World Cup 84- RP Thread (IC)

[Mriin]

"Os. It's 'os.' Say 'Osarius' but slurred and you'll get it."

Daffodil sighed and looked from the figure on one screen to the script Jeremy Jaffacake had sent on the other. "If it's an 'o' sound, then why is it a damn A? Is it the little 'o' over the A? Does that make it an 'o'? Why didn't they just make it an 'o'?"

"Fucking hell, Daff, do you want me to explain all of linguistics to you? Someone wrote it down that way and it stuck. Mriin's got some fucky diacritics too, you know."

"Only in that backwards Westhold dialect!"

"Just say the damn sound and let's please get a move on? We're not three letters in and I've got places to be today." Vilmar Albertsen looked away to check his watch. "They have me making rounds of the Falconian refugee cities, see if their squads have any talent. All I signed up for is explaining how to say Åsløtten–Bëðerbørg så Česky, not write you a thesis."

"Alright alright alright, I've got to get this recording out tonight too. Oslott--"
"eut"
"Pardon?"
"Not 'ot', 'eut'. Osleutten."
"And so the o's aren't o's too. Fine, Osle--Oslutten Beder--"
"Bether"
"Oh, so that's an Audioslav D?"
"It's not really a D--nope, I'm not going deeper on that. That works."
"Oslutten Betherbor--no, Betherb... urg, Sa--So... that's a c-h, right?"
"Right"
"Chesky."
"Close enough."
"Oslutten Betherburg So Chesky."
"Your 'eu's could use more work, but that's better than most people will ever be able to say it. Can I go now?"
"Wait, what about the e with an umlaut over it? That... should sound different, right?"
"Look, the Českian dialect is the weirdest mashup. The Falkyrie language shares some Danish roots with it, and that's most of the weird letters here, but I have no goddamn idea what the fuck that umlaut is doing on that e."

Daff held his hands up, making sure the webcam caught them. "That's fair, you've still been a great help. It's not all that hard when you lay it out like that."

"Sounds are sounds," Vilmar shrugged. "It's just a matter of knowing what's the symbol for what. The Falkyrie FA still got you on the hook for a promo video?"

"Shit, yeah, they do. I've been putting it off for ages because of the big UICA question, but I guess with the ICFC getting up and running I'll be getting a hard deadline soon."

"Go ahead and give me a ring when you do that. Fans will not be happy if you butcher their team's name."

"Will do, thanks again." The video feed cut off. Daff looked back to the script, to the big bold "IDIOT PROJECT" title above it, and sighed. "I'm not getting paid enough for this shit."

[Siovanija and Teusland]

Sanssouci Palace, Stelburg, Teusland

It had already been a very busy morning for Chancellor Dominik Meier. Up early to catch the quick RBC Sports briefing - the national football team was preparing for a trip to Bolgano after a thrilling 4-3 win at home over Poafmersia as they entered the final stretch of a grueling Qualification campaign - then, everything focused on the talks with the Banijans, the meeting turning over and over in his mind as he got ready for the day and then headed to the Palace. And even now, with the 10 minute break suggested by his guest, Waziri Mutungi, Meier continued to work.

“Admiral Berg. Tell me what you can about our shipping industry’s willingness to sell to the Banijans.”

“Chancellor, our main contractors for the surface fleet, of course, are the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Werke in Kaiserhaven, and then also Nordsee Marinewerke in Felsenkirchen. KWW are, frankly, easier to deal with. Our Navy also prefers them for surface craft, whereas NMV are usually contracted on our submarines. I believe KWW should be preferred here.”

“What is the likelihood that the Naval Arms Board would approve a sale?”

“The NAB understands the strategic importance of this relationship, and as long as KWW keeps work on time for the Sankt-Kunigunde class carrier - I have a further briefing on the specifications of that for you as well, Chancellor - there should be no problems.”

The working break continued as such for the remainder of the time, with Chancellor Meier conferencing with the various ministers and diplomats assembled. Discussions about possible preferred consular locations - down to minute detail as to which city of Istria or Herzegovina City would be preferred -, setting up an initial blueprint for a student exchange program at the university level, and newer suggestions for other ideas relating to United Republics-Banijan relations coming from all corners. Then, of course, the economic discussions as well. By the end of the 10 minutes, it was time for Chancellor Meier to restart the proceedings.

“Welcome back, gentlemen. Waziri Mutungi, I thank you for sharing your proposed objectives and goals for our meeting today. We’ve prepared a response as well as added a few additional ones. Firstly I’d like to call on Admiral Konstantin Berg, Chief of the General Naval Staff, to speak about the naval situation. Admiral Berg.”

“Yes, thank you, Chancellor, and thank you Admiral Dione for your presentation. For hundreds of years, the Navy has been the pride of our Armed Forces, and has always served its duty protecting our shores. Today, the Marine is proudly at the forefront of naval capabilities, and we are certainly capable of assisting our allies. One of our main contractors is the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Werke, established in the city of Kaiserhaven in 1674 and has been producing ships ever since.” The Admiral paused quickly to review a quick note. “KWW is the main contractor for our surface fleet. We believe, based on your needs for territorial defence, that the Ljublanica-class destroyer and the Eiche-class frigate are the best options. Each has served reliably in the Marine, and our sailors have nothing but good things to say.”

The Admiral brandished a piece of paper, containing the specifications of each ship, and passed it over to the Banijan delegation. “Of course, KWW is an organization jointly operated by the Government of Siovanija & Teusland as well as private investors. Under an Act of the National Chancellory, any sale of arms to a foreign nation would require approval of the Naval Arms Board, composed of Admirals, officials of KWW and other contracted companies, and a few rotating members of the National Chancellory. I am currently the Chair of the Board. I would say it is highly likely that a sale to the Royal Banijan Navy would be approved, as the Board views partnership with neighbouring nations as a priority for future development. Thus, Admiral Dione, I would be happy to bring you in contact with KWW, and work with you on this particular point of action.”

Admiral Berg stopped to take a sip of water, before continuing. “Another item you mentioned was the possibility of officer exchanges between our states. We feel that, down the road, this is certainly something that could benefit both of our Navies. I myself was educated at our National Marine Academy, which has been in service for hundreds of years and has produced a majority of our high-ranking officers. The instruction here is second to none, and we would certainly encourage an exchange program in the future. As mentioned, the ability for our officers to also travel to Banija as part of the program would be a benefit for each of us. I’d like to add that I am hopeful, as we continue to develop trust here and down the road, that in the future our states could perhaps negotiate basing rights. Finally, Admiral Dione, I would invite you and your staff to our headquarters in St. Jakob at your convenience, to further build relationships at the highest levels of our Navies. Thank you.”

Chancellor Meier then stood. “Thank you, Admiral. I reiterate your desire for strong relations between our navies. I would also like to accept the request for a Banijan consulate in the city of St. Jakob am Drai, or simply St. Jakob. The city is the largest in Siovanija & Teusland, and, as noted, plays host to a strong Banijan expat community. We thus welcome this initiative. We would also like to accept your offer of establishing a consulate of our own, and propose this for the city of Istria. As the largest city in Banija, it has much in common with St. Jakob, and we also propose for these cities to become officially ‘twin cities,’ enabling greater cultural ties between them. Having spoken with the Mayor of St. Jakob, Leonard Reiter, he has agreed with this suggestion.”

The Chancellor paused, then continued. “There have been various other proposals of ways to increase the ties between our nations. One that we have found most interesting is related to the field of sport. Sport has already served to unite our nations in the past - the Stadium of the Restoration, designed and built by a company from the United Republics. The St. Jakob Crusaders of the GBHL, who have built a strong fanbase here after successful early seasons. The two most popular sporting leagues in our country are the Ehrenliga for hockey and the Republikaliga for football. Firstly, after consulting with the President of each league, it has been proposed that one or two Ehrenliga regular season games could be hosted in Banija, beginning next season, to develop Banijan interest in the league. Now, of course, the Republikaliga is a privately-operated league, but I understand that the league, featuring Banijan internationals like Nwabudike Ugonna and Kabir Jobateh, would certainly be interested in negotiating a television rights contract in your nation. I am also sure that should the Banijan Soccer League be interested, it would easily find a suitor in this country for television rights.”

The Chancellor then stopped to look at a quick note passed to him by one of the diplomats present. He rose again to speak. “We were also intrigued at your suggestion for the possibility of a student exchange program between our nations. We believe this would surely be mutually beneficial, and we have identified a few institutions which would be perfect for this program. We will surely put them into contact with Universities in the Kingdom of Banija. Our government would also provide funding for post-secondary students from the United Republics heading to Banija to ensure this opportunity is available for them. At the secondary school level, these negotiations would need to be done school board to school board, which we can also assist with. Funding here, however, would come at the state level and not federally.”

The Chancellor then passed to the Banijan side a drawn-up paper detailing several post-secondary institutions in the United Republics that might be interested in the program. A much heftier booklet, detailing key sectors of the national economy, was also passed over.“You have also mentioned the potential for economic cooperation. We, too, believe this will be a key in our relations. Banijan oil was mentioned, and we would certainly be interested in a trade deal here. Siovanija & Teusland’s economy is largely based on industrial sectors, for example, our auto sector has traditionally been our largest in terms of exports. We are also strong in knowledge-based sectors such as scientific development and research. The booklet you have been given contains a much more in-depth look, but we believe that a trade partnership between our nations would be valuable.”

Meier took a brief pause to take a drink, before speaking again. “The Kingdom of Banija’s economy is, obviously, in development, and we believe as well that Siovanija & Teusland could have a key role to play in this. We propose for a delegation of investors from companies and banks within the United Republics to travel to Banija to explore potential investment opportunities. This would help with the economic growth of the Kingdom, and naturally be mutually beneficial.”

Now was the big one, and Meier took a quick pause before his next statement. “As you know, as part of my election campaign, I proposed for the United Republics to take a step forward in relations within the SWAO Strategic Zone, or the ‘Glorious Southwest.’ An idea that our government developed was the possibility of an overall strategic alliance between Southwestern states, that would allow us to work together for overall peace and prosperity within the subregion while also encouraging stronger ties between our states. As a more general question overall, what would the Kingdom of Banija think of such an initiative? The United Republics would be most in favour of a strategic alliance between the states as proposed. We are simply bringing this idea up to hear the opinion of another state in our subregion on it, before perhaps proceeding further.”

After a quick glance to gauge the reaction to that statement, Meier spoke again. “Naturally, we’ve provided you with a lot of information just now, and if you’d like to take a moment to review some of the supporting materials and converse, we’d welcome a break for lunch.”

[Chromatika]

MD15: Kavagrad 0-1 Chromatika
Goals: Andisori, B. '78
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Williams; Ruth - Anderson - Friedman - Damjana; Anisov - Ingalls; Etienne (C) - Kuzami - Reynolds; Andisori, B.
Substitutes: Rondeau -> Friedman ('54), Kim, M.S. -> Ingalls ('67), Sterling -> Kuzami ('81)
Projected Starting Lineup vs. Lons: Williams; McBee - Rondeau - Ken - Austic; Ingalls - Kim, M.S.; Kelly - Gail - Han; Vidal.

Football Part 15: @ Kavagrad

Jillian Nier, Football Correspondent

It took fourteen matches, but the Chromatik Anomalies were finally able to pitch their first shutout of the qualifying campaign as they prevailed over a pesky Kavagrad side on the road, Beaunia Andisori showing her pose with a left-footed curving shot that gave the visitors the lead for good late as Chromatika prevailed to maintain pace with Mriin and open a three-point gap between them and Main Nation Ministry. Coupled with Main Nation Ministry's 3-3 tie against Zealandiana, the top of Group 7 remains close with Busoga Islands only five points behind the Chromatiks. Mriin, Busoga Islands, and Main Nation Ministry must still play matches among themselves, meaning barring a collapse from the Mrii national team, Chromatika should qualify as long as it keeps these narrow results coming over lower ranked sides.

The keeper to possess the honor of posting the first shutout was Nova Williams, though she was rarely contested all night. Aoife Ruth, Cierra Anderson, Nicole Friedman, and Aysu Damjana were truly in sync, and the duo of Delilah Anisov and Nevin Ingalls proved to be in the right places at the right time, allowing Chromatika to deploy their back six at defense and allow the front four to just take as many risks as they wanted. Though Kuzami's connection with Reynolds left much to be desired at times - plenty of passes falling short - the front four of the Chromatik formation combined to put enough pressure on Kavagrad that the hosts only had two real looks at goal. The first, Williams pawed away with ease, and the second hit the upper crossbar - though Williams would most likely have been able to get a hold of the ball.

Now over the two-thirds point of qualifying, Konrad Evans and Katherine Everdeen will endeavor to continue the momentum the squad has built while trying to keep everyone healthy. Lons is a side that still bears some respect, leading to Williams being sent out for yet another start; the likes of Theodore Rondeau and Giles Ken getting caps betrays the intent of the Chromatik brass to still invest in the future. The front four are players who are always hungry to prove themselves even further, knowing how loaded the positions are - Whitney Kelly, Miranda Gail, Ga-yeong Han, and Olimpia Vidal all need stellar performances to remain in the good graces of the management staff and start making a case for why they should be in the final twenty-three should the Chromatiks be allowed to stay on course and qualify.

Expect the Capitalizt Dome to still be sold out - football games don't come very often to Chromatik shores, and every game is a celebration of what it means to be Chromatik. Expect every player on the roster to be announced over the loudspeakers, never minding the fact that there are fifty names. Football is almost as sacred as religion, and the populace seeks to make use of it as often and as extravagantly as it is able.

As the saying goes...

If the shoe fits?

---

Part 14: The Dyad

Part 15: The Three
The Palace of A Thousand Suns
Astral Plane

While debates raged across Chromatika on which party to vote for, and arguments and counterarguments were being made, a different sort of meeting was taking place at The Palace of a Thousand Suns in the Astral Plane.

The Enlightened were led by a triumvirate of beings known as The Three. They were never seen without another, shadowing every move.

The first was a tall, stoic figure with a stark visage, as he was half shadow and half light.

The second, a softer, female-presenting figure, with a smile that could warm the coldest heart but also contained enough venom and menace to last a thousand lifetimes.

The third, a massive being who was about the size of two Enlightened, burly, thick, rarely speaking but always present.

If they had names for themselves, they had been lost to the others an eon or two ago. They were simply known as The Three, and that was fine with them.

As they listened to a report from one of The Enlightened - The Resplendent, to be exact - the burly one raised a hand at a particular angle that the other two hadn't seen in at least twenty thousand cycles.

The tall figure motioned for The Resplendent to leave. Nervously, The Resplendent left the room, not quite done with the report he was in the middle of giving.

"Brother, Sister," the burly one intoned, his voice deeper than anyone ever had any business being, "I regret to inform you that the worst has come to pass."

"What do you mean?" inquired the smiling one, "Do speak your mind. We are alone, you are The Stalwart. I am The Scheming. And he is The Split. We are The Three, and we have been running the show for a while now. Nothing can stop us."

"No," whispered The Split, "I feel it, too."

"Hm?" inquired The Scheming.

"They've found each other, and not eliminated each other," intoned The Stalwart.

"What are you saying?" asked The Scheming, frowning.

"The Hope and The Black Mark. They have met. I can sense it. And by the fact that one hasn't overcome the other, we must assume the worst," explained The Stalwart.

"What does that mean for us?" whispered The Scheming, a tone of nervousness on her voice.

"It means we must be vigilant. Let The Enlightened know that The Hope has been corrupted. Let it be spread that our efforts to keep things civil in Chromatika are failing," responded The Split.

"And then prepare The Reawakening. We must do it all over again."

Leaving the other two in stunned silence, The Split exited the chamber, alone for the first time in eons.

This age would end, one way or the other.

---

Rainbow League System Preview

15. Wirr Tsi

Nickname: Shock
Fans: Shockers
Location: Wirr Tsi, Capital District, Chromatika
Stadium: The Shock (51,350; 18,000 Seats)
History:

League Chromatiks Season 1: 7th Second Division
League Chromatiks Season 2: 6th Second Division
League Chromatiks Season 3: 3rd Second Division
League Chromatiks Season 4: 9th Premier Division
League Chromatiks Season 5: 11th Second Division
Chromatik League Season 1: 4th Second Division
Chromatik League Season 2: 6th Second Division
Chromatik League Season 3: 8th Second Division
Chromatik League Season 4: 6th Second Division
Chromatik League Season 5: 1st Second Division

Manager: Sharleen Nader, 57
Formation: (4-3-3)

Background: Wirr Tsi, a city that is more towards the Mountain District, is where the Chromatik Air Force is now located, with over sixty percent of the population being military. Besides being an air force town, it's also where a lot of the armaments are manufactured. It's not a very exciting town, but an important one. Though the army has moved to Knetyohai, Wirr Tsi (pronounced Wurr Chee) kept the Air Force contingent. A new team in the Premier Division, Wirr Tsi will be looking to just stay if possible.

Preseason Grading: brought to you by ChromatikBet.com

Fanbase: 4/10: Long-suffering, Wirr Tsi fans now have something to cheer about.
Manager: 6/10: Nader is a classic motivator.
Keepers: 5/10: Surles just isn't good. They won despite him, not because of him.
Defenders: N/A: Wirr Tsi is missing one defender. The only one that might be worth keeping is Chet Rockwell.
Midfielders: 6/10: Wirr Tsi has decent midfielders - but none are really that spectacular. Cauthen, maybe?
Strikers: N/A: Wirr Tsi is missing a striker. Pontbriand is a key piece, though.
Greatest Need: When the Chromatik League disbanded, all foreign players were let go. Wirr Tsi needs keepers and defenders in spades to try to keep things relevant.

Next: Z'ai'ai

[Filindostan]

---

NATIONAL | BUSINESS | PROVINCIAL | INTERNATIONAL | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS PORTAL

---

FOOTBALL: WORLD CUP 84 QUALIFIERS
Filindostan smashes 4 goals past Furby Island, but is it too late?

FURBY ISLAND - Krisna Hendra Sudirman finally has his first win of his managerial career with Filindostan.

After two draws against higher seeds, Filindostan might have finally put their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track after putting the Furbish defense to the sword, scoring 4 unanswered goals past them. After trimming the squad to the standard 23-player squad after a 3-3 draw with Qasden, the new manager was finally smiling at the end of the match. In both of his past matches, Filindostan were in the lead but late goals conceded while Cahya Kartawijaya was in goal lost them 4 points in total, which was very, very, crucial as Ziwana, who occupy the second qualifying spot in Group 8, did not drop any points in their matches, including in the matchday which the Pula Garuda did not play.

Ina Teterissa had her scoring boots ready, completing a hat-trick early in the second half after she had scored two goals in the first fifteen minutes of the match. Damaris Cambo scored Filindostan's fourth in the 87th minute, consolidating just their fourth win in thirteen matches. However, it might be too late, as Ziwana still has an eleven-point gap, which effectively might be five (if Filindostan wins against them and during their bye). But as the matchdays keep progressing, the chances and hopes for qualifying for their first World Cup seems slipping and slipping away from them.

Filindostan host Bliuji next, being a familiar foe as they were in the same qualifying group last edition. On Matchday 5, the Filindos and Bliuji shared the spoils, and last edition, splitted their matches. Matches should now be considered as 'must-win' according to Sudirman.

Written by FSNA Staff.

Schedule - WC84Q
MD01: vs South Covello - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium) - Win, 2-1
MD02: at Qasden - T.V. City (Royal T.V. Stadium) - Loss, 0-1
MD03: BYE
MD04: vs Furby Island - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium) - Draw, 1-1
MD05: at Bliuji - undisclosed city (Domitia Stadium) - Draw, 2-2
MD06: vs Squornshelan Remnant States - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium) - Win, 2-1
MD07: ar Ziwana - Birnin-Likulu (Izula National Stadium) - Loss, 1-2
MD08: vs Mitra and Soma - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium) - Loss, 2-4
MD09: at Flavovespia - Marthorpe (City Arena) - Win, 2-1
MD10: vs Mustardy - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium) - Draw, 1-1
MD11: at Vakolicci Haven and Celeria - venue to be confirmed - Draw, 0-0
MD12: at South Covello - Riverview (Revolution Stadium) - Draw, 2-2
MD13: vs Qasden - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium) - Draw, 3-3
MD14: BYE
MD15: at Furby Island - venue to be confirmed - Win, 4-0
MD16: vs Bliuji - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
MD17: at Squornshelan Remnant States - Lublova (Slavnarzeczpospolitastadion)
MD18: vs Ziwana - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
MD19: at Mitra and Soma - venue to be confirmed
MD20: vs Flavovespia - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)
MD21: at Mustardy - Héronne (Johan Speck Nationalstadion Héronne / The Speck)
MD22: vs Vakolicci Haven and Celeria - San Marco (Filindostan National Stadium)

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

I hope you've not decided to quit just yet, we're about 3/4 the way through.

cutoff

[Gyatso-kai]

Pulled from Avatarian Sports Blog
KickMeWhenImDown.blogstain.gki
2240 hours, 30 December 2019.4

Here we are, in the second leg of World Cup Qualifying, and we actually managed to win two games in a row!!!

But then we lost two games in a row...

However!!!

Pasarga, who is currently in second place in our group, and who embarrassed us with a 5-1 stomping, were only able to put two goals against in their home stadium on Matchday 13! Still, we were not able to get past Thorsten Gerber into the back of the Pasargan net.

But then we go up against Yttribia, who we had drew at nil-all in the first leg, and allow them a single goal to lose at home.

I know, I know... We cannot expect to go into our first World Cup in ages and expect to qualify. I know we cannot go in unranked and expect to regularly defeat the powerhouses of our group. AND I KNOW I cannot start calling for them to fire Tay'haai after just two tournaments and basically just 26 games!!!

Actually, I can. There are teams in the RGL who fire head coaches after just one season of 15 games >.<

So yeah, we have just six games to play left in WCQ. And yeah, I have been a bit quiet lately here... Depression gets a bit rough in winter here in Itakawai... but my support for the Bisons never waiver.

Maybe after Evaar'simir I will be a bit more lively... We'll see...

[Gopnikea]

Gopnikea vs Krytenia (1 - 1)

Gopnikea and Krytenia have both done very well. Both scored in the second half of the match. Treyhon did a very surprising long distance shot, which successfully went in the goal.

[Abanhfleft]

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

---

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with Graham O'Doherty

THINGS ARE FALLING APART BUT WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? (NOTHING)

Well, now. That's left a very bad taste in the mouth, hasn't it? Hello guys, and welcome back to yet another edition of The Football Fallacies with your gay Irishman Graham O'Doherty. And thus our disappointment continues. It seems that, after an impressive run of seven wins, the Fleftic national team is now regressing back to the mean. By this I mean that we are finally getting back the underachieving team that we have all come to see in our national football teams. It's a sad development when you think about it, not just because our claim to being best of the rest is slowly but steadily starting to slip away but also because we have all become so used to the damned disappointment that this is now the only way that we can deal with it.

I have no idea when our "rivalry" with Brenecia started; all I'm sure is that as soon as the draw for the qualifiers was announced everyone around me suddenly started shouting "We gotta beat those blue bastards!" Abanhfleft's history with Brenecia is very thankfully brief, but it's also very telling. If I remember correctly, we faced them in some sort of playoff to get into the World Cup finals. And we won. By like, quite a big margin, I must say. 4-1 I think it was. We drew the second leg 1-1 but in terms of the aggregate score we deffo had the advantage. So I guess we all thought that we had Brenecia's number.

THen come these qualifiers and we've got Brenecia in our group. They're 19th, we're 42nd. No matter, we all thought. We'll just do to them what we did all those years ago. Except this time, we didn't and we couldn't. Brenecia had the distinct advantage when they came to play us, and it was only through very concerted efforts on the part of our ladies that we even managed to salvage a point out of that. This time though, we were both outclassed and unlucky. Sure, we all thought we were the lucky ones when Cass Farrell let Amelie Rusev's (admittedly tame) shot through their gloves and legs into the back of the net early in the first half, but after that, especially in the second half, it was all Patriots. The pressure from the home side finally paid off in the last ten minutes, as first Niall Bremner and then Creidne Lindauer tore through our defense like a hot knife through butter and forcing Steph Bryan to pick up the ball from her goal twice.

Ah, life is sad at the moment. Nothing much is going right for anybody right now. Our lead above the rest of the teams in Group 2 is slipping away surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west (in our corner of the multiverse; maybe it's the other way around someplace else. I'm not going to judge). Nothing much else to do now but hope that maybe we won't be so shit in the Cup of Harmony. If it does happen. But who are we kidding? Every chance at silverware that we get, we throw away. It's the Fleftic way. XOXO from Graham....

      BRENECIA 2 - 1 ABANHFLEFT
 BREMNER (82')       RUSEV (11')
LINDAUER (88')

[PotatoFarmers]

Poafmersia 4 Euran Oceania Territories 1
Goals for Poafmersia:
Bytia Hisel 6', 15'
Shakira Handaris 42', 65'
Goals for EOT:
Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier 51'

Starting 11 for Poafmersia
Sandi Jaliaha;
Mancest Nilson, Alex Hoboson, Pasits Rikachz, Bolsto Nelison;
Goon Figsh (DM);
Bastia Hansilon (LM), Daak Kalson (RM);
Gisiik Moonar (AM);
Shakira Handaris, Bytia Hisel

Substitutes:
Daas Taisg (for Gisiik 70')
Ftiks Wariq (for Goon 77')
Denise Pickford (for Bolsto 87')

Fiskadaha, Poafmersia
With his wife and children on holiday in the other side of Poafmersia, Adnan returned home to an awkward sense of emptiness. Many of the coaches had either returned to their homes or join the players not based in the capital city at the hotel, and yet Adnan decided he had to return home this time round just to make sure everything was okay.
He would not have a long rest here. The team returned home to 48 hours ago to play their match against Euran Oceania Territories (EOT), amd soon they would leave to play Anthor away before coming back to play Lochario at home.
11 weeks of football was a mental test for the coach. Save for a 10 day break after Matchday 11, the team was forced to play back to back international football into the new year, and with the domestic season calling to them, the players would have little to no break before coming back to play their Premier League or Super League seasons. For Adnan, it was mentally strenuous. He definitely feels the stress in him ever since he took up the project to get a national football team for the nation, to export and expose the players to the varying football styles around the multiverse. Whether it is playing against a bunch of people with the look of angels, a bunch of god-like talking ponies, or a group of mama bears, the experience was different from domestic football. He sincerely hoped it would change the local perception towards people from outside the borders, and help the country's plan to be part of the globalised multiverse and live in harmony with people of other nationalities.
Those, however, were just Adnan's visions. What is most important is giving the players an opportunity to move overseas or bringing foreign talents to the Poafmersia club system. It is not an easy feat to play in the system. Difficult opponents, strong cross-town and cross-state rivalries, as well as huge fan groups, were all a normal part of Football in Poafmersia. Combined with a hectic schedule, worsened by the intention to join the international club competitions, meant that players could also play at such a pace every week.
Luckily, the PFFA was willing to give some chance for the first season. After giving up some slots to the non-Champion teams based on the off-season second placed friendlies, Poafmersia would see a total of 9 unique teams in the IFCF and the FFI competitions. Adnan was glad he was able to broker that argument, having realised that it is literally impossible for teams to play the current season in time for the cutoff of the first international club football season in years.
But back to the national team. Never forgetting that is his idea to start a team, he exerts so much pressure on himself, researching about the other teams in the group, and talking tactics to the players with specific details tailored to each and every team. Simple things like "who should mark who" are often written out on paper and to the finest detail. His care for the players he selected also made him a father figure to the players. Remember how Shakira cried the last time he missed his penalty and lost a point? After the match, Adnan was talking to him about the incident and convinced him to move on. He sat there for an hour until he had to go for the post-match interview, listening to Shakira and some of the other players saying their feelings and telling their story and feelings. Similarly this morning, he had given a long and encouraging speech telling the players to enjoy each and every match in the qualifiers because "you never know when you would be replaced or forced to miss the next Qualifiers".
However, no one knows the other side to Adnan. Nobody heard the story of how he went home to cry after losing 3-0 to Monso away, or how he blamed himself for poor tactics that resulted in the other 3-0 thrashing by Nephara. Nobody thought about his feelings that night after Trolleborg defeated Poafmersia in the Baptism of Fire, where he blamed himself for spreading complacency that resulted in them having to miss out on the finals at the final hurdle.
Can Adnan stay in the hot seat for long? Adnan will try, but he is unlikely to be the person who refuses to leave. When he finds the team stagnating, he will leave. But otherwise, he will stay and do his best to achieve the results for his Poafmersian team.

Meanwhile, in the team hotel, Bytia and Shakira were celebrating as they played together for the first time. Having utilised a 4-1-2-1-2 formation again, Adnan dropped both Joel and Pete in exchange for Bytia and Shakira playing in front. With Gisiik Moonar feeding them behind, both Bytia and Shakira scored 2 each to send Euran Oceania Territories (EOT) packing with a 4- 1 home win. The fans were loud and excited as both strikers performed excellently in front of goal, forcing the EOT goalkeeper Tammy Barton to make a few acrobatic saves. Although Gisiik himeself also made a huge contribution with a hat trick of assists, the real man (women, if you like) of the match was Bytia, who made a nice bicycle kick and another header to give Poafmersia a 2-0 lead 15 minutes in. She also selflessly gave Shakira the last goal as he was in the better position, sacrificing the chance to get a hat trick for herself.
"Thanks for the goal," Shakira said to Bytia, as both of them sat together at a table in the hotel lounge.
"No problem. It was my duty to let you take the goal," replied Bytia.
"I mean, you had quite a good chance of scoring. Why did you choose to give it away?"
"In a group of close margins, points and goals are important. Although we had sealed the win and that goal did not matter much, I wanted someone to score more. At that angle, the goalkeeper might be able to save it, so passing it to you would help to get that fourth goal which is necessary to boost our goal difference. Besides, it is a way of paying back for your missed penalty, no?" she chuckled.
Shakira nodded. Though the incident of the missed penalty was a few days back, after some convincing by Adnan, he had been convinced that missed penalties should not be left in the heart, and there is a need to move on. He, however, was particularly concerned by Adnan's behaviour throughout the day. Adnan had cried at the full time whistle after watching his charges score 4 goals to beat the team which they drawn the last time round. His press conference was unusually short, and he chose to go home after the conference, which was unusual. Shakira thought a long while, then asked Bytia, "Do you think boss is alright?"
"Something seems to be different. Maybe it is simply because we are starting to find our feet, so he is touched?"
"Hopefully he is okay."
"As long as we do our best every match, he would be happy that we are providing the results."

Back to Adnan's home, where he was watching the daily round up of sports news.
"The final results of Matchday 16 are in from around the multiverse, and Eura would be the third team to qualify from the World Cup after they defeated Nooooooooooooooo 3-1 at home. In Group 13, with draws for both Damukuni and Reçueçn, they secured first place with 5 games to spare and became the first team apart from the hosts to qualify. It rounds up a fruitful night for many teams, which are on their way to getting a World Cup Ticket, with Free Republics and Banija among the next to get their tickets with nice results in the next matchday."
Adnan sighed. Seeing these top teams book their tickets seems ironic considering how Poafmersia is in a similar spot. He wanted to find out the results of some of the later matches in Group 5, which was his main concern. "I already knew what is going to happen," he muttered. This time round, he was right again. He had secretly prayed BOLGANO would win, but knew they probably won't, and sure enough, they did not. What is good was that Anthor fell out of contention, so Adnan was hopeful that they would not provide much resistance against Poafmersia.
But he felt lucky that Poafmersia still has a little bit of hope. He shakes his head at Group 3 and Group 10, where a whole bunch of teams have been eliminated. Group 3 was the better group, with 5 teams still mathematically in contention, while Group 10 was obviously a three way race with Kita-Hinode, The Holy Empire and Juvencus locked in a fight at the top while Mareibat, the only other team not officially eliminated, is 11 points behind the top 3.
"Interestingly, not counting Head 2 Head, Pink Floyd is the only last place team to have a mathematical chance of qualifying, though we do not even think they have any theoretical chance of qualification. With such big groups, it is difficult to calculate theoretical qualification chances, so someone can go and find out how does this team even qualify, if they can," continued the reporter.
"Hey, what a joke," thought Adnan. "The PFBC should spend more time reporting about our awesome win." Turning the television off, he decided to turn in early so that he could wake up earlier tomorrow.

[Nephara]

Nephara 3 - 0 Aquitlita
(4-4-2) 1 - Mercator; 2 - Stride, 5 - Thorn, 6 - Brosch, 3 - Close (c); 13 - Saroszi, 4 - Shone (15 - Rauch 67'), 21 - Moxham (8 - Chalk 80'), 11 - Strongbow (16 - Deventer 59'); 10 - Metzger, 17 - Bastable
Goals: Bastable 27', Metzger 44', Strongbow 53'

The Herald's Karin Rietveld: Strauss faces the guillotine.
The Westerner, Eloisa Brand: Camden, Amos wait in wings for further Strauss slip.
Two Banks football magazine, Konrad Harnwell: The Cormorants are terrible and I'm tired.
The Herald, again, Lukas Saltor: Every waking moment makes one yearn for Rusalka Klein.
Eastern Star, front page: STRAUSS OUT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
These, and more, awaited the Cormorants as they filtered into their changing room at training. The work of Daniella Strauss - more accurately, the work Daniella Strauss had tasked to Rutger Kolar. All the negative press of the past month or so, nailed to a wooden board, nailed in turn into a wall.
"They hate us, people," Strauss announced, jabbing a long, lean finger into the board. "They want us to fail. Failure sells papers. They think I'm a joke! They think you don't give a shit! And the only way to shut them up is gonna be to start racking up wins, starting tomorrow."

"Which is all a load of bullshit," said Rowena Strongbow, some time later, in her hotel room. She was holding court over a couple of impressionable younger squadmates who'd attached to her like limpets. Stride and Lockheed, both Treason defenders, neither quite convincingly self-assured, tending to stick to one another.
"Yeah, it was," said Lockheed loyally.
Stride, the independent thinker, frowned. "You got what she was getting at, though. The press have been right on our tits."
"Well..." Lockheed hedged.
"Sure, but what a basic move," Strongbow scoffed. "Come on. Anyway, it's the press' job to talk shit when we're playing like this."
"I think the idea was so that we'd play better, darling," said Marica Kuepper, who'd sort of slid along. Kuepper was the kind of woman who wanted to be where the gossip was.
"Sure. Still. Less than inspiring, is it. 'Hey, my arse is in the fire, people are being mean to me on the internet, go bail me out'."
"Don't you want to win, Ro?" Kuepper leaned in closer. "Orrr... would another couple of defeats be worth it to get her out?"
Stride jolted back. "Leave off! There's no way-"
"No, there's not," said Strongbow firmly. "Just... we'd stand a better chance of winning with a better manager. And if she did happen to meet the axe, well, I wouldn't complain."

Hosting Aquitlita in Vermillion was not anticipated to be a struggle. People were a little surprised when the team sheet came out in some approximation of a first-choice lineup, but early signs were that it worked out. After a sluggish start, a deflected cross from Strongbow was opportunistically smashed home by Kurtis Bastable to open the scores, and from there all was calm. Slick interplay with Moxham allowed Bastable to play in an unmarked Metzger, who drove in the second goal from the edge of the box, while early in the second half a spectacular smashed effort from Strongbow slammed into the underside of the crossbar and in to finish things. Nephara had now scored either zero or three goals in their past six games.
It was unlikely to survive their next two games... in the reverse fixtures they'd scored five and four. Six points were essential, four would probably be needed to keep Strauss' job, fewer would be a disaster. Defeat in the Macabees would suddenly throw the group back open, and was far from an impossible outcome.
Maybe the turnabout really was going to start with a cruisy win over the 308th-best side in the world. More likely it would take a little more than that.

NEPHARIM NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 9
Goalkeepers: 1 - Hesterine Mercator (Eastweald, COS), 12 - Sigurd Rustwyth (KF Koflir, QUS), 20 - Fasolt Senninger (Creed United)
Defenders: 2 - Rovena Stride (AFC Treason), 3 - Marcin Close (Brinemouth, c), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR), 6 - Ilyana Brosch (AFC Corvistone), 18 - Valeri Longship (Crisisbless), 19 - Sander Katarec (Vermillion Rage), 22 - Gabriel Lockheed (AFC Treason)
Midfielders: 4 - Tawny Shone (Sabrefell Moths), 7 - Marica Kuepper (Jungle Strike, VIL), 8 - Malachi Chalk (Falourr, EUR), 11 - Rowena Strongbow (Directus, EUR), 13 - Monako Saroszi (Ulsa, EUR), 15 - Ferena Rauch (AFC Treason), 16 - Morena Deventer (Brinemouth), 21 - Chimera Moxham (Crawford City FC, COS)
Forwards: 9 - Estrella Hawke (Directus, EUR), 10 - Aristide Metzger (AFC Treason), 14 - Kurtis Laiota (Crisisbless), 17 - Kurtis Bastable (Hornchurch, EUR), 23 - Konrad Lovelace (Starling)

SCHEDULE
Nephara 1 - 1 Bolgano @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Monso 0 - 3 Nephara
[Bye]
Nephara 2 - 0 Squornshelous @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Aquitlita 0 - 2 Nephara
Nephara 5 - 4 The Macabees @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Siovanija & Teusland 1 - 4 Nephara
Nephara 5 - 3 EOT @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Anthor 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 0 - 0 Lochario @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Poafmersia 0 - 3 Nephara
Bolgano 1 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 3 - 0 Monso @ Ebony Lane (Cranequin)
[Bye]
Squornshelous 2 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 3 - 0 Aquitlita @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
The Macabees vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Siovanija & Teusland @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
EOT vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Anthor @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Lochario vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Poafmersia @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)

[Brenecia]

Banija 1 - 0 Brenecia
(4-3-3) 1 - Farrell; 2 - Broxham, 5 - Horgan, 6 - Mathers, 3 - Quill (c); 8 - Matheson (21 - Parker 62'), 4 - Locke, 13 - Wheeler; 7 - Cheney, 10 - Ciogach (17 - Lindauer 75'), 16 - Fletcher (11 - Keynes 68')

Brenecia 2 - 1 Abanhfleft
(4-3-3) 1 - Farrell; 2 - Broxham, 5 - Horgan, 6 - Mathers, 3 - Quill (c); 8 - Matheson (14 - Ruskin 72'), 23 - Fallon, 13 - Wheeler; 7 - Cheney (15 - Coghlan 58'), 17 - Lindauer, 11 - Keynes (9 - Bremner 78')
Goals: Bremner 82', Lindauer 88'

"I swear to God, she is the worst. She just rocks up with her... with her beautiful platinum-snow hair and smiles at me, you know, and goes, like... hi Kiki... ugh, I hate her! God, can't talk now, here she comes..."
Sorcha Lonergan rounded the corner and peered across at Keziah Broxham, furtively glancing back with her hand pressed over her phone. Broxham raised an eyebrow.
"Hi, Kiki," said Lonergan.
"What?"
"Don't let me interrupt, I'm just passing through. You don't need to, ah..." She made an obscure twirling motion. "Stop with the thing."
She walked on by, Broxham regarding her haughtily. Stupid Sorcha and her stupid flowing locks and stupid perfect rear. And smooth skin, and small, full lips. She put the phone back to her ear. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah," said her sister, Lisa. Identical twin, actually. Thanks to Lisa, Keziah Broxham now knew what she'd look like if she ever stopped exercising and let herself go to seed, and had resolved to avoid that fate.
"What a bitch, right? It's like she knows we're rivals, she must know it, but- you know? Makes herself so soft and undespisable. It's like every time she smiles at me and my heart flutters and I lose a little control of my thoughts - I can't stop thinking of her, Lisa! The fucking bitch, right? Has me wrapped around her fucking finger!"

Nevertheless, to the surprise of many - herself included - Keziah Broxham was hurled out in Banija. Lonergan was younger, the rising star, knew the territory from her loan spell. But if the start remained Broxham's, it remained thus by a sliver. She'd been taken off for Lonergan around the hour in both the reverse fixtures, and hadn't even been on the plane to go to Terre.
What Broxham needed was what happened; eighty minutes of Gitonga Kahara in her pocket, and then the moment he switches flanks he slides between Locke and Quill to score. Maybe not what Brenecia needed, but it absolutely made her look better, and ensured she was on the teamsheet again against Abanhfleft.
Brelk-Xeral had enjoyed the luxury of a defensive, counterattacking play against Banija, though they'd been too under the cosh to really mount many counters. It had almost worked. Perhaps surprisingly, they would enjoy the same luxury against Abanhfleft, gambling that they were low on confidence and high on desperation and, in any case, needed to win for a realistic shot at qualification.
They would not be enjoying the luxury of Kara Ciogach, whose substitution for Creidne Lindauer late on against Banija had turned out to be more than tactical.
So the Fleftics came after them, and Broxham was entrusted with the duty of stopping Rusev from having a spare moment on the ball. Unfortunately, hopes of a Busukama-esque shutdown were quashed. Early.
All looked to be well until the 9th minute. Everyone knew Kelly McGinnis would have a fair shout at converting any sniff of a chance she got; nevertheless, McGinnis skidded away from her chaperones all too easily to shoot hard, perhaps a little too close to Farrell, the shot beaten away by the sprawling keeper. Farrell could rest on that laurel for all of two minutes, before Rusev, closed down from all productive angles by Broxham, went for the fuck-it shot that somehow, agonisingly, slipped under the goalkeeper.
So, okay. Back to square one, and attacking like rabid dogs - at least Broxham couldn't reasonably be blamed for that mess. Doubtless she would be, regardless. She got clear a couple more times, sent in a couple more crosses, and it took over an hour of increasingly desperate play - and one pair of fresh legs - for someone, the often-maligned Niall Bremner, to find his way onto them. A lunging, muscular dive at the far post, a magnificent flick of the head, and they were level! But level still wasn't good enough, not really. Level wouldn't kill the Fleftics dead, even if they could whine and point to possession stats after the fact. The points mattered, the run of play did not.
Eventually... eventually, hell, she was tired. Everyone was tired. Two high-intensity matches in quick succession, in the middle of the club session... and maybe this time, after Coghlan enthusiastically threw herself into a tackle and completely missed, leaving Broxham hopelessly exposed against two flankers... she held back, backed up. Waited for a mistake. Blessedly, one came. Riddles was too eager to cede responsibility to Rusev, and her pass was overhit, and Broxham sprinted as soon as the trajectory became clear, slid, cushioned the impact of the ball with her knees and somehow managed to get back to her feet, somewhat unwieldily, before the ball went out of play and before the crowd could even realise that they should cheer. And now she had the ball and two people chasing her and space, and nobody in the box... she did see Claire Ruskin, still looking fresh, to her left. Brilliant. She passed to Ruskin, her momentum took her forward, Ruskin passed back, what? That wasn't part of the-- but Coghlan was still getting to her feet, Ciogach was too far from anywhere, because she was injured, fuck, and suddenly Ruskin was breathing down the neck of the Fleftic back line with nobody else in sight and somehow had run between Sullins and where Riddles no longer was and she was free? And hell, what next?
She let fly just like she was sending in a cross, just, straight at the goal this time. And she closed her eyes just after the moment of impact... until she could hear the net ripple, and feel her teammates crowding around her.
Neither happened. The ball thunked off the crossbar, then off Creidne Lindauer as she swept in front of the stunned defence and drove home the rebound.
Well, fuck it. She took plenty of plaudits, her second assist ("everything but the finish!") and being the first to crowd Lindauer meant more people crowded her. She could soak in some of that adulation. She deserved it.
In a spare moment, she glanced back towards the bench and saw Sorcha Lonergan, clapping and smiling serenely. And she'd swear blind she saw her wink.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 9
Goalkeepers: 1 - Cass Farrell (Northern Union), 12 - Opal Cairncross (Marketville, EUR), 20 - Scanlan Pritchard (Marque)
Defenders: 2 - Keziah Broxham (Mallox, COS), 3 - Gethin Quill (Revolutionaries, EUR), 5 - Garrett Horgan (Northern Union), 6 - Keane Mathers (Northern Stallions), 18 - Sorcha Lonergan (Northern Union), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Crystal Fair HC, CRY), 22 - Chadwick Beath (CA Paulinthal, PAS)
Midfielders: 4 - Keziah Locke (Duke of the North, PAS), 8 - Elysse Matheson (Hornchurch, EUR), 13 - Corby Wheeler (Goldstaff City, COS), 14 - Claire Ruskin (Kingsgrove), 21 - Riona Parker (Rozelle United), 23 - Ronan Fallon (Newrook City, NPH)
Forwards: 7 - Lauren Cheney (Kingsgrove), 9 - Niall Bremner (Unioneers, EUR), 10 - Kara Ciogach (Lajuno, EUR), 11 - Cathal Keynes (Lajuno, EUR), 15 - Cail Coghlan (Pikemouth), 16 - Ceridwen Fletcher (North Hall), 17 - Creidne Lindauer (Kingsgrove)

SCHEDULE
Atlantic Republic 1 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 1 Terre Septentrionale
Casta Marina 0 - 5 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 2 Banija
Abanhfleft 2 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 0 Trolleborg
Crystalline Caverns 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 3 - 1 Brigantii
Sarzonia 1 - 3 Brenecia
[Bye]
Brenecia 3 - 2 Sherpa Empire
Brenecia 6 - 2 Atlantic Republic
Terre Septentrionale 3 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 4 - 1 Casta Marina
Banija 1 - 0 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 1 Abanhfleft
Trolleborg vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Crystalline Caverns
Brigantii vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Sarzonia
[Bye]
Sherpa Empire vs. Brenecia

[Jeruselem]

Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas (aka "Kate") and a young child Princess Bella Chloe Dallas wearing a number 13 Jeruselem jersey of her mother Princess Bianca.

This is Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas for Naked News Jeruselem. We're back home at Dazza Dallas Stadium for world cup qualification once again. I'm babysitting young Bella here. She's the daughter of Crown Prince Hamish and I guess she want to be on TV like me eh. Anyway, she's been told be keep quiet, although she imitates me anyway. And it's not an accident my middle name is Annabelle and her name is Bella.

It's getting to the pointy end of the competition and we'll be seeing officially some teams eliminated due to mathematics. Geektopia had the bye today and took no part in the results. Well given all the teams ahead of them playing, they were falling behind anyway.

Let's cover the games competed in Group 11 today before we cover the game here. Geektopia had the bye and it's good for them I guess. Byes suck.
Nahkistan took on visitors Welzat at home and got 3 points. They are bottom teams and well, it's good they had a win. Not good for Welzat who aren't last yet, but ... aren't far off.
We had some juicy games with the best teams taking on each other and contenders taking on each other.
Schottia who were 3rd, had visitors Galar who were last. An easy win then eh? Schottia had to fight off Galar 4-3. Yes they won but geez that was a struggle.
Balqia went to Savojarna with both teams needing points to keep up with Jeruselem and Schottia.
The visitors Balqia won 4-2 and well Savojarna had a huge setback. It does mean Balqia get win number 6. Pity Balqia had 6 losses which is the issue.

Well, let's discuss the big game ... not ours. Free Republics at home vs Taeshan! Yes, the battle of the titans.
Free Republics have been unbeaten for a while with one loss, while Taeshan have had two draws and one loss. Yes, that's less losses and draws between them than Schottia.
It was vital Taeshan kept a buffer between 2nd and 3rd. Free Republics had a growing buffer between it and Taeshan.
These two were way better than say 3rd and 4th in quality.
Free Republics are the highest scoring team with 2nd best defense. Taeshan actually don't score many goals, but they had the best defense. Two different type of teams
Free Republicssmash opponents while Taeshan do enough to win most of the time.
Taeshan lost 1-0 and gave Free Republics another win. Close game where the best offense won out but hey 1-0 loss to Free Republics is no shame!

That leaves our game, Jeruselem taking on TJUN-ia. TJUN-ia are a decent opponent, their goal difference reflects they do have defensive issues which is why they have lost so many games.
Dangerous game as we tend to not win home games, given we're got 6 bloody draws so far. Saying that, we've been much better in the 2nd half so far.
We're glad to say the Princesses kicked ass and won 5-2. Yeah we scored more than 3 goals in one game. OK 2 conceded but hey we scored FIVE.
Ok not our best game. But one of our best in this campaign. We're scoring goals! Looks like we're learning from our mistakes from the 1st half.
So does this mean much? Sort of ... we made progress but so did our main opposition. Boosting our goal difference is bloody helpful.

Galar are still last or 11th on 8 points. Welzat dropped to 10th on 11 because Nahkistan moved up to 9th in 12 points. Those three are still on the bottom
Geektopia stuck in 8th in 16 points, well they had a bye.
Savojarna back in 7th, 16 points. Also on 16 is TJUN-ia except they have positive goal difference. They are 6th
Balqia lurk back in 5th, on 21 points.
Jeruselem still stuck in 4th with 24 points because Schottia have 25 points in 3rd. Schottia's goal difference is actually worse.
Taeshan still 2nd but there's 8 points between them and Schotta. 8 points is still like 3 wins so Taeshan shouldn't worry than much.
Free Republics top with 42. They'll be fine.

A quick look at the other groups!
Group 1 is three way race with Audioslavia, Newmanistan and Sargossa 3rd. Brusseldorf are 4th but I can't see them making the top 2 from there.
Group 2. Top 2 are Banija and Brenecia, so far ahead of Abanhfleft 3rd.
Group 3. Our purple friends Starblaydia lead with HUElavia right on their tail. Mercedini are 3rd. Eastfield Lodge are 4th but I can't see them catching up.
Group 4. This is tight! Turori lead. 95X are 2nd but there's group right behind Sajnur, Saintland and Cosumar.
Group 5. Siovanija & Teusland lead Nephara with The Macabees still in striking range in 3rd.
Group 6. Equestria aka Ponyland, Hapilopper, and Darmen are locked in battle but Darkmania can still do something back in 4th
Group 7. Mriin and Chromatika lead the dangerous Main Nation Ministry in 3rd. Busoga Islands are also in the mix in 4th.
Group 8. South Covello! lead. Ziwana and Qasden fight for 2nd and 3rd. Filindostan have a chance back in 4th.
Group 9. There's four teams battling it out! Valanora, Ethane, Kelssek and Port Ember. Bears Armed our friends are back in 5th sadly.
Group 10. Kita-Hinode lead the Holy Empire, just. Juvencus are also in striking range. The rest, give up guys,
Group 12. Some familiar names! Farfadillis, Pasarga, Drawkland and add Polkopia.
Group 13. Eura are God here. Damukuni hold 2nd but we have Reçueçn challenging them.
Group 14. Vilita are also God. Vilita scored 58 goals! Mattijana and Zwangzug are fighting it out the 2nd spot.
Group 15. Apox look safe. Eraman and Ko-oren have to see who's 2nd with New Lusitania and Eshan not far away.


Group 11
Schottia 4–3 Galar
Jeruselem 5–2 TJUN-ia
Savojarna 2–4 Balqia
Nahkistan 1–0 Welzat
Free Republics 1–0 Taeshan

[Mkabia]

Idrissa Akakpo looked at the white line in front of him. He knew that, as soon as he crossed it, nothing would be the same again.

Ever since the disastrous result against Noooooooooo [number of o’s pending], the Leopards had been on the road. Whenever a home game had been scheduled, they had competed on neutral terrain, if only to avoid any problems with the power that be. Going home had been out of the question as the international airport had closed down since mobs burned down the entry hall. Everything had be there, anger, disappointment, hatred… Yet, for some reason, the spark had not ignited. The knifes were out and got honed but no one yet wanted to plunge it into the chests of compatriots.

It caused a strange limbo – the nation was not under control by far, but those with the access to the lucifer that could set the night ablaze kept the balance as is. Marshall Dindane proclaimed that his own hand had kept the nation from falling apart, a brilliant excuse to absorb more power. He demanded a return to normality, if necessary with force. No one could explain the contradiction.

In the end, he requested that the national team would return home.

They had been on the road for weeks which had brought them closer than ever. Some would debate that the results saw the mood lighten within the group, others proclaimed that the causality went the other way around. Whichever was true, it was a fact that two consecutive victories, larded with clean sheets for the struggling defensive line, was all that was required. But the most monumental episode might have been a loss, the eighth one of the series already. Against Eura, a powerhouse of the game, they for once did not look like the mice trying to escape from the claws of the cat.

Of course, of course, they suffered from the law of the strongest. But they looked courageous. They stood their ground and they made them work overtime. It made everyone aware that on the right day, in the right conditions – they could stop bigger teams. And a dry one out of nine, despite only seeing Sankaré beaten three teams, hadn’t removed that sentiment.

There had been attempts at fan control, but the roman candles and smoke bombs that were lighted before kick-off said everything one needed to know about the atmosphere. While it might have been spectacular for the Damukuni, they stepped into nothing they hadn’t seen before after five World Cup participations. Their 4-4-2 was classical, the squad experienced and the execution, seemingly, routine. With their eyes on the second qualifying spot, they looked as if they were doing a routine job and the opening half confirmed this with a Leeds brace. A third goal, just after the break, seemed to seal the deal.

Nobody knew what clicked and yet it was plane to see.

Not to hear, we must add. The crowd was livid over what the Leopards were trying and on every touch of the leather, the ‘boos’ and ‘com’on’s strangled one another in a thick sauce of noise. Only Mlapa and Diaware, who played for their home crowd in the River Stadium, seemed to escape the pressure – barely. Everyone tried – but most of all, they tried not to fuck up. In a typical moment, Zakaria Mlapa received the leather in the center of the pitch. So far, he had given a wide ball on every of these occasions and Darvish and Yoshiki already started to close in on him when out of a sort of aha-erlebnis, he started to run. And run. Ball on foot, he sliced his way forth and for some reason, everyone seemed to have forgotten that this was a viable option as well. Mlapa ain’t no born dribbler and he shuffled, tripped and stumbled his way through. The Damukuni tried to tackle him but just like a hero running through a mine field, everything blew to smithereens… Except Mlapa and the leather.

Those standing outside could follow his solo, just by the sound changing into a long-stretched ‘ooooooooooh’.

And then it erupted. No one heard the soft, metallic cling with which it touched the inside of the post, but it liberated Mkabia. Diawara got himself on the scoresheet and so did Nibombe. That Jill Leeds had recorded her third one of the game didn’t seem to matter, the balance was on the yellow-and-green side now. An unranked side was playing the number 34 of the world, yet the tables were turning. Diawara came close to the equalizer twice, but fell out of luck. With time running out, the decision which no one expected came.

“Akakpo comes on,” Kabirou spoke softly. By the tone of his voice, Tankary knew that both were aware of the gamble. As a mouthy youngster from Massagui, no one had the hate of the people centered on him so much.
“His warm-up first?” Tankary responded.
“No time,” the gaffer decided. “Besides, they’ll kill him if he runs that close to the touchline.”

He spoke it without as much as a wink, but it was the truth.

And there he stood, Idrissa Akakpo, twenty-two years of age. When the sign with his and Diawara’s number came up, the crowd tore the stadium apart. There were seats being ripped off and a wall, protecting the away fans, got demolished. No one but Akakpo heard the good luck mate from Diawara.

The madness had not ended yet when extra time started. Standing amidst this volcano of sound, the referee kept on checking his watch, wishing for the last whistle himself. Although only two of the projected four minutes had passed, he shouted to Mamadou Zongo ahead of the free kick.

“Last shot.”

If this is our last shot, Zongo thought, let it be a rocket. He fired it, shaving over the wall and escaping the flailing arms from Enomoto… Only to ricochet off the bottom of the crossbar. It bounced to the ground like a beachball and a mass of bodies ran towards it. Those who witnessed it, claim it happened in slow motion, legs, heads and even the off arm waving towards it. But it was the lanky Akakpo who got the first touch, a touch just in the general direction of the goal – but a good enough touch nonetheless.

The referee did not even restart the game, but contrary to his expectations, no one had to run and hide in the catacombs.

[Razneta]

---

Not Quite There Yet: Razneta 3-5 Xanneria
Goals: [XAN] D. Leymore 3', P. Saigon 11', 53', 90+5', L. Stegall 90+2' [RAZ] H.Golodiva 32', H. Talinmako 39', R. Tolokovsa 45+3'

---

Overview
The game started at full throttle, two goals from Xanneria came before the Blue wolves could blink, they saw themselves 2-0 down at 11'. After this Xanneria thought they had enough and parked the bus. This invited pressure, something the Raznetans aren't too used to doing. But what it also gave the opportunity to is having more time to think about when attacking. This proved costly for Xanneria, as the maroons conceded three goals until the half-time whistle. The first half wasn't convincing for both sides, but Razneta seemed a little better than their opposition.

---

The second half saw a different tactic employed by Z. Torozuk, the manager. He switched to a 4-5-1 and tried to hold control of the midfield. The maroons thought the same, and the battle for control over the midfield commenced. A brutal foul-to-foul fight ended in a free-kick goal by Saigon in the 53rd minute, but the tempo did not go down one bit. Until the 90th minute, the game looked like a fair draw. Just when everyone was getting up to leave early, a thunderbolt was shot into the Raznetan goal by Stegall. The home team gave everything to equalize but ended up conceding another goal after the keeper came up to a corner.

---

Torozuk's Press Conference
It is no surprise we are disappointed by this result. We weren't at full discipline when it mattered the most. Our performance wasn't anything too bad but what we lacked in today was discipline. I hope we can return to winning ways, because I, and the team, know we can do much better than this. ... I think we played worse football in the reverse with Xanneria, despite scoring three away. I am much more pleased with today's performance. ... Everyone should be reminded that our mission is to become one of the elite footballing nations. We are not willing to give up. ... 15 winnable points, given good conditions, will qualify us. If you have mathematical possibility to achieve your target, then you have not lost. We have only encountered an obstacle, and now we're entering the home stretch. This is the time to unite.

[Turori]

Cocoabo Strike Back with 12 goals in Two Games

Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Park, Cocoabo Forest :: The fans had come out in force to see the Turori National Team open its Qualification campaign against rivals 95X at Eels Park in Eelandii but they weren't all happy. Many fans who had reserved their tickets to the World Cup 84 Qualification home opener well before the date or opponent of the match had been set were disappointed to learn that it would be Turori's National Cocoabo squad contesting the match and not Turori's National Citizen Squad - the team that had finished 4th in World Cup 81 and runnner-up in World Cup 82.

The protests - if there were any, were mild up until the final whistle when the boo birds came out to express their displeasure at the 3-4 defeat that put the Turorian National Team in a hole before the campaign really even got started. After taking a 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Cocoabo #94 and Cocoabo #64, 95X responded with four goals unanswered until Cocoabo #61's late response made for a tense but ultimately disappointing conclusion to the match.

Turori [3] - [4] 95X

:: Turori Goalscorers :: :: 14' Cocoabo #94 :: 26' Cocoabo #64 :: 71' Cocoabo #61

:: Turori Statistics :: :: Possession: 51% :: Shots on Target: 5 :: Corner Kicks: 11

:: 95X Statistics :: :: Possession: 49% :: Shots on Target: 5 :: Corner Kicks: 8

---

Turori's National Cocoabo Squad Lineup v. 95X ::
[GK]Cocoabo #85, [D.]Cocoabo #57, [D.]Cocoabo #58, [D.]Cocoabo #53, [ML] Cocoabo #64, [MC] Cocoabo #61, [MC]Cocoabo #62, [MR] Cocoabo #65, [FC] Cocoabo #94, [FC]Cocoabo #98, [FC]Cocoabo #97
BENCH::
[FC]Cocoabo #99, [FC]Cocoabo #91, [M]Cocoabo #46, [M]Cocoabo #71, [U ]Cocoabo #54, [D]Cocoabo #59, [GK]Cocoabo #86

---

Following the defeat at the hands of 95X, calls for Turori's National Cocoabo Squad to be scrubbed from the Turori National Team schedule grew louder and louder including in the days leading up to the match against 18th former Atlantian Oceania Regional Champion nation Cosumar.

Of course the Cocoabo were very familiar with Cosumar as it was one of the first locations they had ever been forward deployed for competition - the 69th Cup of Harmony competition after Turori's National Citizen squad failed to qualify for World Cup 77. Watching the Vilitan National Team win that competition without even a fight to be had from the Turorian's inspired the Football Association of Tuorri to create the Citizen v. Cocoabo competition to ensure that the Football Association of Turori was always putting out the best Tuorrian side.

While the competition had unanticipated results - inspiring the Citizen Squad to come together to break the eternal curse of Turorian Quarter Final matches - their success also meant there was no room left at the inn for the Cocoabo who were cast aside. Now, with protests on their continued participation rampant back home in Turori, the Cocoabo had one last chance to prove themselves in a critical Group 4 away fixture. Defeat to Cosumar would almost surely mean the scrubbing of the entire Cocoabo World Cup 84 Qualification schedule and a potential end of Football Association of Turori support to the Cocoabo Enrichment and Enhancement Project (CEEP)

With four goals in a span of fifteen minutes either side of half time and a late cherry on top from Cocoabo #64 however the Cocoabo completed a five goal thrashing of Cosumar to silence their critics and keep their place on the schedule.

Turori [5] - [0] Cosumar

:: Turori Goalscorers :: :: 33' Cocoabo #90 :: 38' Cocoabo #61 :: 46' Cocoabo #57 :: 47' Cocoabo #98 :: 76' Cocoabo #64

:: Turori Statistics :: :: Possession: 57% :: Shots on Target: 12 :: Corner Kicks: 21

:: Cosumar Statistics :: :: Possession: 43% :: Shots on Target: 3 :: Corner Kicks: 7

---

Turori's National Cocoabo Squad Lineup v. Cosumar ::
[GK]Cocoabo #85, [D.]Cocoabo #57, [D.]Cocoabo #59, [D.]Cocoabo #53, [ML] Cocoabo #63, [MC] Cocoabo #61, [MC]Cocoabo #71, [MR] Cocoabo #65, [FC] Cocoabo #90, [FC]Cocoabo #97, [FC]Cocoabo #98
BENCH::
[FC]Cocoabo #99, [FC]Cocoabo #94, [M]Cocoabo #64, [M]Cocoabo #72, [U ]Cocoabo #54, [D]Cocoabo #58, [GK]Cocoabo #87

---

The Cocoabo made a triumphant return home to the Cocoabo Forest on Matchday 10 for their first home match since their 5-0 dismantling of primary qualification rivals Cosumar in the land of the vloo. Any early-campaign anti-Cocoabo sentiment was quickly put to rest following the result which sent Cosumar spiraling out of the qualification places and re-assured the Turorian faithful that the Cocoabo could still be trusted with their National Team as needed.

A packed house of sports fans, Cocoabo lovers and visitors to Cocoabo Park with disocunt tickets were treated to a real spectacle as Turori's National Cocoabo Squad hosted Pink Floyd FC in what in retrospect may have been one of the Top 10 matches in World Cup Qualifying history with respect to the number of players on the field with exposed genitalia. The Pink Floyd FC team which previously appeared during the World Cup 81 Qualification campaign had no set uniform and a number of players opted to play in the nude, sans clothing. Pink Floyd's Left Midfielder who goes only by 'Gerald' was quoted as saying "Clothes just get in the way, man" when asked for a rationale.

The match iteself was a real barn-burner with the Cocoabo setting a new high bar for the campaign finding the back of the net seven times. Pink floyd wouldn't be shut out however has Gerald himself scored twice in the first half to send the match into the break all tied up at two while Grimble Grumble scored in the 83rd minute to set up the exciting conclusion to the match which saw Pink Floyd send all eleven players forward in the attack even going so far as substituting their goalkeeper out for a striker in the 86th minute as they searched for an equalizer that would serve as the defining moment of their campaign.. This strategy allowed the clinical Cocoabo to notch a few extra tallies particularly as Pink Floyd FC did not abandon their "Goalie Pulled" approach for the remainder of the match even after going down seven to three.

Turori [7] - [3] Pink Floyd FC

:: Turori Goalscorers :: :: 21' Cocoabo #46 :: 43' Cocoabo #71 :: 61' Cocoabo #46 :: 74' Cocoabo #64 :: 88' Cocoabo #91 :: 89' Cocoabo #62 :: 90' Cocoabo #94

:: Turori Statistics :: :: Possession: 57% :: Shots on Target: 14 :: Corner Kicks: 31

:: Pink Floyd FC Statistics :: :: Possession: 43% :: Shots on Target: 6 :: Corner Kicks: 9

---

Turori's National Cocoabo Squad Lineup v. Pink Floyd FC ::
[GK]Cocoabo #86, [D.]Cocoabo #57, [D.]Cocoabo #53, [D.]Cocoabo #58, [ML] Cocoabo #61, [MC] Cocoabo #64, [MC]Cocoabo #71, [MR] Cocoabo #46, [FC] Cocoabo #99, [FC]Cocoabo #97, [FC]Cocoabo #91
BENCH::
[FC]Cocoabo #98, [FC]Cocoabo #94, [M]Cocoabo #72, [M]Cocoabo #62, [U ]Cocoabo #65, [D]Cocoabo #59, [GK]Cocoabo #85

---

While things had looked fairly bleak for the Cocoabo after opening up World Cup 84 Qualifying with a narrow defeat to rivals 95X, two statement victories including an impressive 5-0 victory away from home against 18th ranked Cosumar had renewed the faith of both the Turorian fans and of the Football Association of Turori who signed the Cocoabo up for an additional match during the second half of World Cup 84 Qualifying, handing the Cocoabo the opportunity to face Benjamin Mark and potentially avenge the Citizen Squad for their only major blemish during the first eleven matchdays of competition. Another win for the Cocoabo coupled with the possibility of clinching a spot in the World Cup Finals prior to the conclusion of Qualifications could see further games for the Cocoabo Squad late in the campaign.

[Taeshan]

"Not exactly the result I'm sure you guys hoped for today."

"No."

"What would you say this means for the squad moving forward"?

"Well it doesn't help. We've got a 7 point lead on Schottia, but we could use more. We need 12 points between the two of us, them dropping and us gaining to qualify. That is of course if Jeruselem, or Geektopia don't suddenly have ideas on vaulting all of us."

"You have Nahkistan up next, than the four teams trailing. What do you have to get out of this game"?

"Most importantly a win. Letting up less than 10 goals over a qualifying period is great, but do you know what is better than that"?

"What"?

"Qualifying for the World Cup. If we beat Jeruselem and Schottia that gives us a lot of points in two important clashes. If we had beaten Welzat and TJUN-ia we would have four more points and only need 8 in 6 games. As it is 12 in six games isn''t terrible. Especially when the others can work against each other as much as we can."

"What is the most important things in the days to come."

"Honestly if we get the two wins we should get no matter what at home against Nahkistan and at Galar. We just need to really get one more result against the four troubling teams at Savojarna and Schottia, or at home against Geektopia and Jeruselem."

"Do you still think you qualify."

"We should."

"You should"?

"Yeah. We played better than almost anyone in the group. The fact is unlike Free Republics we've lost some points that we shouldn't have. They're only loss is against us on the road, the 2 seed. We've lost points at 3 of the lowest seeds in the group. That can be your downfall. We shouldn't be losing those points. They can be the difference between qualifying running away, and not qualifying."

"Any squad changes to come"?

"It's hard to say. It's not like a 1-0 loss in Free Republics is a hard pill to swallow, especially after a big win at home against them. Howe3ver, there are some guys like Larson Sneijder who have pushed for a start the whole season with good bench performances."

"Non-committal as always."

"Hey it's your job to get the quotes, and I'm just doing my job in not giving them to you."

[Sarzonia]

The phone call seemingly came out of nowhere. Carol Ostrom's eyebrows furrowed as she saw a number she only sort of recognised on the caller ID display.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Ostrom," the voice on the other end intoned.

"Mr. Vice President?" Her eyes widened. It was just the third time she'd ever spoken to Carter Marshall, with the first time coming right after Bryan passed. The second time happened right after the funeral for her late husband. Marshall understood from conversations he'd had with Bryan Ostrom's superiors that Carol Ostrom preferred her privacy and would not have welcomed interactions with the public at large.

"Yes, Mrs. Ostrom. I'm sorry for the intrusion, but the Trolleborg football team have asked to pay you a visit."

"Visit? Me? I, uh, well I'm honoured!" she said. She knew it would be because the Trolleborg national team wanted to pay their respects to her after Bryan's death. Several of the teams during this qualifying campaign have paid tribute to her late husband. She was in regular, if halting contact with Paolo Gomes, the once again reserve goalkeeper, even though some of it had to go through translators. One thing that didn't need translating was how supportive he was of her and her daughter. She also corresponded occasionally with the two Stars players who had direct familial ties with the glory days of Sarzonia's footballing past. Granted, both men were much younger, but she treasured them almost as if they were additional sons.

After she hung up the phone with the Sarzonian Vice President for Health and Athletics and sat down for a good cry, she finally brought herself back from the doldrums with a more mundane thought.

Great. Now I have to clean this place up.

She took a few minutes and got the place straightened up, then after she'd finally finished the last of her chores, the doorbell rang.

She answered it, and it was some of Trolleborg's players. They walked in with sombre looks on their faces and the first one to walk in after she asked them to come in gave her a hug. Another one gave her a collection of black lilies. Pretty soon, it felt as though the entire national team was in Carol Ostrom's house, some playing with her daughter Mary, while her stepchildren were still at uni.

Six hours later, she arrived at the owner's box at the Iron Bowl in Portland as the guest of honour as the Stars kicked off to start the match. The Stars seemed inspired by the presence of the widow of their manager, scoring three times without reply in the first half and running off the pitch with a resounding lead. Trolleborg would make things interesting with tallies in the 48th minute and in the 62nd before the Stars got a goal from Clayton Wilson in the 88th to provide the breathing room that Stars supporters nervously sought.

It was fitting that Trolleborg seemingly waited until the 48th minute to strike because their sections of green-clad supporters, who had been boisterous and buoyant even with their team trailing by three goals and threatening to fall behind by a fourth suddenly fell silent as their team kicked the ball off to start the second half. Their sections remained quiet enough to detect the drop of a pin for a full minute, gradually building back up into a crescendo that threatened to overshadow the navy-clad Stars supporters with both goals. Even the referee's final whistle signaling a 4-2 Stars victory in a match that gave them a measure of revenge against the reigning Baptism of Fire Cup champions didn't silence their enthusiastic, full-throated support for their heroes.

However, the boisterous nature of the visiting crowds was not what Carol Ostrom would remember about this day. Even the victory that improved the Stars record to 4-6-5 would fade into the mist of forgotten moments. Her most vivid memory was of players from a country that previously had limited to no contact with her own showing support and solidarity to her one more time.

It was a memory that would long outlive anything else from this World Cup cycle.

As for the team itself, manager Kevin Connelly and goalkeeper Mateo Sandoval had more to celebrate than merely a victory that, while it wouldn't thrust the Stars into contention for a berth in Cassadaigua or Baker Park, would signal that the Stars were not going to be anybody's pushover. Not now, not ever.

Their record of 4-6-5 only began to tell the tale. Granted, they stood seventh in a table of 11 teams in Group 2 and their chances of qualifying for the World Cup were mathematically gone. However, the Stars were 1-4-4 going into the last match prior to the Christmas break at tiny Nottingham Pavilion in Woodstock. Starting with their 3-2 victory over fellow unranked side Atlantic Republic, Sarzonia have gone 3-2-1 since. Their lone defeat was to world No. 5 Banija at cavernous Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock despite the throng of 105,000-plus packed in supporting them.

The team earned a 2-2 draw against Abanhfleft that dealt critical damage to the world's 42nd ranked team's chances at qualifying for the proper. The team currently have conceded one more goal than they've scored with five matches remaining.

Clearly, the Stars are playing to much better form as Trolleborg media pointed out prior to Sarzonia's victory in Portland. They will travel to No. 66 Crystalline Caverns hoping to notch their second away victory of the campaign, one that would draw their record level.

It's a remarkable accomplishment for an unranked side, sure, but not unprecedented for Sarzonian football. After all, the Stars were leading their group with two matches left against the two highest ranked sides in their group in qualifying for World Cup 16, though they did so as a team that had never competed in international football and coming off a dominant run through the third ever Baptism of Fire Cup to win it. In their return after an extended absence in World Cup 44, they highlighted it with a shock 2-0 victory over then-No. 11 The Han Empire, but nearly sent shock waves through the multiverse by leading world No. 1 and two-time defending champions Valanora by two goals with 20 minutes remaining, but saw the Elves battle back with two goals to draw the match level.

This time, such Nicksia miracle endings aren't in the offing for this team, but they'll be grateful for being a team that no one can take for granted as the source of three easy points.

[Port Ember]

Port Ember Times
Sports Journal

Five In a Row For Our Dragons!

Port Ember 4 - 2 Five Cities

By Erica Davies - Port Ember Times Sports Section

The Port Emberian Dragons pulled off yet another consecutive victory in the second half of the World Cup 84 Qualification Season, when they defeated the Five CitiesNational Team in an home match this past Match Day 15.

The second half of the qualifier season sees Port Ember facing off against all the teams they have allready faced in the first half, allowing the oppertunity to exact revenge on lost matches - or reprove themselves. This second match against Five Cities was a chance for our young team to prove to themselves and the world that it was not luck that brought them their previous 4-3 victory.

This win has resulted in firmly anchoring Port Ember in the fourth place on the group table. Altough qualifying is still an unrealistic dream, this result is sure to sooth the pride of the team and the nation alike.

This win now sets our national team on an impressive five game winstreak.

This home match was played at a fully packed Waterstad International Stadium, situated in the Waterstad Borough of the capital city - Port Ember Megalopolis; Republic of Port Ember.

The Game - Summary

This match marked the fith match of the second half of the qualifier season, following the Holiday Break. Port Ember entered this match as the favourites, and expected a victory for the young team - however the passionate Five Cities National Team ensured that the Dragons work very hard to gain that honor.

Port Ember once again switched their playstyle during this match, reverting back to their traditional "Bait Ambush" style, as the Five Cities Team launched a legion of energetic and high octane attacks upon the Port Emberian defences from the moment the derby commenced. The thundering pressure asserted from the Five Cities Team seemed to overwhelm the Port Emberian defences and seemingly caught them sleeping, as a opposition striker used this confusion to slot the ball home in minute 12. This bode an early poor omen for the young Dragons.

Luckily for Port Ember, both the midfield and backline managed to regain composure immediately following this opening shock and started putting their gameplan and skills to use. Whilst the Five Cities Team continued their relentless assualts, the Port Emberian defences held firm. The midfield and backline worked together like a well oiled footballing machine, constantly shutting down attacks, stealing posession and forcing the opponents to work hard to regain it. The first half ended with this tactics taking place till the whistle blew, although the opposition broke through to score again in minute 43, making the score 0-2 in favour of the visitors.

Once the second half commenced it was clear that the Port Emberian play had worked - the opposition was exhuasted and frustrated. The Port Emberians immediately went to task to capitalise on this oppertunity, and started launching a barrage of attacks of their own. Striker Leon Moult and winger Eric Tosaír blasted through deep down in the right flank, culminating in a Moult goal in minute 66.

Danny Nicovic proved himself again as deserving of his "Golden Child" nickname, as he blasted through the opposition in minutes 71 and 76, rapidly scoring two goals, taking the lead for his team.

The final game ending goal was achieved by a beautifull link up play between captain Ray Reddington and star striker Danny Nicovic - ending with Nicovic making the ball sing its victory song in minute 82 - picking up a well deserved hatrick.

The Fans

The 100 000 Port Emberian fans in attendance were back to their standard noisy and passionate antics, cheering and energising their young team.

Port Emberian Player Scores

Goalkeeper (GK)(#1): Peter Smith - 7/10. The 'Rock' had a busy day between the sticks, working overtime to overcome to hyper attacks at goal, stopping 4 of 5 shots at goal.

Center Back (CB)(#2): Josh Richards - 7/10. Josh was a solid defender, executing brilliant tackles when required for the full 90 minutes. Although not the most technical player, his physical strength and fitness got the job done in a manner which could inspire many future footballers.

Center Back (CB)(#3): Jason Lee. 8/10. 'The Backline Prince' did what he does best for the full 90 minutes - organise and rally the backline. Surely responsible for assisting his side in keeping the opposing score low.

Full Back (LB)(#4): Alex Kuhn - 6/10. The opposition mostly avoided the left backline for most of the match, giving Alex a peacefull match, which was not his mistake. When shots were taken into his reach, Alex managed to hold up his own.

Full Back (RB)(#5): Russel Pierce - 7/10. Was a solid defender, executing brilliant tackles when required for the full 90 minutes. Although not the most technical player, his physical strength and fitness got the job done in a manner which could inspire many future footballers.

Attacking Midfield (AM)(#10): Ray Reddington - 8/10. Brilliant day for the Captain on the field. Never failed to exploit potentiol gaps during offences and managed to create gaps when there was none.

Defensive Midfield (DM)(#6): Steven Packard - 8/10. Great day for Steven as he worked hard, and managed to link up well with Reddington to create counter attack oppertunities.

Wide Midfield (LM)(#8): Jason Chamberlain - 6/10. Had a peacefull day as his flank was mostly left untested. The few chances he got to prove himself, he displayed solid passion and skill.

Wide Midfield (RM)(#11): Eric Tosaír of the Tribe of Waterford - 7/10. Had a excellent field day and proved his worth as the newcomer to the team. Assisted in an excellent goal due to good midfield-striker chenistry.

Central Forward (CF)(#7): Leon Moult - 7/10. Seemed to be back to his normal and brilliant form as he posed constant threats to the opposition defence. Scored an excellent goal.

Central Forward (CF)(#9): Danny Nicovic 8/10. Proved to the world that he is deserving of his Star Status, picking up his hatrick on the way of doing so. Well deserved Man Of The Match Award.

Match Stats

Match: Port Ember Vs Five Cities

Location: Republic of Port Ember

Result: 4 - 2 Win for Port Ember

Goals - Port Ember: Danny Nicovic x 3; Leon Moult

Goals - Five Cities: Unknown Players x 2

Man of the Match - Port Ember: Danny Nicovic

Aftermatch word from the Coach

"Whilst its true that I expected and demanded a win from the lads today, one must never underestimate the Five Cities lads. I do not care how strong/weak analysts claims they are on paper - or even what their game stats say - these lads posseses some of biggest hearts and passion I have ever encountered. It was an absolute pleasure to go to war against them." Coach Baxter

Article by Erica Davies
Port Ember Times
Sports Journal

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Port Ember Times
Sports Journal

The Port Emberian Dragons prepares to face off against Xanneria as part of the World Cup 84 Qualifier Season!

Pre Match Analysis & Interview

By Erica Davies - Port Ember Times Sports Journal

The road to World Cup 84 Qualifiers is in full swing as Match Day 17 is upon the Port Emberian side.

Port Ember's national team will square off against Xanneria in their sixteenth match of the World Cup 84 Qualification Season, to be played at the XANAir National Stadium II, - the traditional home of the Xannarian Maroons, located in Dominica City; Xanneria.

This match marks the second time that these two teams will meet on the football field, Port Ember having won their first encounter earlier this season with a narrow 2-1 score.

Team Stats Analysis

Xanneria:

This team is currently ranked as the 56th best team in the world on the international ranking system, and posesses a decent footballing history and a strong and developed football culture and infrastructure.

This team is currently placed in position 7 of 11 on the qualifier table - with 19 points ammassed so far, with 6 wins, 1 draw and 7 losses, scoring a total of 32 goals while allowing 34 goals to be scored against them.

Port Ember:

This team is ranked as the 86th best team in the world currently and has proven to be a formiddable and adaptable new team on the international field prior to the start of this season.

This is only the second international season in which Port Ember is partaking, and they have managed to jump to their current ranking in only that short period. The international sports media have regularly called this team the 'Dark Horse' of the group due to them making a name for themselves so quickly.

Even though the team has struggled to find their rhythm in the first half of the qualifier season, it appears that their old and dangerous form had reappeared after the Holiday Break, as they now are on a 5 game winning streak.

This team is currently placed in position 4 of 11 on the qualifier table - with 28 points ammassed so far, scoring a total of 32 goals while allowing 26 goals to be scored against them.

Team Analysis - Port Ember

Offense:

This team is known for their highly aggressive offences and legendary counter attacks, with world class strikers. The striker duo also seems on excellent form lately.

Midfield:

Traditionally the strongest component of this team, under command of the amazing Reddington. The midfield is a dangerous element to its oponents, acting as an attacking defence and sets up the front line well with attacking oppertunities.

Defence:

The backline is displaying a better form than normal, yet is still not its strongest compoment, focussing more on fluid attacks and counter attacks.

Goalkeeping:

Analysts have nothing but praise for Peter Smith the starting goalie. The young man is a legend in the making.

Substitutes:

The team has a impressive line-up of substitutes, whom have received field time recently, adding possible depth to the team when needed. The extra attention they have received from the assistant coach is sure to play a important role as well.

Team Morale & Cohesion:

This team seems to have regained their composure and morale, standing united against any opposition. Their previous five wins in a row, two of those against much stronger opononents, have boosted morale immensely.

Current Form:

L-L-L-W-W-W-W-L-L-D-W-W-W-W-W

This team is on a current 5 game winning streak, and has the looks of a champion team at the moment.

Typical Gameplan: Their typical system of tiring out and frustrating their opponents in an attempt to pull their 'Bait Ambush' is a risky play which can easily go wrong and concede a goal. However when it works, it is highly effective.

Team Analysis - Xanneria

Offense:

This team is one of the most offensive minded teams on the planet, fielding a shocking 5 strikers in the front row. This unorthodox playstyle can ne devastating to any opponent who is not prepared to go to war for a full 90 minutes.

Midfield:

This team's midfield is solid and supports the front and backlines with decent technical skills.

Defence:

Due to this teams aggressive playstyle, they do not place any emphasis or importance on their small 3 player backline and is their greatest oppertunity to exploit. However, the 3 veterans still plays their heart out.

Goalkeeping:

Analysts have nothing but praise for the starting goalie, and have proven to be a goalkeeping machine between the sticks.

Substitutes:

The team has a impressive line-up of substitutes, whom have received field time recently, adding possible depth to the team when needed.

Team Morale & Cohesion:

This team has had a difficult season with many setbacks, yet they seem to remain positive and united on the field, having been able to cause some shocking upsets at times.

Current Form:

W-L-L-W-L-W-L-L-L-W-W-L-D-W

Clearly this team has had a struggling season as can be seen from the stats above. This could either finally have broken their spirit - or motivate them to a legendary comeback.

Typical Gameplan:

Overwhelming and thundering offence.

Starting Line-Ups

Port Ember

Goalkeeper (GK)(#1): Peter Smith.

Center Back (CB)(#2): Josh Richards.

Center Back (CB)(#3): Jason Lee.

Full Back (LB)(#4): Alex Kuhn.

Full Back (RB)(#5): Russel Pierce.

Attacking Midfield (AM)(#10): Ray Reddington.

Defensive Midfield (DM)(#6): Steven Packard.

Wide Midfield (LM)(#8): Jason Chamberlain.

Wide Midfield (RM)(#11): Eric Tosaír of the Tribe of Waterford

Central Forward (CF)(#7): Leon Moult.

Central Forward (CF)(#9): Danny Nicovic.

Xanneria

Forwards

#1 Glenn Hailey

#2 Richard Presentino

#11 Pete Saigon

#12 Devon'elle Leymore

#19 Henry Clayton-Thorn

Midfielders

#10 Lane Stegall

#32 Mark Hailey

#40 Doby Bunnkirk

Defenders

#26 James Fillmore

#50 Nick Borelli

Goalkeeper

#00 Dom Brabham

Team Kit

Port Ember have announced that they will play with their primary kit in their upcoming match.

Pre Match Interview with Coach Stuart Baxter:

Erica Davies: Coach, first off, congratulations are in order - the hard fought for victory over Five Cities is the talk of the entire nation!

Coach Baxter: Thank you Erica! It was a good match, as was our last encounter. That team truly always brings forth a big and hard fight, and our young team is forced to be at their best in order to bring back the rum!

Erica Davies: Thanks for that Coach! So does this amazing 5 game winning streak change your opinion on the possibility of qualifying for the World Cup Proper?

Coach Baxter: Sadly it does not Erica. My views on the qualification campaign remains realistic. One epic victory in no ways garauntees follow up victories. My original goal of growing as a team whilst obtaining experience, remains just that.

Erica Davies: So coach, Xanneria is next. How are you feeling?

Coach Baxter: I think this is going to be a tough and exciting match. Our opponents is a much stronger team than our own - on paper atleast. Yet - they have been struggling to find their feet this season, and we have allready beat them offcourse. They will also enjoy the home field advantage. So all in all, its going to be a slugfest out there!

Erica Davies: Well said coach! Well thats all for today - and we as a nation hope you all the luck and fortune for tomorow!

Article by Erica Davies
Port Ember Times
Sports Journal

---

Port Ember Times
Sports Journal

The World Cup 84 Qualification Season

A Closer Look at Group 9 Results

By Gerhard Black - Port Ember Times Sports Journal

This article aims to take a closer look into the broader events and results relating to our opposition whom also forms part of Group 9 of the World Cup 84 Qualification Season.

Match Day 16 Results & Analytical Opinion

Ouna 3–4 Kelssek

Judging from the close score, Ouna must have played both their hearts and souls out against a VERY impressive looking Kelssek side.

Lisander 2–0 Appalachian Nation

An interesting result, as both these sides are very inpredictable. One day they both struggle against anyone - and the next they slay giants. Impressive win for Lisander.

Port Ember 4–2 Five Cities

Everyone feared a repeat of the previous encointer's violence and dirty play, yey both sides brought forth their best behaviour and best skills. Our young Dragons is on our greatest form in history.

Razneta 3–5 Xanneria

A hard fought game, with Xanneria's thundering offence taking home the bacon. Can we put a stop to their rampage next?

Ethane 2–3 Bears Armed

Most interesting match of this match day. The Bears are starting to stomp and steamroll, whilst the once unstoppable Ethane is in grave danger of losing their qualification spot.

(Nations listed first was the host of the specific match)

An Analysts opinions on Each Team After Match Day 16

Valanora

This truly legendary team dominated this group before the Holiday Break, yet is currently stuggling in the second half. Their loss against Port Ember was followed with 2 consecutive draws. Even though they are going through a rough patch, I am confident that they will recover and will still end this season on top. Its simple providence.

Ethane

Another legendary team who steamrolled in the first half of the season, whom has started to struggle in the second half. One or two more poor results may even start risking their qualification spot againt Kelssek or even Port Ember.

Kelssek

They started off slow but have gained massive momentum and is looking dangerous. They have become a very real threat to unseat Ethane from that second qualification seat.

Port Ember

Our young Dragons do not have a true hope of actually reaching a qualification spot, although with a perfect combination of the right blessings & curses it might even happen. But this aside, our national team is on theor best ever form, and is making our nation pride.

Bears Armed

A team who is making waves and causing some brilliant upsets. Definitely a side to keep an close eye on.

Razneta

No longer has a chance to qualify, yet has proven to be still dangerous. An exciting team delivering exciting matches.

Xanneria

One of the strongest teams having a terrible season. They have the potentiol to still make some absolute and awesome comebacks.

Lisander

A team who has once shown potentiol of greatness, but keeps having nasty setbacks.

Ouna

A weak side whom is known to cause huge upsets when unprepared for, but its too late to do anything meaningfull this season.

Five Cities

A weak side whom is known to cause huge upsets when unprepared for, but its too late to do anything meaningfull this season.

Appalachian Nation

A side whom does not belong in last place. I have watched both games between them and our own national team, and they play their absolute hearts out. Someone needas to fix what ever is broken and fast - such talent and latent potentiol is too good to throw away.

Current Group Standings

Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                         14   10   2   2    50   18  +32    32
 2 Ethane                           15    9   3   3    40   26  +14    30
 3 Kelssek                          15   10   0   5    40   28  +12    30
 4 Port Ember                       15    9   1   5    32   26   +6    28
 5 Bears Armed                      14    7   2   5    30   27   +3    23
 6 Xanneria                         14    6   1   7    32   34   −2    19
 7 Razneta                          15    5   2   8    18   28  −10    17
 8 Lisander                         14    5   2   7    27   38  −11    17
 9 Ouna                             14    3   4   7    18   33  −15    13
10 Five Cities                      15    3   2  10    28   46  −18    11
11 Appalachian Nation               15    2   3  10    30   41  −11     9

Article by Gerhard Black
Port Ember Times
Sports Journal

---

[HUElavia]

SPECIAL PREVIEW: Starblaydia vs HUElavia

After the 3-2 home victory in San Ignatius (52,000), Itio with the B-Team, with Marc Navarro scoring a hat-trick against Tara & Cambray, HUElavia finds themselves just a point off from 1st Place against the next team they face, Pot 1 Starblaydia. Starblaydia has 35 points while HUElavia has 34, both being 6 and 5 points respectively off from 3rd Place Mercedini. Matchday 16 will be interesting as 1st Place is up for grabs. Either team can afford a loss, since they have a simple schedule next, but a draw would be a reasonable and favorable result for both teams. Starblaydia are favorites headed into this match.

Regardless, both teams are expected to play their best players. May it be a spectacular match for the World to see.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

[Bolgano]

The history of the ¨Celestes¨

Antiquity
The national team of Bolgano, well, is not one of the strongest today in the multiverse, but they had fantastic times in the past, Bolgano's debut with his local team was in The Council of New Liberty Cup, better known for its acronym TCNL Cup, a tournament from a region of the past, in the first edition 10 teams were registered among them Bolgano, the tournament was held in Kushkistan, founder of TCNL, they were divided into 2 groups and Bolgano played the opening game before the Founders, whose game was 2-2, scored by Frederik Van Steer, yes, the Bolgano Sports commentator, Bolgano did not go round that issue to a point of second place, I do not remember the name but I think it was Drykstar, something Thus, a while after the second edition was held throughout the region with 12 participating nations, Bolgano this time played in the second group, in match 2 against Silks, Bolgano played for the first time a home game, was victory 3 -1 before the silver ones (for their flag) the team reached the Semifinals losing to Drykstar, the third and final edition took place in Bolgano, with 12 nations again, the locals won their first championship after beating Kushkistan in the final 2-0, a problem among the members of the region forced the inhabitants to dissolve, inactivity, that was the problem, Callerdft was the place where 3 players from that region moved (Vigo II, Eelem Talem and Bolgano) where their 2 editions of the famous Callerft Cup, tournament where 6 nations played in their 2 editions, Bolgano got the title in the second edition where they got their nickname "Celestes" that "Sky Blue" in Spanish.

Actually
Returning to the soccer field was a problem for this team, one day they decided to move to Atlantian Oceania, the largest sports region in the multiverse, perhaps the road to today would be difficult for Bolgano against high-value teams, entering the BoF 70, Bolgano managed to pass the first round, had to face Cheetahs & Reptiles Coalision in the second round, the match ended 1-0 in favor of the Reptiles, the qualifiers on the way to Equestria & Banija would be the great test for the Bolgano , they received a massacre of goals, well not so much, but if many defeats, without much effort, Bolgano did not have a good role in the WCQ83, following his path, the AOCAF 59 would be his debut in the Regional tournament more important, receiving again massacres, sad history is this team, until the time of the Wonder Cup, it was time to change, in 8 games Bolgano won 6, draw 1 and lost 1 with a youth team, finishing sealing his gra n victory against Darmen U-23 and being the champions in Qasden, were good times to this day, the Celestes improve their game in search of something, qualify for a World Cup.

[Recuecn]

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 |
Chapter 11
Mister Minister | Ch. 12 | Monsieur le Ministre

Before IAC 7--Jeanne Chartray was on the phone with Jean-Luc Lassalle: some very important negotiations between the Reçuecian National Football Association and the Ministry of Sport were about to start, but it had been mutually decided it would be best for the minister himself not to make an appearance. So now he was giving instructions to his mouthpiece. Chartray, as a noted opinion columnist herself, was the perfect choice; everyone knew that she had plenty of her own strongly-held, independent opinions, so hopefully she could bring something new to the negotiating table. If Lassalle had chosen someone less autonomous, it would have been no different than negotiating with him in person. But perhaps the minister wasn't quite aware exactly how independent his chosen negotiator was...

"I'm sure you can find something to offer them, but allowing them to remain in control of the entire sport of football in Reçueçn is a non-starter," Jean-Luc was saying. "Don't cave on that, and then from there whatever you offer them to break the boycott should be fine. I trust you to make good decisions, so it's going to be pretty open-ended for you really."

"Good, that's just how I like it."

"Great. LaVoyard was telling me that they all think highly of you so hopefully it shouldn't be too hard. If you need to distance yourself a bit from me to get them to accept your position, that's fine."

"I'm sure there's a balance I'll have to strike there. They do have to recognize that I'm representing you in order to actually make an agreement with the Ministry. But I see what you're saying."

"Yeah. I know it's maybe optimistic, but I've given you the Ministry Seal so that should you actually come to a satisfactory conclusion you can finalize it right away."

"I'll try to surprise you then!"

"I look forward to it! Thanks again for doing this. And remember: as long as the RNFA isn't the football governing body when we come out of this, we've accomplished what we're trying to do. Everything else is negotiable."

Chartray smiled--she should be thanking him: she didn't have anything at stake herself, so negotiating was almost going to be a game for her. And she'd be getting a great article out of it to...

---

"Good morning gentlemen." Chartray walked into the room designated as the 'negotiation chamber' in the RNFA headquarters to find all seven executive members of the association already there. They stared back at her from under their bushy eyebrows, the air crackling with tension. She went around and shook their hands. Each of them had been spoken to in person at sometime in the last week by either Jean-Luc Lassalle, herself, or Bill LaVoyard--who was a RNFA representative himself. He'd agreed to help the ministry to break the deadlock, and although his presence was expected, as he was an executive member as well, Jeanne was happy to see him there.

Having greeted everyone, Chartray took her seat at the table--a round one, of course, since even among themselves the RNFA itself there was typically a minor ongoing struggle to maintain the balance of power... that is, at least when they did not find themselves united by a common enemy in the ministry of sport.

"You outnumber me seven to one, I see," Jeanne laughed. "But that's okay because I know--despite how cliche it is--that we all want the same thing."

"I hope you don't mean by that what the minister meant when he said it to me earlier," said Bill Lavoyard, getting things started right off the bat. "It's easy to say things like 'we all want the best for Reçuecian soccer,' but the subtext before was that the minister just wanted us to agree with him. It had little to do with compromise or negotiation."

Chartray looked LaVoyard dead in the eyes, and reaching forward, put her hand flat on the table in front of him to emphasize her point. "Let me be very clear as we start off here." She looked around the room, making sure she held everyone's attention, then returned to LaVoyard. "I came here to compromise and negotiate. Like any compromise, the Minister won't be able to get everything he wants, but then, neither will you. That's how compromises work. That is something that I think is very difficult for the minister to accept--hopefully you understand it. But I am not the minister. I'm not here to let him speak through my mouth, rehash the same old points, and make no progress. I'm here so that we can see things from a different perspective, find where we have common ground, and move forward. Because I am not the minister. You can say whatever you like about him, I don't care--and please, be perfectly honest with me about what it is you want as these negotiations continue."

With that, negotiations were already off on the right foot. One might think it was a simple good-cop/bad-cop act, but Jeanne was genuine, and she made sure that the RNFA representatives knew it. They sensed that for some reason, this political columnist had found a deep motivation to resolve this problem and that she was serious about doing it. That she was acting in good faith was clear, and that attitude was reciprocated by the others at the table. Instantly, the air of hostility that had been present in the room when she walked in was dissolved, and the conversation began to move forward.

Negotiations, of course, were not instant. The schedule called for different activities as icebreakers of sorts, and discussion of various other issues leading up to the main discussion in order to give the parties 'practice' negotiating and confidence in their ability to achieve a compromise. It wasn't until the third day of negotiations that the main subject was finally broached: the ministry wanted put itself in charge of the National Team and make itself the governing body of the sport. The Association, meanwhile, was protesting via a threatened boycott of the national team--a threat that would soon become very real as the nation prepared to rejoin international competition and send players to the seventh IAC.

There was one platitude that kept getting thrown around.

"Look, I know none of us want this boycott..." someone would say, but almost always it was followed by 'but...' and then a reason would be given why one party or the other couldn't back down.

Jeanne Chartray, however, wasn't going to allow the talks to stall as everyone reiterated their initial positions. "We need to go beyond the specific things we want," she said, "and get at the motivations we have for why we want those things. That's where we'll find common ground."

"On the most basic level," said Jonathan Avoirpieds, the representative for Associated Savoie, "the RNFA just wants to survive. I feel like this should have been made obvious by now. You've admitted already that this crisis was started when the Minister came to us to inform us of his new plans to take away two of the RNFA's main roles."

Jeanne had conceded this point to enable the discussion to move forward, but it stung to kept having it be thrown back in her face. This whole situation wouldn't be happening right now if Jean-Luc had just not done what he had--or if he had at least been more tactful about it.

"If the RNFA loses its role vis-a-vis the national team, or loses its de facto position as the sport's governing body, then it'll be little more than a shell for the RNFL. It might as well dissolve and let the league handle things on its own."

"So your motivation is essentially the continued survival of the organization that is the RNFA. That's not too hard to understand," said Chartray. "I just wanted it verbalized."

"I definitely agree," said Ben Müller, Zimmerich FC's representative. "We've accomplished far too much and have too much history to just give up on it. Maybe times are changing with the advent of the ministry, and maybe the Association needs to change as well. But that's something we can negotiate. Dissolving the Association isn't something we can accept."

"I think change can be good," said Jeanne, "even if it can be a tough process. I don't think that the Minister wants the total dissolution of the RNFA here. But he envisions a thoroughly modern organization--one that is adapted to the state of football in the country. That means that it has to work closely hand in hand with the new Ministry of Sport, and it can't just be a copy-cat of the RNFL. Having the exact same membership in the professional leagues as in the sport's governing body indicates a monopoly to him, and I think he's right there. And I can also see where he's coming from when he says that the national team should be connected to the nation itself in some way, not just its most successful clubs."

"What changes would he need to see in the RNFA then to allow it to continue?" someone asked. Chartray jumped on this. No one in the Association had started to suggest until now that maybe something within that organization needed to be different--they were still rankling under the new regulations placed on them by the ministry at the start of the last domestic season.

"If we could have an organization which the government officially recognized as the sport's governing body, we could have every team in the country be a part of it. Semi-pro, amateur... and if the ministry of sport had a voting member in the association, then you wouldn't have the government pestering you anymore. Instead, you'd fully represent the nation because you'd even be speaking for the government. Rather than having the RNFA and the ministry as two opposing entities that are constantly butting heads, the RNFA would be where the ministry, the league, and the amateurs could all come together, iron out their problems, and present a united front. Instead of us having to call these negotiation sessions, this would happen within the Association. It might be a bit of a change to your organizational philosophy, but wouldn't it really be a return to when the RNFA was where the different football teams in Reçueçn came together around a table to sort out their problems? Once again you could be the center of the football discourse in the nation; you just need to broaden your scope."

There was a moment of silence as the various representatives thought over the offer. Jeanne made it sound so tempting, like she was elevating the RNFA to a higher status by giving it governmental sanction, and it was clear that that was her intention. It seemed a little like a trap perhaps, but this was offset by the fact that it seemed exactly the opposite of what the minister had originally wanted--which meant that it must be a great deal for the RNFA.

The representative for Association Genève spoke up. "That sounds like a wonderful, Utopian solution, Mademoiselle Chartray. But I am here not only as a representative of the RNFA but as a representative of Association Genève. That's my job description. And I would lose my job if I allowed my club to lose its spot on the executive board of the Association, or to lose its veto. I know that sounds selfish, but that's the facts. It's self-preservation. And I think every other member of the executive board here--" (by this he meant everyone in the room except Jeanne) "will be forced to agree with me."

Jeanne glanced at LaVoyard. He nodded his head but was frowning, as if to say unfortunately, I agree. Was this whole negotiation doomed? If the RNFA refused even to change its organizational structure, why had she bothered making an offer Jean-Luc wouldn't have approved of?

"What if we kept the executive board?" she asked. "I know it's not popular with the other clubs, but maybe it's a possibility."

LaVoyard was deep in thought. "That could work," he said. "We could add some new members--a ministry representative, an RNFL representative, a representative for the sport at the amateur level. The seven founding teams would still have a disproportionate say, but they wouldn't be the only members with a veto."

"Yes!" Maybe Chartray still had hope. "A national team representative, a representative for semi-pro teams--maybe a WCC and an IAC representative to round out the numbers. I'm not sure, I'd like to keep it Reçuecian. But just so that there's not seven clubs who by themselves make up the majority of the executive board."

The representatives looked at each other. "We might be able to accept that," Avoirpieds finally said. "And I think the other teams will definitely support it." Internally, Jeanne squealed with delight.

---

That evening, with the day's negotiations over, she called Jean-Luc Lassalle.

"We've had a breakthrough!" she said. "We're going to iron out some smaller details, but I think we've got a great plan for the sport in Reçueçn. You'll love it!"

"Of course I will! I knew you were the right person to turn to!" Jean-Luc sounded ecstatic over the phone. "Finally the RNFA's monopoly will be broken! I feel like I've accomplished something as minister, now that they're no longer the sport's governing body. I'll have the ministry start organizing the RNFT for the IAC 7 tomorrow."

"Well, hang on," said Jeanne.

"What?"

"I know you said you only had one non-negotiable condition, but let me explain..."

[Bears Armed]

Bears Armed vs. Ethane
Venue: Edward IV Stadium, New Sarum, Ethane.
Score: 3-2.

Goals
Bears Armed (3): O Sarrndale (#5) @ 42’ (assist: O RedBank [#23); Barris (#7) @ 52’ (assist: Brent [#11]); David @ 67’ (technically an ‘own goal’, in failed attempt to save against a penalty shot by Kuthbearh [#10]).
OPPONENT (2): Rodriguez @ 06’ (assist: Montoya); Hope @ 88’ (assist: Vaughan).

Red Cards
(none)

Substitutions due to Injury
(none)

(reporter’s notes)
Belles win the toss, Kuthbearrh takes kick-off; Ethane ‘Red Kites’, in front of large ‘home’ crowd & relatively few Bears — although the drums are being beaten, in the visitors’ section of the seating — show the skill that’s won them such a high ranking, defend against heavy pressure (Belles still manage three shots on target, but Shephard stops them all) and then counter-attack: Morris successfully intercepts an attempted pass between Barris and Brent, kicks it away upfield to Montoya who runs onwards — drawing the Ursine defence towards himself, weaving between them — but then kicking sideways to Rodriguez (who, in an atypically lapse by the Belles’ back five, was unmarked) who slots it home from 22 yards out. Home supporters go wild!
Control of the ball shifts back and forth, up & down the pitch—two more shots ‘on target’ for each side, before O Sarrndale finally manages to equalise (shortly before half-time) from a pass back by O RedBank and — at 24 yards out — an even greater distance.
Belles come back out from the break, same line-up still although ‘Red Kites’ have made some changes (Shephard and Montoya off, both had been looking a bit worn by the time the whistle blew; David and Vaughan on, as direct replacements for those ); our girls even more determined than in first half, and during the interval somebody from the team’s staff* went round the Ursine fans handing out sheets of paper with the words for that “Green is the Colour” song the Belles’ players recorded back on their ‘bye’ day so a lot of the fans were singing that now… ⁽¹⁾ and the Belles manage to keep the pressure up not just for Brent’s goal (sudden switch from left foot to right, and shot high, confused the goalie: nearly went over the top, in fact, but deflected into back of net by hitting underside of crossbar!) but for most of the time afterwards; Kuthbearrh had a shot that would probably have counted as “on target”, but Waldron threw himself into the ball’s path... and caught Brent’s right knee with his own right foot in the process: a penalty was awarded because of this ⁽²; Brent ceded the right to take that shot to Kuthbearrh, who powered it home into bottom right corner… David actually got both hands onto the ball, but still couldn’t hold it back!
More fluid play after that, with only one more chance ‘on target’ for the Belles (Brent, in the 79th minute) but three more for ‘Red Kites’, before hosts finally scraped another goal back — header from just next to the right post, neatly into that end of net before Karramarrsar Ulgha (who had apparently been expecting Vaughan to send the ball right across the face of the goal to any of three Kites who were active at the far side) could reach it.


* Actually, I think that it was player Lurrsee Fane, who of course is on maternity leave at present rather than in the active squad… Couldn’t see for sure from this distance, but whoever it was did seem to be carrying a baby in a sling across their chest.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Location: aboard one of the airliners that the Belles are using for their journey home after the match described above; already outside Ethane’s territorial airspace.
Time: the morning after that game.


(Greenfinch o Barrdenn [defensive coach]) “Ayyuh, Raznetta are still higher in the group table than some people might exoect by this stage, bearing in mind that they are still an ‘Unranked’ team like urrs and that hey aren’t urrs: We aren’t taking them lightly, because after all they managed to beat both Kelssek and Port Ember during the first half of these qualifiers, two of the higher-rranked teams against hwhom we only lost … On the other paw, though, the best that they could manage against urrs back then was a draw, on their home soils, and they haven’t won a game since the mid-qualifiers break — only taking one point from the five matches that they’ve played so farr, as against our own twelve from four — so, maybeso, they’ve already peaked…”

(Jammy Urrsen [photopgrapher/reporter]) “On the other paw, though, two of those rrecent defeats that they’ve suffered were from Kelssek, in their rrematch, and against Valanora… and both of those are teams that the Belles haven’t been able to overcome yet, neither.”

(Greenfinch) “Hrright. So, as I said, we will treat this match as a serrious challenge, just as we would any other game in this tournament. Playing at NorthPort hrrather than Wimbley might actually help urrs in that hrrespect, because it maybeso will feel less like a ‘home’ game so the girrls will subconsciously expect that they have to work harrder…”

(Jammy) “Ayyuh, that makes sense…
“Heyyuh, did you see that?!”

(Greenfinch) “Hwhat?”

(Jammy) “Out the window there: I could have sworn that I saw one of those clouds actually trying to sneak up the team’s other plane, against the wind! That long, narrow cloud that’s now sinking down behind urrs to the right… But then that other funny-shaped cloud that you can see just above it, the one that's shaped hrrather like a bird, sort-of swooped down, and they collided…”

(Greenfinch) “Ur’rmm…
“You’re not getting as much sleep as normal at present, with a new baby in your flat, hrright?”

(Jammy) “Hrright…
“Ayyuh, that must just have been my mind trying to catch up on dreams…”

(And, not just out among those clouds but actually in the form of clouds, Discord slithers away muttering grumpily while Raven flies triumphant aerobatics around him…

(Back aboard the airplane.)

(Urrsarra Northgate) “Ayyuh, the weather forecast says that conditions at NorthPort should be quite warm enough for those of urrs hwho normally spend most of our time further south, but I’m leaving getting my fur trimmed short—and telling the team to do so, too—until after the game against Raznetta there, just in case.”

(Krystal Bruin [chief physiotherapist]) “Might it be best for morale, maybeso, to schedule everybearry’s fur-trimming together, as a ‘team event’ so to speak, for one afternoon hwhile we’re briefly back at Wimbley? Maybeso?”

(Urrsarra) “Ayyuh, good idea. I’ll pencil it in for the day just after we get back there, so that the girls have a couple more days to adjust before we fly out to Port Ember’s trropical heat…
“Now, I’ve heard a hrrumour that you were seen out ‘on the town’ with none other than Sermharn the Wanderer: Ayyuh?”

(Krystal) “Well, I…. We… Ur’rmm…”

(Urrsarra) “So, “Ayyuh” it is then. Hrright. Now”
She stops, and turns to speak to Jharge Potter — the team’s ‘Ursion’ chaplain — who is sitting across the aisle from them and has just sighed.
(Urrsarra) “Hwhat’s the matter, Jharge? Problems with your love-life?”

(Jharrge) “No! It’s just….
“Hwhen we were told that Ethane’s capital city is called ‘New Sarum’ I hrreally had hopes that — bearing in mind that name’s significance for urrs — they too had received the word of Our Lord Artos Ursios… but apparently they’d never even hearrd of him before ourr people started arriving there for this match.”

(Krystal) “So the name is just a coincidence?”

(Jharge) “Sort-of. Ourr own ‘New Sarum’ down in Clan Artorran’s territory, hwhhere the Church’s earthly head has his main seat, is named after ‘Holy Sarum’ on the distant island of Bruttain, hwhere Ursios Himself preached to the Bears and the Katts… but the city in Ethane that we just visited is named after one called ‘Sarum’ on an island called ‘Britain’ hwhere the people are all Humans, instead, and apparently He never visited there in any obvious guise at all…
“It’s just one of those ‘Multiversal equivalent’ situations, and less “equivalent” than some of the others of hwhich we already knew, I suppose.” ⁽³⁾

(Your view of this discussion, as an observer from beyond the ‘Fourth Wall’, fades to black…)

_______________________________________

OOC Footnotes

1. “Green is the Colour” … with apologies, OOC, to the players & fans of Chelsea FC (for whom the colour is, of course, Blue….); at the IC level, this was an independent creation rather than an adaptation. Are you familiar with Pratchett’s concept of ‘resons’ ?

2. and a Yellow Card for Waldron.

3. I already had all of that stuff about Artos Ursios amd Usrionity, and the Bears’ own ‘New Sarum’ which is named after ‘Holy Sarum’ (or, in the Ursine tongue. ‘Urru-Sarum’…) on the island of ‘Brutain’, worked out & incorporated into my RP (with our ‘New Sarum’ on this nation’s map) years ago. I had hoped to give you more information about it here, but the library in which I’m working is closing earlier than normal today because of this being New Year’s Eve…

[Trolleborg]

Yes, of course, the new streak of completely inexplicable failures puts pressure on the fans too, so that the decibel support at the stadium becomes much weaker. Not at a very good moment for our team, our computer game geniuses are releasing the long-awaited add-on for “WCQ84”, and this one dedicated to BoF events.

This time you can feel not in the shoes of one of our guys on the field, but in your own, generate a character to your taste, and already with it go through all the exciting events of that tournament - and completely the entire training program for a real football player. The game features are somewhat expanded in the gameplay area. It is allowed to accurately follow the BoF tournament scheme with the results of all matches other than those in which the player participates determined to be in accordance with the hard reality, in the “Campaign” mode, you can add various random factors as you see fit, and, in the “Fantasy” mode, completely random generation of groups and all results. Add-on also added to the main game a some of the realities of the real world that we all had no idea about before WCQ games begin. The high-ranking teams in the most realistic of the scenarios are now almost invincible, simply because of their high rating, everything is now just like in life

Although the gamification of events in the world outside our country is not developed, apparently, not at all, the creators of the game assured us that if proposals will be received from outside Trolleborg, they will make special add-ons for all interested states.

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|
World Cup 84
Omnibus

BACK TO REALITY…
New Lusitania 0-1 Ko-oren
@ Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Jamor (Att: 56 442)

Back from yet another away game, New Lusitania would face Ko-oren. It was a match that could settle things up front and the Selecção were hoping that home advantage would count for something against their big adversaries. Victor Santa Cruz would take no chances, as usual when it came to games at the Jamor. Patríce would play in goal, Guerreiros, Leiteiro and Cancela would be the defensive wall between him and the rest. Nevais, Breu, Fernando, Veiga and Gama to play in the centre of the park as Jota and Silveira play up front. The Dragonflies put their main team, but that didn’t mean all was known. Their number one, Goosen in goal, as Dalton, van Schleven, Mizuno, Lampshire and Hellegeland being the five-man wall that always proves complicated to traverse. Batchelor, Janoeririnthen and Longchambon would be the three midfielders, the latter working in a more attacking manner to compliment Vaugrenard and Novoa further up. Juliasterinthen can put her team adapting to the adversary extremely quickly and Ko-oren move about well making it a complicated team to play against. New Lusitania would soon find this all out, once the national anthems were over and the referee blew his whistle.
The first half gave many chances to both sides but couldn’t settle anything. Longchambon managed to hit the post and Jota the bar. Silveira managed a good shot but Goosen gave it all to succesfully save it. Back to the dressing rooms they went and onto the second half. New Lusitania attempted to go a bit more on a sustained attack as Ko-oren adopted a game based on the counter. A game of cat and mouse at the Jamor, shots fired by Veiga, Fernando, Novoa, Vaugrenard - thrilling albeit goalless. In the final ten minutes, a free kick for Ko-oren due to a foul by Breu, who playing deeper than usual. It would be Batchelor to take it, the whistle blew and a cross went up in the air! Landing in the box next to Vaugrenard, the forward volleyed it in for the winning goal. New Lusitania simply stunned there with few minutes to go. So, it would stay here. Two games played at the magnificent National Stadium, two defeats. FULL TIME: 0-1


THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN...
Tarchusland 0-0 New Lusitania
@ Trebet Koppa, Borvanan (Att: 18 429)

Next up it was the travel to Tarchusland. From previous teams' visits despite the small ground it was an intimidating location and for New Lusitania the first attempt was a draw. Patríce would stay on because of this, with Vinagrete playing alongside Miranda and Pedralva to rotate the back three, Nevais would be the defensive midfielder with Horta, Fernando, Gama and Veiga in midfield as Jota and Silveira played up front. For Tarchusland, Creminhya in goal as Nyman, Loco, Seeclara and Madane were the back four, Enzo and Romenyk in the first line of midfield as the second string composed Kinsha, Don and Plozo together with Reiff being the lone striker today. New Lusitania playing with their away white-navy kit as the home side donned their only kit, black, orange and white. The referee blew the whistle and both teams got off to a slow start. The game itself was one of the worst in New Lusitania's campaign as few shots happened in both halves. Four shots on target by New Lusitania in the entire game by Fernando, Veiga, Silveira and Gama with the home side not getting much either. To discuss in this game there's the squad depth in defence, where today proved that Vinagrete, youngster Miranda and Pedralva can all play well as their own line or to replace others. Despite this squad depth, New Lusitania has conceded sixteen goals during the campaign so far which means there's plenty to work on. It was also good to see Horta on pitch getting those balls forward, he has a future in the national team. For Tarchusland, their use of home advantage is extraordinary, the crowd is a real twelfth man like in some Lusitanian stadiums. A draw was really not needed though, putting New Lusitania in a tough positon. With Eraman taking the day off it means by the end, it's highly likely they finish fifth (again sadly). The hunt is still on, though being three points behind with Eshan on your tail two points behind really isn't the best postion to be in. FULL TIME: 0-0

Around The Grounds: Round Sixteen
Apox continues their twelve point gap after a win at Indusse (0-3) and is scheduled to win the group about a week or two before the end if they keep it up. Eraman took the week off, meaning Ko-oren is now level after their confident win at home to Aldaveria (6-2). New Lusitania could've been a point behind but instead is behind by three in third as Eshan's draw at the ZSeperarists meant they're still behind the Selecção by two.
The usual gap between contenders and outsiders is at 6th where Grod Island is after their win to Barfleur by 3-0 meaning that they are level on points. Indusse remain eighth but Tarchusland are now three behind following their succesful draw. Aldaveria and the ZSeperatists remain last following the week's results.
Next time, New Lusitania receive Grod Island in the university city of Coimbra as Apox play Eraman. It's first against second and it means Ko-oren and the rest could try and get closer, or, in the case of The Dragonflies, snatch second back. It's still all just about open.

[Hapilopper]

(OOC: It is possible I may have made an error or two with the first table. If so, TG me or contact me on Discord to let me know.)
The HNFT Team Center, Hapilopper City
The day before Hapilopper’s national holiday, the Day of the Dominion
The entire Hapilopper National Football Team, as well as coaches and staff from the Hapilopper Football Association, were reviewing some stats leading up to the off weekend, which just so coincided with Hapilopper’s national holiday, the Day of the Dominion, the annual independence day holiday for the nation. Legend had it that on this day, Hapilopper’s five founders, Hank Anderson, Peter Idleman, Larry Olmstead, Patrick Parsons and Edwin Reasoner, who were all leaders from a neighboring nation, got together to form a new nation. Rather than call it “East Wreckeria,” which was the nation they sought to get away from, they decided to name it for themselves. The name sounded silly, but it stuck. Hapilopper was born.

The day was marked by celebrations, barbecues, fireworks, and a 24-hour sports car race around a designated temporary street circuit not far from Hapilopper City. Typically, it was also marked by a full day of sporting events across the Dominion. It was the annual start of the National League of Hapilopper baseball season, and opening day was a big deal in places across the nation. It was marked by parades in cities across the nation, and it was marked by a chance to get together and have some fun. With the HNFT off next weekend, it was a chance for the team to relax and get into the right frame of mind before facing the number two team in the multiverse, Equestria, the defending World Cup champs.

But before the team could disperse for the holiday, HFA president Dom Probst, as well as several individuals from the HFA’s data department, had some numbers to show the team. The numbers concerned what would happen if certain results had gone differently. There were another set of numbers – how the Haps and other teams in the group had done since the first Hapilopper-Equestria match.

“Alright, this first set here shows how the group has done since that first match,” said Anna Tompkins, a data analyst for the HFA. “As you can see here, we took the data from before you took down Equestria in the first match, so our data was from Matchday 5. From Matchday 6, the match when you took down the Equestrians to now, the highest scoring team in the group is not the Ponies, but rather, you.”

(Since Matchday 6)

Group 6                              Pld    W   D   L    Pts 
 1 Hapilopper                       10    7   3   0    24
 2 Equestria                        10    7   0   3    21
 3 Darmen                           10    6   2   2    20
 4 Darkmania                        10    6   1   3    19
 5 Bongo Johnson                    10    5   2   3    17
 6 Acapais                          10    3   4   3    13
 7 Kwangtzu Guānnán                 10    2   4   4    10
 8 Vdara                            10    2   2   6     8
 9 Quakmybush                       10    1   4   5     7
10 Sultanate of Oontaz              10    1   4   5     7
11 Nomoterra                        10    1   2   7     5

Anna pointed towards the table for matches since that day when the Haps took down the Ponies, 2-0. Since that match, Hapilopper had won seven times, tied three times and had not lost. They had scored 24 points since that match.

“What we’re saying is, you guys are the hottest team in the group. Keep working and you can keep that string of good runs going.”

Anna then pointed to another set of numbers, what would have happened if Hapilopper had beaten Acapais a couple of weeks back.

(If Hapilopper had beat Acapais)

Group 6                             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Equestria                        14   11   0   3    49   19  +30    33
 2 Hapilopper                       15   10   3   2    39   25  +14    33
 3 Darmen                           15    9   3   3    42   26  +16    30
 4 Darkmania                        14    8   2   4    29   34   −5    26
 5 Bongo Johnson                    15    5   4   6    32   33   −1    19
 6 Quakmybush                       15    4   5   6    23   28   −5    17
 7 Kwangtzu Guānnán                 15    4   4   7    22   28   −6    16
 8 Vdara                            15    4   3   8    28   37   −9    15
 9 Acapais                          14    4   3   7    25   33   −8    14
10 Sultanate of Oontaz              14    2   5   7    18   30  −12    11
11 Nomoterra                        14    2   2  10    17   31  −14     8

“OK, this is why we were so pissed off the other day,” Dom interjected. “We had a huge chance to really spring ahead in the group. We’re only one point clear of the Darmenis when we could have been three. They got beat and we didn’t take advantage of that. So if you want to know why we made such a huge deal out of that for a few days, that’s why. We’re a good football team, but we need to take advantage of moments when we can get it. We can’t afford to slip up like we did against Acapais. To me, that was a loss, and I’m not too happy about it.”

The numbers resonated with the whole team. It meant the work they had done was starting to pay off to make that World Cup they so desperately wanted to make. It meant they could not afford to back off. There were still five more matches to go, and they needed to keep working hard in those last matches. They had to go for broke, and what better way to get those last five matches started than with another win over the Equestrians? It seemed unlikely, but hell, stranger things had happened.

“They say lightning can’t strike twice,” said coach Thom Perkins. “I say they’re full of shit. We’re the best team in the group right now. We’re the best team because we’re the hardest working team. We’ve been working like hell for the last few weeks. I know some of you are tired. I know some of you can’t take it anymore. But look at these numbers. Your work is paying off. Results are showing. Y’all don’t have to come in tomorrow, but the day after, let’s get back to it and raise some hell, what do you say?”

The team whooped in agreement. The numbers didn’t lie. Hapilopper was on one hell of a hot streak, and they were ready to keep it going against the defending World Cup champions. Even more importantly, they were going to be playing at home, at Capital Stadium, where the fans knew how to bring the heat. The players knew they’d have the support of sixty-six thousand screaming maniacs, who would bring their drums, streamers and anything they could find to get under the skin of the Equestrians, that very nation that Dom Probst dreaded going up against during the group draw a few months ago, and that very nation the Hapiloppians had loathed going against.

The HNFT showed the multiverse they could be beat. It was about time for the Haps to do it again.