS 4-2 EQS @ Olympiastad (cap. 47,550), Arkintoofle, Megabrantis, SRS
MD08: OBR 1-3 SRS @ TBA
MD09: SRS 5-1 BRP @ Pheldagriff Stadium (cap. 45,620), Yassaca, Sivolvia, SRS
MD10: MUR 1-6 SRS @ TBA
MD11: SRS 3-1 ESL @ Admiral Cherenkov Stadium (cap. 71,200), Santraginus, Isle of Squornshelous, SRS
MD12: SRS 1-0 AUD @ Vogsphere Arena (cap. 90,000), Vogsphere, Isle of Squornshelous, SRS
MD13: RYF 0-2 SRS @ TBA
MD14: SRS 4-2 STR @ Sunergy Field (cap. 37,550), Hunian, Algolia, SRS
MD15: SRS 3-1 VEZ @ Bridger Lane (cap. 72,406), Damogran, Algolia, SRS
MD16: AER 3-1 SRS @ Centerby Stadion (cap. 36,000), Vorácy, AER
MD17: SRS 4-1 ASG @ Megabrantid Financial Field (cap. 69,245), Brantisvogan, Megabrantis, SRS
MD18: EQS 0-2 SRS @ TBA
MD19: SRS 3-0 OBR @ Malgacorp Arena (cap. 29,350), Hensha, Megabrantis, SRS
MD20: BRP 2-1 SRS @ TBA
MD21: SRS 4-2 MUR @ Green Heart Center (cap. 20,760), Han Wavel, Han Dold, SRS
MD22: ESL 0-1 SRS @ Eshialand City Superdome (cap. 75,000), Eshialand City, ESL

GS01: KOR 0-2 SRS @ Fletcher Park (cap. 45,000), Kingsbury, TMB
GS02: SRS 2-2 BAN @ Two Rivers Stadium (cap. 42,000), Millsburgh, TMB
GS03: YZH  v  SRS @ Stokers' Park (cap. 52,000), Fontwell, TMB

by **Brenecia** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 4:47 pm

The goal came. Of course the goal came. It was always going to come.
Plan A for Brenecia was to keep the clean sheet and trust in something, Anything, from there, and it was a pretty sound one. But it could never survive. First contact with the enemy? Fine, a snap-shot from Çêwé that was saved awkwardly but brilliantly by Meade, punched into the ground and then scrambled for and fallen on. Meade also made herself known, standing up to Robineau one-on-one before committing and pawing the ball away from his feet just as he started to round her, before saving a strike from Marajis at full stretch, clawing it around the bar and landing with enough force to leave her stunned and winded for a couple of seconds. Maybe that was why she couldn't scramble off her line so fast, a minute later, when the corner came in. And she didn't have it, and Wheater expected her to have it and did not, himself, make a move to have it, while Jadwiga Lofthouse, tall and good in the air, was flattened completely by Tôsgo Türrângel, whose speed and force approached the supersonic. The ball bounced down from his chest to his shin, ugly, sure, but it ended in the net, and now the impetus rested with Brenecia to make something, anything happen. A tough ask, for several reasons. Most pertinently, they were Brenecia. But they were a Brenecia side that had set up very deep and very defensively, to try and stop anything happening. Switching gears was not so easy a thing, with such a conservative double pivot and three centre-halves on the pitch. Besides, rushing things wasn't Camden's style. Couldn't simply click her fingers and then have the team switch into all-out attack; even if she did, the resulting disorder could easily be capitalised on for two or three or eleven more Farfadillis goals.
No, no. Keep to the system. Trust in something to happen, just as they'd trusted not to happen for the first half.

But nothing happened in the second half. And nothing would have been great, would have been perfect, were it not for the fact Farfadillis were leading. Nothing 'til the 70th minute, seeing Hadley get into a halfway decent position, then take a speculative shot into near-earth orbit.
Camden turned, sweeping dramatically in her long coat. Sideline mics heard her mutter 'fuck it', not quite under her breath, and she started gesticulating at her bench. One sub. Two subs. Three subs. Four subs. Alderwood, quite conventional. First two wingers not enough, Alderwood was the next cab off the rank. Siobhan Baker was a little less expected, with Stokes available and rancorous at not being the guy, but Baker had that little more experience, that little bit of nous. Chalk for Shrine, that was tactical; Jeong had been playing out of his best position, at leftback, doing well enough, but Chalk could offer more thrust down that flank.
Alaoise Rourke?
The stubby, one-footed little lass - most casual fans in Brenecia who only saw the World Cup didn't know her from Adam - toddled onto the pitch, replacing the now-unnecessary second axe murderer, Tamara Seager. Really? She was going to be the difference?
Well, yeah, she was.
Farfadillis had their own substitutions made, and fresh legs in the form of Loustaunau and de la Garza stroked the ball around the pitch with confidence, while rightback Kurispin Moloses used his natural advantage of not actually being Farfish to shut down Alderwood. Amidst their pace and general competence, Rourke waddling around the midfield looked practically quaint. Why was Erin Camden, of all people, turning to her in the hour of need?
Sure, she was slow, but time itself seemed to slow down with the ball at her feet. She glided with ease, swayed this way and that, couldn't be tackled... could be fouled, and Jáánsêlà did just that. Rourke popped up and dusted herself off, rubbing her sleepy eyes and smiling. She was smiling! 1-0 down in a World Cup and she was smiling?
Yes, because this was her range.
Naturally, Alyce Kearney wanted to take the free kick, and stared at the ball with naked hunger as it sat ready, but she knew it was Rourke's so long as she was on the pitch... well, so long as a left-footed strike wasn't horribly awkward, anyway. There was distance. Amateur players might struggle to get the ball that distance, let alone over a wall and past a goalkeeper, let alone over Türrângel and past de Lovandá. They were on the world stage, some of the world's best players around on each side, representatives from every club... and yet, fat little Rourke stood over the ball.
And took two brisk steps back, hustled forward and fucking lamped it.
It seared between two heads of the wall, all but scorching a cheek on the way in, and de Lovandá saw it late, feet tangled, raised his hands out of instinct as much as reflex, the smack was picked up by the mics as the ball was stopped. Almost. Deflected. Deflected up. And de Lovandá floundered and swiped at the ball and missed and fell as the ball somehow got by him. Not his fault, though nobody, nobody would believe him. Not for years, anyway.
A shot with that power and that placement from Rourke would, someday, seem just about right. But in the moment, it just looked like a fluke.

Brenecia 1 - 1 Farfadillis
(4-2-3-1 -> 4-3-3) 1 - Meade; 17 - Hadley, 22 - Wheater, 5 - Shrine (25 - Chalk 71'), 6 - Jeong; 19 - Seager (26 - Rourke 71'), 4 - Briggs; 15 - Wake, 24 - Kearney, 10 - Byrne (16 - Alderwood 71'); 21 - Lofthouse (9 - Baker 71')
Goals: Rourke 82'

Injuries: Culpepper (ankle)
Suspensions: Briggs

Lineup vs. Tumbra
(4-3-3) 1 - Meade; 17 - Hadley, 22 - Wheater, 6 - Jeong, 25 - Chalk; 8 - Conway, 19 - Seager, 11 - Covolan; 15 - Wake, 13 - Stokes, 16 - Alderwood

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2023
Group D headed for photo finish?
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

There are two completely different tournaments happening at the moment and we're not referring to the World Cup and the Cup of Harmony in Graintfjall.

It's the two halves of the 93rd World Cup that are as different from one another as Esportiva is from Anaia; in Chromatika with just a final matchday remaining, five of the eight slots in the knockout round are set, while in Tumbra, only the hosts have booked passage as 10 of the 16 fixtures played thus far have ended without a winner.
Baker Park's own Group D is leading the way in getting nowhere fast, with the four nations all sitting together on 2 points, as there have been six goals scored and six conceded.

The scoreless draw in Hesham did no favors to Turori or the Bees, although the draw between Kandorith and Juvencus meant that it didn't do much harm either; a win and a draw on the final day will see tiebreaker scenarios come into play for the runner up place while two clear wins will settle all the issues. One doesn't want to contemplate what sort of convoluted process would come about if there is no winner at all on the day, because it is going to leave two nations feeling hard done by.

Six of the top ten—and nine of the top 15--ranked nations in the multiverse have yet to win a match thus far, including The Holy Empire who have already been eliminated while first timers Cabo Azure will survive the group stage with a chance to move on in the second phase of the competition.

The Eels and Bees third meeting of World Cup 93 was what would be expected of two nations who know one another's style, personnel, and work ethic well; the lack of scoring shouldn't fool the casual fan who didn't witness the contest at the George Bowen Stadium into thinking that there was no offense on display.
To the contrary, it was nuanced performance by both sides that saw plenty of opportunities but all advantages going to the defenses and stellar play in net by Rod Callaway and his Turori counterpart Derizi Amatopa; Jennifer Prescott didn't tip her hand until late when the lineups were submitted that she was going to lean towards a more defensive oriented midfield as Carly Logan, Isabelle Wiley and Lucie Shanahan all got the start—previously the inclusion of two of those three in a lineup was a telltale sign of a tactical shift to strengthen the defensive third—with only Christa Vuckovic in an offensive role to support the front three of Ben Moorman, Serena McDavid and Chandra Mack.

The final whistle saw Prescott and Tarek Edgeli share a brief conversation during their handshake that ended with smiles and their staffs also engaged in neighborly commiserations of respect.

The focus shifts towards the group finale against 10th ranked Kandorith with many BP fans possibly wondering “who are ya?” in regards to the opponent. Although their best finish was a quarterfinal berth in WC 89, they have been consistent qualifiers for some time, with they and Commonwealth passing one another in the KPB table around World Cup 91.
Their system will look boringly familiar to National League club supporters—a 4-3-3 possession heavy counterattacking style that is used in some form or another by 2/3 of sides in the top two tiers of the sport; the midfield in the middle third will certainly be the key to the match as BP will likely revert back to the combination of Paige Eichorn, Nicole D'Amico, Paul Vetter, and Freddie Altman, who as a unit have a pass completion rate of 89.4%.

Another advantage that Baker Park have is in overall experience, as they will field a starting XI that will range from 27.3 to 28.7 years in age versus an average age of 24.6 for Kandorith which includes their Captain Nobsuke Kuronuma, the 32 year old central midfielder. They have three players in their starting lineup who play professionally in Saint Eleanor but the rest are domestic leaguers while it's likely that only 3 of the Bees' lineup will be from the National League.

Baker Park should have a "home field" advantage in Bencoolen as they have made the southern city their base during the Finals and have a good handle on the daily weather patterns in this coastal playground. Turori and Juvencus will face one another in Ridgewell, in the far north of the country and from the wreckage of the final pair of matches will come the survivors to advance to the last 16, with the group winner heading to Nantwich and the runner-up squaring off against most like the host nation in Serrapince.

We wanted to take an opportunity to wish our colleague Chelsea Dufresne of the Concord Heights Times in Cassadaigua a Happy Retirement from being the lead reporter on the many sports she's covered for that publication; she has been a wonderful journalist and great friend to many of us covering the soccer beat as well the other competitions across the multiverse she's had a byline from. Godspeed Chelsea!

Lineup vs Kandorith

Johnston (C); Brooks, Kucera, Freeman; Eichorn, D'Amico, Vetter, Altman; Price; Harris, Gibson
subs--McCormack, Bruce, Edmonds, Vuckovic, Park, Shanahan, Mack, McDavid, Baum

by **Turori** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 5:33 pm

Speaking of a Photo Finish...

It's a beautiful day at the Kensington Raceway for the EELCAR Regular Season Finale event. Of course, Kensington Raceway is a rather unique circuit with its rectangular shape, the rectangular roof giving the fans some shade and the large steel spires placed around the raceway.

32 Cars are here competing for victory but today at the end of the regular season, half of those teams know that they will be eliminated from Championship contention.

That's right and in fact due to the points, there are already a few teams who know they can't make it to the postseason, but they will still be out there on track today mixing it up with the teams who are still in contention, looking to maybe get one more win or spoil something for one of the teams looking to advance to the next round.

Yes, We've seen a lot of the drivers who we thought certain would advance through to the next round struggle so far and as we reach the last race of the regular season, some of those have already been eliminated. Pemecutan Motorsports had high hopes for the season after being ranked 6th in the pre-season power rankings but haven't won a single race and have no shot at advancing to the playoffs. The same goes for Dreamed Realm Racing who were the EELCAR Champions just 3 seasons ago but they won't be competing for a championship this season after a disappointing performance. Due to the way the points sit currently there will be even further disappointment among two other five-time champions as only one of Rebel Racing's Endur Rotropii or Eternal Elf Enterprises and driver Laborious Hawk can possibly advance with a chance that both miss the cutoff for the Final 16.

However, the most interesting battle to watch will be right at the cutline where Turori's own Tarek Edgeli will attempt to wheel the Turori-Charged Performance car into the playoff rounds. Edgeli and the team enter the final race of the regular season level on points with three other competitors: Jennifer Prescott of Racer Park, Dudu Madeiros of Il Sacro Impero and Rising Sun Racing's Kaya Michiyu from Kandorith. These four drivers enter the final race in a unique position where if they finish in a very specific sequence on race day it would be possible that they would require a four-way race off to determine who would advance. Rumor has it that EELCAR officials are prepared to have the four drivers contest a foot race on the front straightaway in front of the main grand stand if the four cars can not be separated in the race.

While the remote chance of a foot race on the front straightaway does exist to determine the fate of these four drivers, the overwhelming odds are that the drivers are able to settle their differences on the track. For Edgeli and the Turori-Charged Performance team the recipe for success will be simple. So long as Edgeli can finish in front of the Holy Empire junior team car driven by Dudu Madeiros, then Edgeli will advance to the playoffs. Edgeli will have great positioning for the race having qualified in the 2nd position overall while the driver they are trying to keep behind them, Juven Competitor Medeiros only managed to qualify 34th overall but was aided in getting into the 32-car starting lineup by the misfortune of other competitors in front of them. The large gap between the two drivers starting position will make it Edgeli's race to lose but they won't be able to do it all themselves, the entire team will need to contribute from Crew Chief Derizi Amatopa to every member of the pit crew. After having struggled early in the season, Edgeli knows that their ability to return as driver of the #2 Turori-Charged Performance car next season will likely depend on placing higher than Madeiros at the Kensington Raceway and placing high enough in points to advance to the 16-car Playoff round.

The Battle to Watch on raceday will be Tarek Edgeli v. Dudu Madeiros

 Turori 0 - 0 Commonwealth of Baker Park	
	Turori Goals:	               
	Stats :: Turori 	:: Possession: 52%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 3 :: Commonwealth of Baker Park :: Possession: 48%:: Shots: 2:: Corners: 2
	Turori Lineup :: 	Derizi Amatopa, Karek Edgeli, Moumouni Verre'elali (Lumlao Noauryua 66'), Amakli Inuro'o (Lutara Makakio 66'), Planio’o Nrujsa (Kala'a Yuliizala 58'), Cuoabaza Orani’aoa (Loala Inkabu 60'), Tulaki Rauogba, Kiidallen Aeroluzzi, Naraiza Ruaplal, Nua'oma Aikiki (Trenian Omalizo 60'), Turakia Diijelhma

by **Graintfjall** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 7:51 pm

Milchama – 0 (0)

Græntfjall – 2 (0)
Björnólfur; Hermione (20’) (68’ Leona ), Eyvar, Asbjørn, Jan; Erin; Rebekka (79’ Vanessa ), Kæja (58’ Steinar ), Danny (68’ Lotte ); Mímir (68’ Röskvi (80’) (89’)), Sara K (c) (55’)

Everybody hates Kæja

Last time the two nations met at a World Cup, Milchama started deliberately trying to injure as many Græntfjallers as possible after they fell behind, so it was perhaps not surprising that, while Björnólfur Ernestisson was pumping his hands in the air celebrating his first ever credited international assist – eschewing the philosophy of ‘playing it out from the back’ for once, the keeper had put his laces through a 70 yard clearing kick that bounced awkwardly for Theo Elkenstall and Dervan Kelliers, who left the ball for each other, only to find out they’d actually left it for Sara Kristoffersdóttir, who flicked the ball away from them with a cheeky header and skipped on to finish off her ‘weak’ right foot with a thunderous volley – and the rest of the Snow Wolves mobbing their captain on the sideline as she gestured to the Milchaman fans, Ingþór Auðbjörnsson was already heading to the assistant referee and signal his first change.

Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir’s number was not long in appearing on the electronic display board, and while there were grumbles from the purists about her not wishing to smudge her wing-tip eyeliner, the logic of the change stood up when Kelliers came clattering through on her replacement Steinar Clemensson. Fortunately Clemensson, more solidly built than the slight number 10 he’d replaced, was able to dust himself off and walk away after the challenge, and Græntfjall, who doubled their lead late on as Lotte Leonardsdóttir fought her way through on goal only to flip a pass off the outside of her boot for a two yard tap-in for fellow substitute Röskvi Tyrfingsson, escaped the game without incurring any serious injuries. The substitution was tactically smart, but it spoke to the dual reality of Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir: too important to the Snow Wolves time to risk being injured, but not considered tough enough to battle through all of the challenges ahead of her.

It was a duality much commented on during the latest international Transfer Window. With 11 minutes to go before the window slammed shut, Finnvarðsdóttir signed a deal that made her the most expensive Græntfjaller transfer in history and became the first Græntfjaller to break the NS$ 20 million barrier. Agreeing on terms with Bastion, of the Euraleague, she had turned down offers from several leading Rushmori clubs including Eastfield Lodge’s RGS Athletic, Mytanija’s Atletik, Nephara’s AFC Treason, Darmen’s Scott City, and Cassadaigua’s Brattleboro FC. Crossroads of Chromatika, and St. John’s Arsenal of Quebec and Shingoryeo were all also reportedly interested suitors at various points, while other clubs initially made overtures brefore subsequently withdrawing their offers after becoming infuriated by the Altendalur product’s dithering, not to mention her own club, Tanrısal, who tried to convince her to stay down to the last minute. Finnvarðsdóttir’s radio silence on her preference, lack of communication with interested parties, and last minute decision will have impressed few international football agents in an otherwise generally busy window for Græntfjallers.

Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir first appeared on the world football as Græntfjall’s national under-18 captain. The daughter of an Altendalur longshoreman, her local working class origins endeared her to the Chessmen, for whom she soon emerged in a starring role. After winning Young Player of the Year, she led the Under-21 national team to the only Di Bradini Cup in the nation’s history, and scored the only goal in the final. She went on to win back-to-back GPL Most Valuable Player awards, joining Jason Þórhallursson as the only players in GPL history to have done so. Like the Gunzlach legend, she soon realized the GPL was too small a pond for her ambitions, and entered a competitive international bidding market. She had the option of joining up with him at Herzegovina City, and was also pursued as a big name acquisition by Sanford Falls Premier, as well as Tumbran side Serrapince and Rozelle of Brenecia’s A-League, but eventually settled on Tanrısal, the legendary Pasargan side. Despite the excitement at getting a Græntfjaller into one of Rushmore’s best leagues and joining a club steeped in history, things did not go entirely smoothly at Tani as, even as she burst into the full national set-up under Igrene Cantor and went on to play a key role in winning the World Cup / Copa Rushmori double, she remained stuck on the bench behind the experienced Valladar midfielder Adrien Trolli, while Pasarga’s internal conflicts and near civil war over the succession of the monarchy saw the league disrupted and forced to relocate to Valladares for a year over security concerns.

Eventually she won her starting role at Tani and enjoyed two strong seasons, winning her first SuperLiga title and finishing in two teams of the tournament, as well as being a contender and eventual runner-up for Foreigner of the Year in a league dominated by Pasargan talent. With the Snow Wolves being led by a Pasargan, she remained a key contributor for the national team that reached a World Cup quarterfinal and Copa Rushmori final, and was one of the few regular starters to add an Eagl’e’s’ Cup medal to her burgeoning trophy cabinet when she helped lead a depleted team to victory over Zwangzug in Electrum. If there was a wrinkle – and certainly not on the sharply defined cheeks that helped her supplement her footballing income with endorsement deals and promotions – it was that her relationship with captain Sara Kristoffersdóttir was reportedly poor. The two talented leaders of the Græntfjaller team that was shrugging off old stereotypes of leaden “BFGball” were very different personalities: Sara K loud and boisterous, living and breathing football, politically left leaning and frequently outspoke on domestic political issues; Kæja quiet and reserved, preferring the company of artists and musicians when not on national team duty, and seemingly hewing closer to the politics of her coincidental namesake, Prime Minister K(ai)ja Michaelsdóttir.

“They have never been close, but they respect each other as professionals,” was the official line as summed up by their midfield understudy Steinar Clemensson during a recent press conference when pressed on reported tensions during training. “They hate each other’s guts but they’re at least smart enough to know they’re not going to win without the other,” is the less official line, offered up by winger Þrastar Bjarnlaugsson in an unguarded comment to a journalist during the last Copa Rushmori. That tournament saw both players named to the Team of the Tournament, but the Golden Ball go to Kæja – but when the Testículos were announced, it was Sara K that made the shortlist, and not Kæja. Neither recognition seemed to elicit an abundance of congratulations from one to the other. Among fans, a divided picture emerges. Finnvarðsdóttir is far more popular, wished well even by the Altendalur faithful she left behind, and her shirt sales handily top Sara K’s. Yet a majority of Snow Wolf fans, when polled by sports website StatsPunk, voted Sara K the better player, and an overwhelming supermajority preferred her as captain to the younger midfielder.

Finnvarðsdóttir’s signing with Bastion may further complicate that relationship. Sara K’s loyalty with Wirr Tsi – including reportedly playing a role in convincing young Hermione Hui to become the latest Græntfjaller to join the Chromatik side – has seen her turn down opportunities to test the transfer market. Once close with Jason Þórhallursson, she has been outspokenly critical of the veteran for “chasing the almighty króna” as he sought yet another eight figure deal this Transfer Window. (Þórhallursson, his current whereabouts unknown, was not available for comment.) Yet Finnvarðsdóttir’s eye watering NS$20m price tag once again elevates her above her captain, and sees her join Bastion, one of the most hated “big money” teams in the Euraleague, if not in all of Rushmori – indeed, world – club football. “In terms of looking like a mercenary, Finnvarðsdóttir probably could not have chosen a worse club to sign for,” says Tobiasson. “She’d better hope it works out, because she’s burned a lot of bridges this transfer window,” he added.

The late decision making, at least from Finnvarðsdóttir’s camp, is portrayed not as a pure scrap for more money – she turned down slightly larger cash offers from Darmeni and Quebecois teams – but as a result of her weighing her options. An unspoken note hanging over the deal is that her deal became available because of money freed up by Laborious Hawk’s signing for Myana. The legendary Vanorian midfielder’s departure after many seasons with Bastion has left a lot of money in their budget, but also a yawning hole in their team. “I can’t think of a more high pressure role to inherit,” says Eyvar Mathiasson, who plays in the Euraleague for Ulsa. He says her signing for Bastion reflects well on her. “Kæja sets herself high standards, and by taking this deal she’s proving she’s up for a challenge.” Amanda Guttisdóttir, who has spent her career in the Euraleague for three different teams over the last decade, welcomed the woman who replaced her in the national team. “No one is expecting her to be Laborious Hawk 2.0, she has to make her own identity for the club,” she said, pointing out that with Bastion having missed out on IFCF football this season, getting back to club football qualification would be the first priority.

“Good luck,” she says, adding – with a note of rivalry as a Spartangrad player, “But not too much luck.”

Also in the paper:

NEWS: Everybody loves Kaija: Prime Minister's approval ratings up on strong economy numbers
BUSINESS: Everybody is incredibly undecided about KAIA: manufacturing index survey results confuse economists' projections
FOREIGN POLICY: Government supports Tumbran pacification campaign "wholeheartedly"
SCIENCE: GANAX scientists warn of growing danger of "space junk"
SPORT: Quebec, Sylestone, Chromatika among top target leagues during Transfer Window

by **Pemecutan** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:00 pm

Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || News || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8 || Chapter 9 || Chapter 10 || Chapter 11 || News 2 || Chapter 12

Chapter 13

The room feel so tiny with so many people here. When I'm saying that I will be live from my hospital bed, everyone become frantic and prepare the room as sterile as possible. But with the broadcaster people, guards and some others people present, this room become so crowded. The preparation alone took almost 3 hours. From setting the camera, the lighting and of course my own look. They made me look fresh enough despite I will be live from my hospital bed. Guess I can't look miserable to my people. Well, I can't complaint about that.

"Everything is ready, My Lord," say my secretary. I nods. The director come to me and give me some brief explanation. Well, I don't need to do much things because I am just seating. Not much movement that I make. I walk down the bed to the seating area where the live broadcast will be held. Everything is well prepared given the short notice I give them. I took the single sofa as mentioned by the director. He direct me for my gesture and my seating position. He take a final look from the camera. After he satisfy, we are ready to live. He give the cues and started to count down.

"And live!" he shouts.

For Better For Worst

Kusumajati look at Handayana intensely. The young man come again to the precinct and deliver him some foods. Homemade foods. Handayana prepare all the meals on the table while Kusumajati staring at him.

"What are you looking at?" ask Handayana as Kusumajati still staring at him.
"Nothing," Kusumajati shrug off. "You do like me, don't you?" Kusumajati suddenly caught him off guard.
Handayana glaring at him while Kusumajati shows his cute smile. "Just eat will you," tell Handayana while giving Kusumajati the utensils. He doesn't want to answer Kusumajati's question.
Kusumajati eat heartily as if he never eat in a while. "Eat slowly," Handayana remind him.
"You could be a good wife, you know," comment Kusumajati.
"I'm a man how can I be someone's wife. You silly," shrug Handayana with a high tone. Kusumajati let out a little smile.
The two police officers that guard them also smiling looking at their bickering.

The TV who is showing some news then being interrupted by a special program. One of the guard in reflex increase the volume. There on the screen, the figure of Patih Madya can be seen as he started to give a speech.

Patih Madya's speech:
Good morning to all my citizens. I'm sorry that I'm seeing you in this condition. Not that I don't want to see all of you in person but it is my limitation that makes me greeting you like this. As we all know, an incident had happening a few days past and I'm still recuperating here at the hospital. But do not worry as I am still in good shape. I realize that the perpetrator have been caught and will be waiting for trial.

Handayana suddenly reach for Kusumajati's hand and squeezed it tightly. Kusumajati give a little to ease his friend worries.

But here today, I'm not going to talk about the incident. I'm here to address something important that I was intended to speak before the incident happens.

Handayana and Kusumajati look at each other with a questioning expression.

I notice that there are upsets build up by our fellow citizens in Kanginan especially that rally of demonstrations happens constantly. Despite the past meeting with Ratu Panglingsir have not ease the feeling of my dear citizens there. This situation really hurts me the most. Seeing that some part of my citizens feels neglected. But I as part of the government wanted to reach out for you. You. The one who feels upsets. Who made demands of another change within the country. I want us to seat face to face. Discussing about these matters. The issues that bother you the most. We are ready to bridging your concern so we can come out with the solution. As these constant demonstration have drained everyone's energy, so why can't we focus on this energy to something else. The solution. I ask you all to end this demonstration once and for all. And lets work together to find the solution so everyone will have their happy endings.

Lastly, I deliver this speech not just to ask the upsets side to tone down their anger and working together with us. But also to the other side of this issue. You have to stop blocking up their petition and start to open up your heart and head to accept this critics. Because in the end, we all wants a better future. The future where all of us holding hands together in the same place at the same heights. I asked the two sides to sit together with me so we can resolve this issue together. Because together we are stronger.

Kusumajati smile widely as the speech ended and the TV back to their real program. Handayana notice that smile and can't stop to asking.
"Why are you smiling?" he ask.
"My sacrifice don't go unnoticed. And I'm happy for it," Kusumajati answer.
Handayana look at him with a dearly face. "Don't look at me like or I might fall for you," tease Kusumajati which makes Handayana become awkward. Kusumajati smile again and continue his lunch.

At the hospital.

"I hope that's enough," comment Patih Madya Kusumajaya.
"That's a powerful speech, My Lord. I guess both sides will make a truce and ready to talks," hopes Ali Sukmahadi. Kusumajaya nods.
"Come. Let's get some rest. You need to take your lunch too," remind Purnami as she take her husband to the bed. "I think everyone can go now so Patih Madya can get some rest," she added.
Everyone in the room nods in understanding. One by one are walking out of the room and leave Patih Madya with his wife. The guards however still guarding outside the door.

"You're doing great," praise Purnami. Kusumajaya give a deep smile.
"I did it for the country. No matter how good or bad this country is, it is still my home. Our home," say Kusumajaya.
Purnami smile a bit. "Now you have to put down that Patih Madya charisma and start eating your lunch. It's already cold," order her which makes Kusumajaya chuckles.

by **Kelssek** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:27 pm

“François, would you say that this win against The Holy Empire is one of the landmarks in Kelssek’s soccer history?”

“This was a very important win. It’s huge, no doubt, because it means we will be in the knockout rounds. But we have a long way to go still. My goal for this team, is that we want to go further than any Kelssek team before. It’s a long way to get there. So yes, it is a big result, it’s a big win. The Holy Empire are five-time champions here, and any time you get any result against them, it’s big, you know. So these players can be very proud of their play today. But we can’t get ahead of ourselves because we’ve taken a big step, but the road is still ahead of us and we’re not even halfway there yet.”

“Can you talk about how you approached the match? Were you always expecting it was going to be a set piece that you would get your chances?”

“Well, you know Ingrid Lambert knows where to go from a corner and it paid off today. We work on principles and concepts, not you go here and you go there. And it’s good that many of our clubs and our top players are all trained in this kind of footballing education, they all are taught from the beginning to find space, solve the puzzle, things we weren’t so advanced at when I was a player. Ingrid got the chance and took it, and, wow. It was a fantastic goal.”

“Do you plan to rotate the players for the third group match, knowing you’ve already qualified?”

“We still have a job to do. You want to finish first if you can, because whoever is second is not having a good tournament no matter how good a team, how good a reputation, that they have. Whoever I send out, I’m doing it because I think they’ll help us get a win and help us get first place.”

“You’re being very sober, but surely you’ve seen the fans and how they’re really celebrating this win. Kelssek have just defeated Pemecutan and The Holy Empire, one after another. Don’t you think there’s a chance of even winning this?”

“Well, of course right now there are... okay, some are eliminated already, but all thirty-two teams, so maybe it’s twenty or so now... as long as you’re still in, you have a chance of winning it, right? That’s how it works. Does it mean you will? No, of course not. And this is only two matches. I think as a team we can take a lot of confidence from these two matches. We’ve shown our ability, and especially to ourselves, to know we can match any team at the World Cup. But we’ve won nothing yet and we have to keep our heads, I think in Anglian you say, keep the bottle, right? We don’t get ahead of ourselves and we give the best performance in each match.”

* * *

The team’s public relations officer simply held up her laptop to show François the proofs of Sky tabloid as they came in at the team’s hotel.
HOLY empire ----ED! LAMBERT’S BRILLIANT HEADER - KELSSEK UNBEATABLE TEAM OF DESTINY it screamed.

Francois groaned.

by **Farfadillis** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:16 pm

(OOC: The football commentary is largely abridged from here; in fact, it's just lifted verbatim for very large chunks)

"It was eighteen years ago, you know."

Degaray nods, absent-minded. The late Brenecian equalizer has taken the air out of him.

"Most of you don't even remember it, I'm pretty sure. You were what, five back then?" The captain continues.

Degaray can't quite make out what Çí Xôrí means. The anarchy? Some random Rulandese war he hadn't heard of? Terán regaining power? He just nods again.

"You know, I think it was the highest high a group of people has ever experienced." Çí Xôrí continues, contemplative. "To go from such lows to such an insane high, however brief, it's hard to describe to someone like you, who didn't experience it fully."

Degaray nods again. Right, he is talking about the World Cup win. Eighteen years ago. He had, indeed, been five back then. Çí Xôrí was right: he hadn't been able to fully appreciate it. "What's your point? That you, Kolejes, Vâásk and a couple more were oh so blessed to fully breathe in that moment? Take it all in? Get a glimpse of true, honest-to-cagafuegos happiness for all of Farfadillis?" He spits out, annoyed. Even if ethnic tensions had calmed down slightly since the Tumbra match, Degaray was still one of the most irreverently anti-Rulandese players in the squad.

"No, no. That's not my point at all. I didn't even fully grasp it at the time. I was scared I'd missed out. Turns out I probably had, since my debut was one cycle later. I was happy, sure, and I suffered through that wretched final like never before and then some, but it took time to fully, truly comprehend what that night was about. What it truly meant."

Degaray rolls his eyes. "Where are you going with this? Life gave us an inch of space and a sincere minute of true bliss, so what? We went back to the same old Farfadillis right after."

Çí Xôrí nods. "And then some. Look at what your beloved country is doing to mine." Degaray frowns but feels—and is—way too small to win a fight against Ígnîgo. "But that's not the point."

"Look, I want to take a shower. That free kick will haunt me for a while, I don't need you lecturing me."

Çí Xôrí grabs his own mobile phone from his bag. "It's not a lecture, don't worry. At least not in the way you think it is."

Degaray tilts his head.

"You don't remember the days of true anarchy, but most of us actually had to listen to most World Cup 84 matches on the radio. Xíxì Êns was a god to us, but we only had confirmation that we'd justifiably deified him a few years later. I, too, listened to the game on Rulandese radio. But I'll tell you what, I was too caught up in the moment to remember anything the commentator said. None of it stuck with me."

Degaray nods.

Çí Xôrí spends a solid thirty seconds browsing his phone's gallery. "In the aftermath, though, I went collecting recording after recording. In every Farf language. At some point, I became obsessed. I wanted to relive that moment again and again, and I also wanted to live it the way others had." Degaray squints his eyes, still not sure where any of this is going. "And you know what? To this day, my favorite piece of match commentary is in Faroleran. I've got the recording right here on my phone, if only I can..." He grunts, spends a few more seconds fighting against his video gallery, and awkwardly ignores the moans that come out of his first three attempts at retrieving the audio he is looking for. Funny friends, the ones he has. Absolutely, utterly hilarious. Peak comedy, that.

Degaray's interest having been piqued, the left-back asks: "Even if you don't find it, what's the commentary on? The last penalty?"

"Of course it's the last penalty, idiot." Çí Xôrí shuts him down and keeps grunting, ever more annoyed, his complaints growing louder. "There!" He finally exclaims. The recording begins.

Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ

"Si convierte, gana Farfadillis. ¿Quién va?"
"If Farfadillis score, they win. Who's up next?"

"Va Xíxì."
"Xíxì is."

"..."

"..."

"Es el penal soñado por cualquier pibe. El pibe que arrancó a jugar en los baldíos, en la calle."
"It's the penalty every kid dreams of. The kid that started out playing in the wastelands, the streets."

"... en el barrio, en la vereda, en el pueblo."
"... in the hood, on the sidewalk, in the village."

"... en la plaza, como Xíxì."
"... in the plaza, like Xíxì."

"... cuántas horas jugando y soñando. Y ese es Xíxì"
"... countless hours, playing and dreaming. And that's Xíxì."

His voice cracks. "Somos todos Xíxì. Xíxì vamos. Xíxì al arcoooooooooool. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL."
"... we are all Xíxì. Let's go Xíxì. Xìxí at gooooooooaaaaaal. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAL."

He starts crying. "FARFADILLIS CAMPEÓN DEL MUNDO. FARFADILLIS CAMPEÓN DEL MUNDO. SOMOS TODOS XÍXÌ. EN ESA ILUSIÓN DE BARRIO. EN ESE SUELO FARFO. EL DE WÍNRÔUGE, EL DE DANDALLEION, EL DE TUZZIO, EL DE XÍXÌ. SOMOS CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO. LÁGRIMAS ETERNAS. YA ESTÁ, SE TERMINÓ. FARFADILLIS ES EL NUEVO CAMPEÓN DEL MUNDO. DE FARFADILLIS AL MUNDO. FUE XÍXÌ. FUIMOS TODOS XÍXÌ. DE JUGAR. DE HACER ENOJAR A LOS VECINOS. DE ESCAPARNOS DE LA ESCUELA PARA JUGAR UN POCO MÁS. SOMOS EL PUEBLO. SOMOS EL FÚTBOL. POR PRIMERA VEZ EN LA HISTORIA, ESTA TIERRA, LA DEL FÚTBOL, LA TRAGEDIA Y LA CABEZA EN ALTO. FARFADILLIS. FARFADILLIS ES EL NUEVO CAMPEÓN DEL MUNDO."
"FARFADILLIS, CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. FARFADILLIS, CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. WE ARE ALL XÍXÌ. IT IS THAT SIDEWALK-ORIGINATED DREAM, BORN IN FARF SOIL. THE SOIL OF WÍNRÔUGE, OF DANDALLEION, OF TUZZIO, OF XÍXÌ. WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. ETERNAL TEARS. IT'S DONE, IT'S OVER. FARFADILLIS ARE THE NEW CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. FROM FARFADILLIS, TO THE WORLD. IT WAS XÍXÌ. WE WERE ALL XÍXÌ. IT WAS US PLAYING. IT WAS US MAKING OUR NEIGHBORS ANGRY. IT WAS US ESCAPING SCHOOL TO PLAY A LITTLE LONGER. WE ARE THE PEOPLE. WE ARE FOOTBALL. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, THIS LAND, THE LAND OF FOOTBALL, TRAGEDY AND HEADS HELD HIGH. FARFADILLIS. FARFADILLIS ARE THE NEW CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD."

Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ

"Does it not get to you?" Çí Xôrí, calm, having listened to the recording too many times to count, asks his momentary compatriot.

Degaray keeps looking down, as he has since halfway through the commentary.

Çí Xôrí pats his teammate on the back. "Look, this is what we're here for. We have no Xíxì, no Faragó," mentioning the Szoirsian makes the Rulandese captain take a deep breath for a moment, "no Wínrôuge, no Çíânflöné and no Tuzzio. We only have a small, very small chance..."

Degaray looks up at him.

"... to recreate that moment. That inch of breathing space. That 'glimpse of true, honest-to-cagafuegos happiness' you talked about. That's all we're here for. Not for the wars, not for the exposure and certainly not for the racism. Our job here is to give our people—yours, mine, Kolejes', Tusales', Dénes'—a moment they can hang onto. A moment of meaningfulness. Nothing comes before that. So cut the bullshit and start playing like I know you can. Don't shy away from a 'filthy' Szoirsian like Robineau scoring. Go join the frontlines if that's what you want, but that's not what this is about. Entendiste?"

Degaray merely nods in acknowledgment. And full agreement.

by **Chromatika** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:35 pm

World Cup 93 Group Stage Matchday 2: Chromatika 3-2 Jerueselm @ @Chromatik City Field, Chromia, Capital District (Cap. 100,000, 32,200 Seats)
Goals: Hauser 34', Xuen-Zhukov 78', 85'
Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Larriet-Cortes - Hauser - Fillar, E.; Kuznetsov; Xuen-Zhukov - Delaya.
Substitutes: Kruetzberg -> Fillar, G. (51'), Zuniga -> Larriet-Cortes (57'), Killian -> Delaya (57'), Ighv -> Fillar, E. (73'), Régine -> de Aea (73')

World Cup 93 Group Stage Matchday 3: TJUN-ia vs. Chromatika @ @The Shock, Wirr Tsi, Capital District (Cap. 51,350, 18,000 Seats)
Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Larriet-Cortes - Hauser - Fillar, E.; Kuznetsov; Xuen-Zhukov - Delaya.
Substitutes: GK Kathie Begley, GK Lorée Bautista, DCR Ami Coulibaly, DC Klavida Régine, DCL Ipati Aimée, DC Cylie Nodis, WBR Emlie Kruetzberg, WBL Ha'nei Ighv, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, BWM Mare Si, AP Baillaire Fillar, AM Alissar Phoen, SS Kara Oveni, P Sandara Park, AF Hank Killian.

It was so frustrating to play football sometimes.

You can possess the ball for more than half an hour, pepper the opposition to outshoot them four to one, and still be down by one heading into the last fifteen minutes. Two times, Jeruselem had simply created one-on-one opportunities. Two times, they had converted those opportunities. Chromatika simply had not.

The crowd was at a fever pitch. Chromatika needed a win - especially as TJUN-ia was leading Savigliane. Chromatik City Field was simply willing for the Anomalies to do something...

Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov could feel it. Momentum was shifting - Jeruselem were tiring, Katheryna Zuniga was getting in their heads, the pace from Ha'nei Ighv was working, Baillaire Fillar was stretching space -

One of the things that Lavrentiy had learned during his two years at the Top League was exactly when to pounce. It had to be as the play was developing, before the defense could react - but not too fast, or things wouldn't have moved along enough.

One such moment came. Splitting between two defenders, top corner of the box - the shot was clean. Pristine. Nothing the keeper could do.

As the crowd roared and his teammates came to celebrate, he wordlessly lifted up another finger. They needed to beat fourth-seeded Jeruselem if they were going to have a chance.

Time and time again, the Anomalies swelled. Time and time again, Jeruselem just parried them away.

Eightieth. Eighty-first. Eighty-second. Eighty-third. Eighty-fourth.

Nervous energy gripped the stadium. Had the magic run out? Were they going to have two draws, and have everything hinge on a pivotal matchup at The Shock?

He would not have it.

To become a superstar, you have to perform. To be a superstar, you have to be consistent.

But really, to be a superstar, and a superstar striker at that, you simply have to be able to generate goals when it seems like no goal can ever be scored.

Slipping by Ayame, in between Christie and Aqua, L X-Z got into position. Before Dallas, the keeper that had been so brilliant all game, could square him up, he struck the ball with his weak foot - his right - and the ball took a bounce off of the ground before burying itself to the right side of the netting, good for the Chromatik lead.

They held on for the requisite ten minutes, and as the home crowd began to celebrate a well-earned three points, as his teammates started to excitedly talk about Wirr Tsi and facing TJUN-ia in the last match with a trip to Alnio on the line...

Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov let out a sigh, his inner muscles relaxing for the first time in what felt like hours.

Another day, another job well done... With the opportunity to do even more in the near future.

"L-X-Z! L-X-Z! L-X-Z!" the crowd chanted in unison, giving him deference.

It was too early to celebrate too wildly, but he did raise a hand in acknowledgement.

The Anomalies lived to fight one more day - and Wirr Tsi became the de facto capital of Chromatika for the next few days.

by **Chromatika** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:42 pm

Cutoff for Matchday Three of the Tumbran half.

by **Huayramarca** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:04 pm

Prior the match against Valanora, the Huayramarcan National Team looked a bit nervous at the dressing room; some flashbacks from the past were notable among the players, specially on Santiago Chumacero, one of the defenders. Chumacero was thinking about the Round of 16 back in World Cup 90, where he wasn’t able to perform as expected, and the Vanorians took advantage of it through exploiting his side and doing their usual game of pretty much unmatched precision while attacking, 1, 2, 3 and 4… 4-2 was the outcome for the Eternal Empire back then.

Chumacero was rethinking as Ian Mamani sit near him, the captain patted him in his shoulder and said “Chumi, I know what are you thinking but it is time to let it go. This is a new reality, we aren’t the rookies we used to be back then; we have learned a lot by going through hell and heaven, let’s go into the pitch and bury those feelings for once!” Santiago was wondering around, he didn’t listen to Ian properly as he was checking the room, then Ian said “Chumi! Get your mind focused in the goal as all of us!” Chumacero reacted and said “So, second chance?” Ian said “Life always gives a second chance”

Blâás Âgínsôgnó was standing while talking with some of his assistants, then he come to talk with Ian and Santiago, he asked “What’s happening?” Santiago said “Nothing, just flashbacks from the past.” The manager asked “What past? Do you care of it?” Santiago said “It still hurts to be fair.” Âgínsôgnó said “Mind about what you can still change. Today is a day where there’s 90 minutes to change that reality. For the past, well, we can’t do nothing anymore. Go on, let’s move and let’s go for it.” Santiago stood up and walked to the pitch with Ian Mamani, he continued to say “You’ll see. The fans and us are in perfect harmony, it’s all so beautiful. Let’s give them what they deserve to see, let’s play some football and enjoy it.”

Chumacero wasn’t thinking about that incident anymore, still, the scars were somewhat significant for him because what he had to endure while visiting his family four years ago. “You’re such a loser”, “You’re not a good defender.” And more attacks against him, somewhat he didn’t expect from the people he knew, and even had some esteem for them. He had to endure a gray period where his performance slumped, self-confidence got deprecated, and he was losing his muse about football, there wasn’t interest anymore it seemed to be. But he had to move on, he got warned at his club due to his low performance, he had to come back and he did, although he took some time to do so, psychological therapies, accompanying from professionals on mental health in order to beat anxiety and those bad feelings.

It was quite a long road for Santiago, but he managed to walk through it valiantly, he got released from the therapy sessions due to his noticeable improvements, he managed to be more important for his team and even got a leadership role. Resilience and strength were the new characteristics of Santiago Chumacero, although, it would take some time to let those scars recover fully, this was the time indeed. The match had come and the Vanorians started their onslaught as always, constantly pressing but Chumacero managed to be more confident than before, acting proactively to stop Laborious Hawk several times through interfering in passing chances for them, pressing him, being able to keep at their splendid pace.

Âgínsôgnó noticed it and he called Chumacero at the 20^th minute, he told Chumacero “Go on, bloke! You’re performing great, keep it going!” Chumacero went back to his position but smiled before leaving, now he was aware that his trust was being built slowly during the match, but there was need to do something different, to be a game changer. He had to wait a bit to have his chance, he recovered a ball from Laborious Hawk at the 29^th minute of the match, he had to clear the ball because there was marking coming from more rivals, he handled the ball and then passed it to Gabriel Sayritupac, the winger who controlled the ball and crossed to find Bryan Tello, who got anticipated. Ian Mamani appeared to take advantage of a loose ball; he kicked the ball right to the middle right corner to slot it home. Chumacero gasped in relief.

A couple of minutes later, Valanora equalised and Chumacero’s trust went down a bit, but not as it was prior to the game, he was now confident that the team had the chance to perform better than before, it was the time to change the H2H record vs the Vanorians. Until the end of the first half, the team had to work hard to keep the Vanorians away from scoring a goal, which worked, but at a high cost, because they required a lot of effort to avoid crossings or any kind of chances searching for their attackers, it was working according to the plan.

Chumacero also continued working hard in the second half, he told to himself “We will do it, I just need to keep focused on it.” Preventing a 1v1 chance with a slide tackle, he got his confidence in a healthy level for the rest of the match, even with the help of Bryan Tello scoring the 2-1 for Huayramarca at the 61^st minute, controlling the ball as he uses to do, among two defenders and then slotting the ball home once again. Chumacero saw Hawk at the 87^th minute, charging near him, Santiago challenged they when he had a lot to lose and almost nothing to win, with grit and mística Chumacero slide-tackled for the ball, took it out cleanly from Hawk and recovered quickly, then tried to defend the one-goal advantage with the rest of defenders… Mission complete, Huayramarca defeated Valanora for the first time ever and clinched qualification for the Round of 16 for their second time.

As the team sang “muchachos” several times, Âgínsôgnó approached to Chumacero and told him “Well done! That’s how one overcomes traumas or bad experiences at the pitch. Performing to your best, pulling a match for the history books of the sport in Huayramarca, that’s the Santiago Chumacero I want to have. Well done, Chumi!” Santiago was feeling ecstatic, he knew that he performed so good enough to be the MVP of the match, he didn’t win it, but he didn’t cared “I just wanted to help the team to win, I just wanted to get rid of the past” is what he said.

by **Tikariot** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:43 pm

Alistair: I'm telling you guys, if this festival was any longer than three days, I'm not sure my neck would survive. So, it's 8 am on day 3 of the Paladon Open Air and it feels like I'm the only person awake on this whole campsite. Can't sleep, so I guess I'll try to see who should cover which bands. I have a nice big bucket of cold water for Jason. Yes, he deserves it. But now, let me give Alana a little wake-up call she's up first!

Alana: If you're hungover, what better way to exorcize that than by getting whacked right over the head, right? Warpocalypse were the sonic equivalent of that. I had never heard them before, but imagine this: 5 big Cardannian guys, huge black hair, tribal tattoos, waltzing on stage. Not a word before all thrash metal hell broke loose. Believe me when I say that anyone going to war should put these guys on the edge of the battlefield and anybody in their path would get flattened. Yeah, it really was a real tour de force and they got the crowd going with songs like "Faka'auha", "Mo'uga" and "Mālohi" unleashing this primal power that could wake up the dead. Awesome start!

Jakob: I had heard quite a bit of Azangaruun and their folk black metal, so I was curious. When they came out I was a bit puzzled because people just kept coming! In the end, it was nine musicians on stage, a drummer, a bassist, two guitarists, two singers, a bagpiper, a violinist and - a harpist! And she started their opener "North" with some gentle strums before without a warning they kicked things up several notches with an icy black metal blast that turned into an atmospheric passage with beautiful dual vocals and the bagpipe adding this unique touch and then the black metal rolled over this again. I know that this sounds like a completely disjointed mess, but they managed to bring this wonderful flow to it that made it work. And this wild mix continued on the next few songs with the bagpipe and violin alternating, and I have no idea how they managed to mix the harp so strong in the mix, but if anybody ever had any doubts about a harp being a metal instrument (which honestly likely was everybody), Azangaruun are proof that it is! Calling them folk black metal doesn't really do them justice, they're a lot more with prog metal and even prog rock mixed into this. This band should be the next big thing!

Al: Apocaliptica were another debut on the Paladon Open Air, coming from Huayramarca, and they were another real treat. The base for their sound definitely is harsh black metal, but they bring in some epic melodies that take out some of the bite and add a nice contrast. The vocals are all black metal, though, if someone had told me before the show that they had a banshee on the mic, I would totally believe them! I guess most people had never heard of them but I've been following them since their self-titled debut and the production on that one was, let's say, a little adventurous, but their current, second album Muerte en Blanco took a big step forward. What I like about them is that they don't just put the foot on the pedal to go full force ahead but vary the speed and intensity quite nicely. That really dark, slow brooding of "Wañunankupaqña Kaqkunam Napaykamusunkichik" (no, I am not kidding!) is really something, just really heavy. The guitarists are killer, spinning some crazy guitar runs into that arpeggiated sound, breaking up that hornet buzz sound, really cool, and the singer, well, I should probably not call him a singer but you know what I mean, must have gargled with battery acid before the gig. I hope that they'll come over for a full tour, because this is some really strong stuff!

Corinne: Now these guys, or gals, or, not sure what, were one of the big mysteries of the whole festival. Four figures in full monk's robes, wearing those pestilence masks, nobody knows who they are or where they're from, you can even barely read their logo (it's Sacramentum Peccati, btw). Also not a word to the crowd. One of them also must have had a microphone in their mask because there was no mic. So, musically this was the equivalent of an icestorm, pure blastbeats, disharmonic tremolo guitars and these inhumane screeches, I'm not even sure how to properly describe this. The riffs just sound wrong and it's all oddly psychotic and disturbing. If this all reads weird - this whole thing was. I know it was black metal, but I feel violated...

Alistair: Good Lord, that was some twisted, weird stuff there. And then Legion of Paladon, what a difference. Dressed up in old armour, these guys really live out their lyrics, which are all about history and historic battles in old Paladon. "Into Battle" started out with fanfares and the sound of marching soldiers before going all epic, with driving double-bass, big guitars, soaring vocals, big choirs, I live for this! Matt Skopinski has this really warm, deep, melodic voice that goes so well with the big melodies. It also was very clear that the fans were very familiar with their songs because in almost every chorus the crowd was belting out the words and on "Battle of Tallavia" Matt completely handed over the chorus to the fans, a really cool feeling. They had announced before the festival that they were going to play material from all seven albums, even some of the older stuff that they rarely play live so it felt kinda special to hear old material like "Across the Plains of Paladon" and "Legionnaire". One of the coolest moments, though, was the ballad "The Path of the Gods", where the crowd sang almost the complete song on its own. They ended with the classic "Phalanx" and some big pyros. Legion of Paladon have been one of my favourite bands for a long time and this just proves it once again.

Jason: Enough with the happy and epic stuff, Ödslighet are here. There definitely was nothing happy about these guys, I think even the sunlight turned less bright when they started to play. Slow and brooding, with the typical tremolo black metal guitars, but the vocals were anguished, almost tortured, sometimes turning into wails, but the whole sound was disconcerting. It felt like the riffs were warping or were seemingly going against the rhythm. Corinne mentioned that Sacramentum Peccati sounded wrong somehow and Ödslighet definitely did as well, but on a completely different level. With them, it was not this nihilistic wall of sound, but here things were purposefully off just enough to make you really uncomfortable and create this depressive atmosphere that actually made me feel a little queasy at times.

Corinne: I'm not sure who put this running order together, but to have Sacramentum Peccati followed by Legion of Paladon, then Ödslighet and now Twilight Symphony really wanted to give us the most extreme extremes possible. In comparison, this quintet was really some much needed earbleach. But Twilight Symphony are not the usual power metal, they have some progressive influences as well and the keyboards often are played as a piano. "On Raven's Wings" was a theatrical opener with a classical intro and then the guitar runs emulating the classical lines before George McCallister came in. I love his voice, he can pull off the soft melodies as much as the heavier sections with just enough grit to give it an edge, like in "Thorns" that sets out fairly slow and epic but then in the middle suddenly takes a turn and increases the tempo dramatically and gets way heavier. I was really happy that they also played my favourite song, "Dream Healer", where they have this cool section where they sing a verse and then continue with it and layering another one over it and so on to this cool, almost operatic effect. What made it so outstanding was that they had the fans sing some of the different parts, I have almost no voice anymore. At the very end, "In Memoriam" was a really touching finish, dedicating it to their original guitarist Christopher Galliani who died in a car accident a few years ago. Only piano and vocals, where the fans came in again, I'm sure I saw some tears in the end. Fantastic show!

Al: What is it with black metal today? Unholy Union were the third band of the style just today, but so very different from the other two. There was nothing dissonant or disconcerting here, but this was a full-blown black mass that was nothing short of impressive. Inverted crosses, pentagrams, bones, the whole nine yards. And fire. Lots of fire. They had these chandeliers all over the place and torches, you really had the feeling that something evil was about to happen at any time.

Musically, Unholy Union were a steam roller, huge riffs, absolutely caustic vocals, thundering drums, "Qavalliu", "Streams of Moonlit Blood", "Shattered Altar", "Reaping Death", they really thundered their way through their set, but it all came to a crescendo, if you want, during "Sworn to the Dark" when they set that huge pentagram in the background on fire and that and the torches was the only lighting on stage. This was perfect!

Jason: Now this was a true treat. Most people probably have never heard of Queen Charlemagne, but they should! They hail from Brookstation and broke up a couple of years back and they reformed just for the Paladon Open Air, which makes it special from the get-go. But the show they delivered here was nothing short of spectacular, even though definitely not for everybody. They are advertised as avant-garde metal, but where this often is just a cheap gimmick to try to make a band seem like they're different, Queen Charlemagne are what it says on the tin. They don't care about genre conventions in the least and they cover everything from traditional heavy metal and pop to opera and growls, with everything in-between and to the side and above and under, sometimes within the same song, but - it - works. Some of the timing changes are mindboggling and when they jump from a growl to a falsetto or take a baroque harpsichord and saw right through it with a searing riff just to spring into a mariachi rhythm, it's just like a rollercoaster. And you never know what to expect, but you can't wait to hear what's next. I had high hopes for Queen Charlemagne, but this surpassed them!

Alana: After all this "mindboggling" I needed something straightforward and nobody better to deliver that than Demon Smile! There's nothing fancy about these guys, this is fast and rough and will clear your ear canal in no time flat. "Burn the Bridges" came out of the starting blocks at a frenetic pace and they were just warming up. Comfortably riding the edge between death and thrash, Demon Smile had no intention to take any prisoners tonight! They had a huge guitar sound and that gave songs like "Manhunt", "A Sound Beating" and "Ride the Blade" even more heaviness. Jimmy Horvath on the mic, though, was insane. Those vocals could have sawed through granite, this man prepares himself by swallowing sandpaper to get this level of grit! And they just didn't let up. "Doomsday for the Deceiver", "Death Before Dishonour", "Demon Smile", strike after strike. This was exhausting and an absolute killer for my neck, but worth it, totally worth it!

Jakob: A symphony of steel! There's no other way to describe Iron Curtain's gig. They're Tikariot's godfathers of heavy metal and even after over 30 years they haven't lost any of their luster and energy. There's nothing gimmicky or even modern about them, but timeless heavy metal in its purest form. I was surprised to see them not headline, actually, but I don't really care. With 18 albums under their belt, these guys have this down to an art. Kicking things off with "We Will Come For You", they set the mood right away, galloping rhythm, bouncing bass lines and those irresistible riffs. And then Julia Cressworth's powerful voice over the whole thing was just pure bliss! I know that many people were really critical of Iron Curtain when Damian Englund left the band and they brought in Julia, but she has really established herself as a worthy successor. I can just imagine how difficult it must have been to choose a setlist out of all those albums, but I think they really hit it well. "Empire of Steel", "Blood of the Spirits", "Riders of the Apocalypse", "Crumbling Monuments", "Crack in the Ice", "Sonic Warfare", "The Needle Lies", "New Messiah", it was like a who is who of heavy metal. Just like Unholy Union were celebrating a black mass, Iron Curtain were holding a heavy metal mass of the finest quality. The fans kept calling them back out for encores, but after "Symphony of Steel" and "Victory is Ours" it was the final (iron) curtain. This is some of the best Tikariot has to offer, hands down.

Alistair: This was what everybody was waiting for: Serpents Cross. They've sold out venues all across Rushmore on their last tour, but we were in for a real treat tonight. They had a full choir and some classical musicians take up their positions to the left and right of the drum set and that already looked impressive in itself. The band has always incorporated classical elements into their brand of heavy metal and tonight they were intent on making it as authentic as possible. Another thing that makes them so special is that they have three singers, so they can add a completely new dimension to their songs. From the opening riff of "In the Sign of the Cross" they had the crowd fully under their control and it was clear that their plan to give their fans something special was working right from the beginning. The choir made those big choruses even bigger and Adelaide and Gordon Sutcliffe were outstanding on the microphone, dueling each other like only twins can. It was a true best-of setlist, with "War of the Roses", "Screaming for Vengeance", "Venom", "Church of Shadows", "Blood for Blood", "From the Cradle to the Grave", "Temple of Doom", they were pulling out all stops.

And despite everything they still managed to surprise everybody for the last three songs. Gordon stepped to the microphone and announced that they had a real surprise for everybody, and he welcomed former members Stu Hammersley, Adrian Creed, Victoria Sandstrom and John "Animal" Talisca to the stage, all former members of Serpents Cross. And they didn't take the place of their successors, no, they played alongside them, which meant that for three songs we had three singers, four guitarists, two bassists and two drummers play in perfect sync for "Halo of Fire", "Rise of the Warrior" and "Serpents Cross", which just left me in sheer awe. I had wondered if Serpents Cross could top the show of Iron Curtain, but this was an absolutely worthy end to this festival and this is as memorable as could be! I love this!

OOC: Graphic disclaimer, all logos have been made with NI (even if the "i" might be questionable in some cases).

by **Valanora** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:44 am

Shoot for the moon, that way even if you miss, you are among the stars. It is a saying often said among the more ambitious of Vanorians, from the earliest records of written history within the Empire, this phrase or a phrase near alike can be found through the ages within the mindset of Vanorians. What happens though when you reach that summit however, when you are out there on the moon and among the stars? The Marauders have oft been in and around the elite of the footballing world, as evidenced by the joint record for the most World Cup titles as well as numerous records that are not likely to be broken any time soon. This is the sixty fourth edition of the tournament that the Marauders have been a part of, starting all the way back in World Cup twenty nine, when the average amount of participants was roughly half that which has become the norm that it is these days. With that increased amount of exposure has brought increased amounts of parity, increased levels of competition at all levels of it from the poor to the mediocre to the good and even among the elite.

The truth of the matter is, there will never be another team like the Marauders, there will never a team like Aguazul and their historic three peat. The records that we have are records that are not going to be broken, no other team is likely to make seventeen consecutive quarterfinals or eight straight semifinal appearances or better. These are feats of strength and power, of the sheer dominance of more than just a sport but of an age when you could take the world and shape it to your desires with the strongest of wills. The Marauders did not simply show up to tournaments and have teams roll over on to their bellies and beg for mercy, the RAWRCRUSH machine of Starblaydia during those same years did not have their mere presence have such an aura of fear that the opposition merely refused to play against them, the opponents of the might force of Aguazul did not forfeit once the opponent was named on the schedule. It took the most fierce of wills, a devilish amount of talent, and yes it took a small matter of luck being on their side when push came to shove.

In the time since, there have been brief glimpses of teams who might look to stand among these giants of the past and be able to compare themselves favorably to them, to say that they can be amongst the legendary teams of this sport and tournament and not feel diminished in some way. The most recent of these was Vilita, with two titles and a runners up medal in the space of four World Cups but then before and after the drop off is sizeable. They do get the favor of having matched the previous record along with the Starblaydi, Vanorians, and those strange folk from The Holy Empire in having five World Cup titles, so perhaps there triumphs are of equal measure. Which would then bring us to the next most recent team looking to add their name among the legends of this tournament with the test of courage, skill, and will. That would be Schottia, who for a three cycle period were nearly unbeatable, as evidenced previously by those poor souls who have truly become obsessed with interesting facts and statistics in the form of the aptly named Idiot Project. Yet government instability in the decades since hampered any real chance they could be that force, which is a shame given how poised they seemed to be at the time.

The Marauders seek now to reestablish themselves as one of the premier powers in the game, with a pair of semifinal appearances in the last few tournaments, finishing third in the last edition of the World Cup, thereby earning the number one rank heading into the qualifiers. The team earned that ranking through the grueling qualification process, putting up a display that ranked among the best in all of the campaign and their best was needed due to the constant pressure put up in contest by Flavovespia. So hard pressed were the Marauders, that it was only thanks to the ruthless efficiency in victory and a monumental goal difference that that side was able to qualify directly, such are the thin margins that one has to hope to be on the right side of in this age of parity. It was supposed to have hardened the Marauders so that they were able to hit the ground running in the Finals, that they were battle tested by a more than competent foe who had pushed them to the very brink and still the Marauders had been able to hold firm.

We sit then with a match to go and the Marauders with but a point to their name and only a single goal as well, a goal that which came in an uninspiring defeat that has been the trend here in the Finals of the best teams not looking the best of teams. As of writing this article, six of the top ten teams in the world by ranking have failed to register a win in the Finals. Perhaps we are at the precipice where parity has become such that rank truly is not a factor, perhaps it is just an unusual trend and that the third matchday will see the best teams play like the best with their added depth. What is known is that the Marauders do not control their fate outright, as they require not only to win but to better whatever result that Vilita has against already qualified Huayramarca. If the Marauders are to qualify, they can not simply win against the Ochre Islands, they have to destroy them, a feat that before the Finals would have seemed as easy as breathing for a team who had goals flow as easy as the rivers to the ocean during the qualifiers. Yet when you are out in space, there is no air for you to breathe. What do you do when faced with the terrifying reality of your situation? Do you panic and die or to you reinvent yourself and find that way to keep going?

by **Pasarga** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 1:02 am

Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir - The Most Hated Woman In Stein-los

The summer transfer window is always a bit of a nerve wracking time for fans of football clubs around the world, as teams try to bolster their teams and agents attempt to find destinations for their players. Add into the mix the shifting landscape of the managerial carousel that can get started by a surprise firing or resignation and you can start to get the picture of why a lot of football fans are nervous during this period of time and their nerves seem a bit fray. Success during the window can be the ticket towards a better than expected upcoming season for your club as new signings build up the hope and hype around your club going into the season. Perhaps a new manager comes in with a new outlook and wants to reinvent the team, you get to know that your club likely is going to have some rough patches as it attempts to find that new identity, likely with a few players shifted outwards that do not fit into the new manager's vision. However there is usually an agreement that if a player is going to go, they let the club know early so that they can try to replace them.

That's where our villain comes in, as in the hours leading up to the closing of the transfer window, Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir had seemingly indicated that despite handing in her transfer request at the start of the window that she had decided to stay as none of the clubs who had lodged the bids where a big enough move to pry her from Tanrısal. When Tani management had received the initial request, it was made clear it was more to test the market and see if any of the major clubs would come in for the talented midfielder, which despite not wanting to lose their prized piece in the middle of the midfield, the staff agreed to the request. Yet as the days and weeks went on, there was no movement by midfielder that suggested that she would be moving, with Tani even preparing to register her for the IFCF as the team was set to take part in the Challengers Cup. On deadline day, the team was confident everything was fine but in the last half hour of the window it all went wrong as the midfielder suddenly moved on a late bid from Bastion that left Tani without a starting midfielder and no time to sign a new one. Such deceit and unprofessional behavior has greatly upset not just the fans of Tani but much of the football adoring citizen of Stein-los and of Pasarga at large. If/when the midfielder returns to the dual islands, she is not likely to receive a warm welcome.

With the transfer window shut, Tani has to hope that twenty year old Zágon Schmid is ready to graduate fully into the senior team and can stay healthy, with only nineteen year old Sebo Schmidt on the senior team as a back up to Schmid and the now reinstated Adrien Trolli of Valladares. This season was supposed to be a season where Tani wished to fight for the title once more, yet this last minute betrayal and tragedy means that they will be fighting for their IFCF lives unless Schmid can show good on the promise that got him called up to the last Di Bradini Squad.

by **Delte** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 1:06 am

Delte 1-4 Farfadillis
Tug Boat Captain & Reporter Austin Lyepolde in Lakewood, Tumbra and/or Chromatika

for the Skimpy Matchday Report & Negligible Detail Express (Sports Section)

These may be the World Cup Finals and we may have been eliminated but I still won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match. Column inches notwithstanding and at the risk of blindly driving into a non sequitur, certainly mention could be made of Enor Perro's bold last stand at the World Cup, against friends and frenemies from his ex-pat life in Former World Champion nation Farfadillis and with the backdrop of some really rather extraordinary singing from peoples of the fractured nation. Scoring the consolation goal for The Representatives, he took an only partly ironic standing ovation from some of the travelling Farves, presumably the Rülândéá Kôstä fans, and was to celebrate again later when it was announced he would take the player-head coach role on a permanent basis as reward for his not inconsiderable part in taking the team to the biggest stage in world football - for which there would certainly be a very large payout from Herr Blattini from Ko-oren with his motorcycle panniers stuffed full of recently laundered cash.

Sell it to Dàguó!
Junior Pencil Sharpener & Political Editor Polka Lunn at the Women's Institute in Rake Teinton for the Shingarter Herald

Exclusive Content: The Valley WhatsUp Scandal

It's all coming out now. Controversy is never very far away these days where the local WI is concerned, and more leaked WhatsUp messages have put Old Wives Gala Queen Betty Ormray in hot water again as The Shingarter Herald exclusively reveals her cunning plan to cut back investment in village infrastructure and redirect savings into the WI's Charabang Pot (for their annual holidays to the Tropics of Vilita). "Sell it to Dàguó!" she said of the Rake Teinton water treatment plant, when sewageman Harry Eckpole announced he was retiring and no-one stepped forward to take over silage-shovelling duties. This follows the plot to sell the local primary school, the telephone box and the village milk float to the Dàguóese, who seem to be buying up everything they can get their hands on in an attempt to own the world.

"It's alright for her," said a local who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of a backlash at the next Plumber's Meeting, "she's got a septic tank the size of a brown whale. They look after themselves first, that lot!"

The Remote Video Assistant Coach
4/4 : Remote Opportunities

A World Cup Special Series

The remote video coach experiment in which Head Coach Enda Clentin - who refused to go to Tumbra and/or Chromatika for health reasons - took control of game management via a video and audio link may not have appeared entirely successful. After all, winning one point from nine, finishing bottom of the group and relying on the referee to relay messages to Enor Perro on the field of play - something which the ref obviously refused to do in the 1-4 defeat to Former World Champions Farfadillis - could hardly be called a riproaring success. But privately, back at Tunn's Farm, the installation was considered something of a coup.

There were rumours that Coach Clentin and his video machine were in high demand, and he had been offered jobs at certain national FAs where coaches had recently been sacked for underperformance (claiming he would never go to Quebec anyway because, well... jumped or pushed?) or where they hadn't yet been sacked but would be soon for underperformance. In this matter, allegedly, he'd been approached by the FAs at Former World Champions Audioslavia, Former World Champions Eura, Former World Champions Ko-oren, Former World Champions Farfadillis, Former World Champions Ko-oren, The Former Holy World Champions of Alasdair I Frosticus, Former Ten-Time Consecutive World Champions Starblaydia, Former World Champions Vilitanora, Former World Champions Ko-oren, Retired Former World Champions of Commerce Heights, Future World Champions Gnejs and/or Legalese, Former World Champions Ko-oren, and Krytenia.

Naturally he denied all knowledge of contact but there was a certain smugness about him. "I'd never even think of going to Cassadaigua," he said.

Meanwhile there was another rumour that Emlyn Blymmins, of Blymmin Cable Inc., had been retained by the operators of Project Sports Museum in Cathair to fix their CCTV security system.

"I'll neither confirm nor deny," said Emlyn, after a lawyer whispered something in his ear.

by **Vilita** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:10 am

Lumber Rebels part of Top 10 Massacare at Finals

♫ You gotta be bad to be good ♫ If you know what I'm talkin' about ♫
♫ So I say it again ♫ You gotta be bad to be good ♫

Umbar Ultima, Umbar, Chromatika :: On paper it should have been a fairly straightforward matchup. Vilita against the Ochre Islands. Vilita seemingly outmatched their opponents in every possible way. Vilita were higher ranked. Vilita had more fans in the stands. Vilita had a better all time record. Vilita was better rested after having to do no travel before the game.

The Ochre Islands had no White Kit Available
and struggled to avoid clashing with the "Lumber Rebels"

Yet, when you are in Umbar, no one gives much concern with the paper you bring with you. They make their own paper in Umbar, and they certainly did so again on Matchday 2 of the World Cup 93 Finals. From the start, things were looking good for the Vilitan National Team who despite being without Top Goalscorer Treasvo Tlikara got goals from Nii'arala Milaaso and Jakku'u Naboyavi inside the opening ten minutes to take an early 2-0 lead and seemingly set marching on their path to a critical group stage victory. The Ochre Islands would fight back in their brown uniforms much to the delight of the small but more colorful section of Ochre fans in attendance and the scoreline would stay 2-1 until nearly the stroke of half time when a stunning goal was scored by the Lumber Rebels Fyin Miateal. After receiving the ball in stride from veteran Rojara Tiones, Miateal quickly took an ambitious shot from 35 yards out and caught Leora Softstep sleeping for just a moment. However, with the placement of the ball, it is possible that the 25 year old Ochre netminder would have had no chance to prevent the ball entering the net regardless of their starting position.

With the goal, the Lumber Rebels were cruising with a 3-1 advantage heading into the half time break. Head coach Endur Rotropii saw no need to make any changes and would send the exact same side onto the match for the second half. The tone of the match would shift greatly, however, just three minutes into the second half when Ochre defender Jordan Willingham went down with an apparent Hamstring injury. Krytenian Manager Richard Valens took the opportunity to make some changes to bring some new players onto the field including Arto Newcomer in place of Willingham, and the fresh legs quickly caused problems for the Lumber Rebels. The match would change entirely just before the hour mark when an odd sequence resulted in the Vilitans being reduced to 10 Players.

The Lumber Rebels had sprung out on a counter attack and were looking to add to their lead when Clarana Refiami was sprung through and appeared to have sealed the game for the Rebels, just getting a touch on the lofted ball and sliding it past Softstep. The flag was up however and the goal was called back for offside. Refiami and the Vilitan players were stunned and the Eura based attacker confronted the line judge directly about the call, ultimately taking the outstretched flag and stomping on it in disgust. The act would earn Refiami a booking which, probably forgotten by everyone on the field at the time, was their second of the game after picking up a booking for a trivial foul early in the first half. With that, Refiami was off to the lockers and the Lumber Rebels were a player down for the rest of the game.

The damage would come quickly. Having already been pressuring the goal, the Ochre Islands now moved forward with confidence and just 10 minutes after Refiami's departure, the Ochre's had tied the game at 3 goals a piece. Ultimately, they would find a winner from substitute Carl-James Lucksmith who seemed to waltz through the Vilitan Defense with an impenetrable shield before firing past a hapless Zelkki Mliake Jr.. It would be the last goal scoring action of the match as Vilita would end up losing a second player to the baths in the frustration of going down, with Rotropii shaking their head on the sideline as a lack of discipline had cost their team a chance to fight back against a weaker opponent. After the full-time whistle, Rotropii spoke to reporters about the incidents that led to the Lumber Rebels defeat:

"You know I think our players need to do a little better in some of these situations. For the record, the linesman has definitely gotten it wrong. I've seen the replays and Clary's goal should have counted. That said, the linesmen are not infallable and they can make mistakes as we've seen. Its up to the players to keep their heads down and keep playing. I think Clary was a bit frustrated not getting on the scoresheet during qualifying and thought they'd broken the duck and to have it taken away like that... I understand the frustration but you just can't react like that its always going to be a card"

When asked specifically on the referee's decision:

"Like I've said, clearly it was wrong but I dont think there was any malice in it. The organizing committee do a good job finding neutral referees from nations all over the multiverse. I think the ref and this linesman were from Bostownia? Bostopia? something like that. No where I've ever been and they aren't even a nation competing in the World Cup so you can't suggest there was any impropriety there. If anything maybe you could question whether there should be refs with such inexperience at the World Cup Finals but its a multiversal game and having those refs from third party nations adds some attachment beyond the fans of the 32 qualifiers, so I get it. In the end, we still had a shot to win and we did not. Now we have one more chance and we can't throw it away like we did this one."

 Vilita 3 - 4 Ochre Islands	
	Vilita Goals:	:: 6' Nii'arala Milaaso:: 8' Jakku’u Naboyavi:: 44' Fyin Miateal            
	Stats :: Vilita 	:: Possession: 54%:: Shots: 6:: Corners: 8 :: Ochre Islands :: Possession: 46%:: Shots: 7:: Corners: 10
	Vilita Lineup :: 	Zelkki Milake Jr., Injyua Klizlo, Narri Sebapilo, Rojara Tiones, Mikele Alasita (Hothat Iciiplak 67'), Jakku’u Naboyavi, Trezisi Rokopolis, Fyin Miateal, Clarana Refiami, Nii'arala Milaaso, Kunaro Tlikara

While the Lumber Rebels faltered against the Ochre Islands in one of the great upsets of recent World Cup history, the signicance of their defeat has been largely overshadowed by the poor performances of Top 10 ranked nations across the board in Chromatika and Tumbra. After two matchdays of World Cup competition, Six of the Top Ten ranked nations in the multiverse had failed to win a single game including the Top 2 Nations in the World Cup Committee Rankings heading into World Cup 93, Valanora and Turori.

While it has not been an easy time thus far for the highest ranked nations, most were still positioned in such a way that they could fight their way out of the holes they had dug on the Final matchday. Only Group F - where 6th ranked Pemeuctan have already been eliminated, and Group G where one of the join-all time World Cup Winners from top Ranked Valanora and 7th ranked Vilita are assured an early exit, is it already certain that Top 10 sides will be eliminated.

Vilita National Team head coach Endur Rotropii knows that the Lumber Rebels will have their work cut out for them and even victory won't be enough on its own to see them through to the knockout rounds:

"Well we'll be playing Huayramarca on the final matchday and that should be motivation enough for these guys. Huayramarca is the reason we're here. The reason why we train in an isolated academy in the middle of the old Forest away from any distractions. Some of these guys were on the field that day - the final matchday of the World Cup 90 Group stage when Huayramarca embarrassed them in front of their home fans at their home World Cup, defeating them and sending them home without getting to play a knockout match - without even a single victory in a home World Cup. I shouldn't have to motivate anyone for this game. They will want to win it - and they need to win it."

by **Tumbra** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:00 am

Cutoff for the Chromatik half.

by **Banija** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:28 am

"When the Going gets tough, the tough get going" - Banijans slog past Ko-oren, 2-1, in the final group stage match to win their group and reach the World Cup 93 Knockouts

CUONO, TUMBRA- Off to the largest city in Tumbra! The Banijans came to Tumbra's largest city certainly with a lot to play for. With them being level with the SRS at 4 points(with a GD advantage, admittedly), they had more than a tricky tie against Ko-oren on the final matchday. The Dragonflies would be looking for all three points- maybe they'd be forced to be a little more adventurous than they normally are. But you've got an entire 90 minutes- not like they were going to be throwing 8 forward in the 3rd minute, for example. Banijans had a slight advantage to win the group- but nothing was guaranteed.

Think- for the last three odd-numbered World Cups, Banija has not reached the knockout stages. World Cups 87 and 91 saw group stage eliminations on the final matchday. 87 was a remarkably similar moment to this one. We had four points after two matchdays, with a win over a Pot 4 side on MD1, and a draw against the Pot 2 side(Baker Park) on MD2. A draw would have been good enough for us to reach the knockouts for the fifth straight cycle- but instead, Savojarna ran us out of the building with a shock 2-0 upset win, which sent us packing. 89, of course, we didn't even qualify. 91, we also had a strong opening win, against Mytanija. But we could not hold up- falling to Quebec on MD2, and then Zwangzug on MD3, to get eliminated in Farfadillis.

Pam Scott wanted to stop that whiplash of World Cup Banija, and establish more consistency. "if we want to be every year contenders, we don't want to be whiplashing between GS knockouts, and semifinal appearances. If we want to win more Cups, we need more deep runs- not just in even years, but every single time. This is a great chance for us to show the world that sort of whiplash is dead, and we are establishing ourselves as a stronger, more consistent side. We've got to go out and get these points." Her players largely echoed her in press conferences, talking about the importance of taking this really a game at a time.

But the Kadongo Kamu really heded her advice- start fast, and finish strong.

Start fast- the record opener

There's nothing like an early goal to kick off a World Cup match, right? And that's exactly what happened here in Cuono. We took Pam Scott's words to effect, quite literally, to start the game. And a lot of it? Was just brilliant, individual skill. The kind of talented players you need to make a deep run at a tournament like this. At about the 20 second mark, our own right back, Tairu Conateh, had the ball on the Banijan side of the pitch. He switched it over, playing a perfect ball to Lolong Bokate, who received it with his chest and dropped it straight down.

An impressive ball and impressive control, these pro players making it look way too easy. And that's when we started firing the danger shots. Bokate beat a Ko-orenite defender on the dribble, and then, coming up the sideline, saw Gereh Kama coming towards him. He played the pass. Kama let the ball roll by him, and turned and ran towards the 18. Behind Kama to receive the ball was Tijan Sowe, who played it right back to Gereh Kama. He hit the ball first time, facing goal, and blasted it into the upper corner. Ko-oren's goalkeeper didn't have a chance. Banija's fastest goal in World Cup history- just 37 seconds into the match, it was 1-0 to the Kadongo Kamu. Learning from their last game- doing exactly what the Confederates had done to the Banijans with the incredibly early goal.

It was a shocking goal. People still getting into their seats. But the speed of the goal saw the Banijan fans leap out of their seats in celebration. Everybody loves an early goal, and scoring on your first opportunity of the game is a good way to rattle a team who is as good defensively as Ko-oren is. Barely allowing their defenders to settle into the match, and suddenly, the Dragonflies were down 1-0 early. For a team that already needed a win, that suddenly meant they needed to get two goals- making an already difficult task that much more difficult.

The Perfectly timed run- and the spot

Playing against their vaunted post football style, the first minute goal was a way to try and negate that. They already had to chase today- but now, they had to chase even more. They were clearly uncomfortable trying to force the issue, but they had to try and do so. But it would be the Banijans who would force the issue once more, just 6 minutes into the game- and bury their opponents with it.

The Revolutionaries midfielder, Maximilien Longchambon, tried to play long early, but misplaced the ball. The Banijans, who are no slouches on the counter-attack themselves, were ready for the moment. Demba Kouyaté played a short ball, and with Ko-oren getting a few players forward early, we were forced to counter with pace- something that we are more than capable of doing. The centerback played his ball to Gereh Kama, who passed it back to Tairu Conateh. He played it long down the right sideline to Sarafina Ikpeazu, who was actually able to run underneath it.

She, with a defender in front of her, somehow whipped the ball around the defender, towards a slashing runner, Aquila Hongo, who was right around the near post. But Ethan Benjamin, their right back marking Hongo, was a step behind him. He tried to cut in front of Hongo and dive to try and clear the ball, but he got it all wrong- he ran straight into Hongo trying to get around him with the ball in the air, basically running through him inside the 18. The referee had no choice- pointing to the spot, awarding a penalty kick.

6th minute of the game. Abel Wesoloski-Okafor steps up to the spot. He's absolutely clinical from the spot- and the Banijan #9 drilled his penalty kick, making the score 2-0 in favor of Banija, just 6 minutes into the match. Shocking. "When was the last time anyone scored twice against Ko-oren that early?" Said the TV commentator. It's certainly a rare sight. But alas, it's probably the only way to beat the post football style- if they get settled in, comfortable in that style, they'll always be able to break through.

Rest of the Game

It was not built for 2 goal comebacks, even if you had nearly the entirety of the match to do so. Ko-oren settled back into their post football style- but with the Banijans leading, it meant that there was a lot of calm for huge stretches of the game. It got tense when Hannibal Sawyer came off the bench to head home for the Dragonflies in the 67th minute, as they wanted to try and come back. Not quite the intensity you'd expect, however- a draw would do them no good. They had to continue chasing from behind, and they were not really built to do that.

The Banijan defense had a great go of it, with Pam Scott bringing on a fifth defender, Bbale Luboobi, to simply help see things through(Bokate came off the pitch at that point). They could not get high percentage opportunities in the box after Hannibal Sawyer's goal, and the Banijans were absolutely pleased at their defensive effort. When the final whistle blew here, the final score was 2-1- Banija had 3 points on the day, 7 points from the group, and would advance to the knockout stages as group winners.

Turns out a draw would have also won us the group, as Yuezhou triumphed 5-3 in the group's other game in this exact same time slot. Next, we've got a mouthwatering matchup against Nephara. Rematch of the World Cup 86 Final(which, admittedly, was a fairly long time ago). WC86 champs v. WC87 champs. Two nations who, politically, have seen their relations deterioriate due to being on opposite sides of the Nyowani Kitara civil war. But football wise, plenty of opportunities. Sarafina Ikpeazu, of course, plays in Nephara, while Radeka Lind plays in the S-FPL.

It'll be a great matchup- two footballing nations, both confident they can beat the other, with a berth in the World Cup Quarterfinals on the line. Doesn't get better than this, right?

World Cup 93 - RP Thread

WC93 GS2

Since I posted the MD2 Turori RP in the NSSCRA thread...

WCF-93 G3

WC93 MD2 v. Ochre Islands - Lumber Rebels

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