World Cup 85 || RP Thread

[Flavovespia]

Away from home: The times a home team didn’t wear their home kit at home

Following on from the previous article, we look at the 5 times this has happened in the Super League, in the modern era.

Marthorpe City vs Waldster – 3AU

Marthorpe City released a bold design with a diagonal divided black and gold kit for 3AU. This may have been a great idea, if not for the fact Waldster had a yellow home kit and black away kit, already announced. Although Marthorpe City initially planned to wear their home kit with Waldster in an all yellow kit, the referee decided otherwise on the day. Marthorpe City instead switched to their white and blue away kit, despite being the home side. Still, Marthorpe City won 2-1, so there weren’t too many complaints.

Loxthorpe Rovers vs Henhaven Islanders – 7AU

A bit of an odd one this. Everyone seemed to be okay with Loxthorpe Rovers wearing their green and white stripes at home to the purple and bright green quarters of Henhaven Islanders, but the hosts thought otherwise. They instead turned out wearing their amber away kit, paired with the green home shorts and socks. A voluntary decision by their manager apparently, who obviously didn’t like the kit matchup. Loxthorpe Rovers did win 1-0, so maybe it did make a difference. Although the GWFA did announce a preliminary investigation into this sudden kit change, it was dropped not long after, so it can be assumed they didn’t mind or just didn’t care.

Croxlich vs Abbots Lunsel – 10AU

After a spell of 8 points in 15 games, the Croxlich board decided the solution was to dump their light blue home kit, and switch to their dark blue away kit as their new home kit, starting with this match. Although there were rumours of it occurring before the match, nobody was certain if it was all a joke until it actually happened. Amazingly, they actually won 3-0, and thus announced the change would stick, which the GWFA and other clubs allowed, albeit reluctantly in some cases. That actually lasted 5 games, until they were required to return to their light blue to play St Astons City at home (rather than make them change), in a match they won 4-2, and thus decided to return to their original home kit.

Vale vs Marthorpe City – 12AU

This one was an accumulation of bizarre circumstances. This was Vale’s first home match of the season, on what would be a dark, wet night. The Vale kits were a halved amber and purple. Marthorpe City meanwhile, were in black, but with a gold sleeve and stripe on one side. As the kits began to soak in water, and with the poor weather, they quickly became harder to distinguish and Marthorpe City scored 3 in the final 10 minutes of the half. Vale took the decision to come out in the second half wearing their all white away kit, to try and turn around a 1-4 score. It made little difference, as the final result was 2-5. Rarely however, had a team turned out in 2 different kits in one match.

Stanmorn vs St Astons City - 20AU

In the previous encounter this season, Stanmorn goalkeeper Carl Arrowsmith saved a penalty from the St Astons City striker Martin Truscott. At a corner later on, something was said between the two players as a fight broke out between them. What exactly was said is still unclear, however a few days before this match, Truscott said “Well this time I hope I score against that stupid Arrows**t, that stupid kit of his, and that stupid Stanmorn team of his”. This enflamed tensions and caused a war of words on social media with Ricardo Goncalves of Stanmorn one of the more prominent offenders. In response, Stanmorn decided to draw the ire of the GWFA and a fine, by having their outfield players wear the quite striking goalkeeper kit, and Arrowsmith wearing the usual home shirt. St Astons City meanwhile, were playing in their all-white away kit, expecting a kit clash.Stanmorn would have the last laugh, winning 1-0 in this game, that became far more tense than the usual “little to play for” end of season game.

[Xanneria]

Bonchek breaks records in 6-2 win
By Steve Stevenson

XANNERIA - While the inclusion of Lorena Walters as the goalie was questions as a publicity stunt, the addition of Franchesca Bonchek was one of merit. She scored a whopping five goals and had four of them on Penelty Kicks, a new record. The game was filled with yellow cards and with Bonchek being the Penelty Kick taker. The prior record was Glenn Hailey, Hailey the old PK take scored four in the 6 goal game in the 6-5 Grod Island game. It's been a weird subplot for the Maroons, the game versus Vdara, the Baker Park meltdown and a lot of other games that came down to yellow cards on mild calls of miss aimed slides and other contact related issues. And if you know of Xannria's reputation, they are home to a notoriously more physical play style. So seeing five players get called for light errors giving four goals to Xanneria and those four goals would be the deciders. Lo Santino did ok for having half of their starting team in yellow territory getting two goals themselves and all that jazz. Actuall Bonchek got a fifth goal int he game too, she had a ball brush her shoulder enough for the refs to credit the score to her. A magnificent day for the Baker Park playing Mid Fielder. Kyle Falcon also got a goal as a substitute, giving him his second goal in international football. The game must of done a number on the Maroons though as the physical game would cause issues in the game against Noooooooo.

XANNERIA - 6
Bonchek (28,39,44,60,65)
Falcon (80)

Lo Santino - 2
Unknown Striker - (52)
Unknown Striker - (86)

Upsetting Upset
By Steve Stevenson

NOOOOOOOO - Qualifying hopes are on the Rocks! Xanneria's qualifying a 4 goal performance by Noooo has seen the Maroons lose points towards their goal of Qualification. The formation Nooooooo used worked wonders for the team as they gave Dom Brabham fits and two PK kicks hurt just as much! This is one of those games where you can't do much to write about because writing would just relive the pain of this game. But Commiserations to Noooooo and hopefully you will muck up the remaining teams for us.

Coach Rhule was quoted as saying the following

I mean it happens, but we can easily make up the Huelavian gap. I mean they can have the same problems I had four years ago at Galaxy SC. So they they have a track record of failure witht hat game against SC being proof, so I hope they enjoy the repeat. {EDITORS NOTE: The Galaxy SC comment refers to a season in which Rhule's Galaxy SC went from first to fifth in the standings in the last five games domestically}

XANNERIA - 1
Laymore - (39)

Noooooooo - 4
Unkown Striker - (12,85)
Unknown Striker - (33,37)

[Ko-oren]

Top 12 under 19

1) Adée Lavigne
The 16-year old has been scouted by the Université des Arts d'Aminey... certainly a young recruit for a university. As in, she won't be in university for another year but her rights have already been claimed, and until that point she's guided through the final year of school with help from the Ad'A. After that, if she meets the academic level, she'll study there and play at the same time. From the few clips we have from her, but mostly given how many scouts have followed her around through her matches in the Cote Austral youth system, she's one of the most exciting talents in a while. Reminiscent of Longchambon's high school videos, Lavigne might be the next creative mind the Ko-orenite midfield needs.

2) Winwig Jundy
Yes, a talent from the West! West Strand Riding has a tiny population that mostly goes for gridiron or Aussie Rules, and there is very little athletic talent left for the rest of the nation. Still, every now and again, a talent comes through from there that, well, sparks joy. Jundy is 18 already, but has been the star of Weyarra Sunrise (a local academy team) for a while now. Should he choose to stay in the sport, there are places for him in the second division, or maybe even the Top League. Hopefully he's the first in a stream of talent from the West. His playing style is quite physical, but still needs to focus on a position.

3) Just Olink
Not a man of many words, Just Olink is from the northern academy of Ysbeer. The furry named team can be a scary team to play, not in the least because of the cold darkness that lingers there, but Olink is another factor. His defence, steeled by the defence-first teams in the area, is something else. At 17 years old, he can still stay there for a few years, if he's not given a pro contract before then.

4) Geomraff yCinrhadd
Another talent from a strange place! Mawrystwyth is a place for cricket, gridiron, and rugby - so a talent in football is a welcome change. Playing for local academy Clwb Peldred Peredwr, it's hard to gauge his talent because, well, the competition so far for him hasn't been as serious as the football hotbeds like the southeast. Still, his pace, control, and vision has been special so far, and physically he can match players that are have a few years on him.

5) Timothy Parsons
Another great talent playing for an academy instead of a university, Parsons was never a true standout player growing up. Working hard and taking extra training has pulled him ahead of his generation, in better shape than the rest, and with enough skills in possession to match the rest as well. Looking to be a physical, defensive talent, Parsons surely isn't the new Lampshire or Benjamin, but is a fantastic addition to a locker room.

6) Ninausthend Zesusdhaundhen
The longest name, and coming from the Gehrennan-speaking area that has plenty of great players coming through, Zesusdhaundhen has a few years to develop at only 16 years old. He's quicker, he can dribble better, and he can place the ball wherever he wants, and Mayara Mezkuloren Academy has put him at centre stage. Carrying the pressure that comes with playing centre-mid, he is put in the best position to become that much better.

7) Nwdawd yTismewch
What is going on? No Finisterrans yet, but two Mawr? yTismewch has exploited his raw talent, but now needs to make the transition into a much higher level, including dedicated training. If he can make the switch and avoid burning out and losing interest just because he can't rely on his strengths anymore, this'll be a great on-the-ball midfielder.

8) Leon Morris
Making a name for himself by scoring 50+ goals in all of his youth seasons, he's now with the Willowbourne Technological Academy - a university, not an academy - so aiming for some IUCC play if possible. He's tall, strong, accurate, and always going straight at goal. He'll need to learn to rely on his teammates and help in defence, but otherwise he's a rare striker that could show up for us.

9) Ulysses Jones
From Greencaster, the city that has everything except for a professional football team somehow, Jones is held back a little bit by some health issues in his past. If he can work past those and keep up his development in the next year, he could actually be better than the rest of his age or even those a year older than him. He's in great form now... but he better keep that going.

X) Kijoshi Vashila
From the east, and definitely a place that should generate more players like him, he's with Katashi Yoshima Daigaku right now. A bit of an enigmatic player with few videos on his playing style, he's adventurous, good in possession, and a good passer. Definitely a lot like Yokota, who's been with the same university in the past.

=) Aenassa Aenemare
Welcome to the rawer end of the list, with northern Aenemare showing up on account of high ceiling, low floor. He's been fantastic at times, but invisible at times as well. If he can get more consistent - and he should be, he has the physical attributes - he can be one of very few northern talents to come through. We're all rooting for him.

10) Nicholas Candy
Certainly first in a 'best name' competition, Candy's put together a pretty sweet resume at another Willowbourne university. He needs a lot of work, even at 18 years old, but his maturity could take him further for a while. Physically he's not that imposing, so he will need the ball to do the talking for him. Vision and placement need more work, and he needs to work on his positioning and will always need to rely on perfect positioning from his teammates as well. Captain material?

[Busoga Islands]

The Busoga Chronicle
The Islands #1 News Source!

We aren't dead yet! Busoga Islands staying alive in tough chase to qualify for World Cup 85


Busoga Islander fans at their team's most recent 2-0 victory

LAKISKA, SOUTH ISLAND- World Cup Qualifying is a marathon that is going to reach its final stages shortly. We've already known this- some of the best in the multiverse have already qualified for the World Cup. Banija is officially confirmed to join the party in Farfadillis & Mriin, as well as the Commonwealth of Baker Park and Vilita. That makes 5 Atlantian Oceania nations, including the two co-hosts, officially into the Finals. Some of the other sports, even if they aren't official, are pretty obvious at this point. Kita-Hinode would have to completely crash and burn to miss the Finals entirely at this point, and of course they will not only make the FInals, but win this group fairly easy. Same with nations like Cassadaigua, Valanora, etc...

But officially? Only a few have qualified so fast. On that list are Banija, Vilita, and Baker Park. There is just 25% of Qualifying left- 18 games have been played by our national team, only 6 remain. For all intents and purposes, for this discussion, Kita-Hinode will qualify from this group, and take the group's top spot as the runaway winner. Who will take the other spot? That is where things get interesting. There isn't a ton of seperation in the race for the second berth, as numerous teams are out here, trying to qualify for the Finals. You have Drawkland, the Pot 2 team, with 35 points, but in third place. Squornshelous Remnant States are currently in pole position, with 37 points. And It will be the Busoga Islanders, who are hanging around in 4th place, with 33 points. Just four points off the pace set by SRS.

Of course, we know the history between us and the Squornshelous Remnant States for this campaign. They completed the double over us- a 3-2 victory on Matchday 4 in Dukuma, and then in the return leg, on Matchday 17, we could not return the favor, as they defeated us 2-1 to take all six crucial points against us. That's the difference between us and them right now- even if we had gotten a draw in one of those matches, these standings look completely different. But we didn't. We have the hand that we played, and unfortunately, we have to try and qualify against a nation who swept us completely. Not to mention- our manager, Bethany Donnell, used to be the national team manager for SRS.

And that leaves us Drawkland. We actually earned a pretty big point on Matchday 5 in Drawkland, traveling through space to the faraway planet of Sonnel, and coming back with points, earning a lone one against the Kick Corps. Unfortunately, however, the return leg was not so kind to us, as Drawkland was able to earn all three points in Lakiska. This is the story of the Busoga Islands in World Cup 84 Qualifying- start off strong, get some good results, be right in the thick of the hunt, and then run out of gas as the second half of Qualifying begins to ramp up. While that was true last time around, after the back-to-back losses against the two teams ahead of us in the race for second place, many assumed that this squad would be left for dead.

But Bethany Donnell refused to let happen. "I wasn't going to allow our players to simply give up." She told reporters. "Yea, they were disappointing losses, everyone can acknowledge that. But there's a long campaign left. A lot can happen over the last third of Qualifying. We may no longer face the two teams ahead of us, but what we can do is put ourselves in a position to take advantage of anyone slipping. This group is competitive enough where, truly, almost anybody can beat almost anybody, and I knew if we continued to focus, take things a game at a time, we could put ourselves right back into this race."

Following the home game against Drawkland was a flight to Jantor. A team the Busoga Islanders beat before, this time, they played them away from home. It can be a tough trip- as most trips can be during World Cup Qualifying. Even though Jantor was in 11th place in the group, it would be nice to get the confidence back. While the Islanders could not score in the first half, a pair of second half goals for Amitabh(55', 71') would put Jantor away, on their own ground, and breath life back into the squad. The World Cup? Maybe far away. But the Islanders were not going to simply roll over and wait for the Cup of Harmony. No, they would not go down without a fight.

And that left us with our most recent home game, against Gyatso-Kai. Yet another tough game for the Islanders at home. Of course, the nation of benders is also struggling, in 9th place. And even though it was at home, anyone who has watched this team knows that nothing is guaranteed when the Islanders step out onto the pitch. And yet, the team was relaxed. They played well, they were strong in the back, and suffocated the visitors. An early goal from Kamu Jacobs in the 12th minute set the tone, and a second goal added in the 76th minute by Jay Khano made sure there was no doubt that the Islanders would get three points.

Yes, the opponents were weak and struggling. But we officially put the final nail in the coffin of opponents two weeks in a row. And 3 points are
3 points. And there are more games to play. Our next game will be in Donnacona. They're in 8th in the group- not doing too hot, but certainly capable of pulling off an upset on their home pitch. As we are over a game behind, it is certainly a must win. Bethany Donnell spoke about this as well. "WE know what the goal is. However likely or unlikely it is, all we can control is what happens on the pitch in Donnacona. We, at the very least, will be able to maintain pressure on those ahead of us if we pick up three points here. We all know what looms on Matchday 22, so this is an important one. If we want our home game in two matchdays to matter, we've gotta get three points here."

Busoga Islands @ Donnacona. Can the Islanders win and maintain their feint World Cup dream alive? We'll find out, tomorrow night.

[South Newlandia]

ELEPHANT VALLEY MAIL
Sports -> Soccer
South Newlandia gets off their high horse

The Elephants had high expectations for the game in Bliuji after three wins in a row, but instead lost in a very poor game for South Newlandia. Because of Pasarga winning their game, this should be the actual end of the road for the South Newlandian hopes of the World Cup Final. They had always known that that would be ridiculous, but the hopes were still there. Coach Robert Wolverine will have to think about how to get the tournament to a good end.

Bliuji 3-1 South Newlandia

The game started poorly for the Elephants, as South Newlandia seemed disoriented. The defensive line barely got it together, and Mikhail Trischuk seemed to stand next to himself. Because of the general confusion, Bliuji was up by two goals very early. Erik Belov and Daniel Lyskov scored those early goals in the 3rd and 17th minute, and the game was almost over from there. South Newlandia never really got a grip to the game, but until half-time, they at least managed to avoid further goals.

The only real chance for South Newlandia in the first half happened in the 31st minute, when Finnley Wallis took a free kick that went above the goal.

At half-time, Robert Wolverine was strapped for answers. His team was barely responding, and he decided to let Patrick McMora and Ricardo Rayner on the field for Jarod Stuart and Brandon Irving.

The second half started better for the Elephants. In the 56th minute, it was Simon McCabe who had a good chance. After a solid pass by McMora, his shot was directed above the goal by Andriy Pyatov, the goalkeeper for Bliuji.

The Elephants came even closer to a comeback in the 68th minute. After a long and precise pass by Dhruv Roy, Finnley Wallis got into position. He took a shot, and Andriy Pyatov got his hand on the ball, but couldn’t stop the goal. South Newlandia had scored the 1-2 and gained new hope.

They came close to equalizing in the 71st minute. This time, it was Patrick McMora who held the ball on the right side. He got a pass in, but Ricardo Rayner didn’t hit the ball right and the chance was missed.

In the middle of this stronger phase for the South Newlandian team, Bliuji got their third goal in the 77th minute. A shot by Sviatoslav Vasiliev went right through Trischuk’s legs. It was really a day to forget for him.

After that, South Newlandia looked like the plug was pulled on them. The game ended with little more chances.

South Newlandia had to take this loss, and are now seven points down from qualification despite having played a game more. We congratulate both Valanora and Pasarga, as the Marauders and Wanderers have basically qualified now. South Newlandia will have to look for a good end, as the schedule for the Elephants seems to allow for a few more points. Coach Robert Wolverine announced that the new target for the Elephants would be a top 100 place after the tournament.

Player Rankings

Mikhail Trischuk (GK, Captain) 4
That was a horrible day for him.

Dhruv Roy (LB) 7

Jack Schroeder (LCB) 6

Manuel O’Neill (RCB) 5
The defense had better days.

Raphael Moreno (RB) 6

Kevin Mohamed (DM) 6

Corban Green (LM) 6

Jarod Stuart (RM) 5
He couldn’t replace Patrick McMora

Finnley Wallis (OM) 8
He was the only player in his regular form.

Brandon Irving (ST) 6

Simon McCabe (ST) 6

Patrick McMora (RM) 8
He got some energy into the team.

Ricardo Rayner (ST) 6
He missed some chances to improve the result.

Starters against Juvencus

Robert Wolverine made a bunch of changes before the next game, at home against Juvencus. Barnaby Hastings, Tommy Anderson, Patrick McMora and Bjorn Cohen replace Raphael Moreno, Manuel O’Neill, Jarod Stuart and Brandon Irving in the first eleven.

Results from Matchday 20, Group 13

The Kytler Peninsulae (UR) 1-3 Pangurstan (311)
Despite the win, Pangurstan is now officially eliminated.

Juvencus (39) 2-0 Mavinet (218)
Juvencus is improving after their bad start, while Mavinet hasn’t been successful recently.

Valanora (15) 3-1 Tamgu (79)
Valanora collects three more points.

Plane of Possibility (148) 2-5 Pasarga (25)
Pasarga wins an important game here, paving their way to the qualifiers.

Ottoman Syldavia (338) 5-5 Eraman (63)
What even happened? Eraman failed to get three points in a 10-goal game, while Ottoman Syldavia is eliminated anyway.

Kuriko had their bye day.

Bliuji (99) 3-1 South Newlandia (228)

Current standings

Group 13                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Valanora                               19   14   2   3    51   21  +30    44
 2 Pasarga                                18   12   3   3    56   29  +27    39
 3 South Newlandia                        19    9   5   5    34   33   +1    32
 4 Eraman                                 18    8   6   4    32   24   +8    30
 5 Plane of Possibility                   19    8   5   6    31   31    0    29
 6 Juvencus                               18    7   4   7    40   35   +5    25
 7 Mavinet                                19    7   3   9    42   40   +2    24
 8 Bliuji                                 18    7   2   9    39   41   −2    23
 9 Tamgu                                  18    6   4   8    36   41   −5    22
10 Pangurstan                             19    5   6   8    37   41   −4    21 
11 Ottoman Syldavia                       19    5   4  10    26   36  −10    19 
12 Kuriko                                 18    5   1  12    21   42  −21    16 
13 The Kytler Peninsulae                  18    3   3  12    23   54  −31    12

Schedule for Group 13, Matchday 21

Eraman (63) vs. Plane of Possibility (148)
This is an exciting duel between two strong teams. Whoever wins this can look back to a great tournament.

Pasarga (25) vs. Valanora (15)
It’s finally time for the top matchup between the top two again. If Pasarga gets points here, it would be a huge success.

Tamgu (79) vs. Bliuji (99)
Both teams were underachievers and have to get a win to somewhat save the tournament.

Mavinet (218) vs. The Kytler Peninsulae (UR)
Mavinet should be able to get three points here.

Pangurstan (311) vs. Kuriko (330)
Both teams are already eliminated.

Ottoman Syldavia will have a bye day.

South Newlandia (228) vs. Juvencus (39)
South Newlandia will host the 3rd seed Juvencus on the next matchday. The first encounter ended in a draw, and if the Elephants can be successful in the Elephant Dome as well, they can be really happy with that.

[Port Ember]

Blood, Sweat & Glory - Part 13

Matchday 20: Atheist Democratic Freehold vs Port Ember

The team travelled to the strange nation of Atheist Democratic Freehold for the second encounter against this squad, an away match this time around. They were traveling upon the PEFAS Argie SilverPine, an absolute behemoth of a vessel. This vessel was literally a floating city, with all the necessities and luxuries a non static city would have on offer. The biggest and most impressive feature of this vessel however, was the fact that it housed a fully sized Football field upon deck, covered with a glass dome, spotlights, speakers and climate control. What made this floating field so impressive was the fact that due to the combination of alll this technology, any climate and ambience could be recreated during practice sessions - including even the sounds of the crowds. The spotlights allowed the team to do this during any time of day or night. The fact that the vessel was so massive meant that the effect of the rippling ocean had zero movement effect in the vessel itself. This might have been a very expensive (Read $4 Billion NSD) addition to the squad, yet it was seen as a brilliant expense. This modern maritime marvel allowed the team to travel all across the globe to participate in away matches, whilst being able to continue their practice sessions and match preparations without having to consider travel time. The big bonus however was the fact that the team was travelling in absolute luxury and peace. There were no jetlag to contend with. No stressful airport luggage and customs hastles. No being mobbed by angry/passionate/freaky fans. They could pitch up for any away match as fresh and prepared just as if they were playing at home. Furthermore this would allow them the luxury of safe, familiar and luxurious accommodations no matter where in the world they found themselves, with world class training facilities to boot. It was money well spent according to PEFA, and a nice 'subtle'way to show off the team (and nation's) immense wealth at its disposal.

Once the team arrives at the stadium, they attempted to turn on their focused faces (despite the myriad of soul breaking emotional events affecting the team of late) and stormed the pitch with vigor. The match was charecterised by constant offensive team play from both sides, with both sides struggling to gain the upperhand, remaining in a state of stalemate for the majority of the 90 minutes play. The first half for example saw no goals scored as posession shifted constantly and attacks and counter attacks shut down from both sides, none gaining a proper advantage.

The first goal of the match came early in the second half when winger Eric Tosaír set up a perfect play and link up with star striker Danny Nicovic, when they blasted through the right flank and scored a straight goal from distance in minute 52.

The game was equalised when the opposition took advantage of a gap in the Port Emberian defence in minute 69 and send the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Both sides attempted hard to grab a winning goal, but both defences held firm against the onsluaghts, finally ending the match as a draw.

Excerpts from the Media:

Player Scores

(GK)(#1) Peter Smith: 6/10
(CB)(#2) Josh Richards: 6/10
(CB)(#3) Jason Lee: 6/10
(LB)(#4)Alex Kuhn: 6/10
(RB)(#5)Russel Pierce: 6/10
(AM)(#10): William Carvello]: 7/10
[b](DM)(#6): Steven Packard: 7/10
(LM)(#8): Jason Chamberlain: 7/10
(RM)(#11): Eric Tosaír of the Tribe of Waterford: 8/10
(CF)(#7) Leon Moult: 7/10
(CF)(#9)Danny Nicovic: 6/10
Substitutes:
(CF)(#22)Steven Packard: 6/10

Goals for The Match:
Port Ember: Danny Nicovic

Player of the Match:
Port Ember: Eric Tosaír

Post Match Quote from Port Ember Coach
"Another draw is a hard pill to swallow. This will hurt our campaign in the long run, but we are not out for the count yet. We have bounced back from worse positions, so it can happen again. Watch this space." - 'Major' Kent Block - Port Ember Head Coach & Manager

Headlines from Major Publishing Houses:

♤ Second Consecutive Draw of Coach Block's Career - Port Ember Times

♤ Dragon's form worries critics for chances against heavyweights Ko-oren - Port Ember Broadcasting Corporation

♤ Port Ember National Football Team Draws Again - Risks to Lose All Against Ko-oren - Daily Sun News Network

Starting Line Up for Matchday 21: Port Ember Vs Ko-oren
(GK)(#1) Peter Smith
(CB)(#2) Josh Richards
(CB)(#3) Jason Lee
(LB)(#4)Alex Kuhn
(RB)(#5)Russel Pierce
(AM)(#10): William Carvello]
[b](DM)(#6): Steven Packard
(LM)(#8): Jason Chamberlain
(RM)(#11): Eric Tosaír of the Tribe of Waterford
(CF)(#7) Leon Moult
(CF)(#9)Danny Nicovic

[Eraman]

CHAPTER 14
WINLESS STREAK

Everything went downhill for Tun Sengalang Petara after the money trail was leaked. Receiving the mighty Pasarga at Mitra soon after it wasn't ideal. Buisan Buayan went on to score the first goal for Eraman through a quick counter-attack. The goal ensured Eraman went to the half time break on a lead.

However, the match was all Pasarga's. The Wanderers were trying to break the Eraman defence all night long and succeed twice in the second half through Szalyk Foldessy and Julia Muller who scored both at home and in Eraman.

It was a dramatic end to the match with Julia Muller scoring the winning goal for Pasarga deep into the injury time in the second half. Heartbreak for the close to 8,000 old and new Eramanians in Mitra National Stadium who must have thought they had stolen a point from Pasarga.

The defeat was then followed up by a thrilling 5-5 draw at Ottoman Syldavia. Tun Sengalang Petara seems to have lost its touch. With the draw against Ottoman Syldavia, Eraman has now gone on 4 matchdays without a single win.

Eraman had only won twice in the second round, against the lowly ranked Pangurstan whom they beat home and away, the only team Eraman managed to beat away from home and the impressive South Newlandia.

The last time Eraman won away from home was on Matchday 1. With Plane of Possibilities, Valanora, Bliuji and Juventus coming up for Eraman, there is a possibility that they will go on 8 matchdays without a single win. And if that happens, will Tun Sengalang Petara have the guts to sack himself with a general election looming?

[Krytenia]

GENERAL ELECTION: On The Campaign Trail

As the party leaders prepare for TV3's hexagonal Leaders' debate in Stanton, it's been some of the lesser lights of the political scene on today's campaign trail. One party that definitely won't be involved in the election, though, is Plaid Drwydd. Their leader, Owain Morgan, notably finished second in New Cefn behind Democratic candidate Andrew West; with West now defected to Reform, and said party promising an autonomous State of Druida as part of their restructure, Morgan and PD have stepped aside so as not to split the Cymraeg vote.

In Avidia, former Health Minister Gillian Pedersen visited a minor injuries clinic, praising the staff there and taking a Q&A session on the Democrats' healthcare reform policies. Pederson gave a bottom line of ₳380m pumped into new clinics, hospitals, and medical staff, whilst mainly dodging budget-related questions, saying only that the cash would be found "within the existing tax structure."

The Greens are hoping to add to their two seats in the Witting from last time; they've been doing a lot of campaigning in their western heartlands, where they hope to win a second seat in Aigburth and potentially in Charnham on the back of their good showings in council elections. Energy spokesman Paul Verrin - hoping to become Charnham's MW - gave a speech on renewable energy plans in the shadow of a wind farm in rural Aigea.

Leston was the site for the latest MNP rally, as the party's tactic of "have a big get-together in a public place" stopped at the latest point of the tour. Leston's two seats have been notoriously hard to win, mainly due to the fact that high levels of unionised blue-collar jobs has led to it being a Socialist stronghold.

One party leader very much on the beat, though, is Nicole Deschamps. The Socialist leader visited the Stanton Docks, praising the workers there as "the beating heart of the community" and likely enjoying her party's boost in the polls in the last few days.

Current Polls: - Reform 30%, Conservative 26%, Socialist 20%, Democrat 11%, Mercian National 5%, Green 4%, Others 4%

[Jeckland]

THE CHICKEN CHRONICLES - PART EIGHT

Woody Hamm was sat in his living room, doing nothing in particular, when the phone rang. He had expected a call from Chad Minett at some point, but wasn’t quite expecting the opening line from his confidant.

“What the fuck have you got me into?”

“What do you mean?”

“This trial, it’s the strangest thing I’ve ever come across. I genuinely can’t believe you’re associated with this.”

“Strange in what way?”

“Where do I start? The first witness was a talking bunny that was also a football player!”

“That’s not that strange outside Jeckland, Chad. Surely you must know that.”

“The bunny had a breakdown about Cocoa-bo, then got asked about puppies extensively.”

“Okay, that’s a little less normal.”

“Then some guy from Recuecn, who was pretty normal. But the other woman on the panel, the one who doesn’t wear armour, keeps asking about puppies again. I don’t know what her deal is. Next up we held the next part in a fucking high school gym, talking to some schoolgirl who was also the national team captain.”

“Again, nations have all kinds of people and creatures representing them. The puppies part is a bit weird.”

“We’re not even near done with the weirdness, Woody!” Minett said, now growing incredulous. “The next witness from South Covello told me I had died of cocaobo farts! Then some health minister from Kelssek started ranting about communism. And guess where I am now?”

“I don’t know, Chad.”

“A turnip field! I’m in a fucking turnip field in Electrum! I’ve just listened to some crazy reporter rant about Cocoa-bo whilst one of my fellow panel members insisted on calling her a puppy murderer! This is insane!”

Hamm paused. “I didn’t know it was going to be quite this crazy Chad, but when you signed up for a trial alongside a man wearing full armour from The Holy Empire of all places surely you must have known what you were getting into.”

“But even so, how are people going to take this seriously? Why would anyone else in the multiverse listen to the outcomes of this when it’s being run the way it is?”

“The multiverse is a big place, Chad, and works very differently to little old Jeckland. When have I let you down before?”

“I’m putting a lot of faith in you, Woody.”

“And when has that ever been a bad choice in the past? Trust me on this. Stick with it and everything will turn out well for both of us in the end.”

“I suppose so. I’ve got to go, I think I need a lie down after that.”

[Trolleborg]

Previous parts of the story: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 –16 – 17 – 18.

In the morning, both travelers woke up with the strong feeling that there would be no more unpleasant surprises and terrible shocks. This time Wesley did not to devote the morning to playing virtual football, and both guests of the country immediately went to breakfast, where they were, as yesterday, met by a robot. As it turned out, he managed to significantly improve his knowledge of the world during the day and pleased the Zwangzugians not only with accurate comments on what dishes were cooked and how, but also with almost casual conversation about football and air travel. Wesley almost blew a spoon past his mouth when at the end their hotel guardian asked what they could advise about where to spend vacation. But remembered in time yesterday (how long it had been!) A conversation with Keith and tried to answer within his competencies. At the end he took out a camera and showed the robot photographs hastily taken during a stopover at Reino do Brazil airport. After downloading the photos to himself, the hotellier let out a sort of delighted sigh, thanked Wesley heartily for the advice, and asked if any services were needed from him to help.

“No, thanks, take a break,” Naomi mechanically said, and she laughed at the fact that she’s already quite turned out to be used to all this virtual-robot reality. She shared this thought with companion.
“But it’s interesting, Naomi,” Wesley suddenly said thoughtfully, - “for the entire time that we are here, although we didn’t sit locked up, in addition to robots, we only somehow communicated with a woman in a museum and a cat in a cafe, and even that in passing ... ".
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, I don’t know. It just occurred to me. Forget it".

Keith, of course, responded at the first call as soon as the guests went out of the hotel doors.
“So, dear guests, what would you like to see, or at least what is your soul asked for? Hour at the seafront? Museum of Sports? Excursion to the premises of the ARENA? Military History Museum? The shops? Inspection of the fortress? Hiking in the of Troghil Hills? Go to observation desk of the tallest skyscraper? ”

“All at once!” - blurted out Naomi. And all three laughed.

[Kita-Hinode]

PLAYER BIOS: "BIG PAPA" KI-RYOH LEVI - THE LAD AMONGST LADS

The term traditional family has never really held much weight in a Hinodejin society that was often quick to integrate foreign societies into their territory without really bothering themselves too much about keeping some sort of traditional value bar the very same wish to integrate all peoples. Still, even the most fervorous of all supporters of personal freedom have to raise an eyebrow at the life (and the family) of Ki-Ryoh Levi. Ki-Ryoh's talents were easily second to his crazy life and his eventual claim to fame: a legendarily massive family.

THE START
Ki-Ryoh Levi is the grandson of a Sunrisian teacher and a Hwangju-born mother that worked as a hairdresser while his parents were both in the telecommunications sector. He was born while his parents were on a trip to Turiguni-Karanitsomo, Minamihara and thus, barely lived at his birthplace, returning with his family to Hwangcholcheon, then-known as Hitsumirabiyama. Taught in both Hwangju and Hinodejin, he took up a translation job at the age of thirteen, usually translating Hwangju-only manga into proper Hinodejin titles. This was, however, an underground gig, something which he was caught by, giving him his first (and rather surprisingly, his last) brush with the law. While spending eight hours in a police department, he caught a glimpse of a football game between two top amateur sides, deciding then and there to try his hand at the sport. In an interview ten years after his retirement, Ki-Ryoh maintains that this choice ended up being key for his entire life. "I can't think of better occupations for a small, frail boy from the middle of nowhere in such a large empire. Maybe a minister, but I'm pretty sure I would just get a smack from the Empress if I ever asked for such a thing."

FOOTBALL
Weirdly enough, for a footballer, he made his debut in professional football not for a proper club, but rather for his provincial team. Ki-Ryoh, a Minamihara native by birth, was still a youth player for Osaki Renaissance when an invite to represent the province, due to a lack of respectable players at an age of peak physical condition, arrived for him. The idea was simple: get Minamihara into the Nations' Cup. To those who are uninitiated into Hinodejin football, the Nations' Cup was what the Empire had for a World Cup-like tournament, featuring every province of the Empire as a national team of their own. Levi debuted in a tight, hotly contested game against Burakuriri for the 2075 edition's qualifiers and went on to score five goals throughout the team's unsuccessful campaign, being far from qualifying to the tournament proper. He would go on, however, to play for the Minamihara provincial team for the next thirty-two years, playing only a single edition of the tournament proper when the yellow-blacks barely edged out the fifth position against Shiga for the final spot of the North Region. That tournament, however, would prove itself to be rather special for him: the three games that followed ended up presenting to the entirety of the Empire the existence of a relentless forward, capable of winning balls in the box and score against some large defenders when compared to his rather scrappy look. Alas, the tournament would be short for the underdogs, Minamihara were trampled by a Somei-Yoshino side that featured Yuki Ogawa, Seto Nakayama and Kanoi Fukugawa via a five-nil loss. The game featured the rather infamous curled shot where Fukugawa herself managed to pull off a contrived trick by flipping over a defender's back before spiking the ball with her left foot.

His efforts in the qualifiers, however, were enough to push the boy to start for Renaissance once his star for Minamihara proved to be strong enough for a seventeen-year-old to be deemed worthy of a starting job. The Western Hinode League, the first tournament he played at (and one that he would know well enough by spending the next three years playing at the level), originally saw him as a rather inconsequential genius. A player that was able to come up with creative solutions for problems but was also notorious for his shenanigans. He broke the highlights of Miruka Eevees' home stadium (the then 4000-seats Miruka Park), knocked out an Atami Jianshi supporter by hitting him with a shot while he was haggling a female and, most infamously, pulled the pants of a Wakamatsu Bellas goalie to allow a goal from a teammate to go through. Despite his shortcomings, he was able to impress the scouts of Utsukushima AFC into signing him on for the team's debut season at the 2078's KiHi-League 4, following a title win at the very same league Levi played in. Decked with the number 22, Ki-Ryoh spent the entire season hammering goals and coming up with new tricks, with only some of which were legal enough to be pulled in a football match. After a notorious incident with a chicken's egg at a Cup tie with Rockman Murayama, the Football Association warned him to treat football more seriously, to which he simply responded with "ain't that rich, they think football is a job". Utsukushima AFC's meteoric rise meant that Ki-Ryoh was able to claim a medal for their 2081 KiHi-League title win but that also presented a moment that would change his career.

THAT TIME HE ALMOST CAUSED A DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT
Legend has it that Ki-Ryoh was a very close member to the Rock group Ikari Raising, who by that point reached some questionable notoriety for their disc "The Project", in which keyboard player Shinpachi Kajiri would perform in schoolgirl clothes and a wig. He and the band were scheduled to take a tour near the Emirate of Assurinppa, a neutral state bordering the Sultanates of Kirash, Abin, Muzayad and Qavazan, all four that would later fall in a war for the Empire. Between shows, however, the group got wasted and lost in the cold of the desert. Three days later, Ki-Ryoh Levi was found in an Assurinppan jail after he got too cozy with the Emir's daughter, barely missing out in literally getting killed in a duel. Empress Satomi chose to politely request for the freedom of both him and Shinpachi, who by then was almost sold as a harem slave thanks to his amazingly girlish face. Years later, the city of Azuratsukagayame (formerly the capital of the Kingdom) saw the very same Emir's daughter, Polina, marrying him, which would later lead to his nickname of Big Papa.

"BIG PAPA"
Following the marriage, Ki-Ryoh found himself rich after the Emir, politely, chose to submit to the Hinodejin Empire, getting demoted to the position of administrator of the province. The daughter, a fan of the idea of a husband with a harem, convinced (albeit with very little trouble) that he should try to make an extensive family. Ki-Ryoh, funnily enough, took the idea and spun it in a way he wanted. By 2084, the Levi family consisted of four wives (a Hylian, a Gerudo and a Zora), eleven biological and sixty adopted children. Decades later, when asked about why he did so, Levi replied, with a large smile, that he thought the castle (a place acquired in the middle of Mido-Hinode) was too large for just fifteen people. His football career was, of course, secondary to that. He pulled out of Utsukushima AFC and chose to sign up for the Wu Shu Hi Mii club, a founding member of the Mido-Hinodejin Football League, playing for the club until his retirement in 2102, becoming then the go-to commentary man for games of the Golden Road Football League, where he would explain the ins and outs of Mido-Hinodejin football. When asked about why he retired from the sport, he cited two details: the club he played for chose to remain amateur (thus pulling out from the league) and an incident where he blew himself through a window inside the clubhouse. The incident, where he cooked a potato soup inside a microwave with a ceremonial pot saw the machine blow up, the explosion being strong enough to knock him through a window, landing in a safe enough mattress but with window shards scattered around his arms. "I would rather not blow myself up again in a football field. The wives wouldn't like that", he added.

THE LEVIS
The results of the humanitarian move performed by Ki-Ryoh may have accidentally triggered a consequence that he probably didn't think of: the Levis became a rather common name in the youth leagues, especially the University League: where players that once played in the All-Hinodejin Youth Football League, now get to play while studying for some properly established universities. Some of them have been making waves in that level: Elliot is a substitute left-midfielder for Kuroba University with brother Antoine sitting as option two for the Magic's defence, Krista is a starting defender for the Mide Girls' Academy with sister Marinette also present, Hamza has been given the armband for the Royal Academy team and several Levis have since moved towards professional football. While non-human Levis are still in smaller numbers and most of them chose to not play the game that made their father so noteworthy, the name Levi is expected to survive for a long while in Hinodejin football, although it's likely that "Big Papa" was way more worried about the kids than some sort of legacy. "Legacy is for wankers," he said to the Mido-Hinodejin Daily in an interview. "I'm a people guy. Statistics bore me to hell."

[Timuria]

Red Wolves Get Thumping Win

Olastor 2–6 Timuria
Olastor #10 (19 (pen), 34);Ismail Burhan (8, 49), Vatan Ercetin (40, 61), Caner Turan (77), Ertan Renda (87)

by Tufan Nursultan

The Red Wolves continued along their narrow path towards a potential shock qualification for the World Cup with a slightly awkward, but clear win over Olastor. The sides went in level at the break as the Red Wolves made it look like they would have to go about this the hard way by not managing to get out of their own way. A four goal second half where they absolutely dominated affairs led to the clear victory that secured a key three points.

The early stages of the match would be marked by controversy, with some suspecting that Ismail Burhan had committed a foul on his way to collecting a through ball from Vatan Ercetin before chipping the opposition keeper. Unfortunately for the Red Wolves this early lead would be relatively short lived as a handball from Gokdeniz Dag would lead to a penalty which the opposition striker would put past Iskender Nur.

That same striker would give the hosts the lead with an awkwardly struck effort that found its way past Iskender with the help of a deflection from the shin of Gokdeniz. Vatan would ensure however, that the sides went in level, his long range effort bouncing awkwardly just in front of the keeper, enough for it to worm past him.

The second half would quickly show the path that this match was destined to take, with Ismail getting his second goal to complete his brace, a towering header that left a lot wondering quite how he contorted himself to make such good contact with the ball. Vatan would get his second goal in the 61st minute with a half volley after a bungled clearance allowed him to pick his spot.

The late stages of the game would not be immune from the scoring festivities, with Caner Turan's fantastic contact with a Volkan Ayhan cross that led to the fifth goal for the Red Wolves. The scoring would be rounded out by an excellent Ertan Renda free kick after a foul on Ismail from a frustrated defender led to a yellow card for him.

The result means that the Red Wovles are still in third and still nine points behind Kelssek who got a narrow but essential 1-0 win over Grod Island. The Red Wolves will now face Patistan coming off a tough 2-1 defeat to Audiaslania who sit in 11th and are well and truly eliminated, playing for pride at Almat Jimnasyum.

What They Said After The Match:

Bekir Altingunes: "It looked like we were heading for a bit of a shock there, but I gave the team a bit of focus and we're still in it. Obviously it's tempting to look at other results around the group, but we only have control over what we do and I've made that clear. Let's uphold our end of the bargain and then hopefully, come the end of this we'll know we left it all on the field. As for the next match, we know that these sides are often overlooked so we're going to go over it in detail and make sure that we're 100% ready for it."

Player Ratings:

Tufan was unable to file the player-by-player breakdown due to an elliptical accident.

Iskender Nur 6/10

Ozbek Sarikaya 6/10

Kemal Colak 6/10

Berker Balkan 6/10

Gokdeniz Dag 5/10

Ertan Renda 6/10

Reza Karaduman 6/10

Caner Turan 7/10

Vatan Ercetin 9/10

Volkan Ayhan 7/10

Ismail Burhan 8/10

Substitutes:

Yildiray Sabuktiginoglu 6/10

Sabah Tanriseven 6/10

Person of the Match: Vatan Ercetin - He had a game that was excellent from his early assist right the way to the end, a magnificient day for the attacking midfielder/striker.

Schedule and Results:

Home stadiums will have capacity in brackets

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

[PotatoFarmers]

Poafmersia 1
Pete Carisa 15'
Filindostan 1
Herawan 37'

Starting 11: Sandi Jaliaha; Alex Pickford, Pasits Rikachz, Danzik Hoboson (c), Denise Pickford; Daas Taisg, Goon Figsh, Gisiik Moonar; Joel Haodao, Shakira Handris, Pete Carisa
Substitutes: Hansel Tang (Haodao 60'); Donk Mason (Taisg 72'), Bytia Hisel (Handris 85')

For Adnan, though the result was alright by Poafmersian standards, it was a bummer. Being unable to get past Filindostan after getting an early lead had forced Poafmersia to draw the last match before the bye matchday, and increasing the gap between Poafmersia and second-placed Reçueçn by a whole 12 points. Effectively this is no different from an elimination, as Poafmersia only can accumulate 15 more points and the gap would be difficult to close up.
From Adnan's perspective, the remainder of the matches would be an opportunity to try new players for the Cup of Harmony, rotating in fringe players that were left out from the main squad. Of course, the top 4 aim was there and he sincerely hope that the team can do it. The other aim was to better last qualification cycle in terms of points per match. Last cycle, Poafmersia obtained 34 points from 20 matches, or 1.7 per match. This translates into 41 points this time round, forcing the team to work even harder as they would hope to grab all 15 points to end on 47 points, improving to 1.96 per match. Can the squad do it? On paper, it looks easy, but not forgetting that Poafmersia drew Andromeda Island Group and Emastalia the last time out, there was no guarentees.

Group 15                                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts    Last 5
 1 Brenecia                               18   16   1   1    60   25  +35    49     WWWWD
 2 Reçueçn                                18   14   2   2    34   10  +24    44     WWDWW
 3 Independent Athletes from Quebec       19   12   3   4    39   28  +11    39     WWWWW
 4 Filindostan                            18   11   3   4    41   16  +25    36     DWLDW
 5 Poafmersia                             19    9   5   5    39   32   +7    32     DWDWL

Fixture List for the top 5

Matchday	Brenecia	Reçueçn	Quebec	Filindostan	Poafmersia
21	Quebec (A)	Revatnagar (H)	Brenecia (H)	Shokpos (H)	Bye
22	Qvardax (H)	Crystalline Caverns (A)	Bye	Andromeda Island Group (A)	Shokpos (A)
23	Damukuni (A)	Emastalia (H)	Qvardax (A)	Revatnagar (H)	Andromeda Island Group (H)
24	Reçueçn (H)	Brenecia (A)	Damukuni (H)	Crystalline Caverns (A)	Revatnagar (A)
25	The Grearish Union (A)	Quebec (H)	Reçueçn (A)	Emastalia (H)	Crystalline Caverns (H)
26	Filindostan (H)	Qvardax (A)	The Grearish Union (H)	Brenecia (A)	Emastalia (A)

Points attained by each team during the reverse fixtures:
Brenecia - WWWWWW (18/18)
Quebec - LWLWD (7/15)
Reçueçn - WWWLLW (12/18)
Filindostan - WWWDWL (13/18)
Poafmersia - WDWWD (11/15)

One thing is for sure - that everyone still has some chances of qualifying for the World Cup. With a crazy run-in for the top 3 teams, even Filindostan has a chance to catch up if they make full use of their easier run-in. If the first half was an indication of what is going to happen, the top 2 teams would not change. But surely teams have learnt from their lessons and improved? Regardless, there is only one job for the Poafmersian team - score maximum points and pray.

[Kandorith]

Shinonome Kyoai - International
News From The Empire

---

Efficient Kandorith Shines Bright During Royal Game

*  Group 11                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Equestria                              19   13   6   0    54   27  +27    45
 2 HUElavia                               19   14   1   4    54   32  +22    43
 3 Xanneria                               18   10   6   2    48   32  +16    36
 4 Kandorith                              19    9   7   3    48   35  +13    34
 5 Vdara                                  19   10   3   6    40   36   +4    33
 6 Nooooooooooooooo                       19    6   5   8    38   37   +1    23 
 7 Ancherion                              18    5   6   7    36   36    0    21 
 8 Fujai                                  18    5   6   7    32   41   −9    21 
 9 Monglechabagd                          18    4   5   9    29   42  −13    17 
10 Blouman Empire                         18    4   4  10    32   41   −9    16 
11 South Concepthuania                    19    4   3  12    31   47  −16    15 
12 Jamestownnnn                           18    4   2  12    33   52  −19    14 
13 Lo Santano                             18    2   6  10    27   44  −17    12

A night to remember as the Blouman Empire hosted the match against Kandorith. The main reason was not the game for most people to watch the event, it was Empress Masumi's state visit to the Blouman Empire. Wearing a traditional inspired gown the empress watched the game from the Royal Box at the Cork Park Stadium, she was invited by the royal family of the Blouman Empire and of course the empress did not hesitate to accept the invitation. Her presence was surely a motivating factor in the amazing night for the Lotus Warriors and many fans had decorated shirts and signs to try and grab the attention of Her Imperial Majesty herself. The Empress and the national team were also invited to a state banquet at the Blouman Royal Palace in honour of the meeting and of course, in honour of the game. For Manager Hayabusa this was surely a first time to stand among such high profile members of any nation.

For Hayabusa's team the night was more than excellent with a brilliant display from the Lotus Warriors, winning the match convincingly with three to one. Although the win did not come without a fight, especially in the first half. At the half-hour mark the Kandorese team seemingly switched off for a split second and the forward Oliver Eastall was allowed to take an absolute screamer of a shot; rocketing the ball into the top-right corner of the goal, just out of Kiyotada's reach. An absolutely beautiful shot but made possibly due to very messy defending. Even the Kandorese fans and the Empress herself applauded the goal as it was a sight to behold. It would stand until three minutes later: Hayashi saw a brilliant change to make a run together with Matsuda. Hayashi took a risk with an overhead cross which barely reached Matsuda who was able to finish in his signature style, sliding the ball just passed the goalkeeper and into the net.

The second half was even more of a spectacle for the Kandorese fans as the team took a more commanding presence on the field and seemed unwavering. The Blouman Empire team also kept their posture and in the 50th minute they struck goal, or so it seemed, the goal was offside and did not stand. A blow for the home team, but a sigh of relief for the Kandorese side. That moment was the much needed wake up call for the Lotus Warriors as they started to play more on the midfield and prevented the opponent from getting too close to the last defensive lines and the goal. A quick succession of attempts followed by both Katano and Matsuda only to both end up in the safe hands of Henry Polinoir. In the 65th minute the moment came, a corner awarded to Kandorith. Hisakane Hayashi tried to swing the ball in but was slightly off-balanced as the ball swerved directly into the penalty box where it became a messy display. As multiple players tried to get the ball towards the goal and the other side tried to clear it, the ball bounced back and forth almost as much as the players did. The ball ended up in the feet of Matsuda who struck a lucky shot and the ball snuck across the goal line to give Kandorith the lead.

A slight scuffle erupted between Tamura and Feltron seemed agitated with each other which ended in a yellow card for both players, a heated moment for which Tamura later apologized for to Feltron. As the match was reaching it's ending point and three minutes of stoppage time were declared; Hayashi saw another chance, this time from the wing. As the midfield was controlling most of the game now and was basically playing out the match, holding the win, the young Matsushita observed Hayashi's movements on the left wing. A swift and strong pass in front of the experienced Hayashi was an absolute gift to him as he picked up the pace on the wing to completely outrun the rest of the field. A swift cut inside positioned him eye-to-eye with goalkeeper Polinoir who rushed at him to stop the goal from happening. In a split second Hayashi chipped the ball over the head of the goalkeeper, who could only watch it go overhead and roll into the goal, definitely sealing the match for Kandorith.

"It was to be honest, a little bit scary" Hayabusa said with a slight chuckle. "To try and stick to all the etiquettes and formalities is not really my thing to do but I think I managed quite well, if I say so myself. The evening was surely interesting and I think the Blouman Empire is a very interesting nation. Their manager Lewis Parry said that they could learn a lot from me, but I think it is the same the other way around. This evening gave the team and I a very unique opportunity to see what's beyond our own national borders and our own culture. Only a few people have done this so far and I think there really is a world out there for us to explore and learn from: not only in football, but also in cultural differences. I myself I absolutely want to thank the Blouman Empire for their hospitality, especially the emperor and empress. I would also, in the near future, like to invite the Blouman football association to take a look at our facilities in Kandorith, because like I said; I think we can learn a lot from each other.

"One day, I might actually think of taking a holiday in their beautiful nation because honestly; I was a bit baffled. Everyone I met was kind, appropriate and interesting. We all know the feeling of hanging around with the same people for years, as we Kandorese are not really people to explore new things and borders; but first-hand meeting some new people and learning about their culture is an absolute honour to me. As a nation I think we should have a more open-minded approach to lands beyond our borders, perhaps even look at what their cultures manage better than what we do. Who knows, slowly but surely we might become a true international nation.

But back to the point at hand of course; I am very proud of the team. They have shown absolute brilliance and were unbreakable. We can still do better of course, we had to fight back from getting behind once again and this is becoming a recurring theme on the field. We manage, sure we do, but one of these days we might stand against a team which completely closes the game to us when we get one or two goals behind. In all honesty, I think we are ready to face everything coming at us and I truly think we might be able to take at least the third place in the group. I am not one-hundred percent certain of reaching the World Cup; but if we keep fighting like we have in the last matches we can surely take the third place in the group. For my closing words I really want to thank the Blouman Empire again for hosting us and I also want to applaud them. They sure have spirit and they have very creative players. I hope they never give up in this world of football and I also hope the youth of their nation will be inspired to play football."

The next challenge for Kandorith will be Fujai, a team they beat with only one goal when they were visitors. Now, Kandorith will have the home advantage in an expected: filled to the brim Empress Masumi stadium. For Kandorith there is only one goal right now and that's winning the match. In all statistics and scenarios the home team should take the win here, but as always Hayabusa and his team are cautious towards these teams as they have strange moments which could surprise the Lotus Warriors. No doubt exists however, Kandorith is on a magnificent run right now in maybe one of the most successful qualification campaigns in the modern decade. The only time the Kandorese team has performed better than under Hayabusa was when the team first qualified for the World Cup back during the 67th World Cup. The hopes are still up Hayabusa can make that dream true again and it would be a triumph for the Kandorese nation. The fans are especially expecting great results as the difference between Xanneria and Kandorith seems to become less with every match. With only two points between the two sides now, Kandorith could overtake them after the next match. Xanneria who face HUElavia in the next game will be closely watched by Kandorese fans too; most will be hoping for either a Xanneria win or a draw, which would implicate the second place of HUElavia.

[Terre Septentrionale]

Terre septentrionale collapses in 2nd half and draws with The Jovannic

The Jovannic - Following 2 wins after their bye week, Terre Septentrionale travelled to The Jovannic to play against this new upcoming nation who'se doing well so far. Jennifer O'Byrne was the starting goalkeeper and Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa rested with a foot injury. Kévin Maillé-Chicoine replaced her in the starting XI. The Nordinques started off on the right foot when Élisabeth Normandin had the ball at the 3rd minute and she passed to Sandrine Fontaine who made a short pass to Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk who dribbles with the ball and he shoots and he scores! 1-0 Terre Septentrionale. The Reprezentacja Nordycki attacked again at the 11th minute when Sandrine Fontaine made a short pass to Sandie McCracken who shoots. The ball is deflected by Joshua Li and goes all over the net, it's a corner kick. Yannick Ksiezniakiewicz takes the corner, he kicks the ball just outside the penalty area and Élisabeth Normandin jumps and heads the ball right into the net. 2-0. Terre Septentrionale attacked at the 21st minute when Franciszek Niedzwiecki passed to Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk who dribbled with the ball and passed to Sandrine Fontaine who had a better angle. Fontaine kicks the ball and it's a goal, the score is 3-0. Just a minute later, Zdzislaw Brzezanczyk passed to Sandrine Fontaine who passed to her right to Roksana Kolodziejczyk. Kolodziejczyk dribbled and made a cross to Kévin Maillé-Chicoine who kicks the ball and it's another goal. 4-0 Northmen. The Jovannic attacked at the 32nd minute when Jin Tze passed to Thomas Behine who dribbled with the ball and he kicks it and it's in. Terre Septentrionale's lead is cut to 4-1. The Jovannic attacked at the 38th minute when Raye Eng passed to Viszier Felon who was dribbling with the ball and he passed to Jin Tze but just as he was passing the ball, he's tackled by Yannick Ksiezniakiewicz. The referree, who considered it a late and unnecessary tackle, showed a red card to Ksiezniakiewicz. His game is over and he'll miss matchday 21 against Wanarpu. Terre Septentrionale will play with 10 men and women on the field for the remainder of the game. The first half ended with the score of 4-1.

The Jovannic scored 3 unanswered goals in the 2nd half, so let's just not talk about it.

FIRST HALF ONLY BOXSCORE

3rd minute: Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk assisted by Sandrine Fontaine
11th minute: Élisabeth Normandin (corner kick)
21st minute: Sandrine Fontaine asssisted by Wlodzimierz Waclawczyk
22nd minute: Kévin Maillé-Chicoine assisted by Roksana Kolodziejczyk
32nd minute: Thomas Behine assisted by Jin Tze

FIRST HALF ONLY YELLOW CARDS

17th minute: Jovan Ilohil
28th minute: Zdzislaw Brzezanczyk

FIRST HALF ONLY RED CARDS

38th minute: Yannick Ksiezniakiewicz

5th place

Luckily, Terre Septentrionale is still in 5th place, with 30 points in 18 games, but now we're 3 points away from the 2nd place instead of one. Next matchday, the Reprezentacja Nordycki will recieve Wanarpu at home in San Pedro. San Pedro is one of the most ancient and historic city in Terre Septentrionale, it was founded by the Spaniards early in the 17th century and it's now the capital of the Township of Texas. Goalkeeper Georges-Kévin Vainqueur will be back in the starting XI. Yannick Ksiezniakiewicz, who recieved a red card against The Jovannic, will be suspended for this game. Fryderyka Cwierczakiewiczowa is still sidelined with a foot injury and Slawomir Skrzeszewski is also expected to rest. Przemyslaw Tkocz, Kévin Maillé-Chicoine and 22 years old Kacper Pietrzkiewicz will be inserted in the line up.

Wlodzimierz Pietruszewski,
Senior writer,
La tribune septentrionale

Top 20 16 years old players

Ville Jacques-cartier, DC - The Centrale Septentrionale de recrutement (CSR) released their top 20 16 years old players in the nation and here's this top 20. You can expect to see the players at the top of this list at the Sporting World Cup and the Di Bradini Cup. Some players in the top 5 might eventually join the national team in the future.

Pos     Player                          Team                            Birthplace
CM	Włodzimierz Walaszczyk	        Szczakowianka Trzebiegoszcz	Skrzyszow, PO
SD	Nathaniel Poisson-Descheneaux	Dynamo de Jacques-Cartier	Lac-aux-sables, CN
S	Marianna Lopez-McLaughlin	El Perro United F.C.	        San Juan Bautista, TX
SM	Laurie-Anne Dugrenier	        U.S. Oujé-Bougoumou	        Notre-Dame-du-Nord, CN
CD	Neil Gilhooley	                Shelburne F.C.	                South Rawdon, SH
GK	Miguel Plante-Bourdon	        Roxboro Timbers	                Morin-Heights, CS
CM	Zdzisława Walukiewicz	        Klub Turystow Rzodkiewnica	Krzyszkowice, KZ
CD	Christophe Korczowski	        Klub Turystow Rzodkiewnica	Calumet, PA
S	Krunoslav Dvorneković	        NK Lokomotiva Kukljica 	        Krupa, DA
SD	Václav Zmrzlý	                Gornik Ostrzeszow	        Horní Police, SL
CM	Virginie Gaspar-Fortier	        Real Yamaska 	                Sainte-Edwidge, HY
SM	Florence Veilleux	        U.S. Oujé-Bougoumou	        Oujé-Bougoumou, CN
CD	Elizabet Nico	                ÉTK Szentgyörgyvölgy	        Szentgyörgyvölgy, BA
CM	Catherine Beauchemin	        Real Yamaska 	                Venise-en-Yamaska, HY
SD	Mieczysława Andrzejczak	        KS Ursus Trzeszczyn	        Tluszcz, LU
CD	Katharina Rodney-Sanderson	San Pedro Fire	                Beach City, TX
SM	Édouard Charbonneau	        Dynamo de Jacques-Cartier	Grande-Anse, FR
S	Katarzyna Czychowska	        Okocimski KS Wloszczowa	        Wloszczowa, PO
CD	Aljaž Karničnik 	        NK Rudar Podvolovljek	        Krka, KR
CM	Kristina Lévesque	        F.C. Kamouraska	                Esprit-Saint, KA
SM	Przemysław Sobotka	        KKS Wlokniarz 1925 Krzczonow	Krzczonow, MA
CM	Fryderyka Walków	        Kaszubia Ostroszowice	        Ostroszowice, CA
CD	Nicolas Gignac	                En avant Prévost	        Saint-Eustache, CN
SD	Matt McGeary	                Rawdon Rovers F.C.	        Bear River, SH
S	Ana Marija Kolgjeraj	        DNK Hajduk Vukosavljevica	Ostarije, DA

Katarzyna Krzykowska,
La tribune septentrionale

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

Confederate Footballing History
The present is much better than it was a few weeks ago though
Salwan Mynhier

Cycle 41: The End

As cycle 41 began in with the qualifying draw, the Red-and-Black were ranked as fourth-best team in the world, coming off a quarterfinal elimination at the hands of Az-Cz in the previous edition. The team, managed by Kustaa Paavalainen, the veteran goalkeeper who had been a defensive linchpin on the World Cup 38 team, boasted a record number of players from what is now the Confederacy, particularly from Molvania. At 34 years old, left wing Jzeovak Tkermec was the lone holdover from the second place team from 12 years earlier. Since that time, the Lublova product, who had been sold to Santraginus in his youth, was now playing for Hondo Owls in the Eternal Empire. A duo of talented strikers out of Sjerezo joined him in the first team. Djabgor Cvecej had also been a starter in the previous cycle, and the strength of his play had earned him a spot with Arrigo Portuguese of Candelaria and Marquez. His former teammate, Volad Ulcviecel was new to the first team, but strong performances off the bench had drawn the eye of Cafundó do Juta, who had a history of looking to Squornshelous for attacking talent by this point. The last West Squornshelan on that roster playing his club ball abroad was former Brantisvogan keeper Jarko Pitkanen, now of CR Submiria, also in Cafundeu.

In addition to this cadre of veterans, Paavalainen saw fit to bring back a few depth players from his first cycle as manager: defender Anatoliy Titov of Sjerezo, midfielder Nikola Boskovic of Algolia, and forwards Iaroslav Petrov and Zlatko Topic of AC Damogran and Lublova Reds respectively. Finally a couple young players made their internationstatal debuts in what would be their last opportunity. Kolman Shrestha of Jaglan made a pair of appearances at center back during qualifying, and 18-year-old midfielder Utor Holub from Brantisvogan made four, and looked to be a star in the making. This brought the total to 10 West Squornshelans and Molvanians on the team.

Placed into Group 13 for qualifying along with Vephrall, Newmanistan, Kose and the Turkomans, United Hetzel, and an Unranked Hockey Canada, the Red-and-Black appeared to have a fairly easy path to their 26th straight qualification. After a puzzling one-all draw against United Hetzel on the second matchday, they rattled off a series of dominant victories, winning their final eight matches to finish 9-1-0, with 26 goals for and 5 against. Fatefully, the Pschychoes were placed in Group G, to be played in Ad'ihan. They would face off with 13th-ranked Zwangzug, 22nd-ranked Dancougar, and renew their acquaintance with Vephrall, who had slipped from 26th to 28th after nearly being upstaged in qualifying by Kose and the Turkomans. It was a tough group in a tough cup field. Only three teams ranked outside the top 32 (the 34th ranked Archregimancy, 38th-ranked Taeshan, & 44th-ranked Kelssek) made the cup proper. Despite the strong opposition, the 4th-ranked Squornshelans were still the favorite of most to top the group and advance at least as far as the second round.

The opening match set those expectations back considerably. Dancougar, who were certainly a much better team than their ranking suggested, upstaged the Red-and-Black to take three points. While the team responded with their third win of the cycle over Vephrall, there was a definite feeling of uncertainty heading into the final tie. Behind Dancougar on a head-to-head tiebreaker, the Pschychoes needed a win to be sure of advancement, but could get by with a draw or even a loss coupled with the right result from the group's other match. Facing off with Zwangzug, the Red-and-Black had set themselves a difficult task, but hope was still very much alive. As is well known by this time, that hope was dashed. A 2-0 loss to Zwangzug coupled with Vephrall's victory over Dancougar meant that the three teams were in a three-way tie for second place, even on points and goal differential. With each team's loss to Zwangzug taken out of the equation, however, it was Vephrall who vaulted from fourth to steal second on the strength of their head to head to head goal differential.

The real historical interest here is not so much what happened on the field though, but what followed. Certainly, when the team considered fourth-best in the multiverse is knocked out in the group stage, there's bound to be some consternation. Even more so when one considers the extent to which the Imperium's national identity was tied to the fortunes of its football team, and the hideously oppressive nature of its government. It should come as no surprise then, that fans across the Imperium, on both sides of the Far Sea expressed their frustration in the streets. Rampant vandalism, looting, and arson, with a swift and zealous police response was, sadly not an unusual occurrence following elimination from the Cup. But how does a sports riot turn into a revolution that splits a country in two? That may be a question best left to actual historians. Suffice it to say for the present, that when the police and military cracked down in West Squornshelous and Molvania, their actions were completely out of proportion. Millions across what would soon become the Confederacy looked around and realized they could no longer do nothing, could no longer continue as if everything was fine, could no longer tolerate the injustice of their society.

The story of the war and how it grew from its beginnings in a sports riot is beyond my capacity to tell, but what about the team whose loss lit the fuse of this revolution? The four playing abroad wisely stayed there. I can't imagine what it must have been like for Tkermec, Cvecej, Ulcviecel, and Pitkanen, attempting to go about their lives in foreign lands, watching their home descend into violence, destruction and death on the news. Focusing on their careers must have been nearly impossible. There are probably some who might criticise them for doing so, as if the presence of absence of four individuals would have changed events in the Confederacy in any real way. They were hardly the only ones to flee the war, and I hope we have enough distance from those events that anyone who did so is not judged for their decision to do what they felt they had to to save their lives and their families.

But what of those players from that fated team who didn't have contracts with foreign teams? Well, records from the outbreak of the war are pretty spotty, so it's hard to be sure about all of them. For instance, Anatoliy Titov seems untraceable. He was still listed on the roster in Sjerezo FC's records for three years following the Cup, though no matches were being played at that time. Beyond that, I can't find any reference to him at all. I don't know whether he was killed somehow, or if he simply left football and no record survives of what he did after the war. If any readers from Sjerezo have any clues about Titov, let me know in the comments. Utor Holub was arrested by the Imperial Security Service in Brantisvogan two months after the World Cup and never seen again. His family denied that he ever had anything to do with the revolution, but innocence never stopped the ISS. Nikola Boskovic, sad to say, supported the government, and left for the mainland, eventually playing out the rest of his career with Striterax. Zlatko Topic and Iaroslav Petrov are both known to have joined revolutionary cells in their respective homelands. Topic is believed to have been killed in fighting around Dzrebo in the second year of the war. His body was never recovered, but a memorial in his honor can be found today near Gate B at Lublova's Slavnarzeczpospolitastadion. Petrov, on the other hand, survived the war. His cell of the West Algolian Revolutionary Army was active in the area of Damogran and responsible for numerous damaging acts of sabotage and ambushes of Imperial units. After the war, he accepted a comission as a Captain in the fledgling Confederate Army, and eventually retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He too is memorialized at his former club's stadium, the Overburg in Damogran. Finally, Kolman Shrestha abandoned his football career to go into medicine. During the war, he was a field medic for a revolutionary cell active around Jaglan and Vassilian. Afterward, he went into nursing, pursuing his new career with the same tenacity he'd shown as a young defense prospect.

In the end, we're left with the conclusion that these footballers serve as a microcosm of our population at the time. Some extraordinarily brave, some too afraid to take action. Some willing to take action to oppose evil, others too easy in their comfortable athletes' lives to stand up. Some lucky enough to get through the war in one piece, some taken before there time, and a few who were able to get out while the getting was good. Whatever else it might mean, what we can know for sure is that footballers are people. (I was gonna say human but some aren't, and they're people too, even the Cocoa'bos, whatever that loony in the armor might say) They are the same as all of us. They have the same faults, the same fears, the same strengths, the same joys, and I think it's a good thing to remember that now and then.

SRS Qualifying Schedule

MD1:  SRS 4-5 Torisakia @ Pheldagrif Stadium, Yassaca, Sivolvia, SRS (cap. 45,620)
MD2:  Balaslandia 2-3 SRS @ TBA
MD3:  SRS 5-3 Wreckeria @ Sunergy Field, Hunian, Algolia, SRS (cap. 37,550)
MD4:  Busgoa Islands 2-3 SRS @ Dukuma Oval, Dukuma, BUS (cap. 63,000)
MD5:  Bye
MD6:  SRS 5-2 Drawkland @ Megabrantid Financial Field, Brantisvogan, Megabrantis, SRS (cap. 69,245)
MD7:  Jantor 3-3 SRS @ TBA
MD8:  SRS 0-2 Gyatso-kai  @ Slavnarzeczpospolitastadion, Lublova, Molvania, SRS (cap. 61,230)
MD9:  Donnacona 0-1 SRS @ TBA
MD10: SRS 2-3 Kita-Hinode @ Bridger Lane, Damogran, Algolia, SRS (cap. 72,406)
MD11: Kohnhead 0-1 SRS @ Orange Bull Stadium, Kohnhead City, KHN (cap. 23,000)
MD12: SRS 3-1 EGM @ Igbar Steel Arena, Zarss, West Flania, SRS (cap. 15,100)
MD13: Lochario 1-2 SRS @ Zun Olympic Stadium, (cap. 98,000)
MD14: Torisakia 2-0 SRS  @ TBA
MD15: SRS 5-1 Balaslandia @ Killough Grove, Han Wavel, Han Dold, SRS (cap. 31,400)
MD16: Wreckeria 1-0 SRS @ Patrick Stadium, Halstead, WRE (cap. 30,000)
MD17: SRS 2-1 Busoga Islands @ The Lutenstaad, Lutenblag, Molvania, SRS (cap. 75,000)
MD18: Bye
MD19: Drawkland 0-1 SRS @ Spartan Veteran Stadium (107,500)
MD20: SRS 3-0 Jantor @ Malgacorp Arena, Hensha, Megabrantis, SRS (cap. 29,350)
MD21: Gyatso-kai v SRS @ Meshgeroya'yaim, Keldabe, Mandalore, GKI (cap. 79,890)
MD22: SRS v Donnacona @ Smolak Systemy Stadion, Sjerezo, Molvania, SRS (cap. 31,200)
MD23: Kita-Hinode v SRS @ Tentai City, Tentai, HIN (cap. 80,000)
MD24: SRS v Kohnhead @ Olympiastad, Arkintoofle, Megabrantis, SRS (cap. 47,550)
MD25: EGM v SRS @ TBA
MD26: SRS v Lochario @ Castle Street, Jaglan, Algolia, SRS (cap. 57,300)

[Delaclava]

Previously...

(These events take place in the break between the two halves of qualification.)

Ryan's head was spinning after Daniel walked out the door, and so he figured the least he could do was get out of the house, out of his thoughts.

He headed first to the downtown farmers' market, and it wasn't long before he saw a familiar face:

"Ryan!" called out Luke Lemieux, a defender on the same club, Cleopatrana SC. Ryan smiled and walked over to the taco stand where Luke was standing, and they hugged.

"Hey dude, how's everything been going back here?"

"This offseason's been tough," Luke replied, shaking his head. "Ever since you guys hit the road and they paused the league, we're bored like crazy. We can still practice but we don't know when they're coming back. At least they're still paying us our guaranteed salary."

"Yeah, that's good," Ryan agreed. "I've missed practicing with you guys."

"But you've had plenty to do! We've all been watching this campaign, it's been pretty impressive. It's a shame you guys haven't come to The Shipyard, but this city's really been rooting for you especially!"

Ryan laughed. "Yeah, the team's been doing well, but not a lot of me to see lately."

"What happened?"

"I mean, we started off rough, I had a few bad errors, then they put Brent Ritchie in and we started winning at the right time. I get it, and I'm glad we're doing well...but it's hard not to feel like I'm not getting my fair shot."

"I feel you, man. You'll get it back though! Even if it's not this time... we'll go have another run at the league title, and they can't say no to you then."

"That'd be great!" Ryan replied, wondering if that was realistic at all. "How are you and Natalie doing?"

"Really great. That's been the nice thing about not playing, we've gotten to go on a few trips. We just got back from Vana Beach and celebrate our three-year anniversary."

"That's awesome, I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks! We're going to Daniel Price's party tonight - you should come!"

"Yeah, I'll see if I can make it!" Ryan was chuckling on the inside. He and Luke hadn't really known each other that long, and Luke was somewhat new to Cleopatrana, so he had no idea that Ryan had been doing all the "messing around" that he had.

"Well, hey, I've got to get back to the house soon - we're having lunch with her parents - but I'll see you tonight?"

"Sure, dude! Talk to you later!"

They split up, and Ryan felt a bit better about the evening. At the very least, he'd have people to talk to, even if he didn't want to stick around for the "after party".

Ryan remembered that the Cleopatrana SC development squad was having an intramural match, open to the public. He headed over to the team's practice facility, and although he tried to remain inconspicuous, he was spotted and got a hero's welcome almost as soon as he showed up. The development head coach, Frank Devore, greeted the senior team captain and gave him an opportunity to give some words of encouragement to the two sides before the informal exhibition began.

Ryan returned to the stands and mingled with the crowd, who were pleasantly surprised to see any senior player in attendance, let alone the captain and national team star. Ryan smiled as he eventually settled into a seat and turned his attention to the stadium.

His national team career had been complicated, and his current personal life was oddly lonely. But back in Cleopatrana, it felt good to be the town's treasured prince.

***

(That evening...)

Daniel Price's house was also along the beach, a little under two miles down the coast from Ryan's, so Ryan figured he would just take the long walk down. The slightly cool ocean breeze was a magnificent accompaniment to his commute, which at first was solitary but eventually was joined by party-goers who lived closer to the venue and were coming down the beach as well.

Ryan had actually been at this party house once before. It was shortly after Cleopatrana's title-winning season, where parties were popping off up and down the beach. Ryan had taken the liberty to let himself go just a little bit, but perhaps too much that night. It started with a cup that was about 60% vodka and ended with Ryan puking on the rooftop, being put to bed in a guest room, only to wake up about three hours later and manage to stumble out of a sleeping house and two miles down the beach to his own place just as the sun was coming up.

So Ryan had it in mind he was going to pace himself more tonight. The house wasn't very full yet, so he took the opportunity to sit down with a whiskey, catching up with another one of his teammates, goalkeeper Jon Kelly. Eventually, shots of Jasmine tequila were being taken, and Jon and Ryan got up to join them.

As they all finished and began to disperse, Ryan caught Daniel's eye. Almost instinctively - and feeling loosened up - Ryan winked at Daniel, who smiled and gave him a playful spank in return.

Ryan didn't know what his plans were for later, but he was legitimately having a good time. He eventually found Luke, who was standing next to Natalie. Ryan caught both of their attentions and walked over to greet them.

As he moved towards the kitchen and bar, Daniel was walking the other way. They crossed paths closely, and Daniel reached in, briefly giving his crotch a brief grab and squeeze.

Ryan quickly tried to shake that out of his mind - his friends were standing there - but he thought, What was that?

"Hi Ryan!" Natalie shouted over the music, and reached up for a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Natalie! Good to see you. Luke, long time."

"Yeah!"

Ryan looked at Natalie. "So how was lunch?"

Natalie rolled her eyes. "It happened, we're done with it now."

Luke laughed. "They're just not sure their precious little girl should be going out with an athlete."

Ryan laughed too. "Have you seen what our team gets up to? I don't blame them!"

Natalie gave him a light slap on the arm. "Whose side are you on?"

"Just kidding, just kidding," Ryan said. "Hey Luke, did you ever-"

Ryan suddenly paused as he felt a hand wander onto his butt inside his shorts. He didn't have to look around to know that Daniel had come back.

Luke didn't seem to quite notice that Ryan had started a sentence, and asked Nicole something that Ryan couldn't quite hear, nor was he paying attention at this point. Eventually, Daniel walked away and Ryan excused himself to go to the bathroom.

He splashed some water in his face to cool off, feeling quite gross at the moment. Is this how it's going to be?

Apparently so. As soon as Ryan walked out of the bathroom, Daniel seemed to be ending the party and getting the after party started. As he was saying his good-byes, he walked back over to Ryan and whispered in his ear:

"You aren't going anywhere."

He grabbed Ryan by his belt-level handle - which disturbingly was easier at the moment - and took him behind the bar.

Daniel turned to the side. "Hey, Romeo, this is what -" he looked in a downward fashion "- I was telling you about.

Daniel let go and Romeo took his spot. At this point, Ryan was too drunk on Jasmine tequila to really say much, but he knew that he wasn't staying. He looked over at Luke, who had already been looking for Ryan, and Ryan motioned to him. Ryan then took a step back and said, "Alright, well I'm gonna head out."

"No, you're not!" Daniel said with surprise.

"No, I really am," Ryan asserted, and began to walk away.

"Alright, cool dude," Romeo yelled sarcastically, shaking his head.

"Everything ok?" Luke asked with concern.

"Yeah, let's just go," Ryan said, his voice slightly shaking.

They got outside, a group of them checking to make sure they had their belongings and the friends they had come with.

Ryan was about to head down the stairs when the door opened again and Daniel stuck his head out to say, "Dude, come back."

"Shh, keep it down," Natalie said.

"Ryan, we'll pay you to stay."

"Daniel!" Natalie scolded. Ryan turned away.

"Tell Ryan we'll pay him 200 Karsikas if he'll stay."

"Ok, we're going," Natalie said, gently putting a hand on Ryan's back and guiding the group down the stairs.

Ryan was only numbly aware of saying goodbye to Luke and Natalie and their friends, before they headed inland, leaving Ryan alone on the beach. Ryan began walking briskly, but soon enough had broken into a full, panicked sprint, running the full two miles as if it were 800-meter speed.

Eventually, Ryan came up to his house, and his inebriated legs finally wobbled on the softening surface, and he collapsed in a heap of sand and tears. He'd never been more humiliated in his life.

What's wrong with me? he wondered frantically. He wasn't sure what to think - he was probably just overreacting, but regardless, he didn't want any part of what had been going on.

First he lost his job, then his self-esteem. His sense of identity was slowly eroding, and Ryan felt more confused than ever.

***

Previously... (after the Jeruselem game)

***

(Later in the evening, after the Jeruselem game)

At around 10:30 PM, the national teams had enough of mingling and decided to get the show started. They took all the players, staff, and select fans to the top floor. The rest of the guests split into groups and headed either to the other floors, sticking around in case they might get a shot to join the VIP rooms, or were so desperate to fulfill their urges that they simply took off onto the beach, into the resort guesthouses, or even into the town, looking for others to join.

Ryan quickly found himself in a room with Jared Thompson - who'd been a daddy of sorts on the trip - Donato Girardi and his fiancee, Rhydian Campbell, Pavel Cicak and his two girlfriends, Brent Ritchie, coaches Jessica Garcia and Allison Rhimes, a handful of Delaclav and Quebecois fans, Michel Fillion, and Marco Hertel and his entourage.

It was a massive and star-studded orgy about to take place, but the royal suite was suitable to accommodate, with an enormous bed - not several beds pushed together, a custom-made bed for this purpose, with a few poles in the middle - and shelves full of toys and refreshments, the former of which the group wasted no time in employing.

It was implied that everyone was enthusiastic to take part. They had no idea that Ryan lately had grave reservations about joining in on such group activities, let alone this one, the event of the season.

Jared had no idea that his baby had been going through the motions, that he was a shattered shell of himself, both on and off the pitch.

Still, Ryan was determined to be "normal", to try to fake it until he made it. Within a few minutes, he found himself towards the top of the pile, behind Brent Ritchie. Ryan looked up for a split second and caught the eye of Marco Hertel, who was behind one of the girls from his entourage.

Marco, the half-Jeruselemite, was filled with a hot passion, brightly emanating from him as he drove onward. But as Ryan caught his gaze, he felt nothing but... nothing. Cold, dark nothing.

Ryan was so struck by this realisation that he excused himself, tagged in Pavel Cicak, and stepped off to the side to get dressed. Thankfully, everyone else was so enthralled by each other that they didn't seem to mind that his number had decreased by one.

Ryan exited the room, still finishing putting on his shirt, and headed down the stairs. A whole line of cabs were waiting outside to take the orgy-goers home, and Ryan indicated for one to take him back to his hotel - the hotel where the team was officially sleeping.

Ryan felt himself snapping out of a trance. He was determined to be satisfied, fulfilled, and nothing he was doing at the moment was working. He took out his phone and sent the manager, Tim Landers, a text message:

"I'm sorry to do this to you. I'm out. I'm going home."

[Eastfield Lodge]

The Lodger Online Gazette

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Sport >>> Football >>> World Cup 85

Kizerain red card mars determined Eastfielder victory

Maccian line-up

GK: Roma Senozen
CB: Swisse Kadune (<> Miller Rupio-Yakezeid 79’)
CB: Resaiix Stzasner
RB: Niko Ackermann
LB: Ten Ten Saseirein
CMF: Liga Koiu (<> Kiylen Drowska 68’)
CMF: Erin Eidon (<> Amiensha Kiyle 46’)
CMF: Eztelle Zeyla
RWF: Espede Luftboltzen
LWF: Angelina Aurellix
ST: Eries Kizerain (35’)

Eastfield Lodge line-up

GK: Jam’Aan Couch
CB: Vallois Mackenzie (<> Renato Hargreaves 73’)
CB: Tajo Carr-Ponce
CB: Svante Whitfield
RWB: Eskama Nagi
DMF: Sorel Qwivotic
LWB: Trym Shan
RWF: Jewell Foley
AMF: Kahla Jewell (<> Lucas Stepanov 85’)
LWF: Faustina Cousin (<> Ármin Harry 79’)
ST: Azhaar Morales

World Cup 85 Qualifying Group 4 - Matchday 20
Maccian 0–2 [b]Eastfield Lodge
Shan (38’), Morales (67’)

41% - Possession - 49%
4 - Shots - 9
2 - Shots on Target - 4
2 - Corners - 6
9 - Fouls - 7

Location: New Lambridge, Jozytiannemen Square, Maccian
Attendance: 16,371

Eastfield Lodge have been officially eliminated from qualifying for the 85th World Cup despite a determined 2-0 victory in Maccian, with goals from Trym Shan and Azhaar Morales after the hosts were reduced to 10-men in the first half.

Following the comeback victory against North Quadana a fortnight prior, Eastfield Lodge travelled to Maccian for their 19th game of this mammoth qualifying campaign, looking to secure only the second double of the group to add to the home and away victories over MR TAYTO a month earlier, having beaten Maccian 2-1 in Tavernia in the first of the campaign. The unchanged visitors were in much better form going into this match than the original meeting, having won three of the last four, only losing to group leaders Taeshan in the meantime, whilst the hosts were in good form themselves with 2 wins and a draw against Taeshan in their last 4.

It was a slow start to the match with the hosts kicking off, neither side willing to venture forward in the early stages. The visitors got the first chance of the match, Morales robbing a rather lackadaisical Resaiiz Stzasner, only to see his chip over the onrushing Senozen fall wide of the target. Morales spurned another good chance in the 15th minute, as Jewell Foley danced into the box only for her pullback to be sent into Senozen’s midriff. The hosts had chances at the other end, albeit less clear-cut - their best opportunity in the early stages came halfway through the first half, with Espede Luftboltzen breaking on a counter from the halfway line. But she was corralled wide of the six yard box by Svante Whitfield, and could only find the side netting from there.

The breakthrough came around 10 minutes later, but not in the form of a goal. Maccian striker Eries Kizerain tried to dribble past Vallois Mackenzie, only to tumble to the ground in spectacular fashion upon entering the box. The referee Eddy West was not buying his performance however, signalling a free kick to the visitors and a yellow card to Kizerain for simulation - replays showed that Kizerain may have been hard done by, as Mackenzie did make contact with both Kizerain and the ball, in a tackle that on another occasion would have been given as a harsh penalty. What happened next however, was unforgivable, as Kizerain then squared up to the referee. According to reports, some choice words were said by the Maccian striker to which referee West did not take kindly, pulling out a straight red card for the striker, who had to be pulled away by players of both stripes in order to protect the match official.

The hosts were shaken, having lost their main attacking outlet in such a manner, and it showed a few minutes later, as Trym Shan broke the deadlock, running to edge of the box unseen and unmarked to fire Jewell Foley’s low pass into the top corner, the Nile Bridge full back picking up her first international goal in this qualifying campaign. It was also a goal that killed the flow of the game, with Maccian retreating into their own half and shifting to defence in order to regroup for the remainder of the half. Kahla Jewell nearly doubled the lead going into half-time after she pinged a 25 yard free kick off the top of the bar, Senozen left flat-footed. The hosts would make one change at half-time sacrificing a midfielder to bring on the reserve striker Amiensha Kiyle.

It was a move that almost immediately paid off, as Kiyle got in behind the defence off an excellent chipped one-two with Angelina Aurellix within a couple of minutes of the restart, and forcing an excellent save from Jam’Aan Couch on the half-volley. She almost lucked out from the resulting corner as well, connecting with the low corner and heading it off the post. It would turn out to be the last effort on goal however, as the Eastfielder defence tightened themselves up and shut down the Maccian attack. And with the extra space in midfield as a result of that substitution, the visitors had more freedom to play. Faustina Cousin came close shortly before the hour mark, as she volleyed a partially cleared corner past Senozen, only to be blocked on the line by Liga Koiu.

The match was then mostly settled with the next shot, as Morales ran onto a perfectly judged long ball from Eskama Nagi, the Hellinic Rouge full back splitting the defence in a rare counter-attack and giving Morales ample room to round the keeper and slot home an easy second goal for the team. Route one may not have been pretty but it was certainly effective. It was almost 3-0 a few minutes later, as Senozen tipped a rather speculative long range effort from Sorel Qwivotic around the post. The hosts at this point then switched to manning the barricades to keep the score down, and it was rather effective, managing to dampen down the Eastfielder attack to a point of camping within the hosts half.

The match stayed like that for the rest of the game, Mccain barely venturing out of their own half as they spent the time chasing the ball with a man down, whilst the visitors were beginning to wind down and started playing to pass the time, running the clock down where possible to secure the win. The only chance in the final ten minutes of the match fell to substitute Lucas Stepanov, who managed to drag a pull-back from Ármin Harry wide of the mark from the top of the D. Nonetheless, the visitors had done enough to secure a 2-0 victory, a result that sees them leapfrog both Maccian and Freeport into 8th in Group 4, 5 points off fourth. However, Main Nation Ministry’s victory over Freeport left the Eastfielders 16 points off second place, with only 15 to play for themselves, and thus now mathmetically confirming their elimination - a fact that the vast majority of fans had accepted as inevitable for some time now.

---

MD19: Eastfield Lodge 2–1 North Quadana
Line-up (3-3-3-1): Couch - Mackenzie, Carr-Ponce, Whitfield - Nagi, Qwivotic, Shan (<> Salam 65’) - Foley (<> Accardi 76’), Jewell, Cousin - Morales (<> Murray 83’)
Goals (Assists): Jannik Coessens - Own Goal (47’ - Foley), Whitfield (59’ - Qwivotic)

Line-up to play Flavovespia (3-3-3-1)
Couch - Mackenzie, Carr-Ponce, Whitfield - Nagi, Qwivotic, Shan - Foley, Jewell, Cousin - Morales

[Huayramarca]

OOC: Sorry for the short RP, it's related to Ñucanchi Ñan series.

National Assembly approved controversial bill on Mining..

Written by: Joaquín Pacheco.
15/04/1980 - 17:21

It was a completely heated up session at the National Assembly palace, located at Palacio del Pueblo in the Huayramarcan Metropolitan District, a parliamentary session that turned into a fight rather than into a real debate is the most realistic point of view to describe the mess it turned on the session. With 46 votes of a total of 90, the Assembly approved a controversial bill on the exploitation of resources at the Illimani National Park, something considered by many political analysts as a payback from Hugo Mina at Ñucanchi Ñan social movement by promoting people to carry on Intis at the match that the Huayramarcan national team won against Greater Lausitz 3-1 at Sechura the last week.

With this bill approved, Nunavut Mining Cooperative has been granted the rights to extract copper and ore from the soil covering up the entire Illimani National Park, including the 6,542 meters above the sea level summit in order to provide extra income to the so-needed Huayramarcan government. The Company is projected to invest at least N$ 900 Million (Around I$ 2800 million) to extract those minerals from a reserve valuated in at least N$ 30,000 million (I$ 90,000 million) for the next six years at least, with potential to find even more resource, to the point of giving a threefold cipher compared to the one recently presented. The chamber has now moved on into a new debate, consisting on outlawing communism, which according to the parliamentary president Oswaldo Valladares, is “Damaging the brains of Huayramarcan people.” There were some voices reluctant from both bills, including the Huayramarcan National Liberation Front (FHLN) and the Agricultural Popular Front of Huayramarca (FREPAH) the biggest opposition parties that were against the motion of promoting mining at the Illimani due to a breach into what’s stablished by the Huayramarcan constitution at it’s 6th article, where states that “People’s belief should be protected by the State, since it’s a consecrated right the one to have free speech, divulgating it and teaching in on. The Government should encourage this right and must never hinder it.”

Considering that the beliefs of Aymara and Quechua nations are being ignored and also disrespected by the same government, Evo Chávez has submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice in order to block the decree approved by the legislature before Hugo Mina would sanction said bill, Chávez has said that “The people should never give up, we should move and protect Illimani right now, so we can stop those pirates from mining it, it’s our time to do it and stop whining like always.” The procedure for a constitutional blockade to the bill is something that may take some time, still, there wouldn’t be any consequences if Mina approves it, since the Constitution provides the Supreme Court a time period of at least a week in order to analyze it and declare it unconstitutional or constitutional in case a request to declare it as such is submitted, which is the case for this time.

Some movements haven’t had a delay to express their legit concern at the movements made by the government to undermine the efforts for a long lasting peace at Huayramarca, which has been a struggle for the last fifty years and now it’s facing a real danger with the apparition of Mina into the political scene as a powerbroker. Augusto Buendía, the N°2 at Ñucanchi Ñan and major of Tulcán has expressed his shock at this movement, stating in a letter that “Huayramarca should fight for what it belongs to her, it’s time to end this nonsense and defend our land, defend our environment for once!”

This is a report from Joaquín Pacheco, right from the National Assembly.

[Oberour Ar Moro]

It was the most painful thing Nycollas Mauranghas had ever experienced.

Erica Reclus has emerged from nowhere and grabbed his hand, then together they twisted and fell, before completing a 180 somewhere else. Erica let go of his hand and walked away to a shaft of light to his right. He stood still for a moment, then bent over and started to vomit.

"Sorry, it is a very painful process if you're not experienced."

"What was that?" He could barely ask before he convulsed again.

"Time travel. I've heard it described as having your sinuses and your endocrine system in a vise as they're pulled in two directions at once."

Nycollas coughed and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Yeah, that sounds right."

He felt a hand rub his back and a voice asked him "Are you feeling better?" A strange voice. He would have spun his head around, but the thought made him feel ill again. He fought off a wave of nausea and so slowly turned his head to a stranger next to him.

"Caterine Forestier," she explained. "Erica brought me here five minutes ago before she said she needed to get someone else."

"I guess I'm someone else then. I'm Nycollas Mauranghas," he introduced in response. He lifted his head, taking in the alley they seemed to be hiding in. "Where...are we?"

"Regium," Erica explained, "over 200 years in the future." She looked out of the alley, then turned back around to them. "I wanted to show both of you the future. The result of everything."

"The end result of my research?" Caterine asked, sounding hesitant. Erica nodded sadly, then started walking. Caterine followed, and Nycollas found his legs and started slowly after them. He emerged from the alley and turned left, and there in front of them was the Parade Grounds.

There was a massive crowd outside the Parade Grounds in Regium. Football fans from Oberour Ar Moro and across the entire multiverse moved quickly towards the stadium, as stragglers were moved not of their own accord by troopers in gold cyberarmor.

As Caterine and Nycollas walked, Erica explained in staccato bursts under her breath. The lights on the street were powered by igniting chronons, the soldiers' weapons could explode chronons in their targets. Every single person on the street could be tracked by how their particular spectral lines. More and more, Nycollas was baffled but Erica's concern was contagious. Caterine couldn't help but feel horrified. So much of this did seem like it could lead directly from what was happening with HIERATIC. How could this be?

The three paused in a small square, a spot that seemed to allow for some pauses. "Nycollas, look." Erica pointed at the statue in the middle. Nycollas already was staring at it with wide eyes. It was him. Larger than life, posed as if he was about to score a goal. The inscription on the mount listed his date of birth and date of death: Today. Or today before he traveled to the future.

"A memorial for a bright talent taken too soon." Caterine read. "What would happen?"

"A botched robbery, apparently. Stupid and pointless." Erica explained. Nycollas felt sick again.

The three headed towards the stadium, surrounded by towering holograms of the teams on the pitch. The players of the Holy Empire were taking off their wool coats, capes, and deer-stalkers while giving their pipes and magnifying glasses to manager Juan Tzimisces and assistant Simeone Di Bradini. Their opponents, Grand Manida, couldn't help but express their excitement, looking jittery, and full of nervous energy. No one would have expected a small chain of islands populated by man-sized pangolins to emerge from the cup into the finals, but they were not ready to stop surprising people.

Erica, Caterine, and Nycollas could hear the roar from outside of the stadium, and the hologram explained why: The immortal king in his golden armor had entered the royal box. He strode to the balcony and lifted off his helmet, to broadly smile and wave towards the crowd. His visage was magnified and broadcast on the stadium's hologram, and on a million billion screens across the relativistic universe.

Caterine gasped. "That's-"

"The Immortal King. The impetus of the Hieratic Age." Erica answered a question Caterine was not answering.

"He's...a king?" Caterine could only sputter. How?

"Do you know who he is?" Erica turned to Caterine. She could see the hologram reflected in Caterine glasses. Caterine nodded.

The game began, Grand Manida kicking off. The Manidan captain, Bac Arku, was already struggling. He'd been hiding his sebec addiction, starting to play while on it. He was going cold-turkey, he wouldn't let there be any asterisks or penalties on his behalf, but his legs already felt heavy as he started to dribble the ball.

On the colony planet Daubréelite, a young woman with copper hair hiding in a closet inspected a time device. She had never even seen one, let alone used one, and now she had to understand the forbidden technology and utilize it. How did they put it? Trace, glace, place, chase, brace. Frantically she worked the receiver as soldiers yelled and broke and threatened just beyond the door.

The ball was pushed just over the goal by the Holy Empire keeper and went out for a corner kick. As the Manidan winger lined up, he, and everyone in the stadium, and in Regium, and the world, and across the universe, began to notice a building pressure that pulled from every point at once.

"Erica, what is that?" Nycollas asked urgently.

"Enough time has been used that time is collapsing in on itself. I've been here so many times and it happens every time." Erika replied. She grabbed Nycollas' hand again, and wrapped her arm around Caterine's so she could start adjusting a small obsidian device, now covered in dials and meters.

The corner kick was taken and as the ball soared through the air towards the goal area, the ball seemed to slow, then stutter. The crowd's cheers changed pitch. The players jostling for position seemed to phase in and out.

And then everything - ball, crowd, players, stadium, city, world, universe, time - shattered.

But just before, the young woman with copper hair, and the spitting image of the promising striker killed in his prime, and the architect of the end, twisted and fell, before completing their 180s in some small room in Regium's past.

All three collapsed to the floor, breathing deeply. Erica spoke first, looking up at the ceiling. "I need to stop that. But I don't know how."

[Vdara]

5 Games Unbeaten!

The final whistle blew, and a fantastic game had finally come to an end. Fujai and Vdara were drawn 2-2 at half time, with Hellem scoring both of Fujai’s goals and Lazelis scoring both of Vdara’s goals.

During the half-time break, in the dressing room Væñøœrëñbérghüïś had said:

”We’re doing good, but we’re f**king level with Fujai, and I won’t take another draw. We need to beat them, and we need to do everything we can. Now, get back out there and snatch victory!”

In the 75th minute, defender David Xeniadis flicked the ball up outside the box and volleyed it into the top right corner, stunning the home crowd and pleasing the travelling Vdaran fans.

Then, in the 86th minute, something extraordinary happened. During a routine clearance, Markos Moustakakos kicked the ball up the pitch, not expecting much. However, the opposing goalkeeper wasn’t ready, and the ball bounced over them, and trundled into the net, with the opposing goalkeeper left staring. Moustakakos celebrated madly, with Giannakos and Xeniadis immediately embracing him. With Vdara 4-2 ahead, the game was a no brainer, finishing in a Vdaran victory.

Following the match, in an interview with Vai, Væñøœrëñbérghüïś had this to say:

”Well, quite frankly I’m astonished. The 4-2 victory is fantastic in itself, but Xeniadis’ and Moustakakos’ goals were wonders to behold. I mean, Markos scored it from his own six yard box! But still, credit to Lazelis and all, having scored two today. The team is synergising really well together, and I can feel something special happening with this lot. Unfortunately, it’s all too little too late, as I think we’ll be eliminated next matchday, no matter the result. That doesn’t mean that the fans get to stop supporting, though. The players love the fans’ chants, especially the ‘AbraVdara’ one. Heck, we’re even nicknamed ‘Oi Magoi’ now because of that one slip-up! My message to all you at home is to keep supporting, keep going to the VdarArena and further afield to support our team, and to never stop believing! Forza Vdara!”

However contradictory that statement was (in telling fans “we’ll be eliminated next matchday” and then “never stop believing”), it certainly inspired many to keep belief in their team and to chant more enthusiastically at sports bars, in pubs, at games and anywhere they could see Vdaran games live, really.

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL|Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana
Sport | Football|
World Cup 85
Double Bill

ON THE EDGE OF IT ALL
New Lusitania 2-2 Sajnur
@Estádio da Ria (Att: 39 765)

As New Lusitania came riding on the coattails of a win, Sajnur would be a tough opponent to beat at the Ria. As Cancela returned, Guerreiros would play on the other wing. The return of Nevais would also happen as Silveira made his first start of his return. Sajnur would play their 3-5-2 tactic to makes some sort of front to New Lusitania's weird tactic which can be considered many things at any given time but usually a 3-4-1-2. The game started on the wrong foot for New Lusitania as Sajnur, or rather Down, shushed the crowds of the city of Aveiro with his goal, the first of the match a great powerful shot from the box's line to put his team in the lead. At twenty minutes, the goal would stand quite a while - until stoppages in the first half. Here a counter-attack situation presented itself and the closest man that could run down the field was Guerreiros who managed to poke it in slightly - " the man scarcely scores goals as a wingback but when he does, he does it in style."
The equaliser would mean that by halftime, the game was wide open for the second half. Eventually arriving, the second installment saw New Lusitania take the lead by the hour mark. A simple goal this time as Gama crossed it for a simple tap-in by Jota, simple but effective and the home crowd cheered away. Sajnur would wait ten minutes before they put theirs in for the second equaliser. Naulo to make it all square by swerving it up into the top left corner in what was a really good shot by the striker.
Despite the many attempts of the final ten minutes, namely by Silveira, the game would finish with a point going to each team, a disappointing result for both sides as it steered them away from second, but better than a loss nonetheless. FULL TIME: 1-1.


Around The Grounds

THE HUB
Goals:Jota (12), Paciência (6), Gama (4), Veiga (4), Fernando (3), Silveira (3), Azinheira (1), Trincão (1), Cavalariça (1), Guerreiros (1)
Assists: Fernando (8), Gama (7), Horta (6), Veiga (5), Mário (2), Paciência (2), Azinheira (2), Jota (1), Silveira [1], Nevais (1), Cancela (1), Leiteiro (1)
Bookings: Cancela (3Y)
Injuries: Silveira (expected Return in a match)
Next Match: New Lusitania X Sajnur
@ Estádio da Ria, Aveiro

NB: Previous editions my have the name Paciente instead of Paciência which is a mistake which STL apologises for.

MMXX STL

[Euran Oceania Territories]

skorji.eot/theway



Skorji Oslograd Presents:
THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

PART THREE - WORDS AND MEANINGS

Welcome, mortal readers, to the second (okay, third) part of my magnificent guide towards living a life of greatness – the Way of the Warrior. Its especially important that you pay attention as well to our sponsors. Why? Because my team are out of World Cup qualifying far earlier than expected, so I could really use the ad revenue from this article in case I get the sack. Remember, I can't do this for free! #FundSkorji

Before you can possibly begin to understand my genius, you must understand the terms on which I deliver the philosophy. So let us start with...

THE DICTIONARY OF SKORJI

What's that you ask? Its exactly what it sounds like, I tell you. It is a collection of words and their meanings, as defined by the right honourable me. Let's get started with the basic concepts of the Way of the Warrior:

The Way: The Way is shorthand for the Way of the Warrior. Its everything - alpha, omega, vitamin D. The entire philosophy can be referred to in the most simple form simply by calling it The Way. Believe me, its a lot easier to constantly repeat two words rather than five.

Example in a sentence: "Without The Way, life would be pointless and unfulfilling. I'd probably jump in the Holden. Thankfully I can buy a copy of THE WAY WITH SKORJI OSLOGRAD on audiobook for just £12.50!"

The Warrior: The Warrior is me, it is you, it is all who follow the path. The key bit of that is "who follow the path"; if you do not adhere to this magnificent spiritual understanding, then you have no hope of even renting time as The Warrior, let alone becoming one.

Example in a sentence: "Wow, that was a really good session of reading COOKING WITH SKORJI, available at book stores for just £8.99. I'm going to eat like The Warrior tonight!"

Balloon: I know what you're thinking. "Aren't balloons thin plastic inflatables enjoyed by small children and adults who never grew up?" WRONG! Balloon is the term we use to describe the spirit of any follower of The Way, that is to say their spiritual and full self, rather than just the fleshy shell.

Example in a sentence: "My darling, I know I'm not pretty, nor am I wealthy. But the balloon inside me is fully inflated, and that's the real victory."

Football: My game, my passion. The sport of association football is dare I say it the single most important cultural and political activity in the multiverse. If you think otherwise you're probably some sort of nerd.

Example in a sentence: "Football is a game of two halves, and after ninety minutes, Skorji Oslograd wins."

Skorjiball: The highest form of the previously mentioned game, Skorjiball is a tactical and strategic way of thinking that encompasses every aspect of football, from the formation to the sexual habits of my playing staff. In Skorjiball, the pitch doesn't end at the touchline; its the whole universe.

Example in a sentence: "Wow, thanks to Skorjiball, we're 9-0 up and going to win the league with ten games to spare! I'm just thankful we found SKORJIBALL: A BATTLEPLAN on DVD for just £4.99, with a second copy free if you buy online!"

Yesterday/Today: Y/T, as known in short form, is a crucial aspect of the philosophy. In short it means that yesterday was yesterday, today is today, and they might as well be two different realities. Remember that and your mind will always remain clear and forward looking.

Example in a sentence: "Damn, where did all these body parts come from? And the money? Ah, fuck it, who cares. Yesterday was Yesterday, Today is Today!"

These are the key six terms you need to know as we proceed on this journey of learning. As we go I'll insert such definitions every time its appropriate. Join me next time when we'll be discussing the most important thing of all: performance enhancing drugs.

No wait. Hold on. Family! I said family. (Noel, when you type this up on the blog, can you make sure that last bit gets cut out? Good lad. Skorji.)

Until next time. Skorji out.

[Kelssek]

MD 21 scores, groups 1-7

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

Reneegrad International Airport, Quebec City, Capitale-Nationale
Early January, 2044

‘Seems like you’re doing well for yourself, my Royal Highness.’ Sir. Alexandre remarked, certain in his enthusiasm, as they travelled down a long moving walk in Reneegrad International Airport. Normally, so whenever the travels involved the Quebecois Royalty, he’d have a courier or two carrying his luggage too; it was his job, after all, to pay and tip them generously. However, this time, it was him who was carrying his son’s luggages as his son Byron returned from yet another work trip for three months. Being a loyal servant to the Royal House of Jeongs had meant that he had to deal with enough airport and station experiences for several lifetimes before and after.

The Reneegrad International Airport, being the newer of two commercial airports in the Capitale-Nationale province, was busy, as was expected on a Saturday afternoon. The Terminal 1, which serves Aeroquebec and Norrish Airlines flights, was an airport fitting the size and stature of the nation’s capital. Frankly, nobody was happy about it being built back in 2020s, as many had found the airport to be located too distant from the north side of the River, where the vast majority of the business traffic originated. However, after a couple of decades where they connected the airport to both RER and Metro systems, it seemed more evident than not that the airport was working out very well in terms of its own economics.

Prince Caspian and the small delegation that followed him had already prepared for a long trip in Quebec, and brought enough winter clothing to last the three weeks. It was a smart choice; another cold winter followed the death of the King, and chilled the people’s minds as well. ‘It’s always a pleasure to be at your presence, Alex,’ Caspian answered. ‘What made you come here so early?’ Prince Caspian, of course, said this out of courtesy. All his life, he was very conscious of his royal status, and of course did his best to be careful with it. Besides, both men knew that they, however less noticed they may be right now than in more formal settings, were still near enough strangers. There weren’t a lot of business suits out there, but there were enough vacationers coming back from a long travel abroad, and they obviously knew and were aware to take their pictures. This was a downside that came with royals from two countries marrying each other: the Oohs and Ahs that follow up with them on both ends of the world. And this was with only one of the two on this Sacred Couple around!

‘What is there for me not to come an hour or two prior to your arrival, your majesty? All that there is a duty for me,’ said Alexandre, as he and Caspian slowly found themselves walking amongst the crowd, as they all attempted to find their way to the airport. Alexandre, in some ways, was glad that the Cassadaiguan Prince picked his flight to land here instead of the usual Catherine III Airport; knew how the journalists, more often than not, would line themselves to get their photographs at any celebrity they would find. This was something that the middle-aged man came to learn very early on his job as an Assistant Secretary, and the learning curve certainly helped him for the better. Of course, there was something with the Prince’s careful inspection of the surroundings that suggested he was in good moods. Since he preferred to give Christine II her own space, he had actually not interacted with the young Prince a lot. Still, to him, Caspian seemed like a kind of person who would know both his space and time very well, and that’s something that had stood out, without any party knowing about it.

‘The home seems at its most beautiful in winter.’ Caspian said, with ninety words said within the span of nine, as they slowly walked to the Western End of the B1 Floor. While it had only been a solid three minute walk, it seemed as if they had been walking for thirty. I wonder what makes him see the beauty in such winter? Alexandre thought to himself.

At the very western end of the B1 floor, there was nobody to be found, as security guards would usually secure the space for a meet-and-greet or kiss-and-cry zone for VIP guests. Of course, the guards knew that they were both coming, even though they did not exactly remember the Prince’s face...just yet. The coronation was still about three weeks away, and while it was inevitable that the gracefully-aged security guards would remember the face that had walked past him, that would not be for a while. Alexandre was only thinking about talking to the young, soon to be Prince Consort of Quebec, about the upcoming three weeks’ itineraries. As the Principal Private Secretary of the Sovereign, that was the most important part of the business when it comes to the young Prince. Since it was already approved by both the Cassadaiguan Queen, Cassie II, and the late Jacques IX, it was not his matter to intervene or even advise the Monarch over.

‘Bienvenue au Quebec,’ he once again said to the young Prince, in one of the three official languages of the country, as they exited the door. In front of them stood a small limousine, a Magnus LK-740, with its backseat doors opened by a porter in red costumes. Even as the nation became digital and evolved into the new age, the Palais Royale kept some elements within its 19th and 20th centuries. This was one of them. You can only wonder why.

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The limousine smoothly drove along the highway in what was six in the morning, meaning that there would be little to worry about. One benefit about the Prince arriving on a Royal Flight was that they could be scheduled to arrive at whenever would be most convenient for both parties, meaning that the early-morning arrivals and late-evening departures were very much on table. Sir. Alexandre knew the young Prince, however confident he may be on the inside, was still young, and knew this was a right decision to be made by both the Dagan and the Quebecois houses.

‘So for today, sir, the itineraries will be quite straightforward.’ Alexandre opened his mouth, as he looked at the young prince, before staring into the front window of the limousine. The sunrise was beautiful, spotless and fitting to the new reign that was to come, with the only possible objection being that of the cold air in the atmosphere. ‘Upon your arrival at the Palais Royale, you will be headed to the Salon Room, where Her Majesty, Queen Mother Elizaveta and Queen Mother Nathalie will be waiting for you. Upon your arrival, you will be expected to be served with a breakfast by the Royal House, and then be followed thereafter with the Matters of Coronations in which myself, and another Member of the Coronation and the Wedding Committee will be briefing you about.’

‘Thank you, Alex.’ Caspian, who was looking at the view outside, nodded along. ‘I only owe you and the staff so much for welcoming me back here.’

‘Are you getting used to the realities yourself, sir?’ He asked, with a deliberate purpose added to it. ‘Almost as if, fate brought you and Her Majesty to be together, just as when you had such little faith in your own abilities…’

‘Absolutely. What is there not to say that the magic is not out there?’ Caspian responded, with a light smile that he had gotten from his father, the Prince Charles of Cassadaigua. He knew that the Secretary, however uptight and stuck-up he may have been, intended no harm and gave him an honest answer. ‘I am blessed to have to spend a lifetime together with Christine, however challenging it may be for us.’

‘I agree with you, Your Highness,’ Alexandre nodded along. ‘In this day and age, where Banijans have nuclear weapons and all the world seems so uncertain and fragile, your part as part of the Royal Family, is going to be the one that the country needs more than ever on this day and age.

‘..and is in this that, I will gently advise you to understand the weight of the Crown that you will feel, albeit indirectly, as the incoming Prince Consort to the throne. Your duty, as the Consort, means that you will be expected to stand by her side, until death do yours apart. While I have absolute confidence in your abilities, which come out of your goodwill and heart, I also am certain that you learned the craft already from your father, and hope that you won’t make a mistake.’

‘Absolutely.’ The young prince’s tone was measured, confident and well-calculated. There was nothing for him to fear about. ‘The Queen and the King have taught me to love myself for being the man I am, and I am just happy to be by Christine’s side, until death do us apart.’

‘As expected from a Prince.’ was what came out of his mouth. The secretary was convinced enough that the Prince was handling himself. After two decades, he had seen all forms and variations of Royals, foreign or domestic, in their characters. More often than not they were very admirable human beings, but there were at times when he labelled enough of them as ‘degenerates’ or ‘irreconcilables’, all because he knew there would be enough pain in the arse to go around about them.

Alexandre quickly fixed his eyes and checked his phone again. Once upon a time, Alexandre, just a few years removed from his collegiate days, was prone to outbursts. This was in the early years of Jacques IX, when the successive military victories in Nazi Felix and the Holy Republican Empire had brought the Quebecois to feel more arrogant than ever. And as with those who were born in the 1990s and 2000s, after the COVID-88 plague that marked the shift of eras in Quebecois history, Alexandre, being a man of pride, with enough accomplishments and accreditations to come with his position, was like that too. He remembered how he would often get arrogant and stubborn in his manner of conduct, that would more often than not clash with that of other Royals, noblemen and the gentry. It wasn’t until the arrival of his two, now-teenaged, sons that would mellow his character a bit more, but still he was still some time away from being a zen master.

That was probably why he’s glad it was the youth of Caspian, not late Jacques IX, who he was going to be dealing with now. Jacques IX, who came to the throne about two to three decades earlier than expected, was a man of outbursts in youth, and he still remembered the fright that their minor clashes would bring to the house. At least with Caspian he didn’t expect that, and saw a peaceful relationship coming...