World Cup 94 [roleplays]

by **Graintfjall** » Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:04 am

[Bid] • [Rosters] • [WC93 RP thread] • [Results]
Quick links: [Schedule] • [Groups]

Welcome to the roleplay thread for World Cup 94.

Please consider posting a roster even if you don't think you will be roleplaying. Doing so is a basic courtesy to your opponents. It will also help you do better, as there is a 50% rank penalty for teams with no roster, increasing to 100% at the halfway mark of qualifying.

The finals will see 30 teams travel to Græntfjall and Kelssek, but to get there, they will have to beat off 135 other teams. As your mother can attest, beating off 135 people at once is very difficult. So the format will see 15 groups of 11 teams, playing double-round robin (one game at each other's home). For this reason you are encouraged to list home stadium(s) and any relevant IC information in your roster. In each group the top team will qualify automatically, and the 2nd and 3rd placed finishers will enter the playoff pool, with 15 one-off playoff matches deciding the final 15 places. Those not qualifying for the World Cup may still have a chance to compete in the Cup of Harmony.

Qualifying will take place with two matches played every 48 hours, except for the first and last matchday, which are single games. Daily cutoff will be about 2100 UTC. Please do not ask for extensions as being told to fuck off may offend.

We are both believers in the philosophy of "enough is as good as a feast" when it comes to RPing. You do not need to write very long RPs to earn substantial RP bonus. In general, qualities that help earn a good RP bonus are: interactivity (showing you have read others’ RPs and rosters); salience (it is fine to write your own storylines or pursue non-football stories, but if there is no sense at all in your RP that a football World Cup is even happening, it may be difficult to justify absolute max bonus); and good RP etiquette (respecting permissions, respecting hosts, taking bad results in reasonable grace). Please don't use AI text generators, or if you do, at least be honest about what's been done. Please don't plagiarize, from RL sources or other NS players.

All RP permissions disputes should be resolved between players and, if this proves impossible, hosts will have the final word. That said, we will not enforce any "choose my scorers: N" permission unless the player's roster contains an RP explanation of why this permission has been chosen. Our sample permission box will not have an option for choosing scorers.

The RP bonus system will be as follows:

One third will be based on the average RP bonus you've gained over the whole WCQs.
One third will be based on the RP bonus you've gained that cutoff window.
One third will be based on the highest single day RP bonus you've earned throughout WCQs.

If you have any questions, please contact Graintfjall via TG/DM.

Cutoff will be about 2100 UTC.

World Cup Finals Groups

Group A
Græntfjall (2)
Ko-oren (19)
Sylestone (77)
Eura (29)

Group B
Gnejs (41)
Chromatika (5)
Squornshelan Remnant States (12)
Pasarga (23)

Group C
Tikariot (20)
Independent Athletes from Quebec (17)
Banija (1)
Delte (39)

Group D
Huayramarca (7)
Saint Eleanor (38)
Vilita (18)
Commonwealth of Baker Park (21)

Group E
Audioslavia (27)
Pemecutan (13)
Kelssek (6)
Mytanija (31)

Group F
Farfadillis (15)
Elmyia (51)
Cassadaigua (28)
Zwangzug (3)

Group G
HUElavia (45)
Turori (4)
Flavovespia (26)
Nephara (11)

Group H
Yuezhou (30)
Brookstation (40)
Tumbra (9)
Valanora (8)

Schedule
27 July: 1v4 2v3
29 July: 1v2 3v4
31 July: 1v3 2v4

2 Aug: Ro16

4 Aug: QF

6 Aug: SF

7 Aug: 3PPO
8 Aug: Final

by **Kelssek** » Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:05 am

Excessive detail map

Stadiums and cities for World Cup 94

ICly, matches in Græntfjall alternate with matches in Kelssek with Day 1 in Kelssek being the day after the equivalent in Græntfjall. Kelssek is 5 to 7 hours ahead of Græntfjall time, and about a 7-hour flight away depending on where in Kelssek (you're free to hand-wave this if it's too much to think about). Kelssek's land area is about half the size of Australia, or in USA terms approximately the land area from the Pacific coast to Minnesota. Times are given in local time, with Kelssek Coastal Summer Time in brackets if it isn't in that time zone. Kelssek's climate is on the cold side of temperate and the tournment is held in mid-summer where 20-30°C temperatures are the norm. The weather service starts issuing heat warnings if they think it's going above 30°C, while anything 33°C or higher north of Breton is very rare and locals would consider it unthinkably horrific. The country is also at a high latitude so sunset will be as late as 9-10pm local time during the tournament.

Day 0
1900: Pemecutan vs. Kelssek

Day 1
1400: Audioslavia vs. Mytanija
1700: Farfadillis vs. Zwangzug
1900 (2000): Elmyia vs. Cassadaigua

Day 2
1400: HUElavia vs. Nephara
1500 (1700): Turori vs. Flavovespia
2000: Brookstation vs. Tumbra

Day 3
1300 (1400): Yuezhou vs. Valanora
1700: Audioslavia vs. Pemecutan
2000: Kelssek vs. Mytanija

Day 4
1400: Farfadillis vs. Elmyia
1700: Cassadaigua vs. Zwangzug
2000: Flavovespia vs. Nephara

Day 5
1300 (1400): HUElavia vs. Turori
1600 (1700): Yuezhou vs. Brookstation
2000: Tumbra vs. Valanora

Day 6
1400 (1500): Audioslavia vs. Kelssek
1500: Pemecutan vs. Mytanija
1700 (1900): Elymia vs. Zwangzug
1900: Farfadillis vs. Cassadaigua

Day 7
1500: HUElavia vs. Flavovespia
1500: Turori vs. Nephara
1900: Brookstation vs. Valanora
1900: Yuezhou vs. Tumbra

Round of 16
1st day
1800: Kelssek vs. Valanora (Stade Outineau)
2000 (2100): Zwangzug vs. Nephara (Stadium Konueira, Burnaby)
2nd day
1600 (1800): Flavovespia vs. Farfadillis (Griffin Park, Novonaya)
2100: Yuezhou vs. Pemecutan (Millennium Park, Redswyth)

Quarterfinals
1800: Valanora vs. Nephara (Waterfront Dome, Kirkenes)
2000 (2100): Farfadillis vs. Pemecutan (Stadium Konueira, Burnaby)

Semifinals
1900: Stade Outineau, Outineau

Final
1900: Stadium of the Workers/Stade des Ouvriers, Neorvins - Forecast: 25°C/77°F, clear skies with moderate wind

Waterfront Dome, Kirkenes (cap. 71,358)
Located next to Winter Harbour, a relatively new and modern stadium with big screens and a retractable roof. Home of the Kirkenes Crusaders rugby team.

Millennium Park, Redswyth (cap. 53,672)
Redswyth is a post-industrial city that is still home to a great deal of aerospace and auto manufacturing and a very prestigious university. The Merkwell district is a heritage area known for its ornate buildings faced with red bricks. The Saintsport Canal is another historic landmark which in the industrial era connected the city to the open ocean. Redswyth is a safe city but has a gritty image and is the place in Kelssek that your car is most likely to be stolen and shipped to Rushmore by Mytantar gangsters. Millennium Park, home to the Rugby Superleague's Redswyth Rebels, was built over an older stadium, whose remaining portion now serves as the food court, TV studios and operations centre.

Macquarie Docklands, Latrobe (cap. 55,736)
Latrobe is Kelssek's fourth-largest metropolis and a vibrant, artsy city.

Stadium Konueira, Burnaby (cap. 60,316)
This stadium has a retractable roof and the lights on its inside can do all sorts of blinking and multicoloured effects. Burnaby is Kelssek's third-largest metropolis, nestled between a huge lake and mountains whose glaciers offer year-round skiing, not that professional football players would ever sneak off to do such a thing...

Bowreach, Vickery (cap. 37,861)
The home of Strathcona Internationals, Bowreach has been slowly getting bigger as and when the club scrapes together some cash and gets government or federation money chipped in. Located south of the city centre of Vickery, the capital of Conryia. The stadium's neighbourhood was reputedly named because it was at the maximum range of an archer on the walls of the city's ancient castle, which is about one kilometre down the road; don't get people who know about medieval warfare started on this one.

Griffin Park, Novonaya (cap. 39,242)
Hosted the closing ceremony of the 12th Summer Olympics, home of freshly-relegated FC Novonaya. The hipster cafes and brewpubs are in Dogeport.

Stadium of the Workers, Neorvins (capacity 66,300)
Neorvins is the federal capital, a city with a metropolitan population of 2.7 million. While far from being the centre of anything besides national politics, it hosts a large number of public institutions and museums catering to a wide range of interests; indeed it’s the more esoteric ones that are probably more worth a visit as otherwise stuff gravitates to Outineau or Kirkenes. These include: the National Capital Exhibition, a museum of Kelssek’s social and political history, the Royal Palace Museum, which focuses on the former royalty and the Kelssek Revolution, the Parliamentary Art Gallery, the Bank of Kelssek Monetary Experience, which makes central banking as thrilling as possible, and the Polar Institute, which educates visitors on life in the far north and the history of polar exploration. Other sights to see include the Parliament of Kelssek public tours, Queen’s Market and Guilds Hall, Place Paul Langlois, Shawinigan Gate, the Revolutionaries Monument, and pleasant walks can be had in Federation Park, Kieran Pearson Park, and Parc Louis-Desjardins.

Stade Outineau, Outineau (cap. 80,000)
The largest stadium in Kelssek, originally built for World Cup 46. Outineau is the capital of Beaulac and Kelssek's second-largest metropolis, with a population over 12 million built around a bay on the northwestern shores of Lac Claire. Primarily Frankish-speaking, it is a centre for education, technology, aerospace, engineering, and commodity futures trading. The popular tourist things to do are to check out the historic Ville-Baptiste, the oldest part of the city, the lively and vibrant streets of the Plateau-Mont-Phare and Quartier Faubourg, and to eat spicy roasted poule mouilée or viande fumée.

Kingswharf, Breton (cap. 40,516)
Breton (known as Breçan in Frankish) is a major port city that is also home to the Kelssek Navy's largest base. As the large city with the country's mildest climate and near to actual beaches, it's a popular holiday and retirement destination. There are two general tourist modes for visiting Breton and its region: belligerent drunken bar-hopping in florescent tank-tops interspersed with passing out hung over on a beach chair, and relatively genteel wine-touring followed by pointing at lighthouses and painted wooden houses and slurping down entire fishing boat holds of fresh seafood (they are not mutually exclusive). You can also go surfing (it's still not that warm here so wetsuits generally necessary).

Info for visiting fans
Kelssek tourism overview

Travel between eastern cities is notably easier as they're closer together and options include Velocit high-speed rail, flying, or driving. It's a 3-hour flight from Breton to Latrobe, or 8-9 hours by train, 10-12 hours driving. It's a similar distance between the coastal cities and Burnaby - flying is the most practical option to get over to the west side of the mountains or between the cities there. Burnaby to Novonaya is a 3-hour flight; Novonaya to Outineau is 4.5 hours by plane and over 20 hours driving or by train. Kirkenes and Outineau are 4 hours apart by Velocit or a 1.5-hour flight, while Neorvins is approximately halfway between them.

Hotel brands (just insert city name after)
5-star (luxury): Fontaine, Compass Rose, Park Grand
4-star (business, full-service): Forum, Concorde, Intercourt, Hôtel des Pins, Pacific Star
Mid-range and budget: Trader, Voyageur, Coachman, Husman Inn, Gardenwood, Baronial

Info for visiting teams
Your team's training base
The best idea would be to have your team base at a suburban area, perhaps a fancy resort hotel, or at a professional club's training facilities. These need not be limited to soccer clubs, as in Kelssek professional rugby and ice hockey are bigger sports and those teams generally have better (read: more expensive) things. You can just pick a team that won the Rugby Superleague, Kelssek Hockey League Premiership, or Desjardins Cup recently. I'll try to keep track so people don't both have their teams in the same base. Awkward. If you'd like me to give you a specific training base please contact me by telegram or on Discord.

by **Graintfjall** » Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:06 am

Welcome (Back) To The White Winter Queendom of Græntfjall!

Græntfjall has hosted many international sports tournaments, and almost all the nations making the finals will have already played in Græntfjall in some capacity. A basic overview of the nation and all its usual information -- the Nordic heritage, the Catholic culture, the obsession with krakens -- can be found in the link from the last World Cup hosted here, a little under six years ago. But we'll assume for most of the participants, they're not so much looking for a basic primer as asking what might have changed.

The first thing to note is that "little under" qualifier. World Cup 91 was held in late summer. Græntfjall's Round of 16 clash with Nephara was distinctly autumnal, and there was frost crackling underfoot during the World Cup final. This time, the group stage is beginning much earlier in the season, so the tournament can span the height of the Græntfjaller summer. As previously explored, that's still hardly likely to see balmy temperatures or warnings about heat-stroke, but it should be considerably warmer than was experienced at World Cup 91. (Unfortunately for the hosts, this may nullify some of the home advantage they incurred by playing in the cold!) Except in Hofvinger Exclave, temperatures can be expected to be in the mid-to-high teens (centigrade) during the day, cooling off to low double figures during the evening. Only in Hofvinger and Paschvík will temperatures drop into single figures. Unfortunately, precipitation is much more likely than at the last World Cup with rain forecast throughout the group stage.

Another thing you'll notice is a lot of election signage: Vote '35. Græntfjallers will go to the polls this fall. Claiming the oldest democratic heritage in the world, Græntfjallers are fiercely proud of their voting traditions and their Thing (parliament). Over the last eight years the country has been led by Prime Minister Kaija Michaelsdóttir of the centrist Progressive Liberals. Despite ambitious domestic reforms to the civil service, pensions, financial sector, transport, and infrastructure, her foreign policy has been checkered with disasters, with the CORNCOB environmental summit failing to achieve anything (except a lot of dead geese), humiliation as Pavolan nations the United Republics and Nyowani Kitara voted to join the CRC, and a miserable withdrawal from Jabal Akhdar without significantly disrupting the el-Masri terror network. Additionally, the government has been beset by persistent corruption scandals, including ones pertaining to this very tournament, with the Eagl'e's' Club stadium, intended to be the glittering new jewel in the Græntfjaller hosting crown, coming in late, under spec and over budget.

Set against all that, Kaija Michaelsdóttir's saving grace politically may be the weakness of her opposition. On the right, the Blue-Greens have burned through a dozen leaders in as many years while struggling to pitch themselves between the populist-nationalist National Democratic Front and the libertarian Liberal-Conservative Alliance . On the left, the Left-slate have been in disarray over internal party disputes and barely managed to agree to run as a consolidated bloc rather than splitting into three (or more) competing factions. The new Reform 30-30 is the first mainstream environmentalist party in Græntfjaller history and have also advocated anti-corruption politics, but their policies don't seem to have much native appeal. Græntfjaller political campaigning is still fairly unsophisticated: you can expect to see attack ads filling the airwaves during TV intermissions, flyers and posters littering street corners, and may even catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister as she embarks on her "listening tour" of the country in which she has promised to visit every municipality to hear their concerns. Despite the ongoing election there is a ban on political messages inside stadiums and fans bringing in banners or placards with political slogans will be ejected.

And why is it Vote '35? Why, because in Græntfjall, it is the year 2035. Græntfjall may not be future tech but it's definitely entering a post-modern tech age. New mag-lev trains can deliver a spectator from hotel to stadium in the blink of an eye, and while police officers still trot by on swamp-dragons, they're fitted with power-gloves that can push a criminal through a brick wall with a flick of the wrist. Drones zip through the sky delivering parcels and meals, or simply scanning crowds and transmitting facial recognition data to GANAX's orbiting satellites for processing. As such, crowd trouble will be swiftly and decisively quelled. Bionic augmentation is rare but not unknown: you're more likely to hear an augmented reality eyeball scanning than see a cybernetic arm in action, as these are thus far mainly used by specialist workers such as surgeons and precision engineers. Synth-foods are increasingly common in stores and on the menus of pubs, bars, and restaurants.

While technological innovation is responsibility for the creation of synth-foods, more earthly factors are behind their rising popularity. Græntfjall has introduced strict laws on animal handling and meat processing that have made synthetic meat cheaper and more pragmatic for many. The real reason behind the laws is, according to some, not animal welfare, but religious discrimination, as they essentially make halal (and kosher) butchery illegal. Despite protests, lawsuits, and international condemnation, the government has not backed down. After Græntfjall's chief imam declared synthetic meat halal, most Græntfjaller Muslims now exclusively eat it, all while complaining vigorously and campaigning for repeal. It's not illegal to bring halal/kosher/otherwise non-compliant food in to Græntfjall for personal consumption. Teams bringing in their own food will likely not face interference from the authorities, but attempts to establish an import business or fan groups demanding special treatment will be met with less favor. Child circumcision is also now illegal, though it's difficult to see how this will factor into any RPs.

Venues & IC Schedule

In order to simulate a realistic schedule of games the following timings are provided. However, they are IC only; OOC, all games will be scorinated at the regular cutoff time (2100 UTC).

Team training camp bases not listed. You may RP one as you like, or if uncertain, you can ask me to suggest one.

Weather forecasts are ICly forecasts only: you may RP conditions differently should you wish.

MD0
16:30 Opening ceremony
19:30 Græntfjall v Eura @ The Eagl’e’s’ Club, Aigsvinger Clear, dry, windy

MD1
13:00 Ko-oren v Sylestone @ VG Arena, Maigburg Overcast, dry, still
16:00 Gnejs v Pasarga @ Frei Stadion, Búðarberg Overcast, dry, still
19:00 Chromatika v Squornshelan Remnant States @ Florus Stadion, Altendalur Overcast, drizzle, still

MD2
13:00 Tikariot v Delte @ New Skoðarhüb, Hartburg Cloudy, steady rain, windy
16:00 Independent Athletes from Quebec v Banija @ Grander International Arena, Háttmark Clear, dry, windy
19:00 Huayramarca v Commonwealth of Baker Park @ OptiFone Arena, Folte Patchy cloud, intermittent rain, still

MD3
13:00 Saint Eleanor v Vilita @ Fljarkfjall Arena, Þingsnitz Dark skies, lashing rain, strong crosswinds
16:00 Eura v Sylestone @ Florus Stadion, Altendalur Cloudy, driving rain, moderate wind
19:00 Græntfjall v Ko-oren @ GT Estadio Fútbol De Musarañas De Oro, Háttmark Cloudy, steady rain, still

MD4
13:00 Pasarga v Squornshelan Remnant States @ Grand National Arena, Háttmark Overcast, dry, still
16:00 Gnejs v Chromatika @ VG Arena, Maigburg Overcast, dry, still
19:00 Delte v Banija @ TQG Langvöllur Arena, Hofvinger Clear, spots of rain, it fucken wimdy

MD5
13:00 Tikariot v Independent Athletes from Quebec @ OptiFone Arena, Folte Dense clouds, tumult of rain, strong crosswinds
16:00 Commonwealth of Baker Park v Vilita @ Fjistjing Stadion, Hintersfjörður Heavy clouds, dry, strong crosswinds
19:00 Huayramarca v Saint Eleanor @ Álfgrímur Arena, Paschvík Broiling clouds, driving rain, gusty

MD6
16:00 Ko-oren v Eura @ New Skoðarhüb, Hartburg Overcast, dry, still
16:00 Græntfjall v Sylestone @ Grand National Arena, Háttmark Clear, spots of rain, still
19:00 Chromatika v Pasarga @ Laxenvöllur, Mühlrich Clear, dry, still
19:00 Squornshelan Remnant States v Gnejs @ TQG Langvöllur Arena, Hofvinger Patchy cloud, spots of rain, it fucken wimdy

MD7
16:00 Independent Athletes from Quebec v Delte @ VG Arena, Maigburg Clear, dry, windy
16:00 Banija v Tikariot @ Fljarkfjall Arena, Þingsnitz Clear, dry, windy
19:00 Saint Eleanor v Commonwealth of Baker Park @ OptiFone Arena, Folte Overcast, dry, still
19:00 Vilita v Huayramarca @ Sanktjakobvöllur, Háttmark Overcast, intermittent drizzle, still

MD8
16:00 Pasarga v Delte @ Grand National Arena, Háttmark Moderate cloud, light rain, still
19:00 Vilita v Ko-oren @ Álfgrímur Arena, Paschvík Dense heavy cloud cover, sporadic rain, still, possible lightning storm

MD9
16:00 Banija v Chromatika @ Grander International Arena, Háttmark Clear, dry, light wind
19:00 Græntfjall v Commonwealth of Baker Park @ Florus Stadion, Altendalur Clear, dry, light wind

MD10
19:00 Græntfjall v Delte @ GT Estadio Fútbol De Musarañas De Oro, Háttmark Gray skies, misty, still

MD11
19:00 Banija v Ko-oren @ TQG Langvöllur Arena, Hofvinger Scudding clouds, dry, it fucken wimdy

MD12

19:00 Græntfjall v Banija @ The Eagl’e’s’ Club, Aigsvinger Dark clouds, rain, strong swirling winds

Grand National Arena
The main national stadium, the 50,000 seater used to be the country's only international-level sports facility. It is the most famous stadium in the country and home of multiple time champions Gunzlach, "the Gunners". The name reflects their origins in the old military arsenal stationed there. On the north side of Háttmark, the GNA is built in what remains a fairly conservative, working-class district, with rumblings of disquiet over recent immigrant arrivals and rapid house price rises in the wake of gentrification.

Grander International Arena
The 50,001 seater is home of Steinaux, "the Sausages". Their name is rooted in the working class meat processing and dock warehouse district, which has undergone substantial renovation. Unlike rivals Gunzlach across the river, Steinaux is now located in an upmarket neighborhood with tech and pharma jobs booming.

GT Estadio Fútbol De Musarañas De Oro [non-commercial name: Estadio Fútbol De Musarañas De Oro][/b]
The new home of GT Molding, "the Gold Shrews", and Korsbach's south Háttmark rivals. Built by Tequiloan multinational Grupo Taxhavn and unpronouncable to the locals, the stadium is the biggest GPL stadium in regular use (with a capacity of close to 70,000). Lush, well appointed – is “chintzy” pushing it too far?

Florus Stadion [non-commercial name: Altendalur Stadion]
Altendalur is a northwest port city and cultural hub of the West, a region that generally feels under the political thrall of the dominant East. It was built on whaling: the stadium is literally built on whaling, as a massive whale spine ornaments the main entrance gate. Home of one of the top GPL sides, nicknamed the Chessmen, the seats are in alternate black and white check patterns.

Fjistjing Stadion
Home to Hintersfjörður, who are routinely a yo-yo team: one of the strongest sub-GPL teams, and yet usually being relegated immediately upon winning promotion from the Division 1. It is well suited to all weather conditions, with a fully retractable roof. Hintersfjörður lies in the suburbs of Altendalur and has a generally similar cultural disposition, with entrenched hostility to Eastern elites and little interest in outsiders.

Fjlarkfjall Arena
Þingsnitz, another yo-yo side seeming to miss that key ingredient for a step up to GPL level, play their home games at Fjlarkfjall. Þingsnitz is a small coastal city a few miles east of Altendalur, on the other side of the other side of the Bay of Blood. The two enjoy a healthy rivalry in matters football and otherwise. The Fjlarkfjall Arena also made its debut hosting international football at the 74th Baptism of Fire; despite its small size and lack of roof, it’s otherwise well appointed for a Division 1 side’s home arena, clearly reflecting its owners’ desires to win promotion. Culturally, the fishing port is much more amenable to visitors than their cross-bay neighbors.

OptiFone Arena [non-commercial name: Folte Arena]
Folte is a market town that lies just south of Aigsvinger, the city that sits at the fork of the Odinsfluss River. Much like the city, Folte is a town that embodies traditions of both the East and West: the market bringing fresh produce from the West, the commuter hub going to middle class jobs in the East. A huge Catholic church dominates the skyline and on clear days service bells can be heard during matches.

The Eagl’e’s’ Club
Aigsvinger is the City of the Center: while not at the exact geographical center of the Queendom, its position at the Odinsfluss fork means that culturally it straddles both of the old divides of the Mountain South and Coastal North, and of the West and the East. The new stadium, built to celebrate the Snow Wolves' victory at Eagl'e's' Cup 15, is the largest in the country, but has only just been finished in time for the World Cup after myriad construction delays and huge cost overruns.

Laxenvöllur
Mühlrich is the club that's most representative of the conservative alpine traditions of the country. Based in the suburbs of Kyrkdorf, the "last city before the mountains", it's an old, traditional club, and the slightly fusty stadium reflects that. Lots of (now fairly dusty, the Turtles have seen better days) trophies in the cabinet, hard seats, and smoking still permitted in certain areas. Interestingly, the stadium itself isn't that old as it has burned down four times. Smoking remains stubbornly permitted. The Turtle Ultras are the most radical Ultras in the country. Racist chanting has mostly been stamped out, but it's not a place to go for provoking intellectual discourse.

VG Arena [non-commercial name: Maigburg Arena]
One of the bigger arenas, in fact the second largest outside Háttmark. The Maigburg club is based in the suburbs of Waltenberg, the biggest university city, and reflects its academic traditions, middle-class professions, and fierce anti-communism. The "Catbear" ultras are ferociously loyal. The stadium is big but old and run-down. A multi-purpose arena, it hosts many sports including athletics, notably the final lap of the Waltenberg Marathon.

Sanktjakobvöllur
Another Háttmark arena, but this time based in the south. Háttmark is the capital city of Græntfjall, a bustling port city. The south is more residential than the mainly industrial north. Architecturally, it bore the brunt of the violence that engulfed the tail end of the communist regime: sadly, a lot of the buildings you'll see are very new, but that also testifies to the major economic boom the city is undergoing. This hasn't extended to Korsbach's frankly decrepit arena.

TQG Langvöllur Arena [non-commercial name: Langvöllur Arena]
The Langvöllur Arena (the second Arena is redundant as völlur means Arena in Græntfjaller, but the name persists for some reason) is in the exclave of Hofvinger, which lies the other side of the Komodo Channel to mainland Græntfjall. As such, the "Northern Wolves" of Hofvinger have always considered themselves a bit different (i.e. superior) to the soft southerners. It is absolutely freezing even in summer owing to the wind patterns. Teams will travel via ferry from Háttmark, assuming the sea isn't ice-locked.

Álfgrímur Arena, Paschvík
Paschvík is a suburb of Zevogur, the second largest city on Græntfjall's northern exclave. Historically the city where Græntfjall's Jews took refuge during the Wars of Religion, today is mostly Catholic like the rest of the country but retains a spirit of toleration and open-mindedness at odds with the mainlander attitudes. The medium sized stadium itself is built in an unusual style with one side banked considerably higher than the other to provide shield against the fierce winds whipping in off the Komodo Channel.

New Skoðarhüb [non-commercial name: Hartburg New Park
Located in Hartburg, the gateway to Lake Viljan. Bypassing the Alps, which dominate the southern half of the country, requires going through the Estdal Gate, once a turnpike, now one of the busiest commercial bridges in the country, connecting the industrial heartlands with the Rushmori interior. Not state of the art by international standards, but some of the lifts actually work and the coffee machine does cappucinos! Witchcraft!!

Frei Stadion
Located in the southwest city of Búðarberg, the capital of Fliserboding, a broad, flat agricultural plain that is geographically and at times culturally at odds with the rest of Græntfjall. Perceived as the home of a rump pro-communist minority by the rest of the country. The local club, Fliserboding, is chiefly notable for their tradition of throwing cabbages on the field before each game. The stadium, while pretty, smells terrible as a result.

by **HUElavia** » Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:03 pm

Rebuild for a Future

HUElavia enters World Cup 94 options looking to take a young squad to make the most they can for this cycle.

It's been a rough few years for HUElavian football. After the success of making another World Cup under Leonardo Conavacio, followed by an eventual IAC title that eluded the team, Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos had only one other IAC title under HUElavian footballing legend Cristiano Aveiro Lima as their manager before releasing him two years ago after a set of lackluster World Cup Qualifiers performances where the team narrowly missed out the playoffs by a few points. Now, the team returns to the World Cup Qualifiers after a disappointing IAC 18 campaign, being eliminated by Abanhfleft in the Losers Bracket, ending the team's near-16 year undefeated run in the IAC.

Despite the early elimination, the HUElavian Football Association maintained their patience and gave their vote of confidence to Lester O'Reagan from Quebec and Shingoryeo to run what is the "rebuild" of the HUElavian National Football Team. Thus, Coach O'Reagan has opted to get many young and talented players, mainly in their mid-20s in what may turn out to be the main generation of players to lead the team in the next two to three cycles. Of course, there are many talented veterans that will be running the team, including playmakers Navarro-Hamada and Bellerose, sturdy defender Ardance (with a chance to prove his worth), the speedy winger Amezcua, the short but threatening Rossi-Rigoni, and the captain Aveiro Junior, where the players look to lead the youngsters to a brighter future.

Despite the tough situation, HUElavia are faring somewhat okay, being ranked 45th in the multiverse, similarly to when the team first qualified to the World Cup back in World Cup 83. With this ranking, HUElavia is projected to be a Pot 3 team, ranked 13th in that pot. A low Pot 3, but still a team that most teams know not to underestimate, especially when the team has a reputation to take it to the death to resolve games. Some of the higher ranked teams that interest the HUElavian public as possible opponents includes Kandorith, TJUN-ia, Farfadillis, and Quebeck & Shingoryeo for these qualifiers, but the team know they will accept whomever they get and give it their all against their opponents.

Once more, the HUElavian Government and the HFA have come together to select the 10 venues that will be hosting Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos matches throughout the qualifiers. After some deliberation from the bidding cities, the two announced their list of venues for the Qualifiers. They are as follows: Estadio Nacional (100,000) in Curumba, Estadio Salvador (85,000) in Sao Salvador, HUGames Stadium (72,000) in Sega, Estadio Santiago (69,000) in Puerto Santiago, Estadio Hueti (63,000) in Jinaqa, Al-Rahid Stadium (60,000) in Hamar, Estadio da Esperança (60,000) in Rigente, Helles Stadion (51,000) in Bish, Estadio Bendito (50,000) in San Franco and Chetka Arena (45,000) in Chetka. As always, the larger venues will likely be saved for the more difficult opponents in the group, while the smaller venues will be for the lower ranked teams.

Fans will be flocking to the stadiums, as 85% will go to the HUElavian public, while the remaining 15% will go to the visiting supporters. Fans are looking forward to these qualifiers and will be coming out in droves to support the team in what can be a promising run, as well as a long-awaited return to the biggest tournament in the multiverse. Here's to hoping we can have a decent draw in the Qualifiers and make the most out of every match.

FORCA HUELAVAI! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Delte** » Mon Jun 12, 2023 9:29 pm

A recap, of sorts - things you may need to know if you plan on reading Deltic entries this World Cup:

The NationStates World Cup is back (already) and as ever Roleplay Production Office has got you covered¹. As well as high quality football coverage with all the best angles and analysis, and searing politics from the heart of Rake Teinton Women’s Institute HQ, when you need a distraction from yet another failed qualification attempt RPO is always on hand to provide a bit of distraction with infamous off-kilter mild-mannered meta-capers fresh from RPO Studios lot at Folly Wood in Taxhavn. With an average rating by critics on Rotten Huckleberries of

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there is always something on RPO to irritate your irreality lobe - let’s grab a shameless reminder of recent hit shows and get the inside line on what’s coming next from ‘tinsel-hamlet’…

Previously on RPO (and available on demand through our Dispatches streaming service):

THE QUICK & THE DELTS (2 Seasons) - Joining the international football scene for the first time, a collective of amateur football players from the Valley of the River Delte, who call themselves The Representatives, get more than they bargain for when they venture out into the ringworld. For a start, everyone’s got squeaky voices. Not only that, but the World Cup comes around every three months, and home and away qualification matches seem to occur concurrently. What is going on? Doctor Orem Ustingham, flying right winger for Ughmirren FC and selected for The Reps, takes a few bone samples and discovers that, indeed, there are several extra rings in the bones, each ring indicating a year of growth, and concludes that everyone ages about fifteen times faster outside of the valley. Pub landlord and smartarse football anorak Emel Radogar demonstrates that the World Cup has only been running for twenty years, Deltic time, whilst the NSWC-ECC claim three hundred years since Crosshill took the first title in Ariddia. (Season One).

But don’t worry! Naming the condition ‘Hyper-Gerontological Syndrome’ (HGS, or The Gerry, for short) Doc Orem sets about discovering a cure from his new government-funded headquarters at Saint Skolda’s Hospital in Oswark. He has some promising ideas about a RecQ Helicase Booster syrup but it’s all a bit of McGuffin to the team so they let him crack on with that. Meanwhile, the government of the Valley, the Delte River Trust, announce special travel restrictions which means The Reps, who had a moderately promising first World Cup cycle, are unable to use the same team for away matches and have ever since used a Special Away Team Mission of volunteers who have permission for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to play all the away matches in a cycle. Like all Away Teams on RPO’s popular Sci-Fi Channel, RPO Cinematic Multiverse, The Reps away team wear red shirts and get into all sorts of difficulties. Also Meanwhile, the only professional footballer in the Valley, Enor Perro, who plies his trade in Farfadillis and is engaged to an internet supermodel sensation, @FarvyGirl, discovers A New Hope: maybe the magical waters of the Garga Marshes, a swamp at the north end of the valley, are keeping everyone young with with remarkable anti-ageing and rejuvenation properties… something @FarvyGirl is naturally very keen to invest in. (Season Two).

EVERY DAY I ROLEPLAY ABOUT FOOTBALL - Starblaydia, Outer AO: Ediraf sportswear Quality Control Operative Raul Valk spots a terrible mistake in the personalisation department when a rogue robot prints ‘pissflaps’ on the back of a shirt, and his timely interception wins him employee of the month award and a free trip to anywhere. His boss Fred Oakenshield recommends the Delte Valley as being ‘quite nice, this time of the year’ and so the employee heads out to just sidewise of the North Pacific and the quaint little valley for his holiday. His only job? Report back on the state of Ediraf interests in the valley - a little market analysis for the company in this backwater sales territory. What Raul discovers is quite remarkable - fighting in the sports shops over new deliveries of Ediraf stock, a roaring trade in knock-off and fake Ediraf sportswear, a battle at the docks leading to the burning of a container full of Kirola badminton supplies by local Ediraf loyalists, the banning of branded sportswear at Oswark Grammar School because of the sectarian tensions, and even a dangerous messianic cult devoutly - and violently - opposed to ‘the devil’s own wicking’ (that would be Ediraf). Luckily the River Patrol (that’s the local police force) take quite a liking to Raul Valk and become his volunteer bodyguard for the duration of his stay. And he does such a good job of reporting home on the various potentials of this ‘Ediraf Country’ that Fred Oakenshield promotes him to Regional Sales Manager and bases him permanently in the Valley.

THE REMOTE VIDEO COACH (Mini-Series) - In a special short pilot produced to celebrate Delte’s first entry to the World Cup proper, RPO explore the trials and tribulations of Coach Enda Clentin, as he refuses to travel to Chromatika And/Or Tumbra on account of The Gerry - and is wired up to become the World’s First Remote Video Coach. [Alright, it probably happened in The Holy Empire already because everything has already happened there. Literally. It is an infinite loop. So that doesn’t count.] Enor Perro is the coach’s contact on the ground but problems with wiring, the signal, and Enor’s unusual interpretations of instructions broadcast to him from back home by Coach Clentin lead to a ‘difficult’ World Cup Finals debut, as The Reps finish bottom of the group without a win. But amidst the doom and gloom, there certainly are some positives to be drawn from the technology, and while the Deltic FA decide they won’t be using Remote Coaching again, that is not to say Coach Clentin is short of offers for the next cycle…

Up Next, exclusively on RPO:

EVERY DAY I ROLEPLAY ABOUT FOOTBALL, Season 2 - Ediraf Regional Sales Manage Raul Valk is back for a reprise of his role as the celebrity employee of the Valley’s favourite sportswear brand, but watch out - the algorithms of the Starblaydi international cloud computing system have plans for Raul, and he will be the last to find out what they are…

THE CLENCH, New Series! - Following the qualified success of The Remote Video Coach mini docuseries, RPO teams up with PUFI - the Prosaic Union Film Institute - to joint-produce an international collaboration that will take Coach Clentin where no Delt has ever been before. All from the comfort of his own home and his new Blymmin Cables Inc. VR headset…

Coming Soon, on RPO:

What have we got slated at RPO Studios for future production? Take a first look here.

THE QUICK & THE DELTS: FARAWAY SAUCE, Spin-off Series - directly challenging the phenomenon of Season Three Burnout, RPO will reprise it’s hit series with a new angle, as an old favourite from a different era comes back to take advantage of the healing waters and zipper gnats of the Garga Marshes.

BRONZED GIANTS, New Series! They love a good statue in the valley. In fact, they have a whole school in Oswark dedicated to learning the art, craft, science and history of statue-making. Sounds boring? Wait till you hear about The Garden of Regrets, where old statues that we wish we hadn’t made of people we wish we didn’t know end up…

RAKE TEINTON OLD WIVES GALA PARADE: Your favourite politics show - with added drama!

HIGHWAY TO THE UNDERDELTE: RPO's most expensive production of all time - high adventure at the final frontier. That's right... miners! Burly miners and their pick-axes.

And now, for the main event - we bring you the first episode of our exciting international collaboration - The Clench. Fade to black. Roll opening title sequence:

[1] Well, not quite ‘as ever’, of course - RPO formally but disingenuously apologises to subscribers who get irrationally upset about the regular black outs. Writers strikes, staff shortages, corporate disillusionment and even some of the subscriber base themselves have all in the past caused RPO to shut down for a bit but here we are, back again in full swing! Enjoy it while it lasts, we say, and don’t get your pantaloons in a twist when we next shut up shop for a bit.

by **Gnejs** » Mon Jun 12, 2023 11:38 pm

Today’s News

Sports - WCQ

Curious new Dandelion coach has Union scratching head as qualification draws near

By: Theodora Anckarström

Yet another World Cup Qualification soon dawns, and never has public knowledge of the preparations been quite so blurred and rife with rumors. It has been known for some time that the Dandelions would get a brand new coach for the upcoming cycle, but it wasn’t until a few days ago we were finally presented with Bjørnstjerne Eriksen’s successor. To the surprise of many, nay, everyone, PUFF declared that one Enda Clentin had been given the prestigious task of coaching the Prosaic Union national team for the unforeseeable future.

Who is Enda Clentin? That was the spontaneous reaction of an entire Union, and while we were given some answers during the press conference, many remain. The short answer to our initial question is that Coach Clentin is a Delt, that is a valleyman from the remote marshlands - or something to that effect - of Delte, way-way off down south and out west or possibly back east. In other words, he’s an Outlander. A Continental. Not-Of-Rock.

Enda Clentin, the new Dandelion Head Coach.

While this publication has long since shed its old ways of outright Anticontinentalism, we still find it puzzling that PUFF would grant the distinguished position of Dandelion head coach to someone from outside the Union.

Firstly, large portions of the PUFF leadership have long been known as among the staunchest voices of conservative Unionism within the sporting community, with the federation enforcing rigid rules governing access to the domestic scene and enacting invasive lobbying campaigns against Union athletes playing professionally abroad. It seems utterly out of character for PUFF to perform a 180 and appoint an Outlander. What’s more, he’s not even a Friend. We would likely have been almost just as surprised at a Baggie or a Tikariotian coach, but at least the Bonds of Friendship would have provided some sort of explanation and justification. Now: a Non-Union coach, but not a Friend. It’s all like an enigma folded into a conundrum.

The appointment has stirred up emotions all over the Union, and while some voices do laud the bold move, others feel this development is highly improper. Today’s News sampled a few Port Kejm citizens down by the beach earlier today, and while the reactions are far from uniform, a certain skepticism was the common denominator. «I’m not a racist,» said dog owner Karl-Johan Vaasa (63), in what is seldom a good opening statement, «but I do object to Outlanders coming here and taking what should rightfully be a Union man’s job.» His Friend and fellow canine caretaker, Knut Svensson (65) largely agreed, specifically highlighting the fact that Delte is an Acquaintance and not a Friend.

Of course, the appointment is not without merit in sporting terms, and this was very much the PUFF narrative. For connoisseurs of international football, Coach Clentin will be known as the former Head Coach of the Delte national team - The Representatives - and his résumé includes leading them to the World Cup proper only last cycle. Described as a pragmatic sort of stoic, Coach Clentin - who apparently also works as a PE teacher at one Oswark Grammar School - is clearly not devoid of skill.

Coach Clentin’s sporting merits was also among the themes brought up by the citizens Today’s News spoke to at the beach. «I know for a fact that Clentin only coached half a national team during last cycle’s qualifications,» football aficionado and substitute teacher Sven Knutson (26) said, enlightening us to the rather unorthodox fracturing of The Representatives in Home and Away squads. «Details be damned, but when the points were tallied and honors handed out, it wasn’t Clentin’s Home Team who came away the Heroes of that story,» Knutson continued. While Clentin was undoubtedly in charge of the Delte World Cup campaign, he was apparently curiously absent down in Tumbra and Chromatica and instead preferred coaching the team remotely via a video-streaming contraption of sorts. According to currently unemployed Sonja Mørk (34), rumors have it that Delte player Enor Perro had a not inconsiderable part in the practicalities of running the Delte team, and «He’s actually officially running The Representatives now, and I guess that just says it all» she added sardonically.

No indeed, the real reasons for Coach Clentin’s appointment were among the answers we didn’t get. Sporting merit aside (however dubious), the mysterious circumstances regarding Coach Clentin’s hiring remain very much mysterious (in lack of a better word).

We were all very excited to hear from Coach Clentin himself at the advertised meet-n-greet at PUFF headquarters, but he was not present and instead we were promised both an introduction and QnA via video link. Due to an unexpected streaming-technology malfunction, sadly all we got to see was Clentin’s face frozen in an unfortunate grin, and PUFF representatives declined to answer questions pertaining to whether Clentin would coach the Dandelions remotely or in person, and they also refused to deny or confirm whether the press conference’s malfunctioning streaming-technology was in fact the same one Clentin would potentially use to communicate with his players.

Portrait of Enda Clentin generated by Delte via DreamAI.

by **Milk Island** » Wed Jun 14, 2023 7:24 pm

Welcome to Milk Island's Official Sports Radio Station AM 840 The Panda
Today we start with listening in on this press conference with Coach Brigham Travis and Star Right wing Louis Legend after a high leveled practice here it is:

Reporter:
So Louis, I was watching your reps in practice today and you were practicing more defense than usual. Why is that? Also at your position defense isn't very important.
Louis:
Well Coach Brigham here pointed out to me in a practice last week that my defense was looking poor and I asked him for some more defense reps at practice. Also with your second question defense is important at every position.
Other Reporter:
Coach, is your team prepared for Milk Island's first attempt in the World Cup?
Coach:
In my mind we are very prepared these guys have worked very hard in practice and in friendlies especially Louis here. I would say we have a good chance to win it all and think of all the glory that would bring to our nation!
Last question!
Some journalist for the annoying news station in the back of the room:
But what if you guys lose?
Coach and Louis together:
We don't lose.
Press Conference over.
Well we are back here on 840 The Panda and we will go to and ad break here.
(ads play)
Welcome back to AM 840 The Panda we will now discuss this upcoming World Cup for our last segment of the day.
Jerry: so how do you think Milk Island will perform in their first qualifying game Charles?
Charles: I think we will perform well and it will be a nailbiter and high scoring game that will end in a draw our win for Milk Island.
Ok Our time is up see you another time here on AM 840 The Panda home of all Milk Island sports

by **Chromatika** » Tue Jun 20, 2023 9:26 pm

World Cup 94 Qualifying Preview
We almost won the whole thing, where do we go from here?

Last time around, Lev Repin and the new generation of Anomalies showed that they were business. Hosting the World Cup, the Anomalies drew against Savigliane before beating Jeruselem and TJUN-ia by a goal apiece; then, they got revenge on Nyowani Kitara in the Round of Sixteen, bested Kelssek in the Quarterfinals, and survived a penalty shootout against defending champions Zwangzug. In fact, Chromatika had a 3-1 lead on Banija before an uncharacteristic second half collapse gave the Banijans the World Cup. This run, the best in the nations history, which also made it one of two times that the team has made it past the Semifinals, was a testament to the talent in the current Chromatik team and the new ideas that Repin has brought.

What does the 94th cycle's qualifying campaign bring for Chromatika? How will they approach it, and what are the key storylines? Let us take a look at the ten things to note about the Chromatik view of the 94th cycle of World Cup Qualifying.

1. It Starts Up Top

Two cycles ago, the Chromatik Football Federation made a calculated gamble by hiring Lev Repin to be their next Manager. Having experienced a domestic failure in Sybill and Hellion, Repin was a bit of a controversial hire, especially because he was going to be replacing the attacking midfielder-focused, shoot-first play of the last couple cycles. Repin did bring his 3-4-1-2 to Chromatika, but the Mytanar has been highly flexible in using both Chromatik talent and mindset. Repin's Chromatika looks nothing like Repin's Mytanija, and the team has really been molded under his leadership. Not only did they make the Round of Sixteen in his first cycle in charge, but they've now been to the World Cup Final under his tutelage.

Having signed an initial three-cycle deal with a potential two-cycle extension, the CFF is expected to present Repin with that extension as long as the Anomalies qualify for this upcoming World Cup. Repin's ability to fit his system to the Chromatiks (and not vice versa) has led to the team's ability to adapt quickly, and the fact that he is willing to use Shelby Arling, the team's Social Media Coordinator, as the lead communications liaison and allow her to play a more pivotal role has also led to this level of success. Chromatika has succeeded in proving that it can get to the contending stage in a world cup - the next goal is to show that it can show some longevity - the true test of a nation hitting its stride.

2. A Homegrown Roster

For a long time, Chromatika has had a lot of its national team players play abroad. Nephara, Eura, and Audioslavia have often been the battleground for many a Chromatik star, while countries like Tikariot, Tumbra, Squornshelan Remnant States, Eastfield Lodge, Quebec and Shingoryeo, and many others have been proving grounds for up and coming players on the Anomalies' roster. Sure, there's always been a handful of players that played in the Rainbow League System for teams in the Red League, but it hasn't truly been the majority.

Nowadays, though, the Red League is the best league in the multiverse - and it's showing. Nine of fifty players on the Chromatik roster play in the Red League. Wirr Tsi's starting keeper and center back are both regular substitutes for the Anomalies, while Moira Ansov and Keira Anbient, two of the three starting defenders, play for Wirr Tsi and Myana, respectively. Chromatik's Cylie Nodis and Ami Coulibaly, Tihon's Marion Goo, and Myana's Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov round out the eight players that play in the Red League. Three from Wirr Tsi, two from Myana, two from Chromatik, and one from Tihon - representing the undisputed four best teams in the Red League at the moment. Throw in a red-hot Elaine Howard-Dawes that recently showed her stuff representing Chromatika at the Di Bradini Cup (she plays for Z'ai'ai Institute of Technology), and there is unprecedented domestic representation on the roster.

Not to say that there isn't plenty of foreign representation - Tumbra, Audioslavia, Nephara, and Quebec and Shingoryeo have a fair few - but it's good to see that a lot of the players that represent the Anomalies have chosen to play their club ball at home. (Ironically, none of them play for Anomalies, the club.)

3. Four Fillars, KLC, Hauser, VMK, and L X-Z

Ever since Juxon Fillar made the national team, the Chromatik public have been waiting for that moment where Chromatika started all four Fillars. It happened during last World Cup's run, and all four Fillars should be part of the first-choice XI this cycle. Juxon is the undisputed first-choice keeper, even with the ageless Kathie Begley and charging talent like Do Seung-Min and Hailee Sourtois; Grayson Fillar is the defensive-minding wingback at the right side, while Edith is the offensive one down the left. Baillaire is the one that has had to work the hardest with Vasiliy Marten Kuznetsov and Haley Hauser still in the picture, but with both of those players being in their thirties, Baillaire will be the one picked to play every meaningful game. Even if Repin decides to field the dual-Defensive Midfielder lineup and have Mare Si step in instead, Baillaire will be out there - guaranteeing the four Fillars on the field.

Kaia Larriet-Cortes also comes to mind when it comes to players cementing their starting status. Kateryna Zuniga has conceded her starting spot, and the twenty-seven year old Larriet-Cortes is set to shine as the starting holding midfielder. Throw in one Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov, the young star who has thirty-eight goals in thirty-eight caps at age twenty, and this is a fine starting core that will be around for at least three more years, if not longer. Juxon is the oldest at thirty-one, and a goalkeeper like him can play well into his mid-to-late thirties, right?

4. The Age of the Veteran

Gone are the days where Chromatika would replace anyone as soon as they aged over thirty. Now, Chromatika prizes its veterans - and the back three are the prime example. Moira Ansov is 31, Henri de Aea 34, and Keira Anbient 30 - but all three of them are in the prime of their careers and show no sign of slowing down. Yes, the next three of Ami Coulibaly, Klavida Régine, and Ipati Aimée are also good, but there is no replacing the chemistry that the back three of Ansov, de Aea, and Anbient has built with each other over multiple cycles. With Juxon Fillar and Vasiliy Marten Kuznetsov rounding five starters aged more than thirty, the Anomalies have a pool of players that are not just young emerging talent but players with plenty of caps between them. Henri de Aea has more caps than the legend, Keira Andisori, and he will be the first Chromatik to hit 200 caps before he retires. That's with fifty-person pools that take away plenty of starts - he's just been that good for that long!

The lack of drama regarding the starting lineup has also been stellar. Sure, some players have discontent for the lack of playing time, but there is no denying the fact that those who are starting deserve their spots. With twenty games played this qualifying cycle, Chromatika will need the depth anyway.

5. Finding the Second Striker

There is no replacing Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov as the primary striker for the Anomalies. The youngster has been placed in the Testiculos and scored thirty-eight goals in thirty-eight caps, a clip that is unprecedented. His combined ability of converting chances presented by others and creating on his own is unlike anything Chromatika has seen, at least since the age of Keira Andisori. When it comes to trying to decide the second striker, though, things get a little more dicey.

Yes, Candice Delaya has the starting nod for now - a big-game striker with a good head for the goal as well as her foot - but the spot is in full jeopardy. Sandara Park knows where to be without being told, and though a poacher, she can score rather well; Hank Killian had the spot before, with his biggest blemish being that he tries to be Lavrentiy when Lavrentiy exists. Kara Oveni can create stuff on a dime, while Marie Fucheux provides a solid option when you need a striker who isn't afraid to shoot from range.

Enter one Elaine Howard-Dawes to completely throw everything out of whack. Her play at the DBC was inspiring, and the CFF took notice. From a sophomore at Z'ai'ai Institute of Technology to a twenty-seven year old that used to be billed the next best thing, the battle to be Lavrentiy's running-mate should be a notable one this qualifying cycle. Will anyone have the capacity to do enough to be named to the roster if/when Chromatika qualifies? Does it really matter at all, as long as Chromatika has Lavrentiy? (Not usually, but against the best teams of the world, it will matter - and the Anomalies are quite good enough now to worry about such details.)

6. The Group

The World Cup Qualifying Draw has happened, and it's not that bad for the Anomalies.

Eleventh seeded is the United States of Devonta, a returning side from a long while ago. They are Unranked - and the Anomalies are usually pretty decent against unranked teams. Tenth seeded are New Dascos, a new name for the Anomalies, as is ninth seeded Sinyal. It's when we hit the eighth seed that we see a familiar name - Polkopia. Ranked 144th, Polkopia once went from Unranked to the Proper, but have fallen on harder times. Chromatika has never played them, but it should be noted that they've taken down giants before.

Seventh seeded are Katterimunk, whom the Anomalies have faced in other sports, namely baseball. They've never played before in football, though, and they're ranked 118th. Sixth seeds are StrayaRoos, also a name known in other sports - and we hit the top 100, with them being 94th.

It's usually around Pot 5 that you start seeing more established names, and this time is no different. Atheara are a familiar foe in baseball, a bit less so in football; still, 84th ranked in the world, they'll be a test on the road. Fourth in the group is Kimi-suomi, a team that the Anomalies have a 2-0-0 record against; they've made a name for themselves in the last few Cups of Harmony, and will be looking to break into the Top Three. Sendhang being the third seeded team in the group will be a returning opponent for the Chromatiks, and one that has actually taken a game off of the Anomalies - a 4-5 loss on the road back in World Cup 92.

That leaves the primary opponent in Qualifying - Tikariot. A very well-known name in baseball, the two have never played each other in football, save three friendlies in their respective history. Still, the Owls are a well-established name, always flirting around qualification if not more than that; they, despite being ranked only 23rd, will be definitely a tough opponent, indeed.

It's fascinating to see Chromatika facing so many new nations. What kind of record will they have against these new faces? Will any of them trip up the Anomalies' run to automatic qualification?

7. The Venues

The eastern half of Myana Island is still under occupation by the forces of the Abyss from Yesopalitha, and it's showing in the choice of venues for this qualifying. The CFF and the Chromatik Government have made the difficult choice of taking away the hosting rights from three of the country's biggest cities - Myana, Tihon, and Urrheddiao. With the natural loss of Eyrods, all ten home matches will be held in the Chromatik mainland - and, namely, the Capital, Mountain, and Rainbow Districts.

Chromia will host two matches - The Capitlaizt Dome having Tikariot and Chromatik City Field having Sendhang - as the two top seeds will be hosted in the nation's capital. To see Felswyr chosen to host Kimi-suomi is a bit of a surprise, but the Frozen Jewel is a beautiful venue, and despite the lack of size, it's a premium place to host a game. Atheara will get to visit RCK Field in Alnio, while StrayaRoos will be hosted by Z'ai'ai, the biggest city of the Mountain District.

Katterimunk in Wirr Tsi, Polkopia in Sanar, Sinval in Lanar, New Dascos in Ming, and United States of Devonta in Umbar - that makes two in the Rainbow District, four in the Capital, and a surprising four in the Mountain District, with smaller venues like Umbar and Ming also getting the limelight.

Why are the Heartland and the Coastal Districts being left out? There isn't much in the Heartland, and a lot of refugees from Myana Island have been rehoused there. As for Lhor, The Cove is under maintenance, and there isn't really another suitable venue.

Yes, only three of the seven will be hosting, but the state of venues in the Red League has the country prepped regardless. It's nice to see.

8. What's at Stake

One-hit wonders happen. Longevity is much harder to grasp - and it's now the goal for these Anomalies. Two consecutive cycles of not only qualifying but reaching the Round of Sixteen is good, but best sides of the world are consistently in the final eight if not further. Chromatika has a veritable golden generation in its hands, and the depth of the squad is unmatched in its history - the starting keeper of the team that was in the last two Champions' League Finals is fighting to be the third keeper on the team, while the winner of the last Champions' League final is just a squad winger. The vast majority of players in the fifty-person pool are in teams that perennially contend for international club competition.

If you look at the bigger picture, however, Chromatika needs its football team to shine once again. The invasion of the eastern half of Myana Island has been brutal, and it's been ongoing for more than half a year. There is also the question of the public trial that is on the horizon, where Ji So-Yeong, Chromatika's driver in the WGPC, is supposed to speak and bring some light to what happened to Anola Melani and her family. As it has been since the days of the Rainbow Revolution, the Anomalies are one of the only things that can bring people from different political persuasions together under one roof.

When the Anomalies play, they play for more than themselves, more than even the footballers. They play for the entire country, and it shows.

9. Expected Lineups

Here are the fortnights of Chromatika's qualifying campaign, and who are expected to start on each one.

Opener: @ Sinval
Starting XI: Begley (C); Coulibaly - Régine - Aimée; Kruetzberg - Si - Hauser - Ighv; Phoen; Park - Killian.
Substitutes: GK Hailee Sourtois, GK Do Seung-Min, DCR Paisley Paterson, DC Gwina Ansoll, DCL Cyline Nodis, DC Rowan Harry, WBR Elouan Christelle, WBL Ladonna Womack, WBR Cyrus Vette, CDM Amélie Ju, DLP Marion Goo, AP Evin Françine-Miklavivec, SS Kara Oveni, AF Elaine Howard-Dawes, AF Marie Fucheux

Fortnight 2: vs. Sendhang, @ Tikariot
Starting XI: Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Larriet-Cortes - Fillar, B. - Fillar, E.; Kuznetsov; Xuen-Zhukov - Delaya.
Substitutes: GK Kathie Begley, GK Hailee Sourtois, DCR Ami Coulibaly, DC Klavida Régine, DCL Ipati Aimée, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, WBR Emilie Kruetzberg, WBL Ha'nei Ighv, WBL Manda Iara, BWM Mare Si, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, AM Alissar Phoen, AP Haley Hauser, P Sandara Park, AF Hank Killian

Fortnight 3: vs. United States of Devonta, @ New Dascos
Starting XI: Sourtois; Paterson - Ansoll - Nodis; Christelle (C) - Ju - Françine-Miklavivec - Womack; Phoen; Oveni - Fucheux.
Substitutes: GK Do Seung-Min, GK Laurée Bautista, DCR Odwin Muir, DC Rowan Harry, DCL Twilight Mixon, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, WBR Ibayashi Haitou, WBL Manda Iara, WBR Crystle Tracy, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, DLP Alija Mesic-Mizayaki, DLP Marion Goo, AP Tyoma Laurette, AF Elaine Howard-Dawes, CF Nam Il-San

Fortnight 4: vs. Polkopia
Starting XI: Do; Paterson - Jackson-Jones - Nodis; Kruetzberg - Zuniga (C) - Phoen - Ighv; Hauser; Xuen-Zhukov - Howard-Dawes.
Substitutes: GK Kathie Begley, GK Hailee Sourtois, DCR Paisley Paterson, DC Gwina Ansoll, DCL Twilight Mixon, DC Rowan Harry, WBR Grayson Fillar, WBL Edith Fillar, WBL Ladonna Womack, BWM Mare Si, AP Baillaire Fillar, AM Vasiliy Marten Kuznetsov, CF Candice Delaya, P Sandara Park, SS Krra Oveni

Fortnight 5: @ Katterimunk. vs. StrayaRoos
Starting XI: Sourtois; Paterson - Ansoll - Nodis; Christelle (C) - Ju - Françine-Miklavivec - Womack; Phoen; Oveni - Fucheux.
Substitutes: GK Do Seung-Min, GK Laurée Bautista, DCR Odwin Muir, DC Rowan Harry, DCL Twilight Mixon, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, WBR Ibayashi Haitou, WBL Manda Iara, WBR Emilie Kruetzberg, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, DLP Alija Mesic-Mizayaki, AP Baillaire Fillar, AP Tyoma Laurette, AF Elaine Howard-Dawes, CF Candice Delaya

Fortnight 6: @ Atheara, vs. Kimi-suomi
Starting XI: Begley (C); Coulibaly - Régine - Aimée; Kruetzberg - Si - Hauser - Ighv; Phoen; Park - Killian.
Substitutes: GK Hailee Sourtois, GK Do Seung-Min, DCR Moira Ansov, DC Henri de Aea, DCL Keira Anbient, DC Gwina Ansoll, WBR Grayson Fillar, WBL Edith Fillar, WBR Cyrus Vette, BWM Kaia Larriet-Cortes, CDM Amélie Ju, AP Baillaire Fillar, AF Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov, AF Marie Fucheux, AF Elaine Howard-Dawes

Fortnight 7: @ Sinval, vs. Sendhang
Starting XI: Begley (C); Coulibaly - Régine - Aimée; Kruetzberg - Si - Hauser - Ighv; Phoen; Park - Killian.
Substitutes: GK Juxon Fillar, GK Hailee Sourtois, DCR Moira Ansov, DC Henri de Aea, DCL Keira Anbient, DC Gwina Ansoll, WBR Grayson Fillar, WBL Edith Fillar, WBR Elouan Christelle, BWM Kaia Larriet-Cortes, CDM Amélie Ju, AP Haley Hauser, AF Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov, CF Candice Delaya, SS Kara Oveni

Fortnight 8: vs. Tikariot, @ United States of Devonta
Starting XI: Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Larriet-Cortes - Fillar, B. - Fillar, E.; Kuznetsov; Xuen-Zhukov - Delaya.
Substitutes: GK Kathie Begley, GK Hailee Sourtois, DCR Ami Coulibaly, DC Klavida Régine, DCL Ipati Aimée, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, WBR Emilie Kruetzberg, WBL Ha'nei Ighv, WBL Manda Iara, BWM Mare Si, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, AM Alissar Phoen, AP Haley Hauser, P Sandara Park, AF Hank Killian

Fortnight 9: vs. New Dascos
Starting XI: Bautista (C); Muir - Harry - Mixon; Vette - Goo - Laurette - Anderson; Françine-Miklavivec; Howard-Dawes - Nam.
Substitutes: GK Hailee Sourtois, GK Do Seung-Min, DCR Paisley Paterson, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, DCL Cylie Nodis, DC Gwina Ansoll, WBR Crystle Tracey, WBL Sakia Damani, WBL Manda Iara, DLP Alija Mesic-Mizayaki, CDM Amélie Ju, AM Alissar Phoen, P Sandara Park, SS Kara Oveni, AF Marie Fucheux

Fortnight 10: @ Polkopia, vs. Katterimunk
Starting XI: Sourtois; Paterson - Ansoll - Nodis; Christelle (C) - Ju - Françine-Miklavivec - Womack; Phoen; Oveni - Fucheux.
Substitutes: GK Do Seung-Min, GK Laurée Bautista, DCR Odwin Muir, DC Rowan Harry, DCL Twilight Mixon, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, WBR Ibayashi Haitou, WBL Manda Iara, WBR Emilie Kruetzberg, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, DLP Alija Mesic-Mizayaki, AP Baillaire Fillar, AP Tyoma Laurette, AF Elaine Howard-Dawes, CF Candice Delaya

Fortnight 11: @ StrayaRoos, vs. Atheara
Starting XI: Begley (C); Coulibaly - Régine - Aimée; Kruetzberg - Si - Hauser - Ighv; Phoen; Park - Killian.
Substitutes: GK Juxon Fillar, GK Hailee Sourtois, DCR Moira Ansov, DC Henri de Aea, DCL Keira Anbient, DC Gwina Ansoll, WBR Grayson Fillar, WBL Edith Fillar, WBR Elouan Christelle, BWM Kaia Larriet-Cortes, CDM Amélie Ju, AM Vasiliy Marten Kuznetsov, AF Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov, CF Candice Delaya, SS Kara Oveni

Fortnight 12: @ Kimi-suomi
Starting XI: Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Larriet-Cortes - Fillar, B. - Fillar, E.; Kuznetsov; Xuen-Zhukov - Delaya.
Substitutes: GK Kathie Begley, GK Hailee Sourtois, DCR Ami Coulibaly, DC Klavida Régine, DCL Ipati Aimée, DC Eileen Jackson-Jones, WBR Emilie Kruetzberg, WBL Ha'nei Ighv, WBL Manda Iara, BWM Mare Si, BWM Kateryna Zuniga, AM Alissar Phoen, AP Haley Hauser, P Sandara Park, AF Hank Killian

10. Conclusion

Arguably, this is the most important cycle in Lev Repin's tenure. Getting second place in the World Cup would mean considerably less if the team is to falter now. They have the most loaded starting XI in a while. They have the best fifty-person roster the team has ever had. They have all four Fillars in the starting lineup, and a bona fide scoring machine in Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov.

Qualification should be the bare minimum. The hope is that the team doesn't have too much trouble with it - and that they continue to show the world exactly what they can do.

The alternative would be unthinkable.

by **Patriotlandia** » Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:08 pm

"Don't Fall for it", Chutes-Villeneuve's new safety campaign kicks off as vacationers head to the lake district

Authorities in Chutes-Villeneuve unveiled their new safety advertisement campaign in preparation for the touristic season. The small town on the edge of the Lac des milles-Iles increased their warnings and safety precautions as multiple accidents shook the community of twelve thousand last year. The Villeneuve Falls, from which the town draws it's name, are notoriously dangerous with steep drops and high currents that can easily take newcomers by surprise. "You can be enjoying a nice calm cruise down the river and next thing you know you are heading straight for a drop" said Park Ranger Denis Pelletier. The Parks and Nature Conservation Department added a new buoy line to cordon off the riskier waters but a few properties still have a waterfront closer to the 65 meter waterfalls.

The promise of tourism brings life back into the small town which usually sees 200% growth during the summer. Situated between the Provinces of Abelanne and Sourterre, Chutes-Villeneuve hosts plenty of festivities throughout the season. The annual kayaking competition and folk music festival usually attracts people from all over the country. The local businesses are also looking forward to the next few months, winter sees lots of seasonal shops and businesses close but the creameries, sporting goods stores and various restaurants have opened up. "It's always a bit of a challenge to find workers to start the season", said Amélia Groulx, owner of a local ice cream shop. "Once school ends and families move in for a the summer months we get a few part timers, but after slumbering all winter the first few weeks have high demand and we are usually short staffed". Parking is also causing a few issues already as a few more businesses were granted street space for patios and outdoor dining taking away key parking spots. With the number of sizable vehicles coming to town, Chutes-Villeneuve opted to set up a shuttle from a designated parking on the edge of town. The electric shuttles were provided by electric mobility manufacturer É-Vlan and should be able to transport six passengers on the ten minutes back and forth onto Main Street.

Training is done, ready for the spotlights

Box Score
Blue Team 4–1 White Team

First Half
- Francis Fortinello (7')
- Bruno Vaillancourt (12')
Glenn Wils (37') -
Second Half
- Alexandre Desrives (64')
- Lucien Graham (70')

After a weeklong training camp, Jean Alexandre Carignan's troops faced each other in one last scrimmage before boarding their transport to the Euran Oceania Territories for the first match day of qualifiers. The scrimmage took place in front of a mostly full Lockhart Lane in Blackbay. The atmosphere was light but players on both sides still wanted to prove their worth before officially kicking off the international window. The Blue team, primarily composed of the starting eleven, took on the White team, mostly second stringers. The scoring opened with Francis Fortinello found space in the box to place a shot past Laura O'Neill. The lead of the Blue team would double a few minutes later as dissonance in the box let Bruno Vaillancourt head a corner to the back of the net. Glenn Wils would redeem the White team and bring them back into the game with a late goal before halftime but the St John's Arsenal forward was not able to carry his team back from the deficit and the Blue team would seal the deal with two second half goals. After the final whistle, fans were allowed onto the pitch where players were offering to take pictures and sign autographs. "I think both sides played well" added the manager in his post game presser. "The Blues had more possession and chances but I did see a few things I liked from the White team." "We will have plenty of video to dissect in the next few days".

With the qualifiers officially starting tickets were made available for the three stadium the Patriotlandian Soccer Partnership will be using. Navy Memorial Stadium, Arène Alphonse-Sintègne and Champs-de-Mars all reported major presale numbers and they are expecting high attendance for most games.

by **Kharakia** » Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:11 pm

Kharakia Looks Forward to First World Cup Qualifiers

After an okay start to world football, with a quarterfinals loss to Evinea in the Baptism of Fire, Kharakia is looking forward to their group for World Cup Qualifying. As only 30 spots are available, 2 teams will be qualifying from each group, meaning that Kharakia has to do exceptionally well in order to qualify. However, this will not come without extreme challenge as teams such as Tumbra, Mertagne, Pasarga, and Eastfield Lodge have been drawn in the same group. The Kharakian National Team should have some plans for trying to at least do well, but here's a list of things we at the KPB think that they should attempt in order to increase their chances.

1. Rely on the offense more than the defense, specifically Síer.
It should come as no surprise that the NT should try to rely on Síer, as he as 15 goals in just 26 caps, but they can't have him carry the team the whole way through the Qualifiers. They have to rely on other players such as Kakasarais, Polas-Gonzalez, and Kan. The defense is not nearly as sound as the offense, and especially harboring a "don't get carded" mentality, this team may simply try to outscore their opponents.

2. Utilize Reynolds and Björn as much as possible.
Reynolds and Björn are the defensive anchor of this team, and barring injury, they should be starting every match to avoid conceding 5 goals a game.

3. Potentially give Lokast a nod
Lokast has been making some waves throughout the 1 League for Brusnia United, scoring 3 in just 2 games. It's figured that he's worth a look, and if all else fails, he might be a decent option. Obviously, we haven't seen him goalkeep yet, but that shouldn't matter as he's doing great as a striker, and at only 20 years of age, we figure he should get some international experience.

4. Destroy United Hawkland
It could be useful for morale in the second half to have a bye coming off of an absolute wreckage of Paterian rivals United Hawkland, especially on the road. The home match, however, might not prove as useful, as it's the last match of the qualifiers for Kharakia. As a plus, the fans will love to claim the Paterie Derby bragging rights.

5. Hold powerful teams to draws
With some pretty high-powered teams in our group, it's only fair we simply attempt to draw with them, and not win. Mertagne and Tumbra will provide an extreme challenge, especially when we travel to their nations.

List of matches throughout the qualifiers

Opener: Home vs Ancherion
After a matchday 1 bye, Kharakia will start home against Ancherion. Not likely to be an easy matchup, but Kharakia shouldn't come away with a loss, especially at home. While a draw might happen, we'll be hoping for a win in our first competitive in Capitol Stadium.

Match 2: Away vs Eastfield Lodge
Next, Kharakia heads to Eastfield Lodge to take on a pretty powerful team. Kharakia will be extremely lucky to manage a win, but a draw does seem on the cards, and that's what we'll be hoping for.

Match 3: Home vs Stevencousin
To start out the third round of games, Stevencousin will come into Kharakia for a match. With their new head coach still figuring things out, a win is likely for Kharakia, and that's what we'll be hoping for, though a draw is acceptable.

Match 4: Away vs Tumbra
There's no sugarcoating it: there is absolutely no chance of Kharakia winning this game. A draw seems unlikely too, as the game is away, so we'll just be hoping for a close scoreline.

Match 5: Home vs Acastanha
A home game against a pretty unheard of nation, a win seems likely, and we'll be hoping for one.

Match 6: Away vs Carpathia and Ruthenia
A mysterious team that not many Kharakian fans have heard of, a win seems likely, so we'll hope for one, but as the team is unknown by Kharakia, anything might happen.

Match 7: Home vs Pasarga
A high-powered team comes into Kharakia, ranked 32nd, and under the guise of Zachary Orengo of Banija, it will certainly be a tough matchup. However, he has changed the formation from what the team is used to, so a win may still be on the cards, especially in just the 7th match of these qualifiers. We'll be hoping for a draw this match.

Match 8: Away vs Mertagne
Going on the road to face a pot 3 team is never good. We'll be hoping for a close scoreline, similar to the match against Tumbra.

Match 9: Home vs Brusseldorf
A certainly interesting matchup to kick off the 6th round of matches, a win is possible, and we'll be hoping for one, though a draw is more likely.

Match 10: Away vs United Hawkland
Possibly the biggest deal these qualifiers to Kharakian fans, even a bigger one than qualifying, is the existence of the Paterie Derby against United Hawkland, which comes from the two nation's shared Paterian culture. These are games the fans will be looking forward to, and in this first one away, a win is what we're hoping for. Though, since it is away, a draw might happen.

Match 11: Away vs Ancherion
A rematch of our opener, but this time away, a loss seems the most likely outcome, though a win is possible, especially coming out of a bye. A draw is the hope for Kharakia this game.

Match 12: Home vs Eastfield Lodge
With Eastfield Lodge coming to Kharakia, a win seems possible, though extremely unlikely. We will be hoping for a draw here.

Match 13: Away vs Stevencousin
A loss is the most likely outcome here, though we'll be hoping for a draw.

Match 14: Home vs Tumbra
Again, a win seems impossible for Kharakia against Tumbra, though it's more likely at home than away. We'll still be hoping for a close scoreline. Note: this game will be played in Holloway Stadium as opposed to all the others in Capitol Stadium.

Match 15: Away vs Acastanha
Another mysterious team, though this time away, and so a draw is our hope.

Match 16: Home vs Carpathia and Ruthenia
Again, a very unknown team in Kharakia. A win is the hope at home, however.

Match 17: Away vs Pasarga
Despite the hope for a draw at home, a draw seems nearly impossible on the road against Pasarga. We'll be hoping for a close scoreline.

Match 18: Home vs Mertagne
At home, the win chances are actually there, but we'll only be hoping for a draw.

Match 19: Away vs Brusseldorf
A team that's again, interesting, but this time on the road, we'll still be hoping for a draw.

Match 20: Home vs United Hawkland
Finally, the day has come: The Paterie Derby comes to home soil as we take on United Hawkland. Obviously, a win here is the hope, but an absolute wreckage would be amazing. A packed house at Capitol Stadium is expected for this match, probably one of the only sold-out games all qualifiers.

by **Krytenia** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 2:52 pm

Lift It Higher Anaia
By Rami Niblick in Emberton

WELL, here we are, back to the coal furnace of World Cup Qualification. This time, though, we enter the grind of twenty qualification matches with a well-earned accolade to our name - namely, the title of Best Team In Anaia. Ko-oren, Audioslavia, Starblaydia, even Flaviovespia, all now have to live with the fact that the Dragons rule the roost over the region. At least two of the teams mentioned there will have that fact well and truly stuck in their craw, and to them we say: good.

We've been saying it for a long time, but the class of CAFA VI finally put their money where their mouth was and truly believed that they could beat the best no matter what was thrown in their way. Yes, we have skillful players of the likes of Savannah Quinn, Angus Jack, and Jules Renard, but what sets the entertainers apart from the winners is the ability to knuckle down and get the win, and to hell with the consequences. Krytenia, finally, learned how to be just the right flavour of nasty. And for the purists who say that's not how Krytenia do things, you know what else hasn't been how we do things? Winning trophies. Starblaydia didn't win five World Cups by making friends. Valanora didn't win five by giving their opponents the time of day. Hell, the Holy Empire have resorted to literal eldritch abominations in their successful pursuits of the big one - and that's just Simeone di Bradini.

What we have now is a Krytenia side that is confident, determined, and absolutely not taking no for an answer. That's reflected in JMC's new kits for the national side. The home shirt paints the Anaia flag in Krytenian blue and white, with a golden crown (and gold-embroidered dragon) so that nobody is allowed to forget that the players wearing these jerseys are the best not just the nation, but the region, have to offer. The away kit, in two-tone gold and garnet, takes the team's traditional red-and-yellow change colours and dips them in a fresh coat of bling. It's a pair of ensembles that say not only that we mean business, but we're going to be up front about it.

Of course, it'd be easy to fall down the slope from confidence to arrogance, and that simply won't do for the Dragons. BXE, though, knows better. They understand that whilst there are familiar faces to test our mettle against - not least the SRS, but also the likes of Indusse and Bears Armed - no team in the group should be taken lightly. Hell, Gnejs will be an interesting opponent for no other reason than they are taking a trip into the unknown with their first-ever foreign coach. And why not? Karim Isserson worked for us way back when, and our current boss is from Qusmo, so there's evidence the move could work.

It's about time we got back to the top table, too. World Cup 94 marks twenty years since we last made it to the big dance, and it's been almost three quarters of a century since the Dragons last actually won a game at the finals. In other words, it's about bloody time we got back up in everybody's grill. Onward!

by **Nephara** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 8:34 pm

THE HERALD
AFTER BRUISING OFF-CYCLE, WOUNDED CORMORANTS DETERMINED TO COME BACK BETTER
Shani Kolar Football Correspondent

"I am taking the tournament seriously."

It said a lot that Igrene Cantor felt she had to say it. It hadn't even been questioned, not directly. It wasn't that there weren't silver linings to the final Eagles' Cup game, once which saw the Cormorants yet again bow out of the prestige friendly tournament at the group stage; after all, they had scored four goals. Trouble was, they'd conceded eight.

"I'm just taking a longer view," she added. "All respect to this tournament, it plays a big part in our history, but the goal is always the Copa Rushmori, and then after that, the World Cup. With two tournaments in such quick succession, and Nepharan depth being what it is, I genuinely believe our best chance for even short-term success is to switch up our selection... and the medium-term benefits, coming up now, are self-evident. Now," she said, pointedly, "we have a better idea of who has got it, and who doesn't."

Leading the list of those imbued with 'it' is undeniably Ravil Kulesza, long thought of as a development success story, even if in the popular imagination he's taking up the thankless role of Not Felixe Vetiver. But at the Eagles' Cup, leading the line alone, the Maethoru striker - now accustomed to battling through tough Ko-oren defenses - not only struck three goals and an assist in six matches, but his pace, power and intelligence made him a handful both in the press and in hold-up play.

Judging by Cantor's chosen 26, it appears likely a 4-4-2 will be trialled again, and Kulesza, called up, seems as likely as any to be the strike partner Vetiver's been crying out for. Tabithe Drake also impressed, a livewire presence down the right with incisive, classical wing play with a modern twist, the ability to cut inside and drive a forceful shot in with the left where needed, but left in reserve like a pistol up the sleeve. She, too, makes the squad, the most orthodox of the three right wingers.

Curiously, despite the regular shellackings, four Eagles Cup defenders are also making the trip to Yakk. Tamiika Vine - who scored at both ends against Graintfjall - joins Catheline Mueller, going from strength to strength domestically, and both EC rightbacks in Holden and Swain, with Cantor hoping to find stability in a traditional problem position. Holding midfielder Seeker Biscan is another holdover, his incredible seasons with Sabrefell Athletic outweighing his failings in the Eagles Cup, while Petra Anhope rounds out the gang of seven.

Under Igrene Cantor, Nephara have struggled to sustain success, though the poor luck of repeatedly running into excellent sides at early stages has dogged them. That run has not ended here, with a genuinely menacing spread at the top of the table. Milchama are on paper the toughest rivals, with a dynamic attack and never-say-die spirit that mean they could beat anyone on their day, while Cassadaigua's presence in pot 3 is criminal; even in this relative lull, they're easily capable of great things, and Nephara will hold no fear for them. Astograth and Adab, too, will fancy their chances at a result at home at the very least, and would not look remotely out of place at the World Cup, while Koronavia have managed a rapid and eye-catching improvement since their emergence.

But Nephara will open their account against relative middleweights Yakk and Ascvalion, before the tough double-header visiting Cassadaigua and hosting Astograth. The need to get off to a good start was not lost on Cantor in her most recent press conference, just after the squad selection was announced. "Experimentation can wait," she said, "for when we have the points on the board." Her priorities are clear. Her squad is strong. Is this the year her plans come to fruition?

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 1
Goalkeepers: 1 - Medusa Strand (Chromatik, CMT), 12 - Toxothea Sebring (Crisisbless), 20 - Chary Longstreet (CA Paulinthal, PAS)
Defenders: 2 - Tiamat Holden (AFC Treason), 3 - Tanith Xu (Myana, CMT), 5 - Vetta Roback (Sabrefell Athletic), 6 - Anaximander Scales (Brinemouth), 17 - Astrid Swain (Anomalies, CMT), 18 - Sven Copperhead (Crisisbless), 22 - Tamiika Vine (Starling), 25 - Catheline Mueller (Ulsa, EUR)
Midfielders: 4 - Seeker Biscan (Sabrefell Athletic), 8 - Petra Anhope (La Nueva Avenida, FFD), 11 - Arachne Loeher (Wirr Tsi, CMT), 13 - Madita Brewer (Northern Union, BRE), 15 - Demeter Constantine (Crisisbless), 16 - Tryna Drnaso (1923 Esca, MYT), 19 - Chandra Rosziter (Dynamo Sjoedrhavn, SVJ), 23 - Tabithe Drake (AFC Treason), 24 - Bellona Sebold (Crisisbless), 26 - Lindse Kvasina (Istria City FC, BNJ)
Forwards: 7 - Kestrel Anharbour (Crisisbless), 9 - Ravil Kulesza (Maethoru FC, KOR), 10 - Bravura Harper (Ulsa, EUR), 14 - Leandra Berenguer (Brinemouth), 21 - Felixe Vetiver (1830 Cathair, AUD)

Yakk vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Ascvalion
Cassadaigua vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Astograth
Notricia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Milchama
Brascocia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Koronavia
Adab vs. Nephara
BYE
Nephara vs. Olastor
Nephara vs. Yakk
Ascvalion vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Cassadaigua
Astograth vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Notricia
Milchama vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Brascocia
Koronavia svs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Adab
BYE
Olastor vs. Nephara

World Cup 81/82/83/84

The Commonwealth of Baker Park National Team are set to embark on a course that will be the most significant change in direction of the FAC since the decision to introduce mixed gender squads ahead of the Baptism of Fire 67.

Will Barnard and his assistant Zoe Montgomery represent a break in continuity from the original school of thought that carried through from Trevor Richmond to Pamela Scott to the slight detour made under Maestro Ichi Tuzzio, to Jennifer Prescott. Even the Tuzzio regime was fundamentally grounded in the principles of Baker Park's “System”--high lines, forward pressure, offside trap—given a Farf 'finishing school' polish.

The return to the old country from translating the BP Way into different soccer cultures—Barnard's influence in making three at the back a concept used more at the highest level in Graintfjall's domestic scene while having success at Gunzlach, and Montgomery injecting an alternative thinking into the Euran Territories that differed from the Eura influenced orthodoxy into the EOT league during her tenure at Bakermouth—brings a “full circle” to the field experiments that have been validated by others who have spread the gospel from Birkenfeld's Charter Development Training Center—Shane Newman with Indusse along with the previous two World Cup winning Managers, Mrs Katherine Laughlin and Mrs Pamela Robertson of Zwangzug and Banija respectively.

The management duo are largely outsiders to the majority of the roster, with only a handful of the most veteran players having been on squads that included one or the other on the coaching staff. There have been a couple of 'weekend camps' held, which are generally meeting heavy and training light encounters where the entire staff—Chris LaRue, Danielle Harper, and Elaine King rounding out the senior squad coaches—have discussed the way forward.

Montgomery, in her role as Director of Technical Development, laid out the challenge that the Bees face heading into their fifteenth attempt at qualifying for the Finals--to be held in Graintfjall and Kelssek—by addressing the biggest obstacle that BP will have to overcome, the Law of Averages.

The BPNT remain the only current participants that have never failed to qualify for the last 32 nations competing for the World Cup Title; twice they have co-hosted, so the other 12 times they have gone through the WCQ tournament they have automatically advanced on eight occasions (81/82/83/85/86/88/89/91) and been consigned to a playoff the other four times (80/87/92/93).

Given their current KPB ranking, the rise of nations in the next half of the top 50 and the overall probability of fifteen straight rolls of the dice in its favor, Montgomery stressed that the upcoming campaign would bring the most pressure to bear on the NT than any other time in history.

Barnard invoked the AOCAF 60 team that eliminated the two-time defending regional champion Equestria as proof that the Bees were capable of beating any team on the day if playing at their full potential.

There is a wealth of talent returning that is just hitting their peak of their careers—31 of the 45 pool players are between the ages of 23-27, the highest percentage for that cohort in history—with the international experience to be prepared for any circumstances, as 23 squad members have 40 or more caps.

Baker Park is well regarded for the endless parade of midfield talent that have performed at the highest level in the multiverse's very best domestic leagues—eight BPNT midfield stars have been longlisted for Galactico/Testiculos honors—but the current strength lies among the forwards, where two of the most prolific scorers in NT history will spearhead a group that counts five 20+ goal scorers in their ranks.
The midfielders underwent a crash course in learning to integrate themselves into combinations based on assigned roles in both the Women's World Cup and AOCAF 69, so expect more positional specialization through the middle third based on specific tactical aims.

The defensive philosophy will be largely unchanged under the direction of LaRue, who was a first time youth team assistant at the SWC 5 tournament in Abanhfleft (as was GK coach Elaine King) and is one of the few people who have had assignments at every age group level including the seniors and the WNT (he spent three months in charge of the Under-15 squad that participated in a league format tournament alongside several AO nations, finishing third in the eight team competition).

Rod Callaway and Rose McCormack will draw on their experiences as backup to Zach Johnston—recognized for his performance in helping New Bremen to the quarterfinal of the IFCF Associations Trophy with a longlist mention in the most recent Testiculos Awards—in addition to their own exemplary records in domestic competition and the nearly 90 combined caps they've earned to provide another seamless last line of defense that has been another hallmark of the “BP Way”.

The road to Graintfjall or Kelssek will be another long journey with 20 matches required to determine the group winners along with second and third placed sides that will face off in a single match playoff to decide the field of 32. If Baker Park are to maintain their 100% record they will need to utilize the depth of the current talent pool to its full measure.

by **Elmyia** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 7:58 am

Elmyian Travel Information
So you're travelling to Elmyia for the football...

It's world cup qualification time, which means once again Elmyia is set to welcome football fans from around the world for a series of qualification games. With work on brand new Mosse Park in Beaucester delayed, fans will experience the ~~pain the arse~~ joys of travelling around some of Elmyia's more provincial areas. With this in mind we thought we'd answer all and any pressing questions you might have.

How do I pay for things?

~~With money~~ Elmyia's currency is the Lire, which currently exchanges at 8.14:1 NSD. You can change your money at home, although the currency has a tendency to plummet in value so don't do this too far in advance. An alternative is simply to pay in NSD, everywhere accepts this due to the aforementioned weakness of the domestic currency, but you might get your change in Lire.

Prices in Elmyia tend to be low by international standards, reflecting the relative poverty and low living standards of those living there. Whilst this means misery for the inhabitants of the island, for the seasoned traveller it means bargains. You can probably keep yourself fed, watered and sheltered for as little as $30 a day, maybe less. With stunning weather and facilities only slightly below international standards, it's worth a visit, especially as word of mouth looks set to send prices up.

How do I talk to people?

~~Don't, they're suspicious of each other, let alone people from abroad~~ Whilst Elmyians might seem reserved at first, they're happy to chat away one on one once they've got used to the idea of you being there. The population at large have tended to speak either Italian, Greek or English, but each is a dialectic and Elmyians can prove unintelligible. An effort is being made nationally to resurrect Sabir, a former lingua franca spoken around the mediterranean, which was once a dominant language on the island. It is being taught currently in schools, and there is an aim to have over 50% of the population fluent in the next 20 years. Currently only 11% are, so I wouldn't bother learning it just yet.

What's the weather like?

We'll split this bit into two sections. Most of Elmyia enjoys a fairly consistent mediterranean climate, somewhat moderated by the ocean. The first half of matches take place through the autumn and early winter, so the weather will be dry, potentially turning cooler in the evenings. Expect temperatures in the 18 to 25 degree range in the day, perfect for lunch outside, but bring a jacket if you intend to do the same for dinner. This applies to all matches in Beaucester, Mosfleet and Sablegaard.

One exception to this is the northern region, containing Diepfleet and Catamouge. Here the weather is ~~horrible~~ cooler and wetter. A cold upwelling brings frequent fog over the region, making those temperatures closer to 10 to 15 degrees in the winter. In summer, the sun is strong enough to burn the fog off, but in winter it gets cold and rains frequently. It's recommended to bring a jacket if you wish to see any games here.

How do I get everywhere?

Elmyia's train network is currently looking at an overhaul, so we would recommend you take buses where possible. The roads are reasonably well serviced and most places can be reached from the only airport (between Mosfleet and Beaucester) within an hour and a half.

Once you're at your destination it depends on the locality. Mosfleet and Beaucester run a combined metro network, with a joint travelcard, it is very affordable and any stadium within these cities is within a 10 minute walk of stop. Otherwise, things get a little bit hairier. Catamouge is easy enough to reach, the stadium a half hour walk from the station. If you wish to go anywhere else in the city (although, as a former industrial town there isn't tooooo much to see) there is a bus network, but the drivers are notoriously rude to anyone they don't recognise. In Diepfleet the stadium is further out. You can try an hour walk, get a cab (although be careful of scams) or again try your luck with the buses. Their bus drivers are far more polite, but will not be able to help you with directions nor destination.

Is Elmyia a safe destination?

~~Sort of?~~ Yes, broadly. Elmyia has a very low rate of violent crime, driven by incredibly close knit communities. Crimes against property, however, are quite high, so watch your wallet. For solo female travellers, Elmyia is a fairly safe destination, although expect anyone over the age of 40 to express considerable concern that you are travelling alone and to offer you help to the point where it might come across as aggressive. Mosfleet and Beaucester both possess good hostels with female only dorms, fyi.

As for LGBT+ travellers, Elmyia has very low rates of hate crime, but remains a slightly conservative, Catholic, society. Whilst you're unlikely to be actively harassed, you will be subject to a series of startled looks, tutting and side-eyeing outside of major cities. Mosfleet and Beaucester do, however, have gay scenes and you're likely to feel more welcome here. Adoption by same sex couples in Elmyia is recognised if you're from abroad, but gay marriages are not. You need to consult your travel insurance to see how this might affect you. With an election approaching, this might change however.

What should I eat?

Various tavernas, inns and trattorias will feed you for cheap, just don't expect any choice in the matter. Elmyians always eat with their drinks, and will be deeply confused if you do not also partake. If you don't want a full meal, you can request a bar snack. If you do want a full meal, various places in Beaucester and Mosfleet operate like restaurants do anywhere, but traditional places will simply cook you whatever they are cooking that day. It'd be wrong to view these places as if they were restaurants, they're more like being in someone else's house, but you compensate them for the cost at the end.

Traditional dishes vary by region and by whether the owner speaks English, Italian or Greek. If you're in Mosfleet or Beaucester you'll have your pick, just check the chalkboards outside to see. In Diepfleet and Catamouge, things operate a little differently. Big industrial towns that take lunch incredibly seriously. So much so that attempts to restrict lunch to 1.5 hours and to dial back beer consumption led to a series of strikes that crippled Elmyia's food processiong, car making, brick kilning and ceramics industries.

In Catamouge 'everything stew' is a good bet on any menu, taking leftovers from Sunday lunch, cooking them up with a sweet and sour gravy and dumplings, it's almost always great. Diepfleet treat theirs a little differently. They have a sandwich called 'distruttore di viscere', the gut destroyer. It consists of a garlic baguette cut in half, using a whole head of garlic (rumour has it this was to stop kiln workers having affairs). It is then stuffed with mashed potato and cold, leftover meats, before being battered and deep fried. It's delicious, and likely behind Diepfleet leading the nation is heart-disease.

Where should I stay?

We would suggest sticking to either Mosfleet or Beaucester. Beaucester is well connected to Catamouge and Diepfleet, and neither has much in the way of options for accommodation. Both also form a good base if you wish to strike out to the far more scenic Sablegaard, or the beautiful beaches and villages on the east of the island.

What are the stadiums and ticket allocation like?

The stadiums are a bit basic, but they do let you bring your own food in on the whole. Foreign countries will be allocated 20% of the stadium, or 3,000 tickets, whichever is higher.

by **Kamijiro** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:07 pm

Leão, the Baptism of Fire, and What's Next for the Lightning!

It's been one hell of a month for Kamijiro's sporting program. First, their participation in the Di Bradini Cup brought to light three or four future stars for the senior squad, including wonderkid Leão, the Conquistadores A.C. winger. The U21 squad managed to push much farther into the competition than was initially projected, getting to the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual champions, Qasden. After the loss, Leão flew immediately to Baker Park to take part in the Baptism of Fire, immediately being handed a starting spot by senior manager Akito Miura. The senior squad has made it as far as the Final, with Leão racking up multiple assists already. Regardless of how the Final goes, the Lightning have already earned themselves a spot on a major competition podium, something few would have predicted from a nation so young in it's sporting history.

So, what's next? The World Cup. The squad will fly from Baker Park immediately following the Final and participate in the big show - the most coveted trophy in the sport. They have all the momentum in the world coming into the tournament, and will be looking to make their intentions as clear as possible, aiming for the business end of the event.

Normally, there would be interviews from Miura or some of the stars of the squad, but the domestic press is already back home due to Akito Miura's refusal to allow the press to interview prior to the Final at Baker Park. "No distractions today, please." Hopefully, the superstar midfield duo of Ryuji Kaminari and Leão will see the country through to a major trophy, and so long as Ankei Hilario continues his fine vein of form up top, there's no reason to believe that Kamijiro's fortunes should falter so soon.

From Baker Park, this is Rui Nomura, the Kamijiroan Senior Squad correspondent, and the last one of the domestic press left here. Good luck, Lightning!!!

by **Ile de Richelieu** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 3:39 am

Île de Richelieu's opponents are finally known

Port-Saint-Jean, Île de Richelieu - Île de Richelieu's opponents are finally known. The Cardinals are in group 2 with some known nations and a former rival from Baptism of Fire 80. Let's introduce each nations from our group:

Huayramarca : This Anaian nation is currently ranked 8th and are clearly the favorite to win group 2.

Ko-oren: Another Anaian nation, they're currently ranked 20th and will fight for a spot at the World Cup.

Sannyamathland: A nation currently ranked 146th, which is below us.

Darmen: A misogynic nation from Rushmore who should call themselves Darmen & Darwomen. Currently ranked 58th, they will fight for a spot at the World Cup.

Jean-Guy Laframboise

Greater Cebu: Some kind of east asian nation. We do not find them in the rankings and they're not participating in the Baptism of Fire.

The Cherven Cities: They were in Baptism of Fire 81 and lost in the round of 16.

Jeruselem: We're thrilled to have this christian nation in our group. This is Jesus homeland! Our leader Cardinal Jean-René De la Sablonnière is eager to meet their head of chuch. All Jeruselemites will be VIP in Île de Richelieu. Currently ranked 38th, they will fight for a spot at the World Cup.

Naixi: From Rushmore, Naixi is our first rival. They were in our group in the Baptism of Fire 80. They won our group, we finished 3rd. We lost in round of 16, they lost in quarter finals against Archalit. Currently ranked 81st, do they have a chance to qualify against teams like Ko-oren, Darmen and Jeruselem?

Mameath: They're currently in Baptism of Fire 81 as Manmeath but it seems it's a mispelling. They're actually playing the 3rd place match against Evinea. Who wins? There's actually a 24 hr delay due to a general power outage in Baker Park.

Pyazhnaya: Another Anaian nation, Pyazhnaya is currently ranked 87th.

For comparisons, Île de Richelieu is ranked 125th.

Schedule

Note: All home games will be played at Stade national de la montagne de l'ours (Bear Mountain national Stadium).

Matchday 1: Île de Richelieu vs Mameath [expected weather: sunny +2 °C or 35,5 °F]
Matchday 2: Pyazhnaya vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 3: Île de Richelieu vs Huayramarca [expected weather: snowy -4 °C or 25 °F]
Matchday 4: Ko-oren vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 5: BYE
Matchday 6: Île de Richelieu vs Sannyamathland [expected weather: snowy -9 °C or 16 °F]
Matchday 7: Darmen vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 8: Île de Richelieu vs Greater Cebu [expected weather: snowy -7 °C or 19,5 °F]
Matchday 9: The Cherven Cities vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 10: Île de Richelieu vs Jeruselem [expected weather: sunny -18 °C or 0 °F]
Matchday 11: Naixi vs Île de Richelieu

Matchday 12: Mameath vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 13: Île de Richelieu vs Pyazhnaya [expected weather: sunny -11 °C or 12 °F]
Matchday 14: Huayramarca vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 15: Île de Richelieu vs Ko-oren [expected weather: heavy snowstorm with blowing snow -6 °C or 21 °F]
Matchday 16: BYE
Matchday 17: Sannyamathland vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 18: Île de Richelieu vs Darmen [expected weather: sunny -9 °C or 16 °F]
Matchday 19: Greater Cebu vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 20: Île de Richelieu vs The Cherven Cities [expected weather: sunny +7 °C or 44,5 °F]
Matchday 21: Jeruselem vs Île de Richelieu
Matchday 22: Île de Richelieu vs Naixi [expected weather: rainy +3 °C or 37,5 °F]

Actually there is no word from the Fédération Richeloise de Football about matchday 15 vs Ko-oren but a football match can't be played under these conditions.
Matchday 10 against Jeruselem is fine. Exceptionally, players will be invited to wear pants (instead of shorts) and long sleeves.

Île de Richelieu's starting XI

For World Cup 93, the Cardinals will use a 3-5-2 formation due to highly skilled midfielders in the nation. Lillegard-Omdahl twins, both midfielders, are now on the starting XI. Instead of taking out two midfielders to make room for them, coach Wahlberg took out a midfielder and a defender to make it a 3-5-2 formation. The best players on the team remains goalkeeper Bjørnar Grendahl-Kalberg and central defender and captain Nicolas-Leboeuf-Hachey. Rose-Émilie Bouthillette and Jean-Christophe Gouin will score most of the goals. Marc-Antoine Desgroseilliers remains a great passer.

Like last World Cup, nation leader Cardinal Jean-René De la Sablonnière will say the mass live in the stadium starting 1 hour before the kickoff.

by **Jeruselem** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 5:48 am

Princess Stella and Princess Mila for Naked News Jeruselem ...

Stella:
Hey, we're back! I'm Princess Stella and this is my younger sister Princess Mila.
I know most Jeruselemites know this but first time viewers of this channel from overseas might not.
It's football time. World Cup 94 is here and this time Graintfjall and Kelssek are hosting.
We have 135 nations fighting for 30 spots in the finals in 15 groups of 11 teams. The two hosts automatically qualify.

Mila: There's playoffs in this cuo so if you finish 3rd in the group, you're not automatically eliminated.
Stella: I guess that's good considering the group we are placed in.
Mila: We got placed in Group 2 in this cup, and it's a mixed bag.
Stella: Yes, the usual mix of familiar faces and teams we know nothing about.
Mila: It's going to be difficult to automatically qualify by the looks of it.
Stella: Right, let's look at what we are up against.

Mila: Three familiar names in our group. Huayramarca, Darmen and Ko-oren. Obviously, these teams are the teams we will be fearing the most.
Stella: Yes those are big names and those teams aren't strangers to us by any means. We don't need to comment about them.
MIla: It's the other 7 teams of the 11 as we're one of them and those other 3 teams we just mentioned.
Stella: Ile de Richelieu, Sannyamathland, Greater Cebu, The Cherven Cities, Naixi, Mameath and Pyazhnaya are other teams. And ... I don't think we have ever played any of them.
MIla: I believe three of those were in the current Baptism of Fire. Those are Ile de Richelieu, Mameath and Naixi.
Stella: Explains some of the sub-100 rankings.

Mila: I don't have much on most of those nations so I can't report on what to expect from them but there's Ile de Richelieu ... nicknamed the Cardinals and they take their religion seriously.
Stella: There's lots of those around the World Cup.
Mila: Yeah but ... they think we're some kind of holy Christian nation, but everyone else knows better.
Stella: They are going be be interesting visitors.
Mila: I guess they have no idea about our bad reputation I guess
Stella: Yeah, I hope they don't get a rude shock when they visit us ...

Mila: Seems like they don't know this show exists as yet
Stella: It's not like we are hiding from everyone hey
Mila: Most visitors have worked our infamous reputation, but I guess not everyone
Stella: Hopefully we don't offend them too much ...
Mila: Yeah ...
Stella: Well, I guess we can't talk much about our opponets because of them are known to us, and the other 7 are totally unkwown.

Mila: Apart from the Cardinal and his country. The Cherven Cities seem to be some Eastern European state. Pyazhnaya also seem to be Eastern European. The name Greater Cebu seems to infer an Asian country.
Stella: From the looks of it, we're in for an interesting ride.
Mila: Huayramarca and Ko-oren top 2 seeds in the top 20. Jeruselem and Darwin in the top 60. It's clear which teams are favoured to progress from here.
Stella: We did automatically qualify in the last cup but with Huayramarca and Ko-oren ... I seriously think getting into the playoffs is more realistic.
Mila: Hey, any method of qualification is fine by me ...

Mila: That's it from us
Stella: Actually, we have to do the cooking segment as the regular girl has flu.
Mila: That's going be entertaining, you're an awful cook.
Stella: Hey, I got that from Mum.
Mila: Yeah, our mother isn't a very good cook either but then she's a Princess and we don't actually need to learn how to cook.
Stella: You can't be good at everything.

by **Trolleborg** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 4:04 pm

Greetings, compatriots!
It’s TTV, and right now we will discuss forthcoming WCQ – but without our traditional guest in the person of FA Chairman. Since after the head coaches of our teams give interviews, they invariably begin to experience serious problems, Torben Mortensen decides to measure how the fate of our football will change if he also stops personally answering questions from journalists. But, since the answers in writing did not harm anyone yet, he agreed to answer in this form.

So, we will read our questions and his answers, and then we will continue in an extraordinary way. As you know, the sports film festival dedicated to the tenth anniversary of our country's participation in international tournaments ended just yesterday. We have taken on themselves the work to review films that aroused the greatest interest - and also some, which generate the most intense controversy. We would like to warn those who did not specifically follow this event that the program included films of a very different nature, from docudramas to science fiction, and these works vary greatly in their creative philosophy, ranging from strict realism to those built on pure symbolism and allusions. A lot of them caused controversy with their interpretations and proposed solutions to problems, and some caused a downright scandal, and we will also dwell on this. So stay with us after the interview!

And now - answers and questions.
J.: So, tell us about the competitors of our team.

T.M.: With all my pleasure I did this, although it is unlikely that I will say something new. We have a difficult history with almost all opponents. Judge for yourself: we have never dealt with Vilita in football except at the club level, and here were always unsuccessfully. Flavovespia we met twice at the strange Eagle Cup tournament, and lost both times. Valentine Z was our opponent once, in the quarterfinals of CoH, when we are regarded as a contender for a title – and we lost. Dantopia is familiar to us from the opening match of TSP, in which our team won a victory, albeit with real serious difficulty, although this match was the first in history for the opponents. With Ziwana, the balance is 2 wins, a draw and a loss, and we lost a match to them on our debut MC 1-2, although it could have been bigger, but the referee called offside twice when we scored goals. With Euran Oceania Territories we played twice in club tournaments and twice in WCQ, all four fights ended in our victories, but three of them with a minimum score. Patriotlandia and our country have played only hockey in history, but their club level is more than very decent, and the national team will probably be the same. Tanirinthia, Neibeskiya, Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer are all new faces in the world of football, looking for an opportunity to score points on someone. In short, the qualifying tournament will not be easy.

J.: And the level of complexity increases due to the fact that our team will have to perform in a qualitatively different lineup?

T.M.: I think it was not possible to talk about a qualitatively different lineup. Changes have been going on almost from the first day of the existence of the national football team. The fact that two important players of the team left is a heavy loss, but it was a collective decision of the coach and the players. And they have not retired, the head coach has the opportunity to involve them in the games, if he deems it necessary.

J.: Why didn't we see any new faces after two players left? And why is our champion so poorly represented, who has earned so many important points for the country in world club tournaments?

T.M.: The head coach has tested a lot of players in the last three tournaments, it is his prerogative to select players and I cannot interfere. But he is able to explain the principles by which he is guided. Morten also looks at the general preparedness and technical equipment of a football player, and at his ability to work in a fundamentally new atmosphere, he also pays attention to strong-willed qualities. But here, our champion, it seems, not everything is perfect. Undoubtedly, the result of "Jesper Torbensen" is not bad. But where was the powerful attack of "JT" and morale when the team was defeated – i can say routed – successively by clubs from Naixi and Mytanija, interrupting its rather confident performance? However, there are still League of Victors and Confederations Trophy not held this year, and this is an opportunity for players to show their ability to play football with opponents which are not from our country. But even for the teams that don't get into the prize-winners and international club tournaments, the following rule is true: as it used to be, any player who shows a good game can get a ticket to the national team. But he should show it not from time to time, but in really every game.

J.: This season, free travel and big discounts on accommodation and entertainment have been made for guests of the country. Why?

T.M.: As you know, from the first day of our country's presence in international life, we have been trying to create the most comfortable conditions for visitors from other countries. There is a huge tourist flow. But for some reason it does not include football fans. At all home matches of our team, we are almost never see visitors from other countries, and even when they are, they prefer the airport-stadium-airport route without stops. In addition, most of the football countries of the world are seriously isolated, located far from contemporary transport hubs, air communication with them is difficult, and, of course, expensive due to that, even our mighty airport has direct flights with only two countries from among those whose teams will play in our group. Well, we tried to compensate for the need to seriously spend money on a trip with such benefits, making staying in the country more attractive specifically for sports fans. Altought, at the end, judging by the data we getting, Dantopians are expected in large numbers, we're not sure about everyone else. However, given that there will be few 3D broadcasts this season, this may not be so bad, many our fans will have more opportunities to get to the games.

J.: Fans, by the way, are interested in the question whether the decision not to participate in international tournaments as organizers will be reconsidered?

T.M.: At this point, I don't see the point to do so. However, let the international football authorities consider the bid to host the Confederations Cup final, and then the question can be raised whether we should apply, say, to host the IAC with someone else.

J.: Well, thanks for the interview and let's get down to the review of sports films. Stay tuned, we will continue right after the newsrelease.

by **Ko-oren** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 3:03 am

World Cup 94 Fantasy! Sign up now!

We're back with another one of these! Will your spicy takes prove too much for the rest? Do you know exactly what happens when the (Baptism of) Fire nation attacks? And which one of them is destined to make the World Cup playoffs? Here are a couple of contemplations:

- Group 1 has the angry cousins, Kharakia and United Hawkland. Will you back either of them or go with a safe Tumbra?

- Group 2 is Anaian-led with Huayramarca and Ko-oren (the latter seemingly a lock for the playoffs, if we're to believe the last 3 cycles or so) but the old Darmeni-Ko-orenite rivalry will start back up as well. Or do naked princesses will their team to the finals?

- Group 3 has Delte's impenetrable plot armour but even more impenetrable castling by Zwanzugian grand masters. What's the move called when you switch your castle and your king's spots again? Kingswap of Castille?

- Group 4 is easily leading all groups in instances of 'x' between Xanneria's one X, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles' one X, and 95X' ninety-five X's. Will that be enough to win games? Or will it be Baker Farf?

- Group 5 has some cool cats with Kewls, Cheetahs, and Lions. It also has Turori, which is a severely underpicked team going back about ten Fantasies - can the coalison of Ceni, Eshialand, Delaclava, and Drawkland finally topple the Turoriopoly?

- Group 6 has callback to the 40s vibes with Krytenia, Squornshelous (or what's left of it) and Bears Armed. There are some challengers on the horizon - mostly stranded on various islands - with Captina Island and the Gothanita Isles lurking.

- Group 7 perhaps offers the biggest challenge in 'should we go for expensive and certain' because it has both Valanora and Quebec, or will you be tempted by Legalese, Ranoria, Geektopia, Eraman, Aeragny, or virtually anyone else who could just make the top three?

- Group 8 is the worst group, the sheet says. Lowest combined KPB out of all groups, but beyond that, we're willing to believe that stat because one quick look shows that Audioslavia's in this group. There's also a little BOF 42 reunion between Kandorith and Quakmybush, three entire Qs between the former, Qasden, and Equestria, or will you go with Zeta Reka and HUEltaldom?

- Group 9 has Sinyal! That's your cheeky BoF pick, as if everyone isn't thinking the same thing.

- Group 10 is pretty obvious if we're picking 'fewest goals conceded per game' teams - that's South Covello (who, yes, concede fewer goals per game than Ko-oren, let's get that out of the way). Nyowani Kitara, Juvencus, Cardenao, Esportiva and Esvorpita - there's quite a bit on offer here.

- Group 11 has the shortest names on average, helped by having both Yakk and Adab on board. There's also a legendary Cassadaigua v Nephara going around, or can Milchama and Astograth ruin the party?

- Group 12 has three World Cup winners with Eura, Polar Islandstates, and Brenecia, as well as West Barack and East Obama - how are they still pot 5 - Saint Eleanor, Lisander, and various other names. And who can forget Panamer - they seem to be in everything these days - their FA's signup department is working 24/7 but can their players and media team match that energy?

- Group 13 has alternate universes colliding - will the catgirls win or will whatever comes out of that Dreamed Realm portal be victorious? Our brothers in dash - Gyatso-Kai - are in this group - as you might have guessed - together with a cast of teams that makes us go 'hang on, is this the group of death?'

- Group 14 is a sky full of stars - Stargossa, Starblaydia, 14 entire Stars, the Startan Dominion, and Sylestar among teams with no direct meaning in the English language - Banija, Mytania, Al-Tamazgha, as well as a few that are full English phrases but with no relation to stars (the Ochre Islands, Boring Paradise). The stats have this group as the second best one in total KPB.

- Group 15 has a bunch of Toms, Dicks, and Harrys, between Dan, Valentine, John, and Jacob. Or will it be a repeat of current KPB, with Vilita and Flavovespia leading the charge and the fight for third being completely open between Valentine Z, Trolleborg, and Ziwana?

by **Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 4:11 am

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer in group 15, schedule has been released

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer - The Jean-Jacquoise national team is in group 15 along with Vilita (18th), Flavovespia (25th), Valentine Z (48th), Trolleborg (53rd), Ziwana (67th) and 5 other nations. Let's take a look at the schedule and expected weather:

Matchday 1: Flavovespia vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 2: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Trolleborg @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 28 °C or 82 °F - Rainy : Match will be delayed 2 hrs due to tropical rain]
Matchday 3: Vilita vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 4: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Dantopia @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 26 °C or 79 °F - Cloudy]
Matchday 5: Euran Oceania Territories vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 6: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Patriotlandia @ Terrain de baseball 2, Complexe sportif national [weather: 29 °C or 84 °F - Cloudy]
Matchday 7: Ziwana vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 8: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Neibeskiya @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 21 °C or 70 °F - Rainy: Match will not be delayed but will be played under light rain]
Matchday 9: Valentine Z vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 10: BYE
Matchday 11: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Tanirinthia @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 27 °C or 81 °F - Cloudy]

Matchday 12: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Flavovespia @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 25 °C or 77 °F - Rainy : Match will be delayed 3 hrs due to heavy tropical rain]
Matchday 13: Trolleborg vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 14: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Vilita @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 30 °C or 86 °F - Rainy: Match will be delayed 24 hrs due to heavy tropical rain. Will be played under light rain 24 hrs after the scheduled kickoff time]
Matchday 15: Dantopia vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 16: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Euran Oceania Territories @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 28 °C or 82 °F - Rainy: Match will be delayed 1 hour due to tropical rain. Heavy rainfalls starting during halftime and 2nd half will be delayed 5 hrs]
Matchday 17: Patriotlandia vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 18: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Ziwana @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 24 °C or 75 °F - Rainy: Match will be delayed 24 hrs due to tropical rainfalls]
Matchday 19: Neibeskiya vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 20: Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs Valentine Z @ Terrain de baseball 1, Complexe sportif national [weather: 27 °C or 81 °F - Rainy: heavy tropical rainfalls occurring 5 days in a row starting 2 days before scheduled kickoff time. Match can't be played in SJJSM unless a 3 days delay]
Matchday 21: BYE
Matchday 22: Tanirinthia vs Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer

Paul-André Veilleux

A sporting union between Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer and Burnham-on-Stove

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer - The rumor was true! Our leader, Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer, met with the head of state and general secretary of the Burnhamese Communist Party, Braelynn McIlwain, in a secret location in Anaia to discuss of a sporting alliance between the two city states. It's not a secret, both our domestic leagues and national team's player pool are too small.

What was proposed is a sporting alliance between the two nations. Both nation will remain independent but they will compete under a single entity in every sports competition. The agreement was ratified yesterday and will be submitted to a general referendum in the two nations. The referendum will be held between matchday 11 and matchday 12 and, depending of the result, will be effective immediately.

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer has registered for the World Cup qualifications as Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer, so we doubt we can compete as Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove for the 2nd half of the qualifications. but if the yes wins, we will sign up for all upcoming competitions as saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove.

Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer and general secretary of the Burnhamese Communist Party, Braelynn McIlwain, will lead the yes campaign in their respective nation. The Front patriotique jean-jacquois, a far-right organisation led by Karine Francoeur-Bouchard, is against the sporting alliance and will lead the no campaign in Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer. Both the Burnhamese Antifas, led by Owen Burnham, and the Burnhamese Association for Transgender Equality, led by Tiffany McSweeney (born Trevor McSweeney) are against the sporting alliance and will will lead the no campaign in Burnham-on-Stove.

The result of the referendum will be known between matchday 11 and matchday 12.

Yves Beausoleil

by **Dantopia** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 4:48 am

Dantopia

@DantopiaFootball · 1h
Here are the upcoming fixtures in the #WorldCupQualifiers for our mighty #Lions!

#Dantopia | #Lions | #WorldCupQualifiers

25 JUNE 2023

Fixtures Announced for World Cup Qualifiers

The Dantopian national team's fixtures have been announced the upcoming qualifing games for World Cup 94, being hosted in Grainfjall and Kelssek this year. Below is the list of fixtures, including their dates and venues...

Matchday 1 Dantopia vs. Ziwana Tuesday 27 June Lion City Arena, Lion City, Dantopia	Matchday 2 Neibeskiya vs. Dantopia Thursday 29 June Venue TBD, Neibeskiya
Matchday 3 Dantopia vs. Valentine Z Thursday 29 June Bank of Dantopia Stadium, Dartford, Dantopia	Matchday 4 Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer vs. Dantopia Saturday 1 July Complexe sportif national, Sacré-Coeur, Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
Matchday 5 Dantopia vs. Tanirinthia Saturday 1 July DT Centre, Portland, Dantopia	Matchday 6 Flavovespia vs. Dantopia Monday 3 July Saints Park, St Astons City, Flavovespia
Matchday 7 Dantopia vs. Trolleborg Monday 3 July Lion City Arena, Lion City, Dantopia	Matchday 8 Vilita vs. Dantopia Wednesday 5 July Venue TBD, Vilita
Matchday 9 Dantopia Bye	Matchday 10 Dantopia vs. Euran Oceania Territories Friday 7 July DT Centre, Portland, Dantopia
Matchday 11 Patriotlandia vs. Dantopia Friday 7 July Champs-de-Mars, Conflans, Patriotlandia	Matchday 12 Ziwana vs. Dantopia Sunday 9 July Izulani National Stadium, Birnin Mansanduni, Ziwana
Matchday 13 Dantopia vs. Neibeskiya Sunday 9 July Bank of Dantopia Stadium, Dartford, Dantopia	Matchday 14 Valentine Z vs. Dantopia Tuesday 11 July Fate Stadium, Naypyithaw, Valentine Z
Matchday 15 Dantopia vs. Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer Tuesday 11 July Lion City Arena, Lion City, Dantopia	Matchday 16 Tanirinthia vs. Dantopia Thursday 13 July Venue TBD, Tanirinthia
Matchday 17 Dantopia vs. Flavovespia Thursday 13 July Bank of Dantopia Stadium, Dartford, Dantopia	Matchday 18 Trolleborg vs. Dantopia Saturday 15 July Stadium of 1st December, Trolleborg City, Trolleborg
Matchday 19 Dantopia vs. Vilita Saturday 15 July DT Centre, Portland, Dantopia	Matchday 20 Dantopia Bye
Matchday 21 Euran Oceania Territories vs. Dantopia Monday 17 July Venue TBD, Euran Oceania Territories	Matchday 22 Dantopia vs. Patriotlandia Wednesday 19 July Lion City Arena, Lion City, Dantopia

In a welcome break of tradition, the World Cup qualifying fixtures this year will not exclusively be taking place at the Lion City Stadium in the nation's capital. Instead, fixtures will be spread across three venues, the aforementioned Lion City Arena, the Bank of Dantopia Stadium in Dartford, and the DT Centre located in Portland. Dartford and Portland are the two largest cities in Dantopia outside of Lion City, and therefore the joint-hosting of the national team between the three cities is being seen as a way to share the experience of watching the national team play between the three cities.

Lion City Arena, Lion City, Dantopia
Owner: The Dantopian Football Association
Opened: 2007 (expanded 2019)
Club Team(s): Lion City F.C.
Capacity: 80,000
Field Size: 105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd)
Grass: Desso GrassMaster

Bank of Dantopia Stadium, Dartford, Dantopia
Owner: Dartford Devils PLC
Opened: 2017
Club Team(s): Dartford Devils F.C.
Capacity: 72,019
Field Size: 105.2m x 68.6m (115 yd × 75 yd)
Grass: Desso GrassMaster

DT Centre, Portland, Dantopia
Owner: City of Portland, Dantopia
Opened: 1983 (renovated 2011)
Club Team(s): Portland Pirates F.C.
Capacity: 64,405
Field Size: 107m x 68.6m (117 yd × 75 yd)
Grass: Mixto hybrid grass

With Dantopia's first game against Ziwana rapidly approaching, preparations in Lion City are being made in the hope the guests from Mandalanusa will feel welcome in Dantopia's capital. The national team will kick off against the Ziwanans on Tuesday 27th June, before setting off for the region of Lausania to play against Neibeskiya at their home venue. Following that, a return to Dantopia will be on the cards for the national team as they host Valentine Z in Dartford at the Bank of Dantopia Stadium. Harold Northgate's men will be aiming to start Group 12's fixtures off as positively as possible, though without the presence of talismanic striker and national team captain Barry Paine, the Lions face an uphill battle as they begin their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Manager Harold Northgate has been experimenting with a 3-2-4-1 formation
in training sessions recently

Recent performances from Michael Danchevy and Adebayo Adeyemi in the Baptism of Fire tournament have many Dantopian fans feeling optimistic, even despite the lack of Paine up top for the Lions. Hopefully the Dartford Devils and Lion City Grenadiers forwards will be able to continue their good form and help lift the Dantopians to the improbable position of qualifying from Group 12 and travelling to Graintfjall and Kelssek for the World Cup proper, a feat never before achieved in Dantopian national team football.

It is increasingly likely Harold Northgate will employ Danchevy as the lone striker in most games, seeking the Dartford Devils man to unnerve opposition defences with his incredible pace and ability to run in behind. Adeyemi's role on the right of the front three will remain largely unchanged, but his goal involvement will need to stay at the improved rate we have seen it at recently in order for the Lions to make up for Paine's absence leading the line.

What has been interesting to note in the national team's training sessions has been the use of the unorthodox 3-2-4-1 formation whilst in possession of the ball. The formation has been achieved from the starting 4-3-3 in a number of different ways due to the flexibility of the Dantopian national team players. The most frequent adaptation has seen right back Lyle Runner shift inside to make up a defensive three of himself, James Rock and Gary McGoldrick. Lewis Shank has then inverted into a makeshift left defensive midfield role, partnering with Dani Spaghetti at the base of the midfield box.

The width has been maintained by Adeyemi on the right, and whichever player has been employed on the left wing, with both wingers keeping tight to their respective touchlines in order to stretch the opposition defence. Taking up the two number 10 roles and making up the top part of the midfield box has been Ezra Cunningham and Brent Bartholomew-Barnham, both excellent playmakers, and the latter's ability to take on this newfound role has been monumental for Northgate's team. The Portland Pirates man has typically played at right back in the past few years, but his skills and abilities suggest a future might in fact be as a central midfielder. He does however give Northgate the option to switch to a back five on the fly if necessary, as he can drop into a right wing back role, and Lyle Runner can slot into the right side of the three centre-backs positions.

Finally, at the head of the attach has been Danchevy, who's ability to catch opposition high lines off guard has been devastatingly effective. He just requires his midfield behind him to look up and spot his frequent runs in behind, and with the ball-playing ability of Shank, Spaghetti, Cunningham and Bartholomew-Barnham, any number of the midfield box of four can deploy precise balls in over the top to the Dartford Devils man.

Time will tell to see if this newfound offensive tactic will prove effective for the Lions in unlocking the Group 12 opponents. It is however refreshing to see Northgate experimenting with his tactics, as previous to his team's miraculous victory at the South Pacific Cup, the national team manager had been derided by many in the media for being inflexible and unimaginative. Going into these world cup qualifiers however, the Dantopia manager is utilising a relatively new-found, revolutionary method, albeit copied directly from Dartford City manager Sep Patroliola's title winning side this season.

by **Stevencousin** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 5:48 am

STEVENCOUSIN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

TEAM SCHEDULE

MD		NATION             	GROUND
MD1		Mertagne		Federal Unity Stadium
MD2		Brusseldorf		NA
MD3		United Hawkland		Redfort Camp
MD4		Kharakia		NA
MD5		Ancherion		Readymann Ground
MD6		Eastfield Lodge		NA
MD7		-                	NA
MD8		Tumbra     		Redfort Camp
MD9		Acastanha		NA
MD10		Carpathia and Ruthenia	Readymann Ground
MD11		Pasarga     		NA
MD12		Mertagne		NA
MD13		Brusseldorf		Redfort Camp
MD14		United Hawkland		NA
MD15		Kharakia		Federal Unity Stadium
MD16		Ancherion		NA
MD17		Eastfield Lodge		Waxwood Circle
MD18		-       		NA
MD19		Tumbra     		NA
MD20		Acastanha		Federal Unity Stadium
MD21		Carpathia and Ruthenia	NA
MD22		Pasarga     		Waxwood Circle

Stadium Data
Stadium:: Federal Unity Stadium
Nearest City:: Cassaholm
Capacity:: 98,500
Brief Data:: The biggest stadium in Stevencousin, located in the Carmenzon District to the south of the city center of Stevencousin's capital city, Cassaholm, is an all-seater multi-purpose stadium for international concerts, weddings and sporting events and the home ground of the Stevencousin national football team. It was built by Posquieiras Heavy Engineering and designed by Billingeburg & Co. Interestingly, the stadium is not public property, nor is it managed by a sports association. The owner is the Federal Unity conglomerate group. They sponsor and cover the construction and renovation costs in full, but they also get various government mega-projects afterward.

Stadium:: Redfort Camp
Nearest City:: Brigketh
Capacity:: 26,900
Brief Data:: Redfort Camp was a home base for Brigketh Bishop FC and, Brigketh Salamander rugby club, a multi-purpose stadium in Cheilestorp Creek, Brigketh, Stevencousin. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a capacity of 26,900 people. It was built in 2009. In 2013, a mega concert was held there in which Stevenian most popular rock band, The Cassiopeia was the performer. The stadium known for energy and water consumption was targeted to be efficient. Most of the water used by toilets and water taps will be collected during rain-falls, the roof has a 550kW solar power plant, while floodlights are using new generation LED system.

Stadium:: Waxwood Circle
Nearest City:: Holmdock
Capacity:: 31,800
Brief Data:: Waxwood Circle a multi-use stadium in Stigeswaldeford, Waxwood District, Holmdock, Stevencousin. It has both an indoor stadium and an outdoor stadium within its compound. The outdoor stadium can hold a maximum of 31,800 people and is currently used mostly for football matches, serving as the home stadium to Holmdock Highlander FC and The Highlander Academy. The stadium consists of a soccer field, an 8-lane running track, and a fitness center. In addition to sports events, large concerts are also organized by Waxwood Circle, and a series of political rallies and religious gatherings have also taken place here.

Stadium:: Readymann Ground
Nearest City:: Fixmouth
Capacity:: 26,900
Brief Data:: Homeground for Fixmouth Firebolt is a football stadium located in Fixmouth, Stevencousin. The stadium is part of the Fixmouth Sports and Recreation Centre, a community sports facility that includes the stadium as well as a swimming complex. Construction began in September 2007 and finished construction in 2009. The stadium was officially opened and inaugurated in 2010. It was built by Sungard Global and designed by Billingeburg & Co. A new light rail terminal has been built near the stadium for fans' convenience.

by **Zwangzug** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 6:27 am

The Arlington Moon-Tribune

To everything, it is said, there is a season. If you wait long enough, unranked teams will upset top seeds, takilans will be shut out, war-torn regions will achieve peace (or vice versa).

To contextualize the novelty in the Zwangzug camp, we should look back to the purported "World Cup of Dreams" organized by Quebecois and Zwangzugian bureaucrats. Not because the "all-time" Zwangzug team triumphed on that occasion--if a tournament is so bizarre that even our statisticians can't be bothered to keep track of who scored the goals, you know it's really not important in the grand scheme of things. But because such a "setting" would have allowed for interactions among players of all generations, from the re-emergent 60s team to the Eagles' Cup cameo to the trailblazers of the early 30s. There has been, to put it lightly, a great deal that has changed over the years.

But our predecessors would have recognized a few commonalities in the modern team. While the manager has the capacity and authority to do...managerial things, the role of the captain is still a serious honor and responsibility. And as the armband has passed down the years, from Vizirani to Haugen to Jackson and beyond, the team has yet to have a forward captain...until now.

Valerie Waugh is the longest-tenured member of the national team, first called up for Eagles' Cup 11 at the beginning of the World Cup 89 cycle. At first the backup to Gordon Blum, then a starter in her own right, then bouncing in and out of the shadows of Quincy Dulk-Fough and Ryota Imamura, Waugh has racked up 41 goals in international play. But while Bassabook, Trink, and the Rovers have had periods of success and mediocrity, 102d has quietly returned to a pleasant consistency. Sure enough, there's Waugh, ready to lead from ahead.

Forwards can be stigmatized as selfish or stats-obsessed, not prepared for the more intangible aspects of team camaraderie, but it helps that her fellow "old-timers" have points against them as well. Cixin Nguyen is a wunderkind, but isn't used to playing along the 1./ locals. Lukas Helsen-Roan...would probably be a fine captain in the Kendra Jover mold, actually, but isn't quite as long-tenured. And Ketevan Igreli, while almost as experienced (and perhaps more accomplished), has the corresponding neuroses of being a frickin' goalie, and we're sure the old-timers would concur that that's still a bridge too far.

For her part, Waugh remains as imperturbable as ever about the honor. "Yeah, some of the guys are like, 'you can't just shrug it off if they call you offsides now, you have to get in the referees' face about it, at least on our behalf, you know'? But like, it's my responsibility to pick my battles, and you don't have to worry--I know how to do that." She allows herself a small grin.

Zwangzug open the WC94 qualifiers at the Stelladome against Torisakia, then travel to Hopal.

by **Vilita** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 7:51 am

Vilita National Team ✓

@VilitaNT
While the team is preparing for the #WC94Quals, we are getting some breakthrough weather reporting that is focusing in on Matchday 14, and the weather looks like Rain. Lots of it. More on this developing story that has the team distracted on how we still don't know the weather forecast for the opening matchup against Neibeskiya. Head Coach Endur Rotropii has stated that not Rain nor Snow nor Sleet nor Lavaflows will keep the Jungle Rebels from putting their best foot forward as they look to avoid adding another chapter to their long history of Matchday 1 embarrassments against Neibeskiya at the Tivali Ring Stadium on Matchday 1.

by **Valentine Z** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 9:07 am

Part 1 – បណ្ដុះចិត្តស្រឡាញ់ដែលមិនចេះខឹង (Cultivate a heart of love that knows no anger) – The Serene and Warm Fields of Valentian Cambodia.

Daina Allison Leela Phon Seng Sreynuon was back in her home in Sihanoukville in Cambodia (a territory of Valentine Z) as soon as the recent Independent Cups (right after the World Cup and Cup of Harmony) finished, though she made it a point and was more than courteous to make sure that she stayed back for a while for post-match celebration, farewells, and anything else along the way. Overall, it was a series of disappointing matches and seasons for the Valentian Kittens, but as always, they took it with a stride, knowing full well that there was going to be always another season, and that Clarissa Alanis Star Samantha is not the one to fire someone on a whim like that. There was no fear of that, though there is still an understandable guilt over perhaps letting her down. Clarissa, of course, does not show any of that, nor does she think of that; for her, all that is important was the fact that everyone made it out of the matches unscathed and without injuries, and that none of them got involved into fights with teams from other countries. Iraj Alexander Soroosh Homayoun Hashempour’s event was unfortunate, but again, she knew that he did not mean it intentionally, and that it was a matter of accident that looked a little bit like a dirty play. With bygones be bygones, Clarissa simply wanted everyone to do their best and spend time with one another, and it’s something that the Valentian Kittens always appreciate. Still, with the celebrations and well-wishes for the next season over, the Kittens then made their way back to their homes in Valentine Z, tending back to their full-time jobs.

Daina touched down on Sihanoukville on a commercial plane, the Valentians not often the ones to be so entitled to be on their private jets. She looked through the window of her plane, the views and scenery already evoking a lot of euphoria upon simply looking at – the pristine beaches, the high-rise buildings of the cities that still nod and give respect to the traditional architecture while providing ample space to the residents and citizens. The checkpoint was an extremely painless and simple procedure, with everyone going through a non-intrusive multi-stage scanner that checks the contents of the passengers and their luggage as they pass through the tube; the days of metal detectors, putting the items onto the tray, and perhaps even being frisked by the airport staff and workers, were from the bygone eras of the past. Valentine Z, naturally, does not have any form of terrorism internally, though the police and immigration officers still practice caution, running through drills on a frequent basis and making sure that no one coming to Valentine Z is up to explode anytime soon. That process, too, is non-discriminating and safe.

Finally after spending 50 minutes around the airport with a single-carry on and her luggage – having spent 45 minutes walking and window shopping around, as well as answering and signing autographs for her adoring fans – Daina finally took the taxi back to her home, with the fans all still waving at her but more than respectful to keep a distance and give her a lot of personal space. She took in the air of the place that gave her a rather intense feeling of home. Sure, she was away for only a few weeks, but the feeling was nonetheless genuine. “Heyyyyy, Daina! Welcome back home, Miss!” the taxi driver greeted her with the usual friendliness, “Going back to your house?” Daina nodded, “Yes, you know it! The usual address, please.” “Got it, Miss!” the drive was a relatively quiet one, though interspersed with a few questions here and there from the driver. “So, Daina, how was it like out there for this year? I’m sorry about the outcome though, wished it would have been better for you guys, you know?” Daina simply sighed, not at the driver but just at herself and the performance, “Well I mean, sometimes it just happens, so it’s okay!”

“How was it like this year? A little disappointing, and well, I don’t know if you have read about that news piece from Audioslavia. I am still a little miffed by it. “I mean, all of us can run 2.4km in well under eight minutes. Can any of them do it in under ten? Or double that?” It should have been nothing at the end of the day, but yet here we are.” The taxi driver simply listened, his face still full of joy and perhaps occasionally little bit of concern, understanding, and a bit of a frown that deepened now and then. “And we lost so hard to them,” Daina added on, scratching her head as she looked outside the window to the majestic view of her own country, passing along a bridge. “Yeah, that was quite a highlight,” the driver remarked and added on, “Maybe they thought we are big and can’t run fast. It’s a bit of a common misconception, right up there with the usual stuff. “Hey, Frank Yim Davuth, how’s the weather up there?” the two of them exchanged laughs and was in a pretty good mood, even for Daina whom simply let it out to get it off her chest, but at the end of the day, there was not going to be any resentment from her towards anyone.

The car ride lasted for 25 minutes, with Daina and Frank (the taxi driver) having a conversation occasionally, followed by Daina looking at the sights around her, the fellow Cambodians and a lot of other nationalities from all over Valentine Z, having a chat, going about their daily lives, and sitting around the roadside food hawkers which was very much a hit with the Valentians. She thought of getting some Bai Cha along the way, the very thought of eating the Siem Reap sausages already giving her so much joy. Still, she waited, for she knew that her family was very much going to be waiting for her – as soon as she stepped out of the taxi, they were all waiting at the foot of the door, of the home that was relatively modest even for a multidimensional football star and player such as herself; it was simply more than enough for her and her family, and not extravagantly big. “DAINA!” all of them shouted in unison with excitement, her neighbours and friends soon joining in on the celebration and homecoming. Her performance was not exactly the best out there along with the rest of the Valentian Kittens, but the fact that she (and others) were getting supported and cheered on through both the ups and downs, Daina wondered if this life was a little too perfect to be true for a reality. She soon discovered that it was a reality when she caught a familiar smell.

“ក្តាមឆាម្រេចខ្ (Kampot pepper crab)!” Daina exclaimed, “Mom and Dad must have been working overtime for that cooking, eh?” she jested, much to the laughter from all around her. Her parents gave her a tight and loving hug, telling her about how proud they have been, and that they saw her only little girl on television doing her best against some of the world (and the multiverse)’s best teams and players. “Like your mom said, there will always be next time, Daina Kaun Srei. You must have been hungry!” Daina nodded and remarked, “Yeah, wanted to grab some fried rice, but I know you guys, I was like “Oh yeah we are going to have a feast tonight, eh?”” Smiles all around, Daina and her parents, along with her extended family and many more neighbours, went into Daina’s home, mats and utensils and food at the ready and prepared for the homecoming late lunch. There were a lot of conversation between each other, mostly on things like work and jobs, and how they have been coping. Everything, in true Valentian style, have been working well, though they do remark that the weather was a little too hot today and more water was needed for the crops. Most of the time, the conversation slanted towards Daina and how it was like on the multiversal events and games. “A bit nervous at first,” she started off, “I know I have done this for years, but there are still billions and billions of people watching us on just about everything and everywhere. These few seasons were a little muddled but like I said, I am sure it will become better soon!” With that done, Daina then used her hands to take a piece of the crab from a plate and started tearing at it gently (and sometimes with a lot of force from the crunchers) in order to get the juicy meat bits from the shells. “Delicious as always, thank you very much, ម៉ែ and ប៉ាប៉ា!”

With the lunch done, and a great sleep being had, Daina then looked forward to the rest of the year where there were no World Cup commitments on her. It was a relatively easy life for her, looking around at the rice fields in the distance, occasionally dotted by clean and green manufacturing plants and even a few office buildings. For the most parts, however, her country has more rice fields than other industries just like with the other Southeast Asian countries, and that was more than fine, she thought. After all, the Valentians still need to eat, and all the food still has to come from multiple places. She was looking forward to going back to her full-time job, one outside of the World Cup – a tourist guide for the tours around Cambodia. In a good day with good weather – typically a sunny day with cooling winds and one that would not feel like the humidity is at all-time low – there are large crowds of people, both Valentians and non-Valentians, attending the tourist groups. The reasons vary, but all in good fun, to know more about their country regardless of them being a native or not, as well as the fascinating history that the Valentian counterparts of the countries have to offer. Donning her uniform and having been recognized as one of the Valentian Kittens players, Daina simply nodded her head, greeted them all, and then it was on with the tour.

“Hello, and welcome to the tour group for the Valentian Cambodia today! As we will always say – Cultivate a heart of love that knows no anger! Of course, it can be an impossible task because we as persons tend to have anger at times, but it’s a good saying! We can all be nicer to each other as well. Anyway, continuing on, let’s get to the tour!” she said with a cheer in her voice, accounting for everyone and then driving the bus herself; it’s usually normal for a typical tour group to have a driver and a tour guide, but for Daina, she did both jobs at once and she was good at it. Carefully shifting the gears on the double-decker bus (the first floor is air-conditioned, the second is open-air), they were off to the landmarks all around the country. Thanks to the preservation and reconstruction efforts down to the T, the Valentians have managed to preserve the likes of heritage sites such as the ever-famous Angkor Wat, Temple of Preah Vihear, and the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk. Along the way, Daina was playing the local Cambodian music from the radio, with psychedelic rock from the 1960s and 1970s that the Pre-Valentians have enjoyed even during the wars. It was mostly standard affair for her, though she did have to mention that big elephant in the room, one part of history that was completely different from a few parallel Earths according to Gwen.

“Now, I know what you all might have been thinking along the way,” she trailed off, her voice a little solemn, taking in the subject as seriously as possible. Sure, the event absolutely did not happen on this world, but nonetheless only nice to address the subject matter with utmost respect to the lives lost in the other worlds, “If you are looking for that infamous prison, along with those horrible people and their genocides, that did not happened here. To be clear, none of us are denying a reality. Instead, the fact is, in our world, it simply did not happen. There was a much larger devastation that brought about the Valentian Era from the ashes of the old world, as this has been told and established perhaps many-a-times. It was… it was a balance. We have seen what Chief Aviator Gwen have showed from the other parallel universes, and we were all horrified by it, that has not changed. While that did not happen here, we still have lost a lot to the total nuclear war that blanketed our world. We traded one for another, and we have rebuilt and did whatever we could so that it would not happen again for the years, decades, centuries to come.”

She paused for a minute in total silence, everyone else doing the same. “I do sincerely apologise for the sudden whiplash in mood. It has been a topic that we, of course, need to address, and to acknowledge. At the end of the day, that is why Valentine Z is as it is – to make sure that we don’t make the same mistakes like this again. Moving on, of course, I would also like to use this opportunity to tell a little about the traits of Valentine Z’s Cambodia, so to speak. In terms of industry, rice fields are still very common, and thanks to the technology and even some aspects of magic, the working conditions have significantly improved, and the yield is more than enough to feed everyone in the country, on top of importing to other countries. On top of the agricultural and rice industry, there are also plenty of other secondary and tertiary industries, mainly in textiles and apparels, a few quarries here and there for mining precious metals, and of course, the music that you are hearing right now! For decades, we have preserved the cultures and traditions of all nationalities and territories around the world, and Cambodia is no exception. So, please do enjoy the music as we go along!” The trip would, ultimately, take hours to go around the entire country, made faster thanks to the Valentian Transcontinential Network. “Please do make sure to NOT leave any belongings behind! We shall be taking the VTN to the other parts of the country for a faster travel, and so we will be riding on another bus when we reach Siem Reap!” That process too, is relatively painless, with Daina and all the tourists on board and ready to go to their next destination, with Daina requesting for a tour bus to be waiting and be on ready at their next destination. Minutes passed, and they arrived at Siem Reap, in particular to go to the Angkor Wat first.

“Buddhism in the Valentian Cambodia still enjoys a status as a predominant religion in terms of pure demographics alone. We, of course, pride ourselves on the inclusivity, and this is no exception. Buddhism makes up 92% of the population, with Islam at 4%, Christianity at 2%, other religions at 2%. As of note is that there is also a subset of “religion” that coexists alongside the usual beliefs, and that is of Fateism – a Valentian “religion” of sorts that has our very own Gwen Tracer Allison Oxton as the Fate, and the Mistress of Time and Space. Of course, I do put in air quotes not to insult and mock anyone. Rather, Gwen herself has dismissed it as a religion, and that she does not do favours for anyone for donations or offerings. Which, again, is not to say other religions are doing that; it’s just something that Gwen does not do. Moving on, we will be going to the many famous and famed temples – both modern and ancient – of Cambodia, along with the churches, mosques, and many more along the way. Oh and goes without saying – we shall then be having our late lunch and dinner respectively at the various restaurants and food hawkers, for that authentic Cambodian feel! If needed, please also do be mindful of the dietary restrictions that you have, and when in doubt, always ask our Valentians around us! We are more than happy to help you along!"

Some time have passed as Daina have done a couple more tours like this. Though she was given the liberty to change the script to her liking, her tour has more or less remained the same, not necessarily because of the lack of the creativity, but because she wanted to make sure that everyone – regardless of when they come from – get the same experience. Of course, as decades went by, and with decades to come, there will be changes to her nation, and for that, she will need to adapt, that much is obvious. She went back to her home after her usual shift, with her parents and her family greeting her as she took a cold shower and lied on her bed, using her phone. Just then, a ring chimed in, a notification from one particular chat group that she would never mute for announcements. It was from one Clarissa – “World Cup 94 is coming soon! If you would like to participate, you know the routine! See you! ^^”

Daina wondered as to if she should take a break at first. Perhaps it was her lethargy from the wonderful day travelling around the country that was talking to her, but at the same time, she thought of her family, on whether or not she has not been spending her time a lot with them. Sure, they did not say anything about that, and both her parents have been absolutely fine with her being a football star. Like clockwork, she responded with a “Yes, I’m in!” in the chat group, much to the delight of everyone else in the team. “Let’s show those guys that we can do more running than they think!” she added on, her passion still bright, and her determination to get back at the Audioslavians.

OOC: This is part of a long project where I will be doing a map of the Valentian Transcontinental Network that spans the entire world, and of course, about each of the countries as well. And well, there are A LOT of countries to write about, and I do hope that I will be able to finish this potentially 200+ RP spanning series. More importantly, I would like to, once again, state that any inaccuracies may be purely coincidental, or that it may be because of the difference in Valentine Z. I have and will do the best of my ability to research about each of the countries before I start writing about them, and that it’ll not be solely based on stereotypes and caricatures (positive or negative).

World Cup 94 [roleplays]

World Cup 94 [roleplays]

WCQ-94 PreMD-1

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