World Cup 63 RP Thread

[Qazox]

QAZOX NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM headlines of the month:

Monday, January 7th, 2022:
SEVEN PLAYERS INVOLVED WITH TICKET-SCANDAL

7 players on the national team, the names are being withheld until the QFA and the WCC finish their investigation; are appearently involved in a ticket re-sale scandal. Each national team player is allotted 10 tickets for each home game during the qualifying stage. The allocated tickets are in a section where the average ticket price is $250.00. According to Qazoxian law, tickets can be re-sold for up to 25% of thier face value, but the player's allocated tickets are not eligible to be resold. An undercover investigation by the Pika City Herald has found that over 50 player allocated-tickets have been re-sold for more than the 25% at every Qazoxian home match not only for this qualifying cycle, but for the previous three cycles as well. The ticket reselling also included tickets from World Cups 61 and 62 that were player allocated as well. The players, whomever they are, not only face sanctions by the QFA and WCC; but may also face legal actions by Valanora, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega, Astograth and Carpathia and Ruthenia for potentially breaking local fair-trade laws.

Wednesday, January 9th, 2022:
QAZOXIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED FOR DUI

Gerry Hill, aged 22, was arrested early this morning following a two-car accident in which Hill was found to be legally drunk. After refusing to take a breathalyzer on-site, Hill, a reserve forward on the National team; had a blood test taken and the BAA was 0.16, over 3x the legal limit of 0.05 in Qazox. Hill was released on $16,000 bail and has currently been suspended from the team for the remainder of the qualifying stage.

Thursday, January 17th, 2022:
QAZOXIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION SUSPENDED FROM WCC.

According to sources from within the WCC, the Qazoxian Football Association will be suspended for one year, based on multiple failures of the QFA to pay legally required WCC fees. The QFA has failed to pay the yearly $8.25 million WCC sanctioning fee since World Cup 51. The QFA has argued that because Qazox first participated in WCC-sanctioned events before the current fee was introduced after World Cup 50; that they are exempt from having to pay the fee. The WCC claims that due to Qazox unlaterally withdrawing from the WCC after World Cup 50, and upon their re-instatement before World Cup 52, that Qazox now owes the national sanctioning fee. An international court ruling last week found in favor of the WCC and Qazox announced they would appeal to the WA Council of Sport. But until Qazox' appeal is heard, the QFA is banned from the World Cup and the upcoming CoH, until the fees are paid, which is currently estimated to be $363 million.

[Yesopalitha]

Nirdasil's Corner

A Youngster's Paradise

What did the Flames' win over Legokiller in the last match do for the Yesopalithan squad?

It clinched the group, that's what. With four matches left. With clashes against The Equestrian States and Megadia left. Made it so that Sir James can use the last four matches to do whatever he so pleases.

There will be those that say, "Keep the starters on the field so that they remain sharp!" Perhaps that is the way to go. However, the more minutes a player plays, the more they have chance of injury; not sure if Yesopalitha could handle an injury to Jonah Calhoun, Jane Vander Rox, or Nadya Dostoevich right now.

No, probably, Sir James will start his best players against the tough teams, and let the youngsters go out and play - it's been fun to watch them. Park Sung Hwan, Jacques Kemp, Clarence Patterson... Kristi Stenberg. They all deserve recognition, as well as the duo of Brianna Carheim and Victoria Hellion.

The future of Yesopalitha's football seems brighter than it ever has. And it all started with HVR, Ivan, and Qunicy. Oh, how I wish that I could watch them play again sometimes. But the videotapes are all archived, and I can watch them again, and again...

Go Flames! Your nation is behind you. Do not ever doubt that.

---

Sir James Handel sat by his desk, scratching his head. Thirty, there had been. And thirty, there were now. But somehow, in some wicked way, he would have to cut seven members off this squad by the time qualifying was over.

He started to go through the positions, one by one:

One cut would be easy. Jing Wong was the player of the future, but right now, she had had enough experience on the national team. The Flames only needed Calhoun and Housen to go to either Aguazul or Turori. That much was certain.

In the defense, Damian Garcez and Vance Briollet would probably get the axe. They'd have their chances, and hand't impressed as much as JeMichael Tern, Marcus Yersau, Kristi Stenberg, and Catherine Peirot. It was a pity, for Damian had some fancy ball-handling skills, and Vance was an emotional voice in the locker room. But compared to JeMichael's tackling skills, Marcus's on-field presence, Kristi's stubbornness, or Catherine's flashy style, they had to go.

When Sir James looked at the midfielders, he frowned. He still had to cut four more? Man... Fantasia, Jane, Isaac, Park, and Jacques were in, and he was going to name Park and Jacques as starters. Jared, Kathryn, and Clarence had proved to be capable substitutes. That left Justinian Marquette, Eric Tupoa, and Katerina Anderson on the outside looking in. Was there a way that he could keep one of them? Justinian was a capable veteran, it was just that he had a tendency of making stupid mistakes. Eric, a fireblood youngster, and Katerina, a whiz on the field, but one that couldn't keep her personal issues out of the public.

Among the forwards, he was going to keep all of them save one; Carlos Nunez didn't posses the speed or the finesse. Other than him, though, it would be suicide to cut either Zeander Marionas, Powell, or Rosanne. They were all too good.

So, these seven would have to go: Jing Wong, Damian Garcez, Vance Briollet, Justinian Marquette, Eric Tupoa, Katerina Anderson, and Carlos Nunez.

Unless, of course, something changed in the last four games?

Sir Handel drew up a schedule of who would play when, and decided to bide his time...

---

Hilary Vander Rox frowned.

It wasn't good for any team to not have a defined Captain. Somehow, the Flames had done well with having a triangle, but they had to have one captain for the proper.

Originally, Sir James had stated that he would try to decide the Captaincy, and told Hilary to figure out who would stay in the team or not. But then, he had told her that since she knew the players better, she should decide who should be Captain.

Except such a decision wasn't easy, at all.

Isaac had the best shooting. Jane the most energy. Nadya the most speed. They all had their strengths and weaknesses.

It almost made Hilary wish that she hadn't retired so that she could be the Captain again and get rid of all this headache.

But her playing days were over. The next generation was to step up. And she would have to make a hard decision soon...

[Blouman Empire]

THE DAILY REVIEW

Eagle's Put On Convincing Performance

Sir Keith Kolson hit back at a growing number of critics last night not with words but with actions as the Eagles won 2-1 against Megadia. As the team showed that while they would not be qualifying for the World Cup they would continue fighting for wins. Baden Lakes opened the scoring for the home side as he headed home a left wing cross from Christopher Kovarch in the 18th minute that had the fans on their feet.

The Megadian keeper appeared to find inspired form as he pulled off a string of saves including a free kick taken by Robert Schmitz. Megadia was later able to equalise before their keeper allowed one in after he failed to save William Goodfellow's deflected shot. It was a disappointment for the keeper as he should've easily been named man of the match after saving a total of 25 on target shots, however, anything less than a win for the Eagles would've been a travesty to the game as they easily dominated for the full 90 minutes.

The Eagles threw everything they had at the visiting side and should've been up for 3-0 in 15 minutes. First Lakes hit the crossbar from 20 yards out before he forced the keeper onto his first of many saves for the night. Schmitz also scrubbed one across the face of an open goal before George Cardol shot from 12 yards out hit the left post, his follow up kick went straight into the keepers hands. The Megadian keeper was helpless to stop the opening goal when Lakes was on the end of a cross from Kovarch and tapped it in from close range.

Many more chances followed for the Eagles before Goodfellow was bought down just outside of the area, he lined up for the shot and appeared to be heading in the top far corner but unsurprisingly the Megadian keeper managed to tap it over the bar for a corner. The visiting side managed to get back on level terms in the 55th minute against the run of play when the Megadian striker headed one in from close range but just seven minutes later they fell behind again.

The Eagle's with a total of 36 shots at goal finally breached the keeper's defences when Schmitz got his 7th campaign thanks to the deflection off the leg from a Megadian defender.

After the game Kolson appeared relaxed and happy at a post-match interview "The best team won, I've always known that we are a good side and tonight we went out and proved that. Their keeper is a testament to their side and the reason why they have let the second least amount in our group, but today our scorers were on form and showed that they can score when needed." The win keeps the team in 7th place and although qualification is no longer a possibility the team is now only 3 points behind their aim of finishing 5th with 4 games remaining the team will be looking at ensuring they reach their objective.

[Karditan]

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13 <-- You are here.
Part 14

To be clear, we're back in the Sayercooan boathouse now.

Emanuel jogged down the stairs and was faced with some shady-looking men in dark leather coats smoking around a table containing a poker game. The man directly opposite the stairs, who also had the nicest hat and the biggest pile of chips, looked up and chuckled.

"Hey, lookee, boys. It seems we got ourselves a Karditani messenger. You got our money, boy? Haven't gotten payments for the last three shipments."

"Fucking hell. I choose the one place in Rushmore that everyone can see right through me. But no, I'm not patsy of the Nothaman smugglers."

The guy with the smallest pile of chips grunted. "What th' hell is No-thama?"

The guy directly next to that guy slapped him. "It's how the locals pronounce Nozama, ya dunce."

"Cool, guys." The first guy--who appeared to be the leader--got up and dusted himself off. "So, mister Nothaman, what can we do for you?"

"Just curious as to your guys' operation. I, for one, am very grateful for your hard work bringing that fine Whiskey to our distant shores. But of the military branches, Karditan's navy is the strongest. How do you do it?"

"Simple smuggling protocol. Stop in international waters, wait for darkness, send out blacked-out sailboats with silenced oars to take the product to shore. Why so interested? Want to join in on the fun?"

Emanuel shook both hands and clicked his tongue. "No, no no. I'm not a man of the sea. But I am a fellow criminal, and these procedures are interesting to learn about. Do you guys do anything besides smuggling whiskey?"

"See that?" The leader pointed to a crate in the back of the room. "Refugees. Got on the wrong side of the wrong gang, but can't go to the government for protection. Most of them are on the lam themselves. We're taking them out to Fidishwa. They want to see if they can make a live for themselves where the natives have thrived for thousands of years."

"Human trafficking?" Emanuel whistled. "Now that's some heavy stuff. But I assume it's pretty much the same process?"

"Oh, yeah. Pretty much every crime on the sea goes out like that, if you don't feel like shooting your way through the coast guard."

"Hey boss," yelled one of the guys still seated, "we gonna get back to the game? Much longer and Joey'll start swiping your chips."

"Alright, alright, fellas. Hey--you wanna jump in?"

Emanuel looked around to see if anyone was standing behind him. "Me? Oh, I couldn't. It'd mess the whole thing up if I just jumped in the middle."

"Nonsense, nonsense. These guys are lousy and I've got plenty of chips, I'll give up some to start you off. I get half if you win, though. Joey, get your hands off my stack and grab this man a chair."

"Fuckin' 'ell, boss. I wasn't no where near your stack."

"Just get the damn chair."

"Alright, alright." The man identified as 'Joey' went over and grabbed a chair from beside the wall, dragging it over and setting it by his own. Then he got on one knee and made a mock flourish. "Your throne awaits."

The leader grabbed a wrench from a nearby work bench and knocked Joey with it as he walked by. Joey got up and returned to his seat without a snide comment, and Emanuel sat next to him. The leader counted out a nice little pile of chips and slid them Emanuel's way, then dealed.

"Say..." Emaneul looked back at the container. "Is it safe to be keeping people in a sealed container?"

"There's air vents cut in the top, and we make sure our crates have enough clearance that the ceiling doesn't block them off. Not after that time we let Joey buy the crate."

"Fuck... why you guys always hatin' on me?"

"Because ya killed the family o' that guy who was framed for that string o' murders," offered another one of the seated grunts.

"Hey, I'm human, we all make mistakes."

The boss rubbed his temples and folded. "Just shut the fuck up, guys. We all know Joey's an idiot, we don't need to go over this every time we have a little free time."

Emanuel examined the setup of the cards and something clicked. "Hold on, are you guys playing Saxet Hold 'Em?"

"You don't make as many trips to Karditan as we do without picking up a few things, kid."

A few hands were played, some chips were slid and some insults were bandied around, but it was apparent the native Karditani criminal had the upper hand when it came to a tradition Karditani gambling game. He though of something as he hauled in his latest batch, which had been won by trumping Joey's pair of twos (at least he had a good poker face) with three aces. "Hey, if you guys are heading around Terramidia anyways, could you drop me off in Sicoutimont?"

The leader whistled and glanced back at the Rushmori map posted on the wall. "That's a bit of a stretch. From Fidishwa, we'd have to sail all the way around that big ol' landmass there--and don't quote me on this, but I hear Cassadaigua might have moved into that spot-"

"Wait. Cassadaigua? The nation on One Big Island?"

"-well, it was on One Big Island. I heard they were jealous of all the sporting success Rushmori nations were having and wanted to hop over here."

"Can a country just do that? Shift continents?"

"Oh, yeah. It's a suspicious operation. A fleet of pitch-black helicopters fly down, hook up to the corners of the nation, and lift it straight offa the ground. Then they plunk it down in the new spot."

Emanuel gave his head a shake to try and clear his mind. "Anyway, whether or not a nation suddenly popped up between Fidishwa and Sicoutimont, I think I have enough to cover your expenses for the trip." He patted the chips in front of him.

The boss leaned over and swung his hand down the middle of Emanuel's pile, pulling half to him. "Not when half of this is already mine."

"How about now?" Emanuel reached into his backpack and pulled out the sack of gold he'd gotten for the P.I.M.P.'s assassination, letting it thump on the tabletop.

The leader opened the bag, grabbed a coin, bit it, and examined it. "Yeah... this'll do."

[Polar Islandstates]

Three times did the Terns strike force pierce the Riyahda defence that match. Once, the brave van Sorensen risking his neck against far larger opponents to rise and nod in Marten Cornelius' header, scoring a rare headed goal for the creative midfielder in the process. Twice, whilst concentrating on marking the hat-trick hero of the previous match, the Riyahda defence instead allowed Diedrich Kvitchenko to play a through ball to himself and score a thunderous goal. Three times, as the minutes ticked down it was a moment of craft and guile from Vadim Illich-Svitych to control a lofted pass from Zacharias Juul on the back of his neck before applying a volley. Having told the players that he would not be telling them the end of the story whatever happened out there on the pitch, the Storyteller was pleased to see that they would still put effort into winning matches for the sake of performing on the world stage, and that he hadn't turned them into mere performing chimps. Better yet, Fewmist had drawn with Audioslavia, and the group was theirs for the Terns to take once again.

---

With Nethertopia the next team for the Terns to play on the field, they were once again abuzz with the prospect of facing one of the World Cup's most legendary teams. Julius Oyen-Spekke was therefore pulling no punches when he stated how honoured it made him feel to not only be facing Audioslavia, but also Liventia and Nethertopia in the same group. This was clearly a group of great footballing tradition, and whilst the Terns had some way to go to match the achievements of many of these sides, their paths towards doing so would be made all the richer for this experience now.

Jorgen Hauge agreed, with Zacharias Juul and Jan Rasmus also nodding in agreement. Whilst some of the players might be too young to have relatives that remember, they themselves were lucky enough to have heard of the exploits of some of the great teams of the past from their grandparents. Jean-Eric Villeneuve, one of the youngest in the squad, then spoke up, saying that he was envious of those older players whose venerable relatives had seen so much and had so many stories to tell of the world that once was.

At this point, the lights turned out with a metallic tick, leaving the players in pitch darkness. The Storyteller's voice appeared from out of the darkness, but in such a way that he might have been talking at the shoulder of each and every player at once, one ear reserved for the clear, echo-less, personal caressing of the words, and the other ear reserved for the important reverberations that shuddered around the room picking up the essence of everything in it as it went. The players looked around, for they had not noticed the Storyteller coming in. However, the darkness was complete, and they were capable of seeing nothing, and had to leave how the Storyteller was managing this up to personal and entirely internal speculation.

The Storyteller explained that if such elder relatives were so impressive to the players for what they'd seen, perhaps they would be able to appreciate someone like he, who had seen everything and was the source of all written and verbal works of fiction and entertaining non-fiction that had been, were, and would be.

Still leaving the players in darkness, he asked them to use their imagination, and to cast their minds back to the pre-Federation worlds they must surely have learnt about at school, back to a time when the longboats settled the differences of the Jarls from the different islands who would squabble over land and bloodlines. The darkness would facilitate this, and then the moral of the story would only be known after its telling was complete. Having earned his trust last match by playing despite not being told the answer, the Storyteller also stated that he would reward them today by finishing the tale before the match.

The Storyteller then asked the players if they had heard of the Sonnsaage of Hoor and Billinge. Several of the players replied in the affirmative. The Storyteller then made them a proposition, how would they like to hear it straight from the mouth of he who first penned the epic tale and gave it to the bibliographs of Jan Mayen all those centuries ago, the Storyteller himself...

NB: The Valhallan Sonnsaage is a method of telling epic tales in the Valhallan tradition that was developed by the brother bibliographs of Jan Mayen, and is OOCly based heavily on that of the Shakespearian sonnet. The iambic pentameter of the sonnet is retained at the very least in the form of ten syllables per line, as is the a-b-a-b c-d-c-d e-f-e-f g-g rhyming structure of those lines; but the sonnsaage differs in that it adds a fifteenth line, of rhyming formula h and of only six syllables at the end. A sonnsaage is also free of the quatrain-by-quatrain structure whereby a sonnet aims to propose a question, develop it, and then conclude it; instead, the verses in a sonnsaage are treated merely as vessels for telling the story, and the entire thing can be made of as many verses as is required.

The Sonnsaage of Hoor and Billinge

Jarl Henan knew that Ellismare would rise,
the ships and men of St Paul by their court;
He knew the docks of Sisimut were priz'd,
and yon plans for conquest he must to thwart.
The twin isles of Hoor and Billinge stood strong,
those rocks assembl'd in the teeming seas;
To Ellismare howe'er they did belong,
invasion plans a-scented on the breeze.
Such advantageous rocks he shan't abide,
their eyes on his capital of Sis'mut;
With the name of Thor's glory by his side,
his fabled quest to close the en'my shut.
Henan spoke out and messengers away'd,
the tax of warfare's penalty he made,
for men, ships, and fervour.

Twixt Ellismare and Grenlund did their stead,
rise from the ocean waves and cast their height;
Those rocks of Hoor and Billinge, arm'd til dead,
the only way to secure Henan's plight.
Too long if did the Ellismare sit fine,
their strength on both would surely grow til great;
Although fair small thus far, 'twas their design,
to launch from there to warfare, Grenlund's Gate.
And so Henan foresaw of Grenlund's woe,
in days of constant war and suffering;
Should Hoor and Billinge be allow'd to grow,
the winds of pain and torture they would bring.
To Sisimut then came the off'rings made,
for Henan; men, and boats for his crusade,
he counted up the tax.

The coastal farmers, lords, and fam'ly creeks,
were true to word and came in hour of need;
From the Weerfurt Lakes to the South White Peaks,
all men, all boats, to Henan with their creed.
Th'Armada left the port and sail'd for Hoor,
'neath the soft and gentle cloak of night's breath;
They gather'd silent off the Billinge shore,
all flames out, lest by chance they meet thy death.
To go as one was Henan's great deceive,
to go by ship to ship would not succeed;
In night they could not see, so Henan's leave,
twas finest of his armoury's smart breed.
Great funnels of black powder, copper dust,
to each ship gave, to into the sky thrust,
out-shining their green light.

Jarl Henan took rough winds and took his sign,
and smote the black-green powder into light;
To see such green burst up in the sky shine,
the conquest each smote thine and took their flight.
T'wards shore their boats did travel over fast,
their task with sudden army to succeed;
The Ellismare did see the black-green blast,
but too late were their forces to proceed.
Silently t'wards land and then upon it,
Jarl Henan lead his armies to great feat;
the Ellismare had choice none 'cept submit,
those living fled their post in full retreat.
Henan would see no loss of tax that night,
all men, and still all boats surviv'd the fight,
Grenlund would still stand yet.

The Storyteller concluded his tale, and asked the dressing room of silent players what the message and fable therein may have been. The players correctly identified that the importance of having a plan before you go, and then all giving off and understanding the same signals at the same time. Without the know-how for these early primitive fireworks, and the intelligence to know that a coordinated sneak attack out of the darkness would be successful, the signals required by the sailors of Sisimut and Fjellovergang would surely have not been made. If they hadn't have all understood the need for unity in their advance and waited for that signal accordingly, then they would surely have been lost one by one in individual attacks. The sneak attack had been crucial in stopping the new Ellismare and St Paul union of arms from establishing a foothold on the strategic islands of Hoor and Billinge. The safety that Grenlund enjoyed for centuries from the tactical and naval might of their enemies was based entirely on them holding those islands and then fortifying them, which in turn had relied on the firework signals being understood as the signal to silently sail through the darkness and launch their attack.

The Storyteller told them to perform well that match, and that he would see them soon.

With another metallic tick, the fluorescent lights above the players popped and fizzed into life once again, temporarily blinding them. Blinking and rubbing their eyes as their retinas began to re-adjust to the idea of being made to receive signals and actually do some work again, the players looked around for the Storyteller, only to find nothing.

Jorgen Hauge gathered his players at the front of the room before leading them out into the tunnel that day, and told them that the time to start pulling together and co-ordinating their strike on the top of the table was now. This was their copper and black powder flare. They had to strike, and they had to strike all together, starting from that very match. The run-in to the final standings had started, and it was important not to slip up now, or they too would be lost.

[Aguazul]

The more he thought about Aguazul's actions, the more he wondered what kind of world his grandchildren might grow up in, the more Emilio became convinced he was on the wrong side of history.

But what was he going to do about it? Trying to help footballers out, one at a time, had been one thing. But he was too old for revolution. All the rumblings he'd heard had been from the Supercentro, anyway...

The government wasn't really all that competent to begin with. They tried to draft everyone, control everything, but beyond the intermingled metropoli, weren't all that effective. Lots of rebels had been able to slip through the cracks, and so the authority's control over the smaller northern cities was suspect. It was a tradeoff; maybe if the existing communists had joined together, they could have relinquished the small cities and struck at the larger ones, but that would have been bloody, and they twiddled their thumbs waiting for a revolution they thought was inevitable. If the strangest rumors held truth, the whisperings going on down south really were something new. People who believed they had a chance, not a sure thing, but were ready to take risks. If they were successful, and if the minor rebels could hold onto the small cities...then Aguazul would be a very different place.

But that didn't factor in the largest northern city. Emilio's home, Grisolon. Or its small but extant tactical nuclear arsenal. Were the Supercentro to fall, Grisolon might well be the military's last outpost, with nothing left to lose. Fueled by idiocy and spite, they could crush the rebellion and risk the country with it.

And even if Emilio sold all his trophies, all his jerseys, signed autographs for days on end from years long gone, there was no way he could bribe them all. No single person could counter their entangled mix of stupidity and desperation.

Though of course, in Aguazul, the combination was hardly in short supply...

Matchday 15

[Osarius]

"...police acted swiftly to escort the troubled star to safety, while bystanders looked on in horror." The news wouldn't shut up about him. Maria wasn't listening intently, just enough to know they were talking about her brother, Alessandro. She just wanted them to stop. To pretend everything was okay. Seeing her brother in this state was painful enough on the visits she made to her parents' home in Pareille, but she could never stay long. Her little brother was in there somewhere. Lost. And it pained her that she couldn't find him.

"...believe that he was making an attempt to communicate with the criminals, an action which the Royal Guard felt would endanger the lives of the hostages." The news report continued the discussion. She could take no more. *click* Off. A heavy sigh. 'What happened to you, Ale?' She thought, scrunching her eyes shut tight, and pressing them with her eyes in a futile attempt to stop the tears flowing.

Just when she had thought maybe Alessandro was making a recovery. Just when she had hoped he would be okay again. He'd shown up at a delicate hostage situation, clearly not thinking straight. 'That idiot cab driver. Why did he even take him there? He was in no fit state to travel!' She couldn't stay mad at Ale, after all. He wasn't well.

*ring ring*

Her mobile phone. She'd never really understood the appeal of having a fancy ringtone. Simple ringing was enough. A glance at the screen revealed the caller: "Papa". A light groan. As much as she loved her father, he was a little overbearing at times. Especially now that he had been given reason to fear for both his children. "It is too soon to be sure, but there is a possibility mental illness could be influenced by genetics in your family" the doctor had told him. 'Just answer it. He's probably just checking in to see if you're okay. You know he means well.' Maria had to coerce herself to answer.

"Papa?"

"Ria! How are you today? Fine, I hope."

"I'm okay Papa. Just in the hotel resting before the game tomorrow."

"You think Ronald will start you this time?" One of the downsides of being a professional footballer and having a father like Benedict di Corradi is that he didn't just think he knew what was best for you at work, he did know. It was literally his job to know.

"I'm not sure Papa, Brooklyn has been playing well, and you know he's worried about how..." She hesitated, not wanting to inadvertenedly offend her father with her interpretation of her brother's situation. He'd been through a similar ordeal, after all. "...recent events..." Diplomacy came naturally to her, though. "...have affected me."

"But do you feel okay to play?"

"Of course. I want to get on the pitch and be free for a while again, you know?"

She couldn't see her father, but she heard him smile. "I know, Ria." He understood what she meant. He had always said to both her and Alessandro as children, 'You must be free on the pitch, let go of everything else and be in the game only.' It never made much sense until she played her first game as a professional.

"How is Mama?" A subtle change of tack. They'd both get lost in thoughts of the game if she didn't press on.

"She is fine. A little tired but it is nothing serious." Maria can hear a muffled shout in the background. "She says to tell you to focus on work and not to worry about her." Benedict passed on the message.

A chuckle escaped Maria's lips, "just like Mama."

"She worries too much, and so do you, Ria."

"So I'm told."

"It's not a bad thing to worry sometimes. Especially in times like this. But you must remember to keep yourself focused on the road, not trying to read all of the signs." Another of his obtuse metaphors. He had one for everything, it seemed.

"I know, Papa. I'm trying."

"Glad to hear it. But you should know, there is a reason I am calling you." The change in his tone of voice was instantly noticeable. "Have you..." He paused. They both knew where the conversation was heading. "Have you seen the news?" Another pause. "About your brother?"

A heavy sigh. "Yes."

"Don't worry about him, Ria. We will take care of him."

"Easier said than done, Papa."

"Please, you must try."

"What exactly happened?" She knew better than to trust everything the news said. The amount of times she'd been linked with transfers to overseas clubs, or heard she'd been spotted in clubs with celebrities, it would be fair to say that Maria di Corradi's impression of the media was that it was best to remain dubious.

"Well... You heard about the robbery at Metis exchange offices?"

"Yeah..." Metis were so rich, it made sense that people would want to rob their exchange office -- where they effectively ran a sort of pawn shop/loan service -- but nobody was that stupid. They had excellent security, state-of-the-art systems, highly-trained personnel, everything.

"A team of sixteen took over the building and locked it down. They were holding the entire staff hostage, with one guy negotiating with the Royal Guard." Benedict continued.

Made sense that the Royal Guard were called in. For serious, high profile crimes like that, the police forces alone weren't enough, so they usually called in the Crown's elite unit. They were kind of like the tactical units you saw in movies all the time, but much less glamorous. "And what did Ale do to get on the news?"

"He recognised the name of the man doing the negotiating, and thought he could help."

"Is he okay?"

"The police stopped him before he could do anything that may have been a problem for the hostages. But he was upset that he was not allowed to help."

"Sounds like Ale." He was always trying to help people as a child. "He's still in there somewhere, Papa." Maria said calmly. As if stating an obvious fact.


"He is..." Her father affirmed. "...but nobody is sure where right now."

"Where did the police take him after they..?"

"They brought him back to our place, we'll keep him safe for now. Go win a game for him, Ria. You can tell him about it when you visit next. You're still coming next weekend, yes?"

Maria paused. She hadn't intended to visit for a while. She was beginning to resent seeing her brother, and seeing him the way he was at the moment. "Yeah. I'll be there."

"Okay, well I will let you rest. Good skill tomorrow, Ria." He never said 'good luck'; it was a myth, he said.

"Thanks, Papa. See you soon."

Maria slumped back on the hotel bed. 'Where are you, Ale? I miss you.'

[Jeruselem]

Princess Katy and Jeruselem coach Michelle Salad after a 2-0 win over Jedi8246

Katy: Almost there Fruity
Michelle: Yes, almost but we must keep vigilant
Katy: Pretty handy beating the 2nd placed team too
Michelle: But there's the other 6 teams chasing
Katy: Carmadin are my pick as the big threat. Always there to pounce
Michelle: Yes, 3 games left still means we can't rest

Katy: I see Jeru FC has another draw
Michelle: But it was against a big rival for top spot.
Katy: I think Jeru FC should have won and put some different between the teams
Michelle: Better than losing though
Katy: Oh yeah, that would have been a disaster
Michelle: Kulverint took full advantage though

Katy: Yes, they sure did
Michelle: We can only worry about ourselves
Katy: I don't my sister to go to another Cup of Harmony
Michelle: She'll be fine, Jeru FC have played the rivals now
Katy: 3 games, hope 9 points
Michelle: I get the impression Kulverint will be top dog there

Katy: No way, it's gonna be Jeru FC
Michelle: It's weird, they should cruising. We should be struggling
Katy: We're doing good. No need to change things.
Michelle: I can afford to get a new car then
Katy: Don't you have money?
Michelle: I've got kids to educate

Katy: Don't we pay you enough
Michelle: Hey, I don't have loads of spending money
Katy: I can see that
Michelle: Why?
Katy: Your wardrobe looks 30 years old
Michelle: I suppose it is. Not that you wear clothes anyway.

Katy: I hear you're a big contributor to your local church
Michelle: They think I'm swimming in money because I'm the Jeruselem coach
Katy: That's just not true, you have to work hard for that money
Michelle: Oh yes, all this travel isn't good for you
Katy: You just need to get used to it.
Michelle: I'm no young un these days. Far too many aches and pains

[Jeru FC]

Princess Melody and Jeru FC coach Melody Pond after another draw

Pond: Oh, another draw. I mean I've never seen Jeru FC get to many draws.
Melody: This was our opportunity to make it into the top 2 of the group too
Pond: But our opposition deserved their points I guess. We were not good enough for a win.
Melody: I think we had more goals it's just some got disallowed
Pond: A win today would made such a difference
Melody: Not to worry, we have 9 points left to grab

Pond: I'd be happy to get into playoff now.
Melody: Khytenna beat Earo 8-2 and are just two wins behind us
Pond: That's a worry
Melody: I hope it's just temporary thing. The pressure is on, your head on the block.
Pond: I know
Melody: I don't think we can make up 4 points in three games given Kulverint have lost 1 game so far

Pond: I'd say they are the one to catch now
Melody: Two points behind Licentiapacisterra still and only 3 games left. We need some luck
Pond: At least we didn't lost to Licentiapacisterra today
Melody: I think I've given up on Qazox too
Pond: Yes, 5 points behind 2nd spot. I think it's too late
Melody: Apparently the QFA owe the WCC 363 million

Pond: How much?
Melody: 363 million
Pond: That's a lot !!!
Melody: They haven't paid the WCC since World Cup 51
Pond: Are they broke?
Melody: I don't know

Pond: What does it mean?
Melody: They can't go the Cup of Harmony
Pond: I guess it means less competition there for us
Melody: I guess that's the plus for us if we got to the CoH
Pond: But we're not going to CoH yet
Melody: No we're not I don't want to go back there

[Sicoutimont]

Royales Tied For First With Bears, 3 Matches To Go

It started 2 months ago, and it ended 1-1. San Potato versus Sicoutimont, Les Royales' first draw of the tournament. Stan Sarault got the goal for us, with Savard and Giroux the assists. The team left National Stadium in San Potato with 25 points, second to Bears Armed's 28. Next up was Warkus. SportCity was, once again rainy and wet, but the game was still played. Coming back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, Les Machines scored a goal, and Georges Allonts got another equalizer, as there was another draw for Les Royales. With the Bears also drawing, we were still behind them by 3 points. Then, it was West Zirconia. Pier-Luc Dion got the start, but the game was moved from SportCity to Stade St-Pierre due to Tropical Storm Yves. "We should have moved all the games, SportCity should not host outdoor sports events during tropical season," said Rene Rochefort, President of the Sicoutimont Football Association. The game started with Alex Gannot putting home a strike in the 22nd minute, and Girard Giroux scoring in the 43rd minute, to give Les Royales a 2-0 lead at the end of 1. Stan Sarault was subbed on for Georges Allonts, who was booked for a yellow in the 56th minute. Sarault scored 2 goals, as the Athletik Thessia striker led his team to a 4-0 win over West Zirconia. Far off look the disapointment of the friendlies, the team was developing a lead over 3rd-place nation Kinitaria. Bonarisa showed up to take on Les Royales next, with the same result as the Zirconians: Giroux 2 goals, Gannot 1, and Christopher Savard 1 goal. In other Group 14 action, West Zirconia rebounded and upset Bears Armed, to get a 2-1 win. That put Sicoutimont tied for first place, with 32 points. And now, the most recent game, Shadowbourne. Early on in Shadowbourne's home stadium, the hometown Bourneans took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. That awakened the beast: Giroux led the way with 2 goals in the first half, and Alex Gannot put his share in, as Les Royales led 3-1 after the first half. In the second, Stan Sarault scored, Gannot got his second of the game, and Girard Giroux got his hattrick in the 82nd minute, as Les Royales smashed Shadowbourne 6-1. Tonight, at Royal Stadium in Dwile, Apox, Les Royales will look to continue this breakneck pace, 14 goals in 2 games, against a host Apox, who haven't been to shabby themselves, including a 7-2 victory over San Potato. Will Sicoutimont's qualifing dream continue, or will Apox help Kinitaria close the 7-point gap between T1 and 3rd?

Real Ile Perrot lose at Group Stage in UICA SBCC
Winning 2 games, drawing 2, and losing 2, RIP finished with 8 points, 1 back of the top 2 in the group stage. Captain Jacques Berrard said, "We had a good run, and we'll be back at the UICA next year, but hopefully in the Champion's Cup instead." Lac-Drouin St-Pierre definently won't hope that, led by Georges Allont, Jerry Watchmen of the FSSO, and Ossidiaquan Angel Capobianco, they will look to defend their league title.

LDSP Break Through At Copa de Campeones
At Rushmore's Champion's Cup equivalent, the Copa de Campeones, Lac-Drouin St-Pierre came up big, by their standards. LDSP won the qualifing round on a 2-1 aggregate over Osaricians of Djocoranga, with Capobianco and Allont getting the goals. Next up was FC Dagnar United of Mashiki. Game 1 went 2-0 LDSP's way, and game 2 was a 1-1 draw, giving LDSP the aggregate victory. In the quarterfinals, LDSP finally fell to Navel FC of the Whirl Islands, losing 2-1 and 2-0. Navel FC would lose to eventual champions Iturributa United, from Iturributa, in the semifinals.

[Northern Sunrise Islands]

- Man, I almost lost my favorite show! - said Carvalho, running to the bed to watch something on the television of the room.
- What show? - asked Nagatomo, going to the bathroom.

Mateus passed thru the channels and ended up stopping at a strang show named "The Greatest Drag Queen Model of the Year".
Nagatomo left the Bathroom after just washing her hands and looked to the TV for a small second, to then look at Carvalho, not able to believe what he was watching.

- ... What? It's a fun show, I swear!
- ... Huh.
- Fine... I'll change the channel...
- No, no need to. Defend your gender choice, girl!
- ...I'm not gay, why would you say that? If it's because of the show, I'll change to something else.
- Yeah, that would be way better.

As he passed thru some more channels, he ended up on a little newscast regarding about their football game.

- After taking two goals from Bordurian on the first half, Carvalho and Nagatomo turned the game in favor of the Marills as both scored two goals, with Carvalho scoring at the fifteenth minute of the second half with a good header after a corner and the twentieth-first minute with a great shot on the top right angle, unreachable by the goalie. Nagatomo, with her peculiar style managed to score at the fortieth and fortieth-second minute. And now, on to Domestic Football, as we talk about the new re-organization of the pyramid...

Mateus decided to turn off the TV after that, a little bored.

- Wait, turn it on again. I'm interested about that.
- Fine, I'll go take a bath.

He turned on the TV and left for the bathroom, leaving Nagatomo alone on the room, watching the news.

- With the inclusion of several territories, which include the Island of Sunrice, the islands that used to be named Seltik and what will be the biggest island of the country, which used to be named Union de Sud and will now be divided in three states, the NSIFC will re-form the pyramid in the original franchise-esque format. While teams such as Matthew City Rangers, Matthew City Senators, Mardi Lopunnies and Neuville Scythers have confirmed participation on the inaugural season of the new format, groups have already been formed and will be trying to participate.

Nagatomo raised an eyebrow, even though neither her nor her friend were playing at NSI by then.

- Two teams that have also been confirmed for the First Division, who happens to be a newcomer would be the Sunrice United, backed up by media star LuPaul, mostly known by being the host of TV show "The Greatest Drag Queen Model of the Year" and also the Stilwater Saints, who will have the same ownership of the old Stilwater Sharks hockey team that was once champion of the league and also minoritarian participator on the SHL's San Jose Sharks.
- Oh, boy, Matt's gonna love that.
- International Players without a team will be included in a Draft featuring the new teams that will participate at the league. Plans for a Second Division and a Under-20 Division also sparked recently.

[Kishrael]

Kishrael - Qualifying Thus Far


Menashe Harel during the match against Cambriano

And the Kishraeli path to access the World Cup has well and truly ended this cycle. Qualification was never expected from them, but good performances and some players seemed to be at their peak have justified the increasing confidence of the majority of the supporters in the success of Yam Kahol in this World Cup. The dark times from the Baptism of Fire seem to be gone, and now the entire country is backing the teal-white squad in their pursuit of mediocre glory. However, the more pessimist fans, or those who aren't really fans of Kishrael and are always just looking for a perfect opportunity to find something to criticize in Kahol Yam, are already making comments about the slips produced in the qualifiers. With a few games yet to be played, the fall in the performance level could be even more evident. Yes, these comments exist. Some people say that now the opponents are already handling without difficulties the playing style of Kishrael, knowing which players to mark tightly and which will be the most used moves. Right now, most of the fans are ignoring these critics, noting that the qualifying campaign was no less than impressive considering Kishrael's current ranking.

Yes, nobody expected qualification, nobody expected points but these have really helped the current coach Menashe Harel to assure the confidence and the admiration of the supporters and of other professionals in Kishraeli football world. Even the darkest moment in the campaign of Yam Kahol is overshadowed by the triumphs. The loss versus Cambriano, in another nation or situation, would surely become a reason for desperation of the fans and heavy complaints and protests directed at the coach and players. But Kishrael have played excellently, with the exception of a few heavy defeats, that no one paid that much attention and they ended directing their focus to other issues, such as the two draws against West Angola, or the two victories against Vakolic . And, most fans even created some reasons to defend Kishrael, after the loss!

Also, this elated situation surrounding Kishrael gave Harel the chance to experiment with some tactics he didn't have the bravery to use during the Baptism of Fire. Already used with the pressure from the stands due to his experience as a manager, he knew exactly when he could be more daring, removing from the starting eleven players like Espinoza and Marikosh and replacing them with the likes of Artsakhestani born Arimekshakyan and Mordecai Ahironi. Of course these are examples of players who surely will be starters in the World Cup, and didn't appear in a game or two just in order to give a chance to lesser known team mates. However, sometimes removing such a top player for a single match already produces an intense reaction from the fans.

So, with most players already tested and Menashe Harel being able to see how Kishrael performs in different strategies, Yam Kahol seem ready for the next cycke. The good qualifying not only gave the players confidence, but also some calmness in the whole ambient of the team. The group has no relationship problems, the players look motivated... but one thing must be noted: as the Kishraeli squad returns to play top quality football, with good results, the pressure may build. And it is not only a simple pressure for a respectable finish, they will be looking for more, and some of the supporters have an ambitious target: a début at the World Cup. This will not happen in the next 12-16 years, but these ambitious fans are the driving force behind any success.

More than this would be a dream, since Kishrael has only played in one World Cup, even with ties to nations like Phoenigetuzstha (Who managed to qualify just the once). But, in order to begin this new stage of Kishraeli football, the team needs to finish its qualifying campaign first. Matches still await, and the fans are expecting a last win to give a boost of confidence and respect for the entire squad before the off season, and perhaps (although highly unlikely Cup of Harmony stint). A loss would give some extra strength to the critics, and maybe convert some more, and increase the pressure which is already becoming a worry for some... But, right now, the KFA and some of the most respected football experts of the country are asking the fans to remain calm, and to not create too many expectations over Kishrael. The positive results will come up, in time, they say.

[Slembana]

(From the website of the Slembanan FA)

Slembanan team update

We have a mega twelve matches to update you in this update. Ten of them are World Cup 63 qualifying matches, while two of them are mid-qualifying friendlies. We here at the Slembanan FA apologize for not updating sooner. The last update was almost five months ago, back in November.

The first match we will update you on is our controversial 3-3 draw at home to Boring Paradise on Matchday 6. All three of our goals were controversial. Even I have to admit that none of our goals were deserved. I’d even go as far as saying that we did not deserve to gain a 3-3 draw. The dodgy decisions by the referee in our favour were, in order:
1. Raiyaan Malik fouled by Follin Maxet, 21st minute. Referee gives free-kick to us instead of them. Malik gets a yellow card.
2. Referee gives us a free-kick in the Paradisian half even though the foul was in our half. Jyvx Dagens scores the free-kick.
3. Val Kylx, our star striker, hits the crossbar with a shot in the 37th minute. Paradisian goalkeeper Osama Homewood saves the ball, but gets a red card for doing so. A goal was given to us, even though it was not a goal.
4. The referee tells the Paradisian manager that Kylx dived. A goal is given, and we win a penalty from Kylx’s dive. The fact that Kylx dived makes me angry at him for the first time ever.
5. Raiyaan Malik scores in the 67th minute. The goal looks perfectly legitimate, but the referee sends him off for scoring.
After sending of Malik, Boring Paradise’s manager wrestled the referee, sending the referee to hospital. Another referee – who was much fairer than the last one – replaced the injured one. After that, Boring Paradise scored with Sameer Jaklim and Hishaam Ali, making the final score 3-3. A point against a higher-ranked team may have been okay in normal circumstances, but cheating is not a nice way to get a point. The referee should be ashamed of himself.

After the travesty on Matchday 6, we travelled to Cowardly Pacifists to play our next game. We won 3-0 against the Chickens (the nickname of Cowardly Pacifists), and, this time around, we won fairly. The scoring was opened in the 56th minute, when Pacifista defender Salvador Lynch knocked the ball into his own net from 6 yards out. We went 2-0 up in the 74th minute, when Kylx slipped the ball under Chickenian goalkeeper Roosevelt Austin. Kylx pointed to the sky in celebration. He did this because of the fact that his maternal grandmother Alice had passed away at the age of 75 yesterday. The last goal was scored in the 78th minute by Follin Maxet, who drilled home from 24 yards.

We hosted footballing powerhouses New Montreal States in our next game. We managed to score 3 goals, but that wasn’t enough to defeat the Montrealians, who scored six goals in reply to thrash us 6-3. NMS were 3-0 up after 25 minutes, with Hugo Leclerq opened the scoring for them with a volley in the eighteenth minute. Fred Nguyen made it 2-0 with a 21st-minute header, before right-back Rick Andrews made it 3-0 in the 25th minute with an excellent solo goal. Andrews beat all 11 of our players, before slotting past Toby Gapman, our goalkeeper. At that point, the alarm bells were deafening. We needed to do something, and fast.

The second half began brightly for us, with Kylx testing ‘keeper Bill Watterson twice giving us a lifeline at 3-1 down in the 54th minute, bashing a bicycle kick past Watterson to score. Dagens gave us hope in the 64th minute, curling home a 30-yard free-kick. Two minutes later, we had equalized, with our right-back, Tom Iflon, heading home from a Dagens free-kick. These goals gave us hope, and indicated that an upset could be on the cards for us.

However, it wasn’t meant to be, sadly. NMS regained the lead in the 69th minute, with Nguyen side-footing past Gapman and into the roof of the net. Three minutes later, the Statesmen had made it 5-3, with excellent teamwork ending up with Leclerq tapping in from very close range. The rout was completed in the 88th minute, when Julien Cormier thundering home to make it 6-3 to NMS. This loss saw us slip down to an embarrassing sixth place, behind Secundus Kasius.

Talking of Secundus Kasius, they were our next opponents. We travelled to Secundus Kasius to play them, and only came away with an embarrassing 1-1 draw. Finlay Yalnif gave us the lead when jinked inside some Kasian defenders, before slotting the ball into the net. With Kylx not performing well, the Kasians equalized soon after, with Turner smashing past Gapman in the last minute to give Kasius an undeserved point. This match was our last before mid-qualifying, and, at the point, we were at a nadir. We had won only three of our nine games, and had only gained a measly eleven points from those games. We were sixth in qualifying Group 16, behind Secundus Kasius. Something needed to be fixed after that poor first half of qualifying.

We were away to Darmen in our next game. This game was a mid-qualifying friendly game which we had forgotten about. Striker Bryan Faulkner gave the Darmenis the lead in the 32nd minute, lobbing Gapman from about 30 yards out. In the 62nd minute, Darmen captain Tor Tong Lee made it 2-0 to his team with a penalty, wrapping up the win for the Rushmoris.

Our next game was another mid-qualifying friendly. Again, we were playing away from home. The team who we played were Eastfield Lodge, who have suffered a huge fall from grace in recent years. The Eastfieldian team consisted mainly of characters in a TV show called “Doctor Who”, as well as “random variations but from the species listed in Dr. Who”. Their outfield players had no official positions, meaning that could play everywhere apart from goal. Jenny gave the Lodge a 1-0 lead after 25 minutes, hammering home a looping volley. Captain Jack Harkness made it 2-0 to the Lodge in the 43rd minute, heading home a cross from Creet. We staged a comeback in the second half, with a header from Kylx and a backheel from substitute Harry “Komodo” Young giving us a 2-2 draw.

Our first match after the mid-qualifying break was away to Free Swiss States. We recorded an unspectacular 1-0 win against a Swiss side who had few chances to score in this game. The only goal of the game was scored in the 65th minute by Follin Maxet, who looped a great volley over the head of Swiss goalkeeper Nicholas Jayet and into the net. Kylx looked pretty poor in that match, with his shooting generally below average. This win was our first in five, and it saw us get back to 5th place in qualifying Group 18.

We hosted Wight in our next game. After our 7-2 thrashing by the same side on Matchday 2, we were hoping to get revenge on the Wightlings. We came very close to doing so, as we were only just edged out in a 4-3 loss. The Wightlingfolk opened the scoring in the 21st minute, with Big John Corfe Sheviock nodding home from a corner. Pseudomyrex Myrme (who is not a human, but a colony of millions of ants) made it 2-0 to the Sondry Folk in the 27th minute, before Lorccán Cotterill scored a third goal just after the second had gone in. A fourth goal came just after the third, but we scored it this time. Follin Maxet was the scorer. He thundered home from close range to give us a lifeline at 3-1 down. After that crazy spell of four goals in eight minutes, no more goals were scored in the first half, leaving us 3-1 down at the interval. However, a 55th minute Jyvx Dagens chip pulled the score back to 3-2, giving us some hope. Six minutes later, we had equalized, when Yuppë Tárnix (nicknamed “Lioneater”) curled a brilliant finesse shot into the top corner of the net, making it 3-3. Sadly, the Wightlingfolk went 4-3 up in the 71st minute, when midfield player F.C. Sumner banged home after a cock-up from Gapman. Kylx ducked as the ball zipped past him, and the ball went in. No more goals were scored for either side, and the game finished 4-3 to the Sondry Folk.

Our next game was away to underdogs Amelio. We only managed to get an unimpressive 2-1 win against the Amelian team, who have a mediocre ranking. Nello Fantoni gave Amelio a 56th-minute lead with a long-range screamer, but Val Kylx equalized in the 63rd minute, slotting into the bottom corner of the net from close range. And then, in the 84th minute, Amelian defender Victor Rios knocked the ball into his own net with a header from a corner, giving us a 2-1 win.

We hosted Octinstine in our next game. We managed to get away with a somewhat surprising 2-2 draw. Octinstine took the lead in the 22nd minute, with experienced centre-back Mark May smashing a powerful header past Gapman and into the net, giving our 37 year-old goalkeeper no chance. However, a poor defensive header from defender Leighton Murphy lead to Maxet smashing a curling volleyed shot into the top corner of the net in the 43rd minute. This made it 1-1 to us going into half-time. Striker Jake Simpson slotted home from 15 yards to restore Octinstine’s lead in the 53rd minute, only for a late header from our captain, Don Adobe, to give us a 2-2 draw.

We travelled to Nation M to play our next match. Nation M were the team who caused a gargantuan upset back on Matchday 5, with the unranked nation beating us 4-3 at home. However, we ensured that we didn’t cock-up a second time by beating the M’ers 4-2. However, we were in danger of cocking up again at the interval, with M’ers 2-0 up. Punf backheeled home in the 32nd minute to give Nation M the lead, and Maxim bulleted home a 43rd minute header to double that lead. However, we mounted a comeback in the second half. A header, a tap-in, and a penalty, all scored by Kylx, had us 3-2 up by the 77th minute. Five minutes later, a great header from our left-back, Freddie Spencer, made it 4-2 to us, wrapping up our victory.

The most recent match in our update was away to Boring Paradise, who were looking for revenge after that game on Matchday 6. We crashed to a 3-1 loss. Raiyaan Malik put Boring Paradise 1-0 up with a dink in the 34th minute, before a great individual goal from Sameer Jaklim made it 2-0 to the Paradisians in the 45th minute. A Kevin Harris free-kick wrapped up Boring Paradise’s victory in the 76th minute, as it made it 3-0 to Boring Paradise. Maxet scored with a side-footed effort in the 88th minute, but it was nothing more than a mere consolation for us.

And that’s this mega-long update finished. Again, we apologize for not updating you sooner. We can hopefully start updating you more often in World Cup 64. We currently sit in 5th place in the group, having gained 21 points from 15 games.

[Maklohi Vai]

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10

Tumo Makanopalani's Travel Journal
Day 9

We just faced off, and surprisingly won, against Ko-oren. We've had some contact with them before, both on the football stage and elsewhere, but I've never gotten a chance to look deeper into their culture. Ko-oren is a meritocracy, where leaders are chosen based on their merits. That is the sole criteria in elections, merit. It makes it easier for the people to choose, and it prevents much of the mudslinging that can normally occur.

In Maklohi Vai, the election process is not too twisted, but there are still issues. Some candidates run nasty ads that really accomplish nothing besides stirring up bad feelings. It helps that there's no corporate spending, which can often twist things even more. In Ko-oren, however, it's just merit. That's all you look at, all you seek in your candidate.

While it's a good idea in principle, I'm wondering if there could be drawbacks to a meritocracy. For example, what if a young person were to run for office and lose. Does that mean they are without merit? I think this could lower their self esteem, especially if there are class council elections or such a thing. But overall, I can see where the system has its merits. (Sorry for the pun).

With merit as the sole decider, you can have freedoms abound. Or can you? I'm not really sure, as I've never lived in one. The Ko-oren constitution provides for a set of rights, but I don't actually know if these are met on a regular basis. It seems like their people are happy, I suppose. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not completely sold on the meritocracy. Maybe it's because I've never seen it in action. Maybe because I was raised on such strong democratic principles that any other form of government, even one that has elections, seems to be different enough to doubt. Do I need to change that?

Do I need to become more open to how people run their own countries, as long as people have right? I think the answer is yes. If it seems like everything is ok, why take an interest in trying to change that?

I'm not sure if this has been a complete realization or formative experience, but it has certainly got me thinking. I'd really like to delve into this further, if possible. For now, though, I need to focus on football. We're in 4th place right now, but I think we can close this out. We need to win out to have the best chance of qualifying, and while that will be tough, I think we can do it. Goodbye for now.

[Bears Armed]

Within that house a door opens, now… A door hanging in an interior doorway that, had we been viewing it only seconds earlier, would have lacked any contents whatsoever!
A quartet of Ursine soldiers advance quickly-but-warily through that doorway and into one room of the building, fanning out to cover its other door and its windows. They are followed by the mysterious personage who is known in Bears Armed as Sermharn the Wanderer, and after him another three Ursine civilians and sevenof Ravens use that entrance before twelve more soldiers arrive to complete their party.

“Sitt-hrrep?” one of the latter soldiers asks the first quartet’s members.
“Clear!” comes the reply.
“Hokay. Green patrol, you four work just a bit closer to the target, as we discussed beforepaw…” he instructs them, and then turns to face the other troops and give them their instructions:
“… and Red patrol, take over from Green covering this hrroom’s entrances; Blue, take the house’s other watch-points; Amber, you’re our hrreserve force until the next wave gets here… hwhich means that you get to do the ‘house-keeping’ until then, of course, too…”

“Ah, so there are more troops being sent and we aren’t being expected to tackle the cultists with just this group?” one of the civilians remarks to Sermharn. “We left in such a hurry that I didn’t hear about that, and was wondering: I mean, hokay so these males are an S-W-S* patrol, but even so there’s only twoEights of them and we don’t know how for true just many ‘stray tourists’ we’ll have to deal with… nor how many allies, and of hwhat kinds, they might already have met up with here, neither”

(Sermharn) “Ayyuh, sheriff o Berrin, there’s the other three patrols from their Troop being mustered for this mission —and at least a couple of extra heavy-weapons teams from their regiment’s HQ group, too — who should get here fairrly soon, and we’ll wait for them before going out to make this arrest.”

(Sherif o Berrin) “Good.”
“Er’rmm, so you’ll be keeping the doorway through which we ourselves arrived here open for them, then?

(Sermharn) “No, because the effects of doing so on the local flow of mystical energies might be something that our targets could notice. I’m closing it now, and hwhen those troops are hrready a wizard back at their barracks will send a signal to let me know that it’s time to open the way once again.”

(Sherrif o Berrin) “Ah, hokay. Ur’rmm, you said “a wizard” at their barracks: Do you mean Grimdark, can we expect his help here?”

(Sermharn) “Sorry, no, Grimdark is apparently busy with some other business elsehwhere, that he says is even more important than this but didn't actually explain anything about, instead…”
“…and people call me ‘the mysterious’…
“… so this will be another wizard instead.”

(Sherrif o Berrin) “Oh. A human who’s been called in from abroad then?”

(Sermharn) “No, one of our own Ursines, in fact.”

(Sherrif o Berrin) “Eh. I didn’t realise that there were any Ursine wizards apart from Grimdark himself…
“Not since the fall of the Purple Empire, anyhows, and weren't its actually all human-souled?”

(Sermharn) “No, there are a few Bear-souled wizards, and have been for quite a hwhile. I gather that keeping them out of mischief might be one of Grimdark’s jobs, hwhich might be why you haven't heard of them before this, but they've even got a private school of their own: Place called 'Hogwings'... although this wizard, whose name is Arri Dreh’s-den***, says that he himself didn't study there. Anyhows, he was actually hrrecommended for this job by Grimdark, so he should be hokay: Hokay?”

(Sherrif o Berrin) “Hokay.”


'Green' patrol's members slip out of the room, through a window that isn't in line-of-sight from the building that it's thought their targets are using, and 'Red' patrol repalces them as lookouts. 'Blue' patrol's members disappear through a door that leads deeper into this house, and 'Amber' patrol's members begin to unpack cooking supplies from some chests that were already present in one corner of the room with an ease which would suggest to onlookers that they already knew well what was there: Evidently the SWS has already used this house as a base for visits to Shebahr before this incident.


OOC
* The S.W.S., or ‘Special Woodlands Service’ is an elite reconnaissance/raiding/counter-terrorist unit within Bears Armed’s regular [Confederal] army. You can probably work out what, OOC, their RL inspiration was… and if you haven’t already identified that then the ‘Winged Battleaxe’ badge might also be a useful clue. Oh, and of course there’s also their motto: “Who Bears** Wins!”
** The verb “To Bear”, in this context, means “To be true to Ursine nature” i.e. To be as brave as necessary, adaptable to circumstances, and bloodly-mindedly stubborn in the face of trouble…
*** What? It's a perfectly good Ursine name. I've already mentioned at least one other 'Arri' in an earlier Rp, and the 'Dreh's-den' family come from a 'free sept' (i.e. a grouping of related bloodlines that's larger than just a single family but smaller than a clan, and that -- as it is 'free' -- isn't incorporated into any clan) called the Ozt'suhl whose home territory is just north of Council Groves -- including the area around Wimbley, in fact although Arri himself lives in a town called Tsikago which is several eights of leagues away from there.
(and yes, Tsikago was already on my maps before I decided to add Arri to this storyline...)


_____________________________________________________________________

(from the ‘Sports’ section of ‘The Bear Necessities’…)

Goal-scorers

v Armed Bears (F)
(#11) Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr: 1
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 1

v Eastfield Lodge (F)
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 2
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 1
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 1
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 1
(#30) Karralha Levin: 1

v Jeruselem (F)
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 1
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 1
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 1


v Bonarisa (Q)
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 1
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 2
(#15) Varrna o Kerr-Surra : 1

v Shadowbourne (Q)
[#13] Syrrae o Wirrenne : 3

v Apox (Q)
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 1
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 1

v Kinitaria (Q)
(#11) Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr: 1
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1
[#13] Syrrae o Wirrenne : 1
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 1

v Richmond Republic (Q)
(#6) Errond’hrra Thunder-Child: 1
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1
(#30) Karralha Levin: 1
(#35) Emma o RedSun: 1

v San Potato (Q)
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 1

v Warkus (Q)
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1
[#13) Syrrae o Wirrenne : 1
(#11) Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr: 1
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 1

v Sicoutimont (Q)
(#15) Varrna o Kerr-Surra : 1
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 1
(#30) Karralha Levin: 1


v The Sylvanae (F)
[#13) Syrrae o Wirrenne: 2
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 1


v Bonarisa (Q)
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 1
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 1

v Shadowbourne (Q)
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 1

v Apox (Q)
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1

v Kinitaria (Q)
(#11) Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr: 2
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1

vWest Zirconia (Q)
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 1

v Richmond Republic (Q)
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 2
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 1
(#14) Urrsa BigBear: 1
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 1


Total (only World Cup qualifiers)
(#11) Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr: 7
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 6
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 6
(#13) Syrrae o Wirrenne : 5
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 4
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 4
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 4
(#15) Varrna o Kerr-Surra : 2
(#30) Karralha Levin: 2
(#6) Errond’hrra Thunder-Child: 1
(#14) Urrsa BigBear: 1
(#35) Emma o RedSun: 1


Total (including Friendlies)
(#11) Thyrra Darma’s-darthhrr: 9
(#24) Sarrathrie Sevens: 9
(#12) Amarra Sunwatcher: 7
(#13) Syrrae o Wirrenne : 7
(#16) Harrietta Karra o Hara: 6
(#25) Sorrkhie Torr’hay: 6
(#27) Krissie Fairbearrn: 6
(#30) Karralha Levin: 3
(#15) Varrna o Kerr-Surra : 2
(#6) Errond’hrra Thunder-Child: 1
(#14) Urrsa BigBear: 1
(#35) Emma o RedSun: 1

[Kiryu-shi]

Hi Mother,

I just wanted to write to you to let you know that I haven’t forgotten about you. I have been able to keep up with the news, and I know that Umeda is safe for now. The most damage from the rebels seems to be in Sakaino, and it does seem like it is mostly safe now. We have two consecutive home games coming up now, and since returning from Torisakia, we have never felt like were are in danger. The security forces have been doing a good job.

In all honesty, football is seeming less and less important, even as it seems to take up a larger place in the national discourse regarding the future of this country. Which is really so very strange.

For all the problems that Tziganes was going through earlier, she has virtually carried the team these past two weeks following the Gyatso-kai loss. I’m not sure if you have had the time to watch the matches these past few weeks - I’d think you’ve been very busy on your committees. If you haven’t, well, she’s scored all three goals in our two wins since then, and she has played the full 90 minutes in both matches even as the rest of the team seems to be deflated. Which is understandable, all things considered.

The rest of our home matches will still take place in Sakaino, which seems bizarre. But I suppose I understand; there is no structural damage to the stadium, and it does seem like it’s a meaningful symbol, but I don’t think I agree with putting fans and football players in that kind of a situation. But it isn’t my decision to make, and these types of situations have happened here before.

I love you, mother. Please stay safe.

Kayla

Ah, have to advance a plot but no time to flesh anything out...

[Apox]

The History of Apoxian Football

Part One: The Beginning
Part Two: Expansion and the Marshall Cup
Part Three: The Game Grows
Part Four: Moving on from Cups
Part Five: The Northern League
Part Six: The Midlands League
Part Seven: The Dwile League
Part Eight: The Seafront League
Part Nine: A Lack of Consistency
Part Ten: The Apox National League
Part Eleven: Growth
Part Twelve: Up to the Present

Part Thirteen: The Future?

And so we come to the last installment of this tale, early, but at least complete.

While obviously hard to predict, members of the AFB progression committee have come up with goals and predictions as to where we might land up.

Internationally, our aim is to qualify for a World Cup and then remain a regular member to the Cup itself thereafter, which will be difficult given the skill of the experienced teams playing and the newcomers. While qualification for this Cup looks unlikely, it's definitely plausible that it could happen for WC64. We'd like to be drawn into a qualification group with teams and countries we have history with, although that is entirely out of our control.

Having struggled to adjust to a recent loss of many experienced, older players retiring, the question is, will we be able to replace Dravid Scott when he does? He is now 33, and will be 35 by the time the next Campionato Esportiva takes place, which is when rumour is he'll announce his retirement. As the leading goal scorer for us by quite some way, as well as being the charismatic captain for much of our international tenure, he is the type of player who's boots will be hard to fill. We'll have to see.

Will we be able to retain the Campionato Esportiva title? I doubt it as while we have a good squad, the CE is unpredictable, and there are some hidden talents lurking in there.

Domestically, the 5th ANL season is now a quarter of the way in, and the teams in it are becoming more competitive, with many teams started to challenge for trophies and international competitions. Will there be league expansion? Not for a little while, and not for quite a long time for a new league, there aren't enough competitive low level club for that. There is talk of perhaps re-instating the Marshall Cup alongside the league, although it's hard to tell if that is just speculation or not.

Whatever happens, there will be excitement that is for sure.

---

Jon Quillisi Has Opinions

Good, another victory, although it was a little closer than against San Potato, thanks largely to the stunning work of Dan Weekes at the back and Chris Maarsden at the front.

This means that we now go over Warkus and are now in 4th place, which is an improvement so far. However, it may be a case of too little, too late, as we now face Sicoutimont who are currently 9 points ahead of us, with 3 points to go. That means that even if we win our remaining games, Sicoutimont would have to lose all of their's and Kinitaria woule need to lose at least one for us to pick-up that play-off play. Therefore it seems as if we'll be condemned to the CoH for another time, with Sicoutimont looking most likely for a play-off place. It is therefore imperative that we prepare ourselves sufficiently for the CoH, and hope for a good run there, so that we might hopefully be good enough for second seed come WC64.

Jon out.

Team Sheet from the Match
GK - Will Hewitt
RD - Fronden Abel
CD - Chris Neguwa
CD - Dan Weekes
LD - Hans Nielsson
RM - Fari Y
CM - Will Fich
CM - Fran Gracie
LM - Tom Heeeh
ST - Chris Maarsden x2
ST - Dravid Scott

[Darmen]

TO: Board of Directors, Darmeni Soccer Federation
CC: Minister of Sport, Michael Harrison; Nicholas Salvatore, President of the Darmeni National Olympic Committee
FROM: Georges Thomas, President of the Darmeni Soccer Federation
SUBJECT: 63rd World Cup Qualification

So, that game last night was terrible to say the least, and I think we all came to the conclusion during last night's meeting that it's time we let O'Donahaue go. Of course this leaves us with three options:

1. Let O'Donahaue go now, with either myself or William von Kriesler taking over for the remainder of the qualifiers,
2. Let O'Donahaue continue until the qualifiers have concluded,
3. Let O'Donahaue continue until the end of the cycle.

Also, who do we want to take the reigns. Kriesler has waited paitiently for some time now to be the manager, ever since World Cup 57. I admire him for this, but I'm just not sure he's ready. Our only other domestic option would be Sir Tony Bordelli, but he wants to focus on the Olympic team and Eau Claire United.

So, perhaps it's time we look to the rest of the world for our new manager. While most of the traditionalists will exclaim, "THIS IS THE DARMENI NATIONAL TEAM!" I think it's time we enter into the modern age. Not only will an international manager give us more international exposure, but it'll give the team something new and exciting to experience. So, for tonight's meeting, as we enjoy (hopefully) the match against Jeruselem, we need to dicuss two things, and perhaps review what happened last night. Are we sure that we want to let O'Donahaue go, our should we give him a chance at redemtion. If we are letting him go, when? And who are we replacing him with?

Looking forward to tonight, remember to bring the Scotch and Beer.

Sincerely,
Georges Thomas
President of the Darmeni Soccer Federation

[Sargossa]

SSM | Sargossan State Media
International Edition - Sport


No Home Comforts


Gonzalo Pereira reports from a cloud of shattered dreams;

For some it represented a feast of attacking football. Slick, short passing, fluid forward moves, incisive through balls, chances galore and some cracking goals. They were all there. It was the type of match the neutrals love. It was the type of match that gave managers sleepless nights. And left anyone with a vested interest wondering what might have been. With Taeshan running off with Group 1, Sargossa and Cosumar met on a wet and windy night in Soluca knowing that three points were looking pretty vital. Anything less simply wouldn’t cut it. Which is a shame.

It might have been the pressure of the occasion or that of a large and raucous home crowd but after racing to a 3 – 1 lead and looking fairly comfortable the Corsairs stuttered alarmingly and leaked two goals in the final five minutes to throw away a precious two points. The final whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos, jeers and a rousing rendition of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ directed at Sargossa coach Martín Tejera. Rumours had been circulating pre-match that the tactician was under threat, particularly after a shock defeat in Mazion, but the Football Federation of Sargossa moved quickly to dismiss such speculation. They informed the media that the coach had their full confidence. So he should probably start worrying.

A single point from the Cosumar fixture, coupled with an inevitable 1 – 0 Taeshani win against Iturributa, meant that winning the group became a mathematic impossibility with Taeshan now ten points clear with only nine left to play for. More worrying still is the fact that the playoff place is occupied by 19th Century Beards meaning that fate is not in our own hands. The gap may only be two points but we’re now relying on them dropping them while we struggle to pick them up. Time is fast running out and a third successive qualification failure is looming large.

Group 1                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Taeshan                    15   12   2   1    19    2  +17    38
 2 19th Century Beards        15    9   3   3    28   13  +15    30
 3 Sargossa                   15    8   4   3    36   17  +19    28
 4 Cosumar                    15    7   4   4    30   22   +8    25
 5 Iturributa                 15    6   4   5    31   27   +4    22
 6 Mazion                     15    5   4   6    32   36   −4    19
 7 Branta Island              15    4   2   9    15   27  −12    14
 8 Gaveo                      15    3   3   9    19   29  −10    12
 9 Chunnan                    15    3   2  10    18   32  −14    11
10 Boyznichov                 15    2   4   9    17   40  −23    10

[West Angola]

The draw to Lymantatia had been a hard one. The team had been leading 1-0 at the half, but Lymantatia had mounted a furious comeback in the second. A flurry of shots from Lymantatia allowed them to take a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute, and their defense had suddenly tightened, allowing them to hold off West Angola for the next seven. Late in the match, Parrish and Wilson had finally managed a goal, as Parrish fooled Lowe and Volante with an excellent lob-and-spin, then gunned the ball to Wilson, who eluded Baker and outran Martineau to penetrate the box. Facing only Jacques DeLamielleure between himself and a tied match, Wilson disregarded finesse and blasted a shot that sped by the keeper before he had time to react and nearly snapped through the back of the net. Two minutes later, West Angola had managed to regain possession, and the two came within centimeters of duplicating the maneuver. At the last second, DeLamielleure managed to correctly guess which way the shot was going, and succeeded in getting his fingertips on the ball, which deflected it upwards. The ball shot up and bounced off the crossbar, then came down and nearly bounced into the goal. Unfortunately, DeLamielleure managed to grab the ball just before it crossed the line, and cleared it out for the final time.

Angry at himself, Parrish had gone home after the match, showered, and slept the kind of sleep only utter exhaustion can bring. When he awoke the next morning, he decided he needed some pick-me-up. After trying several things (coffee, tea, even a couple episodes of Heroes he’d been given for Christmas one year) he decided to see if Sarah was available. To his surprise and delight, she was, so he was back on splitup.com, chatting with Sarah. They'd been in contact for a couple weeks now, and he was fairly certain he liked her.

LP: So did you watch the match?

SF: Nope.

Parrish was surprised, she'd said she was a huge football fan, why would she miss a match?

SF: I was there. Section A4, Row 2, Seat 12.

LP: What!? Why didn't I see you!?

SF: I wanted to surprise you, but after the match no one was really in a very happy mood, and you were quite...annoyed with a certain Mr. Usiak.

Parrish smiled in spite of himself. Following the disappointing 2-2 draw with Lymantatia, Parrish had been cornered by John Usiak, who had been released from a Euran prison and was back in his job at WASN. Without Jacob Kerys to tear down, and having missed out on the Parrish/Wilson feud at the beginning of qualifying, Usiak had still tried to cash in. After about the fourth question from the anchor insinuating the loss could be blamed on lack of team chemistry, Parrish had lost it. The event, which had been played on WASN and gone viral on the internet, showed Parrish extending both middle fingers at the loudmouthed reporter and launching into a tirade against him and his treatment of the team, specifically Jacob Kerys. WASN had demanded an apology from Parrish, but he was still debating as to whether or not to write one.

LP: Yeah, I was rather tired, and he's an arrogant blowhard, should never have gotten his job back. I mean, who gives a job to a guy who constantly tears down the people he's supposed to report on? The man's a petty a**hole.

LP: Sorry that was rude.

SF: It's fine, I completely agree. Usiak should be fired, and for that matter, so should Mike Anderson. I don't watch on WASN, but from what I've heard he's dragging the network down.

LP: Yeah, well, most people find out really quick that when Michael Larssen and James McDaniels team up against you, you're done for.

SF: Very true, and I'm sure it had to gall Usiak to see Jacob Kerys doing his job while he was incarcerated. So, Luke, there's something I wanted to ask you...

LP: Fire away?

SF: I've read a lot of stuff about people being taken advantage of because they thought someone they met on the internet was someone they weren't. So...could we meet sometime after one of your matches?

LP: ...

SF: I just messed it up, didn't I?

LP: Nonononononono! I'm sorry I was just surprised! That was exactly what I was going to ask you! Yes! I would love to! When and where should we meet?

SF: How about after you get back from Vettrera on Wednesday? It’ll take me that long to arrange transportation anyway.

LP: True, Coastal Consolidated is still trying to figure itself out now that the Eurans have moved in. Do you want to have dinner or something?

SF: That sounds great! Where would you recommend we go?

LP: I know a little place near the team hotel. Good food, good service, and no questions. Some friends and I go there when we don’t want to be disturbed.

SF: Sounds perfect, what’s it called?

LP: Catalan’s, they’ve got a ribeye to die for.

SF: Never heard of it, but I trust you judgment!

LP: I look forward to it! Okay sorry I’ve got to go for practice, I’ll be back in a few hours. When are you free later today?

SF: I’ll be gone from 3-6, but I’ll be home from then on! Wanna chat then?

LP: Love to, bye!

SF: Bye bye cutie!

The chat closed, and Parrish logged off. As he dressed for practice, he was whistling softly to himself. Even though they’d drawn their match, things weren’t as bad as before…

[Boring Paradise]

December 27th: 3-3 Khytenna (A)
December 30th: 3-2 Sicoutimont (A)
December 31st: 2-3 Equestrian States (H)

---

MD1: 2-0 Secundus Kasius (H)
MD2: 4-2 Free Swiss States (A)
MD3: 1-0 Wight (H)
MD4: 2-1 Amelio (A)
MD5: 4-3 Octinstine (H)
MD6: 3-3 Slembana (A)
MD7: 1-1 Nation M (H)
MD8: 2-0 Cowardly Pacifists (H)
MD9: 1-4 New Montreal States (A)

---

MD10: 3-2 Secundus Kasius (A)
MD11: 2-1Free Swiss States (H)
MD12: 4-8 Wight (A)
MD13: 2-1 Amelio (H)
MD14: 3-2 Octinstine (A)
MD15: 3-1 Slembana (H)
MD16: Nation M (A) Win
MD17: Cowardly Pacifists (A) Win
MD18: New Montreal States (H) Lose

Already  - 11-2-2 - 35/45 points
Exspected (That are Left) - 2-0-1 - 6/9 Points

Group 18                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Wight                      15   12   2   1    44   20  +24    38
 2 Boring Paradise            15   11   2   2    37   29   +8    35
 3 New Montreal States        15   10   4   1    37   16  +21    34
 4 Octinstine                 15    8   3   4    33   23  +10    27
 5 Slembana                   15    6   3   6    34   39   −5    21
 6 Cowardly Pacifists         15    5   3   7    12   19   −7    18
 7 Secundus Kasius            15    4   3   8    26   26    0    15
 8 Free Swiss States          15    3   2  10    17   31  −14    11
 9 Nation M                   15    3   2  10    22   37  −15    11
10 Amelio                     15    0   2  13    10   32  −22     2

Can't go through
Not possible for first

Previously
Location: Green Knight Hotel, Paradisia, Boring Paradise, Rushmore

---

Luke Homewood: Well then today was a lucky day for us, when NMS made a fall down to third after drawing against Amelio. Wight still have there lead as they won 3-2 over Secundus Kasius. Boring Paradise who were away to Slembana, took revenge from Matchday 6 for the following reasons. Near the Start of Slembana's RP it states them. We had won 3-1 in that match. More details to come when Cameron Clark says something about the match highlights.

Gary Hughes: So then we came second overtaking New Montreal States coming into our third last match. Only three teams out of the possible four teams can take Group 18 glory. Whilst Octinstine can still go through in second but not able to win Group 18 glory. This means Slembana, Cowardly Pacifists, Secundus Kasius, Free Swiss States, Nation M and Amelio can not go through at all. But we all want the Wight and New Montreal States to fall at these small hurdles so then Boring Paradise can then go through. If all three teams win these small matches, then it will decide between Boring Paradise and New Montreal States match in the last match of the group. If Boring Paradise get at least a point in that match then we will go through in second, if we lose then we will go out by just one point. If the qualifiers end here then we will have to face the playoff round as we are not in the top six of the second placed team.

Cameron Clark: We need NMS and Wight to fall down for us to make it better for us to go through. This was our fifth win in our last six matches. This was not as good as the first six matches when won five matches and drew a match which was better than we have now. I still can not believe NMS drew with a team who is last and has only two points. That is just embarrassing for them to do that. It is just really bad. Last match was going bad for NMS when they heard that we have won and that we have overtaken them.

Luke Homewood: Your right. It was also very funny to watch them even drawing against Amelio at Home as well. That just made things much more fun to watch. They failed at home.

Cameron Clark: Now time for the highlights of Boring Paradise and Slembana with me Cameron Clark, the one and only great presenter on this RP. Well then here goes. On matchday 6 came a very bad referee at Slemabana's match against us. The ref gave lots of dodgy decisions. This ended badly for that ref. He was taken to hospital after Matthew Johnstone wrestled him so badly during the second half. The Paradisians wanted revenge on those Slembanans on their home turf. This match between Slembana and Boring Paradise was just again not so interesting because I wasn't there to be with Luke Homewood or Gary Hughes. In the 33rd minute came a counter attack by the Paradisians as the Val Kylx came with a very weak shot. Kevin Harris running all the way to pass to Hishaam Ali who was at the wing and Raiyaan Malik was free to score. Ali crossed it in and Malik slotted the ball into the back the net. Toby Gapman could not do anything about it.

Then in the closing minutes of half time. Sameer Jaklim came from the defence of the Paradisians, he ran forwards towards the opposition's net. He was very clear from any danger and then scored when he reached the box. In the 75th minute Finlay Yalnif came up to Kevin Harris, who had the ball at that point, and been tackled. Finlay Yalnif got a yellow from that and Kavin Harris got a goal from the free kick and it was 3-0 to the Paradisians. In the 88th minute came a consolation goal by the Slembanan team, Maxet scored with a side-footed effort into the back of the net. Osama Homewood could react in time and the final whistle blown and the final score was 3-1 to the home side.

Gary Hughes: Next match we will be visiting Nation M for Matchday 16.

[Taeshan]

"W00t Knights all but qualified with another 1-0 win."

"Is it me or do all these 1-0 wins run together? I can't even remember who we beat this time?"

"Yeah are opponents have really meant nothing this year."

"All of them have barely been competition, we are finally at a level were we go into each game knowing we are the better team, and at least most of the time we have proved it."

"Yeah, hopefully this success will continue at the World Cup, i Mean we have been one of the best teams overall in qualifying, not many can compare."

"Yeah only a few teams have more points in this campaign."

"But most teams do it on defense, this shit gets old but its fun."

"Yeah winning is great, being the team that loses a lot sucks, but now we can do the opposite."

"I know, at least the olden days were fun too, but i won't have the same nostalgia about them that the Baseball teams give."

"Exactly, it was a nice time in our history, but now we are good enough that it does not really matter who we were. We are now a scary force, and very competitive year in and year out..."

"Yeah."

[Kaledor]

KALEDOR 4 – 2 THE ROYAL KINGDOM OF QUEBEC
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
VENUE: KNIGHTS COLISEUM, ALBUS
ATTENDANCE: 50,000

After four consecutive games without scoring, and having obtained only one point from all those encounters the Knights finally got back to winning ways against Quebec. Their fans have endured some pretty dour stuff recently, but tonight were treated to a most eventful 90 minutes in which the referee managed to send one player off and give three penalties.
The Knights looked really fired up, showing a lot of the skills and firepower that their supporters have waited to see in recent games. Early on play was somewhat tentative, with little goalmouth action. The first chance came after 11 minutes when Sir Tristram sent in a cross which Sir Lucan met at the back post, but headed wide. Quebec took the lead soon after when Thunderbolt Charles gratefully accepted Sir Kay’s misplaced pass, to pick his spot and easily beat the goalkeeper.
The Knights responded well, and the Quebecan keeper struggled to reach a glancing header from Sir Tarquine. Shortly after the Knights equalised with a glorious header by Sir Tor from 18 yards out.
Three minutes later came the first of a number of dodgy decisions. This one was in the Knights favour, as the referee decided that Sir Safir had been clipped just inside the area. Sir Safir stepped up and coolly converted the penalty powerfully past the keeper.
Within two minutes the Knights had been awarded another penalty as a Quebecan defender used his hand to clear the ball off the line. This time Sir Safir could only hit the penalty straight at the keeper.
After 34 minutes, Sir Bors threaded a clever pass to Sir Tarquine, beating the offside trap. Sir Tarquine hit a glorious curling shot with the outside of his right foot, across the keeper into the far corner of the net.
The Knights could have had a fourth just before half-time when Sir Tarquine hit a super 25 yarder that the keeper failed to hold. Sir Lucan was following up, but stumbled over a shot he should have converted with ease.
After the interval, a nice move involving Sir Tarquine and Sir Kay gave Sir Tristram a chance but his shot was blocked for a corner. Then Thunderbolt Charles was away on a fantastic run from deep, beating Sir Tor too easily, and leaving goalkeeper Sir Gawain to try and rescue the situation. Sir Gawain won the ball, but Thunderbolt Charles went down, and the referee showed no hesitation in showing the red card, despite the protests. Thunderbolt Charles made no mistake with the spot kick.
With the scoreline at 3-2, Kaledor lost a lot of their confidence and dominance, as the one man advantage allowed Quebec to retain possession. It was not until the 78th minutes and against the run of play that Sir Tarquine scored with a free header from Sir Safir’s free kick.
Sir Gawain was forced into action, making two super close range saves with just one minute to go, but by that time Kaledor were comfortable.
The Knights now go into their next tie in a higher state of confidence, following this much-needed win. They travel to Timfen next who they narrowly defeated 1-0 on home soil. They will be expecting to pick up all three points again.

Group News
Thatius are now the Knights main challengers for third spot, as their good form continued with a 4-2 win at Patricant. The race for the group looks set to go to the wire after Mytannion and Milchama both recorded wins, 2-0 over West Guiana and 3-0 at New Ecopia respectively. Elsewhere winless Pugh got a rare point as they held Timfen to a goalless draw.

  Group 16                   Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mytannion                  15   12   3   0    38    6  +32    39
 2 Milchama                   15   12   2   1    36   12  +24    38
 3 Kaledor                    15    7   3   5    16   14   +2    24
 4 Thatius                    15    7   2   6    35   31   +4    23
 5 West Guiana                15    5   6   4    20   16   +4    21
 6 New Ecopia                 15    6   3   6    24   23   +1    21
 7 Timfen                     15    6   2   7    13   23  −10    20
 8 TRK of Quebec              15    3   1  11    25   41  −16    10
 9 Patricant                  15    2   3  10    16   36  −20     9
10 Pugh                       15    0   5  10     9   30  −21     5

[The Archregimancy]

THE MONASTIC TIMES

HOLY SYNOD CONCEDES DEFEAT
Synod Decides to Acknowledge, Support National Football Team

By Fr. Nicholas the Scribe

Many a monastic football fan might have been forgiven for not realising that World Cup 63 qualification is well underway. The Holy Synod's order to place a blanket ban on all news reporting of the tournament, the holding of home qualifiers in one of the most out of the way and obscure monasteries in the Monastic Republic, and the decision to bring back the World Cup 62 team of otherworldly ascetics were all designed to keep as low a profile as possible on the squad in the hope they would fail to make much of an impression on international football, in keeping with currently dominant conservative Synod members' concerns that fielding a national football side was not in keeping with the monastic life.

However, after 15 matches, the Archregimancy's national team top group 2 by three points, and while a difficult away match against group top seeds Andossa Se Mitrin Vega still lies ahead, the Holy Synod have finally given their blessing to the Monastic Football Association's attempts to qualify, lifting the ban on coverage at the same time.

The final straw was said to have come in last night's away match against the Islands of Qutar. The Archregimancy won the match 1-0 following a series of events which even the most hardened of atheistic freemasons or milititant bolsheviks might have conceded revealed some form of divine prominence. The Archregimancy's sole goal came in the 15th minute when a Stanis Bosko clearance inadvertently bounced off an otherwise wholly oblivious Fr. Gerasimus the New Ascetic, and past the arms of a stranded Logan Edwards. Worse was to come for the home team when designated penalty taker Georgia Young missed two penalties. The first was awarded when Fr. Symeon the Enchained tripped over his chains, and accidentally grabbed the ball in the penalty area trying to break his fall; Young hit the woodwork. The second was awarded when team manager Fr. Basil the Fool for Christ ran on the field to berate the referee for his heathen ways in the 89th minute, interfering with a corner kick in the process. Fr. Ephraim was oblivious to the penalty attempt, instead preferring to graze on a patch of daisies in the bottom rear left hand corner of his goal. This time Young skied the ball over the bar.

Metropolitan Mark, who is believed to have watched the game after vespers, is believed to have commented after the second penalty that "there is no longer any point in fighting God's will", and that the team would henceforth have the full support of both the Synod and the MFA.

[Newmanistan]

This was all supposed to be a stunt to raise his approval ratings. Quickly assembling the team and getting them ready for World Cup 63 qualification would get the people to begin to think big once again, and believe that the Empire of Newmanistan could stand alongside the great sporting nations of the world. For a little while, it did. The Rockets played the FSSO so very close in the opener, and fans were going crazy. Though it turned out that really, once the world was able to scout the Rockets, the games were more and more one sided in the direction of the opponents. Emperor Kevin knew he didn’t have any Jeremy McAllister’s on this team, but Tyler Bennett and Jeff Lassiter were the best forwards in the nation and were supposed to pick up the pace. At times, they looked good, as did other members of the team, but those times were exceptions. Sure, Newmanistan doesn’t have a glorious history in the World Cup, but it was better then this. The Emperor thought about a quick fix, firing manager Steven Minor. But that was unfair. Minor didn’t have much time to prepare the team.

Perhaps he could sack NSL Commissioner Jason Brooker instead. Brooker would be a splendid scapegoat, but that would have ramifications on the domestic league that he didn’t want to deal with. Brooker after all, should be an ally, and it certainly would alienate the old school fans who remember that Jason’s grandfather was the greatest ever Newmanistanian-born defender. The name’s not as flashy as a McAllister, but everything that J-Mac did on offense, Brooker did in the back end, and as such the grandson Jason is well-liked. He would place a phone call to Brooker.

Emperor: Jason, what exactly has happened with this team?

Brooker: What did you possibly expect?

Emperor: When we were in World Cup 40, we did a lot better then this. The team is simply lost out there. In no way does it compare to them team we sent to Starblaydia decades ago.

Brooker: World Cup 40, your Highness? Really? World Cup 40? You want to compare the days of Newmanistan under Empress Jessica to the way they are now? That’s not going to happen just because you entered a soccer tournament, or are trying to unite the baseball playing world again. Our kids just don’t have the ambition anymore.

Emperor: Well, then make them have that.

Brooker: Sure, let me just turn on a switch. What made us great when my grandfather played is something that is missing now. We have a team out there again, but it’s not the same thing. The Rocket Reportwent under when we stopped playing international sports. It was a great media publication. Sure, there were some people who probably thought the The Rocket Report seemed to say the same things everyday, and there are others who may have preferred to read other insight about our team then just a recap of our games, but the fact is The Rocket Report was the voice of our international teams, and it swayed public opinion greatly. Even foreigners read it and commented on it. It was great.

Emperor: Can we put The Rocket Report back in business?

Brooker: I’m not an Emperor, you are. Why don’t you give them the proper funding they need to start up again. Or at least we can start up a new entity to take its place. We have a lot of talented sportswriters staying in their own hometowns that can be assembled to make a national publication once again.

Emperor: That seems like a good idea.

Brooker: But it is only one idea. Media coverage can sometimes help a team play better, especially when it is consistently produced. It gets the names of our players out there, and the names of our cities back out there. Those cities though, is where our resurgence will have to begin. Pocono City is still beautiful, but we have to put funding back into domestic level. No offense sir, but no Emperor or Empress, since Jessica, has had such a low of percentage of government funds be apportioned for sports. And it shows out there on the field.

Emperor: Those kind of decisions are always a lot more complicated, Jason.

Brooker: Jessica did it, Michael IV did it. So can you. Are you going to sit here and mope around about how this team is performing, or are you going to try and make things better for future qualification attempts. We are back in this for the long haul, aren’t we?

Emperor: I’m not sure.

Brooker: Well become sure. Newmanistan became relevant to the world when it became active in international sports. We improved in so many areas, as an Empire, and if you can not see that, then I wonder about your ability to actually lead Newmanistan.

Emperor: That’s not fair, Jason.

Brooker: Bullshit, yes it is. Stop looking for others to tell you what to do, whether its people like me, or the Spirits of Tundra Falls. You’re supposed to be an Emperor. That means you lead. Think about what I said. I’m giving you solutions, but if you can’t see that then I guess you’re just making me your therapist. Are we back for the long haul or not, Kevin? Have a good day.