World Cup 86: Roleplay Thread

[Saltstead]

DISCLAIMER: It goes without saying that none of this is characteristic of my OOC opinions.

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The Beet

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The Beet Sportsbox: Ladies, gentlemen and Saltsteaders, it’s officially World Cup time once more! Part √(2)/e−4%
Grab your nearest bonfire, set your newest head coach on fire continuously and gather around for the first fraction of the Official™ The Beet predictions for the World Cup qualifying group stage

Lucky memes for matchday one.

Ashwell — Nothing inspires the passions quite like the beginning of a new World Cup qualifying cycle. Dozens of nations have not yet had their dreams beaten mercilessly out of them by the big boys of the World Cup Committee Clubhouse and look on with deluded optimism at their fixtures lists, proclaiming “forget the last [insert comically large number here] cycles, we’re actually doing it this time!”

It’s so cute to see the intoxicating optimism before it’s inevitably crushed by the indomitable will of the unforgiving goddess whose name we do not speak in polite company. Please enjoy (part of) the Official™ The Beet World Cup Qualification Predictions as we prepare the rubber chicken sacrifices on the altar of the Royal House of Sport.

Group 1
First off, it is dangerous for a highly-combustible gas such as Ethane to be lit and therefore, Ethane must be disqualified from any talk of qualifying for the World Cup. The safest place for them to finish is in last, lest we suffer another humanity-ending 5.44 megaton blast. (Or so we’ve heard.)

As for the rest of the group, Brenecia may only start with “B”, but Darkmania couldn’t even manage a “C”. No one else came close. Brenecia win the group by a mile, Darkmania head to a playoff, the rest of the group can see me after class.

Group 2
Quebec are a good team waiting to break out, so we assume their Acadiana colony must be at least halfway decent. We have a couple of other candidates to pull one over on them, like this Tequilo nation that reminds me of alcohol for some reason. They will be the winners of this group, while the Dragonflies of Ko-oren will fly over the heads of Quebecois Acadiana into the playoffs.

As for the team that finishes last, well it’s pretty obvious that the “95” in “95X” is for how many times they’ll miss the target in the qualifiers. So logically, they’ll also miss their target of finishing bottom and Jeruselem will finish there instead.

Group 3
Clearly, if Quebec are good, Grand Quebecois must be even better. They’ll have this group wrapped up and will pick up a sausage roll on the way home as a celebratory treat. The Drunk People at the Local Tavern will be a tough challenge, however, as the beverages they serve at that establishment are notoriously performance enhancing. Automatic tickets for both the top two, for sure.

Also, Eura are meanies who stole Saltstead’s qualifying spot that one time and should finish last. ;-;

Group 4
Nephara are ranked number two in the multiverse, therefore it follows that they will finish as number two in the group. Thus, we must find the winners of the group and we believe we’ve found adequate candidates in Terre Septentrionale. They have one more digit in their ranking, so therefore they must be better! Nephara will get left in the playoff dust, easily.

On the other side of the table, Damukuni are a dumb nation that will be hard to beat for bottom spot. However, the Minarchist Free State team will probably be too busy escaping bitcoin-funded deepweb assassinations to play any of their matches and giving Damukuni the lucky break they need!

Group 5
Was there a military coup in the Holy Empire? If so, that’s unlucky for Turori, who’ve been drawn with these Holy Junta folks. They’re probably both good enough to qualify though, so the Holy Junta squeaks out Turori for top spot and Turori take one of the six runner-up tickets.

Then we’d say Omerica finish last on account of the fact that they can’t even get out of the group stage of the Independence Chalice or whatever they’re calling it today, but Garifunya will probably burn their paperwork in a bonfire of administrative incompetence, so they’re our pick.

Group 6
Oh… there was no coup… or it’s an alternate reality the Dreamed Realm wizards cooked up… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Holy Empire will win the group through the use of magic, obviously, which only serves to reinforce our convictions about Group 5. Behind them, Lovisa win one of the six automatic tickets as best runners-up, whereas Audioslavia finish last ‘cause their farts keep wafting into our windows here in the Saltsteadish office and we’re all out of air freshener. >:(

Group 7
It’s only fitting that if Nephara finish second because they are second that Banija finish first because they are first. Future champions of the world and all that jazz, hooray. As for the runners-up, it’s a very crowed competition, but we’re putting our money on HAIKU, because it’s such a lovely artform. We just wish they’d stop shouting their name and let us enjoy the poetry.

That also means it’s a crowded competition for the bottom spot, but our guess is… (*pins a list of teams on a dartboard*) (*throws a dart at the dartboard*) (*throws another when the first one misses*) … Xanneria. Sorry, but you seemed to be the only ones listed on the paper for some reason.

Group 8
First off, we can rule out any and all teams in that do not adequately respect the definite article, so that leaves us with three teams. Of these three, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles win easily because they’re obviously two nations in a trench coat and that’s just plain unfair. And the birds have officially arrived to inform me that two-headed birds cannot exist in real life, the Sarian finish in second place and skip the playoffs for bird realism.

Staypuftonia are obviously the last-place finishers because I’ve already had too many marshmallows and I’m just plain sick of looking at the stuff. You got off easy Freeport, if that’s even your real name…

Group 9
For full transparency disclosure as required by Saltsteadish law, I owe a debt to this ancient elf back in Char Sara, so I’m oath-bound to say that Valanora will win this group with a perfect record if I want to keep my head.

As for the rest of the group, Qasden will bribe the World Cup Committee with free kittens to book a place in the playoffs. That leaves us with eight closely-matched nations fighting to avoid last place and I genuinely cannot pick a single one of them. I’m not even going to put up a list on a dartboard. I just can’t decide on any one of the eight, Glazgo.

To be continued in the continuation of The Beet Sportsbox… —TB

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★
The Royal Saltsteadish Football Association
Royal House of Sport, Ashwell

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Starblaydia : Saltstead
World Cup 86 qualifying group stage — Matchday 1
Stadii Di Bradini, Jhanna, Starblaydia
Saltstead lineup (5–4–1): Christijn Sänt-Andreas; Richard Christopħe – Jan-Pijr Åudenberg – Zacharias van den Slåp – Maxime Crabshaas – Catharine de Vriħt; Natasħa Aħterop – Constantijn van Bleck – Mina Ratmaker; Haråud Haråudssen

Saltstead : Rangers FC
World Cup 86 qualifying group stage — Matchday 2
King William VII National Park, Ashwell, Saltstead
Saltstead lineup (4–5–1): Christijn Sänt-Andreas; Richard Christopħe – Jan-Pijr Åudenberg – Maxime Crabshaas – Catharine de Vriħt; Natasħa Aħterop – Constantijn van Bleck – Zacharias van den Slåp – Mina Ratmaker; Haråud Haråudssen

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[Huayramarca]

OOC: Rewinding a past event, from ÑÑ Group perspective - Occurs before Part 9.

Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3.
Part 4.
Part 5.
Part 6.
Part 7.
Part 8.
Part 9.

Rewind.

Part 10.
Part 11.
Part 12.
Part 13.
Part 14 A.
Part 14 B

Ñucanchi Ñan - Part 15.

Sopocachi, Huayramarca D.M. - 10/04/1980 - 1:30 P.M.

Back after some days spent in the lone Parcoy department, where the leaders of Ñucanchi Ñan had been planning their next movements against the hybrid-esque dictatorship that Hugo Mina was trying to impose into the nation, there were some rumors that the president was trying to enact a law prohibiting left-wing groups such as ÑÑ and declaring them a “Terrorist organization” and “traitors” by the fact of being “communists”. There were clear attempts to silence a plethora of Serrano social committees made to defend their rights against a person that wanted to force-feed Costeños with a faked narrative of victimization and abuses from Serranos to those people.

Marta was reading the newspapers while she found the latest attempt from the government to defame Serrano people: “New cross examination at the colonial history of Huayramarca has found that Serranos were accomplices with colonizers on their abuses against Costeños.” Said the big headliner at Trome, one of the most read newspapers in the nation. Marta just left the sofa away, disgruntled, walked through the kitchen and went to the window, she waved a “Quipu”, with the vibrations she did on the cords, she did, there was a truism involved in it “Slander, defamation, anger” and then, a codified set of vibrations where she intended to say “Read Trome.” While she spread the news to the community via social media and asking for immediate spreading to others with a message as the following. “#Slander, #MinaDictador. Here we go once again, the propaganda machine of this psychopath has now made an ultimate declaration of war against us, Serranos. We do respect our Costeño brothers, we even helped them to be independent in the memorable Guayaquil Battle of 1820, we made the colonizers retreat and then gave our brothers room into our beloved Huayramarca. Costeño, don’t let that rat fool you.”

Of course, probabilities of people buying such an enormous lie were low, it was a common fact that Serranos and Costeños had always fought together and expelled colonizers and other threats from Huayramarcan shores, highlands and jungle, still, there were risks of getting some people eating that cake and fueling others, the backlash could be strong enough to cause some rifts among the populace, something that Ñucanchi Ñan couldn’t deal with it due to their ambitions to seek power and stablish what Buendía called “Toda una Vida” (A lifetime), a plan trying to turn Huayramarca into a socialist-minded nation and also an idea that tries to boost welfare and productivity. Consensus had to be reached, ideas were few and there were two battlefronts at once now, the Illimani mining project and now the big-scale defamation attempt from Mina against Serranos, there was too much to do and little time for action.

Some cooperation would be so desired for the Serrano social movements, specially from some Costeño dissidence to Mina in some strongholds such as Machala, Guayaquil and Esmeraldas. Buendía called Marta via phone, he was noticeable angry by the news: “Mina is trying to strangle us by adding a lot of fronts to this battle, we have to react quickly before we see how our capacity gets surpassed by their efforts.” It was something like a bottleneck into a production system, if a sudden influx of requests storm the process, this one will break into chaos, just figure out ÑÑ as the process and the requests “the efforts” made by Mina and allies. “I’ll call our allies in Guayaquil, this needs to finish ASAP!” said Buendía while Marta was trying to articulate some ideas, something that she wasn’t being capable to catch on.

Marta replied “Overflow-like attack?” Buendía said “Of course, they have the power, people and money to do so, hence, if we move the fastest, the chaos probabilities on our nation will be reduced.” It was matter of organizational analysis and powers, Ñucanchi Ñan had the situation in their favor in a low-key way, they had only some minutes to react and materialize that advantage into their favor. Marta was keen on asking some of her friends from always-dormant-yet-powerful Lima, a city known for being a stone on Mina’s shoe, the enemy living inside his house (Coast) in order to call students from crowded universities such as the Maritime University, San Germán University, and others that have a strong popular support for social causes and equity; Buendía said “Proceed, it’d be nice to see what happens there, also, I’ll do it in Guayaquil, Machala and Esmeraldas.” Good deal!

Meanwhile, there were some noises on Marta’s background, Buendía managed to listen a lot of casseroles being hit with other kitchen instruments as a way of protest “Is that a protest?” said while Marta joined to the protest. Marta said “Yes, it is a protest.” Buendía replied “Great job! Continue with it, let the mood continue in that way.” Marta hang up the phone and went out of her flat, as much people was doing and then gathering into the main plaza of her neighborhood, Sopocachi. Police were there already, people was standing there pacifically and then walked towards the “Palacio del Altiplano” as it is known the Government’s House, police was escorting the protest closely, then, at the radio of a car parked on a red light of an intersection some words were heard “Massive protests at Lima’s Plaza de Armas (Central square of the city) had drawn at least 300,000 people” There were reports from Sechura that protests were happening, it seemed that this time would be a possible overthrowing of Mina, but he wasn’t sure of it.

At the Palacio del Altiplano, Mina was waking up after a long night of drugs and alcohol, he was getting into the vice due to nerves and depression due to the death of Major Cedeño at Huaraz, the sequels of said trauma were haunting Mina and he sook refuge on vice. He was suffering a headache, common after a hangover, he saw the clock and jumped in surprise, he went to the hall and asked for news, one of his personal assistants came on his way and said “You should have stayed sleeping all the day, you won’t like what’s happening right now.” Mina rushed to the TV instead of heading to the bathroom to take a shower, he seemed in fear on what was happening… Meanwhile, a infiltrated person was sending images of Mina’s drugged and drinking on a party the day before into social media, trying to be anonymous while doing it. News were clear “Massive protests against Mina’s plan of mining Illimani.” He laughed a bit and then saw “Sechura, Guayaquil, Lima, Huayramarca D.M. all with giant protests.” His face changed and there was craziness on him, he grabbed more beers to forget what was happening there. Then, some employees were filming him in a livestream which soon turned viral and the protestors found out a well-hidden secret of Mina, his dependence on alcohol and inability to make good decisions for his country, inability to manage his own life.

What it was more a protest against mining, it quickly turned over into a real attempt of overthrowing Mina, now things were critical against him and he was completely inebriated, uncapable to tell or have some awareness of the situation, he was sleeping while Huayramarca was setting itself on flames. The Sopocachi protesters reached the Palacio del Altiplano, while some others from nearby cities were crowding the place too. Heavily armed people were standing without reaction, waiting for Mina to mobilize and do what he wants, but he was asleep once again. Some Molotov cocktails were thrown to the police, who wasn’t able to shoot a gigantic crowd like that one, 500,000 people were turning on the streets demanding for Mina’s dismission.

Huayramarca was about to change, for once and for good!

[Mriin]

"Is Don..."

"Really that much of a blowhard?" Ÿya and Malia were chilling in the empty locker room; everyone else had already cleared out after practice. The elder midfielder felt it was time to pass on some Worldly Knowledge to the younger. "Yep. Not all dragons are so lost to their own sense of superiority, but I think it's something about how he's been in academia for a few centuries. Nobody could endure that and be left with a functioning sense of shame."

"Still, people call him 'the honorable' all the time." Ÿya spun her phone around, even though Malia had already seen the Twii dozens of times. "How's someone who's 'honorable' just say 'lmao got em' when talking about nine other national teams?"

"Again, centuries old dragon professor. You garner a lot of power, and thereby a lot of respect, from that sort of thing. So you'll get asskissers who keep that 'honorable' shit up to get on his good side."

"Feels like he might be a bit out of touch, too. Like, I know we didn't get drawn with the normal household names, but this group ain't a breeze..."

"He's barely been paying attention to football since he got booted from the manager's spot. I bet the MNL is just like any of his other investments now, only keeping it around as long as it's pulling a profit. And yeah, we're gonna have to put up or shut up this cycle. Earn our marks as top seeds against a wave of teams really aiming to make a splash."

"The Tikariot match has me on edge, honestly. Tailtiu said that'll probably be my first start and it'll affect how much play I get after--and those Tikariotians ain't fuckin' around."

Malia clasped a hand on Ÿya's shoulder and gave her best reassuring nod. "You'll do fine. If anything we're lucky to have gotten them in their first cycle, and hope that means we can dodge them going forward. They're still green and well beatable but won't stay like that for long. Now, the Port Ember game is going to be a complete and utter shitclusterfuck."

[Verceola]

Scouting Report: Martin Bartoš

- He is not too short - 5 foot 9 - with a rather muscular frame of 160 pounds. Given that he is still just 17 years old, he may at some point in the future achieve an appropriate height.

- Martin is remarkably quick and uses his speed to tear both through the center of the midfield as well as down the wing. He prefers to attack from the left wing, which is desirable as players from the "United Republic" are typically more abundant as right-side players. His prowess on the left side is perhaps more Verceolan.

- He recently signed with mainland club Steckholl United. He is an incredible talent and many would agree that he deserved this opportunity. However, prolonged exposure to a "United" Republic mainstay like the city of Quinniville may weaken his loyalty to the Federation and encourage allegiance to the Republic.

- His academic record leaves something to be desired. He has an adequate mental prowess for mathematics, but his failing marks in the sciences, particularly biology and chemistry, indicate a lack of regard for the scientific method. While this is a common sign of a lack of maturity, at 17 years old he is close to adulthood. There is concern that such indifference to logical integrity may lead way to more serious heresy.

- He is more promising as an artist, receiving full marks on his Grade 10 piano exam last year and also presenting adequate work to pass his introductory composition exam. His aforementioned weakness as a logical mind may prevent further progress in these fields.

- His most troubling moral charge was a series of compromising altered photos of Prime Minister Jadwiga Metz. However, it was understood that this was not a personal or political attack, but rather the workings of immature teenagers, who were also circulating similar altered photos of the false Delaclav President, Joseph Urso.

- In general, he shows promise as a faithful and useful Verceolan, yet serious concerns about his development, both intellectual and moral, must be assuaged within the next few years.

- We almost forgot... yes, we can affirm that he is an effective football player and a fitting centerpiece for his team, given his individual ball skills as well as his vision to distribute the ball to his teammates. If his character can catch up with his sporting game, he will be a promising team member for years to come.

[Omerica]

A quick follow up to this

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TRENDING IN OMERICA: #STEPHANIDIS

SARA [LASTNAME]

@chocofriend

- -@URSF_an

Alexis Stephanidis? Really? Absolutely desperate choice by the Federation. ‘Grats to all the other teams in our group for the easy win.

Sent from my Orange mVI

#Stephanidis : #Incorrigibles

GEORGE MARTINSSON

@geomartins

- -@URSF_an

Did Ferreira and Callaghan refuse to talk to you like the rumours say? Really poor choice to go with such a choke. Stephanidis won’t last three months.


#Stephanidis : #Incorrigibles

GREG MICHAUD

@gregfromps

- -@URSF_an

Unpopular opinion here, but I like Stephanidis. Good work with Malavan, good work with Andreaskruis and future good work with the Incorrigibles!


#Alexis | #Stephanidis | #Incorrigibles

THE OFFICIAL THE BEET ✓

@thebeet_OME

The @URSF_an have officially requested a Cup of Harmony invitation by posting Alexis Stephanidis’s CV to WCC headquarters

#TheBeetSportsbox | #Stephanidis

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United Republican Soccer Federation
6 Jacques la Rouge Road
Port Alexandre, MS 18-A40
UNITED REPUBLICS OF OMERICA

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Omerica 1–1 Quebec
International friendly match
Stade Just-Cartier, Charlescourt [Val-du-Tibère]
Goalscorers: Nadiya al-Hashim 31’; ??? ??’
Omerica lineup (4–3–3): Alexandra McGuire; Sylvain Aiello – Anna Charles – Justin Thyme – Sacha Sepulveda; Nadiya al-Hashim – Paige Boyce – Maxime Fournier (captain); Rasoul Qadir – Anaïs Guérin – Wesley Sawyer
Substitutions: McGuire > Antoine Vicario (45’) – Thyme > Frédérique Marquetti (45’) – Fournier > Alphonse Fontaine (45’)

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United Republican Soccer Federation
6 Jacques la Rouge Road
Port Alexandre, MS 18-A40
UNITED REPUBLICS OF OMERICA

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Norralesse v Omerica
World Cup 86 qualficiation — Matchday One
Old Sample, Sampleville, Norralesse
Omerica lineup (4–3–3): Valentine Augustin; Alphonse Notley – Charity Kayode – Raphaël Martin – Lauren Kerry; Thom Magalhães – Soraya Archambault – Red Bolton (captain); Jessie Beckett – Jean-François Fernand – Jamal Ahmad

Omerica v Garifunya
World Cup 86 qualficiation — Matchday Two
Stade de la République, Romainbourg [Centre-Ville]
Omerica lineup (4–3–3): Valentine Augustin; Alphonse Notley – Charity Kayode – Raphaël Martin – Lauren Kerry; Thom Magalhães – Soraya Archambault – Red Bolton (captain); Jessie Beckett – Jean-François Fernand – Jamal Ahmad

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[The Royal Kingdom of Quebec]

Auld Lang Syne

PART 5B (22) - Encore Une Nuit

'God. Seems like you haven't gone anywhere the past week or two.' Asher sighed as he entered the living room of Heo Myeong-Yoon's downtown Kingston apartment. 'Anyhow, how's the rehab going?' Asher asked, him not sure on how to word things around the mess that was Myeong-Yoon's apartment. There were bunch of post-its placed all over the kitchen, while the living room had enough cups and bottles which all carried some form of liquid. It varied from alcohol to six different types of tea that were brewed at various points over the past few days. The tables, where she would normally read and do works, were once again strewn with about dozens of books and a couple of personal laptops Myeong-Yoon worked around.

'The usual. They said I should be back in a couple of months....?' Myeong-Yoon shrugged, as she sat on her sofa facing the balcony. It was evident from the onset that she didn't want her literal best friend to be bothered so much, especially since he was the one visiting her after not seeing each other in Kingston for ages. 'I guess that's a good sign, though not sure how that's gonna turn out before the olympics. You know, August starts are kinda tricky and whatnot...' She left the sentence, trying to think a bit more before finishing on a more positive note. 'Anyhow, nothing's gonna prevent the one and only, yours truly and faithfully, from the olympics...and that's a good thing!' She said, trying to gauge interest as she cheered on the prospects of her competing in the olympics.

'Seems like it. Stay cheery, trippy and drippy. May as well say that.' Asher said, as he approached her and gave her a soft hug. However they disagreed with each other at times, it was always good to be on each other's presence. 'Are you ready to come to the thing tomorrow?' He asked, as he turned his head around to look at the view of Downtown Kingston from the 47th floor flat.

'I guess. Dunno know what they'd want outta half-cripple like me but hey, we won almost everything those days and had blast outta that.' Myeong-Yoon responded, picking up the cup of Green tea she had placed on the coffee table right next to it. 'Besides, not a bad idea to go back to the school that brought all of us together in the late 30s. I still remember how we were just trying to get around and survive all the hurdles...and man, it was whack.' Of course, Myeong-Yoon was being ironic there. The Heo siblings, in some ways, were the most famous siblings that came to the Erskine campus in the previous century. A head girl followed the head boy, two professional athletes who went away for college, won a couple of nattys and then eventually returned home. Not to mention impeccable scores and getting 18/20 on average for Baccalaureat Quebecois. The storyline alone was impeccable enough that there was no point discussing this on purely itself. Even teen dramas don't do that.

'Not feeling out of your own body. Sometimes I have that.' said Asher, alluding to all the changes that had occurred and flashed before his eyes the past week. 'Even all those years, I don't feel...so ready yet. I still feel somewhat out of sight, even though I'm partly used to it by now.'

'Still thinking about her?' Myeong-Yoon smiled, chuckling on the inside. Being that best friend from high school, she was present when the whole relationship thing between Asher and Eileen happened and remembered the things firmly. It wasn't fun having to be the one counselling Asher when they broke up a week before his Prom after all! 'You have never recovered from it....and all the sleep-arounds and casual dates didn't help ya shit. Quebec City's at best and worst for stuff like that. But then who am I to judge on that? Being a commerce grad and whatnot.'

'Have things really changed?' Asher thought out, deciding to drink coffee from one of the fuller cups. He was trying to maintain the same position that he held for past five years, both in acknowledging that the break-up had happened and also in not trying to talk so much about it. But then everybody knew Asher, Myeong-Shin and Myeong-Yoon all had common features, and it's that they had a particular difficulty in hiding feelings from what they were written on the surface of their face. 'I may have seen many knee socks and licked a few, but still I think about the same.'

'Yeah. I don't know what to tell you on that. Frank seems to be feeling closer and closer with Tessa (Maitfield) like a normie, but he's never had the whole baggage of feelings like you did.' Myeong-Yoon said, trying to connect the conversation with how Frank Lundrigan, his brother who had just signed with TSV Marzig of Siovanija and Teusland, had managed to get together with Tessa Maitfield, a friend of her close friend, Hazel Hanson-Conavacio.

'Of course! Else Tessa wouldn't have even gone out with him!' He said, that part alone driving his mind forward in jealousy. 'You know them. The Schottians. Skotiyani docheri.'

'I dunno. You've met Hazel.' Myeong-Yoon shrugged twice as she refuted. Everybody knew Hazel Hanson-Conavacio, the daughter of Quebecois legendary footballer Leonardo and Schottian physiotherapist Claire Hanson, and of her wonders in Hinodejin high school football and Haligonian. 'But then she's half Conavacio, and also half Hanson. Not an usual Schottian per se. At least the Handon United loving kind.'

Asher went back to the couch and just sat right next to Myeong-Yoon, just chatting along about the whole Maitfield-Lundrigan rendez-vous back then. Myeong-Yoon usually stayed out of her bedroom, preferring to sleep on her living room couch or on the wooden floor with just a pillow and a quilt or two to add. The living room also had a couple of televisions that she used to play Fortenite and watch Netflix, unless there were some basketball or baseball games to watch The living room's also usually where Myeong-Yoon, still single, usually bring her guests.

'Anyhow. Still contacting friends? You know, the people from the old days, like Aram, Sara (Legault), Chadwick, Lea...' He asked, while they were watching a movie, some rom-com Myeong-Yoon was watchijng earlier in the day. They were both scratching their hair as they poked holes about the errors of the movie ala. Cinemasins. 'I'm sure it's way easier seeing them now that you're back in Kingstongrad and so many of old peeps went to Western or Queen's College...'

'Yeah. It's not as easy with the season, but hey, they can always ask me for a ticket and we could always go out on an occasional night out.' Myeong-Yoon said, feeling like there's no fuss. Unlike Asher, who chose to mostly acknowledge along few friends whom he went to USC from Erskine, Myeong-Yoon still kept close hold on her old friends. Of course, it's easier to do that since she went to her parents' alma mater, where 40-50 Erskinians went every year, than St. Croix, which was located in Quartier Calanien and St-Croix district at the heart of the capitol. 'Don't you ever get tired of having to move around every day and hoping that a miracle will happen? Just like how Brent over there expects Janet to say yes to whatever the fuck he's having on his mind right now?' She asked, pointing to the current scene they were watching.

Asher nodded, though he wished he could just shake his head to that. Though a degenerate he has been for past few years, he always knew on the inside when he had to acknowledge faults of his own and place internal blames. 'I do. But that's maybe why I hope that maybe, just maybe, she will come back to me. All being forgiven and moved on. I hope she forgot that I once hurt her without much explanation....and that all's good.' Asher said, looking at the screen as the poor boy's hopes were crushed with a 'well yes, but actually no' by the crush of his. 'I still regret that, and it's not something to brag. Past-life breakup with Plongeon isn't something I'd tell to people I meet, and you know that.'

'And sometimes you bring yourself into too much guilt for nothing.' Myeong-Yoon shot back, trying to calm Asher down again. For Myeong-Yoon this was fairly easy effort, having done so few times before. Like that time when they lost Frank in middle of a hide-and-seek when they were eight (they found him hiding on a shrub), or like that time they failed to win the laser tag competition for musical council carnival their sophomore year. Or like that time Asher broke up and Myeong-Yoon had to be the one going to the Prom with her. Oy vey. 'If you really want her back, you need to not miss out on it again. She broke up with her boyfriend not too long ago, so maybe not a bad idea. I think the guy was in music industry or something, though I’d rather not delve into the details...I have my own shit to figure out. Anyway, I think you should go for your final chance this time. Let it all go.’

[Recuecn]

Jacques Tremblay opened his eyes. The clock on the nightstand in front of him read 5:58. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. There was no questioning it, he was awake now. As if he could go back to sleep today, of all days. Already he could feel the nervous excitement building within him. He reached out his hand to turn off the alarm he'd set for six a.m. - his body was so used to his routine now that he often woke up before his alarm, but he still set it every day. He didn't want to be late for anything... today, least of all.

Jacques rolled over. There was Gracelle, still just as beautiful to him as she was on the day they were married, fifty-odd years ago. Jacques leaned over and planted the softest of kisses on her forehead, then quietly got out from under the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. He yawned, then stretched, then yawned again. His joints felt sore the way they always did in the morning, and stretching didn't feel much better in the moment, but he knew it made him feel better in the long run. Grimacing, he stood up and tip-toed out of the room to go shower and make breakfast.

The shower was completed without incident, but Tremblay never made it as far as the kitchen before the days events began to pick up speed and whirl him off his feet. Passing through the downstairs office, a note on the desk caught his eye. He recognized the handwriting - that was Bonheur Relié, his assistant. Well, it wasn't really fair to call the assistant manager his 'assistant'. His partner, perhaps. But how had that note gotten here? Relié couldn't have come by today, it wasn't even seven in the morning yet—and then Jacques remembered he'd put the note there himself as a reminder to himself. He picked it up. Everything mostly ready, it said. I've got everything set for the last practice today, we'll just be waiting for your speech to the team before the game. It was definitely nice of Bonheur to take care of so much. And he could've given a rousing speech too, if he'd wanted. Although he had a harder time capturing that hopeful spirit Jacques was always trying to demonstrate to the team. Either way, for a moment Tremblay began to feel just how he knew Relié wanted him to feel: as if he didn't have to worry about anything or do anything himself.

It wasn't true, of course. He was the National Team manager, and today was the first game of qualification. Everything was happening today and he had to oversee it all personally, all in the midst of making a myriad of decisions. He'd be needed at the practices soon - he looked at the note again. The last practice, it said. Well, it was strange to call it the 'last' practice just because it was the last one before qualifiers began. But he could see what Bonheur meant. It felt like the end of waiting; a new tournament was beginning. And after the way the IAC had gone, it was about time...

He looked back at the note. Below what Relié had written, Jacques had jotted down his own to-do list. It was far longer than the message from Bonheur. 'Well, time to get started,' Jacques thought. He found his phone on the desk and picked it up to call Relié. But as he picked it up, he saw that despite the early hour, he already had five missed calls. 'Oh mon dieu,' he sighed. Three, predictably, were from Relié himself. But one was from Gerauld Firaut. And one was from... Franky? Goodness, what could he need?

Tremblay called Franky back first (much to Franky's delight). Franky greeted him with his habitual burst of chatter. "Hey coach! We're all at le stade already and we're wondering when you'll show up; we did one skirmish. Relié says he tried to call you. Are you at home? You're close, right? Do you know when..."

Jacques could hardly keep up. "I'm on my way. Yes, I'm close. See you soon."

Late? Tremblay himself? Late? Today of all days?

He was just tying his shoes to go out the door when Gracelle came down the stairs. "Leaving without breakfast?" she asked.

"Ouais, they're already all at the stadium. I have to go."

"You should eat."

"I don't have time."

Gracelle laughed. "And you, my husband, who thought he retired years ago."

"Bordel," said Tremblay, "I'm getting too old for this."

[Drawkland]

WORLD CUP 86 - NEWMANISTAN/DRAWKLAND

Cutoff for MD1 and MD2!

World Cup 86 is beginning ... Right Now!

Results

[Sylestone]

Delaclava 3-0 Sylestone
Sylestone were flushed away in their opening game of the Water Closet 86 3-0 to Pot 6 side Delaclava. A disappointing result if any. But hey, it's only the first day and we still have time to recover from our catastrophe that occurred last time around. But they would need to improve, and a lot, to show the sides in Group 6 what they are really made of. But the showing at Chiefs Stadium in Kitsuarat will receive lots of criticism and they'll need to do their best to bounce back from it in the next game against Southwest Eastnorth.
Both sides looked relatively equally matched, with Delaclava maybe slightly dominating the Appliances. They managed to score a corner in the 43rd minute after the Ironing Board managed to perform a successful slide tackle on Lukas Meyer in front of an open goal. Unfortunately, the resulting corner was too good as it curved like a banana into the far post and into the Brick Wall. The ball rebounded off him and went straight to Dathan Ingram, who smacked the shot into the right corner of the goal to let Delaclava go 1-0 up.
Only 1-0 down, the Appliances went into the second half with their thoughts clear on trying to score two goals and go ahead of Delaclava. And two goals were scored. By Delaclava. The first came off a penalty in the 66th minute when the Toilet threateningly tried to flush Donato Girardi down the drain when they were just about to score. They did anyway. The third goal came in the 74th minute after the Washing Machine was too busy turning the field into a bog and Keaton Durbridge dribbled the ball past him. The poor Brick Wall had no chance. So 3-0 against the Pot 6 side in the group was how the first game ended. They had to do better against Southwest Eastnorth.

DELACLAVA - 3
Dathan Ingram 43'
Keaton Durbridge 66' (P), 74'

SYLESTONE - 0

Sylestone 2-0 Southwest Eastnorth
Fortunately, The Appliances have managed to bounce back from their shocker in Delaclava to win against Southwest Eastnorth in front of a full house in Chamberley. Two early goals by the Tumble Dryer sealed the 2-0 win as Sylestone moved from last to seventh on the Toilet Group ladder. Already doing better than last time. But the Appliances will need to keep this form up if they want to finish top five, a prospect that currently seems unlikely considering what happened in Delaclava. But hey, you never know.
Sylestone dominated the entire game back-to-front, keeping 65% possession, as was their tactic after scoring two early goals. The first goal in the tenth minute happened when the Fridge passed the ball to the Tumble Dryer, who managed to shoot a long shot from 30 metres into the goal. A minute later the Mixer produced some brilliant dribbling skills to break through the opposition defence. He passed the ball to the Tumble Dryer, who easily won a one-on-one with Miles Mikohoffer to bring Sylestone up 2-0. The response to this from Southwest Eastnorth was to play ultra-defensive, which suited the Appliances perfectly. Minutes passed as half-time sped by. By the 80th minute, the opposition began to get desperate and Burt Snodgrass was sent off the field for fouling the Bar Stool. With only ten players, Southwest Eastnorth gave up and accepted that they were going to lose the game.

SYLESTONE - 2
Tumble Dryer 10', 11'

SOUTHWEST EASTNORTH - 0


MD3&4 Predictions
MD3: Juvencus 2-1 Sylestone
MD4: Sylestone 0-1 Poafmersia

[Indusse]

IFA NEWS NETWORK
Sub-Zer0

Here starts the new worldcup season!! The team is back with a up to down rewamp after the Independents Cup 10 tournament.Here is the 86th edition of WorldCup. The team couldnt win atleast one match this season. Both the matches were a draw one with equestrian states and with Oontaz.The team also participated in the invitational tournament of IAFF World Cup hosted by Kavagrad.

"The Danubian Dragons of Habsburg-Lorraine will be extremely confident of advancing further after they topped TCB’s qualifying group unbeaten. However, the top spot in the group will be hotly-contested, as Nekkko, who won six of their eight games in TI’s qualifiers, is present and there’s every chance their clash on the final day of the group stage will decide who tops the group.New Samon can’t be counted out, however, as they finished third in TLA’s qualifying group, a group that produced three of 2018’s semi-finalists. Indusse will likely be considered the outsiders of this group by most commentators." this was reported by the Kavagrad Newsletters and it said that the team may not qualify for the tournament.But, by the grace of Margaret the team became top in the group unbeaten by its opponents. They qualified for the round of 16 and won the match.But, to dismay the team lost in the quarter finals to Imuneco for a score of 2-3 and thus ended its tournament dreams.

Indusse 0-0 Equestria
Indusse 0–0 Sultanate of Oontaz

[Riennic Isles]

The Riena Sentinel

---

Riena 0-0 Springmont
Stuttering start continues for wavering Wavelets

---

• Riena: None
• Springmont: None

Riena's indifferent form in competitive matches continued at the Wavelet Arena today as unfancied Springmont battled gamely to hold the Wavelets to a frustrating scoreless draw. In a game which Riena manager Kanata Shiranami had described as an early must-win, an all-action defensive effort from the Springmont rearguard proved enough to keep an uncharacteristically toothless Riena at arm's length. With a solitary point from two matches, Riena now find themselves five points behind early pacesetters The Hinodejin Empire and Trolleborg.

The match was a thoroughly uninspiring affair, with Riena dominating the ball but doing very little with it against Kristofer Donatis's well-drilled side. Riena's captain Aya Nakiri in particular struggled badly to influence proceedings in her usual role in the hole behind Riena's forwards, finding herself swarmed by a mass of red-and-yellow shirts every time she touched the ball in the final third. Springmont had clearly arrived at the Wavelet Arena with a clear game plan in mind - by marking Nakiri out of the game, they were able to effectively sever the link between the Riena midfield and attack, robbing Shiranami's team of any semblance of attacking fluidity. This, combined with a resilient back four who stood firm in the face of repeated offensive forays down the flanks, meant that Springmont were able to successfully nullify Riena's attacking threat for large parts of the game.

It was not until the thirty minute mark that Riena were able to muster their first shot on goal, and even then, Hijiri Sakuranami's scuffed effort from thirty yards out had barely enough power behind it to trouble a high-school goalkeeper, let alone a goalkeeper of Salton Kingbury's calibre. For their part, Springmont had looked far the better side. They had threatened to unpick the notoriously unreliable Riena defence in flashes, not least when Alan Compton robbed Kaede Igarashi deep in the Riena half and curled in a well-timed cross that was sidefooted against the base of a post by the lurking Noah Crownfish. Shiranami attempted to change the flow of the game by instructing Cocoa Haneda and RInze Ayanami to switch flanks, but despite the change, neither winger proved able to find any purchase against the Springmont full-backs Igor Krepanovic and Dominic Wingstrom.

The second half picked up where the first half had let off, and five minutes after the restart, Shiranami made her move, bringing on the mercurial playmaker Tomoe Ishibashi in place of Aya Nakiri in the hope that Ishibashi's distribution could help the Wavelets dictate the tempo of the game and provide fresh impetus in attack. The substitution almost reaped instant dividends - seizing onto a loose ball in midfield, Ishibashi looked up and sent a swirling cross into the Springmont area, where Rion Kanzaki's bullet header was clawed off the line by Kingbury. But that was as good as it got for the Wavelets; aside from a free-kick which was fired straight into the wall by Igarashi, Riena failed to create any clear-cut opportunities, much less trouble the Springmont goal. Riena's lack of guile and craft when in possession contributed to a thoroughly ineffectual attacking performance, which was perhaps best encapsulated by Meru Matsukai hopelessly botching the simplest of square passes to Haneda, instead smashing the ball into the advertising hoardings beneath the stands.

At the end of the ninety minutes, Riena and Shiranami were left to reflect on what could have been - even at this early stage of qualifying, dropping two points against a significantly lower-ranked side does not bode well for Riena's hopes of sustaining a competitive challenge for qualification. Two matchdays in, they find themselves already staring at a rapidly widening gulf between themselves and the suspects for qualification - the Hinodejin Empire won both their opening matches at a canter, while third seed Trolleborg followed up their opening matchday victory over the Wavelets by dispatching Savigliane by four goals to two. For their part, second seed Taeshan slipped to a surprising defeat to ZSeparatists, but rebounded to secure a 3-2 win against Fluvannia.

These results are of course in stark contrast to Riena's one point out of a possible six. While it is worth keeping in mind the mantra about qualifying being a marathon instead of a sprint, it is hard not to begin doubting Riena's prospects of qualifying for the finals. With meetings against the Grearish Union and Ziwana coming up, the Wavelets must find it in themselves to respond strongly to their early setback. Even at this stage, there is almost no margin for error. If Riena somehow manage to slip up again, questions will most certainly be asked of the manager and the players; and rightly so.

Riena (4-3-3): Minato; Igarashi, Amemiya, Tsukamoto, Kagura; Sakuranami, Matsukai, Nakiri; Haneda, Kanzaki, Ayanami
Substitutes: Kugimiya, Uruha, Yukihana (70'), Ishibashi (50'), Kirimiya, Steiner, Amatsuka (70')

Springmont (4-3-3): Kingbury; Krepanovic, Heckber, Bloodsword, Wingstrom; Mohaupt, McColsom, Fjetland; Mayfirth, Crownfish, Compton
Substitutes: Auwaerter, Mourningforest (75'), Farrowshard, Bronzestride, Ravenbluff (59'), Delinois, Kaizer (72')

[Silver Commonwealth]

SNN Sports

In its first match of the tournament, SC meets defeat

---

Lovisa 2-1 Silver Commonwealth

(Georg Lunz 20' I Gabriel Vila 50', Mariusz Franke 66')

''Although its first match in the World Cup 86 was awaited by a lot of SC's football fans and football players, several of them back at home seem to have been disappointed by their team's performance as SC's team lost its first match against Lovisa, with result being 2-1 in Lovisa's favor.''

''In first period of the game SC tried its ''energy conserving'' strategy - despite the style being maxed out to play aggressively, Enrico wanted to keep his team's reserves for the 2nd period of the game. However, while Lovisa's style was more balanced, it still had a preference towards attacking play, and at defense SC's back players weren't the most stellar that game. In the 20th minute of the game, the striker Georg Lunz managed to score a goal for Lovisa by nutmeg (kicking the football ball between the legs of defender Cícero Linhares), with football ball scoring the bottom right corner of the football goal. After that, one of SC's assistant coaches murmured to himself about his team: ''get your sh*t together''. SC's team started to play more actively at the end of 1st period, but didn't score a goal.''

''In second period SC's team went for a more aggressive play, which resulted in left forwarder Gabriel Vila scoring a goal in 50th minute, bringing the result to a tie. However, the joy of SC's fans and team wasn't for long, as in 66th minute Mariusz Franke brought the result to 2-1, and Lovisa regained initiative in the match. For the rest of the game there were several dangerous moments by both teams, and in one case someone from SC's team almost scored a goal in 85th minute, but the football ball ricocheted away from the goal after hitting the left rod of football goal. Thus the game ended in victory for Lovisa.''

''Despite the loss, several of commentators and fans considered the score of 2-1 as a pretty good performance, considering that it was the first time SC had participated in such tournament and the only relatively similar experience for SC's Brazil's teams would be the SC's Cup of Hope tournaments. The head coach and his assistant Sophie Pathel in interview showed signs of optimism, and told fans to ''not get their head down''. However, it was said that Enrico still had a long talk with his team about where they went wrong and what could have been improved.''

''The next match for SC's team will be against Audioslavia, where this time it might have the advantage of home field. Either way, if Enrico and his team want to repair their image in the eyes of SC's football community, they will need a some sort of triumph.''

SNN Sports

SC suffers another defeat in World Cup 86, this time at home

---

Silver Commonwealth 1-2 Audioslavia

Manoel da Costa 35' I Santiago Rosel 55', Andries Nijland 70'

''If the defeat in the first game of the World Cup wasn't bad enough, the next blow for SC's team was the defeat at home against Audioslavia. The result was the same as in the lost game against Lovisa, a.k.a 2-1 in Audioslavia's favor. While some had anticipated such outcome due of Audioslavia being a highly-ranked team, the second defeat in a row still was something which stung in the hearts of SC's football fans and the team itself.''

''At the first period of the game SC's team tried the same approach as in game against Lovisa - not playing out much aggressive moments, and playing cautiously to save up energy to dish out later. As Audioslavia's strategy had a slight preference to defense, Audioslavia's team was able to defend against most of SC's teams incursions in their side of football field, and provided several dangerous moments near the football goal of SC's team, but in most of cases the goalkeeper did his job well. In 35th minute, SC's team started a sudden quick offensive in an overall uneventful period, and the team's striker Manoel da Costa was able to score SC's only goal that game in 35th minute. After that, the intensity of game went back to previous level, and no major breakthroughs happened for the rest of the 1st period.''

''At second period SC's team started to play more aggressively, as if its team would want to dish out its energy in attacks to score enough goals to keep initiative. However, the captain of Audioslavia's team had predicted such a move, and Audioslavia managed to keep a solid defense. After some of the SC's forwarders had worn out from the attempts of scoring goals through sprint, Audioslavia's team took initiative in their hands and in 55th minute, Santiago Rossel - the sole forward player of the team, managed to score a goal, bringing the result to 1-1. In 70th minute, Andries Nijland scored an another goal for Audioslavia, bringing the result in its favor. Although SC's team seemed to have regained their energy reserves and forwarders tried to continue the quick sprint attacks, none of them were successful. It was said that that team's coach - Enrico Sá, wasn't even mad at the team during the last minutes, but rather saddened, and said ''C'mon, man!'' with hands on head after an another failed offensive attempt of SC's team.''

''Nonetheless, an another defeat of 2-1 was said to have left Enrico concerned. The reaction of SC's fans back at home sometimes was even more bitter, with some fan at bar hitting a cup of beer at bar counter with words ''This is a disaster!''. In some places like cities of La Plata, the tension at air was said to be felt so much, that police and gendarmerie of La Plata were ready to calm down heated fans with police violence if tension would spill over, but luckily situation was kept under control.''

''Some of SC's sport commentators think that the defeats are merely a prelude to the team's comeback, but some of the fans and footballers back at home are clearly more pessimistic. Either way, Enrico and his team will need a miracle to recover from two losses in a row. Next matches for SC will be against the Holy Empire - an another strong competitor, and Southwest Eastnorth.''

[Graintfjall]

Snow Wolves scrape solitary point in first round of World Cup fixtures

Græntfjall came away reflecting that, according to veteran national team center-back Ralf Álfarsson “it could have been worse” after a 2 – 1 defeat to Farfadillis and 1 – 1 tie with Alba and Cymru marked the team’s first official World Cup qualifying matches during the first international break of the season. Álfarsson was left to note that the unfancied Snow Wolves had led for much of the Farfadillis game, and only a brief defensive lapse in an otherwise solid showing had stood between them and a first home win. “We’re not proud of taking one point from six,” he admitted, “But we feel we showed enough quality over the two games to demonstrate we can compete against more experienced sides.”

When Farf goalkeeper Dieje Ibrelaná clumsily collided with Vilbjörn Hjörleifursson and found himself staring at a referee’s arm pointed dramatically to the penalty spot, it briefly seemed as though all Græntfjall’s fairytale World Cup dreams might come true. Jason Þórhallursson gleefully converted the resulting spot-kick with a powerful smash into the right-hand side, and the Snow Wolf Pack fans at the [unknown arena] shouted themselves hoarse. But over the next hour, Faragó rue Cazade put in a masterclass of skill and tenacity to crush those dreams. A defensive substitution as Sigtryggur Brynjólfursson threw on an extra center-back to protect the lead proved futile, and rue Cazade worked his magic to set up the equalizer, and then finish things off with a fine winner.

The 2 – 1 scoreline ultimately reflected a game in which Græntfjall had been comfortably outplayed, with Farfadillis dominating possession throughout and generating several strong chances saved, variously, by a flying Alexander Leonardsson, a scrambling Hjörleifursson, and a rattling cross-bar. The early single goal lead was never likely to be sustainable but, having started strong – the corner from which Ibrelaná fouled Hjörleifursson was their third of the opening twenty minutes – Græntfjall failed to generate another genuine scoring opportunity. A long-range effort from a largely ineffective Amanda Guttisdóttir had a few false wolf howls boom out as she ruffled the top-netting, but it would not be until the 80th minute until another shot on target was registered, that a comfortable chest-high save from a Hrærekur Jvarsson toe-poke.

Speaking after the game, striker Justiina Dannysdóttir – earning her first full national team starting cap – reflected that the pace set by rue Cazade had been too high, overwhelming Græntfjall’s midfield. “We were not able to stay with them and their somewhat crazy formation shifts broke apart our marking schemes a bit,” she admitted. “They were a very strong team and maybe we shouldn’t have even hoped to come away with a win, but it was disappointing that after holding the lead for so long we subsided in the last 15 minutes.” She defended the performance of under-pressure Guttisdóttir. “Amanda played well in a difficult role and had a couple of good chances,” she said.

That the central midfielder whose place has been under such discussion is held in higher regard by her teammates than the critical national footballing press was evidenced in the second match of the international break, where she was elected team captain. Græntfjall follows a tradition of having the day’s starting XI elect a captain from among themselves, which led to the somewhat bizarre sight of a player who didn’t play a single minute of the Baptism of Fire tournament being presented with the trophy in a pre-match ceremony at Háttmark’s Grand National Arena. The fairly low-key presentation was a prelude to a generally even less interesting game of football, though with a better outcome as Græntfjall stole a valuable point off favorites Alba and Cymru.

Þórhallursson – who managed one goal in his first six internationals – was on the scoresheet again to make it seven from his last six as he registered the first goal on Græntfjaller soil in full internationals with a brilliant piece of individual skill, controlling a difficult cross with his right foot and hitting a swerving volley with his left that crashed just inside the far post. Alba and Cymru capitalized on a poor defensive error from Emeli Vilbertsdóttir, caught napping in possession, just inside the half to level things. To the delight of Snow Wolf Pack fans disappointed by his defensive formations during the Copa Rushmori, Brynjólfursson made attacking substitutions in the second half in search of a winner, but the game ran out a slightly tame 1 – 1 draw.

Amanda Guttisdóttir was in buoyant spirits despite the goalless second half, celebrating a “solid game” from the team and singling out her midfield partner Hrærekur Jvarsson for praise for his improved fitness, which saw him play the entirety of both matches. She also commended goalkeeper Alexander Leonardsson. “Alexander really kept us in the Farf match for as long as possible; we didn’t do a good job of protecting him, but he was everywhere, tipping the ball over the bar and around the past, really impressive,” she said. “We’d just like to not have to have him making so many flying saves next time – I’m sure he’d appreciate a quieter game!”

Græntfjall next face a trip to the mysterious Plane of Possibility, whose women’s team Amanda and Justiina were involved in beating 2 – 0 at the recent Summer Olympics but have since staked out a strong position in Group 14 with two wins, before a home game against Sarzonia, 5 – 0 victors in a pre-World Cup friendly and ominously looking to make up from being held to a surprise draw by fellow Rushmori World Cup newcomers Yue Zhou. The Snow Wolves will play the first match without the services of full-back Else Svennsdóttir, who picked up consecutive bookings in the opening matches and will be suspended for one game; Oost-Hartburg defender Helge Persson joins the squad but Karoline Vernerisdóttir is expected to start. Striker Jason Þórhallursson said the team were “looking forward to getting their first win,” while tipping Guttisdóttir for a strong performance soon. “Amanda’s playing well and the whole team are behind her,” he said.

Farfadillis – 2 (0)
Ibrelaná (23’); Fermández, Ûsêtêrnìx, Ànáxímane; Wìjìnì, t'Öéséné, Çí Xôrí (72’), Alxíkí; rue Cazade (77’) (82’); E. Çídh (83’ Ziczi ), R. Çídh

Græntfjall – 1 (1)
Leonardsson; Vilbertsdóttir, Hjörleifursson, Álfarsson, Svennsdóttir (45+5’); Raphaelsson (62’ Farmansson ), Guttisdóttir (73’ Ásvaldursson ), Jvarsson, Franklínsson; Dannysdóttir; Þórhallursson (23’) (62’ Nilsson )

---

Græntfjall – 1 (1)
Leonardsson; Vilbertsdóttir, Hjörleifursson, Álfarsson, Svennsdóttir (38’); Raphaelsson, Guttisdóttir (76’ Antoninsson ), Jvarsson, Franklínsson; Dannysdóttir (78’ Noahsdóttir ); Þórhallursson (7’) (57’ Nilsson (84’))

Alba and Cymru – 1 (1)
unknown (42’)

Also in the paper:

• NEWS: Canned goods recalled after supermarket curry found to contain tainted whale meat
• BUSINESS: GCB rates decision a “formality” according to market analysts
• POLITICS: Kaija Michaelsdóttir criticizes focus on female politicians’ appearance over policy substance
• FASHION: Kaija Michaelsdóttir eschews pantsuits for dresses on the campaign trail – 4-page photo spread inside
• SPORT: Olympic handball teams chase twin medal glory

[Jeruselem]

Princess Kate with Daisy Dallas/Cutter ...

Kate: HELLO, I'm Princess Kate for Naked News Jeruselem! I'm with fellow presenter Daisy Dallas sorry Daisy Cutter to wrap up two days of the World Cup 86. It's the qualifiers and yes, things are different this time round. I always called by her old name.
Daisy: Hello everyone
Kate: Yes, you expect us to cover every game as it comes but now we cover two games in one go. Daisy here follows the team as they head overseas but I'm holding the fort here for the local games.
Daisy: I think this is first time we're doing this sort of thing.
Kate: Well, we do something new just to keep people interested.
Daisy: Except wear clothes

Kate: Oh yes, that. Now just a reminder it is World Cup 86, and we're in Group 2. Now the teams along with us are 95X, Ko-oren, Iles Rogieres, Tequilo, Huayramarca, Sajnur, Quebecois Acadiana and Semarland. And ... nettop.
Daisy: Some familiar names there.
Kate: We don't play 95x very often, in fact this is the first time we will face them. Ko-oren like stalking us. Huayramarca stalk us as well. I think we've faced Semarland.
Daisy: Our latest opponents of unknown origin are Iles Rogieres, Tequilo, Sajnur, and Quebecois Acadiana, and Netop.
Kate: Quebecois Acadiana ... I wonder if that place has anything to do with our Quebecois friends.
Daisy: Yeah ...

Kate: And well, as usual ... we faced off with top team off the bat because someone likes to give us hard games at the start.
Daisy: Yeah, we faced Ko-oren, for our first game. We're not the best team to start well, as people know.
Kate: Well, we lost to Ko-oren 2-1. Actually, not bad we didn't play a single friendly either and I guess I can't complain.
Daisy: I suspect Ko-oren were a bit rusty as well so maybe both teams not at their best since it's game 1 and we haven't even gotten used to playing together.
Kate: Yes, it wasn't exactly the best of both teams but we did lost our first home game still. But we lost to a good team.
Daisy: Considering we've replaced half the team from the last cup.

Kate: We pretty much have replaced half the team from the last cup and we will be a bit rusty as we have to find out our best team.
Daisy: And there's a Kate Dallas in the team, who's not you.
Kate: There's only one Princess Kate!
Daisy: The other games on match day 1. 95X beat Quebecois Acadiana 2-0. Kinda expected. Iles Rogieres beat Tequilo 3-2. Sajnur beat in Semarland 4-3. Huayramarca beat Netop 3-1.
Kate: There's no byes as we have an even number of teams in the group, like 10.
Daisy: I'm glad about that.

Kate: For all the new faces, in the team ... some might a bit weird. Like Inugami Korone and ... Shirakami Fubuki. OMG we gots hololive girls to play for the team?
Daisy: That really confused me.
Kate: They aren't hololive members, just people who changed their names to those names. Mind you they do behave like their namesakes.
Daisy: And we have another Kate Dallas.
Kate: She can't use Princess as her first name though.
Daisy: Yeah

Kate: Match day 2, we travelled overseas! Well Daisy did, not me.
Daisy: Uh yeah
Kate: Unranked Semarland, I'm sure we've played them before but anyway. We won 3-0. We won't be pointless now. Much easier game than against Ko-oren. Well, we should have won anyway.
Daisy: Completely different game. Semarland did score 3 goals in their last loss but at home they got nothing against a real opponent.
Kate: Yes well, if they beat us we might as well not even be in the cup.
Daisy: True

Kate: Other results on match day 2. Quebecois Acadiana drew with Netop 0-0. I guess they got points now. Ko-oren beat dangerous Huayramarca 2-0. Tequilo beat Sajnur 2-1. 95X won again, 3-0 against Iles Rogieres. Nothing special on the day. The top 3 all had easy games.
Daisy: There's really no point analysing the table for two match days is it?
Kate: Not really, but we know who's got points.
Daisy: Not that, that matters much.
Kate: 95x and Ko-oren are undefeated with 6 points. Then a bunch of teams on 3 points - Iles Rogieres, Tequilo, us, Huayramarca, and Sajnur. One win and one loss teams. Doesn't mean much. Netop and Quebecois Acadiana have that point from their draw. And Semarland on zero. Actually kinda what you'd expect.
Daisy: I guess getting the Ko-oren out of the way is good.

Kate: I guess we kept that idiot coach from last cup, I guess he's not complete idiot.
Daisy: I guess we didn't do so badly last time
Kate: I didn't hear the men calling him to quit
Daisy: Yeah, funny dat
Kate: So not much really happened for the first two games. The results weren't exactly out of expectation.
Daisy: Early days to judge anything

Kate: Now everyone, since people are travelling overseas and other people are travelling here! The pandemic isn't exactly ... like gone. We don't want to sound alarmist but viruses hang around for years ... or centuries like the bloody flu. Be careful, if you're sick don't just brush it off and say things will be fine.
Daisy: I don't have the best immune system, people like me can't afford to catch a flu let alone another coronavirus.
Kate: Being young doesn't mean you're invincible.
Daisy: My name is Daisy - a rabbit name but I'm allergic to rabbits.
Kate: Your parents are just weird.
Daisy: Yeah

Kate: You may have noticed the background music
Daisy: It's Pekora's old background music, why
Kate: I can legally use it, money talks.
Daisy: That's because you're mad as Pekora eh
Kate: I have to be good at something hey
Daisy: Yeah

Kate: Well that's it for now, replays of the two games will be up soon.
Daisy: As well as interviews which weren't televised.
Kate: The interviews with Korone and Fubuki are quite funny
Daisy: They certainly aren't boring
Kate: I know you need rabbit ears Daisy
Daisy: They work better on you

OOC

MD1
95X 2–0 Quebecois Acadiana
Iles Rogieres 3–2 Tequilo
Sajnur 4–3 Semarland
Jeruselem 1–2 Ko-oren
Huayramarca 3–1 Netop

MD2
Quebecois Acadiana 0–0 Netop
Ko-oren 2–0 Huayramarca
Semarland 0–3 Jeruselem
Tequilo 2–1 Sajnur
95X 3–0 Iles Rogieres

[Squidroidia]

Although losing against to a lower ranked team at home wasn't the way Mito and the boys wanted to start the World Cup qualifying campaign, the Squidroidian team could be proud that they at least got 3 points against a higher ranked opponent like Devonta. It didn't help that they didn't even provide a starting eleven to the Squidroidians they were playing against and hey, their secrecy led to Devonta scoring 2 goals but did they really care for that? No, they got 3 points and are sitting in 7th place. It would have been a lot higher if they won against Wymondham.

After their trip against the interesting South Pacific nation of Kulefati, who are participating in probably their only World Cup campaign, the Squidroidians have to face Flavovespia. Not as formidable as the mighty Kulefati, but a formidable opponent nonetheless. And this allowed Manager Mito to personally show off the Squidroidian kits for Kitblog season. Problem was, Kitblog didn't really operate anymore, and as such that Squidroidian home kit, the one Hideo wore when he scored 2 past Devonta at home, was lost. Out there, in Flavovsepia, not to be seen until Matchday 13 at the least.

Kitblog aside, the Squidroidians had to reflect on something, and it was their shitshow against Wymondham. Sure, it was Shingen's first game as the Squidroidian number 1, but their first competitive game back was a shambles. Losing against Wymondham, a team who didn't do anything in the Baptism besides maybe scoring a few goals. And this one got them a win. In the Qualifiers. Against the double 3rd place team. Ryūzaki was mad about this. That anger, of course, caused them to score just like the good old days against Devonta. A team in the top 100. And they just lost against WYMONDHAM.

1 win in 2 games is at least decent for a new team. The Squidroidians hope to make it 3 from 4, but considering their competition, it was going to be hard. Expect them to win against Kulefati and then blow it against Flavovsepia at home. Because of course this team is going 9-0-9.

[Transvolcanic]

The Transvolcanic Federation starts good being a "newbie"
A draw with no goals in home against Jamestownnnn and a 0-1 away win against Pluvia and the Saxean Isles are the results of the two first official ever matches of the Transvolcanic Federation

" The first match was too boring as it seems, no goals, and the protagonist of the match was no one more than the defenses of the teams, they were doing a back and forward match all the day"
Minute 5: *yellow card to RB Bartolo Medina
Minute 17: *another yellow card but to Guilherme Ponte, CB
Minute 45: end of first half
Minute 52: substitution of Minoto Takegomi for Rei-Thon Marcusen
Minute 66: substitution of Keinri Öctagôn, who was suffering some muscular pain that would leave him out of the match, for Walter San Marcos
Minute 75: The most dangerous of the opportunities
Minute 90: Final whistle

"The second match was a "great" victory against Pluvia as we already said, the Transvolcanic Federation, that didn't even have KPB points, won against Pluvia, during the match, Ignacy Volodov scored his first international career goal, the only in the match, and the first in official competitions for the nation, this last one makes HISTORY for two reasons: first official win and the reason said before"

Minute 22: yellow card to Ulisés Rivera
Minute 46: possible hand in area of Pluvia
Minute 47: no penalty
Minute 65: GOAL! Ignacy Volodov scores, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles 0-1 Transvolcanic
Minute 79: goal of Keinri Öctagôn annulled by offside
Minute 90: final whistle

And so, The "cats" make it to 4 points, not a bad start for a team who has only played 4 matches as friendlies before the World Cup started

*post match press conference:
Person 1: "do you have time for questions?"
I. Volodov: "yes, you can ask what you want to"
Person 1: "What a great victory, you scored your first international goal, how do you feel?"
I. Volodov: "I feel good, like I have always wanted to score a goal with the team, and here it goes, the victory goal"
Person 1: "you also brought the first official win of the team, do you think you have possibilities to qualify?"
I. Volodov: "Of course we have, minimum but everyone has chances, who knows? Qualifying to a World Cup seems difficult but why can't we do that?"
Person 1: "Ok, any words about if the team works?"
I. Volodov: "well, we are lacking of goals, that is true, in 6 matches the team made 7, and 1 in 2 official matches, but the defense has looked pretty good, no goals in the last 2, I hope that we can improve"
Person 1: "Thanks for your time"
I. Volodov: "You are welcome"

... Now words from Augusto Campuzano:
Person 2: "thanks for assisting here"
A. Campuzano: "no problem, start if you want"
Person 2: "no goals conceded in the first two matches, do you think that does mean the defense is doing it's work?"
A. Campuzano: "If you win, it's because of the eleven players at the team, if you lose, the same, they did their work, but seriously, I will criticize something, these are no rivals compared to the next one, Sargossa, who is far more high ranked, so we better work more that defense"
Person 2: "right, now, this is the first win for a new team in official matches, Pluvia 0-1 Transvolcanic, how do you feel with this?"
A. Campuzano: "the real question here is... How do my players feel? I didn't play, I only gave instructions"
Person 2: "Alright, the team has won its two away matches, but has lost 2, and tied 1 at home, will that be a factor against Sargossa?'
A. Campuzano: " We may not start with the stuff of luck, we may just focus and see further, I need my players to play serious, with thinkings of winning the next matches, being at home is not a factor more than of marketing"
Person 2: "ok, thanks for your time"
A. Campuzano: "thanks as well, see you"

Predicted lineups for next 2 matches:
Against Sargossa, at Kaiser Arena, Ngorno Zveński, with 51,000 people inside!
Just the same primary formation in roster but with a *more equilibrated style, 0.5 (but will be +2.37 if I can't change it)
Against Staypuftonia, away match
4-4-2
GK: Oliver Agustino
LB: Josua Navarra
CB: Ulisés Rivera
CB: Ferdinand Faibermann
RB: Wellington Delaliya
LM: Ángel Carreras
CM: Romain Van Rosten
CM: Lufti Pasandé
RM: Pietro Pelatto
ST: Eugéne Nazenfritz
ST: Walter San Marcos

Subs: Pablo Colín (GK)
Guilherme Ponte (CB)
Carl-Philip Okoh (CB)
Gonzalo Rojos (MF)
Xavier Corral: LM
Dabur Maldonado: ST
Keinri Öctagôn: ST

The predictions, made by What Decide
Against Sargossa: probabilities (%)
Transvolcanic 15%, draw 32%, Sargossa 53%
Against Staypuftonia: probabilities (%)
Staypuftonia: 34%, draw: 19%, Transvolcanic: 47%

The match against Sargossa will be IMPOSSIBLE almost, an UR team against a number 35? Like the team is DED!
Start preparing psychologically for a huge *ß Breaking
Say fans
"The match against Staypuftonia shall be equilibrated, counting with having won against 316 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles in away soil, then it sould have to be the same"
-states former player Teodoro Quintana on his U2be channel
As for now, Jonathan Kapezie revealed that if the team only gets 2 points in the next 5 matches, Campuzano has a huge probability of being sacked, it is unlikely to happen this but we better shut our mouths
*Training at the Ngorno Zveński International Center before the match against Sargossa
"Last news! Oliver Agustino, a 19 years old player and GK, suffered a small injury that will leave him out of training two days, and could not be used against Staypuftonia
Meanwhile, Keinri Öctagôn talked to the media before the matches:"
Tendant to AFT presidency Ron Medehlfeller: "hello Öctagôn, thanks for using your time to be with us"
K. Öctagôn: "thanks"
R. Medehlfeller: "we want to know, how do you see your next two rivals?"
K. Öctagôn: "Ehh... Well, you see, Sargossa is a top team and if we win against them, we will take 3 important points, if we lose, which is the most likely for several people, we just say goodbye to the World Cup Dream, but we don't fear them, we can show we are here to make honor to our nation, well, it is my nation even if my parents are from Turkey, I grew up in Lozkdańz, so we shall fight with all, they call us the cats, seriously. It does sound super cute for most people and we may be a bullied team right now, but the story... Eh, all know it, because of a fan-base of Fortnite in season 12, and because... Nah, continuing, on the other side, Staypufftonia? That one right? Well, if we managed to beat Pluvia and the Saxean Isles on away soil, then we would have to do it again"
R. Medehlfeller: "Alright... Now that you were talking about the team, are you characterized with it?"
K. Öctagôn: "Well, in nationality, not on nickname you know? I do not play that kind of videogames like Fortnite, but well, the 400 million fans named us like that for something, yeah probably it should be the cat-humans we do have around... Wait... What did I just say?
and well, I do like the experience of playing the qualifiers, if I am not wrong, Kapezie planned to enter the Cup of Harmony or "Copa de Hielo" like here it is called, don't know why calling it like that, but well, he told us that if we didn't qualify, he would seek for a chance of entering to that tournament, but he will have to explain later"
R. Medehlfeller: "OK, yes it is strange not having cat-humans on the team, it was to make this more fair, oh no... You made me talk about that! Ah, Herbalifes, well, so how do you think you are right now?"
K. Öctagôn: "Not in a good state, I'm supposed to be the goalscorer, but I haven't even made a single goal! And I just assisted in our second friendly, in the 4 matches I have played, I haven't done a lot, but guess I have to show that I am the right pick, I don't want to sadden this nation so let's see if I can score finally"
R. Medehlfeller: "Ok, you have to go back to training, thanks for your time"
K. Öctagôn: "your welcome"
David Mongolo, TransV News

[Audioslavia]

OOC: Continued from here and also this series from the last cycle and very much introducing the fourth installment of The Idiot Project

After the tea party, Jeremy and Emmanuel retired to the porch to watch the evening sun go down. Emmanuel in his rocking chair, Jeremy pretty much entirely encased in a hammock.

“Seriously though” said Emmanuel. “Giving you an award. It’s like that time Tiberius Starblayde got Tempus Magazine Man of the Year”
“It’s ‘person’ of the year now” said Jeremy. “Get with the times. I mean it’s 2XXX for god’s sake”
“It was ‘man of the year’ back then”
“Seriously though. We’re out here sipping brandy while your horsewife is washing up.”
“She offered. Don’t change the subject”
“Don’t go on twitter in the near future”
“You’re dodging the point”
“Or Tumblr” added Jeremy, trying to take a sip of brandy and, instead, spilling half the contents onto his beard.
“You’re the guy who poisoned the water supply of an entire city in order to help Audioslavia in a playoff game”
“I can’t believe people still talk about that” said Jeremy, ringing his beard out.
“Nobody talks about that except you” said Emmanuel. “You keep reminding people”
“Why would I…”
“When you were doing that godawful car show in that pair of hideous dad-jeans, for example. You said it then. That show had seventeen million viewers” said Emmanuel
“It was one thing and it was centuries ago”
“What about that time you became the shortest-reigning WCC President of all time because you got caught embezzling money?”
“I was the WCC President!” said Jeremy, waving his free hand in the air. “You’re supposed to embezzle money. What purpose is an organization like that if not to siphon money out of the game and give it to people in suits?”
“That’s not…”
“Besides” interrupted Jeremy, “it was one time and it was decades ago”
“And there was that time you were imprisoned in Krytenia”
“Yeah well” said Jeremy, trying to think of an excuse that wasn’t ‘one time’ and ‘X years ago’. He blinked.
“Wait a minute, I was imprisoned with you”
“It’s still a bad thing you did”
“I was arrested for being near Ted”
“A man whose services you hired when you ran that illegal speakeasy in Kjeligsted that eventually resulted in the imprisonment of eight people and, eventually, the deaths of three”
“That was one time and…” Jeremy’s voice trailed off. “Those people in prison died because of Ted too, not me”
“Directly from Ted, yes. But if you hadn’t started the operation, they wouldn’t have..”
“Oh come on” said Jeremy
“Yeah you’re right” said Emmanuel. “I take that back”

Silence hung in the air for a second.

“Sorry” said Emmanuel”
“Apology accepted” said Jeremy
“Where is Ted anyway?” asked Emmanuel
“Ted’s dead, baby. Ted’s dead”
“Well that’s a relief.” said Emmanuel.

Another few seconds of silence. Jeremy finished his drink, getting most of it in his mouth.

“Besides” said Jeremy. “I may have lost that position in the WCC, but right now I have something better”
Emmanuel turned towards Jeremy and looked at him over his sunglasses.
“Oh?”
“It’s a similar gig. Less money, of course. A lot less, but in my mind it’s just as prestigious. A prize as prestigious as the World Cup itself.” said Jeremy, smiling at the sunset and shielding his eyes from it with his free hand. His own sunglasses were hanging from his shirt. Emmanuel narrowed his eyes. Jeremy looked at him, smiled, fished his phone out of his pocket and, after locating the right file, handed it to Emmanuel.

UNOFFICIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE (UWCC)
Rules and Regulations concerning the Unofficial World Championship (UWC)

1. To become Unofficial World Champion, you must defeat the current Unofficial World Champion in a competitive international football match.
   
2. The game must be played in one of the following tournaments:
   
   1. World Cup Qualifying
   2. World Cup Finals
   3. Baptism of Fire
   4. Cup of Harmony
   5. AOCAF Cup
   6. Copa Rushmori
   7. Campionato Esportiva
   8. Independent Associations Cup
   9. Any game which the UWCC explicitly sanctions as an UWC title match.
3. If the match ends in a draw, the champion retains their championship UNLESS one of the following conditions are met:
   
   1. If the extra time is played in the match, the winner after extra time takes the title
   2. If a penalty shoot-out is played, the winner of the penalty shoot-out takes the title
4. Only the result of an individual match is taken into account. Should a Unofficial World Champion be scheduled to play a two-legged match against a challenger, the two games should be considered individual matches and judged accordingly.
   
5. The only way for the current champion to lose their title is by losing a football match according to rules 1 - 4. Therefore, if a champion retires from international football, they keep their title forever. They become known as Champion Emeritus / the Emeritus Champion and their title becomes known as the Emeritus Championship or the Emeritus Title.
   
6. If the current champion retires from international football, a new Unofficial World Champion will be crowned. Retiring is described as one or more of the following.
   1. The nation ceases to exist
   2. The nation declares retirement from international football, whether temporary or permanent
   3. The nation is assumed to be retired from international football, whether temporarily or permanently
7. Upon a champion’s retirement, the winner of the next World Cup Final will be given the new Unofficial World Championship title. The new Unofficial World Championship should be considered equal in stature to the retired championship.
   
8. Upon their return to international football, the Emeritus Champion will defend their original title according to rules 1 to 4. Any 'new' titles created since the Emeritus Champion's retirement will be given the status of Interim Championship. The Interim Championship will be defended according to rules 1 to 4. Both Emeritus and Interim World Championships will be recognised as equal. Both holders should be considered Unofficial World Champions.
   
9. The Emeritus Championship and the Interim Championship may be unified if the two holders play against one another. The winner will simply be given the honour of being sole Unofficial World Champion. They may carry only the oldest of the two belts they win. The newer of the titles must be given back to the Unofficial World Championship Committee.
   
10. Any team holding both the Unofficial World Championship and NS World Cup will be considered Undisputed Champions of the World until either title is lost.

“The hell is this” said Emmanuel.
“It’s like the world championships in boxing or wrestling” said Jeremy. “Only it’s football. To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. I’ve tracked the lineage of the UWC Title throughout history, created the Unofficial World Championship Committee, of which I am the president. Eventually, I hope to charge a commission fee to every nation that wants to fight for the championship. All I have to do now is create an actual, physical belt that I can award to the current world champion”
“Huh” said Emmanuel. “You’ve tracked the entire history of this title?
“Yup” said Jeremy. "From World Cup 1 to the present"
“Did Karditan ever…”
Jeremy tapped his nose.
“To find out, Emmanuel, old chum, you’ll have to watch the new series of The Idiot Project” he said with a grin. Emmanuel frowned.
“What on earth is an Idiot Project?” he asked. “Apart from, you know, everything you do”
“Hey!” said Jeremy. “The Idiot Project” is a series on YouTube.
“And YouTube is..”
“The RL States version of Vimeomotion”
“Wait this idiot project is a video series?”
“A documentary in motion picture format, I like to call it”
“That’s what all documentaries are” said Emmanuel.
“Either way” said Jeremy. “I’m getting the flight back tomorrow to watch my beloved Audioslavia beat Poafmersia and Silver Commonwealth. I’ll link you to the video when it drops”
“Huh” said Emmanuel. “This Idiot Project… does it get many viewers”
Jeremy turned back to look at the sea, falling away into the distance.
“Tell me again about the Halfassedstates thing”

[Springmont]

For the first time, Springmont FA (SFA) has used the services of overseas sportswear manufacturers as the official manufacturer for the national team. This happened six days after the return of Claude Pauly, MP, State Secretary for Sport & Youth from Ziwana, SFA has announced that Ziwana's largest sportswear manufacturer, even the largest in the region, Zsport has been given contract rights to produce special edition jerseys for national football teams for the ongoing WCQ86.

After the announcement, the average fan praised the quality of the jersey, but the Springmont Textile Manufacturers Association condemned the government's move to award high-value contracts to outside companies without giving local companies a chance.

Springmont 0–1 The Hinodejin Empire
Kingbury
Krepanovic, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Farrowshard
Fjetland, McColsom, Mohaupt
Mayfirth, Crownfish, Compton

Riena 0–0 Springmont
Kingbury
Krepanovic, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Bloodsword
Fjetland, McColsom, Mohaupt
Mayfirth, Crownfish, Compton

Next: MD3: Springmont [0-1-1] vs. Savigliane [1-0-1]
Coe
Fogdream, Heckbert (C), Wingstrom, Farrowshard
Fjetland, McColsom, Mohaupt
Kaizer, Crownfish, Stanley

[Nephara]

Nephara 4 - 1 Hwiccemark
(4-4-2) 12 - Markgraf; 2 - Longship, 5 - Thorn (c), 22 - Lockheed, 3 - Muscadin; 13 - Koerner, 4 - Rauch, 8 - Cromwell (21 - Roebling 80'), 16 - Caracole (11 - Latimore 70'); 23 - Mrdja (9 - Basilisk 63'), 10 - Lovelace
Goals: Mrdja 27', Lovelace 50', Cromwell 61', Koerner 76'

Unimon 3 - 4 Nephara
(4-4-2) 1 - Provost; 18 - Rostock, 5 - Thorn (c), 6 - Brosch, 3 - Muscadin; 7 - Kuepper, 15 - Kastriot (4 - Rauch 83'), 8 - Cromwell (21 - Roebling 72'), 16 - Caracole; 14 - Tzorvas (17 - Avetisyan 83'), 10 - Lovelace
Goals: Lovelace 7', Thorn 12', Kuepper 39', Caracole 58'

Traudl Mrdja may have held the least pronounceable name in Cormorants' history, but she was adapting quickly, making friends. Young, arrogant, self-assured and from a hick town on the Lazuli Coast, she was bright enough to know that her rooming with Aranea Provost was no accident of scheduling.
Morale was high. A rotated side introducing a sheaf of debutants had cruised to victory in Vermillion, and Provost was supposedly going to be on the teamsheet for the away trip to come against another Baptism survivor.
"Look, we'll stroll it. We will," said Mrdja as the two of them wandered through the hotel hallways. "Could probably sink a few beers tonight and get it done tomorrow and be on the first plane home."
"Could probably sink a beer on the pitch," contributed Provost.
Mrdja laughed. "You could get away with it. Reckon if the defence does its job you won't have a damn thing to do all day..."
Something heavy clamped down on both their shoulders. Provost jolted. Mrdja yelped.
"So," Roxelana Thorn said, eerily quiet, from her position between the two. "You think it'll be easy, eh? What do you think about that, Konrad?"
"I think they've forgotten, Roxi," said Konrad Lovelace gravely, arms folded and eyes closed as he leaned on a door-frame like a grim swordsman in a cutprice fantasy. "What do you say, Marica?"
Provost and Mrdja looked right, where Kuepper was somehow looming, grinning with a near-vampiric light in her eyes and teeth. "I think they need a history lesson."
"Oh, history!" Thorn hugged the two other women closer into her, the better to whisper into their ears, "I like history."

"Right. Sit down, cunts. It's time for a truth bomb. How do we start this?"
"Once upon a time?" suggested Mrdja, eager to at least have a line in her fate.
"All this shit is weird?" suggested Provost, less constructive.
"Once upon a time," said Thorn, blazing through. "There was a nation called Nephara. A lovely republic on the Terranean flats, built on the back of millennia of infighting."
Mrdja frowned. "Uhm. I know what my country i--"
"And, shutting up now, Traudl, this country... had a football team. And that football team was the most fully sick in the land."

"They had ... uh ..."
"Scharner," supplied Lovelace.
"Yeah, they had her. And they had Tanith Rainsford, another World Cup winner. And they had... Szalai, still, I think."
"Yeah," contributed Kuepper.
"And... fuck, some other winners. It was a really good team. And neither of the two of you would've been fit to lace their boots! Leading them was Amethyst Fegelein, the greatest manager in the world according to everyone. She'd made Starling relevant. And Fegelein looked unto the fixture list and she saw Starblaydia, but saw them as an obstacle easily overturned. And she saw... some other teams. But she did not see..."

"The vile and elusive shadow warriors of T_____."
"Okay, 'shadow warriors' is a bit much," said Lovelace. "They were a bunch of football players. I've seen the footage!"
"Why the fuck would you go back and watch the footage--"
Thorn clapped her hands. "Hush, hush! Don't spoil the ending! Anyway, the vile and elusive shadow warriors of T_____ were expected to be torn asunder by the mighty and swole Cormorants. By everyone. Especially the Cormorants. Cormorants talking like... you. Right now."
"Ohhh, nooo," chirped Mrdja, still a bit of a pantomime fan at heart. Provost glared at her.
"So the day of the match came, and... lo and behold..."

"... We lost. I mean, they lost. Nephara lost. Got fucking gubbed."

"Uhm, twice. And then failed to qualify, and it sucked, and Fegelein got sacked after like ten games, and..."
Provost cleared her throat. "Are we done here? I wasn't actually gonna sink beers but I might just die of boredom before the match, and then we really would be in trouble."
"Can either of you young grasshoppers tell me the moral of this story?"
Some instinct deep in Mrdja's soul compelled her to hesitantly put up her hand. "Complacency... bad?"
"Complacency bad. Anyway, they play 4-4-2 so they know what they're doing."
"Huh?"
"The next guys. Unimon. Oh, for fuck's sake, just watch the tapes and go to sleep."

After the match, a bloody, frantic stramash of a thing, Thorn wondered if she couldn't have beat the message harder into Provost, perhaps with her fists.
Provost, maturely, blamed Thorn for everything and nearly started a brawl in the dressing room.
As her players laid into each other, Daniella Strauss just smirked, aloof, from the sidelines. She knew well the story of T_____, and knew well its primary moral: no matter how ugly, always, always, always take the three points.

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 2
Goalkeepers: 1 - Hesterine Mercator (Eastweald, COS), 12 - Alexandra Markgraf (Sabrefell Moths), 20 - Aranea Provost (Holdefnberg, EUR)
Defenders: 2 - Rovena Stride (AFC Treason), 3 - Vivica Muscadin (Sabrefell Moths), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR, c), 6 - Ilyana Brosch (Brinemouth), 18 - Linde Rostock (Stahlburg City), 19 - Sander Katarec (Starling), 22 - Gabriel Lockheed (AFC Treason)
Midfielders: 4 - Tawny Shone (Sabrefell Moths), 7 - Marica Kuepper (Jungle Strike, VIL), 8 - Lothaire Cromwell (AFC Treason), 11 - Morena Deventer (Brinemouth), 13 - Anselm Koerner (Chenoworth Rovers), 15 - Mercurio Kastriot (Crisisbless), 16 - Rasmus Caracole (Coret Hawks), 21 - Chimera Moxham (Crawford City FC, COS)
Forwards: 9 - Kurtis Bastable (Ulsa, EUR), 10 - Konrad Lovelace (Revolutionaries, EUR), 14 - Arista Tzorvas (CA Paulinthal, PAS), 17 - Voska Avetisyan (Cornellians, SCT), 23 - Traudl Mrdja (Vermillion Rage)

SCHEDULE
Nephara 4 - 1 Hwiccemark @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Unimon 3 - 4 Nephara
Nephara vs. The Minarchist Free State @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Terre Septentrionale vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. New Lusitania @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Sharktail vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Mavinet @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Nephara vs. Havynwilde @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Damukuni vs. Nephara
Hwiccemark vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Unimon @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
The Minarchist Free State vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Terre Septentrionale @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
New Lusitania vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Sharktail @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Mavinet vs. Nephara
Havynwilde vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Damukuni @ The Gauntlet (Treason)

[The Jovannic]

At a Local Tavern in Jovannica

It's Brilliant! Jovan Ilohil with the curler!

Cheers ring through the tavern as the crowd starts getting rowdy. The jovannic had just scored the winner of the Match against The Cheetah and Reptile Coalison.\

2-1! It's 2-1!

Brilliant play by the lads.

The game resumes and it's not long before the game is over.

WOOOOOO!!! Victory!

YAYAYAYAY!

REEEEEEEE!

YAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!

Jovannicans are just crazy morons.

Juyt Dersa sprinting past a Coalison defender to score to give The Jovannic the lead.

[Southwest Eastnorth]

The Distracted Pioneers vear off course in World Cup
Excerpt from http://www.swensport.tv

After a shocking fourth place finish int he most recent Copa Rushmori, it's been a shocking ride for the Frontiersmen/Pioneers since then, an unfortunate rematch with Graintfjall saw the Pioneers/Frontiersmen drop out of the BoF in the first round of the playoffs. Now after a streetfight friendly versus Verceola, it seems to have gotten even worse for the Frontiersmen/Pioneers. Coach Joe Rox, a midfielders coach for the Frontiersmen/Pioneers passed away from injuries suffered in an auto accident. Rox, whose son the 21 year old Jayson Rox is a reserve midfielder ironically, was the assistant coach for Umberto Tipoli's midfielders. So it's been on the mind of the players recently and there's been some slips in the cracks due to that. Sylestone was an especially egregious match that saw both goals come within 15 seconds of each other, which may be an unconfirmed record for quickest pair of goals. This happened 11 minutes in when keeper Miles Mikohoffer seemed to fade off and miss the whistle restarting the game allowing the Tumble Dryer to get another goal quickly, to add on to the issues with Burt Snodgrass getting over emotional with a random Barstool it's a bad look two games in. Hopefully coach Tipoli can get the troops together and secure some points early for the Pioneers/Frontiersmen. Meanwhile that game versus the Holy Empire felt like a bad nightmare didn't it?

GAME 1
HOLY EMPIRE - 4
??? 19' 55'
??? 49' 
??? 68' 

SOUTHWEST EASTNORTH - 1
Houton - 78'

GAME 2
SYLESTONE - 2
Tumble Dryer 10', 11'
 
SOUTHWEST EASTNORTH - 0

[Siovanija and Teusland]

The Last Archduke - Part I

Sanssouci Palace, Stelburg, Teus Empire - 1888

Archduke Franz Josef Ludwig Karl von Danneberg held a hockey stick in his hand, frustrated. Another shot that missed the net - and his younger sister, Archduchess Elizabeth Charlotte, was laughing at him.

“It’s not funny,” he said, although he had to admit he’d be laughing too in the reverse situation. His sister kept on giggling. As Franz went to retrieve the puck, wanting to get in a few more shots on the practice net, one of the palace doors opened, and out stepped a courtier.

“Children, the dinner is prepared!”

At that, Franz and Elizabeth dropped everything - Franz taking one last shot, this time hitting the target - and rushed into the palace with gusto. They walked down the hallways as the late afternoon Stelburg sun began to set, heading towards the dining room.

The last hall before the room was the Imperial Hall. Franz had loved this hall ever since he was a young boy - painted on the walls were every past member of the House von Danneberg, the Kaisers of Teusland. There was Wilhelm I, who had founded the Empire. Ferdinand the Great, who had conquered Siovanija in the Three Years’ War. His grandfather, Franz Josef I. And his own father, Heinrich III. Franz spent many days in this hall, seeing all his ancestors before him. He particularly liked the portrait of Ferdinand, for it had two crowns - Kaiser of Teusland, King of Siovanija.

After a brief pause at the Hall, the children made their way into the dining hall, walking across the gold-carpeted floors to be seated at the table. Their mother, Kaiserin Isabella, was already seated, and called to them.

“My dear children, how was your schooling today?”

“It was fine, mother,” replied Franz.

“Just fine? What did you learn about today?”

“History, the Battle of Marzig. Ferdinand was such a great leader. I learned that the Siovanijans outgunned us 2 to 1, and Ferdinand still won the battle.”

Isabella gave a wry smile. “Yes, Marzig was a great day for the Empire. But, Franz, war alone doesn’t make a good leader - it was what Ferdinand did for the people that made him so beloved.”

Isabella doted on her children, but always did her best to instill good morals and values in them. She looked disapprovingly at her daughter. “Elizabeth, we can’t start eating until everyone’s at the table.”

The young Archduchess looked up from her plate. “But mama, father still isn’t here, and I’m hungry.”

“Father is very busy right now - it’s a very stressful time. Please, be patient, children.” Stressful time was an understatement.

The Stelburger Zeitung had called it one of the great crises of the history of the Empire. In the city of Marzig, tensions had been running high between the Siovanijan and Teus communities. A Siovanijan demonstrator, alleged to be a member of the Siovanijan Republican Guards, a terrorist organization, had been shot by a Teus Army officer. The ensuing protests were cracked down on by the local authorities and the army, but the Siovanijan Republic had protested against this by sending an army division to the railway connecting Marzig through the mountains to the rest of the country. Teusland had sent a division of its own to meet them, and there was a standoff in the pass as the two countries attempted to work things out diplomatically. Tensions had been brewing between the two sides for years, however - in the modern period, back to 1808, when a revolution in Siovanija secured their independence from the Empire.

Almost on cue, Kaiser Heinrich Michael Ferdinand Lothar III von Danneberg entered the hall, as the courtiers and servers rose to salute him. The Kaiser strode to the table, greeting his children and wife, before sitting down to eat. The dinner began in a bit of silence, the Kaiser clearly a bit tired.

“Franz, did I see you working on that wrist shot outside my window today?”

“Yes, father.”

“You’re getting better - perhaps this winter, we can go to the canal and work on ice.”

Franz smiled. He loved his father, but he knew from a young age already that most of these plans would go nowhere - the Kaiser was simply too busy. “Certainly, father.”

“If you’re serious about hockey, you should consider really putting an effort in now. In 5 years when you go to the military, you’ll be able to play on one of the army recreation teams.” The Kaiser and son nodded.

After a brief pause, Isabella spoke up. “Must we always speak of him going to the army? He’s only 13.”

Heinrich looked up. “I served in the army. My father served. All the way back to 1417, Archdukes of Teusland have done their service. It’s mandatory for every male in the country when they turn 18, and that applies to Dannebergs too.” The Empress nodded, leaving no doubt her real feelings on the subject.

Suddenly, the dinner was interrupted, as two military officers of the palace’s guards unit entered the dining hall. “Seiner Majestat, we’ve just received a telegram from the Chancellor and the Military Commandant for the Marzig District. There’s been a serious development.”

“Please, can this wait until after dinner?”

The guard shifted. “Sir, I’m not sure-”

“If I must know now, then my family can know too. What is the development?”

The guards looked at each other, seemingly debating who should break the news. Finally, one took a breath. “The Siovanijan troops opened fire on our regiment at the border. Our regiment issued a warning, and the shots continued. We then returned fire, and a skirmish ensued. Our division was victorious, Seiner Majestat. We pushed the Siovanijan aggressors out. We reported 6 killed on our side, and at least 20 killed on the enemy.”

You could feel the tension in the room. Everyone was looking at the Kaiser, who took a sip of wine, hands trembling. Still, all eyes were on him. “Things were moving along, too, and now Borograd gets another example of how bad we supposedly are. Isabella, children, I’m sorry - but this is urgent,” he said, excusing himself and exiting with the guards.

Silence at the table. Franz spoke up. “Mama, are we going to war this time?”

“I don’t know, dear. Let’s all pray that nothing more comes of this horrible situation.”

The Imperial family finished their dinner in silence, unsure of what would come next for the people of the Teus Empire, and those in Siovanija as well.

Blampano 2-4 Siovanija & Teusland, @ Unknown, Blampano

Starting XI: Eulenberg; Mendel, Thierse, Maksimov, Spitz (Vesele 75'); Kramer (Mihailov 75'), Bahr, Dimitrov; Kokalj, Pfitzner, Ilev (Kynev 64')
Goals: Stanimir Ilev 12', 44', Lojze Kokalj 50', Thorsten Kramer 71'
Man of the Match: Stanimir Ilev

Siovanija & Teusland 2-1 Astograth @ Franz-Gorz-Stadion, Stelburg, Teusland

Starting XI: Heuser; Steimle, Jager, Klopfer (Thierse 75'), Vesele; Kramer (Bahr 85'), Mihailov, Bliznakov; Kogler, Tauscher, Ribbeck (Kynev 85')
Goals: Michael Ribbeck 27', Lukas Tauscher 72'
Man of the Match: Lukas Tauscher

Siovanija & Teusland National Football Team
Squad Selection - Qualifiers 3 & 4
Away at Turori, Home against Omerica

GK - Ewald Heuser, Anatoli Sveteikov, Yanko Zhelyaskov
LB - Edgar Steimle, Axel Richter
CB - Raphael Klopfer, Karl-Heinz Jager, Erich Thierse, Tristan Niedermayer
RB - Darijen Vesele, Thorsten Helmke
CM - Thorsten Kramer, Todor Mihailov, Dennis Brotzmann
LW - Mario Kogler, Lojze Kokalj
CAM - Leopold Bliznakov, Viktor Dimitrov
RW - Lukas Tauscher, Ivo Romanov
CF - Michael Ribbeck, Stanimir Ilev, Johannes Mandl

Expected Starting XI vs Turori (4-2-3-1): Heuser; Steimle, Thierse, Jager, Vesele; Kramer, Brotzmann; Kogler, Bliznakov, Tauscher; Ribbeck

Expected Starting XI vs Omerica (4-3-3): Sveteikov; Richter, Klopfer, Niedermayer, Vesele; Kramer, Mihailov, Dimitrov; Kokalj, Romanov, Ilev

[Geektopia]

Geektivities
*Be cool, be woke.
Reports done by Rodakowski, our new Sports categorist. Alongside him as an editor is Carrube.

♪ It's the 90miiiiiiinuuuteeess ♪

Hey all, it's your favorite categorist in check to see some of our games for the day, now what do we have here..

Well, if Dingledine didn't want to complacently lose his first two bouts for the day, he's done it. The 3-3 thriller with Kohnhead is fine, they're ranked as a fourth seed so they should be close enough to us in playing power and ability to stoke a draw even at home, really. It's a piece of history, and it's the first time in ours that the Greens have half-assedly not finished the job and tied to lower opposition. I said that some youth was going to help, but maybe that's a detractor here because of our player's efficiency in not knowing how close our opponents are going to cut the game, are going to want it, even. So why doesn't our gaffer make the subs useful, they're all getting on in age as we know it, some are maybe even, 4000, 5000 years old? I haven't checked the official XI that was announced last week, so I may not even be a full-fledged supporter of my country in terms of football. I may just have to "go back to watching cricket", whatever the hell that means. What's cricket anyways but a daft insect? These results I've read on my timeline seem to come out of the stork's ass, just like the comments that have been just looked at here by my lonesome. I don't know what the hell any of this means or what these unknown people are calling me.

I don't want to look at the Bostopia result. It reminds me of Jerauuk a bit too much, and if you asked any other supporter that came to the Isleshore to get absolutely wettened by the lead we just lost at Isleshore, they'll say that too, although if you mention it out of the blue, it's prone to a completely different reaction. Emperor Boston made clones of himself and then scored four times, so, well it was, just a loss of words for me when the Bostopians turned on their afterburners and netted thrice in just three minutes, not the rest of the half they were given. Andreen was in the action for once, it was the first time we've seen him involved in attacking play since Astograth, so it's good to see a player you've always loved like I do make a fully-fledged recovery on the pitch. Not like he was injured, anyways, players sometimes have little mean streaks that aren't their faults when they're on top of the International Goal Tally like he was.

Alright, let's get back to looking at the substitutes and not ponder on our developmentally delayed commenters, although that was fun to look at anyway. So Orsua, Wiszienevski, Schiebly, Glowiak, Koseki, Rahne, and Yahuaca are all younger then our first team. That sucks, I wanted to see experience, but maybe these guys can offer new ways to play a limited stratagem of the Attacking Pass Formation. I hear Orsua's better at communication at his post with other players.. and he's uh.. better than the goalkeeper on a bad day? So he's a super sub? I don't get that for starters. Personality traits, impressionable, tough, devious, not specifically in that order, I hope he isn't too impressionable and doesn't play as an outfield player.

This is Wisznievski, he looks to be, uh, a retiring 9'10 defender. Even with lack of experience it's not good that he's retiring at the same time! Retiring from what? Is that even a personality trait? Says here in the attributes folder that he knows where he should be on the field as a defender, and lays back in case of counter-attack. It seems that everywhere else the man looks to be a dud. Acceleration is in the pits, so is finishing, so he can't be a proper striker or help out with the APF besides being a piece to the puzzle for an attack by passing the ball and doing his job.

Yeah, no, I just really can't see any of these players getting on the first team, and that's pretty much all there is to say here. I haven't seen any of them play, but maybe I'll give Orsua a chance and watch his training sessions closely by keeping check of the Geektopian National Team website and all that, similar to how Dingledine might not want to keep his defenders, as they make a mess of the ball, but is forced to because the subs are shite.

---

Kohnhead 3-3 Greens
Goals: 3' (Charles Laker | assist provided by Miranda Atkinson | Kohnhead), 10' (Idstein | assist provided by Osorto | Geektopia), 18' (Erin Maltos | assist provided by Aaron Korkson | Kohnhead), 20' (Ida Cogginter | assist provided by Charles Laker | Kohnhead), 26' (Picolet | assist provided by Rydelek | Geektopia), 89' (Osorto | assist provided by Szczerbinski | Geektopia)

Player Ratings

Kwasney | 6.5
Osorto | 8.0
Idstein | 7.5
Barella | 6.5
Crete | 6.5
Szczerbinski | 7.0
Andreen | 6.5
Sudlow | 6.5
Dolivo | 6.5
Picolet | 7.5
Rydelek | 7.0

Greens 4-4 Bostopia
Goals: 6' (Rydelek | assist provided by Osorto | Geektopia), 15' (Osorto | assist provided by Idstein | Geektopia), 16' (Emperor Boston | assist provided by Emperor Boston | Bostopia), 32' (Barella | assist provided by Crete | Geektopia), 55' (Osorto | assist provided by Andreen | Geektopia), 56' (Emperor Boston | assist provided by Emperor Boston | Bostopia), 57' (Emperor Boston | assist provided by Emperor Boston | Bostopia), 58' (Emperor Boston | assist provided by Emperor Boston | Bostopia)

What a bloody mess..

Player Ratings
Gowartey | 6.5
Osorto | 9.0
Idstein | 7.0
Barella | 7.5
Crete | 7.0
Szczerbinski | 6.5
Andreen | 7.0
Sudlow | 6.5
Dolivo | 6.5
Picolet | 6.5
Rydelek | 7.5

---

---

[Megistos]

Best Team In Group 3 Tied On Points With Us: Doesn't Mean Megistos Is Second

In fact, Megistos are in 6th place. Which means, EURA ARE IN 5TH??? Yep, you guessed right. A loss to them against Pasarga, but they beat us. Here we go through that match, as well as the Vangaziland match.

Vangaziland 0–3 Megistos
A 3-nil win for Megistos against this unranked team.

The pressure on the Megistian squad was on as they were playing their first World Cup Qualifiers match. Robertson scored the first in the 2nd minute, with a slip from Defender1 causing Robertson to take advantage of this. He chipped the goalkeeper, and in the ball went, decreasing Vangaziland's team's morale. The second goal came from a corner taking quickly from Fran, and Lukovic let the ball run to his left side, and shot with his right, confusing the goalkeeper and making him dive the other way, and it was a goal. The third goal came from Robertson, who grabbed his brace in the 74th minute. Lukovic had won a free-kick 31 yards from goal, and Robertson curled the ball under the wall and in the bottom left corner. A good win for Megistos, but a expected one.

Eura 5–1 Megistos
Well, we expected a loss against Eura, right? In fact, we were pretty lucky for the score not to be something else like 13-3.

Bond scored first in the 12th minute, with a nutmeg of Becks into the net from just inside the box. He made it 2-0 in the 27th when he shot a ball directly at Becks, he parried, he shot again, and this time he scored in the bottom left corner. Robertson got Megistos one back in the 36th when he shot the ball from 30 yards at goal following a corner from Fran, a shot even Belgrave couldn't save. Bowman scored in the 45th when he head the ball into the back of the net, and Becks could only stand and watch the ball go into the net. Bowman made it 4-1 in the 78th minute when he scored from a penalty following a yellow carding of Fri because of a slide-tackle on the back of the knees, and went for the panenka, and made it 5-1 when he scored from a volley following a poor clearance from Fran.

Following the match, Maximilien Martinez, head coach of the MFA, had to arrive for a press conference following the 2 matches, with Alan Gravedige.

Gravedige: "How did the 2 matches go for you?"

Martinez: "I thought they went fairly well. The 3-0 win against Vangaziland was great, and the loss against Eura was expected. I just wish we would have lost 3-1 or something, we are coming into the next game with a negative goal difference. That could make a huge difference."

Gravedige: "Speaking of goals, right now, Robertson has scored 4 goals, the most goals ever scored for a Megistian team in the World Cup. Not like it means much, considering this is Megistos' first WC cycle, but comments?"

Martinez: "He's in good form. I have nothing else to say."

Gravedige: "Final question. What are your tactics for the upcoming matches."

Martinez: "Why would I release my tactics to the opposition? I'll let them struggle to find a way."

[Murphtannia]

Match day 1,

*Intro Music plays*

"Hello, and welcome to Murphtannia today, I am your host, Bill and today we'll be covering Murphtannia's first ever world cup qualifying game, a 0-0 draw away to Busoga Islands. I am here with former Murphtannia national team Manager and Striker, and current Portsmouth City manager Christopher Bobkins." says Brian in a booming voice. "Thank you Bill, It's a pleasure to be here." says Bill, quite calm.

Bill then speaks "So Chris you had a lot of success with the national team, winning the British Championships as a striker and manager, and you finished 5th with Portsmouth this year, do you feel like you could go on to have more success in the future?" Bob then speaks "Well of course, my time as a player and manager has prepared me for future challenges and I hope I can lead the team to future success."

Bill continues after Bob "So, what a result it was against Busoga Islands, rated as one of the favourite teams to qualify, and favourites for the match, but they couldn't past Murphtannia at home, what are your thoughts Bob?" Bob then sits up straight, speaking calmly he says "Well the Murphtannian defence was solid, the Busoga Islands attack didn't have a lick all game, but the Murphtannian attack also couldn't break down the Busoga defence, and they will need to work on that in training."

Bill then speaks again "Well let's take a look at the match highlights"

*The screen pans to the highlights of the game, the commentator starts talking*

The game started well for Busoga, a shot from outside the box from Ikshu Amitabh heading straight into the keeper arms. Then 2 more chances followed from the Busoga Striker as he headed wide from a corner and sent a volley flying over the goal.

However disaster struck for Murphtannia when in the 23rd minute Kamu Jacobs ran past the defence and was brought down, however he managed to pass it to Ikshu Amitabh who stuck it in the bottom right. As the players went to celebrate the goal was disallowed and the pen was awarded, the Busoga players were furious but Ikshu Amitabh was given a yellow for complaining and the pen was set up.

Jacobs was given the pen, he stepped up, being stared down by Ball, before sending it into the top right corner, but Ball guessed the right way and kept the ball out of the net with a saving dive, before Jenkins booted the ball away.

The Penalty save seemed to give life to Murphtannia as Styler and Murphy both created 5 chances between them, however Busoga keeper Hibbaan al-Shareef saved them all, tipping 3 headers over the bar and catching the other 2 shots into the left hand corner.


After that nothing much happened in the game despite rising tensions between Busoga fans and Murphtannian fans, the first half ending 0-0.


2nd half

The second half started with a bang as Murphy and Hibbaan al-Shareef both went up for the same ball in the 50th minute, colliding and sending both players to the ground, Hibbaan al-Shareef thinking Murphy has pulled him down started to get angry and pushed Murphy who pushed him back, the ref then broke up the fight awarding a yellow card to each player.


Then things really heated up, Murphtannia had a corner, Styler whipped in a ball but striker Ikshu Amitabh was on the receiving end, just as he was about to break on the counter attack a crunching tackle came in from Pallett, Ikshu Amitabh went down in pain and the players from both teams started a scrap, pushing, shoving and foul language was exchanged as Ikshu Amitabh was taken off on a stretcher, Hibbaan al-Shareef then broke up a fight between Murphy and Govind Nigam but the ref thought he was joining it, giving him a second yellow and sending off the keeper, who would have a 1 match ban.


As the news came in Ikshu Amitabh would be injured for 4 games, the Busoga fans and Murphtannian fans started hurling insults at each other. The game continued without much action with both defences having a fine game, until a Busoga fan through a brick at Murphtannian Right back Jack Bridges, knocking him unconscious and started an all out fight in the stands. The game was ended in the 90th minute 0-0 as riot police broke up the fighting fans, with Murphtannian fans soon returning home.

*The highlight real ends as the screen fades back to the office*

Bill speaks "Well what a game it was, a fantastic result for the boys, which was however lessened by the news Jack will be out for 2 matches with a concussion, It was also lucky nobody was hurt in the fight that erupted and no major damage was done. How do you feel the team played Bob" Bob then speaks in a deeper voice "The defence was tight, when your denying a team like Busoga goal scoring chances for most the game, it speaks volumes about your ability level, however the attack simply weren't clinical enough, and that's something they'll have to work on in raining."

Bill then says "Just to end today's session, who do you think was the man of the match today?" Bob then speaks "Well Bill I'm going with Goalkeeper Adam Ball, that penalty save was just fantastic, added to his clean sheet, I think he had a great game."

Bill then turns to the Camera and speaks "Well that's it for today viewers, tune in next time where we'll be covering Murphtannia's match day 4."


Match day 2

"Hello and welcome back to ground sports, I'm your host, Brian, and joining me today is former Villa and Liverpool Town player Darren Murphy, how are you today Darren?" "I'm doing fine thx Brian, I'm buzzing for the match today" says Darren.

"So what are you predictions for the match?" says Brian, neatening some paper. Darren speaks passionately "Murphtannia played well in their last game, a 0-0 away to Busoga, but I think Twicetagria will be too much for them to handle tonight, I'm predicting a 2-0 loss."

"Well let's hope your wrong Darren, I'm getting word the games are about to kick off so we now go to our commentators , Bill and Gill."

The First Half

"Hello one and all to Murphtannia's first home game in these qualifiers, The Murphtannian Stadium is at it's 100,000 capacity tonight with a reported 20,000 tickets going to the away fans, the teams are lining up, Gill would you care to go over the team sheets for today please?"

Gill looks at some paper "First the Murphtannian team, after a brilliant result away to Busoga, Murphy has elected to stick with the same starting 11 minus 1 change.In Goal we have Keeper Adam Ball, he is coming off the back of the superb penalty save in the last game and a MOTM award, in defence we have James Cartlidge at LWB, Callum Pallet and Shaun Banks as the CB partnership and replacing the injured Jack Bridges is RWB Lucas Hayes, the 28 year old making his 50th appearance today. In the Middle of the Park we have the usual Jacob Marley at CDM, he had a quite game last time out, in CM is Connor Owen and George Jenkins, and finally in CAM sitting behind the 2 striker is Jake Styler. The striking options remain George Murphy and Jake Pole"

"and now for the Twicetagria line up, in goal is 29 year old Jamie Han, at the back are Anastasia Romanov at LB, Daniil Vasiliev and Stormy Martins at CB and at RB is Ranischwei Holffman-Agapetus. The Sole CDM covering the defence is Davidov Rominevskiy, in front of him are 2 CM's, Ronny Dargozhov and Eli Apollon who sit just behind the line striker in Augustin Vladimirescu."

That is the starting lineups and the anthums are finished, we can now kick off the match

The 15th minute, Augustin Vladimirescu is running on goal, he gets pas Pallett, he squares it to Eli and GOAL, the ball nestles in the bottom right corner as Ball can't get over quick enough, it's a horrible start for Murphtannia, the game kicks off again Murphtannia 0 Twicetagria 1.

It's the 30th minute, Styler is running with the ball, he makes a superb cross, getting the ball over the defence to Cartlidge, who crosses it in for Pole but it's caught by the keeper, the game stays 0-1

It's the 45th minute, Twicetagria have a corner, it's whipped into the box and GOAL, Augustin Vladimirescu heads it into the top right corner but nobody is celebrating, the goal is ruled off for offside, and he was miles offside.

That's it, the first half whistle. Murphtannia have played well today, a good defensinve showing has denied the attack many chances and the Murphtannian attack have been creating chances but they can't put them away and the game remains 0-1.


Second Half

Murphtannia kick off the second half, but instantly lose the ball, Augustin Vladimirescu shoots from outside the box but a good save from Ball to keep it 1-0.

It's the 76th minute, Murphtannia have been banging at the door all day, that dissalowed goal has given them a boost, Boland is being subbed on for Pole, who hasn't played well today, wait Murphy is through on goal but a superb slide tackle from Daniil stops the attack.

It's the 80th minute, Styler nicks the ball off Daniil, he's caught the defence napping, he passes it to Boland, him and Murphy are 2 on 1 with the defender, Boland gets brought down, he still manages to make the pass to Murphy, he's in on goal, AND HE CHIPS THE KEEPER WHO WENT TO GROUND TO MAKE IT 1-1!!!!!, THE CROWD IS GOING NUTS, "YOUR DEFENCE IS TERRIFIED CUS MURPHY IS ON FIRE" IS THE CHANT RINGING AROUND THE STADIUM, OF COURSE IT WOULD BE MURPHY TO SCORE MURPHTANNIA'S FIRST WC GOAL, this might be another massive upset for Murphtannia.

And that's it, Murphtannia has done it, 2 upsets in a row, 2 draws in a row leave Murphtannia 7th place in the group, George Murphy gets the late equaliser that Murphtannia deserved, he is also awarded the MOTM award

Well that's it for from me, Gill, we now cut to Bill who is interviewing Murphy the scorer tonight.

*The screen cuts to a small room, sponsors and the WC emblem across the back wall, Murphy, quite sweaty, is standing in front of the mic*

Bill begins to speak "So Murphy, you continue your great goal scoring run, 7 goals now, and Murphtannia;s first ever WC goal, how do you feel?"

"Well it feels great yanno, to score such a good goal in front of 80,000 fans, in the World Cup and against such a good team, it's a dream yanno, and I am proud to make history and be Murphtannia's top goal scorer."

"That goal gives another upset result, how does that affect confidence going into the next match?"

"Confidence is high yanno, it shows the team we can do anything against anyone and that gives us hope for the future, and I can only help that by playing well"

"Well thank you for talking to use tonight Murphy, and congratulations."

"Thank you"

*With that the screen cuts to black and the programme ends.*