World Cup 80 • EqueStar • Roleplay Thread

[Nephara]

Tinhampton 0 - 1 Nephara
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Tsattalios; 2 - Rafford, 5 - Konoval, 22 - Bruyne, 3 - Lohengrin (19 - Close 70'); 4 - Rowland (23 - Carrow 81'), 8 - Klein; 13 - Fanaiyan, 21 - Gosforth (c), 11 - Strongbow (16 - Staunton 83'); 9 - Hawke
Goal: Hawke 22'

It could be a lonely job, between the sticks on a night like this. The Cormorants expected to dominate their opponents, physically and territorially if not with possession, shunting the opposition off to the sides where they couldn't do serious damage.
This match, then, was going totally by the numbers. Tinhampton were a respectable side, and they were defending well, with discipline and shape. They'd failed to find an answer just once, when Rafford found the perfect diagonal ball for Estrella Hawke to take, twist past her man and lash into the net. A personal highlight for Rafford, a personal highlight for Hawke and a goal that erased the painful memories of her missing a free header nine minutes in.
Tinhampton had to open up from there, and did, but the first half passed without so much as a shot on target in anger. Tsattalios could count the touches he'd made - nine - all either goalkicks, a couple of safe passes back from Konoval or one thrilling moment in which he actually had to catch a cross.

But being an international goalkeeper wasn't just about flying around saving shots constantly. It wasn't like the league, where you were expected to face opponents of roughly similar quality most of the time. Playing in Goldleague, Tsattalios simply didn't have time in his schedule for complacency. Here, he was at genuine risk of falling asleep if he wasn't careful. Nephara seemed to have things in control. They alternated between sitting back in a block and surging forward to pressure their opponents, in their most comfortable mode of counterpunching. But their passes weren't quite lining up in the final third this half, and 1-0 was not a comfortable scoreline. Michael Brandon substituted three debutants onto the park, fresh-faced Close, battle-hardened Carrow and the flying winger Staunton, but there was still an edginess to the game. A sense that, at any moment...
... there it was! An uncharacteristically terrible pass from Klein cut out by an opposing midfielder, from there to the winger, a one-two with the fullback and suddenly it was clear he was sizing up his chances on goal, and Tsattalios had to double back from his forward position and backpedal quickly as the winger lofted a beautiful, arcing strike towards goal moments before Rafford could cover him, and Tsattalios sized up its position on the fly and took two more steps and leapt and tensed his fingers to desperately flip the ball over the bar...
... and crash into the ground, as the away crowd behind the goal cheered his name.
Bruyne picked him up - someone else clapped him on the shoulder, and nothing came of the corner. Tsattalios had only had one save to make... but replays would tell him later that that shot had been corner-bound, near-perfect.
Near.
It was a good save. A damn good save, buried in a forgettable match that ended not long after, 1-0 to the Cormorants. All anyone would care about is the three points, no matter how they came by them.
But Tsattalios went home secure in the knowledge that he, at least, had done his bit.

[Abanhfleft]

OOC: I used Norcambria's BoF roster for this post. But seeing as they're CTE....

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ABANHFLEFT • PRIDNESTROVIA • OONTAZ DERT LI NG • COPPER CUPRUM • TRENDSTART • FHULGHAMOUS PENINSULA

WORLD CUP 80 QUALIFIERS: NORCAMBRIA VS ABANHFLEFT
By Malik Qazizadah


The Abanhfleft women's national football team gather together following their second defeat in the World Cup 80 qualifiers against Norcambria. (Courtesy of Crescent News Network Sports Channel/Andros Tasasa)

NORCAMBRIA - Abanhfleft suffered yet another setback in their World Cup qualification hopes as they slumped to a second straight defeat against another lower ranked nation in the form of Norcambria.

Once again, it was another proverbial "game of two halves" as Abanhfleft dominated the proceedings in the first half before Norcambria came back to claim victory from the jaws of defeat in the second half courtesy of a hat trick from Martín Bengoetxea.

Heinrich Wurzmann had decided to replace the entirety of his defense for the game against Norcambria, giving Amanda Warren, Miriam Hannibal and Tonya Heaton their first starts in this qualifying campaign, as well as switching out Victoria Carter for Stephanie Bryan.

The Lady Revolutionaries then got yet another early lead courtesy of Alexandra Rousseau, who found herself unmarked in acres of space inside the Norcambrian box to head home the cross from Lillian Prescott.

The Fleftics then almost immediately after doubled their advantage when Adelaide Singh was brought down just outside the box by Adrían Bocchio for a free kick, which Bella Maynard took and curled into the box. Chelsea Stuart then applied the finishing touch to the free kick, which already appeared to be sneaking into the far post anyway, just to make sure of the goal.

Maynard herself then had a golden chance to put the game to bed with another free kick from 30 meters away but the best the Ludogorets Markovsky Ladies midfielder could do was smash the ball straight at the crossbar, and Tonya Heaton had a chance to triple the Fleftics' lead with the last kick of the half but instead sent her header from Adelaide Singh's corner straight at Nicolás Ramírez.

Abanhfleft's fortunes then began to turn at the opening of the second half as Norcambria began dominating the proceedings. It was exactly the same thing that happened to the Lady Revolutionaries in Reyes, Dorfdifving against Sevmenika, and in the end it would be exactly the same result that would be attained.

The first warning signs of the impending Fleftic collapse was when Martín Bengoetxea was fed through on goal by Ivan Palliotti and the Albión attacking midfielder slotted through Stephanie Bryan's legs for Norcambria's first goal of the game.

Norcambria then got their deserved equalizer in the 71st, although they would get it by controversial means after the referee awarded a penalty to the home side when Tonya Heaton appeared to have struck her studs into Nicolás Etxeberria's calves as the latter ran through on goal once again. Further replays shown on TV showed that Heaton had managed to play the ball before crashing into Etxeberria, but the video assistant did not see fit to amend the call. Martín Bengoetxea stood up to take the spot kick and calmly slotted past Bryan once again.

Norcambria then attained the lead for the first time in the game nine minutes after that contentious penalty as substitute Augusto Acquafredda swung a cross into the box, and with the Fleftics appealing for an offside call, Bengoetxea was able to sneak past them and score the eventual game-winning goal.

"Failure to qualify for the World Cup from this group would be a disaster"
Following Abanhfleft's second consecutive defeat in the World Cup qualifiers against a lower ranked team, Matchday Review Abanhfleft pundit Macarthur Jackson, himself a former member of the Fleftic men's national team, claimed that if Abanhfleft did not qualify out of this group for the World Cup, it would be "an unmitigated disaster" for Abanhfleft.

"An unmitigated disaster, no question about it," Jackson said. "This might be one of the easiest groups we've ever been in, and right down it doesn't look like we're even going to be challenging for at least second place. Second place from bottom, maybe, the way we're going, but we're most definitely not moving up the table."

Fellow pundit and former Arsenal de Releinthi player and CSKA Tiraspol manager Ivan Krasnopresnensky had this to add to Jackson's comments: "People say that we're playing a very old squad for the qualifiers and keeping our younger players in reserve quote-unquote 'just in case' and that's what's been bringing us down all these years. Other people say that as this is the same team that's kept us qualifying for the World Cup for two cycles then we should keep them around. But it's painfully obvious that age is beginning to catch up on the players. And they've also spent many years under Holly Jonasson so perhaps the transition to Heinrich Wurzmann as their new coach is still happening behind the scenes. I don't know. What's certain is that sacking Wurzmann is not going to to solve our problems both short term and long term."


Abanhfleft women's national team manager Heinrich Wurzmann: An embarrassing defeat for all Fleftics

Abanhfleft women's national team manager Heinrich Wurzmann: "This is an embarrassing defeat for all Fleftics of the multiverse. We are expected to beat these teams and yet they are the ones beating us. It could be said that it is a very bad time to be a fan of Abanhfleft right now. But the simple truth is that nothing is going our way right now. Our only hope is that we can sink no lower and that we will finally be on the ascendancy some time in the future."

                    NORCAMBRIA 3 - 2 ABANHFLEFT
BENGOETXEA (53', 71' pen, 80')       ROUSSEAU (11')
                                     STUART (15')

ABANHFLEFT
GK: 13 Bryan
RB: 14 Warren
CB: 15 Hannibal
LB: 16 Heaton █
RM: 5 Maynard █ (Vance - 82')
LM: 6 Choi
RW: 7 Prescott
CAM: 10 Torres
LW: 8 Singh
RS: 9 Stuart █ (McGinnis - 74')
LS: 11 Rousseau (Villegas - 57')

NORCAMBRIA
GK: 1 Ramírez
RB: 16 del Bianco (Narváez - 76')
RCB: 2 Berisiartua █
LCB: 3 Gerez-Bosco
LB: 4 Barsotti
RM: 5 Maglietti
LM: 6 Bocchio █ (Franco - 57')
RW: 9 Palliotti
CAM: 18 Bengoetxea
LW: 11 De Luca (Acquafredda - 59')
ST: 10 Etxeberria

MATCH STATISTICS
Possession
Norcambria: 44%
Abanhfleft: 56%
Shots
Norcambria: 10 (5 on target)
Abanhfleft: 20 (7 on target)
Corners
Norcambria: 5
Abanhfleft: 5
Fouls
Norcambria: 11
Abanhfleft: 22

[Abaja]

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FOOTBALL: The Black Stars top Group 7 after three games
By: Amina Ogwu | April 27 | Callahan, Abaja

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ABAJA 0 - 0 KOSOVAKIA

Udoh [20'] | Anekwe [57']

We all hate nil-nil games like this, and we hate it even more when our opponents have no roster. Well, at least it wasn't a loss. The Abajans had much trouble finding the net against the Kosovakian squad as they fired past the goalpost multiple times, has inaccurate passes and overall just played pretty mediocre. The nicest thing that we can probably say here is that Abajan star goalkeeper Joseph Amé stopped Kosovakia from scoring four times. Many of the 64,000 Abajans that attended the qualification match at the Compass Bank Stadium in Callahan left the game quite disappointed, as they expected to jump ahead early in Group 7 with an easy victory over Kosovakia. Head Coach John Ndami was especially displeased. "Our defense was looking soft" he said. "The amount of times we allowed those Kosovakians to damn near enter the box was utterly ridiculous!"

Abaja also had two yellow cards in the frustrating match. One was foolishly committed by Emmanuel Udoh in the 20th minute of the match, as he trampled a Kosovakian player while he was in the box, resulting in a penalty. Luckily for Udoh, Joseph Ame was able to swat the penalty kick away to keep the score tied. Christopher Anekwe also recieved a yellow card in the 57th minute, though he would later pick up his slack and get a zooming pass over to Alulawe Ju in the 61st minute, setting up Ju for an opportunity to shoot and score. However, instead of scoring, Ju went and passed it right to Alan Atsi, who was just outside of the box. Atsi then rocketed a shot that went above - well, everything really. Other situations of missed opportunities included Dédena Esé losing the ball not once, but twice on the attack.

---

COMPETITIVE SOLITAIRE 1–2 ABAJA

Di Pietro [52'] --- D'Shazhi [42'] | Ju [74']
Sokolov [18'] --- Nyema [37']

Abaja's second match was a success! With their first victory against Solitaire, the Black Stars have jumped to 3rd place in Group 7 qualification standings. Not only that, but star midfielder Delilah D'Shazhi gave Abaja their first goal of the qualifiers with a corner kick header from Dédena Esé in the 42nd minute. After a response from Solitaire's left winger Francesco Di Pietro in the 52nd minute, captain Alulawe Ju capitalized with a goal of his own in minute seventy four. Though they only won the match by a single goal, Abajan fans around couldn't help but celebrate their victory on the road in Competitive Solitaire. However, the strict, hard-nosed Head Coach John Ndami wasn't too impressed."We missed many opportunities" he said. "Not all of them, as you can see on the scoreboard, but yes, we did in fact miss many opportunities. We are still not disciplined enough to stop giving up free kicks due to our reckless sliding. Three yellow cards in two games? That's insane, and it's making us look bad!"

---

ABAJA 5 - 0 TZERINN

Ju [11'] | A.Atsi [28'] | Esé [31'] | Anekwe [56'] | Esé [80']
Udoh [54']

Is... Is that a five I see? Five-to-nil? Abaja scored five times? I haven't seen a five-goal match from Abaja since the World Cup 75 Qualifiers! Oh, what's this? Have we also topped Group 7? Yep, the Black Stars have started their reign as the best of the group after three games, earning a total of seven points so far. But let's not get so comfortable so soon. These last three teams were basically just appetizers. They all had lower ranks than we did. We still have not faced Eura, Taeshan, Apox or Nova Anglicana. Yeah, those are the big teams that we actually have to look out for. The lowest ranked of the four squads [Taeshan] is already 42 spots ahead of us in rankings. These teams are creeping up closer to the Stars' schedule, giving us only one more easy match day (hopefully) against unranked Revlona. After match day 4, Abaja will have to face Eura [5], Apox [35], Nova Anglicana [42] and Taeshan [59] - ALL in that order, from match day five to match day eight. In other words, all hell will break loose.

Head Coach John Ndami was pleased when he saw this result from his players and how much better they have been performing, as has stated that he wants this same energy and drive against the next four top 60 ranked teams. "Our soft part of the schedule is about to come to an end. After match day four, we're going to have to push our way through four rough and rugged stones. We aren't going to score as easily on them as we did against these lower ranked squads, but through perseverance, teamwork and consistency, we should be able to dismantle them. I just want my players to know that nothing will come easy from these teams".

During a sunny day in Abaja City, the Lions and Lionesses were ready to pull off another win against Tzerinn [271] at the LPA Arena. Within just a few minutes in, Abaja was already threatening Tzerinn. With a terrific pass from Christopher Anekwe to Dédena Esé rushing up field, the Stars were already in a good opportunity to score. Outrunning a Tzerinn defender, he passed to Alulawe Ju, who later took a shot a couple meters outside the box. The ball slid across the ground, going far left as the Tzerinn goalkeeper tried reaching for the ball. In the ninth minute, Abaja recieved a corner kick, with Atsi setting up perfect header for Alulawe Ju, though his second attempt at a goal went above the crossbar. By the 11th minute, Abaja scored their first goal after a cracking shot from Ju, putting the Black Stars up on the board 1-0. Later on in the 28th minute, the Tzerinn goalkeeper then punched a shot away from Alan Atsi, though it would then come back to him and set Abaja up to a 2-0 start. Esé later gave the Stars a 3-0 lead within 30 minutes into the match with a penalty kick. The horrid day wouldn't stop for Tzerinn by halftime, however, as Christopher Anekwe would later punch the ball into the back of the net in the 56th minute and an exclamation point from Dédena Esé in the 80th minute, leading the Abajans to a whopping 5-0 victory. With this win in mind, the Abajans can feel good about themselves going into match day 4 against Revlona, who is currently in the last place (10th) of Group 7 though the unranked team managed to somehow hold their own against Taeshan in match day 3, leaving with a 2-2 draw.

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COMMENTS • 715,579
Top Comments • New Comments

Jacob1320 - April 27, 7:55 PM
Emmanuel Udoh is Udone. Get him out of there.
Reply • Like (6736) • Dislike (1651)

Atsi #3 - April 27, 4:12 PM
Remember all of those morons who said Esé had no accuracy? Two goals
Reply • Like (6201) • Dislike (342)

Daniel Ahmadi - April 27, 10:33 PM
Queen D'Shazhi shouldn't be coming off the bench
Reply • Like (5920) • Dislike (218)

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[The Authoritarian Republic of Lochario]

The new coach G.Vargas is high experienced and well trained coach which played in the Locharian team in 1997-2008 season.The coach says that our team needs new training and some defensive templates.The match against Tobiasia will be very important for not bringing our team to the last place in the group.The squad will be the same as it was in the first 2 matches.The coach thinks that his team can win against Tobiasia

[Beepee]

Wolves Clans 0–2 Beepee

'36 and '71 Veera

Beepee finally got a win in world cup qualifying beating wolves clans.

After a drubbing in their previous match, Beepee had something to prove and a double by Sam Veera.

The first came by way of a corner whipped in from the left by Dirk Bolt with Veera slipping away fro the defender to poke the ball home in the thirty sixth minute.

Beepee we're  never really challenged and Veera made in it two nil by scrambling the ball into the goal after messy play in the six yard box.

Beepee will hope to carry forward some momentum to the next game.

[Juvencus]

Sargossa 1-3 Juvencus

GLI ATTACCANTI PUNCHES THROUGH SARGOSSA IN AN EPIC DUEL

The gli attaccanti's emerged victorious from the Sargossa game in the Independienté and has managed to keep its undefeated streak 15 games strong, thanks to a brilliant Silvestri brace in the openers of both the first and the second halves. However this match is also sparked by controversy over Rafael Bustamanté's injury and Madeiros only receiving the yellow card despite his marking being absolutely horrendous. "I can't believe I didn't receive the red card over my harsh marking of Bustamanté, I hope he gets better." were Madeiros' comments.

The game started off with both teams utilising their pace, the Corsairs, having their fans by their side were able to establish themselves on the pitch early with their classical Sargossan style of play, being able to open up on gli attaccanti's flanks but the cross from Vecino was quickly headed out. Soon afterwards, it was time for the gli attaccanti to go on with their swift counter-offensive play, a Nino Russo through ball not being capitalised by Vives in the 16th minute, the pressure kept on for a little bit until Hugo Grec managed to find a small gap in the high defensive line of Sargossa, his pass was able to find Silvestri and the latter with a strong strike was able to cannonball the ball inside the net, giving the gli attaccanti a headstart for the game. With morale by its side, the Juven side tried to pressure forwards once more, however the Sargossans didn't let most balls go through and quickly started a counter-attack of their own, however to no avail, as the Juven defense proved to be just as tamed as the Sargossan one. The first half ended in a 0-1 scoreline in favor of Juvencus.

The second half started with a lightning quick attack from the gli attaccanti which caught the Sargossan defence off-guard and Martell with a pass to the box was able to find Silvestri who scored his second one of the night, giving a 2 goal advantadge for Juvencus. A bit later, in the 51st minute, Bustamanté in an effort to get through with the ball was brutally tackled by Madeiros, however the latter was only yellow-carded, much to the surprise of home fans, who booed for the rest of the game. Bustamanté will be out for a few days, however he will be clear for Sargossa's next game. Madeiros on the other hand, misses the next game against Brenecia, due to him receiving 2 yellow cards. With anger being a driving factor on the Sargossan side, they managed to break through the Juven midfield and on the defence where Vecino saw a completely unmarked Marí and all he did was pass the ball to him for the latter to punish the mistakes of the Juven defence, thus making the scoreline 1-2. Toset, seeing how the Sargossan side could manage to turn the table over made 2 important substitutions, he put veteran Sansone Barsotti in, for his incredibly accurate passing and crossing, rather than using Grec's speed and he put Campana in, as Silvestri was tired and could not possibly score another one. That said, it was extremely effective, as in the dying minutes of the game, a brutal tackle from Guerrero to Rodrigues saw the Guerrero going out red-carded. In the free-kick that followed Barsotti was able to accurate predict where Campana would go with the latter scoring the third one for the gli attaccanti, thus making the scoreline 1-3, which was the final score. With one big team out of the way for now, the gli attaccanti's getting visited in Pomena by the joint group leaders, Brenecia in what is a chance for Juvencus to snatch the first place of the group.

Sargossa XI:
GK:Sergio Vega
CB:José Guerrero(Red card 81')
CB:Sebastián Vegas
CB:Alex González
RB:Alonzo Zevallos
LB:Germán Montero(Subbed off for Alex Vallejos 70')
CDM:Alejandro Victorino
CM:Rafael Bustamanté(Subbed off for Sergio Espina 51', minor injury, will be clear for next game)
CM:Alejandro Vecino(Assist 63')
CF:Rodrigo Marcellán
CF:Miguel Marí(Goal 63')

Juvencus XI:
GK:Taddeo Bulgari
CB:Amaury Félix(Subbed off for Valerio Scarpa 58')
CB::Dudu Madeiros(Yellow card 51', misses next game)
CB:Priscilla Herbert
CDM:Nino Russo
CDM:Filipe Rodrigues
RM:Hugo Grec(Assist 19')(Subbed off for Sansone Barsotti 64', Sansone Barsotti: Assist 82')
LM:Angelino Alberighi
RF:Oriol Vives
LF:Joaquim Martell(Assist 48')
CF:Santo Silvestri(Goals 19', 48')(Subbed off for Anastasio Campana, 76', Anastasio Campana: Goal 82')

[The Sherpa Empire]

----֎-֎-֎----‭

‭Hua Hu Srihatta was notorious in the world of celebrity gossip. She was one of those people who is mostly famous for being famous, and the tabloids can't get enough. She was originally a fashion model, but these days she didn't do that much modeling. There had been a time when every teenage boy in the Empire fantasized about her, but nowadays she was old news. And yet the magazines, talk shows, and tabloids would not shut up.

‭She was the ex-wife of the footballer Shubhashish Srihatta, and the media circus around her was a constant annoyance to him. She was also the ex-wife of her manager Rongzhi Lao, baseball players Jamling Ihawa and Ashok Liu, and Bollywood actor Salman Dinkar; and that was just the men she had married. She'd had plenty of other lovers that she didn't bother to marry. These days she was married to hockey legend Shuang Gao. Now that she was too old to get the best modeling jobs, she had taken to gossiping about the men in her life as a way to keep the media's attention. Earlier in the year, around the time when Shubhashish went to Qasden to play in the Baptism of Fire, she had released a tell-all book discussing her various relationships with men, and since then she had been all over the talk-show circuit promoting the book. She framed the whole thing as a commentary on gender issues, but really, it was just an excuse for her to talk shit. Hua Hu branded herself as a feminist activist, but Shubhashish was not impressed with her feminist credentials, and he didn't think he was just being bitter because of their failed marriage. She talked at length about the challenges of being a mother, in particular about raising daughters in a sexist society that constantly objectified them -- but Shubhashish was of the opinion that most of Hua Hu's difficulties were caused by her own shoddy parenting. She had two daughters. The one who lived with her had an eating disorder and a prescription drug problem. The one who lived with Jamling Ihawa had... an obsession with mountain-climbing. Hua Hu complained about being objectified, but her own decisions encouraged men to objectify her. She had chosen to go into the modeling business. She chose to flaunt her looks in front of the cameras. She chose to go around sleeping with every man that caught her eye.

‭Shubhashish had enough sense not to watch her TV appearances, but that didn't stop people from asking him to comment on her nonsense. Everyone wanted him to comment, but no one ever wanted to give him enough time to properly explain his side of the story. Hua Hu had made a number of inaccurate accusations -- against Shubhashish and other people -- and she seemed to have no respect for anyone's privacy. She shared the most embarrassing intimate details about the men she had been with, and there was nothing Shubhashish could do to stop her. It was infuriating.

‭He tried to channel his frustration into something constructive, a motivation to stay singlemindedly focused on football. He knew if he let his mind wander, he'd end up thinking about Hua Hu and just get more frustrated, so he was careful not to let it wander. Like the Clash says, anger can be power. In this case, it was the power driving the ball hard and fast into the top left corner of the goal to take an early lead. The Cathaldonian goalie moved to block it, but the ball was already past him. The Sherpa defense was having problems again, just like the last two games, and Cathaldonia mounted a comeback, scoring two goals of their own, but Srihatta was not going to let them win. He couldn't get a clear shot himself, but he noticed out of the corner of his eye that nobody was covering Nawang Bao. He abruptly kicked the ball off to the side, passing it to Bao and setting him up to tie the game. Another draw... The defense really needed to get their act together.

‭Srihatta avoided the reporters as he made his way back to the locker room. He didn't really want to discuss why the national football team was still 7th place in their group or explain for the 15th time that he had never tried to flirt with his stepdaughter.

----֎-֎-֎----‭

[Starblaydia]

To the mewling quim whom it may concern,
Locharian Football Association Headquarters,
The Second Commonwealth of The Authoritarian Republic of Lochario.

RE: North New South Wales Squad

Dear Sir/Madam,

One can never be entirely certain of the nature of another's words following heavy defeat to hitherto unknown opponents, however in this case your representative's request for further clarification did indeed reach my office. Having a few moments to spare I thought I would provide a brief elucidation on the information you so artfully entreated from this office.

Even the most cursory glance at the sporting history of North New South Wales would provide a squad list for the recent 55th AOCAF Cup, the multiverse's premier regional sports tournament, under the supervision of the largely-unheralded - unfairly in my view - Mister Ricky Benson. Furthermore, more studious endeavour can also reveal that the squad once managed a superbly thrilling 4-4 draw against the 23rd-ranked side in the world, Eshan. Having not been made aware of any amendments to that list of call-up players, I would naturally assume that the relevant paperwork has not been filed with the World Cup Committee, and consider the players previously stated to be the likely participants in the match. If one does not wish to be so presumptuous, as it appears you are leaning towards, one can always describe opposition players in terms such as 'the tall one', 'the striker', 'the number seven', 'him with the nose', et cetera, et cetera. I trust that this clears up any confusion.

I would have addressed this letter directly to the newly-installed coach of the Locharian team, but despite several attempts my staff have been unable to confirm the lady or gentleman in question's name, be it Vargas or Fargas. I would therefore recommend removing the beam in one's own eye before pointing out the mote in another's, as per one of your presumptive human religions states.

Regards,

Tororin Halatyrion
President of the Starblaydi Football Association
World Cup 44 Winner, World Cup Hall of Famer

[Schottia]

Enrico Hanson-Conavacio

Part Four.

Tess Maitfield.

Huntley, Schottia

Tess Maitfield was still trying to acclimatise to her new surroundings. Everything felt suddenly small, bleak, stony. The town of Huntley could be summed up in one word: grey. This lost corner of South Schottia was a world of impenetrable grey clouds, austere pebble-dashed walls, and dull mirthless people with stern expressions. It was a like some Beckett-esque scene, painted by someone on a comedown.

After her father, Tim, had accepted the job as Hillstreet manager everything had happened so quickly. She had been picked up after her cello lesson by her frantic looking mother, who had informed her that they would need to start packing as soon as they got home. Tess knew that her father had been applying for managerial vacancies since he hung up his boots with Polaris, but she had deluded herself into thinking that it wouldn't mean moving away from Ceni. Her father's career had been fairly settled, he wasn't a one club man, but after spells with the Willox Street Pirates, and Celtic Noviodunum, the majority of his playing days had been spent as skipper of Polaris in the small city of Whitehaven. While she had been born in New Gelderland, Tess could remember nothing other than Whitehaven, the promenade, and the beaches. As an eleven and a half year old there were a thousand and one things she needed to worry about, and moving to the town that colour forgot, was one she could have happily passed up.

Her bedroom was small and cold - and while the draughtiness could have been put down to the fact that heating wasn't yet working, it was doubtful that the size problem could be rectified by the boiler repairman. She stared at the whitewashed walls, placing her hands on her hips, before blowing a loud disapproving raspberry. There was no way, even with a bit of overlap, that all her posters were going to fit up there. The problem was that her old bedroom had been bigger; and when her interests had expanded from Polaris and Andrew Arrowsword to Gylian pop music, she hadn't had to compromise.

'Sorry Andrew.' She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow as she took one last look at her hero in his Cenian colours, before he was confined to the realm beneath her bed, in favour of Gylian pop duo, Curve. 'Out with the old, huh? Just not enough room anymore, even for someone of your height...' She was really going to need to stop talking his picture, and removing the life size poster was probably a good start. The poster actually gave pretty good advise on a broad range of topics, football, boys, maths homework, it even knew a fair bit about cello. However, if she were going to play for Schottia, it was maybe time to get some new heroes. Maybe Evelyn Conjure gave good advice... No! No, she needed to stop talking to posters. She was going to be twelve in the autumn, and she was most certainly too old to talk to posters.

Out in the hallways she could here her mum arguing over the phone, with the repair company, about the boiler. "Matfield. M-A-I-T-F..." They had been promising to show up for the last three days, and were now pretending that they'd lost the details somewhere - Tess' mum was having none of it. Her dad had moved ahead of them, having started the job straight after the interview. Hillstreet were involved in a desperate relegation battle, and since there was no time to lose, the setting up of the house had felt almost entirely to Tess and her mother.

Being the manager of a relegation-doomed club was clearly taking its toll on her father, and he wore the pain on his face. Tess had wondered if this was why everyone in the town was so god damn miserable. There was something about propping up the bottom of the table that sucked the life out of a manager, like receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from a Dementor. Tess had given up asking how her father's days were, and he had given up telling her.

She'd had no idea how tough moving home could be, or how long it took for furniture to be shipped from Rushmore to Tyran. They had spent the first morning they were there eating croissants, sat on the bare living room floor, mostly discussing how things were going to change. Tess had always thought she liked change, but it turned out she didn't - not real change anyway, that was kind of scary. She was fond of small changes for the better, such as her mum (after much convincing) letting her dye her hair pink... but big changes for the worse..? Nah, that wasn't for her.

The pink had almost grown out now, and in Huntley, it sometimes felt like the luminous tips of her hair were the only colour she had left. Her mum had never been overly fond of her daughter walking around looking like an anime character, and was reticent whenever the topic of renewing it was raised. There were far bigger changes than the rapid re-blondeification of her hair to worry about anyway, with school being the big one. Her parents were embroiled in a battle over where she should be enrolled, with the local comprehensive currently locking horns with the national football academy. Huntley High was a good school, but it wasn't renowned for it's football or cello tuition. The Lammerton branch office of the Schottic Regional Development Side would obviously allow for her to continue with her football, and due to it's links with the University, also offered cello as a subject. The pay-off, however, was the fact that Lammerton would likely mean boarding through the week and coming home at the weekends - and while the Academy did offer the service - neither of her parents were overly sold on the idea.

The discussion as to whether or not Tess could make it as a professional footballer was constant background music in the Maitfield house. Tess often felt like she had little or no say in the matter, and it was talked about as something that would either happen or wouldn't, regardless of the effort she put in. Tess had always been good at football (possibly even better than she was at the cello, and that was saying something). Football, Cello, focus on an academic career - it was swings and roundabouts, and she often didn't know whether she was coming or going. At the moment football seemed to be narrowly winning, ever since her call up to the Schottia Under-12s squad. Her father had cautioned her that a lot could happen in a young player's career, and success at that level wasn't necessarily a reflection of things to come. Her mother, however, seemed to have been given renewed hope that Tess could actually make it.

Tess walked down the narrow staircase, which creaked and groaned as if she were treading across an old man's spine. The new house was actually bigger in terms of floor space, but there was something about the layout that made it feel smaller than their old apartment on the Whitehaven waterfront. It was boxy, and each room felt like a perfect square. Tess was used to the open-plan airiness she had grown up in, the balcony, the sea air. This felt claustrophobic, the grassy garden was overgrown, and there was an odd smell wafting in from the fields. The house her father had bought was the old manse, and while it was detached from the other houses at the end of the street, it was still wrapped in the same dour cladding.

'MUM I'M GOING OUT!' Tess yelled in her Schottia-meets-Ceni accent. A sort of Whitehaven, non-rhotic, cot–caught dialect with the odd burr thrown in for confusion. Her vocal tones had been torn between what she heard at home, and the language of her peers; as a result, it had ended up somewhere between the two.

'Where are you going?' Her mum called back, placing a hand over the receiver so as the boiler repairman didn't take it as his cue to leave.

'Exploring.' Was the reply, which filled the echoy hall, as Tess dashed out into the street, the door slamming the door firmly behind her.

[Cassadaigua]

Nathan Douglas would always watch the World Cup qualifying games on TV when he couldn’t be at the game. Being able to attend the Crystalline Caverns match was a special treat, but his parents couldn’t afford to go to every game. With the Schottia match being in the highest tier of the prices at the stadium, it would not an option for his family. He watched, but as Schottia took a 5-0 lead in the 36th minute of play, he had to turn the game off. This was awful. What happened to superstar goalkeeper Kristen Speller? How was this team conceding so many goals. He heard the boos of the crowd, and wished he could be there to boo them as well. Failing that, he went down to ask his father if he could help him prepare dinner.

“I appreciate the offer, but what’s the matter?”

“They are losing 5-0. It sucks. I hate them, what the hell is wrong with that team now!”

“5-0? No way!” His father exclaimed. There was no way they could be playing that badly so had to check the score. His eyes stared. “It’s not 5-0, son.” Nathan looked perplexed as his father continued, “It’s 6-0 now.”

“See? Why do I want to keep watching!”

“Yeah, so, do you want to chop the tomatoes?”


Nathan didn’t check the score until the next morning. “7-4". Ah, Schottia must’ve felt sorry for our team and let in some second half goals. Since the team had played so pathetically, he didn’t expect that there would be much talk about it in the classroom. He took his seat and prepared for the day to begin.

“Oh my God look everybody!” Exclaimed that all too familiar voice of Taylor Wilson as she walked into the classroom. “I met Evelyn Conjure!” “Look at my pictures!!” Evelyn Conjure. Superstar member of the Schottia team, world famous, Player of the Year in Nepharim Premiership. A true legend of the game, and a name that every soccer fan knows regardless of what nation you are from. She just happened to run into her after the game as the team from Schottia was preparing to leave the stadium. Conjure briefly stopped to sign a couple autographs and take a couple photos for fans before being on her way. Wilson showed the class the pictures and then whipped out a game program with Conjure’s autograph with a personalized message of, “Good luck in school, Taylor. All the best, Evelyn!” and then went up to the teacher, Mrs. Bradford to show her. As the bell to begin the day rang, Mrs. Bradford was more then happy to keep talking about the match and was glad to see her students upbeat after such a lopsided loss.

Taylor, not intending to be mean, went up to Nathan and asked him if he wanted to see the pictures too, since he was one of the few who showed no interest in it earlier. Mrs. Bradford was turned towards the chalkboard as Taylor asked. Nathan said no, and pushed Taylor’s extended arm with her smartphone out, to be away from him just as Mrs. Bradford turned around.

“Why did you do that, Nathan? You don’t push another student!” He hadn’t pushed her, but it appeared that way to the teacher due to the way Taylor stepped back. “You apologize to her right now or I will send you to the principal’s office.”

Taylor, still being eight years old, pointed to an embellished red mark on her forearm, that would making any diving soccer player on the field proud for the exaggeration. “See, it kinda hurt, too!” She exclaimed, pointing it to the teacher. She knew the teacher thought it was worst then it really was, and enjoyed playing it up.

Nathan declined to apologize at first, but after some pleading, let out a mumbled “Sorry.” The teacher accepted that and turned back around towards the chalkboard, Taylor stuck out her tongue at Nathan. As the day went on, Mrs. Bradford told Nathan that she wanted to have a meeting with his parents since he had been acting weird lately.

[Mercedini]

The Mercedinian Sovereign Wealth Fund
@ Capo Plaza - Zoloroni, Mercedini

Mercedini's economy has been at the forefront of the national identity for while now, with the nation priding itself on it's economic stability, this is shown in the nation's largest export coming in the form of financial services and technology. This gives the nation vital knowledge and expertise in how to treat the national economy along with plenty of economic models to use and develop, should the multiversal economy take a turn for the worst. Mercedinian banks and monetary unions have recently been cropping up in nations across the multiverse as the nation looks to expand it's business ties with a plethora of nations in many different regions. With the government actively solidifying those ties in the form of trade deals and state visits, seen most recently with the Echani state visit with President Revan.

However, the government has also developed several mechanisms and schemes in conjunction with expert knowledge and consultation, which allows for further governmental stability when it comes to federal budgets and economic growth, and that is the Mercedinian Sovereign Wealth Fund (MSWF). The Fund has a current value of approximately $400 Billion with the vast majority of the revenue for the fund coming from oil exports bought on my the most recent Echani trade deal (more on that later on).

The Fund has been used to balance the federal budget when further spending is required by the government for certain projects, but the government does inject money into the fund when they run a budget surplus, establishing a give and take situation between the two parties when it comes to fluctuations in the value of the fund from time to time. The MSWF came to be during the time of oil discovery in the Dovani Peninsula and the large amounts of income that the government received thanks to payments in back-taxes from trade and exports from oil activity in the peninsula just off the Zoloroni coast. Since then, taxes and exise duties from oil exports have kept the fund at a healthy level, meaning the nation now sits on a pile of money, should the nation hit hard times or feel the need to invest in projects which would benefit the nation.

The biggest project involving MSWF involvement came in the form of the erection of the Zoloroni Sports City Stadium, familiar to sports fans across the nation. Only $100 Million of the $220 Million cost to build was taken by the fund to build the national stadium, with the outstanding costs being provided direct from the government, the council of the metropolitan area, and private investors. With the public now finally seeing the benefits of the system put in place for that very purpose. The MSWF has also been used for community projects across the country, such as updating parks, recreational hubs, youth centres and areas of natural beauty; all of which aided communities across the nation, barely putting a dent in the value of the fund. This means the nation can develop dilapidated areas, create business parks to develop industry and improve the economy of the nation, which in the end all contributes back into the fund, feeding into a symbiotic relationship between the fund and the economy.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund has seen a small boom as of late, thanks to the diminishing reliance of domestic oil production for the nation's power. This took a dip when Mercedinian and Echani delegation signed a trade deal at the end of an Echani state visit. This meant Mercedinian exports of Financial Services increased, and in return, Mercedini saw a large influx of efficient green energy technologies which the nation has now utilised to a great degree, reducing carbon emissions by 35% and cutting reliance on domestic oil by over half. It means the oil that would've gone to Mercedinian homes and businesses has been released to foreign export customers, adding more to the Wealth Fund through the aforementioned taxes and duties.

It's clear that the Sovereign Wealth Fund has become a huge asset to the Mercedinian economy and the public in general, with a recent survey conducted by ENM News suggests over 70% of the public believe the nation should keep the fund for a rainy day, or domestic investment. With just less than 10% against the idea of the Wealth Fund, citing transparency issues and asset hoarding as their main reservations for keeping the fund.

Whether you agree or disagree with the idea is up to you, but for now, the Mercedinian Sovereign Wealth Fund is here to stay for the time being, with those hundreds of billions of dollars staying put for the nation use at some point in the future.

World Cup 80 Qualification MD3
Austenesia 1-2 Mercedini @ Unknown Stadium - Unknown, Austenesia

Starting XI: Polasic • Kuznetsov - Dosic - Park - Catessic • Vaselko - Karlovic - Nymark - Pujanic • Alotic - Billic
Mercedini Goalscorers: Alotic 8', Billic 43' (P)

Following their first loss of the campaign at home against Farfadillis, the Golden Eagles got back to form with a narrow victory on the road against Austenesia to keep them in the hunt for at least a top three spot, but with many of the team at the top losing to fellow qualification contenders, it means Mercedini remain in the bottom half of the group, despite having a 2-0-1 record from the first three games. We are down to our final team with an 100%record in the group, with New Gazi being the only team to win all of their games so far. Pot One team Farfadillis lost in the biggest surprise in the group on MD3, they lost in a 4-3 goal fest at home to Ko-oren (who move to second with an unbeaten 2-1-0 record after three games)

Mercedini return to the Sports City Stadium, hoping to open their account on home turf following their loss to Farfadillis. They face Stegosauristan in their fourth match of the campaign, with a win potentially lifting them up into a play-off position should other results go their way. Both Alotic and Billic scored in their first and only run out of the campaign so far, so there may be pressure for Lyndainium to stick with the team that won away from home to secure some sense of continuity to the team going into a rather difficult period after going against two lowly ranked teams.

Whether Mercedini can make it back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign remains to be seen, although Mercedini should be able to get past their opponents tomorrow if they are to secure a play-off place or maybe even the automatic spot.

[Sargossa]

The Independienté is an imposing structure, a vast bowl of noise and colour that produces an atmosphere unlike any other sporting arena in the nation. When it’s packed to the rafters, which it so often is despite the lack of any actual rafters to be packed to, it can be worth a whole extra player on the pitch. The Estadio Generalissimo Joaquín Delgado in Soluca may be considered Sargossa’s finest stadium, despite its fickle and moody crowds and matchday experience that has been described as watching football in the departure lounge of a rather fancy airport, but it’s the Independienté that remains a nostalgic throwback to a simpler time.

Known colloquially as ‘The Cauldron’ it provides a carnival atmosphere that starts some distance from the arena itself. The streets are buzzing, vendors hawk everything from snacks, to replica shirts to all many of cheap merchandise and visiting fans can mingle with the crowds in Sargossa’s largest city without fear of unpleasantness. The red and white stripes of local side El Nacional add further colour to the dark blue ediraf kits of Sargossa as the crowds make their way towards the stadium.

Within the bowl itself the stands fill with nearly one hundred and twenty thousand fans, the majority united in a desire to back their national side to the hilt. The Independienté has hosted crucial matches in recent years and the crowd has been credited with helping the Corsairs hold firm against mighty Nephara in a World Cup 78 qualifier and with roaring the side to a crucial victory over Flardania two years later, a win that all but assured qualification to the seventy ninth edition of the tournament. It’s a venue that has served Sargossa well over the years, increasing the annoyance that it is only politics that limits its use to the national side. Not that the Football Federation acknowledge any talk of bias in their choices of venues. The Independienté has been used twenty times by the national side, more than any other arena bar one they say. Although that one happens to be the GJD in Soluca, which just edges it out with one hundred and forty-four Sargossa matches to its name.

All the usual trappings were in place, the chants, the flags, the flares and the noise. The vibrant atmosphere was further enhanced by the form of local side El Nacional, who sat five points clear at the top of the SuperLiga as they searched for a first league title in twelve years. The presence of Alex González and local boy Rafael Bustamanté helped too, with the in-form youngster’s presence inspiring several rousing choruses of the Gala inspired ‘Rafa’s on fire, your defence is terrified.’ As the teams were read out over the loudspeakers each Sargossan was greeted with a huge roar, it was a setting that demanded a winning performance. Unfortunately, it seems someone neglected to explain to visitors Juvencus the role they had been supposed to play.

The Cup of Harmony holders were billed as spoilers in the pre-qualifying literature and they certainly lived up to that tag in Goza. They soaked up the pressure with aplomb in the first half before Grec slide a beautiful pass through to Santo Silvestri, who beat the exposed Vega with pure power to give the visitors a first half lead. The second half was three minutes old when Silvestri popped up again, steering strike partner Joaquim Martel’s pass into the net to make a mockery of whatever words of wisdom had been said at halftime. This was not what the fans had been expected and their sour mood turned furious as Bustamanté hobbled off after a robust challenge from Madeiros. The indignation seemed to spark something in the Corsairs and Vecino teed up Miguel Marí to halve the deficit. But as the Corsairs searched for an equaliser the gli attaccanti frustrated their attempts, so much so that defender José Guerrero totally lost his head and was rightfully sent off for a vicious challenge on Rodrigues. And insult met (almost) injury as Juvencus substitute Campana headed in the resultant freekick to seal an impressive victory.

Television pictures switched repeatedly from coach Rafael Barrios on the touchline to Federation President Hernán Sandoval and Director of Elite Football Luís Molina in the stands. Certainly viewers would have given a centavo for their thoughts. Sandoval had made a promise to run Sargossan football with a philosophy of ‘common sense’, a move away from the kneejerk reactions of his predecessors. But after three games of this campaign, two of them at home against the likes of Indusse, Lochario and Juvencus, a return of just two points is frankly dismal. It also brings Sargossa’s winless run to nine fixtures, dating back to a win in Astograth at the conclusion of the last qualification campaign. It may be an eighteen-game campaign but the Corsairs, seven points behind joint leaders Tobiasia and Brenecia, could potentially have already left themselves with too much to do.

   Group 4                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Brenecia                           3    3   0   0     6    1   +5     9
 2 Tobiasia                           3    3   0   0    11    7   +4     9
 3 Juvencus                           3    2   1   0     8    2   +6     7
 4 North New South Wales              3    2   0   1    12    7   +5     6
 5 Olastor                            3    1   1   1     2    5   −3     4
 6 Stetzra                            3    0   2   1     4    6   −2     2
 7 Sargossa                           3    0   2   1     3    5   −2     2
 8 Indusse                            3    0   1   2     2    5   −3     1
 9 Lochario                           3    0   1   2     2    8   −6     1
10 New Lusitania and the Algarves     3    0   0   3     4    8   −4     0

[Farfadillis]

Ezequiel Marchiondo received a pass from Süns. He looked up and saw Wçêíl coming at him. He tired to dribble past him, but felt a sharp pain as Lüí stepped on him in the middle of his attempt. Rodrigo blew his whistle and declared it a foul. Ezequiel just shrugged the foul off and continued playing. A few minutes passed and the same happened. A carbon copy of the play. Ezequiel, who had always been the silent type, again shrugged it off and continued playing. Then it happened again, but in midfield. He paid no attention to the fact one more time.

Lüí then made a very sinister tackle, which left him on the floor, writhing in pain for a second. Nothing serious, thanks to his shin guard, but still nowhere near what you'd expect in a training match. Tensions were high after the loss against Ko-oren, but this was something else. Tíbürçìó then told Lüí off. Not for targeting the Faroleran, but for almost injuring him. Apparently repeatedly abusing him physically was fine? Nonetheless, this time Wçêíl picked him up off the floor, but not without first whispering something on his ear.

"Your parents might have bought you a place in the team, but they can buy you neither talent nor manliness." The shit-eating grin painted on his face made his remark all the more ominous. Ezequiel understood his resentment. Lüí, like all the other Rulandese players, had grown up in abject poverty. He, however, had grown up the fifteenth son of one of the richest families in Farfadillis.

Furthermore, the remark about his parents having bought him a place in the team were not wholly unfounded. Ezequiel got signed by Lammerton thanks in part to his parents. But his performances after that had been all his doing. Perhaps Lüí felt that way cause Ezequiel hadn't yet had a very good performance for the NT, yet he was already a starter, while the opposite was true of Lüí? Perhaps not. He wasn't about to get all Freudian about it.

This was not the first time he was getting treated like a spoiled rich child in training, so at this point he'd gotten used to it. But Lüí was going overboard. Ezequiel figured he'd try and put him in his place as best as he knew: peacefully. He received a pass from der Pros and nutmegged Lüí as he approached him. However, when he was about to get past him, Lüí punched him in the stomach. Rodrigo didn't even call the foul. They looked at each other for a second. The young Rulandese's face looked like that of a torturer. The young Faroleran's looked confused, but also slightly scared. "What did I even do to him?" was the only thought crossing his mind at that moment.

Ezequiel was a very innocent man. He hadn't ever played football in the streets of Ruland, not even in the lower echelons of Farf youth football. He had never been invited to play with bigger men in amateur matches when he was fifteen, and he had never had the experience of facing a Rulandese team in the FFL, because he never even played for a Farf team. As a result, he was caught absolutely unprepared by his teammate. First on a cross, when he punched him on a kidney. Then while holding the ball, when he elbowed him on the face. It was getting very excessive, but Marchiondo was just letting him run wild.

An introverted, educated kid who came from money and would never hurt a fly. That would be an apt description for the victim of Wçêíl's bullying. Naturally, no teammate stepped in to stop him. The Rulandese didn't care at all, while the rest didn't care enough. He hadn't made any friends in the team, not yet at least. He wasn't the talkative type; making friends was something that took time for him.

But everyone, absolutely everyone, gets tired eventually. For some people, it takes seconds to lash out. For some, it takes years. However, it either stops eventually or the victim lashes out. Marchiondo knew about that all too well. In his school, bullying was rampant after all. He knew what he was facing, except now the person doing the bullying was not the son of one of the most powerful men in the country, so he could run wild.

When he finally got tired, Ezequiel first elbowed Lüí in the face during a corner kick. This caught Lüí by surprise, but he promptly responded with a powerful punch in the stomach while nobody important was looking. Then, Ezequiel made a pretty risky tackle on Lüí when he had the ball. It was all ball, though, so no complaints could be made. "Tone it down, Ezequiel, you could've injured him." Tíbürçìó shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears. The following time, he mistimed the tackle on purpose, leaving Lüí writhing in pain on the floor. The practice match was sure getting heated. Not even forty minutes had passed... when Lüí got up and began complaining.

"What the FUCK was that?!" Lüí shouted in his face. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!"

Ezequiel stayed silent and still. Lüí spat on his face.

And then punched him on the face. That was the last thing the Rulandese did before getting his nose broken by Ezequiel's first punch. Then he got a rib broken. Then he got a left hook and a right hook. Then the fight, if you could even call it that, was broken up by the rest of the team. Wçêíl was barely conscious, while Marchiondo was trying to make his best to make his way to him so that he could "kill him". You see, Wçêíl had always been at a disadvantage. This was his first time playing the bully, he had done it out of frustration. But this was not Marchiondo's first time playing the role of the victim.

Tíbürçìó laughed the incident off, told the substitutes they'd have to play with one less player, then handed the half-conscious Rulandese some ice. Practice went on as usual after that.

[Vilita]

New "Pirates" movie a box-office hit

Atlantian Oceania's newest cinematic hit, Pirates of the Strait of Champions XX, has now been released across the multiverse after a few weeks at the top of the box office charts in nations throughout Atlantian Oceania. In this most recent incarnation of the 'Pirates' franchise, Captain Di Bradini may have finally met his match on the high seas as perennial challengers return to claim their place as Pirate King.

With the internationstatal success of the 'Pirates' franchise, the Vilita National looks back at how it all got started right here in Vilita as a pilot showing based in the Vilitan Cove - before even the famed characters of Captain Di Bradini and Commodore Rinaldi transformed the franchise into what it has become today.

Pirates of the Vilitan Cove: The Captains Threat ::

The "Pirates" franchise had a modest start as a cinematic short following Captain Helmut Vilkauos as he looked to recruit a team of Pirates to re-claim his ship, the Jungle Cat, and take it on a pillaging run throughout the cove - and perhaps beyond.

After visiting four Vilitan ports and three ports on foreign soil, Vilkauos finally started finding what he was looking for in an expert bootmaker named Callum Banda. Banda, and his friend Santo Kecker, joined up with Vilkauos crew and together hatched a plan to scheme a minor financial windfall by approaching one of Keckers debtors and claiming 2:1 Compound Interest on the debt.

The finances helped the crew secure a small ship and slowly but surely new crew members came on board.

It wasn't instant success for the rag-tag-team of course and they suffered many failed attempts to gain plunder and impose their dominance, but Captain Vilkaous would never back down, continuously warning other pirate captains and pass-through vessels of the Threat that his crew in their tiny vessel would pose to them.

Most of them just brushed the Captain off and didn't take him seriously - not even finding it worth their time to attempt to take over the seemingly inept ship or its crewmates. But Vilkaous' was finally able to make good on his threat to some small degree when one of their recruits, Alexander Ostling, snuck onto a ship called the "Lovebug" as it was docked at the port in Alikki-Corra. Ostling was able to load up a single life boat with supplies and weapons and lower it into the sea without the knowledge of the Lovebug crew - setting up Vilkaous and the others for their journey.

The Film concludes with a bang as Vilkaous, Banda, Kecker and the crew claim their biggest victory yet as Captain Aserjin let his guard down. Callum Banda struck the winning blow and the Vilkaous' victorious crew sailed off into the sunset in search of their true ship. While Vilkaous' threat may have been taken on deaf ears by most, the Pirate Captain had flexed his muscle in the Vilitan Cove and his inexperienced crew finally proved they might just have the mettle to push forth and go after the ultimate prize.

---

Vilita [2] - [1] Darkmania

:: Vilita Goalscorers :: :: 13' Kwuimekii Hentetii :: 17' Tenziki Kulakao

:: Vilita Statistics :: :: Possession: 57% :: Shots on Target: 6 :: Corner Kicks: 13

:: Darkmania Statistics :: :: Possession: 43% :: Shots on Target: 5 :: Corner Kicks: 10

---

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Darkmania ::
[GK]Cilamara Issah, [D.]Linkat Cjinder, [D.]Kwuimekii Hentetii, [D.]Rintala Sekagaya, [ML] Westii Yahaya, [MC] Purapal Eskiiy, [MC]Karisto Monafog, [MC] Cavuna Aquafek, [MR] Jurzen Devmiko, [FC]Tenziki Kulakao, [FC]Kiliko Riazen
BENCH::
[FC]Sipke Tarala, [FC]Linvoi Warazil, [M]Va'a-Rio Kiwavn, [M]Polaox Torerun, [U ]Arocki Tadalek, [D]Mileke Drokasorna, [GK]Upsin Ajaara

---

Vilita [1] - [2] Savojarna

:: Vilita Goalscorers :: :: 43' Sipke Tarala

:: Vilita Statistics :: :: Possession: 49% :: Shots on Target: 3 :: Corner Kicks: 2

:: Savojarna Statistics :: :: Possession: 51% :: Shots on Target: 7 :: Corner Kicks: 6

---

Vilita Jungle Cats Lineup v. Savojarna ::
[GK]Mako Canopii, [D.]Linkat Cjinder, [D.]Mileke Drokasorna, [D.]Jirak Trikala, [ML] Kamarul Zaman, [MC] Westii Yahaya, [MC]Jurzen Devmiko, [MR] Cavuna Aquafek, [FC] Fishtii Blikala, [FC]Sipke Tarala, [FC]Nuola Brenzil
BENCH::
[FC]Linvoi Warazil, [FC]Tenziki Kulakao, [M]Tinjus Mngomeni, [M]Ikala Mravedii, [U ]Cywrenta Vlintejni, [D]Kwuimekii Hentetii, [GK]Zelkki Milake

---

Tivali Ring Stadium, Alikki-Corra, Vilita :: Vilitan goalkeeper Cilamara Issah got the ultimate reward after leading his Lonngeylin Coast team to back-to-back Vilitan Stellar Division titles - being named the starting goalkeeper for the Vilita National Teams opening match of the World Cup 80 Qualification campaign.

For the aging netminder who wasn't even sure he would return for the 80th World Cup campaign - hitting his stride late in life and being given the honor over World Cup 68 and World Cup 77 heros Zelkki Milake and Mako Canopii respectively was certainly proof to the pudding that was the result of the past few seasons of hard work and dedication. Of the Vilitan National Team goalkeepers, Issah is the only one who has won the Stellar Division title now as Milake and Canopii still chase the ultimate domestic prize with their long-time clubs Eastal Lunar and the Yeaddin Owls.

Being the goalkeeper for Vilita's opening matchup isn't always a reward however as Vilita have a long history of dropping points on the opening day of World Cup Qualification. Cilamara Issah wasn't about to let that happen however as the Jungle Cats went on the road to Darkmania and returned home 2-1 victors thanks to goals from Kwuimekii Hentetii and Tenziki Kulakao.

Unfortunately, it seems the Jungle Cats and their fans were too excited after the win - thinking they were clear of the early campaign pitfalls that had gotten them in the past and were clear sailing to the World Cup Finals as the groups favorite and top seed. Then came Savojarna - a nation quickly becoming a rival of the Vilitan's through their repeated battles on the Ice in the World Cup of Hockey, Savojarna came into Alikki-Corra and left the Tivali-Ring Stadium with all the spoils claiming their first ever victory over Vilita on the pitch and putting the Jungle Cats right back into the same spot points wise as they would have been had they dropped he opening match like usual.

The campaign continues on for the Jungle Cats who will need to tighten things up defensively and not play down to their opponents skill level, keep things professional and from here on out, give no quarter.

[Ko-oren]

Dragonflies: Victors over Vherderoja!!

A clash of styles in the Farf home stadium. The offensive Vherderoja, and successful doing that, versus the always defensive Dragonflies, moderately successful doing that. The two teams have been in the same competitions time and time again: World Cups, Cups of Harmony, AOCAFs. And usually it featured the two teams on equal footing, however this time, Farfadillis features as the third-placed team in the world, while Ko-oren are global minnows, sitting at 79. And that's not all. Farfadillis comes off of a 4-3 victory over Acronius, and we'll chalk the three goals conceded up to start-up problems, and a 3-0 away victory at Mercedini. Ko-oren come off of a 3-1 victory over Cathaldonia, and then a 3-3 at home versus the Sherpa Empire. It's the first away fixture for Ko-oren, after being openly criticised on the leadership of the team. Lacking experience, a clear captain, and conceding three goals versus a weaker opponent, the Dragonflies are not in the happy place they wanted to be in before arguably the hardest game of the qualifying campaign. Away at Farfadillis. While 'home' in the sense that you won't have to leave Atlantian Oceania for this one, it's very away in the lions' den.

The Vherderoja started with their usual 3-5-2, a strong midfield, a physically small but talented defence, and an all-round offence featuring one tactical, quick finisher (a critical finisher - might almost call him diacritical, I mean, seriously, his name is Çíânflöné) and one creative, can-put-the-ball-anywhere-but-in-the-goal assist king. The biggest weapons are the speed, pace and technical skills virtually every player has, though really only Lázar is a physical threat. This prompted Ko-oren, always reactionary, to sit back with a back line of 5, two defensive midfielders, and letting nobody run through or find space. After a slow first five minutes, where players are just getting used to their opponents, this tactic proved useful. The Farves stayed in possession, but always 30 metres away from the goal at the least. The early goal that top sides are looking for to make the rest of the match a lot easier didn't happen, and the score remained 0-0 for the first 25 minutes of the match. After this, a rare successful counterattack by the Ko-orenites landed behind Básá, where Longchambon only barely kept the ball in play, crossed to Wouters where only Söh even pretended to be defending, and the low-bouncing cross was converted into a slow shot on goal, out of reach for Metz. The first goal was a fact, but it was 0-1 instead of 1-0. Ko-oren now went ahead on counterattacks more often where possible, and while it left Beaulieu with a good chance, eventually it was the Farves who got their revenge. The same mistakes as againt the Sherpa Empire left Çíânflöné with one man to beat, and he's the one player who'll convert that chance all day, every day: 1-1. This happened once more in the 37th minute, and Ko-oren shifted to a more defensive stance, though the damage had been done and the Dragonflies were staring at a deficit. A careless moment before half time gave Ko-oren an undeserved equaliser: 2-2. After half time, both teams exchanged goals (1 each) and bookings (2 each) as the game turned a little more grim. Simulation, two mistimed sliding tackles, and an unsportsmanlike shove meant two yellows to each time in the space of 15 minutes after tea. Meier took the yellow for a dive, Lampshire then took out frustrations for no reason, Marchiondo then did the same in retaliation, leading to a skirmish which saw Aviara, the Greenblue goalkeeper, push Sasca away. Sasca went down theatrically, but that doesn't change the fact that it was a dumb, clear foul. After the wrestling match intermission, the football match went on and Çíânflöné scored the hattrick to once again put Farfadillis up front. The celebrations ran into the 80th minute, and a miracle would have to happen soon. Lampshire was taken off for Swadling, then Yokota was taken off for Didier, in a move to at least keep the damage to a minimum - surely, Ko-oren wouldn't win this one anyway. The Yokota-Didier sub proved monumental: a defensively-minded, technically poor Yokota was taken off for a resilient Didier. Söh was presented a dilemma when Didier and Beaulieu both sneaked into the box with no other defender nearby, then he guessed wrong, pulled the emergency brake, and gave Wouters the penalty. With 7 minutes to go, Wouters kicked the penalty straight down the middle for the 3-3, and his second goal of the day. Beaulieu would also get her second of the day, with two minutes to go, heading home a lucky ball from a lucky free kick from 35 metres out. It took all the luck Margaret typically offers any team, but Ko-oren were victorious, 3-4, away at one of the toughest opponents in the Multiverse.

Now that is how you deal with criticism. Sure, Juliasterinthen was never handed an easy task, with retiring stars leaving and too young talents coming in. Criticism about the players, the scheme (wasn't 5-3-2 a bit too defensive?), leadership of both him and the players he selected, and lastly, the absence of a clear captain. He'd named Avalor captain despite the lack of quality in his play, ultimately leaving Juliasterinthen in charge of a talent-poor team - but at least with the possibility that it might still turn into something. Is this the first example of things going the right way, or was it one random outlier, inevitable given the law of large numbers?

[Filindostan]

VeniBlogs
Blogsite by your average Venividicci Fan

Group 14: Uwian na, may nanalo na...
(TL Note: Group 14: Time to go home, there's a winner already...)

Three games into the qualifiers of the World Cup, and it seems the team touted to win the group is already starting to run away with the group lead.

Valanora were hands-down favorite to win Group 14 and seal the sole automatic qualification to World Cup 80. This was the difference in the previous qualifying campaign where the top two automatically qualify to the biggest event in international football. This edition, the second place in the group will have a playoff match against one of the third placed teams in the qualifying campaign to determine the remaining 15 spots in one of the landmark World Cups the multiverse would ever see. And after just three matches, I can see them winning the group comfortably.

After a 2-1 win over Savalen, the Marauders ran riot in the second matchday, giving Euran Oceania Territories a 7-0 shellacking in the second matchday, while other contenders lost points. Damukuni lost to 95X by the solitary goal, the latter losing to a returning Nethertopia, and we failed to get the three points against Colunberra. After two games, we can still say we still are in the running for the playoffs, heck, even top spot if we're able to take down the Vanorians.

Third matchday, Valanora faced third seeded 95X, and there's no doubt the average Filindostani will hope for latter to take points off their fellow AO nation. It didn't happen, however, as their World Cup qualifying campaign took a big hit with a 2-1 loss. Damukuni meanwhile, lost points against Razenthuria, in a 1-1 draw. Maybe we can take advantage of the mishaps of the two teams and get our campaign back on track? Dead wrong.

The Pula Garudas failed to even get on the scoresheet as they had to contend with a goalless draw at Nethertopia. What that meant is that, the Filindos are now four points behind Valanora, and with Damukuni and 95X not having good starts either, it was Alpine Union and Nethertopia currently occupying the playoff spots, two points behind the leaders at 7 points. Meanwhile, Valanora looks to run away with the group lead, and with matches against the two Esportivan nations still on the horizon, we know that the Matchdays 5, 7, and 8 which pits us against the three top seeds are now must-wins if we hope to solidify our chances of making it to Starblaydia and Equestrian States.

Meanwhile, we could have crowned the group winners for Group 14 this early. Let's go home, looks like they've won already.

[Northwest Kalactin]

Northwest Kalactin 1-1 Cesyca

Minute 5: Jared Sednah the explosive striker from CLC in north prairie gets past Ceyesca’s right back Player 11 only to shoot it over the net.

Minute 33: Luke Dillan the player who was negotiating with teams from the terranean league scores on a free kick on a beautiful 21 yard kick that barley got away from goalie number 1 for Ceyesca.

Minute 45+4: Northern Sunrisisian referee Milal Kutnos Blows the whistle for Half time.

Minute 53: Player number 8 for Ceyesca scores after it gets past Wendell Jakerein the great goalie from Kempsey United that was planning on playing international next year.

Minute 67: Jared Sednah Misses a shot that should’ve went in but Milal Kutnos ruled it offside
.

Minute 90+5: Player 3 for Ceyesca gets injured and will be out for Ceyescas next game.

Minute 90+5: Milal Kutnos blows the whistle for full time.

[Stetzra]

The commentators are Glen Maurer, Katie Pointe, Amy Peterson, and retired North Prarie soccer head coach Aaron Assimo.

GM: Alright, welcome to The Forum on the South Pacific Sports Network! If you have Fan, there's highlights and analyzations from Beepee-Wolves Clans on 1, North Prarie-Vietmnh on 2, Stetzra-Olastor on 3, Live Midandia FC - Northern Springs CFC on 4, and highlights from around the sporting world on 5! But this is the Forum, where we talk about the biggest things of the day, answer questions, predict games, and have a little fun at the same time!

KP: That's right! We're LIVE from our studio in Sadiejames right now!

AA: So let's get into today's news!

GM: Let's start off by talking about Beepee. The defending BoF champions and one of the futures of South Pacific sports, especially in soccer, is in 9th in their group. This is surely disappointing.

AP: That's right. And a 4-0 thrashing at home by an unranked Qusmo side makes it even worse.

AA: Here's the thing. I think that the reason Beepee is not succeeding is because opposing managers have figured out their style of play. The tiki-taka, build-up attack, kinda boring style just isn't working anymore. It worked in Banija at the BoF because they were more experienced then other teams, and the weaker teams they were facing couldn't figure them out. That style of play also works best in warm climates, in which Banija fits the bill. But now they're playing more experienced teams, and even the less experienced teams have figured them out. Like Qusmo. And look at that Ceni game. The fast-paced Cenians were intercepting passes all over the place.

GM: That's a good point, Aaron. Maybe Beepee need to start playing more Prariean-style football, with the counter-attacks and all that.

KP: Maybe a few of their players should head on over to the Prarie Premier! I'm sure DCFC would LOVE Dirk Bolt right now.
*All the analysts chuckle*

AA: Or he could go to Abbey, since their style of play is very Beepee-Style currently.
*All the analysts chuckle again*

GM: Okay, enough about Beepee. Let's move on to North Prarie now.
The Prarieans have done okay, drawing all their games. Sometimes that's a good result, like on the road at Eshan. But sometimes that's a bad result, like at home against Vietmnh.

KP: Well, I think they need to prove their worth against Natanians and Nosts. You can't ask much, since they're traveling to an established sporting nation that is ranked 65th, but Nosts have been in bad form recently. So I think the Loons definitly have it in them to go to the Station Nacional and get a win.

AP: I don't know. Even if North Prarie takes a loss or a draw there, they will have a pretty easy 2 matches after that, which are a home game against Free Swiss States and an away game against Yuezhou. That's good prep for a pre-break death hole of an away game against Poggers and home games against the Holy Empire and Eastfield Lodge.

GM: Again, a good point. The Prarieans will have a hard series of 4 games after those two, as in the games that you mentioned, plus an away match against Bostopia, who I think might be sort of a dark horse, and a home game against 23rd ranked Eshan. That's 4 games against the top 4 teams out of 5.

AA: If Erick Amerigo comes out of his slump and Willis starts putting Bradley Francis on more, then we should have a good go of it.

GM: Okay, moving on to the South Pacifician shocks of the tournament, Stetzra. How about those Lions?

KP: Yes! That team has all been in SUPER form recently, even if it means 2 draws and a win. But that result in Juvencus was great. A 1-1 draw on the road against the defending Cup of Harmony champions? GREAT!

GM: And you can't really get on them for that home loss against Tobiasia. They scored two goals, it's all good.

AP: And, they have a semi-winnable game today. I expect their first win against New Lusitania and the Algarves in Sadiejames.

AA: But they are sure to fall against Sargossa. On the road against the 32nd ranked team? I don't think that looks good. They should definitely win at home against Lochario, but they will lose against Brenecia after that.

KP: However, after that game they have some winnable games against Indusse and North New South Wales, at home and on the road, respectively.

GM: Okay, we're gonna have to move on to our League section soon. Mid-qualifying predictions for these teams, and analyzations?
First Beepee. I go 3rd.

AA: 8th.

KP: 6th.

AP: 5th.

GM: And NP? I go 4th.

AA: 5th.

KP: 2nd.

AP: 3rd.

GM: Finally, Stetzra. I go 7th.

AA: 6th.

KP: 4th.

AP: 3rd.

GM: 3rd? Very confident, Amy. Closing Statements from any of you?

AA: If Beepee gets their crap together and starts playing faster they should finish 2nd.

KP: This game on the road against N&N is crucial for North Prarie, and I expect at least a draw.

AP: I thought Razenthuria, Cassadigua, and Abanhfleft were good? What's up?

GM: And me: I am so very angry that Yezur is 9th in their group. C'mon, man! The team that beat us?

KP: And that's your WCQ roundup! Now, about that DCFC shortlist....

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

THE TALE OF TWITCH AND THE EXCITING MARKETING OPPORTUNITY

One day the fluffy bunnies were very sad.

Why were they sad?

They were sad because they had lost 3-2 to Yuezhou.

Yeu who? Yeuzhou!

Who are Yeuzhou?

We do not have a clue.

But goals from Jiawei Sangu

Meant the bunnies lost 3-2.

No wonder the bunnies were sad! Not only had they lost a football match for the first time ever, but they were being forced to listen to really bad poems about that loss.

Poor bunnies.

Not even a threat to tear the referee limb from limb and feed his entrails to the Ravenous Singing Mongle Monster with the purple paisley fur could raise their spirits, especially following the cease and desist letter from the World Cup Committee insisting that the cute little bunnies should stop threatening the referees or face some form of formal sanction.

Can you imagine?

Isn't that what referees are for? To be abused by cute little footballing bunnies that boys and girls and grown-ups too think are just the fluffiest football-playing bunnies ever?

But then, when they made it back to the dressing room, and feeling blue and low, something ever so exciting happened!

The marketing men and bunnies from new cross-dimensional bunny marketing venture Fluffy Bunnies, Inc. were there to meet the bunnies.

'Look', said the marketing men and bunnies, 'we have a range of new plush soft toys designed around the team for sale during the World Cup if our exciting offer to be the official bunny sponsors for World Cup 80 is accepted'.

'That's one's me!' said Wiggles, his nose going pink with excitement.

'And that one's me!' said Snickerdoodle, who was terribly excited that even the back-up goalkeeper was getting a toy.

'And that one's me!' said Benjy Bunny, who was just as excited as Wiggles and Snickerdoodle.

'Why are they wearing yellow and red waistcosts instead of carrying weapons?' asked Bogart.

'This is because they are footballing bunnies showing you playing football instead of military bunnies showing you leading the Invincible Legions of Doom, and smashing the hapless enemies of the Dread Lords Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail' said a long-winded marketing bunny. 'They appeal more to children this way', she explained.

'There are five of me!' said Twitch, who hadn't been listening to the bit about guns, and didn't know what to think about this interesting development.

'That's because our extensive market research suggests that you'll be the most popular bunny toy of all thanks to the way your nose twitches so' said one of the marketing men, before sending the bunnies to sleep with something called a 'marketing research powerpoint presentation'.

Do not worry, boys and girls, we won't share the marketing research powerpoint presentation with you; we don't want to send you to sleep.

When the bunnies woke up again, they all had consent forms to sign, so that Fluffy Bunny, Inc. could use their images in the exciting marketing opportunity.

And all the bunnies signed, especially Twitch, who was still sad at the thought of the loss to Yuezhou, but somehow ever so cheered up at the thought that the marketing research suggested that he was the cutest bunny of them all.

And if you were a bunny, wouldn't you want to know that many people - human, bunny, even those mean and stinky sentient ponies - thought you were the cutest?

Hippity-hop, hippity-hop, into the burrow.

THE END

[Kita-Hinode]

---

Nice to meet you, reader. I'm Chrom. No, don't ponder over how I'm greeting you. I'm a very smart person, you see. In any case, when we last left off, my little custody sister was somewhat worried over one of our new students. Still, classes have to be given and I'll always jump at the opportunity of teaching people new things. Oh, the excitement, I can barely contain it!

---

Chrom walked in front of a blackboard, where he'd write with chalk.
Watching, were several of the gym's students.
[Chrom] - Now, I believe you all know from the top of your head what exactly works against each type.
He drew a crude version of a Bulbasaur, writing the word "Grass" under it.
[Chrom] - So, let's start with the first Pokémon, according to the International Pokédex, Bulbasaur. He's a grass type, right? ...Yes?
He noticed Satomi raising her hand.
[Satomi] - He's a Grass/Poison type, sir.
[Chrom] - Bingo.
He then scribbled Poison under Grass.
[Chrom] - Bulbasaur is an interesting Pokémon for many reasons, although the main one is that he's... well, the first Pokémon at the Pokédex you all received whenever you got your starter Pokémon.
He then picked a stick from under the blackboard, pointing at the words Grass and Poison.
[Chrom] - Additionally, he's not the first nor the last one to have more than a single type. Not all starters are like this, some may never ever pick up a new type in their entire lives.
Chrom drew then a Squirtle and a Charmander, writing under them their respective types.
[Chrom] - Both Charmander and Squirtle start with a single type but Charmander gets another type as Charizard.
[Lucas] - Dragon, sir?
[Satomi] - I believe Flying, sir.
[Chrom] - Well... As a Charizard, it picks up Flying. However, should it reach Mega Evolution with Charizardite X, it'll drop Flying to pick up Dragon.
He smiled, putting the stick in its' resting place.
[Chrom] - My point is that training Pokémon with single types can be harder to raise. Even then, you might have to work with more weaknesses than what you'd have with dual type Pokémon. Bulbasaur takes less damage from Poison type than, say, Chikorita, thanks to its' Poison type.
Satomi rose her hand again.
[Satomi] - My Rowlet has the possibility of becoming a Decidueye at the end of its' evolution line. Should I do it?
[Chrom] - Why yes, absolutely! See, kids, Decidueye is a Grass/Dark type, while both Rowlet and Dartrix, its' evolution, are Grass/Flying. As is, your Pokémon is weak to five types, including a scarily high weakness to Ice. Decidueye earns some advantages while also lessening the impact of Ice.
[Satomi] - Thanks for answering, sir.
Other students to talk behind her back, apparently making fun of her.
Han-Myeong turned to see them, causing them to stop with a mere stern look.
[Chrom] - Well, you're here to learn in any case, feel free to ask anything!
The students started to talk again, causing Han-Myeong himself to roll his eyes.
[Chrom] - Now, kids. Miss Satomi here has a reason to be here.
[Lucas] - Yeah, to annoy us just like her little brother did?
Han-Myeong stared daggers at him, but Lucas stood firm.
[Lucas] - And you can tell her little boyfriend there to drop the case.
[Jolyne] - He's not her boyfriend!
[Lucas] - Oh, he's yours now?
Jolyne looked at the blond boy, her cheeks red.
[Lloyd] - Lucas, drop the bleeding argument...
[Lucas] - Oh, not you too, Lloyd.
He got up, pointing at her.
[Lucas] - Ever since your family moved here, you've been nothing but trouble to us all. I know I'm not the only one to think so and I certainly won't stand for it.
He took one of his two Pokéballs out of his pocket, smirking.
[Lucas] - Newbie, I challenge you to a battle!

Cool Trainer LUCAS has to challenge you to a battle!

---

Katsu awoke inside a drab room, a clear lack of light beside a couple of candles.
He couldn't help but look at what was his room, a mattress on the cold, wooden floor.
It tore him up whenever he remembered his old room.
The one his sister built specifically for him.
The little plushies all over the room.
A poster of several trainers he had idolized from the old land.
His cherished team, all of which he had left in his old place.
It made him realize how much his sister saw him as a child, although it also made him note that he was, indeed, cherished by her.
And that's when his eyes readjusted to his current place.
It had nothing besides a couple of sets of clothes, a picture of his parents and a single Pokéball.
His starter, the one he hadn't used in years.
They were in the same boat now.
In fact, his new teacher, Hakifao, enforced that he did so.
They were vessels of rage.
And unmatched rage of any sort was always her favourite weapon.
He got up, sighing.
Every step made him think about things.
He knew he was doing the right thing, but should've left his remaining family to do so?
He heard a cry, causing him to snap out of his thoughts.
As Katsu left his room, he finally noticed who cried.
It was a girl of pale complexion, wearing the usual combo that he himself had been forced to wear, a set of dark clothes with one little thing that could make people remember who they were earlier.
For the girl, this item was a light blue shirt with the drawing of a happy Piplup.
[Hinode] - Hey... Are you OK?
[Girl] - O-of course, I'm not!
[Hinode] - Don't give me that. I just wanted to know what's going on.
[Girl] - I... I miss my hometown and my family, that's it.
He looked at her eyes, still teary-eyed and decided to just sit by her side.
[Hinode] - Well. My sister used to say that talking with a friend about your hometown can make you reminisce about your place and cheer up.
[Girl] - B-But I don't have any friends here...
[Hinode] - I'm Hinode. I can be your friend.
He offered his hand, using his battle name for the first time ever without being defiant to anyone.
That thing was catchy.
[Kenaki] - Name's Kenaki... and thanks.
[Hinode] - So... Where are you from?
[Kenaki][ - It's a small town up north, called Frozenpass. By this time of the year, it'd be all snowy... and Piplups would come out to slide on their bellies. Mom would make Snorunt cookies as well...
[Hinode] - W-well, I'm sure you can visit them later, right?
[Kenaki] - Once I'm done here, yes... but I don't know if I'll come back the same.
[Hinode] - Why? Aren't you just fed up with the world?
[Kenaki] - N-No... B-But I have to avenge my brother... So I'll fight for him.
[Hinode] - Y-Your brother?
[Kenaki] - Yes... I... D-don't mind me.
She got up, rushedly so.
[Hinode] - W-What?
Hinode looked at her leave at a fast pace.
He was once again alone in the near dark.
He sighed.
[Hinode] - I wonder if my sister is looking for me right now.

---

Chrom sighed.
The students prepared a battle ring, something that hadn't been used for Pokémon battles since Katsu stopped showing up.
He'd frequently battle Qasden there... and lose.
Qasden, of course, chose to pay attention to the battle.
She wanted to figure out what exactly was this Satomi person.
Satomi stood in one of the edges of the ring, nervous.
Lucas was Lucas.
And as the battle lines started to be drawn, the prodigy knew.
This was going to be a long cycle.

[Siovanija and Teusland]

STELBURGER ZEITUNG

EDITORIALS

World Cup Qualifiers are well underway, and the Stelburger Zeitung would like to give fans a greater insight into the national team and its players. To that effect, we’ve offered several players a chance to tell the story of just how they got to this point. Today’s editorial comes from Miroslav Dinev, team captain and centre forward.

There are sometimes moments you know will live forever. Football has given me many, many of these moments, ones I’ll remember for the rest of my life. No, I’m not retiring tomorrow, don’t worry, but when I was asked to talk about what it meant to be on the national team, and what it was like, I figured talking about some of those moments would be the best idea.

The last few months have been quite the whirlwind. It’s been non-stop football for me and some of my teammates, and we’re enjoying every minute of it. I’ll take you back to the start of that, then, when we were coming down to the crunch of the first Republikaliga season. Picture this: it’s the second to last game, and you are taking on a solid but struggling side, with a chance to win the title.

That was the situation my Energija Chernovets teammates and I found ourselves in, as we took on TSV Marzig. We’d gotten a bit ahead of ourselves, really, thinking we’d won the league, and we were paying the price for it now. Our 5 point lead had pretty much evaporated, and the whispers began: will they blow it? Are Chernovets going to choke away their best chance to win the league?

That day, at the Vest-Marlebucht-Stadion, we felt as if we had choked. We actually got the first goal in the match. Viktor Dimitrov, really the man behind a lot of my goals, gave me the ball just outside the box. I didn’t think it was that good of a shot, but I managed to hit the bottom right corner just out of reach of the keeper. As quickly as we’d gained the lead, though, we’d lost it. I watched helplessly as Marzig danced around our defenders just 3 minutes later, evening the score at 1-1.

Then, at the 85th minute, they got a corner. I can’t remember the exact play, but we lost our heads and forgot how to defend it, really. Marzig's young star man Ludwig Reichwein had the ball, and there was nothing we could do to stop him scoring at that moment. The whistle blew, and we had lost 2-1.

No one knew how we’d come back from that next week. There was silence in the dressing room, and silence on the ride back home. The next day, we watched FC Teussen Stelburg defeat Olympia Borograd in the National Derby, putting them only 1 point behind us. We couldn’t let this slip. Our final day matchup was with VfB Launitz, a side who had just avoided relegation, at home. If we couldn’t win that match, we didn’t deserve the title.

I remember vividly the speech to us in the changing room. The manager, Apostol Manevski, came in a few minutes before we entered the tunnel. “Lads, we’ve had a couple of difficult weeks, but we are still in a position to win this league. To become the first-ever champions of the Republikaliga. There are 30,000 fans out there, desperate for you to win today. Do not let them down.” Maybe not the most inspiring speech of all time, but for us in the room that day it seemed like it. We entered the match flying, determined to come away with the win and the title.

It felt as if nothing could stop us that day. We got a goal in the 10th minute, and we felt a lot of relief. Just a few minutes later, I was on the ball. I sensed an opening, and blew past my man to get an open shot. As soon as I’d kicked it, I knew the result would be a goal. Sometimes you just feel it. The whole team celebrated with me on that one. It was my 25th of the season, but definitely the most important. At halftime we led 4-2, and while Launitz did well to make it close at the end, our 4-3 victory gave us the title.

We received our trophy, which was quite the moment. I lifted it up high as we all popped champagne, and fireworks went off in the distance. A couple fans made their way onto the pitch, which surely upset security but we were happy to share in their jubilation. I can’t tell you exactly what happened (the Zeitung is a classy paper, after all) but the celebrations went long into the night.

A few days later, we were all cleaning out our lockers, when the manager came in. He’d been doing exit interviews with a few of the players, and now it was my turn. I was expecting just the usual, what to work on this offseason, when we’d return to training, et cetera. I sat down, and Apostol spoke. “Miro, I’ve been named manager of the national team for the Baptism of Fire and World Cup Qualifiers.” I was a little shocked. I asked him if that meant he’d be leaving Chernovets. “No, no. It’s only going to be a temporary thing, they’ve got Alan Dzekov lined up to take over after and for now he’ll be one of my assistants.” Then, he added: “I’d like you to be my captain.”

I couldn’t believe that. Honestly, I’d expected to make the squad. I had won the Golden Boot after all, and my team had won the title. But to be named captain was something I certainly didn’t expect. Of course I accepted, we shook hands, and he told me he’d get back to me regarding our training sessions before the Baptism of Fire. Our 23-man unit met for the first time a week or so later in Stelburg, and not too long after that we flew out to Banija.

We weren’t all that sure how it would go. We were, after all, completely new to the international scene, and the first match was sure to bring out nerves. We were taking on The Cereal Isle in our first match. They really came at us early on, and we had to be solid to stay in the game. We settled in quick, though, and after that it was all systems go.

One of those unforgettable moments came to me just before half-time that day. I was waiting just outside the box, and watched as Lutz Daschner played the ball in for Thorsten Kramer. I made a quick wave to him to call for the ball, then made my run. He floated it in perfectly, just out of reach of the defenders, and I’d managed to stay onside. I took the ball off my chest, and was preparing to shoot. I didn’t get a chance to volley it, though, because at the last second I saw the keeper charging off his line towards me. He dove at the ball, but I just got a touch on it to get past him. I had the whole net to shoot at, and on that day I wasn’t going to miss. 1-0 to Siovanija and Teusland. Our first ever international goal.

I’ve got a few more goals under my belt now, but that one will always be special. There are few feelings that can top scoring for your country. One day, when I’m retired and looking back on my career, it’s something I’ll fondly recall. Just like winning the title. Just like being named national captain.

Now, we’ve got a new task. World Cup Qualifiers. I think it’s pretty well understood that we aren’t going to qualify for this one. We’re 2-1 so far, which is a solid start, but we’ve still got 15 more matches to play. What we can do, however, is create something our fans will remember, and something we can all be proud of at the end of the day.

Miroslav Dinev is a 29 year old centre forward, playing for Energija Chernovets and the Siovanija and Teusland national team. A Golden Boot winner, he also led his Chernovets side to the title, and is currently the national team’s top scorer and captain. In match 3 of World Cup Qualifiers, Siovanija and Teusland lost 2-0 away against Garifunya.

Siovanija and Teusland 0-2 Garifunya

Siovanija and Teusland XI (4-2-3-1): Venev; Kleinmann, Licht, Klopfer, Helmke; Kramer, Brotzmann; Leistner (Geschke 60’), V. Dimitrov (Stern 60’), Romanov; Dinev (Kra. Kynev 74’)
Match Notes: Goldhorns beaten by a solid Garifunya side, who scored twice in the first half and never really looked back. Thorsten Helmke made his first start at right back of the Qualifiers, while Alex Geschke and Krasimir Kynev earned their first caps as second half subs. Next up for the Goldhorns are 19th in the world Mriin at the Nationalstadion. Changes are expected to be made to the side, and Daniel Pingov, called into the squad, could earn his first start and cap.

[95X]

Match Reviews

The 95X National Team is in the midst of a rebuilding project, and it shows after three games: 1 win, zero draws, 2 losses.

MD 1: Nethertopia 1–0 95X

For the younger players, matchday one was their first World Cup Qualifier game, and the young defensive line gave away the first and only goal in the seventh minute, much to the disdain of General Failure and his staff. He quickly burned a substitution to put former starter Alyssa Sixtwentyeighth into the match, but the inexperienced defense was coupled with a soft offense. It was the Nethertopians who finished with the upset.

MD 2: 95X 1–0 Damukuni

Just about every former Soccer League X team has a fierce rivalry with the Spatula City Utensils; after General Failure promised armchair supporters at home a performance worthy of 'putting down their remote controls and throwing away their TV listings' and midfielder and former Utensils player Stacey Sunset made a comment about "avoid(ing) turnovers in the next match by turning over", National Team fans arrived, spatulas in hand, to Oceanside Stadium. As the home of SC Oceanside, owner Xi Foureleven was extremely unhappy with the gesture however the players on the pitch seemed to have gotten the message. Alyssa Yorkton performed her unique spin move, only accomplishable on account of her egg-shaped torso and four diagonal-facing legs for a very tasty red snapper goal that would be the game winner. It would be a topic of much town talk for several days.

MD 3: Valanora 2–1 95X

General Failure started a veteran lineup (Jacob Firdale at keeper instead of Onefiftythird, Logan Roork at left forward instead of Morrison, Carrie Camassia in midfield for Ajax), however after 90 minutes the 95Xers would need to settle for avoiding a clean sheet loss in Capri.

[The Macabees]

INTERMISSION
I, II, IIIA

The national football team defeated Lionsguard yesterday by a single goal to zero. Our side scored by the right foot of Enrik Nestor, who was assisted by a deep and well-placed pass from Kordob Verón. The defeat is a blow to Lionsguard's qualification aspirations since they were defeated at home and by an unranked team. The Golden Throne sits second now, two points behind group favorites Drawkland, with still most of the qualification round to go. It has been a good three-game start to the tournament and it gives hope to a team that had originally not considered its qualification possibilities very high. Yet, challenges are still to come, and in fact one arrives in our very next game. Aggrey-Fynn Land, 63rd highest ranked football team in the world, visits us in Fedala and their team is surely seeking to sweep ours aside.

The boys were seen celebrating the same night. Enrik Nestor was photographed with several women, including the Zarbian-Sarcanzan lingerie model Larisa Bregón. The striker's renown only continues to grow, as he bags his second goal of the tournament. The team's defensive posture had originally concerned fans looking for a dynamic, dynamite team, but Nestor's good form has put those fears aside for now.

Jorah Valooh, the Frommian national team manager, praised his men during the post-game news conference. "We played very well," he said. "Our defense was compact and strong, with no spaces given. Jer'Voos was indispensable. Anything that got through, he stopped. He proved what a talented goalkeeper he is and we are blessed that he is as young as he is. The people of the empire will continue to enjoy him for many, many tournaments to come. We played a good game all around and I hope to carry our success forward. We have a tough match coming up and we want to prove that these first three matches were the product of more than just luck."

When asked about the possibility of a regional football tournament in Greater Díenstadi, he said, "I've heard a lot of good things about that and I look forward to it. However, right now my mind is on qualifying for the World Cup and I am entirely focused on our next match. My men must be prepared for what's coming if we're to get anything out of it."

Aggrey-Fynn Land is looking to turn around their streak of poor results, having lost their first two games and drawn their third. They sit second to last now and are surely looking to improve their positioning, hoping to not throw this qualifying round away. They face a Macabéan team that is hot and looking to take points home, having set their eyes on reaching the knock-out qualifying rounds by taking the second or third spots in Group 8.

The Macabéan team, however, takes a small knock in the one-match loss of Mena Líezbeg. The center-back suffered from a slight sprain in his right ankle and will be rested until matchday five. Esteb Nazak is set to replace him against Aggrey-Fynn Land. Nazak will be seeking to prove himself, hoping to replace Líezbeg in the starting eleven.

It looks to be a fantastic game in the Kort Kastor Arena, where 105,000 people will watch from the stands and hundreds of millions from the comfort of their VR.

[South Toronto]

Chapter 4: Weakend Defences

OOC:South London Slang in this RP: peng= good looking in this context. back= ass

Rashard sat on his prison bed, pondering whether he should escape or not. His gang and all its affiliates were all thrown into prison varying from 6 months to life in prison. He was on the unlucky side of the spectrum, as he was sentenced to life for murdering many political figures, even Trey Deyvon Woods' secretary. Rashard looked up at the window in the cell and noticed a large crack, which might have been an attempt to escape by another prisoner. Motivated, he grabbed his toothbrush and started hacking away at the glass. The occasional officer would come by his cell, asking "You alright there?" to which he would respond with "Yup, doin' fine officer!".

About half-an-hour later, the glass finally gave way and shattered onto the prison cell like a shower of rain. He pulled himself up to the window, cutting himself in the process and then lept out of the cell. To his surprise, he was greeted with a downpour of rain, which drenched his clothes. He was outside for the first time in two years, but he needed to be quick or he would risk being caught. Composing himself, he ran up to the gate but it was conveniently already open. Rashard thanked the shit prison system and walked out of the prison. He had to go to Jelly now, where the plot would continue...

Kelechi was analysing the team's mistakes during the 2-0 loss to South Covello with his assistant coach, Kingsley Middleton. "Do you see Jacky, he pushed too high up the pitch and when Germanpreet lost possession, it took one long ball from Gerry Ollivera and a finish from Coconut Charles to seal the 3 points for them. Do you reckon we change the style of play to one the players are comfortable with?" asked Kelechi. "Definitely," began Kingsley. "The more pacey players on the team are being wasted with this system, a more attacking approach will induce fear in defenders. Our next game is against Main Nation Ministry, we can beat them if we fix our defensive errors. Speaking of the defence, when's the new coach coming?" asked Kingsley. "I think around 1 or 2, I think he wants to see where our defenders are at," replied Kelechi as he looked at the time on his watch. It was 11:33. "Lads are coming into training now, let's go," said Kelechi. They both got up and walked out of the room, closing the door on their way out.

Once all the players were in training, they went to the coaches responsible for their positions, except the defence. "What is takin' the coach so damn long bruh?" asked Jay-Jay. "Apparently the coach is a girl, I wanna see if she's peng," said Jovante as he rolled up his socks. "If she is, that's gonna be my ting init!" replied Jacky as everybody burst into laughter. The door to the entrance of the training pitch opened and gathered everybody's attention. A relatively short woman walked out, which surprised everyone. The woman had quite a pale face, with golden curly hair which sat nicely on her shoulders. Oddly, the woman had pupils which were a dark red, but she looked very young- around her 20s. To top it all off, the mysterious woman had a very attractive face and body, which caught the attention of everybody. She looked like she belonged in a fashion show, not a football pitch.

"Oh, Ms O'Neil! How are you?" asked Kelechi as he went to go shake the lady's hand. "I'm good Kelechi, do you want me to introduce myself?" asked the woman. Kelechi nodded, and the woman said " Hello, as you may already know, I will be the new coach responsible for training the defence. You can call me Kayla. I believe we are facing Main Nation Ministry next, is that correct?" asked Kayla. "Yep," began Jacky. "My standing tackle hasn't been too good lately, could you help me with that?" Jacky said with a huge grin on his face. "Sure, while we're at it we might as well focus on standing and slide tackling today. Could you boys come over here please?" said Kayla as she signalled to the other end of the pitch. Kayla started to jog to the other end and so did the rest of the defence. While jogging Jamal and Jovonte had a quick conversation about the new coach. "Rah, she's got a big back ya know!" said Jovonte. "I'm gonna be the first one to give her the pipe!" replied Jamal as they both laughed.

After training, Jay-Jay got into his sports car and started it up. He drove off to the hotel the team had been assigned. Halfway through the journey, he received a phone call from a no-caller ID. Normally, he'd never answer them but today he decided to answer it. "Is this Jay-Jay?" said the unknown person in a deep, raspy voice. "Yeah, why? What do you want from me?" questioned Jay-Jay. "This is a person who wants TWD dead. My name is Rashard Jermaine Hayes. You may have seen me in the news. Meet me in the Broksenvale 'hoods after your game versus Main Nation Ministry. Go to a street called Markus' Avenue and go knock on the first house on the left. If you don't come with Jamal, both of you are getting killed. That's all," said Rashard as he hung up the phone abruptly. Jay-Jay was frustrated, but he knew if he didn't go, Rashard was not joking about him and Jamal getting killed. He looked up at his window and saw a car speeding towards him. His life flashed before his eyes before a big CRASH! happened.

[Valanora]

"I would guess that Fionn Lynch really wanted to shut up all the doubters about his skill at his age and just how loyal he is to the Vanorian cause, with those four goals against the Euran Oceania Territories, seemed like he was a man on a mission. I suppose if he is fueled by the doubters, that may just make him all the stronger going into this cycle, given that there are quite a few of them both within and without the Eternal Empire."

"Well, when you are playing a bunch of Rushmori immigrants with no real semblance of a domestic league themselves as well as having the service from that legendary midfield, it is real easy for any player worth half their weight in gold to look fairly good. I want to see what he can do once the Finals actually start, as that is when all the matches matter and you're not going to get the level of competition where it might as well be a walkover like that match against the Euran Oceania Territories ultimately was."

"You have a good point, though still to have the composure to finish those chances that were created is well worth the mention, as well you have to remember that he scored a winning goal for the Marauders in the last World Cup. Say what you will about Lynch, but you can not say that he has not proved it on the big occasion, when he has been really called upon. And look, he bagged a goal against 95X last weekend as the Marauders were able to overcome one of the potential bogey teams in the group."

"Alright, you have sold me on the fact that Lynch is alright, I am just worried that this team is not quite up to the standard that they would need to be to challenge for the World Cup title once the squad does qualify, as right now they look to be running away with their qualifying group. Sure there might be the likes of Hawk, va Drake, and Fresco in the squad, but the rest of the team are mostly players who have only had two years of professional playing under their belt, apart from the dual nationals. How much can this team grow in the next year over the qualifying process in order to grow into the threat of being a real contender to winning the entire tournament at the conclusion of it all? I have a lot of doubt that such an exponential growth is possible in such a short amount of time. Three years from now in World Cup 81? That seems entirely possible, but I just don't see it being within the realm of possibility in just a single year."

"Doubt is the first step on the road to failure, if you doubt you have the ability to do something, you have already provided the weakness that will be your undoing. You have to have the belief that you will win otherwise you become your own worst enemy. Does this squad have several places that it needs to grow and improve on? Sure it does, but so does every squad that is currently competing in the Qualifiers, except for maybe Schottia and Cosumar as both of those sides are quite stacked, but those are the exceptions and not the rules. The Marauders are doing well in adjusting to having most of their elves gone and the human players are learning and adapting at an exceedingly quick rate and you shame yourself in having these doubts and do them no favors. Sean Smørdal is living up to the expectations even without a lot of playing time and the midfield is doing what they are expected to do, to not have faith is admitting defeat now and I will not allow such a negative attitude to maintain itself. So chin up and quit wallowing in self doubt and pity."