World Cup 85 || RP Thread

[Zwangzug]

Zwangzug's e-Lipogram

Playing against "CBP" (as it is commonly known), Zwangzug didn't do as poorly as it had in Fulpog's first-half drubbing. That said, our squad still lost by an odd "fifth" goal. Our waspish opposition was not playing its first-string fullbacks, which could possibly account for how Johan Idmar and Gordon Blum both got to tally goals. Its attack, though, was strong; Tim Blair, who wins almost two-thirds of fights for high balls, had both a goal and an assist on Lindsay Thompson's strong blast. Junior Ngoba, of Hamilton, put his squad up for good following this match's hour mark.

"Our back four was struggling," said coach Brandon. As usual, this is not word-for-word. "But I don't want anybody losing sight of our position. Mostly, our guys play hard for an hour and a half and don't trip up against unfamiliar opposition. So if you had said prior to qualification that this was what would loom in front of us, with a fourth of this long road to go, I wouldn't complain about that."

Our fans found CARTA's rapid transit railways working smoothly. You can go from BBP National Stadium to a casino via pink trains, or also south via a track that is still in construction.

Zwangzug will now host Sharktail, a squad coming off of a win against Darkmania, also by this trio-to-two margin. Gaby, a forward and captain, will play in match fifty for his nation. (Although this is possibly not much to accomplish nowadays, with such vast groups in this qualification!) Following that, a trip to Khazajamal waits.

[Alba and Cymru]

ԬԬԬ The Celtic Times ԬԬԬ
Bringing Light to a World in the Dark

June 8, 2020 Edition

The Hole Gets Deeper
Edinburgh, Alba

The Celtic footballers can not catch a break! Alba and Cymru hosted Eura in a heavily-guarded Seumas Field Stadium only to fall to the front-runners with a score of 0-1. Coach MacDunn continued the new strategy of many substitutions, giving the upcoming players well-needed experience in light of the next World Cup cycle. Antonio Suárez and Coenwulf Cynehelm began the game as Alba and Cymru's strikers. They displayed great skills in the early game, but the Euran defense held on to deny any shots made by the Celtic duo. Eura's Kevin Belgrave was a stand-out player in the match, making excellent dives into near-perfect shots by Alba and Cymru. Eura earned an early goal in last night's match, as Dion Underwood raked the ball from the Celtic midfielders to find an open field for a straight-forward shot. Johannes Werner tried desperately to defend the goal, but was unable to judge the curve on Underwood's ball, giving the Eurans the 1-0 lead at the 20 minute mark.

Alba and Cymru continued to substitute its strikers, giving Sergey Leonidov and Friedrich Dieffenbach a chance to tie the game. The Celts would get their chance just before half-time, as a collision between Leonidov and Scott Coles provided a penalty kick. However, Belgrave judged Leonidov's kick perfectly, sending the ball from the goal to the sideline.

Eura would hang on to its modest score throughout the second half, substituting striker Brian Bond for James Howell. The Euran offense sought to extend the lead in the late game, sending a duo of attackers into the penalty area of Alba and Cymru, which was then packed with a whole clan of Celtic defenders. Johannes Werner rushed to sweep the ball away from Howell, but Howell was unaware of Werner's charge. Tragedy! The two players collide, resulting in a seriously injured Johannes Werner and a chilling silence across the stadium. Boos then erupted as a red card was called on Howell. The dying seconds of the match saw Johannes Werner being carried off the field by several medical personnel, who later found that Werner had suffered multiple fractures in his lower leg. Werner is now out for the cycle.

"This is not how you want to see a season go down," lamented Conchúr MacGregor. "Losses are one thing. They suck, but you can get over them. The loss of a valued teammate is something that can't be brushed off. It's terrible, but I have much faith in MacNeill. We've seen him play, and he's definitely on par with Werner."

Game stats for Alba and Cymru (3-5-7):

Group rank: 11th
Shots: 10
Goals: 0
Possession: 38'
Saves: 11
Fouls: 11
Yellow: 1 (Seumas Colquhoun, 58')
Red: 0
Injuries: 1 (Johannes Werner, tib-fib fracture (out for remainder of the cycle))

---

No scripture today

[Newmanistan]

THE ROCKET REPORT

THAT DID NOT HELP

by Brianne Henry,

If there was any bit of hope for the Rockets to qualify for World Cup 85, it may have just disappeared in front of a sold out crowd at Keisler Stadium in Southport. A 2-2 draw against Krytenia, a result that probably also eliminated Krytenia, leaves both nations feeling blue, and not the cyan variety. Sure, Qasden lost, but those are the types of games Qasden had to lose anyway in order for us to have a chance by winning games. This draw is another one of those results that if you look at it by itself and with no other backstory surrounding it, you would probably be okay with it. Both teams played really well, and had their moments over the course of the match. We can thank the captain, Adrian O’Bryan for his game tying header in the 87th minute to get the draw, but I cannot help but have an empty feeling.

With the Rockets pushing to a 3-3-4 system under new manager Michael Starre, we have been seeing some players in different roles or being given different assignments, and the typical players for this have been the fullbacks. They are welcomed to join the offense a lot more, but Starre has done a good job in rotating which player has been then focal point, and here we saw O’Bryan getting his chance. He made the most of it, getting the big equalizer at that point. It salvaged something, as the Rockets were inefficient in the second half from the 60th minute on. Scott Corellis has been struggling a little bit coming into the game, and Rafa Mendoca’s goal, that made it 2-1 could become the icing on the cake for Corellis to be taken out of the lineup. The bye day is coming up, so Starre is not committing to any lineup changes right now, but don’t be surprised to see Corellis lose his spot. After the bye day, we go back to playing the team that Krytenia played the matchday before, the next day, so the easy way to find out who are next opponent is, is not to look at the schedule, but to just look at who Krytenia played, because we have them next.

Once this bye day is complete, we will have the same amount of games played as Qasden. If it’s seven points that the deficit is, then we’re cooked. We still have to play in Vilita, don’t forget. In order for Newmanistan to have a chance, they will have to beat Vilita, and I just don’t think we will be doing that. Look, we’re still alive mathematically, so we have to cling to whatever chance is still present, but it’s looking more and more like the Cup of Harmony. Thanks to this draw between Newmanistan and Krytenia, both sky blue teams can punch those tickets.

[Delaclava]

WCQ, Match 16: Phoenixes give Pride of Manchester its first point with Darmen draw

Also: Durbridge responds to walkoff criticism; up next for the Delaclava campaign

Lukas Meyer and Keaton Durbridge each had a goal and an assist and Delaclava earned a historic result with a 2-2 draw to Darmen at the new Pride of Manchester.

Darmen, currently ranked 26th, is now the highest-ranked side against whom Delaclava has earned a point in the modern era. It continues a recent run of form in which Delaclava also earned its first top-100 win of the season, a 5-1 thumping of Competitive Solitaire in Mariana.

"This was a great response from us today," Durbridge said after the match. "We had a bit of a lull going to South Charlia and walked out with a result we didn't want. We were in control that whole game and were very frustrated not to come away with three.

"We just have to keep reminding ourselves that the focus can't go away. We got a good result against a quality squad today, and we'll be looking for more in our very next match."

Meyer's 14th-minute goal was his team-leading 17th of the qualification campaign, and his ninth assist on Durbridge's 63rd minute goal leaves him second on the team in helpers. Conversely, Durbridge now has six goals (2nd on the team) and 11 assists (1st) for the campaign. They have been the two most catalysing forces for an offense that has tried its best to compensate with a defense that has allowed 41 goals through 16 games - an average among the highest in all groups - with an equal 41 goals scored - also among the leaders in all qualification scoring.

Meyer downplayed his success at the opposing net, saying, "That's been my role - to make plays, look for the best offensive opportunity, be in the right place at the right time. I'm not satisfied with a goal a game - we need more than that. Whether I'm getting the goal myself or setting up my teammates, we have to be scoring enough to get more than five wins. So we're going to keep pushing."

Meanwhile, Durbridge has continued to perform admirably even as calls for his benching and stripping of the captaincy, after Durbridge walked off the pitch without shaking hands following a 5-3 home defeat to Sarzonia. His actions were perceived as disrespectful by many politicians and critics, particularly Cyanean loyalists.

Durbridge did not speak with media following that match, so the postgame press conference following the Darmen match was the first high-profile opportunity for Durbridge to address the controversy. He stated:

"I stand by what I did. We got selected for this team to be competitors, not just diplomats. I'm all for fair play and mutual respect, but when that gets in the way of us taking care of business, I have a problem with that.

"I wasn't making some big political message. I was sending a message to my team that we didn't want that match badly enough."

When pressed on whether Durbridge had an obligation as the captain to be a diplomatic liaison for the squad, Durbridge said, "My job is to keep my team in order and motivated, and to be a spokesman on the field to the officiating squad. Anything with the cameras is why we have ambassadors and politicans.

"Besides, didn't Brady Reynolds just do something similar on their squad? That tells me they understood what I was doing. They're just as competitive as us, not to mention they're trying to qualify and have a real shot at it."

Durbridge was referring to Stars playmaking midfielder Brady Reynolds, who walked off the pitch in a very similar manner after Sarzonia lost to Acronius 3-1 in the match immediately following their victory over the Phoenixes. Reynolds' actions have perhaps met more favorable reception - in fact, Reynolds was recently named vice captain of the squad. Criticism of Durbridge noticeably had cooled off after Reynolds' act.

The Phoenixes are currently 7th in Group 7 with a 5-5-6 record and 20 points - 23 points behind group leaders Nephara and 15 points adrift of the second qualification spot, currently held by Jeruselem. While qualification is at this point an impossibly lofty goal, Delaclava would do well to come away with a top 5 finish - they currently sit five points behind 5th-place Acronius, and already have the fifth-best goal differential (0) in the group. They are the third-most productive offense in the group behind only the top two teams, nearly balancing out the most allowing defense in the group.

Pride of Manchester is currently slated to host one more match for this qualification phase - against Jeruselem. Delaclava previously tied the Princesses 3-3 in Jeruselem and will perhaps be seeking their first win in Manchester's new largest stadium. There are also rumors that the Phoenixes may host Nephara at the Pride - that match is currently slated to take place at Valhalla Stadium. The Phoenixes looked respectable in a 4-1 defeat to the Cormorants at The Gauntlet, and the DFA will try to determine the venue that will give the Phoenixes the greatest possible home field advantage.

The two remaining home matches will be hosted at an abandoned plot of land in Barrassa, against Simpralia, and at the newly-christened Berrera Stadium, where a dedication ceremony will take place before the finale match against Huayramarca. The Phoenixes previously drew at Simpralia 1-1, and the selection of venue is no doubt meant to intimidate the weaker opposition. Meanwhile, Delaclava demolished Huayramarca 5-2 and will hope to give 95,000 fans in Catherina another massive result.

Delaclava 2-2 Darmen

DEL, Meyer (Ingram, Durbridge) 14'. DAR, Blackwood (Spalding, Svendsen) 39'. DAR, Mac Pharlain (Stafford) 54'. DEL, Durbridge (Meyer, Joseph) 63'.

Lineups
DEL: Ross; Cicak, Gusev, Joseph; Girardi, Ritchie (Bates 74'), Durbridge; Campbell; Ingram (Walters 46'), Howard (Mullins 46'), Meyer.
DAR: Campo; Espinosa, Di Stefano (O Baoghill 57'), Abbey, Spalding; Ramírez, Tobias (Goldschmidt 81'); Mac Pharlain, Svendsen (Cardoso 81'), Stafford; Blackwood.

[Pasarga]

Struggle, it has become something of an acquaintance of the Wanderers over the last few decades. However it is not something new that they have suddenly met with, but an old one that has resurfaced after years of being away. Normally such reunions would be a cause for celebration, however in this case it has been celebrated with a sense of dread and worry. This is an old friend for whom you would rather have cut out of your life altogether but somehow it has still found a way into your sphere.

With struggle there often also comes pain and anguish, as struggle is like to induse through its very nature. One may say that life itself is a struggle, as we enter in this being kicking and screaming, blind to all of that around us. Every person alive or who has ever lived had had to endure struggle in some way, we are all burdened by it at some point in our life in someway. To not know struggle is to not know your own existence and what a tragedy that would be.

Though pain is associated with struggle, we must also remember that so is jubilation. That feeling of triumph when you have endured all that struggle and have finally have reached your goal or destination. To know that all that you have gone through and persevered to get to where you are now was worth it. There is no words that can really describe that feeling of overcoming everything but one is definitely jubilant on that moment.

That is the aim for the Wanderers now, as they look to keep control of their own destiny in the qualifiers. They have struggled through a very difficult patch of results and have yet still emerged in a place of strength. Their for on the morrow looks to steal that steength and that power from the side, when they travel to Eraman for a massive six pointer. For the Wanderers to reach the jubilant stage they must endure a bit more and power through all the obstacles that have made them struggle. With the goal starting to come into sight, they need to just endure but a little longer.

[Oberour Ar Moro]

Dragoons Win Fifth Straight
By Daniel de Bourgogne

Oberour Ar Moro welcomed 24th ranked Qasden to the Parade Grounds, and sent the Turkish Vans home after a strong 2-0 victory.

Ruran l’Ermite scored on a corner kick 17 minutes in, and Helier Moquet l'Aisné scored in the 30th minute. The Dragoons had a few more chances during the rest of the game they could not capitalize on them, and Qasden had a great chance in the 55th minute in a goalmouth scramble, but Laurens Desainctvictori handled the trouble cleanly. The win was the first shutout in qualifying for Oberour Ar Moro this cycle, and continues their fine defensive run.

Of note, with five consecutive wins, manager Gilduin Roux now has the longest win streak of any national team manager in Oberour Ar Moro footballing history.

Next for Oberour Ar Moro is traveling to face Krytenia at Harbour Stadium, Stanton. The Dragons easily cleared the Dragoons 1-5 at the Parade Grounds earlier during qualifying. The winner will take fifth place in Group 14 for themselves.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

The Banijan Queen Mother, Sarauniya Iriama, was thrilled to accept the invitation from Rebecca Schoenlein for a weekend visit to Baker Park to watch the horse race named after her late husband; she'd enjoyed their correspondence through the years, had heard the stories of her family's visit to Baker Park on their State Visit, and relished a chance to slip away from court for a few days.

The Ambassador from Baker Park, Robert Johanssen, had presented the offer on behalf of his Prime Minister as an opportunity for an unofficial holiday with only a few activities specifically for Her Majesty's personal enjoyment.

"The Prime Minister wants me to make clear that she wishes to have you as her personal guest in her home, unless you feel that it would be impractical from a standpoint of your personal entourage."

In the end it was thought better to arrange for her to stay at the George V Hotel, which was not very far from the house by car; there was nothing preventing the rest of the entertaining to center around the Prime Minister's home (There was no 'official residence' for Prime Ministers in Baker Park, they lived in whatever home they kept in the city for when Parliament was in session. There had been discussions years ago about using one of the apartments at St John's Palace, but it never went past that stage).

The trip would be for four days and three nights—Thursday through Sunday. On arrival, the early evening would be a relaxed family dinner at home with the three Schoenlein children—Andrew (27), Melissa (23) & Claire (19) along with their significant others—and the PM's own mother, Janet Levin. The only member missing would be husband Tony, who wouldn't be able to make back from Coolville until Saturday due to his duties in Midalia State Senate.
Friday would be a sightseeing day, with a lunch at the Palace with Head of State Timothy Wentworth & his wife Julia, then a performance in the evening of the Contemporary Dance Company of Baker Park.
Saturday would be another half day of visiting a few sites, then the trip to Northwestern Pike Racecourse for the action, followed by a dinner at the George V arranged by none other than Allan Arnold, Leader of the Opposition.
Sunday would be family lunch at the Schoenlein home before the later afternoon return flight for the Sarauniya back to Banija.

In all cases, the guest lists for the several meals were kept small and personal, to emphasize the nature of the trip.

The Albert III Memorial Trophy was the feature race on the final day of the season at Northwestern Pike, which was also 'Ladies Day' and the PM's party would reflect that theme—her daughter Claire, Julia Wentworth, Mrs Levin and wife of the Banijan Ambassador would accompany the guest of honor and her host.

Claire Schoenlein had volunteered from the start to be her mother's co-hostess, as she had been in charge, along with Freddie Gregson, of entertaining Queen Iriama's great-grandsons on the State Visit. She still nominally lived at home, during breaks in the school year while she attended Catalpa Hall College, University of Endover (her mother's alma mater).

[Kelssek]

Scores for MD18, groups 1-7

[Valanora]

Marauder from the South

Oh you mighty eagle who sits upon the throne
The mighty eagle who rules alone
Battles are fought that legends are taught
The Marauder has no fear in its heart
Marauder come forth from the south
Come from the south

A storm over football unleashed
Dawn of a dynasty, a war blazed trail of destruction
The power of Jhanna will not prevail
See the Starblaydi shiver and shake

The future of football unfolds
We showed them the way that still is played today
The legendary Laborious Hawk comes
Once more he is here for war

The old stories of truth unfold
Control over the game he holds
Perfection of football he'll bring
Marauder and king, Marauder and king

Mighty eagle who rules alone
Our liberator comes to take the throne
Marauder from the south
Take the scepter from his hand!

shamelessly inspired by Sabaton's Lion from the North

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

The very next day after the Funeral of Jacques IX, who brought Quebec to military victories once again and preserved the Quebecois Commonwealth as expect, was not fun. Frankly, some parts of the country was functioning well, and they were continuing their usual selves. It was just past 9 in the evening when the QBC broadcast of the Independent Athletes from Quebec match against the Andromeda Islands. The Grim Reapers, coming off a hot start, scored early on the twenty-second and thirty-ninth minutes and never relinquished their hold on the game, eventually winning with a solid 2-0 victory.

Unlike the Grim Reapers, whose performance were quite admirable for a team that had to endure fourteen years of absence in international football, however, the Emergency Coronation and Wedding Committee have been no short of a disaster on the first of their six day long meetings. Consisted of the Prime Minister, the Earl Marshal, five members of the High-ranked nobility, two Cabinet minister, and Sir. Alexandre Kim, the Principal Secretary to the Sovereign, the committee consisted of highly egoistical men who had lots to say, but little to tell and even less to deliver. This became particularly noticeable on the first evening, as they discussed the delicate nature of timelines with two events, before the Duke of Uashau, the Earl Marshal had to go back to his house on a medical emergency of one of his four daughters and three sons, forcing a sudden smoke break without him.

After the smoke break concluded, the Coronation and Wedding Committee went back into the discussion table to talk about the impending series of events, but it only got worse from that point. The first of the men to speak again was Kim Seung-Yoon, the Prime Minister. 'Well, my position has not changed. I have already mentioned that the Cabinet has agreed on a 13-0 motion to delay the Royal Wedding preferably 'til next fall, with unchanged date for the Coronation on March 21. The preexisting timeline asked by the Committee is simply too short and it won't help Her Majesty, having gone through two life-altering events of her own, collect her own peace of mind before she is ready to reign on her proper state. That said, we will do our best to cooperate if this occurs at an earlier time.'

The middle-aged Prime Minister sat down gracefully, only to face Michael Luwanga, Lord Connaughton Willows who was none other than his opponent in various matters both national and royal for today. Lord Connaughton, unlike the Prime Minister, was a man in his mid-30s who quickly made a name for himself for being an outspoken member on the Parti Quebecois caucus of the House of Lords, where they held a near-majority. His 'conservative views', while fairly left-wing by conventional international standards, of course made his name known and stand out in the television. 'Yes, but the issue you see here, is that the loss of royal lustre, all too common abroad these days, may transfer if we don't do this properly. Won't it be better to at least reverse the procedure and allow Her Majesty to spend some time with Prince Caspian, just so that the young Majesty will get enough time to adjust to the new court?'

'Yes, but the incoming Prince, unlike many would assume, is not a dimwit. The words on the town is that he has adjusted quite nicely to the Royal House when he came to see the Queen Mothers and young Prince Philippe,' said William Jarnstad, the 5th Duke of Lithgow and the 28th Head of the ancient Savojar royal house of Jarnstad (also meaning that he was a royal pretender, even though neither Quebecois nor Savojar Government agreed to aid on his cause). By the virtue of his father, whose sister married Prince Laurent, he became a distant member of the Royal House. 'There is absolutely no need for young Prince Caspian to be all excited in the months before the Wedding, only to realise that his position, being the second-in-standing to Her Majesty and have all things crash and fall, as the throne speech were read and the Consort kneel.'

'In this I disagree, because no matter how well-intentioned we may get with this, it won't work unless we make it the long run.' Lord Connaughton responded. 'It's not easy out there if we don't think of the long-term future for the Majesties as well. Haven't you seen the risks Her Majesty's distant cousins of cousins in Pasarga been facing? They mishandled their efforts and it's not looking so rosy after all. Can't you see it from our perspective, dear Prime Minister?'

'I believe not,' said the Prime Minister. 'My position has been made clear and it is the matter of the Parliament, not an inexperienced nobleman like you who only has a House of Lords seat thanks to your father. We, being those loyal and subservient, are expected to follow the protocol given on our law.'

'And who are you to talk about the holy matters, Mr. Kim, when you are nothing but a commoner?' Asked an old Lord, whose surname was far too long for anybody to have cared about. His parents came from the Old World, where they escaped the French Revolution on the other side of the Portal, and somehow took the Quebecois ship to Edinburgh, only to have accidentally ended up in their journey to Quebec City.

'And who has taught you to speak to a Prime Minister in this manner?' Shouted Maurice Dugas-Champignon, the Minister of Quebecois Heritage, who came right at the opportunity to attack his rival, the certain Lord Connaughton Willows. 'Nobody told you to speak like that to the Prime Minister, so why should you?'

'The people, who have asked that I aid in the cause to serve Her Majesty and Her Country.'

Watching all of this, just three seats left of the Prime Minister, Sir. Alexandre Kim, of course, scoffed at the very pitiful sight that unfolded before his eyes. He knew he bore part of the responsibilities because the Monarch was young. Of course, that wasn't going to mean that they were putting the reign under a grave risk; the Quebecois institutions ran very well on own even without its servants at times, and the rulebooks were there for Jacques IX and will be there for soon-to-be-crowned Christine II. Still, it didn't take away from the fact that everybody at this table, including the Prime Minister, Lord Connaughton and himself were responsible mess like this because they clearly weren't prepared to deal with such complicated situation beforehand. They should have been prepared well in advance but failed to do so.

'Enough, Enough!' Unhappy about this, he shouted, immediately clenching his head with left hand to gesture a matter of disappointment. The rest of the Committee looked at him, who immediately knew that their attention is now his. And then, meticulously and accurately as he had been taught in the Cadet corps, Sir. Alexandre rose. 'Mesdames et Messieurs, ca suffit,' he said it in French, to express his disgust at the level of delays the entire committee's been contributing to strained relations with his wife. 'At this point in time, we may have reached at the point where we have taken too much time discussing, and now there's no time for any margin of error. If there's anything, we were supposed to have been done with all the timeline preparation before the Funeral was even finished! We have failed, ladies and gentlemen!'

The sudden shout, by the Secretary of the Sovereign known for his chilly tongues and icy veins, immediately froze the Committee. 'I understand that neither the Parliament nor the Party of the Earl Marshal are in agreement in one another. If anything, I have lived through all the ceremonial discord the past two decades. But now, is not the best of the times to discuss this, as we have an unusual year coming ahead, where Her Majesty is not only going be crowned to the throne, but also married to a Prince, a foreign Prince well deserved enough to be introduced as a Consort in Quebec for the first time in 108 years.

'It is true that the historic precedence does not exist in the Modern Era for a Monarch to be crowned and married in the same year. But what we more than not forget, is that the challenging times demand creative solutions, and that they more often than not succeed. Such, however, will not come along if you gentlemen refuse to serve for the Crown in favour of yourselves. Frankly, we all make mistakes like that, but it's not a good thing to brag about either, and certainly not tonight, from what I will tell you.

'Do I think we have the potential for this? Yes. But I don't see it happening it tonight. It is in this, that I find this meeting redundant, and would ask that we call it a day.' Sir. Alexandre then sat down, as the house then submitted a motion to go ahead with calling the meeting for the day. With the unanimous approval, the meeting ended for the day, and the Committee Members would find themselves just in time for home, for the Highlights of the Quebecois victory over the Andromedans first (that included 5 memorable saves by Sandra Middleton on her first career clean sheet), followed by an accidental, R-rated public screening of 'The Wet Prince of Cleopatrana'.

[Mriin]

Teams that can't find three points tonight may find themselves in jeopardy. Cutoff for Groups 8-15!

[Taeshan]

Taeshan 1-0 Eastfield Lodge
Atlantea Coliseum, Atlantea, Atlantea Island, Taeshan
Nkitilina 16’

Memento Mori

There is a song that has a line in it about dying not being so bad, as long as you’re the one that goes first. You don’t have to live with the world that exists after you die. The pain and sorrow of it all after you die. People with cancer or other such deadly diseases, or who have the chance to die of old age often seem to have that feeling when they die that they’re the one consoling the living. They have a sense of what the world has been for, and of trying to, and having lived a full life.

I am very afraid of dying. Maybe I haven’t lived enough to get over it, or may I have everything to be scared of. One day all the plans I have laid could go to waste as I get run over by a car. Maybe I’ll never get to follow all my dreams. Maybe one day a routine physical tells me that I have cancer. Isn’t that a fair fear to have? I don’t think people who have a fear of heights, or spiders, or such things are irrational. Irrationality would be being afraid of swiss cheese because you have a debilitating fear of holes.

I remember the first time I realized I was going to die. The overwhelming dread of what was one day to come. If you think about it enough, and dive deep enough into the idea it starts to encompass your mind. It keeps you up at night. That is a weird though to have at 8 years old. Being afraid of the dark as an 8-year-old is one thing, thinking about dying in 70 years is another. I don’t think a lot of people know how much I am of dying.

Luckily, life goes on. Eventually you forget about the things that give you dread. You have other things occupy your mind, like wizards and witches, and the greater good. You watch soccer games and forget. But then it comes back every few years, each time worse. It would be fine if you could control other people, but you can’t. You can’t say to other people don’t drink and drive I don’t want to die. Worse than that I don’t want to get in a worse life position than I am at now. Cancer is scary right, what if one day I know “Hey, you’ve got 6 months to live”, wouldn’t that be worse. Or “Hey, your spine is broken you will live like this the rest of your life. Unable to walk, unable to move on your own.”

That almost scares me more, because then I know what is happening. If I die in a car accident and don’t have to live through some of it, or a heart attack in my sleep I never know. It’s still scary, but I guess I won’t know. Being born with some lung issues you know could one day affect your life terribly, that is kind of shitty. Especially when rumors of different diseases spread throughout the lands, whether or not your country has had any issues with it. What if I run into the wrong person in a game and they have some disease and now I have it as well?

The world is a scary place. And sure, some people have it worse that I do. I get that, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less scared of dying. I’ll always be scared of dying. I guess that’s a weird thing for the youngest player on this team to think. But I won’t always be this young. In fact, soon I’ll be old. Time passes at an alarming rate. Then I will die. Sometimes I think about that too much, and it scares the shit out of me.

Sullivan Garrett

[Recuecn]

"I can't believe it's your birthday again already! You're growing up so fast!"

Gerauld Firaut, Reçueçn's star goalie, leaned over his young daughter Rebecca to set down the picnic basket on a rock that protruded from the alpine meadow. Rebecca pulled open the lid to finally get a look at what was inside. The contents were covered by a blanket.

"Can I see now?"

"Not yet! Almost! Don't you want to wait for the surprise?"

Samantha, Gerauld's wife, was looking through a pair of binoculars at the crags of the mountain across the valley a few steps away, but hearing Rebecca growing impatient, she put them down and came over. "Do you wanna try looking through the binoculars, Rebecca?" she asked.

"Okay."

"Come over here where we can see better." Samantha led Rebecca away, handed her the binoculars, and squatted down in the grass to point out different things to her. "Can you see the river down there?"

"Yeah!" There was something wholesome and exciting about a small child looking through the binoculars, but even the most cynical of adults would have had to admit the view was spectacular. The jagged peaks of the mountains across the valley ran along the horizon, while the lush pastures below sparkled with color. It was a warm summer day, but there was a refreshing mountain breeze that carried the sound of cowbells from not far away.

Rebecca, age 4

Meanwhile, Gerauld had taken the blanket out of the picnic basket, laid it on the grass, and begun to spread out their lunch on it. There was a baguette and a box of strawberries, a block of cheese and a stick of saucisson, some yoghurt, a little salad, a bottle of wine... and two more boxes still to be opened—Rebecca's surprises.

"Come eat lunch girls," Gerauld called, starting to slice the cheese. Rebecca and Samantha joined him sitting on the blanket.

"I'm so glad we could do this Gerauld," said Samantha. "I know you have a game tomorrow and it's hard to get away..."

"I'm not sure why Rebecca's birthday always seems to fall so close to a qualification match," said Gerauld. "But you know I'd never miss it." He turned to his daughter. "This is a big one! Four years old! Pretty soon you won't be able to show that on your fingers anymore!"

"Can I see the surprise now papa?" asked Rebecca.

"Here, eat a strawberry first," he said. "And have some yoghurt."

The trio passed a pleasant lunch, high above all the distractions and problems of modern life, which didn't seem to have learned how to make their way out of the valley. Their laughter mixed with the birdsongs and cowbells and the rustling of the wind.

Finally it was time. "Here Rebecca, open this box," said Gerauld, handing her a white cardboard box tied with a ribbon. "But be careful."

"Oh, I thought you were going to give her the other one first," said Samantha, "and then we could have see eh kay ee after."

"You gotta save the best for last," said Gerauld.

Rebecca had already untied the ribbon and pulled open the box to reveal a beautiful little lemon teacake. "Yay!" she cheered, and clapped her hands, almost letting the box tumble to the ground.

"Do you wanna cut it, babe?" asked Gerauld, catching it and handing it to Samantha.

"Sure, can I have the knife?"

Gerauld handed it to her, handle first, and then took the other box out of the basket. "Here Rebecca, there's one more surprise for you."

"More cake!?" Rebecca eagerly took it in her small hands. This box was covered in wrapping paper and taped up. She began to tear it away.

"Now Gerauld, you can't be disappointed if she doesn't take to it the same way you do," said Samantha. "You have to let her play games she thinks are fun."

"She's only thre—four," said Gerauld. "She'll hardly break my heart if she's not happy with it. I get it. There's lots of time for her to decide what she's into."

Samantha looked at Gerauld as if she thought he was a bit too confident in his ability to take rejection.

Rebecca opened the gift. Inside the wrapping paper was another box with a clear plastic front that Gerauld opened for her, and inside that was a small soccer ball, toddler-sized. "Yay! It's for me?" asked Rebecca.

"All yours," said Gerauld. He smiled.

Samantha smiled too. Crisis averted—although in the end the cake had a more immediate appeal for their young daughter.

[Sarzonia]

Certain matches will stand out for a team regardless of whether or not they win their sport's ultimate prize. The Sarzonian national football team has been fortunate enough to be on the right end of some of the football multiverse's most remarkable upsets.

They managed to earn their signature victory of World Cup 85 qualifying in front of a rapturous sold out crowd at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock, dealing world No. 4 Nephara their first defeat of the current cycle with a 1-0 victory.

Brady Reynolds, who faced some criticism for his decision to walk off the pitch without shaking hands with players from Acronius, became the hero after scoring the only goal of the match with a blistering penalty kick in the 28th minute after defender Marcin Close cynically tackled Stars striker Jake Campos inside the box, drawing a direct red card from the Krytenian referee.

As he awaited the referee's signal, Reynolds said he was trying to block out the "distraction" of Cormorants manager Daniella Strauss arguing with the referee.

"She apparently didn't think the tackle warranted a direct red," Reynolds said. "She also argued that the tackle was just outside the area and should have been limited to a direct free kick." No matter. Reynolds fired to the left of Cormorants goalkeeper Hesterine Mercator, who guessed he'd fire to her right, and Sarzonia were on the scoresheet first.

From there, the 10-player Cormorants were forced to make a defensive substitution, sending on reserve left back Sander Katarec to take the spot of the sent off Close. Even with Nephara a player down, team captain Clayton Wilson gathered his team and warned them against being complacent.

"They're too good a team," he said. "They're going to push us to the brink if we sit back. We've gotta take it directly to them." The Stars would listen to their captain, much to Reynolds's approval. He smiled at his teammate after the speech, a smile which made it clear that Reynolds was thinking the same way.

Sarzonia continued to press numbers forward, even going so far as to send on Mek'hi West in addition to Holly Cambrio in what became a three-forward lineup. Campos was taken to the dressing room at halftime as a precaution, but manager Kevin Connelly said he would start the team's next match away to Great Lausitz.

"He's fine," Connelly said of Campos. "We're all doing great tonight," he added with a smile.

When asked why he decided to adopt a three-forward lineup even though the Stars were nursing a one-goal lead, Connelly said he wanted to send a message to his team that he wasn't afraid to challenge even the most feared teams in the multiverse. He also wanted to send a message to Nephara after their media dismissed the Stars as also-rans not worthy of being on the same pitch as the Cormorants.

Consider that message sent. The Stars and Cormorants dutifully shook hands after the match, but goalkeeper Carlton Sandt said Katarec gave him a look that suggested, "we'll get you back."

"They were not happy," Sandt said.

Fans expecting a coronation for the heavily favoured Cormorants would walk out of Dave Wilson Stadium disappointed, and some would storm out downright furious. Anyone who hoped against hope for the match to live up to the billing of a battle between the only two sides to win a World Cup triple crown came away with that and more.

Connelly, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically not focusing on Great Lausitz, who were officially eliminated from World Cup contention with a 3-1 away defeat to Huayramarca.

"This is one of those victories we're going to remember for a long time," Connelly said. "We're going to savour this."

Group 7
Aimena 1–2 Delaclava
Darmen 2–0 Acronius
South Charlia 1–2 Simpralia
Competitive Solitaire 2–4 Welzat
Sarzonia 1–0 Nephara
Huayramarca 3–1 Great Lausitz

   Group 7                                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Nephara                                      16   14   1   1    57    9  +48    43
 2 Jeruselem                                    16   11   2   3    46   25  +21    35
 3 Sarzonia                                     17   10   3   4    41   32   +9    33
 4 Darmen                                       16    9   4   3    41   27  +14    31
 5 Acronius                                     17    8   1   8    31   34   −3    25
 6 Welzat                                       17    6   6   5    21   27   −6    24
 7 Delaclava                                    17    6   5   6    43   42   +1    23
 8 Simpralia                                    17    6   5   6    25   29   −4    23
 9 Huayramarca                                  17    4   5   8    31   39   −8    17
10 Aimena                                       16    5   2   9    18   35  −17    17
11 Great Lausitz                                16    3   3  10    19   31  −12    12 X
12 Competitive Solitaire                        17    3   2  12    15   39  −24    11 X
13 South Charlia                                17    2   3  12    15   34  −19     9 X

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 W, 1-0
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.

******* [OOC: I was in the midst of writing the below as an RP when I learned that Sarzonia beat Nephara. Needless to say, this post got pushed to the back burner. *******

Woodstock Daily Mail

Reynolds defends walk-off decision, Durbridge

By Brionna Knight
Daily Mail Staff Writer

Sarzonia national team midfielder Brady Reynolds defended his decision to walk off the pitch following Sarzonia's 3-1 away defeat to Acronius in the second match of the second half of World Cup qualifying. He also defended Delaclav captain Keaton Durbridge for doing the same after Sarzonia's 5-3 victory in Manchester.

"I was disappointed with the lack of spark I saw in our team against Acronius," Reynolds said. "We were lulled into a false sense of entitlement against a team we should have beaten." Even though Acronius came into the current World Cup qualifying cycle with the 75th ranking in the multiverse to Sarzonia's 65th ranking, the Stars had gone into that match with an eight-game unbeaten streak that included draws against Darmen and Jeruselem, the second and third seeds in Group 7.

Acronius defeated the Stars 2-0 at Dave Wilson Stadium in the second match of qualifying, which Reynolds said was "problematic," but he added the team should have been more motivated to earn the full three points against the group's fifth seeds. He said the team could ill afford to drop winnable matches with the Stars trailing second place Jeruselem by five points in the table.

Reynolds added that Clayton Wilson, the young captain, remained on the pitch to shake hands with the Acronius players, though he declined to exchange shirts with their captain.

"Clay did the 'diplomatic niceties' thing a captain is supposedly supposed to do," Reynolds said. "It's a captain's job to get their side ready to play and motivated to win matches. Leave the diplomatic bullshit to the diplomats."

Reynolds also addressed criticism of Durbridge for leaving the pitch in Manchester without shaking hands after Sarzonia's 5-3 victory over Delaclava.

"He's a fierce competitor," Reynolds said. "He's someone I would love to play with. He's fighting so hard for 90 minutes to get his team three points and that's something we should encourage." Reynolds shook his head when asked if he felt any offence when Durbridge headed toward his team's dressing room once the Mrii referee blew the final whistle.

"Absolutely not," he said. "I get it. He's pissed off his team lost a match they felt they should have won. It's their great new venue. It's a celebration of Delaclava. It's their supporters. No harm, no foul."

Reynolds said manager Kevin Connelly understood when he left the pitch after the Acronius away fixture and said the Stars needed to show the same intensity Durbridge does.

"We're in a fight for our qualifying lives," he said. "Nephara aren't going to roll over for us."

[Chromatika]

Chromatik City Courier
Jordan Lawless, Sports Columnist

Group 3 Matchday 18: Wanarpu 0-3 The Chromatika @ Wanarpu
Chromatik Scorers: Thorben ('11), Sierra ('84), Reynolds ('90+2)
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Ria (C); McBee - de Aea - Rondeau - Austic; Armageddon - Zuniga; Thorben - Kuzami - Dragana; Sierra.
Substitutes: Kim, M.J. -> Kuzami ('49), Reynolds -> Dragana ('64), Dias -> Zuniga ('79)

WANARPU -

The first game for this crucial bunch of players was an easier match on the road at Wanarpu, one that the team put away without a problem as they started to prepare for the key stretch of Eura, Northwest Kalactin, and Eshan. Savojarna lost, The Sarian lost, Northwest Kalactin tied, and Chromatika is somehow within four points of Eshan, though Eshan had their bye. This means that the Anomalies still have a chance.

Mia Ria looked calm in goal, stopping all four shots that came along her way, while the newly formed trio of Molly Thorben, Mimi Kuzami, and Jazmin Dragana was the prevailing force of the day, as the game never seemed like it would be a fair contest. Wanarpu is no The Javonnic, after all.

So now, The Capitalizt Dome awaits - a stadium of people looking for an exclamation point on this run to relevance, and perhaps, qualification.

[Siovanija and Teusland]

Stelburger Zeitung

Sport

An Interview with Ivo Romanov

The Stelburger Zeitung were happy to get the opportunity to interview Olympia Borograd and national team right winger Ivo Romanov following Siovanija & Teusland’s 4-0 victory in World Cup 85 Qualifiers over the squad from When U Die in Kaiserhaven. We sat down with Ivo in a Kaiserhaven coffee shop the morning after the win.

Stelburger Zeitung: Good morning, Ivo. Thanks for having some time for us.

Ivo Romanov: Of course, no problem.

SZ: I think the first place to start is obviously last night - two goals for you in the win over When U Die, was it just one of those nights for you?

IR: I think so, yeah. I felt from kick-off really that I was going to have a good night, and getting the goal early on gave me a big boost the rest of the way.

SZ: 52 goals for you now in the national team shirt - you’re one of many who have excelled whenever they put on the gold, white and black. There’s something special about playing for your country, isn’t there?

IR: How could there not be? I’ve been fortunate enough to be around this squad since day 1 - and it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come since then. Everyone in our room loves getting the opportunity to play for the national team, and I think that comes across on the pitch.

SZ: You have been around for a long time, Ivo - as you said, you were in the squad for the Goldhorns’ first-ever match all those years ago. You’re a veteran now though, at 34 years old. Do you see this as perhaps your last hurrah?

IR: Haha, I mean, of course it’s crossed my mind. You look at how talented Lukas (Tauscher) is, and some of the others - Sinisa (Gaspersie) has been great so far in these Qualifiers. Look, as long as they want me I’ll be more than happy to accept the call - so if this is it, I’ll give everything I have.

SZ: You became the second-ever Goldhorn to reach the 50 goal mark with a goal earlier in these Qualifiers - how much did that moment mean to you?

IR: Oh, well that was brilliant for sure - there was a bit of a joke between a few of us in the forties there, Krasimir (Kynev), Thorsten (Kramer) and I about who would get it first. I’m glad to have won, I don’t play as much as those guys anymore! But no it’s brilliant, it’s one of the proudest accomplishments of my career.

SZ: That’s high praise for a career that has been full of great accomplishments. Let’s go back through the club side of things - how difficult was it for you to leave Olympia Borograd all those years ago, being the first big-name player from this country to go abroad?

IR: Obviously it was tough at first - it wasn’t something I really ever thought I’d get the chance to do until we started the national team and all that. But having had the success we did at Borograd - all the Teussen guys in the national team like to talk about winning the double, but we’ve still got the points record - I felt there was never going to be a better time to go abroad. Being first wasn’t really part of the decision, to be honest.

SZ: You enjoyed great success in Brenecia with Rozelle - winning the Campeonato Esportivano di Campeones in your first season, including a goal in the final. Looking back on it, how fond are your memories of your time abroad?

IR: Very fond. Playing with Rozelle in the A-League was a massive benefit to my career, and I think you’ve seen that in my international career. I loved it there, and winning the CEdC was a huge moment in my career. I’m beyond excited, though, to be coming home.

SZ: That’s right - everyone is looking forward to your triumphant return to Olympia Borograd this season. It won’t be the first time you’ve been back, though - you and Rozelle faced off against FC Teussen Stelburg in a Dwile Invitational Tournament preliminary round. How was that experience?

IR: I was excited when we drew Teussen! Growing up an Olympia lad, your number 1 goal is to beat that lot, haha, and so getting another chance was fun. Didn’t enjoy the actual way it went down though, to be honest, I always hated losing to them. It was incredible to see the Olympia fans in the away end though, supporting us.

SZ: And now their hero has returned to bring them back to the promised land. Olympia Borograd haven’t won the league title since you left - in fact, they haven’t finished higher than 3rd in 3 seasons. Do you think you can reverse that fortune and take back the title?

IR: Of course! We’ve got an excellent squad - Krasimir (Kynev) of course, and then you’ve got some of the younger guys coming through like Lojze (Kokalj) and of course there’s Ikki (Tokei). We made a few moves in the window to shore up the defence as well, I thought, and I don’t see any reason why we can’t. Of course, it’s going to be tough - the league should be so competitive this year, obviously Teussen and 1912, then Chernovets, us and probably the most interesting story in Felsenkirchen. I’m looking forward to it.

SZ: I think we’ll all have our eyes on your first league game back in the country, Ivo. For you, though, I understand that something even bigger is coming up - your wife, Karolina, is pregnant. It must be an exciting time for the Romanov family!

IR: Haha, yes it is! We’re really looking forward to that, I for one can’t wait. It’s still a ways off yet, a few months to go, but it’s going to be exciting!

SZ: Perhaps one day in the future we’ll have a Romanov Jr. playing for the national team!

IR: I mean, you never know! Wouldn’t that be something.

SZ: Thanks for taking the time with us, Ivo - and good luck with the national team, and congratulations!

IR: Thank you, on all counts.

Siovanija & Teusland’s World Cup Qualifying campaign will continue as they travel to St Saratoga for the 17th match of the campaign. We’ll continue to bring you full coverage as the Goldhorns work towards their ultimate goal. Come on you Goldhorns!

Siovanija & Teusland 4-0 When U Die, @ Kaiserhaven-Stadion, Kaiserhaven, Teusland

Starting XI: Sveteikov; Richter, Thierse, Jager (Niedermayer 66’), Vesele; Bahr, Mihailov, Werner; Kokalj (Segert 75’), Romanov, Reichwein (Kynev 66’)
Goals: Ivo Romanov 16’, 55’, Ludwig Reichwein 40’, Krasimir Kynev 79’
Man of the Match: Ivo Romanov

[Jeruselem]

Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas at the Naked News studio

Hello, this is Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas for Naked News Jeruselem.
Once again another day at the World Cup 85 qualification, Jeruselem have the bye so no game for us. Match day 18!
But we can review the other games in Group 7 in our absence because it's important we know what the others are doing.

Aimena continue to disappoint with home loss to Delaclava 2-1. Delaclava did hold Darmen to 2-2 draw so they are clearly still trying.

Darmen put aside their recent loss and disposed of hopeful contender Acronius 2-0 at home. Yes, Acronius needed the win but Darmen just too good once again.
One of our rivals gets 3 points back on us.

South Charlia back to losing habits, with visitors Simpralia beating them 2-1. Hey, it was a narrow loss not a thrashing.

Huayramarca beat visitors Great Lausitz 3-1. Kinda expected that one.

Competitive Solitaire hosted Welzat, who beat them 4-2. Welzat kinda need those points after recent losses. The bottom 3 in the group all lost, again.

Well, that leaves the game we really cared about.
Sarzonia had Nephara visiting. With Darmen winning, that's pressure on those teams to win too.
Since we had the bye, we could only watch them play.

Sarzonia needs to win to catch up to us, while Nephara with well 1 draw and no losses lead the group looking invincible.
But this is football, and well there two teams playing - so who was going to win.
Jeruselem would have preferred Nephara to win this one, because we don't want Sarzonia to catch us.
But as it happens, Sarzonia beat Nephara 1-0 to inflict the first loss on Nephara.

Well it was good we had a buffer over Sarzonia then.
But it means Nephara's buffer over us does not increase!
Well, a shakeup to the table.

Nephara still lead with 43 points, and Jeruselem 2nd on 35. Nephara losing means the gap didn't increase and remains at 8 which is still kinda huge. It's 3 wins difference, we're not going bridge that quickly.
Sarzonia now on 33 points, two points behind us and Darmen on 31 4 points behind us.
There's 8 games left to play, there's plenty of time for those teams to gain on us.

Further back are Acronius on 25 and Welzat on 24. They really need to get move on from here.
Delaclava and Simpralia on 23, and well not in good position.
Huayramarca and Aimena on 17, they are next to be eliminated but not quite yet.
Great Lausitz, Competitive Solitaire and South Charlia officially elimimated.

Well, we're done with byes and we can move to with 8 games to play.
We're still 2nd but we have two rivals still waiting for us fail.
Two danger games left, and the others we have to win because we can't afford give away points.
It might come to the last game against Sarzonia, yes ... that.
8 games left and there's a lot of time movement on the table. 8 points between 1st and 2nd, 2 between 2nd and 3rd, 2 between 3rd and 4th.
Yes 6 between 4th and 5th but those teams have to really hope the top 4 start losing a lot.

Since we have no time constraints since I'm in the studio, let's cover some questions we get.

Is it true, Apple devices are banned for official usage with the team?
Yes, personal devices ... we don't care. But for official usage, no Apple devices.
One reason, everytime someone breaks something ... data recovery seems impossible.
And the general uncooperativeness to getting stuff getting repaired. They just replace it with another faulty device.

Are other media outlets allowed to talk to the team?
Yes of course, obviously the team cannot leak stuff that could harm out our team.
But once a game is over, they can talk about it to others,
We're the official channel so we're always first.
There like protocols so you can't sprout any crap which might be offensive to others or harm our team.

OK, some people ask - is the manager drunk everytime we talk to him?
Well, he's not actually drunk. That's him being normal.
When he's drunk he's worse especially if you're a young woman wearing very little.

Now people ask if we police the player's private lives?
Not really, as long as it's not illegal or criminal or stuff like that.
We're no angels here, I mean especially someone like me.
Yes a lot of the players do have extra jobs as well as their football.
Some of the girls do have other jobs which involve general lack of clothes.

Would you cooperate with say other networks like the Mann Network on future coverage?
Yes well, we've got an odd setup here. Most teams don't have an embedded football reporter like us and rely on external media.
I'm not part of the team as in player or management but I am actually part of team as the official media correspondent.
Or that could be Daisy when I'm not here.
Considering most of money for cup does come from ... us ... we're allowed to.
Generally we don't have to, because we don't need to.
We don't rule it out either but Network Mann are hostile to us so they can sod off.
Others, they can ask nicely. It's just we like to do our own thing, that's our way.

One more for today, why isn't the Jeruselem/Quebec royals playing for Jeruselem?
Well, they live in Quebec so it makes more sense they play for Quebec than travel here.
I don't want to force them to do stuff they don't want to do.
Besides if they represent another country, that's fine by us.
Funny, we've never actually played them for like forever.

That's it from me!

OOC
Aimena 1–2 Delaclava
Darmen 2–0 Acronius
South Charlia 1–2 Simpralia
Competitive Solitaire 2–4 Welzat
Sarzonia 1–0 Nephara
Huayramarca 3–1 Great Lausitz

[Tequilo]

---

THE MOST FAVOURED CHILD OF CHANCO CÓNDOR
Frank Sent This

---

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 of the first half of qualifying will recall that Lilían Tlalqui, a young firebrand from Chanco Cóndor in Guastenango State, has recently given birth to an apparently well-starred baby boy, deciding against revealing the precise identity of the father, although it is well-known he is of Antivadorio origin, probably a pitxi-player, and most likely out in Delaclava for the Baptism of Fire, which would narrow it down to two possibilities. But no-one had much bothered to investigate since Lilí was clearly not interested in having him around, and was more than capable of making her own decisions. For example, like giving birth in a barrel shed of her local pub rather than in the comfort of her own home, which happened to be right next door - to the bafflement, perhaps consternation, of her father, the gentle old giant Chuco Tlalqui, known in these parts as a fine handyman and former pugilist of great repute. Since giving birth she’s had a visit from the brewery man Señor Sá, a perfect gentleman who gifted her a bottle of the brewery’s finest rare Golden ale, and a resplendent jackdaw feather sent from his wife, Señora Sá. After the roof of the barrel shed sprung a leak, Señor Arturo Llopa of Llopa Hardware & Ironmongery in Yaya visited with some copal gum to fix the roof, and along with her mother Nina, a well known bruja of these parts, sent her on a psychedelic astral projection to weave some sort of protection against future injuries for the boy, who as yet, does not have a name.

In the barrel shed at the edge of the garden of La Rosa Cantina next door to the little adobe house on the dangerous bend toward the end of Nuevo Camino, on the outskirts of the ramshackle village of Chanco Cóndor, Lilían was trying to explain to the old man that she had received a dream, the night before the child came into the world, that explained she would be having the child in the barrel shed at La Rosa, and was not to return home until the child had been given its full name. “Well then,” grumbled Chuco, “why don’t you just get on and name him, so that we can get you next door. I can see that gum or no gum, if we have a couple more days of this blessed rain, the roof here is coming down - I’ve been telling Lina to get it fixed for months. So. Can you name him now, and we can all go home?”

It was true that the roof was beginning to sag a little. But as Lilían explained to her father, she was not ready to name the boy yet. “I have part of his name, to be sure. But I have dreams each night giving me instructions on the matter, and I am still waiting for more parts. Mother says this is a delicate matter, and if we strike the right balance, he will be extremely well starred.”

“I don’t doubt it, daughter of mine,” said Chuco, losing his temper a little, “but if you don’t hurry up, this well starred little jackdaw here will be wearing a crown of ceramic tiles, and crumbled ones at that! Just you mind. I know you expect the patróns will look out for him, but we invented lintels and rafters and beams and struts and tiles for a reason you know, and that’s because the wights don’t care for practical matters. They never built a house, and they never repaired a roof, so far as I know! The lazy sprites!”

(In Tequilo it is perfectly acceptable to criticise the pantheon of invented characters because as everyone knows, they are just made up spooks. They never hurt anyone. Although they haven’t exactly been easy on García de Corcoles, the pitxi-player from Antivadorio that Lilí met last summer.)

As Lilían and her father Chuco continued to bicker, the postman, Señor Frantxizko Siñoy, appeared at the door of the barrel shed, his hat and poncho of the postal service dripping from the ongoing rain, and politely requested permission to enter. “Lina the cantinera said you would appreciate the visit,” he said, looking rather pleased with himself. They could almost tell what was coming next - something from the prison in Yaya, where Lilí’s uncle was incarcerated. Xuilolotl Frantxizko, her father’s brother, had been in prison most of his life. The world - or at least the people of Tequilo - knew him as the bank robber and former pitxi-player Xuilo Tlalqui, but the family and postman Señor Siñoy knew him as Frantxizko or ‘Frank’. Señor Siñoy was also widely known simply as ‘Frank’ too, and when anything came from the prison, he would excitedly announce “Frank sent this!” and find great amusement in it. He was principally the only one who found it amusing.

“Frank sent this!” he said, with a laugh.

Indeed, it was a small parcel from the prison. Uncle Frank was no longer a famous pitxi player, and was working hard at no longer being a famous bank robber by trying to be a famous worm farmer. In the prison, he was head of composting, knew everything there was to know about compost, and worms; and was tremendously proud of the quality of his worm manure, the world’s finest and most fertile soil. Sometimes he sent Lilí a bag of his worm manure. Probably that was what was in the package that Señor Siñoy was so excited to deliver.

“More compost Lilían?!” he asked, with genuine interest. She had previously given him some of the compost and he was so impressed with his horticultural output that he had probably become Uncle Frank’s first vermicultural supporter. Being a postal worker of many years standing, he also had a good instinct for weights and measures. “Although I suggest he’s put a little something extra in there for you!”

It was little disconcerting to have the postman so knowledgeable about the shapes and sizes and weights of all things, so that he could tell not just the approximate number of pages in a letter, but also whether it was handwritten and how many words it contained, approximately. Both Lilí and her father Chuco considered this - and thought about some of the things they had both received in the post during Señor Siñoy’s many years of loyal duty. It was an awkward feeling. The little boy in the crib looked at the postman and laughed. He seemed to sense it too, but since he had yet to receive any post himself, he had not developed a sense of guilt. Sure enough, when Lilí opened the parcel, there was a letter from Uncle Frank congratulating her on the birth of her well-starred son, together with a packet of worm compost ready to sow for healthy plants, and inside the bag of soil, undetected by the prison service, was a small piece of metalwork, quite astonishing. Señor Siñoy, Chuco and Lilí all made the sign of the resplendent jackdaw in praise and, if they were to be honest, protection.

Later, back at the house, Chuco would tell his bruja wife Nina about the token of the Narrative Agents, Boca y Tranquilo, that Uncle Frank had sent to Lilí and the boy. If Chuco was concerned, Nina seemed less so. “A strong sign,” she said, and thought to say more, but did not.

“Can they fix the roof though, Nina,” wondered Chuco, “that’s what I need to know, probably before tomorrow night if this rain continues. Somehow I doubt it.”

TIN MAN BREAKS HEARTS
TEQUILO 3-5 The Holy Empire HT: 0-2

Location: Palacio de Cristal, Gardaresso, Antivador Att: 81,757
SCORERS: Tutayan 64’ Tlacolotl 70’ Artechevarria 77’ | Bold 4’ 90’ Tzanicites 35’ Ceraluso 76’ Dalasseno 81’

As is often the case with The Holy Empire, it was Sir Barse the Loud who made most of the noise and all of the headlines in this eight goal thriller enjoyed by a capacity crowd in Gardaresso, Antivador State as part of the continuing series of touring matches for World Cup Qualifying. To say the series has been an unmitigated disaster would be an oversimplification of three defeats in three matches, and certainly the Tequiloa enjoyed a cracking match against World Cup giants here which ultimately ended in defeat. If the agave-blues can continue to perform with such tenacity and courage, it shouldn’t be long before they return to winning ways - hopefully in the next match. But here at the Crystal Palace, we witnessed another one of those barnstorming nights that have been the stamp of this team, recovering so well after being picked apart in the first half by Sir Barse et al. Going into the last ten minutes the match stood delicately poised at 3-3 with Tequilo, if anything, on a run of play having hauled themselves back into contention, but if the tide appeared to be turning in favour of the home side, the Tin Man wasn’t done yet; scoring one and assisting in another as the Holy Empire took the spoils in the inexorable march to the World Cup Finals. We feared a five-goal tonking going into this match, but got so much more besides. Except points. Still didn’t get any of those.

The ‘big’ games out of the way now, coach Isaac Martí will focus on trying to get some points on the board from the last few games to hit his target of finishing in the top half of qualifying, beginning with a tricky match at Hazel City High School Field against a bunch of cheerleaders. A bunch of cheerleaders who smashed Los Pitxileros in the home fixture and are proving an unpredictable proposition with their somersaults and whooping and human pyramid formation. Coach Martí lost three players to injury thanks to Sir Barse and his surely illegal metal shin pads, the bigfatbully, with Callañaupa and Roxelio Toran out for short spells, and captain Mateo Tafalla yet again missing an extended term in what has become a campaign blighted by injury. Ixtub Tün returns to the defensive midfield, with fellow youngster Niño Pinto at the top of the diamond, and veteran Urlegi Gorostola brought into the front line to make sure the young boys don’t get too distracted by split lifts, teddy sits, cupies and other advance tactics they have never seen the like of before.

---

Starting Line-Up for Cheergirls vs. TEQUILO:
Bienvenida | Zambo, Apeiztegui (Capitan), Huracán, Chicchan | Ixtub Tün | Artechevarria, Niño Pinto , Tutayan | Tlacolotl & Gorostola

VENUE: Hazel City High School Field in Tick-Tock Town, or some such place.

[Eraman]

CHAPTER 12
UNIVERSITI CITTAPURA

Just as the protest started to slow down in the capital city, another news of corruption involving Tun Sengalang Petara broke out. This time involving what is allegedly evidence of money trail. The protest gains a little momentum after the alleged evidence became public.

This situation has forced Eraman Football Association to move the venue for the match against South Newlandia from Anara to Cittapura. The situation in Anara has worsened but it doesn't spread to other parts of the country. The people are tired of months of protest. Only the hardcore opposition party members remained.

The match against South Newlandia was held in Universiti Cittapura Stadium, a 20,000 all-seater stadium located and owned by Universiti Cittapura.

The university alongside Universiti Vidyapura is the most prestigious in Eraman. However, it has been misused to support the ruling party agenda for a long time. The state-owned university often gave academicians who are known to support the ruling party, the National Front favourable treatment such as promotions to important positions.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was pretty dull. The stadium was packed with 20,000 people but Cittapura is not Anara or Daulapura. The fans in Cittapura enjoy their football match rooted to the seat while eating sunflower seed. Once every 5 minutes, you can hear some random old uncle throwing swear words at the referee, players, management, basically anyone that they can think of. That's it. No chanting, no singing, no tifo, no nothing. Not to say that they don't love their football, they do love their football. That's just the way they enjoy their football.

Eraman started the match aggressively against a team who love to sit back and frustrate their opponent. Buisan Buayan again reminding everyone why he is picked ahead of Putra Daulapura Wiktra Petara by scoring the first goal in the 30th minute with a cool finish. The goal came after Kudrat Saputra won the ball from South Newlandia right back, Raphael Moreno high up the pitch. A quick-thinking pass from Kudrat Saputra managed to find Buisan Buayan who had no trouble putting the ball inside the back of the net.

Inside forward, Kilat Saputra then scored the second goal deep into the second half. A long through ball from Anton Mora just outside of his own penalty box sent the speedster one on one with the goalkeeper. Kilat Saputra rounded the goalkeeper to secure the 3 points for Eraman.

Eraman then travelled to Atlantian Oceania to play Tamgu for their 16th match. Eraman had not won a single away game after the first match of the campaign where they won at Pangurstan.

The visit to Tamgu was not where they stop that record. Another draw away from home, another 2 points dropped. Eraman Football Association tried to change a few things by arriving days earlier to Tamgu and staying in a nicer hotel. After the match, it became clear that was not the reason for the poor away form.

[Delaclava]

WCQ, Match 17: Girardi steps into spotlight for road win over Aimena

Donato Girardi put on a standout performance with a goal and an assist, and Delaclava held on to a first-half lead in a 2-1 victory in Aimena.

Girardi, the original captain of this squad before his demotion in favor of Keaton Durbridge, has been a solid and skillful presence for the Delaclav squad throughout the campaign, buoyed by his experience with the Chenoworth Harriers in the Nepharan league. But his contributions, less obvious on the scoresheet, have been largely overshadowed by the numbers put up by the likes of Durbridge, Lukas Meyer, and Rhydian Campbell.

But the Aimenan defense seemed intent on shutting down Meyer, the scorer of 17 goals in the World Cup qualifying campaign, and Girardi was prepared to fill that void.

"I'm perfectly fine not scoring a lot," said Girardi, whose 28th-minute goal to open scoring was just his second of the campaign and first in the run of play. "I help control in the midfield, win balls from the opposition, set up my teammates around me, use the vision of the entire field. Today, there were opportunities to do it myself and took advantage.

"Any time we walk off with a win, I'm happy with however I contributed that day."

And today, Girardi was contributing it all. On his opening goal, Aimena was applying offensive pressure, but Girardi was among the defense withstanding the siege. Eventually, Valentin Gusev stepped forward to intercept a telegraphed centering pass and moved the ball forward to Durbridge, who began the attack forward.

Girardi then took a pass from Durbridge at around 30 yards from the goal, then made his way through several defenders to get himself all alone in the box. He sidestepped to beat the charging goalkeeper too and sent the ball into the back of the net to cap a highlight-reel play.

"I was just trying to keep moving, keep going forward and look for the next open man," Girardi said of the goal. "But it went so quickly and all of a sudden I was almost in the clear, so I just go for it and get past the last man."

Later in the half, during a midfield back-and forth, Girardi won a ball with a smart tackle in the circle, moved quickly up the left side, and then curled the ball in front of Dashaun Howard, who was making a line for the goal. Howard deftly controlled the past and drilled a low shot inside the left post before the goalkeeper had a chance to react.

It was perhaps a watershed moment for the young striker, who also scored just his second goal of the campaign and had recently been relegated to the bench in favor of veteran striker Declan Mullins.

"It was a relief to get that today," Howard said. "Declan's been doing a great job and I have a lot to learn from him. Tim's (Landers) lately been using us each for a half so we can go as hard as possible. It's been an interesting new role and I've just been hoping to prove that it was worthwhile.

"The strategy's been working lately, so we hope we'll keep it going."

Mullins and Ryan Walters, subbing in for Howard and Dathan Ingram, were unable to help the Phoenixes generate any further offense. Aimena scored early in the second half to spoil an otherwise sterling performance by George Ross, but Delaclava largely controlled possession for the rest of the game, and it always seemed more likely that the Phoenixes would extend their lead than the opposition breaking even.

"We might have been hoping for a more emphatic victory today, but overall we had a smart and controlled performance," manager Tim Landers said. "We got the points we needed, but we also know what we want to do better when we head back to Manchester and take on Jeruselem, so we'll still be hungry."

Landers was also complimentary of his vice captain: "Donato's always done everything he can to get us the victory. He's just so calm and assured of what he's doing, has always looked at ease even against the best teams. I wish he were getting more mainstream recognition for what he's doing, but today should've made it obvious what he contributes to the team."

Meyer, the leading goalscorer who was held silent in today's match, had similarly glowing praise for his teammate: "He's never failed to keep us on track. He does all the little things, all the right things. He and the midfield are the engine of our attack and guys like him make me the player I am."

Delaclava next heads back to Manchester, playing in front of an expected 110,000 fans against Jeruselem at Pride of Manchester. The Phoenixes will be looking for their first win at the newest of their home stadiums, as well as their biggest scalp of the season.

"When we went to their place, we were in touch the whole time, never got down by more than one, and had the last word at the end of the game," Landers recalls from that match. "We struggled for a few games after that, but I think this team looks better and more confident than we did then. They're in the middle of a fierce qualification battle, and I'm sure they've gotten better as well. Plus, now we get a chance to prove ourselves on home turf, do our fans proud right before their eyes.

"This is going to be a fantastic game. We're ready to go."

A win over the Princesses would help the Phoenixes meet their revised goal of finishing in the top five of the group. Delaclava currently sits 7th with a 6-5-6 record, for a total of 23 points and two fewer than 5th-placed Acronius.

"We're out of the qualification picture at this point, it seems," Durbridge admitted, "although we're going to keep pushing and making things interesting until there's a red X next to our name. At any rate, if we want to get into the top two, we have to get into the top 5 first.

"At the moment, Nephara, Jeruselem, Sarzonia, and Darmen are in control of those top four spots. If we put ourselves in fifth place - the best of the rest - we can show that we're the next ones up, and that next step of fighting for qualification will be right there in front of us."

In the live rankings, Delaclava continues to climb, currently sitting around 147th despite starting the tournament unranked. Delaclava would realistically crack the top 100 if they continued their run of form for the remainder of the campaign and managed some level of success in the Cup of Harmony - a mission which would be boosted if Delaclava's interstellar host bid with Drawkland is selected to host the best-of-the-rest tournament.

"I'm so glad our Olympic Council decided to try for that tournament," Durbridge said. "All our venues and facilities did a great job hosting the Baptism of Fire. And if our qualification campaign ultimately fails, it would be fantastic to have some home support as we try to wrap up our season in style."

In the meantime, however, a highly anticipated rematch with Jeruselem awaits.

"We have no intention of going away quietly. We're going to fight until the bitter end."

Aimena 1-2 Delaclava

DEL, Girardi (Durbridge, Gusev) 28'. DEL, Howard (Girardi) 42'. AIM, 50'.

Lineups
DEL: Ross; Cicak (Davis 71'), Gusev, Joseph; Girardi, Ritchie, Durbridge; Campbell; Ingram (Walters 46'), Howard (Mullins 46'), Meyer.

[Baggieland]

The Daily Boing

Baggieland 0 – 3 Osarius FT (0 – 0 HT)

Fred Buckingham decided to give his second string another outing, due to the high turnaround of matches, coupled with the excellent form of striker Ginger Astle. However, it was a decision he may well turn out to regret as Osarius outplayed Baggieland in all areas of the pitch and came away as three – nil winners.

Ginger’s recent return of six goals in three games counted for nothing as the Osarius defence had him in their pocket all afternoon. He only managed two shots on goal the whole match, both decent efforts, but their keeper coped well enough. Cunningham and Allen also tested the goalkeeper, but nothing was going in today. Buckingham threw on his first choice attacking trio of Richardson, Regis and Bassett in the 75th minute, but by then the away defence were on top of their game. The only time the home crowd got to cheer was when our mascot tripped and fell on his face.

Baggieland stats:

Possession: 42%.
Corners: 3.

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.

[Sylestone]

Sylestone drew with A Flock of Seagulls in an eight-goal goal-fest, with the Mixer getting a hat-trick and Spiderwebs also scoring. It was a good game for the Sylestoneans and they certainly deserved the draw, especially with their play in the second half. The first half? Not so much.
The first 20 minutes of the game was actually relatively boring and the game looked bound to be a 0-0 draw. However, two of the Flock of Seagulls strikers scored in the next five minutes. The Mixer performed a brilliant piece of dribbling to score a goal in the 33rd minute and all of a sudden, the game looked set to be a good one. The Brick Wall somehow let in a clearance by a Seagull defender and the score was 3-1 at half-time.
In the 52ns minute, the Brick Wall let in another goal, this one via a corner, the score was 4-1 and Sylestone looked to be heading towards a massive defeat. The scoreline remained the same until the 72nd minute when the Mixer scored. This led to two more goals, one by Spiderwebs in the 77th and another by the Mixer in the 84th, and the scoreline was 4-4. The Appliances, knowing that they were already knocked out of qualifying for the World Cup, decided to go on the full attack, but the Flock of Seagulls held on and the score was 4-4 at full time.
The coach said afterwards that he reckoned that if his side could play as they did in the last twenty minutes of the game, they could beat anyone in the Group or even the entire fifteen groups. You can never know, can you?

[Twicetagram and JYPe]

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

---

Lesley: Surname Chase, volunteered to be a test subject in a mysterious experiment she herself doesn't know about yet. Looks and seems cold, buy when you unlock her real heart, a gush of sympathy and kindness rushes out.
Ciel: An attacking midfielder in the Twicetagrian football team, he is usually the person who helps out with goals. Despite having good chemistry with Lesley in terms of playing technique, they two are actually rivals in real life. It stretches over 300 years of ancestry, when Ciel's ancestor assassinated Lesley's ancestor, who was a former chancellor of Strayquestria.
Ciel is that guy who likes to capture everyone's hearts. Usually flirty, he exudes a diva aura, and he is usually very condescending towards Lesley.
Harley: You should know by now.

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

---

insert Ciel and Leskey fighting for the next few scenes
OOC: Coming up with fight scenes is hard, and mine are usually arguments.

---

After my fight with Ciel, we finally left. How were we both going to fall for each other when we were rivals. I didn't know, and you wouldn't, too.
I was back at the dark throne chamber thingy again. Knowing what to do, I just chose the 5th chair.
The figure rose up, and walked towards me. Then, my heart fluttered. I wasn't lesbian or gay or anything, but I did have a crush on this person.
Octavia of WinterFall.

[Sharktail]

GROUP 5 MATCHDAY 18

Zwangzug-2

Johan Idmar (m '48)
Edwin Cherenkov-Nguyen(m '83)

---

Sharktail-0

Line up
Ahmad
Harold
Azmi(sub m 52)
Yusri
Ashaari
Chandra
Nik akif
Badhri (sub m 71)
Azmer
Gaby
Shakir

Sub
Salaman (m 52)
Azaim (m 71)

Live from Keppal, Zwangzug, here we go.

Hello and good morning to you all guys. Today, once again, we will explore, chatting, stories, all in one together with me, Nazri. Welcome to Nazri TV. Thank you for watching. To my subscribers, thank you for always supporting me and for those who are new to this channel, thank you for watching and don't forget to subscribe.

For your information, I have 976 subscribers now. Thank you for your support guys. So just a few more, give me 1k subscriber. Share and invite your family, friends, apprentice, rival, enemy whatever. Hahaha, ok it's just a joke.

So as you guys want, I am now live from Keppal City, Zwangzug. Last night our national team faced Zwangzug. As expected from Zwangzug, they are a class above us. Their performance, strategy, gameplay, player, coach are perfect. Sadly, we lost by 2 without reply. But it's ok. Ok, let's talk a bit about Group 5. Baker Park almost qualifies to the World Cup final. Zwangzug may also qualify early if they can continue winning all future match. In group 5, the hot place is 3rd. Twicetagria, The Maccabees, Sharktail, Valladeras and Squornshelous, all of this team now competing for this position. Let's stay until the end to see who will be the one getting that position.

So, today I'm not touring the city or playing any game, but today I will go to Sharktail NT hotel. I asked to interview Sharktail NT team player. It's not easy since I am not well known and also have a bad record. But after trying a few times, they have let me do it under a few rules. I cannot do anything crazy, cannot talk thrash about the team, player, manager or referee and don't go overboard. So I agree with it. You know, like hell I will let this chance slip. If I can do my best this time, who knows maybe I can make more interview with this team next time.

Ok so let's go. (Nazri arrives in Sharktail NT hotels. Someone is already waiting for him).

?: Hello, nice to meet you. You must be Nazri, right?

Nazri(N): Hello, nice to meet you too. Yes, I am Nazri, a streamer.

?: I'm Fira Davies, the SFA staff who arranges for all the things when we played outside of Sharktail. I've received a call from SFA about you and the interview with Sharktail NT player today.

N: Yes that's my purpose for coming today. Nice to meet you, Miss Fira.

F: Thank you. Let's go inside now.

N: Ok. (They are taking the lift to floor 5. While they are walking to the room that is prepared for this interview, Nazri asking Fira a few question.) Are all the player stay on this floor?

F: Yes. All 23 Sharktail players stay on this floor. They are divided into 7 rooms with 3 players per room. Only the captain and vice-captain stay in a room of 2.

N: Oh, I got it. So when will the team will leave Zwangzug?

F: If we based on the original schedule, today at 6.00 pm.

N: Oh they will leave right away. Who am I interviewing today?

F: You will be interviewing Gaby and Azmi. Also maybe Coach Sahami will join too.

N: Hahaha. It's all the important people in the team. Oh, we arrive at the interview room.

F: Please come in.

N: Thank you. (Talk to the viewers) Ok, guys so we have arrives. So I will interview three important people in the NT. Captain, vice-captain and manager. So let's go.

(Nazri enter the room. He put the camera in a suitable position with help from the staff in that room. After a while, Gaby and Azmi enter the room. They greet each other. They wait for Sahami. After 5 minutes, Sahami enter the room. Nazri starts the interview.)

Nazri=N
Sahami=S
Gaby=G
Azmi=A

N: Hello once again guys. Thank you for staying with me until now. So let's get straight to the point now. With me now, three important man of Sharktail NT for the 85th World Cup qualification. First is Sahami, Sharktail NT manager. Hello sir, how are you, doing good?

S: I am fine. I am always good.

N: Hahaha, thank you, coach. Second is Gaby, Sharktail NT captain. Hello Gaby. Are you feeling tired?

G: Hello Nazri. I am a bit tired. Just finished my morning drill. It can be count as rest too.

N: Waah, you are really consistent with your training. Good. Ok, last one, our centre back, vice-captain, Azmi. How do you do, Azmi? Last night, you need to be subbed off after 7 minutes into the second half.

A: Hello. I am fine. That's just because I lost my concentration because of fatigue. No need to worry about it.

N: Good to hear. So that's our guest for today. So let's start with coach Sahami first. So coach, what is your comment about the match last night? All the viewer have watched that match. So we want to know, are you satisfied or what with this team performance?

S: Thank you for the question. Firstly, before we come here, we already predicted it will end like this. We have not expected too much about this match. I have said before the match, even if we lose, try not to lose by too much. I am happy with their performance yesterday. They minimize Zwangzug chance of winning with a big deficit and just gave up two goals. Overall, good performance.

N: Yeah all the fans know how strong and frightening Zwangzug can be. They can be like Baker Park who always beating their opponents badly if given a chance. So let switch to Gaby. Firstly, congratulation for your 50 appearances for this team. Maybe this is not the celebration that we want but what can we do. So how does it feel?

G: Thank you so much. It's a shame we lose today. I was hoping we can cause an upset but it's okay. All the player have given their all for this match. I can't criticize them. If we have to blame, I am also to be blamed. I miss some chance in front of the goal. We work hard, all of us. I feel satisfied but I promise we will be back stronger next time.

N: Don't be too sad. But it's true what you say. Even if what you hope, what you dream, you don't get that, don't just put the blame, the fault to one person. Check yourselves first. But viewer you know, you can see how cool our leader is. (They laughed). So Azmi next. You are not in starting line up first, but after you are given one chance as a starter, you have kept your place until now. So, what do you think about it?

A: In game 1 and 2 against Baker Park and Khazajamal, I just sat on the bench. Actually, I have been on the bench starting from CMFA Nations League. But I don't take any grudge against the management or what. They deserve to drop who they think is not suitable and put another player in. In matchday 3, I was given that chance. I don't do much, just kept on playing like I always do and until now I'm still in the starting eleven. It feels great but I never let it bug me. I just play for the team and doing my best to help this team win.

N: Good for you. What is your opinion about our defending side?

A: There is some room for improvement. We already perform well. Just maybe a bit more improvement.

N: Ok. So it has been questioned a lot of time. If this team qualified for Cup of Harmony, are you going to stay on the roster or retire from NT?

A: I have said that I will retire after this World Cup cycle. Maybe if this team qualified, that maybe my last tourney with this team.

N: Best of luck for you in the future. So let go back to the coach. Do you think this team have a chance to qualify?

S: If we see now, Baker Park nearly qualified. Maybe in the next game, they may qualify. Zwangug seems comfortable in second place. So I think the chance for us to qualify maybe zero.

N: What the realistic position for this team now?


S: Hmm, maybe third place.

N: Who do you think maybe Sharktail biggest challenger?

S: Our next match opponent, Valladeras and Twicetagria. Even so, we have to watch out the Maccabees and Squornshelous. They are performing well in the last few games. They cannot be taken easily.

N: Ok now back to our captain. You have now collected nearly 35 goals, 15 more to go for 50 goals. Gonna try for it?

G: If I have the chance, I may get it. But my main priority is to help Sharktail NT win as much as we can. I will not try to chase for goal record or whatever. Just focus my gameplay to help this team. That's all.

N: Last question. It hot now. Is the rumour you will get married after World Cup qualification ends true? All the viewers excited to know.

G:(smile)Yes, it's true. After World Cup 85 qualification. Actually, we planned to do it before that but after I was busy with football, so we postpone it until the end of the World Cup qualification.

N: Congratulations. All of you, viewers, our hot guy is getting married. So for the girl outside, don't be sad. If you cannot get Gaby, you still can get me. (All laugh).Take it as a joke. I may receive a death letter tomorrow. Ok, that's all from me. Thank you for watching me.Thank you for all three of you for spending your time with me.Thank you, SFA, for letting me interview them. Ok guys, see you next time on Nazri TV. Adios.

---

GROUP 5 MATCHDAY 19 VS VALLADERAS

[The Jovannic]

It just keeps getting better as The Jovannic defeat Sabalonia 3-2 to bypass them.

First Half:
Sabalonia quite dominated the first half with trickery and thrusts into the Jovannic Defence. It was lucky that the defence was rock solid, and and loose balls were quickly picked up by Mavin Tsuniki. Unfortunately, a seemingly harmless ball floating across the goal was picked up by the Sabalonian striker which slotted it in in the 41th minute. The first half soon went by. The second half started with the Jovannic rejuvenated and attacking freely. A central through ball to Jovan Ilohil's clinical feet was enough for us to equalise in the 57th minute. We continued to dominate, but Sabalonia somehow got over the defence and beat the keeper in the 64th minute. After that lone goal, The Jovannic dominated the rest of the game. Stockain Lelop blasted a long distance shot into the top left corner in the 71th Minute. In the 84th Minute, Ianu Fathe turned his man and sending the keeper the wrong way. "We did well to push them back in the second half. We managed to pass well and be clinical. We will have to continue this form against Sarvojarna." Gothal Mathee said after the match.

The Jovannic's next match is against Sarvojarna, whom we lost 3-0 to last game. We must continue our good form to have a chance to win.

Starting Eleven
Mavin Tsuniki, Kish Dasny, Raye Eng, Kallin Yustat, Nivario Wesh, Stockain Lelop, Huigen Lirviti, Rivilia Yunsala, Ianu Fathe, Sami Ning, Jovan Ilohil