World Cup 78 - Roleplay Thread

[Chromatika]

Chromatika 5-3 Abisa
Lineups vs. Abisa: Elise; Cameron - Colbert (C) - Lorenzo; Minke - Harbin - Berit - Buric; Baumgartner - Mehdizade - Chesser. Subs vs. Abisa: Nier -> Elise ('27), Kelly -> Minke ('49), Victoriane -> Mehdizade ('72)
Goals vs. Abisa: Kelly '48 assisted by Lorenzo; Victoriane '74 assisted by Kelly, Victoriane '79 assisted by Buric, Victoriane '83 assisted by Chesser, Chesser '90+2 assisted by Kelly. Player of the Match: Kaytlyn Victoriane (3 goals)

It took three aggressive substitutions after a disastrous start that proved that Halide Elise wasn't up for playing again so soon for the Chromatiks to avoid their first loss of the cycle. However, with Meagan Kelly and Kaytlyn Victoriane coming in, and Jillian Nier providing well needed support from the twenty-seventh minute forward, the Chromatiks were able to prevail.

Then, Chromatika's worst nightmare came to fruition.

First, instead of traveling barely at all to neighbors Cosumar, they'll have to make the long and arduous trek to Bonesea. Though it's true that Threemilestone makes Bonesea a much better place to host the World Cup, it will be interesting to see how the Chromatiks handle the travel and the new atmosphere. Also, the Chromatik economy means that there won't be as many Chromatiks in Bonesea as there might be from other nations. The fortunes of Chromatika started on the wrong foot.

Second, the top seeds of the Group will be Valanora, a team that the Chromatiks have yet to beat. The Marauders will be hungry to finally distance themselves from Starblaydia as the only team with more than five titles, and whether it be pure class or too much respect given towards them, the Chromatiks will have to bring their A game. The Rebel stated that Valanora would be the top seed that the Chromatiks will be least happy to face, and that is indeed what will happen.

Third, the third seed in the group will be a side that they haven't seen in a while - the Kitsunes of Flardania, whom the Chromatiks edged out on goals difference to qualify to the Proper for the first time. The Kitsunes will be thirsty for revenge, as if the tiebreakers of that qualifiers were head-to-head instead of goal difference, they would've qualified instead. Indeed, the first match of the World Cup Group Stage - the most important one to set the momentum - will be a doozy.

Then, the last seed of the group will be Spaam. A ghost of the past - and a damn good one at that. Sporting a defense that yielded seven goals through sixteen games of Qualifying, Spaam won't be the easy three points that people think.

So, when Jillian Nier, Erika Morningstar, Luuk Aart, Zlastica Ellen, Meagan Kelly as Captain, Alyss Montague, Rachel Hellion, Carrol Liam, Trenn Rien, Keira Andisori, and Gabriella Antonio head out there to play Flardania, it won't be an easy time at all.

Also, this will be the tournament that establishes the start of Silian Parker's legacy - if last cycle was the transition one, this is the start of his. If the Chromatiks don't make it out of Groups, they are likely to drop out of the Top 10, and the country will start to demand more.

Onward, to destiny!

---

OPERATION NEW HOPE

And here are the five foreigners joining the Operation:

Justin Chaolan, formerly from Northern Sunrise Islands;
Tilda Oeppelwyk, from Cosumar;
Grugel Dandelle, from Farfadillis;
Clarissa Skewes, from Bonesea;
Lani Korukawurupanai, from Maklohi Vai.

Five brave souls, two not even from a nation participating in the World Cup this cycle, hearing about the Project, deciding to join. Adding a hell of a flavor! Will be interesting to see what all they bring to the table...

Colonel Erik Monett sent the message to Alina Krasnikova that the Operation was a go. They could make this work.

First, a three-day briefing in Alnio. Then, the flight, and the adventure...

---

Guest Correspondent: Mirian Aske

Hi! Mirian here, filling in for Jordan on this edition of our magazine's pick'ems! Before, we did it only from the knockouts on out, but this time, we're going to try to see into the crystal ball starting at the Group Stage! Without further ado, here we go!

Group A
Eshan vs. Damukuni
Cosumar vs. Gregoryisgodistan

Seems just yesterday that Damukuni took that point from us that saw us not get the perfect record. Still a bit bitter about that. Eshan has been coming along for some time. Should be a fine match to see who's the country to maybe upend one of the top two seeds. I'd give Damukuni a slight edge, but that's mostly because I've seen them play. Damukuni 2-1 Eshan.

The hosts up against the Foot Slaves. Easily one of the matches to watch for this set of matches. I'm a huge fan of Alora from her Alnio days, and it seems like she'll finally get her chance to shine. That Cosumarite defense is no slouch either, and I think one strike will see the hosts Cosumar through at home. Cosumar 1-0 Gregoryisgodistan.

Group B
Eura vs. Drawkland
Farfadillis vs. Turori

Eura had a rough qualifying cycle by their standards, with Flardania qualifying above them, but a game against Drawkland should change that. Now, before you say I'm biased because I graduated from CCCU and Drawkland beats us all the time in college basketball, I promise you that I'd be fired if I was biased. No, Eura is simply better than the Drawkish at the moment. Eura 2-0 Drawkland.

Farfadillis was outscored by not just one but two teams this qualifying cycle, and one of those teams were in their own group! The offensive juggernauts will try to get their game going against Turori, who've finally decided whether it's going to be a team of birds or humans representing them. I actually think the infighting in Turori have made them a harder team to overlook. Look for the upset here. Turori 3-2 Farfadillis.

Group C
Semarland vs. Pasarga
Starblaydia vs. Audioslavia

Ah, the Group of storylines. Was Semarland keeping pace with the Elves a fluke? We'll see really early as a Pasargan team that fought with Drawkland and Red Blackiland till the very end to get here will prove to be their stiffest test yet. My guess is that there isn't much left in the Semars' tank, and Pasarga will make easy work of them. Pasarga 3-0 Semarland.

On paper, Audioslavia is the downright favorite. However, there is some glory in just seeing the Starblaydis back in the Proper again. That being said, if there's one team that won't let respect turn into overthinking the matchup, it's Audioslavia. Audioslavia 2-0 Starblaydia.

Group D
Tumbra vs. Schottia
Super-Llamaland vs. Vilita

Welcome, Tumbra, to the World Cup! Your prize? A match against the hottest team in the multiverse. Sorry, not sorry. The Schottian machine will continue to roll, at least until that fateful second match against the defending Champions. Schottia 2-0 Tumbra.

Speaking of the defending World Champions, they'll likely make short work of Super-Llamaland in time for that crucial second match. I think though that this has a potential to be a trap game for the Jungle Cats and that they'll only pull away late. Vilita 2-1 Super-Llamaland.

Group E
Electrum vs. Mriin
Bonesea vs. Osarius

Electrum is as steady as any team goes, but Mriin is red hot, outscoring everyone during qualifying. Don't see an edge here. Electrum 2-2 Mriin.

The Bonesfolk vs. the Firebirds. Depends on which Firebirds show up - the ones from the early 60s reincarnate or the current form. Bonesfolk will be hell-bent on trying to impress their home crowd, and should prevail. Bonesea 3-1 Osarius.

Group F
Nova Anglicana vs. Ethane
San Jose Guayabal vs. Brenecia

Anyone know how the Anglicans are here? Me neither. The Flames should win this, but with that luck of Nova Anglicana, who knows? Ethane 2-0 Nova Anglicana.

The titans of Esportiva clash in the other match. San Jose Guayabal are the top ranked team in the world, but they are not the best team in their group. No, this is Brenecia's time. Brenecia 2-0 San Jose Guayabal.

Group G
Valladares vs. Sargossa
The Holy Empire vs. Port Christopher

Sargossa have been the Cinderella story this cycle, but this is where the fairytale ends. This is a murderous group for the Corsairs, and it starts with the Valladar machine knocking them down a few notches. Valladares 3-1 Sargossa.

The next one is hard to call. The Monks have mysticism behind them, but Port Christopher is just so... clean. Hell, I'll just say draw. The Holy Empire 1-1 Port Christopher.

Group H
Valanora vs. Spaam
Flardania vs. Chromatika

Ah yes, our group. Start with the easy one - though it could be said anyone whom defends as well as Spaam has a chance, it's the Elves on the other side. No miracles, not this day. Valanora takes care of business.

And to the hardest one to call. The Chromatiks know how important this match is to set the tone. Their opponents? The Kitsunes, who will be thirsty for revenge. Should be a tight one, but I think Chromatika has this one. Chromatika 2-0 Flardania.

Please remember this is just my opinion, and not those of our magazine. All banter and feedback welcome, and happy watching, fans!

[Mriin]

Maal Memoirs

World Cup Special Edition!
Meet The Team

Lavor Prusc
Maal, Mriin

That's right! If you'd managed to find a suitably large rock to hide under the past few months, the Mriin National Team has qualified for the World Cup! For those of you that don't follow the sportball, that is definitely front-page material. Many nations with respectable footballing pedigrees go years and years without making it to the big show, and here we are--there on our second try. And thanks to some slip-ups by a little nation named Farfadillis--that some of you may recognize as a fellow denizen of Atlantian Oceania--we even topped our group, almost unheard of for a team seeded fourth (or below) to start the tourney. Well, if you ignore Spaam and Sargossa--though both of those are nations of great renown, Spaam being a great of the ancient pre-WC30 days, and Sargossa being a perennially powerful if not spectacular side some two decades ago. Mriin Football is, in comparison, still barely organized at all! While the national team has been carefully groomed under the watchful eye of manager Don Mizzet, the Mriin National League suffered a spectacular collapse after their inaugural season; to say the talent pool was stretched is an understatement. But Mizzet has taken a very rough stone and hewed it into a shining diamond, and even if we don't make any waves in Bonesea the fact that we had a chance to is tremendous. But enough of that blathering--like the title says, it's time to take a closer look at your team!

Manager Don Mizzet is better known as one of the enigmatic Preeminents of the Vidial Alchemical Institute (VIA), a major driving force behind the city's thriving potion-based economy. There's a good chance the healing salves and liqueur brews you use in your daily life were originally mixed by him! But in his free time, Mizzet became an avid fan of international football, putting his great intellect to work studying and analyzing the game. Needless to say, when football began to rise in popularity domestically (and yes, we call it "football" and not "hoofball," the game was introduced by foreigners and they brought the name with them) he was eager to form a team and put the theories that had been brewing in his mind to the test, to see if they were as potent as his potion brews. Between leading the Vidial Alchemists to the first (and to this day, only) Mriin National League title, a strong quarter-final showing in the 64th Baptism of Fire, and the outstanding performance of the team in these qualifiers--all signs say they are.

Solara Vol is the centerpiece of the Mriinian offense. An offense that, improbably, managed to score the most goals. Like, of any team, throughout all of qualifying; it was ridiculous. They were trailing Schottia--the only team to finish with a perfect 16-0-0 record--by four goals entering their final match and blew third-seeds Boring Paradise out of the water five-to-one in Maal. I don't have the statistics on hand to determine if she was the overall top goalscorer, but chances are good she's near the top of that table. For anyone who followed the birth of the Mriin's football fascination, none of that would come as a surprise--a 16-year-old Solara was a star for the Maal Daemons, one of the barnstorming teams that brought the wonder of the game to a wider audience. With a very solid foundation in leading national track & field competitions during her schooling years, her fancy hoofwork, blazing speed, and powerful presence in the air have earned much respect from those who try to get in her way. Rumor has it she's trying to catch up on the political courses she abandoned nearly a decade ago, though considering the form she's in I doubt she'll need to worry about a new career any time soon.

Aldo Vocani is Solara's pair up front. A resilient threat from the left side, Aldo works to make sure any defense that puts too much focus on shutting Solara down regrets leaving him open. And then, naturally, Solara takes advantage of that to tear opposing defenses asunder. It's a beautiful strategy to watch unfold, as I did many times over the past few months. While he can't match Solara's finishing power, he is one of her few rivals in athleticism. Being able to bound down the field and back at a moment's notice, over and over, Aldo works tirelessly to be exactly where the other team doesn't want him. While a bit on the younger side, he has a story you'll come to be familiar with: he found his way onto the team through the VAI's pickup football team, which along with the Alchemist Guild's rec team formed the basis of Mizzet's scouting efforts. Unlike the others on the team, he didn't actually finish his training before departing to take on full-time ball-kicking, which may mean we can expect great things from this youth who can focus more of their energy purely on the game.

Joren Kreuger is the captain of the squad, and has long been Mizzet's right-hand man. Five years before Solara took off Joren was poised to be the first true Mriinian football star, playing with the Daemons. But a tragic accident during his studies at the VAI sidelined him for nearly a decade, stealing his prime year away. Not that he let that time pass idly by; with a redoubled effort in his studies, both of the science that scarred him and the game he loved, he made enough of a name to grab Mizzet's attention. By the time of the MNL's amateur draft, Joren had gotten back into well enough shape to lead the Vidial Alchemists to their championship run. An expert in reading game states, setting up chances for Solara and Aldo is the name of his game, although he's certainly not a slouch when it's time to take a shot. He's also the designated set-piece taker for the team, using that in-depth strategic knowledge to put the ball where it needs to be.

Malia Polandre is another of Mizzet's disciples, locally famed for creating the "love potion" (which is more accurately an extremely high alcohol-content brew). She swears she's never played a drunk game, but with the wild abandon she flings herself down the flanks I have my doubts. Another cog in the potent Alchemist offense, it often falls on Malia to determine when a midfield possession should turn into an all-out attack. She provides a constant outside scoring threat that works well with the Solara and Aldo's dynamic, stretching defense lines thinly and often to the breaking point.

Kalia Swurm represents Troma AC, a team that is, quite frankly, not very good. It's through her excellent ball control and the help of her teammates (and NT substitute) Jorm Vahn that the team stayed afloat, a 1-2 punch that gives opponents second thoughts for long enough that their paltry back line can muster some defense. She's still adjusting to having Solara in front of her instead, but considering what happens when you get Solara the ball it's still been working out quite well. Kalia is actually a member of the Troma Police Department, though with how much of her time has been devoted to the team lately she tends to just work dispatch rather than being on the beat. Nevertheless, I have nothing but the utmost respect for her and all the others working to keep Mriin safe so we can enjoy our silly games.

Janna Kurung captained AFC Hosingr, the runners-up of the MNL, and was a vital piece of the national team's formative period. A teacher used to keep young, rowdy satyrs in line, she served as the effective captain when Joren was too busy thinking up fancy plays to get the team working together. Nowadays, with the squad more seasoned and mature, she serves as the gatekeeper in the midfield. A shift in play was meant to help minimize the number of goals being scored on them (no matter how many they scored in return), and while that's had varying success so far Janna has been doing her part to make progressing into the Mriin half difficult for any opponent. She was never a top physical prospect and is starting to get on in years, at least by football standards, so her play tends to be much more strategic, heading off young hot-heads in unexpected ways to knock the ball loose; all we can is hope she's able to keep that up against the top sides of the world, although her performances against Farfadillis were not the most inspiring.

Qual Yon provides a veteran presence, having been given a starting spot just before the mid-point of qualifying. She fills in the fourth-back spot that critics frequently mentioned would improve the team, and it seems with the support of the team that idea Mizzet saw fit to fix what wasn't obviously broken. It hasn't been doing exactly as prescribed, as previously mentioned, but we're still winning games so I'm good with it. Qual is definitely not the fastest out there, but she makes a living as a lumberjack in Hruk's wilderness--so you best not underestimate what she'll do sliding into you.

Uhlon Loft is the only Alchemists back who has managed to keep his spot on the national team, and probably with good reason. A brute of a satyr, he challenges aggressively and often. His intimidation factor must have saved countless goals for the Alchemists, as they certainly didn't have the technical know-how to stop a proper drive. With some time on a proper defense, he's started to catch on about concepts like the flow of play, and how to make it look like it wasn't that dirty of a slide. Either way, his strongarm is greatly appreciated, even if it occasionally opens up some chances for the other team. He's also probably the loosest "alchemist" on the team; in Vidial he literally just runs a bar. I'm not even sure he brews his own potions.

Gerard Tavol heads up the Mriinian defense, working closely with Janna to keep the other team in line. It's certainly been an adventure for him, adapting the playstyles and strategies originally meant for his hometown Skewers' 5-man back line to the more aggressive stance Mizzet envisioned. There's still much work to be done, clearly, but it'd still be too mean to just say he's doing a passable job--we wouldn't make it this far if something wasn't working. While not as big or as aggressive as Uhlon, Gerard certainly knows how to push people around, and will do whatever he thinks he can get away with to prevent a shot. His hunter's instinct, honed by years spent in Bruul's backwoods, lets him key into his opponent's weaknesses--it might be cliche to say he can "smell fear", but he has a very good track record of punishing any mistake a striker makes in range.

Mari Lavoi is a bit of an oddity. She started on the team as a substitute striker, but after the dramatic flameout of Harnan Breslaw--one of the original backs, an Alchemist of dubious character--she was called upon to fill the gap. While it's true she's an impressive talent, being the talisman that makes sure the Maal Angels' hyper-aggressive defense doesn't constantly end in draws, and that talent was being wasted while Solara was on the field... she's not a defender. I don't know why Mizzet didn't dip into the plenty of capable defenders on the Skewers, or Hosingr, or hell... even some of Mari's teammates! Right now she's serving as a sort of loose wing-back, effectively driving counterattacks once they start but not being able to do much to start them. While she has been steadily improving in her new role, she's still by far the weakest link because she's simply playing out of position. That's just something the team will have to deal with in Bonesea, and perhaps next cycle there will be a more productive spot for Mari up front as Janna likely moves to the bench.

Last, but certainly not least, is keeper Zilia Hawsorn. Groomed to be a professional between the posts from a young age by her mother, who spent many years touring with the Angels, and was passed the title of Angels' starting keeper shortly before the MNL was formed. She's always done well in the scrimmages the Angels would play around Mriin, but international competition has proven much stiffer and she's given up far more goals than she'd ever want to admit. Not that anyone should blame her--she's dealing with a much weaker back line in front of her, against much higher-calibre players; some slip-ups are to be expected. And, frankly, the fact that we held Farfadillis to just a single goal in our first meeting was very impressive, even if we couldn't manage an equalizer. If we can see shades of that staunch defense more often, I think Zilia's got a bright future ahead of her.

[Vilita]

Everyone will play with our Balls!

Tropicorp's TCp-X2 Licensed as 'Official Ball' of World Cup 78

Tropicorp Sports has announced in partnership with the Official Sanctioning Bodies of the World Cup 78 Committee from the Cogonsphere of Bonesea and the Fiefdom of Cosumar that Tropicorp's newly minted TCp-X1 ball will be the official ball to be used in competition during the upcoming World Cup 78 finals in Bonesea and Cosumar.

Licensed specifically for use in World Cup 78 in partnership with Cosumar and Bonesea, the TCp-X2 is first generational successor to the TCp-X1 ball that was first introduced during the 68th World Cup cycle. The TCp-X2 is also the first such ball to be developed by Tropicorp Sports with a full scale production line and parallel retail release as officially branded World Cup 78 merchandise in Bonesea & Cosumar.

The manner in which the agreement between Tropicorp and the World Cup 78 host countries came into accord speaks to the credibility that Tropicorp Sports has developed in the high-end, technology pushing sporting equipment supplier circles. Of course, it would not have been possible if not for Tropicorp's first venture into ball production, the TCp-X1. It all started with a little bit of experimentation in the Tropicorp Research and Development Center. Using new techniques to create a ball that responded to player, the TCp-X1 was first tested in a clearing outside Tropicorp's Research & Development center of excellence in Tropicoast.

It may have been just for fun but the origins of many entities and products can be traced back to that very patch of cleared guaranana groves. First, of course, was the TCp-X1 ball. Many of the scientists, researchers and engineers testing out the TCp-X1 on those cleared groves would go on to represent Tropicorp in the AOCAF competition under the 'Tropicorp Techies' moniker. The initial success of the TCp-X1 spurred on the creation of a new department at Tropicorp, Tropicorp Sports, to take focus of product opportunities in the sporting realm.

Tropicorp Sports was charged with taking the TCp-X1; wildly successful as a prototype in Vilita & Turori, and getting the word out throughout the multiverse that there was a new player in the business of balls. First, the TCp-X1 was offered free of charge to nations of the most successful sporting region in recorded history, Atlantian Oceania. Nations from throughout Atlantian Oceania used the TCp-X1 prototypes in everything from National Team training sessions, Domestic League Cup competitions and charity games. Prototype TCp-X1's were also offered at cost to nations and sporting associations outside of Atlantian Oceania.

Tropicorp Sports also organized a new domestic footsport competition - the Tropicorp Cup, as a means to showcase the TCp-X1 as the official ball of the inaugural competition - a competition whose legacy continues on today. Then, however, the TCp-X1 got its big break. Offical Ball supplier at an International Competition. Of course, it was at a domestic level, with UICA straying from it's typical ball supplier to give the TCp-X1 a chance during UICA's Diamond Jubilee, a special competition to celebrate 75 years of UICA competition.

With the TCp-X1 having proven successful and advanced beyond the prototype stage, Tropicorp Sports officials shifted into production mode on the unit and began looking at new potential "Official Ball" agreements at increasingly major International Competitions; such as the World Cup Finals themselves.

After a few cycles, however - as with anything, the TCp-X1 had began to lose its charm. Sure, it was still an outstanding product; balls were being shipped everywhere and even being produced in various sizes and colors based on customer preferences. But Tropicorp Sports knew a time would come when they would have to move on from the TCp-X1.

So the research & development cycle began. Tropicorp Engineers developed many options for the successor to the TCp-X1 but seemed unwilling or unable to settle on a final design The first prototype of what would become the TCp-X2 came out of the lab and was shipped to the Cocoabo Forest where it was used in Cocoabo Enrichment training sessions. Subsequent designs would be tested by sneaking prototypes into local matches to see some real time feedback. It passed all the tests they threw at it. But it wasn't until The World Cup 78 Organizing Committee came forth looking for 'The best balls in the world' did Tropicorp Sports finally decide enough was enough on the research & development cycle; giving their scientists a deadline. The TCp-X2 was born.

Now, what Tropicorp Sports officials are calling the world's most advanced, adaptable ball, was ready. With the ability to adjust its casing based on the ambient temperature to provide a more natural feel to the touch and the ability to propel itself with unrivaled fluid dynamic properties when given the optimum impulse, the TCp-X2 promises to supplant the TCp-X1 and all other challengers as the most popular ball in the multiverse. Tropicorp Sports is also making the extra commitment that these are balls that everyone will be able to get their hands on - beginning retail production runs in parallel with competition runs to make the release of the World Cup 78 Cosumar & Bonesea licensed TCp-X2 the biggest single release in Tropicorp Sports history.

The WCC Official Match Quality Elite TCp-X2 will exclusively be available to the World Cup 78 Cosumar & Bonesea organizing committee for distribution to host venues, participating teams and dignitaries. The Retail Production Quality Officially Licensed World Cup 78 Cosumar & Bonesea branded TCp-X2 will be available exclusively on location in Cosumar & Bonesea for fan and participant purchase and will be released multi-verse wide following the conclusion of the exclusivity period at the culmination of the World Cup 78 finals. Orders can be placed with Tropicorp Sports.

[Brenecia]

Brenecia 1-0 Poggers
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Buchanan; 18 - Uffington (2 - Szukala 60'), 22 - Varney, 6 - Cascarine, 3 - Cattalock; 23 - Alweather, 15 - Redweald; 13 - Crowther, 21 - Hartsdown, 10 - Macbeth (11 - Ashbrown 70'); 17 - Bannion (9 - Northstead 77')
Goal: Hartsdown 26'

Brenecia 1-0 Iskandervale
(4-2-3-1) 20 - Calhoun; 2 - Szukala, 22 - Varney (5 - Heneghan 68'), 6 - Cascarine, 3 - Cattalock; 4 - Gryphon (c), 15 - Redweald; 13 - Crowther (7 - Bowditch 84'), 21 - Hartsdown, 10 - Macbeth (19 - Quill 80'); 9 - Northstead
Goal: Crowther 61'

Something deep within Catherine Bardsley's core sang as she walked out onto one of the Fourfields' four fields.
She grimaced at the grass. It was perfect. Some kind of genetically-modded thing, she understood, built to accommodate passing games and free-flowing attacking play. The Guayabalense would love it.
Her lads would have to put a stop to it.
They were good lads, though, and in spite of the concerns the peanut gallery had harboured for years she'd had trouble pruning the numbers down to just 23. Three more old, faithful standbys had vanished out the door - muscular Ronan Bowditch, the sturdy Brandon Duguid, the ambitious Karena Foran. There were younger players now - as good, perhaps not, but she needed them both now and for the future. Who knew how much longer Bowditch's pace would last? Duguid's, assuredly, had gone, while Foran had been a casualty of Aelfwynn Bannion's career flickering to life.
Bannion was the best example of all, perhaps.
The problem with people was that when they looked for talent, they looked for a callow 16-year old who did a lot of flicks and tricks. The exhaustive list of Brenecian players who did that ran as follows: Catherine Purrington. Oh, sure, some developed some skill across the way - Lovelock, Gryphon, Balliol - but what was more important than that was attitude.
Bardsley didn't trust the talented... not now, at any rate. And that was good, because Aelfwynn Bannion wasn't talented. And when Brenecians saw Rankin stop scoring for fun and looked down the line for others, they'd overlooked her, forgetting that Rankin hadn't been talented either. Rankin was a short, sturdy and stocky player who'd never quite gotten over being rejected by FC Endeavour, even a decade after the fact, while Bannion was a short, sturdy and stocky player who'd never quite gotten over... well, nothing specific, but life in general. Rankin had been a lot better, and was still a better finisher, but Bannion was what she had, and it was good enough right now.
Take Meghan Hartsdown. Some idiot back at Union had told her she'd been good at big diagonal switches so she'd squandered her career in the A-League doing big diagonal switches. Pascal Voitle, who Bardsley surely owed a bottle of wine, had evidently told her at some point she was shit at it, and to start playing sensibly instead, so now there was a player who ran a lot and did the basics very well and had a brilliant sense of timing and that, Bardsley knew, she could work with.
When you lowered your expectations from the golden generation you found talent everywhere. Maybe not between the posts, but Calhoun was doing alright. Crowther and Alweather were determined to crawl their way to success. That was how the A-League worked - you dragged yourself into recognition and then hoped a better-paying league took notice, and took you on.
Brenecia wasn't about to collapse.
But this moment? This did feel like their chance...
The group draw was, in a way, a spot of luck. Nobody expected much of Nova Anglicana, besides three points. Ethane were a decent but insular side who left themselves open on the flanks and also to counterattacks, which happened to play nicely into Brenecia's strengths. As for San Jose Guayabal? They were nominally the best side in the world... but really, it was more apt to say that they had been two years ago. They'd been seemingly at the peak of their powers... and then their own fans had seen an end to that dynasty. Who the hell would want to play for fans who would kill you?
Then again, perhaps it was some kind of motivation...
So they could win the group. They should win the group, certainly if they won this game. And from there, well, if you were in the last 16 you were surely in with a decent chance...
Brenecia, the world's whipping boy. Imagine if they found themselves at the summit? Stranger things had happened... she had the personnel, she knew she was the manager for it, and now that she finally had her tilt at the World Cup, well... why not? Why fucking not?
It was a good dream. She let herself sink into it.
And then the starting whistle dragged her from her reverie. She dusted down her shirt, cleared her throat, and watched. Right now, dreams had to stand aside for action.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION
Goalkeepers: 1 - Mathis Woodgate (Myrmidon, CEN), 12 - Geneva Urquhart (Olympia FC, EFL), 20 - Rostyn Calhoun (Cenial United, CEN)
Defenders: 2 - Czeslawa Szukala (Phalanx AF, CEN), 3 - Ophelia Lovelock (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 5 - Anaximander Scrivener (Brigham, EUR), 6 - Niko Szubanski (Rozelle), 18 - Brun Carrack (Lotus Park), 19 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 22 - Rostyn Bradden (Lajuno, EUR)
Midfielders: 4 - Catherine Gryphon (Starling, NPH), 7 - Squire Trevelyan (FC Jansberg, SEM), 8 - Aleksandra Skorupska (Trothwands Evolution, OSR), 10 - Roisin Carroll (Violence Chariots, NPH), 11 - Sander Balliol (Tanrisal, PAS), 13 - Keohane (Ramusok United, COS), 15 - Brae Crowther (Kingsgrove), 16 - Elsie Drover (OAS Royal FC, COS), 21 - Meghan Hartsdown (Kings Park, SCT), 23 - Catsidhe Alweather (Marque)
Forwards: 9 - Ursula Rankin (Tanrisal, PAS), 14 - Fionn Lynch (SC Rinaldi, VAL), 17 - Aelfwynn Bannion (North Hall)

[Drawkland]

WORLD CUP 78 FINALS PREVIEW
Written By: Walker Sun and Ellen Bolabore

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GROUP DRAW
GROUP B:
Eura (14)
Farfadillis (3)
Turori (26)
Drawkland (36)

KICK CORPS FIXTURES:
Eura vs Drawkland @ The Amphitheatre (60,000); Cassandra, Cosumar
Drawkland vs Turori @ Alesund Stadium (60,000); Samotath, Cosumar
Farfadillis vs Drawkland @ The Amphitheatre (60,000); Cassandra, Cosumar

I don't know what kind of juju magic we have, but I hope we keep having it. I'm sure you've all heard folks, but Drawkland is back into the World Cup Finals!! Well, the second round anyway. Not the Final Finals. That would be insane, and I don't expect that to happen for a long time. Anyway, after a long, grueling, and still frightening qualifying campaign, the Kick Corps managed to pull out the other side by a mere point to bring themselves back to the real host nations. Let's see how we got here, shall we?

QUALIFYING OVERVIEW
In their home opener, Drawkland's Kick Corps got revenge for the Grid Corps by smacking Greater Vakolicci Haven silly and getting a win 3-1 at home, thanks to goals by Madison, Cross, and Crawford. Unfortunately, as was discussed previously, the hardest part of the campaign came next, playing the top 2 teams in the group in the second and third matches of qualifying (and same after the halfway break). This issue showed, as the Corps traveled to Red Blackiland to take on the Rotschwarzland National Team and their Infamous Ultras. The home field advantage proved a massive factor, as the Kick Corps suffered an enormous 5-1 loss, only a single Ellzidan goal on the board. Battered, but not defeated, Drawkland came back home, inviting the number one team in the group, Pasarga, to play in front of the Drawkian crowd. By some sort of miracle, the Corps pulled a 2-1 win thanks to a brace by Corrie Archer, who had yet to score in the campaign. Despite this, Drawkland was only 4th in the group at this point, tied with the Republic of Kaboomlandia and Anthor, who got off to hot starts. Speaking of Anthor, Drawkland went next to Anthor, trying to get another crucial 3 points for the quest to Cosumar and Bonesea. Unfortunately, Anthor managed to pull an upset win, similar to the first time they played Drawkland's national gridiron team, and the Corps fell 5-4. You certainly can't blame Iana Synder, Ellzidan, and Katie Madison (the latter of which scored twice) for their efforts though - the rest of the front line should've stepped up. Qualifying seemed to quickly begin falling away, Drawkland 2 wins behind Red Blackiland, 1 behind Anthor, and tied with a handful of others, including Pasarga. Fortunately, the schedule gave the Corps the break as they got to play Dutch Semarland, the new and unranked nation, at home. Scoring 4 in the home crowd thanks to Thompson, Archer, Crawford, and Cross was easy to overcome DuSem's 2 goals. After this, Drawkland had to play the returning but unranked Cassadaigua away, but their defense locked up and they managed to pull an 0-2 win, the first clean sheet of the campaign for Drawkland, this one on the back of Jessie Peterson rather than Savannah Everett as some would expect. Ellzidan also scored a brace to secure the win. Anthor also had a scoreless draw at home, which caused them to falter, and suddenly Drawkland was only a point away from being in the qualification zone. After the bye, Drawkland had another home game against the first cyclers Kaidō, and had a run-of-the-mill 2-1 victory, thanks to goals by Stella Moore and Katie Madison. With Red Blackiland putting Anthor away for Anthor's second consecutive loss, Drawkland was suddenly in second in the group, and only a game behind the RedBlacks to boot. In the final match of the first half, the Kick Corps traveled again to Esportiva, this time to face the Republic of Kaboomlandia. The feet were on fire, and the Corps walked out with a 1-4 victory on the books. The second-string forward line, which were the starters in this match, proved their worth in this one, as Jewel, May, Watson, and Foss all got in the ReKaboom goal.

After the break in qualifying, the Corps got back to work. After all, they were only a game behind first and had a 2 point lead on Pasarga. So, they got to work by defeating GVH despite being on the road, Madison breaking the late scoreless tie to secure the 3 points for the Corps. With only a point separating Drawkland and Red Blackiland, the stakes were high going into their mid-qualifying tilt held at Drawk City Stadium. After a bunch of high-octane and loud crowd action, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, thanks to backup midfielder Kaitlynn Axelson and starting striker Cam Cross. However, with Pasarga getting a win on Cassadaigua, the race became tighter, with Red Blackiland in first with 23, and Drawkland tied for second with Pasarga at 22. Fortunately though, the race was loose after that, as the 4th placed Dagans only had 16 points on the board. Then, Drawkland had to go out to Stade de Torgos to play Pasarga to play in the match that could decide who would qualify from the two. Despite starting Savannah Everett again, the Corps' defense still gave up 5 just like the Red Blackiland match in the first half, which caused some to question the ability of Everett to play in key matches. At least this time more than one Drawkian strike hit the net, as the score chalked up at 5-3 (Archer, Talla, Crawford). Despite now being on the outside looking in, Drawkland played with fire, and not wanting to experience another embarrassment at the hands of Anthor, was sure to allow everyone chances at the goal. 5-1 score at home was certainly a great one for morale, as the fans were now a bit more confident despite still being behind. The scorers were Ellzidan, Madison, Moore, Jewel, and Ellzidan again. Then the Kick Corps went out to Dutch Semarland and smacked them around, an 0-3 win on the road that was huge to keep the momentum going. Synder, Ellzidan, and Foss scored this time, but Pasarga and Red Blackiland held serve to keep the race tight. While other groups had one or both of their qualifiers decided by now, Group 10 was still running tight. Drawkland now scored another home 2-1 win, this time thanks to Cross and Crawford against Cassadaigua. Pasarga had a shock 1-0 loss to GVH, and the RedBlacks had a bye. All of a sudden, Drawkland was in first in the group, tied with Pasarga on both points and goal differential. Drawkland's bye could've been the killing blow that sent them behind, but Pasarga hosted Red Blackiland in another big group match. Pasarga won it, which put Drawkland in second place but still ahead of Red Blackiland by a point. By now, all the Kick Corps needed was to hold serve to qualify. Drawkland had everything it needed ... except the fact that they gave up 2 goals to Kaidō away. With an early goal from Archer keeping Drawkland on the board, it was a shock desperation goal by Sarah Arrowsword, the sweeper, that got the Corps to a draw and kept their hopes just barely alive. With one game to go, the Corps was a point behind second and 2 behind first. They needed to win their game, but they also needed their higher seeded opponents to drop matches to easy groupmates. It all came down to fate, like last cycle. And, at home, Drawkland won 4-1 versus the Republic of Kaboomlandia, Talla, Thompson, Archer, and Jewel all finding the net in this one. And, miraculously, Red Blackiland only drew with Dutch Semarland away, which allowed Drawkland to shoot ahead in points.

Pasarga 37, Drawkland 35, Red Blackiland 34. The former 2 qualify. Funnily enough, despite being higher ranked and playing much better soccer, the Kick Corps actually had less points this cycle compared to its first, where they garnered 38 points and also qualified on a last-matchday luck-miracle. However, at least this time, the Kick Corps were favorites to win their last matchday match, rather than last cycle where they needed 2 miracles (a win themselves and a loss elsewhere). But it doesn't matter much! After all, once you're in the finals, who cares?

OUR GROUP + PREDICTIONS
Now, of course, the Corps is back in host nations. Despite being in their third tournament at least partially hosted in Bonesea, Drawkland will be playing outside of the spooky Islands for the second time. Drawkland will be playing in Cosumar this time, in the frosty north of the Atlantian Oceania island. This means, to the dismay of Drawkian players and fans who prefer heat, that it will be chilly weather for the second World Cup Finals in a row. At least they're in a futuristic city and the fashionable city of Cosumar, meaning that the players will be getting a lot of attention and feel somewhat at home.

The opponents this time are slightly different, but the group feels eerily similar. This time, Drawkland is ranked 36th rather than 67th, giving them a slightly less massive yawning gap between the perceived skill of the Kick Corps and their big-level opponents. Listed first here is the group from this World Cup draw. Listed after it is the draw from last Cup.

Eura (14)
Farfadillis (3)
Turori (26)
Drawkland (36)

Eura (12)
Valladares (3)
Osarius (26)
Drawkland (67)

Notice anything here? This is a little bit freaky, folks. As you can see, Drawkland was listed last on the randomized listing in both. Besides the ranking, that's the same. Next up on the list you have the 26th ranked nation - last Cup that was Osarius, but this time it was Turori, who crashed out of the Cup of Harmony semis last cycle, but have enjoyed a much smoother cycle this time. Then next up you have the 3rd ranked nation. Spooked yet? Valladares had this honor last time around, but now it's Farfadillis that has that spot, and they look equally menacing. Lastly you look at the top spot. Aw man, the ranks aren't the same ... but wait! It's the same damn nation! That's right, Eura is in the same group as Drawkland again, and with a slightly similar KPB as last time.

The similarity is uncanny. But again, Drawkland is looking a lot better this cycle, despite the 3-point deficit compared to last time. Last cycle, Drawkland scored a single point and finished last in the group, thanks to an also unexpected scoreless draw with Eura (considering the highly offensive nature of both teams). They then got completely embarrassed by both Osarius and Valladares, but we don't talk about that. Moving on!

The first match will, again, be against Eura this time. We don't know how this one will turn out, especially if the real Cynthia Pack turns up this time. Honestly, we expect this could be a draw again. Who knows? Hopefully goals are scored this time though. God that standoff was boring until the very end.
The next match will be against Turori, and despite the ranks being significantly closer this time, we know this will be a tough one. Turori, whether citizen or Cocoabo, have been kicking ass all cycle to get here, and we know they won't stop now. All we can hope is to steal a couple points from them. Last time against the same-ranked Osarius, we lost 0-2.
Finally we play the Farves of Farfadillis to end our campaign (don't be silly, we won't go further than this), and as the number 3 team in the multiverse (number 2 before Vilita took that spot after qualifying, and number 1 in unnecessary accent marks), we don't expect to have a fun match there. Against Valladares, we lost 2-1.

Overall, last cycle wasn't too bad as far as the World Cup Proper was concerned. We had a 0-1-2 record and a -3 goal differential with 1 goal scored and 4 allowed. If we could have a similar cycle it could be fantastic for us! Of course we'd love more points this time around, because anything counts. But what we want more than anything is for our Corps to succeed! At least in a respectable way. The only way for us to get better in the future is to reach forward now and try our best. Blah blah blah, motivational things. Have I met the word count yet?

Good luck Kick Corps!

[Turori]

Cocoa-bo, an establishment taking its name directly from the beloved national animal of Turori, started as a small dessert shop in Kionao. However, it was only after they added chocolate topped drinks to their menu that their popularity started to soar. As more and more patrons scooped up their chocolate flavored pick-me-ups, demand for the Cocoa-bo product skyrocketed and soon new franchised locations were popping up all throughout Turori. Shifting to more of a social 'hang-out' then just a casual place to drop in, get a dessert, and leave, the new locations started adding small foods such as Bagels for the morning, Soups and Sandwiches for Lunch or Dinner and Salads for the entire day. Cocoa-bo has expanded outside of Vilita & Turori. Their first regional location was opened in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega and the company continues to explore avenues to further increase its image, expanding the company footprint across Atlantian Oceania and beyond.

Cocoa-bo is now taking its latest marketing campaign, "Everything's Better With Cocoa-bo" on the road along with the Turori National Team, bringing to bus stops, digital screens and social outlets the image of the host countries flag and backstory 'altered' to show how it would be "Better with Cocoabo"...

After a mini-campaign highlighting how six of the seven prospective host nations that have submitted bids in whole or part to host the 70th Cup of Harmony competition would actually not be better with the inclusion of Cocoabo, Cocoa-bo changed course and began a campaign to show how World Cup 78 host nations Bonesea and Cosumar would be better with Cocoa-bo.

Cosumar

Unlike all the other potential destinations out there, it is already a known fact that Cosumar would, indeed, be better with Cocoabo. But would it be better with Cocoa-bo? That question remains on the table as the specialty establishment considers expanding to the Fiefdom in time in pop up locations in anticipation of the World Cup 78 finals.

The real question was "Would the Cocoabo be playing in Cosumar?" The Cocoabo did play in Cosumar at the end of the World Cup 77 Cycle - competing in the 69th Cup of Harmony competition in Cosumar and Ethane. With two games remaining in World Cup 78 Qualifying nothing was guaranteed. The Turori National Team's Cocoabo Squad had the tall task ahead of them of facing Ceni, the groups top seed and also the Groups 3rd-place nation; the one nation with the ability to de-throne Turori and eliminate them from World Cup Finals contention. The Eels had a three-point advantage, however, meaning that a Turori win would guarantee a return to the World Cup Finals. The Cocoabo Squad did their part, earning a draw to maintain the status quo and the three point advantage for the Turori National Team over Ceni, setting things up for the Citizen Squad to claim the glory on the final matchday with a result of any kind against the Joaquin States - the second-bottom side in Group 9.

It started out a bit of a nervy affair but when word came through that Ceni were losing in Astograth the Citizen Squad lightened up a bit and began playing a more confident game. Three goals and a clean sheet later the Turori National Team had punched their ticket to Cosumar & Bonesea and the World Cup 78 finals despite the fact that Ceni would ultimate come back to defeat Astograth 4-3.

In the moment, it was pure elation The Turori National Team would get the chance to do something they hadn't done since World Cup 74 - claim points in the World Cup Finals. The only question remaining now was which squad would have the honor of doing so?

Heading into the final matchday the Cocoabo Squad and the Citizen squad were all tied up having accrued 17 points a piece towards the Group 9 table for the Turori National Team. On the final matchday, of course, the Citizen Squad recorded a 3-0 victory over the Joaquin States bringing their total point haul over the 8 round duel to 20 points, three more than that accrued by the Cocoabo Squad.

Citizen Team Schedule:
[D] MD1 @ Elgenstad
[W] MD3 @ Yttribia
[D] MD6 @ Nova Anglicana
[W] MD8 @ Ceni
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[W] MD11 @ Miloscia
[W] MD14 @ Astograth
[W] MD16 @ Tomikoson
[W] MD18 @ Joaquin States

Cocoabo Team Schedule:
[W] MD2 v. Miloscia (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
[D] MD5 v. Astograth (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
[W] MD7 v. Tomikoson (Eels Park, Eelandii)
[W] MD9 v. Joaquin States (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
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[L] MD10 v. Elgenstad (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
[W] MD12 v. Yttribia (Eels Park, Eelandii)
[W] MD15 v. Nova Anglicana (Eels Park, Eelandii)
[D] MD17 v. Ceni (Eels Park, Eelandii)

As such, it seemed a fairly cut-and-dry case. The Citizen Squad scored 20 points and the Cocoabo Squad scored 17. The Citizen Squad would represent the Turori National Team at the World Cup Finals.

Through 8 of 8 Rounds:

Not everyone was accepting of that, however. From the moment the final whistle fell in the Joaquin States, supporters of the Cocoabo Squad were up in arms about how the system was unfair - despite the fact that Cocoabo Squad got to play all of its games at home in familiar stadia while the Citizen Squad played all eight of its contests in hostile territory. The main cries, however, were centered around the quality of the referring in the Turori National Team's defeat on Matchday 10 at the Cocoabo Park Arena in the Cocoabo Forest. Cocoabo Squad supporters suggested that such a shantily officiated match shouldn't count in the standings for something as important as which squad gets to represent the team in the World Cup 78 Finals. Momentum began to build for a 'double drop' system where a Squads best result - such as the 8-3 win over Yttribia for the Citizen Squad; and its Worst result - ie: Both Squad's results against Elgenstad - would be dropped from the table.

Doing so, however, would still leave the Cocoabo Squad short of the Citizen Squad in the table. Supporters of the Cocoabo Squad were running out of options. Then they looked to history. The Citizen Squad had been representing the Turori National Team in the World Cup for cycles on end, never so much as advancing past the Group Stage in recent history. It was time for a change, and no better time for a change then now - when a new squad is ready and raring to go - particularly if their destination was Cosumar, a nation the Cocoabo were already more than familiar with. Soon the Cocoabo Squad supporters began to use the Cocoa-bo marketing material as their own, standing outside the Football Association of Turori (FAT) headquarters in Eelandii and asking... no chanting the question... Wouldn't Cosumar be better with Cocoabo?

Starting Lineup v. Ceni:
Pos :: Identification  : Home (Goals)
GK  :: ( Cocoabo #86 ) : Cocoabo Forest
DEF :: ( Cocoabo #58 ) : Cocoabo Forest
DEF :: ( Cocoabo #57 ) : Cocoabo Forest
DEF :: ( Cocoabo #53 ) : Cocoabo Forest
MID :: ( Cocoabo #61 ) : Cocoabo Forest 
MID :: ( Cocoabo #64 ) : Cocoabo Forest
MID :: ( Cocoabo #46 ) : Cocoabo Forest (28' )
MID :: ( Cocoabo #62 ) : Cocoabo Forest
AMC :: ( Cocoabo #72 ) : Cocoabo Forest
FOR :: ( Cocoabo #91 ) : Cocoabo Forest
FOR :: ( Cocoabo #99 ) : Cocoabo Forest

[Port Christopher]

To the edge of the world

A World Cup 78 journey by Rachel Del Arro


'Hi intrepid adventurers - Port Christopher fans - or anyone who just happens to be sifting through the internet and found this random video.' Rachel Del Arro waved to the camera phone, propped up against a book on the table in front of her.

'So I'm finally on the monorail in Spittalsea, and waiting to travel over to Threemilestone or thrummel-st’n' She put on her best Boney accent which, in fact, wasn't up to much. 'So that should be exciting. It's kind of weird to be at the end of this journey now, and it's kind of ... yeah... a bit overwhelming really.' She looked tired and a little pale as opposed to her usual olive complexion, like she was a just drained of energy. Her hair, tied back, was frizzy from all the salt air, and the only colour in her face came from the windburn on her cheeks, giving them a rosy glow.

'I just hit the hay last night when I got back to the hotel room, hence the lack of updates. After eight days of constant travelling, like, the only thing I wanted to do was go to bed.' From what was visible of her in frame, she was wearing a dark green wax jacket, open at the neck to reveal a maroon fisherman's rib jumper.

'So by the look of the map, when I get to the Island I need to get off at the Fourfields complex - which I cannot wait to see - and then take the tram from there to our team site...' She studied the piece of paper in front of her. 'And we are... Site J, so that's like one, two, three stops. But I'm actually pretty tempted to get off the monorail at Kettlestowe and walk from there.' She measured the distance with her fingers, using the scale at the bottom. I reckon it should be about two kilometres exactly, which won't take too long. I should pass the Nova Anglicana Site on the way, so maybe I can stop in for a cup of tea if the weather is shit. I've not heard much from those guys in a while, maybe I should check their still alive.' From what she had learned in her time in the Boreal Islands, there always a fair chance that either rain, wind, or both could strike at a moments notice. Having spent the first sixteen years of her life on a tropical Island, it had done little to prepare her for a world where jumpers, boots, and long trousers were a thing.

'Okay, looks like we are about to get going, I'll cut this travel diary short for now, and pick back up in Kettlestowe, where hopefully I'm still alive and kicking, and the walk round the coast will look half way doable. Okay. So later, Ciao.' Rachel placed her cameral phone back inside her jacket pocket, and sat glued to the window, looking forward to some stormy sea views.

It was the kind of idea you came up with after a bit too much champagne, and Port Christopher's somewhat surprise qualification had provided just such an occasion. After their 4-1 win over Savojarna the sense of relief - and surprise - had been palpable. They had come through three successful qualification campaigns in a row now, and that was more than a lot of teams could say. Anyone looking at the current situation in Port Christopher from the must have thought it weird, but in truth, they didn't know the half of it. The sheer pressure of playing your home games on that godforsaken island, combined with a bit part squad, and a not-so-supportive home support was almost unbearable. For that reason the idea of getting away from it all seemed like a good idea to Rachel. Imposing a holiday on herself, a chance to recharge the batteries after what had been an intense season both domestically and internationally.

Getting to the World Cup venue in Bonesea had sounded like a nightmare, and that was before she even set out. Tim Maitfield had suggested that she keep a video diary, maybe any fans who braved the trip might find it informative. Rachel had thought this was a great idea, and had been posting short video clips at every stop along the way.

So with a heavy backpack, tank top, shorts, and hiking sandals, she had headed to the airport, for what promised to be an interesting trip. Rachel had played for clubs in Schottia and Cosumar, and her career had taken her all over the world; but it was amazing how little she actually saw, other than the insides of stadiums, coach buses, and international airports.

First up was a seven-hour flight from Port Christopher to Rozelle, which had a nerve janglingly tight changeover. After picking up her bag from the carrousels, she hadn't even had time for a coffee as she'd jogged from one end of the terminal to the next. She'd have liked to look around the Brenecian capital, but it would have to wait for another day, just like a cup of coffee would need to wait for the plane. She'd given a quick video update, but followers had merely been treated to views of the top of her head, and the ceiling of the terminal building, as she tried to juggle speech and jogging with a backpack on.

Another lengthy Air Terranea flight took her to the south Rushmori contentment, and Ceni's Cenial International Airport. She had two-night stop-over planned, and after taking a bit of time to look around the city, visiting the Lerrisor Sculpture Garden and Cenial City Zoo, she took an evening train down to Whitehaven to visit Tim Maitfield, who had a small villa down there on the coast. There she spent a night with the Christopheran team captain and his family, who were relieved she had made it safely. It had proved a good opportunity to film some analysis, with the two of them debating their team's no doubt slim chances. She'd also got a really cute video of Tim's six-year-old daughter, who'd told them she was actually a Ceni fan (much to her father's annoyance). After some home cooked food and a night in a proper bed, it was back up to Cenial, for a night in a youth hostel, before heading back to CEX for a 16 hour flight to Taxhavn.

Rachel's only real experience with Taxhavn and its capital St. Bernadine, was a vague memory of Schottia playing there in the Independents Cup final. Like most Christopherans (and herein lay the islands problem) she was a Schottia fan - or since the island had entered it's own team - a "closet" Schottia fan. The island struck her as being like a massive cold water Port Christopher, with almost ten times her home territory's population. Exchanging the shorts for a pair of jeans, and the tank top for a jumper and waterproof jacket, she had done her best to take in what St. Bernadine had to offer. It was probably quite bearable for some, but for Rachel, twelve degrees was positively freezing. She'd found herself a decent-looking budget hotel, which she ended up spending more time in than she'd originally intended. As someone who didn't exactly have what you could call "sea legs" the next phase of her journey was probably the most daunting, and she spent most of her twenty-four hours on Taxhavn preparing herself for the international ferry.

In a bid to get the full travelling fan experience, she had gone for the cheaper, and slightly slower option of the fourteen-hour ferry crossing to Spittalsea. An overnight trip over some of the stormiest most tumultuous seas Rachel had ever seen - her video blog update from the viewing deck had needed to be cut short so as not to include a throwing up incident. She'd tried to sit in the ship's bar and see if a juice would settle her stomach, but in the end it had been a very rocky night.

Although she hadn't expecedt it, Spittalsea ended up being her favourite stop-off of the entre journey. There's an old saying: "Every day is a carnival in Bonesea" (or so her travel guide had told her) and there was certainly a rustic charm to the place. The bars around the Warfside Dock had a certain decadence which Schottia's had lacked since the hipsters had began to populate the Quayside in the 90s. As unattractive an image as the name Spittalsea conjured up - a sea full of spittle?! - the place actually wasn't half bad. The only mistake was perhaps the protein burger she had purchases from a somewhat suspect looking seller down by the docks. So after a couple of nights spent in the Florence area of the city, at the Circus Hotel, Rachel was feeling a little more human again, as she whizzed through the air on the state of the art monorail, which somehow felt bizarrely out of place.

'So here I am in Threemilestone, Yay!' That awful Boney accent again; she was going to cringe when she watched this back. Rachel did a quick three sixty spin to document the landscape. 'The trip over here was pretty cool, I'll post some pictures later. So yeah, I'm just going to start walking and see how long it takes me to get to the Site. '

All the way along the cliffs there were seabirds flying in and out from their nesting sites, fighting ominously against Wide Enness Ocean winds. The weather was by most people's standard quite cool, but by Rachel's, it was cold.

'Okay, so maybe I'll just follow the track along the top of the cliffs down there, and try not to get blown off.' She started to walk down the hill towards the coast, the camera still pointing loosely in her direction. 'It's kind of weird to think just one guy lived here for so many years with a bunch of goats.'

Rachel turned the camera off until she was a couple of hundred metres down the path, then turned it back on.

'Okay. Okay-okay-okay. So...' She tried to line the camera up so she could point with her finger for the benefit of her followers. 'That, over there is where I've come from.' She turned the camera one-eighty. 'And I think that over there must be the tram stop just next to the Nova Anglicanian site. So using the highly scientific method of judging distance by finger widths. I should have about a thumb and a pinkie left to walk, or about a kilometre and a bit.' She brought the camera back round to face her, before removing some loose strands of hair which had blown into her mouth, as they escaped from under her hood.

'Hopefully I'll be able to find our site easily enough, and so long as they have internet, I'll be posting this message as soon as I get there. I think the rest of the team get here tomorrow, so I suppose I'll rest-up and wait... or maybe take the tram along to the stadium and check it out.' Rachel gave one last wave. 'So I hope this has been informative, or at least partly interesting - other than seeing me get a bit to drunk in Spittalsea. And if you're making the trip yourself... See ya soon!'

[Farfadillis]

"We're gonna thrash the Vilitans, or else my name is not Jaime Rodríguez" Tíbürçìó announced triumphantly, hours before the match against Turori.

As his assistant manager, I'd already gotten used to his advancing dementia. To be completely honest, it hadn't changed him that much. But I was growing tired. Because of this and the FFFF's well-documented complete ineptitude, I'd had to do just about everything for the team that World Cup. I'd had to book the plane tickets, the buses and the hotel rooms. I'd had to make sure that in every single hotel the food would have no onion because God knows why Lázár just won't eat onion no matter what. He'd even gotten into a fight with the hotel manager over that, somehow. "Fight" is what he called arguments these days. They're word fights, after all, aren't they? He kind of missed actually being able to punch people.

At any rate, things had been tiring for Ichi Tuzzio. All he wanted was some well-deserved rest. But he wasn't getting that. No, they were about to play their first World Cup game against Turori, a very solid team. The team had been severely underperforming recently and there were many worries they would lose this game. Many people predicted they would, in fact. To top things off, the gaffer didn't even know who they were playing against. He had had to listen to him going on and on about how he was gonna stop Kristofer Kilpter. Kilpter was a player from my time.

The entire cycle had gone on like this. One of the reasons we had struggled so much to qualify was Tíbürçìó was making a habit out of taking decisions that made absolutely no sense tactically. I managed to change his mind a lot of times, but sometimes I didn't, and we suffered. Juvencus shut us out at La Fantás. Tíbürçìó had chosen to play with three wingers. His reputation certainly precedes him, because nobody dared question him. Nearing the end of qualifiers, Wínrôuge came to me asking for answers, after Tíb announced he would start Xíxì Êns and Groaré Sasca against Barunia, when losing that game would mean almost sure elimination. I assured him he had his very good reasons, and that I agreed completely with him, which seemed to do little to calm Fôrté. Understandable. He was the only player arrogant enough to question the manager, sure, but he was right. I then asked him what he thought of Tíbürçìó's abilities as a manager, and he conceded he was the best he knew. I just said "Then trust him" and left it at that. Thank fuck those two put in a player of the match performance that day.

I had hoped Tíbürçìó's dementia would hit one of its lows for the World Cup. Au contraire, mon ami. As far as I was concerned, we were screwed. He'd play five wingers, five defenders, three strikers and no goalkeeper. That's what I expected to see, at least, when he handed me the team sheet for the match. I began reading through it.

Calogero Metz. "Good, that's a goalkeeper." I thought.

Drê Röènôùjýa. "And that's a defender!" Things were looking good.

Süns Söh. "Another one!" I was beginning to hope.

Trejo Maes. "That's three, and so far it's our strongest line-up!"

Ruy Monrazón. "Good, the captain's there. That saves me some diplomacy."

Lüí Wçêíl. Scheherazade Meier was twice the player, but I couldn't complain.

Lázár Eleonóra. "Good, that's another starter."

Ror Jevdjevic-Hadsic. "Of course, he's one of the best players."

Täjó Çíânflöné. He usually played as a striker, but Täjó could certainly do a lot of damage as an offensive midfielder too, so that was fine.

Oskar Holst. "Err... bit of a weird choice, but the kid's talented, so giving him a go wouldn't be the end of the Multiverse."

Xíxì Êns. "Ok, same thing, but I can't complain."

To be honest, I expected much worse. This line-up could certainly aspire to, uh, things. Not sure what things, but it could aspire to things. It hit me just as my mind was beginning to be at ease.

"Uhh... where's Wínrôuge?" I asked timidly, so as not to destroy his aura of optimism. He didn't like to be questioned when he had one of those.

"Who's Wínrôuge?" His dementia had never reached these levels.

"Our best player, Tíb." I paused while he looked at me, as if expecting more input from me. "I think it would be a good idea to make him start. He can change games all by himself." I added.

"Oh, very well, if you say so." He took the sheet from me and began scribbling on it. A few seconds later, he handed it back. "There, that should do."

I looked at the line-up again. Monrazón's name had been blacked out, and Winrôuge's name was in its place. I knew better than to question Tíbürçìó a second time.

At least the game would certainly be interesting...

[Eshan]

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Two Weeks Until Presidential Vote; We Look at the Biggest Stories of the Election

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With only two weeks until the election of the 50th President in Eshan’s history, the nation is getting ready to finally channel their political energy into the voting booth during the one-day voting event, of course a national holiday because what nation would want to obstruct democracy to the extent at which they don’t make voting a holiday and suppress votes? Not us Echani, that’s for sure. As the clock ticks down, we can look back with fondness and intrigue, as well as causes for concern at events and personalities who emerged during the grueling election season. Here, we will revisit the Presidential election cycle and take a look at some of the biggest stories that emerged. As a poll reminder, with two weeks until election Senator Revan Fitzgerald Bernat of the Social Democratic Party is polling at 54.3% and Conservative Octavian Salaazar is at 45.7%.

Social Democratic Senator Revan Fitzgerald Bernat and former Conservative Centuriate Octavian Salaazar as the Final Two Contenders for the Presidency

From a busy opening field of seven candidates, now there are only two who have a chance at holding the highest office in the land. In many ways, Senator Bernat and Octavian Salaazar were the favorites from the get go, but it takes a lot in a Presidential campaign to make good on early potential and speculation and translate that into electoral victory. As the rising star of the most popular political party in Eshan, Senator Revan's successful campaign was built on the back of the Social Democrat's extensive voting outreach capabilities, engaging and creative use of social media and other technologies, and Senator Bernat's inherent skills interaction with voters as a natural-born politician. He used his wit, brilliant speaking ability, and sheer charm and force of personality to win over voters, coupling a smiling and relaxed demeanor with a sharp and authoritative speaking voice full of conviction and self-belief. Indeed, RFBis a natural leader and that effect has not been lost on the voters.

Octaviaan Salaazar's success, while not entirely unpredicted, has still come as a surprise in how close he's managed to bring the race to RFB considering Eshan's natural strong-left tilt in political affairs. Salaazar's massive personal fortune and ability to use news media to his advantage, as well as the Conservative Party infrastructure he is still tied into from his days as a Centuriate, have formed the bedrock of his exhaustive campaign that have seen him cover more cities than all other candidates in the race. Easy-going on the surface, voters have identified Salaazar as having an iron will, and while he might have a smile on his face they see the killer in his eyes, and Echani love that for he at once both reassures and inspires with his body language, but you simply know that he's keeping his head about him and seeing 15 steps into the future. He has exploded into popularity with a very real chance at winning the Presidency due to his campaign centering around his promise to enable the power of the individual through his administration's policy and political actions. While our society does boast an extensive safety net to help those who've fallen on hard times, Echani (perhaps paradoxically) also pride themselves on their inherent strength and superiority over other's simply for the fact that we are Echani. We exist, therefore we are better. It's that confidence that Octavian is seeking to unleash, and his message has hit home with hundreds of million of Echani voters. Indeed, his voters also seem to much more active than RFB's voters; posting incessantly on all manner of internet forums and nation-management simulation games, demonstrating in the streets, participating in self-organized get out the vote campaigns, and, the most important of any Presidential election factors, having the dankest memes.

The Diverse Political Viewpoints of all Candidates and the Broad Level of Support Shown

Seven nominees through their hats into the ring during this Presidential cycle, and us voters delighted at that. The more people running for office, the more diverse their political viewpoints are and the more we Echani get to nerd out over policy and politics. From the religious conservative MoralEshan! to the socialist Caelius Hugo Makélélé to the Fascist NSEPP Sergius Domitian, there has been a lot to look at, break down, and try to make sense of.

We had three left Presidential candidates, four if you include the authoritarian and fascist social democratic ideals of Sergius Domitian, and three more right-leaning candidates meaning it was very hard to feel like your particular political compass wasn't represented in either way.

The most extreme in terms of left/right placement would most definitely have to belong to Caelius Makélélé, Priscilla Lang, and, to certain extent, Sergius Domitian. The Green and Social Democratic Parties fielding slight more towards center candidates, allowing the socialist message of Makélélé to stand out on its own in the left for calling for the aggressive targeting of the social and economic elite in an attempt to level the already pretty even playing field that exists in Eshan. He was a great speaker, capable of weaving intricate tales of with his personal and family history, our shared heritage as Echani, his political philosophy, and vision for how Eshan can be the best to bring the audience to their feet in applause and generate more sound bites than any other candidate aside from Sergius Domitian. He called the Echani to action and got them swept up in a wave of national pride and wanting to help their fellow citizens, and it was enough to make him one of the last four candidates before he ultimately bowed out.

Prsicilla Lang of MoralEshan! was the furthest right in social and economic policy, and there's really no point in devoting time to her views or campaign because it only lasted about a month before the it became painfully evident just how non-existent her support in Eshan was. So instead, we'll look at Sergius Domitian as an extreme political figure. In fact, let's just give him his own section.

The Worrisome Emergence and Popularity of Sergius Domitian and the National Socialist Echani People's Party

Bound to be to be one of the biggest stories out of this election cycle would be the emergence and ascension in popularity of the National Socialist Echani People's Party lead by the extraordinarily charismatic Sergius Ddomitian on the back of extremely explosive rhetoric and a policy platform that revolves around certain nationalistic and race/heritage-based notions of superiority. All non-Echani citizens and immigrants are to be given guest status, and according to a manifesto released in one of Domitian’s speeches would be kicked out if need be to support our state, aggressive expansion of Echani borders, state-run media, and quite paradoxically, an expanded and more robust welfare network.

Before bowing out of the race, Domitian went from 2.5% to 7.5% in the polls. While that's still a small slice of the electorate, the fact that some 31 and a half million or so Echani wound up supporting this divisive figure and his platform should raise alarm bells around the country. Nationalism and pride in being Echani is woven into the fabric of our beings. On the back of that, it’s not hard to see how his vision has taken hold. We are all fiercely in love with Eshan and being Echani. It’s who we are, it’s our pride, it’s in our blood. And appealing to that patriotism and our inherent sense of Echani superiority and desire to conquer is a great way to gain support and something that Domitian and the NSEPP have tapped into to great effect.

While we should be thankful to live in a country where we are free to express whatever political views we hold and debate them in the public forum, we should also be ready to guard against dangerous political movements and ideas that might come to threaten our very existence in the manner that the National Socialist Echani People's Party does. The true test of their political/voting pull will come in the Senate and People's House elections; if they win seats, we might have a problem.

Final Presidential Predictions

Conservative or Social Democrat? Octavian Salaazar or Revan Fitzgerald Bernat? The 50th Presidential Election is a fortnight away and all of our political and policy questions, wants, and needs will be answered. RFB is polling higher than Salazaar, but the latter has more enthusiasm in his support. Both push for an expanded military and greater involvement in foreign affairs, yet they differ on economic systems, social policy, how we should administer the welfare safety net and so much more. We won't waste time rehashing all that's already been said about the two candidates, so we'll just make our prediction and leave it at that.

We predict………Senator Revan Fitzgerald Bernat will be elected as the 50th President of Eshan.

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70th Cup of Harmony Kicks Off in Eshan and Drawkland

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Headline says the story really, but the 70th Cup of Harmony, the most prestigious invitational tournament in the sporting multiverse, kicked off in Eshan and co-hosts and glorious national allies Drawkland. The tournament will have hosting sites in all nine of Eshan's islands so every citizen has a chance to catch some of the best and brightest in international football fight for the Cup of Harmony on our soil. For our nation's first hosting event of any sort, a Cup of Harmony is sure to come as a surprise. Indeed, there are rumors that both of the Presidential candidates applied pressure to get the tournament held in Eshan, and to that end both Octavian Salazaar and Senator Bernat have alluded to as much in campaign speeches, but that's most likely to be nothing but chest beating to rile up supporters and gain more voters.

The Cup of Harmony got underway with the first Matchday, where stadiums in Eshan, Okonma, Gracemeria, Isle San-Renee, and Tareq Bakir hosting matches between nations such as Qasden, Red Blackiland, Darmen, and who could look past Ceni, and the viewing was incredibly popular in Eshan and around the world. From our nation alone, at least 365 million viewers tuned in to catch the various group stage matches.

While the Cup of Harmony has traditionally been a tough tournament to predict a winner of, it's hard to look past Nephara and Ceni to meet in the final to duke it out. Both top-20 teams in the world, the fact that they're in the Cup of Harmony at all must come as some embarrassment, but they will have to like their chances as they stand head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. We currently have Ceni as the favorites to win the whole thing.

World Cup Finals Group Stage Drawn; Could Be Better for Eshan

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The first matchday of the World Cup Finals are almost on it, and the Eshan National Team was probably hoping for a better draw but honestly things could have been worst. We, the 37th best team in the world, find ourselves up against giants of the footballing world in Gregoryisgodistan (18th in the world), host nation Cosumar (12th in the world), and friendly rivals Damukuni (25th in the world). So yeah, not really a great group for us on paper but, as is the Echani way, we're only going to bet on ourselves and never bet against us. With Marco van Ciavatinni reaching dumbfounding new heights and the Echani offensive machine looking hot and polished for action, this could be our time. We had great luck in avoiding some of the higher ranked teams remaining in the tournament, and with nations such as Nephara, Ceni, and Red Blackiland already knocked out of the running (and playing in our Cup of Harmony), we can fan that Echani-trademarked eternal flame of optimism into something even brighter burning.

Alexio del Neiran (blessed be thy name) must be looking at this upcoming first match against Damukuni as our best and perhaps only threequarter or half chance at picking up three points. I mean you've got to feel good about our chances against them, with both teams basically even on goals scored and conceded (41:40 to Eshan and 22:22 even respectively) during the qualifying stage, and Eshan progressing into the Finals with only three more points gained in qualification. With the team looking as good as it is (does anyone else remember the back to back 2-0 wins against The Holy Empire and Eastfield Lodge?), we can hope to punch above our weight and snap up three points.

After that, we face pretty shitty matches to be honest. We go up against the psychomaniacs out of Gregoryisgodistan in a match we miiigghhhhtttt be able to squeeze a draw out of, and then it's a sure loss against hosts Cosumar.

We might be able to get to four points in this World Cup Finals group stage with Lady Margaret Luck on our side, the question is if it'll be enough to send us through?



Or if we even get four points.

[Flardania]

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Sports in Review: World Cup Draw Special Edition | Kirishinan Broadcasting Corporation

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Takeru Saotome on Left, Himawari Park on Right

News Intro

TS: Welcome to Sports in Review, I'm your host Saotome Takeru.

HP: And I am Park Himawari, Now even though he's doing a podcast for our competitor NSN. It seems that for the good of the country we are teamed with.

KW: The Radio host, the fan you can count on the most, to bring you Kitsune news, Keitaaaaaaa Woo!

HP: Thank you for joining us for the World Cup Draw.

KW: Anytime, I had some reservations but the fact I would be up here with the lovely Himawari was a spectacular enough of a reason.

HP: Oh stop it. At least not live.

TS: *laughs* I suppose I should've expected this when paired with two much younger broadcasters. Anyway, the major news going into this World Cup draw is the absence of KFA Chairwoman Sakura Katsuragi as Kirishima's delegate for the draw. Keita do you have any info?

KW: Yes well originally the draw was supposed to be held yesterday but the organizers of the Cosumar and Bonesea Football Associations moved it back a day. Katsuragi went from being available to being busy with urgent personal matters. She is unable to fly over and be here in attendance but she will be ready to speak in a live press conference after the draw.

HP: You know I don't want to be superstitious but the fact that Katsuragi is not here is unsettling. Her leadership of the KFA has been wonderful and her presence can be inspiring, however, it also seems her absence is a bad omen.

TS: With that said real quick let's go over our preferred groups, as the guest Keita, you get to choose when you want to go.

KW: I think I will go last *laugh*

HP: Alright I'll go first. In Pot 1, I will go with Cosumar. None of the picks in the first pot are attractive and as a host, they will have home field advantage, but I feel that is alright considering that they are close to us in ability and we have had good performances against them before. In Pot 2, I will have to say Brenecia, simply because I want nothing to do with the extreme defense of Gregoryisgodistan nor the extreme offense of The Holy Empire. Then there is the extremely balanced Electrum but I feel they are in better form than Brenecia personally. Finally, in Pot 4 I want Sargossa. Every team here in the World Cup deserves to be here and can at least theoretically defeat each other but odds are still relevant and the Kitsunes odds are strongest if paired with Sargossa.

TS: Well then, for my ideal Group I will have to go with Audioslavia. They are defensive in nature but not too much so there is also the possibility that the Kitsunes escape by overwhelming their opponents. Cosumar would not be a bad pick if we weren't recently humiliated by them. For my pick from Pot 2, I will say Eura. I want to avoid Electrum, The Holy Empire, and Gregoryisgodistan just like Himawari but Eura we are familiar with and we have shown we can both beat and play close to for a potential draw. Finally, from Pot 4, I will also go with Sargossa.

KW: Well it's about time we get to me and for my first pick I'm going with Valanora. We have faced Valanora many times before and regardless of our rank difference we always manage to escape with a point if not a close loss that could've gone differently. For pot 2, I'm going with Electrum, I'm not going to let the past have too much of an effect on my decision making. We only faced them once but they are the closest in the pot to us ability wise and I want that rather a team clearly eons above us. For the final pot, I'm going to be a little sheep and follow the pack. My gut is telling me to go with Sargossa.

TS: With that said it seems like it is time for the World Cup Draw.

Pot 1 goes by as follows: Group A- Cosumar, Group B-Farfadillis, Group C-Audioslavia, Group D-Vilita, Group E-Bonesea, Group F-San Jose Guayabal, Group G-Valladares, Group H-Valanora

TS: Not much to input after only the first pot. Based on our hopes, the Group to watch currently are A, C, and H. With that said with not much chatter here in the hall either. We will be back with pot 2 drawings after the break.

TS: Welcome back to the World Cup 78 Live Draw. As mentioned before the break the groups to watch are A, C, and H.

KW: From this moment on teams and their fans will be glued to the screen ready to cheer and jeer as these groups begin to take shape as teams with wide range of goals from simple goals like just being happy to be here, to more intermediate ones like the Kitsunes with trying to reach the round of 16 while some other teams seek objectives like Quarterfinal appearance and more grand goals of medaling or even winning the whole thing.

HP: You know many times the fate of many campaigns are decided here and now.

TS: Hm how so?

HP: Well the whole draw is random obviously and that is good but it has more of an effect than qualifiers. There is not enough room for teams to gain momentum and upsets are less likely but when they do they are massive. Now if you are in an easy or at least relatively easy group you can build momentum easily and use it to aid your effort from the Round of 16 onwards. On the other hand, if you are in a difficult group and barely advance, you are in a much more difficult position. I mean just look how long it took host Cosumar to move out of the rank 30 danger zone into where they are today.

KW: I don't know if I agree with that but that is a fair and legitimate analysis.

TS: With that said it's time for the second pot to begin.

??: In Group A we have Gregoryisgodistan, In Group B we have...Eura, In Group C we have Pasarga, In Group D it will be Schottia, Group E will be joined by Electrum, Group F will have Brenecia, In Group G we have......The Holy Empire which means Chromatika will Join Valanora in Group H.

KW: And like that Group H has become toxic, Chromatika shouldn't even be considered a pot 2 team but because Host has pot one reserved for them, we have a situation where neither Chromatika or Valanora are happy.

HP: Well one thing is for sure that is a group that you do not want to belong to.

Fast Forward to the end of the Draw

KW:....Well, this is not a surprise at all I suppose. Kirishima will have a massive obstacle to climb if they want to finally escape the Group stages and as luck would have it this will possibly be the most difficult group yet. You have a 4th ranked and an 8th ranked team in the same group somehow, then you had to be joined by a very successful campaign back to the top for Spaam but it seems they will be finally bricked wall. This is a group where nobody is happy.

HP: Considering Kirishima's sole goal is getting out of the group, this World Cup drawing seems to be nothing short of a nightmare scenario. I knew Katsuragi's absence was a bad omen.

TS: Well speak of Katsuragi, we will be showing Katsuragi's news conference now.

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Sakura Katsuragi and Seong Mi-Soo step into the room and sit down as cameras flash.

SK: "Well this has been an interesting night don't you think." Sakura stated. "Nonetheless I am going, to be honest with you, our fortune was terrible. We wanted a group that we could work with and we got none of that. We got the worst combination of opponents we could only imagine in our wildest nightmares. Valanora the mighty 4th seeds that we battle often, so much so that you might call us rivals but to Valanora who at worst draws against us can look past us as our performances and history does not put us anyway near as equals." Sakura added before taking a drink

"Chromatika is a nation we know all too well. They came from behind us two world cup qualifiers ago and snuck in ahead of us and now look at them. 8th! So easy they just walked in and took a seat among the greats. And then there is Spaam if there was a team in pot 4 with the most potential it would be them and their strong defense. However, we need to play with the cards we got. It's going to be tough we will be facing practically two pot 1 teams and a very good pot 4 team. We will also be in Bonesea which is not a fun place for a promiscuous religious kirishinan to visit, let alone to visit to watch us in a suffocating group. But we need them, I have spoken with Seong Mi-Soo and we still have the goal of getting out of the group stages. It is still my obsession. We can't peak and plateau in the rank 25-35 range. We will be putting everything we got in getting fans in the seat and the team in the best condition to fight. I leave the running of the team in Mi-Soo's very capable hands." Sakura finished.

MS: "I'm not going to sit here and repeat everything that Sakura said so I will keep things short. We are very frustrated with the way the World Cup draw went. However bad this situation is we have no choice but to work with it. This is a very unpredictable sport regardless of our last two World Cup appearances stating otherwise. We have competed well with Valanora in the past despite they not being 4th at the time and we have been itching to get revenge on the team that caused Kyosuke to resign. We need to be really carefully but we are desperate and unlike the rest of our team our goal is closer, more tangible and in reach. So we are going to give our all. All we can do is play our game and hope we have calls go our way.

---

HP: Wow a calm and steady reaction by Katsuragi and Seong. Now that is what you call leadership

KW: True but for all we know Katsuragi could be pulling her hair out in frustration. Kirishima was optimistic from Matchday 2 of qualifiers onwards but this draw threatens to make that effort seem like a waste.

TS: The excitement for the World Cup has seemed to drop a bit after the draw tonight, with a lot of people dejected on social media. Keita, what do you think the Kitsunes need if they want to be successful?

KW: Luck, a strong MD 1 performance against Chromatika, followed up by a must win with Spaam. We may have played close with Valanora before but they are currently a different beast. We need to upset either Chromatika or Valanora and I'll take Chromatika as the team we need to do to. While we both will start with no momentum, a clear advantage for Chromatika, I want us to go up against Valanora with at least 4 points and try to work with that. Hopefully, we can channel the energy we had in qualifiers into the world cup and maybe find inside us what it took to defeat teams like Eura or Quebec in qualifiers of the past. But as I said, in the beginning, this is where luck comes into play. One second on the field in any match can decide the course of the World Cup.

TS: Keita, it's been a pleasure.

KW: Likewise

TS: For Park Himawari and Woo Keita, I'm Saotome Takeru signing off. KBC World News is next.

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[Super-Llamaland]

WC78 PREVIEW: TIGERS FACE UPHILL CLIMB

David McEachran, LBC Sports

When a representative from Cosumar announced that the Tigers had been drawn into a Group D already containing Vilita and Schottia, even captain Adrian Lindberg winced. And when the fourth member of the group was announced as Tumbra, on paper one of the best Pot 4 nations to qualify for the World Cup, things only got worse. With the second- and ninth-ranked nations (by KPB) sharing a group and the Tumbran upstarts right below, Curtis Steeling's Tigers will need to play at their absolute best to make it to their second-ever Ro16.

If being drawn against the second-best nation in the world is unfortunate, the Llamaneans can at least take solace in the fact that it's Vilita - the very same team that the WC71 Tigers knocked out in the group stage. Unfortunately, fourteen years later, both teams have drastically changed, and the sole meeting between the two teams holds little significance. Ethanian manager Curtis Steeling has taken the Tigers in a vastly different direction than Bogdan Antonescu's relentlessly-attacking teams two decades ago, and Vilita has changed as well. Even snatching a point from the defending champions will be a tough ask for a Tigers team struggling to find its identity. Still, tonight against the Jungle Cats, the Tigers will have a chance to make a statement. If they do, star striker Ansel Penbrooke, who has extensive V-League experience, will be the reason why.

Due to the group's second seeds, points against Vilita might be vital if Super-Llamaland wants to advance out of this group. Schottia, the same team that defeated the Tigers 3-0 and 5-3 during a perfect qualifying run, seems to have the Tigers' number at this point - with their last meeting before these qualifiers a 4-0 humiliation of Super-Llamaland in the Cup of Harmony semifinals. When the two were drawn together, there were hopes that the Tigers might be able to exact some revenge using Curtis Steeling's new system. But they're clearly not quite there yet. Curtis Steeling is rumored to be favoring other tactics against Schottia, but it's hard to see him abandoning Explosive Football. Something major will have to change if the Tigers want to avoid humiliation, much less win the game.

Meanwhile, Tumbra, who the Tigers will play next week in their second group stage match, clearly isn't on the level of Vilita and Schottia. However, they are one of the best Pot 4 teams at this World Cup, even if they haven't qualified before. During qualifiers, Robin Stoff led the Blue Lions to 37 points and automatic qualification just ahead of Abanhfleft. However, while star striker John Krajewski will be a nightmare to contain, their relatively leaky defense does show promise. If the Tigers can execute Explosive Football, hitting hard on the counterattack, while shutting down Krajewski and the Lions' other talented attackers, this should be three easy points. But, although that's something the Tigers are capable of doing, nothing is guaranteed.

So, the conclusion? With Vilita and Schottia both very tough matchups, and Tumbra not a match Super-Llamaland can take for granted, the Tigers will have a hard time escaping Group D. Still, on paper, this Tigers team has enough offensive firepower to escape the group, with Ansel Penbrooke, Miro Vorobyov, and Eva Velasquez all exceptionally talented players in top leagues. If the system of Explosive Football finally comes together, there's no telling what they'll be able to do.

Lineup to play Vilita: 13 Sheffield - 2 Lindberg (C), 6 Ynoa, 14 Wagner, 27 Van Dijk - 21 Møller, 5 Candelario, 8 Bao - 7 Velasquez, 10 Penbrooke, 11 Vorobyov

[Valanora]

Valanora Times
Moving Forward

At the end of the qualifiers, the Marauders sat comfortably atop the group, tied with Semarland on points, and had qualified for the Finals without much in the way of concern, despite a fluke like loss at home during the qualifying campaign. While such losses have a way of feeling larger than they really are in the moment, they are beneficial to a squad if you know how to not let one loss beat you multiple times, as it shows you where your weaknesses and flaws are. The great sides learn to adapt their game in order to cover up for the exposure of these flaws, while the rest are left continuing to make the same mistakes over and over again, never reaching above where they already are. Given that the Marauders only dropped points in two of their matches, you can guess where it is our side sits on this scale and how to judge other sides, though one must make exception for the sides who do improve but in degrees over the course of time, as they do learn but sometimes the execution of the correction to their problems is lacking in the immediacy of single qualifying campaign.

Rather than find themselves in the northeast of the region once more, the Marauders instead have booked a flight for Bonesea and the strange realm that it is for their destination in the Finals. Given that the Marauders have played against and in The Holy Empire for longer than some nations have even been around, they have to be mentally prepared for whatever weird or extraordinary wonders that they may witness in the duration in Bonesea. The side is hoping that it will be a prolonged stay, as the "quest for six" is alive and well, being something of a fever dream that is spreading not only among the squad and braintrust but across the nation with the supporters as well. With a top four ranking in the world, it seems that even the the WCC believes that the Marauders are to be one of the favorites to be lifting up the trophy and a good sign of how the squad has truly recovered from their instability of a decade before. Though they may be a favorite, one has to wonder how this World Cup would have turned out, regardless of who does end up winning, had the Sunrisians not suddenly disappeared off the face of the world, as they seemed to be at the apex of the game.

The group that stands in the way of the Marauders and the knockout rounds is one that on paper looks quite manageable for a pedigree the likes of which the Marauders have, with two top eight sides and then two sides outside of the top twenty-five in the rankings. Don't believe the press coming out of Chromatika though and how they seem to believe that they are jynxed when it comes to facing our squad, a single match in vacuum can toss aside all things such as streaks and the superstition that one is simply unable to overcome the foe ahead of them. Power in those sort of beliefs only is there because those who choose to believe in them give them that power, otherwise they are just meaningless numbers thrown out for no reason other than a coping mechanism. No jynx is so powerful that the eighth ranked side in the world and a side who did quite well in the last World Cup would have no chance against our side, though fortunate for both sides that it is the third of the three matchdays that they will come to clash, hopefully with the group title on the line to add just a little bit extra spice to a top ten matchup in the group stage.

That is not to discredit Flardania and Spaam, the latter of which was at one point one the best squads in the World and quite influential in the WCC itself, with the national hall of fame being named after the nation. However when the Marauders take to the field, the five stars on their crest and a confidence that comes with being one of if not the most successful of squads ever is in play, not to mention the talent gap between our sides and theirs. Flardania and their weird composite population will be an interesting test in the second matchday as the Marauders will be needing a win there to make sure their final match is one in which they can play quite loose in and not having their advancement pinning on it. In that way, the opening match against Spaam is also crucial but one that looks quite the more likely to come up on the good side for the Marauders. While anything can happen in the Finals, and often does, the strength of the Vanorian midfield and the leadership of Laborious Hawk and Faeron Soldarian should be enough to keep this squad moving on in the quest for six.

[Bonesea]

.

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

OOC - The Mammoth Compendium of World Cup Lies lives up to its name; you're free to believe it IC'ly, but please don't believe a word of these RPs OOC'ly. They're a compendium of lies.

THE MAMMOTH COMPENDIUM OF WORLD CUP LIES
World Cup 78 edition

An apology

Please note: the following statement is true

Readers of the Mammoth Compendium of World Cup Lies will be aware of the following review of Group G:

GROUP G is the single best group in the history of the World Cup!
Valladares doesn't know how lucky it is to be drawn into this group
The Holy Empire looks slightly embarrassed about all of the kudos coming its way for being drawn into this group
Port Christopher has taken one look at this group and said to itself 'that's a damn fine group'
Sargossa praises all of the gods and goddesses of heaven and hell that it's been drawn into this group

A recent statement in the Sargossan State Media has since clarified that the statement 'Sargossa praises all of the gods and goddesses of heaven and hell that it's been drawn into this group' is in fact not a lie; that is to say, it is - regrettably - true.

We would like to apologise to our readership for this shocking and unprecedented lapse in our commitment to bringing you the latest in outrageous falsehoods, and will endeavour to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Rest assured that the contributors who were responsible for this uncharacteristic slip have been duly disciplined.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programme of lies.

[Pasarga]

Torgos Tribune ~ Pasarga Versus Calania

It was nervous and it had tension, but fortunately for the Wanderers, it came out golden when Ferirabend was able to turn in a free kick from twenty-five yards out in the seventy-third minute for the Wanderers to come out as victors at Anthor. The biggest surprise was yet to come as the Wanderers victory coupled with the rest of the results meant that the Wanderers had somehow topped the group when dropped points in the match could have seen them not even make it to the Finals at all. It is the moments like that that make the game of football both beautiful and maddening at the same time, where fortunes seem to rest of the edge of a knife. Not qualifying would have meant that the manager would have been sacked and this crop of players would have been ridiculed by the media and their forerunners alike, given that Wanderers rise in the footballing world over the last two decades. However qualification now sees the job at the top safe for the time being and the youth of the squad being praised for finding ways to get results even when the pressure was quite on. Strange how small such differences do make.

Now the Wanderers are heading to the Northeast of Atlantian Oceania, after being drawn into the Cosumar half of the Finals, and what a set of adversaries does the side have in their group. All three of their opponents are from Atlantian Oceania themselves, not only that, but from the Calania continent that was made historic by the LigAnaia that was so popular for nearly two decades. With the home field advantage for the rest of the group, the Wanderers are going to have to dig in and steel themselves in the same way that they were able to in their trips to Red Blackiland and then at Anthor at the end of the qualifiers in order to play at their peak levels as it is no doubt that there will be quite the hostile environment for our side to have to deal with in each of the three group stage matches. This side is going to have to play like the squad they showed to be after those first five matches and not the squad that looked hopelessly lost in that opening stretch, form suggests they shall but we all know that form is quite fleeting.

The largest test comes the way of the Bulls of Audioslavia and their sixth in the world ranking, on paper the most dangerous side that could be had in the group. However there is a feeling among the analysts that there is something amiss with this Audioslavia side and they just don't have the same intimidation factor that they once had. Given some of their failures during the qualifying campaign, including a loss to unheralded Tinhampon of all squads, there is some basis for the idea that this Audioslavia is there for the taking. However if one looks through the annuls of history, you will see that even when the Bulls have been far from their best, they still find a way to churn out the results to see them through, with the World Cup 29 being one of the best examples of this. The ace in the hole though might be the number of Pasargans who have taken up residence in Audioslavia and play not just in their top flight but on the best of their sides, giving the squad a bit of an insight on how their foes will play and how to deal with them.

Elsewhere is just the nation who is tied for the most World Cup wins in history in the form of Starblaydia who looked quite like their championship days despite having a team of mediocre players on paper. Theirs is a history that rivals any in the world and to poke the sleeping giant is to invite their wrath upon you, for their did not earn the moniker of The Purple Peril by being polite and accepting slights with a smile. No, this is a side is better than the sum of their parts and is going to be a test regardless of whatever the WCC might say their ranking is, and the Wanderers attack is going have to find a way to contend with that stern defense. In addition is the enigma of Semarland, whom the Wanderers are facing for the second time in a row in the Finals, with the hope that like Audioslavia, that familiarity will breed contempt and add knowledge. Beating the Semarland side who seems to find ways to qualify when they shouldn't but unable to get things done in the Finals once they reach it is imperative, not the least of which is because it is the opening match.

[Osarius]

It was getting late, near ten o'clock. Almost everyone else had left the building already, but Ayanna Barca-Carthy sat in her office at the National Development Centre and pressed her fingers to her forehead. There had been a few times she had questioned her decision to become a coach, and later a manager. Times when she had needed to convince herself that it was "worth it". All the stress, the late nights studying game tapes and statistics, and the sometimes almost unbearable burden of expectation from the fans. This was another one of those times.

"Why do I do this?" She asked aloud with a heavy sigh, to nobody in particular. In front of her lay several dossiers, collated reports and statistics on every one of the forty players she had sent onto the field in Osarian colours during qualifying. She still had plenty of tough decisions to make. The easy ones had already been made; key players like Aaliyah Johnson, Ryan Watson, Daniele Gentile, Demetrio Constantini and so on were already in the final twenty-three. There were five contested spots, though, and Ayanna had a feeling that whatever decision she made for those spots would make or break the Firebirds' campaign.

She hovered over Koren Udowu. Again. The mercurial striker had a knack for scoring important goals, but he also missed chances a quality striker would almost definitely score. A quality striker like Esteban Crespo. Or Riccardo Carbone. Or Quinn Doherty. With Crespo still not quite recovered from an injury, and Doherty too similar to Johnson, Ayanna had effectively narrowed it down to either Carbone or Udowu. "Ricky is great in the air, a change of strategy... we have good crossers..." she mused aloud. "But Koren is a game-changer. He scores goals nobody else could. Not even Ezio."

"Ugh!" She pushed away the papers. The deadline to announce the squad was tomorrow morning. Time was running out. 'How the hell did Mom deal with this?'

* * * * *

Ryan Watson filled his cup with lemonade, "the hard stuff", he joked and walked back across the lawn to the chairs under the tree canopy. He had spent hours climbing these very trees as a kid, his treehouse was still up there, in fact. He didn't much like coming back to the family home in Carbonia, where he had lived with his grandparents. However, his "uncle" -- also his adopted brother -- Alexander had taken over as the family patriarch and moved back into the house. The annual family get-together was back on, and practically every living member of the clan was in attendance, no matter who. Will Simpson, his cousin, was in attendance. As was "Uncle J", former Osarius international Jordan Simpson. Not to mention several of the Hardison clan -- relatives from his maternal grandmother through marriage.

Ryan sauntered over to the chairs and plopped himself into one. "Hey Will," he nudged his cousin. "You reckon Koren is gonna make the final twenty-three?"

Will groaned and rolled his eyes. "This again? Are you still fixated on that kid? Let it go, man."

"Dude, I'm telling you. There's something about him. He's different."

"Whatever man. He might make it. Probably not, though. 'Liyah, Quinn, Ricky... maybe even Esteban if his ankle holds up. They'd all be ahead of him."

"You reckon?" Ryan asked. "Quinn is basically the same kind of player as 'Liyah so unless she gets injured, there's no reason to bring him. She could bring three strikers, though."

"Maybe. But Aya isn't like Uncle Ben, or even Serenity. She's more cautious. Might stick with two, and bring a utility player instead."

"Hmm..."

A dialog box -- that only Ryan could see; he'd gotten used to that bit -- appeared. "Skill: Intuition has increased one level."

'There is goes again... I'm definitely on to something here.' Ryan mused.

* * * * *

Squad to face Bonesea:
Monteforte; W. Simpson, Constantini, Calabrese, Carter; 
Gentile (c), Bailey, Mancini; Bartley, Johnson, Watson

Ayanna Barca-Carthy selects what is likely her strongest
available squad for the opener against Bonesea, presuma-
bly intent on making a statement. Should the Firebirds 
manage to put in a respectable performance against the 
co-hosts, perspectives will likely change dramatically.
As things stand, Osarius are not favoured to progress 
to the knockout stages of the tournament, but there is 
certainly enough talent in the side to overturn both El-
ectrum and Mriin in the remaining games, even if they 
fall short against The Purple Bruise.

Catching the attention of most is the fact that the duo 
of Carbone and Crespo -- Osarius regulars for years -- 
are both not included in the final twenty-three for the 
World Cup, with Quinn Doherty also overlooked in favour 
of up-and-coming striker Koren Udowu. Many have drawn at-
tention to the lack of a tall striker in the squad as a 
sign that Barca-Carthy is playing it "pure", and will try
to re-establish Osarius' roots as a swift counter-attack 
passing team. Against a team like Bonesea, it could be 
the key to an unlikely victory. It worked for Amandeep 
Sahota's side all those years ago, after all.
                                           - M. Hardison

The hour was near. Later in the day, Osarius would kick off their first match of the World Cup 78 finals. The muffled sound of the radio in the background was semi-audible at best. Something about a suggestion in the AO council about turning the focus of the region to something other than sports. Ayanna snorted laughter at that one. "Like there's anything else to talk about in that bloody council chamber," she said, mostly to herself.

Whatever happened from here on, would likely define Ayanna's time as Osarius manager. A failure to progress beyond the group stage again would probably necessitate her resignation, and she knew it. Nobody would demand, or even request it, but it would be expected. Her final twenty-three was a gamble, and she knew it. But maybe the way to get past it all was to do something nobody expected.

Bonesea were the clear favourites for the first game, and Ayanna figured a draw here would be enough to put Osarius in a good position to qualify. The Purple Bruise were unorthodox, and hard to predict at the best of times. So she had decided to play a gambit of her own. Making her way to the lobby of the hotel, Ayanna made a call to her assistant, Autumn Phelps. "Aya, what's up?"

"You remember the variation on the front three we discussed after Coldfield?"

"Yeah. You want me to brief him on the way?"

"Please do."

She hung up the call. "Ryan!" She spotted the pacy winger making his way to the team bus. "A word. I have a plan for you involving Koren."

* * * * *

The team was warming up on the pitch ahead of kick off, and Ryan was watching Koren carefully. The striker moved differently. He did everything differently. 'To put it where he's most effective, I'll need to adjust my angles...' Ryan thought to himself. 'Let's test this...'

"Oi! Koren!" Ryan shouted, before launching a high cross. The former monk swivelled, saw the ball in flight, and made an almost imperceptible adjustment. Ryan watched it all carefully. Time seemed to slow. With the slightest of movements, Koren leapt. Much higher than seemed physically possible. Ryan looked closer, and a dialog box appeared: "Shin Tensei: Level 44". Automatically, Ryan inspected it. The box expanded. "Allows the user to temporarily exceed human limitations. Increases strength, agility and reflexes by 440% for 0.44s."

'Ahhhhh... I see.' Ryan smiled to himself. Koren struck a perfect volley. "Nice ball, Ryan!" He shouted over. Everyone else paused for a moment in stunned silence.

Aaliyah Johnson broke the spell. "Oi, Watson you git! Where's mine?!"

EDIT: whoops, wrong player in midfield. Was supposed to be Luther Bailey - defensive specialist to help deal with all that Boney attacking talent, in case you were wondering

[Cosumar]

17 July 1011

Fiefdom Soccer Federation
Grady Pachenko, Director of Public Relations
45 Vanquisher Avenue, Kaldukosic, Kaldukosic Fief, Cosumar
Phone: 214-529-8873, Fax: 972-315-9959
gpachenko@fsf.org

~FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE~
World Cup Stadium completed on time despite fears, renamed as fans mourn Crowley

RAMUSOK -- The iconic old soccer stadium in the heart of Ramusok's royal district, commonly known as "The Royal Palace" for neighboring the King's residence, has been fully replaced by the double-capacity Farris Crowley Memorial World Cup Stadium at The Royal Palace over the last six months. The gold-swathed stadium, which cost over $2B, finished construction this week just in time for the much-anticipated festivities of World Cup 78 to commence.

It was originally named simply "World Cup Stadium" to commemorate its hosting of Cosumar's first World Cup Final. However, the words "Farris Crowley Memorial" will now be officially added to the title after news the legendary manager's passing broke late last night.

Farris Crowley led Cosumar to its first seven World Cups and remained the stoic and fearless face of the national team for nearly 40 years. He long dreamed of seeing the Multiverse's most revered competition held in his homeland but, sadly, died peacefully in his sleep the night before it was finally about to come true.

Fans, former players, fellow coaches and old foes alike quickly rallied to honor one of the Beautiful Game's biggest forefathers in this country. An online petition to add his name to World Cup Stadium accumulated over 200 million signatures in six hours.

"The FSF is sincerely pleased to oblige this request," FSF President Tomas Navarro said. "Farris Crowley holds a special place in the hearts and commands a special respect in the minds of all sport-loving Cosumarites. It is only fitting that his life's work in service to our country and our game be commemorated in the grandest of ways."

It will not be a merely ceremonial name. The words "Farris Crowley Memorial" will literally be added onto the huge, opulent lettering inside and outside the new stadium in time for its grand opening on Matchday 1 against Gregoryisgodistan. The addendum "at The Royal Palace" is also being added to the official title due to a similar petition started by OAS Royal FC fans who wished for an homage to the historic original grounds on the site.

All of Cosumar's Group A matches will be played at the 105,000-seater behemoth, as well as the World Cup 78 Grand Final. It will presumably replace Kaldukosic's Leviathan Arena, constructed before World Cup 54, as the de-facto home of the National Team in all future competitions.

"Crowley Memorial is a magnificent thing for Cosumarite soccer," Vanquishers manager Alexander Pearce said. "It's an unbelievable sight to behold. It's a remarkable feat of sporting architecture and I think it will be one of the gems of the entire sporting Multiverse for decades to come. Playing there will be special for anybody. I can't wait to walk out onto the pitch for the first time and soak it all in, and I know my players can't either. The fact that it's named after Farris is beautiful. Cosumar wouldn't deserve this shrine to soccer without him."

A memorial service for Farris Crowley (914-1011) will be held three hours before Matchday 1 across the street at the Royal Convention Center. Legendary striker Sur Arora, who played extensively under Crowley, is set as the keynote speaker. Many other big Cosumarite names will also be present.

The Fiefdom Soccer Federation is the governing body of the CosumarLigan pyramid. It also manages Cosumar's national delegations for WCC competitions, as well as the AOCAF, Olympics and youth tournaments. The FSF was formed in 983 to bring a centralized structure to our various loosely organized groups with the goal of transforming Cosumar into a leading international soccer destination. By hosting World Cup 78 in this cutting-edge venue, it has arguably accomplished this goal.

###

>>>Read Next: Top Ten Moments of Farris Crowley's Career

[San Jose Guayabal]

WORLD CUP OF BACKPACKERS

Part 1: The Meet-up of the first two groups.

Introductory note: This series features sixteen characters: Four Guayabalenses, four Sargossans, four Bonesfolk and four Echanis united by the same passion, backpacking, this time they will meet in Bonesea, during the World Cup 78 Finals, all the four groups of people will hang on in Bonesea, enjoy the scenery offered by said host nation and exchange views in different topics across every matchday. RPs will be one each day, a pair in one matchday and the other pair in the next day.

---

Alina

Today has been an exhausting day for me, definitely exhaustive due to the big amount of chores to do at home and preparations for the trip, it will be interesting to await for what Bonesea has to offer me and the rest of visiting fans. From what I have heard, Bonesea is quite isolated but now they have opened themselves to the multiverse, but isolation isn't their fault, anyways, who wouldn't be isolated if they have to cross a totally-wide sea, perhaps a 12 hours long haul flight from an unknown nation to arrive there, so, it's understandable, especially from a Guayabalense as me, since I witnessed how my nation isolated after such a tragic event of the assassination of the National Team. I think it's a good thing to visit a nation that has been quasi-isolated for a big time, since their culture remains untouched, something that is totally attractive for a tourist, who is eager of discovering new cultures, new ways of living or lifestyles, so I'm really anxious to hop into the plane and get off of it in Spittalsea, the 30 hours trip will be worthy since I guess Bonesea will be a formidable place to be at, I hope to spend a good time there and also be present to show my support for La Selecta.

Continuing with the chronicles of a tortuous day, I had to woke up really early today in order to reserve a spot at a fan village in Bonesea, the proceeding was online, but despite of being promoted as "The easiest way to reserve a spot" it should have been called "A nightmare to reserve a spot", honestly, the system was so complicated, asking a lot of information from me such as "Where do you work right now?", "What's the main course of your nations cuisine?", "Are ales consumed in your nation?" and several other questions... I insist, there was need to ask everything? Why they didn't asked instead another kind of things or simply asked for money? Is the Boney government so intrusive in people's privacy? I hope it is not so invasive, I hope the purpose of said questions were for the mere sake of preparing stuff worthy to be included in a World Cup, something I think it will be in said way, since I don't found any logical purpose beyond the one mentioned earlier to ask that amount of things. After that, I took myself a picture and downloaded some stuff from the "E-citizenship" system in order to load them for the "fan-id.oi"¹ system, which I have to say, didn't collapsed as I expected due to the overload on the site, an overload caused by seas of people doing procedures at the last second in order to secure lodge for the World Cup.

After that, slept a while until my mom woke me up, knocking the door like an earthquake was happening, but it wasn't happening, she was desperate since she needed me to make the chores, such as going to the supermarket and then cleaning the house. My parents were going to the World Cup Finals too, so that'd be spectacular, to enjoy with them and some foreigners and make some exchange. We were going to the supermarket after reading the official regulations from the Bonesea Government on what we can take with us in San José Guayabal, since I read that they frown upon the consumption of cow meat, bacon, etc. Foods that are heavily consumed by us, the average Guayabalense, instead of meat, they preferred to eat fungus and insects, when my parents saw that, I could appreciate in them immediately a vomitive face, to the extreme point of seeing my father going to the bathroom and launching away his breakfast, well, that's culture for you, what can be an abomination for us, can be a delicatessen for some. Walking by the market, we saw some "yoghurt criollo"², we took at least twelve one-liter bottles for us, perhaps we can drink one liter each three days in order to keep rations going on in case we fortunately reach a higher instance in the World Cup, something that I personally hope for. Then, taking some meat, ribs, etc, basically, we were going to Boney lands with enough food to supply a troop of the army for half a month, although we are only three, so, that'd make us to conserve some food on the freezer at the fan lodges.

After taking a lot of time on supermarket and awaiting for the taxi, it finally arrived, our destination was the San Salvador International Airport, it was roughly a one hour trip from our house, located at the outskirts of San Salvador. The taxi driver obviously asked us "Are you going to support La Selecta?" We nodded, my dad said "Obviously, we have to support our kids, I hope this shall be the charm, I hope this is our time." The taxi driver continued to honk other cars in the traffic jam made near the main square of San Salvador and then said "I really hope so, after what happened on said time, I really want this boys to redeem the 'Golden Generation'³ that won a lot for us, shame that we weren't good fans, but good to know that a lot has changed with us mentally, now we won't go so far if something similar happens." My mom kept silent, perhaps reflecting for a while, as I did too, then I opened my mouth and said "Well, the team despite it's young, it has everything in order to pull it" My mom nodded and said "Indeed, they can do it, especially in a moment where basically all the tough nations are eliminating themselves or have suffered a lot in the qualifiers, while us, didn't suffered a lot compared to what they suffered, it wasn't a lot, but our group wasn't precisely easy-peasy, it was difficult" I was surprised after what she said, never expected to see her having a quite big explanation in football topics, but the day came, she just did it. My dad continued talking other topics on the car and then we arrived in the airport, the wait was short since after fourty-five minutes, we received the call to take the plane, migration stuff was easy, they let us pass the "army ration" without problems, we were leaving our country for first time, but what a time to leave it, in a time that Gregoryisgodistan attacked some cities and the Government decided to ask the Eurans for equipment, I know something like a war was coming, I just hope the country is OK and we can handle the Gregoryisgodistanis properly.

Hopefully nobody in my family was serving for the army anymore, due to fears of a conflict or situations like that, the love for family and your own life makes you to take wise decisions, and leaving the army was perhaps one of the best they could have taken, now they are going to Bonesea too and I hope I can meet them there and hang on with them, or perhaps I will be too busy with my parents and some foreigners, well, who knows? The plane took off and it was the beginning of the hellish moment of the trip, taking a plane, awaiting 15 hours to arrive in Cosumar, the closest gate to Bonesea and then 13 hours to cross the Wide Enness Ocean, which makes honour to its name, due to its gigantic 5,000 kilometers wide, which makes it treacherous for a plane to cross. In Cosumar, we didn't had enough time to explore the nation, we just had the chance to walk near the Ramusok International Airport, we just noticed that the city was clean, beautiful and looked quite like El Roblar, even they have a strong Swedish presence, something that made me feel the city familiar, since we have lived on El Roblar for at least four years, before moving to San Salvador due to my mother's work relocation. Then we took the airplane back and went to Spittalsea, the most horrible part of the flight was coming, and that's why it wasn't a rare sight to see concerned passengers asking if they had the "tank completely fuelled". It shall be mentioned that all the passengers were Guayabalense, so communication was easy in the plane, and the most common words were "Gasolina", "Inmenso océano" (Oil, giant ocean), since everybody was worried if any disaster could have happened, nobody wanted to end up at the bottom of an almost unknown ocean, so, everybody was praying near departure, while I slept after my prayer. I gladly woke up when we were 300 kms away from Spittalsea, according to the pilot, that meant less than an hour for arrival, that's why I made my mother and my dad woke up, by pouring some water on their cheeks, they were scarred and just heard my dad saying "Nos hundimos" (We sunk) but I slapped him and then said "Nah, silly, I poured some water" He slapped me back, and people was laughing, then the environment turned off footballer and we started to say "Ole, ole, ole, ole, Guayabal, Guayabal" since we were close to arrive in Bonesea and the World Cup Fever was attacking our bodies.

The wait was finally over and we arrived to Bonesea, it was noon, and people was extremely tired after the trip, hence everybody went to the fan villages. On my mind, I was expecting that the process was going to be another torture, now imagine how tedious it was in internet, now figure it personally, it'd be even more tedious, who knows if more dumb questions were going to be asked? Nobody was on the mood of spending three hours or more in order to enter, everybody wanted to go in and sleep a bit so in the night we could explore the residential and meet new people out there. For my surprise, it was matter to give a number that we were given earlier in the online check-in, we did it and an ID was given to us. We were walking through the residential with our backpacks and stuff, we were a bit worried since we didn't asked for a map or something to ubicate ourselves and then moving to our apartment or whatever we had assigned, then we found a Sargossan, Claudia Damián, who apparently is a next-door neighbor in the "Building Complex D", she had the flat Nº 55 and we had the Nº 54, so I assumed we were neighbors. We started to talk more with Claudia and then we found out that the "Building Complex D" was closer than we thought at first glance, we were near the restaurant zone, and the building was across the restaurant zone, it was so close and frustrating to not see it until my father told us "Hey, that's is". We walked towards it and we were exchanging opinions on how beautiful was the fanzone, then I asked Claudia if she speaks Spanish, something that she answered with "Claro que sí, hablo español." My dad looked at her and said "Mucho gusto, mi nombre es Hernán" (A pleasure, my name is Hernán) my mother introduced herself with Claudia and the same I did too. We took a lift and then reached the ninth floor, which is where we would be lodged, we walked and saw our flat, it looked cozy after I passed the ID card on the door lock and opened, we said to Claudia Damián an "Hasta Luego" (Let's see ourselves after) and we proceeded to explore the flat, which looked cozy, to the point of having a jacuzzi, a nice shower and three beds, then a fridge and a TV with satellite signal, to the point of even having Guayabalense channels in the broadcasting list. Perfect for us, but it was enough for a while, time to sleep and then relaxing for a bit.

After sleeping roughly seven hours, I woke up and then my parents did, I saw at the TV that it was 19:35, the night was young at that point, so, it could be a golden chance to go outside and discover what Bonesea had for us, parents were dressing up and then we decided to walk out, Claudia was surely sleeping, hence we decided to let her sleep more, so we couldn't disturb her. We were getting on the flat and a guy came to us, by the looks of it, looked like an Echani, since he was wearing the Echani National Team jersey, he wasn't alone, her girlfriend (Perhaps?) was with him, I noticed them talking about the draw of the World Cup to be held at 20:00, my dad asked them "Is it today or tomorrow?" They said "Today, sir." My dad turned from how one looks after waking up to an euphoric being in a couple of seconds, the Echani asked us "Where are you from?" We said "San José Guayabal" His girlfriend abruptly asked "Alianza or FAS?" I took that they were aware of the rivalry, well, who wouldn't be aware of such a rivalry between Alianza and FAS, which is a family divider issue since my dad supports Alianza while mom and I support FAS, we said FAS and my dad said "Pfft, they don't know anything about football... I'm an Alianza fan." My mom said rapidly "Your team sucks, bro, it sucks" while the Echani couple identified themselves as Elissa Lucretia and Italus Castell, both were 20 and 19 years old respectively, we Identified too and then we walked to the bar in order to see the draw.

At the bar, we asked for some groceries and a beer ale to start the night, although, we wouldn't drink a lot since we don't want to fuel up a potential headache caused by jetlag or another thing related to it, so, it'd be better to abstain from excessive consumption for one day at least. The pots were released and what it surprised me is to see San José Guayabal as first ranked, well, we didn't expected to do so well in qualifiers, but it wasn't that, the old number one team, the Unified Sunrise Islands retired from football due to financial problems, apparently, the sport represented into an economical loss for the FA, which sounded weird since they won two World Cups not a long time ago, so that'd be an issue like corruption into the FA or something like that.⁴ While Farfadillis hadn't the best of qualifiers this time. It was our turn to command rankings, something that made me happy, also made my parents happy and the Echanis congratulated us, still nothing to brag about since we just saw that happening, we didn't acted to let that happen, we just supported the team as always. The pots started again and we witnessed how La Selecta was placed in Group 6, Group F, or whatever you want to call it. While the Echanis had to do a long wait, a tortuous wait since they were only expecting that their nation weren't placed on a horrible group, while us, we were expecting only to have a soft group, although, I was aware that in World Cup, there's not such a thing called "soft group" or derived things. We saw how Brenecia landed at our group, something that made my father gasp and said "Well, that will be a tough match" and in fact, having the best defense of the multiverse in front of your team's aspirations wasn't the best thing, instead, was one of the most difficult things to beat, but if you want to be the Champion, pass over all the teams you must do.

I was surprised while seeing how good famed nations such as Sargossa, Starblaydia, Spaam, Eshan, etc. Were placed so low on the fourth pot, well, ranks destiny and mathematics are weird, not my world, definitely, since I have sucked on mathematics since ever, totally opposed on what happens with me at history, where I rule as much as the old Kaisers and Emperors did in their golden times, back where peoples didn't had power over the bourgeois or another elitist groups, now we have some power, but not enough to decide for ourselves, but that's not the matter of this. The Echanis were looking the groups very carefully and telling us "Well, some of those groups look hard, if not, look at Group H, Valanora and Chromatika, two good sides yet in opposed momentum, Vanorians are nostalgic on ancient golden times, back when they totally ruled the football world, Chromatiks were enjoying a quasi-perfect run in the qualifiers, being polluted by a draw caused by our good friends, the Damukunians, who tied 2-2 that match. "Look at that group, sweetie." Said Italus to Elissa, she nodded and said "I just want Eshan out of that group." but then Italus bragged "Well, we beat those elves in one of our early AOCAFs, so no problem if we have to face them, we are capable to beat them." In fact, it was a good thought, it'd be better to see those two teams eliminating themselves or perhaps qualifying both or only one of them doing it and then seeing another surprise coming down. My father shrugged at the thought of being matched with one of those teams or perhaps another team such as Spaam, Sargossa, etc, he was feeling uncomfortable by the fact of having to face Brenecia "Ah, those buds." was the word he had to repeat a thousand times over the night until Italus said "Well, sir, your team is number one, so, nothing weird should happen there, except for difficulty to beat that defense." Then Ethane appeared in the group of La Selecta, another good team on defense, which made my dad say "Well, we will have to break those defense via brutal force then." It wasn't an easy duty to do, but somebody had to do it.

Eshan finally appeared at Group 1, A... Whatever. Having to face Gregoryisgodistan, Cosumar and Damukuni, well, a death group, since the "muertos en vida"⁵ were eager to murder somebody and take their million gregorygodbucks. My parents and I said at the same time "Beat them badly" to the Echanis, they nodded and said "We shall do, we shall beat them!" my dad added "Dead or alive, but beat them." the Echanis laughed while some Bonesfolk were glaring at us, my father had to said "We are Guayabalenses, we are supposed to fucking hate them." They said "Ah, well, we understand you then, sorry." It was a matter of comprehension of the conversation due to nationality issues, it was well known that Guayabalense hatred for the Gregoryisgodistanis was well fundamented, it had reason to be due to the constant threat they represent for our lives, so, nothing to be surprised at. While referring to Damukuni as a "hard team to beat" we saw how Nova Anglicana was being paired on San José Guayabal's group, well, another nation that owes us a debt, a debt due to what happened in World Cup 71, where they knocked us out of a World Cup in a playoff, still, we didn't payed a lot of attention since we decided to talk with the Echanis about their group, which was somewhat interesting by the fact of having to face one of the hosts and "that nation", so, the Echanis had a good chance to pull out some surprise in that Group if they were decided to do so, that would be their time to escalate quickly into the World Cup ladder, provided they shock Gregoryisgodistani or they rain into the Cosumarite parade, something that would be difficult to see due to the preparations that the Cosumarite National Team had done for the game. After talking a lot, we decided to drink some ales, see the Echanis consuming drugs and laughing at how high they were, and then, go to the building and sleep in order to adapt our bodies to the Boney timing, but that was not before we talked more with Claudia and notified her that Sargossa would face Valanora, Chromatika and Spaam, something that made her said "Carajo." (Fuck) and then decided to sleep.

---

Marcos

The day I've been waiting for has finally arrived, my eyes are now open, clock says... "11:25 PM"... Ah fuck, not yet. Back on dreams, I was constantly figuring myself while arriving to Cloverfield Stadium, where La Selecta will play their first World Cup match, somewhat the first in a literal sense since this is a totally new generation of players who hadn't World Cup experience, yet I know they are capable to pull a surprise and win it, the charm shall arrive and make it ours one day, perhaps this is our day? Who knows, aspirations are high this time but not in a fanatical or fatidic sense, this time we are being rational, we won't kill 'em by failing us. Time to open the eyes again "11:32 PM"... "Damn it" Perhaps I need to walk on the hall or do anything, playing some "Turismo Guayabalense 5"⁶ or something like that, perhaps racing will make time fly... My son and spouse were sleeping while I was having out a test at the "Twenty-four minutes of El Roblar" a parody of the famed "Twenty-four hours of El Roblar"⁷, played it three or four times in the night until I somehow felt asleep during a race... Continued to dream of myself being at Bonesea, what I have wanted a lot is to travel in order to support La Selecta, I know this is my golden chance and everything had been done, from the check-in online and all the stuff, bags were prepared and my videogames too, in the dream, I saw how the national team was celebrating a win in the World Cup, it wasn't the final, but it was a Group Stage match, a win in the first World Cup appearance for this boys means a lot, and I hope they manage to win something at least, but I continued to see myself celebrating and throwing beer to the air while doing it, my son was hugging me while my spouse, well, taking herself a selfie while celebrating, as she is an addict to self-portraits and all the social media stuff, while I'm not one of those.

My son walked on the hall and continued to play the videogame, I woke up to see him comfortable on a pillow on the floor while playing the game, I moved and he told me "It's 5:45 AM, we should wake up mom, so we can be ready." He didn't knew that I had everything sorted on during the night, so I had to tell him "I have everything done, just to take the taxi and go to the airport and sleep once again during the long hauls that were awaiting us. I'm not a fan of flying on planes and socialize with people during a flight, I sleep since there's no chance to play videogames, nor my son can do and my spouse can't chat on her mobile due to Wi-Fi restrictions on flight and also phone usage, well, it was martyrium for us, but somebody had to endure it. We called the taxi and it arrived early, perhaps at noon, so we went to the airport at a time where streets weren't so busy, people would be starting their turn at jobs, so 15 minutes to reach the airport and kaboom, we would be into the plane, finally! During the trip, I was talking to my spouse on "What should we do on Bonesea?" She said "Let's socialize for the first time, dude." My 20 years old son nodded and said "Well, it would be wise to do so." Basically, my mindset was programmed to go to Spittalsea and socialize as I have never done before, meet new people and talk with them. I'm not a fan of discovering new cultures or things by myself, I'm mostly a person who wants to kill off the time doing something and then watching the national team, from one way to other, we would need to kill off time and be ready to see La Selecta in order to play the game. The cab driver was also going to Bonesea, like us, he was decided to pay around C$ 100, which is roughly NS$ 200⁸. He didn't cared, but he wanted to do the trip, so we were one of the 70,000 or so Guayabalense fans that travelled to Bonesea. Of course, stadia there are small, so not all of those 70,000 would fit in a game, so some people had to resign themselves to be on the fan zones for one game only and then visiting other games, so, everybody would garantize themselves the chance to be in at least two games of the National Team.

The wait in the airport was large, since the migration staff had to check us our luggage, and we asked them to take care of it, due to the presence of electronics, such as our videogames, something we were really nitpicky about them, since we considered to be one of our most important possessions due to the time we spend always on them. Fortunately, we took 30 minutes to receive them after the check in airport and were OK, now, time to board the plane and sleep, it was a large trip to Semarland and then to Bonesea. We were going to spend a day in Semarland, since I have some friends there that I really want to meat, including a Bonesfolk lady who will give us some lodge, since she's friend of my Semar friend, so, a referal from us that earned some trust. Philippe Jolley-Trevowah was known for being an important backpacker, she is a "yuman bean" ⁹, prominent in tourism reviews and specialized blogs, so her opinion on what to visit in Bonesea would be important for me, since she knows what to do and how to do it. Although I'm not a tourist guy, doing a bit of it wouldn't harm me in the least, nor my son or spouse, some time away from the TV screens, or computer, away from eye-burners would be ideal for us, to breathe some fresh air, so, I'd take it despite I'm not a fan of outdoors. From a booklet I read, Bonesfolk culture looked interesting at some extent, well, in the part that was mentioned to not walk alone on forests due to the presence of wilderness and also their respect to Terriers (Which I really hate) and crows (Horrible) since they have citizen rights in Bonesea (What the hell? How can you bring citizenship to animals? LMAO) ¹⁰ Well, that's weird but that's their culture.

Continuing in culture topics, they tend to be quite conservative with it, due to the minimal impact from outside to it, and this can be easily spotted in their Boneylinga, which is their English dialect, which still conserves words from Old English, such as pannikin, etc. Well, words that are far from the reach of the English as a second language speaker. Those words even appear in their Boneysaga, which is a book at least 1300 years old, that depicts how Bonesea was founded and also, the tales of their founders before it; it's worthy to mention that Bonesea was founded around the ninth century, according to what was written in the "Skúllabók", which is some sort of foundation book, also, something that I liked is their democratic spirit since their beginnings, founding the Alþingi, which later turned into the "House of Bones", this is their equivalent to the Guayabalense National Assembly, which is not as old as the House of Bones/Alþingi itself. Aside from this interesting facts I read, there it comes the horrible ones, and by horrible, I mean disgusting... Who on earth would eat insects or another class of fungus aside from mushrooms? Well, the Bonesfolk do that and without doubt, it was vomitive, to the point of letting my spouse faint and don't wake up until we landed in Semarland, which sounds outrageous, but it was real, 100% Real. Now in Semarland, we had the opportunity to relax some time with Kwame, our friend, who welcomed us together with Philippe, the "yuman bean" that would act as a friend and guide in Bonesea.

It wasn't late in our schedule, but groups and first match-days were arranged while we were flying to Semarland, so, it was sure that we would talk about the groups and how our luck had went in that, also, how the first match-day would be for the other teams. Kwame wasn't alone with Philippe, they were with Romeo and Michael (Sargossan and Spaamian respectively), so this guaranteed that we would have a nice conversation before leaving together to Bonesea, led by our friend Philippe. Kwame offered us some tea, we accepted and then he gave us a newspaper with the groups arrangement, so we can analyze them and then talk about their first match-day, it would be like a sports program on TV, but within friends, so no heated debate, aside from the nationalities or another mindset of each person. I saw what San José Guayabal would had for the group stage, it didn't looked horrible, but tough, since two solid teams and then Nova Anglicana, which was in decadence compared to other cycles, so, the beginning of the path to glory seemed to be calm for us, but nothing to let us relax and stop fighting, so, the guys should be aware in order to not be surprised at the beginning, especially since the first matchday is against Brenecia, which is the most important game of the group.

We began speaking of Group A, Eshan vs Damukuni wasn't so attractive comparing to Cosumar vs Gregoryisgodistan, which has other things that make the game really spicy. Anyways, Eshan looked anxious in this World Cup, they want to demonstrate that they have enough skills and arguments to let them settle as regulars in the World Cup scene, while Damukuni is some steps forward Eshan in the same goal, since this is their second World Cup qualification in a row for the Damukunians, so, things looked somewhat familiar to them compared to the Echanis, so, Damukuni would have advantage for the first matchday, perhaps a 1-0 for Damukuni would be enough for their interests, although, Kwame beg to differ and said that Eshan would win 2-1, same said Philippe, Romeo and Michael. In the other match, that smelled more like blood than a World Cup opener, the Cosumarites have everything in order to cause damage to the almost impenetrable Gregoryisgodistani defense, which only allowed five goals in the Qualifiers, although, The Heathen Front would be important for the Cosumarites in the stands, their support would be immense and the Cosumarite mood will be at the skies, so, 3-1 for Cosumar. A statement that nobody beg to differ, it was unanimous in favor of Cosumar.

In Group B, Kwame said that an Eura vs Drawkland match didn't seemed to lopsided compared to other years, this time, seemed a bit more equal, but still with Euran dominance in some sectors. The Eurans have fallen in terms of quality after war erupted with neighboring Sameba, their mindset changed abruptly and made them worry most about their life and country rather than the national team, while Drawkland has a team that has been improving in gigantic steps since their BoF participation, Romeo said that the Eurans shouldn't be underestimated in their talent, Michael and my son nodded too, so, basically everybody was bowing towards an Euran win, perhaps 2-0 for Eura. In the next match, Nº 3 Farfadillis seemingly have everything in their favor against Turori, a side that is like a rollercoaster, does good participations in WC, then CoH, then WC, then CoH, a team that doesn't knows the definition for stability, the Farves aren't experiencing the best moment to be honest, Kwame and my spouse said that Farfadillis had lost some of their ability to keep up scores and secure victories, although they didn't were defeated a lot of times, the Farves wasted some leads on the game and then finished tying said games, so, Farves had some issues in order to keep things secure in their benefit, still, that would be corrected in World Cup, hence everybody was agreeing to see the game 3-0 for Farfadillis.

Kwame fanaticism reactivated in Group C, since it was Semarland's group, and their opener was against Pasarga. The Semars were unstable on the qualifiers, the Pasargans too, since they suffered to qualify, doing it in the last match-day and knocking out Red Blackiland in a quite surprising fashion, since everybody expected the Blackilandians to be in with ease, Kwame said that Semarland will win (DUH!) but Michael and Romeo beg to differ, as well my son, who said that Pasarga is regenerating well and has managed to forge out a good national team, enough to put them into the fight for the group title, so we agree that this game will be 1-2 for the Pasargans. Audioslavia vs Starblaydia, a match that would be considered as a derby back in the old times or as much at the WC 62-63, where both teams were in their best moment so far, now, it was far from attractive, the Starblaydis are regenerating themselves well (Regeneration is a key word for this group) while Audioslavia had reinvented themselves well, something that was helping them to keep themselves afloat into the top of the multiverse without major problems, Starblaydia has to pay their inactivity and that will make them to fail in their attempt to qualify for the next stage, although, keep an eye on them for future World Cups, so, the game shall be in favor of the Audioslavian team, 3-1.

In Group D, we had probably the most lopsided game, it was Schottia vs Tumbra, the Tumbrans had to face their first World Cup game against a team that has navigated through qualifiers with ease, winning all their matches, going flawless, we refer to Schottia. I guess this will be a default win for the Schottians, 4-0. While Vilita, the reigning World Champion starts their defense to the crown against Super-Llamaland, a team that has been so close to qualify in several occasions, and now they finally made it, they qualified after finishing second, without chance to fight for the first place due to Schottia's perfect run. The Vilitans have everything in their favour, even the match balls (made there) to win the game, so, we are calling this for Vilita, 2-1.

In Group E, we have the hosts, the Bonesfolk, Philippe jumped out of happiness after seeing that her team appeared in the conversation, their match against Osarius was narrow, the firebirds were surging after dark times, while the Bonesfolk had successfully consolidated into the World Cup scene, this WC hosting would help them to strive for a good finish in the tournament, hence, providing enough momentum for them in order to build enough arguments for a future World Cup victory for them or a major triumph for them at an international event, I guess the local status will help them, Bonesfolk win by 3, 4-1 for them. While Electrum will struggle to keep Mriin away from their goal, the Mriite team have the best offensive record of the tournament, with 54 goals scored, which is more than three goals scored per game, while Electrum didn't had a good qualifier at all, qualifying in the last match-day, after being somewhat out of contention, while they would have better chances to even win the Group, we still think that Mriin will win their first World Cup game, 3-2.

And here it goes, our group, San José Guayabal comes to this World Cup as the Nº 1 side of the multiverse, perhaps one of the favorite sides to win it? Only time will say if we really are that or we aren't that. Our first game is against Brenecia, Romeo and Michael said that Brenecia, despite having the best defense of the multiverse together with Gregoryisgodistan, they won't have a good performance against La Selecta, who will crack their defensive nut via force in order to secure a win, we agreed that a 1-0 for La Selecta is the most probable outcome. While for Ethane against Nova Anglicana, the explosive Esportivans have a better chance to win, due to their momentum in qualifiers, a better record and better performance during the last two World Cups, while Nova Anglicana has somehow qualified after some time without doing so, that meant enough for us, Ethane will win the game, 2-0.

In Group G, Romeo was somewhat motivated by the fact of seeing his national team back into the World Cup after having a lot of time without doing so, their rival would be Valladares, a team that has been considered to be solid in qualifiers and also solid in finals, without doubt a pretty balanced side, while Sargossa was still forming a group after being unable to compete at the finals for a lot of time, still, he realistically said that Sargossa wouldn't win nor be defeated, it'd be a 2-2 tie for both sides. While THE and Port Christopher would have an interesting duel out there, perhaps the important one in order to determine who would have more chances to qualify for the next round, Port Christopher has made a lot of progress in the last couple of years in football, hence making them a potential threat against the Imperial side, hence, another tie would happen here, a 0-0 and procrastinating the clear definition for a serious candidate to the second place.

Group H is perhaps the Group of Death, Valanora vs Spaam is the first matchday there, the Vanorians want to come back and try to win the World Cup for their sixth time, while the Spaamians want to return in a decorous way into the World Cup, after qualifying for second time in a row after 100 years or so without doing it (In their calendar), still, the Vanorians have the edge, Valanora wins 2-1. While Flardania and Chromatika will close the first matchday, the things look so favorable for the Chromatik side in their opener, after winning fifteen games and only tying one, while Flardania had a good run but not as good as the Chromatik side, hence, I think Chromatika have advantage and might win, Chromatiks will win 3-2. That were my last words since I saw the clock, it was 1:37 AM and our flight would leave Semarland at 10:00 AM, so we needed to relax before going to Boney lands.

---

Clarifications:

¹: Based on what the Russian Government is doing for the 2018 World Cup.
²: Guayabalense name for "Skyr", which is an Icelandic product derived from milk, adapted to the Guayabalense cuisine as common yoghurt.
³: Or also called "Generación Dorada", was the national team of San José Guayabal who won two third place and two runner-up designations in World Cup, apart from winning CoH 63.
⁴: Alina is supposing that, not providing an official statement of the situation.
⁵: Spanish for "Dead while living", an expression used by Guayabalenses to refer at Gregoryisgodistanis, as people who can't reason by themselves due to state propaganda.
⁶: Guayabalense equivalent of Gran Turismo 6.
⁷: Racing event, similar to Le Mans 24h.
⁸: One Guayabalense Corona is equal to two NS Dollars.
⁹: Humanoid Beans from Bonesea.
¹⁰: Marcos' personal opinion, IC stays IC.

[Bonesea]

[Cosumar]

Margaret is a cruel mistress, at her most ruthless in this final stage of the World Cup.
Some Pain Will Last from each shot she fires.
But in the end, it serves to make each triump infnitely sweeter.

It's that time again.
Welcome to the World Cup.

---

Matchday 1 RP Cutoff: Groups E-H
Scores

[Eura]

OOC: Continued from here.

Isolation against overwhelming odds is among the greatest fears of any naval commander. The thought of having no route out and no reserves to fall upon while facing a numerically superior enemy can put shudders up the spine of the strongest of individuals. Initially it was both opposing admiral's at the Battle of the Scrub Islands who shared such feelings. On the first night when things were going badly for the Sameban Navy, their fleet's commanding officer Admiral Parzi was shaking at his cabin desk and trying to drown out the sound of launching aircraft on his flight deck with classical music. He suffered these episodes sometimes and had been extremely careful to suppress them or hide them if that was impossible, saving his role and status within the navy. A magnificent crescendo of the work of great Sameban nationalist composers couldn't quite do the trick though. His jets, his pilots, his responsibility. It was weighing down on him like a ton of bricks. His opponent at this crucial juncture of the war was Admiral Torrance of the Euran Navy. Torrance's fear was less rational given the slim advantage he had and the good start to the battle. As the battle progressed though his own nervous tics had come into play, especially after the initial pincer movement failed to account for any enemy carriers. One of the General Hartson carriers, ENS Wintrose, had been targeted successfully by Sameban jets in the brutal long range air battle. Their missiles and even a couple of bombs had struck the ship. It wouldn't sink and casualties were not overwhelming but flight operations were over. Then the ENS Robinson lost its ability to launch jets to a serious technical error and the effect of the weather. Everything had suddenly gone wrong as the battle stretched into its second day. Only one of his three nuclear carriers, Myrmidon, and the light carrier Pooltree remained fully operational.

Gradually Admiral Parzi had grown in confidence as reports came back of the Euran's airpower suddenly thinning. Several Euran escorts had been hit and it was believed that on their third attack run they would finally find the main nuclear carriers. One of them had reportedly been disabled but the other two remained unaccounted for. By now the Euran's pincer movement had been exposed and repulsed smartly but ultimately it just delayed the inevitable titanic clash with a prolonged battle from over the horizon. Aircraft and missiles had dominated the day so far with one exception. The Sameban battleship Zumka had limped back to the island of Gardener with a major list after being torpedoed by what must have been one of Eura's nuclear attack submarines. Despite this setback and the loss of several invaluable escorts Parzi now had a decision to make from a position of strength as the Euran's appeared to be reeling from their abortive attempt to lure this sizeable Sameban fleet into a trap. Indeed a debate was being had as to whether or not the Sameban's should go on the offensive while they could rather than withdraw and guarantee the ability to fight another day. What they hadn't really appreciated yet was that the trap had worked. If it hadn't, they would not still be engaged. They would have been able to abandon the fight and run for home without the Euran's giving chase. This was the critical moment and both fleets had misread their strength in different ways.

Sitting with his most senior officers Parzi believed that there was a real chance of not just escaping but scoring another decisive victory that hours ago had seemed impossible. Further reports from his surveillance aircraft and the four diesel submarines that had been sent forward to try and break the Euran's escort cordon suggested that there were three Euran nuclear aircraft carriers, but that only one could operationally launch aircraft. Unaware of the numerical superiority of Eura's other ships and the second light carrier, his occasional recklessness that Torrance had sought to initially exploit came into play once more. On his order, the Sameban's launched a massive wave of attack aircraft heading solely for the position of what they believed to be the one operational Euran carrier. Losses could be potentially heavy and they knew that the enemies escorts would inflict many casualties but the prize was too great to resist. As many jets were launched as possible leaving all three of his carriers without much in the way of carrier air patrols. Two earlier raids of similar size, including the one that fell for the initial ruse, had failed to find and destroy the Euran fleet in sufficient numbers despite the severe damage done to Wintrose. Parzi and his staff waited for a long time without news before eventually being told that there had been no success. Instead they had encountered a barrage of surface to air missiles and Euran Fleet Air Arm jump jets flying off a previously undetected light carrier which they thought was Eastweald. That ship had actually been sunk earlier in the day. This was Pooltree and its pilots were determined to inflict revenge for the loss of the city their ship was named after.

On the other side of the fence Torrance had believed his offensive position was useless until he could get flight operations online on Robinson. He would be proven wrong. The successful battering of the third wave of Sameban aircraft was only a temporary relief. Increasingly the staff had been considering the merits of withdrawing to regroup and get the carriers back in working order as currently only the small air arm of the Pooltree could defend the fleet effectively. Such a decision would infuriate the Admiralty who had been clear that this Sameban force had to be decimated at all costs but they would be even more incensed if the Euran's lost the battle to boot. Then came perhaps the most crucial piece of information to be gained during the course of the battle. It was passed around like gold dust on the command ship in the form of a short print out containing a message from the submarine that had crippled the Zumka. A day of skin crawling tension had paid off for their crew who had managed to get close to the main Sameban force. 'CO-ORDS ATTACHED. GREEN PACK SIGHTED. SPARSE VEGETATION, HIGH CONFIDENCE. FOUR OAKS. ONE WILLOW.' The code was crude but essentially simple. The bulk of the fleet contained four primary aircraft carriers and a missile battlecruiser, which was quickly identified as being SNS Dies Irae. Their exact location had been marked and remarkably they had little air cover for now. One piece of paper had given the Euran Navy an opening that might not appear again. Some analysts checked the data against the Sameban aircraft tracked during the last attack and confirmed that it was consistent with a fully committed number, even if many had turned for home when they couldn't find any Euran capital ships. Subsequently the only logical conclusion was that the submarine report was accurate. The Sameban Navy had left four carriers with minimal air cover for a short period of time that was not yet over.

Inside the bridge of the Euran command ship on which Torrance and his staff were based, the mood suddenly shifted completely. Thinking turned into action and Torrance was on hand to demonstrate his leadership qualities by articulating what needed to be done before anyone else had even opened their mouth to speak. 'Jets from Myrmidon are still in the air and loaded for anti-shipping, correct?'
'Yes Admiral. Most of their air group in fact. Forty CF-10's and their helicopters are all on ASW. Add contributions from the other carriers and you've got around sixty CF-10's and Harriers. Should we pull them back?'
'Not a bloody chance. They're well out to the west to come around and finish off Zumka right? What's their fuel situation?'
'They're all loaded for a long journey north Admiral, we thought performance was expendable to carry greater range if we lost any more flight decks.'
'We don't have a choice then. If they come home its us against four carriers. That is a dangerous situation even if we have superior escort numbers. If they attack now while their aircraft are returning from attacking us, we have a chance to do some serious damage. It won't matter how many birds are in the air if we cut down the trees they nest in.'
'Won't that risk leaving us totally exposed to further air attack should we fail?'
'Should we fail then yes. But if we succeed this battle is over.' Torrance momentarily demanded silence from his entire command crew so that he could cement his thinking in their minds. 'If we don't take this risk there is a serious chance that this Sameban fleet will make it home and possibly sink us on the way. It would set back the government's war plan by many months. Millions of lives could be on the line at home. Your families, your homes! I don't want any excuses. Relay the information to our aircraft and attack. What's our window?'
'Forty five minutes sir. Our planes should reach the point of no return on fuel around the same time the Sameban's return to their carriers.'
'There's not nearly enough time in war is there?' Torrance hesitated for the last time. 'Bounce a message back to the Admiralty to expect news within a couple of hours. Let's do it.'

----------

The reef regions of the northern Endemian Ocean glow sometimes. Pilots from both sides could see it during this onslaught. Rather oddly there was a lull in the aerial battle as dozens of Euran jets lingered over the ocean to the west of the Scrub Islands, allowing their pilots to observe the phenomenon even during daylight. No Sameban jets had come to intercept them and both fleets were dodging and diving past one another. Bizarrely the Euran Navy's airpower was spectating at this point in time. Their mission was to sink the already wounded battleship Zumka while the Sameban's were distracted but en route there had been a drastic change in plan. At first no-one could quite believe what was being ordered. The ageing warship was to be left to its own devices but they were not to fly home. Instead they were to carry out an attack on the core Sameban fleet, which had been precisely located, and was confirmed to now form a fully merged force rather than the previously separate two fleets. Protests had been recorded over the radio in a rare act of dissidence against command but not for long. Within minutes the flight had climbed to a higher altitude and now its aircraft were screaming northwards as fast as they could go with heavy payloads and mostly intact fuel supplies. Colonel Robert Rainer piloted the lead aircraft and distributed specific orders with the gravest of tones. 'All aircraft, targets confirmed. Flat tops, four. Battlecruisers, one. Escorts, unknown number. Watch for SAM's on Gardener. We have a maximum of fifteen minutes hang time and the target. Aircraft with BVR weapons will engage first on my mark, aircraft without will close further and engage.' Ignoring his order of radio silence after the initial, unprofessional response, a bewildered airman snapped back over his radio. 'And what about aircraft?' This was the part Rainer was reluctant to say. He didn't want to mislead his men with a report that he simply didn't believe. 'Enemy air expected to be minimal.' It couldn't be true. Could it?

From that point on there was no question of turning back. Silence dominated the airwaves as they roared towards their target. Radar information came in from the fleet as the weather began to clear. Rainer took note of a warning that two large formations of Sameban aircraft were flying back to their ships over Gardener. Potentially the Euran jets going on the offensive would be subject to attack from behind by enemy aircraft just minutes after getting in range of the Sameban carriers. The margin of error was so fine that Rainer decided to break silence again. 'Don't take any chances. Fire and forget if you can and burn away. Good luck everyone, assume attack formation.' Closer and closer they gained on the enemy apparently undetected. Moments before they came within range of the Sameban carriers with their longest range anti-ship weaponry the Euran jets lowered their noses into a slight descent. Once they had launched their long distance weapons it was important to gain more speed quickly and attack hard and fast from above with cannon and bombs if needed. The sun glinted off the never ending ocean. How perverse it was that such a beautiful scene could be sullied by something as wasteful as human warfare. The moment had come and there could be no further stalling. Rainer flicked open his primary trigger and reviewed the information on the screen in front of him. A large target had been attained with no track detected the other way. 'No SAM. Finding a lock.' Excruciatingly long seconds passed as Rainer tried to obtain missile lock on his target. He glanced down at the wings either side of him. Two active homing ASM-305's were waiting to fulfill the purpose of their existence. Eura's standard air launched anti-ship missile was about to write itself into the history books. Finally a tone was found, marked by a constant electronic thudding noise. 'Bravo One-One, firing.' There was a brief but firm jolting sound as the missiles dropped off the wing and then sped away. 'Bravo Wing, fire when ready.' They all fired and those who didn't flew forward to face the music.

----------

Months of overwhelmingly tragic conflict had taken its toll on the political leadership in Bastion. Or more accurately, the political leadership in the various bunkers and bases they had decamped to during the state of emergency. The Prime Minister and his most trusted colleagues both military and civilian had experienced a rough couple of weeks. A snap investigation into his own cabinet had led to Michael Judge sacking three Capital Party MP's and barring the party from the wartime government arrangements. Publicly this had caused uproar but in secret both sides knew why he had done it. The Capital Party leadership had been outfoxed already and were now planning how to resist the political hammer blow they might have to face when Judge went public with the betrayal in northern Electrum. Some of their donors had actually given up on the political scheme already and were channeling their funding to "resistance and representation" groups in the country. Meanwhile the economy was bouncing between the positives of being a military industrial superpower in full production mode and the negatives of being overburdened with wartime chaos and a dramatic contraction in the availability of oil. The Battle of Oakstone continued to drag on in all of its unimaginable horror and no breakthrough was in site despite the secret preparations for the theoretical Operation 'Roundhouse'. Judge needed gamechanging news. Everyone needed gamechanging news. It finally came after just over half a year of blood, sweat and tears.

The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Percy walked in to a packed room full of the leadership alongside General Maitlock. The General had been delegated as the Superior Commanding Officer for all operations relating to Roundhouse. Unofficially one of those operations was the plan to intercept and destroy two major Sameban naval formations gathering somewhere in the northern Endemian Ocean. A few days earlier the cabinet had been told that they had been found, and that an engagement would begin shortly. There had been little news since apart from vague box ticking requests regarding the approval of certain actions such as torpedoing Zumka. All anyone knew was that a victory might change the course of the war at sea by demoralising the Sameban Navy and crippling its ability to project force overseas without submarines. Judge was the only one who spoke. 'Is it news from the east?' Maitlock declined an offer from Percy to introduce the latest news received, so the CNS cleared his throat and read it out. 'The Admiralty War Committee informs the Prime Minister that elements of the Euran Navy under Admiral Morris Torrance, officer commanding on the command ship Lucian, have engaged forces of the Sameban Navy in the vicinity of the Scrub Islands, specifically the First Endemian Fleet and the Second Grand Seas Fleet. Three days of combat have occurred. We have lost a light aircraft carrier, Eastweald, and at least eight other ships. The nuclear aircraft carrier Wintrose has sustained heavy damage.' Familiar feelings of grief and despair populated the minds of those present. Notably there was an exception to this. Maitlock had a smile on his face.

Judge noticed the inappropriate expression given by Maitlock within a few seconds. 'General Maitlock, is there something you wanted to say?' Admiral Percy allowed the General to take over. 'Prime Minister, the Admiralty also reports the following message from Torrance from three hours ago. Heavy casualties to Sameban naval air forces. Numerous escorts sunk. Missile battlecruiser damaged and fleeing. Battleship Zumka scuttled on Wombar Reef.' A murmur of excitement went around the room as what had sounded like a setback and missed opporunity transpired into something more victorious. Maitlock paused much to the irritation of one of the more junior ministers. 'Bloody spit it out man, what about the carriers? They've been sinking everything they come across, did we get them?' He milked the moment a little more. It was too joyous an occasion not to savour. 'Four enemy aircraft carriers engaged with air cover preoccupied. All four identified as fleet carriers including Sameban Navy flagship Coley. One rendered operationally disabled. Three have been sunk. Significant enemy manpower losses and commanding staff killed. Sameban naval force has dispersed. Victory was never in doubt. Long live Eura and the Federation, signed, Torrance.' He couldn't even finish the last words of the message before the entire room erupted in a display of jubilation that looked to be more at home in a football stadium. Politicians who had opposed each other on each side of the parliamentary benches embraced each other like long separated friends. Tears of relief were shed. Eura wasn't losing the war but it had still felt that way so far. This was the first time that those present had been able to celebrate a victory without caveats or complications. Judge didn't join in. He went to join Maitlock at the back of the room instead. 'When can we begin?'
'Forty eight hours Prime Minister.'
'Good. There's no going back now.' Truer words couldn't have been chosen. The outcome of this war was on a knife edge. It was Maitlock's job to make sure that knife was firmly embedded in the heart of Emile Gartanzo's fascistic nightmare once and for all.

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Gregoryisgodistan, Just Beyond Zone of Death

Gregoryisgodistani troops had quietly withdrawn from San Jose Guayabal the same way they came after having terrorized the Guaya Beans for a few days, but the propaganda was not done yet. Gregoryisgodistani construction workers had set up one of the largest Jumboscreens in the Multiverse, a video board measuring 1,200 feet wide and 675 feet tall, with the bottom 800 feet off the ground so it could be seen from well across the border. The plan was to set up as many of these boards as possible just beyond the Zone of Death in the coming weeks, playing propaganda into San Jose Guayabal at all hours of the day and night. There were also giant speakers mounted near the video boards to play the sound at the loudest possible volume, so loud that the boards needed to be installed with vibration-proof mounts to keep them from shaking so much as to make the pictures unwatchable. The sound could be heard for miles and miles in all directions. Of course, Gregoryisgodistanis were used to the endless propaganda, but the Guayabalense were not. For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the boards played video of military parades, accompanied by loud songs praising Lord Almighty Gregory, in addition to documentaries about how great Lord Almighty Gregory was. These included videos of Lord Almighty Gregory giving his greatest speeches, such as when he promised to build a wall on the border with San Jose Guayabal and make the Guaya Beans pay for it, or when he came up with highly insulting names for his enemies, such as using air quotes around "King" every time he mentioned "King" Andreas, referring to Damukuni as "Dumbokuni" and referring to the wicked Caleb O'Reilly as "Dumpy O'Rumpy".

The boards would also occasionally play propaganda about how Queen Margaret was a wicked, Satanic Queen who drank the blood of babies and had sex with goats, and how she needed to be overthrown. The hopes were to sow hatred against the Guayabalense government from within, but so far the Guayabalense just seemed upset that their houses were constantly shaking from the sound and their sleep was disturbed. Many had taken to wearing earplugs everywhere they went and just writing on signs, since the sound was incredibly loud and annoying. And with the speakers up so high, it really carried. Thankfully, the sounds were not disturbing the wall, which had been built to resist such things. At precisely 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM every day, Lord Almighty Gregory would give a speech on the video boards which would also appear on all the telescreens all across Gregoryisgodistan, so the people would see what he was saying. Here is the transcript from the latest speech.

Lord Almighty Gregory's 9:00 PM Speech to San Jose Guayabal and Gregoryisgodistan

"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and slaves, and good evening Guaya Beans. It is I, Lord Almighty Gregory, the most amazing, awesome, God Leader in the Multiverse. Am I amazing? Yes, I'm so amazing, let's have a round of applause for me!"

As thunderous applause rips from the speakers on the border like a thunderclap from the sky, everyone in Gregoryisgodistan applauds Lord Almighty Gregory. Meanwhile, the sound is loud enough to shatter several windows near the border, among the loudest sounds yet to come from the speakers. Then, Lord Almighty Gregory continues his speech.

"We're so great. aren't we? We build the wall across our border with the Guaya Beans, and we made them pay for it, not with money, but with blood and destruction! We have killed so many Guaya Beans they begged us to stop, and once their debt was paid, we did, for now. But we will never stop hating the Guaya Beans, never! Queen Margaret must be overthrown! She drinks the blood of babies and has sex with goats! And she rapes babies too before she drinks their blood! And then she eats their brains! Queen Margaret is horrible. Let's all boo her right now."

As the sounds of booing and hissing emanate from the speakers at high volume, everyone in Gregoryisgodistan joins in, booing Queen Margaret.

"I call her Maniac Maggie because she's so crazy. And we're going to lock her up, and then we're going to kill her for her crimes! She is going to die! Maniac Maggie is going to die! She is going to pay for her sins, she is a murderer and a crook and a baby eater and a rapist who defends other rapists and murderers, which 99% of her country is. It is a most lawless country, they are a bunch of rapists and murderers, and one day they will pay for their sins. We've got big stuff coming up, big stuff. And they're a bunch of bad hombres, I tell you, bad hombres. Hombres is how you say people in their wicked, heathen, language which we will no longer speak except to call them bad hombres. We will speak English here, the Lord's Language! Because we are great, and Gregoryisgodistan is great, and together, we can make Gregoryisgodistan even greater!

"Yes, that's right, we are the most glorious and holy nation in the multiverse, and together, we will destroy the heathen infidel Guaya Beans. We will destroy them! We will destroy them! We will destroy them! Maniac Maggie will die! Maniac Maggie will perish! Maniac Maggie is a crook and a murderer and a rapist, and a goat sex person, and a rapist enabler, and a nasty, nasty woman! Such a nasty woman! Now, please join me in the national anthem!"

As it did every hour on the hour, except at the 9:00 hour when it waited until after Lord Almighty Gregory's propaganda speeches, the national anthem plays on telescreens all across Gregoryisgodistan as well as from the speakers on maximum volume. It can be heard for miles into San Jose Guayabal, making the people really mad. The national anthem was even louder than the other propaganda, and even the sound effects, just as it always was. Windows shatter and glasses break near the border, but thankfully Gregoryisgodistani homes were protected by the construction workers who installed the propaganda devices. The people of Gregoryisgodistan join in and sing their national anthem with pride and passion, because to fail to do so is a capital crime.


Tune is here

You are our God, you are our Lord
Lord Almighty Gregory
You kill the heathens by the sword
Lord Almighty Gregory
We worship you unto the core
We will love you forevermore
You kill the fools in holy war
Lord Almighty Gregory

Hark to the Lord and his appeal
Lord Almighty Gregory
We worship you with all our zeal
Lord Almighty Gregory
You are our God, you do reveal
Before you, we pray and kneel
You stab the heathens in the heel
Lord Almighty Gregory

You are our God, in you we trust
Lord Almighty Gregory
Your holy sword shall never rust
Lord Almighty Gregory
You turn Hicanans all to dust
You are kind and always just
Worship you, we must! We must!
Lord Almighty Gregory

You give us prune juice and free gruel
Lord Almighty Gregory
Those who don’t love you are all fools
Lord Almighty Gregory
You’re always generous, not cruel
You kill Queen Margaret in a duel
You are our God and you do rule
Lord Almighty Gregory

You lead our country brave and strong
Lord Almighty Gregory
We bow and praise you all day long
Lord Almighty Gregory
You’re always right, you’re never wrong
And so we sing our favorite song
And if you love him, sing along
Lord Almighty Gregory

You shoot the heathens in the head
Lord Almighty Gregory
And pretty soon they’ll all be dead
Lord Almighty Gregory
We worship you from dawn till bed
And raise our flag, gold, black and red
With gruel and prune juice we are fed
Lord Almighty Gregory

We praise you and we worship you
Lord Almighty Gregory
To you we all remain so true
Lord Almighty Gregory
The Free Republics have no clue
That to you, all praise is due
And you never take a poo
Lord Almighty Gregory

You will not yield to heathen clowns
Lord Almighty Gregory
You will destroy Queen Margaret's crown
Lord Almighty Gregory
All our enemies go down
From Apox to San Pedro town
And Llamaland will wear a frown
Lord Almighty Gregory

Sound the trumpet, play the drum
Lord Almighty Gregory
Those who don’t praise you are so dumb
Lord Almighty Gregory
The guns we’ll blast, the harps we’ll strum
Hurrah! We’ll kill the heathen scum!
They’ll die! They’ll burn! We’ll come! We’ll come!
Lord Almighty Gregory

As the national anthem got to the line about how the heathen scum will burn, flames shot out of all the video boards, just as they always do on that verse, the flames are 300 feet high above the video board and are visible even further than the propaganda images, as a reminder of the fate that awaits San Jose Guayabal someday.

After the anthem concludes, the propaganda videos return to the giant videoboards but Gregoryisgodistanis are in peace, even the ones near the border in their recently sound-proofed homes. But the Guayabalense near the border were once again tormented.

[Brenecia]

San Jose Guayabal 2-2 Brenecia
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Woodgate; 18 - Carrack (2 - Szukala 51'), 5 - Scrivener, 6 - Szubanski, 3 - Lovelock; 4 - Gryphon (c), 16 - Drover (8 - Skorupska 72'); 7 - Trevelyan, 11 - Balliol, 13 - Keohane; 17 - Bannion (9 - Rankin 60')
Goals: Trevelyan 57', Rankin 86'

What was it, then, that they said about the way plans coped with first contact by the enemy?
Right, right. 'Not fucking well'.
The plan had been to sit back and strike on the counterattack. The Guayabalense were well-known as being attack-minded, they sat in an open 4-4-2 and had an inexperienced side under a new manager. Brenecia's spine was rock-solid. All they needed to do, in fact, was wait it out. Even a draw was a decent enough result.
In the ninth minute, the solid but inexperienced Carrack underestimated Ochoa, sat back, gave the Atletico winger all the time in the world to find his shot and thread it into the far corner, well beyond Woodgate's reach.
In the nineteenth, Salomon danced past Lovelock into the area and was smashed off his feet by Niko Szubanski. Szubanski was booked, Palacios opted for a panenka against Woodgate who dived early and hammered his fists into the ground with frustration... and now the Guyabalense had the buffer they needed to keep Brenecia at arm's length. Now Brenecia needed to attack. Had they forgotten how, over the course of qualifying?
Yeah, Ursula Rankin could reflect, the saying had pretty much checked out in this instance. And here she was, the proof of that, told brusquely to warm up on the touchline to come in on the hour mark.
And then Squire Trevelyan had done... that. A simple goal, and Trevelyan hadn't scored enough of them in qualifying, but it was no less beautiful for that. Chavez's heavy touch lost the ball to Drover, who slotted the ball across to Lovelock who looped a high cross into the edge of the box, and Trevelyan stole in past a stationary Gonzalez and Navas, dipped his head and dinked the ball past Ricardo Costa. Football was easy.
But they were still 2-1 down, and going down early, chasing games... that was what they were meant to do to other teams. This wasn't the natural order of things. And she was a little relieved, she had to admit, when Bardsley didn't keep faith in Bannion and sent Rankin on as planned.
Yesss... this was right. This was how it should be. Bardsley's precious ironclad defence had crumbled in the first half, and now when things got really hot, they called for her. Snub-nosed, bitter Ursula Rankin, who'd been some way behind the door when the faces had been handed out, but as God was her witness she knew her way to goal. After all, she'd done so in these colours sixty-six times already.
This was going to be no different.
She sidled up to Coronel, probably the best defender on the night... off his shoulder, just the way she liked, and glanced up at the Guayabalense fans. She jerked a thumb up at them. "Angry bunch, hey? They look hungry for blood tonight."
Did he speak English? The effect seemed to get through, regardless. She knew it worked when Keohane fed through a lovely ball and Rankin took it up, still with three men to beat and being driven away from goal and Coronel's studs went through her and ohhh, that was a good pain. That was a booking's worth of pain, and the referee, as he must, obliged, and then Sander Balliol glanced up from the free kick and lofted the ball over the wall...
... but too close to Costa, who caught it. Balliol spat on the ground. Even so... they were getting closer. Bardsley threw on Skorupska, and that boded well - Skorupska, was a good player and, just as importantly, had a fresh pair of legs. She'd lost her starting role and she wanted it back - hah, Rankin could relate to that. But Skorupska had admitted to Rankin that while it was a bitter blow to be consigned to the bench, it was wonderful to be sent back out onto the pitch, and be the one pair of fresh legs on the pitch.
Maybe there was something in that, from the way that she strode in and just... commanded, from that point. And maybe there was something, too, in the comforting thought that she and Skorupska - and Czeslawa Szukala, for that matter, darting around on the right flank - had been chosen as those most likely to make a decisive impact.
But time was not on their side...
But there was enough, Rankin reminded herself, and willed herself to stop glancing up at it. Anything could happen in football. The only second that mattered was the last, because in a second, anything could happen.
For instance... Skorupska could snap down hard on Ospina after a dangerously drifting touch. And then, she could race forward with those fresh legs, play a neat one-two with Keohane down the left and find space and fire...
Low and hard, but not as well as Ochoa had, and Costa got down to get a hand to it, the ball slammed against his fingers and palms and trickled treacherously away in the grass...
... and Rankin was there, fractions ahead of Coronel, to slide in and stretch out a toe to prod the ball into the net.
It wasn't a pretty goal. They rarely were. But it was the one they needed.
So she raced into the net and pulled the ball out and hoofed it back frantically towards the halfway line - after all, a second would be even sweeter. She wouldn't get it, but in a way, that was alright. If life was a fairytale, the successes - the little moments - wouldn't mean anything.
As it was, she knew Brenecia had that point thanks to her, and that was more than enough for goal number 67. Certainly not least, and, she hoped to God, not last by a long shot.

[Starblaydia]

Part One: Takeaway
Part Two: Duchess
Part Three: Fidget
Part Four: Torque
Part Five: Omen
Part Six: Leap
Part Seven: Screams
Part Eight: Iota
Part Nine: Death
Part Ten: Wrong
Part Eleven: Happy
Part Twelve: Together
Part Thirteen: Sweat
Part Fourteen: Taken

"Well at least the other night wasn't terrible," Simeone said, looking out over the golden beach towards the gently breaking waves on the Pelethas shore.

"Talking shop already?" Ázëwyn gasped, overplaying the exasperation somewhat as she brushed her hair from her face, blown by the sea breeze, "why don't you just get your phone out and ignore a conversation properly?"

Simeone laughed as he squinted off into the distance. There were only two things that any Starblaydi thought were worth talking about of late - the first being Lord-Protector Julius Starblayde in a medically-induced coma after his apparent heart attack at the Nephara match, and the other being Starblaydia versus Audioslavia. With two immortal beings enjoying a pleasant walk on the beach, the potential death of a long-lived, but ultimately very much mortal, man was never going to be their starting topic.

"It was an improvement from AOCAF fifty-three," Simeone continued, persisting not because he desperately wanted to talk about the football, but because he just enjoyed talking with Ázëwyn and couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Conceding one less goal two years on, making it three losses in three with a total of five against and none for, in three meetings over sixty years?" Ázëwyn scoffed. "Pull the other one."

"I'm just saying," Simeone tried to dig himself out of the hole, not yet realising that one can't dig up, "that I thought it was a good performance."

He shrugged. Ázëwyn shrugged back. Simeone went back to looking out at nothing in particular on the north eastern Atlantian Oceania seas.

"Mister Di Bradini," Ázëwyn finally said, breaking the silence, "have you brought me here to this lovely beach only to sit on this low concrete wall by the side of a road and just stare out into the distance while we don't talk about football?"

Simeone, realising that she had a rather good point, assessed his options quickly.

"There is an ice cream truck over there," he gestured, "and I hear that the chocolate from this city is fairly famous."

Ázëwyn just stared at him from behind her sunglasses.

"Er... I'm buying?" He added.

"Wonderful idea!" Ázëwyn jumped to her feet and, putting her hands on her hips, looked at him expectantly.

"Ladies first," Simeone said, gesturing with his hand as he rose from his sitting position on the hard concrete wall.

"Quite right," she confirmed, turning on her heels and striding off with the uniquely elven gait that was at once languid, lazy, graceful and fast-paced. "Age before beauty, and all that,"

Simeone, yet again unable to think of anything clever to say in response, trotted after her in a half-jog until he caught up. The two settled into a steady pace, neither trying to outrun the other, nor wanting to lag behind the other's step. They walked, enjoying each other's presence, down the side of the road and cutting across the wide, light grey paving stones that had been warmed by the sun. The food truck itself was a sleek, retro-inspired number, all chrome and hand-painted signs to get that vintage 50s feeling. Simeone could distinctly remember both the 2150s and the 2050s, and wasn't sure quite which of those the style of the truck could possibly be referring to. The queue was quite small, as even though there were a lot of tourists on the beach, and a lot of football fans from Starblaydia, Audioslavia, Semarland and Pasarga around, the food trucks were out in force, spreading the customers among them for a quick service. They obviously knew how to do tourism in this part of the country.

Rather cleverly, the ice cream vendor had come up with a World Cup of Flavours, and each of the thirty-two teams was represented by one custom combination or the other. Cosumar's own, of course the top seller, was vanilla and blue raspberry, while Bonesea was represented by blackcurrant and grape. The strawberry and pistachio of Farfadillis, an Eshan raspberry ripple, and a citrus extravaganza of 'oraange' and 'maango' for Spaam. Simeone thought that the cherry-and-mint of Audioslavia sounded particularly tasty, but didn't want to rub it in.

"What'll it be, sir?" If the vendor recognised either of them, he was polite enough not to say anything.

"A Starblaydia for me, please," Simeone said with a broad grin, fancying the combination of vanilla, blueberry and dark chocolate "and for the lady..."

"Definitely a Holy Empire," Ázëwyn said happily, because honeycomb toffee and tutti frutti not only went together, but also went with quite how crazy the Frostican team had been of late. Plus, it amused her to each have the ice cream of the other's team, even if Simeone was still a Starblaydi at heart, and even if deep down all of Starblaydia's Elves considered themselves quite apart from the nation, despite the fact they represented it in international sports.

As they walked away, feeling the hot sand under their feet and the cold ice cream on their tongues, the day had suddenly become rather a lot nicer. Or it had, at least, until a bright blue-white ball of light suddenly appeared before their eyes. Around six feet in diameter, some ten feet off the ground, the orb of power crackled as small bolts of lightning played across its surface. The wind kicked up, blowing sand everywhere. Simeone made a move to step forward, but Ázëwyn had already taken a step, cutting in front of him slightly, her arm moving from by her side in an instinctive gesture of protection.

With a crack, a bang and a brief flash of strong, white light that stunned the eyes of everyone looking, even through their sunglasses on the bright, sunny day, a stocky figure appeared from within the ball of energy. The orb vanished in the wink of an eye and the short, round figure hit the sand with an unpracticed thud.

"Are you-" Ázëwyn began to ask, but she was interrupted.

"Zoggin' 'eck!" moaned the Dwarf. Obviously a dwarf, with an accent like that. He was obviously old, even for a race as venerable as the Dwarves, as a shock of grey-white hair shot up from his otherwise shaved head in a mohawk so high that the punks of Crawford would be jealous of. It was matched by an equally-white shaggy beard that reached to his navel, but the moustache area of his upper lip was clean shaven. He wore a blue shirt and suit trousers, over which a white science coat had fallen open, the tail of which had become wrapped around his arm in the fall. "Wot the bloody 'ell 'appened?"

"Are you alright, sir?" Ázëwyn repeated, finishing this time.

"I'm fine, miss, um," the Dwarf said, getting to his feet and furnishing the two with an uncommonly low bow, even for a Dwarf, "oh bugger me! Mi'lady! And Mi'Lord! Where are we?"

"Erm," Simeone said, "Cosumar. Atlantian Oceania?"

"Ah, right, dunno 'ow that's 'appened," the Dwarf sounded, if not quite pleased, then not disappointed, "but when are we?"

"Twenty-two Twenty-six," Ázëwyn said, "by the Starblaydi Calendar."

"Twenty-third bloody century?" the Dwarf yelled, "are ye feckin' kiddin' me?"

"No," she replied, "Twenty-two Twenty-six. Definitely."

"Bugger me, it worked!" the Dwarf put his shovel-like hands to the side of his head. "Well, ah mean it didn't exactly work, but it went wrong in the most amazin' way possible! Do ye ken what I mean? We can fix it."

"Fix what?" Simeone asked.

"T'Future!" came t'reply. 'Everythin'! Wit you two!"

"Oh boy," Simeone sighed. This was one of those timey-wimey balls again, wasn't it?

[Chromatika]

Flardania 1-1 Chromatika

Starting Lineups vs. Flardania: Nier; Morningstar - Aart - Ellen; Kelly (C) - Montague - Hellion - Liam; Rien - Andisori - Antonio. Subs vs. Flardania: Damjana -> Ellen ('51), Sybill -> Hellion ('66), Victoriane -> Rien ('81)
Goal vs Flardania: Gabriella Antonio '89 assisted by Sandra Sybill. Player of the Match: Gabriella Antonio (1 goal, 3 shots, game-tying goal scorer)

When Seong Mi Soo and Silian Parker shook hands after the match, it was a cordial affair. Sure, the players had given it their all out there, and there had been some tackles that were borderline sketchy - Zlastica Ellen dishing out plenty of those - but at the end of the day, they had a point each, and it had been a spectacular game for the fans to watch, with all the drama of a rekindled rivalry, an almost upset, and a last-minute goal. Perhaps it could be stated that the Chromatiks were too uptight the first half - but then, the Kitsunes were pressing, and trying their darnedest to not allow the rankings affect the scoreline.

After a very slow first half, where there were only eight shots total, five for the Kitsunes, three for the Chromatiks, Parker decided to roll the dice. He gave Alyss free reign to play a bit more far up, and tasked Rachel to play below her, almost as if Alyss was a CAM and Rachel a CDM. This put more pressure on the back three with Rachel, but would allow the playmaking of Alyss with Keira to come to fruition. He was also counting on Megan's speed and Carrol's physical presence to help out on the back end as well.

It seemed like a good idea off the start - Alyss got the ball, and immediately found Keira lurking. However, Hōjō put a stop to that, and the Kitsune came back roaring, giving the Chromatik defense all it could handle. Parker decided to give Zlastica some rest after the physical first half, and put in Aysu. Joseph Yabuta, the Kitsunes' star player, had some neat chances already, and it was he that made the difference first. Getting a through-pass from Mizoguchi, he garnered the attention of both Rachel and Luuk before sneaking the ball back to Mizoguchi, who hit a low ground ball that Jillian Nier missed by a foot. During the ensuing celebration, Seong substituted Pandazi Papadopoulos for Son Dae-Han.

The ball was now in the Chromatiks' court to get some offense going, and Silian decided to double down on the offensive side by introducing Sandra Sybill into the game. The Azuris star started to keep the ball in the Kitsunes third a bit more, and momentum had shifted. Flardania seemed like it would be content to try to hold on for the victory, while Chromatika was now the ones being hungry to score.

Seong tried to put new life into her team by bringing in Matsuoka for Guidice in the seventy-third, but the ball simply wasn't entering the Chromatik third anymore except through deep clears by the Kitsunes' defense. The wall was bending. Parker could see it, and he knew who the breaking point would be.

On the eighty-first, the announcement came over the loudspeakers that Kaytlyn Victoriane would be entering the match. The Lammerton striker and rising star on the team took few deep breaths. Hōjō was putting up some Thorben-level saves, and the Kitsunes' middle three were playing a bit more back now, trying to hold onto their lead. She knew she was going out to add speed, flair, and to free up attention on Keira. Except she also knew from just the hours she'd spent practicing with the team that Keira had been playing an acting game for the whole match, trying to appear faster and flashier than usual to free up Trenn and Gabriella. With the inclusion of Kaytlyn, it was going to make Gabriella Antonio an afterthought for the Kitsunes. They would capitalize on that.

For the next seven minutes, the Chromatiks peppered the Kitsunes' box with shots, but they were cleared away with ease. There was no cohesion, just mass chaos, things moving maybe a bit too fast. The Kitsunes' back four were playing marvelously for a team so offensively oriented, and even with Sandra and Alyss playing up and Megan lurking around, things just weren't clicking.

However, the team didn't panic. Instead, Kaytlyn felt it the moment that Gabriella looked at her. That feeling when she knew that this would be the chance for them to tie the game and grab that point. A draw against the third seeded team was acceptable; a loss wouldn't be.

Nguyen cleared the ball, and she raced back toward the middle third to get it, Megan coming up to compensate the loss of space. She saw Keira surrounded by Nguyen and Fujisaka, the Kitsunes giving the Starling striker their due. She saw Sandra coming up the left side, Gabriella just behind her. And she knew what she had to do.

With a light touch off her left foot, she sent the ball over Miyamoto and right at Sandra's feet. After making sure she wasn't offside, Sandra faced Hōjō, who had come up to guard her up front. After dribbling once, then twice, Sandra Sybill instead back-passed it to Antonio, who was hidden right behind her by about two feet to the right.

Before Hōjō could compensate, Gabriella Antonio hit a low ground ball straight down the center, to what was basically an empty net.

Disaster had been avoided. A point had been salvaged, and two points taken off who would be the likeliest to take away their spot.

There was a mild celebration in the locker room. They all knew how hard the Kitsunes had played, and how hard they had played. Then, the news came that Valanora had defeated Spaam 3-0. This was scary on two fronts - the Vanorians were taking names, and Spaam would come to the next game with a do-or-die attitude, their playoff hopes on the line. The Chromatiks remembered what it'd been like to be the fourth seed in the World Cup Proper, and they would have to make sure that they wouldn't suffer an upset. Anything less than a win versus Spaam would mean disaster for the teams' hopes of reaching the Round of Sixteen, and Parker's hopes of being validated as Manager after such a successful qualifying campaign.

With Spaam playing such a defensive 3-4-3- having only conceded seven goals the qualifying campaign - Parker has stated that he considers the last result to be a product of the Vanorians' brilliance instead of the Spaamians' collapse. With that being cited, speed will be the name of the game for the second match, with three changes to the starting lineup. First, Sandra Sybill will start for Rachel Hellion, as she is definitely faster than Rachel, though lacking in discipline. Ki Niro will start for Trenn Rien, the Cassandra City forward being the second fastest player on the team behind Megan Kelly. The third change will put Kaytlyn Victoriane for the hero of the first game, Antonio taking a back seat at least in the starting lineup for the match.

The mad genius he is, there are enough cards in the deck that he can make changes back if need be. Hopefully, he won't need to.

Starting Lineups vs. Spaam: Nier; Morningstar - Aart - Ellen; Kelly (C) - Montague - Sybill - Liam; Niro - Andisori - Victoriane.

---

OPERATION NEW HOPE
Meeting Room
Chromatik Military Complex
Alnio, Chromatika
1800 Hours

Medical Sergeant Angel vos Gannea yawned as she entered the room. It had been a long day, the first day of Orientation. There had been map studying of the Eyrodi Jungle (as far as it had been mapped anyway), a review of basic survival skills, a presentation on the local fauna and flora in the area, and most of all, plenty of time to talk those she would be spending at least a month in the jungle with. There hadn't been any altercations thus far - the hardest thing was understanding the accents of the foreigners, especially Clarissa, who was definitely a character. Actually, all five foreigners were definite characters, with Tilda being the most tame one.

At least they all seemed excited at the task at hand, though maybe Grugel was a bit too excited? It was hard to tell with a Farf, with their natural disposition of being overly emotional and expressive. Perhaps it was all just a front, or a part of their culture. She'd have enough time to figure that out. Justin didn't seem too distraught at the way that his countrymen had gone, citing that people were free to make their own decisions, and his was to stay behind and be involved in things like this. Finally, Lani - from somewhere called Maklohi Vai that she had never heard of (apparently it was in south Atlantian Oceania, even further south than Eshan by a ways) had mostly kept to herself. It was very clear that it would take a while for her to warm up to the rest of the group - except maybe toward Kelly. But then, could anyone really not like Kelly Amerou?

The teenager was an instant hit with everyone, discussing law with Nick, food with Pierre, mechanics with Didi, biology with Jill, and medicine with Tilda and Angel herself. She had a naturally bubbly personality that made it easy to get along with everyone, and Angel was sure that if Kelly had been five years older, Gerald would have probably hit on the teenager by now. Thankfully, Jerry was a gentleman, and that wasn't a problem - yet.

Speaking of the Staff Sergeant, he followed into the room a few minutes after, eating a bag of peanuts. That was his favorite snack, but he had abstained himself through the whole day due to Tilda being allergic to them. Jerry might be a bit jovial or a bit lax at times, but he was a good guy. Almost too good, Angel reminded herself.

Mara came next, and Angel was still not used to looking at someone who was so... pristine-looking, almost perfect. Mara Nocturne was a beautiful woman, even by another woman's standards, and definitely belonged in some magazine shoot, not some jungle. That being said, she had made it clear from the very get-go that she was no princess nor pushover, she was a warrior. Unfortunately, it was hard for Mara to get this point across as often as she liked, and thus was a bit more aloof than she had to be. To each their own, Angel conceded.

Last, but not least, the Colonel came in the room. Erik Monett hadn't taken part in the festivities of the day himself. He had been in one corner of the room, taking notes, observing, seeing the social interactions. He knew that Alina would be expecting some details in the report that he would have to file, and he was also curious to see how the color dynamic would work. Thankfully, so far, all things were good. It helped that Lightning had experience with dealing with used-to-be-elites on the football team, and that Pierre's restaurant was so good. Food was a universal language, after all. Didi was perhaps the least comfortable dealing with Nick, Mara, and Jill, but at least she wasn't showing any open hostilities. As each member knew part of the Project's goals was to see how the different people who used to be segregated could come together, the consensus seemed to be, at least on the surface level, that they were indeed trying.

"Welcome, you three," stated Erik, a twinkle in his eye that caught everyone's attention, "You might be wondering why I called you three to this meeting, and not anyone else. As you have probably guessed, it has to do with National Security and the military, and the rest of the group doesn't have the clearance, or probably wouldn't care. That being said, there is more to the Project of this Operation than you know."

Jerry was probably the only one who betrayed any surprise on his face. Chances were that Mara had known about it beforehand, and Angel was way too good at hiding her emotions. Taking the silence as a cue to continue, Col. Monett did so.

"During the days of the Chromatik Party, our Premier heard rumors of a Red Enclave camp in Eyrods, but it was never found. Even General Cavani during his days as a Captain couldn't find it. It is probably abandoned by now, but the Premier wants you to see if you can find it during your stay in the Eyrodi Jungle. You'll have to search far and wide for food and water, it will be a natural guise. It's not that the other goal of the Project isn't important; in fact, the primary goal is the one that all fifteen of the group know. This is a side mission, one to fulfill if you have the opportunity. It won't be held against you in any shape or form if you aren't successful. Is that understood?" Col. Monett paused to see any response from the other three.

Jerry was the first to speak. "Sir," he stated, "Are we to keep it a secret even when it is found? Should we distract the others away and only get one or two of us in there?"

"A prudent question, Sergeant," replied Monett, "That will depend on what you find. If you find a live Enclave of people? Stay away, see their intentions, maybe try to make contact if it seems that they are peaceful. You'll need everyone for that." He saw nods go around the room. "If you find a deserted place? Then, you could go together or by yourselves, whatever you decide. Obviously keep the secret things secret, but really, there is no need to lie nor hide. Perhaps not reveal information that isn't necessary, but when the opportunity presents itself, there is no harm in sharing the goal."

Mara looked genuinely surprised, and asked, "Then why is it that we aren't just telling everyone this?"

"Because it'd lead to a long history lesson on why the Enclave was present in the first place, and it probably would be extraneous information that is not needed for the main goal of the Project," explained the Colonel, "Now, if during the course of the Project it becomes clear that the others are interested in Chromatik history and the implications of the gravity of this find, you have my permission to reveal as little or as much of the information as you like. I just think it'd be best if we started it with just the four of us. If you three decide to tell the rest, that's up to you."

It was Angel who spoke next: "The military arm of the Enclave was silenced long ago by the Chromatik Party. The civilian arm became the underground ROYG movement that sought to learn and further themselves away from the eyes of the Party, and eventually became a major factor of the Rainbow Revolution. That being said, that Jungle is really thick, and there are parts of it that could've escaped detention... I'd say chances are slim but not impossible that we might be able to find traces of the Enclave being there."

"There is one last thing to inform you about what you might find in Eyrods," continued Monett, his eyebrows now furrowed, as if concerned. He looked at Angel. "Are you sure Niadri said it's okay to reveal this?"

Angel laughed wittily and replied, "You know that the Staff Sergeant already knows, Sir. And how would you know if Agent Nocturne knows already or not? She's with the Secret Service, after all."

Mara smiled at Angel, but didn't say anything, instead motioning for the Colonel to continue. Monett felt a bit stumped. Of course, he reminded himself, the Secret Service had the whole thing of knowing things and never speaking of them... And he didn't have the security clearance to know how much Mara knew. He was just trying to be safe and cordial to Niadri, but it seemed that that had already been done for him.

"There is a chance," he pressed on, his voice subconsciously lowering, "That there might be clues to Venom in there, too. Like Angel has said, it is one of the most secluded areas of Chromatika. If Venom indeed was real, he probably had some presence in the Jungle, where nobody could find them... So keep your eyes out for those."

Staff Sergeant Heradldson's eyes narrowed, and Mara gave an almost indiscernible nod.

"Understood, Sir," answered Angel, following suit with the whispering.

There was a poignant silence in the room for the next few minutes.

"Dismissed," said the Colonel, almost symbolically. The other three nodded, and left the room in a procession.

He couldn't blame them for being quiet. Venom was an unsettling foe. It had been years since the Revolution, but there weren't as many clues to the entity as anyone would have liked. If it wasn't for the note that cleared Heidi's name, there wouldn't have been any clues at all. The worst of it was that both Alina and Erik agreed that Venom had intended for them to know its existence.

Colonel Erik Monett, Chromatik Air Force, knew that he had just added a lot on the plate of Staff Sergeant Gerald Heraldson, Medical Sergeant Angel vos Gannea and Special Agent Mara Nocturne. But it needed to be done.

"It'd be best if they knew, Erik. It's better than them finding stuff accidentally and wondering what the hell to do with no way of communicating things to us through that Jungle. Besides, it's not like they're not suited for it. Sure, you'd want them to treat this like a vacation and someplace to train their social skills, but they're soldiers. No, hell, they're elite soldiers. They can handle things like this. They have to, if our country is to move forward. You make it clear that this isn't the primary objective, but you and I know that it's almost as important. Knowing why the Chromatik Party happened, why the Color Code happened, is vital to our history and to knowing what it means to be a Chromatik. You understand?" Alina had said to him. Damn, that woman knew how to speak straight. Perhaps only Keira was straighter, and the two were fast buds, it was no wonder.

He had done his part, it was now their turn. For the future of Chromatika.

---

Guest Correspondent: Mirian Aske

Hey again! It's Mirian, filling in for Jordan, trying to perhaps do a little better after the first round results came out!

Group A
Damukuni vs. Cosumar
Eshan vs. Gregoryisgodistan

What happened in this group? Well, Eshan and Damukuni played an exciting game that ended in a draw, while the Foot Slaves and the hosts also drew, putting the whole group at one point. That being said, I don't think Cosumar nor Gregoryisgodistan will be very forgiving this day. I expect a two-goal win for Cosumar and a one-goal win for Gregoryisgodistan. Damukuni 1-3 Cosumar, Eshan 0-1 Gregoryisgodistan.

Group B
Drawkland vs. Turori
Eura vs. Farfadillis

The big winners of the first matchday were the Eurans, scoring six past Drawkland; Farfadillis also took care of business against Turori, proving me wrong. I do think Turori will bounce back with understanding that this match is really important for them, and prevail. As for the match pitting the top two teams, a slight edge to Eura in terms of momentum, but once bitten, twice shy: the Farves will all-but secure first place with a key performance. Drawkland 2-4 Turori, Eura 1-3 Farfadillis.

Group C
Pasarga vs. Audioslavia
Semarland vs. Starblaydia

What is Semarland feeding its players? We don't know much about what's been going on in their camp, but if their win over Pasarga is any indication, they aren't to be messed with. I still think Starblaydia will show up, though, and put three points on the board in their first return to the Proper in a while. That Pasargan team that lost to the Semars? Since Starblaydia gave the Audioslavians such trouble, I think that they have a good shot to make this group very interesting on the final day. Pasarga on a narrow one. Pasarga 2-1 Audioslavia, Semarland 1-3 Starblaydia.

Group D
Schottia vs. Vilita
Tumbra vs. Super-Llamaland

Perhaps the biggest match of the tournament thus far, Schottia vs. Vilita will be a blockbuster event, and MasseMord Stadium will most likely be packed for this one. With the defending Champions having tied Super-Llamaland in the first match, the pressure will be even more on for them... But I think that the Jungle Cats have what it takes to use that pressure as fuel and hand the Schottians their first defeat! Yes, you heard it here first, folks! Having managed a great game in a narrow loss against the same Schottians, the Tumbrans will be trying to show Super-Llamaland that they belong on this stage. I think that this match will end in another tie to make this group an interesting one heading into the final day as well. Schottia 1-2 Vilita, Tumbra 2-2 Super-Llamaland

Group E
Mriin vs. Osarius
Electrum vs. Bonesea

Ah, the classic. The winner versus the winner, the loser versus the loser. First, Mriin handled the Electrumites well but couldn't get their patented offense going, while Osarius just fell short against the hosts. Psychologically, I give Mriin the advantage they'll need for this match and score a huge upset. As for the other match... It's hard to beat against Bonesea on their home soil, but I think that Electrum has something to say about any home field advantage. Expect a hard-fought match with the Electrumite defense holding up yet again against a formidable offense, ending in a draw. Mriin 3-2 Osarius, Electrum 1-1 Bonesea.

Group F
Ethane vs. Brenecia
Nova Anglicana vs. San Jose Guayabal

Did everyone see the fine display of football that the Brenecians and the Guayabalense played the other day? One of the most entertaining draws I've ever seen. In the background, Ethane slotted one past Nova Anglicana to take the lead, but now the real test begins for the Ethanians. The defense of the Patriots will prove to be much tougher than the Anglicans', and Brenecia will find its timely strikes for three points. As for Nova Anglicana, their woes will continue with La Selecta also taking care of business. That being said, with the draw that took place, every goal will matter to see which of the two teams will most likely play the hosts and the other a not-Bonesea second seed, so the roles of Ethane and Nova Anglicana are still crucial! Ethane 0-1 Brenecia, Nova Anglicana 1-4 San Jose Guayabal.

Group G
Sargossa vs. Port Christopher
The Holy Empire vs. Valladares

These Corsairs are not playing scared. Having tied the group's top seed, Sargossa's spirits will be through the roof. Their opponent? A Port Christopher squad that just couldn't get anything going against The Holy Empire. Beware, Sargossa! Port Christopher to take it and keep their Playoff hopes alive. As for the other match, Valladars will be antsy as the clash against The Holy Empire will be a big one to see how comfortable they will be on the third matchday. My pick is with Valladares to take it and take the lead with four points, with The Holy Empire and Port Christopher tied for second with three (but The Holy Empire holding the tiebreaker). Sargossa 1-3 Port Christopher, The Holy Empire 1-2 Valladares.

Group H
Spaam vs. Chromatika
Valanora vs. Flardania

Finally, the group with our team in it! Hm... With the results having gone the way they are, and Parker fielding a "speed squad", I see either a two-or-more-goal win or a loss. I'm hoping it's the former, and that Chromatika enter the third matchday with four points. To make things easiest for the Chromatiks to advance, Valanora taking care of the Kitsunes would be nice, and if their three goal romp (that's almost half of what Spaam gave up in sixteen games in qualifying) is any indication, the Marauders will be happy to oblige. That being said, a Flardanian win would vault them ahead of the Marauders with the Chromatiks also prevailing... But then, the Vanorians would be even more fired up for the match against Chromatika. I still think Valanora comes out on top and dashes the Kitsunes' dreams. Hopefully, we dash the Spaamians' dreams too and the last match becomes a battle of two teams that can't be caught. (Unfortunately, this isn't possible because even with a Chromatik win and a Flardanian loss, the two teams could tie after Matchday three, and then it would come down to goals difference due to the head-to-head draw. So please, Valanora, either three-nil Flardania or lose to them. Or draw, I suppose.) Spaam 0-2 Chromatika, Valanora 3-1 Flardania.

Please remember this is just my opinion, and not those of our magazine. All banter and feedback welcome, and happy watching, fans!

Called wins: 6 right, 6 became draws, 2 wrong
Called draws: 2 wrong (2 in favor of favorites)