World Cup 85 || RP Thread

by **Jeruselem** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:46 pm

Daisy Cutter (nude) at Dazza Dallas Stadium

Hello, I'm Daisy Cutter or Daisy Dallas for Naked News Jeruselem.
I'm here at Dazza Dallas Stadium, yeah this place is owned by my family.
Another day for the World Cup qualification, match day 17.
It's important because we have the bye next game so no football for us.

Let's look at the other group 7 results to put our game into context.
Nephara at home, won again. They won 1-0 against Huayramarca. Well, they slacked off but it's like another 3 points.
Welzat found another nail in the coffin when Sarzonia came around and beat them 3-0. Sarzonia are still in this, Welzat are not.
Simpralia scored a win 2-1 at home against Competitive Solitaire, who should stick to Solitaire.
Acronius oh dear, they faced off at home against last placed South Charlia and lost 2-0. South Charlia with a win, but they are still last. Acronius needed to win, this game should have been a win.
Delaclava had a difficult opponent at home, Darmen. And they held their own to hold for 2-2 draw. Good result for Jeruselem and Sarzonia! Yeah!
Great Lausitz had the bye today.

Now, we have a bye next, and we need all the points we can grab.
So with Aimena coming around, we needed to stay strong for a win.
Well, we're still looking good with a solid 5-2 win.
Not our best defensive performance but we wanted to boost our goal difference today.
Yes conceding 2 goals isn't like our last games, not great but scoring 5 goals isn't common for us.
I suspect the coach told the team to get a few extra goals and well some defensiveness got lost along the way.

The table, actually ... didn't change all that much for the top 4.
Nephara 43, Jeruselem 35, Sarzonia 30, Darmen 28.
Acronius are still 5th on 25 despite their loss.
Welzat seem glued on 21 at the moment in 6th. The others seemed destined not to qualify.
South Charlia are last but 9 points! Looking better than they were earlier.

Moving forward, we're still holding form.
We can't afford to drop games, especially with Sarzonia and Nephara games left to play.
The bye is our next game we will lost ground, expecting the other top 3 to win.
But after that, we can gain back with others forced into byes.

This time on match day 4, we lost to Aimena 5-4. This time round we scored 5 goals, and won easily.
Progress!

The bye will be a good rest and others will catch up. We still have hope, and a buffer to the other 2 rivals.
See you all later, well actually Kate will be back.

Oh yes, Princess Kate asked me to plug a few products.
There's a new set of Princess Ooshies out there, including something new.
Princess Bella ones. Bella, not Annabelle who's actually Kate.
Young girls love these things.
No, I don't get one. I'm not a Princess.

OOC
Nephara 1–0 Huayramarca
Welzat 0–3 Sarzonia
Simpralia 2–1 Competitive Solitaire
Acronius 0–2 South Charlia
Delaclava 2–2 Darmen
Jeruselem 5–2 Aimena

by **Krytenia** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:47 pm

Bats At Fifty Paces
By Rami Niblick in Southport, Newmanistan

TO be honest, it was probably inevitable that this match would end up with honours even. Krytenia and Newmanistan have now met six times in senior competition; the last five have all been draws. Indeed, this makes three 2-2 draws from their last four encounters. Whether that's helpful - to either side - is, of course, a completely different matter.

Unusually, the match took place in a stadium more used to hosting baseball. For the majority of Krytenians who've never seen a game of baseball, it's basically rounders with a Napoleon complex and a degree in statistical analysis. Thankfully, the action on the pitch was not nearly so crushingly dull. Both sides came into the match fully aware that a defeat could well be curtains for their qualifying campaign, and the early exchanges saw Dragons and Rockets alike trying to carve out chances. Derek Schaefer saw a long-ranger tipped past the post by Damien Carpenter, whilst Selly Kennedy headed narrowly over the bar from a Joshua Kelnic cross. The game remained entertaining - if goalless - for most of the first half before the home side finally made the breakthrough. James Aitken's clumsy tackle on Jerome Byer earned Newmanistan a penalty and Aitken a booking; Schaefer and his impressive mullet made no mistake from the spot, and the Rockets went into the break with a narrow lead.

Krytenia came out all guns blazing in the second half - to be honest, they had to - but the Newmanistan defence looked to be holding firm, sending back wave after wave of Krytenian attack. Eventually, though, a crack appeared, and Neil Smith was there to take advantage, jinking past a flat-footed Scott Corellis before smashing the ball past Ryan McNamara to equalise. The visitors would soon take the lead, too, with Rafa Mendoca connecting nicely with a Stephen Mariner pullback to leather the ball past Newmanistan's stranded keeper.

Any thoughts of going home with the full complement of points, though, were scotched three minutes from time when Newmanistan captain Adrian O'Bryan leapt highest to nod home a corner to level the scores at two-all.

Neither side will be happy with a point, especially after Qasden's shock defeat; both sides will see this as an opportunity missed. Next for Krytenia as a game against Qasden's conquerors, Oberour Ar Moro. Three points there, and another three against the Drunk People, are an absolute must - and even then, we may have to perform a miracle against Vilita later in qualifying to make the most of it. Onward!

NEWMANISTAN - 2
Schaefer 41
O'Bryan 87

KRYTENIA - 2
Smith 68
Mendonca 77[/quote]

by **Euran Oceania Territories** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:52 pm

Euran Oceania Territories wrote:Skorji Oslograd Presents:
THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

"...Still, we have got a couple of good results before the qualifying break. And it is my hope that through writing this milestone of human articulation of thought, I can re-energise myself and this young nation towards future victory. And hey, the maths says it’s still possible. There’s still something to chase and it’s more than just an irrational hope. Why dream when you can do?

Watch this space. Skorji out."

skorji.eot/theway

Skorji Oslogad Presents:

FUCK

FUCKING BOLLOCKS

Unbeaten in three and then we lose to Villablanca? And get pumped by TJUN-ia at home? Is this some kind of merry joke? What even is New Lusitania?

Bugger it. Cup of Harmony it is. But this blog will be back. Word of the Way must be spread.

Skorji out.

-----------

OOC: Skorji’s blog needs a header logo with the text “Skorji Oslograd Presents: The Way of the Warrior”, and I’m terrible at them. If you feel like being creative, send me what you can come up with.

by **Twicetagram and JYPe** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:33 pm

The Chosen One: Episode II, Part I
Continued from previous episode; before Macabees match

Theme Song (Warning: not for k-pop haters)
Episode 2 Soundtrack: Scared To Be Lonely

I woke up quite grouchily. My neck hurt, but that was because my pillow was too hard. Surprisingly, Harley was already up and prepared to go somewhere.
"Why're you up so early?" I asked him. Harley looked at me as if I'd asked the stupidest question ever.
"Don't you remember? Today's Ciel's birthday, and he invited everyone to Pepper's!" Harley said excitedly. The word 'pepper' was bad enough to bring me bad memories.
"Harley, remember that time?"
"That was 8 months ago, and my body was weak. Now, my body is as strong as ever! Just let me go. Pleaaase..." When Harley has to resort to doing that you know he's that desperate. One thing is that Harley didn't know of the feud yet. Secondly, wasn't Ciel's birthday 3 months later?
"Look, we have a match up coming, and boss will probably select you for the Starting XI. Don't disappoint her," I pleaded. Harley thought for a while, then said that he would be going alone.
If he wanted to do it that way...
"Fine, I'm coming, but I'll limit what you can eat," I said. Harley looked a bit disappointed, but it was better than not going at all. At least for him.
After we reached Pepper's, the whole thing was packed with people, so I was wondering how to fit 24 people in one table. Then, the waitress said, "You're attending Mr de Castro's party right? This way." We were led to a room upstairs. The room looked like a kids party room, except for adults. The room was scant of details, except a kitchen where you could order anything. There was a banner hanging from the top: Happy '22nd' Birthday!
There was no one here, yet we were 5 minutes late. Was this a prank?
"Surprise!" Ciel popped out from behind the counter, "What'd you like today?" He grinned at Harley, before looking at me.
"100% discount for those under 20! Sorry ma'am," He then laughed like an idiot, which was suiting because he was one.
"Thanks, Ciel!" Harley said in a respectful way. He made a face at me, before rushing to order a large float meal.
"I'm not eating anyway," I said.
I then looked at my Twitur and Twicetagram accounts, but no one else came. By the time I finished my feed(which was endless), no one had come. Was I in a bear trap?
Harley had ordered everything large sized. His drink, sides, main were all too much for me. It kinds of spooks me how he can be fit at the same time.
While I was watching past match's highlights, I could hear some giggles from beside me. Ciel and Harley, who I would like to call The Two, were pointing at me. Harley said something, before they both laughed like idiots.
"Hey, is your stomach okay?" Ciel said. This was childish, I thought, so I didn't say anything.
The day continued, and Harley's mood was joyful nevertheless. Until we reached the hotel.

"Could you hand me more toilet paper?"

Mkabia- 0
No scorers

Twicetagria- 2
Lesley Chase 45'
Fanny Torreira 82'

by **Plane of Possibility** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:00 pm

The being simply referred to as Worldbuilder was deep in thought in its chamber in the Room of Possibility in the Plane of Possibility. The Field of Dreams had been its project from the very get-go; a place to have eleven heroes from all across the realms of time and space be plucked out of their own realms just to play a game against other beings who didn't even obey the same laws of possibility, all to please the whims of the Worldbuilder. The Eleven chosen would then be sent back to their own realms at the exact time that they had been taken, with no memory of the incidents on the Plane of Possibility and no visible change on their bodies.

When they were on the Plane of Possibility, of course, all the memories tied to the extradimensional space would return; they'd remember each other and the time that they had spent together on the pitch previously. They'd also remember what was going on in their own realms, too, and often talk about them, even if they knew that once the match was over and the Worldbuilder sent them back to their own realms, they wouldn't remember a thing. It was a strange life - to be chosen by a being whose power equaled and often surpassed those of minor gods to come and play a sport in an attempt to determine if eleven beings could indeed do such a thing. So, whether they be from Tal'Dorei, Faerun, Neverwinter, the Far Realms, or any of the various Elemental Planes or the dark places of the world, they came, and they played.

As the team aged, there would have to be replacements; indeed, if one of the eleven fell in their respective realms before the next match, the Worldbuilder would either have to resurrect them to serve it in the realm of the Plane of Possibility only or replace them with another. Thus was the reason why the Worldbuilder kept one employee on the Plane of Possibility, another to share in the realm's goings-on - a High-Elf who went by The Keeper, one of The Enlightened that had had a say in the nation known as Chromatika. The Keeper kept an eye on how each being on the Planar squad was doing in their own realms, and kept tabs on alternates that may need to be called up if the need arose.

Of course, the realm was far better at accommodating guests by now. One week before any visitor arrives at the Field of Dreams, they'd receive a Teleportation Scroll in their mail; the team, its retinue, and one film crew would be allowed to teleport to the Field of Dreams. The Field of Dreams is a regulation-sized pitch where all the film crew's electronics would be fueled by the realm's magic; the crew would be allowed to broadcast the match, but that would be all. No other visitors of any kind are allowed in the Plane of Possibility.

The Worldbuilder had decided that it'd be too much of a hassle to wipe the memories of its visitors; teams that visited the Field would be allowed to remember it. The arrival to the grass field, well lit in the sunlight that shows around four PM always; the match with the eleven players who never seemed to tire nor get injured, yet were beatable; and the trip back, which is to say, exactly thirty minutes after the match ends, when each being that came to the Plane, whether they be Planar or a visitor, be whisked back to where they came from.

This time around, the team was doing very well for its rank. A 8-4-4 record and causing some damage to the teams that are looking to qualify was somewhere that the Worldbuilder didn't see this team being this early in its project. Qualification would remain a longshot, but to be legitimate, and to have other beings of the realms beyond the multiverse wonder about the Plane? That would be enough. Yes, that would be sufficient indeed.

And when the moment came where it had collected enough data, it would have the answer to its question.

by **Sarzonia** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:12 pm

The door to the away team dressing room at Sir James Tretol Memorial Stadium stood there ominously as Clayton Wilson approached.

It's just a fucking door, he thought bitterly. And yet, the grandson and great-grandson of Sarzonian football royalty felt anxious. It wasn't the opponent necessarily. Welzat was fading out of contention for a berth in World Cup 85 as the Group 7 haves and have-nots were beginning to announce themselves in the second half qualifying table.

Sarzonia already had their hackles up after an away defeat to Acronius and a disheartening draw to Simpralia turned their own standing in the chase for the proper into a more precarious one than anyone wearing the Sarzonia away silver kit with navy trim would have wanted.

For Wilson, however, his insecurities about being so young, so bereft of experience and not only among the starting 11, but a team captain, and one with a pedigree that demanded enormous attention and scrutiny, all came to the forefront. He felt something he hadn't in a while, then he fortunately noticed a trash can sitting to the immediate right of the imposing door. He made a sudden burst toward it and soon, his anxiety culminated in a lost afternoon meal cascading down the plastic bag lining the trash can. After he waited an extra 10 minutes, he heard the door open.

"Clay!" he heard. He looked up with fear as he saw the source of the now-familiar voice. "Coach was worried about you," Brady Reynolds said, before he smelled the telltale scent of vomit emanating from the trash can. The look of concern on Reynolds was now focused differently.

"Are you OK?"

"Uh, just a little bit nervous."

"Come on! There's nothing to be nervous about! We got this!" Reynolds said with a bravado that Wilson somehow could tell was affected. Reynolds then closed the door and walked up to the team's captain. He leaned in and whispered.

"I'm nervous, too," he admitted. "If we lose to these guys again, we're fucked."

"It's not just that," Wilson whispered back. Before he could explain it, he saw a look from Reynolds that told him with great relief that his teammates understood.

"You're still concerned that the team won't follow you as captain," Reynolds whispered. When Reynolds saw a wave of relief wash over the young captain, he smiled.

"We will. We all will. Anyone who doesn't, I got some connections in Rextaria who'll break a couple of kneecaps." Now Wilson burst out with a belly laugh that soon lifted the spirits of both players. Within a few minutes, the team was on the pitch and ready to go.

The beautiful sense of relief translated to the match itself as Reynolds, striker Cayden Aguirre and Wilson all scored goals, with Reynolds assisting on Wilson's and vice versa. The Stars had an easy time of it and dispatched Welzat to the tune of a 3-0 victory.

The 1-0 victory by Sarzonia's next opponent, group leaders Nephara against unranked Huayramarca meant that Sarzonia's chances of winning Group 7 were all but out of the question. Jeruselem's 5-2 win over Aimena kept the Princesses five points clear of Sarzonia. However, Delaclava did their northern neighbours a tremendous favour by holding Darmen to a 2-2 draw that pushed the Stars into third place by two points.

Sarzonia were well aware that a match against the fourth ranked team in the multiverse was a tall order no matter what venue the match would be played in. And Sarzonia for the most part actually played better away from the normally friendly confines of Dave Wilson Stadium. But the Stars showed much better focus against Welzat in this away leg than they did previously.

The time to think about Nephara would be on the flight back to Woodstock. For now, it was time for Clayton Wilson to relax as he'd convinced both Reynolds and manager Kevin Connelly to agree to name Reynolds vice captain. It would still be a formal position of responsibility that Reynolds normally shied away from, but it still meant that he had another tool in the box if he needed to get the other players to line up and rally behind their youthful captain.

Group 7
Nephara 1–0 Huayramarca
Welzat 0–3 Sarzonia
Simpralia 2–1 Competitive Solitaire
Acronius 0–2 South Charlia
Delaclava 2–2 Darmen
Jeruselem 5–2 Aimena

*  Group 7                                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Nephara                                      15   14   1   0    57    8  +49    43
 2 Jeruselem                                    16   11   2   3    46   25  +21    35
 3 Sarzonia                                     16    9   3   4    40   32   +8    30
 4 Darmen                                       15    8   4   3    39   27  +12    28
 5 Acronius                                     16    8   1   7    31   32   −1    25
 6 Welzat                                       16    5   6   5    17   25   −8    21
 7 Delaclava                                    16    5   5   6    41   41    0    20
 8 Simpralia                                    16    5   5   6    23   28   −5    20
 9 Aimena                                       15    5   2   8    17   33  −16    17
10 Huayramarca                                  16    3   5   8    28   38  −10    14
11 Great Lausitz                                15    3   3   9    18   28  −10    12
12 Competitive Solitaire                        16    3   2  11    13   35  −22    11
13 South Charlia                                16    2   3  11    14   32  −18     9

SCHEDULE:
MD 1: @ Delaclava^ W, 6-4
MD 2: v. Acronius L, 0-2
MD 3: @ Simpralia (Glory Park, capacity 122,000) W, 5-3
MD 4: v. Welzat L, 2-4
MD 5: @ Nephara L, 1-4 (Farham Arena, Sabrefell, capacity 88,046)
MD 6: v. Great Lausitz W, 1-0
MD 7: @ Huayamarca (Estadio Olímpico del Oriente, Sechura, capacity 26,000) W, 4-2
MD 8: BYE
MD 9: v. Competitive Solitaire W, 1-0
MD 10: @ South Charlia W, 2-0
MD 11: v. Darmen D, 2-2
MD 12: @ Aimena W, 2-0
MD 13: v. Jeruselem D, 2-2
OFF DAY
MD 14: v. Delaclava W, 5-3 (game played at Pride of Manchester, capacity 110,000)
MD 15: @ Acronius L, 1-3
MD 16: v. Simpralia D, 3-3
MD 17: @ Welzat W, 3-0 (Sir James Tretol Memorial Stadium, capacity 19,595)
MD 18: v. Nephara
MD 19: @ Great Lausitz
MD 20: v. Huayramarca
MD 21: BYE
MD 22: @ Competitive Solitaire
MD 23: v. South Charlia
MD 24: @ Darmen (Stadio Rushmore, Johnho, capacity 70,000)
MD 25: v. Aimena
MD 26: @ Jeruselem (Dazza Dallas Stadium)

^Match was played at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock.

Note: Except for the match in Manchester, Delaclava, all of Sarzonia's home matches will be played at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock, capacity 105,900.

by **Northwest Kalactin** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:26 pm

]Northwest Kalactin 4-2 Eshan

GK: Jakerein
LD: Hall
CD: Anderson
CD: Grebv
RD: Dakota
RM: Owens
CM: Gilbert
LM: Flemister
SS: Sanders
ST: McCarthy
ST: Dillan

-----------------AURÉLIAN------------------

-----ANDREU-----VALENTIN-----BAMBIC------PRUDENZIO

-------SAMPER M-------

--------ROLAND------MONTANARI------

-----VAN CIAVATINNI-----BAUDELIO-----CERELIUS-----

Goals

Kalactin
16’ McCarthy
45+2 Dillan
56’ Flemister
86’ McCarthy

Eshan
19’ Roland
29’ Cerelius

Short Summary
Today was a good day for the Kalactanians, as they managed to put up 4 goals on a Eshan team that has shown some good performances in the past games. The 2 goals by Jimmy McCarthey- both on headers, where a saving grace for a Kalactanian team that has relied on him for much of the tournament. As you look at this teams progress throughout the tournament, you just have to wonder, when will the finally start to qualify. It is a question that many are starting to ask now as they have started to put up performances that have shown the world what this team can do. Obviously this win against Eshan is very good for the team, it is a very morale raising performance that will affect the team for many games to come now.

by **PotatoFarmers** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:31 pm

Damukuni 1
Julie Coelho 78'

Poafmersia 2
Hansel Tang 12'
Shakira Handris 52'

Starting 11: Sandi Jaliaha; Pasits Rikachz, Alex Hoboson, Timothy Gausun; Dargis Walshor, Daas Taisg, Donk Mason, Jessie Mchargarita; Hansel Tang, Shakira Handris (c), Pete Carisa
Substitutes: Qetisan Monson (Rikachz 65')

Dargis Walshor was truly the saviour of the night. For the young midfielder, making both assists to end the match and grab another 3 points was something that he did not expect to do, but yet he did it and really performed very well against Damukuni.
Whenever we talk about Dargis Walshor, there seems to be little bad comments about him. Having come from the same academy as Joel Haodao, in Sarim Potatoes FC, and he became that all-rounded midfielder that provides pace. He reacts to criticisms really quickly, silencing critics and treating every game with equal respect. Against Qvardax, the midfield was accused of not retreating to support the 3 man defence whenever they are defending, and Dargis promptly led the midfield to do so against Damukuni. The 3-4-3 worked this time round, and Dargis' role was excellent.
However, for strategy purposes, Dargis is likely to miss the match against Reçueçn. Against a defensive side playing a 4-3-3, creativity is the key to success, and Gisiik Moonar would be making his return to the lineup, along with the Pickford siblings.

For Adnan, the 200th goal came and went, and it was only this morning did he realise that the team has scored 204 goals following the team's 42nd win against Damukuni.
Makana Tuft's goal against Qvardax last match was the 200th goal for the national team, and the next match would be the national team's 85th match. For many teams out there, 85 may be very little, but for Poafmersia, nobody would expect the national team to play so many matches in a short span of time. As the "founder" of the national team (being the first one to propose such a concept), Adnan Suliaha definitely has lots of thoughts in his mind. It doesn't help that the team is now at another of those crossroads, which is the business end of the World Cup Qualifiers, as teams are slowly realising that they are being eliminated from the possibility of playing the World Cup.
Around this time 2 years ago, during the previous qualifiers, the team was on their way out, and a series of results in the same week was going to seal the result for the team. This time round, they are barely surviving, being 10 points behind 2nd placed Reçueçn and hosting them in the next match. 11 teams have been eliminated out of the 195 members who entered the qualifiers, and though he wish that the Red Panjias would be able to enter the World Cup proper this time round, deep down his heart, he knows that elimination wold be an eventuality. The only thing he wishes for, is for the team to get a top 4 placing, at least showing an improvement being ranked higher than their seeded position.

Eliminated on Matchday 16
Group 1
Necosia
Group 5
Adsuri
Group 9
Audiasania
The Mann Clan
Olastor
Group 15
Revatnagar

Eliminated on Matchday 17
Group 4
Sylestone
Group 5
Mkabia
Group 7
South Charlia
Group 9
Patistan
Group 11
South Concepthuania

Unlike Group 9 (where the bottom teams are dropping out like grapes), Group 15 seems to be a much more balanced and contested group. As expected, the 2nd spot was going to be a tight race, with 10 points separating the 2nd to 5th place. However, many of the true 6 pointers came and gone, with Filindostan the latest team to lose to Reçueçn. "I will not resign to my fate until the fate comes and proves that it is true," said Adnan upon hearing the result. "Reçueçn may be strong, but we have drawn them away. If anything, we need to have more confidence in beating them at home." Confidence in the team's home form has really been a big issue, especially with the loss against Qvardax really raising questions. But many of the big matches are going to be at home. The upcoming match against Filindostan is going to be the biggest one out, with the away fans coming to Fiskadaha and expected to cause an atmosphere similar to that match against Quebec. For Adnan, everything is on the line. A loss here would surely mean definite elimination, while a win would help to turn the tables and allow Poafmersia to rise from the ashes. He knows that second seeds of a group aren't the most fantastic (maybe he just generalised based on Qasden's record in this cycle and the last), and that they are beatable. If only the team actually does it.

Starting 11 for next match: Sandi Jaliaha; Alex Pickford, Pasits Rikachz, Danzik Hoboson (c), Denise Pickford; Daas Taisg, Goon Figsh, Gisiik Moonar; Joel Haodao, Shakira Handris, Pete Carisa

by **Baggieland** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:45 pm

The Daily Boing

Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom 0 – 1 Baggieland FT (0 – 0 HT)

Baggieland got back to winning ways with a hard fought victory at Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom.

Although the first half produced no goals, there was plenty of attacking intent from both sides. Regis hit the crossbar with a thunderous shot in the 15th minute and Zeta replied by hitting the post not long afterwards. The Zeta forward had a good opportunity to open the scoring when one-on-one with the keeper, but Osborne produced a fine save to deny the hosts. In the last five minutes, the linesman signalled for a penalty for Baggieland, but the ref overruled the decision for an earlier infringement.

The second half turned out to be quieter than the first, both teams seemed to have forgotten their attacking prowess, instead looking to pass the ball around trying to create an opening, but both defences were on top of their game. With the match heading to a goalless draw, the deadlock was finally broken in the 87th minute, and it was that tried and trusted combination of a Brunt corner connecting with McAuley’s head. Brunt swung in the corner with his trusty left foot, expertly placing the ball between the keeper and defenders, then with a little run up, McAuley rose above everyone else to nod the ball into the back of the net.

Baggieland stats:

Scorers:
Jonas McAuley: (87’).

Possession: 49%.
Corners: 4.

Tournament scorers:
Jeff Richardson: 8.
Bomber Robson: 6.
Ginger Astle: 6.
Ronnie Regis: 4.
Ray Brunt: 2.
Jonas McAuley: 2.
Billy Cunningham: 2.
John Moore: 1.
Cyrille Allen: 1.

International goals:
Jeff Richardson: 12.
Bomber Robson: 6.
Ginger Astle: 6.
Ronnie Regis: 5.
Ray Brunt: 4.
Jonas McAuley: 3.
Billy Cunningham: 2.
Chris Barlow: 1.
John Moore: 1.
Cyrille Allen: 1.

by **Riennic Isles** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 9:01 pm

The Riena Sentinel

Three Points - Riena 0-1 North New South Wales
Limp defeat at home deals damaging blow to Riena's qualification hopes

Playing at home an unexpected burden for Riena

The second half of qualifying has seen home advantage for Riena turn into something of a curse, as the Wavelets have picked up just one point from six on offer against Saintland and North New South Wales. Lay these results alongside Riena's results on the road - six points from six in the second half of qualifying - and a sharp contrast begins to emerge. Normally a team at home, with the fans backing them to the hilt, would be expected to play to a higher standard than they do while on their travels, but curiously, this has not been the case for a Riena team who look strangely lethargic and anaemic in front of the home crowd at the Wavelet Arena.

A popular theory being advanced to explain Riena's woe at home is that the Wavelets' young squad are having problems dealing with the pressure of playing in front of a huge crowd of their own fans. Given their tender ages, the Riena players may well still lack the maturity and composure to handle the pressure that comes with expectations, especially as the Wavelets are, somehow, still in contention for a qualifying spot despite this bitterly disappointing reverse. It goes without saying that Riena cannot rely solely on their results on the road to carry them through a competitive group. This is definitely a problem that the coaching team needs to examine and solve with all due haste if Riena's qualifying campaign is not to end in a damp squib. A call to the team psychologist might be in order.

Kaede Igarashi's absence leaves a gaping hole in the team

When the teamsheets for this match was released, a surprise absentee was left-back Kaede Igarashi. Given that she had been rotated for Riena's last match against Lake Esper, only coming on for the final thirty minutes of the game, Igarashi had been expected to retake her spot in the Riena starting XI from Kano Uruha, but during her pre-game press conference, Kanata Shiranami confirmed that Igarashi would miss out against New North South Wales due to a minor hamstring strain suffered against Lake Esper. Deputising for Igarashi for the second straight game, Kano Uruha was unable to provide the direct penetration down the left flank despite being a more attacking-minded player, and the lack of an effective attacking outlet down the left meant that Riena struggled badly in trying to break down a compact, organised New North South Wales side.

The team's inability to score without Igarashi on the pitch today highlights Riena's growing reliance on their full-backs to provide attacking options down their flanks, and with Minami Kagura on the opposite flank having a bad day, Uruha's inability to influence the game from an attacking perspective contributed significantly to Riena's failings in front of the opposition goal. Despite being a converted winger, Uruha lacks the vision and passing range of the more technically polished Igarashi, and her naivety on the ball showed at times as she failed to dovetail well with either Tsumugi Suenaga or Cocoa Haneda. At the same time, this match highlighted the growing influence of Igarashi on this Riena side. Her devastating deliveries from out wide and from dead balls robbed the Riena arsenal of one of its most potent weapons, while Suenaga and Haneda, absent the understanding they had with Igarashi, found themselves starved of support wide out on the left, forcing them to move centrally to pick up the ball, where they were easily contained by the opposition. Riena's reliance on their wingers for attacking output meant that they were effectively deprived of one of their major goal threats. While a share of the blame has to go to Shiranami for failing to anticipate such a scenario in advance, Riena struggled mightily to adapt to Igarashi's unexpected absence, and Riena fans must now be praying that she recovers from her injury in time for the team's next match against Southern Esportivan Union.

Despite choke, Riena remain in the conversation for a qualifying spot

While suffering a late upset at home by an unheralded minnow may not bode well for Riena's chances of securing the results they need to wrest second spot in the group, Qasden's loss versus Oberour Ar Moro and Newmanistan sharing the points with Krytenia means that this matchday has otherwise been kind to the Wavelets. To use a football analogy, today's reverse against New North South Wales means that Riena have missed an open goal from three yards out in the battle for second, yet with eight matches and twenty-four points still to play for, Riena remain just three points behind Qasden, which is by no means an insurmountable gap. It is true that this Riena team is shot through with imperfections and flaws, all of which might yet prove to be telling as we enter the final stretch of qualifying, but the same can be said of the three other teams rivalling Riena for second place in the group.

Qasden's occasional fragility has been well-documented, and they contrived to drop another three points this matchday as they were turned over by Oberour Ar Moro. Krytenia suffered a horror run in the opening stages of qualifying - they have rebounded strongly since Jerome Jaffacake-Phillips adopted a different tactical system to right the ship, but questions remain over the Krytenians' ability to put together a consistent run of form, while Newmanistan took the drastic step of replacing Miguel Hernandez midway through qualifying after a string of patchy results, which points to their own set of internal issues. Both Newmanistan and Riena are three points behind Qasden, while Krytenia lurk another four points behind, albeit with a game in hand. All four challengers for the coveted final qualifying spot behind Vilita clearly have their flaws and imperfections, and if none of them manage to put together a strong run of form, the battle for second could yet go down to the wire.

by **Chromatika** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 9:07 pm

Chromatik City Courier
Jordan Lawless, Sports Columnist

Group 3 Matchday 17: Chromatika 1-1 The Jovannic @ Z'ai'ai Field, Z'ai'ai, Chromatika (Cap. 113,000, 40,000 seats)
Chromatik Scorers: Kelly ('29)
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Nichols; Ruth - Anderson - Ken - Nocturne; Limones - Zuniga; Kelly - Mora - Croix-Pierre; Andisori, K. (C).
Substitutes: Friedman -> Ken ('51), Rowles -> Nocturne ('68), Han -> Croix-Pierre ('83)

Z'AI'AI, CHROMATIKA -

A late tap-in by Ianu Fathe was the undoing of a solid eighty-nine minutes of work by Finn Nichols as The Jovannic ended up being Chromatika's boogeyman once again, limiting the Anomalies to a single point in Z'ai'ai.

Coupled by the fact that Northwest Kalactin handled Eshan 2-4 and Savojarna tied with Sanctanus by a score of 2-2, the result limits Chromatika's climb up the standings to seven points out of second place instead of the five that could've happened had the Anomalies held on.

"It was a good ball," stated Finn after the match about Fathe's strike, "And I wasn't able to get it. The blame for that one goes on me."

What was more surprising was the fact that The Jovannic held Chromatika to a single goal; Keira Andisori's three attempts were all stopped. If it wasn't for the long loop-in by Whitney Kelly, Chromatika might have gotten out of the brace with the unranked opponent with two losses instead.

A trip to Wanarpu remains the only other warm-up before the stretch that will define the campaign approaches - versus Eura, away at Northwest Kalactin, versus Eshan.

by **Geektopia** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 9:12 pm

Geektivities
*Be cool, be woke.
Reports done by Cuperton, who comes off as an asshat somehow even more so then Pentahectillion looked to be in '84

GKTA's Home Matches (3-2-2)

Geektopia 1-1 Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom
A stifly start at home to the BoF second-placers

Goals: 65' (Andreen | Geektopia), 86' (Stajkwon Hokwok | Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom)
As the subtitle says, it did look to be a stifly and shaky start for the Greens, but the Yellow and Reds did come to their respective locker rooms after the ninetieth no doubt happy about splitting the bill with a seed five. Better things will be expected from the Greens, and better things there would be.
Geektopia 2-1 Starblaydia
A mostly magical endeavor with added goals from Barella and Loui

Goals: 35' (Sutter McCloud | Starblaydia), 78' (Barella | Geektopia), 88' (Loui | Geektopia)
At the Isleshore, it was brilliant. A blatant looking one-zero loss to Osarius held a scoreline that could have been easily altered on the Greens' day. But this was the Greens' day, and who could have asked for a day better than at home to the numero uno seeds, Starblaydia. Following up today, we also played pretty well today to make a four-four scoreline against the Nepharans, but that will be mentioned in our 'away games' section, which might never come out, much like our previous news series that only lasted for two articles out of the expected 4.327845.
Geektopia 1-2 95X
Formidable scoreline for the boys that were never expecting to hold down five goals

Goals: 34' (Summer Madison | 95X), 37' (Sydney Hardin | 95X), 64' (Medine | Geektopia)
Respectable scorelines were held, with a flurry of goals in thirty minutes, with the rest of the game looking to be Geektopia losing the ball as 95X makes offensive charge towards goal. The Geektopian goalkeeper whose name was also Leabo made some incredible blocks in goal as well, as the game could have easily ended 9-1. First loss at the Isleshore, but not worst loss.
Geektopia 2-2 Aldaveria
Stalwart Aldaverian defense buckles Geektopias knees in a seesaw game

Goals: 6' (Player 4 | Aldaveria), 20' (Medine | Geektopia), 64' (Andreen | Geektopia), 71' (Player 9 | Aldaveria)
A team that we have no idea about, as we do every other XI in the group, but this particular one didn't have a roster so we didn't know what the hell to call the players that scored. Some derogatory names would have done nicely, but our PR team ran out of ideas, plussing that that wouldn't have been good PR anyways. These players that scored though did a damn fine job against us as the attacking pass formation was almost completely skewed by Aldaveria's rushing frontman.
Geektopia 0-1 Bongo Johnson
Geektopia looks to have never played at all as they concede only one goal after the ninety minutes to lose to Bongo Johnson

Goals: 43' (Jonathan Hamblett | Bongo Johnson)
Bongo Johnson's elite leftback scored with only just forty-seven minutes on the clock to hand his visiting a one-niller at the Isleshore, which has seen better days. It's another miserable afternoon for the Greens who have a 1-1-2 record at home. Hopefully this would change with encounters against new XIs only just looming after this one.
Geektopia 1-1 Cosumar
AAAAY A DRAW AGAINST A BIG TEAM THAT WE DIDN'T COVER

Goals: 31' (Medine | Geektopia), 33' (Player 6 | Cosumar)
What a draw that was for GKTA, that of which were organized, tight, and found that it-factor at any which end of the game. Cosumar didn't take their chances and were unnecessarily poor, though there might have been plenty more points to assail through their future games if they hadn't repeated this scoreline against Baggieland.
Geektopia 5-3 Baggieland
Geektopia double up on the Baggies

Goals: 30' (Sudlow | Geektopia), 35' (Crete | Geektopia), 43' (Resendis | Geektopia), 59' (Ginger Astle | Baggieland), 67' (Ginger Astle | Baggieland), 85' (Billy Cunningham | Baggieland), 89' (Loui | Geektopia), 90+3' (Resendis | Geektopia)
The most exciting looking game as of writing would be us at home against Baggieland. Somehow, we won the away fixture by 4-3, and this would be a one goal extension. Baggieland were vivacious and they might still have their neck in the WC qualifiers but this second encounter would see Ginger Astle and Resendis scoring doubles, Resendis being one of the four scorers for the Greenheads who hadn't before for their national team. Baggieland's flame would surely look to be put out after three goals that would comprise to be thirteen minutes but amazingly they scored three back. The Kop was stunned as well as silenced but the players were emblazoned as a livid attacking three went for it and scored two goals to solidify the game.
Geektopia 5-2 Osarius
Greens claim revenge in an effortuous endeavor

Goals: 9' (Player 8 | Osarius), 17' (Player 9 | Osarius), 21' (Andreen | Geektopia), 31' (Osorto | Geektopia), 38' (Andreen | Geektopia), 61' (Pillars | Geektopia), 80' (Sudlow | Geektopia)
The rosterless (well, as far as we can tell) but hardened Osarian side would play good football for most of the minutes contained inside twenty as their wingers and frontmen would score two goals that would extinguish the flame to put a double past our boys in clad yellow, but it wasn't to be as Andreen and Osorto would score their usual goals on a good day at the Isle. Ther game looked to be put past at three-two but Pillars and Sudlow would cheekily charge upfield and slot theirs home, defense unmanned and uncanny. A great comeback and a great night to pay for tickets. I didn't, but you get the point.
Scoresheet in terms of home brilliance
Osorto [] 1 goal
Loui [] 2 goals
Barella [] 1 goal
Crete [] 1 goal
Pillars [] 1 goal
Andreen [] 2 goals
Sudlow [] 1 goal
Resendis [] 2 goals
Medine [] 3 goals
Houg [] no goals yet

by **Sharktail** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 10:59 pm

GROUP 5 MATCHDAY 17

sharktail-3
Gaby (m '19)
Shakir (m '40)
Afif (m '57)

Ahmad
Harold
Azmi
Hidawi
Ashaari
Afif
Chandra (sub m 53)
Badhri
Nik akif (sub m 71)
Gaby
Shakir

Sub
Hadi (m '53)
Azmer (m '71)

Darkmania-2
Tyrn (m '3)
Mjoe (m '79)

When the sun rise, it shines,
When I live, you laugh.

Hahaha, hello guys, welcome back to Nazri TV. It'sss liveee...

How are you all today, doing good? I, of course, as always bright, cute, handsome, cheerful, all in one, the only one.

Hello, with me again Nazri. I hope you all have a good day. So, first, I will tell you about something. I have reached my target to get 1000 views in the last stream. Not just that, my subscriber has reached 500. Give me an applause. (Congrats Nazri.) Thank you. (Congrats, add more contain next time). Thank you. Sure I will make it more cheerful and fun. (Congrats, how can you be so famous in just a short time?).Thank you. I don't know too. However, I appreciate all the support you gave me. I really really appreciate it. Thank you so much. (Target 1000 subscriber next.) Target 1000 subscribers? Hmmm...sure, I will make it one of my goal but the main goal is to entertain all. You are not my fans but you are my friends.

Last week, I went to Khazajamal. We took a short tour around Khazajamal. But today, today...we are just live at home. Hey don't be so depressed. Why all of you seems sad when I stream from home. You know, I'm happy to stream from home because I'm alone, so I don't feel embarrassed to do some crazy action. Hahaha. Next game Sharktail will face Zwangzug, I have not decided yet whether I will go to Zwangzug or not. (Go to Zwangzug). Hmm... (Come one,show us around there). Ok, but i do not promise I will go. Just wait until that day comes and see where I will do the streaming. Ok, so last night our beloved NT win again. This time they defeat Darkmania 3-2. Splendid performance from Sharktail NT. What do you think about their performance? (They have shown good performance), (defend still need improvement,but it's okay since we won), (Gaby superb), (our attacking side is power). I agree with your comment. Oh yeah you mention about Gaby. Next game against Zwangzug, it will be his 50th caps for NT. Against Zwangzug, it will be a good gift for him if we win but I hope our NT team play with all their strength for this match.

So for today, since we are at home, we can do many things. Today I have decided to play a game. I searched on my computer last night. I found one game that is really interesting and really great to be playing at this time. The name of this award-winning football video game is NS World Cup 84. Seems like it was made after the 84th World Cup held in Cassadaigua and Baker Park. Maybe it was made by some hardcore fans. What can I say, he is good with graphics, even if this game is not as good as FIFA but it is still ok. So I decided to download it. I have installed this game last night. So today let's play together.

Okay let's run the game. Wait, let me take a controller. Since this is PC edition, I am not good at playing with keyboard. So I bought a controller to play it. Oh, it starts. (Watching the intro) Waahh, look at the intro. It's a combination of highlights from Farfadilis, Vilita and Nephara. So let see what modes it have. Hmm... Friendly, penalty and cup, just three. So how about we play cup. Before that, let's edit team and add Sharktail NT. They did not participate in this edition. So let see jersey, let's make it blue for first kit and white for second kit. Ok nice. Player, let's use our current roster.

(After 10 minutes editing) Ok done. Hmm...aha, let's put my name replacing Gaby. (He change Gaby to Nazri and he maximizes the rating for shooting). Nicely done. Let's play. So let's go with friendly. Let's pick Sharktail. Yes, let's have random opponent. Who will we play first? (The random pick is Nephara.) What, no. It's only the first game but we are already a step in the hell. Le'st just play. (Nazri focuse playing). Hey come on, make me faster. No, no keeper save it. Wait, ah change the player to defend. Dumb, where are you shooting. Hell, they have scored 6 goals in the first half. Ah what the hell, I have already max the rating for Nazri, how can he not even score one goal. Don't mess up in the second half. Please score some goal.

(Match continue).Hey Chandra, how long until you pass. No, take the ball properly. Ah how can the ball go high. Hoi is Nephara building a brick wall in goal or what. Ah what the hell, slow passing. Just go to the net. (The match ended 9-0 to Nephara. Nazri smacks the table.) One more time, this time I will win. (He pick Sharktail again and let AI choose random opponent. (The next opponet is Banija). I am doomed again. Just give me an opponent that suits me. How can you give me top rank team. (He starts playing the match against Banija). Woi, how long will you make the ball reach the other player. Woi just gets into the net, net, dumb, not bar. Keeper, stay in goal. No, no not red card. Fine,I will tackle all your player. Ha take it, just get put. Take it, injured yourself. Woi they have already take out their star. Max rating player but play like thrash. Arggghh, just give me one goal. (Second match ended, Banija won 7-0). (Nazri read the comment:'Choose lower ranked team'). Huh...fine. Last game, I will never play again if I lose. (He once again chose Sharktail NT.He chooses ZSeparatist as his opponent.) I don't care if you say the rank is to low, I just want to win. Let's go, nice pass Badhri, take the ball properly Nazri, argh bar again. How can my created player be so bad. No, no, this is the game's false.Cmon cmon, goalll. Nice one Nik Akif. Wait stop him, yusri, argh the tied again. Come on Nazri shoot, the hell, how high do you want to shoot. No stop him from shooting, no how can they score. No,no,not for third time. It's offiside reff, hey are you blind, the third goal was offside. The hell. Badhri just get your pass properly this time, nice, pass through to the penalty box, come on Nazri, Nazri goal. Yes goal and more, one more. (As Zssparatist pass the ball, the referee blow the final whistle. Nazri stands and throw the controller to the wall. The controller seems to break.) Arggh...How can this beee? I never lost this much playing football game. This game is really dumb.

(Nazri seem to have not cooled down yet. He faces to the camera live.) Let just stop today. I don't have the mood anymore. Just you wait, next time I will show you my skill playing football video game. Ok bye. See you next time.

GROUP 5 MATCHDAY 18 VS ZWANGZUG

by **Sylestone** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 12:13 am

Eastfield Lodge, a side the Sylestonean Appliances beat in their first round, got their revenge with a 4-1 thrashing, Sylestone's largest loss thus far in the tournament. However, a reminiscence was in the air as the Mixer scored in just the second minute, however, three minutes later, one of the Eastfield players "unplugged" him, as the Flavovespian defender did in their last game. This meant that he was out for the rest of the game. And with all of the substitutes either relaxing or getting charged (they had a very cruel training session beforehand which was a terrible idea on the coaches behalf), they had to play with ten players. Although it was a striker that went off, it had the same effect as if it were a goalkeeper, and the team morale was down for the rest of the game. Brick Wall let in three goals in the first half, and another early in the second half, but for the rest of the game he lived up to his name. The Fridge used his old tactic of getting the Bar Stool to kick the ball inside him and then shut it and actually ended up scoring this time, but the referee was anti-sentient-household-object and did not allow the goal. The side left the field after the 90th minute with their team spirits down, as the game assured that they were eliminated from World Cup contention and Sylestonean soccer fans were in an uproar over the ref's mistakes. It will be interesting to see the response in their next matchup.

by **The Sarian** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:17 am

Line-up versus Wanarpu (4-4-1-1): Oodel Duoztiun / Trent Kindvanbruux, Jaxon Pieuz, Henri Brejzun, Mati Kolen / Tansi Kindvanjodi, Wilaam Kindvanjohan, Hugo Sint Lo, Cnut Zumer / Piteur Jong / Ghini Bondstad

De Telegraaf Sport presents...

ON LEFT FLANK
The Rolling Football Blog

The Sarian 3–2 Wanarpu: three thoughts
Stefan Struik, Football Writer

What a dreadful start...
I know what you were thinking, I was thinking it too. Here we go again. At home against a minnow; a side so small that we wouldn't even give them the dignity of De Stadionnational. And two-nothing down within twenty minutes. Sure, they were both flukes - the first, a penalty that should never have been given. During a scramble in the six yard area, the referee mistakenly thought that the ball came off Trent Kindvanbruux's arm instead of the arm of the Wanarpi striker. A decision that was somehow upheld by the Video Assistant Referee system (VAR) - made bizarre by the fact that the Wanarpi striker has different colour skin than Kindvanbruux. And then the second Wanarpi goal... I'm sure back home they are calling it a thing a beauty, but anyone without a partisan lens can see it as nothing more than good fortune. An overhit clearance by one of their defenders (their football governing body didn't release the names to the press pack; and we're too lazy to go hunting) went flying into the air. Oodel Duoztiun thought he had it covered, raced off of his line to deal with it calmly. And it bounced. Over his head. Into the net. In truth, it was a display of bad goalkeeping. But given the excellent performance that the Saari number one put in as Wanarpu surged in the final fifteen minutes, we're gonna cut him some slack.

...But what a comeback!
When The Sarian went through their run of bad form at the start of qualifiers, this would have been curtains. Heads would have dropped and the team would have succumb to the inevitability of it all. Instead, the team played some fantastic football. For a heavily rotated squad, it was a thing of marvel. Much of the discourse - and I shamefully have to include myself in this - stated that the reversal in Saari fortunes was a result of finding a squad that had gotten used to playing with each other. This team blew that out of the water. Hugo Sint Lo and Wilaam Kindvanjohan, making their inaugural appearance as a midfield duo, controlled the game. If CF Bondstad (Kindvanjohan's club side) were not on the phone to Sint Lo's Zilverstraat asking them to name their price, they've missed a trick. More flashy was Cnut Zumer, an attacking minded winger who often plays in a centre-forward position, Zumer was the biggest threat. Constantly being fed the ball by the Sint Lo-Kindvanjohan duo, he terrorised the Wanarpi defence - assisting Ghini Bondstad to put The Sarian back in the game after twenty-seven minutes and scoring two of his own either side of half time. It was Zumer's second break-out performance of the qualifiers - he failed to live up to the hype after the last one, but can he do so this time? Of course, it wasn't all plain sailing: Wanarpu had several periods of complete dominance, and the Saari defence let them through too easily. But (minus the bouncing incident) Duoztiun was back at his best. It was harder than it could have been, but The Sarian were deserved winners.

Print it out and frame it.
Everyone accuses me of doom and gloom, but go onto the World Cup Committee (WCC) website, click on Qualifying, then click on tables (it's on the menu bar to the right; it's hard to navigate), scroll down to group three, press command-shift-three, paste that screenshot into an image processing software, crop it, print it on good quality paper, go to the town centre, find an inexpensive frame (but not a tacky, cheap one), place the picture in the frame, use a hammer to attach it to your wall. When finished, bask in the glow of it. The Sarian are in third place, just one win off of the qualifying spots. And now for the doom and gloom: it was a series of uniquely lucky happenstance which made this happen in a way which is not remotely sustainable. The schedule means that The Sarian have had an incredibly easy run of games to kickstart this half of qualifying: the hardest game (on paper) was a home match against 218th ranked Adyatin. And the Bustards didn't even have a clean-sweep of these games - a lacklustre performance produced a draw against an excellent Sanctanus team. But now the squad enters a harder run of games - including a trip to Eura for the next match-day. To add to that, fourth placed Savojarna have a game in hand and are just one point behind. That said, who cares?! No-one expects anything, enjoy it whilst it lasts and, most importantly, subscribe to my morning email list so you can keep up with all the new found excitement.

Squad for matches against Eura, Northwest Kalactin, Eshan & Alba and Cymru

Goalkeepers: 1 - Oodel Duoztiun 13 - Lex Horn 21 - Cseralen Zwarte
Defenders: 2 - Ceutiz Maazden 3 - Walt Beunaad 5 - Jaxon Pieuz (c) 6 - Henri Brejzun 12 - Criuzi Siwaad 14 - Zej Zamuuol 22- Mati Kolen 23 - Trent Kindvanbruux
Midfielders: 4 - Jodi Lauri 7 - Maeri Beniut 8 - Luc Bisop (v.c) 10 - Mohammad Islam 11- Wictor Buul 15 - Hugo Sint Lo 16 - Wilaam Kindvanjohan 19 - Tansi Kindvanjodi 20 - Piteur Jong
Forwards: 9 - Ghini Bondstad 17 - Cnut Zumer 18 - Lach Houten
Line-up versus Eura (5-4-1): Oodel Duoztiun / Walt Beunaad, Jaxon Pieuz, Zej Zamuuol, Henri Brejzun, Ceutiz Maazden / Wictor Buul, Luc Bisop, Jodi Lauri, Maeri Beniut / Lach Houten

by **The Jovannic** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:21 am

At a Local Tavern in Jovannica
It is a quiet night as the Tavern is unusually silent

Welcome back to the match of The Jovannic Vs Chromichatika, where the higher ranked opponent is leading 1-0 coming into the 87th minute!

I don't think The Jovannic can come back from this, Bob. They are tied back, pinned down, don't see any way to break through.

A odd groan can be heard. There was nothing to celebrate today, with the team turning into a defensive rock, but somehow managed to let slip a certain goal. Only few were still watching a huge TV screen set up for WCQ action.

It's Jin Tze with the ball, space to go on the inside... Now to Sami.. he turns to Thomas... A good cross in...Sami has fake IT...IANU IS THERE! THE SUPERSUB! OH MY GOD WHAT A MOMENT! WHAT A PLAY! ABSOLUTELY PHONEMENAL!!!

A small group breaks into jubilant cheers as the other unaware people turn to face the TV. Ianu Fathe was ripping off his shirt and dancing the Cha cha. Gothal Mathee started screaming a running down the pitchside. It felt like the roof blew down. Fans were hugging, screaming, cheering on the goal. The barman started dancing a jig. Wow. A draw against such a good formed team. Surely there will be more to come against Sabalonia. We will avenge the previous horrible performance. The fans there will agree.

The bartender looks at the shrewd mess of clothes, party crackers and other items on his once clean floor. "Well."

Starting Eleven
Mavin Tsuniki, Kish Dasny, Raye Eng, Kallin Yustat, Nivario Wesh, Stockian Lelop, Jin Tze, Rivilia Yunsala, Sami Ning, Ianu Fathe, Jovan Ilohil

by **Audioslavia** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:00 am

Part 1 (Sue)
Part 2 (Sue)
Part 3 (Emanuel)
Part 4 (Sue)
Part 5 (Emanuel)
Part 6 (Emanuel)
Part 7 (Emanuel)
Part 8 (Emanuel)
Part 9 (Emanuel)
Part 10 (Emanuel)
Part 11 (Emanuel / Jeremy)
Part 12 (Emanuel)

Emanuel wasn’t sure what kind of tea that was, but it was tasted like it was mainly made of cardamom and it was possibly the best thing he’d ever tasted.

The old lady could make herself understood when she needed to, and from their five minute conversation, Emanuel understood that she wasn’t about to give up Yusuf’s whereabouts any time soon. She was good natured, sure, and had a mischievous cackle when she remembered the events of the poker night, years previous, and spoke of Yusuf fondly, like he was her favourite grandson, but that was it. Emanuel’s final question, “Where can I find Yusuf?” was met with a warm, apologetic smile and a tap on her nose. Dolores Styrn gave Emanuel a muffin and a tap on his butt as he left. The muffin might also have been the best thing he’d ever tasted.

Emanuel reached the ground floor and left through the front door. He approached the main gate.

“Who are you?” asked the security guard
Emanuel told him his name was Jeremy. Jeremy Styrn. He’d been visiting his grandmother.
“Who, Dolores?” said the guard, wearily. “I don’t remember you coming in?”
“Are you doubting that i live here?” asked Emanuel, raising an eyebrow. The security guard shook his head quickly and pressed the button to open the gate.
“Nice lady” he said as Emanuel went through. “You must be Joseph’s brother”
Emanuel stopped.
“Joseph. Yeah. Younger brother. You know him?”
“Aye” said the guard. “He comes here once a month to pay his granny’s rent and have dinner with his old lady. Lovely guy”
“Yeah” said Emanuel, thinking. “Yeah does he still… has he shown off that new car of his yet?”
“What?” asked the security guard. “No.. no he always comes here in that midnight blue Link of his”
“Nah it’s not a midnight blue Link” said Emanuel, laughing. “It’s a navy blue Crossbow”
“No no, it’s definitely a Link”
“Bet you twenty dollars it isn’t” said Emanuel
Within a minute, the guard had beckoned him into his hut and was showing him a picture of the car on the screen of his computer. It was a security camera photo that had been taken recently.
“See? Midnight blue. That’s a Link logo on the front”
“So it is” said Emanuel, paying no attention as he fished for the twenty dollar bill from his back pocket. Emanuel’s eyes were on the screen, making a mental note of the car’s numberplate and the address linked with the card this ‘Joseph Styrn’ had used to enter the complex. It was all there on the screen.

—-

Bulls Win 0-0
Thrashing Astograth 0-0 ‘Would Be Lovely’ :- Patterick

Put your cabbages away. Sean Patterick has now gone five games without defeat.

Plenty of comparisons have been made between Patterick and Txo Morea, Audioslavia’s stricken manager for half of cycle 62. After a string of poor results in qualifying (conceding five goals to both Mytannion and New Montreal States and failing to beat an unranked and unfancied debuting Royal Kingdom of Quebec), A cauliflower began to be superimposed onto Txo Morea’s head in news publications throughout Audioslavia. There had been threats of doing the same, but with a cabbage, for the struggling Patterick.

Now though, Patterick has survived the ‘just after halfway through qualifying’ mark that had bedevilled Morea, and a result against Astograth would ensure that Audioslavian destiny remains in the team’s hands in time for the home match against Muradil and the short hiatus before the final stretch of qualifying.

Had Morea had a lot more luck back in World Cup 62 qualifying, the national team may have visited the Grand Duke’s Stadium in Rumiatzi, where a capacity crowd and a wall of noise are expected. Astograthians, despite their nation having the lowly ranking of 303rd in the world, are beginning to dream. Perhaps for the first time since Red Wednesday.

World Cup 68’s playoffs broke the hearts of many a nation as, one by one, the forces of Atlantian Oceania and Rushmore were defeated by underdogs, ne’erdowells, Esportivans and, in a couple of cases, all of the above.

For Astograth, their playoff defeat to Jeruselem had the added effect of taking the ‘Cycles 69-76’ part of their history book and screwing it up and throwing it in the bin.

Astograth had a brief return in the late 70s and another in World Cup 83 where, drawn into a group with Sajnur and Audioslavia, they won none of their twelve matches and finished bottom of the group.

Fans weren’t expecting much more this time out apart from shortarsed has-been Ibai Kiriano who’s convinced they’ll win the whole thing. Any Astograthian positivity was chuckled at by the Audioslavian media right up to the point where the Olibondeka mugged the Bulls at home.

A focused and solid Astograth have lost only twice thus far in qualifying, both narrow away defeats, one against runaway leaders Turori and the other a sickening 1-0 defeat to a game New Lusitania. The rankings say they should be trading weak blows with Villablanca and EOT at the bottom of the group, but instead they are holding their own in fourth place and not out of the running yet.

At five points back from Audioslavia and with a game in hand, Astograth need a win at Grand Duke’s and a victory in their game in hand in order to climb to second place in their group. From there, a winning streak all the way to the World Cup is unlikely, but Astograth are as well-equipped as any team in the top six to survive an attritional war and scramble their way to the finish line ahead of the pack.

That first step, the home match with Audioslavia, will be a battle and a half. Kontrapuntzeka versus Olibondeka, a team who doesn’t like to concede goals against a team that doesn’t like to lose (if you could briefly imagine that this isn’t the case for every single football team ever that’d be great). A castle in a forest fighting a bull on a hill. Okay this paragraph got away from me.

It’s the latest in a marathon of must-win matches for the Bulls. And I mean come on. It’s neither the 15th of March nor 2013. We should have this one in the bag.

by **Tequilo** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:08 am

THE CONTINUING MIDADVENTURES OF GARCÍA de CORCOLES
The Raft

LILÍAN: The Bar | The Gold | The Gum | Frank Sent This | The Guardian
GARCÍA: The Fire | The Banjo | The Scooter | The Raft | The Border

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

Readers from the first half of qualifying will recall that squad player García de Corcoles, a young goalkeeper from Antivador, had been left behind in Appalaxia after the Baptism of Fire to recover from a series of unfortunate injuries. Then, in a series of unfortunate misadventures, he had set his hospital bed alight, failed to raise the alarm, and been forced to roll off his bed breaking more bones. From there, crawling into a chaotic corridor in the perpetually mismanaged infrastructure of Charleston, he was hit by a runaway wheelchair which toppled the unconscious Gram’ma Cooterbuck out on top of him. Crawling further, in search of help, with the stone cold geriatric sprawled across him, he was spotted by the Cooterbuck Boys, the grandsons Clint, Clyde and Clay who rescued their old Gram’ma and threw her supposed kidnapper García onto the back of their truck. Delivered to the family mountain home, after a series of painful interrogations by Ma & Pappy Cooterbuck - that would be Claudette & Clem - it was determined he should be chopped up and fed to the hogs. But before he could be turned into pigs-meat, Gram’ma attempted to shoot him with an old blunderbuss, which misfired, blew off her hand, exploded a gas canister and started a cabin fire that would burn the Cooterbuck mountain home to the ground, taking Gram’ma and Clem with it. Meanwhile the hogs escaped in the melée and enraged by many years of inappropriate affections from the Cooterbuck Boys, hunted each one down and viciously slaughtered them with their bare trotters. García also managed to escape, assaulting an old preacher who happened by during the catastrophe and stealing his disability scooter, while Ma Cooterbuck and her two daughters, The Twins, watched on from a distance.

What a whole bunch of slapstick.

Racing down the hill at a heady 9km per hour, García formulated a plan of escape. It mostly involved keeping on rolling the scooter down till he hit civilisation in this wight-forsaken place and then to use a telephone to call in International Rescue. Or something like that. Meanwhile, Claudette Cooterbuck, her house alight at her back and García scooting off down the mountain ahead of her, was formulating her own plan. It mostly involved avenging Pappy Clem, Gram’ma, and the Cooterbuck Boys who’d been taken down by the livestock - bringing down a hurricane on that broken cripple who had stolen away on Preacher Clout’s veer-hickle. Claudette knew that the boy wouldn’t get too far too quick on the perambulator, and the mountain road was long and winding - so she had time to gather her thoughts and sharpen her wits. Jeremiah Clout, the fat ol’ man of god, was coming round now down there on the side of the road where Gracía wounded him with a lucky rock-throw, his head a little bloody and his presence of mind a little scrambled. He rolled about a bit in confusion. Ma Cooterbuck called down to him from the ridge above, framed by the burning cottage and the distant howl of the last of her sons falling under the judgment of hogs, and told him she would be coming for him, to hold his peace, and to prepare for hellfire and brimstone. Then she rounded up her daughters, The Twins, and they went down to the old haulage container buried ’neath the ground, wherein the Cooterbucks held a store of supplies against the coming apocalypse (or invasion by Eurans or Valladaries or other such Commie Menaces) - and there she filled a rucksack with jelly roll, twinkies, and ammunition; whilst distributing automatic fire arms to the girls, with a couple of grenades, some hunting knives and of course Pappy Clem’s reserve crossbow with a stock of bolts. Appropriately quartered, they took to the Boys pickup, gunned the old truck and headed out to collect Preacher Clout, thence to catch up with the cripple who done offed the family Cooterbuck and deliver their own judgment upon him.

Three quarters of a kilometre further down the hill, García laughed hysterically at his miraculous escape, adrenalin and terrible pain from forty-eight fractures combining to send him into a whirlwind of momentary insanity. As he trundled past another cabin beside the road, a pale bald boy with terrible cross eyes who had been playing a pacy tune on his eight-string banjollin put aside his music making, picked up his catapult and loaded a dried toad into it, aimed, and shot the howling devil who seemed to be making a getaway on Preacher Clout’s own disability scooter. A perfect shot, García was struck clean between the eyes by the flying toad and veered off the road, down the bank and through the trees, barely managing to hold on to the careering scooter. Finally it hit a tree and launched him, somersaulting hard, acquiring more fractures, toward - appropriately enough - Tumbling Creek, a white-water gorge that passed right through these parts on the steep decline toward Ethane. He hit a rocky outcrop, and rolled like a rag doll onto a small wooden pier erected as a rickety fishing stage. Just behind him, the heavy old scooter spun into view, parts flying off in all directions, hit the rocky outcrop, and landed on it’s side right on the edge of the fishing stage.

Up on the road, Claudette roared on by, chasing down the scooter, but missing Clete Banjollin’s bullseye shot and the diversion of the scooter and her prey into Tumbling Creek.

On the fishing stage, the dazed García felt time stand still as the wrecked cart, freewheeling on its side, weighed heavily on the rickety old pier, which groaned in protest at the sudden weight upon it’s outer edge. The scooter teetered, and seemed to slide, ever so slowly, into the fast flowing water below. And as it disappeared over the side, there was a tremendous whine as the pier itself gave way, seeming to surrender to the injury recently done to it. The four posts holding it out of the water buckled, and deposited the former fishing stage flat into the water, launching it as a raft, with the broken García prone on it’s deck. After taking a moment to settle, it found it’s direction, and joined the foaming waters that would rough-ride this fragile vessel down the mountain at approximately seven times the speed of Preacher Jeremiah Clout’s drowned perambulator. Perhaps they would even catch up with Ma Cooterbuck in the truck, say around… oh, I don’t know, maybe the Wahanassatta Bridge - if the raft doesn’t break up over the rocks of Tumbling Creek before then.

NO EMBER-ASSMENT IN NARROW DEFEAT [Sorry, Ed.]
Port Ember 1-0 TEQUILO HT: 1-0

Location: Lilly Black Memorial Stadium, Lilly Black Borough; Port Ember Megalopolis Att: 91,307
SCORERS: Reddington 73’

Well this was always looking like a tricky one in the middle of a tough fixture run and so it proved as Port Ember look nailed on now for a qualification spot, and Los Pitxileros will have dialled their ambition from ‘just survive the night’ through ‘we can qualify here, you know’ back down to a more realistic ‘let’s at least try to get top half of the group’. And they would be well within their rights to aim for that after another narrow defeat from a reasonable showing against a good side. Ray Reddington’s strike in the last quarter of the game was the difference on paper, although the Dragons might feel a wider margin was more deserved. For Tequilo, Haize Apeiztegui’s stirling show in the back line kept the home team at bay for much of the game, and while Reddington could deservedly claim the man of the match award, Haize will come out of this with great credit and yet another notch in the ladder to Tequilo legend status.

After consecutive defeats against the Dragonflies and the Dragons, who next but… erm, the Drags? Drag Queens? Well, there certainly is a sort of camp carnivalesque about the whole shebang from the Holy Empire and we’ve been reliably advised they are NOT monks, per our previous assertion. I have no idea where that came from. Whatever they are - and it varies from year to year, being of such mercurial talent - they will want to come to Tequilo to demonstrate their angry opposition to our perfectly innocent [ahem] enjoyment of chocolate drinks from the Vilitan Cove, after Sir Barse, their apparent leader and spokesperson, voiced disapproval at our bucket of chocolate on the sidelines in the Hippodrome, on the occasion of the agave-blues impressing to nick a point against one of the giants of the World Cup. Though that was largely done to provoke a reaction (we have our own chocolate drinks and narco industries, and generally don’t like anything that comes from Ao in case pointy-ears have touched it) we now recognise it was in bad taste and regret provoking Sir Barse for fear of a multi-goal retribution. Los Pitxileros welcome captain Mateo Tafalla back and also name defensive midfielder Callañaupa in an experienced side, sadly missing the still-injured young giant Ixtub Tün who successfully frustrated Sir Barse in the last game.

Starting Line-Up for TEQUILO vs. The Holy Empire:

Bienvenida | Zambo, Apeiztegui, Huracán, Chicchan | Callañuapa | Artechevarria, Tafalla (Capitan), Tutayan | Tlacolotl & Toran

VENUE: Palacio de Cristal, Gardaresso, Antivador; capacity 81,800

The tour of venues moves to the largest domestic stadium for the biggest game of the cycle for Tequilo at The Crystal Palace, Real Gardaresso’s fortress so named for the large amount of fancy glass used in renovating the stadium which effectively hides a multitude of sins underneath - the old stadium was a vast and shambolic edifice which really hasn’t been renovated so much as camouflaged. Still, it looks great, sounds great, and only vibrates on a terrifying frequency if half the ground are jumping up and down - something Real’s ultras enjoy doing to frighten the bejesu out of visiting supporters.

by **HUElavia** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 5:50 am

HUElavia Upset in Late Defeat to Vdara!

Vdara 3-2 HUElavia
(Karalas 20', Lazelis 60', Giannakos 88'| Cristiano 27', Rossi 67')

HUElavia came into Matchday 18 looking to extend their winning streak after going the last 5 matches with consecutive victories, as well as extending the clean sheet streak from 3 consecutive matches without conceding goals. This time, Los Amarillos were visiting Vdara, looking to have a spectacular game, much like the 6-4 result in Gikoji back in Matchday 4, which was one of the most entertaining games not only in Group 11, but in the whole qualifiers. HUElavia was playing with their Home Alternative Uniform, along with Lobato in goal, as both teams fielded their A-Teams in a sold-out VdarArena.

The first half kicked off and both teams played cautious to each other. With how the two teams were playing, HUElavia was determined to stay alive in a hostile environment that is the VdarArena, while Vdara was looking to get another victory and maintain 5th place in the tables. Both teams would go for some minutes passing the ball left and right, between low passes and crosses, looking to open each other's defense. The opening goal would come in the 20th minute, as a pass from Vlahiades met the left foot of Karalas, who blasted it past Lobato and into the goal to make it 1-0, with the crowd erupting from the celebration while Karalas was mobbed by his teammates. This lead would not last for so long, as in the 27th minute, a cross from Navarro into the box left Cristiano open to get past Xeniadis to blast a low shot past Moustakakos and into the goal to tie it 1-1, with Cristiano doing a power stance while the crowd whistled their disapproval. Vdara went on the attack, but Lobato, Hierro and Smirnov snuffed out the chances, while Moustakakos stopped chances from Hamada and Navarro. The first half ended 1-1, with both teams feeling they could have had a better chance to take the lead.

The second half kicked off, and both teams went on the attack once more, looking to one-up the other. Vdara and HUElavia traded shots left and right, with Lobato and Moustakakos doing acrobatic saves that had the crowd applaud both goalkeepers for their performances. Vdara would take the lead once again in the 60th minute, as a cross from Karalas into the box would have Lazelis leap up over Hierro, as he headed the ball past the fingertips of Lobato and into the goal to make it 2-1, with the crowd celebrating with passion while Los Amarillos were shocked. Once again, HUElavia would not let this lead last for long, as they went on the attack left and right, looking to do a counterattack. This would succeed, as in the 67th minute, as counterattack saw Rossi dribble past Vdara's 3 centerbacks as he slotted the ball past Moustakakos and into the goal to make it 2-2, with Rossi silencing the crowd, where the crowd began to whistle and boo the celebration. Both teams would go attacking one another, and as time passed on, it looked as if the match would end in a draw, until a corner in the 88th minute saw Stamatelis take a corner, only to meet the head of Giannakos and into the goal it went, to make it 3-2. Giannakos was mobbed while the crowd erupted in celebration, Los Amarillos were left reeling from the late goal. HUElavia would proceed to attack for the remainder of the match, but Vdara parked the bus, and held out enough to take the 3 points in a tough loss for HUElavia.

Despite the defeat, HUElavia still sits in 2nd place with 36 points (12-0-4), while Equestria stays in 1st place with 42 points (13-3-0) after their 4-2 away win at South Concepthuania. Xanneria is in 3rd place after their shocking 2-2 draw at Monglechabagd, leaving them with 33 points (9-6-1) and Kandorith stays in 4th place after a 3-3 home draw against Nooooooooooooooo with 29 points (8-5-3). HUElavia will host Kandorith for Matchday 19, this time being held at Takoroyama Kyougijou in Takoroyama, Grande Costa. The leader of Kandorith, Empress Masumi, has been invited by the HUElavian Government, as well as the ambassador for Yamoto-HUElavian citizens, being former HUElavian President Isabella Ramirez Nakayama, who will be present in the match. The team will wear the Home Uniform with the A-Team playing and Lobato in goal. HUElavia feels optimistic that the team can get themselves back up and get victories once again.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:03 am

Andromeda Island Group 2 - 3 Brenecia
(4-3-3) 20 - Wright; 2 - Shepherd (18 - Lonergan 78'), 22 - Leadbetter, 6 - Mathers, 19 - Prentice; 14 - Caitiff (13 - Ridenton 65'), 4 - Townsend, 8 - Matheson; 15 - Speaker, 17 - Lindauer (10 - Ciogach 60'), 16 - Fletcher
Goals: Speaker 35', Matheson 40', Ciogach 74'

Brenecia 7 - 0 Revatnagar
(4-3-3) 20 - Wright; 2 - Shepherd, 5 - Horgan, 6 - Mathers, 3 - Watermark; 13 - Ridenton, 4 - Townsend, 8 - Matheson (21 - Parker 55'); 7 - Waters, 9 - Bremner, 16 - Fletcher (11 - Pace 61')
Goals: Waters 18' 54' 87', Bremner 43', Watermark 63', Parker 77', Pace 80'

Linoan Waters had the distinct feeling, towards the end of her Brenecia debut, that the joke had maybe gone too far and she felt almost guilty for being here.
It had been an unusual road to a first callup. First off, she'd left Brenecia when she was three and long since considered herself a Nephar. She played in Nephara now! In the... second tier. She kind of thought the days of Brenecia picking guys out from the second tier was behind them. They had a real league now. They also had a Lauren Cheney now, but apparently there was some article... ? In a newspaper... ?
And now she'd scored three goals somehow oh God.
"I'll be honest, you would essentially be my power move," Brelk-Xeral had told her, smoothly. "I love Lauren. Really! But you can't just write an article in the Observer about how amazing you are and how shit everyone else is and expect to get away with it."
Waters had had just one question. "Brenecia has a newspaper?"
"Just accept the callup, darling."
So, she had, with an additional brief that Brelk-Xeral wanted her thoughts on the team atmosphere every few days. Waters figured out eventually they wanted to see if the atmosphere, which was close, had gone too clubbish. Oppressively so. But, no, it seemed to hit a good balance where everyone liked each other without seeming unapproachable. So, yaay.
The truly intimidating part was that she was probably the worst player in the squad, replacing undoubtedly the best player in the squad. So, there was that. It was so much easier to be a bright young thing in the second tier with aspirations of blossoming into a pretty okay Premiership forward...
... and it turned out that that was being more than good enough for Revatnagar. Oh, God. She'd got too high. Vertigo was setting in.
She hadn't even played the first game. Been sidelined for Nuada Speaker, who had so many more reasons to actually be there, fine. That's all she expected. It was, wow, surprisingly close. Tough away days. People were exhausted. But, yaay! They won. And then Revatnagar was next and you want her to start?
It took a few minutes not to feel overawed, when she realised something; she was still, actually, really good. More than good enough to do some damage. She tried things; they came off. Taking advantage of permissive marking, she slung a shot in at goal and watched in disbelief as it sailed past the goalkeeper. She set up Bremner to head home from a pinpoint cross. She raced to the near post and tapped home a cross from Watermark, and when Ridenton won possession and rifled it forward to her feet, and she sent it past two men, took on the goalkeeper, rounded him, sent him to ground, rolled home...
It wasn't easy to be a trivia question, and yet that was the territory she now found herself.
They said their pleasant farewells after the international break. She probably wouldn't be back. Then again, who knew? She was only 22. And, well, she had done... pretty literally as much as she could do. And the impression of Lauren Cheney she got from everyone was that she was a massive blowhard ("talking shit like a shag-- oops, no offence, Lin") and the prospect of her being dumped out of the squad was really not all that remote.
So, you know? Who knew.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 8
Goalkeepers: 1 - Cass Farrell (Northern Union), 12 - Opal Cairncross (Marketville, EUR), 20 - Scathach Wright (Raynor City United, VAL)
Defenders: 2 - Caithe Shepherd (Northern Stallions), 3 - Deimne Watermark (Northern Stallions), 5 - Garrett Horgan (Northern Union), 6 - Keane Mathers (Northern Stallions), 18 - Sorcha Lonergan (Northern Union), 19 - Morwen Prentice (Farrenton Athletic, EUR), 22 - Finn Leadbetter (Holdenberg, EUR)
Midfielders: 4 - Finn Townsend (North Hall), 8 - Elysse Matheson (Hornchurch, EUR), 13 - Isla Ridenton (Jaglan Royals, SRS), 14 - Esther Caitiff (Southern Star), 21 - Riona Parker (Galatica, PAS), 23 - Ronan Fallon (Newrook City, NPH)
Forwards: 7 - Lauren Cheney (Spartangrad, EUR), 9 - Niall Bremner (Unioneers, EUR), 10 - Kara Ciogach (Lajuno, EUR), 11 - Tricia Pace (Northern Union), 15 - Nuada Speaker (North Hall), 16 - Ceridwen Fletcher (Holdenberg, EUR), 17 - Creidne Lindauer (Cazadores Cathair, AUD)

SCHEDULE
Brenecia 2 - 3 Poafmersia
Shokpos 1 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 5 - 2 Andromeda Island Group
Revatnagar 2 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 3 - 1 Crystalline Caverns
Emastalia 0 - 3 Brenecia
[Bye]
Brenecia 6 - 4 IA Quebec
Qvardax 3 - 6 Brenecia
Brenecia 5 - 3 Damukuni
Recuecn 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 2 - 1 Grearish Union
Filindostan 0 - 2 Brenecia
Poafmersia 1 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 1 Shokpos
Andromeda Island Group 2 - 3 Brenecia
Brenecia 7 - 0 Revatnagar
Crystalline Caverns vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Emastalia
[Bye]
IA Quebec vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Qvardax
Damukuni vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Recuecn
Grearish Union vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Filindostan

by **Nephara** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:03 am

Nephara 1 - 0 Huayramarca
(4-4-2) 1 - Mercator; 2 - Stride, 5 - Thorn, 6 - Brosch, 3 - Close (c); 13 - Saroszi, 4 - Shone, 21 - Moxham (8 - Reach 59'), 11 - Strongbow (16 - Deventer 68'); 9 - Bastable, 10 - Metzger (23 - Lovelace 76')
Goal: Bastable 37'

THE HERALD
CORMORANTS PUT DEMONS TO REST IN TIGHT BUT ASSURED VICTORY
Anders Sonnett

The Cormorants extended their winning streak to twelve as Kurtis Bastable's first-half piledriver was enough to defeat a more cautious, disciplined Huayramarca side, who performed well without ever quite looking like they'd snap their recent poor run of results. Nephara never truly electrified, but presented with a tough opposing defence, the result was good enough.

If any fans had taken Huayramarca lightly at first, they had surely been disabused of that notion by their performance in the first leg. If any still believed they were reliant on their home ground advantage, they were surely disabused in turn of that notion by the first fifteen minutes, where they went toe-to-toe with the unsettled Cormorants. Mendoza had the first shot of the game, though it was well high and wide; Mamani saved well from Moxham shortly afterwards. Both sides circled one another like lions without quite closing in for the kill.

After the early jitters, however, the Cormorants warmed to their theme, encouraged by the bellowing of their manager from the sidelines. While Chimera Moxham was double-teamed and overmanned in central midfield, it became quickly apparent that the Cormorants' best avenue of attack was the wings. A low cross from Strongbow was just ever so slightly overhit, Metzger sliding in and mere inches away from toe-poking it home; Stride herself took a shot not long afterwards that stung Mamani's palms, cutting in unmarked from her advanced rightback position and curling in a decent effort.

It would be Stride who supplied the opening goal with another unorthodox move, Saroszi turning aside the opportunity to just sling in another cross and deferring instead to Stride, who had the foresight to look up and find Bastable as he steamed in on goal. With one touch off the chest, Bastable took it down; with one touch off the boot, he sent a sizzling half-volley past Mamani, holding off Chumacero's pressure like a waiter with a towel around their forearm.

The first half finished and the second half started with the game at its most concussive, neither side able to properly find its rhythm. Mamani continued to be kept busy, and an inch-perfect last-ditch challenge from Quispe prevented Metzger from a one-on-one opportunity. At the other end, the Condors had their best chance in the 51st minute; a moment of chaos in the centre saw Sayritupac pounce on a loose ball and quickly hook it over the top of the defence. Bryan Tello's first touch was slightly but fatally too heavy; he got on the end of it before Mercator, and did well to rush a shot that the goalkeeper reacted sharply to get her hands up and paw aside.

The Cormorants suffered a setback on the hour mark when Moxham fell heavily after a crunching challenge from Allauca that pinned her against midfield partner Mina for a moment. Swansea Reach came on, but never truly established herself in a quiet match. It seemed to sap momentum from both sides, and both sides almost seemed to settle in and accept the result, though a dangerous set piece apiece threatened to tip the scales. Still, 1-0 felt like the right scoreline in the end. Honour defended for both sides, but Nephara take the points. The rematch with Sarzonia looms.

MOST SHARED ...
1 Despite unclear irony, campaign to arm police with longbows reaches 10,000 signatures
2 Cormorants captain Close insists Annals will never be published
3 Gaz Avariel becomes first Nepharan elf to take public office in Cranequin council election

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 9
Goalkeepers: 1 - Hesterine Mercator (Eastweald, COS), 12 - Acatha Feldman (AFC Corvistone), 20 - Fasolt Senninger (Creed United)
Defenders: 2 - Rovena Stride (AFC Treason), 3 - Marcin Close (Brinemouth, c), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR), 6 - Ilyana Brosch (Brinemouth), 18 - Valeri Longship (Crisisbless), 19 - Vivica Muscadin (Sabrefell Moths), 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 - Mercurio Kastriot (Crisisbless), 16 - Morena Deventer (Brinemouth), 21 - Chimera Moxham (Crawford City FC, COS)
Forwards: 9 - Kurtis Bastable (Ulsa, EUR), 10 - Aristide Metzger (AFC Treason), 14 - Arista Tzorvas (CA Paulinthal, PAS), 17 - Voska Avetisyan (Cornellians, SCT), 23 - Konrad Lovelace (Revolutionaries, EUR)

SCHEDULE
Welzat 0 - 3 Nephara
[Bye]
Nephara 2 - 0 Great Lausitz @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Huayramarca 2 - 2 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 1 Sarzonia @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Competitive Solitaire 0 - 7 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 0 South Charlia @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Darmen 1 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 5 - 0 Aimena @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Jeruselem 1 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 1 Delaclava @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Acronius 2 - 6 Nephara
Nephara 5 - 0 Simpralia @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Nephara 5 - 0 Welzat @ Ebony Lane (Cranequin)
[Bye]
Great Lausitz 0 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 0 Huayramarca @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Sarzonia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Competitive Solitaire @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
South Charlia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Darmen @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Aimena vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Jeruselem @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Delaclava vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Acronius @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Simpralia vs. Nephara

by **Vdara** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:17 am

”Oh... YES!”

The atmosphere in the dressing room was... normal, to say the least. Nothing special, just that most players were chatting about the game ahead. That is, until Væñøœrëñbérghüïś came in and began to speak.

“Right lads. I’m gonna be honest with you, I don’t know if we can win this one at all. HUElavia are a star studded squad, and they beat us 6-4 last time out. So, my only advice for you today is to try not concede 6 goals by half time this time around, alright? Also, just a little tip, conserve your energy for the second half. I’ve got an idea. Got me? Good. Let’s crack on!”

By half time, Vdara were equals with HUElavia, with Karalas scoring Vdara’s only goal so far.

In the dressing room, Væñøœrëñbérghüïś began to speak. The players still looked fresh and ready to play, which was unusual.

”Right, good. We’re equal with HUElavia and we’ve conserved energy. Good. I think we can keep this match equal or potentially grab a winner by pumping all our energy into this second half. There is always method to my madness, so I’d like you all to just trust me on this one, okay? Now, Chirstoforos. I want you to run through their defence at every single opportunity. They’ll be quite fatigued, having moved quite often to stop Athanas’ and Vlahiades’ moves forward, so we can capitalise on that. That’s all for now. Let’s try and get a draw from this one, okay?”

In the 60th minute, Lazelis got a fantastic header, with Giannakos grabbing the eventual winner in the 88th minute.

When the final whistle blew, Væñøœrëñbérghüïś ran onto the pitch to celebrate with his players. As he came on, they all gathered towards him and they did a jumping huddle sort of celebration. After that, they went into the dressing room, where Væñøœrëñbérghüïś had a few words for the players.

”Can you guys do that every week? Because if you could, I’d be f**king delighted. When I said I’d f**king die for you lot and that I was proud of all of you, I f**king meant it! It’s performances like this that reinforce my adoration for all of you, and it reinforces the adoration of the fans too! Keep that s**t up! Right, I think it’s time for a song.”

For reasons unknown, the dressing rooms in the VdarArena have a very good sound system. This was useful at this very moment, as Væñøœrëñbérghüïś began to play ‘The Best’ by Tina Turner on said sound system.

Once the chorus came, all the players and staff began to sing along, proclaiming that Vdara were ”Simply the best, better than all the rest, better than anyone”, and rightfully so. However, could these claims be reinforced against high-flying Equestria? Find out tonight, live on Vai 1!

by **Ko-oren** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:50 am

This just in, before we get to sports news: the world of football is divided over performance enhancing drugs - or rather, whether or not a substance is performance enhancing in the first place, and if it is, whether it is a problem or not. An international committee has started its investigation into the workings of Cocoa-bo, led by investigators from the Holy Empire. Full details about the committee have not been brought forth yet, but at least one person from Jeckland is involved in the hearings. An emotional first session has already led to countless kneejerk responses from the football world, not in the least place Ko-oren itself, where coaches and managers nearly unanimously condemned the substance, and deny that the substance is widely used in Ko-oren. Given the scale of the accusations, the KFA has announced its own investigation on how widespread Cocoa-bo knowledge and usage is in our own domestic scene.

<Dramatic reading of Sir Barsanuphius' opening statement, followed by an even more dramatic reading of Snuggles' admitting to Cocoa-bo addiction>

The stance on the substance across the Multiverse is varied. While some seek to stamp it out entirely, others claim it is merely a placebo, hence Cocoa-bo, while others say there is little harm and little benefit in its use and should therefore be tolerated by the community at large.

The hearings are scrutinised further by the KFA, knowing full well that the committee is set up by a nation that is also found in our World Cup qualification group - furthermore, another nation from our group is largely positive on Cocoa-bo's effects and has made free use of it before and during recent matches. This team has been named as the Cheergirls, claiming to have used the substance until several matches ago. Supposedly they have used Cocoa-bo throughout the first dozen or so matches, with a clear exception: they have not used Cocoa-bo before their match against the Dragonflies. Subsequently the Dragonflies won 5-1 in a dominant showing in their largest victory in decades.

The KFA is weary of Cocoa-bo for another reason: it's origin and part of its production lie in nearby Turori. Also, minister of Health and Welfare, Giljatusak Raupostinden, has announced Ko-oren's full support in any scientific inquiry into Cocoa-bo's chemical makeup and physical effects.

National team coach Juliasterinthen was asked for his comments on the matter. He firmly denied that Cocoa-bo has a place with the Dragonflies, said he is 100% sure the substance is not in use by any team members, and did not want to comment further until the KFA or the committee is ready to issue a statement. Captain Reizo Yokota has said much along the same lines. Other prominent members of the Dragonflies did not comment either.

On Quac.kor and Twii.tur, the debate rages on as well, with several well-known figures in the sporting community saying that Cocoa-bo use is 'a given' in Ko-oren, and that 'results have been affected', but also that 'its effect is not as large as some would like to believe'.

by **Eraman** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:00 am

CHAPTER 11
BUISAN BUAYAN

The protest had slowly died down in almost every city in Eraman months after the annexation of Mitra and Soma. One of the cities in which protest was still being held is Arupura, the next city to host Eraman home match.

Arupura Stadium hosted the match between Eraman and Pangurstan. A peaceful protest was being held before the start of the match outside of the stadium and some political banners against Tun Sengalang Petara were raised during the match. But everything was under control.

No major incidents were reported other than Eraman ending their 3-winless streak with a 3-1 victory. Buisan Buayan reminded everyone why he is in the starting line-up with a hattrick.

Eraman then travelled to Mavinet whom they beat at home in the first round. The reigning Baptism of Fire champion caused an upset by beating Eraman. It was the third time in the campaign Eraman failed to score, all away from home. Pasarga and Juvencus are the two other teams who managed to keep a clean sheet against Eraman.

Questions surrounding the position of Buisan Buayan in the starting line up rise once again. The veteran Damaisari striker has scored 9 goals in 16 games in this campaign. Not bad for a striker who usually comes deep to get the ball from the midfield and supplies it to the two pacey inside forward.

But after seeing the promising Putra Daulapura Wikra Petara played in the previous 2 matches, the fans were keen to see more from the young prince. The fans are used to out-and-out big and fast foreign strikers in Liga Eraman and Buisan Buayan is not that type of player.

Luckily for Buisan Buayan, Tun Sengalang Petara prefers his striker to press the opponent when they have the ball and Putra Daulapura Wikra Petara is not that type of player.

by **Timuria** » Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:13 am

Sweet Vengeance

Barunia 2–3 Timuria
Thomas Elwin (21), Sara Moorhouse (48);Ismail Burhan (44, 88), Caner Turan (61)

by Tufan Nursultan

The Red Wolves left it late to exercise revenge over Barunia as their away trip against the side that dealt them their heaviest defeat of the qualifiers so far ended in a 3-2 victory a come back win after going down twice. The result means that they have returned to winning ways after they lost the critical match against Kelssek leaving their fate still out of their hands, but they're determined it seems to hold up their end of the bargain.

The first chance of the match would come early, in the second minute as a Caner Turan cross was met with Ismail Burhan's head, but his effort was tipped wide by John Taylor. The ensuing corner would see the Red Wolves deploy a clearly practised set piece and Ertan Renda's shot clipped the bar on the way out for a goal kick. The hosts would draw first blood, Thomas Elwin would leave Berker Balkan on the ground as he picked his spot and managed to sneak the ball just beyond the fingertips of Iskender Nur.

The hosts would have a chance to double their lead in the 32nd minute an indirect free kick leading to Thomas Elwin's boot making contact with the ball, but Iskender's reflexes were enough to send the ball wide. The hosts would overextend themselves, as Antonio Mendoza lost the ball in a dangerous position and Vatan Ercetin fed the ball to Ismail Burhan who slotted the ball past Taylor to ensure that the sides would go into the break level. A slightly unfair scoreline for the hosts who had gotten the better of the first half.

The hosts would get their reward for their good play shortly after play resumed, Sara Moorhouse getting fantastic contact on a cross from Louise Cartwright, resulting in the volley rocketing past Iskender who couldn't have done anything about the shot. With the match looking like it was getting away from the Red Wolves it required a fantastic individual effort from Caner Turan to turn Tim Faulkner inside out, before leaving Ronald Moreno in his wake on his way to smashing the ball home to draw the Red Wolves level.

Then began the most open and back-and-forth part of the match, with chances falling to both sides, the best of which would come to the hosts, Moorhouse missing a one-on-one opportunity by sending the ball agonisingly wide of the mark. The decisive moment would come in the 88th minute as a goal kick from Iskender was headed on by Vatan Ercetin finding Ismail in acres of space allowing him to place his shot in the top corner giving the Red Wolves sweet revenge and a critical three points.

The result means the Red Wolves hold third place, but having played a match more than Sargossa they will likely by fourth when that is resolved. They sit nine points behind Kelssek who are strong favourites to advance. The Red Wolves will wrap up this section of their schedule, with a match against Audiaslania who will be coming off their bye and sit in 11th place.

What They Said After The Match:

Bekir Altingunes: "Honestly after the last result I was a bit worried we'd lose this one, but even after we went down we came back and kept coming back. We got what we deserved and it feels good after what they did to us in the first match. We're still just taking this one match at a time, but hopefully this is the start of a new winning streak and we put forward a strong challenge to see if we can qualify."

Player Ratings:

Iskender Nur 6/10 - Couldn't do anything about the two goals that got past him, but did well.

Ozbek Sarikaya 6/10 - A typical, quiet day for a very good left back.

Kemal Colak 6/10 - Struggled with passing the ball out of defence, but was solid enough.

Berker Balkan 6/10 - Was good in the air as usual, but seemed a little off the pace.

Gokdeniz Dag 6/10 - Had to be taken off as he was clearly exhausted, but a decent outing.

Ertan Renda 6/10 - Managed to play well in spells, but seemed to struggle to get going.

Reza Karaduman 6/10 - Was a bit wasteful with the ball, but wasn't a great liability.

Caner Turan 7/10 - Got a key equalising goal and looked a threat whenever he had the ball.

Vatan Ercetin 7/10 - Managed to look dangerous enough to draw a lot of attention from the opposition defence.

Volkan Ayhan 5/10 - Had a hard time and was unable to beat his opposite number Corey Trask.

Ismail Burhan 8/10 - He got a couple of good goals including the winner, overall a good day for a striker who's done very well so far.

Substitutes:

Yildiray Sabuktiginoglu 7/10 - Came on and added an intensity that was missing from the defence.

Tekin Yavuz 6/10 - Came on for a struggling Volkan and managed to provide some slightly more incisive play when the team needed an offensive shot in the arm.

Person of the Match: Ismail Burhan - He grabbed a brace that kept the Red Wolves in the match at a critical point and then delivered the three points that the team so badly needed. A good day for the clinical striker.

Schedule and Results:

Home stadiums will have capacity in brackets

MD1: @ Xuzaqiy W 5-3
MD2: vs Cassadaigua, Dev Halk Stadium (30,000), Demir L 3-2
MD3: @ Kelssek L 2-1
MD4: vs Barunia, Tashkent Belediye Isci Stadium (18,500), Tashkent L 4-1
MD5: @ Audiasania W 3-2
MD6: Bye
MD7: vs Olastor, Belediye Park (5,800), Demir W 3-1
MD8: @ Patistan W 5-3
MD9: vs The Mann Clan, Belediye Park (5,800), Demir W 2-0
MD10: @ Grod Island W 5-3
MD11: vs Sargossa, Hisar Belediye Sendika Stadium (27,500), Demir D 1-1
MD12: @ Res Publica Nova Roma W 7-3
MD13: vs Ziwana, Halkın Güneş Çiftliği Stadium (27,000), Elektriklestirme W 4-2
MD14: vs Xuzaqiy, Demir-Is Stadium (5,500), Demir W 6-1
MD15: @ Cassadaigua D 0-0
MD16: vs Kelssek, Madenci Stadium (27,000), Uryan L 3-1
MD17: @Barunia W 3-2
MD18: vs Audiasania, Maden-Is Stadium (3,400), Uryan
MD19: Bye
MD20: @ Olastor
MD21: vs Patistan, Almat Jimnasyum (3,000), Demir
MD22: @ The Mann Clan
MD23: vs Grod Island, Tasova Belediye Stadium (2,000), Tasova
MD24: @Sargossa
MD25: vs Res Public Nova Roma, Dev Halk Stadium (30,000), Demir
MD26: @ Ziwana

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