Cup of Harmony 74 - Everything Thread

by **Drawkland** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:26 pm

DRAWKLAND NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM
NATION INFO
Region: Sonnel
Trigramme: DRK
Leader: Iarocav
Currency: Lolad
Capital City: Metropolon
Largest City: Drawk City
TEAM INFO
Manager: Carol Haywood (Raikennax Charge)
Formation: 3-3-4
Style Mod: +3.5
OFFICIAL FULL ROSTER
Starting Lineup
=================================================================
##   Pos   Name              Age    Club                    NAT
12   GK    Lana Harmony      29     Cedina Baech AFC        
01   CB    Sarah Arrowsword  33     Crawford City FC        
02   LB    Cynthia Pack      35     Gwinevra Barbarians     
03   RB    Nicole Warren     34     Eastern Stars           
04   LM    Rebecca Talla     41     Langtree United         
07   CM    Ellzidan          5375   Elstrund Roots          
05   RM    Mandy Thompson    32     Peynol-Lunas            
09   LF    Stella Moore      32     Drawk City Troopers     
10   WF    Corrie Archer     32     Drawk Corps             
22   RF    Cam Cross         30     Lexington Victory       
11   CF    Katie Madison     32     Drawk Corps             
=================================================================
Reserve Lineup
=================================================================
##   Pos   Name              Age    Club                    NAT
00   GK    Savannah Everett  33     Jaffro Storm            
13   DF    Lorraine Collins  31     Drawk Corps             
14   DF    Seon-Yann Slater  29     Willox Street Pirates   
31   DF    Phoebe Livas      38     Masteser Assassins      
17   MD    Kaitlyn Axelson   33     Alnio Union              
18   MD    Siv Foss          34     Elstrund Roots          
25   MD    Claire Dawson     30     Pittsennat Reds         
29   MD    Ilana Way         33     Olask Islanders         
19   ST    Aurora Jewel      31     Owabrok Speed           
20   ST    Leea May          30     Dammenport Lightning    
32   ST    Corynn Turati     29     North Hall              
21   ST    Iana Synder       36     New Belfast Warriors    
08   ST    Jackie Crawford   30     Rozelle                 
=================================================================
PENALTY SHOOTOUT ORDER
Katie Madison (or CF)
Cam Cross (or WF)
Ellzidan (or LF)
Sarah Arrowsword (or RF)
Corrie Archer (or CM)
If a shootout unlikely goes on beyond 5, it will progress from unused players, Striker to Keeper.
Parenthesis refers to what player will take the shot if the listed player is absent.
TEAM HISTORY
This is the official form of the roster, with a Reserve Lineup in addition to the Main Starting Lineup. The Main Lineup is full of familiar faces, but the Reserve Roster now has some new blood who first got exposure to international play last qualifying campaign. This is the lineup personally selected by the Drawkian International Sporting Council (DISC) to represent Drawkland: those chosen are undeniably the best at what they do and excel under the team chemistry and dynamic.
Drawkian soccer, and indeed, sporting in general, is mostly offensive-minded. This is reflected in the style indicator and in the formation. Drawkian soccer has not really been exposed to outside influences, and thus may look or feel strange to those used to "normal" football. Nevertheless, the players are still good at what they do, and prize in an enduring game, moving the ball around nearly constantly and keeping energy going, aiming to tire out the opposing team. Of course, Drawkians aren't humans, but you can read about that elsewhere. Oh yes, and Drawkian Soccer is a female-only sport. This may change, but not for a *long* time. This is because Gridiron Football is all-male, and the other two major sports, Baseball and Basketball, are mixed-gender. If there's anything a Drawkian loves, it's even formats and symmetric paradigms, hence why things shook out like they did. There are male players, but they play abroad where it's more acceptable, but they still don't get much attention.
Most of the team, including the manager, are made up from home-grown talent, coming from the highest-quality teams. However, a few have branched out to foreign leagues, mainly those of Terranea in Rushmore, that of Ceni and the Isles of Avon. More information on the players is to come later.

OVERALL RECORD: 80-32-35
WC Sanctioned: 54-19-20
Non-WCC: 26-13-15
TEAM RECORDS
First Match:                              Drawkland 3-3 Averyickan City
First Win:                 Capital District, Ward 1 4-6 Drawkland
First Loss:      Great Caledonia and North Hybernia 2-2 Drawkland (2-2 AET) [3-1 PKs]
Highest Score:             Capital District, Ward 1 4-6 Drawkland
Lowest Score:                             Drawkland 0-0 Kosovakia (1-0 AET)
Best Win:                                 Drawkland 5-0 Sharktail
Worst Loss:                             Farfadillis 6-1 Drawkland
Most Important:                           Drawkland 2-2 Omerica (2-2 AET) [4-3 PKs]
Best End Result:                       1st Place (Independents Cup 6)
Here is a quick list of the tournaments Drawkland has been in, their group stage record and goal differential, and their final result.

Global Cup of Soccer 1: 1-2-0, +2, Third Place loss to Free Republics
Independents Cup 1: 1-0-2, -4, Round of 16 loss to Flardania
Baptism of Fire 64: 1-2-0, +3, Third Placed win over Great Caledonia and North Hybernia
World Cup 77 Qualifying: 11-5-2, +14, Qualified
World Cup 77: 0-1-2, -3, Group Stage Elimination
Independents Cup 2: 2-1-0, +6, Quarterfinal loss to Flardania
World Cup 78 Qualifying: 11-2-3, +16, Qualified
World Cup 78: 1-0-2, -8, Group Stage Elimination
Independents Cup 3: 2-0-1, +3, Round of 16 loss to Kel Assuk
World Cup 79: 1-1-1, -1, Group Stage Elimination
Independents Cup 4: 2-0-1, +2, Final loss to Free Republics
World Cup 80 Qualifying: 11-4-3, +16, Qualified
World Cup 80: 0-2-1, -1, Group Stage Elimination
Independents Cup 5: 3-1-0, +6, Final loss to Mercedini
World Cup 81 Qualifying: 14-1-3, +39, Playoff loss to Saltstead
Independents Cup 6: 2-1-0, +9, Final win over Omerica

TEAM KITS
Beautifully Crafted by ediraf.
From Left to Right: Home, Away, Goalkeeper.
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my Scorers:              Yes
Choose Scoring Events:          Yes
Godmod Scoring Events:          Yes
RP Injuries to my Players:      Yes
Godmod Injuries to my Players:  Yes
Yellow Card my Players:         Yes
Red Card my Players:            Yes
Godmod Other Events:            Yes
As far as these go, I'm fair game for anything. You should know what is and isn't drastic RP, and if you think your RP is on the drastic side, TG me first. But I'm still basically up for anything.
I'd like to request that injuries or cards don't do anything outside of the scope of a single game or maybe 2. Don't want anything tournament or cycle-ending. Red cards should be limited to late knockout stages, and I'd probably think that there should be no more than 2 players red carded per tournament.
Also, Ellzidan is a rather unique figure, as you'll come to find out, so you can go ahead and do some weirdness involving her if you'd like to make something less realistic occur. TG me if unsure.
Disclaimers of various sorts:
I don't know very much about soccer. If I RP something weird, it's because I have little to no experience with this sport. But whatever.
If you have any questions about anything involving me, this team, my nation, this competition, life, etc., feel free to telegram me.

by **Mriin** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:32 pm

There's nothing like defending your honor in the multiverse's favorite bloodsport-substitute. It's gonna be gory.

MD1 Cutoff for Groups A-D

Group A
Savojarna 4–1 Brusseldorf
Lisander 4–3 Taeshan

  Group A                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Savojarna                   1   1  0  0    4   1  +3    3
2 Lisander                    1   1  0  0    4   3  +1    3
3 Taeshan                     1   0  0  1    3   4  −1    0
4 Brusseldorf                 1   0  0  1    1   4  −3    0

Group B
Zwangzug 3–2 Velestria
Kita-Hinode 2–1 Siovanija and Teusland

  Group B                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Zwangzug                    1   1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
2 Kita-Hinode                 1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
3 Velestria                   1   0  0  1    2   3  −1    0
4 Siovanija and Teusland      1   0  0  1    1   2  −1    0

Group C
Filindostan 3–1 Polkopia
The Macabees 4–2 Eraman

  Group C                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 The Macabees                1   1  0  0    4   2  +2    3
2 Filindostan                 1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
3 Eraman                      1   0  0  1    2   4  −2    0
4 Polkopia                    1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

Group D
Main Nation Ministry 3–1 Xanneria
Drawkland 4–2 Kandorith

  Group D                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Drawkland                   1   1  0  0    4   2  +2    3
2 Main Nation Ministry        1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
3 Kandorith                   1   0  0  1    2   4  −2    0
4 Xanneria                    1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

by **Lisander** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:38 pm

Saint Ianina of Azhaar

The first lisanderian saint was contemporary of Prince Lisander I of Azhaar, the founder of the nation. Legend says that Ianina of Riestra was a rich-born young woman with golden hair and blue eyes, who charmed the young prince. However, Ianina had found her vocation in the Aristotelian faith, as a deaconess and then a nun. No matter how much the young prince would court her, she always refused. Historical sources indicate that Ianina was in the court of Azhaar as the confessor of the prince, and that would have returned or sold several gifts that had been offered to him by the prince. The diary of Lisander I, in one passage, presents the figure of an angel whom he dares to love even if forbidden by god, supposedly referring to Ianina:

"I deeply grieve, O Most High God.
What a sad fate you have laid upon me, Lord, how heavy tears I have to pour.
You have placed an angel in the land of my fathers, an angel whom I dare to love. And I love so desperately that my breast of love has broken. But the angels are yours, O Most High, and the love that Oane taught to his own people cannot reach them.
For her happiness, I constrict myself to your will, and I pray to you for my angel on the earth.
I beseech you, I that can not, that by me keep and love her forever and ever.
Amen."

Lisander I eventually married and had offspring who for centuries have been occupying the throne, but the affection for Ianina made him offer large lots of land and sums of money to the Church.

After her death, Ianina was buried in the Monastery of the Barefoot Sisters of Azhaar, where she lived most of her life, and ironically became recognized as the patron saint of weddings, for having attracted, in her time, the best suitor of the country. His canonization by the Aristotelian Church will have been referred by "saving brides lost at sea" or " helping with dowries for very poor brides."

Saint Ianina, a small island south of Lisander and now an independent republic, was founded by families who had devotion to Ianina.

by **Brusseldorf** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:57 am

“Coach” Vance stumbled towards the dugout. “Coach I don’t feel so..” the match was still being played, thousands of fans cheering as the ball was played into the Brusseldorfen half. Vance Dessler was paying attention to none of it, as he collapsed just short of the sideline. The whole coaching staff ran onto the field. Within seconds the ref paused the game, and the medics raced to Dessler’s aid.

The game finished in a blur for most of Los Alrededores. From where they’d been standing, Vance had been carried off on a stretcher. None of them knew why. A pale looking Boronia had stepped into the pitch as Dessler’s replacement, looking like he’d seen a ghost. A defensive tactic change from Craig did little to stop Savojarna scoring twice more.

As the game finished, the Brusseldorfen players hastily made their way to the sideline. Craig suppressed the flurry of questions. “I’m not sure what happened to Vance, but the paramedics assured me that he will be okay.” The team doctor nodded slightly

Teddy looked at the team and spoke up. “I know we all love Vance so it was a bit of a scare tonight seeing him carried off the pitch like that. The doctors I’m sure will help him with a speedy recovery. Let us pray for him”

“Dear Heavenly Father,
May your love be with Vance as he recovers from his ailment. Let your healing hand rid him of his sickness, and we pray that you will give us the strength to play whilst he is not with us.
Amen.”

“Amen.”

The camera crews had been trained on Teddy the whole time, relaying the footage home to every TV set. Back in Brusseldorf, something incredible was happening.

by **The Macabees** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:12 am

AS ZARBIA AND NUEVO LEÓN STRUGGLE WITH THEIR IDENTITY,
THE IMPERIAL FOOTBALL TEAM TAKES ON POLITICAL MEANING

In a country mired in conflict, change, and uncertainty, the Imperial football team
has become a unifying symbol for a people only slowly becoming accustomed to their new imperial identities.

Drunk from beer after beer, Ernesto Padilla stumbles through the streets from the bar, where he and his friends watched the Golden Throne defeat Eraman in a match which final score commits an injustice to the nervousness of the night. "Macabea! Macabea! Macabea!" they chant, yelling as they celebrate the 4–2 win.

Asked why this victory meant so much to them, Padilla answers with slurred speech, "They are my country!"

It's true that Zarbia and Nuevo León are unique in their long and shared history with the mainland provinces. The eastern provinces, especially the industrial heartland of Sidi Rezegh and the breadbasket of Ruska, have seen billions of Zarbians migrating over the former Zarbian Frontier for more than a century. Billions cross every year to visit family on one side or the other of the provincial-territorial border. In combination with Havenic influence from the south, the Zarbian–Havenic language is learned as a secondary one in most of the province's schools. Likewise, the ability to speak the díenstadi language is often the difference in economic opportunity for most Zarbians. Since the annexation, díenstadi has become the official language of the Zarbians, although their native tongue is also recognized. Most of the empire's other territories do not share this long history of intertwining influence.

Indeed, on a team that is "remarkable" for the emerging diversity in the representation of the provinces, its two Rezhegi players of Zarbian descent stand out. Neither are starters, although if the team can win their next match against group favorites Filindostan then goalkeeper Patricio Herrero is likely to start. Manuel Preconte is a regular substitute for either Goroga Kileno or Kordob Verón. Despite their provincial births, their descent has earned them hundreds of millions of followers in the Zarbian territories.

Still, Zarbia has always been a distinct country with a distinct national identity. Even as its society devolved in anarchy and the rule of strongmen, there was always a strong sense of being a Zarbian. And there are many who, even with the reunification and relative stability that has arrived under imperial rule, are equally as strong in their conviction that Zarbia and Nuevo León must ultimately return to independence — a sentiment that the Imperial Bureaucracy seeks to stamp out with a long-term sociopolitical vision that seeks to integrate the Zarbian identity into the overall imperial one.

Imperial rule has indeed brought many benefits with it, including the re-introduction of democratic rule. Although the country was divided into two territories — Zarbia in the west and Nuevo León in the east —, they share a supraterritorial and democratically-elected legislature that is responsible for the proposal and passing of most domestic legislation. In most areas, the annexation has been followed by an increase in access to many goods and services once considered luxuries. These include many things that provincials and other inhabitants of the developed world would consider mundane, like reliable distribution of gas, water, and electricity to homes and businesses, especially in the rural towns.

Yet, the annexation, and the empire more broadly, is associated with violence and war, as well. It was Zarbia's war with the empire that brought about the weak, corrupt military government that once governed the country to collapse. What was left of the regime was carved up by its generals, who became warlords. Although the Golden Throne has deposed these tyrants, in many areas war, violence, and deaths persist. While imperial tactics in Zarbia have been lauded for their civility, as compared to the empire's counterinsurgency tactics elsewhere, a previously thought dead insurgency continues to terrorize large swaths of southern and eastern Nuevo León. Strings of bombings and assassinations continue to undermine administrative efforts and attempts at land reform that could help bring hundreds of millions out of poverty.

Over a hundred million Zarbians have been enlisted into the auxiliary forces, mostly as infantry and other combat roles. They fight abroad, including New Empire, Theohuanacu, Holy Panooly, and in Gholgoth as well. There, hundreds of thousands have already died in the invasion of the Scandinvan Empire's heartland, the island of Drana. Some ask why Zarbians are dying fighting an occupier's war.

In this world, the imperial football team and its struggles have become a metaphor for the see-sawing mood amongst the Zarbians. Its success and failure help define the image of imperial power itself. Morale seems to hinge on the outcome of every match. The volatility, of course, has its advantages, as the struggle makes for another dimension to the shared identity between Zarbians and the rest of the empire.

Although football will never be a real solution to the territories' persisting political problems, it certainly does represent one of the more beautiful and positive forces in a complex issue that will likely take time to solve. And as insurgents prepare bombs, farmers plow fields with newly purchased tractors, and the marginalized agitate for land, all will be watching their screens tomorrow when for ninety minutes the imperial football team plays against Filindostan. A win would not only nearly qualify the team for the knock-out stages, but it would also imply rotations — including two players of Zarbian-descent, an honor that is not yet shared by any other territory. An honor that more than any missile dropped by a jet fighter helps to symbolize a future united under imperial rule.

by **The Sherpa Empire** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:57 am

(OOC: I am continuing the story arc from my WC RPs. Plot summary for anyone that is coming in the middle: A guy thought the Sherpa Empire was too liberal and decided he wanted to go to a world where the Axis won WWII. The fascist-timeline version of Jamling Ihawa figured out what was going on, and then sent the guy home to get rid of him because he was asking too many questions.)

Jamling Ihawa had said he didn't want to see what the Sherpa Empire looked like without the fascists, but once he knew the other world was there... Well, after a while curiosity got the better of him. Money wasn't a problem. Ihawa's magic was useful enough that he could find work even without proper ID. And if that failed, he could always sell vials of blood to people who wanted to borrow his powers for a day. The baseball player Ihawa had a moral objection to selling blood, but the Minister of Public Works Ihawa had no such qualms.

He recorded TV programs to bring back to his own world -- documentaries about the state of the Empire, news broadcasts on INN, the royal wedding between Princess Yahia and Debashish of Gorkhaland, an interview with the baseball player Ihawa (who was now retired and in a wheelchair), a Beihua Sports special about NSSCRA to show that Kai Qiang was a race car driver rather than a communist revolutionary, and SISN coverage of the Cup of Harmony showing that Jai Mauryan and Shubhashish Srihatta had not been killed by the communists.

It took some time for Ihawa to collect all this, especially since he couldn't do it all at once. If he disappeared for days at a time, people would notice and they would want to know what was going on. He could only go for a couple hours at a time. Sometimes he got busy and had to spend a few days focused on his own world.

Despite his best efforts to be discreet, Ihawa couldn't completely hide the way the excitement of exploring the other world affected his mood. The Führer commented that he was usually less grumpy than he had been in years past, but when he did get upset about something, he really flew off the handle. His wife noticed that he no longer had to rely on his telekinetic powers to satisfy her in bed, but also that he did not have as much time to spend with her. She seemed to suspect he was having an affair.

Ihawa's contact person in the Resistance complained that he was getting sloppy and he would blow their cover if he wasn't more careful. He gave the Resistance messenger a copy of several of his recordings. "If you watch those, you will see why I have been so agitated," he said.

by **Balqia** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 2:31 pm

The security surely had increased in the last game. Since the “incident” in the WOrld CUp the government became crazy with security and most of all with corruption in the National Team. Tiranus really didn’t liked that, his baggage was inspected every day, every monetary transaction he made was to be done with a debit or credit card, a cop followed him everywhere he went and we didn’t even started. The new coach, Laqlo, the Terrible, was just a pain in the back. He was absolutely paranoid with punctuality, and his trainings resemble something taken from a cheesy martial arts movie. From fighting between each other to run carrying buckets filled with water the new coach was surely trying his best to kill the players.
Now Tiranus was again watching a fight between players, Egliti and Stravo where discussing about an opponent, their right back apparently said something offensive during the match, however both of them didn’t know what was it, Faj was trying to convince them that portuguese was just a funny language and some expressions might resemble curse words in Balqese.
-A guy said “Bom jogo camarada”, I am sure he was cursing me.- Egliti developed a theory that the Lusitanian team mocked the balqese during the entire match. -The goalkeeper said something like “vamos ao restaurante depois? Que acham?”. I swear this is some joke on us.
Before the debate could proceed the assistant cach entered the room, he was carrying some sheets of paper, followed by him Laqlo entered. His 1,50 meters of height turned him into a joke during the first weeks of work, but soon his bored blue eyes, black straight hair and lack of communication would became hated by the entire team. He jumped in a box to get the high ground, however the only thing he achieved was some seconds of instability, he finally got in place and then started to speak with his thin voice.
-Hey folks, so, you did terrible. Three goals… Kalniq, are you afraid of the ball? I can guarantee to you that it will not bite you. Oh, and couldn’t you guys score a goal? This is just lame. For God’s sake, you could at least try.- He jumped to the ground -Fabius, the rest is in your hands. I have better things to do. Get better until the next game. Bye bye.
And with that he left the room. The assistant coach was common in every aspect, he wasn’t tall, but he wasn’t short, he was neither fat nor thin. He had green eyes and brown hair, the perfect average Joe. Siedoni take a sheet of paper and started to speak.
-So, Kuld and Stravo, you two are doing a good job, but are too far away from each other in the field. Try to maintain an area in which both of you can act, when they made the first goal in the fifth minute there was a corridor in which anyone could pass and avoid you two, get more…
Tiranus got bored of listening and distracted himself with his thoughts, after some minutes the assistant stopped to talk and heard the players suggestions, after that everyone got back to their rooms. Kaesar was his roommate, so both of them went to the room together.
-Man this new coach is just annoying, he don’t even do his job right, and his training method is just awful. I miss Primlid so much.
-The guy surely is a moron, however he is what the Sport Ministry have right now. After they arrested Iako the entire government is a turmoil, we could barely participate in the Cup of Harmony.
Kaesar was a reasonable person, however Tiranus couldn’t stop complaining about the new coach.
-Sure, but they could’ve at least gave us an actual coach, the guy came right from the office of the Sport Ministry, even a guy from the military would’ve been better, at least he would had some idea on what his job is about.
The conversation went on for a while, it ended with Kaesar announcing that he was going to take a bath. The situation of the team was worse than ever, a least in the last championships they had a competent administration, now they had an incompetent dwarf and a man so common that he could easily be substituted in the next day by someone passing in the street that nobody would even notice, the management by the way, didn’t give a notice since they met for the first time for introductions.

by **Krytenia** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:12 pm

A Miner Setback
By Rami Niblick in Samotath, Cosumar

SYSTEM Karela is alive, well, and living in Tinhampton. The reigning Cup of Harmony champions were always going to be a stern test for Krytenia, and so it proved, as the Dragons' much-vaunted attack simply could not break down a doughty Miners side, leaving Alex Sampson's men with it all to do in their two remaining group games.

Despite injuries weakening the Tinhampton side, with both captain Julia Atherton and midfield fulcrum Aihlo Vatunska missing from the starting lineup, the team in brown were confident that their tactics would see them through. The Miners set their stall to choke their opponents in midfield, with Chris Richard paying particular attention to Josh Coquelin in the hole, giving the Casuals man no space at all to work his magic.

The match was, mostly, a turgid affair, with Krytenia allowed plenty of the ball but no penetration as the back four/five/nine - delete as applicable - provided an impenetrable barrier that not even Selaphiel Kennedy could breach. Sampson decided late on that drastic measures were needed, swapping out Matthew Gray for Callum Quiroga, and it did indeed turn the game. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the way that the Krytenian manager had hoped, as the extra attacker created a hole at the back which Priscilla Evans duly exploited to beat Marcus Washington and score the only goal of the game.

Hopefully, this game was an aberration, a close-run defeat against a strong side set up to frustrate and strangulate a team like Krytenia. It's not to say that Mytanija will be easy prey; rather, that the flow of the game will hopefully work a little more in the Dragons' favour. Certainly, with their next opponents already the proud owners of three points, this could be make or break for the men in sky blue and white. Onward!

KRYTENIA - 0
no scorers

TINHAMPTON - 1
Evans 86

by **Oberour Ar Moro** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:45 pm

"We just want to let you know: The FMC is putting out a press statement, about Alluersia."

That was the message Kadvael Heault got from the Football Management Committee, with no context. Why would the FMC send a release about the third team Oberour Ar Moro would be playing?

At the press conference after their first practice in Crawford, Cosumar, he learned exactly what it was about. And suddenly the Oberour Ar Moro national football team was more national than football.

The thing Kadvael Heault hated about the releases the most was the Football Management Committee, his employers, calling the World Cup Committee terrorist-symphasizers. Despite how the Committee feels about rouge states, they aren't going to like being criticized. And they assign the referees to their matches. And those referees could be biased against you.

Heault may have become paranoid about the WCC, and he thought he saw plenty to support his belief. Every questionable call had gone the Black-and-Reds way, at least in Heault's eyes. Heault would go to the end of his days convinced that a strong Rudi Dalso challenge against Kerrian Odierne in the Confederate box went without a whistle, let alone the red card that was absolutely deserved. And yet, Demkjo Jzvanic clearly flopping to the turf, to Heault's eyes, led to a Zoban Ajao penalty kick that made for the only score in the game.

Losing to the Squornshelan Remnant States put a lot of pressure on Oberour Ar Moro. Oberour Ar Moro now basically needed a win against Ko-oren, the 24th ranked team in the world and the highest ranked team in the entire Cup of Harmony, to remain in contention for the knockout rounds.

And the reward for upsetting the Dragonflies? Taking on a Alluersia side that now probably despised Oberour Ar Moro.

Seventy-Fourth Cup of Harmony Schedule
WIN DRAW LOSS
MD 1: Oberour Ar Moro 0-1 Squornshelan Remnant States
MD 2: vs. Ko-oren
MD 3: vs. Alluersia

by **Sajnur** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:39 am

Sajnur 2 - 5 Mytanija

The Sajnuran national team has not had good form recently, and despite the return of many of Sajnur's best to the national setup, the form hasn't improved, and Sajnur's defence could not keep out the Mytanar attack, resulting in a 5-2 loss toopen the Cup of Harmony campaign. Mytanija seem to have cast out the demons they had in World Cup qualifying, and the two losses they suffered against us did not prove to be a sign of things to come at the Alesund Stadion as Mytanija made good use of their 60% possession and sent 20 shots the way of Piotr Laghiev, while Sajnur could only launch 10 at Pedja Kasun's goal.

The first half is where the bulk of the disappointment was contained, starting with Jezdimir Ocokoljic scoring in the 12th minute, with the typical sequence of receiving the ball in the penalty box, the pass coming from Jasno Odonelec, evading an opposing player, in this case Tomasi Vuierev, and curling the ball into the top corner. Ocokoljic would repeat this in the 29th minute, receiving another pass from Odonelec, evading Kaori Hajat, and sending one low out of reach of Laghiev. Odonelec then decided he wanted to score himself, and in the 35th minute he received a pass from Tahir Fejzuli, brought himself out of reach of Hajat, and smashed it to goal to make it 3-0. Mytanija would make it 4-0 in the 41st minute, but for once it wasn't due to poor defence in the penalty box. Instead, Ocokoljic had plenty of space from 30 yards out to receive the ball from Fejzuli and instead of entering the box he looped one into the top corner to make it 4-0 and complete his hattrick. Clearly, Laghiev wasn't having a good day, and nor were the defenders in front of him.

The second half was a bit better for Sajnur, in that they actually scored two goals to Mytanija's one. Sadly, that wasn't enough to reverse being down 4-0 at half time. The first of Sajnur's two goals came when Andre Naulo sprinted onto a long range through pass from Jessica Siafik and, seeing Kasun charging toward him and the edge of the penalty box, chipped the ball from 22 yards into effectively an open net to make it 4-1. The Mytanar annoyance in Samotath was not complete, however, as Zain Hasan brought down Boris Kalinic and conceded a free kick 27 yards out, which Fejzuli would dispatch to goal for Mytanar's fifth. Consolation would at least come ofr Sajnur as they would get the final punch with Siafik making Fejzuli and then Branko Brkljacic fall over with her trickery before launching a rocket from 34 yards past Kasun to restore some honour.

Sajnur's next match is against Tinhampton, who are 37th in the world, top seeds in Group F, and most importantly defending Cup of Harmony winners despite apparently being semi-professional. However they manage it, a country whose league system would be considered a human rights violation by half of the Sajnuran league, or at least by Zain Hasan (paid $25,000 per week by Rivers FC) is officially the team most likely to make it to the knockout stages from Group F, so Sajnur will have to step up and find the form that enabled them to score 24 points in qualifying if the team is to put points on the board here in Cosumar.

by **Ko-oren** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 2:12 am

Attacking intentions

The KFA scheduled a practise match in a series of our tamer rivalries. The moveable object of Ko-oren took on the stoppable force of the Equestrian States (only when these teams are in knockouts though). Those nicknames have been chosen deliberately: Ko-oren, normally a true wall of a team, suddenly turning into a malleable mass when the pressure's on. The Equestrian States have broken the Round of 16 curse a while back but their normal fluid tactics turn a bit too fluid when a win is needed most. The Ponies have made the World Cup this time around, and we don't need to remind you that the Dragonflies are in the Cup of Harmony, awaiting the first confrontation, against Alluersia.

Juliasterinthen went with some big experiments away in the Equestrian States, playing Munks on goal, and starting Gicquel, Seoane among the rest of the defence. Train earned his first start as a defensive midfielder, and both substitute attackers, Vallotton and Novoa, started as well. Those are just personnel changes, but the way Ko-oren started this game was the biggest surprise. Not so much trying to dominate possession, but setting up attacks over multiple passes and not just as counterattacks. The first half saw five at the back at all times, the second half returned to the 82nd WCQ tactic of five at the back in defence, four at the back in attack, with the advancing defender left to chance and his role determined once he showed up in midfield.

Novoa opened the score, and Vallotton doubled the lead early in the second half. After some substitutions and the strategy change, the Ponies scored three quick goals to seize victory from the jaws of defeat (or the purgatory of a friendly draw, for that matter). And before you blame the subs, or the strategy, the Equestrian goals came from lapses of concentration most of all. Munks, playing all 90 minutes, had no business charging into the attacker, who had an easy pass to give his teammate an empty goal. Dalton and Parrott were on the field for mere seconds, adjusting to their direct opponents and the pace of the game, when they were overrun by four attackers. They found their way through the weak spots at the right side of the defence for a second goal. The third goal came from a corner kick, which are crapshoots at best.

If it wasn't the strategy and not the personnel - that leaves us with the cardinal sin of Ko-orenite soccer. Any sport and any team in Ko-oren live by one rule (ok, three rules): be consistent, be aware, play to the whistle. It's a shame that this team cannot put together a solid 90 minutes (and to be honest, that is probably what kept us out of the World Cup as well) and it will have to be improved if we want to make the second round.

That said, days later in Cosumar, the Dragonflies did put together a solid 90 minutes against Alluersia. Our foes had some chances here and there, but the concentration was on point. On the other side, Vallotton had done enough to earn a start over Vaugrenard. Vallotton and Tsuchida gave the Alluersian goalie a lot to do, and one of the attempts he couldn't keep out. Tsuchida powered one towards the keeper's right, he could only get a glove on it, knocked it back into play where Vallotton was running to - one of the easier goals of his career. After that, Ko-oren remained the dominant team but they weren't looking for a second goal too much. 2-0 is the most dangerous lead as they say, so why double the lead if you can stay with your back against the wall for the final 20 minutes, knowing that you've got beaten on those final 20 minutes just days before?

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:49 am

"Just listen to it, Bobby," Klearchos Kazantzakis said to Robert Washington as the manager and assistant manager of Locomotive Imgortur Football Club absorbed the atmosphere of the Stadium of the Old Forester in Markovsky, Mezaladbyi Province a few minutes before the kickoff of the Fleftic Premier League match between Ludogorets Markovsky and Locomotive Imgortur. "Just listen to it," Kazantzakis repeated himself. "This is what I want the new stadium to sound like, to feel like. Look at this place, Bobby. It's old, yes, but that's exactly why it sounds like what it does right now. The Markovskites have had over five decades to take over this place and really make it their own. We've been in our new stadium for what, barely two months? Three? Our fans are doing their very best to claim the new stadium, make it our own like how Riuwiee United and Arsenal Releinthi claimed their new stadiums and made them their fortresses. But there's only so much that they can do. We have to give them a team to stand behind, and they will stand behind us when they see us doing what they want us to do, and that is winning games. That shouldn't be too hard a task, right?"

"Don't talk like that, boss," Washington cautioned him. "You're really probably gonna jinx us."

Which is exactly what happened, much as Kazantzakis would later jokingly claim that he had nothing at all to do with it. Locomotive Imgortur did well against Ludogorets, at least if you only looked at the first half of that particular game. Ludogorets, normally a very prolific scoring team, were held to only three shots on goal in the first half by Locomotive, and none of those three shots were even on target. But then came the second half, it was really like someone came and kidnapped the Locomotive team and replaced them all with doppelgangers who were all poorer footballers than the originals. Locomotive really appeared as if they had forgotten how to play football in the second half, and Ludogorets finally found the joy that they had been lacking in the first half. And one player took full advantage of that.

Olivier Martin Pereira da Souza, known to fans of Ludogorets Markovsky and the greater footballing world as simply Pereira, was a player who always wanted to score. And there were teams against which he always loved to play because he always scored goals against them. One of them was of course Locomotive Imgortur. In the three years that he had been playing in Abanhfleft, Pereira had scored seven goals against Locomotive Imgortur, and today, while neither he nor Locomotive knew it yet, he was going to add three more goals to that particular tally.

One, two, three. In the span of ten minutes Ludogorets Markovsky went from 0-0 against Locomotive Imgortur to being 3-0 up, and all because of the work of one man. And one could even say that Locomotive were the architects of their own downfall. Louis Beuzes, another young defender raised up to the first team by necessity, literally gave the ball away to Pereira with a weak attempt at a pass across to Motewa Rabatsy, and the Oontaznik winger didn't need to be called a second time with the chance begging. Pereira nipped in between the two Loco defenders and chipped the ball over the head of Artemios Zigdis in anticipation of the goalkeeper rushing out to narrow the angle, and when the ball slipped in underneath the crossbar the Stadium of the Old Forester went wild.

Another thing about Pereira was that he had a nose like a shark. When he scents blood in the water, i.e. when he sees that the team he's playing against is beginning to flounder in defense, he goes in for the kill. And Locomotive's weak spot was poor young Louis Beuzes. He had already committed one mistake that had given his team's opponents the lead, and now his attention was turning away from following the coach's instructions to just simply not screwing up again. Which is a surefire way for a player to absolutely screw up again, especially in the Fleftic Premier League. Pereira knows a target of opportunity when he sees one, and Louis Beuzes it was.

Pereira hovered in and around the proximity of the young wingback, waiting for the ball to arrive at Beuzes's feet. When it did, Pereira would immediately run over to Beuzes and put him under pressure, hoping that the young man's insecurities would lead to another weak backpass and mistake that the Oontaznik could capitalize on. But it wasn't like this that Pereira scored his and Ludogorets's second goal of the game. What happened was that Redentor Queen swung and missed an attempt at a clearance during a Ludogorets corner, leading the ball to fall very kindly at the feet of Pereira, who weaved in and around the mass of players inside the box before swinging one in at the far post.

Ludogorets's third goal was perhaps the most straightforward of all their goals on this day. All Pereira really needed to do then was to wait around a little bit in the box and be in the right place at the right time when the cross from his teammate on the other wing sailed right over the head of the Ludogorets striker. Artemios Zigdis flailed out an arm or two to try to stop the ball but it was all for naught. Pereira had completed his hat trick, his second of the season. And the league was still only eleven games in.

Strange to think that the next time that these two teams met in the league, the tables would eventually be turned. But that was still very much a long way away.

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

CUP OF HARMONY 74: ABANHFLEFT VS LIBERTAS OMNIUM MAXIMUS
By Malik Qazizadah

The Abanhfleft women's national football celebrates their victory against Libertas Omnium Maximus in the 74th Cup of Harmony. (Courtesy of Crescent News Network Sports Channel/Andros Tasasa)

RAMUSOK, COSUMAR - Abanhfleft started off their 74th Cup of Harmony campaign with a thrilling and exhilarating game against Libertas Omnium Maximus that saw ten goals scored between the two sides.

Abanhfleft, after suffering perhaps the most catastrophic collapse seen by the country since the Everfree Mall collapse in Calfragilis in 1998, once again was forced to participate in the multiverse's other great footballing tournament, the one reserved for nations who have failed to make the cut for the actual World Cup finals but it appears that this time they are committed to making an actual challenge for the Cup of Harmony, if the team's performance on this day should be any evidence.

And if Abanhfleft were looking for a running start in this tournament then they certainly got it through Britt Hanokssen-Hanks, who fired the Lady Revolutionaries into a very early lead with a superbly taken 25-yard free kick. But the Lady Revolutionaries would not stay in front for long as the Maximusians and Luke Brookshire pegged them back with his own excellently taken solo goal.

Abanhfleft and Libertas Omnium Maximus would then begin trading goals, and the Maximusians even managed to lead the Fleftics for the last quarter of an hour of the first half before Elene Liner stroked the ball to make it 3-3 with the last kick of the half.

In the second half, Abanhfleft finally dominated the contest, and Liner and Kelly McGinnis both scored their second goals to seemingly put an end to the Maximusian resistance, but the team in white and green managed to make it a more interesting game coming into the final stretch when Luke Brookshire completed his own brace.

But McGinnis would make sure that all three points would go to Abanhfleft with a right-footed chip over Johan Vanderbilt in the 90th minute, thus completing her first ever perfect hat trick in her career and giving herself her first ever Cup of Harmony match ball.

Abanhfleft women's national football team manager Ginny Katesmar: "What a game, an absolutely crazy game. Goals all around! Surely that's a game that everyone would love, although it probably gave a lot of our own fans heart problems. I'm not sure I came away from that unscathed too. But it's a very fantastic win for all of us. It gives us the confidence to get through the next few games and the hope that we might actually be able to do something meaningful in this cycle."

Abanhfleft will square off against New Lusitania and the Algarves in their next Cup of Harmony match.

              ABANHFLEFT 6 - 4 LIBERTAS OMNIUM MAXIMUS
              BRITT (5')       BROOKSHIRE (12', 74')
McGINNIS (20', 55', 90')       COLTER (27')
        LINER (45', 67')       McINTOSH (31')

LIBERTAS OMNIUM MAXIMUS
GK: 00 Vanderbilt
RB: 44 Parks
RCB: 22 Angly █ (Watson - 75')
LCB: 14 Darkas
LB: 37 Oakley
RM: 7 Mueller █ (Barrett - 81')
RCM: 75 Fulham
LCM: 9 McIntosh
LM: 31 Anders (Souther - 67')
RS: 17 Brookshire
LS: 43 Colter

ABANHFLEFT
GK: 13 Qatintiki █ (Bryan - 46')
RB: 2 Baum
RCB: 4 Soler
LCB: 5 Sullins
LB: 3 Roos
RM: 6 Winter-Slaughter (Sibusizwe - 54')
LM: 8 Erin
RW: 7 Liner (Magomedova - 86')
CAM: 10 Britt █
LW: 11 Rusev
ST: 9 McGinnis

MATCH STATISTICS
Possession
Abanhfleft: 50%
Libertas Omnium Maximus: 50%
Shots
Abanhfleft: 23 (10 on target)
Libertas Omnium Maximus: 15 (6 on target)
Corners
Abanhfleft: 13
Libertas Omnium Maximus: 7
Fouls
Abanhfleft: 23
Libertas Omnium Maximus: 20

by **New Lusitania and the Algarves** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 7:05 am

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Sport | Football|
Cup of Harmony 74

Remaining Match Reports

CUP OF HARMONY 74: WHAT TO EXPECT

New Lusitania has now arrived in Cosumar ready for the challenge. The Cup of Harmony is a tournament which is already known as O Nosso Pequeno Mundial (Our Little World Cup) due to New Lusitania's appearances here instead of in the main tourney, the World Cup. The team will be based in the capital in the eastern shore, the capital and royal city, Ramusok. The home for Group E Will be the Crowley Memorial Stadium which hosted the final of World Cup 78, the first Lusitanian venture, having a capacity of 100 000. The draw took place in Mriin last night, with New Lusitania now knowing their opponents.

ABAHNFLEFT
Kit White Shirt with a light-blue/white shade on the sleeves.
No introduction needed for the women of Abahnfleft, currently thirty-fifth in the world. Their performance in the Qualifiers was unlucky, showcasing good football but placing fourth in a tough Group 13, behind qualified sides Vilita and Valadares as well as Cup of Harmony side Savojarna, with 34 points and 46 goals scored. New Lusitania seem to have no previous encounters with the gals of the Democratic Republic. It will be one of the best games of the group stage and it can go either way. Most expect this game to be the one to define the group winner due to the Ranking gap but it's very presumptuous of anyone after the performances of L.O.M. and X in the Group Stage.

BALQIA
Kit: Undisclosed. Rumoured to be a Gold Shirt with Black Sleeves and Shorts
In Pot Three there's Balqia, who is 102nd in the world. They had a good qualifying stage reaching fifth in their group, behind the Free Republics, Darmen, as well as Taeshan and The Maccabees. They sent their last hurrah in the qualification stage by beating already qualified Taeshan 3-1 in their home ground. It'll be interesting to see what they come up with in the Cup of Harmony against New Lusitania.

LIBERTAS OMNIUM MAXIMUS (LOM)
Kit: White Shirt with Green and Blue Diagonal Lines across, Green Shorts and Collar, White Socks
Previous Encounters: 2-2, IDU Championships 2018 - Laeral.
New Lusitania's friends of the IDU, L.O.M. are the only other nation in the region currently playing internationals. It's their first cycle, and what a cycle it has been! Their third place celebration in the Baptism of Fire was followed up by a great qualifying run, making them jump immediately into the 107th rank. Despite their negative goal difference, they achieved a respectable fifth place with twenty points, showing the Andromeda Stadium to be a complicated place to go to. Brookshire is a target man to look for, being usually involved in goal and shot situations one way or another. The game in Laeral proved they aren't easy to beat, ending with a draw, but the expectation would be for a win, even if by just a whisker.

THE HUB
Final World Cup Stats

GOALS: André Silveira (9), Gama (4), Jota (3), Veiga (3), Fernando (3), Nevais (3), Cavalariça (2), Henrique Costa (2).
ASSISTS: Fernando (8), Mário (4) Henrique Costa (3), Nevais (2), Silveira (2), Jota (2), Breu (1), Veiga (1), Luz (1), Guerreiros (1)
INJURIES: None to Report
SUSPENSIONS: None to Report.

LATEST STATS
World Cup 81 Quals
Top Goalscorers: Silveira, Gama (11).
Assists: Fernando (9)
Cup of Harmony 73
Top Goalscorer: Silveira (2)
Assists: Fernando (3)
IDU Championships
Top Goalscorer: Gama (2)
Assists: Fernando (2)
IA6
Top Goalscorer: Silveira (4)
Assists: Fernando

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by **Busoga Islands** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 8:31 am

It was 86 minutes into the match here at Estadio MasseMord, and Saltstead, an ever so defensive team, was about to have their best opportunity to score all game, from the penalty spot. THe most interesting moment of the game thus far. The game, for a neutral at least, was a pretty boring affair to watch. Kasekende however, was not a neutral, or even a fan- he was the goalkeeper, and beyond that, he was the team's captain. Saltstead traditionally had a defensive style, and Kasekende was happy with how his defense was playing- no open, uncontested opportunities, no getting in behind the Islander defense. Strong, and disciplined. But, of course, now he was about to face the penalty. He thought about how this game got to this moment.

It had been a defensive struggle- like a chess match between Starfire, and Saltstead's interim manager, Christianė van Åuphen. Of course, Saltstead's lone opportunity, when Michael d’ Angel got behind the Islander defense and scored a goal, was ruled offside- and this was confirmed by Kasekende. Kasekende was an old school player- 38 years old, he hated VAR. But still, not a bad moment for the video assistant referee, even if the flag was up on live television. He would have been one on one there- but who knows what would have happened? The referee had blown his whistle so fast as well. The Islanders hadn't tested the goalkeeper all day themselves, but that was fine. A draw would do for them.

In the last 15 minutes of the match, however, even the Islanders decided that they had to ramp up the pressure. Something, anything, to break the deadlock in this game- this was a team that would absolutely, at a major tournament, go for the jugular. Why not? Being ranked 109th, they had nothing to lose, and quite frankly, were fortunate to even be here, being the last time. Kasekende knew that as well. That's why when he saw Barbarossa, who had been subsituted on for Oojam, make a run down the sideline in the 85th minute, he grew excited. He saw a cross served into the middle, and Babaja took a head to it. The Islander fans all seemingly rose as one, and Kasekende did from his own net- would that go in?

It would not go into the back of the net. Instead, it would go into the hands of Valeriė Rotsħeud. And the Islanders, who had been so disciplined all game, faltered. Valeriė Rotsħeud got the ball quickly, and threw a perfect ball out to Smid Petersson, who raced up the field and gave a perfect thorough ball to Kolen Moss. Moss had the Islanders on their heels, and played a perfect cross to D' Angel. D' Angel, while racing to get a head to the ball, was nearly gridiron football tackled by Thakshak. The referee had no choice- Thakshak was shown red, and the penalty given.

Delbin Kasekende was now in the moment again. As he took his last sip from his water bottle, and walked to the line, he looked at the crowd around him. A sea of red in this end, Islander red. Saltstead fans were about 2/3s of this stadium, but this end were fans of his. He could feel the tension. He got on the line, with the Kasekende chants from behind him pumping him up. D' Angel ran up to take the penalty and Kasekende guessed the right way, and caught the penalty. He let out a scream of joy, and the fans behind him went nuts as D' Angel held his face in his hands. What a moment for this goalkeeper- a massive smile on his face on what he knew, might certainly be the final highlight of his international career.

The Busoga Chronicle
The Islands #1 News Source!

Instant Reaction- Delbin Kasekende the hero as Islanders earn a point in their opening match of the Cup of Harmony

Kasekende celebrates after saving penalty against Saltstead

AZURIS, SOUTH KLYDE FIEF, COSUMAR- The first ever Cup of Harmony match for the Busoga Islands- a draw, but a draw that felt, emphatically, like a point earned. Playing against a team over 75 spots ahead of them in the KPB rankings, one of the favorites to make a deep run in this tournament, they were able to go toe to toe with Saltstead in a defensive battle, with Delbin Kasekende saving a late penalty, and Thakshak seeing red. A 0-0 draw for the Islanders has boosted the confidence of fans across the country for what could hopefully be a shocking showing in Cosumar. A quick couple of instant reactions from those involved in the game.

Starfire- Manager
"You know, we had a solid gameplan, and our players stuck to it for the entirety of the match- this 0-0 was surely a point earned for this squad." Said Starfire, the national team's manager. "We had a very clear strategy today- we understood the importance of going out and getting that point, to being able to fight tomorrow. We understand the reality that, man for man, we wouldn't be able to compete. But we have more then a bunch of individuals, we have a true team, and it is a team that would be able to put together that defensive effort. While we conceded 60% possession, they held a lot of the ball in the midfield, and we didn't allow them to create many opportunities. And, of course, a spectacular save by our leader and captain, Delbin. There are no easy matches in this tournament- the Sherpa Empire is next. But we can enjoy this point, while making the necessary adjustments we need to make to beat the Sherpa Empire, even with Thakshak out.

Channeh Jarju- Defensive Midfielder
"We knew that Saltstead liked to hold the ball in the midfield." Jarju told the press room. "We had to be smart about it- if we were going to dive in a lot and be too aggressive in the passing lanes, then their passing would be too quick, and they'd absolutely kill us. However, we were able to stay disciplined, and keep the ball going side to side, rather than giving them the opportunity to go forward in a meaningful fashion. It's tough to do that for 90 straight minutes, but we were able to keep that kind of discipline."

Mohan Thakshak- Centerback
"The back four had a tough task, and I think we were able to stand tall to it." Thakshak said. "OH man, I thank the heavens Delbin bailed me out on the penalty- I would have felt so awful. But still, it breaks my heart that I'm going to miss the next match, against the Sherpa Empire. HOwever, we have a next man up mentality on this team, instilled into us by Starfire herself, and I think that it is pretty clear to me that Filije Kolley can step in and have an excellent game against the Sherpa Empire, in my absence. We'll have our hands full again- Ngedup, Srihatta, and Mehta are a fearsome trio, but I believe in our defense."

And that is it from Cosumar! We'll be back to you after the Sherpa Empire match, when the dominoes really start to fall in what is certainly still a wide open group here at the Cup of Harmony.

by **Kita-Hinode** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:34 am

The lady with the number 5 shirt watched as the opposition placed themselves on the field. She was far away from them, smack dab in the back line of the Hinodejin Empire's national football team. Mimi Akazukin was the Empire's apparent finest left-back, what with her being an impressive runner and a relentless personality. Akazukin loved the sport, seeing as it was her gateway from the anonymity, a life of disaster after disaster, to the lights of fame and fortune. The referee started the match, the Siovanians on the defence, Raphael Klopfer pointing to his teammates where they should be in order to defend themselves against the threat from the other realm. Kamalani Kanani stepped over the ball, passing it back to Juri Kisame, who then punted it upwards, finding Akazukin, already a couple of steps up front from where she started.

Whenever she bolted through the field, such as... well, what she was doing after getting the ball, she could remember how she got to that point. It was a cold morning in the middle of the woods when she found both of her parents had died, laid cold on the floor of their cottage. She looked up, finding a wolf munching on them. Her mind blanked, she went into autopilot. Seconds later, the wolf laid dead as well, the girl wiping the blood of a large knife she used to stab him dozens and dozens of times. Each time consuming her psyche. Each time eating away the mind of the little girl. She didn't deserve that. She was good, caring, understanding. Once she came to herself, she ran. She ran from the cottage, fearing what could happen if someone passed by it. The girl started to live off food that she could find on the road and the insides of animals. She considered it her way of getting revenge against the animals. They destroyed her life, didn't they?

She sped through the left side of the field, catching a grasp of the Siovanian mustard jersey that their players wore as she passed by Thorsten Kramer, hitting the ball with her heel before using the other foot to push it forward, skipping past him. Klopfer stood in front of her, signalling that he was going to stop her here and there. Her eyes looked around, noticing Arichi Kunorikato speeding on the wing. A smirk formed on her face, showing her teeth. Pointy teeth. Teeth that were misshaped, thanks to years where she suffered from her life condition, the loss of her relatives, the only people she knew of. The pass to Kunorikato worked like a treat, and it also symbolized something. It made her remember of the people that found her, those that had a smile on her face, ready to scrub her hair, give them some food, wash her teeth, let her shower. If it weren't for them, she wouldn't be here playing. Kunorikato lobbed the ball into the box where Cherry Whitecastle did her usual hoof shot to put the ball into the net. The Satyr ran towards the girl, giving her a massive hug. "Thank you, Mimi!"

The girl with the pointy teeth, the girl that had to live off the wilderness for years? She smiled, kissing her cheek.
"I'm here for you."

by **Taeshan** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:46 am

To say that it was a disappointing start to the 74th Cup of Harmony would be a disservice to everyone who has seen the Purple Knights play football for the past 4 decades of mediocrity. The Cup of Harmony opening loss 4-3 to Lisander was less a disappointment and more an expected result for the side in Purple and Gold. A less than notable opponent, a less than stellar group, and a less than stellar performance from the 14 players who saw the field. The loss was further compounded by the fact that they let 4 goals in, 4. Not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4. Against a team 40 rankings lower than them. They may have scored three times, but the side known most for their defense historically continues to be known most now for just being below average.

by **Filindostan** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:52 am

Gold Field
Vidial, Mriin

Xavier sat at the bench after the national anthems of both Filindostan and Polkopia have played at the Gold Field in Vidial. He anticipated the pressure that lies within him as he leads the Filindostan National team for their first competitive match under his watch. Actually, he should be used to this - he was actually barking the instructions to the players even when Ethel was supposed to be the one doing it as part of her job as the caretaker manager during that time. The only difference this time is that this is not the same set of players he had shared his pep talks and instructions. The lineup against the Polkopians looked different from the one who faced the same opponent in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Gerry was the custodian between the goalpost, his first time facing the Polkopian team in which Tonyo shipped 5 goals, and Cahya allowing a goal in spite of Filindostan winning. Several players also returned to the starting lineup - Casimir, Dina Satyawan, King, Yakob, and Yish among others.

The first minutes did not cause the manager to panic, as the Pula Garuda kept building up their offense with passes in the middle of the field, and frustrating their opponents. He have slightly changed the team's mentality from being a team on attack mode, to a team which builds up their attack first. And the results of the adjustments showed on the pitch, with Filindostan scoring the first goal from a free kick by King, when Boris Yakchuk fouled the charging Yakob near the edge of the penalty box, after just 24 minutes, they have already taken the lead. It was only five minutes after that they were able to double the lead when Ina slotted a well-placed shot beyond Danko Vilar. For almost the entirety of the first half, Xavier remained in his seat and watched the team execute what he asked during their pre-match trainings.

He would stand up though just before half-time when the team allowed a counter by the Polkopians. Luckily for him and Gerry, the pass to Filip Markov went a little bit early as they were flagged for offside. He would give specific instructions to Graci to be relayed to the other defenders - keep the offside trap working.

Their lead was reduced to a solitary goal, after Rafael Korošeć was able to put away the challenge of the defenders and put a lob over Gerry in the 55th minute. At this point on, he was always off the seat, keeping his nerves intact in case of an equalizer from the opponents come their way. But in the 86th minute, after all the substitutions were made, the Pula Garuda managed to score an insurance goal thanks to a scrappy goal inside the penalty area, in which the last touch was attributed to substitute Kadek. Xavier returned to his seat before getting off again to shake the hands of Vitali Zorić of the opposite side and the rest of the coaching staff. He would then go to his players to tap their backs and say 'Good job' to them, a gesture that was never done during Ethel's reign.

At least he known now how to further give his players a confidence boost - they will need most of it when they face The Macabees for the solitary lead of Group C.

by **Squornshelan Remnant States** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:03 pm

OOC: Roshai Ennakoa is based on/inspired by Tayvis "Tayvho" Akpan, better known as "the Dancing Guy" in Lexington, KY. You can read about the real person here. Also I picture Ro as looking something like this.

Superfan Spotlight
Superfan Spotlight is pleased to introduce the first of our Grand Prize winners: Roshai "Dancing Girl" Ennakoa of Damogran, Algolia.

Roshai's name may not be known to many people around the Confederacy, or even around Damogran, but AC Damogran fans should all recognize her, as she is well known for dancing her way around the city, often dressed in the purple and orange of Athletic, or the Black and Red of the national team. She can rarely be found simply walking from place to place, earning her the nickname "Dancing Girl." Superfan Spotlight caught up with Roshai last week to get her perspective on being a celebrity whose name no one seems to know.

"I guess if there was something I'd want my fans to know it would be that I have a name, I guess?" Strangers often approach Roshai on the street, and she spends lot of time introducing herself. "My friends all call me Ro, so that's how I introduce myself. Also I'm 25, so I dunno where the "girl" part came from, I guess "Dancing Woman" doesn't have the same ring to it. It doesn't really upset me, but I want people to know that I'm not just a meme, I'm a person." Ro told us though, that her newfound celebrity doesn't bother her. "I really don't mind people coming up to me asking for photos or autographs or whatever, I just wish more of them would actually come up and say hi instead of just shouting." Most of Ro's interactions are fairly brief and friendly, but there are a few that stick in her mind. "They're all pretty positive interactions, no one's really been creepy or critical. I've had a lot of guys ask me out, and a few girls too for that matter. One guy even got down on one knee and proposed to me, ring and everything, still not sure if he was serious or not."

Being a minor celebrity is, apparently, a good way to meet a lot of people, or at least find a date, but is that the reason why Ro dances everywhere she goes? We asked her for her origin story. "Well it started about a year and a half ago, Athletic had just clinched League 2 with a couple matches to play so I was feeling good, and I had music on and was just dancing around my place the rest of the day. I was meeting some friends later and I guess I just didn't want to stop dancing, so I just put my earbuds in and danced down to the bus stop and it was just so much fun I kept doing it." The rest, as they say, is history. Ro knew that people were noticing her, but she didn't realize how widespread it was getting until she found out that pictures and videos of her were showing up on social media. "I didn't know anyone was really taking notice until my mom sent me a link saying 'Roshai, isn't this you?' and there I was. Does that mean I'm out of touch, that my mom knew I was a meme before I did?" Ro has since started social media accounts (@dancing Ro) for her persona and has amassed over 10,000 followers. "I think the reason I keep doing it is how freeing it is. When I'm dancing, I'm not self-conscious, not worried what people think when they see me. I don't worry about accidentally doing something weird or embarrassing, because I'm already being weird and embarrassing, if that makes sense." Ro also mentioned some side benefits to her dancing. "It's also serious cardio, I'm probably in the best shape of my life right now."

Ro doesn't just dance around town, however, she is a die-hard fan of AC Damogran, and the Black-and-Reds. "I go to just about every match I can. I managed to score tickets when Devonta played over at Albrechtsson back in qualifying, and I was trying to put together a trip with some friends to Hunian for the last match, but it fell through." And of course, she dances to and from matches at Overburg Stadium, home of AC Damogran. "Match days are crazy, it feels like a neighborhood bar sometimes, where everyone knows you. So many high fives, like so many. My hands get sore." Asked about Athletic's prospects for the new season, Ro was cautiously optimistic. "Losing Vrenz (Tambura) hurts a lot. Most fans are excited for him, but it leaves a big hole. We've got some new blood coming in though, including a few ladies. It's about damn time! For now though I'm really looking forward to cheering Vrenz and the rest of the guys on at the CoH."

As our first Grand Prize winner, Ro won transportation and tickets to the Black-and-Reds' first group stage match against Oberour ar Moro. The match itself was a tense affair, with a large number of whistles, and neither side seemingly able to make much headway in breaking down the opposing defense. While Oberour manager Kvael Heault became quite agitated over the course of the match, attempting more than once to beckon the referee over to discuss certain calls or non-calls, it was the Black-and-Reds who eventually prevailed, as Jzvanic earned a penalty when he was brought down in the box. He remained down long enough though, that the referee insisted he leave the field for medical attention, leaving Zoban Ajao to step up to the spot. Fortunately for the Confederates, the younger striker finished with poise, striking with both power and accuracy to send the ball just inside the left post. A thrilling, nail-biter of a match for our first lucky winner. Keep an eye out after the Black-and-Reds face Alluersia in their second match for the profile of our next winner.

by **Omerica** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 4:26 pm

And now: the continuation of the Saga of Dwada-Prant Von.

Federal Ministry of Defence Headquarters
28 March

“Of course we can.”

The receptionist put down the phone and summoned the guard with a hand motion.

“I hope you realise I can’t leave that kid alone very long,” Jean whisphered as he arrived at the desk.

“I’m aware, sir,” the receptionist coyly responded, nervous about what the guard might say next. “But I have to tell you that we’re under orders not to let him leave.”

“Bullshit,” Jean audibly replied. “Who over me could possibly be overturning my order?”

The receptionist could feel the tension building up in her chest, letting all out as she blurted her answer: “The Prime Minister.”

Jean immediately stopped, floored by the assertion that his de facto commander-in-chief was suddenly getting involved in this. After a brief and awkward pause, Jean finally mustered the courage to ask the one question on his mind. “She knows there’s no point in her coming here, right?”

“I don’t know what’s going on here, sir,” the receptionist replied, “If the Prime Minister is coming here, there must be some reason. I think you better go back over there and guard the kid before she gets here. If she finds out that he’s been left alone, she won’t be happy and I wouldn’t blame her.”

After a brief pause, Jean could think of no other option than to give up and go with the flow. Maybe the Prime Minister was onto something? Maybe Mike had it wrong? Maybe this kid really was serious? Maybe this really was a pretext to invasion?

What are you thinking, Jean? Why would a foreign government be so stupid to send a kid to claim an entire republic?

Interrogation Room 5, Federal Ministry of Defence Headquarters
The same day

“Madam Prime Minister, I was not aware you were coming,” Jean whispered as they and Von entered the room.

Like everything else in the United Republics, it was out of the ordinary. Not entirely comfortable, since it had to keep its occupants on edge and wanting to leave, but comfortable enough to make the interrogatee feel willing to cooperate. Torture and coercion weren’t the Omerican way, after all.

The Prime Minister sat down at the table across from Von. “Bienvenu aux Républiques-unies. As I am quite sure you’re aware, I would happen to be the Prime Minister. And you would be?”

Before Von could start their answer, a knock was heard at the door, startling the five people within the room.

Unsure what to do, Julie apprehensively ordered one of the two guards who had escorted Von, Jean and herself to open the door. Upon the person on the other side coming into view, Jean’s jaw dropped, not quite to the floor, but certainly enough to make his tongue visible.

“Madam Prime Minister,” Mike began “sorry to interrupt, but I think you have the wrong idea.”

“I’m sorry if I sound rude,” the Prime Minister—now turned away from the Qusmi across the table—answered, “but who may you be?”

“Mike Morrow. Ex-husband of United Republican Guard Deputy Commissioner Alexis Masterson. Know it’s not my place to be here or to interrupt, but y’might want to see this.”

A guard took the papers out of Mike’s hand and, after looking them over, passed them to the Prime Minister. After looking them over herself, the Prime Minister took out her mobile phone to verify what she was looking at. After a brief internet search, she before turned back towards Von, less irritated and more embarrassed. Rethinking the whole situation after this revelation, she definitely needed a moment to collect her thoughts before she continued.

“I apologise for being so rude, but I have just one question.” Julie placed the papers down on the table and passed them toward the Qusmi. “Would you happen to be here in Omerica because of this article?”

Von hardly had time to look them over before blurting out a “yes.” Continuing, Von explained that “I was a representative from Fuzpon Qusma and I was fired—well, dismissed early, technically—though I was hoping that what I am doing now will help me regain my job.”

The room began to gradually drown in discomfiture as Von continued: “I received word that a provision in the Omerican constitution allows for a nation to claim land from Omerica if they win four football matches against Omerica in succession—a feat that my home of Qusmo has recently achieved, so I am here to claim the Republic of the Seafoam Islands on behalf of the State of Qusmo.”

Choking on unease as the confused Qusmi ceased their speech, the Prime Minister began her response: “The Omerican constitution might be thick and clunky, but unfortunately, there is no clause anywhere in it to allow such a thing.”

Von instantly looked deflated, that their efforts zipping across such a vast nation would amount to nothing. Fuzpon Qusma had been right to dismiss them and now they would have to return to Qusmo empty-handed and embarrassed.

“If it’s any consolation,” the Prime Minister continued, trying to cheer Von up, “some Seafoam Islanders thought that that article was real.”—of course, Julie had never heard of The Beet before in her life, but she had to say something—“My office was flooded with emails and calls concerned about it, so you’re not the only one who was misled.”

Julie knew it was a bold-faced lie, but she had to say something to make the kid feel better. Unfortunately, Von didn’t look any less miserable

“I suppose that makes sense,” the Qusmi muttered, audibly disappointed that the whole adventure was for naught.

“Well, I am so sorry to inconvenience you like this,” the Prime Minister said as she got up from the table. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here,” she finished, offering her hand to Von to shake.

The private study of the Prime Minister, Rucker’s Hill
Later that evening

“Lorelei speaking.”

“Bonsoir, Madame Ministre-President. C’est la Première Ministre.”

“Oh, Julie,” the Seafoam Islander Premier replied. “I was meaning to ask if you’d seen that ridiculous Saltsteadish satire article.”

Julie awkwardly chuckled. Sure, she and Lorelei were technically political rivals, but whatever their disagreements, the two had never had a bad word to say about the other. Hell, for the most part, they enjoyed each other’s presence. “I was actually going to talk to you about that,” Julie answered as she stopped laughing.

“Of course,” the Premier stated. “Let me guess, someone from Qusmo actually showed up to claim the Islands.”

“Well… technically… yes…”

Silence. The tension could practically be felt all the way in New Vaucluse.

“Lorelei? You still there?”

“Okay, that was supposed to be a joke.”

“It wasn’t a representative of the government. The defence minister just got back from the embassy and they said no one in the Qusma government had actually taken the article seriously.”

“Okay, so who was it?”

“It was a kid who got fired from their football association.”

“That actually makes sense. So why did you want to speak to me about this?”

“Well, they had gone to the ministry headquarters for some reason and I met them there. Once I told them they couldn’t do such a thing, the kid looked really disappointed.”

“And now you feel bad about it, don’t you?”

“Right,” Julie said, praying that the Premier wasn’t about to laugh off the request she was about to make. “So I wanted to ask if you could do something for them.”

Lorelei paused on the other end, pondering what Julie could mean. “What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking the two of us could get the kid a little gift.”

“Okay.” Lorelei wasn’t entirely convinced, but the idea wasn’t a bad one, sure.

“I was thinking a little model of the Seafoam Islands for them to take back home. Maybe two.”

“One for them and one for the association, I presume.”

“How did you get so good at reading minds?”

The two laughed again, slowly convincing the Seafoamer of the plan.

“Okay, Julie,” Lorelei declared after their respiratory spasms concluded. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I have to get some sleep in a couple hours and you should probably be off to bed soon as well, but in the morning, I’ll write a letter to the kid. Once I’m done, I can find a pair of models at a nice shop in town and put a package together. Just send me the details and give me some idea of where to send it.”

“Can do. I’ll go ahead and text you those once we’re done.”

“Très bien. Merci.”

After the pleasantries concluded, the Prime Minister scoured her records for the details. At least the kid won’t leave with nothing.

by **Saltstead** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:15 pm

The streets of Azuris
6 April

“Are you sure this is a good idea? Don’t you think this is slightly childish?”

Walking down the Cosumarite streets in sunglasses and replica Omerican jerseys, Piėr and Gay prepared for the Incorrigibles’ match against Saltstead.

“Considering what the Association did to me,” Gay responded to her husband, “no. Not at all. Those Omericans absolutely deserve to wipe the floor with us today.”

“Do you even know the first thing about Omerica, though?”

“They have a bit of a fetish for calling things ‘United Republican’ and ‘federations’. They suck goat balls in this tournament and they nearly beat Drawkland in the IAC final.”

“Do you have to put it quite so bluntly?”

“Fair point.”

Piėr walked out in front of his wife. “I am just concerned that if people find out about this, you’re never going to live it down. You are going to be smeared all over the country for this.”

“Maybe, but half the country seem to think assaulting people in airports is a good idea. Is it really a country we can trust to make sound judgements on what is right and wrong? On an unrelated note, this place sure is beautiful, don’t you think?”

Piėr facepalmed as the words came out of his wife’s piehole. “I am sure the people of Cosumar appreciate the sentiment.”

“At least it isn’t far to get back home where Van Åuphen belongs.”

“Are you still hung up on this? You couldn’t hold the job forever, so why can’t you just move on?”

Gay groaned at the thought. Moving on after the expiry of her contract would’ve been just fine. Being sacked was something entirely different. “At least the Omerican coach was treated fairly.”

“That is a completely different matter. That has nothing to do with you.”

“Be honest, you would love to see her bring her country to final and win this time. That sounds like a fantastic underdog story. We are just some top-flight team that couldn’t hack it in the qualifiers and couldn’t beat the Busogans. Who do you think deserves to win in that scenario.”

“Whoever plays the better game on the day.”

“Watch my lips: it is going to be the Omericans.”

Estadio MasseMord, Azuris
The same day

“Listen: put the first game out of mind.”

The pressure was palpable. Christianė could feel it as intensely as everyone else in the room. “We have done the impossible before and we can do it again. We are not out until the fat lady sings.”

This job was only temporary. Van Åuphen was probably not going to get the full-time position unless she could pull off something fantastic here. Finally winning the tournament perhaps.

“The Omericans are vulnerable. They have a history of choking under pressure. Remember the final against Drawkland; they couldn’t hold their nerve through penalties. Remember their match against Kavagrad: they shat the bed and lost by three. Remember their match against Geisenfried in the last Cup of Harmony: they only needed to draw to advance and completely blew it. As they would admit themselves: they’re great on a good day and shit any other day. This is a team that basically wears rubbish bins for away kits.”

The room fell silent. Christianė’s hands met her face as she contemplated what she could do to convince her players.

“Let’s be honest, we all are here for Saltstead. We all want Saltstead to succeed. In a time of deep division, we have a chance to do something which few other people can. We can bring the nation together. That first time we brought a trophy back to Ashwell was amazing. Let’s recapture that feeling. Let’s get out there and show the world that we haven’t hit our peak!”

Clapping. Slow to start, quick to build. Soon enough, Christianė found the whole changing room erupting in cheers and applause.

Christianė took quick advantage. “Here’s the plan: we are moving an extra person into the midfield line. They are a more offence-focused side, so we want to keep four in the back always, but we have to keep open the option to move toward a front three on the counterattack.”

The changing room became a field of bobble heads, nodding back and forth, up and down.

“Emmet, you are on the bench. Constantinė, you are on the field. Let’s do this!”

by **Mriin** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:30 pm

The heat's on. Will you get singed?

MD2 Cutoff for ALL Groups

Group A
Brusseldorf 1–0 Taeshan
Savojarna 4–1 Lisander

  Group A                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Savojarna                   2   2  0  0    8   2  +6    6  Q
2 Lisander                    2   1  0  1    5   7  −2    3
3 Brusseldorf                 2   1  0  1    2   4  −2    3
4 Taeshan                     2   0  0  2    3   5  −2    0  E

Group B
Velestria 3–2 Siovanija and Teusland
Zwangzug 2–2 Kita-Hinode

  Group B                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Zwangzug                    2   1  1  0    5   4  +1    4
2 Kita-Hinode                 2   1  1  0    4   3  +1    4
3 Velestria                   2   1  0  1    5   5   0    3
4 Siovanija and Teusland      2   0  0  2    3   5  −2    0  E

Group C
Polkopia 3–4 Eraman
Filindostan 2–0 The Macabees

  Group C                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Filindostan                 2   2  0  0    5   1  +4    6
2 The Macabees                2   1  0  1    4   4   0    3
3 Eraman                      2   1  0  1    6   7  −1    3
4 Polkopia                    2   0  0  2    4   7  −3    0

Group D
Xanneria 3–2 Kandorith
Main Nation Ministry 2–6 Drawkland

  Group D                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Drawkland                   2   2  0  0   10   4  +6    6
2 Xanneria                    2   1  0  1    4   5  −1    3
3 Main Nation Ministry        2   1  0  1    5   7  −2    3
4 Kandorith                   2   0  0  2    4   7  −3    0

Group E
Libertas Omnium Maximus 3–2 Balqia
Abanhfleft 2–1 New Lusitania

  Group E                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Abanhfleft                       2   2  0  0    8   5  +3    6  Q
2 New Lusitania                    2   1  0  1    4   2  +2    3
3 Libertas Omnium Maximus          2   1  0  1    7   8  −1    3
4 Balqia                           2   0  0  2    2   6  −4    0  E

Group F
Sajnur 1–2 Tinhampton
Mytanija 1–1 Krytenia

  Group F                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Tinhampton                       2   2  0  0    3   1  +2    6  Q
2 Mytanija                         2   1  1  0    6   3  +3    4
3 Krytenia                         2   0  1  1    1   2  −1    1
4 Sajnur                           2   0  0  2    3   7  −4    0  E

Group G
Ko-oren 1–0 Oberour Ar Moro
Alluersia 1–2 Squornshelan Remnant States

  Group G                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Squornshelan Remnant States      2   2  0  0    3   1  +2    6  Q
2 Ko-oren                          2   2  0  0    2   0  +2    6  Q
3 Alluersia                        2   0  0  2    1   3  −2    0  E
4 Oberour Ar Moro                  2   0  0  2    0   2  −2    0  E

Group H
The Sherpa Empire 2–4 The Busoga Islands
Omerica 0–1 Saltstead

  Group H                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 The Busoga Islands               2   1  1  0    4   2  +2    4
2 Saltstead                        2   1  1  0    1   0  +1    4
3 Omerica                          2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
4 The Sherpa Empire                2   0  0  2    3   6  −3    0  E

by **The Sherpa Empire** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:46 pm

Kai Qiang set up the cameras and lights the way he always did when he made videos to claim responsibility for his terrorist attacks, with the light behind him so his face would be hidden in shadow. He put on the prosthetic arm and gridiron football pads that he used to make himself look more physically imposing. It was a simple trick, but it worked. He could tell by the way the Sherpas drew him in their propaganda cartoons that the pads had the desired psychological effect. They made him look like a terrifying muscle-bound monster.

He turned on the lights and the camera and started filming. "You know who I am," he said. "But this isn't going to be like my other videos. I haven't killed anyone or blown anything up, and I'm not here to make threats. The pen is mightier than the sword, and I think I have used the sword enough. Now it's time to try something different."

He leaned forward and turned off the sound effect that he used to distort his voice, then reached behind him and moved the light so that his face was no longer hidden. "No more hiding behind this stuff." He removed the prosthetic arm and the pads. "I've been using these to make myself look more intimidating in my videos, but I'm actually not that scary." He tossed the pads aside. "By my estimate, I've killed about... Maybe 5,000 people, but it didn't have to be that way, and I don't want to do it anymore. The only reason why I've killed anyone is because fascism has created a conflict between the Sherpas and the Chinese. There is another world where the fascists never came to power and the imperial family was never exiled -- Karsang III is Emperor -- and in that world, I have never killed anyone. In that world, I am a race car driver instead of a communist revolutionary. Let me show you." He flipped to a clip from a Beihua Sports report on an NSSCRA race and waited while the clip played, then cut back to his monologue. "In that world, I still have both my arms. And both my eyes." He reached up to his face and popped an eyeball out of its socket and held it up to the camera. "That's glass. That's what fascism has done for me." He slouched back into his seat and casually tossed the glass eye, apparently oblivious to the possibility that juggling his own eyeball might look creepy. "In that world, I have a daughter who is half-Sherpa. Her name is Kami Mendok, and I love her. This is us." He cut to a clip of the stock car driver Kai Qiang playing with a very cute little girl, barely old enough to walk. The girl was all smiles, though she didn't seem to have any idea why she was on camera. The revolutionary Qiang switched the video back to himself, still toying with his glass eye. "In that world, the Sherpa Empire still has it's old pre-World War II borders, so there is no Xinjiang and no Soviet Territories, and it still has a population of 1.3 billion people. We have more land, and the government keeps telling us how their breeding programs are helping the nation grow, and yet this nation still has less than half the population that it has under the monarchists in a world without fascism. Even if you exclude the people the government calls 'racially inferior,' their Empire has 750 million people that would be eligible for full citizenship under our laws. Your government sends you to war, saying you need 'lebensraum' or you need to make things safer for the next generation -- but who is going to live in all that 'lebensraum' when every Sherpa man who dies on the battlefield is one less father raising a family in the next generation? Whose security are you protecting when every generation your sons are sent to fight in another war? Fascism has deprived this world of 40 million Sherpa lives, people who would be here if you'd left the Emperors on their throne, even before you consider what it has done to the other races that live under your rule. I can't even put into words what it has done to us Zhuang and Han..." He wiped his eye and cut to a documentary on the Sherpa Empire's efforts to improve sustainability so that it could support it's huge population without destroying the planet in the process.

When the documentary wrapped up, or at least got done with the meat of what it had to say, Qiang flipped back to himself. He had finally set the glass eye aside. "So, look...," he said. "A lot of people have made some really bad decisions, and we've all made this world a worse place. And we need to change the way we do things if we're going to make it better. So here's what I want: Everyone who is in the camps for racial reasons is allowed to leave. All the race laws are abolished, and all the races are eligible for citizenship. I stop killing people. Nobody gets punished for anything we did. We all start over with a clean slate. So what do you say?"

He stopped recording.

Now to put it out to the world... If he posted it online, the censors would take it down, but some people would see it before they caught it. He could also leave devices in public places with the video saved on them, and when someone picked it up it would play. Or he could set up projectors. Where there was a will, there was a way. There was always a way. He didn't need the video to stay accessible. He just needed people to see it before it got taken down. Once word got out, there would be no stopping it.

Qiang smiled at the thought. He picked up the autographed NSSCRA hat from the shelf beside the camera. The autograph looked nothing like his. It was Chinese characters, "强凯" instead of the Germanized rendering, "Kai Tchiang." He set the hat on his knee and tried to sign his name on a piece of scratch paper the way the stock car racer in the other world signed it. It came out all wrong. He had never learned to write Chinese. When he wrote slowly to make sure he got the characters right, they came out stiff like a child's drawing rather than a signature. When he wrote faster to get the fluidity of a signature, he forgot the shapes of the characters. He got annoyed and crumpled up the paper.

The fascists probably wouldn't go without a fight, but even if they did, it was already too late to fix what they'd done...

by **Ko-oren** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:44 am

Hello, my name is Fin Fenner, and I think Ko-orenite soccer is back on the way down.

I still remember the last team I was on. I still started for the Dragonflies in World Cup 69. And in 64, 65 and 66. Yes, those were the early heydays for us. I was part of the team that gave us our first qualification, to finally be part of that stage that we had longed for for so long. And continue to do, even after ten qualifications.

I am well aware that matters in life, and in nature, come in waves. In a sine, rather. Teams are on the way up, and after their peak they go down until they've had the worst, then come back up. I was part of a team that caught itself as it was slipping, then turned the tide for the greatest of highs. And what a team it was. Current head coach Juliasterinthen, whom I hold in the highest of regards. Loki Asgard, a wall in goal. Tokachi and Shiribeshi, who might as well be brothers, a pair of strikers to make defenders across any region tremble. And mind you, they are all in the Ko-orenite Hall of Fame. And so am I. I never asked for that honour, but it was bestowed upon me anyway. That was the kind of team it was. We fought for each other, for the team, and we were rewarded.

And now look at this team. Hand-picked by my good friend, sure, but all footballers for hire. Look at this team, and tell me which one is going the way of the Hall of Fame. There is talent here, absolutely. But is there anyone whom you will remember after his retirement other than from their highlight reel? Any player's name that will ring around the fields of the country long after his departure? The one player who made a name for himself did so when he tore up the team and took seven renegades with him, in the middle of qualifying!

And then the youngsters on the team: talented, yielding transfer sums that makes my head spin, but they have yet to show anything. Again, are there any names that you'll hear off the pitch? This batch of players could sure rival our team. I'm not debating their on-pitch quality. The KFA's success in the U-18 and U-21 is also not to be scoffed at.

And yet. This team still doesn't have a captain. Whose personality matches that of a real captain?

I don't think any of these players are creating tales and legends that will stay around for longer than three years after their careers are over. And for a few of them, that means that period will start in around five years. Before you get there, think of where you are, what you are doing, and whom you are doing it for.

by **Libertas Omnium Maximus** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 9:07 am

Maximusian Sports Network
The Cup of Harmony 74 - Sports Report
The following is an abridged sports report delivered around 9:30 PM on MSN-1, channel 69. Comentary does not necessarily represent that of MSN and are the views of the speaker only. For a complete and uncut sports report on the Maximusian in the 74tg Cup of Harmony, visit www.msn.lom/4.7.19/uncut-sports-report/MNT-74_CoH

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have some great news, The Maximusian National team has managed a win! This was in the second group round of the 74th Cup of Harmony. Next time, the team will take on region-mate and close ally, New Lusitania.

New Lusitania is currently leading LOM in GD but have tied them in total points. What does this mean? Unfortunately, if LOM wants to progress to the next CoH stage they will have to finish of New Lusitania.

Maximusian head coach, Vincent Alfonsi, recently told MSN:

“It is a shame we have to kill them but we do. They are a great team; great players, great strategy, great coach, just an overall great team. They are gonna have to go none the less! I know on paper they are a superior team, that doesn’t scare me. We are pretty new to the International stage so I wouldn’t expect us to be ranked highly. We still have what it takes to fight. We have what it takes to win.”

Team Captain, Lucas Brookshire, said during the same interview:

“They has best settle their affairs! They had best open the family plots. They had all best write a eulogy! They are as good as dead!”

While the results of this match have yet to be decided, one thing is for certain; this will be one memorable match!

by **Busoga Islands** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 10:38 am

The Busoga Chronicle
The Islands #1 News Source!

'Miracle at MasseMord' as Islanders score 4 first half goals to stun the Sherpa Empire at the Cup of Harmony

Yuval(#8 in white) celebrates his goal in the Cup of Harmony

AZURIS, SOUTH KLYDE FIEF, COSUMAR- Going into the tournament, the Islanders were simply happy to be here. One of the lowest ranked sides, it was certainly a valuable experience- any major, competitive tournament is a chance to refine both your team and your roster, and improve it going forward. However, after today's first half performance against the Sherpa Empire, an almost perfect half- 'the best 45 minutes of football this team has ever played', according to Starfire, it seems as if the Islanders aren't here for sightseeing. Of course, it was on display when they were able to grind out a disciplined, defense, and skillful 0-0 draw against the group's top ranked side, Saltstead.

But this game- absolutely, what a spectacular display of the sport to watch. A seemingly joyous occasion, with Islander fans all across the Busoga Islands now fully buying into Islander team favor. Everything seemed to go right for the Islanders on this day- the shots were all on target, they were hitting their spots, they were hitting their passes right, and just on the opposite end, almost everything seemed to go wrong for their opponents. The Sherpa Empire was coming out slow, when the Islanders were basically busting out of the gates. The Islanders were seemingly at the top of their game, a confluence of events that has put them, a team that was betting favorites going in to be eliminated after just two games, on the brink of the knockout stages.

Let's go for a full match review. Like we said, it was a stunning display in the early going, and almost from the word go, the Islanders were flying around, playing with all kinds of energy, and displaying a lot of focus. Just 3 minutes in, they put their first effort on target, when Babaja hit one from about 12 yards, though it went straight to the hands of the goalkeeper. The crowd was into the match, and as the Islanders began to build pressure, it wasn't long before they scored their first.

IT would be a play in the 12th minute that would put the Busoga Islands on the board. Fara Turay, the attacking midfielder, was bringing the ball down the field, and played a through ball to Ousman Babaja, who has increasingly taken on a starring role since he was elevated to national team duties. Babaja shot the ball, and got it past the keeper, but it hit the inside of the post and bounced across the face of goal. At this moment, it would be Ikshu Amitabh who would clean up the rebound and put the ball into the back of the net, to give his side a 1-0 lead. A stunning moment, in and of itself. But there was more to follow.

The best part about this game was not the first goal- it was how the Islanders responded. They didn't bunker down, and go into a shell. This goal seemed as if it was extra fuel to a team that already had a bunch of life. Just 7 minutes later, the Busoga Islands received their first scare, when Jarju went down, fouled about 22 yards away from goal. She had to go out of the match, and it was Vyomaang Yuval who would replace her. She, of course, is favored to return for the matchday 3 showdown, when everything is on the line, against Omerica. But for the remainder of this one, it was Yuval who came in, and continued to do the work that Jarju had been doing for years- stopping opponents attacks, moving the ball forward.

But with that foul, of course, came a free kick, and another opportunity. This one was for Fara Turay, who usually took the free kicks for the Islanders. When the wall was formed, she surveyed the goal. She, and Babaja, stood over the ball. It was Turay who took the free kick, and was able to brilliantly bend the ball, almost at will, into the back of the net following that injury. The score was 2-0, and it was barely 20 minutes into the match, and the Islanders were flying everywhere. The Sherpa Empire tried to get into an attacking mode, but a great counter-attack finished with Babaja heading in the third goal.

30 minutes on, and it was 3-0 to the Busoga Islands. Everybody was stunned. The Sherpa Empire would get back on the board, with a 35th minute penalty, but it was Yuval who would slam the door. From about 30 yards, an incredible, right before halftime, he had an incredible shot, that was on target, on the frame of goal, and it went into the top right corner of the net. Even in his own words, he told us that 'I'll never hit something like that ball ever again.' And yet, he had done in that moment. 4-1 at half. The Sherpa Empire scored again in the 88th minute, but once again, too little, too late as the Islanders ran off with a 4-2 victory.

What a game, what a match. Starfire had this to say after the match. "That first half, that first 45 minutes, was certainly the best, I think, that we have ever performed as a national team. There has always been a collection of talent on the Busoga Islands squad, but that display showed exactly what we are capable of. However excited i am over this one, however, everything is still in front of us- nothing has been settled." She said. "We're gonna have an extremely tough game against Omerica, that will likely determine which of us will get to the knockout stages of this tournament. There's everything to play for there- we need at least a point to guarantee ourselves a birth in the next round, and Omerica likely needs all three. The neutrals dream, isn't it? They'll be chasing before long."

And that is right. This game against Omerica, while it's not one or the other, a Saltstead draw against the Sherpa Empire would put them through, which means that, most likely, this will be the final determination on who gets the other spot in Group H. The Islanders, of course, will have Thakshak returning. But a motivated Omerica squad is a tough one to deal with. Anne-Sophie Groothuis is one of the game's respected tacticians, and will surely have her squad ready for this high stake chess match between two powerful female minds. Who wins? Who knows? IT'll be fun.

Of course, with the stakes, ticket prices for the match are rising through the roofs, with Dukuma International Airport back home reporting multitudes of extra flight tickets have been bought for Azuris. Islander fans, presumably, wanting to come to witness what would be history, if the Busoga Islands can earn at least a point against Omerica. That history, of course, would be the first time the Busoga Islands have ever gone to the knockout stages of a major tournament. Who knows how many of those people will get tickets? But expect a flood of Islander fans in Azuris this week, for the chance, if all goes well, to witness what would be history for this young nation.

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