World Cup 69 RP Thread

by **Chiata** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:35 pm

Science or Fiction
Part 6

Z-Day +5

Stephan was working around the clock to try to cure the nations of its ailment. His work had little time for rest, only eating and sleeping breaks, plus an occasional bathroom break. However, Stephan had made little progress and crashed onto a chair, exhausted. Once again, the "BREAKING NEWS" began to scroll along the bottom of the TV in his lab. Chiata had done it. They had launched ICBMs at their own capital in an attempt to kill the infected in it. The clips started off with the ICBMs launching out of their platforms in Woodville. Then, there was a closeup on one of the rockets. Brilliant light shot out from the thrusters as the booster rockets kicked in. Liquid fuel and oxidizer combined to unleash a torrent of burning gas and smoke. Next was a far away clip, watching the missiles make their arc in sub-orbit. Then came the worst part. The missiles streaked down, zoning in on their capital. The missiles rained down upon the city like meteors, unleashing explosions, smoke, and debris. The tiger had clawed out is own heart. It had unleashed hell upon itself. The people that watched the event had no words to describe it. To them, their city had been smote like Sodom and Gomorrah. The last clip was the saddest of all. All around the razed city, great wails and moans bounced around, filling the microphones with dreadful noise. It was not from the infected, but from Chiata's people, crying over the loss of their Capital.

Stephan shot out of his chair. This must not be for nothing! I must find the cure! He ran to his work table and began to vigorously test his samples. He tried multiple chemicals that would kill the microbes, but the only ones that worked killed everything else. He then tried an electric shock and a sample. The microbes contracted, moving muscle tissue with them. This gave Stephan a theory, the disease would attach itself to muscle tissue and move only when a shock was given to it. This allowed the microbes to move in an organized fashion and perform muscle movements. But this did not explain everything. Where would these electrical signals come from in a regular human? The only answer was from the brain, but how would a microbe designed to attach itself to muscle tissue control electrical signals in the brain? Clearly, Stephan would need some brain samples to figure this out. He called up one of the field scientists outside of Villitova. He requested some brain samples of the infected. The pieces were found and were shipped to Stephan's lab the fallowing day.

Z-Day +6

Stephan awoke in his apartment from the sound of his doorbell. He went to the door and found his package marked with just about every caution symbol. Stephan would hate to be the guy that had to deliver that. He got dressed and walked the package to his lab. He took out a sample and put it under a microscope. Instantly, he noticed it was infested with foreign microbes that had attached themselves to the neurons of the brain. They didn't move at all, unlike the other microbes. When electricity applied they did nothing. He put microfibers onto the neurons to try to get the signal from the brain. After a few minutes of looking at the signals, he noticed an anomaly. A signal would come down a path to an infected neuron. When it reached there, it would either be adsorbed and never sent anywhere or directed somewhere else. Stephan came to a scary realization: the infected people were live and well, but the microbes in their brains were diverting all of their actions into something else. The microbes were controlling the entire human body with the human even realizing it...

by **Nova Anglicana** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:44 pm

Lions to Unveil New Formation for 2nd Half of Qualifying

Hayden Landers, Nova Anglican Football Today

At the midway point of qualifying, the Nova Anglicana Lions, seeded 4th in the group, sit in 4th place with 11 points and a record of 3-2-2. They trail 1st place Jeruselem by eight points, 2nd place New Montreal States by three points, and 3rd place Nexxus Drako by just one point. They are up three points on their nearest competitor, Westfield House.

A particular point of contention in the qualifying stage has been the Lions' offense. Currently, the Lions have a +1 goal differential, having only allowed three goals, but having only marked four in total and never more than one in a match. The Lions defense has them tied for 7th of 192 teams in goals allowed, an astounding rank, but only twelve nations have scored fewer than their four goals, tying the Lions for 180th, an atrocious figure. Most recently, the Lions played very well against Gustavpolis, but were only able to mark one goal, a 35th minute strike from Raphael Baptiste, who leads the team with two goals scored. Only one goal against a winless side at home brought cries of derision from the fans and criticism from some analysts. Many wondered what, if anything, manager Patrick Moran would do to bolster the attack.

Moran has not revealed anything yet, but sources close to the team say that Moran will make the shift to a 4-1-4-1 system. It is still fundamentally defensive, but allows for stronger midfield play. Those same sources indicate that Salomon Balderas will take a seat and Giuseppe Carbone will move into a more traditional central defender role, while still maintaining his defensive tactician role. Cesár Mártinez is the most likely candidate for the defensive midfielder position, as he has played it in club competition and for the U20 side. The 4-1-4-1 prizes slow buildup, especially through the middle, but can make great use of its wingers, so Kyle Fleming and David Pelletier figure to continue to see a lot of action, especially on counterattacks. If Moran really wants to commit to a more attacking formation, then he should bring on Bradley Lancaster as the starting fullback in place of Dallas Page. Lancaster is a great attacker and can help overload the right wing with Pelletier. Once the Lions grab the lead, the veteran Page can come on to protect the lead. Let us hope that this tactical shift brings more goals and more success for the Lions. Qualification is not impossible, but it will be a tough row to hoe.

OOC: New lineup is below, and new style mode is -2.5.

by **West Angola** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:11 pm

Ministry of Sports, Namibe
The Sporting Ministry was a flurry of harried activity and accusations, some muttered and some shouted. The assassination of Consul Piazza hadn’t seemed like it would affect West Angola all that much, but when a member of Feministvs Sanctvsterra was apprehended and confessed to that crime, as well as several others in Saintland and Free Republics, suddenly threw the crime, and West Angola’s recent show of support for the feminist group was just as suddenly a black eye for the nation at large. The Ministers of State and War had each accused the other of rushing to judgment and involving West Angola with a terrorist organization, and no one outside of the Sporting Ministry and the Queen herself seemed to know who the original driver of the endorsement had been. Hoping to downplay West Angola’s involvement, both had kept silent about the issue, but it had again reared up a few days before West Angola’s match against Saintland, when it was announced that Abigail Hentze, the Feminist assassin who had also been convicted of the murder of Saintland’s King Paulus XV, would been executed on live television, and that her burning would be broadcast throughout the multiverse by several international news agencies, among them West Angola’s.

The Chronicle, which was usually a fairly pro-government publication, had run a front-page story on the announcement alongside several scathing editorials demanding to know why the Queen’s government had declared unconditional support for such a ruthless group. The disorganized opposition in Parliament had jumped on board, gleefully pointing out the Freedom Party’s, which formed the largest part of the majority Angola First Coalition, long friendly relationship with the Crown, and the statements of support issued by its leadership in regards to Feministvs Sanctvsterra following the Queen’s declaration. With the execution fast approaching, and West Angola’s football match against Saintland likely to draw even more attention, the Queen had come to the Sporting Ministry, this time to try and figure out how best to disentangle the nation from the feminist group. It would not be easy, if not handled exactly right it would only intensify the attacks on the government. The people had asked for answers, and Anna had none to give, so instead she would offer honeyed excuses and hope they would be enough to satiate the mob.

“Minister Verderame, if we don’t manage to extricate ourselves from this crisis we’ve created, the people will demand our heads and take the entire government with us. Thanks to the media circus, this has gone from a blip on the radar to the biggest scandal since August murdered the football team. If we tell the people we didn’t think Feministvs Sanctvsterra would do something like this, they’ll want to know why we didn’t do more research and why we rushed to judgment, and if we tell them her views are not indicative of the feminist movement, anyone with an agenda is going to go to town digging up acts of violence, however small, carried out by any feminist anywhere at any point in history and treating that as prima facie evidence that we knew they would do something like this even before we issued our declaration. They’re already calling for resignations, they might even demand I abdicate if this keeps up!”

“No one important is calling for an abdication yet, just Scott Harrison. I know him, he’s a blowhard and an opportunist, and he thinks he can stir the pot and give the Old Guard some attention by going farther than anybody else. It’ll blow up in his face just like it always does with his type. Trust me, Harrison and the Old Guard are not a concern, no one takes them seriously. If you disavow the feminists now, the only people you’ll catch flak from are women’s groups here like WAWA and NAWEC, and even they’ll have to acknowledge the women in Saintland’s actions go too far.”

“I think you’re wrong about Harrison, Minister. He’s ambitious, and he knows this is an opening. The Old Guard have been out of power for over fifty years, and it’s easy to convince people that your failed ideas can work this time around if they didn’t witness them fail firsthand. Harrison thinks all he needs is an opening to break the liberal hold on the government, and he can set this country back to the 1980’s socially and economically. This could be his opening if we let it get any bigger, and since you’re just as involved as I am, I would like to hear your thoughts on the tone I should strike this afternoon.”

“This afternoon? What’s happening this afternoon?”

“I’m being accessible and accountable, and giving a televised statement on Feministvs Sanctvsterra. You will be there as well, as your Ministry was heavily invested in the original statement of support, and you will give additional remarks.”

“I…I…think I can have something prepared.”

“I know you can, Minister, because I know you. You’re the best orator in any Ministry we have, even if you won’t admit it. That’s why I picked you for this post, everyone questioned my decision, saying you didn’t know enough about sports to run the Ministry effectively, especially in the aftermath of the scandals that had doomed your predecessor, but I knew your knowledge about sports wasn’t important, and that your ability to defend your decisions was. Garren intimidated the old Ministry because the press loved him, that’s partially why they wanted him gone and why it blew up in their faces. You’re different, you can talk to the press and have them love you even when they’re criticizing you, and you know how to take their hits with a smile. You really are the best, Minister, which is why I came to you.”

“My Queen, I…I’m touched by your words.”

“They’re true. Now, back to business. I’ve prepared three versions of my speech for today, depending on which tone I wish to strike. In the first, I disavow Feministvs Sanctvsterra and declare that such activities are not supported by West Angola. The second, which I am leaning towards, where I declare that the feminist movement should look beyond such actions and remain focused on their true goals and what is necessary to achieve them. In the third, I declare that no group, Feministvs Sanctvsterra or King Petrus, has shown they have the right to represent Saintland, and that we will not consider either the legitimate government until further notice.”

“I believe that may be a bridge too far, your highness, but a good thing to have ready as a contingency.”

“I agree wholeheartedly. Of the other two, which do you think would be the best approach?”

“My opinion is that the second speech strikes the proper medium between distancing yourself from these actions and maintaining your support with the domestic feminist groups.”

“Again, I agree, and I trust your judgment when it comes to speeches, Minister. Thank you for your help, and I will see you this afternoon.”

The announcement that the Queen would deliver long-demanded official statement on Feministvs Sanctvsterra had drawn every media outlet in the country and anyone that could rearrange their schedule to be there, so by the time Queen Anna took the stage to mixed cheers and boos from various factions in the crowd the room was stuffed to capacity. Flanked by Minister Verderame to her left and Minister of State Vernon Wilson to her right, Anna looked out at the assembled faces of reporters and citizens and began.

“The assassination of a leader is one of the most difficult things a country can go through, and it is in these times of hardship that the true mettle of a people is tested. The tragedy that has occurred in Free Republics with the brutal murder of Consul Piazza is truly a great hardship for that nation, but the implications stretch far beyond their borders and affect many of us throughout the multiverse. As you all know, a member of the Sanctii group Feministvs Sanctvsterra has confessed to the murder of Consul Piazza, as well as the regicide of King Paulus XV, and is scheduled to be executed in Saintland the night before our match there. There have been many valid and searching questions directed at this government as a result, questions which you deserve answers to.”

“You ask us why we declared our support so brazenly for a group which could carry out such actions, and I tell you that we never believed a group that claims its cause as rights for women could do something like that and still call themselves feminists. You ask why we rushed to judgment against Saintland, and I tell you that we acted on all the information available to us at the time. Knowing that King Petrus XX had continued the anti-women policies of his forebears, we acted not out of support for any one group, but in the name of women everywhere, in the name of all sapient beings. In Saintland, in West Angola, in Free Republics, anywhere one person is deprived of rights, we are all deprived of rights. You ask what this means, whether feminist movements can be trusted, and I tell you that true feminism, and true feminists, do not support such acts of needless violence. That which has occurred in Free Republics is not indicative of the feminist movement, and I urge each and every person in West Angola to remember that extremism in defense of principle is one of the worst acts one can commit, as to do so not only harms others, but destroys the very foundation of your principle.”

The applause was slow to start, but once it did it built to deafening levels. Anna knew she had averted the disaster and struck the middle ground to keep the feminist movement alive in West Angola. All that was left was for Verderame to wrap things up. Stepping away from the podium, she shared a glance and a nod with her Minister, one orator to another.

by **Jeruselem** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:04 pm

On "Sex in Jeruselem", Princess Melody and Princess Katy ...

Melody: Hello, I'm Princess Melody and this is another episode of Sex in Jeruselem. Today's episode is about ... INCEST. I'm with my sister, Katy. No, we don't do incest in our family but well it does happen elsewhere
Katy: I don't approve of it either
Melody: In some families in Jeruselem, it's not uncommon. It's one of those topics people aren't interest in.
Katy: But it does happen and gets special mention in the Bible and other holy books
Melody: Different religions have different approaches to incent, and then within different Jeruselem communities ... they very there too
Katy: Actually, it can be tricky because with our family which is huge - you have check if they are a Dallas

Melody: We speak to the two sides of the debate, people who think it should be illegal and others who think they're nothing wrong with it
Katy: We also speak to experts about the consequences of incestuous relations socially and biologically
Melody: Hope you enjoy the show, and well think about the topc
Katy: Just to do the topic, you know
Melody: Yes, we don't encourage things like this unless you want to it anyway
Katy: Yes

<Later>

Katy: I'm with Reverend Bob of the New Free Church of Jerusalem, one of the independent churches here. They've got a very lenient line on incest.
Bob: Good day to everyone
Katy: Your church runs a very unorthordox approach to incent
Bob: Yes, but it's supported by my flock
Katy: You pretty much condone it unless it's between a parent and their childen
Bob: That's about the rub of it

Katy: I'm a member of the Catholic Church and they seem to have much more restrictions about this. Why is your church doing the opposite
Bob: Most of my flock don't mix outside too much and hence we don't marry outsiders at a general rule unless the outsidera accept our ways
Katy: Some call your church a cult, almost
Bob: No, we're an open church. Anyone can join, provided they follow our teachings that is
Katy: Doesn't this make family relationships, a bit complex having everyone related to each other ... directly
Bob: Not really

Katy: In your church, priests can marry right?
Bob: Yes, like the Protestant tradition
Katy: But your church does differ on a lot of things
Bob: Yes, we're not a classic Protestant order.
Katy: Why is lenient line on incentuous relations
Bob: Our community isn't huge and we don't simply go marrying outside our church like say, a person like you.

Katy: I'm actually married to a athiest, but we married in a Catholic Church anyway
Bob: We prefer to marry people who follow our way of life
Katy: Hence sometimes, people in the same family do this
Bob: We don't encourage it though, we kinda prefer it not to happen
Katy: So it's more really being flexible
Bob: Yes, too many rules can be a bit painful

Katy: You yourself have a interesting history, a result of two cousins
Bob: Yes, but they were two good people who didn't stray from the way of the lord
Katy: So it's worse sin to marry someone like a former punk rocker who doesn't believe in God
Bob: Yes, we don't like people like that.
Katy; Would you call your church conservative or progressive?
Bob: Progressive, we would think.

by **Paradystopia** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 2:48 am

Denouement

Parte, th'Siksth
Parte, th'Fyvthe
Parte, th'Foorth
Parte, th'Thirdde, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abyt, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abytmoor, Parte, th'Not-quyt-th'foorth-yet
Parte, th'Seckond
Parte, th'Fyrst

A small piscine creature wrenched it's slimy body from the water to bask upon the salty crust of a deserted beach. Every day for nearly it's entire life it had followed this same routine. Wake up in it's little hollow amongst a primitive coral reef, a splash around in the shallows to get the blood flowing, a quick nibble at the plentiful sheets of algae and then crawl onto the barren land to bathe in the warm sun and watch the nothingness. Later, it would return to the ocean to refill on algae, hopefully not get eaten by some roving predator and back to the hole in the coral. If there was such a word as 'mudskipperesque', it would be the perfect adjective for the little creature for it did resemble some form of the land-going fish. However, a mudskipper it was not. The nearest actual mudskipper was some 850 billion light years away (roughly) and not on a small planetoid somewhere in the depths of what was colloquially known as void space. Void space, not that the little mudskipper would know, is apparently not even a place. It exists beyond the boundaries of the universe, in the void. A supposedly desolate vacuum of utter nothingness. Think of the emptiest thing you can. Now think about it being even emptier. Emptier still? Well, that's still not empty enough. Yeah, it's a troubling concept but slightly less troubling than the concept of an infinite space which was giving all the great minds bad migraines so they decided that beyond a point there's absolutely nothing. Not an atom, not even a rogue quark. Nothing. Just nothing. Void space.

Unfortunately for aformentioned great minds, the existence of the mudskipperesque entity proved they were in fact wrong and if the aquatic creature was aware of the hypotheses dreamt up some 850 billion light years away (roughly), it would probably find it most amusing. Well, it wouldn't. Being a primitive fish, the mysteries of time and space were well beyond it's simple brain. It knew it liked to eat algae, reproduce should the oppurtunity arise, sleep and not be eaten by some larger lifeform. It's likely it wouldn't have enjoyed being squashed under the foot of a large bipedal animal which happened to materialise just above where it was basking either but sometimes life's a bitch.

The bipedal animal which had so rudely interrupted it's usual routine by mercilessly squishing it was better known as Clone 8293DD62 and had just travelled 850 billion light years (roughly) almost instantaneously. So in addition to piscicide (or whatever other word sounds better than 'fish murder'), Clone 8293DD62 had also metaphorically taken a large crap on the currently accepted laws of physics and then wiped her arse with the various theories of relativity. To add insult to injury, she promptly vomitted as being propelled such a distance in such a time can be a disorientating experience for the human body and the small piscine creature experienced it's final moment of conciousness beneath a heavy-duty leather boot amidst a warm acidic pool of a semi-disgested bran-based cereal. Life's a bitch and then you die, as they say in Paradystopia.

Coming to terms with the gravity of the situation, the human interloper spoke a few words of eulogy.

"Eurgh ... I got sick on my boots and ... Aww shit. I stepped on something. Yuk ..."

The remains of the little creature were then scraped off on a nearby rock. A stern warning to the other creatures to check above themselves for wormholes before sunbathing. Meanwhile, the small intercom device the interuder had clasped to her belt bleeped and burst into life.

"Clone 8293DD62. Clone 8293DD62. Do you copy? Over."
"Loud and clear. Over."
"Can you describe your surroundings? Over."
"Breathable atmosphere, liquid seas, arid salt flats, some primitive lifeforms, I just stepped on one. Errmm ... Can see some larger plantlife on the horizon on what appears to be raised islands from the flats. Temperature hot and slightly humid, but not hazardous. Over."
"Very good. Can you confirm the readings from the atmospheric monitor? Over."
"Atmosphere is ... stable. 65.473% nitrogen, 33.021% oxygen, 0.722% xenon then water vapour, carbon dioxide, argon in smaller quantities. I'm sending the full read-out back now. Over."

After a few moments

"Data received. Very good work Clone 8293DD62. One further question, can you confirm the presence of any dragon monkeys? Over."
"Negative. There's no evidence for the existence of dragon monkeys here. Over."
"Then Clone 8293DD62, I believe you may just have found what we were looking for. We will analyse the findings and should the results verify this, a second research team will be with you shortly. Over and out."
"Understood. Over and out."

The clone gazed out over the calm sea before her and the reflection in it of the single star. A single star, alone in the void about which this small planetoid orbitted. She took it upon herself to name it and Communadi protocol be damned. She was the pioneer here. The first human eyes to witness this new distant world.

'Perierat'

She'd seen the word somewhere before and believed it to be 'The lost one' in some archaic language. The tranquillity of the place was intoxicating and she sat on the beach (some distance from the fish remains and puddle of sick) in Perierat's deep orange glow. That alien mudskipper had the right idea about this place and even in death, it's mutilated remains still basked in the place that was an integral part of it's daily routine. Together, the unlikely pairing of dead fish alien and Communadi manufactured humanoid shared an idyllic moment simply waiting for whatever was going to happen next.

Except it probably wasn't so idyllic for the fish, it being dead and all, but that's one for the philosophers to ponder.

by **Nephara** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 3:23 am

Rutger Locke
Locke was a good name for him - unlocking defences seemed to be all he'd done last season.
Rutger had found himself in a... strange position by his standards. After a breakthrough season at 20 with Raven River, in which he'd become one of the best attacking midfielders in the league, he was picked up by Royal Rumiatzi of Astograth.
It was a move meant to foster his development - he'd start out a rotation option and when they thought he was ready they'd make him a key player to the team, experienced at playing the way they wanted.
What that didn't account for was the nation nonchalantly throwing out all foreign players and shutting itself out from the world.
He'd needed a club - by then, he would've played for anybody. Naturally, however, it was the Nepharim Premiership who caught onto him first. And not just any club - Violence Chariots, a team looking to drastically raise their stock in the world.
Rutger had proved, by a distance, the best player in the league. Young, keen Logan Murdoch gave him the physical presence in midfield and someone to link up with. But the long, beautiful through-balls, threaded through the gaps in a back four... the short, dynamic passes to shift play in the Chariots' favour... even the fierce shooting as he moved upfield, seamlessly controlling the ball as he ran past man after man.
You never could go home again.
So that left Locke needing a move - and fast. Not that the Chariots would be offended; you just sometimes had to accept that a player was going to leave. And they'd picked up the best player in the league as a free agent, and held his contract for two more years, after he'd launched them to the Champions' Cup spot.
Still - though he was bound to leave, he'd always feel grateful to Violence. After all, they thought they'd finished all their transfers - and at the end of the day, he needed them more than they needed him.
For now, the future looked bright.

Jekyll and Hyde
A little consistency was all Mortlock had wanted.
And, to be fair, she'd gotten it. She had all the consistency in the world. At home, Nephara would win. Away, they would not.
Cheney Bittencourt had started against Vaugania. It had been a move she didn't want to make, but was forced into. He scored, too - a beautiful effort, swept low under Stefan Blanc. He'd equalled Cathar's tally in a single match.
Cheney was ambitious, too. Though relatively laid-back and calm on a personal level, he was starting to outgrow his hometown, and wanted to spend his prime in one of the big leagues. Being trapped in depth behind two players who'd already made it to the big leagues hadn't helped curb these ambitions - he was simply making the best of the moments he had.
But he didn't have Cathar's size, his arrogance on the ball, his easy stride past defenders, his rough but always well-weighted first touch. Cheney Bittencourt was a good centre-forward who could stick it in the back of the net. And that had been more than enough in the past - Barry Kearney was a regular in the Cormorants for some time, as was Alicia Scabbard, and Bittencourt eclipsed the former in pure technique and the latter in overall ability - but now he had company. And that company was, with no real better way to put it, better than him.
Still. That Vaugania game had been ... less painful than Mortlock had anticipated. A draw to a fairly firm team, at their home, hadn't been bad - it certainly wasn't a capitulation like against Kandorith, or an aberration on paper, such as against Terres. Nephara had, narrowly, looked the better team - but the result was a fair one. Belfast had done well - it was the dependable Finnan, deputising for the suspended Tosca Marlowe, who'd been made to look vulnerable for the first goal, and the second came from a superb Kerr free kick that Baltzersen nodded home as the easiest thing in the world. Coleman looked a little more conservative than usual, but better in the second half, and performed a couple of good saves. And Rowland had ignored the soap-operatic drama of the other centreforwards to coolly head home the Nepharim equaliser in the 81st minute - coming off a cross from Catheline Harper, who this time, the physios assured Mortlock, was actually fully fit.

They were only three points behind. They played Kandorith and Vaugania at home. Both, surely, they could win. And Mehdonesia, Orca Bay and Arkiasis, while the former was proving admirably solid, surely couldn't impede the Cormorants' progress - not even at home.
It was doable, so very doable. But they'd used up all their slips, and every match from here was a must-win.
No slips. No mistakes. The time for easy arrogance was over. This was a time to crack the knuckles, roll up the sleeves, and get to goddamn work.

by **Kandorith** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 3:29 am

Decisive Draw, Can They Crawl Back?

  Group 17                                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kiryu-shi                                           7    5   1   1    20    9  +11    16
2 Vaugania                                            7    5   1   1    15    7   +8    16
3 Kandorith                                           7    4   1   2    24   11  +13    13
4 Nephara                                             7    4   1   2    12    9   +3    13
5 Terres de Gaulles                                   7    2   1   4    10   19   −9     7
6 Arkiasis                                            7    2   0   5     5   14   −9     6
7 Mehdonesia                                          7    2   0   5    11   18   −7     6
8 ORCA Bay                                            7    1   1   5     7   17  −10     4

The hopeful fans were seemingly defeated as the last whistle was blown, a 3 - 3 draw against Kiryu-shi. A massive disappointment for the Kandorese team, who had their mind on winning. They had a mission for this match, but were unable to find their surgical precision nor their bombardment of goals; a draw that felt like a defeat. With the next stage of the qualification rounds starting soon Kandorith needs to make a turn around and play more aggressively, more controlled and even quicker paced; but with the experience and knowledge of the teams they played against now, nothing should stand in their way according to analysts.

"An unfortunate draw." Coach Yúan exclaimed. "I really urged the team to go out there and win this, like they have never won before. It didn't happen. I would not say I am disappointed in the team as we did manage to get a draw out of it, but we need to shape up and quickly." he continued. "There is no excuse for this draw, we should have won this, the chances were there. The training will be focused on mid-field control, chance creation and finishing. Our defense is solid, our attack is solid, but we lack finishing as of lately. There will be no more easy matches and I will not tolerate any more losses or draws; Kandorith has to qualify without any doubt of having the right to qualify. We are going for the win." According to a seemingly disappointed yet calm coach.

Even though the team performs great, the coach called it sub-standard, he definitely dreams for more. The fans expect an in shape Kandorese team for the last phase of the qualification rounds, they expect Kandorith to advance to the World Cup for sure. It would be a shameful display if Kandorith would just miss out of the World Cup, after performing so well in the previous two cups. Analysts and critics alike are sure of it, Kandorith will make a comeback and will be more in shape than ever, the fans; they're getting skeptical.

A draw against Kiryu-shi didn't fall badly for the Kandorese fans though; after the match they were eager to trade shirts and even hang around with them. It seems the Kandorese people have found a second time to like in the group, might the Kandorese team be eliminated. Although for now a return of the Kandorese team seems more likely; until that time people will pray at the temples dedicated to the gods of chance, festivities and games. Jiayou Kanyúo!

by **Furellum** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:01 am

East Farling, Furellum
Yuri Kedzierski was quite pleased with himself. The grey wolf allowed a small smile to show as he waved to the crowd. Finally, this was his moment. He'd promised the people he would bring order to the chaos that gripped the country, and he intended to keep that promise. Just not in the way the people might expect. He smiled even wider. The people had happily voted in this new leader of the Farmer's Guild, and those fools in the Arcana had actually fallen for the charm offensive and given him a spot on the Collegium Munda. The power was within his grasp, but it was not enough. He wanted more. He needed more. And he would have more.

Yuri always knew how to turn a situation to his advantage. When the chaos had started, he'd seen an opportunity not to be missed. Anticipating the Arcana's move to sack all the Collegium Munda, he'd already made certain that he would be the head of the Farmer's guild. He'd needed only two votes. Two votes that suddenly didn't count, as the farmer and his wife who held them died in a mysterious fire that burnt down their entire farm. A fortuitous accident. Yuri grinned all the wider. He was just getting started. The game was afoot.

by **Carialus** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:12 am

Carialus Bugle

It sure has been a while since Carialus' domination over Red Blackiland. It seems even longer considering the Comrades haven't won for three Matchdays. The only thing that seemed to stop the Comrades' sinking moral was the mid-qual breaks. Interestingly enough, they were twice as long as usual, providing more time for Carialus to lick their wounds, get up, and start competing again. However, we can't just block out that last three games from our memory, for we must attempt to learn from our mistakes, not ignore them. I'm sure the players are getting a sound shaming by their coach.

The skid began in the game against Torisakia. The Comrades traveled with high confidence from their last game to the Ice Birds' stadium, Tokai Memorial Stadium. Statistically, the teams are practically the same. The game had the same result, too. The formation of Carialus, a 2-5-3, clashed heavily with the highly defensive 5-2-2-1 formation of Torisakia. Carialus had trouble making their fast breaks, from which they get most of their points from. But with limited attacking power, Torisakia had little chance of getting past the Comrades' midfielders. After 30 minutes of play with no score, the fans from Carialus thought it seemed destined that this game would end 0-0, considering Carialus' usually upbeat offense had usually scored by now. However, Carialus soon got into a rhythm and controlled the ball in the center pitch. Once they had control, the began to move up, passing the ball at an astounding rate. With not much difficulty, Carialus was able to get on the board. Then, the Comrades set to use their "shock and aw" tactics. While the defense was still unnerved, the Comrades struck again on the Goal Keeper, making the game 2-0. To the utter surprise of coach Bet, the Ice Birds went right out offensive and quickly scored on the Comrades. The sinking momentum was stopped by the halftime whistle.

The game started up again and Torisakia lashed out again, quickly scoring on a corner. The lead had been reduced to a draw, 2-2. Yet, the Comrades still seemed helpless to the usually dormant attack by the Ice Birds. In the 60th, Torisakia struck out and delivered a goal from outside the box. Now, the Comrades and sunk down to the point of losing. Soon, Carialus went into now-or-never mode and pulled all of their defending midfielders. They unleashed an offensive storm with quick passes and smart decisions, utterly wearing out the defense. For a span of 10 minutes, the ball never touched the Comrades' side of the pitch, yet the ball didn't touch the net either. With one last gasp of energy, Carialus pushed past the defense and made a loss into a draw. Both teams were utterly exhausted and were happy with the 3-3 draw.

After the exhausting match, the Comrades were quickly shipped back to Capital Field to play Blouman Empire. In short, Carialus never had a chance. Blouman scored quickly and continued to swipe at Carialus. Soon, the attackers seemed useless and all the midfielders were bottled up in their own half. The only relevance of pressure they got was from halftime. At the start of the 2nd, the game continued as it was, but the Comrades were able to pull a few fast ones of the Eagles and get a few attempts on scoring. Soon, the game became a bitter war of attrition. Which team would crack from exhaustion first? This was a war Carialus could not win, as they were still tired from Torisakia. Frost was able to pull off a stunt and actually score, but the Comrades were shut up in the 85th minute by another score from the Eagles. The game ended 3-1.

Moral shattered, completely exhausted, and reeling from losses and draws, the Comrades traveled to Nassue-Hessen to play their "game." Game was put in quotations as it was barely a game at all. Nassue easily scored on the worn out defense three times while Carialus' front only produced one goal in stoppage time. The other goal came from a penalty kick, which hardly counts as all. Seemingly in shock, the Comrades left Nassue-Hessen and sank to 5th in the group. Now, they rest with the thought that their next game will be played against the Royal Barangay, a top ranking team.

by **Paradystopia** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:20 am

Denouement

Parte, th'Shuduv-probbablie-gon-beefore-th'Siksth
Parte, th'Siksth
Parte, th'Fyvthe
Parte, th'Foorth
Parte, th'Thirdde, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abyt, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abytmoor, Parte, th'Not-quyt-th'foorth-yet
Parte, th'Seckond
Parte, th'Fyrst

One-all. Well that sucked.

Paradystopia 1 - 1 Aapocks
E.Treloquithack 29'
F.Pfyffydghoerracks 88'

There were high hopes prior to the myddulqual frendlie that the game would be some titanic duel between two of the top international names in Esportivan football. That it was but the fact that neither team came out on top dampened the mood considerably. By the end of the ninety minutes, many of the Paradystopi fans began chanting for extra time. Then again, with the equaliser in the eighty-eighth minute and the Blakke Cattes seemingly on a roll, it was hardly unexpected. The match began tentatively, both teams mostly unsure about each other's line-up and some of the Aapockzian fans booing the omission of all of the international Paradystopi stars their domestic teams had paid, in some cases, big money for. The Paradystopi fans gave as good as they got however and it seemed that more action was going to take place in the stands than on the actual field.
A lot of the animosity stemmed back to a single point; the Aapockzian World Assembly Delegacy of Esportiva of which the Paradystopi people suspected some underlying corruption. After all, there had to be some basis behind why the Communadis always would refer to the Lysentians, the previous holders of the World Assembly Delegacy as 'Apoxian-loving scum' and the Aapockzians as 'Licentian-loving scum'. Then, 'mysteriously' the Aapockzians are chosen as co-hosts for the upcoming Wurld Cuppe. In Paradystopi eyes, something was awry. Anyway, whilst the conspiracy theorists stocked up on canned vegetables and built nuclear bunkers, the normal Paradystopis* decided that matters would be settled upon the football field and preferably one in Paradystopia where they silently hoped home advantage would carry them through.
Annoyingly, it was the visitors who struck first when a lucky sliced cross (or possibly the greatest outside-of-the-boot shot of all history. We prefer to think it was a fluke.) from Eneko Treloquithack beat Percie Darllyng at the near post. In fairness, all the attacks had been going the way of the Red Dragons and a goal had been on the cards for quite a while. Just no-one expected a 30 plus yard pearler from a seemingly impossible angle by a right back. Aapocks parked the bus for the remainder of the half with not even Foskar managing to creep through.
The fans were growing restless, which is on the most part very unlike Paradystopi fans who'll usually be happy to watch a good match regardless of the eventual victor (Unless said match involves the 'Glorious' Commune, in which case cheer gratuitously for their opponents). However, this match was more than a friendly game of football, it was Paradystopia trying to prove a point (if a rather pointless point) whilst the Aapockzians wondered what they had done to rile this crazy pacifist nation of mild-mannered junkies and weirdoes up. For the second half, the Blakke Cattes fought for the equaliser, hard. Some dubiously sinister tackles for a friendly game began to occur and the Red Dragons refused to take it lying down. Things took a scrappy turn, incompleted passes, pushing. The referee unsure whether to give cards or not and in several cases unsure which party to penalise. With each passing minute, the tension rose. Paradystopia certainly looking the more aggressive side but the Aapockzians holding firm.
By the time the final five minutes were reached, no-one knew what to expect anymore. Both teams battered, bruised and exhausted but still fighting. Aapocks to hold the victory, Paradystopia to claim their own. By the time a low cross met the back paws of Foskar in what can only be described as a feline overhead kick in the 88th minute, bobbled clumsily past Seabrooke's outstretched arms and into the corner of the Aapockzian goal, both teams couldn't muster any further energy to act on the cries of their fans.
The final whistle blew and each team's fans were thinking the same. Extra time was needed, but it wasn't given (Why should it be?) so this matter would have to be settled at a later date. Whatever that matter actually was as in the heat of the game, most people had lost track of why everyone was so pissed off with each other.

*Normal Paradystopis? I know, right? Lol ...

by **West Angola** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:37 am

Part Eight: Sworn to Silence
“John, I know you’re upset, but-”

“Don’t talk to me, Phillip. I expected Luke and Garrett to try something like this, that’s why I asked you directly. I never thought you would lie to me, Phillip, after all we’ve done together. You’ve been like a father to me for much of my life, and while I played football I saw you and Luke like a second family. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, and while I knew I was never going to be as close to you two as you are to each other or as Isaac is, I thought you understood and respected the bond we had as friends. Even when Cabinda seceded and the rest of the country branded me a traitor, you didn’t abandon me, you respected my decision and didn’t offer your services to the invasion army to help capture me.” This last part was said with a pointed look at Parrish, who looked back unashamedly with thinly-disguised loathing. Ignoring him, Blevit continued, “Ever since, you’ve been my lone friend in this country, which is why I trusted you enough to work with this lot on your promise that Cabinda was in danger if I didn’t. Little did I know that the very being you convinced me to help stop was working to secure the withdrawal of your forces from my country. Phillip, you’ve turned me into a traitor, and I don’t think I can ever forgive you.”

Phillip was silent, back to staring at his shoes and to consumed with grief over his Queen’s death and guilt over having misled his friend, even if it was for the greater good, as a small part of his mind kept insisting, to do anything. Peter Warren filled the silence, “John, I’m as shocked as you are, I knew nothing about what Q planned to do except what the Queen told us, but I know Phillip, and I know he wouldn’t knowingly lie to you unless he thought it was the only way to save your people.”

“I might believe that if I thought Phillip gave a damn about Cabinda. Let’s face it, I’m the only one in this room who cares what happens up there besides brutal subjugation, and that means I had a duty to represent them in this room. I had to make sure that whatever solution you all came up with didn’t leave my people hung out to dry, and this…this cabal of liars and murders conspired to rob me of that duty and coerce me into working at cross purposes to my nation’s interests. If they didn’t think I’d work with them if I knew Q was pursuing Cabinda’s freedom, they were right—but I still had a right to know, and that Phillip went along with this lie flies in the face of everything I thought I knew about him and our friendship.”

Warren, too, was now silenced, and Blevit made eye contact with Sien, who looked as if he might speak. Blevit leveled an accusatory finger at him, “And you, I don’t know how much Anna and Garrett told you, but however much you knew I’m sure you’d have gone along with the rest, so don’t even try to defend anyone else in here. When I walked into this room with Colonel Babykiller over there, I thought I knew who I could trust. Now, now it’s all upside down, and my only consolation is knowing that after I inform Anna’s husband of why his wife is dead, he won’t hesitate to do what she wouldn’t, and remove your invasion army from my home.”

Luke broke in, cutting Blevit off and speaking with a tone rarely heard off the football pitch, “Everyone shut up! John, I know how you feel about me, and what I did. I know you probably have similar feelings towards Phillip, but what’s done is done. I’m not asking you to trust any of us again, God knows we don’t deserve it, but I am asking you to accept the reality of the situation. Please?”

Blevit looked wary, “You have my undivided attention, continue.”

“If you tell Alexi about his wife right now, his first move will probably be to kill you. After that, he’ll double the occupation of Cabinda and probably turn a blind eye to a whole host of atrocities in the name of petty revenge. Alexi is a good man, but he loves his wife fiercely, and he’ll blame Cabinda for her death. That anger will blind and blunt his good judgment, and he’ll let it out against your people. If you go to Alexi, he won’t release you or your country, he’ll do everything he can to murder you both. You can’t let that happen, so I’m asking you and everyone else in this room to keep this quiet until we’ve worked out a solution. If we keep the room sealed, no one will know the Queen is dead, and if we have a solution when we announce it no one will care that we kept it quiet for a day or two. We need time to devise a solution, be it withdrawal or something else, before we release this to the public at large or even to Alexi. To do so now only promotes chaos and ruin. Do you all agree? For the sake of our nation, and yours, John, don’t let what has transpired here leave this room until we’re ready.”

Blevit looked at the others, they were all nodding their agreement, but as they turned to look at him, they all froze. In fact, everything froze, the people, the medical machines still humming faintly as they idled, the patient whose vitals they were supposed to monitor having died, even the vent keeping the air circulated stopped and an eerie silence descended. This silence was quickly broken by none other than Q, who flared into existence in front of Blevit with a jovial expression on his face, “John! How good to see you again! I brought presents!” In his hand was a small piece of paper, which he thrust into Blevit’s hand. On it was a typed address, one which held no significance to Blevit, who looked up questioningly after reading it. Q helpfully filled him in, “That’s the meeting place of a secret group of Senators, government officials, military leaders, and various wealthy anarchists who would love nothing more than to see the current government removed from power and replaced with one more in-line with their respective views. Their ideologies are completely incompatible, of course, but they’re united in their desire to bring down the current order.”

“What sort of ideologies?”

“Oh, some are Communists, some are extreme members of the Old Guard Party that either want a fascist utopia or a Dickensian pro-business worker mill, and a handful are extremist Bantus with the ear of the leaders who won’t let the Brush Wars of the ‘50’s end. They’re diametrically opposed, but they’ve formed an uneasy alliance, they’re the perfect group to leak the Queen’s death to. Would you like to go now?”

Blevit thought about it, despite Parrish’s impassioned speech, he still believed that spilling the news of Anna’s death was the best way to secure Cabinda’s freedom, and even if what Parrish had said about Alexi was true, telling this revolutionary group would insulate him from the faux King’s wrath. Add that to the chance to make Parrish squirm, and it was a relatively easy decision, and he smiled, “Let’s go.”

by **Free Republics** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:59 am

Royal Stadium, St. Petrus, Saintland

The mid-qualifying friendly, surprisingly, turned into a defensive struggle. Both sides elected to play a squad mostly consisting of players from their bench. Saintland's squad consisted of Duronius at keeper, Jucundius, Catiotus, Plinius and Jucundius in the back, Inventius at defensive midfield, the Barrius brothers at midfield, Mamilius at attacking midfield and Gabinius and Gratus at striker. Only Inventius was part of the usual Sanctii 11. On the Republican side, Imre got the start at keeper, with Senicar, Martinovic and Borodin in the back, Miletic at defensive midfield, Trevisano and Ulyanov on the flanks, Beranek in the front midfield and Cremonesi/Hinriksson/Chase forward. None of them were part of the regular Republican starting lineup.

As the lineups were announced prior to the start of the match, Royal Stadium was only at half of capacity. Most of the fans in attendance had come to watch the halftime show. As usual, Cantus Virginum would perform, but today they would be joined by several acts from the Free Republics. The Church of Saintland had a significant presence in the FFR, including not only title sponsorship of a stadium, but also several million members and a political party that, although nominally nondenominational, was de-facto a political arm of the Church of Saintland. Considering how dramatically different the lifestyle promoted by the Church of Saintland was from the one that most Republicans lived, it was no surprise that the Church of Saintland funded their own "alternative" cultural products, including their own music. While most popular styles of music were not allowed into Saintland, the Church of Saintland in the Free Republics imitated popular styles of music, in hopes of not only keeping the children of their Church away from secular music, but also of drawing secular children into the Church of Saintland through music.

After the halftime show, most of the crowd seemingly slept through the second half, which somehow managed to be even more boring than the first half. Both sides played extremely cautiously. Finally, Lucius Caeparius blew his whistle to signal the end of the match. The score was nil-nil and neither team ever seriously looked like a serious threat to score. Despite the up-tempo style of play favored by both teams, they just weren't able to create much offense.

Meanwhile, the Republican military conducted a search of remote rural areas throughout Saintland. They were looking for Feministvs Sanctvsterra compounds. The search began with a low-altitude recon plane from the Republican Air Force. This plane was sent out on a mission to produce an aerial map of Saintland, identifying possible compound locations throughout the Kingdom. These locations were then distributed to the ground forces, a combination of Rule Theriault's security, the Sanctii Royal Army and the Republican Army, on their GPS devices. Troops split into teams of 50 men apiece, traveling across the nation in tanks to search suspected Feministvs Sanctvsterra facility after suspected Feministvs Sanctvsterra facility.

Since Feministvs Sanctvsterra was not, actually, a violent organization, they were absolutely unprepared for the onslaught. While they were preparing to issue a statement, denying any involvement in the assassinations and alleging that the entire thing was a false flag operation, Feministvs Sanctvsterra knew that nobody would believe them. The entire multiverse had seen the "confession" of the assassin. The Republican military certainly wasn't interested in what a bunch of Consul-killing terrorists had to say in their defense. The only thing they wanted to do was capture Feministvs Sanctvsterra members and hand them over to the Sanctii authorities, knowing exactly how they would be treated in Sanctii prisons.

Operation Restoring Patriarchy, as the anti-Feministvs Sanctvsterra operations were known in the Republican military, was already becoming a massive success. Feministvs Sanctvsterra activists and sympathizers throughout the Free Republics, at least those who had failed to see the writing on the wall and flee the country, were being rounded up with relative ease. Corporate Republica had responded to the sharp turn against feminism in public opinion with clothing lines allowing fashionable Republican women to advertise their anti-feminism to the world. These shirts and skirts were selling so well that stores couldn't even keep them in stock. Suddenly, Republican women were going out of their way to make it clear that they didn't sympathize with feminists at all.

Of course, when one side stops standing up for their interests, the inevitable and natural course of things is for the other to make gains at their expense. Already, some Republican men's rights activists had broken with mainstream organizations like the National Organization for Men and begun advocating a more extreme agenda that seemed more like male supremacy than any form of gender equality. NOM came out against the radical men's movement, but with the utter discrediting of feminism in the Free Republics, the balance of power in the War of the Sexes had shifted dramatically, but that was of little concern to Republican women, let alone men, at the present time.

Another evidence of a change brought about by the assassination was the growth of the Church of Saintland in the Free Republics, which was admitting new Republican members in record numbers and now had higher approval ratings than ever in the Free Republics. Had Feministvs Sanctvsterra actually committed the assassinations, they would have been a horrible mistake for them, by any objective measure. Yet, even though that had not, in fact, done so, few outside of Gregoryisgodistan had any doubt about their guilt.

With public opinion against Feministvs Sanctvsterra, even the outrage outside of Saintland about the island theocracy's plans to internationally televise the burning at the stake of the assassin seemed rather muted. Indeed, few in the Free Republics objected and those that did soon learned to remain silent about their objections. Almost nobody wanted to hear any concerns about civil liberties or human rights. The Free Republics was leaderless. Few could believe the gall of those who felt the need to question any part of the official story or the governmental response to these events.

Against this backdrop, the Republican military's actions would prove popular at home. However, there were not very many Feministvs Sanctvsterra activists remaining in Saintland. With the increasing popularity of the program allowing them to turn themselves in and face relatively light punishment in exchange for information leading to the arrest of other Feministvs Sanctvsterra members, the group had already been decimated in Saintland. Of the half-dozen or so remaining cells of Feministvs Sanctvsterra in Saintland, just 3 of them would have the misfortune of being found by this military operation. They were arrested and shipped off to prison. Now, the next stage in Operation Restoring Patriarchy would have to take place in Taxachusetts. Once the commanders in Saintland reported back to Republican High Command, High Command realized this. They decided to wait a day or 2, but they would call President Warren Elizabeth and demand that he hand over Feministvs Sanctvsterra members or face annexation as a Colony under Military rule. That would be an offer that the President of Taxachusetts would not refuse, if he knew what was best for him and his nation...

It did not take long for the Assembly to pass legislation calling for an early election. After extensive debate, they decided to hold an early election for the Assembly, in addition to the early Consul election. A suggestion to choose 2 Consuls was rejected, as was another to appoint Senator Emeritus Vasin as Temporary Consul for a 4 year term. Instead, the winner of the upcoming election would be sole Consul of the Free Republics for 4 years. A decision was made to permit each Republic's legislature to appoint a new Senator to a life term, as was customary at the time of an Assembly election. The legislation passed the Assembly overwhelmingly, with just a handful of votes against.

The Senate debated it non-stop for several days. One Senator, who had left the Conservatives to join the Constitutional Traditionalist Party (a fringe outfit that had never won any significant victories whatsoever), decided to filibuster the election bill once the debate seemed to be over and the Senate was prepared to vote on it. For a little over 36 hours, he stood on the Senate floor, reading off scores from past WCC tournaments one-by-one. As he read "Polar Islandstates 0–1 The Weegies," he finally collapsed from exhaustion. Immediately, sensing the opportunity, the Presiding Officer of the Senate called for a vote. The election bill passed by an overwhelming margin.

The date of the election was set for the same day as the final matchday of World Cup Qualifying, the day when the Republican National Team was scheduled to host Ekoz at Church of Saintland Stadium in Albertope. Now, the only thing that remained was for the candidates, other than Senator Izmailov (who remained hospitalized) to announce their candidacies...

by **Bears Armed** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:33 am

(The place is the offices of the Sports department for newspaper ‘The Bear Necessities’. The time is early one morning, shortly before the second half of the World Cup qualifiers begins…)

Marrath Gray looked around the main ‘bullpen’ grumpily, even more grumpily than was common for him, and scowled at the water-stained mess.
“Hokay,” he finally enquired. “ So just hwhat happened here?”

“Ur’rmm… The sprinkler-system went off, guv’ner…” volunteered photographer & cub reporter Jamms ‘Jammy’ Urrsen.

“Hrright, I can smell that.
“And the sprinklers were set off how, precisely?”

“Ur’rmm… because the waste-paper in one of the bins accidentally caught fire?”

“Hwhich happened because?”

“Because,” a reporter named Storff Hrrombarth interpolated, “that new intern, Brent, was showing-off a new toy that he’d found somehwhere and that fell into the bin and it was hot enough to start a fire…”

“Ayyuh,” retorted Jammy. “So now explain that the item — hwhich isn’t just a ‘toy’, it’s a genuine ‘light-sabre’ that Bark brought back here after managing to take it away from a local who attacked him with it hwhile he was covering a match over in The Archregimancy* — only “fell” into the waste paper because you knocked it out of Bark’s hand anyhows … Hrright?”

“That so, Hrrombarth?” Marrath Gray asked angrily ”If it is then, although I’m definitely going to have worrds with ourr Mister Bark Brent** about his bringing something so potentially rrisky into the office — We’re journalists after all, or supposed to be anyhows, not ‘Teddi Knights’ or whahtever they were called in those old movies*** — I’ll have a few words for you, too. Something along the lines of “You’ve been trying to throw your weight around here rrrather too much, so you can try throwing it around somehwhere else for a change for a hwhile. You’re suspended for a month.” “Now, did you cause this?”

“YES!” roared Hrrombarth, “And you can’t suspend me, because I QUIT! I’m the only boar here who actually has any hrreal experience from playing any sports professionally, and yet you keep on giving the plum reporting jobs to sows***** like Fane, or young newcomers like Urrsen or Brent. I’ve had enough, MORE than enough, and I’m leaving. A friend’s offered me the chance of a share in a new ‘sports bar’ that he’s setting up over in Lakeport and I’m accepting that offer.”

“Well, goodbye then,” Marrath replied, adding slightly more quietly — as Hrrombarth stomped out of the offices — “and good riddance.”
“Hrright, now, he added, as while the other people present were still recovering from the shock of that exchange.
“Misturr Brent? My office, if you please… and if you don’t please, too. Now.”

The two of them left the bullpen, and the other staff who remained there resumed clearing up the mess that the sprinklers (and the original disagreement before that) had caused. Florise Fane wiped the water from off of her chair, sat down, and looked at the two sheets of paper that she’d managed to keep safe through all of the fuss.

World Cup #105

So far:

Pre-qualifiers friendly
BA v Firinsymnia: away; loss (2-to-3)
(unfortunate start; partly due to manager ‘resting’ main starters for more important matches? Anyhows, overshadowed by subsequent successes…)

Qualifiers, first series
BA v Gonzalez Isle: home (Wimbley); win (3-to-0)
(basically as expected)
BA v Jeru FC: away; win (1-to-0)
(maybeso better than expected, some folks were forecasting “at best” a draw…)
BA v Cata Larga: home (NorthPort); win (2-to-0)
(basically as expected, not as many goals for urrs as hoped)
BA v New North Aqmuland: away; win (6-to-2)
(Urrarh! The Belles losing this match would have been a sign that our come-back probably wasn’t going to happen…)
BA v Paradystopia: home (Wimbley); draw (3-to-3)
(about as good as could reasonably have been expected)
BA v Wolfenia home (Wimbley); win (2-to-0)
(basically as expected, not as many goals for urrs as hoped)
BA v Beaverriver: away; win (3-to-2)
(Hokay…)

Mid-qualifiers friendlies
BA v Jeruselem: home (Wimbley); win (2-to-1)
(Good!)
BA v Eastfield Lodge: home (Wimbley); draw (2-to-2)
(Oh well… could have been worse… and hwhat a weird team they field…)
BA v Equestrian States: away; loss (2-to-1)
(Them ponies are getting good, for true!)
BA v Kernansquillec; away; win (5-to-3)
(Not bad, not bad at all, all things being beared in mind…)

World Cup #105

To go:

Qualifiers, second series
BA v Gonzalez Isle: away;
(forecast: win)
BA v Jeru FC: home (Wimbley);
(forecast: win)
BA v Cata Larga: away;
(forecast: win)
BA v New North Aqmuland: home (NorthPort);
(forecast: win)
BA v Paradystopia: away;
(forecast: draw? Loss?)
BA v Wolfenia: away;
(forecast: win)
BA v Beaverriver: home (Wimbley);
(forecast: win)

Post-qualifiers friendlies
(none yet arranged)

___________________________________________________________________

OOC

* As shown here. Yes, I did request & receive Arch’s consent before writing that bit about one of my characters managing to bring “acquire” one of those weapons like this.

* Yes, the ‘Bear Necessities’ now has — so far just as a trainee reporter — its own version of the ‘Bark Brent’ who is SuperBear’s secret identity… although whether this version actually possesses any super-ursine powers, or the coincidence of name & profession is only a coincidence, remains to be ~~smelled~~ seen.

*** Marrath is right: ‘Teddi Knights’ was what the heroic wielders of light-sabres were called in the ‘Starr Warrs’ trilogy.

**** No, Hrrombarth isn’t trying to be insulting here. ‘Sow’ is actually a perfectly acceptable label for a female Ursine, just as ‘boar’ is for a male one.

by **Zenic** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:53 am

“I would say we are in a good position, Michael. But that is just my opinion,” spoke Golovkin.

Sanders and Golovkin were seated in their seats on the bench as they watched the players do light drills before the game. Sanders sat with his arms folded and a small scowl on his face. He didn’t want to admit it but Golovkin was partially right. Zenic was in a great position: they were tied for 3rd in their group and only one point shy of second place plus they were scoring goals like no one else in their group. However, they could easily have been in lone possession of second place with a key win here or there. So, they weren’t in the best possible position but it was a good one as Golovkin said.

“Yeah, we are in a positive position yet we need even better results than we had in the first half of qualifying. We need to beat Darvale and get a better result against Ko-oren if we want to qualify. Not to mention we need to win our expected victories by more than one goal every time,” Sanders said, referring to their 4-3 win over last place Lleidia in the first game of qualifying. “I agree. But we cannot predict the future, Michael,” Golovkin retorted.

“Correct: but you can influence it. And I plan on influencing it to give us a better chance at a victorious future.”

by **Sargossa** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 12:14 pm

SSM | Sargossan State Media
International Edition - Sport

Lymentations

Blanco Borrayo reports from Soluca;

Admittedly it may be just a touch early for getting all maudlin about what might have been. But for one single aberration the Corsairs would be level at the top of Group 2, seven points ahead of the chasing pack and looking bloody good thank you very much. But then there’s Lymantatia. Oh how we’re growing to loath the very sight of that hideous banner of theirs. For, for the second successive encounter between the nations, Lymantatia defeated Sargossa. A result made even more galling by how casually dismissive the Lymantatian media, such as it is, were of Sargossan chances prior to the match.

Heading into the game the Corsairs were actually in rather good form, having followed up an impressive friendly victory over the Kytlerians with four wins in the opening five qualifiers without conceding a goal. Timbermunich, Yids, United commonwealth of ayrshire and Rushmori rivals Electrum were all brushed aside as Farías’ attacking team proved to be unusually resilient at the back too. There was a highly predictable defeat in Farfadillis in there as well, but the battling 3 – 2 reverse at least reminded the Farves that perhaps the group won’t be entirely the cakewalk it first looked. All rather good, but for one costly slip up.

But the defeat in Lymantatia certainly riled the squad, just asked the Mangolanans. Sargossa hosted the Rushmori turncoats in the final match of the first half of the campaign and just tore them apart. It was unquestionably the finest performance of the Farías era and probably the best since that famous 8 – 0 Copa Rushmori trouncing of Kazzoria all those years ago. A lone goal conceded was the only sour note on a night in which the white hot Sargossan attack struck seven passed their hapless foes. It was a good end to what had been, one fixture aside, a pretty strong campaign thus far. And it leaves the nation in second place in Group 2, three points behind top seeds Farfadillis and one ahead of thorn in the side Lymantatia.

When the qualifiers kick off for the second half of the campaign the Corsairs will face two crucial home games. First up will be Baptism of Fire competitor Timbermunich, full of confidence after their shock home win over Farfadillis, before the Farves themselves visit Soluca for a crunch encounter at the top of the table. With four of the last seven matches set to be played at the Estadio Generalissimo Joaquín Delgado and strong recent friendly performances against Kernansquillec and The Icemark confidence should be high as the long and winding path to the Holy Empire or Apox continues.

ISideWith UK · by **Eastfield Lodge** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:14 pm

Highlights from live coverage of Schottia-Eastfield Lodge match on ELTV Sports 1:

Pablo Acquet: Welcome everybody to the seventh round of Eastfield Lodge's qualifying campaign for World Cup 69, live from the Harbour Hill Stadium in Handon, Schottia. Covering tonight's match between Schottia and Eastfield Lodge will be me, Pablo Acquet, and my co-commentator, Kyle Etherington.

Kyle Etherington: Thanks Pablo, it looks like this is going to be an interesting match. Rankings and form-wise, we should sweep the floor with the opposition, given there ranking of joint-358th with no ranking points, and only three points from 6 games thus far in qualifying. But then again, we all know how Eastfield Lodge traditionally fare against very low-ranked opposition, in other words, badly. We can't get complacent, especially given that our loss last week to Polar Islandstates leaves us 7 points adrift of top spot.

Pablo: Let's be honest though, who honestly thought that we could beat out Polar Islandstates, the number one ranked team by some distance, for the top spot? Realistically, we've been aiming for the playoffs, and will still do so. Winning today would keep us on track for that, but we are currently two points behind both Kalumba and Yttribia in that respect. Thankfully, they are playing each other today, which means that a win would put us ahead of one of those two (or put us level on points with them). But you are right, complacency will be our biggest threat, and one the Schottians will use the home advantage to capitalise upon.

Kyle: Both sides are injury free, and therefore the strongest teams have been lined up. Schottia will be playing 4-4-2, and I think their main threat going forward will be Avelione, who will be playing between the lines in that shadow striker role, and with 31 goals from 68 caps, he is a force to be reckoned with. But their main asset will be their defence, which seems to a very experienced set-up, and key to keep us out on the counter. Our main advantage will be our fluidity going forward, which we need in abundance to unlock and confuse the defence, and, as ever, the Doctor will forever remain a genuine goal threat whenever we get the ball to him.

Pablo: And to this effect, Rassilon has named a 4-1-4-1 line-up to play today, featuring the usual back five of Blon in goal, Strax and Rory in front as centre backs, with Vastra and the Reaper as full backs. Pyrovile will feature in his usual holding midfielder role, and then we have the fluid midfield four of Jack Harkness, Jenny, Creet and Raston, and at the top of the pyramid will the Doctor as ever.

------------------------------------------

(0') Pablo: Today's referee will be Barunia's Orlo Franks, and he lines the teams up for kick-off. Eastfield Lodge will be kicking-off, and playing from left to right on your screen, if you couldn't already tell. The Doctor on the ball, and he rolls it to Jenny to start off the match.

(2')
Pablo: Donaldson dispossesses Jack, and immediately sends the ball down to wing to Bia. Bia harassed by Vastra, and knocks the ball out for a corner. First real chance of the match going to Schottia. Fotan to take. Plays it short to Donaldson who whips the cross in. Cleared by Rory, only as far as Donaldson. Pass back to Fotan, who one-twos with Corsie and is through on goal! Blon comes out quickly. Fotan chips ... and it's wide! Good chance wasted there and goal kick to Eastfield Lodge.

Kyle: First real sight of goal in this match, but that was far too easy for Fotan, quick run to lose Vastra and he almost punishes us for it. Good work by Blon to make herself look big and force the shot wide.

(8')
Kyle: ...Jenny just can't seem to get away from Donaldson, and he's been the focal point of their play so far.

Pablo: Jenny flicks on the half-clearance to Raston. Raston skips past Corsie, out wide to Jack, cuts back in and floats the cross. Too high for D'Araby, and to the Doctor at the back post! Back across goal! AND IT'S IN! Raston scores the opening goal of the match! 1-0 to Eastfield Lodge, only 8 minutes in!

Kyle: What a nice move there. Raston loses Corsie and gets into the box. No-one picks it up and it's a simple header back across goal to Raston, who has a tap-in past the unbalanced D'Araby. His indecision to try and collect it has cost them dearly, as has the lack of tracking.

(13')
Pablo: 5 minutes have passed since the Eastfield Lodge goal, and things have started to settle down a bit. EL currently sitting back and absorbing the pressure, trying to probe weaknesses for a counter-attack. Corsie standing with the ball, rolls it to Donaldson, who takes it forward a couple of yards. Out wide to Gordon. Bia comes and collects it, and flicks it over for Gordon to chase! Gordon in behind the midfield and they sense a chance. Schwartz in support, gets the ball, takes it to the goal-line. Cuts the ball back to Bia who shoots! And it's in! Schottia have equalised!

Kyle: Avelione gets the goal. We knew he was the danger man up front, and he's just shown why. Bia tried to curl it around Blon and just inside the far post, but Avelione beats Rory to the ball and makes sure of it. And it started with Bia and Gordon's combination down that right wing, excellent overlapping play there.

(15')
Pablo: The home fans are urging their players to push forward and take the upper hand following the equaliser, and they do seem to be responding, they're pushing further and further up the pitch. They sense a weakness and they're pouncing. Free kick to Schottia thirty yards out on the left. Fotan to take, lots of jostling in the box. Fotan fire in a cross and it finds McCann! Who headed just wide of the post.

Kyle: We need a change of mentality here, it needs to be us exploiting them, not vice-versa.

(23')
Pablo: ...passes back to D'Araby. D'Araby wide to O'Brian, who centres the ball to Donaldson. Set upon by Jack, ball forced out wide to Gordon. Gordon under pressure, retreats towards his corner flag. Pass back to D'Araby. Good containment football by Eastfield Lodge here. Back wide to Gordon. Gordon clears it forward, and it clears the midfield. Avelione beats Strax to the ball and flicks it on! Schwartz is clean through on goal, only Blon to beat! Blon comes rushing out! Schwartz chases the bouncing ball and heads it over Blon! Open goal! And it's in! 2-1 to Schottia! The crowd cannot believe it, neither can the visitors! The minnows, given no chance by a lot of people, have turned this match on its head!

Kyle: Beautiful movement there by the two forwards, and possibly one of Schottia's goals of the tournament right there. Excellent awareness by Avelione to pick out Schwartz, and what skill from Schwartz to head the ball past the rushing Blon and knock it in.

(31')
Pablo: Vastra on the near side, slides the ball through to Jack, who dummies it past is marker and the chase is on. Jack gets to the ball and is held back by O'Brian as he cuts inside the full back. Free kick to Eastfield Lodge, about 25 yards out and halfway between the corner flag and the post on the left. Jack and the Doctor stand over it. The Doctor rolls it right and Jack strikes it! Off the post! The goalie was rooted to his spot

Kyle: I don't think D'Araby had that covered. If it clipped the other side of the post, he would definitely have trouble keeping it out. A good opportunity though, so we're not completely out of hope.

(41')
Kyle: The action has rather died down since that free kick, only a couple of weak shots on goal with both sides trying to dominate the centre of the park.

Pablo: Indeed, and I have a feeling it will stay this way till half time. But now, Schottia have the ball with Donaldson strolling about, looking for a pass. Drills one wide to Bia. Bia cuts inside Vastra and threads one through to Avelione. He dummies it, ball goes to Schwartz! Schwartz through to Avelione! Pass deflected and ... it's in! An own goal for Eastfield Lodge, and it's 3-1 to Schottia.

Kyle: That was a real slice of bad luck there for Rory. Tried to intercept Schwartz's through ball, and it deflects off his leg, catching Blon by surprise and rolls into the far bottom corner of the net. But the scoreline is now making for some miserable reading for EL fans...

(45+2')
Pablo: We're into the second minute of stoppage time as Schottia take the goal kick. Jenny challenges Donaldson for the ball, flicks it on to Pyrovile, to knocks it sideways to the Reaper. Reaper then flings it forward to Raston. EL pushing on for an attack. Raston takes it to the byline and pulls it back to the corner of the area. Jack forced to the goal-line by Okywa. Backheel to Raston, who crosses it in. Headed away by McCann, only as far as Jenny who takes it on the volley! Good save by D'Araby, and he held it. The ref whistles for half time, and what a half it's been. Schottia lead 3-1. Thoughts Kyle?

Kyle: A pretty pathetic performance there by Eastfield Lodge. They haven't been able to cope with Avelione taking up that free role behind the striker. And they haven't dealt with Bia and Donaldson's supporting play either. On the other hand, we have shown some glimpses of good football going forward, and if we can shore up the defence and just be a bit more clinical with our final balls and finishing, then we should be able to turn this around.

(54')
Pablo: Eastfield Lodge have started this second half a lot brighter than they finished the first, haven't they.

Kyle: Yeah, they've been doing well to keep Schottia under wraps, although I feel that they may start sitting on this two goal lead to kill the match off. We need to get a goal, and soon.

Pablo: Throw-in on the near side for Eastfield Lodge. Raston throws it to Jack, touches it off to Jenny who then switches the play to Vastra on the far side. Vastra quickly beats the recovering Gordon and whips in a cross. Collected comfortably by D'Araby, who quickly throws it to Donaldson. The break is on. Donaldson through ball to Bia, Bia cuts inside and gives it to Avelione. Avelione to Schwartz, Schwartz to Fotan, Fotan to Donaldson and ... ouch! Crunching tackle there by Strax, on the edge of the area. Referee Orlo Franks quickly dishes out the third yellow card of the match, much to Schottia's dismay.

Kyle: Strax deserved that I feel, that was a horrendous tackle. Thankfully, not a red card, but I don't think Donaldson's in any fit state to continue. Yep, it looks like the physio's called for the stretcher. That'll be a big blow for Schottia, seeing their captain leave the pitch in this circumstance. And to applause from all present, including the EL players and fans.

Pablo: He's being replaced by Jack Baxter in a direct swap, and a direct captaincy swap to boot. Free kick to Schottia, just inside the D. Fotan and Avelione standing over the ball. Avelione seems to win the argument and Fotan backs off, a few yards behind the ball...

Kyle: I see where this is going.

Pablo: Avelione rolls the ball back to Fotan, who shoots! WHAT A GOAL! Off the underside of the crossbar! Brilliant goal by Jon Fotan, against the run of play, and it's now 4-1 to Schottia, who now seem to have an unassailable lead.

(62')
Pablo: Throw in to Eastfield Lodge, and the ref signals for a substitution to take place. Creet and Pyrovile are being taken off, with the Modified Weeping Angel and Professor Lazarus. Interesting move this.

Kyle: Well, it seems that both substitutions are to increase the pace of the squad. Creet hasn't been playing all too well either, so there's that.

Pablo: Vastra takes the throw, ball falls to Lazarus, punts it over to Reaper, forward to Angel, layoff to Raston. Holds up for Jack. Jack across to Jenny. Schottia defence holding up nicely. Jenny beats Baxter and then skips past McCann! She shoots! And its wide of the mark.

Kyle: Almost an immediate impact from the subs there, both nicely involved in the build-up, and good work by Jenny to fashion a chance from nowhere.

(72')
Pablo: ... Vastra drives Bia to the byline, and forces the youngster to knock the ball out of play. Vastra quickly takes the throw, and gives it to Strax, who boots it far up the field. Baxter misjudges the ball and Lazarus pounces. EL on the break, Lazarus threads the ball through to the Doctor, who chips it into Jack's path! He's clear on goal! And what a save! D'Araby doing his level best to keep his team's advantage intact.

(83')
Pablo: Only seven minutes of normal time left, and the situation is looking increasingly desperate for Eastfield Lodge. Strax with the ball, under pressure from Schwartz. Strax turns him and passes wide to Angel. Angel backtracks, and then switches play to Jenny. Jenny with a clear run down the wing and behind the defence. The Doctor is making run in the middle, Jenny spots and crosses, blocked by McCann. But wait, the assistant is flagging furiously.

Kyle: He's flagging for a handball. Orlo Franks has gone over to his assistant and having a couple of words.

Pablo: And ... yes, the ref has given it. He's given a free kick on the edge of the box for handball. And that's not all ... yep, a yellow card for McCann as well.

Kyle: Looking at the replay, I'm not exactly sure it was the right decision. From this angle, he seems to block the ball with the end of his chest, not the arm.
... Nope, it's a handball, it did hit his arm there. But I'll admit it's one of the harshest handballs I've seen.

Pablo: The Doctor standing over the ball. 4 in the wall, with D'Araby ready and in position. Doc runs up and hits it! AND IT'S IN! Brilliant striker by the Doctor there, and there was nothing the keeper could do about that, completely rooted! 4-2 to Schottia, and is the comeback on with six minutes to go?!

Kyle: What a free kick that was. The technique to shoot it the other way around the wall, and to curl it back in is magnificent. And this might be the spark to rescue our horrid performance thus far.

(87')
Pablo: The Schottic crowd have definitely quietened down in the last few minutes, and the momentum seems to be turning. Lazarus and Angel pass it between them, waiting for an outlet as Schottia crank up the pressure. Angel takes it and turns Corsie, and now she has a clear run. Other players are making runs, and clearing defenders. Angel has a straight run on goal and she gets past Okywa to get clean through! Square to the Doctor who can't miss! 4-3! 4-3! Eastfield Lodge are coming back. What an assist there by Angel, brilliant movement by the whole team to create the space and then the chance.

(90')
Pablo: And Schottia have seemingly lost their focus and concentration, as Baxter now gives the ball away in midfield, falling prey to Lazarus. Lazarus takes it forward and lays it off to Jack. Jack chips it out wide Jenny, who flicks it past O'Brian and into the box. And she falls! Penalty, surely!

Kyle: He's given it. Penalty to Eastfield Lodge, in the first minute of stoppage time, to tie the match.

Pablo: Extraordinary scenes here at the Harbour Hill Stadium, utterly ridiculous. Definite penalty given away by O'Brian, who has rightly been given a yellow card, and Eastfield Lodge, who were trailing 4-1 a mere six or seven minutes ago, now have the chance to tie the match at 4-4. The Doctor steps up to take the penalty, so he has a chance to score a six minute hat-trick on top of levelling the match. He runs up ... and scores! 4-4! Who would believe it, it is four apiece in the 91st minute of the match. And with two minutes of stoppage time left to play, could we do it? Could we pull off the seemingly impossible comeback?

Kyle: It's entirely possible now. The momentum is firmly in our camp now, the Schottics will be utterly devastated that let a 3 goal lead slip from their grasp in the space of 6 minutes.

Pablo: Schottia line up for what is now their third kick-off in 6 minutes, and Avelione knocks the ball to Schwartz. Schwartz back to Corsie, who underhits his pass to McCann and Angel pounces. McCann slips trying to get the ball and Angel is through on goal! Could it be!? Angel gets closer, shifts her weight and feints! D'Araby off balance! Open Goal and IT'S IN!!!!!!! 5-4 TO EASTFIELD LODGE!!!!!! THE COMEBACK IS COMPLETE! 4 goals in seven minutes! And it took Angel a mere 19 seconds to score! You just cannot write this stuff, could you?!

Kyle: *mumbling* I've got the feeling somebody is...

Meanwhile, at the Eastfield Lodge Portal Control Centre, the TV monitor was switched off by Jim Hatton, the scientist who initially discovered the void destabilizing time storm. The entire team that had been on shift at the time were watching the above match.

Ryad Abdalla: You know, I agree with Kyle, I've got the strangest feeling that several dozen people are recording and reading or hearing everything we all say, and that it somehow influences something else in our lives.

Jim: Shut up with your ghost stories Ryad. That match was bad enough without your fearmongering. They just had to cut it that fine, didn't they? We're definitely not qualifying based on that performance.

Robby Nukile: And you can stop the pessimism mate. Honestly, we're just two points off second, so as long as we beat everybody bar Polar Islanstates, which, lets be honest, we should be doing, and assuming Polar Islandstates have a perfect qualifying, which, again if I'm honest, they should do, then we'll be as happy as clams in second, and sitting nice and happy for the playoffs. Obviously, we'd need to beat Yttribia and Kalumba outright to make sure we get tiebreakers, and our goal difference could do with some help as well.

Ria Darnen: Guys, shouldn't we be returning to work now?

Robby: Not really, we can afford to take a little rest. I mean, we've been on Yellow Alert for well over a year now. Probably just gone two years as well, who knows.

Ryad: Strange how everything everywhere seems to coincide with the World Cup.

Ria, rather sternly: Stop the conspiracy theories, really. Robby, the reason we're on Yellow Alert is because the void isn't fully stable. Yes, the Doctor and Rassilon managed to partially stabilize the time storm by buffering against the erchite from Ossidiacqua, but how long before its power relay breaks through the barriers? We have to be ready for when it does, and who knows when that time is. And anyways, I've heard rumours that we might be put onto Amber Alert soon anyways, because the stability readings are getting worse with every passing day.

Ryad: We just need to find a more permanent solution to all this. But then the problem we have is that everything we've thought of so far was deemed to have too high a risk in destroying us and northern Rushmore, notwithstanding the several scenarios in which the entire multiverse then collapses...

Elsewhere, in a secret bunker somewhere in Eastfield Lodge, a new radical group had been founded...

Voice of Leader: I welcome all you trusted companions of mine, and I am pleased to announce that our initiation and formation have been accepted by my, and from henceforth our, Master. We may be small, but we serve the grandest of Universal purposes, and it will only be a matter of time before we spread and fulfil our goal elsewhere. I hope you will join me in helping the spread of Chaos. It shall be remembered by all, that at this time, in this place, The Agency of Chaos was founded.

All Voices: May the Chaos we cause free our Master.

Somewhere, deep in the void, a deep voice booms...

"Soon..."

(OOC: The Agency of Chaos is a new underground organization [given that they're all the rad nowadays] with no political, social, or economic agenda. It's sole aim is to cause as much chaos in the world as possible, by any means necessary. Means include creatures which have the ability to change minor decisions in time, with potentially devastating consequences [see this (and the episode's plot)]. As for the Master, I'm currently leaning towards the actual Trickster, but possibilities including an NS version of him, or the Time Lord known as The Master. I'm still not sure yet.
And at the moment, I'd rather keep the Agency only in Eastfield Lodge, but if you really like the idea, you can drop me a TG to establish a branch in your nation if you want. Beyond the end of my planned storyline, anybody can have one, just drop me a TG saying you've got one.

by **Terre des Gaules** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:24 pm

Coqs have predictable showing in the World Cup

Par Jean-Derik Roullard

Those men that should represent the best that Gaul has to offer have instead, shown that we are an average nation from a far off region with little to offer to the realm of sports to the multiverse. At least, any sporting observer of the World Cup that watches the matches across group lines; or happens to actually visit Paritte on the opposite premise; or is in their nation's home stadium watching our boys in gold and blue make a mockery of association football, might think. The Coqs have struggled in every match, and with a couple exceptions have managed to lose them all.

I do believe they are putting in effort, but it is not effort that is World Cup worthy, I'm sorry to say. As a sports writer for the most important daily in the nation, I should be fully behind them 150%, yet I just can't stand by the fact that the Coqs entering the International circuit at this time in their development was a good, well thought out idea.

But then, there's experience. They have received that in full at the hands of the Nephara Cormorants, the Kandorith Red Dragons and the Vaugania Golden Eagles, as well as their other groupmates. So, I must temper my disappointment with the fact that they must be storing away the hurtful lessons for next year's vengeful return, if there even is one in the national budget after nearly disastrous peacekeeping missions in Lorecia and Agrincourt, with another intervention in talks for Kamalbia. Yet, again, what do I know? They can always take the blueprint of taking the minds of the public off of Gaulois dying in foreign lands with Gaulois getting cleated metaphorically to death by every other football nation they face. Oui...I guess that's what we're witnessing now.

Enjoy...or suffer through...via CSG (Chaîne Sportive Gaulois). Check your local listings.

by **Northern Sunrise Islands** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:15 pm

RADIO ESPORTIVA
Chapter 7, Season 4: Road to Filler

Sunrise: Yeah?
Southie Sunrise: Look, about Sindy... I helped her out.
Sunrise: Wait, what!?
Southie Sunrise: Well, it's simple...

"We were returning from school when we saw her getting locked up."

Sindy: I SWEAR I'M GETTING REVENGE ON YOU, SUNRISE!
East Sunrise: Eeesh, what the hell happened?
Southie Sunrise: I guess the idiot ticked her off.
Westie Sunrise: Idiot? @3@
Southie Sunrise: Yeah, the idiot mom loves.
East Sunrise: Don't call dad an idiot, Southie. That's not nice.
Westie Sunrise: Yeah, daddy is not an idiot. u.u
East Sunrise: See? She gets it.
Westie Sunrise: According to teacher Scrap Brain, the correct word is moron. ^3^
Southie Sunrise: Yeah...

Southie raised Westie up.

Southie Sunrise: She tooootally did.
East Sunrise: Look, at least he is putting a lot of effort, working at the mall where stuff like... whatever the hell happened happens. And now the lunatic wants dad's head, but he will certainly stay at his work even if she breaks away of the prison.

The original scene returns.

Sunrise: Wait, wait. East gave you the idea?
Southie Sunrise: Well, not on purpose. He really likes you.
Sunrise: ...No wonder, he's the easiest one to talk with between you and him. Westie's just a kid, so I don't think she counts on that criteria.
Southie Sunrise: Like hell you do a lot to change that.
Sunrise: What am I supposed to do, Southie? I'm trying to do my best to be a nice father figure, which I quite frankly am not even ready to be and to make it worse, I don't even know how I ended up having a family out of a sudden between seasons like this, but I'm ready to accept it and work so that you can at least have a good example of a person from both sides. I'm no emperor or anything like that, I'm just a regular guy, but I'm proud to say that all that I have earned was from my own work.
Dainer: And getting hurt.
Sunrise: Would you butt off?
Dainer: Fine, fine... Sorry for disturbing another special moment of yours. *sigh* Damn Protagonists.
Southie Sunrise: If you do that for East and Westie, I'll think about-
Sunrise: NO. It's not about thinking anymore. Now where the hell is her? I'll deal with that now, since speaking with you isn't getting anywhere.
Southie Sunrise: Last I saw her, she was at the docks. But be careful, it could be a trap.
Sunrise: Don't worry. It's nothing compared to the trap I have living under my own roof.

Sunrise poke up a bat lying on the wall and dashed out of the house.

Dainer: Ouch... Well, now I'm all for not being on my actual place for once. You're all right?
Southie Sunrise: I'd... rather not talk about it.
Dainer: Eh, why don't you sit down a bit, pick up a glass of soda on the kitchen and play a bit of City Rumble?

Southie wandered off to her room.

Dainer: Sheesh, this family... I wonder what's happening at the building.

Dainer got up from the couch and walked into the backyard, finding out a small little bar named "Petiscaria do Andarahy", where a couple of Esportivans were eating and playing cards while the owner, Andarahy, an old, dark-skinned men dressed on a fancy white and green suit washed the dishes.

Dainer: So... hey, there?
GAS: Oh, hey. You're Sunrise's friend, right?
Dainer: Yeah, things aren't going well at his place, so I decided to make a visit. When did this thing open up?
Glo: I don't know! Was it two days ago? Three days ago? Four days ago? The Calendar is made up of 365 days and-
Apox: Glo, he's asking for the exact day, not a rushed monologue of yours.
Para: If I recall, it opened four days ago, yes. The cachaça Andarahy offers here is amazing.
Dainer: Oh, he sells that here?
Paul: It wouldn't be a Petiscaria without it, would it?
Felix: Hey, from what I remember, that cachaça thing is some tough stuff, why did you drink it?
Para: Paradysland bankrupted. Still kept the house, but I sold most of the stuff I had specially for it.
Felix: Eesh, tough luck.
Dainer: Well, I suppose you wouldn't mind someone else joining, right?
GAS: I think, yeah. We're playing Trunfo, though.
Dainer: ...Hell, we're starting to show signs of the author of this joint, ain't we?
Barra: Why bother? At least we're appearing on chapters on some degree, unlike, say, Eura.

The scene cuts to a rather offended Eura on a little guest room.

Eura: *sigh*... Implying Eura gives a crap.

by **Zwangzug** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:26 pm

(OOC: Might be sporadic next week too, but had to catch up at least on this!)

The Spenson Star
"Yes, the butt changes"

Goalscorers against...
Estope: Rais-Sonnen 29
Barunia: Schi 37, Rais-Sonnen 61
The Blaatschapen: Coelho 72

Halfway through World Cup 69 qualifying, Zwangzug are unbeaten and remain on top of group fifteen, thanks in part to a win over top seeds Barunia. They have conceded two goals, a mark admittedly equalled by several teams and bettered by others: Audioslavia and Blouman Empire have allowed only one each, and Taeshan are unscored upon. This sort of fact-finding might be old hat to internationally-minded fans, used to trawling the lists of qualification groups and noting their own country as no more or less notable than those of the fourteen groups one has to sort through first on neutral tallies. Such a collection, no doubt, includes many immigrants who perhaps don't quite feel at home yet in their new country.

But it does not include perhaps one of the more high-profile newcomers, national team manager Reaven Laynee. "There are other groups, yes. I scout...sometimes. But care if purple knights allow zero? I don't wait for this. This is silly. Like look at cute...married man. Is fun for some maybe, but is not my job. You think my job is easy, maybe? No."

Laynee's particular gifts for metaphor have been heralded elsewhere, and during some of the quieter (on-field) performances such as the scoreless draw against Star United States, one could be forgiven for wondering whether leading the team or merely reporting on its progress is the harder task in one's third language. But fans were treated to a bizarre spectacle at the Bug House against Estope, when Arlo Rais-Sonnen's goal was met by a goal from Jacob Lawrence. A small upset, but not too strange on its own merits.

Except for the fact that nobody else on the pitch seemed to be paying much attention, as Bucky Freezus, the Estope manager, was busy biting the assistant referee.

"I mean, you know, it is what it is," said Bruce Millar, the goalkeeper charged with that surprising concession. "Life's more important than football and all that, whatever, so I don't mind too much. I hope the linesman's okay, yeah?"

Captain Martina Ruan seemed disappointed with her teammates' lack of intensity. "Okay, maybe it's a little hypocritical of me for having been gawking too. But, just because I've sort of found some things more important than football sometimes...I was expecting the violence worth getting outraged about to be on a different scale, you know? I was afraid Freezus was part of a regime that did stuff like that, of course I wanted eyewitness proof. Seeing that they'd tied it up...eh. I mean, at least the other [Estope] players were watching too, otherwise I'd be even more surprised we didn't play it out."

"When you have to eat, you have to eat. Cravings? Cravings is the word. But if I leave to go eat, in a game, I put my assistant coach in charge. Or tell the captain. Go and bite and not even worry about the game, is like little kids, just eat all they can. Not grown up. Poor work," said Laynee. "Bug House good place for silly little things trying to eat big people. It does not work. Even if they get hurt, we all get annoyed, those dropped points too bad...but it's still a shame."

When told that Freezus' actions had warranted him a forty-five minute suspension against Vunishia (three games later), Laynee laughed for some time. "One half against Baptism of Fire team! What joke. Punish like...spank to go sit in bean bag chair. Yes, the butt changes! Why make a big show? Show off that you can be all strong? For bite assistant referee? Is stupid. Leave alone is better, you pretend you didn't pay attention. Or say, 'is no problem, he bonk me with his shoulder, oops'...well, that makes you look stupid, too."

"That's the sort of excuse the Fire Ants gave," pointed out Ruan, before clarifying that she was referring to Zwangzug's very old history with the infamous Northern Bettia national team, rather than making a Layneesque metaphor involving small, painful bugs. These days, it's hard to tell.

Nevertheless, despite the seemingly meager punishment, Vunishia (who Zwangzug visit next) did hold Estope to a draw in their most recent game. "They deserve it," Laynee crowed. "You take risks, sometimes it helps you win games. You do stupid things and violent, you get this result. Even coach should know this." With a vindictive grin, she added, "Freezus in city of snow angels. Pah." And for once, the bizarre Laynee metaphor was one native to Zwangzug itself.

by **The Icemark** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:17 pm

Qualifying Review

The Icemark squared off against Boring Paradise on matchday one. With no expectations higher than getting a draw the Icemark surprised even themselves when they had all the early running, and Kol Lindenshield put them in a first half lead with an unstoppable drive. Boring Paradise must have received a rollicking from their manager at the interval because they came out in the second half with a fire in their bellies they hadn't shown before. So much so that it was a relief when full-time came. It wasn't always pretty but few will argue that the Icemark deserved the victory. After a dominant first-half display, they showed resolve and determination to hang on that their opponents were unable to counter.

Matchday two saw the Icemark make the trip to Vetrera. Only the match was played in Bonticello Refugee Colony due to a recent terrorist attack in Vettrera. Only a few daring supporters made the trip, most heeding to government advice to avoid travel in areas of unrest. The overall atmosphere of the stadium was sombre. No we lie - it could have easily been mistaken as a funeral. The game itself saw Vettrera dominate possession without really threatening. The Icemark's superb back-line limited them to a few pot shots and nothing else. And when Vettrera had two men sent off in a crazy six minute spell the fate of the tie turned decisively. It wasn't long before Kol Lindenshield scored the solitary winner with a crisp strike.

Next up was a home tie against Melthing and The Icemark really went crazy here. Why do you ask? Well they scored two goals. Yes, that's right we won the tie by more than the usual singular goal. It was a rather comfortable victory against the newcomers to be fair. Two volleys settled the contest. The first a 30-yarder from Kol Lindenshield, before Finn Jorgenson finished them off with a more acute strike. The table looked particularly sweet after this match with the Icemark sitting top and three points clear of world champions, Vilita who themselves had just suffered a shock defeat.

And then came the fall and it was mighty. No one ever doubted that when they went up against Vilita that the step up in class would be mighty, but the Icemark were at least looking to give them a decent showing. Unfortunately the contest was over after just half an hour. Vilita tore the previously unconquered Icemarkan defence apart in a demoralising attacking spell scoring four goals in half an hour. And in a bizarre repeat from these two nations only ever previous meeting Vilita's goalkeeper got in on the act as well. Drakon Stagapoulous did manage to pull one back for the Icemark, but it was too late to make a game of it.

Recovery was the most important thing after their humiliation in the tropics. Manager Erik Erikson was quoted as saying this was a back to basics performance. And it undoubtedly was. It was a no risk affair against Novach at Odin's Hall. The Icemark shored up their back line and invited the opposition on on to them before breaking quickly on the counter attack. One of these quick breaks led to winger Kallias Erresos outpacing the opponents defence, before squeezing the ball past the keeper. It was a vital victory and proved this was not the Icemark of old that would collapse after one bad result.

Next came that nation with the really awkward name: Gregoryisgodistan. Except this wasn't a match with Gregoryisgodistan proper, but with with a Special Administrative Zone of theirs. The Icemark went into this contest as favourites which made a nice change. But they still knew Gregoryisgodistan SAZ would be tricky opposition. After all this was the same team that had earlier surprisingly conquered Vilita. It was the usual defensive fare from the Icemark and they put on a professional display to get them the three points. Baldur Ireton scored the winner with a far-post tap in, as the Icemark kept the pressure on Vilita at the top of the group.

The final game of the first half of qualifying saw the Icemark host Kinitaria. The visitors were the undisputed favourites in the bookies eyes with most expecting a comfortable win, and Kinitaria to leapfrog the Icemark in the standings. But the near fanatical crowd at Odin's Hall created such an intimidating atmosphere that Kinitaria probably didn't know what hit them. The game was a brutal contest full of crunching tackles. Kinitaria had most of the possession but the Icemark's back-line gave them no quarter. They had no intention of faltering under the pressure like they did at Vilita. And when Kol Lindenshield curled home the winner late on the stadium erupted. The Icemark had produced one of their rare famous wins, similar to the ones they had achieved against Sargossa and the Slyvanes Queendom in the past. But this was undoubtedly more special as there was more to play for in this match. The result not only meant the Icemark pulled further away from Kinitaria, but it kept them on pace with Vilita, only being behind the world champions on goal difference.

So what's next? The Icemark have to go through it all again. What can we expect? The next match could be the most important yet. Boring Paradise will be a tricky tie away but should the Icemark manage to defeat them and Vilita are successful at Kinitaria, that would leave the Icemark eight points clear of third place. And with maximum points expected to be acquired against the bottom four teams, it would be impossible for Kinitaria to catch them even if both they and Vilita get victories against the Icemark.

by **Star United States** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:06 pm

Star United States

The World Cup 69 Qualifiers

☆★ Halfway Through ★☆

Previous Editions: Roster of Star United States; Here We Come; First Glimpse; One Day Closer;Match Day One Preview;Day One Out and Over; World Cup Qualifiers - Day Two; Diasters Throughout;Fourth Time's A Charm; A Draw & A Problem; Two Ties & A Crisis; One Step Closer;

Halfway Through
Matches

July 22, 2014
Estope 4 : 1 Star United States
Inzer-Bare Stadium, Twin Brooks, Estope

July 23, 2014
Vunishia 2 : 4 Star United States
Unknown

July 24, 2014
Star United States 0 : 1 Barunia
Star Stadium, City of Star, Star United States

July 26, 2014
The Blaatschapen 4 : 5 Star United States
Unknown

July 27, 2014
Star United States 0 : 0 Zwangzug
Stadium of Jackson, Jackson City, Star United States

July 28, 2014
New Wolfopolis 3 : 3 Star United States
Campana Bowl, Lupinia Pavilion, Lupinia, New Wolfopolis

July 29, 2014
Star United States 2 : 0 Dawnhaven,
Five-Point Stadium, Lake Star, Star United States

Matches To Be Played
August 1: Star United States v.Estope, at Star Stadium, City of Star, Star United States
August 2: Star United States v. Vunishia, at Estadio Estrella, City of Star, Star United States
August 3: Barunia v. Star United States, at United Stadium, Porthaven, Barunia
August 4: Star United States v. The Blaatschapen The Sunset Stadium, Hery City, Star United States
August 5: Zwangzug v. Star United States, at Merle Park, Alden, Zwangzug
August 6: Star United States v. New Wolfopolis The Eastern Stadium, City of Fredericksburg, Star United States
August 7: Dawnhaven v. Star United States, at TBD

Notice: The following matches are to change venue. August 1, 2014 against Estope will no longer take place at the Golden Stadium, Golden City due to extreme weather conditions at the Star Stadium, City of Star. August 4, 2014 against The Blaatschapen will no longer take place at the Estadio Lado Del Rio, due to extreme weather conditions. It will now take place at The Sunset Stadium, Hery City.

The Group

  Group 15                                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Zwangzug                                            7    5   2   0    10    2   +8    17
2 Barunia                                             7    5   1   1    15    9   +6    16
3 Estope                                              7    3   3   1    12    8   +4    12
4 Star United States                                  7    3   2   2    15   14   +1    11
5 New Wolfopolis                                      7    3   1   3    17    9   +8    10
6 Dawnhaven                                           7    3   0   4     9   16   −7     9
7 Vunishia                                            7    1   1   5     6   15   −9     4
8 The Blaatschapen                                    7    0   0   7     6   17  −11     0

Zwangzug, currently, has the honor to hold the first position of the group. The team begun the World Cup Qualifier campaign with a victory against Vunishia, to the score of three to zero. This teams is currently standing without a defeat, and with seven match days to go, this can change very much. They hold five victories and two draws, giving them a total of seventeen points, one point above the highest ranked team of the group Barunia, who has only seen one defeats (against Zwangzug) in the last seven match days. They have five victories and one draw and defeat. They, also, begun their World Cup Qualifier campaign with a victory against Dawnhaven, to the score of three to five.

Estope trails behind Barunia by four points, having a total of twelve points. The team has encounters three victories, three draws, and one defeat. The opening match for this team, however, was not disappointing as they won over Star United States to the score of four to one. It was a shocking match. Star United States is one point behind Estope, with eleven points. The Starian team has seen three victories, two draws, and two defeats. Surprinignly, Star United States will be hosting Estope in the upcoming match being played tomorrow in Star United States. It will be a decisive match for who takes third place in the group.

New Wolfopolis is rather near in points too, trailing on point behind Star United States, with a total of ten points. They have had three victories, one tie, and three defeats. Tomorrow, they'll face The Blaatschapen, and most likely gain three more points. Dawnhaven, also trails one point from New Wolfopolis, with nine points. Three victories.

Vunisha, currently stands with four points. Having one victory and one draw, and five defeats. This team is expected to stay low within the table. In the last position of table stands The Blaatchapen, who after seven match days has only encountered seven defeats. However, seven more days are left, and they may gain a point here and there.

Upcoming Matches

Vunishia v. Zwangzug
Vunishia will host group leader Zwangzug tomorrow. Last time Zwangzug visited Vunishia, the host passed a defeat to the score of three to zero. Zwangug started the World Cup Qualifiers without a goal against. If Zwangzug wins, they will have a total of twenty points, and stay as leader of the group. On the other hand, if Vunishia wins, which is extremely unlikely to happen, they will gain three points to the total of the seven, but still wouldn't change position on the table. If this were to happen, and Barunia were to win against Dawnhaven once again, Zwangzug will move down to second place and Barunia will move up as group leaders.

The Blaatschapen v. New Wolfopolis
New Wolfopolis dominated over The Blaatshcapen, to the score of three to five. The Blaatshcapen, however, has not seen a single victory during this season, and most likely won't see on tomorrow. If New Wolfopolis wins this match they will raise a standing place either if Estope and Star United States tie or if one wins. If The Blaatshcapen were to win they will stay in the same position. New Wolfopolis would remain in the same location, unless if Dawnhaven wins over Barunia.

Barunia v. Dawnhaven
Barunia is second in the group, while Dawnhaven holds sixth place. Last time these tow teams met the score was three to five, and Barunia won. If Barunia wins this match, and Zwangzug loses their match - Barunia will rise to the group leader of the group. If Dawnhaven were to win, they'll rise one or two places depending on the results.

Star United States v. Estope
Estope and Star United States are currently battling for third place of the group. However, if these two tie and Dawnhaven wins, these two teams might drop a few places. However, if the Starin were to win, they'll rise to third place, and Estope will drop to fourth. Last time they met, Estope dominated four to one over Star United States at their field. Star United States looks for the win, more information below.

Star United States' Next Match

August 1, 2014
Star United States v. Estope
Star Stadium, City of Star, Star United States

Star United States opening their World Cup campaign against Estope at Twin Brooks, where Starin dreams dies. Unlike last World Cup Qualifiers, Star United States begun to a bad start to the score for four to one against Estope. Estope, on the other hand, was glad to their three points gained. Star United States needs the win to enter the top three of the group, and Estope, to the luck of Star United States, needs the win to stay within the top three of the group. Three possible outcomes may happen tomorrow. Either Star United States will get revenge over Estope, Estope will replay history and gain another three points, or they both gain one point in a draw. Seeing the table, neither of these teams need a draw now, so they both most likely will be attempting for a win.

Star United States will used the original line-up for this match at the Star Stadium. As announced this place where to take place in SeaShore City, but currently, this city is on code red and all the community is underground in the bunkers. Stay in tune to find out the results of tomorrow's matches.

by **United Eastedge** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:53 pm

THE BEST FOOTBALL BLOG BY JOHNNY BARTON

That's right, dear readers. We are at the halfway of the World Cup Qualifiers already and the truth is that they have been filled of excitement from the first match day to the seventh. Hundred and ninety two national teams are struggling hard, looking for a spot to accompany Apox and The Holy Empire in the World Cup Finals and surely, the ones that did not perform well in the first "leg", in a manner of speaking, will try to do it from now on. But, If we talk about the navies and their performance so far, I would grade it well. Maybe because it is my country and you know... But no! Sincerely, United Eastedge have shown a great level of football, causing suffering to our opponents, and the victories achieved are thanks to the attitude and talent these players have been showing throughout the qualifying. Nonetheless, it would be weird. Would not be? A country that is scarcely developing football, making the Finals?

I have seen many web sites, TV shows, and even other bloggers that have tried to summarize what has happened so far. To be honest, the majority of them reached to speak abou the group 5 and that's it. If I achieve it, it would be... I won't try to do that because that'd be quite repetitive. However, the group 24 has been one of the most surprising groups of this stage; well, according to me. Who would had imagine the navies struggling to qualify? Me not at least. Audioslavia is the favorite to stay leading the group, since the twice-world champions are definitely, the dominant of the group. They find themselved at the first place of the group, with a 6-1-0 record (19 points), being the winners of the BoF 54 who stopped their winning streak, pulling out a point at The Nine. Last match against the bulls, will be an unforgettable night and it is not because of a great performance of our country, but the biggest defeat in Eastedgean football's history. Moving back to the standings topic, I think they'll stay where they currently find themselves, at the first place.

Second of the group, oh... What the hell? Is it that underdog up there? Yes, it is! That's me when I saw United Eastedge for the first time in the second place and I bet that you were the same. Yep, the surprising champion of the Baptism of Fire 56 is giving the world more surprises. This time, they are throwing Buyan to the trash can, since they are currently in qualification zone, which for many, that's was place for Audioslavia and Buyan, Maklohi Vai, or maybe Kernansquillec, why not? The navies achieved a 5-1-1 record so far (16 points), being Buyan and Audioslavia precisely, the ones who were not defeated by the overwhelming team led by Masson. Their home, the Aelley Stadium or most known as "The Ship", with a capacity of 42,000 people, although I'd like to highlight the incredible fortress this small stadium has been for our country, though.

Behind our country, dear readers, it is the another winner of the Baptism of Fire, Buyan. What can I say about Buyan? Hm.. Let me think a bit. Alright, got it. This team started out the qualifiers quite bad, visiting the Kers, with and awful game-style during the whole first match day. But, we need to understand them, they were on a kind of motivational situation. What the hell I am saying? They were not in the best time in a manner of speaking. Nonetheless, they have been climbing some spots on the standings, throughout the recent match days. They reached the twelve points already, achieving a 3-3-1 record, highlighting the authentic feat they achieved recently as well, when they stopped the winning streak of Audioslavia. The last match against the navies took place in the third match day, at The Nine, Dyatisnk. I remember many things about that dramatic 0-0 draw. Scream loudly because of the excitement was among them and many other things that can't post here...

The fourth place is occupied by Maklohi Vai? What's that? Just joking Vaians, just joking.. However, the always-dangerous team of Maklohi Vai got my respect since they wer in the second place of the group, but what the hell happened with them? Two words... The press. That'd the most realistic option I've on the board right now. The fell two places, to finsh in the fourth place of the group at the halfway, being a bigger challenge if they want to make the Finals, or even an invitation to the Cup of Harmony. Although, they are not that bad, since they are tied in points with Buyan, but they are fourth due to the second tiebreaker established by the hosts in their host bid, which is the head to head points. And after a 1-0 defeat against the BoF 54's champions, now you understand why. Last match against United Eastedge took place at the Vaian National Pitch, stadium who saw a 2-0 victory in favor of our countrymen.

Guess who's next. Yep, that's right, Kernansquillec. Did I mention this team already? I think I did not. Personally, I imagined something bigger from this team. They started out the qualifiers even better that what I expected before the kick-off, defeating Buyan in the first match day. Nonetheless, they have suffered a decrease in their football level and now they are struggling to avoid to be part of the three "worst" teams of the group, or that's what I'd represent it. The Green and Whites were one of the favorites to struggle with Buyan and Maklohi Vai for the glorious second place, behind Audioslavia. But, the truth is that they find themselves in the fifth place, with ten points gathered so far. What I've been looking is the dificulties this team recently has to score a freaking goal! That's... That's crap! However, seven points came from the matches against the most known group of the World Cup 69, the three "worst" teams. Last match against United Eastedge, was a close 2-1 victory for the navies at the "Ship".

Finally, there are the most famous club ever, the three "worst" teams of the group. Yuzhno-Sakhalisnk gorod, Lojal, and Free Swiss States find themselves in the last three positions of the group as I mentioned them respectively. Definitely, YSG deserves to be the best between these teams, since they have performed better games. They were part of the Baptism of Fire 56 as well, being eliminated in... If remember right, in the Round of 32 against Cata Larga. Lojal, lojal, lojal.. They have participated before, but they have not achieved something important yet regarding the World Cup and they'll not do it this time around neither. To conclude, Free Swiss States. A team that have been defeated by almost everybody, achieving just one point in seven matcches performed. Even though twenty one points are at stake yet, these three teams doesn't exist in the battle in order to reach the play-offs.

As you know, the head coach, Marcos Masson has been trying different combinations of players, as well as different formations. He has done every single thing he said before the kick-off of the World Cup Qualifiers, giving at least one minute to each of the thrity five players he called for this important process. The 5-3-2 formation that worked perfectly for the navies during the Baptism of Fire 56, changed for some of the matches such as the one against the winners of 54th edition of the Baptism of Fire. The other formation that Masson tried is the weird 4-2-3-1, which commonly uses it when players that normally are sitting on the bench, jump to the field. In my opinion, this strategy will work perfectly if the navies make the Finals. Why? Well, sincerely, the performances of some players that never had played with the navy shirt before, have convinced me to be part of the starting eleven. Matthew Alvarez or maybe Jonathan Dunn are among them.

Changing the subject, the United Eastedge Association Football Federation, announced yesterday the friendly matches that the navies will perform once the qualifying finish. According to yesterday announcements, the navies will face the 101st ranked team, Star United States in the first match of three that they will play. It will take place at The Ship (Aelley Stadium), which is located in our beautiful capital, Aelley City on 14 August, at 6:30 PM (MST). In the second one, United Eastedge will visit the Tachi National Stadium, in order to face the 99th ranked team, Patistan. That match will be performed on 16 August, at 2:00 PM (MST). Finally, the third and last match before the kick-off of the World Cup 69, will be nothing more and nothing less than San Jose Guayabal, on a match that will take place at Trophya Arena, located in Ostlyn, at the south of United Eastedge. The last one is the best match in my opinion. San Jose Guayabal are ranked 35th in the world and they surely will be a big challenge for the navies. Thanks for reading here in the best football blog, Over The Field. I'm Johnnie Barton.

The Federal Republic of United Eastedge
Official Correspondence

From: President Gabriel Cohen
To: President Chris Cross

I'm glad to say that five planes were succesfully sent today toward the Star International Airport, City of Star, Starix as you indicated it. Each one them, carries tons of food as well as wayer and some of the vital sources for life. The multiple schools and jobs in where the food was recollected from, cooperated perfectly for your case. I really hope that with this, your people can be healthy for many days more. Unfortunately, we are involved in a military conflict, which complicates to bring Starian here to United Eastedge for a while. I'll inform you when we are available and we are in contact.

by **San Jose Guayabal** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:08 pm

www.elnacional.gu/sports/highlights

You are in: El nacional > sports > Road to Apox and THE WC 69.

NEWS
- The Sarian 3-2 SJG, What happened?
- Group 8 Analysis
- Miley World vs SJG, time to ensure more victories.

Wrote by: Lourdes Amador/ Andrew Pereira
Follow on Pajarraco as: @Lama11/ @Anpereira
Wrote at 31/07/2014, 10:05 PM.

The Sarian 3-2 SJG, What happened?

SJG Many fans of the national team traveled to the city of The Sarian Lavington in order to try to support them for another victory in visitor status so we can finish the first half of the WCQ unbeaten, unfortunately not could achieve the goal due to strong momentum and the splendid way in which the Sarian juice special game, a team that has been more and he wants to prove that not only will be a revelation short term, but it is there to fight inch by span for first place in the group and qualify for the playoffs and who removes are classified directly to the toilet while SJG at least can feel alvio because you made the best first half of WCQ in its history, with the maximum offensive in terms of goals scored in the WCQ with an average of four goals per game in their favor, which is very important in terms of the improvements the team.

Approximately 8,500 fans of SJG performed on short drive to Lavington to The Sarian, a group of islands located just 1.500 km of SJG and are accessible via direct flight to Lavington, fans and the national team traveled together by air for more three and a half hours of travel without a problem, in a last-minute decision was decided not to bring back armed to the nation on the local computer stores out of respect for the laws of the nation, so more fans could get to accompany the national team, including some made the trip via ferry after crossing several nations cart. Drums, faces painted in the colors of the flag, trumpets and even flares acomañaban fans of SJG headed to Lavington, arriving the evening before the game with fpin performing recognition of court quickly and rest for the day party, where after breakfast took a pre warm up session in order to be ready for the match that day, which would be hard, something that we emphasize Emanuel Inzer SJG assistant manager in an interview.

"Good morning dear sir Inzer is a pleasure entrevitarlo me this day, I wish you success in your professional work" Pereira said in his interview.

"Hello, how are you today, Andrew" Inzer said affectionately saluting with a handshake.

"I'm fine, I would not have any problem with that you answer a couple of questions?" Pereira said.

"Of course not, friend, that you do not divulge information to the opposing team." Inzer said as he gave a series of laughter.

"Do not worry Mr. Inzer. Proceed with the question, do you think this will be a party with a special ingredient to SJG?" Pereira said.

"From my point of view, I think if it SJG I looking unbeaten finish the first part of the WC 69 Qualifiers, something that would give a huge boost morale to the team, motivated to address the remainder of qualifying optimistically. I also that the rival (the Sarian) look to win the match at any cost, considering they have had an excellent knockout phase at the moment, something they had never done before, and more than ever playoff berth would be a viable option for them besides not being far from their reality considering the current performance of them, "Inzer said.

"What do you think are the strengths of both teams?" Pereira said.

"Let's start by The Sarian: This team is very young, I think more of what our currently has heard over Ross Horn have an excellent Open Front is gradually being transformed into a world class player, excellent dribbling. and agility in the air make him a very dangerous player for any defense "Inzer said, sipping coconut juice.

"What do you think about SJG, the strengths of our national team?" Pereira said.

"I think our players have matured a lot since I was the manager at the WC 67, now have a lot of experience and know their talents, but add courage and a great sense of play and identity as a whole, where no abuse of individuality and tend to play very collectively "Inzer said.

"How to react in case of a defeat in this match?" Pereira said.

"It would not be the end of the world, only it would be the first time that we lose in these playoffs, would not be good but we know that football does not always win and we must face defeat with a constructive attitude with improve where we failed and strengthen the advantages of our team, "Inzer said.

"Thanks for your time, thank you for giving me time for the interview." leave of Inzer said Pereira, who affectionately took leave of Pereira with a slap on the shoulder.

In terms of strategy, Mathias Paatelainen would make one change in the defense industry, replacing James Moreira by Mathias Passarelli, who aportqaría experience to the backcourt, besides more capacity air plays, Rudy Valencia would have a libero role in the game to give passes to Bregoo Leonidas, who meet their match in number 25 national team and try to do their best to give the victory to the national team.

In the part of the attack, the three daily front, Zelaya, and Fana Fraser was always used, who is in good physical condition and are not discarded a break for fixtures in order to avoid physical stress on your muscles. All this was based on the typical and effective 3-1-3-3 and always gives very good results in terms usually attacking moves and defensive balance of true.

The Sarian bet to use 4-4-2 with the diamond shape, using Ross Horn and Hectares Matteo in front, a very strong team attack duo also Firmin Jarrett would be the captain for the team, giving some the Sarian experience also in the midfield are McCae Tristan and Benaiah Valdez, two players with very offensive capabilities which is essential to prevent further pressing problems in the defense of SJG.

The game started under good weather conditions, ideal for a football match between two teams, leading their group in the WCQ with some advantage in this stage is no greater thing tonight. After the usual formal events, The Sarian started with possession of the ball on his favour, demonstrating from the outset that it would not attack so easily and quickly seek to attack the opponent and strong in the opening minutes of the game while SJG decided to start cautiously to avoid problems with respect to inaccuracy or errors to bring him to suffer consequences from very early in the game so we chose to analyze the opponent for about five minutes the Sarian took advantage very well. First he had an attack of short passes, then the ball fell to the feet of Ross Horn who came to the area penalty, gave me pass Danihel Paul who without hesitation topped the goal of Henry Hernandez, who did not react to the shot, because happened slightly above the goal on the first play of chance in the game just two minutes.

SJG was still wary of the game until the fifth minute Rodolfo Zelaya dared to "break the ice" through a powerful shot from outside the area penalty shot also step off from the goal of Brigham Huddlestone, who already knew the trajectory of the ball and chose not to "smear" the uniform so early in the game, although that shot passed very close to the goal.

The Sarian was ball control with good stretch for the first ten minutes, generated special plays made the first notices about Hernandez's goal as a free kick in the eighth minute on which Ross gave a pass to Horn Ron Fletcher, who ran down the right side of the court, gave ball centered Hectares Matteo, who gave a header that went straight into the hands of Henry Hernandez, who was just placed in front of the ball's trajectory to avoid major problem at an early stage of the game.

After the first ten minutes, SJG gave symptoms of improvement in the game after having been dominated by The Sarian in that time span. SJG started generating opportunities to counterattack to surprise the goal of Huddlestone, who had not been very active at that point of the game, Zelaya took a pass from Saucedo and then subsequently approach the area penalty and then give the ball centered in area where Sean Fraser appeared but it was caught by the referee in offside because they took advantage of their forbidden position in the play that ended with a shot against the post that although it had been a goal of nothing had served the cause as it would have been invalidated.

The party was getting into a rhythm bastane interesting being back and leg by both teams who had to balance their time of great transition defense and attack, just fifteen minutes and had several chances by both teams , The Sarian showed benefit in being local, in addition to its constant pressure to the defense of SJG.

SJG had his first chance to danger seventeen party, where after clearance by Matthias Passarelli, stay loose ball in midfield minutes to recover what Leonidas Bregoo quickly so inciando a counterattack from the left side the field, giving pass to Sebastian Nunez who decided to cheer off the goal of Huddlestone, shot crashed violently on the cross for the ball to stay in control of Jonathan Fana, who opted off the ball without control first, this resulting in a complicated shot to Huddlestone, who chose to send the ball to a corner. Nunez made the corner, giving pass to Rudy Valencia who decided to pull the goal but the ball bounced off the body of William Peters, who cleared the ball and avoid a move that could have resulted in something better for SJG.

Already in twenty minutes the game looked clearly more balanced for both teams, The Sarian had already made four shots on goal and showed more possession with the ball (52%) while SJG had only made three shots on goal the result of Paatelainen the decision to analyze the opponent before attacking, something that was working well for SJG and their style of play. Despite that SJG showed less possession (48%) but at least was showing a better tempo and intensity of attack increased as time went on and played with backlash by Bregoo or auction Nunez surprising that the goalie had given complication Brigham Huddlestone.

The Sarian appeared to be closer to the goal until SJG said after being with analytical style game. Nunez gave Bregoo who was pass the ball after dribbling Oliver Scarrow then give a long pass to Jonathan Fana who then entered the area to shoot at the goal but Huddlestone made a poor clearance letting the ball to Sean Fraser who saw Huddlestone in a bad position decided to shoot at the goal in powerful way and thus SJG was winning the game 1-0 in twenty-six minutes, a goal that gave euphoria SJG fans who made the trip to the Sarian. Undoubtedly this goal was important to show that SJG is best for the remainder of the first half, in addition to establishing greater superiority in controlling the game.

After the goal, SJG showed more relaxed for the attack, lowering the intensity of the game but without lowering the defense guerdia Ross Horn because he was very intense in the constant attack contiros Henry Hernandez's goal, including a shot that crashed into the left goalpost Hernandez after a rebound shot that Horn was able to take advantage but could not convert it into a goal. Although it was not noticeable that The Sarian down the intensity of the game, is increasing the intensity of this.

Thirty six minutes of play Methuselah Meeuwessen made a deep pass to Hectares Matteo who after receiving the ball proceeded to shoot at the goal of Hernandez, who stopped the shot but when did the clearance, the ball bounced off the back of Ross Horn, an accidental little clearance that was shot because the ball hit the bar but left the field of Card Suits for Hernandez cleared in better shape this time than last time.

By the latter part of the game, the match was more calm, SJG wanted to keep the lead going to the locker room with a short blunt edge while The Sarian wished not give up the first time and continue to press for a goal at least, but the referee blew the halftime would SJG and cn a good 1-0 lead, which despite being a short lead, was a good result in visitor status, in a place where very few teams win because of what bin playing the Sarian. Then Sean Fraser interviewed who gave us feedback about the game.

"The game is being good for me mainly because of the intensity shown by the opponent and the game we have done. Despite not having performed plays in early bird moments of the game as we usually do, we have been able to decipher the pretty neat defense of The Sarian in addition to the defense of our team has been able to hold off the opponent, who despite having made enough shots intervention of Henry Hernandez, who has played very well as simpre used to do. "Fraser said after hydration.

At the halftime break, Mathias Paatelainen made a substitution, Rodolfo Zelaya left the field and came in to replace the experienced Nicholas Jarvis also to gain a little more power in the body attack the ball and keep the largest possible time frontcourt, while also changed the 3-1-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, leaving only the front Jarvis while Valencia Núñez accompany the libero position with order to have a better generation plays in midfield while the defense would remain intact throughout the defense.

The Sarian keep everything tidy in order to give continuity to their tactic and generate more search results with your 4-4-2, taking advantage of the space left in the midfield due to the use of 4-2-3-1. The purpose for The Sarian would get a better result and if possible victory in an important game because it would win him stay in the top spot.

SJG began playing with the ball in his favor, Sean Fraser gave the ball to begin defense of SJG typical move by touch and touch to calm the game from the start and thus make the opponent drop his guard in a form relatively easy and seize the moment to press and scoring.

That moment came pretty fast, because in fifty-three minutes, Nicholas Jarvis took the ball and shot on goal from Huddlestone who sent the ball to a corner and thus avoid problems regarding a possible goal. Passarelli ventured to go on the offensive, Jarvis made the esquiina shot, sending the ball to the center of the box where Passarelli took the opportunity to jump in and give a strong header and send the ball into the goal. SJG is much more clocaba conn 2-0 lead and the game became more easy and quiet to SJG, who wanted to win the game but did not have what I expected.

The Sarian managed to shake off the pressure to be losing two-nil, clinging to the saying that says, "The two-nil is the most unreliable marked" attacked intensively and very quick to defend SJG, now reinforced with four defenders , looking pretty solid and difficult to penetrate because of the concentration of the players.

Looks can be deceiving and that was evident when Ross arrived at Horn penalty area, dribbled to Passarelli and stood in front of the goal for Henry Hernandez to just put the ball into the goal and make The Sarian shortened more about the dstancia SJG. 1-2 was more likely to come back and make The Sarian lograse impose their homefield effectively, while the fans of The Sarian sympathized strongly and seemed to have woken up after a short period of silence sixty-two minutes.

The Sarian seemed to begin to react after that goal while Ross Horn literally what SJG was "sinking" in terms of quality of play, perhaps in a very strange style by the players of the national team for SJG. Hectares Matteo of The Sarian performed a play kickback seventy minutes and one where he gave pass Danihel Paul, who sent the ball into the hands of Henry Hernandez, who was beginning to take a more active role in the game and possibly hero would dress if SJG would have won the game.

In seventy-five mintos game, SJG showed a game fairly decay despite leading and generated very few compared the first half, total only had six chances while we had 38% of possession opportunities. The Sarian meanwhile had ten shots on goal from Henry Hernandez, an increase in the quality of their level of juegoe twenty minutes ago, 62% of possession was sufficient to indicate that The Sarian sought the comeback and victory very hasty way to the dismal performance of SJG at that time.

Eighty minutes into the game, SJG suffered a blow as Matteo gave pass to Ross Horn, who was hit in the area penalty for Meyson Salume, who was ejected with a red card because it was the last player that stopped a clear up the goal, leaving SJG disadvantage of players in the field to the latent threat the Sarian an equalizer. Alfred Heinrich Von made the shot from the penalty spot, leaving Henry Hernández who, being stretched pear could not stop the powerful shot that was the left corner of the goal. The Sarian equalized and players together with the fans believe in the comeback and victory.

That comeback was consummated at 87 minutes into the game, where Ross Horn dribbled Rudy Valencia to top long distance toward the goal of Hernandez, leaving it static in a shot that went straight to the right of the goal top corner and stood to The Sarian with 3-2, achieving a major victory that puts them in sharing first place in the table of positions with SJG, who shall prepare and best stand to face Miley World visitor in status.

Group 8 Analysis

Arriving at half the WCQ, a moment of rest appears to start the second half, with an environment conducive to reflection about the performance of our team in their group time besides analyzing the probabilities of victory and other stats for SJG, and consider also talk about our opponents.

Seizing the moment, take a brief analysis on three important points about SJG, plus general predictions of the group.

  Group 8                                           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Sarian                                          7    6   0   1    15    9   +6    18
2 San Jose Guayabal                                   7    6   0   1    28   14  +14    18
3 Free Republics                                      7    5   0   2    20   10  +10    15
4 Hutt River                                          7    3   1   3    21   17   +4    10
5 Miley World                                         7    2   3   2    14   13   +1     9
6 New South Aqmuland                                  7    2   1   4     7   16   −9     7
7 Czarch                                              7    1   0   6     8   19  −11     3
8 Ekoz                                                7    0   1   6     7   22  −15     1

- Offensive: As for the national team's offense, is by far the best of this group, with 28 goals for in just seven games, giving an average of four goals per game, a fairly high average leaving our team as the best WCQ offensive at the moment but this does not give reason to relax because the second part comes and you have to show the true potential of the offensive. Rodolfo Zelaya and Jonathan Fana have highlighted to perform most goals by Sean Fraser who is the main weapon to moento using the air game, besides having the speedy disposition Bregoo Leonidas, who has left a good image in terms their performance on the pitch by scoring three goals in seven games. In short we can say that SJG and their offense are in excellent form and can use it to get more wins.

- Defense: While our defense tends to be pretty solid in the important games, we have seen a tendency to impair their level or show much confdence in "theoretically easy" games, because it has designed three goals in games that should be in theory less goals, getting 14 goals in seven games, giving an average of two goals per game, our defense is not the best but at least it has proven to give good games, such as the game against FFR where James Moreira highlighted with a flawless performance while to forget the game is against The Sarian which was by far the worst defense game for some time, but at least there is time to correct defects and improve the defense.

- General performance: We can say that SJG is playing in a great way because it has just prdido a game and won the other six, totaling 18 points in seven games, a fairly high number in comparison to other editions of WCQ only comparable to last year where 17 points were achieved, showing at least a promising improvement of one point, in what would rank as the most difficult group that has had to SJG in WCQ, considering that we have the sub champion of the WC 68 in the same group .

As a general prediction for the second part, SJG has everything you need to stay in the first group, you have to do is win the majority of matches, defeating The Sarian achieve in the last game to be played in Meléndez while if a draw is obtained Nejax, FFR would be vital to the aspirations for the top spot if it wins FFR chances of getting first place would skyrocket through the roof, but the key factor is to maintain the consistency and humility to face the rivals fight for the ball until the last breath and secure the victory, something that is not impossible to achieve and that this first part has shown that hypothesis, so we can keep the SJG first, something the fans want see the national team achieve.

Miley World vs SJG, time to ensure more victories.

Despite not winning the previous game, SJG is prepared to face Miley World at Azteca Stadium in Zacatlán, Tennessee (Miley World) as ultimately not be easy for players of SJG game.

According to statements by Mathas Paatelainen, will seek to align an alternate team to give physical and mental rest to the players who have played the previous games to prepare to face the rest of the playoffs, with the goal to achieve first place in the group and qualify for the WC Finals for the second time, something that SJG will fight and that he must fight to beat Miley World, who will be hard to beat but players of SJG have the confidence and optimism to do the win of the three points for SJG.

by **Sandwich Territories** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:15 pm

How You Like Us Now?

Who saw this coming: The Royals are leading Group 10, and it might very well stay that way. Might.

Written by: Ennius Rezník

PORT TRADAIL -- Here is a very short and shoddy report, because all I need is a single paragraph for you. This is a national squad that keeps being doubted over and over again. People around the world have called this FA "minnows", and "easy competition" for a while now. Well, if things go as planned, we might very well be seeing a Sandwichian squad make it past 2nd spot in the group stages and make it to the top. Mind you, many nations have not seen the SFA's skill, and some have even payed the price of getting upset all the way back to the airport due to it. This is an FA that has beaten nations at the very top of the rankings at times. Now, the Sandwichians have only 2 nations standing in their way; Quebec and Pasarga. The former has already lost to the Boys in Blue and we may very well see that again. The two teams are relatively close in rankings, and both nations have high skill and quality. Of course, it may very well not happen, and from the looks of it, if anyone will beat the Sandwich Territories, it will be the Quebecois. Pasarga has been disappointing so far in this tournament (for the 7th ranked nation, anyways). This is a squad that has struggled against Quebec and the Sandwich Territories, and it doesn't seem that things will change. If that is the case, we could see a Sandwich-Quebec fight for the top spot. Of course, if Pasarga wakes up and starts beating the living hell out of everyone, it shouldn't take too much thought as to who is going to win Group 10. However, if things stay at the status quo, which they seem to be doing so , the Royals with have no problem downing the newer FAs, while giving Quebec and Pasarga a good challenge. Either way, it should be very entertaining to watch what happens in this group over the next few days. As of now, though, all we know is that the Sandwichians can not just take their foot off of the gas pedal. This FA must give everything it has to make sure that the top spot is theirs. We have seen what overconfidence can do to the SFA (more times than we'd like to admit), so hopefully, hindsight is 20/20 for them. As for what is next, all we can do is look at the previous matches, and see what adjustments need to be made. From the looks of it, all the Royals need to do is keep it simple. Don't make a big deal out of nothing. Just play smart football. It looks easy because...well...it is easy. They are professional footballers. They should (and can) be able to play with intelligence. If that happens, we can celebrate our first Finals birth since the Sandwiches first started their World Cup participation in the 63rd World Cup. As of now, though, all we can do is watch, as for now, the Sandwichians still have a lot of work to do.

by **The Royal Kingdom of Quebec** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:31 pm

Media Conference Room, Stade Olympia, Montreal

Xavier Hertel, shortly before the Mid-Qualifier game against Cosumar, walked into the media conference room of the Stade Olympia. Wearing a white, very well-tailored suit, he looked very sharp and spotty, as the photographers and reporters went on to launch a hail of flashes and noises.
Marked by his achievements after 4 years in Yttribia, including 3 in Premiership and a MVP and Championship trophy, Hertel was the very face of Quebecois football and its fiery offence. He was also a standout celebrity for many as well, giving countless of. Just recently, he, as the first for the football players, had a plane painted after him. The very plane, a Spiritair Boeing 777-300ER which was delivered to the airline in 2009, got its unveiling of the very painting job as the proud sponsor of Fontvieille FC and its Captain. Shortly after that, he made a cameo appearance in Les Cousins Dangereux, a teenage television series set to air in RAMP(Vettrera) and RougeTube(Quebec). Appearing as the cousin of the impregnator named Evgeni Wolffinsky doing some funny skits, his acting skill received lots of critical acclaim by the critics and audience alike, boosting his plane further. Everything seemed to be in place for Hertel, who’s now in for his third WCQ campaign as the Grim Reaper, and now, there was one more thing to add to the top of the pile, and that’s something that’d top up his year.

Meanwhile, the journalists gathered around for that very event that they were waiting for, something that they hoped it'll be the brightest of all the stars representing the juicy events of the sporting celebrities. Just few days earlier Soo Myeon Kim, the very Quebecois superstar in hockey, has announced his marriage to Jane Withers, an extremely famous Quebecois singer-songwriter, with the wedding to be around 9th of September. At the same time, there were lots of marriages also announced and scheduled by respected sportsmen of all kinds, giving many a huge, expected pain of which event to focus on. The journalists, after having an extremely poor year the previous one when it comes to such joy of one’s lifetime (wedding), got to enjoy their increased workload and payment, thanks to the increased readership and rising demands for advertisements in return. So, when they were informed that Xavier Hertel's going to make an important media address for his personal choses, they immediately got excited over the prospects of additional sales for their organisation.

Hertel, now in full control of the events, slowed down his pace of walking and sat on a chair, reserved for him, on the table. The flashes died down, being replaced by the steely forms of huge cameras reserved for photographing such an event like this. They were all eager to get a photo of him or way more than that, and he could see and feel it right there. This was something that he loved about the Quebecois media: When you're at the top of the nation when it comes to talent and success in that sporting field, they always gave you proper recognition. Sure there were some cases of interesting rumours that spread about him, but he didn't mind about it as long as it did not tarnish his image, which didn't happen to him yet.

Xavier waited until the media calmed down, and gently touched the microphone provided in front of him. Bunch of 'oomphs' indicated that they were turned on, so he decided to delay no more. He felt that it's not fair for the media, who's been in the media conference room for two hours before this moment. Now calm and confident, he drew a quick breath and commenced with a brief introductory sentence.

Once that's done, he just hopped into the very key detail of the conference, the very reason why he's here. He could no longer delay them further and by letting everything go, it'd be less of a nuance for him by the media. Besides, he was not like Mr. "Socially Incompetent" Loewen, former Quebecois NT blueliner who since his retirement has served as his manager. He had his own life to enjoy and being reclusive was not of his style at all.

Now for the main part, he closed his eyes and took a breath, before opening them up and going right into the details. “Ladies and Gentlemen. I, Xavier Hertel of Royal Kingdom of Quebec and Fontvieille FC, am very proud to announce my marriage to Alexia Andrighetto,” Xavier calmly said, before continuing with a glee, “During my time in Fontvieille, she’s been my greatest supporter, and wherever I was, her presence was felt, whether it was at the turf in an opponent stadium or in my bed.
"I believe that my years of self-wondering and seeking of true love has finally found its end, and that's in the form of my beloved Alexia. She's the one for me and I know it, by the grace of the god. The exact date and venue for wedding's not announced, but it'll most likely be in my hometown of Atholstan(OOC: it is a small town 250km northeast of Rimouski, just by the Great Quebecois Sea)."

Xavier then closed his eyes and saw as everything unveiled to him. Spotlights flashed into every direction he faced as this happened, with many interested to take pictures in different angles, of the latest superstar who got himself as “occupied”. While many back home have attempted to figure out something between the very Yttribian and Hertel, very few were able to even get a glimpse of it due to the political situation in Yttribia. In addition to that he returned to Quebec only when necessary and without accompaniment, so most automatically assumed that he’s still open in the market.

Well, they were wrong, as he made his statement minutes earlier. The face of Quebecois soccer was getting married.

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