NS World Cup of Masters (35+ football) Everything Thread

[Sarzonia]

The Incorporated States of Sarzonia cordially welcomes the other 19 nations who have signed up for the inaugral World Cup of Masters.

For the first tournament, the event will take place in its entirety in Sarzonia. Information about the venues and the host cities will be forthcoming.

The teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each. Each team will have two matches against each opponent in its group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout rounds.

SIGNUPS (20)
1. Sarzonia
2. Northwest Kalactin
3. Kohnhead
4. Darmen
5. HUElavia
6. Megistos
7. Libonesia
8. Indusse
9. Sylestone
10. APOC Coalition
11. Ziwana
12. The Fortem
13. The Jovannic
14. New Waldensia
15. Kriegiersien
16. Lochario
17. Royal Kingdom of Quebec
18. Sarzoclava (puppet of Sarzonia)
19. Terre Septentrionale
20. South Osan

Tiebreakers will go as follows:

1. H2H points
2. H2H goal differential
3. Overall goal differential
4. Total goals scored for
5. IC: coin flip (OOC: RP bonus)

Here is the group draw randomised, except for having Sarzonia as the top entrant in Group 1.

GROUP 1 (Games played at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock)
Sarzonia
The Fortem
NW Kalactin
Sarzoclava
Kohnhead

GROUP 2 (Games played at Mike Sarzo Stadium in Nicksia)
South Osan
Ziwana
Sylestone
Royal Kingdom of Quebec
New Waldensia

GROUP 3 (Games played at the Iron Bowl in Portland)
Lochario
Indusse
HUElavia
Megistos
Darmen

GROUP 4 (Games played at Shipyard Stadium in Wilmington)
The Jovannic
Libonesia
The APOC Coalition
Kriegiersien
Terre Septentrionale

The schedule will be as follows:
MD 1 (27 Aug. at 5 p.m. EDT) 1 v. 4, 2 v. 3 (5 BYE)
MD 2 (28 Aug. at 5 p.m. EDT) 1 v. 3, 2 v. 5 (4 BYE)
MD 3 (29 Aug. at 5 p.m. EDT) 2 v. 1, 5 v.4 (3 BYE)
MD 4 (30 Aug. at 7 p.m. EDT) 5 v. 1, 4 v. 3 (2 BYE)
MD 5 (31 Aug. at 7 p.m. EDT) 2 v. 4, 5 v. 3 (1 BYE)
OFF DAY
MD 6 (2 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT) 4 v. 1, 3 v, 2 (5 BYE)
MD 7 (3 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT) 3 v. 1, 5 v. 2 (4 BYE)
MD 8 (4 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT) 1 v. 2, 4 v. 5 (3 BYE)
MD 9 (5 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT) 1 v. 5, 3 v. 4 (2 BYE)
MD 10 (6 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT) 4 v. 2, 3 v. 5 (1 BYE)

Quarterfinals (8 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT)
1 v. 8, 2 v.7, 3 v. 6, 4 v. 5 (scorinated by Delaclava)

Semifinals (10 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT)
4 vs. 8 (scorinated by Delaclava), 2 v. 3

3PPO/Final (12 Sept. at 7 p.m. EDT)

Delaclava will scorinate the final.

Labor Day will be an off day for all teams.

The quarterfinals will take place on 8 September at 6 p.m. EDT within the semifinals on 10 September at the same time.

The third place playoff will take place at Mike Sarzo Stadium in Nicksia, whilst the final takes place at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock. ICly, they will run on separate days, but IRL, both matches will be on 12 September.

Please use this thread for any questions or OOC comments or feedback.

The next post will be reserved for IC information. Otherwise, let's rock!

[Sarzonia]

Reserved for IC information

Woodstock Profile
Sarzonia's capital city features the Gray House, where current President Grant Haffner lives, The Manor, where Lieutenant President and former First Gentleman Brian Patrick lives, Parliament Hall where the Sarzonian Parliament convenes, and the John Paul Stevens Building, where Sarzonia's Supreme Judicial Court presides. Unlike many countries with bicameral legislatures including a Senate, Sarzonia's House of Delegates is actually the upper chambre. Delegates are elected for no more than three two-year terms; Senators may serve no more than two six-year terms; the President may serve no more than two four-year terms.

The city also includes various museums and the Max Yasgur Centre for the Performing Arts, which is a go-to concert venue in Sarzonia and has been since the country became independent. It features a subway system that's fast and efficient and runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Among the more popular areas of Woodstock are the Little Catherina district, which contains the largest concentration of Delaclav ex-pats within Sarzonia and some of the best baked goods Sarzonia has to offer. The Little Timiocato neighbourhood is also very popular with Pacitalian cuisine dominant in restaurants throughout the neighbourhood.

The sporting crown jewel of Sarzonia is the Dave Wilson Athletic Complex and Dave Wilson Stadium, the national stadium of Sarzonia, which seats 105,900. It will be the home of Group 1 matches.

Nicksia Profile
Sarzonia's largest city has long been the cultural capital of The Incorporated States and is the centre of the country's creative scene. The city takes its name from Fleetwood Mac singer and solo singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. The city boasts a population of 14.6 million people with a large district named Rhiannon that boasts an array of coffee shops, cafes, and contains a historic section with replicas of cobblestone streets. A row of taverns and pubs lines one set of streets.

The historic district includes the site of the old Nicksia Stock Exchange, which closed down in the mid-2000s when the country's financial centre moved to Portland with the ascent of the Portland Iron Works among the world's leading military contractors. The building was used for a while as a location for satellite PIW offices until the Benatar Historical Society acquired the building with funding from Sarzonia's Division of Culture. It also includes the "southern Gray House" where late founding President Mike Sarzo once convalesced after being diagnosed with cancer.

Nicksia's sporting jewels are highlighted by Mike Sarzo Stadium, a retractable roof stadium with a natural grass pitch and a transparent retractable roof that allows sunlight in to provide nourishment for the grass. The stadium has a statue of founding Sarzonian President Mike Sarzo at the main entrance on Putnam Avenue. The stadium seats 77,910 and was recently renovated with solar panels and upgraded with the latest big screens, LED displays, and free Wifi access. The newly constructed Bank of Sarzonia Arena is in competition with the venerable Palestra in Woodstock for the status of home court for the Sarzonian national basketball team.

Visitors can attend the Naval History Museum near The Pier where people traveling between Sarzonia and Delaclava can also rent motor and sailboats for day trips between the two countries. Visitors can see the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat and the only commissioned warship in the Incorporated Sarzonian Navy without the ISS prefix. The ISS Rampage, a light aircraft carrier from Sarzonia's earliest days is also among the ships on display. It is surrounded by the Old Port neighbourhood with a collection of rustic-looking taverns that also includes souvenir shops.

Aficionados of live music can get their fix at the Mabel Normand Centre for the Performing Arts five nights a week. Thursday nights are open mic nights where the house band allows any aspiring musicians to try out singing live. The Crystal Visions Palace offers free music lessons to anyone regardless of age or ability. Actors can play their trade in a supportive environment at the Sea of Love Thespian Centre.

Group 2 matches will be played at Mike Sarzo Stadium.

Portland Profile
The home of the venerable Portland Iron Works, a defence contractor that originally sold naval ships, but became large enough to acquire the Wilmington Shipyard Corporation, which sold hospital ships and other logistics supplies, among other contractors. The city became the financial capital with the continued ascent of the PIW, and moved to the Portland Stock Exchange building, which is the centrepiece of the city's Finance District. Guided tours for countries friendly to Sarzonia are available for a fee. The Portland Iron Works building has a statue of its first CEO, Admiral Barbara Tucker in front of it. The street for the PIW campus is named Admiral Tucker Boulevard.

The city also has an Old Port area, featuring a large collection of boating for people who want to take boats out for fishing or for just being on the open water. Some of the country's prime seafood restaurants call the Old Port home. A highly advanced light rail shuttles people between Portland itself and the growing neighbouring city Corcorran, which was named after the Delaclav city that is the largest city near Sarzonia.

The city just finished construction on a brand new Iron Bowl to replace the venerable structure that once hosted Sarzonian football home matches. The building seats 70,165 for football and will be the home of Group 3 fixtures.

Wilmington Profile
The city that was once at the forefront of shipbuilding industry in Sarzonia on the strength of the Pasteur-class hospital ships that were its backbone, Wilmington has evolved into an eclectic city representing a wide variety of Sarzonian life. It's best known for its shipping and beachfront areas, along with hospitality that's second to few places within Sarzonia. Wilmington also is a major presence in Sarzonia's sporting history with it being among the "big four" of Sarzonian sports cities. Wilmington will host Group 4 fixtures at Shipyard Stadium, which seats 62,758.

Cultural Notes

Sarzonians are polite, but can be a little reserved and sometimes aloof when they meet strangers. However, once they get to know people, they can open up and let their guard down.

The currency in Sarzonia is the Sarzonian dollar. There is no $1 bill. The one dollar coin has a picture of founding President Mike Sarzo on the obverse.

[Darmen]

Darmen National Masters Football Team
presented by the
Tor Tong Lee Charity Foundation

Roster

#  Pos Name                  Age Caps Goals
 1 GK  Marcellus Ahenobarbus 40   53   0
 2 LB  Anton Messer          37   75   3
 3 CB  Jacob Coghlan         35   44   1
 4 RB  Ritchie Porsche       36  121   4
 5 LM  Franco Natale         44   42   8
 6 LCM Grayson Benbow        38   73   5
 7 CM  Tor Tong Lee          60    2   0
 8 RCM Drew Visscher         43   30   2
 9 RM  Odran Gordon          40   70   7
10 LF  Felix Lucanus         36  139  80
11 RF  Daniel Norton         38   73  38

12 GK  Boris Maia            53   26   0
13 LB  Emmanuhel Knochenmus  49   27   1
14 CB  Randell Haenraets     40   60   1
15 RB  Chizoba Acardi        50   27   1
16 DM  Gerrit Snijder        50   27   0
17 LM  Donald Circu          52   19   1
18 LCM Yehowah Snider        47   21   0
19 RCM Na Ulani              51   27   4
20 RM  Billy Ibarra          52   27   2
21 LF  Wiley De Angelis      50   27   7
22 RF  Colin Russell         35   50  17
23 GK  Hadrien Fenn          43    3   0

Tactics
Formation: 3-5-2 flat (or 3-1-4-2 if Lee is not playing)
Style Mod: +3.5

Team Roles
Captain/Manager: Tor Tong Lee
Vice-Captain: Ritchie Porsche
Left Corner: Grayson Benbow
Right Corner: Odran Gordon
Penalties: Felix Lucanus
Free-kicks: Tor Tong Lee

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: YES PLEASE!
Choose my scoring events: YES
Godmod scoring events: YES. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
RP injuries to my players: YES, no more than one per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Godmod Injuries to my players: NO
Give Yellow Cards to my players: YES, no more than two per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Give Red Cards to my players: YES, no more than one per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Godmod other events: MAYBE. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Style Modifier: +1

[Sarzonia]

Sarzonia Senior Stars


Note: Home kits have a primarily navy colour scheme; away kits are primarily white; keeper kits are green.

Style Modifier: +1
Permissions: No killing, no major injuries. Otherwise, yes

Manager Tyrone Manningham, 64
Manningham retired 20 years ago after a career as a manager in the Sarzonian Football Confederation, leaving after his team failed to advance to the Cyanea Joint League for three consecutive seasons. Prior to that, his teams advanced from fourth division through to the SFC in six years.

Assistant Manager Jill Nelsen, 43
This is her first international competition after serving as a manager in the Sarzonian Football League, which was absorbed into the SFC. The SFC has just announced it will launch under the name Sarzonian Football League. Nelsen will work with the offensive side of the football.

Goalkeepers Coach Troy Perkins, 45
The starting goalkeeper on the first Sarzonian national football team, Perkins agreed to come back to help out with this seniors team.

ROSTER (staters in bold}

GOALKEEPERS
1 Will Brantley, 5'11" 165 pounds, 37
Brantley was the starting goalkeeper on the last Sarzonian national football team prior to its 27-Cup absence from the international stage.

27 Joel A'Hearn, 6'2" 225 pounds, 35
A'hearn was projected to be a future starting goalkeeper for the Stars prior to the country's decision to enter into a period of isolation. He retired from the SFC a couple of years ago but decided to keep his skills sharp in a recreational football league.

DEFENDERS
2 Kenny Lagerwey 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, 41
Once among the fastest players to ever play defence for Sarzonia, a combination of the natural effects of aging and a torn ACL in his left knee has slowed him down signifcantly.

4 Jill Arians, 5-foot-11, 155 pounds, 40
Arians only recently started playing football again after dropping out of college to take care of her parents when they fell ill. She leaves two young children with their father to compete for the Senior Stars.

8 Bill Wescott, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, 49
Still big and bruising, although the sheer muscle he had at the height of his playing career has morphed a little bit into a beer gut.

23 Aiden Yang, 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, 36
Yang is the son of an entrepreneur who is looking to establish a senior football league in Sarzonia and both Yangs hope success in the World Cup of Masters will lead to a successful establishment of such a league.

14 Zoey Lawson, 5-foot-9, 145 pounds, 38
Lawson played for Sarzonia's women's league up until the day it halted operations. She still has speed and instincts.

19 Dave Spencer D 6'5", 250 pounds
Big and brawny, Spencer also plays a rather physical style that can knock midfielders and forwards off their game. Trying to round his way back into playing shape after a lengthy retirement brought on by Sarzonia's period of isolation.

MIDFIELDERS
5 Tim Rodney 5'9 150 pounds, 43
Rodney played bigger than his height. On the New Jerusalem Nobles, he plays a rugged fullback when the team plays a 3-5-2, but played as a defensive midfielder in a 4-4-2 alignment when the team suffered several injuries among its defensive players. With Sarzonia adopting a more attack-oriented team, he shifts up to play midfield.

9 Ettore Salivani, Jr. 5'10 155 pounds, 40
The son of former Sarzonia national team standout and Pacitalian emigre Ettore Salivani, the younger Salivani retains his father's flair, but also picked up on his mother's preternatural calm. He also has outstanding ball skill and is surprisingly adept as a defensive player.

15 Brad Tremblay 5'9 162 pounds, 37
Tremblay, 26, had trouble sticking with a team in the SFC before finally finding a home with the Portland Timbers. He is arguably the fastest player on the Stars and fires the hardest shot on the team, but his shot is not all that accurate.

20 Colin Rudolph 6'2", 215 pounds, 37
A blend of physicality and skill once gave Rudolph, a tryout with the Stars when they last hosted a World Cup. He earned it through his chemistry with other players on the squad.

7 Bill Carson, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, 45
Carson is a pacey player even at his age, and has ball skills that would have made him a great fit for a SFC team back in the day, but alcoholism prevented him from ever seeing the pitch. He has been sober for eight years.

18 Francis Carter-Wiggins, 5-foot-5, 140 pounds, 38
Another player from Sarzonia's now-defunct women's league, she looks to be an offensive substitute when the Senior Stars need a playmaking middie.

FORWARDS
10 Zack Wilson, 6'0 213 pounds, 43
The son and grandson of Stars legends Brian and Dave Wilson developed some of his father's flair for the dramatic and led the SFC in goal scoring with 28 goals for the Portland Timbers. Pacey player who spends a lot of time in the weight room. Very difficult for smaller defenders to bring down. Currently serves as the Incorporated Football Federation chairman and is the father of Clayton Wilson.

17 Matt Lynch, 6'3", 205 pounds[/b], 41
The World Cup Hall of Fame striker was the top scorer for the Sarzonian national team during its AOCAF XIX appearance. His tall, lithe frame makes him an inviting target for more aggressive players who invariably find out he can take and dish out punishment.

25 Emilio Ruiz, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, 35
Brings energy and pace off the substitute's bench. Pure target player.

44 Joanne Carter-Walsh, 5-foot-3, 135 pounds, 40
More of a skill forward than Ruiz, she will also be looked at for a midfield role if needed.

[Kriegiersien]

Kriegiersien national team for the WORLD CUP OF MASTERS

The legendary eleven of Bunker 70436 (from the front left)
Peter Boneyard (age 66), Wilhelm Freesinger (72), Hannes-Noah Travemünder (71), Ingo Wiesner (61)
Gert Lessels (71), Janis Ghiani (61), Marky Mark (59)
Marc Gocher (67), Kai Alberz (69)
Sissy Looper (63)
Missing: Pedro Patriot (99 - deceased) Timon Robert Haudels (55 - not part of the Bunker 70436 team)

Through a misunderstanding Kriegiersien sends a team of 11 seniors, instead of a just over age 35 years team.

The first winners of the Kriegiersien cup after the nuclear war, Team Bunker 70436, a legendary team.

Reinforced is the squad by Timon Robert-Haudels, the first winning a championship as coach for the presidents club Timesteam, former National team player, voted midfielder and defender of the year in Kriegiersien and relative of the president.
His influence made it possible that another team could be send to start for Kriegiersien in an international competition without Olympic background this year, the needed money funded by the nations taxpayers.

With him as player and coach and the obligatory Kriegiersien black jerseys instead of the blue colours of the Bunkerteam of old, the team makes it way to Sarzonia.

Kriegiersien comes as always in their black Olympic rags.. jerseys.

Playing style is usually a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2.




RP: Everything what is cool is allowed

[Terre Septentrionale]

Équipe nationale de soccer de Terre Septentrionale des 35 ans et plus.

Reprezentacja Nordycki w Pilka Nozna

Over 35 Northern Land National Soccer Team

Nation Name in French: République laïque de Terre Septentrionale
Nation name in Polish: Rzeczpospolita Polnocna
Nation Name in English Secular Republic of Northern Land
Short Nation names: Terre Septentrionale / Ziemia Polnocna / Northern Land
Trigramme: RTS
Demonym: Septentrional (plural: Septentrionaux)
Nicknames: Nordiques, Reprezentacja Nordycki, Northmen
Team colors at home: Red and white
Team colors on the road: Green and white

Style Mod: +1

Kits

Home - Away -
Goalkeeper

Thanks to No Nonsense Sportswear from Filindostan




Schedule:

TBD


Staff:

The team hired some of our youngest and most promising coaches to give them a coaching experience on the national team.

Manager: Evan O'Kearney, 39 years old.
Ass. Coach: Urszula Szczechowicz, 41 years old.
Ass. Coach: Wlodzimierz Jastrzebowski, 38 years old.
GK Coach: Przemyslaw Niedzwiedzki, 38 years old (player-coach).

Roles:

Captain: Zbigniew Zajaczkowski
Penalty Taker: Zbigniew Zajaczkowski
Corners (left): Bartlomiej Szczepankiewicz
Corner (right): Bartlomiej Szczepankiewicz
Free Kicks: Pawel Wawrzynkiewicz or Bartlomiej Szczepankiewicz

Formation (4-4-2):

S---------------ZAJACZKOWSKI---------GRZYWINSKA---------------
ACM----------------------------GROLEAU-------------------------------
SM--WAWRZYNKIEWICZ----------------------------------CRÊTE------
DCM------------------------SZCZEPANKIEWICZ------------------------
D--STASZEWSKI--------TAKACS-----SZYMCZAK----ZAWISTOWSKI--
GK-----------------------------JAKOVLJEVIC----------------------------

Team Roster (starting XI in green)

Notable over 35 players who refused the invitation to join the national team includes Zofia Kwietniewska, Sarah Surprenant and Jean-François Kleineheismann.

#       Pos     Name                    Age     Team                            Birthplace                    Depth Chart

1	GK	Vjekoslav Jakovljevic	35	Impact de Jacques-Cartier	Vukosavljevica, DA
22	GK	Przemyslaw Niedzwiedzki	38	Amateur Team (3rd level)	Wyrzysk, CA	
31	GK	Matt Shipp	        36	Amateur Team (3rd level)	East Broughton, CS	

5	SD	Przemyslaw Zawistowski	36	Gornik Ostrzeszow	        Brzeszcze, PO
6	SD	Czeslaw Staszewski	35	Klub Turystow Rzodkiewnica	Wiewiorczyn, KZ
99	SD/CD	Weronika Kaczorowska	38	Impact de Jacques-Cartier	Knyszyn, MA	
88	SD/CD	Walker Texeira	        36	A.S. Baie-Sainte-Catherine	Catarina, TX	
4	SD	Przemyslaw Januszkiewicz 36	Racing Club de Prévost	        Czarnkow, KZ	

66	CD	Kevin Takacs	        35	ÉTK Szentgyörgyvölgy	        Bükkszentkereszt, BA
33	CD	Krzysztof Szymczak	36	U.S. Papineauville	        Rzodkiewnica, KZ
34	CD	Benoît Vincelette	35	En avant Prévost	        Maskinongé, CN
3	CD	Krzysztof Januszkiewicz	40	Retired	                        Puszczykowo, KZ
15	CD	Arkadiusz Skrzeszewski	38	Amateur Team (3rd level)	Olszewice, PO

7	SM	Pawel Wawrzynkiewicz	36	KKS Wlokniarz 1925 Krzczonow	Zlotow, CA
20	SM	Maxence Crête	        36	En avant Prévost	        Saint-Wenseslas, HY
9	SM	Grzegorz Wolakiewicz	36	NK Rudar Podvolovljek	        Trzebiegoszcz, PO
25	SM	Tomasz Brzostowski	35	Gornik Ostrzeszow	        Rybczyzna, CA[/color]
16	SM	Anna Kozlowska	        37	Amateur Team (3rd level)	Trzeszczyn, LU

17	CM	Bartlomiej Szczepankiewicz 36	KKS Wlokniarz 1925 Krzczonow	Przeclaw, PO
8	CM	Olivier Groleau	        35	DNK Hajduk Vukosavljevica	Côte-des-Neiges, MT
18	CM	Maria Zienczuk	        36	Dynamo de Jacques-Cartier	Swietochlowice, PO	
60	CM	Maciej Grzeszczyk	38	Amateur Team (3rd level)	Przasnysz, PO
24	CM	Przemyslaw Suszczewicz	37	A.S. Baie-Sainte-Catherine	Proszowice, MA	

11	S	Zbigniew Zajaczkowski	37	Szczakowianka Trzebiegoszcz	Trzebiegoszcz, PO
19	S	Katarzyna Grzywinska	37	NK Lokomotiva Kukljica 	        Wladyslawowo, CA
12	S	Wladyslaw Wyciszkiewicz	35	ÉTK Szentgyörgyvölgy	        Trzebiegoszcz, PO
13	S	Maksymilian Kasperkiewicz 38	Amateur Team (3rd level)	Grzegorzki, MA

BA	Baranie (Baranya)	                KA	Kamouraska
CA	Cachoubie (Kaszuby)	                LU	Lusatie (Łużyce)
KR	Carniole (Kranjska)	                MA	Mazovie (Mazowsze)
CN	Catherine du nord	                MT	Montérégie
CS	Catherine du sud	                NI	Nitassinan 
KZ	Catherine-Ouest (Katarzyna Zachodnie)	PA	Papineau
CH	Charlevoix	                        PO	Poméranie (Pomorze)
DA	Dalmatie (Dalmacija)	                SH	Shelburne
DC	District de Cartier	                SL	Silésie (Śląsk)
FR	Frontenac	                        TX	Texas
HY	Haute-Yamaska

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Yes
Injure Players: Yes
Godmod Injury Events: No
Red Card Players: Yes
Yellow Card Players: Yes
Godmod Other Events: Yes *

*Note: Please do not give the coronavirus or any other virus 
or illness to my players, coaches, journalists and fans. 
And please do not introduce any pandemic to my nation.
=================================

[Sarzonia]

The inaugural edition of the World Cup of Masters may provide for some of the 20 teams assembled in Sarzonia a last shot at athletic glory. Others might potentially get an opportunity they otherwise missed out on during their prime.

The same holds true for Tyrone Manningham. He missed out on.a few opportunities that were available as he couldn't quite coax his Sarzonian second division sides into the Cyanea Joint League during the operation of that league. Turmoil in Delaclava soon turned the Sarzonian second division into its first division once again, but the loss of their competitive southern neighbours resulted in declining ratings and attendance.

Sarzonia's recent return to football didn't promise anything, but just two World Cup qualifying campaigns after an extended period of isolation, Sarzonia are once again well into the top 40 in the world rankings. A return to the proper means that Sarzonian football is once again to be taken seriously.

It opened up additional opportunities for the Under 21 national team and led to the establishment of an Under 18 team. Now, it's led to a 35-and-over team dubbed the Senior Stars. And it's giving Manningham a chance to dust off his managerial skills.

"I was thrilled [the Incorporated Football Federation] asked me," Manningham said. "I didn't think I was ever going to get back to managing again." He said he spent the time away from the game with his daughter Katie and his son Tyler.

"I missed a lot of their formative years when I managed in the [Sarzonian Football Confederation]," he said. Retirement "meant that I could see them grow up and graduate." He saw Katie get married and have a child. Tyler began to date a Delaclav emigre. Now, with both kids grown up and one having a child of her own, Manningham can devote more time to football.

He will do so with a veteran-laden side including several players with World Cup finals experience. Manningham said that was no accident, though he joked that having IFF chairman Zack Wilson on the squad was an interesting experience.

"He can evaluate me from first hand experience. Guess I better watch my back" he said with a chuckle.

With the Senior Stars playing in Woodstock, the group draw announced by IFF vice chairman Jon Clay puts them in a group with Northwest Kalactin, a country fast becoming a familiar face to Sarzonia's sports teams; Kohnhead, another familiar foe; Sarzoclava, a territory of Sarzonia's, and The Fortem, a newcomer to Sarzonia's competitive landscape. Manningham said he expected some drama, especially with Sarzoclava.

"They'll have something to prove, especially on our soil," he said. "We better be ready."

[Sylestone]

Style Mod: -2
Formation: 4-4-2
RP allowances: Anything

Forwards
Jeremy Cuthbert (38)
Ashton Pearce (49)
Emma MacDonald (38)

Mids
Lyla Shacks (36)
Percy Harrison (37)
Daniel Hessen (40)
Mike Gabriel (42)
Thomas Wright (36)
Cameron Fullers (39)

Defenders
Levi Kirkham (44)
Ivan Rose (41)
Mary Howells (41)
Ella Ashton (43)
Dominic Charleston (36)

Goalies
Amelia Green (37)
Jayden Buckingham (51)

[The Authoritarian Republic of Lochario]

LOCHARIAN SENIOR FOOTBALL TEAM

Nickname : Ginger Tigers
Style Modifier : +3
Formation : 4-3-3
Coach : Brus Vars
Assistant coach : Jiki Kan
Fitness Coach : Floyd Vatran
Motivational coach: Homir Samon

Lineup


Kits:

Home

Away

GK

RP:
Anything except Godmodding

[Megistos]

Formation: 7-1-2
Style Mod: +3
Starting XI: Arellano (37) | Hoffman (42), Nielsen (54), Doyle (40), Burns (36), Odom (38), Grimes (49), Gallegos (40) | Clark (55) | Horton (42), Dennis (50)
Bench: Irving (49) | Patrick (45), Turner (56), Dale (71), Oakley (67) | Randall (49) | Forrest (61)

[Kohnhead]

Kohnheadian Master Football Team
Nation Name: The Galactic Empire of Kohnhead
Shortened Name: Kohnhead
Nickname: The Olden Brains
Overall Record: 0-0-0
Team Info: This team is made up of all former players of the KFL with the oldest player being 42. Only one player has ever played on the National team and that is none other than the legend himself Goalkeeper Jackson Newcastle sort of out of retirement to participate in this.

Head Coach: Leon Kim (56) (M)

Starting XI
(C) GK: #1 Jackson Newcastle (36) (M)
RB: #2 Kane Conrad (40) (M)
CB: #3 Natalie Wringle (35) (F)
CB: #4 Patrick Poulard (39) (M)
LB: #5 Mohamed Shaker (35) (M)
RM: #6 Shannon Merritt (36) (F)
CM: #7 Gillian Dinderton (36) (F)
LM: #8 Marcus Whitford (37) (M)
RF: #9 Rita Brown (37) (F)
CF: #10 Corinne Andrews (35) (F)
LF: #11 Polly Denton (39) (F)

Reserves
GK: #21 Peter Landry (37) (M)
Def: #22 Francisco Diaz (35) (M)
Def: #23 Alfie Ingram (36) (M)
Mid: #24 Audrey Irving (39) (F)
Mid: #25 Elizabeth Reilly (42) (F)
For: #26 Nathan Costa (41) (M)
For: #27 Rebecca Bowler (37) (F)


Jerseys
Home:

Away:

GK:


Massive shoutout to Filindostan and No Nonsense Sportswear for making these awesome kits

Formation: 4-3-3
RP Permissions: Anything, no killing please but craziness is encouraged
Style Mod: -5 (A very defensive team)

[Sarzoclava]

SARZOCLAVA Roster
Style modifier: +2
Coach Brett Crawford
Assistants Janet Wilhelm, Thad Boston, Gloria Anders

GOALKEEPERS
1 Pete Hansen, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, 36
27 Edward Ross, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, 44
99 Darryl Claxton, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, 39

DEFENDERS
2 Xavier St. Louis, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, 38
5 Bill Allen, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, 37
14 Tim Rakers, 6-foot, 190 pounds, 40
22 Carl Jakub, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, 47
33 Carlos Lopez, 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, 41
34 Diogo Camponera, 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, 39

MIDFIELDERS
8 Lloyd Wray, 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, 49
18 Pablo Ariela, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, 44
12 Erik Parsons, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, 36
10 Marco Martinez, 5-foot-6, 150 pounds, 39
19 Hailey Landers, 5-foot 8, 155 pounds, 36
23 George Quincy, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, 35
28 Estelle Huff, 5-foot-4, 129 pounds, 38
32 Dontrelle Rodney, 5-foot-8, 170 pounds

FORWARDS
7 Jaquice Howard, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, 47
25 Jeri Linchcomb, 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, 38
9 Patrice Rodney, 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, 39
16 Anson Carswell, 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, 35

[Ziwana]

ROYAL ZIWANA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PRESENTS:

The Ziwani Masters Football National Team to the 1st NS World Cup of Masters

Full Name: Ungwazi wa Ziwana
Nickname: Akambuku (Leopards)
Triagramme: ZIW
Formation: 4-3-3
Style Moodifier: +3
Manager: Harry Ngonamo
Assistant Manager: Thokozani Kavinya

Starting Line Up

Position	Number	Name	Age	Club
GK	1	Tebulo Sanudi	42	SK Hempstad Elders
RB	2	Petulo Dokotala	35	SK Hempstad Elders
CB	3	Viktor Kasonthe	36	SK Hempstad Elders
CB	4	Jonah Banda	51	SK Hempstad Elders
LB	5	Yohan Yohane	45	SK Hempstad Elders
DM	6	Ben Swedi	38	SK Hempstad Elders
CM	7	Kasper Alahaji	36	SK Hempstad Elders
CM	8	Zes Kawoa	39	SK Hempstad Elders
LW	9	Mateu Chisi-Captain	43	SK Hempstad Elders
RW	10	Thomas Wilderi-Vice Captain	40	SK Hempstad Elders
ST	11	Olamitola Kazembe	38	SK Hempstad Elders

Kits

Ziwani kits are made by local and world renowned kit makers, Zsports.

RP PERMISSIONS
I give my opponent permission to(that is if they are first to RP):
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
Give my players yellow cards: Y
Give my players red cards: Y
Give injuries to my players: Y
Godmod injuries to my players: Y
Godmod other events: Y

[APOC Coalition]

APOC COALITION
SELECT FOOTBALL TEAM

The APOC Coalition is a politico-economic and sporting union between four nations, whose names also make up the acronym that describes the Coalition. These nations namely are Abanhfleft, Pridnestrovia, Oontaz, and Copper Cuprum. The Coalition was established in 2020 as a way of promoting and fostering closer economic and political ties between the four member nations, although there are many vocal critics of the Coalition who claim that it is just another way for Abanhfleft to exert its influence over the other members. In recent years, the APOC Coalition has also served as a base for a number of international sporting leagues which have been formed to promote a number of fringe sports in the member nations such as rugby union, rugby league, and now ice hockey. The arrival of the NS World Cup of Masters has provided the Coalition the chance to assemble some of the greatest football players from its member nations to finally take to the pitch at the same time and prove which combined starting eleven truly is the best.

BASIC INFORMATION
Name of organization: The APOC Coalition
Team colors: White with blue, red, green, and black stripes
Style modifier: +2.00
Formation: 4-3-3
Head coach: ????

STARTERS
GK: Ferdinand Julius ABBING 38 y/o, Pridnestrovia
Ferdinand Abbing is the long-standing guardian of the sticks for both Dinamo Bender and the Pridnestrovian men's national football team. Age has done little to diminish his ability to spring forth from the line and intercept incoming opposing players.

RB: Ali Mokhtar Makhdoum MACARAIG al-Sabbrouz 43 y/o, Sultanate of Oontaz

RCB: Lucas Ivanhoe EDWARDS 42 y/o, Abanhfleft

LCB: Tonya Lenore HEATON 41 y/o, Abanhfleft

LB: Esteke INANUK 41 y/o, Copper Cuprum

RM: Demyan Isayevich WASYLYK 39 y/o, Pridnestrovia

LM: Yaroslav Ivanovich WASYLYSHYN 44 y/o, Pridnestrovia
"Fear not the man who has practiced a thousand kicks one time, but the man who has practiced one kick a thousand times." Call Yaroslav Wasylyshyn a one-trick pony all day long if you must, but even though everyone knows that he loves to cut inside into the box before unleashing that wicked left foot of his, no one can still stop him from scoring the goals.

CAM: Mehmet Mustafa Selim TIRYAKI 42 y/o, Pridnestrovia

RF: Helen Chelsea STUART 39 y/o, Abanhfleft
Chelsea Stuart is one of the best goalscorers in the history of the APOC Coalition, and she could very well be the best woman to play football in Abanhfleft. She also could have been one of the best in the whole multiverse were it not for her loyalty to her club Arsenal de Releinthi and the general reluctance of the Samahang Futbol ng Abanhfleft to let its first generation of national team players to venture out into the greater multiverse.

CF: Karl-Otto Peter SCHERMER 37 y/o, Pridnestrovia
Peter Schermer is a veritable force of nature when it comes to scoring in football. The man literally cannot stop scoring. It takes a special combination of a very stingy defense, an attack lacking in creativity, and an ineffective game plan to foil a center forward like him. Sadly, these combinations seemed to pop up quite often in his latter years with the Pridnestrovian national team.

LF: HRH Chief DEG 39 y/o, Copper Cuprum
Chief Deg is the current Chief of Copper Cuprum. Back in his days as Crown Prince, Chief Deg played a central role in the formation of the Copper Cuprum national football team as well as captaining it on the pitch. And while he is most definitely not the best forward player from Copper Cuprum, Chief Deg offered up his services to the Coalition over-35 football team, and who dares to say no to a Chief?

RESERVES
GK: Victoria Claire CARTER 44 y/o, Abanhfleft
Victoria Carter is to the Abanhfleft women's football team what Ferdinand Abbing is to the Pridnestrovian men's national football team: the familiar and ever-dependable shotstopping presence in between the sticks. Not as athletic as Abbing, mind, but for someone who's been out of the professional game for six years she can still go a good job as goalkeeper.

GK: Septimio Roberto BARRANQUILLANO Herrera 40 y/o, Sultanate of Oontaz
Septimio Barranquillano is a product of Botafogo de Maranao's famous and accomplished goalkeeping academy. He is a one-club man, a rarity in modern football. But while he is sure to be remembered as a Botafogo legend, trophies at both the club and international levels have been unfortunately hard to come by.

CM: Tabaré ZUÑIGA 41 y/o, Copper Cuprum

FW: Juan Dominador MACASPAC Elias 47 y/o, Sultanate of Oontaz

WIP

[Sarzonia]

This Matchday 1 cutoff brought to you by Estrella Motor Cars, where we take our philanthropy as seriously as we do our cars!

Group 1
Sarzonia 1-2 Sarzoclava
The Fortem 1-1 Northwest Kalactin
Kohnhead BYE

- Group 1              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Sarzoclava             1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
2 Northwest Kalactin     1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
3 The Fortem             1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
4 Kohnhead               0   0  0  0    0   0   0    0
5 Sarzonia               1   0  0  1    1   2  -1    0

Group 2
South Osan 0-5 Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Ziwana 2-1 Sylestone
New Waldensia BYE

- Group 2                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Royal Kingdom of Quebec       1   1  0  0    5   0  +5    3
2 Ziwana                        1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
3 New Waldensia                 0   0  0  0    0   0   0    0
4 Sylestone                     1   0  0  1    1   2  -1    0
5 South Osan                    1   0  0  1    0   5  -5    0

Group 3
Lochario 2-3 Megistos
Indusse 2-3 HUElavia
Darmen BYE

- Group 3              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 HUElavia              1    1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
2 Megistos              1    1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
3 Darmen                0    0  0  0    0   0   0    0
4 Indusse               1    0  0  1    2   3  -1    0
5 Lochario              1    0  0  1    2   3  -1    0

Group 4
The Jovannic 0-3 Kriegiersien
Libonesia 1-0 The APOC Coalition
Terre Septentrionale BYE

- Group 4              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Kriegiersien          1    1  0  0    3   0  +3    3
2.Libonesia             1    1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Terre Septentrionale  0    0  0  0    0   0   0    0
4 The APOC  Coalition   1    0  0  1    0   1  -1    0
5 The Jovannic          1    0  0  1    0   3  -3    0

[New Waldensia]

New Waldensian Senior Soccer Team
Trigramme: NWD
Demonym: New Waldensian
Nicknames: Waldensian Warriors, Waldy Warrs
Team colors at home: Navy blue and gold
Team colors on the road: Gold and navy blue

Style Mod: -3

Staff:
Manager: Glenn O'Hannegan (53)
Ass. Coach: Matt Reynolds (44)
Ass. Coach: Krysten Mullins (38)

Team Roster
Goalkeepers:
Miles Meléndez (40)
Tania Dedrick (39)
Wilmer Moore (48)
Jordana Joiner (39)

Forwards:
Elvin Graves (48)
Sébastien Fitzsimmons (42)
Ricardo Friel (36)
Rodney Smith (40)
Traci Elder (37)
Gunner Jekyll (50)
Shad Kjellsson (40)

Midfielders:
Ruth Wood (40)
Lawrence Murdock (44)
Gary Tierney (42)
Upton Villanueva (38)
Max Rhodes (48)
Trevor Boyle (41)
Jett Hackett (39)
Ainsley Renard (43)

Defenders:
Mandy Abramsson (41)
Foster Logan (47)
Kegan Roscoe (44)
Hunter Ovesen (38)
Rick Vann (42)
Christopher Styles (40)
Joakim Lyon (49)
Chauncey Myles (44)

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Yes
Injure Players: Yes
Godmod Injury Events: Yes
Red Card Players: Yes
Yellow Card Players: Yes
Godmod Other Events: Yes 
=================================

[Sarzonia]

Scrutiny hits a little differently when your boss can see your work first hand.

That was the thought Tyrone Mannningham had when he walked into the locker room after a disheartening 2-1 defeat to Sarzoclava in front of a restless crowd of 48,972 at Dave Wilson Stadium. The stadium was barely half full in spite of marketing efforts highlighting the World Cup experience of many Sarzonia players from the past.

Will Brantley. Matt Lynch. Zack Wilson.

Zack Wilson was the current chairman of the Incorporated Football Federation, so he was Manningham's boss. But in this case, he also was Manningham's subordinate as a player on this masters team, as the media had taken to calling it, in honour of the inaugural World Cup of Masters. If he felt Manningham were out of line with comments or training methods, he would be able to make a note of transgressions and address them directly with the Board of Governors. So, yes, Manningham could put him through his paces, but Wilson signed his cheques.

The Senior Stars were 0-0-1 in the competition Sarzonia was attempting to use to showcase its facilities, its modern amenities, and, long story short, reintroduce the sporting multiverse to the idea of Sarzonia serving as the hosts of an event. Manningham and Wilson talked briefly, and Manningham admitted he probably wished his team at least scrimmaged against a Sarzoclava side that was there representing the Sarzonian territory, or at least the part of Sarzoclava that was Sarzonian.

"We definitely had first-match jitters," Manningham told the assembled media following the match. "Some of these players hadn't put on a kit in years, and it showed for us."

Lynch was the first player from the Senior Stars to shake off the rust, providing the team's lone goal at the 17-minute mark with a header off a cross by Colin Rudolph. It was the veteran striker's first appearance since the group stage of World Cup 57, which was the first and, thus far, only World Cup that Sarzonia co-hosted.

"It felt good to get that out of the way," Lynch said of the goal. "It made me feel more like myself."

Meanwhile, Brantley made three saves, but would have loved to have had the 22nd minute shot by Jeri Linchcomb back as she fired a rising shot that Brantley was a half-second too slow to start his leap to parry away. The shot ended up ricocheting off his gloved right hand and into the top corner of the net as the territory's side drew the score level.

"Just a poor reaction on my part," Brantley said. "If this were 10 years ago, I snag that no problem."

Patrice Rodney would provide the match-winning tally for Sarzoclava in the 47th minute of play, firing a free kick that even Brantley in his prime would have had no chance to save.

For their parts, the Senior Stars may have stumbled out of the gate, but the prevailing feeling besides delayed-onset muscle soreness was a sense of relief, a sense of joy in being able to put on the classic Sarzonia kit and represent Sarzonia in football for the first time in almost a decade. They didn't have the satisfaction of three points for a victory, but they at least had a sense of accomplishment. And, they hoped, the beginning of a tournament that could draw its own audience somewhere down the line.

[Sarzonia]

One of the unfortunate things about these tournaments is that for some teams, even making the knockout rounds amounts to dreams they'll never see.

We're not close to that point yet, but we will take another step toward that place with this cutoff!

Group 1
Sarzonia 0-1 Northwest Kalactin
The Fortem 0-0 Kohnhead
Sarzoclava BYE

Group 1                Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Northwest Kalactin     2   1  1  0    2   1  +1    4
2 Sarzoclava             1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
3 The Fortem             2   0  2  0    1   1   0    2
4 Kohnhead               1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
5 Sarzonia               2   0  0  2    1   3  -2    0

Group 2
South Osan 0-3 Sylestone
Ziwana 2-1 New Waldensia
Royal Kingdom of Quebec BYE

Group 2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Ziwana                        2   2  0  0    4   2  +3    6
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec       1   1  0  0    5   0  +5    3
3 Sylestone                     2   1  0  1    4   2  +2    3
4 New Waldensia                 1   0  0  1    1   2  -1    0
5 South Osan                    2   0  0  2    0   8  -8    0

Group 3
Lochario 1-2 HUElavia
Indusse 0-1 Darmen
Megistos BYE

Group 3               Pld    W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 HUElavia              2    2  0  0    5   3  +3    6
2 Megistos              1    1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
3 Darmen                1    1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
4 Lochario              2    0  0  2    3   5  -2    0
5 Indusse               2    0  0  2    2   4  -2    0

Group 4
The Jovannic 1-2 The APOC Coalition
Libonesia 2-2 Terre Septentrionale
Kriegiersien BYE

Group 4               Pld    W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Libonesia             2    1  1  0    3   2  +1    4
2 Kriegiersien          1    1  0  0    3   0  +3    3 
3 The APOC Coalition    2    1  0  1    2   2   0    3
4 Terre Septentrionale  1    0  1  0    2   2   0    1
5 The Jovannic          2    0  0  2    1   5  -4    0

[Megistos]

Lochario 2-3 Megistos

Megistian Goals: Horton 22' & 49', Dennis 78'
22': Horton spotted a opening between the goalkeeper and the post, and curled it to perfection
49' Horton struck again with a well-timed header coming from a cross in the net.
78' Dennis won the game with a nutmeg of the keeper and in the bottom corner of the net.

[Kriegiersien]

There was a rebellion in the team in the hotel lobby.

"We want to see the shipyards", insisted Gert.
"And go to the beach", added Sissy.
“We just won our first game. We can really accomplish something great here”, Timon Haudels begged.
“Hey, smart guy. You want to win the tournament and we are with you. But I came here to have fun, too.”
“I never saw ships until the day we played against Muhr after the war. And water. Not clean. But water in a big river. I want to see Wilmington. And real water.”
“That is the chance see other countries and to meet other people. And without saying ‘Hands up or we shoot’.”
Haudels gave up.
“Ok, we do train a bit in the evening..”, he began.
“But not too much, we don’t want to exhaust ourselves.”
“And talk a bit about tactics..”
“I need my nap afternoon.”
“..while having dinner.”
“Sounds fair.”
Most of the team nodded.
“Ok, we are going out to the shipyards and then at the beach…”
“I want an ice cream!”
“I need to try out my grandchilds air bed.”
The flock of elderly men and a woman waddled to their rooms to prepare for the trip.

“Meeting in 20...30 Minutes here again. Don’t forget sunblocker and your hats”, Haudels shouted after them.
They could be pretty fast if they wanted.

[Kohnhead]

The Olden Brains tie The Fortem in dull 0-0 draw



Taking on The Fortem who were a team coming off of a 1-1 draw with Northwest Kalactin, The Olden Brains knew the game would be tough especially stamina wise as again this is the World Cup of Masters for 35+ year olds. Heading into the match manager Leon Kim reminded everyone that this is a very defensive side despite the 4-3-3 formation and a side that will not score much but will not let in many goals especially with Jackson Newcastle behind the sticks.

Unfortunately for the squad, Griffin Pheonix-Anderson who would be eligible age wise was barred from competing by the higher ups as he is on the main squad for the World Cup qualifiers. Newcastle only had to make one save and it was a pretty routine one as The Fortem could only muster two shots on goal while we managed five.

Our first real chance came in the 27th minute when Corinne Andrews got the ball outside of the box. She attempted a long range shot which was tipped over the bar by The Fortem keeper. We got a corner out of it but Rita Brown's header was too far to the right and we had wasted a very good chance. We would get another good chance in the 42nd but Marcus Whitford was a bit too excited and lifted his shot way higher than it should have been.

The second half was much of the same, we would get decent shots but couldn't convert them and when the final whistle blew after 90, it was pretty disappointing to have failed to score. In our next match we take on Sarzonclava who are coming off of a bye but surprisingly managed to beat Sarzonia in their first match. It should be a good game and I hope we can actually put the ball in the back of the net this time.

[Sarzonia]

[OOC note: As mentioned in the discussion thread, I erroneously credited The APOC Coalition with a victory over Libonesia on Matchday 1 in the Group 4 table. I also forgot to type the number of goals they scored on Matchday 2. These have since been corrected.]

Sarzonia-Northwest Kalactin may not necessarily get the adrenaline pumping in the same way that Sarzonia-Delaclava match would, but it's becoming an emerging rivalry across multiple sports.

The rivalry opened a new chapter in masters football as Northwest Kalactin scored a 78th minute goal off a laser of a shot from just outside the 18-yard box to account for the only score in Sarzonia's 1-0 defeat. The result drops the Senior Stars to a mark of 0-0-2 and leaves Sarzonia in last place in the Group 1 table.

"We showed some improvement defensively, but we couldn't get anything going on offence," manager Tyrone Manningham said. "Even with five offensive substitutions, we still couldn't get the run of play."

Sarzonia goalkeeper Will Brantley made five saves during the contest, but said he "absolutely" wished he could have the goal back.

"No excuse. I should have had that," he said. When asked if he wished Manningham arranged for a friendly or two to allow the team a chance to develop chemistry and become familiar with Manningham's tactics, Brantley shook his head.

"We had a fairly lengthy training camp," he said. I know the arguments about getting match fit and developing chemistry, but I don't think we were in bad shape out there. It was just a poor goal on my part. Nothing more, nothing less."

Sarzonia's next opponents are The Fortem, which have played two matches and walked off the pitch both times with draws. So in a strange quirk, the Stars could leapfrog The Fortem with a victory despite their two defeats in the previous two matches. However, Manningham said that was the last thing on his mind.

"We need a victory, plain and simple," he said. "This isn't the long and arduous journey that a regular World Cup is, but it's also not a sprint since we have six more matches to play. We can't afford to give up points in the table any longer."

[Darmen]

President Shirks Duties to Play Football... Again

On the left, our current "President" directing his nation in a game of football.
On the right, our next President, directing his nation into a common Rushmori future.

PORTLAND, SARZONIA - Not for the first time, President of the Republic Tor Tong Lee has abandoned his presidential duties to engage in a game of football. What is different this time is that it won't just be a single match, but an entire tournament, as he leads the Darmeni "National Masters" team in the World Cup of Masters tournament held in Sarzonia.

While Vice President Donald O'Donahaue remains in Scott City to lead cabinet meetings and perform the duties of governance Darmen is in constant need of, Lee and his "charity" foundation, named after himself no less, have sponsored a team to participate in the over-35 competition. With players ranging from the newly retired 36 year old Felix Lucanus to the 53 yeard old Boris Maia, the team features a whos-who of Darmeni football. Ostensibly, the team is participating in the tournament to raise awareness of and collect funds for the combating of the societal ailments of depression and suicide.

Perhaps if President Lee wasn't too busy playing football and instead focused on his real job, he would realize that the single largest contributor to depression and suicide in Darmen is unemployment. Unemployment rates are still extraordinarily high, even if they have fallen steadily over the past decade, standing at 21.32%. As it currently stands and especially if Lee continues to prioritize football over governance, Lee's promise to bring unemployment below 12% by Christmas of next year looks impossible to achieve.

If, by some miracle Tor Tong Lee actually makes good on his promise, voters will still have a rather simple choice when Darmen heads to the polls in 19 months time. Elect a party that has been in power for over ten years despite being led by someone who prioritizes football over governance, or elect a party and a new President who will put the good of his people first and has a clear vision of what Darmen's future should look like. He might not be the most capped and all-time leading goalscorer of the All Greens, but his name is Joshua Rademacher and he is the only person capable of leading Darmen out of this economic mess and into prosperity.

[Sarzonia]

The Ghosts mat be gone, but so too is your opportunity to get RPs in before tonight's cutoff!

Group 1
The Fortem 0-3 Sarzonia
Kohnhead 1-0 Sarzoclava
Northwest Kalactin BYE

Group 1                Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Northwest Kalactin     2   1  1  0    2   1  +1    4
2 Kohnhead               2   1  1  0    1   0  +1    4
3 Sarzoclava             2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
4 Sarzonia               3   1  0  2    4   3  +1    3
5 The Fortem             3   0  2  1    1   4  -3    2

Northwest Kalactin ahead of Kohnhead on goals scored.
Sarzoclava ahead of Sarzonia on head to head result.

Group 2
Ziwana 1-1 South Osan
New Waldensia 4-1 Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Sylestone BYE

Group 2                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Ziwana                        3   2  1  0    5   3  +2    7
2 New Waldensia                 2   1  0  1    5   3  +2    3
3 Royal Kingdom of Quebec       1   1  0  1    6   4  +2    3
4 Sylestone                     2   1  0  1    4   2  +2    3
5 South Osan                    3   0  1  2    1   9  -8    1

New Waldensia ahead of Royal Kingdom of Quebec on head to head result.
Royal Kingdom of Quebec ahead of Sylestone on goals for.

Group 3
Indusse 0-2 Lochario
Darmen 2-1 Megistos
HUElavia BYE

Group 3               Pld    W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 HUElavia              2    2  0  0    5   3  +3    6
2 Darmen                2    2  0  0    3   1  +2    6
2 Megistos              2    1  0  1    4   4   0    3
4 Lochario              3    1  0  2    5   5   0    3
5 Indusse               3    0  0  3    2   6  -4    0

HUElavia ahead of Darmen on goal differential.
Megistos ahead of Lochario on head to head result.

Group 4
Libonesia 3-2 The Jovannic
Terre Septentrionale 2-1 Kriegiersien
The APOC Coalition BYE

Group 4               Pld    W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Libonesia             3    2  1  0    6   4  +2    7
2 Terre Septentrionale  2    1  1  0    4   3  +1    4
3 Kriegiersien          2    1  0  1    4   2  +2    3 
4 The APOC Coalition    2    1  0  1    2   2   0    3
5 The Jovannic          3    0  0  3    3   8  -5    0

Kriegiersien ahead of The APOC Coalition on total goals scored.

[Kriegiersien]

"Guys, we need to win against APOC if we want to stay in the tournament", Timon was desperate.
"Then let us win."
"But we need to train and make tactics if we want to be able to beat them."
"But the holiday..."
"This is no holiday!", Timon screamed.

Everyone looked confused.

"I only see you doing pictures on Instascam and Failbook. We need to train a bit or our..your ...holiday is over. Can't you see that?"
"Just to be able to be here a bit longer working that hard..."
"Without knowing if that really works..."
"See, these other guys are a bit younger, that makes winning really a bit difficult. I am not 50 anymore."
"Yes, my hip isn't same it was before.."
"And one of the ten bottles of beer yesterday must have been bad.."
"Don't you have any patriotism in you? We are playing against APOC, with Abanhfleft in the team. They are Kriegiersiens bane in Sports in this season."
"I haven't heard of most of these nations before. I only knew Brasilistan and Bigtopia and Brancaland.."
"East Lebatuck, Tasmania, Marche Noir..."
"All these nations from the region we had contact with..."
"Mostly unpleasant.."
"Yes, it its nice to have fun with others in another nation far away for a change."

The president would role in his grave, if he was dead, Timon thought.

"Ok, then. If we make now every day an hour training and tactic session..."
"Each?"
"Yes, two hours together related to Football..then I take you to a theme park.”

"Deal!"