World Cup 83 - Roleplay Thread

by **New Lusitania and the Algarves** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:17 pm

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|

SELECÇÃO SEEK SUCCESS AS ADVERSARIES ANNOUNCED

BUSUKUMA, BANIJA - The World Cup 83 route to Banija and Equestria kicked off in the former nation with the qualifiers' draw. Almost 200 teams look to book their ticket to one of the referred countries. As usual, the format has changes. This year the winner of each of the 24 groups of seven will qualify with the runner-up progressing to the Second Round where the winners of the 6 groups of 4 teams make it to join the party. For those who fail but were worthy there's always the Cup of Harmony, New Lusitania's usual competition.
This year the Lusitanians found themselves in Pot Two, moving up one, and being ranked 42nd.
Many officials didn't appear, and some of those who did reported the draw was in fact long, although Rui Correia, STL representante agreed that "despite being some truth in it, the nation of Banija showed it's eagerness of being a host by preparing entertaining fillers and a star studded which went from footballers to the monarch. "
In the digital age, nothing is unnoticed. One of the jokes of this edition's draw was two plates of local gastronomy flying over the representatives and landing in what has been said to have of allegedly been a sleeping official.

So, who are the "Heróis do Mar"'s opponents?
Cassadaigua (WR:19)
Last Edition: Quarter-Finals
Last Tournament: Copa Rushmori, R16
The black and pink flag of Cassadaigua has never met New Lustiania's blue and red but the Selecção know that this will be their toughest games. They lost in the World Cup against eventual finalists Turori, after solid performances, and, lost in their regional cup against Savojarna 2-1)
(Venue: Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Jamor - 70 000)

Crystalline Caverns (WR: 83)
Last Edition: Qualifiers, 5th - Gr.7
Last Tournament: Copa Rushmori, Group Stage
As far as Rushmore teams go, they aren't the most flashy, but underestimating them would be a mistake. Once again, both teams have never met and it shall be an interesting one. In the last Copa Rushmori they finished bottom of their group, meaning they'll probably be underestimated by some. New Lusitania of all teams, shouldn't do this as they are the most direct rivals for (at least) the Playoffs. (Home Venue: Estádio SP de Nervião, Sevilha - 55 000)

Rakivland (WR: 126)
Last Edition: Qualifiers, 8th - Gr.2

The Communist nation of Rakivland is the first of the unknown teams. Despite their 126 world ranking, they're a fairly unknown team, finishing in 8th in the previous edition.
(Home Venue: Estádio Anta do Dragão, Porto, 55 000)

Abaja (WR: 221)
Last Tournament: World Cup 80 Quals, 4th - Gr. 7
Abaja's last appearance was in EqueStar 80, fitting considering that now Equestria shall host the World Cup again. At the time, they finished fourth being a fairly respectable result, considering they didn't go to the playoff on goal difference. However, fast forward and the World Ranking took its wear on a promising team. They could surprise everyone, three editions on.
(Home Venue: Estádio de Coimbra, Coimbra - 47 000)

New Karelograd (WR: 329)
Last Tournament: BoF 70, 7th - Gr.6
Only in WCC history since a few months ago. The Baptism of Fire didn't provide the best of starts for the minnow, finishing 7th out of 8 teams. The sunny Algarve will host the federation.
(Home Venue: Estádio do Algarve [ArenAlgarve], 35 000)

Bengaliana (WR: N/A
No Information Available
A maiden voyage in the works, Bengaliana are the most mysterious of all the teams due to that. No one knows what to expect, or, how good they are. I guess we'll see in a few days time.
(Home Venue: Estádio de Aveiro, 35 000)

It was a well recieved draw. The Lusitanian squad is to be announced tomorrow around lunchtime. For now, the words of Alberto Fonseca, the FLF representative who travelled to Banija mentions that "this is a great opportunity, due to the format and not having a group that might permit good results", in which he'd hope that "New Lusitania would benefit from harmony and the equestrian good omen they have". The new format means each team will get two/three rest matchdays, which might be used for a break or midqual friendlies. New Lusitania will supposedly play one in the latter case, with a couple of more after qualifying finishes. STL will, once more, show the majority of the big World Cup matches as well as the National Team exclusively in New Lusitania, ahead of two friendlies

STL - your home of the best of Sport.
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MMXIX

by **Hapilopper** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:36 pm

The HNFT Training Center, Hapilopper City
The group draw, World Cup Qualifying
The entire Hapilopper National Football Team, having just finished their training for the day, sat down to watch the group draw for qualifying for the World Cup. There wasn’t a whole lot of expectations for the evening – grab a few drinks, enjoy dinner, and hope the Hapiloppians wouldn’t have to face Vilita or Turori, the two top nations in the world. The team was just hoping to be put in a group that would help them possibly qualify for the World Cup proper – a tall order for first-time nations, but if anyone could get the job done, it would be Hapilopper.

The Hapiloppians watched as a handful of national delegates, including Dominic Probst, the head of the Hapilopper Football Association, watched to see how their team would fare in the group draw, draws that were being performed by star figures from both Banija and the Equestrian States, the hosts of the 83rd World Cup. Each of the 168 teams being drawn for qualifying spots were drawn according to their ranking by the KPB system, with the lowest unranked teams drawn first. Those rankings also took the recent Baptism of Fire into account, which led to Hapilopper’s name being drawn far after any other teams that had participated in that event, drawing a very minor controversy at the draw.

For what it’s worth, Hapilopper was ranked 167th in the world, while the next-ranked team that participated in the tournament, Port Ember, was 186th, followed by San Felix and West Phoenicia at 192nd and Timuria at 197th.

When the HNFT’s name was drawn, the team stared closely at their television sets, as did pretty much everyone watching across Hapilopper. The result? Group N, the 14th group of the Baptism of Fire.

At that time, the Haps were joining a group that included Islas Aaland, Lepolanatnessffiria and Bolgano. Players taking notes started licking their chops at playing – and possibly laying waste – to those three teams, much like they had done to a variety of teams during the previous Baptism of Fire. Lepolanatnessffiria and Bolgano, like the Haps, had participated in the tournament. Lepolanatnessffiria had placed dead last in the St. Paulus Group of the tournament, winning none of their matches, drawing one – a 0-0 tie with San Carlos Islands – and losing six of them, and worse, only scoring two goals while allowing 12. Bolgano, meanwhile, had finished 3rd in that same group, winning three matches, losing two and drawing two, before getting knocked off in the first round of the knockout stage by the Cheetahs and Reptiles Coalison. Meanwhile, virtually nothing was known about Islas Aaland.

“I bet we’ll kick all three of their asses,” said the team’s striker, Ernie Stevenson. “You just watch.”

“You might be right,” said team captain Cooter Harris. “I’m just curious who else we’ll get in our group. I can think of a few teams I’d like to not see there, I know that much.”

“Why?” Ernie asked.

“Because I can tell you in confidence we won’t have a snowball’s chance in hell against a nation like Vilita OR Turori,” Cooter replied, “OR a nation like Farfadillis or Nephara or the Free Republics, among others. We’re undefeated, but we need to stay realistic in our goals. We’d get skewered six ways from Sunday by any of those nations.”

“Yeah, but, it’d be worth a shot anyway,” Ernie said with a smile. “I don’t give a shit how big they are.”

“Fine, go ahead and tell me that when Vilita’s whipped our ass in the first half,” Cooter replied. “I know you want to make this work, but we need to be realistic.”

Throughout the rest of the group draw, the HNFT learned who would take their places in the rest of the groups – Polkopia, 63rd in the world, Damukuni, 38th in the world, and Brenecia, 9th in the world.

There was no panic. There was no concern. All of the players looked at each other once the group draw had been completed, and acknowledged that they would have a very hard road ahead of them. Training would start the next day, now that Hapilopper knew its opponents for the qualifications of the World Cup, and they knew that under no circumstances could they slack off against anyone. Slacking off would mean the possibility of getting knocked off, either by one of the top teams like a Damukuni or a Brenecia, or worse, by a team like Bolgano or Islas Aaland. They knew what they needed to do.

“Gentlemen, I want all of you here bright and early tomorrow morning,” said manager and head coach Thom Perkins. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We’ve got to get ready.”

While the members of the HNFT were preparing to head home for the night, they couldn’t help but see on the television, a reporter showing a scene outside Capital Stadium, where the HNFT’s home qualifiers would take place. Fans were camping outside the stadium’s ticket office, waiting for tickets for the World Cup qualifiers.

“Look at those guys,” said Scott Dukes, defenseman for the HNFT.

“Yeah, I figured we’d see that,” Cooter said. “People are really counting on us. We’ve changed a lot of minds in this nation, and they’ve fallen in love with us. We’ve got to keep that love affair going.”

“Anyone want to go over there?” Rufus Weeks, a center forward, asked. “I live across the West River from there. We can get some beers at a bar nearby and then y’all can pass out at my place.”

Several players looked at each other, and while some politely declined, a few of the stars joined Rufus, including Ernie, the Midnight Express Trio and Cooter. Their goal was to possibly talk to a few fans as they waited, and maybe sign a few autographs and be on their way.

Instead, they got mobbed.

When the six arrived at Capital Stadium, with no fanfare or prior announcement, they were met with an adoration that rivalled that of a major pop group or top movie stars. The 250 or so camping outside Capital Stadium couldn’t control themselves. People arriving in the area saw the six and then they couldn’t control themselves. The Hapilopper National Football Team were bonafide rock stars, and the people had absolutely fallen in love with them.

Unfortunately, the media also caught wind of the disturbance, and the scene on the 11 o’clock news in Hapilopper City, after a report on the group draw, centered around the six players accidentally causing a disturbance in front of Capital Stadium by just showing up. Higher-ups with the Hapilopper Football Association were not pleased with what was going on. The Hapilopper City Police Department wasn’t impressed, either, as traffic on Peake Street, across from the stadium, was backed up by the crush of people, and the police had to be called to calm the situation down.

The Hapilopper City Nationals, the baseball team of the city, REALLY wasn’t impressed with the incident, especially as a game was going on inside the stadium, and worse, the HC Nationals was in the middle of a rally in the bottom of the 7th inning, trying to catch up against the Washington Metropolitans. Unfortunately, the crowd of about 58,000 or so got wind of the six HNFT players milling about outside the stadium. Terry Blanchard, the HC Nationals’ outfielder, was about to take a crucial at-bat, with the bases load and the Nationals down a run, when the fans, inexplicably, started pouring out of the stadium to get a glimpse of the footballers. To make matters worse, the match was being nationally televised on NBS, one of the nation’s top three television networks. NBS cameras trained on the fans pouring out of Capital Stadium to get a look at their new heroes, and it wound up looking really, really bad on television.

When the front office of the HC Nationals, and specifically general manager Patrick Frazier, found out the disturbance was caused by six players from the HNFT, Frazier went nuclear. Frazier already wasn’t the biggest fan of the HNFT, as the team would be utilizing *their* Capital Stadium, the stadium they had felt they were entitled to. Because of the fact that the World Cup qualifiers would be going on in the middle of the National League of Hapilopper’s baseball season, and because of the fact that the HNFT had designated Capital Stadium as their stadium as well, AND because of the work required to turn Capital Stadium from a baseball park to a soccer park, the HC Nationals would have to play extended road trips during the season, something that could potentially hurt them in the stretch run.

And now, in Frazier’s eyes, here was these six arrogant footballers coming in to invade the turf he felt belonged to his baseball team and his baseball team alone. It was too much for him to bear.

After the game, Frazier stormed down to the HC Nationals clubhouse, where at least he had a target he could go after: Leroy Hunnisett, third baseman, and brother of HNFT midfielder Murray. It wasn’t fair to Leroy, and it angered more than a few members of the HC Nationals that Frazier was taking this anger out on someone completely innocent of any wrongdoing, but the fact was, Leroy was directly related to a member of the football team.

“You tell your brother to tell his hotdog teammates that if they EVER come near our stadium while we’re playing a game, they’ll pay the price,” Frazier roared at Leroy. “Matter of fact, you tell them to never pull that shit off again if you EVER want to play for the HC Nationals again!”

Frazier then went to his office and roared at Probst, who was still in Banija and would be for another day. Frazier told Probst, in no uncertain terms, that he wanted a public apology from the HNFT and specifically, from the six players that disturbed their game, the Dominion’s game.

“Sir, I don’t think…” Probst started.

“I don’t give a DAMN what you think,” Frazier snapped. “Matter of fact, I want those six players identified and I want them OFF THE TEAM if you think we’ll do ANYTHING for you!!!”

“Patrick, with all due respect, bite me,” Probst replied. “I’ll tell Thom Perkins tomorrow morning to tell our players to be careful what they do, but our players are the reason all of Hapilopper’s excited right now. I’m not about to take those players off the team.”

“If you’re smart, you’ll change your mind,” Frazier said, still irate. “That love affair will go away and pretty soon your pissant little sport will be back in the shadows where it belongs. Those players are going to be removed from the team before we do a goddamned thing for you.”

“I see how it’s going to be,” Probst answered. “Since you’re not going to handle this like an adult, I’m not going to discuss this any further. I’ll tell my coach to tell his players to just watch what they’re doing, but I’m going to tell you that if you’re going to talk to me, talk to me like a grown man, not a petulant child.”

Before Frazier could roar his protests, Probst hung up on him and immediately called Thom to let him know of what had gone on.

“I’d just like to bring to your attention the fact that a few of our players went out to Capital Stadium and caused a disturbance,” Probst said. “I just got read the riot act by the general manager of the HC Nationals and he’s demanding player resignations.”

“I know who they are,” Thom replied. “They were there to see people camped out in front of the ticket office. I’ll ask them to not do that again, but I’m not going to yell at them. They didn’t mean any harm.”

“Well, get ready for that GM to scream at you,” Probst said. “He wants those players off the team.”

“Fine,” Thom said. “That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. I’m not going to get rid of the Midnight Express, Ernie Stevenson and Cooter Harris just before the World Cup Qualifiers. I’ll just tell them to use their heads and that’ll be the end of the conversation.”

Sure enough, Thom held a quiet conversation with the six players. He didn’t think it warranted being escalated to anything serious, because his players didn’t mean to cause a disturbance inside the stadium. They just wanted to see the fans that were camping out for tickets, and it backfired in their faces.

“Just, please, be careful before going out in public,” Thom said. “People have really latched onto us.”

by **Amuaplye** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:18 pm

AMUAPLYE EXECUTIVE DECLARATION: JS#0001 (FEBRUARY 28, 2019)

This order hereby does the following:

1.1. Declares a Critical Emergency, noting that it has been only 3 weeks since the last one (February 7, 2019), citing the wave of terrorism which is growing rampant in Amuaplye, the Olympiad Bomber and the Melbourne Bomber being the most famous examples, along with the attempted Government Complex car bombing on the 15th, a vehicle ramming attack in Newcastle on the 17th, and a shooting spree in Adelaide on the 19th, among others. (All of which didn't kill anyone, the car bombing was thwarted, the Newcastle attack wounded 15, and the Adelaide one wounded 6.)

1.2. The state of emergency will include the dissolving of Parliament, firing of the Cabinet, and closing of the High Court.

2. Closes the Amuaplyean Embassy in West Phoenicia, as it is considered useless following the recent travel ban. This also fires Mr. John Robertson, the Ambassador.

3. Employs 20,000 guards to patrol landmarks, parks, and other sites of possible terrorist activity in Amuaplye, employed by the AIA.

4. This is effective immediately, and will be set to expire on April 28, 2019. A further AED might expand the date.

Jacob Schmidt MP (AEC)
Prime Minister of Amuaplye

by **Eraman** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:10 am

_____THE PEOPLE'S NEWS_____ERAMAN JOURNAL

| SPORTS | SUNDAY |

83RD WORLD CUP QUALIFYING DRAW: ERAMAN VS SOUTH COVELLO
BUSUKUMA, BANIJA - The 83rd World Cup Qualifying draw put the Eraman National Team in the same group as Esportivan 
giants, 5th ranked South Covello and The Sherpa Empire.

The draw which took place in Busukuma, Banija yesterday put Eraman in Group K alongside South Covello, Omerica, The 
Sherpa Empire, -Anthor-, The Szcerkina Federacy and Brigantii. 

A total of 168 countries will compete in the World Cup Qualifying. The 168 countries were divided into 24 groups 
containing seven national team from seven different pots. Eraman was in pot 4 alongside the likes of fellow Melayu 
Archipelago nation, Libonesia as well as former Baptism of Fire champion, Xanneria and current Baptism of Fire 
champion, Hapilopper.

The 24 champion of each group will qualify automatically to the 83rd World Cup in Banija and Equestrian States
while the runner-up of each group will battle it out for the remaining 6 spots.

by **Terre Septentrionale** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 12:04 pm

Terre Septentrionale in group 23 with 2nd ranked Turori

Busukuma, Banija - The group draw for the 83th World Cup qualifications was held yesterday. If you didn't see it on tv, it's because it was held simultaneously with game #5 of the Stanislawski Cup Finals between Naprzod Krzczonow and the Port O'Connor IceHogs. [OOC: A domestic competition that I scorinated yesterday instead of attending the draft on discord].

Terre Septentrionale was in Pot 5 with most other BoF participants. Hapilopper seems to be the only BoF nation to be in Pot 4 but, as the BoF winner, they deserved it. Which means we could have been drawn against them again, but we're extremely lucky to have avoided them this time.So, let's talk about our group, group 23. So when you'll be looking for your results in the newspaper, we'll be in the 2nd last group completely at the bottom.

Turori(2)

The best nation in group 23 is Turori, who competes separately with Vilita. Once again we're really lucky that they decided to comepete separately cuz if they were as Vilita & Turori, they would be unbeatable. But they're still unbeatable for us anyway. Turori didn't publish their roster, but we can expect Wiyauw An'maude to be in goal again this year. He had 5 clean sheets in 13 caps before last year's World Cup. They has a lot of defenders in their 30s but they're still better than any other group of defenders in this group. A midfielder to watch out for is Kentu Umaka'a. Before the last World Cup started, he was 28 years old with 6 goals in 21 caps. Turori's offfense will be led by Meldi'ita Mungwaii and Wiztsana Iretziia, who will score most of their goals. Turori seem to be balanced between offense and defense and they're very well coached by Klaillal Tuirma.

Our home game against Turori will be played at Stade NordAir in Ville Jacques-Cartier.

The Macabees(46)

The Macabees is a nation we never heard of before, and they're ranked 46th which means they quietly doing good. They're the one who'll be challenging Turori for a spot at the World Cup, but is Turori challengeable? The Macabees' best hope is probably to be one of the 6 teams who will qualify as a group runner up, but they will have to beat other groups' runner ups. We got a list of The Macabees players and we can guess Damrek Yusen and Jarus Menkalepken will score most of their goals. Líam Jer'Voos will be the starting goalie.

Our home game against The Macabees will be played at Stadion Hydro-Polnocna in Trzebiegoszcz.

Darkmania(78)

Ranked 78th is Darkmania who will challenge The Macabees for a spot as a runner up. Darkmania seems to be an offense-based team and they had players with weird names at the World Cup 82. Most of their goals will come from their midfielders Përsater and Årdalberg.

Our home game against Darkmania will be played at Stade NordAir in Ville Jacques-Cartier.

Pratapgadh(137)

Pratapgadh is relatively new in international football, having competed in the BoF 69. Like Darkmania, they practice a more offensive style. According to last World Cup roster, 22 years old Veer Roberts is expected to be in the net. Most of their goals will come from Nishant Joshi and Nalesh Tandel. Pratapgadh is a team to watch and could challenge The Maccabees and Darkmania despite their low rank.

Our home game against Pratapgadh will be played at Multiversal Hotel Stadium in El Perro.

Terre Septentrionale(218)

That's us. We're in pot 5. Like Darkmania and Pratapgadh, we play a more offensive style. There's two changes in our roster since the BoF in the Free Republics and Saintland. Nick Warner is replacing Krzysztof Pajaczkowski, who'se still missing in the Free Republics. His teammates haven't seen him since the by week. Also, at the end of the BoF, manager Slawomir Wyrzykowski noted he rarely uses his substitute defenders, so central defenseman Guillaume Casgrain has been replaced on the roster by central midfielder and winger Alicja Jedrzejczyk. 32 years old Zofia Kwietniewska is still our goaltender and most of our goals will come from Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa. Hopefully Zbigniew Zajaczkowski and Amelia Zalwowska will score too. It will be hard to compete against nations ranked higher than us and we'll likely finish in 5th place.

Amurbia(321)

Finally a nation we can beat! They were in the same Baptism of Fire as we were but they never published their roster. They finished 5th in El Fierro Group with a 1-2-3 record. Nothing else to say about them.

Our home game against Amurbia will be played at Stadion Miejski Krzczonow in Krzczonow.

Hyundai-Kia(UR)

Why the heck are we playing against some car dealer? Anyway we will force Hyundai-Kia players to drive a Niedzwiecki Leaf to get to the stadium when they'll come to our nation.

Our home game against Hyundai-Kia will be played at Stadion Wladyslaw Trzaskowski in Rzodkiewnica. Which means Laszlo Kocsis Stadion listed in our roster guide won't be used finally.

by **Port Ember** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:39 pm

Port Ember Times

Soccer - The Road to the World Cup 83

By Erica Davies - Port Ember Times Sports Section

Port Ember's national football team, The Tridents, has officially commenced its journey on the road to World Cup 83 with the World Cup Qualifier Pot Draw which commeced on Saturday in Banija.

Port Ember was drafted into Group E and is set to face 6 other nations in their attempt to qualify for a spot in the grandest soccer stage of them all. While this gigantic task may seem daunting and nigh impossible, the team and the entire nation is willing to bare it all to make such an seemingly impossible dream come true.

Port Ember will face off, as part of the qualifiers, against:
- Far Wor Eryunce, currently unranked;
- San Jose Guayabal, currently unranked;
- Euran Oceania Territories, currently ranked as the 87th best team in the world;
- Competitive Solitaire, currently ranked as the 69th best team in the world;
- Chromatika, currently ranked as the 47th best team in the world and
- Qusmo, currently ranked as the 22nd best team in the world.

Also of interest to our readers, Port Ember has been ranked as the 186th best team in the world after our impressive run in the Baptism of Fire Tournament - an impressive feat considering our late entry into this world sport.

Coach Stuart Baxter was unavailable for comments on this latest development, as the team is rumoured to be away on something the club management calls "Camp Steel". It is still unclear what this "Camp Steel is, or what it entails.

Article by Erica Davies

by **Drawkland** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:18 pm

The friendly yet imposing figure stepped out of the elevator and approached the receptionist at the desk. The charming young lady was preoccupied with the task on her computer screen, and didn't look up until the man had come up to the edge of the desk. She looked up, and her heart skipped a beat for a second. She swiped a quick hand across her bangs and then gave her practiced smile.

"Hello there, um, sir, these are the offices of DISC. How can we help you today?"

Iarocav, the Supreme Drawkionel of Drawkland, gave a small smile, and replied, "Thank you, is Harvey Flantar in? He's still the director, correct?"

"Y-yes, I believe so. May I ask what business you're here on?"

"I just want to speak with him about a certain proposal. Nothing super important, if he's busy I'll come later."

"Excuse me just a moment - are you who I think you are?"

Iarocav chuckled again, "Most likely."

"I really think if he's busy he can find time for you right now, since, y'know ..."

"Really, I have the time. Just let me know."

"Just a minute, sir." The receptionist pressed a few buttons on the phone at her desk, and called up Flantar's office.

Merely 5 minutes later, Iarocav was sitting across the desk in the office of Harvey Flantar, the director of DISC. The customary greetings had ensued, and now the two were looking each other in the eye. Flantar was internally shitting his pants. The leader of Drawkland? Showing up to his office unannounced? What did he do wrong?

"So, you're probably wondering why I'm here right now," Iarocav offered after a few tense moments. He was really enjoying this.

"Of-of course, sir. I have no earthly clue."

"In short, this is about the bid that ... we submitted for this coming World Cup." Iarocav said, trying to hold back his inner laughter. Flantar's heart dropped through his shoes and a couple floors down at this statement. He was so fired ...

"Oh, well, ehm, of course, I can explain everything," Flantar began dribbling, "It was a total mistake, something on that scale will never happen again, I-"

"Spare me!" Iarocav said, sternly and suddenly. Flantar gulped and sat up straight in his chair. After a moment, the leader continued, "This failure is inexcusable."

"Sir, this could not have been prevented, our systems were bugged and-"

"What an absolute embarrassment to our nation!"

"Well, I, would never have anything done, it's certainly not my-"

"Our track record is now soiled for years!"

"Sir, please, allow me to explain-"

"Never in my days did I think Drawkland would fail to win a World Cup hosting bid!"

"I- uh, excuse me?" Flantar was growing increasingly nervous and now, completely confused.

"I'm sure you're well aware of the pride I have in our nation. I've had it since I created it, centuries ago," Iarocav began, standing up from his chair and beginning to pace around the office, "I am a firm believer that now, with Drawkland such a respected and successful nation in the multiverse, that it should be impossible for us to lose a hosting bid. We are, after all, the greatest nation to ever exist, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Flantar?"

"Er, yes, of course ..." the DISC director nearly felt the need to look about the room to find the hidden camera. Is this really happening right now?

"Excellent! So I've come here with a proposal. Since your department's embarrassing failure to secure a World Cup hosting opportunity, I'm almost feeling the need to ... clean house, if you will. I don't think I can ever allow this to happen again."

This is what Flantar had been fearfully anticipating. Still, something in the Drawkionel's wording continued to vex him. "Sir, I can promise you I will never allow such an atrocity to occur. The fact that the bid was submitted at all is of course a grave mistake, but now we have in place the proper safeguards to prevent it.

Iarocav stopped in his pacing and looked back at Flantar, putting on an air of mock confusion. "What ever do you mean? I thought the bid was great! It's a damn shame it only garnered 4 votes among the World Cup Council members. It would've been such a sight to see!"

Flantar literally could not think of a response at this point. Surely Iarocav was sane, right?

"I'll take your silence as agreement," Iarocav continued gleefully, "Anyway, I believe we need to prove the World Cup Council that it was wrong in its decision. And they say the best way to prove something is to show, not tell. Ergo, we must simulate the World Cup 83 as it would be under our bid, since I highly doubt the current participants would like to actually participate in twice as many matches."

"Well ... I suppose I could get someone working on that..?" Flantar offered, trying to restrain himself from explaining all the reasons why this whole situation was ridiculous.

"Excellent!" Iarocav responded, "I expect to hear from you or someone else at DISC soon! I'm sure the services provided by the Xkoranate Group will more than suffice to cover this undertaking. You can send me the bill."

"Yes ... y-yes, of course," Flantar stuttered, looking blankly for his phone.

"Unfortunately, I must run now, important business to attend to. I look forward to your call!" Iarocav rushed out of the office and went on his way. Harvey Flantar slumped back in his chair, still reeling from what just happened in his office. He did still have his job ... right?

by **Drawkland** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:35 pm

DRAWKLAND'S EVIL WORLD CUP
"Proof of Concept"

Much to chagrin of DISC staff everywhere, the "higher-ups" at DISC have decided to create a simulation of what would occur had Drawkland actually somehow won the World Cup 83 host vote. Obviously, we must present these results to the entire multiverse as a proof of concept, and thus we are here to present the EVIL WORLD CUP. Please remember that none of this is canon (unless, like .... you find a way that that would make sense), and that the bid will be followed to a T. I'm not lying. I'll prove it if necessary.

The Group Draw

Welcome one, welcome all to the (not) official group draw for World Cup 83! I am your host, Drawk Lexun, here to bring you all the information you need to know about how your nation will be playing in the upcoming qualifying cycle.

As the bid specifies, half of the nations will be sorted into 7 groups, and the other half will be put into a Casaran run. The top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the World Cup, and the top 14 teams after the completion of the Casaran stage will also qualify.

I will remind you that, as co-hosts of this World Cup, Drawkland and Saltstead automatically qualify. As specified, the winner of World Cup 82 also qualifies automatically. This happens to be Vilita. The bid also states that the #1 team in the KPB rankings, if not the same as the World Cup winner, will qualify. Unfortunately, Vilita is both defending champion and KPB #1, which means this spot stays open. The bid then says that the last spot will be awarded at random. So, before the participants were sorted and drawn, a random nation was selected from the pool of participants who have not already qualified using Google Sheets' "Randomize Range" function. This nation was ....

Eastfield Lodge! Ironic, right? I swear that's what it came up with. Host's honor.

So, by the preliminary selection process, Drawkland, Saltstead, Vilita, and Eastfield Lodge have qualified for World Cup 83.

So for the unfortunate other 169 nations, here is the draw for the (not) World Cup 83 Qualifying round! I will admit that I have departed from the bid in this respect. It reads that the number of participants will be rounded down to the nearest number divisible by seven and halved, which is both mathematically not sound and results in groups of 12, which would become a 24-MD group stage, which I think is too long. So, the numbers have slightly been modified.

77 nations will compete in 7 groups of 11, double round robin (except for Group 7), the top two qualifying. The stipulations in the bid will apply. The remaining 89 nations will participate in the Casaran round. This isn't exactly half and half, but it still works out fine. Every nation was placed in ranked order, and the unranked nations in alphabetical order (besides San Jose Guayabal, just like the real WC draw). Every other nation in this order would participate in Casaran, until we got past nation #154 in this order, because then the 77 group stage nations would be satisfied. So the question remains, which "half" should be placed in Casaran? Well, Ko-oren was talking on the Discord before the host voting period concluded saying they sorta wished this bid won just so that they could have a Casaran format in the World Cup quals. So, they get their wish! Ko-oren was in an odd-numbered cell on my spreadsheet, so all the odd-numbered cell nations (plus some later even cells in the unranked because of the uneven numbers from the group sizes) were selected for the Casaran round.

Wait a minute, Casaran requires an even number of participants, so that became an issue. Luckily, there are 3 nations on the current Real World Cup "waitlist", which would bring the Casaran to an even 92 participants. This means that Lisander, Velstrania, and Cartedoria will participate in World Cup 83! The fake one, that is. But that's at least something! Don't worry, if you RP, I'll count it.

By the time the whole uneven Casaran thing was realized, I had already taken out half the nations for the Casaran and the other 77 for the group draw. Thus, despite the fact that the ranked Lisander should've shifted part of the Casaran nations down a slot, I ignored this because I was too lazy to redo it. So, Lisander and the other two unranked nations on the waitlist were placed in Casaran by default.

CASARAN DRAW

Since the Casaran nations are already drawn at this point, here is the list of all nations participating in the Casaran format for qualifying! Remember, the top 14 after 10 matchdays will qualify for the World Cup. Since the round-robin groups will take 22 MDs to reach a conclusion, Casaran MDs will be scorinated every other scorination day (which will be every 4 RL days ... sorry)!

With 92 nations participating, there will be 46 matches held every matchday. Honestly, I'm riding high on some dopamine right now, so I've decided to be nice. Contrary to the bid, I will be giving the Casaran nations the next day's matchups when posting results. But, I will not be doing any balancing regarding home and away games ... so if the scheduler happens to give you 10 home games in a row, then lucky you! I feel that this is an ideal nice-to-evil compromise that will help you when RPing. HAHAHA. I know you're not gonna RP this fake cup, that was a joke.

Anyhow, since 4 is the largest lower factor of 92, I arranged the Casaran nations into 4 pots, then randomized the nations within a pot. For Matchday 1, a random Pot 1 nation plays a random Pot 4 nation, and a random Pot 2 plays a random Pot 3. For the next 9 matchdays, the Casaran scheduler will determine the following matchups based on points and such. As I've said though, I've already created the Matchday 1 matchups. They are posted below. As always, home teams are listed first.

GROUP DRAW

The 77 nations selected in the above process to participate in the Group Format for qualifying were arranged into 11 pots. I will list them by rank but not put the pot titles because I'm lazy and you can figure it out yourself dammit, just count to seven.

In the usual and accepted manner, these nations were randomized within their pots, and then one placed in each group. Once each group was filled with 11 nations, the nations within in each group were order randomized, as per the standard. I mean, this was pretty much a given, but whatever, just making sure you all know what's happening. Therefore, here is the reveal for each group, along with a reminder of how each group will work. If you read the bid, it's basically the same information.

Group 1
Nations in Group 1 will be working as normal. The main stipulation is that draws/ties will not be permitted. The "Allow Draws" checkbox on xkoranate will be unchecked, meaning each match will reach a conclusive winner in extra time or penalties as necessary. Either 3 points or 0, baby! Of course, this is a requirement IC as well. The lucky 11 participating in this one:

Group 2
As you all know, Drawkland prides itself in not allowing the opposing team to get a clean sheet. You may beat us 7-1, but we scored ONE dammit! Fuck the number zero! This will be reflected in the results of Group 2. When results are scorinated every matchday, I will check them to make sure every team has scored at least one goal. If there are any zeroes on the screen that aren't preceded directly by the numeral 1, forming a 10, the results will be rescorinated. Rinse and repeat every matchday until every team in every match has scored a goal. The first set of results that match this criteria will be published as the correct fixtures. IC, you can treat this as us forcing you to replay a match again if you didn't score, or as just a freak chance that every team scores at least one goal per game, every game, the entire campaign. You have the freedom!

Group 3
Most of Group 3's stipulation is from a technical standpoint. Every matchday, two teams will be selected from Group 3. One nation's bonus will be set to 0 for that matchday, and the other will be set to the current maxpoints value. This will only last for the scorination of that matchday of results, and will be reset back to normal for the following matchdays (unless they're selected again, of course). Selection will be random using Google Sheets' Randomize Range feature. These two nations will be identified with the results post, for maximum transparency. IC, the best player of the 0 bonus team will be forced, on threat of death, to play for the maxpoints team.

Group 4
For Group 4, scorination of matches and everything like that will be normal. Their difference is that the table tiebreakers will be different than the normal order. Instead, they will be ordered backwards (Away Goals, H2H GD, GD, H2H, Points). This means that the 2 nations that qualify will be the two with the most away goals, unless the other tiebreakers are put into play in the event of, well, a tie. This is enough to also be an IC quirk, so ... I hope you don't believe in that pesky "home-field advantage" nonsense.

Group 5
Instead of using the KPB value for scorination of Group 5 nations, I'll be using the actual rank value. Like if you're ranked #23, you get 23 points to start. Of course, this gets ridiculous for teams ranked in the 200 and 300s, so each rank value will taken the square root of to make things a *little* more equitable. Unranked teams start at 0. Other than that, RP bonuses are counted as normal, so you at least have that to lean on. IC, matches are required to be scheduled during rainy or otherwise shitty weather. Indoor stadiums are not permitted, and if no rain is coming on a scheduled matchday, it should be "rescheduled" or relocated to a venue in appropriate weather. You must SUFFER.

Group 6
Group 6 has to play Beach Soccer. That's it! You get to play soccer on the beach! hahaha. I think the lineups are smaller though so good luck figuring that out. I'm using the beach soccer scorinator and everything. I mean. That's about all I can say about that. Fanservice episode much?

Group 7
Group 7 are officially the oddballs of the groups. Instead of playing a normal, sensible double round-robin, they'll be participating in a triple-elimination playoff bracket. I had to pull out the bracket generator for this one, because surprisingly, I can't come up with a seeded 11-team triple-elim bracket of the top of my noggin. But in any case, I have it. If I've counted correctly, there's only like 10 rounds, or maybe up to 12, so this will be scorinated every other matchday, along with the Casaran folks. For your viewing pleasure, I have assembled a graph for the convenience of these nations. I'll update it each matchday. I wanted to do it on Challonge, but apparently those bastards don't support triple-elim brackets. COWARDS.

CLOSING REMARKS
And with that, the historically evil fake World Cup 83 is set to begin! I forgot what the default xkoranate 11-team MD matchups are, so I'll get those soon and add them to this post. I will also link this post in each subsequent post so you can check back on it if you'd like, although I believe I will keep all relevant info in each post.

I don't expect anybody to RP this. You can treat this as a team from your nation in an alternate universe, or as simulated results widely reported by Drawkian media and circulated across the internet for meme value, or you could say your nation actually participates in these matches too. I don't care, the choice it yours, because it's not like it matters.

I will count all RPs in the actual World Cup threads as RP bonus for here, so you don't have to change any of your behavior. I'll always be watching you .....

This is, like I said, all in good fun as a proof of concept because I went through all the labor of making that bid, so I'm gonna follow through, dammit.

Also, all the little additional bonuses I identified in the bid will still apply. Relevantly, your challenge word/phrase for pre-MD1 is "Key Lime Pie".

Good luck, in both this fake World Cup, and the real one!

by **Siovanija and Teusland** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 10:07 pm

Die Stelburger Zeitung

SPORT

Goldhorns To Tour Nation During World Cup Qualifiers

Fans across the nation will have a better chance of seeing the Siovanija and Teusland national football team in action during the upcoming World Cup 83 Qualification tournament.

For the very first time, the national team will hit the road and play in 6 different stadiums across the 6 home matches. “It’s an opportunity for fans that wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see the national team in action to see their heroes close up,” commented Siovanija and Teusland Football Association communications director Edgar Mueller.

The national team has traditionally stuck to its main two home grounds of the Nationalstadion in downtown Stelburg and the Olimpski-Stadion in the national capital of Borograd. These are, of course, the two largest stadiums in the nation, seating 75,000 and 60,000 respectively. The Nationalstadion was built with the national team in mind, and also plays host to President’s Cup finals. The Olimpski-Stadion is the home ground of Republikaliga side Olympia Borograd and seats 60,000.

The only time the national team has played a match on home soil that was not at either of those grounds was in the first football match played at the new Draistadion in St. Jakob. The opening of that 60,000 seat stadium in the nation’s largest city saw Siovanija and Teusland take on Mytanija in a friendly match. Michael Ribbeck and Kurt Witzel scored the goals in that one as the Goldhorns drew the visitors 2-2 in a warm-up for World Cup 82 Qualifiers.

All three of those stadiums feature on the schedule for this World Cup Qualifiers, and they are joined by 3 others from across the nation. The Goldhorns, in Group H for Qualification, will play 12 matches total and 6 of those will be at home, including the opener against Lashnakia.

The campaign will get underway against Lashnakia at Veisel in Rotmunde. The 40,000 seat stadium, home ground of Republikaliga club FC Rotmunde 1932, is one of the largest in the nation. It is named for the city district it is in, on the north side of the city. “It’s a dream come true for all Rotmunde football fans to see the national team play here, and we’re excited to welcome them to the city,” commented Rotmunde Mayor Johann Bruckstein. Erich Thierse, a centre-back for Rotmunde and for his country, added: “I can’t wait, I’ve played in that stadium countless times but this one will be even more special.”

After an important trip to the Squornshelan Remnant States on matchday 2 of Qualifying, the Goldhorns will return home to Vlaikograd, hosting New North Carolina at the Jezera-Stadion. The 35,000 seat stadium is home to FK Vlaikograd 1896, and with its views out over Triglav Lake is one of the most picturesque stadiums in the nation. None in the squad for Qualifiers play for Vlaikograd, but left back Lyubomir Dimitrov grew up in the town: “I’ve already got calls from everyone I knew growing up asking for tickets! It should be a fun day out, we’re all really excited for this schedule.”

Matchday 4 sees the Goldhorns travel to Anollasia, before coming home to host group favourites and 4-time World Cup winners The Holy Empire at the Nationalstadion. “What can you say about playing a team like them? Obviously they’re an incredible football side, lots of history and great players. We’ll be in tough for sure, but we’ve played great teams before and come away with great results,” commented captain Raphael Klopfer at the press conference announcing the group draw. The Goldhorns round out the first half of Qualifying with a trip to Quakmybush on matchday 6, and have a bye for matchday 7.

The second half will open up with a trip to Lashnakia on matchday 8, before returning home for a clash against the Squornshelan Remnant States. This match between the 2nd and 3rd seeds in the group will likely have massive implications for each side, and the Olimpski-Stadion in Borograd will surely be rocking for that one. After that it’s a trip to New North Carolina for a rematch, before returning home to face Anollasia at the Energija-Arena in Chernovets.

Viktor Dimitrov and Miroslav Dinev are both Chernovets boys, and play for local club Energija Chernovets. The match with Anollasia, however, could be legendary forward Dinev’s final appearance for the national team and in his home stadium will surely be a day to remember. “It’s going to be a great day for me, but I think we all know the focus is going to be on Miro there and deservedly so,” commented his teammate Dimitrov. Dinev struggled to put words to what it’ll mean for him to play at home: “Hope they’ve kept me around till then! In all seriousness, I don’t know what to even think about what that’ll be like. All I can tell you is that it’ll be emotional for sure.” It isn’t just Dinev’s homecoming that will provide emotion on that day, as on the third-last match of Qualifiers the Goldhorns will surely want to come away with a win.

The penultimate matchday (for us, at least) sees the Goldhorns travel to The Holy Empire in what is undoubtedly the most difficult match of the qualification tournament. That will be followed up on matchday 13 with a date with Quakmybush, at the Draistadion in St. Jakob. It isn’t the last matchday overall of qualifiers, but as the Goldhorns have a bye for matchday 14 it is the final match for the national team. Again, it’ll be a charged atmosphere as Siovanija and Teusland seeks victory. Leo Heiden and Dennis Brotzmann (who now plies his trade for Herzegovina City FC of World Cup 83 co-hosts Banija) are hometown boys in that contest.

So, why have the STFA decided to undertake this national tour during Qualifiers? It isn’t just about forging a closer connection with the fanbase. There are rumours abound that the STFA has been plotting a bid to host a major football competition in the future. It’s unclear as to what stage this plan is in, and it could be some time before any major developments. However, this tour allows the STFA to evaluate stadiums across the nation for possible inclusion in a future bid. While obviously the Nationalstadion, Olimpski-Stadion and Draistadion would be involved, this tour gives, for example, the Jezera-Stadion to prove it can host the world.

Before the Qualifying campaign kicks off, the Goldhorns will travel for two friendly matches against Cassadaigua and the Commonwealth of Baker Park. The Goldhorns have never faced Cassadaigua, ranked 19th in the world and drawn into Group Q. Siovanija and Teusland have faced the Commonwealth of Baker Park once, in that famous Baptism of Fire 67 Quarterfinal loss all those years ago. While the nations have taken slightly different footballing paths since then, the Baptism of Fire 67 connection will always remain. Baker Park are ranked 13th in the world, and have been drawn into Group I. Both matches are to be played away, and when asked about what they would mean for the team, manager Gavin Hughes answered: “We’ve got a lot of young, talented players that haven’t played at this level yet, and we’ll be looking to integrate them in. Obviously the teams we’re going up against are some of the world’s finest, and for all of our guys it will be a tough challenge and will get them ready for the grind of qualifiers.”

The Stelburger Zeitung is proud to bring you the latest updates from the Siovanija and Teusland national football team camp as they take part in World Cup 83’s Qualification tournament.

by **Port Ember** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:04 am

Undisclosed Location - Port Ember South Island
Camp Steel

Coach Baxter was sipping on his cup of coffee, coffee so strong it would outright kill lesser men, whilst he overlooked the 23 lads suffering through the 'Iron Maiden' - a brutal and mud-filled obstacle course. Connor Davies, the team's assistant coach walked up to Stuart to engage in conversation.

"The lads looks good. The 'Iron Maiden' is a true bitch if you are not fit to the peak and unprepared.. yet the lads are putting up a valiant fight.." Connor mentioned in his signature boring monotone. "Indeed," Stuart replied, "the lads are as fit as they ever will be in their lives. Neil sure did his job well.." Neil Strauss was the Fitness Coach of the team and he was a celebrity in the fitness circles world wide for his ability to sculpt human beings into near deities, physically speaking. "If the lads are this fit then, why all this? Why Camp Steel?" asked Connor, almost sounding bored.

Stuart pondered deep and long before responding, creating an akward silince. This so-called Camp Steel is an odd tradition which he have learned from the Bergian warriors, a group of warrior type natives from his home island of Braziliztan. They used this ritual for their warriors before they would march off to war, a 'journey' which would physically, emotionally and spiritually challenge its participants to the point of absolute breakdown. Those participants whom managed to survive it, and successfully completed it, came back stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually speaking, and as an extremely bonded group in perfect cohesion. It was a brutal method, but brutally effective. This same tradition was now adapted and modified to fit his soccer team as part of their preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers.

This 7 day 'camp' would see the lads suffer through tons of physical, emotional and even spiritual torture, forcing each individual to push them in ways they have never even considered capable. The camp would also force the lads to become a team, an unbreakable and unnerving team.

The coach knew that the lads were already fit, physically and emotionally, and worked together excellently as a team. They have proven this many times over, as each one of them have been part of the same team for 5 years of training as part of the Youth Development Program, and offcourse by snatching the third overall position in the Baptism of Fire League. So why then would he put his boys' through this torture if they were already on top form?

The coach finally responded, with confidence, as he believed his own words "We are good. We have proven that we are. Yet its not enough. We are about to face off against teams who have centuries worth of experience compared to our near virgin team. We need every inch of advantage to be able to even think of reaching the World Cup. We need to reach the 'Next Level'. And unfortunately, Camp Steel is the only way to reach that level. Camp Steel will transform this lads into warrior not just mere players of a game. Such is the sacrifices one must make to be able to walk equally to the soccer legends we will soon face."

Connor nodded slowly in response, taking in each word his coach spoke. He trusted Stuart with his life, and hoped that it would pay off again. "Aye' coach lets hope we dont break the lads in the process. Its their individuality which makes them unique and special."

The coach responded in a muffled tone "Aye, one could but hope.." he took another sip of his coffee before staring upon the activity on the 'Iron Maiden'.

by **Port Ember** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:08 am

Port Ember Times

Soccer - The Road to the World Cup 83

By Erica Davies - Port Ember Times Sports Section

The World Cup Qualifiers Schedule has been released, and will see the Port Ember's national football team, The Tridents, face off against 6 opposition teams in a total of 12 games. The Tridents needs to top the table to qualify for the World Cup, or at least reach the runner-up final position to be able to participate in a follow up qualification run.

Port Ember's Qualifier matches is listed below:

1. August 1: Port Ember vs Chromatika (Home Game)

2. August 2: Port Ember vs Competitive Solitaire (Away Game)

3. August 4: Port Ember vs San José Guayabal (Home Game)

4. August 5: Port Ember vs Qusmo (Away Game)

5. August 6: Port Ember vs Far Wor Eryunce (Home Game)

6. August 8: Port Ember vs Euran Oceania Territories (Away Game)

7. August 12: Port Ember vs Chromatika (Away Game)

8. August 13: Port Ember vs Competitive Solitaire (Home Game)

9. August 14: Port Ember vs San José Guayabal (Away Game)

10. August 16: Port Ember vs Qusmo (Home Game)

11. August 17: Port Ember vs Far Wor Eryunce (Away Game)

12. August 19: Port Ember vs Euran Oceania Territories (Home Game)

The team will play 6 Home Games and 6 Away games over the period of 1 August till 19 August, which is sure to be a exhuasting and tiresome period for the young team, especially with the load of carrying the entire nation's hopes and dreams on their shoulders.

Article by Erica Davies

by **Nephara** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 2:29 am

Franziska Rensenbrink, Chairman of the NFA, knew she was about to have a very, very unpleasant conversation.
Right now, she was busy giving someone else a very, very unpleasant conversation, with her mobile tucked in between neck and shoulder as her heels clacked on the hotel lobby floor. "Yes, I know I could delegate it. Or I could delay it. But who benefits from that? Look, he's a direct man, Stefan, and I'll respect that. I do respect that- excuse me. Hey, you!"
The receptionist smiled, pleasantly. "How can I help?"
Rensenbrink opened her mouth, closed it, took a deep breath. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. Today's a crock of shit. Look, uhm, the Nepharim national team, have they--"
"I'm afraid you're early, Franziska. We've only just arrived."
Rensenbrink jolted, turned - and, yeah. Aidan Brosque stood at the front of twenty-three Nepharim players, coltish, looking between manager and chairman. Rensenbrink wasn't about to back down, though, and after a moment to compose herself, stood straight. Brosque stood tall, unbowed by the pressure, and stared straight back with piercing blue eyes.
"I'll call you back," Rensenbrink murmured into the phone, and hung up with her cheek.
"So." Brosque planted his stance, crossed his arms. "You came here for a reason. Think we both know it's not gonna be to give me a fucking raise."
"Uh-huh. Do you want to discuss it privat-"
"No, I want you to say it to my face, in front of the squad."
"Al... right. Aidan Brosque, you know expectations before the tournament were - in light of Nephara's poor performance at the World Cup - set very high. For a second major tournament, results fell multiple stages short of expectation. Your position is untenable."
"I know," said Brosque. He almost sounded calm - a man who seemed to run like a shark, swimming forward, thrashing furiously, but out at the end.
"We'll discuss terms later. In private. For now, I'd contact your agent and star planning for the future." Rensenbrink hoisted up her case and swept past, without looking back. Had he really had the nerve to think she'd lose hers?

The annoying thing about being knocked out of a tournament was you couldn't just take the first plane home. There was a process. Mostly that process involved waiting for various well-paid (well, it was Nephara) attendants to book things, and spending the interim period hanging around the hotel, saying things like;
"So, uh, was that... maybe the worst power play in the history of power plays?"
"Quiet, Ari," said Hesterine Mercator, eyes unflinching from a small tin of fish. "I'm trying to stress-eat."
"She really is, you know," mused Nike Rouphos, eyes unflinching from her.
"O-kay..." Metzger rolled his eyes, then glanced around for someone more talkative, finding it in the fellow Northerner Saroszi. "Hey, Monako. I was right, though, wasn't I. Like I called this yesterday, you heard me, right?"
Saroszi blinked back. "Uhm. Yes, Metzger. You're very clever and perceptive. The manager who kept losing got fired from the national team with the highest expectations in the sport."
"Oh my God," breathed Rouphos. "I can hear the gears in her weird little head fucking whir."
Metzger ignored her. "Look- yeah, but-"
"And you could try to look less pleased with yourself. Some of us actually liked him. Rowland, for one - she'll be devastated. And that means Shone will be insufferable-"
"So what's new?"
"Fair point, but especially so. Can you imagine that?"
"Sadly, yes."
"Well, you're not gonna have to. Trust me, she's probably outside Rowland's door now, doing pelvic thrusts and dabbi-"
Rouphos put a finger to her lips. "Sh!"
Those present watched, enraptured, as Mercator lifted a single sardine from the tin. She stared at it, and placed it delicately into her mouth. A moment of silent anticipation followed, before a motion of her jaw betrayed her incisors scything through the fish.
Metzger rolled his eyes. "This is so stupid-"
"Shut! Up!"
Mercator picked up another sardine, and disposed of it in an identical matter. Picked up another...
"Your mouth's open, Rouphos," said Saroszi, drily, and made themself scarce.
"Shut your fucking mouth, Monako. Shut your fucking whore mouth. This is fucking- this is When Goalkeepers Attack, my personal fucking show, my window, Monako, into oh my God she's hesitating with the fourth, why is she hesitating with the fourth one? Why?"
"Nike," observed Morena Deventer, passing by with her usual wry comment, "you do realise that today we lost a football match, right? Hours ago?" She turned back to Metzger. "Anyway, Tawny'll have to wait to be insufferable. Monica's missing."
"Wait, what?"
Mercator swallowed. "I don't see the appeal," she said, calmly. "And, Nike?"
"oh my god"
"Stop staring or I will break your arm."

THE HERALD
ENERGETIC DANIELLA STRAUSS APPOINTED CORMORANTS MANAGER
Karin Rietveld

The NFA announced tonight that Southfell United manager Daniella Strauss has agreed to a four-year deal to take charge of the Cormorants, effective immediately.

Strauss pledged to the press that she would restore the team's tight-knit culture, which had eroded with too much upheaval over the past decade, and carefully negotiate what is understood to be a delicate situation in the dressing-room.

A number of higher-profile candidates were interviewed for the position - perennial bookmakers' favourite Lisa Amos believed to be among them, along with Northern Union manager Erin Camden and AFC Treason manager Cheney Bittencourt - but Strauss, herself overlooked three years ago, is a far more 'Riether-like' candidate.

A Premiership striker of some renown in her playing days who spent her entire career at Brinemouth and Raven River, Strauss rose quickly through River's coaching staff before coming to prominence managing a lowly Corvette Maulers side to promotion, then survival. She spent a single season at the helm of the Tanners before the Cormorants picked her up.

While undoubtedly green as a manager, Strauss showed immense promise, and boasts back-to-back Manager of the Year awards with Corvette. She is an advocate of attractive passing football, dynamic rather than sterile possession, and of bringing through youth. A project manager, not a short-termist, which is likely her appeal in NFA eyes.

Nephara's qualifying group presents among the toughest challenges for automatic qualification, with just one spot to fight for and, in Ethane, the strongest second seed in the pool. Strauss' second fixture will see the Cormorants visit their natural rivals for the summit, and present a baptism of fire.

Other challenges will include finding the best formation to fit Nephara's imbalanced squad, finding a long-term solution to the rightback position, and massaging over the defection of captain Monica Rowland to her homeland, Eura. None of this will be easy, but every indication is that the NFA will give her their patience.

NEPHARIM NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 1
Goalkeepers: 1 - Andreas Swoboda (Holdenberg, EUR), 12 - Hesterine Mercator (Eastweald, COS), 20 - Apostolos Tsattalios (Falourr, EUR)
Defenders: 2 - Eloise Kielseng (Kingsgrove, BRE), 3 - Marcin Close (Brinemouth), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR), 6 - Dragora Steelhenge (Ramusok United, COS), 18 - Anita Sanger (Rammsissil, VIL), 19 - Nike Rouphos (Chenoworth Harriers), 22 - Ilyana Brosch (AFC Corvistone)
Midfielders: 4 - Tawny Shone (Sabrefell Moths), 7 - Ishtar Fanaiyan (Eastweald, COS), 8 - Rusalka Klein (Crawford City FC, COS), 11 - Rowena Strongbow (Directus, EUR), 13 - Monako Saroszi (Ulsa, EUR), 15 - Circe Rosenthal (Directus, EUR), 16 - Morena Deventer (Brinemouth), 21 - Chimera Moxham (Crawford City FC, COS)
Forwards: 9 - Estrella Hawke (Directus, EUR, c), 10 - Aristide Metzger (AFC Treason), 14 - Erika Wolff (North Sabrefell), 17 - Kurtis Bastable (Hornchurch, EUR), 23 - Cheney Breremond (Vermillion Rage)

SCHEDULE
Nephara vs. Orion Islands @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Ethane vs. Nephara
[Bye]
Nephara vs. No @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Geisenfried vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Kandonica @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Geektopia vs. Nephara
Orion Islands vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Ethane @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
[Bye]
No vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Geisenfried @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Kandonica vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Geektopia @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 3:23 am

Catherine Bardsley had been a lot of things in her 65 years. Club manager, international manager, political prisoner...
And now, firebrand leader of the opposition.
Brenecian politics were never a particularly level playing field, damaged by the quick and violent exit from the Nepharim union. There were Progressives, offshoots of the Progressive Democrats; a party that had rarely done well in Brenecia back in the Union days, and despite a pivot back towards the centre, were only a sporadic presence in power. The Conservatives, then, offshoots of the Nationals, had every winning hand, and even they almost managed to lose the country to civil war. Still, with Clarisse Ward, all talk of rebellion was now quashed. Her police had seen to that. The ends... very nearly justified the means.
If there would be change, it would have to come from the ballot boxes. But who to vote for?
Well. Bardsley herself, she hoped.

It had started last election, a successful run as a disgruntled independent, name recognition alone taking her past a gaffe-prone Progressive incumbent and a token Conservative in the west Rozelle seat of Heston. Her platform more or less ran to the tune of change; that both major parties were broken relics, that the riots were a symptom. When more and more third-parties swung hard to the fringes - and Brenecia always did have the capacity for extremism, the sense that perhaps a couple of decades ago the Corvidae could have held sway were it not for strong leadership at the time - a strong, coherent voice for a globalist centre-left.
Nobody had taken notice at the time. Nobody within the nation, at least, as Clarisse Ward swept to victory on her own set of talking points. The narrative was that any talk of uprising had died down. That Ward had and would continue to crush all opposition in her way. Bardsley was just a novelty, someone who would take a grey seat in a blue parliament.
And then something striking happened; Bardsley started talking.
And people had always listened when Catherine Bardsley talked.

Now she was no longer talking in Parliament. Nor to her constituents. She'd taken the message to disaffected miners in the north looking for jobs that would last beyond the decade, to west coast fishers who still remained just a little Nepharim at heart. Perhaps if people no longer felt comfortable nailing red colours to the mast, they'd be happy enough with violet - for she had colours now. A name, too. The League for Democratic Renewal; the LDR.
She found like-minded people to fight her cause; if she wanted to make a truly nation-wide fight of it, she'd need champions. Morraine Herrick, a brawny union leader from Westpike whose outspoken calls for globalism had made him a divisive figure. Eloise Pennant, ex-military like Ward, and bearing a grudge at having been ousted from her post for what she insisted were political reasons. Rhea Lockhart, another one with a background in football, a Northerner who Bardsley had capped for the national team.
And then she found Monika Lindbeck, and everything changed.

Another speech. One of many, this one introducing yet another member, Corbay, to the middle-class Falkner seat she would contest. "... of excellent character, someone who can see past the squabbling of north and south. Like me, someone who will overcome divides. Someone who can get a result."
Warm applause, as she left the stage, swept behind the curtains to her waiting retinue.
Monika Lindbeck patted her on the back. "Good girl," she murmured - which was absurd given that Lindbeck, a compact brunette in her early-, mid-30s, could have easily passed for Bardsley's daughter. She wore clean, androgynous clothes, roughly business casual, and spoke with a crisp Lazuli Coast accent that shifted seamlessly to a crisp Westpike accent in public. She smiled too easily, and laughed at things that surely weren't funny.
She cut a marked contrast to her goons, Cleaver Maher and Lars Coleman, near-identical square-jawed hulking brutes glowering nearby, scanning the crowd, murmuring into their subtle headsets. Maher was peroxide blond, Coleman was natural; aside from that, they seemed more or less identical.
Between the three, they represented official, if covert, backing from the Nepharim Security Intelligence Agency. She knew they weren't alone - she'd caught reference to a 'Cassandra' embedded in Rozelle - but at least she had some faces.
Cass Monaghan was Bardsley's actual head of security, and chafed against Maher and Coleman constantly. From Bardsley's perspective, their positions were essentially the same - Bardsley should be kept safer, be less visible, see fewer people.
Bardsley, weirdly, found herself backed up by Lindbeck. Lindbeck pointed out that a populist leader needed to be seen; Bardsley pointed out that, at 65 and with years of physical trauma behind her, extending her lifespan wasn't really her highest priority. And, anyway, death would only make her a martyr. Maher found this hilarious; Coleman did not. Bardsley figured that was, at least, another difference.
Corbay's speech went on in the background. She had a slight but unfortunate tendency to drone. That would have to be fixed... another day.

Leaving the guards behind, they moved back to the campaign bus to convalesce. Yes, there was a bus, now. At least Bardsley's management experience made her used to the long-haul trips.
Lindbeck sat, one leg over an arm of her seat,
Bardsley knew Lindbeck was an NSIA agent, and was the brains of the operation. She knew Lindbeck carried a handgun. Everything else she speculated openly, Lindbeck just tended to smile, tell her she read too many spy novels. Which was true enough, Bardsley supposed.
Still, this time, she did want to prod further. Maybe it was the 'good girl' quip, maybe the boredom of being on the road for so long. Or maybe she just wanted to pick a fight. In any case, she asked; "Do you really believe in my cause?"
"What does it matter?"
Bardsley waved a hand at her. "Just... answer the question. You've spoken in enough riddles."
Lindbeck chuckled. "I believe in the cause's expediency, for certain."
"This sure is sounding like another riddle. So what's your cause?"
Lindbeck leaned back, steepled her hands. Took her time over the question. "My cause is Nephara."
"No, those are your employers-"
"It's my country, Bardsley. I believe in it, just as you, inexplicably, believe in yours. Now, despite everything. I imagine my patriotism isn't nearly as tortured..."
"You hardly strike me as the flag-waving sort."
"I express my love rather more directly, dear."
"Mm." Bardsley flopped down in a chair of her own. She couldn't stand as long as she'd like, anymore. "So you stand for Nephara. What does Nephara stand for?"
"Peace and stability."
"... And you still have a straight face. Remarkable."
"Well, just look at what happens when we leave nations behind, darling." Lindbeck flashed an indulgent smile. "Pravenna? Dictatorship. Iskandervale? Invasion. Ceynes? Economic ruin. And now this." She unfolded languidly from her chair, and sashayed her way towards her charge. "You want to know what I believe in, Bardsley? I believe in Nepharim heels over Brenecian throats. And you-" She poked Bardsley's nose. "Are our best chance of that."

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 1
Goalkeepers: 1 - Rostyn Calhoun (Wexax United, VAL), 12 - Lenore Drummond (Rozelle), 20 - Cass Farrell (Northern Union)
Defenders: 2 - Keziah Broxham (Mallox, COS), 3 - Eliwulf Tambor (Northern Union), 5 - Cheney Heneghan (Ernesse Stahl, BYN), 6 - Niko Szubanski (1830 Cathair, AUD), 18 - Erica Weaver (North Hall), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Crystal Fair HC, CRY), 22 - Garrett Horgan (Northern Union)
Midfielders: 4 - Catsidhe Alweather (Eastal Lunar, VIL), 7 - Brae Crowther (Chenoworth Harriers, NPH), 8 - Elysse Matheson (Hornchurch, EUR), 11 - Cathal Keynes (Lajuno, EUR), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 15 - Lauren Cheney (Kingsgrove), 16 - Ceridwen Fletcher (North Hall), 21 - Falcon Case (Barbury Town, APX)
Forwards: 9 - Griffin Riordan (Klyde, COS), 10 - Kara Ciogach (Southern Star), 14 - Creidne Lindauer (Kingsgrove), 17 - Niall Bremner (Unioneers, EUR), 23 - Vesuvia Carrick (Atletik Thessia, MYT)

SCHEDULE
Islas Aaland vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Polkopia
Lepolanatnessffiria vs. Brenecia
[Bye]
Brenecia vs. Hapilopper
Damukuni vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Bolgano
Brenecia vs. Islas Aaland
Polkopia vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Lepolanatnessffiria
[Bye]
Hapilopper vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Damukuni
Bolgano vs. Brenecia

by **Kelssek** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:18 am

THE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE READING
LEAKING TIFO SINCE 2006

The curious case of the two Mark Tuppers
Part one of a Kelssek football history feature

One of the most confusing things about the history of Kelssek's national football team is the 16 World Cups under the management of two different men named Mark Tupper. Of course, it's a bit easier to remember that one of them went missing after World Cup 49 and reappeared 15 months later promoting yoga seminars and claiming to have been made a priest of the Incan moon god.

The first Tupper took the reins ahead of World Cup 41, marking the first permanent appointment after the national team had shuffled through three temporary managers trying to find the right fit. While Football Kelssek's first choice was to keep Jeffrey Pruitt in the job, Pruitt preferred to manage Kirkenes FC instead, finding it hard to deal with the national association's office politics. It was likely this same backroom pathology that explains why Tupper was able to stay employed despite his strange behaviour and alienating practically all the football-related staff.

In terms of football, Kelssek made enormous strides under his management, but the warning signs about how this would end were already there. Mercurial and erratic are words that immediately come to mind when people recall Tupper's personality. But few at the time really thought anything was seriously wrong, just pretty odd. If nothing else, it was entertaining and even a bit romantic. An unstable but inspirational genius, conjuring up unexpected innovations on the 4-4-2, who was caught more than once dozing off during a match yet unquestionably had Kelssek on the road to soccer glory.

No one thought much of it when he stumbled and nearly fell while shaking hands with the manager of Septentrionia after one of this first matches in charge. But eyebrows were raised when, according to reports, he was overhead shortly afterwards talking about how had meant to "headbutt the guy into the fifth dimension" for reasons that were never entirely clear. And there were other strange personal habits.

"Lots of people chew gum... But I think Mark Tupper had a problem," says Jane Potts, who worked with Tupper as a member of the coaching staff for four years. "And he'd keep on adding more and more and it wouldn't stop. I guess he must have spit it out at the end of the day or when he wanted to eat something but that level of gum chewing isn't normal. We all saw it but were just too polite to say anything. Then there was the time he kept randomly coming up with haikus in the middle of training sessions."

Frank Lebrae, who was equipment manager until he retired two years ago, said Tupper kept putting his own laundry in with the rest of the kit. "I never once actually put the blazer through the wash, cause that would've probably ruined it, but then one time he thanked me for doing such a nice job with it."

"I did notice stuff when we were travelling. His choice of ringtones for his cellphone was embarrassing. It was always a cut from a pop song that'd been popular three years ago. And he changed it often, but always to one that was a hit from a while back. I don't know if he was going for some kind of reverse hipster thing. Just odd all around."

Former player Henri Cournoyer said Tupper had a pattern of saying and doing a lot of slightly weird things, and it was difficult to pick out any one thing. But one team talk when Tupper appears to have imagined already having held a team meeting earlier in the day does stand out in his memory.

"He was going over tactics for a match against Rennidan, and he kept referring to how he'd changed his mind from earlier about the 5-3-2 formation being haunted. Even worse was he then kept saying about how other things he wanted us to do which were, 'same as this morning'. Like, 'Ok Henri, so that doesn't change much for you, so just like we talked about this morning, but more upfield that that, ok?'. Mmmmh, yeah, I can do that boss."

"It was hard to know when it was a joke and when he was actually serious. You'd laugh at something like that, and he'd look at you with this really puzzled expression, like he's just confused about what's going on."

Despite growing misgivings in the front office, the executives at Football Kelssek were inclined to tolerate Tupper's eccentric behaviour. He was getting results, and had after all brought the team to successive World Cup knockout rounds appearances and the top 15 in the KPB rankings.

What seems to have been the denouement was an incident where a masked man repeatedly got into the team facilities during World Cup 49 qualification to berate the players. Tupper is thought to have abetted his entry to the locker room when he confronted the players after a match and kicked Thomas Brodif in the shin. The striker suffered bruising and pain bad enough that he was forced to miss the following match, with what the public at the time were told was a training injury. Tupper was spotted in a liquor store shortly afterwards, stocking up to spend the next day drinking alone in his hotel room while Football Kelssek staff buzzed about refusing any comment to the media.

This could well have passed for another page in the Mark Tupper book of strangeness. Football Kelssek couldn't seem to make up its mind about whether to dump him, but as long as the team were doing well, there were both issues with fan perception and employment law in sacking him. While this incident could certainly have been cause for termination, one week after the team returned home from the World Cup, Tupper simply went missing. At least this way, it saved the the human resource department any trouble.

Perhaps that labour-saving mood was in the air because after considering the options, Football Kelssek decided to offer the job to Clayquot City manager Gary Mark Tupper. He had no family ties to the other Tupper, but had gone by his middle name for most of the 45 years of his life. People had often noted the odds of having two people with the same name as prominent Kelssekian football managers, and joked about them getting their identities and jobs mixed up.

It had of course long been something the media had to be careful about, too. The Latrobe manager had no intention of abruptly going by his first name, or accepting the implication that he was less important than another person who happened to have the same name. He’d quietly pull aside journalists who referred to him as “Gary” and pretend to introduce himself, telling them, “My name’s Mark, by the way.” But at least we could keep track of it by remembering that G. Mark Tupper was domestic football, and Mark-no-G.-Tupper was international. Now one of them was actually being hired to replace the other.

by **Zwangzug** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 6:57 am

The Kerlagrad Courier

Migraines mar Multisport Mixer

In an entirely forseeable disaster, "Multisport Mixing Day" at the Kerlagrad Dragons game was abruptly called off after Subroto Parida, defender for Namiri Independent, threw up with a migraine yet again. "In retrospect, perhaps recruiting from the nearest vaguely-southwestern club we could find was not a good idea," noted a Dragons bureaucrat who declined to give their name. "I mean, [Excelsior] Slogda are terrible, but at least the Audioslavian blokes don't chuck up their lunch on the regular."

Fans who were hopefully waiting in line to meet Parida were overall disappointed by the quickly-arranged photo op with Danny Dragon, the large and furry Kerlagrad mascot. ".........," said Danny, gesticulating vaguely through his big claws. On the other hand, even when the heat becomes too overwhelming for him, he is incapable of regurgitating directly in the path of ongoing fans.

Reached for comment ahead of the opening match against Cheetahs & Reptiles Coalison, Tavish Willow vehemently denied that Parida's demotion to the #16 uniform had anything to do with his well-documented health struggles. "Look, Syd[ney Stefred] is tearing it up with Arlington, we'll need her for the soundbytes. And for scoring goals in injury time if need be, since we don't, you know, have any strikers. And I'm not about to bench [Franziska] Schnee-Krull after all she's done in Koflir, she's...uh...you know...what the bleep are Koflir up to, actually."

Kerlagrad lost to the Inver Millers, 8-3.

Zwangzug drawn against Barunia again, still can't recognize them

Zwangzug have never really gone for the notion of “rivals:” when nations rise and fall so quickly, it’s not much use getting invested in a particular opponent’s roster. Yet it bears note that in the last three qualifying campaigns—albeit, separated by many years—they have been drawn against Barunia.

In World Cup 69, Zwangzug defeated the top-seeded Suns 2-0 at home, but then lost 2-1 in the second half. They went on to qualify, before receding from the World Cup scene for some time. Their first match upon their WCC return would be away in Barunia to open the WC80 qualifiers, which led to the introduction of the popular parody song “The People’s Net,” as the Suns won 2-1. Zwangzug would hold them to a scoreless draw upon the return leg. And then in WC82, Ramona Ambaile-Hund’s goal made the difference in the first leg, while the second was a high-scoring draw.

“Is it bad that I still can’t tell you the name of any of the players on their side?” mused Namiri Forest fan Amit Gupta. “Um...maybe. But look, the World Cup, it only rolls around every...so often. We’ve got the domestic stuff to watch, and...stuff. As long as they sing their gloriously left-wing anthems and we can echo back our version, I’m not bothered.”

---

Chloe Marcina had two prominent features in common with Tavish Willow. She had a long ponytail, and she adored the (1)-4-6-(0).

How dare the pundits laud the midfield X, as if that was the only way Zwangzug could play? They’d had a long and illustrious history, from a bewildering number of “attackers” like Arlington to a staid balance like Spenson, and everything in between, which was mostly Ephesian-style nonsense. Willow was smart, Chloe thought. He was rolling with the times.

Of course, boxing himself in too steadfastly could be a hazard, but wasn’t there a risk to every setup? She’d show them. With a decent roster and a willingness to adjust on the fly, any tactics could make a winner.

Chloe booted up her copy of Unlucky Sevens, a pirated Drawkish video game built on the highly complex engines of Ball****ger 3003, set all modes to “random,” and began.

by **Ancherion** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:40 am

With the qualifying groups announced and the final roster being announced, it is time to look through it all and see how well we could do in this World Cup attempt. But first we'll look back at the previous Cycle where we participated in the Baptism of Fire and then our first World Cup qualifying. In the Baptism of Fire, we travelled to Eastfield Lodge for the tournament. In the group stage we finished with a record of 2-3-1 in the group stage which put us second in the group with a H2H tiebreaker against third place, since we didn't finish first we had to go through the Round of 24 which was against Nottinhaps which we failed to do and got eliminated with a 6-5 penalty shootout, which was very disappointing but couldn't change the past. After that we went back home in time for the beginning of the World Cup 82 Qualifying which didn't go that well either. We went 4-3-11 where most of our points came in the first half, whilst the second half was a whole load of match losses. After all that we somehow were placed 144th in the World in football, which was very very surprising to us all. With that confirmed we went to participate in Campionato Esportiva 24, which we don't about since it was 3 matches and 3 losses in the group stage.

A few months past in the offseason, the footballing association of Ancherion and Boring Paradise became one, after a few years where the former nation before Ancherion and Boring Paradise has territorial disputes and claiming authority over one another, which had caused losses for both sides in my different ways. After that occurred Boring Paradise and the former nation before Ancherion became Ancherion as a whole. But anyways, with the two nations joined together, it took some time for the combined association to come together since there were problems at the top of the hierarchy and what each group of people wanted to happen. With the combination having being over and done with, all players and clubs of what remained from the war are now part of the Ancherion for this World Cup and future domestic seasons, which includes the previous one.

Now with all the stuff in the far past over and done with we can finally get to the main part of this, the team and Qualifying phase. The former managerial team of Boring Paradise is taking over the national team, this includes the manager, Agostinho De Mequites, assistant manager, Bendegúz Gamberlini and the Coach, Anders Skagestad. The players that are rejoining the team from the last Boring Paradise team include Augustus Miles, Jamie Szocsit, Larin Brynestad, Felecia Crisp, Simon Ado, Sameer Jaklim Jr. There are some names not returning that may seem surprising to some which include, Raiyaan Malik Jr, the main goalscorer for Boring Paradise, Hishaam Ali Jr, the attacking midfielder from Boring Paradise, the three main midfielders, Ryan Miller, Samuel Wong and Kevin Harris, all these people have had several World Cup experiences but hadn't made the final cut. From the Ancherion side from the previous World Cup run includes, Sikim Arts, Kolos Haynes Indin Salivlo, Joris Fuller and Mamadou Kaur. So people like Trym Moran, Mario Habajanic and Semun Kewell had not made the cut either this time round with De Mequites picking up other players. The majority of the squad is mainly new which was decided by the manager, but these players have shown they can prove why they are worthy with their previous domestic season.

Now onto the Qualifying Draw and Group, we have been placed in Pot 4, and we will need to finish in the top 2 to try and get into the World Cup which on paper will not happen as we would finish 4th but maybe we can cause upsets in the group to up our chances. Our group draw was:

Group T:
Abanhfleft (39), Ancherion (144), Saciu (329), Starblaydia (11), Devonta (52), Tamgu (UR), Axuva (253)

MD1: Axuva @Home Pred: Win
MD2: Abanhfleft @Away Pred: Lose
Break
MD3: BYE
MD4: Saciu @Home Pred: Win
MD5: Starblaydia @Away Pred: Lose
Break
MD6: Devonta @Home Pred: Draw
Break
MD7: Tamgu @Away Pred: Win
Break
MD8: Axuva @Away Pred: Win
MD9: Abanhfleft @Home Pred: Lose
MD10: BYE
Break
MD11: Saciu @Away Pred: Win
MD12: Starblaydia @Home Pred: Lose
Break
MD13: Devonta @Away Pred: Lose
Break
MD14: Tamgu @Home Pred: Win

So we have an alright group, it will be tough to finish top 2 in this group, Starblaydia will most likely get the guaranteed qualification in this group, and it will be a battle for 2nd between Abanhfleft and Devonta but who knows what will happen. My predictions for each individual match is above with a record of 6 Wins, 1 Draw and 5 Losses. So hopefully it will be better than this, Good luck to the team.

by **Bolgano** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:54 am

Preparations of the national team of Bolgano

Rivals
Damukuni
Islas Aaland
Polkopia
Leponolatnessffiria
Brenecia
Hapílooper

Expectations
The nation hopes that the Bolgano team will be able to qualify for the World Cup but those who will face it will be difficult to pass through especially Brenecia and Hapilooper.

by **Dreamplanet** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:21 am

HAVE DREAMPLANET GOT A CHANCE?

Os Tricores' opponents have been revealed

Dreamplanet launch their campaign on the first of August and the groups were just unveiled with the squad and fans in a state of nervous excitement, Dreamplanet is ranked 64th in the Multiverse and got placed alongside Eura, Ko-oren, Freeport, Torisakia, Western Bjornaic and Flavovespia. Dreamplanet has a very good chance of going through for the first time ever, they are also hoping to keep the streak of Campionato Esportiva runner-ups qualifying for the subsequent World Cup finals. Then again if Dreamplanet was able to go this far and beat some of the biggest countries in the region along the way, they stand a chance right?

The draw took place in the Equestrian States and this is the outcome:

Group M
Freeport (104)
Western Bjornaic (349)
Eura (7)
Ko-oren (29)
Flavovespia (UR)
Torisakia (229)
Dreamplanet (64)

Following their best ever showing in any competition in the Campionato Esportiva 24, in which Os Tricores got the silver medal against all odds, the squad is optimistic of their chances, but the road to the World Cup will be long and hard, at the bare minimum Os Tricores need to hope that they'll be invited into the Cup of Harmony, but a World Cup appearance is the goal here and they must deliver at all costs.

Then again, this is a now-experienced team, with a dream run under their belt and awards, Dreamplanet is genuinely hopeful of making history and building on their Campionato Esportiva 24 run. Mission WC83 is on, is Luis Silva and his men up to the task?

by **Xanneria** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:10 am

WORLD CUP 83: PREVIEW
By Steve Stevenson

After an abysmal 7th place showing for the Maroons last year which saw a wildly inconsistent squad lose the opener Peru yet play teams like Eshan to a tie, some wholesale changes to the roster were made. Mostly depth pieces but one big addition is the Midfielder Lane Stegall. Although the roster changes did take place after a successful Campanito Esportiva, FLOX president Jeb Gyjorko said it was urgent to bring in some new blood since the WC qualifiers were a drag last year and that he felt now would be the best time. Stegall is a midfielder for Locomotive Chattanooga in East Tennessee Smoky Mountains but rumblings are that he wants to come back home to Xanneria. the 20 year has played three seasons overseas after his high school career saw him get signed right out of school. It will be interesting to see what happens with Stegall as his attack style is rather unorthodox for midfielders but could see him play a more attacking role. His mid mate will again be the outstanding penelty kicker and sometimes attacking scorer Mark Hailey who like Stegall plays an attacking style of ball that is a bit more common in the Starcom Super League.

Also announced recently was that games versus Juvencus and Britonsea will take place at Kahill Brothers present the New Elliot Family Stadium. The new stadium has been a big project within the Xannerian Footballing scene and people within FLOX have been itching to show off a new crown jewel of the Xannerian stadium scene, The stadium will be Christened with a freindly match versus New Lusitania and the Algarves a month before the first qualifier and two weeks after the first trip to Banija

Lets look at the opponents Xanneria will have to face.

Apox: Ranked 17 they will be by far the toughest team in our group, but they are also a very familiar team as they were the nation that hosted the first Tournament we ever participated in outside the Big Six.
HOME GAME: XanAir National Stadium

Juvencus: Ranked 28th, not much is known Juvencus aside from their ranking, located on the region of Sonnell which is dominated in football by Drawkland, playing econd fiddle to Drawkland must be embarrassing for Juvencus.
HOME GAME: Kahill Brothers present the New Elliot Family Stadium

Britonisea: A large nation who has finally come out of its sporting shell, with their population, it shouldn't be hard to find 11 footballers, it just dpends on how lucky they got talent wise.
HOME GAME:Kahill Brothers present the New Elliot Family Stadium

Paratan: Another young country in a footballing sense, there's been some rumblings about the stability of this nation in general, but after making it through the BoF they will be an interesting unknown to deal with.
HOMEGAME: XanAir National Stadium

Koyoland: The only unranked team in our group, what little we know about them also lines up with what we know about Paratan. A very unstable nation sends out a half assed squad in hope of unifying nation back together but more likely will just end up with an egg on its face.
HOME GAME: XanAir National Stadium.

Acronius Though they are ranked 58th in the world, very little is known about Arcronious but we can only assume there are massive roster shifts from last tourniment as they barely squeezedinto 6th in there's.
HOMEGAME: XanAir National Stadium

Once again after the CE24 success and fresh blood coming into our roster, a new hope has arisen for the Maroons. Expectations are high, while a qualification to WC82 in Banija is unlikely there's still hope for a top 4 qualifcation spot.

by **Mattijana** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:05 pm

Mattijana to Face Top Seeds Vilita in World Cup Qualifying

MFO SPORT

Mattijana hope's of World Cup 83 qualification have been dealt a blow before even the start of their campaign as they were drawn in a tough group containing World Champions Vilita, 35th-ranked Jeruselem and a returning Saintland team during a fairly low-key ceremony in Banija.

The Busoga Islands, Vartugia and Asdia round off Group X, which presumably stands for eXtremely difficult to get out of thanks to it's cohort of proven winners and tricky banana skins. As well as an extremely powerful Jeruselem are experienced hands in the World Cup, while the Busoga Islands have proven to be a dangerous team to write off. Meanwhile, Saintland's unranked return to qualifying means they will be far tougher opponents than their place in pot 7 would suggest.

Should Mattijana once again fail to qualify for the finals or at least make a playoff, it is suspected that that will be the end of Dusan Vukoja's tenure as national team manager and he is already under pressure without a ball being kicked.

The format too will not come to his rescue, with the winner of each 7-team group the only one guaranteed progress to the finals with the runner-up moving to a playoff match. The third team, where Mattijana would finish on paper, leave with nothing.

The atmosphere amongst the Mattijanan contingent at the live draw in Banija was reasonably content after the initial disappointment of receiving Saintland as the unranked side rather than a less experienced side such as Koyoland or the bizarre Hyundai-Kia outfit. That was until World Champions Vilita were left until last in pot one, leaving Minister for Sport Julian Petrov and manager Dusan Vukoja grimacing through their applause.

The marmots have a track record with qualifing campaigns against number-one ranked sides having been drawn against Schottia and Brenecia in recent cycles when both sides were at the top of the international football pyramid. They can take heart from WC 81 qualifying however, when they were the only team to avoid defeat to Schottia after goals from Mathilde Lekarisa and Marko Hojbjerg earnt them a pair of 1-1 draws.

Mattijana Head Coach Dusan Vukoja:

It's obviously not the ideal draw for us from a qualification perspective, but we've shown our ability to mix it with the best teams in the world in the last few World Cup cycles. Consistency is the key for us this year. It's a much shorter cycle than in previous years, so we have to be on it all the way through and we can't afford to follow up one good performance with one or two poor ones like we did last time.

We have a good squad, we have prepared well and we think we can get into the qualification battle.

Mattijana's schedule is expected to be published soon with the order and dates of fixtures released soon after the draw was completed.

by **Taeshan** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:52 pm

To say the World Cup 83 draw is interesting would be to bury the lead. The Purple Knights look to finally break their relentless drought of failures to qualify at 19 tournaments with the upcoming one in the Equestrian States and Banija. The Knights haven't been to a World Cup finals in almost 40 years and for those counting at home not even Miles Snavely had been born the last time the Purple and Gold qualified for a World Cup. Manager Xander McDrew wasn't even a fully-fledged teenager, and many Yenvil Town F.C. was in the third division still nowhere near the second division, let alone being in their second year of the Taeshan Premier League.

For many of the current stock of Taeshani starters this has been over a decade of a battle with failures to qualify. Miles Snavely has gone from starlet, to talisman, to break glass if necessary and still has gotten no closer to qualifying. He hopes to lead the team to that promised land in the upcoming tournament, but he won't have as much to say about that as the Starting XI. An 11 that unlike some recent squads does not have the fear of missing out drained into their eyes. An XI that has a competitive bench of youngster ready to push them out, and push for more. And XI who will see the greatest teams in the world and push for everything.

The youth starts up front with Wilhelm Nkitilina. The young striker for Atlantea Hurricanes has turned the Taeshani Capitol on its head and now looks to continue to turn the national team on its head as well. A strong performance in the Copa Rushmori has the fans excited and that shows in the belief growing throughout the nation. Nkitilina is joined by two other youngsters in strong positions with Santiago Santiago out on the Left side of the defense and Shiloh Morgenstern joining him on the flanks. From back to front the team has youth, a strong veteran core and a strong backline that will be hard to score against.

But all of that could be for nothing based on the draw. The Knights will have a somewhat interesting group with Darmen, Mytanija, Saint Émelie, West Phoenicia, Penguinland, and Senayan. The group at first looks rather like one the Knights can compete in. The big news of course is a familiar foe in Darmen whom the Knights finished behind in the World Cup 82 qualifiers. The large amount of groups could have meant two things for the Knights, a bad draw with a high seed, a good draw with a lower seed, or somewhere in between depending on how the third team in the group ranked, and the Knights have a fairly decent draw. A low high seed, and a relatively high low seed. It could be worse and it could be better. The three teams will likely fight it out, and with only the group winner earning automatic promotion, and runners-up forced into a 4 way playoff things could get very interesting.

by **Timuria** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:28 pm

Qualifying Group Sees Challenging Times Ahead

by Tufan Nursultan & the editors

The national team's World Cup Qualifying group has been decided. The national team were placed in pot 5 for the draw due to their rank of 197 in the world rankings following their admirable if slightly disappointing Baptism of Fire. The highlight of the draw is undoubtedly the fact that we will face off with fellow Atlantian Oceanian nations in the shape of 95X and Valanora, ranked 20th and 36th respectively, while the national team will not be expecting victories against either of them they will be hoping to give the fans at Tim-Enerji Park and Hisar School Field of Excellence a good show against such established footballing nations. Otherwise in order to make any kind of significant impact the national team will need to play up to Kavagrad and Balqia to have an outside chance of challenging for the playoff spot (2nd place) with automatic qualification already written off. Otherwise fellow minnows Lavize and Kiryu-shi will likely be the national team's most competitive matches with fans and the Football Federation expecting results against both teams to be positive.

This brings us to a promotion from us, our editorial staff have predicted scored for every game the national team will be playing during the qualifiers and thanks to our sponsorship agreement with the Department of Recreational Activities we will be giving prizes to potentially a large number of lucky readers. The way the game works is our editorial staff have as mentioned before predicted scores for every game, a correct score grants the editorial team 5 points, a correct result gives them 2 points. For every point the editorial staff earn, our sponsors and ourselves will give 10,000 Demirs to one lucky reader. That means if our editorial staff get every result correct 60 of our lucky readers will be winning 10,000 Demirs. As well as this, there will be bonus points given if our editorial staff get the total number of points won by the national team to within 3 points, totaling 20 bonus points. So if our editorial staff are perfect (and we should hope that they aren't) 80 people will be winning 10,000 Demirs.

Schedule and editor's predictions:
MD1: vs Kavagrad, Manat School Sports Centre, L 0-2
MD2: @ Kiryu-shi, W 1-0
MD3: Bye
MD4: vs 95X, Tim-Enerji Park, L 0-3
MD5: @ Balqia D 2-2
MD6: vs Valanora, Hisar School Field of Excellence, L 1-4
MD7: @ Lavize D 1-1
MD8: @ Kavagrad L 1-3
MD9: vs Kiryu-shi, Maden-Is Stadium W 2-0
MD10: Bye
MD11: @ 95X L 0-4
MD12: vs Balqia, Manat School Sports Centre D 1-1
MD13: @ Valanora L 0-4
MD14: vs Lavize, Belediye Park W 1-0

Predicted Final Record: W: 3 D: 3 L: 6 PTS: 12 Expected position: 5th

Group R
Valanora (20)
95X (36)
Kavagrad (69)
Balqia (99)
Timuria (197)
Lavize (318)
Kiryu-shi (UR)

----

Exclusive Pre-Qualifying Interview With Bekir Altingunes: Highlights

by Yasemin Tasdemir

Yasemin Tasdemir: I'm here with Bekir Altingunes for his first media appearance since Timuria's Quarter-Final exit from the Baptism of Fire. Mr Altingunes, thank you for being here.

Bekir Altingunes: Please call me Bekir and thank you.

YT: I suppose we should just get into it, do you regret anything from the Baptism of Fire campaign?

BA: No, nothing at all.

YT: Really? Because there were rumours that you were furious with Iskender Nur whose mistakes cost the national team the lead in the Quarter-Finals?

BA: No, the truth is that losing from a leading position is the result of a team failing to take its opposition seriously. Pinning it on one player is not only unfair it would actually make us weaker going forward.

YT: But isn't it a fact that his mistakes cost the national team an opportunity to progress deeper into the contest?

BA: No one denies that he made mistakes, but he's 18, he'll learn, we'll learn and we'll be stronger for it.

YT: Let's move on. You've announced 3 changes to the starting eleven for the national team for these qualifiers, does this mean the players who have seen themselves relegated can't expect to start again?

BA: No, me and Senol looked at the data available from the Baptism of Fire and we realised that we weren't using some players correctly and until we can get a grip on how to bring out the best in those players we need to put the players who can get the best out of on the field.

YT: Doesn't that put your ability to manage the team in doubt?

BA: Of course it does, but when I was hired my lack of experience was well know, this is a learning experience for all of us and I can only apologise to those players who haven't been put in a position to succeed. I promise I will get better.

YT: That's a rather stark admission, couldn't such a direct and open attitude invite mutiny from the players?

BA: The players and myself became close through the Baptism of Fire, they understand the position I'm in and I understand theirs. These are players who are happiest when they're playing well. A lot would rather play well for 30 minutes than struggle for 90 and I've heard that loud and clear.

YT: Is there a particular game you're most looking forward to?

BA: Certainly Valanora home and away. We want to go up against the best teams to see how we stack up, even if we lose we can learn a lot.

YT: You don't sound like you have high expectations?

BA: It's not a case of high expectations or not, it's about taking it one game at a time. As boring as that may be.

YT: Regardless of how you're taking it, any predictions for how many points we'll get in the group?

BA: I'll leave that to your editorial team, they're the experts after all. I'll focus on managing this team.

YT: One final question, will you be remaining as manager beyond this campaign?

BA: If the Football Federation look at the job I do favourably I'd love the opportunity to take this team through another cycle. If that chance will come to me... is up for debate at this point, but I'll try my best to make it a reality.

YT: Bekir thank you.

BA: Thank you Yasemin.

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Shock Move: NT to be lead by Scott
by Oliver Stanley
The Post Senior Soccer Correspondent

Birkenfield, Charter Twp--A day of enormous change took place the FAC Development Center here today as Executive Director David Carlson announced that Trevor Richmond will step aside from his role as National Team Manager, and assume the role of Sporting Director, while Pamela Scott will now be in charge of all National Team senior squads.

The surprise move comes on the heels of the AOCAF, where Richmond served in a supervisory role akin to a general manager; Carlson explained that the new position will be a continuation of that idea, along with additional responsibilities.

"Trevor has earned the right to be considered the greatest manager of the Baker Park National Team in history. He has been responsible for the success of our team throughout his 12 years in charge, and has instrumental in getting the Commonwealth into the position it occupies today. We are excited to enter into a new phase, with Trevor consolidating some of the departments under his supervision and Pam being asked to handle the senior squad. We cannot forget that Pam has been equally responsible for our success, and we are confident that the two of them will be able to continue their working relationship that has been an extraordinary asset for the FAC."

Both have entered into new 4 year contracts to replace their previous deals, and sounded optimistic about the possibilities that the new setup could open. "I am humbled to be asked to step into Trevor's role permanently", said Scott. "As Dave said, Trevor deserves the praise of all of us here; he has been a great friend and colleague to me for all these years we've worked alongside one another, and I have learned some valuable insights from him, not only in our coaching roles but also when we shared the Technical Department leadership. I'm glad I'll continue have the opportunity to get his perspective and advice in our new working arrangement."

Richmond explained he wasn't necessarily looking to step away from the sideline, but the experience of a successful regional tournament run got him thinking about different ideas he'd like to get involved with. "Dave has been doing the role of being the team manager since we started here, he and Allison (LeFleur) do a wonderful job. But having been part of a lot of those decisions during the (AOCAF), I had some thoughts of things that could be streamlined, tinkered with. The three of us (Carlson, Scott & Richmond) sat down post-tournament and I think it surprised them a bit that I was fine to continue things along the same line as we did them. That's when we really hashed out some of the details and looked at the organizational chart."

Scott did express her disappointment that her longtime aide, Kate DiMarini would not be alongside her for this phase of her career. "I didn't want to have to announce this on this day, in this manner, but my dear friend Kate, who has been at my side since I took over here--before that even--asked that she be given permission to seek out a new opportunity for herself. She has been recently blessed with a happy, healthy baby boy and a husband who is completely supportive of here, and she wants to see what else there is to accomplish in this life. And I wish her nothing but best, as I think all of here do."

Carlson added a word on the subject, "We have always had the greatest respect and appreciation for Kate, so when she approached us about this, we didn't feel like we could stand in her way. As when Shane (Newman) left, we want our coaches to have a chance to take what they have done here and build upon that in their way. She leaves here held in the highest regard by all of us at the FAC, and we wish her and family nothing but success. She knows our door is always open for her."

Asked about the composition of the rest of the coaching staff, Richmond laid out the particulars as they related to his role. "Obviously, Will (Barnard) will continue as AM, while Tony Weiss will move over to be full time senior coach, along with Hailey Reinhart, whom we wish to congratulate for her recent marriage to another of our coaches, Ryan Zavaros; as a wedding gift to him, he'll be working under me picking up Tonys' old role in coaching development. So congrats to the newlyweds for their new jobs. Mike Haddad will concentrate on his role in Sports Science, which will also come under my purview, and George Prather will concentrate on player development, working with Jen (Prescott) and Liam (Sullivan) while they remain with the 21's and Zoe (Montgomery) and Darren (Kirby) will continue to lead the 15's, 17's and 18's while retaining their jobs as technical director and scouting coordinator, respectively, with George Alvarrez helping Zoe. And Chris LaRue, Rob Lundstrom & Kristen Sawyer will keep working with the youth teams along with a new addition, welcome to the FAC, Danielle Harper."

Training camp for the squad selected to take part in a series of friendly matches prior to World Cup qualifying are set to open tomorrow; the matches scheduled so far are trips to Banija, Qusmo & Cassadaigua, and a home match against Siovanija & Teusland at Old College Park, Southend.

by **Amuaplye** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:08 pm

March 1st, 2019
3 Government Complex
Sydney, Amuaplye

Jacob stood on the podium. There were several thousand people watching him, as he stood up there, just himself, and the reverend coming up to the podium. There was a deafening silence. Nobody dared oppose him, as he held absolute power. After all, he had declared a national emergency, and therefore declared that he was the sole ruler of Amuaplye... for at least some time.

But something broke the silence. Chanting, as thousands of people poured down the street, holding signs, calling out Schmidt for being a dictator. The largest and most prominent sign was "BRING BACK DEMOCRACY - SAVE THE NATION"

"Malachi Ross. Nice to meet you." The reverend shook Jacob's hand. They both knew that they had to hurry up. No more pizzazz. "OK, let's get this done before you get shot." He joked, as he retrieved the Bible from his front coat pocket. Jacob chuckled a bit.

"I, Mr. Jacob Schmidt, solemnly swear that I will justly serve the people of Amuaplye via the office of Prime Minister, and to preserve democracy, and defend the nation. So help me God." Jacob said, in a monotonous voice, almost like a robot.

Malachi sighed, putting the Bible back. "I hope to see you soon." He walked off of the podium, murmuring among the crowd.

by **Joshenia** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:53 pm

INTERVIEW WITH JOSHENIAN NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER

Thomas Lahm: The Nationstates World Cup is back again for its 83rd iteration and the whole multiverse is in a buzz ,excited to see the giants and the minnow nations battle it out for the qualifiers and eventually the finals to win the greatest trophy in the multiverse. Here in Joshenia huge TVs are being installed in public areas to make sure no one misses the glory of such an event especially with our national team the Golden Eagles participating in the competition. A lot of Joshenians dream of the Golden Eagles lifting the trophy and to make sure this becomes a reality our Joshenian Football Federation has appointed a new manager. The new manager is not a guest to the national team as he has captained the Golden Eagles in two NS World Cup qualifiers. His name is Swen Schultz and I would like to welcome him to my show. Hello Swen? its great to have you here.

Swen Schultz: Am glad to be here Thomas.

Thomas Lahm: Well uhmm... After being appointed as national team manager you have decided to drop several experienced players from the team and replaced them with young and inexperienced players. Could you please explain your reason behind the decision?

Swen Schultz: My decision to drop the experienced players is due to my football philosophy. I love to play fast paced football and in my observation the so called experienced players are very slow an....

Thomas Lahm: So called! aren't you being a little harsh ? after all these players you dropped played in the previous two world cups and helped Joshenia rise through the rankings to 90th place.

Swen Schultz Thomas I am not being harsh. I captained these players and I can tell you this, these players are not fit to represent Joshenia. Phillip Cole and the other players I dropped would go out to the pub before match day and get drunk. This affected the teams performance. Moreover the players were lazy. I wanted a team that would respect the Joshenian jersey and play their hearts out for the fatherland and I believe that these young players I have chosen will do just that.

Thomas Lahm: The players you dropped and their fans are not happy. It has been reported that you have finding boxes of dead rats with threats inside them for dropping the players, is this true?

Swen Schultz: Sadly yes and it is worse than that. After being appointed manager and dropping the players I had someone pour blood in my front yard at night. At Sir Plakett Arena I was sent boxes of dead birds, rats and excrement with letters telling me to call up the players I dropped or get ready to die.

Thomas Lahm: Do you fear for your safety with these threats against you?

Swen Schultz: No I do not fear these threats from these spineless cowards. I would like to tell them today that I will not change my line up and I will stick with the players I have called up.

Thomas Lahm: I do hope you are going to be safe. A lot of Joshenians were excited with the NS World Cup draw, many believe that the only challenge you have in the group is with Kita-Hinode. Do you stand by such a notion?

Swen Schultz: No I do not stand by such a notion because in previous world cups we have lost or drawn with lower ranked teams. I believe that we must respect our opponents regardless of ranking and we should view each match as a must win match against a very much capable opponent, by doing that I believe that we can qualify for the world cup finals for the first time. And do not worry about the threats, the police have been informed and they are investigating the threats.

Thomas Lahm: It was great having you Swen, I hope you have a good run as manager of Joshenia.

Swen Schultz: Thank you for having me Thomas and I hope my time as manager of Joshenia will be beneficial to everyone involved with the national team.

World Cup 83 - Roleplay Thread

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The Evil Draw

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