World Cup 87 - RP Thread

by **Graintfjall** » Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:15 pm

Græntfjall Highly Original Pot Preview

Pot 1: Ceramic fragment (c. 5,000 BCE), presumed to be a shard from a pot used for preserving food, one of the oldest surviving evidences of Neolithic Græntfjaller pots

Pot 2: This pot dates from about 500 BCE. Græntfjaller ceramics remained comparatively crude in comparison with older world cultures, partly because of the lack of suitable clay-based soils

Pot 3: This pot (c. 1000 CE) carries a tin-based glaze, evidence that medieval Græntfjallers had established trading links as tin mining was not widely practiced in the country at the time

Pot 4: This pot (c. 1200 CE) carries some of the last examples of Græntfjaller runes, prior to a shift to a wider adoption of a Latin writing system

Pot 5: The cross on this pot (c. 1500 CE) shows that Christianity had begun to establish itself firmly in Græntfjall by this time in the wake of Sankt Jakob the Badass's defeat of the Turks at the Field of Cabbages

Pot 6: This elegant (if to modern tastes rather rococco) pot (c. 1550) is made of fine porcelain, further testament to Græntfjall's substantial trading empire

Pot 7: This pot (c. 1700) is decorated with bands of gold, and was discovered nearly perfectly in tact in the wreck of a Græntfjaller corsair grave, the trading empire having given over to piracy and privateering by this time

Pot 8: This crude pot (c. 1920) was used as an ashtray during meetings of the Græntfjaller Communist Party, whose sudden and violent rise to power its rough edges rather predict

Pot 9: A decorative vase depicting the restoration of the monarchy (c. 2000); kitsch items like this were popular collectibles in the wake of the fall of communism

Pot 10: This pot (c. 2015) in the shape of a Klein Bottle is one of the first items to have been 3-D printed in Græntfjall, marking the technological and economic boom of the 21st century

by **Independent Athletes from Quebec** » Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:25 pm

OOC note : I would like to thank Banija and Delaclava for their permission with using Amadou Secka and Ryan Keating, in advance.

Client: Audience, 'Sixty-Ninth Shade of Marco'

Voice Age: Adult

Gender: Male/Female

Job description: ‘Sixty-Ninth Shade of Marco’ is a full-length feature about the adventures of Marco Hertel, a twenty-two year old Quebecois footballer who plays for Servette, a Valladar football club, and Ryan Keating, a Delaclav footballer whose adventures continue to amuse us….

Art Direction: ‘Sixty Ninth Shade of Marco’ is a disturbing, erotic romantic drama film and we need a voice or two that can personify the sadomachochistic element of the movie. Ideally, the voice will be playing the role of a third-person bystander voyeur, who have their own pacing to do. We are looking for either a young male or female who can speak this in the standard dialect of Quebecois English (Royal Proverbs), with strong vocal fry.

SCENE 1: INT - MARCO HERTEL'S MANSION - DAY

It is a cloudy, snowy day in early May of Quebec City. Ryan Keating, naked starts walking down the hallway of Marco Hertel's mansion in Downtown Quebec City. Unlike the scene there, he is completely naked, with the lower half of his body placed into mosaics. He is slowly and nervously tip-toeing his steps along the hallway, trying to not show too much of his naked presence in the mansion.

Ryan Keating: So this is just a welcoming party for the football transfers?

The camera switches to Ryan knocking the mysterious door. After he knocks the door, the scene quickly cuts to the Ryan’s upper half of the body.

Ryan Keating: I just have a couple of questions.

The camera blurs, and then changes to Ryan slowly grinding against the door. Given the shape of his mouth, he is saying something, but most likely entirely different from what we are thinking about. Then the camera blurs again.

SCENE 2: INT - A BEDROOM IN SAID MANSION - DAY

Asher Lundrigan, with his hair stretched to the bottom of the floor, is dressed in his Universite. St. Croix Bleu et Blanc baseball uniform. He is putting on his catcher equipment. He is being odd, by the looks of wearing a catcher’s equipment in the middle of a snowy day, as well as the way his eyeballs are turned upside down.

Asher Lundrigan: Mr. Dallas-Hertel will be seeing you now.

The camera then cuts into the scene where Asher and Ryan are chatting to each other. Ryan is looking at the camera, while Asher is standing behind him while holding a baseball bat. Asher is about to swing at poor Ryan’s head when the scene blurs again.

SCENE 3: INT - MASTER’S BEDROOM - DAY

We’re seeing a quick flash forward to a sequence, to happen in about a week’s time. The master’s bedroom is stripped to the very minimal furniture placed there. Marco Hertel, only wearing a black boxer, is holding a whip. He, looking at the window only to see a satan staring back at him, turns around and beats the air with the whip twice.

SCENE 4: INT - A GUEST ROOM - NIGHT

Lots of chromatic colours in this scene. The room is slowly burning down with debris and household objects scattered to the ground. Ashes are in the air, and Ryan Keating is lying on his couch, only wearing a green dressing gown. The scene quickly dissipates…

SCENE 5: INT - A CAFE - DAY

Ryan and Amadou Secka are sitting on their seats at the cafe, looking directly at the camera. They are seen giggling. Secka are taking about the life of being a Banijan father and basketball legend in Quebec.

Amadou Secka: How was he like?

Ryan giggles even further in a seductive charm, thinking about the words to describe him.

Ryan Keating: He was….

SCENE 6: INT - A STRIP CLUB - NIGHT

Dazed, drunk and full of enthusiasm, Marco generously spanks Ryan as they dance in middle of the strip club.

Ryan Keating: Polite.

SCENE 7: INT - A PICKUP DRUCK - NIGHT

Marco is driving his pickup truck down the highway. It is hard to see anything else on the front seat but him and the weed smokes makes him feel high, tired and weary as the car drives at 300km/h down the road. He’s replaying his favourite downtime tune while raising his left hand over his head back and forth. He is feeling the highs and is in no intention to slow down.

Ryan Keating: Intense.

SCENE 8: OUT - MIDDLE OF A VALLADAR STADIUM - NIGHT

Marco, in his Servette uniform, scores a tying goal on the final matchday of the Valladar Liga-1, and it of course happens against AD Cerro, their hated rivals. He then runs into the Cerro fans’ audience, throws a middle finger and lots of other obscene gestures at him. Sooner than later, he gets a red card and is ejected from the match, while the debris is being thrown into the pitch.

The voiceover is the QBC broadcaster talking about the incident and how ridiculous it is.

Ryan Keating: Clever.

SCENE 9: INT - A BATHROOM IN HIS METROPOLIS PENTHOUSE - NIGHT

Everything’s in black and white here. From some distance, there are silhouettes of a mysterious thirty-four man action happening on a gigantic tub, covered by the curtains. You can hear some whipping, kissing and slurping noise too, while the water slowly overflows from the tub and into the tiles. This is where Ryan’s voice drops.

Ryan Keating: And really intimidating…

The scene cuts into the black, and the trailer’s title ‘Sixty-ninth Shade of Hertel’ is turned on. At the very ending, you hear the end of the background music, with simple repetition.

Voiceover: Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, no, no, no, no..

[THE END]

by **Somehow Related to Rarity** » Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:25 pm

PSTCT
Ryder and Katie steps into the room
Ryder: We’ve got our groups dingheads!
Katie: Yesh, and you poopos had better buck up and do miracles!
Rubble: What miracles?
Katie: The m i r a c l e s
Rarihoe: whispers to Sluttershy very helpful
Katie: Ayy shut up pussbag.
Ryder: Anyway, first up we have Ko-oren
Alppe: Fock’s that? Sounds like an illegal drug company
Katie: Whadyer know apple, PEshTSheT sounds like a PETA
Twilight: gasps in horror that’s sacrilegious!
Katie: As if you weren’t
Marshall: OooOoOoOoOoOoo
Twilight: Fug off Marshall
Ryder: Next up is Simulland!
Katie: NEKSHT
Ryder: Next is US sexys!
Upon hearing such good news, everyone jumps and celebrates this amazing news
Ryder: Aight. Next up, we have... North Alezia
Sluttershy: Miw that’s a sexy name uwu
Zuma: Fwuck off catgirl
Sluttershy: MeeWWwW
Rarihoe: Don’t trigger her she has existential issues.
Zuma: Damn
Ryder: Next on our menu is Crystalline Caverns!
Rarihoe: Nooooo... my comrades...
Painbow: You fockin wot mate
Rarihoe: Crystal.
Ryder: Ignore her; we have Legalese next!
Rocky: I don’t know what to say man, are they lawyers?
Tracker: ¡Tengo miedo de que mi negocio de tráfico de drogas se arruine!
Rocky: See?
Ryder: Okay... we have Sylestone
Twilight: Hmm, they seem good to be honest, they’re strong
Pinkie: They’re literally what we use everyday, surely we’ll be able to dominate them!
Skye: Sexy.
Pinkie: Unlike you
Marshall: OoOoooooOooOOOoo
Chase: No one insults my babe like that!
Ryder: After that... we have Blouman Empire.
Pinkie: Blueman?
Katie: BLOU-man you deaf wingatt
Pinkie: I’m sOrRy :-p
Painbow: Who actually uses emoticons while talking? 420% uncool
Pinkie: Shut up normie
Painbow: Who uses normie these days?
Ryder: Finally but not leastally, Quebec Kingdom of Royal!
Rarihoe: Oo can I have a miracle with the queen?
Katie: The queen ain’t Québécois dimwatt
Rarihoe: That sucks. Must have a club somewhere?
Sluttershy: I’ll scout for you
Ryder: Wait! I have one last team! The Sarian!
Rubble: A newspaper agency?
Katie: It’s a nation.
Rubble: Can I read it?
Katie: to your heart’s content

by **Beepee** » Tue Jan 05, 2021 9:49 pm

It could have been worse... we're not sure how, but it could have been.

Beepee have been drawn in Group 12 for the World Cup qualifying campaign.

After a couple of cycles in the soccer wilderness, mainly playing down at the local park against however is out walking their dogs, the Beepeean team are back and have drawn a tough group.

Clealry with so much quality in the group the Beepeean team will be simply looking to avoid embarrassment.

Despite the doom and gloom around the draw there is one bright spot, with Beepee being unbeaten against all their opponents, with a record of played 2, drawn 2 (both against Omerica).   But those results came in the heady days of Beepeean football... which are now nothing more than a distant memory.

Still the 'little nation that could' will once again be trying its darnedest...

Let's take a look at some of the opponents and get former National Team Coach, Michael Forsberg's thoughts.

Starblaydia (7)

"Top seed Starblaydia should give us a good spanking, both home and away. If we can keep it to a respectable 6 goal deficit over the two matches most Beepeeans will be happy.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 Losses"

Equestria (24)
"Equestria could well push Starblaydia for the topspot in this group and I suspect it will be a close run thing between the top two. Unfortunately for us after a good spanking by Starblaydia, we'll get a good hiding by Equestria. At this rate we won't be able to sit down for weeks.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 Losses"

Omerica (61)
"I remember Omerica, they're a good side against whom we have had decent results. But since then our teams have gone in completely different directions. Our boys will be up for these games, but still the gulf in class will show.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 Losses"

Darkmania (89)
"Darkmania is the darkhorse team.   I expect them to do very well this campaign they're my pick for a team to watch. Their depth and class will, without doubt, shine through.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 losses"

Yuezhou (107)
"Yuezhou might be the team where we can get closest two out of the top seeds so far. And by closest to, I mean not getting horsed. I suspect well lose both matches each by a goal or two.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 losses"

The Grearish Union (153)
"If we don't want to be totally embarrassed in this group we need to pick up points against high ranked teams. Grearish Union will be stern opposition, but if we can somehow find a bus we could park it on the goal line and sneak a 0-0 draw. Thats assuming we park it across our goal and not theirs.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 losses"

Transvolcanic (158)
"I'm not wholly sure what tactics we'd choose against the Transvolcans, but we'll need to ensure we've got asbestos boots on.   Ranked over a hundred places higher than us, we'll need to pretend the floor is lava and hot foot it to their goal if we want to sneak a point.

Anticipated Results: Beepee 2 losses"

Mexi Catcha (355)
"The first matches we'll be favourites for are against Mexi Catcha, and they'll know that they're on a par with the quality of our boys. I'd expect plenty of long balls from the Beepeeans as we try and salvage something from this group.

Anticiapted Results: Beepee 1 loss, 1 draw."

Lorrana UR
"We know nothing about the Lorrana side and I bet everyone will be pulling out their atlases to find them tonight. As an unranked team, we're likely favourites but, looking at our record against unranked teams we have a 75% loss rate...

Anticipated results : Beepee 1 loss, 1 draw."

"Overall, it's a shame we cant play against ourselves as thats probably the only way we'd get some points. I fully expect us to be propping up the table and we must be a contender for wooden spoon or worst team.".

by **Quemorr Isles** » Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:11 pm

Welcome to the Quemorr Sporting Magazine for the draw for the regional qualifiers for WC87! We shall be doing Esportiva, while our counterparts in Sporting News Kalactin will be doing Rushmore, Atlantian Oceania and the Indies. As we know, Esportiva has four spots, so there will be two groups of ten, where there will be a double round-robin and the top two progressing to the World Cup Proper. Two matchdays will be scorinated per proper scorination (if that makes sense). And now, for the draw.

Group 1:
Newmanistan, Hampton Island, South Covello, Riena, Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom, Filindostan, Sylestone, Damukuni, Bongo Johnson and Vangaziland

Group 2:
Brenecia, Xanneria, Vdara, South Newlandia, Ancherion, Lisander, Natanians and Nosts, The Grearish Union, Cheetahs and reptiles coalision and Tumbra

First Glance:
Personally, I would say Group 1 looks slightly tougher, with every single team being well known to the vast majority of the sporting world. Group 2 isn't to be underestimated, though, as some of the sides there are alongside the biggest names going around at the moment. Looks like a thrilling contest!

So there we are! Join us soon for matchdays 1 and 2!

by **Twicetagram and JYPe** » Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:43 pm

Home >> International >> World Cup

World Cup 87: How will we fare?

By Antoniv Vasiliev

It is no wonder that the World Cup is a tournament most of us are looking forward to. However, as Twicetagria goes into their 3rd World Cup, expectations are pretty high for the Lieutenants. Call it ambitious, but everyone in Twicetagria is rooting for a qualification or a playoff. A long shot? Yes. Impossible? No.

We’ve been drawn into Group 16. An interesting group, it is. If we’re going to judge everyone on paper, we should have a decent run. Even if we don’t make it to the finals, we still have a high chance of a Cup of Harmony invitation. At least, that’s what I hope. The top pots are quite the threat, with The Holy Empire and Trolleborg being the formidable ones. The Holy Empire has always been the top contender for qualification. With their recent qualification last cycle, Trolleborg will definitely come in stronger than ever.

We’re not discounting the other teams, though. Maccian should be a really tough nut to crack, despite being new to the scene. Megistos, Waisnor and Sulsuland could prove their worth this cycle. We’re not sure about the others, but we should comfortable beat them.

Obviously, there isn’t any fun unless we come up with our predictions!
The Holy Empire should take the first qualifying spot. It’ll be a fight between Trolleborg and Maccian for the next automatic qualifying spot. The team who doesn’t make it will potentially have to fight us to the playoffs, which only holds one spot. After that, Megistos and Sulsuland will probably fight for the best of the rest.

That’s it folks! We’re facing Mand Blusopia next. Catch us live!

by **Mapletish** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 4:58 am

Job Bobbie - Part 1

The Sour Kind
"I only know one thing, that is I know nothing"

Commentaries| Podcasts| Timothy Jozua

Heart to Heart with Job Bobbie - Part 2

"Oh yes, coffee, I like it black, long black coffee, the perfect daily cup of coffee to start your day with, to continue throughout your day and to end your day with. People ask, how many cups of coffee I drink in a day, I will reply them truthfully, 3. You should see their faces when I mentioned that, 3 long blacks in a day? How do I sleep at night? I guess, you get used to it once you drink enough cups over a long period of time. Coffee then becomes a comfort drink rather than an energising drink. So you can say I got desensitize to the effects of caffeine by drinking it everyday."

"So I can say that you can't live without coffee?"

"Absolutely. Don't you think that it represents life?"

"No? tell us more about it then."

"I started indulging in the richness of the world of coffee when I was 12. Started off with those easily available cappuccinos, sometimes flat whites, lattes and macchiato. Thinking back they all seem too sweet for me now, but back then, those were the coffees of choice which appealed to teenage me. The sweetness and an easy dose of energy boost helped me get through the day. So you can probably say coffee has been with me for 8 years now. Throughout the 8 years, my taste for coffee has changed, within 2 years of drinking coffee, my preference for coffee shifted from ridiculously sweet towards aromatic, full and strong. This means bitter and aromatic. It represents life. The ups, downs, valleys and peaks. You could say coffee has been companion throughout all of those times. The different coffees in the range of sweetness to bitterness also represents the sweet endings and bitter starts in life. I categories starts as always being the most bitter but it is aromatic, while the ends are usually sweet but not as aromatic, but it stands out as a reward for teething through the tough journey, which is life. We face problems shaped like bumps on our roads and we overcome them, just like how some coffees are a little less aromatic than we expect. We might expect darker doses of coffee as more aromatic, more powerful, but usually they aren't as aromatic or as powerful. Just like life.

You see, people who drink coffee regularly have their form of opinion about their coffee just like how all of us living life as an opinion about living life. Not all of us are enlightened in our journey of life and so are the regular coffee drinkers, not all of them are coffee snobs, but most people do know a thing or two about what constitutes a god coffee for them, and their coffee preference and will have some opinion on what is a bad coffee. Just like how we all can say what does living and doing well means and can intuitively categorised others as not having lived well or done well. Don't you then see a representation of life from there?"

"That is indeed deep coming from a young man like yourself."

"Nope, I was merely stating my own observations. It might seem deep but sometimes it is not that deep, it just seems murky, and our natural tendency is to side towards depth because we can't decipher it when faced head on or on the first encounter."

"Judging from that, I can say that you are addicted to caffeine now."

"Wouldn't say that it is an addiction or a drug though."

"That is why addicts always say to try and justify what they are doing though. Judging from your interesting take on life, how do you steer your teammates when they sit down and talk to you?"

"I try not to steer them. I give them my two cents and ultimately, it is up to them to choose what they want to do with the additional input. Whether or not it makes sense to me does not concern me, because it is still them who are making the decisions and living their life. It is up to them. It seems that every time your friends have issues and seemingly incurable problems, you standing from the outside, feel the urge to want to solve them, and it seems so simple from your point of view. But it always looks different when you’re inside the mess than it is when you’re looking from the outside. I just try to lend a ear and be by their side through the difficult times instead of offering advice unsolicited or maybe advice that might be harmful. Only answer when asked to, that is one rule I stand by and even if it is solicited, I try to ask "Do you have ways to improve the situation?” It might seem counter-intuitive, but sometimes they do have solutions, just someone to validate them. "

"Nice, that is good advice for someone giving advice on how to advise. Talking about the team, what is your current take on the draws? Your team is drawn into Group 19, with nine other teams, including

Siovanija & Teusland (22)
Natanians and Nosts (102)
Eura (10)
Pemecutan (192)
Kohnhead (69)
United Pink States (269)
Savigliane (124)
Port Ember (57)
Al Qurija (UR)

"I'm not looking to mount any surprises and neither does the team want to attempt that. I will have to wait for coach's intention and we can see what he is aiming for. But all I want the team to work towards is, no expectations, no lofty ambitions, just hardworking, honest football, and hopefully we play well enough to get an invitation to the Cup of Harmony. No expectations, that is the toughest expectations, then there is no direction. But, what direction are we expecting ourselves. What are we getting into? There's not much indication just that all of the teams we are going up against have some kind of experience in the multiverse stage and have players with a wealth of experience. We are at a disadvantage here but there is nothing for us to lose though. If we are lucky, we might even take points away from all of them, although that is not for sure. We do stand a chance."

"You seem quite optimistic here, which brings us to my next question. Are you a realist or idealist?"

"I am both. I see them together rather than separately. Of course by definition, we see realist as a pragmatist, someone who sees thing practically and stuff, while an idealist is commonly known as a dreamer, with so many ideals to peruse and devote their time thinking about their purpose. Of we set them in direct competition to one another then we are forced to choose between them. It seems then that they are a dichotomy when in fact they are not. An idealist is only so only the surface but at is very core they are a realist. You can only aim as far as what you are pre-dispositioned to. Moreover, being idealistic gives us some kind of meaning when we experience our life pragmatically. Of course if is intangible, it is hard to measure so we are pragmatic with things that we need to measure and are tangible."

"Right, so any advice then for up and coming footballers who are plying their trade in the youth teams or in schools right now?"

"Work hard, train hard, remember why you are playing football and enjoy the process. The football journey is a long journey, and even for myself, I have just embarked on it, so just enjoy the opportunities you are given as well and the best will come your way. Even if they don't come your way, ultimately, you will have the choice to make do of them!"

"That is a short yet meaningful word of caution for the young players right there, enjoy the process!"

* * *

by **Jabal Akhdar** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:22 am

by **Frestovenia** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:37 am

Debutants Frestovenia drawn in group with five time champion Valanora

Fresto Sports - 6 January 2021

Draw overview

One of the most notable opponents in this group is Valanora. The five-time world champion, who currently holds fifth place in the KPB rankings belongs to the absolute favorites for the group win. Valanora's last victory dates back at the 61st edition where they beat the Free Republics in the match for the cup. In the 67th edition Valanora came very close to contend once more for the final victory, unfortunately for them, they lost the semi-final match and had to play for the third place. Welcoming Valanora's national team in Frestovenia is amazing says the president of the Frestovenian football association: "We get the opportunity to play against teams at a very high level. Valarona will play here for 3 points and another 3 when we visit them, but every small result that we can take will be colored as a victory for Frestovenian football". Whatever the result, the matches against this strong side will be watched by millions at home.

Blend of class and talent

The other teams in group 11 are top 100 ranked teams: Kelssek, Darmen, Squidroidia, and Barunia. Once again a blend of class and talented teams that will fight for the golden places in the group. It will be tough for Frestovenia to take points against these opponents. Every single match against these teams will be seen as a lesson. Fighting to the bitter end is a tactic that will be described more during this qualifying campaign. It is very unlikely that the Frestovenian side will qualify for the final tournament and make their debut on that stage. Shortly after the draw completion, the head coach of the Frestovenian national team said: "Currently we are busy with the preparations for the upcoming qualifying matches. 2 months ago we started to train with the boys and tried to find the right set of players for our selection. Many players have shown improvement and I'm happy to say that i'm very proud at my team at this moment. I'm more than ready and I think the boys are ready too. You can really see the smile on their faces it shows the excitement in every single way".

Where do we pick up the points?

We still have five teams left before we've gone through our whole group. All of Frestovenian opponents are ranked except Frestovenia which was unranked during the draw. The 5 lower-ranked teams in the group are respectively Wreckeria (155), Tornado Queendom (263), Jabal Akhdar (315), and Icecliff (359). It will have to be done against these teams. Still a huge task for the Frestovenian team. Hopefully, we can win our first points against one of these sides. Everything is still new for this young team and the expectations are low. However, this team is ready to make history. The first match of the qualifying campaign will be played against the Tornado Queendom at the Asvard Stadium in Asvard and the second match will also be a home game against the lowest-ranked team of this group Icecliff. Two important matches were the Frestovenian team has to show where they stand.

Road to Taeshan & Ethane

Bellow the full list of fixtures of the national team of Frestovenia:

Standings

Group 11 Standings
 1 Barunia                 0    0   0 - 0
 2 Darmen                  0    0   0 - 0
 3 Frestovenia             0    0   0 - 0
 4 Icecliff                0    0   0 - 0
 5 Jabal Akhdar            0    0   0 - 0
 6 Kelssek                 0    0   0 - 0
 7 Squidroidia             0    0   0 - 0
 8 Tornado Queendom        0    0   0 - 0
 9 Valanora                0    0   0 - 0
10 Wreckeria               0    0   0 - 0

by **Garbelia** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 6:33 am

Interview with Otto Ludovitch, Garbelery citizen.
Interviewed by Garvida Rovers legend, Lutra Scratchington

"Hello Otto, thanks for agreeing to the interview."

"No problem Lutra, I'm glad to be on the show!"

"Do you support a league club?"

"Yes, I'm a proud Lebarg Otters fan, but I'm still waiting to see them get a trophy."

"So, you're feeling good about being second in the table?"

"Certainly, I've waited nearly 40 years for us to even come in the top seven!"

"That must be hard."

"Yeah, I must confess I don't feel great about it."

"What do you think of the new national team, they are very inexperienced at this level."

"Yes, they are all exceptional at club level, but I am not sure if they'll make the cut internationally."

"What would you say the mindset here in the capital is after the draw?"

"I think it is a case of 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst'. We are expecting to lose every game, after all, we have only played friendlies so far. No, we'll be delighted if we even score a goal, let alone win a match."

"Then what would you say if we made it. If we went all the way and qualified?"

"I don't think I can answer that question, Lutra. It is so unlikely."

"Have you got any good chants, or songs ready?"

"Seeing as Arthur Goodotter and Otto Otter are on a vein of form..."
At this point, Otto jumps up on the table an starts singing.
"He's quick, he scores,
He'll hit so may top draws,
He'll run through defence's open doors,
Arthur Goodotter,
He's so good,
He shocks you even when you know he would,
Running through the back line,
Smashing it away,
ARTHUR GOOD-GOOD-GOOD OTTER!"

"Sounds good!"

"Thanks Lutra, we're teaching it to everyone in the nation, he's our one to watch."

"Well I can assure you I'll remember that, and be singing it on TV in our first match, against Græntfjall on the 11th. Tune in to PGBS Sport for live coverage, and until then, goodbye!."

View from Venjolath Road will be broadcast on both radio and television daily until the end of the WC Qualifiers, and will be available as a podcast afterwards. Find an interview with star player Arthur Goodotter, and his predictions in the next episode.

by **Sharktail** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 7:03 am

SHARKTAIL POST EP 38
WARM UP OVER, NOW THE REAL ONE

Sharktail is now entering the final phase of their preparations ahead of the kick-off of the World Cup qualification 87. As usual before the tournament began, Sharktail arranged a series of friendly matches. This time, three teams of choice have accepted Sharktail's invitation to hold a friendly match as a warm-up. Sharktail traveled to Lightspeed Arena, Lorrana City, Lorrana to take on Lorrana's national squad, before receiving a visit to Juvencus at Stadium Biru Kota Lama and ending a series of Sylestone warm-up matches at Avondale International Sports Stadium.

Roughly speaking, these three matches aim to see the team's current condition as well as try some new tactics and couplings. If we look at the Sharktail team lineup this time around, a lot of new players are called up especially on the defensive side. On the goalkeeper side, David’s helas are the most experienced. In the middle position, it can be said that no problem is too big. Most of them have played together before. As for the attacking position, Win Aziz needs to adjust immediately or he may be forgotten. Neither Shahrul, Virman nor Gaby, these three players have been paired together many times and the effectiveness of the three of them before should not be discussed. In all three of these series of friendly matches, some players are seen to be quite prominent. Here we summarize a little about them.

1.Jaclin (VS Lorrano)
Rating:8.3
Key moment:1 Goal
Playing in the left wing position in this match, he can be said to be well mined. In this match, he controls the ball well and manages to escape, and communicates well with other players. With his long range shooting technique, he may become good choice as sub and give Sahami option to try long shot as one of his plan. If Sahami stick with using wing, he may getting a chance to start the game, but if Sahami choosing t use wide midfielder rather than wing, Chandra seem to be first choice.

2. Shahrul (VS Juvencus)
Rating: 8.8
Key moment: 2 goal.
There is not much to say about this match, when the match ends in defeat, not much can be said. However, Shahrul to some extent gave ideas and materials to talk about. A little bland game from this team, ranging from defensive line up to attack, it all didn’t work out. Sahami played more using the three center back tactics, but there was not much difference and was crushed by the Juvencus front line. Commonly used in attacking positions, this time he was lowered slightly to the wing position, he managed to show an entertaining game. In this match, what is quite clear is seen, Shahrul seems to be trying harder to get the ball and often be in the center midfielder position. This caused a lack of winger role in this match and only 2 kli cross successfully done by Sharktail. Simply put, in terms of the way he plays, he has proven his credibility, but in terms of tactics, the right wing position is not very prominent in this match.

3. Zeehad Yusof (VS Sylestone)
Rating: 8.6
Key moment: Clean Sheet(7 save)
Against the Sylestone team, there are some excellent players, but for this time, we give credit to Zeehad Yusof. After two disappointing matches, Zeehad finally breathed a sigh of relief after helping the team defeat Sylestone in the away. In that match, Zeehad was tested by Sylestone players 7 times, and he managed to deny it all and disappoint the Sylestone lineup. Zeehad made 3 neat catches and buffered out 4 more. Although several times looked anxious and did some dangerous actions, praise for his courage should be given. Now, he is seen to be more confident to keep the Sharktail team's goal throughout the World Cup Qualifying.

All the prep done. Now left for Sahami and his boys to start moving their legs and play all their opponet. All the best for Sharktail.

by **Lorrana** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:49 am

The National Times
Published by Orut Mezo on January 6 at 7:49am

NEW SARUM - The draw for the qualifying stage of the World Cup is complete! Lorrana is in group twelve with the following schedule:

The top team in each group, as well as the best three 2nd place teams advance to the final tournament. The remaining 16 second place team will go to the playoffs, where 8 teams will join the 22 already qualified teams and the 2 hosts (Taeshan and Ethane) in the final tournament.

We caught up with manger Ikot Anop this morning. He said that the team was "very excited to be playing their first competitive matches and they were going to bring their 200% to the tournament".

The team's first game is on Monday of next week against Yuezhou which will take place at Lightspeed Arena in Lorrana City. I'll be there with full coverage of the game

by **Megistos** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:13 am

Sledding Down The Goal

Megistos are back into the World Cup. This time in Pot 5, they hope to do better than last time, where they finished 7th. They have high hopes, though, coming from a 4th place IAC, which proved that Megistos were only going to get better.

One of the problems that the Megistian side faced while playing in the World Cup was that the training quality was poor, and they mostly fooled around instead of acting serious. Only some acted serious. However, the manager takes a new approach, with players getting suspended from playing matches if they fool around. Like, the only time they get to have fun is still in training, but since it's winter in Megistos, they go skiing.

Not normal skiing. They have to ski on a cliff, which has a ledge. They have to jump off that cliff without the ski tools, and they have to volley a ball shot into the air by a machine. It tests outfield players with their balance, timing, accuracy and shot power, and it tests the goalkeeper's reaction time and reflexes.

Now you may be thinking: ain't that dangerous? Well, not. The Megistian players are also super healthy and strong, and it's supposed to be hard, not easy. It tests their balance, which helps them in not getting tripped up, something that commonly happened in the last few tournaments.

Now, you may ask, 'why does this matter?' Well, we've invented a new sport. It's Iceball. It's basically soccer, but it's on ice. It teaches balance with skating. Now you may think: why are you kicking the ball with a skating shoe? Well, it's actually a football cleat (with the studs), and the studs make it go better on ice, with our technology.

It's super fun, but it also helps you in football, which is an essential in the Megistian's fight for qualification.

by **Trigel** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:26 am

The draw has come in! The fans outside the Buerga de Pltinz watch on the giant tv outside as their team gets picked in to group 2, competing with Ranoria, Cheetas and Reptiles coalison, Riena, Hindu Ram Rayja, Brenecia, Filindostan, West Angola, Terre Septentriaole, and Plane of Possibility. As it is they're first time participating, Trigel is in pot 10.

by **Central Shaneville** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:39 am

JAY BUCKS ON GROUP STAGE DRAW
The qualifying groups for the World Cup are out and the initial reaction from Central Shaneville was one of intrigue as manager Jay Bucks puts it "We find ourselves playing all new teams, for us at least, which is very exciting and I think we can get some results...what we do want is to improve on our last campaign and give it our best shot to go through to the finals despite the odds being so low, not just for us but for almost everyone because at the start of a group stage everyone, in my opinion, starts on an even playing field."

When asked about whether or not his training plans for the squad has changed he said that "It has definitely increased because it is World Cup season however despite more training I also try and add more fun into the sessions to keep player morale up as hours on end of training can take its physical and mental toll on anyone."

Jay Bucks then preceded to walk back to the training ground.

And for all you Central Shaneville fans around, here is there group.

Code: Select all: Group 3 Cassadaigua Flavovespia Muralos Havynwilde TJUN-ia Busoga Islands Hispinas Nacaltora Central Shaneville Acronius

by **Juvencus** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:44 am

World Cup Qualifiers groups decided, Gli Attacanti on Group 6

Another year, yet another draw for the great dance's qualifiers. This year holds significance as gli attaccanti has managed to completely stop its coronavirus-related epidemic at last and people are free yet again, without any restrictions. This should mean a lot more effort will be brought back into sports and especially the association football side of it all. It is incredible to think just how many nations there are in the multiverse, yet how few of them actually manage to even play in the qualifiers, without disappearing in the mists of obscurity, all of them have the same goal, qualify for the world cup and even win it to solidify their football culture as possibly superior to others, or as the folk may call it, a big flex on them. At this current point in time, we enter the summer of 2026 as the 67th ranked side in the world. The rank drop has been significant and a quite sloppy, however with a greater focus on the development of the national team and the arrival of younger talent to merge with older, more experienced players, the chances of the team providing a performance to be reckoned with, much like past version of the squadra, increase.

La squadra was placed, pitied even, in group 6 with quite a few sides Juven players are experienced with from past cycles, or as far as we have been keeping records from. Teams we haven't managed to beat, such as Turori, fierce rivals in Mercedini, with fiery matches to be expected between the two sides at any time. The team on which we debuted against, Qasden, who, admittedly, have a very similar flag to those weirdos in Montagnaverde but oh well. The passing of the torch towards our little city-state friends in San Ortelio and finally the sleeping returning giant in Cosumar, on which many of our players have graced the domestic grounds of before the nation's sudden shakiness a few years ago. And those don't happen to be our only opponents, we also have an array of talented squads to look out for, despite their lowly ranks, as victories against those are equally crucial as beating the big dogs. A group of champions, it might as well be coined a group of death. Here, we will take a look with what we have to say about each individual team, yet with no predicitions as we are no prophets, or are we?

Turori: Starting off with 8th ranked Turori, they need no introduction, they're a heavyweight in the association football business. A talented squad that not many teams can match with, let alone beat. As far as our records go, we have put some competition against them when we were one of the lowly and inexperienced sides of the multiverse, however to no avail as we still haven't manage to come victors from a bout against them. Competitiveness against such sort of a team is to be expected, with lots of prayers to get the 3 points at least in the Catedral, which should ring the singnals of a restrengthening gli attacanti. However, the Emirate's team is to be respected, venerated even and should be going through this group on a breeze, despite the existence of enormous amounts of talent.

Mercedini: Mercedini, what a squad they've got, even if they themselves cannot admit it. Certainly one of the fiercest, if not the fiercest, in-pitch rivals of our nation. With a series of really close matches between La squadra and currently-ranked 33rd Dini, expectations for yet another action-packed and goal-infested, yet close matches between the 2 are on the table on pretty much every discussion. Keep in mind, for any Juven to respect any rival nation, especially in good old calcio, is a very rare honour and Mercedini certainly holds that one. It's impossible to accurately guess whether any of the sides win, or if they stick to 2 incredibly close ties. But for the most part we expect to grab a victory from anyone in the multiverse, no matter how much of a threat they pose.

Qasden: Qasden, our record keeping of this side is not up to part as our previous 2 highly-ranked nations, however with a talented squad themselves and former back-to-back Cup of Harmony victories(although, very long ago), our first ever opponent will be quite the nuisance for us, as well as everyone else in the group. Maybe it is a great opportunity to establish which side of the 2 will be better for the bouts to come. As with everyone else, we do expect to win, no questions asked, no answers given back either and no buts. Gli attacanti has to beat the feline lovers.

Juvencus: This is us, we might pose one of the winningest sides of the multiverse which is very interesting and we might want to keep that record going. However in association football a team cannot play against itself, can it? We will have to cut it short here.

Freeport: Freeport happens to be one of the teams we do not actively possess an active record on or with, however it possesses some of the most prestigious domestic league sides in the multiverse and with that, their squad depth should be one to keep an eye or 1093 on. An extremely important set of matchdays is to be played between the two, with expectations for wins going through the roof, as with anyone in the multiverse, something we will not stop repeating in our article, if you are tired of seeing this, well, you're not.

Cosumar: The Cosumarite side is back on the international stage again, seemingly out of thin air, balance may or may have not been restored in the azure dragon nation. A side that under normal circumstances terrorises even the most formidable sides, we currently possess no information as to the squad they will be using in this version of the world cup qualifiers, or how far they are willing to reach to the competition. However with players well-versed in Cosumarite-style football, reading their tactics, even in their current unpredictability should be slightly easier than for other sides. We must pick points from that side too, we have to.

Treekidistan: The current Baptism of Fire champions, that is all we have on them, they seem to be quite the uprising side, skipping through the ranks like wildfire. They are to be looked out for, 100%. They seem to be worshipping trees so as the younger generation might say, this seems kinda lit, so let's try to hide it from the masses if you don't want any tree-huggers on every street of the nation. But as with any other side on the multiverse, we need the W and we are to get it, no matter who that is. Our eyes are on you, Treekidistan.

Gouvanarch: Yet another side we possess no information on, they seem to have participated in the most recent Baptism of Fire as well. They did not go as far as Treekidistan, yet again, it is another side with quite the potential and they also have those really sick orange kits and all, which we find pretty cool over here. Orange pickers where are you at? You will have to pick the points for us out of them.

Sannyamathland: We do not like them, out of every team they had to beat in the international basketball championships, they just had to beat ours and let us crash in the group stages. They are also recent Baptism of Fire participants, just that, participants. A good and deliberate spanking of their defences is what a good chunk of the nation would appreciate from the matchdays against Sannyamathland.

San Ortelio: Last, but certainly not least, our little friends over in San Ortelio. They chose to avoid Baptism of Fire participation, which is quite the odd decision, however with a somewhat already proven youth system, being recent U21 World Cup champions, maybe their adult side should provide a surprise for all of us, just like in the Coppa Odiol friendlies, on which they held our side not on just 1, but 2 straight ties. They prefer extremely defensive football, which is the opposite of what we player, so a match between gli attacanti and the San Ortelian side should be quite the siege to watch this time around.

by **Third ZSeparatists** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 10:11 am

"Hello viewers and welcome to ZSeparatists Sports News! The qualifiers for World Cup 87 have started, and it appears that the Red Devils' strategy will stay, with the goal of all-out attack. We were unable to interview any players or coaches, so we are still unsure about their status. We have no updates for you, so here are the pre-WC friendlies played by ZSeparatists!"

The Allied Tribe (-5) 1-0 (+5) ZSeparatists
This game was a complete disaster for ZSeparatists and their attack-based play.. Unable to score due to The Allied Tribe's extreme defensive play, the defense eventually got caught slacking and allowed a goal.

(Data will be made by The Allied Tribe)

Tikariot (+4) 3-2 (+5) ZSeparatists
This game also resulted in a loss by ZSeparatists, only managing to score 2 goals. Tikariot was mostly unable to take advantage of the fact that there were almost always no ZSeparite players in the first third, and usually none on the ZSeparite side of the halfway line, showing a minor weakness in Tikariot's offense. ZSeparatists was also unable to get their attack going, and the risky style of passing may have prevented them from scoring more goals.

TIKARIOT vs. ZSEPARATISTS
GOALS: 3-2
SHOTS ON GOAL: 5-5
SHOTS: 19-26
POSSESSION: 61-39
CORNERS: 1-4
FOULS: 1-3
YELLOW CARDS: 0-1
RED CARDS: 0-0

by **Al Qurija** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 2:21 pm

A look into the Qurijan squad: What do you need to know?

Al Qurija possessed one of the most randomly diverse populations in the multiverse, an advanced technology and in general structural system for most things, but one thing that stands out is how little attention professional sports receive by the government despite the huge amount of money spent towards the improvement of the country in a number of sports, especially association football. With the initial squad of the team completely wiped out and with the diversification of the team to include professional players of all the major minorities in a country that doesn't promote professionalism, it is a tough deal to even build a team, let alone give it its much needed team spirit and new identity. However, a number of Qurijan players have managed to shine abroad, some more than others and those some we are going to be taking a look at, as they are of vital importance to the team's success.

Mahmud Maksimovic: Defence is what this team knows best, or at least what it should know, according to Porras' planning, quite unlike when he was the Juvencus national team manager. As such, what is a defense if you don't talk about its most integral part? That's right, the goalkeeper. Mahmud Maksimovic had quite the season in Internazionale Serone, with a respectable mid-table finish and he was integral in avoiding a lot of costly defeats for the team. Maksimovic, to put simply, is a massive goalkeeper, standing at 198 centimeters tall, he is quite heavy and a bit slow physically but his exceptional positioning and fast decision-making are what make him Al Qurija's first choice goalkeeper and for that, he will need to be on edge on nearly every game, against every single opponent. He is the team's brick wall and as such, he is important by default.

Stojko Popovski: Here we are, this is probably THE MAN to look out for while looking for Al Qurija, a center back that's pretty much irreplaceable. The Porcara FC leader also happens to be the national team's first captain upon its return to the international scene. Apart from his exceptional leading capabilities to carry through, he is quite the speedy player with extremely accurate and showstopping tackles, although not as speedy as in previous seasons, his defending has only improved due to improved positioning and an excellent vision and shotcalling for any forthcoming attacks. He regulates the defence and without his guidance, it is bound to break, he is the first line of defence any striker will have to go through for a chance to score, but do not expect to get past him way too many times.

Fatin Al-Ghazzawi: A young talent, 22 year old Al-Ghazzawi has been coined as the "sneaky leprechaun" by Osce press, since he is often organising secret attacks from the side before returning to his original, more defense-oriented position. He was vital in Union Juven's winning campaign in the Osce Campionato and with a bright future ahead of him. He, much like the rest of the defensive line-up is known to be very well positioned, but instead his vision extends for more offensive opportunities rather than defensive ones, he should be organising most attacks from the left flank, with a pinpoint accurate crossing ability, similar to many players in the Juven national team. His major weakness is getting tired too early, as organising all those attacks require a lot of speediness and effort to return to the back flank.

Modevideo Carpi: Last, but not least, a player you would not expect to play for the Qurijan team due to his dual nationality, yet here he is. Carpi is quite the phenomenon back at the Juven Campionato, being one of the league's top scorers with 18 goals, vital in helping AC Serone secure an IFCF spot. Modevideo Carpi is clinical in front of the goal, with a deadly finish, he is the player to score most of the goals scored by the Qurijan side in the qualifications and in general. The whole nation is relying on him to score the goals and win as many games as possible, as such, the pressure is on him.

by **West Zirconia** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 3:53 pm

As West Zirconia prepare for their first attempt at World Cup qualification after their unexplained hiatus, the schedule has been announced for the qualifying campaign.

The matches are as follows (home matches in bold):

Round 1: Farfadillis (at Manchester Street, Moorcroft)
Round 2: Bongo Johnson (at Murbley Coliseum)
Round 3: Southwest Eastnorth (at KPM Stadium, Snaith)
Round 4: Poafmersia (at Libira National Stadium, Fiskadaha City)
Round 5: Squornshelan Remnant States (at Edge Hill, Bradley)
Round 6: Gyatso-kai (at Marc Edwards Memorial Stadium, Redwood)
Round 7: Socialist New Britain (away)
Round 8: Krytenia (at Graham Park, Broxton)
Round 9: Caryton (away)

Round 10: Farfadillis (away)
Round 11: Bongo Johnson (at Wickett's Lock, Taylor's Cross)
Round 12: Southwest Eastnorth (at First Coast Stadium, Auberlin)
Round 13: Poafmersia (at STORMGroup Stadium, Mort Park)
Round 14: Squornshelan Remnant States (at Olympiastad, Arkintoofle)
Round 15: Gyatso-kai (away)
Round 16: Socialist New Britain (at Telstar Communications Stadium, Stanley)
Round 17: Krytenia (away)
Round 18: Caryton (at City of Houghton Stadium, Houghton)

Realism dictates that Farfadillis must be favourites, with Krytenia and Poafmersia likely to fight for second place. Facing the group's top-ranked team in the opening match will no doubt set the tone for the rest of the Meerkats' campaign. Manager Ben Phillips remarked: "Well, any eleven men can beat any other eleven men on the day. Whether we'll be able to do it eighteen times is another matter, but we'll give it a go."

by **HUElavia** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 6:51 pm

HUElavia Awarded with Favorable Group 1 Draw for Qualifiers!

HUElavia entered the draw for the World Cup 87 Qualifiers looking to return to the final competition with a solid chance. The previous cycle was lackluster, as the team fell short by 3 Points in a chance for Playoffs, and finished off with a Round-of-16 exit in the Cup of Harmony. Not to mentioned, the team dropped from 24th to 29th in the Multiverse Rankings, which was the first time the team dropped positions in the rankings (Before then, the team only rose up).

The draw was conducted by representatives from Taeshan and Ethane, with HUElavia having to wait to the final pot, being in Pot 2. HUElavia (29) was drawn into Group 1 and will face the following teams: Sajnur (86), Tioguldos (94), Murphtannia (137), Silvedania (336), Geektopia (51), Recuecn (17), Fluvannia (156), Pays den haut (UR), and Rwekazaland (336).

Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos were seeded as the #8 Team in Group 1, thus the schedule and venues will be as follows:

MD 1: Murphtannia vs HUElavia

MD 2: HUElavia vs Silvedania
(Nuevo Estadio Oriental, Manilla)

MD 3: Geektopia vs HUElavia

MD 4: HUElavia vs Recuecn
(Estadio Salvador, Sao Salvador)

MD 5: Fluvannia vs HUElavia

MD 6: Rwekazaland vs HUElavia

MD 7: HUElavia vs Pays den haut
(Nouveau Stade de Lourdes, Lourdes)

MD 8: Sajnur vs HUElavia

MD 9: HUElavia vs Tioguldos
(Takoroyama Kyougijou, Takoroyama)

MD 10: HUElavia vs Murphtannia
(Estadio da Selva, Natel)

MD 11: Silvedania vs HUElavia

MD 12: HUElavia vs Geektopia
(Estadio Nacional, Curumba)

MD 13: Recuecn vs HUElavia

MD 14: HUElavia vs Fluvannia
(Estadio Bendito, San Franco)

MD 15: HUElavia vs Rwekazaland
(San Ignatius, Itio)

MD 16: Pays den haut vs HUElavia

MD 17; HUElavia vs Sajnur
(Estadio Bertoli, Ourao)

MD 18: Tioguldos vs HUElavia

The tickets are selling out quick, but 15% of tickets will go to the away team.

The team has high expectations that they should be playing for at least the Playoff position. A recent set of friendlies were played, which included the A-Team losing 0-1 vs Baker Park (Estadio International, San Rafael), the D-Team winning 4-1 at Lorrana, the B-Team winning 2-0 at Qasden, and the C-Team winning 3-1 vs Sylestone (Estadio do Oro, Ourao). While there is concerns regarding getting good results against top teams, like Recuecn in our group, there is much optimism that the backup players can make some noise and possibly sneak into the Final Roster, whether it would be in the World Cup or Cup of Harmony. For Matchday 1, the team will play at Murphtania using their Away Uniform for the match, along with the A-Team playing in order to start the competition on the right foot. Lobato will start in Goal and be the Captain for the team.

There's a lot of expectations for the team, but all we can do is hope and pray for success while the team trains and learns.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **PotatoFarmers** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:51 am

RP Series: Getting to the top
Chapter 3: New Year, New Goals
Part 1: Regrouping

With a bunch of older players stepping aside for a new crop of players after the Independent Associations Cup (IAC) 11, Adnan Suliaha spent quite a bit of time deciding how the team should be rebuilt. How, as the coaches were considering, should Poafmersia play this World Cup Qualifiers? What kind of players should they pick? It was the flood of happiness that overwhelmed Adnan as he sat down to list out his 35-player shortlist for the Qualifiers. The Poafmersia Football League exploded on the rankings overnight, and it showed that the player quality in Poafmersia is slowly increasing to become even better year on year. The new crop of players will definitely try to step into the shoes of the previous batches, as Poafmersia kick off yet another campaign to race for qualification.

The group allocations, and by extension, the fixture list, came before the squad was released. For Poafmersia, they were particularly excited to see who they would be grouped in this time. After the ridiculousness 2 years ago at the World Cup 86 qualifiers, Poafmersia was determined that no such nonsense would show up this time - they hope that the group would be much more balanced to give the team good tests and yet have some qualification chance. The fixture list came as such:

MD1 - Poafmersia vs Bongo Johnson
Not the nicest of openings, but for the first time in 4 cycles, Poafmersia will open the qualification campaign at home, in the Libira National Stadium, hosting 7th seeds Bongo Johnson. No meetings between both sides before this match, so no reference to look at. Nonetheless, Poafmersia is likely to put in a strong squad to deal with them.

MD2 - Southwest Eastnorth vs Poafmersia
MD3 - Poafmersia vs Squornshelan Remnant States
Then came the 6th and 4th seeds respectively - two opponents Poafmersia has played before. Southwest Eastnorth appeared in last cycle's qualifiers, where Poafmersia won 5-3 away but drew 3-3 at home. It was one of those opponents which was greatly underestimated the last time round, and Poafmersia would be sure not to underestimate them. Squornshelan Remnant States, we shall abbreviate as SRS, is also a tough opponent to play. Poafmersia encountered SRS twice in the international football - first time during the 76th Cup of Harmony in Banija, where Poafmersia drew 3-3 in the group stage; second time during the 10th IAC in Omerica, where Poafmersia edged them 3-2 in the quarterfinals. 6 points here would give Poafmersia some confidence ahead of a run of matches which may be particularly irritating for the 3rd seeds (us btw).

MD4 - Poafmersia vs West Zirconia
West Zirconia is an old side returning from a hiatus - something which Poafmersia is dubiously suspicious about especially after the incident with Quebec the last time out. Poafmersia would be lucky that they open on Matchday 4 at home, utilising the comfort of Libira to take on a side which they have no clue how to deal with.

MD5 - Gyasto-Kai vs Poafmersia
A name that rings a bell, but Poafmersia has never played them before. Playing against the 5th seeds has the potential to be a banana peel - although Poafmersia can see from their last qualification cycle that anything else is possible with Gyasto-Kai. They did not do well in the qualifiers, though their performance might be on a bounce by the time both sides meet in Matchday 5.

MD6 - Poafmersia vs Socialist New Britain
Little is known about this visiting side - all that we know was that they had sent a team to the recent Baptism of Fire. As for team squad, dynamics, etc., little is known because they did not submit a roster. Their players look quite alike that it is impossible to determine what formation was used, who scored, and any information about them. Maybe after this match, will Poafmersia be able to know the opponents. Look like an easy match on paper.

MD7 - Krytenia vs Poafmersia
Easy? Not this match. Likely to be a 6-pointer in the race for qualification, 2nd seeds Krytenia and Poafmersia are both sides that are trying to qualify and do better this time. Both flopped last qualifiers, especially towards the end. Both sides would likely play out a very aggressive attacking match that would be pleasing to the eye.

MD8 - Poafmersia vs Caryton
The opponents was supposed to be someone else at first - until the hosts came out to issue a statement that there has been a mistake during the computer draw and initial fixture release. Caryton, also a side that came from the recent Baptism of Fire, would be out opponents instead. They had a very good run in the group stage with their brand of really defensive brand of football, before losing in the Round of 32. It would be interesting to see how Hansel Tang would perform here - she has been in good form for her club back with Ko-oren, and likely be able to deal with an equally defensive team here.

MD9 - Farfadillis vs Poafmersia
Rounding up the qualifiers would be Farfadillis - the World Cup 85 champions and top seeds. They would present an even higher level of challenge that Poafmersia has never played before. Just look at the last 3 top seeds - Nephara, Brenecia and The Holy Empire. Nephara, back in World Cup 84, wasn't as strong as Nephara today, but that is likely to be the closest reference Poafmersia has in its history. If anything, Poafmersia would likely aim for a draw on Matchday 9 away at Farfadillis - anything else would be a bonus.

Matchday 1 for us is against Bongo Johnson, but with lots of interesting groups and the existence of multiple "Group of Death" as reported by many nations, let us find out some interesting matchups that we would expect in Matchday 1.

Group 2: Riena v Filindostan
3rd seeds vs 4th seeds. Riena's rise to becoming 3rd seeds in their 3rd cycle has been particularly eye-catching. Against Filindostan, the match would definitely be nice to watch as we figure out whether both teams can beat Brenecia and Terre Septentrionale to one of the top 2 spots.

Group 3: TJUN-ia v Busoga Islands
Another 3rd seeds vs 4th seeds on Matchday 1. TJUN-ia, coming from The North Pacific like us, and being our batchmate at the 71st Baptism of Fire, have been rising quite remarkably, and they would be looking for a chance to get into the playoffs at the bare minimum. Busoga Islands underpeformed last cycle, but yet have shown some consistencies in their performance over the years that they are likely to bounce back this cycle. This match, like the previous one, would set the tone for the group, and see if top seeds Cassadaigua and second seeds Flavovespia are actually threatened.

Group 4: Xanneria v Hapilopper
Hapilopper, champions of BoF70, are up against Xanneria. Coming back from a season of hiatus, Hapilopper would be refreshed and ready to present another season of good performance. Their first test would be against Xanneria, a side that is starting to show consistent results to be in the upper mid-tier, like us. Is the Hapilopper team back? We shall find out in this match.

Group 4: North Japan v Commonwealth of Baker Park
After Free Republics ran away with an Ultimate World Championship title, last qualifiers was quite boring without an Ultimate World Championship to play for. This time, Baker Park, champions of the recent AOCAF, would be here with one (out of two!) UWCs, having taken it during the recent AOCAF semifinals from Banija, the originator of this particular UWC belt. Against a relatively new and unknown team North Japan, will Baker Park be able to defend the belt successfully? Or will an unknown team steal the show with a capture of the belt?

Group 6: Qasden v Cosumar
Another match to watch - this time between recent AOCAF finalist Qasden and Cosumar. Cosumar has a very rich history of football, but didn't show up for the last cycle due to various reasons. The meeting between these two sides should be particularly intriguing to watch - especially looking at how the latter has improved over the years.

Group 8: Sargossa v Mytanija
The latter is a name we haven't heard for years - and now suddenly they are back. This matchup would certainly allow us to see yet another returning team performing their acts against a side that has been well established and known to us newcomers. Maybe we can see whether returning teams bring with them their strengths from the past - we shall find out with this match.

Group 9: Græntfjall v Kandorith
The former, a fast rising side. The latter, a side that has rose very fast in the past but is in a down period for some time, until the qualified from the playoffs last cycle. Last cycle, Græntfjall presented a really interesting performance, but fell short of reaching the biggest stage. Kandorith, on the other hand, qualified for the first time in 26 years (13 cycles.) Being second seeds, they are certainly one of the favourites to reach the playoffs at the minimum. But give Græntfjall a chance to shine - this will let us see whether the race for 2nd is a walkover, or a really difficult challenge for Kandorith to be in.

Group 10: Chromatika v Drawkland
Group 10: Mavinet v United States of Devonta
1st vs 2nd, 3rd vs 4th. The early meetings would set the direction of the team, allowing us to know just how the group dynamics will play out. Mavinet and Devonta are challengers that would contest for the top 2 spots, but to see who is the better challenger, we just have to watch this match to find out.

Group 12: Equestria v Starblaydia
Arguably the match of the matchday, this pits two AO sides with strong histories against each other. Some may even call this a rivalry dating back decades. Whatever you call it, this battle between the top 2 seeds is definitely worth watching.

Group 17: Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom v Tikariot
Group 17: Tequilo v Vilita
The first match was chosen as a battle between 3rd and 4th seeds, the battle of newer sides. The second match would be a battle between old and new, between Tequilo, a side that has put in some good performances over their past cycles, and Vilita, a side with a rich history. Both matches would appeal to different audiences, depending on who you ask.

Group 18: Hampton Island v South Newlandia
Group 18: The Gothanita Isles v Valladares
Many would know South Newlandia as a newer side, an exciting side to watch. Hampton Island, on the other hand, features a bunch of veterans, which led them to the World Cup last cycle. This match would prove to be a match to watch for fans who are rooting for South Newlandia, and an away win would surely provide enough shocks to the group. The second match between TGI, our dear friend, and Valladares, is one match which we take particular interest in. TGI would be aiming to open the campaign nicely this time, after a very poor campaign last round where goals were not coming out. With a new manager and new tactics, the match against Valladares would provide a really good test.

Group 19: Siovanija & Teusland v Al Qurija
Group 19: Eura v Port Ember
Eura vs Port Ember would typically be the more interesting match to watch, since it pits the first seeds against the third seeds. The latter is trying to bounce back from a miserable cycle, attempting to regain the form that took them to their first World Cup. The first match would provide the platform for Port Ember to make a statement on their desire to qualify for the World Cup. But the match between S&T and Al Qurija...god knows how important this match is. For Al Qurija, it marks a return to the international football stage after disappearing with a particular UWC belt many years back. This first match against S&T would the first time in recent years this particularl UWC belt is defended, and S&T would definitely want to grab hold of this belt at the first possible instance. Question would be on whether Al Qurija can successfully defend it, or will we see a change in ownership of this belt?

by **Garbelia** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 8:01 am

Interview with Arthur Goodotter, Garbelery striker.
Interviewed by Garvida Rovers legend, Lutra Scratchington

"Hi Arthur, thanks for agreeing to the interview."

"No problem Lutra, it feels great to be representing my nation."

"I'm sure it does. What's it like being the second youngest player in our team, and one of the youngest in the whole cup?"

"Yeah, it's a bit strange, but Garbelery football has always been about promoting youth, we don't really have an age divide the the dressing room."

"So, what are your feelings about the fans saying you're our star player? It must be tough living up to expectations."

"One of the things the manager has talked about is keeping our feet on the ground. I don't think it bothers me that much, uh, but the coach just wants us to reach for the stars."

"Everyone wants to hit those stars, but what makes you think that Garbelia, an unranked team, can do it?"

"I think that the atmosphere around the training ground is that we can do it, everyone believes, and I think the fans and pundits need to believe too."

"So what are your predictions then, Arthur?"

"The Group (Group 9): Indusse (96) Græntfjall (81) Baggieland (117) Quemorr Isles (336) Pluvia and the Saxean Isles (201) Sett Forest (280) South Covello (50) Nephara (2) Kandorinth

Indusse: 1 loss, 1 draw
"I'm going to be optimistic on this. We've played 4 friendlies against a team similar to them in the rankings, and didn't get annihilated, drawing one, so I'm going to go with a home draw, and an away loss. 2-2 at home, 3-1 away."
Graentfjall: 2 losses
"I was optimistic about my previous prediction, and I still think we'll put up a good fight, but 2 losses look in store against an experienced, high-ranking side. 0-1 at home, 1-0 away."
Baggieland: 1 loss, 1 draw
"I think with a team ranked just outside the top 100, there is a chance we could nick a draw at home. 1-1 at home, 2-0 away."
Quemorr Isles: 1 win, 1 loss
"This match could be the difference, perhaps bringing an only win against the second-lowest ranked team in the group? 3-0 at home, 3-2 away. I would hope we could push on to win 2 though."
Pluvia and the Saxean Isles: 1 draw, 1 loss
"Again, home draw, away loss."
Sett Forest: 2 wins:
Again, maybe a home win, but it could go either way. 1-0 at home, 2-3 away.
South Covello: 2 losses
"50th in the world. Maybe not. But I hope we can put up a fight! 0-2 at home, 1-2 away."
Kandorinth: 2 losses
Maybe not. But I hope we can put up a fight! 0-1 at home, 1-2 away."
Nephara: 2 losses
"World number 2. What can I say? Of course we'll lose, but we won't lie down. Goal difference could save us from the wooden spoon. 0-2 at home, and 3-0 away."

"I doubt we'll qualify, but I don't think we'll come last, either."

"What would you say the mindset around the players is after the draw?"

"We definitely just want to win."

"Then what would you say if we made it. If we went all the way and qualified?"

"Massive celebrations. While unlikely, it would be truly incredible."

"What do the team think of the new shirts?

"They have been very well received, I think it is a classy design."

"Well, good luck Arthur, and I'll be seeing you again in our first match, against Græntfjall on the 11th, cheering from the stands Tune in to PGBS Sport for live coverage, and until then, goodbye!."

View from Venjolath Road will be broadcast on both radio and television daily until the end of the WC Qualifiers, and will be available as a podcast afterwards. Find an review of the new kit with an interview with the designer, and the public's opinion in the next episode.

by **Lorrana** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 2:33 pm

The National Times
Published by Orut Mezo on January 7 at 1:33pm

LORRANA CITY - As Lorrana gets ready for their opening match against Yuezhou in Lorrana City on Monday, I caught up with star player and team captain Kiyon, who is an attacking midfielder known for being a strong playmaker.

Mezo: What has training been like these past few days?

Kiyon: It's been crazy, you know? Like, we're all super hyped up for the game. We've been practicing really intense, and we're going to be on the field every day and then we have a rest day Sunday before the game. But we're all really happy.

Mezo: So you're playing Yuezhou on Monday. They're a Pot 5 team compared to you being a Pot 10 team. What are you doing to prep for a game that will probably be one of the more difficult teams in your group?

Kiyon: Well, we're preapred to lose. If we score even one goal, we will be extremely excited. And that's the general mood, like, we'll give it our best, but we're not a super strong team, you know? We're okay with having to play in Cup of Harmony eventually, because it's better than nothing. Yuezhou is a counter-attack focused team, and they have an aggressive attacking style like ours, so we'll need to stay back a little more and be more careful with the ball than usual.

Mezo: What is your personal life like right now?

Kiyon: My wife and son are huge supporters of me, and they're here in Lorrana City with me as we prep for the tournament. They have tickets to all the games and they're super excited too.

Mezo: Well thank you so much for being here--

Kiyon: Yeah, thank you for having me.

Watch Lorrana-Yuezhou on Monday January 11 on Lorrana Newsbit Sports.

by **Chartistan** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 2:44 pm

THE BILLBOARD GAZETTE

IT'S TIME TO GO (TO THE WORLD CUP)

Chartistan set for debut at the World Cup - What does their first opponent look like?

RIUWIEE, Abanhfleft - For the first time since Air Latte, Tatertot Crazy and Callie Deadbrush suited up for the Hot v Cold game at the tail end of the Baptism of Fire, Chartistan's best and finest are ready to represent their nation. This time, they aim to right the ship caused by an unfortunate Baptism exit to Cirrus Azale (Or "Darrellland" by Florence "I Love My Country" George) and try their best to qualify for the big show - But with Chartistan in their first ever World Cup qualifiers, it could only go one reasonable direction - Shortie, this is what we call "Down down down down down".

But who are our opponents going to be? Well one thing is for certain, and it isn't going to be easy opposition. Abanhfleft will host the Chartistan national team in their World Cup opener, with the Fleftic team hoping to bounce back hard after losing to Squidroidia in the Cup of Harmony last 32 and an embarrassing exit (A-fucking-gain) from the IAC. The location of the game - As well as any sort of squad, mens or womens - Is not known as of now, but Billboard Gazette reporters are stationed at the capital of Riuwiee until further information is known by the Abanhfleft FA.

While we wait on more information, let's take a look at the situation in and around the group. The clear monster coming out at night to us is Zwangzug, a veteran team with more World Cup experience than someone spinning the trophy right round. Their first encounter will be on Matchday 7 at Old Town Park in Billboard. While we expect 2 losses to them, just the experience of playing against a big name team will attract the Chartistanis to the ground for gameday.

As for everybody else? Well who the heck is Koniglich Wasserstein and why are they playing a bunch of guys who are cheered on by Florence "I Love My Country" George? That's the magic of the World Cup - You can get anybody and everybody and there's not a word too negative to say apart from the obviously negative. That being said, Sharktail, Savojarna and Netop will probably beat us so... 4 wins? Maybe 5? It depends, really. We're going to beat KW though.

ooc: zwang did his schedule completely wrong, it's his fault

by **Balqia** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:24 pm

The senile dictator proclaimed the last words of his birthday speech with the tired voice of someone who have spent the last forty-five years of his life managing a country with an iron fist. After the wave of enthusiastic cheering the crowd of guests finally dispersed in a chaotic mob, with some of them running to the tables to get some food, while others kept their place and searched for a lonely official, as a falcon that searches for a prey in the jungle. The Ministers, on the other hand, didn’t had the luxury to relax and have fun, their duty called for a long and boring stay in the table besides the most powerful man in Balqia.
Markus Veselig was one of them. A lonely middle-aged man in a sea of fossils, the Sports Minister stood as the proof that even the most ancient and influential men in the government, besides Mikail Korvan, of course, could be discarded as a simple pawn if he committed a mistake or two.
When the dictator called him for a talk Markus hid his dread with a smile and happily approached the man, shacking the soft gloved hand that pulled his strings with the absolute respect and fear that was expected from him.
— So, how are you doing… — The dictator approached his cold blue eyes from Markus’ face. — Veselig… ?
— Great, as usual, Sir. — Markus answered, expanding his smile even further. — And I hope everything is great with you too, Sir.
— And when it isn’t? — Korvan answered with his tired voice. — But letting the formalities aside… how are the preparations going?
The world stood still. “Preparations? Which preparations?“ the questions passed through the Minister’s mind as lighting bolts from a coming storm. Every event, from the National Olympiad to a minor sports event from a middle-school in a rural village emerged before Veselig’s eyes. No one seemed the right one, and as the vital milliseconds passed by he obliged himself to risk everything.
— I’m sorry, what preparation are you referring to, Sir?
He never had to watch his voice so closely, any signal of distress could mean the end of his career.
— For the World Cup, of course. — The dictator calmly said. — I have sent a petition for our participation a few months back.
— I thought you denounced the Cup as “ruthless cosmopolitanism” when I proposed our participation four years ago, Sir.
— Did I?
Yes, yes he did. In Markus first month of office, four years ago, he approached the dictator with a very simple document: an official announcement for the balqese interest in the World Cup. To his surprise Mikail Korvan not only rejected it, but passed one hour lecturing his new Minister about the danger of sending loyal balqese to play in foreign countries. Markus could remember every single sentence, about the superfluous luxuries of capitalism, about the dangerous ideologies of communists, about the naive ideas of democracies and the corruption of dictatorships.
But Korvan forgot every single one of them, and Markus committed the grave mistake of remembering the dictator of that.
— I-I-I th-think that-t…
He was dead, and every cell of his body knew that.
— Well, whatever. — The dictator shook his shoulders. — I changed my mind since then. And Vanda sent you an official note anyway.
With a glance Markus searched for Vanda in the party, finding her in a table with other officers. She was Korvan’s old secretary, a survivor from a past age, when the dictator was a young politician full of ideological purity and a taste for young women. And there she was, eating pastries and smiling while he stood with a rope in his neck and the devil in his feet.
— Oh, of course, now I remembered. — The lie passed through his teeth as steam that goes out from a cauldron near overheat. — We are almost finished, Sir.
— Good, good… — Korvan smiled. — I am eager to see our boys running in the fields again.
They exchanged some compliments before ending their conversation, letting a more experienced Minister deal with the delicate game of politics.
Markus spent the last hours of the party with his heart in his hands. Relieved from the party, he rushed to his office, barely noticing the lights of Orsav and the people that populated the street disappear in the cold night of winter.
In his destination, Markus rushed to his desk, ignoring the questions of the nervous soldiers that patrolled the empty building. With a quick search in the piles of papers he found it: hidden between a report about rugby and a complaint from a regional director stood the document from Korvan. With a cover of brown paper containing only the words “Official notice: code yellow” and a consular seal, the fifty or so sheets of paper seemed heavier than the entire world.
The rest of the night was spent in the office. Under the dim light the lamp behind him and with the stark oak wood of the old desk to support his elbows, Veselig read every word with the utmost caution. By dawn his subordinates were received by a hyperactive Minister that drunk too much coffee and orders shout with the haste of a general during a surprise attack.
And so began the work to assemble the entirety of the “Balqia Fusba Komanda”, the National Football Team of Balqia, disbanded after the dictator’s lecture, it was being reassembled with days separating the chosen date for it’s announcement and the beginning of the work to do it. The result of such actions, for Markus despair, will only be known with the beginning of the Cup.

World Cup 87 - RP Thread

Quemorr Sporting Magazine - Regional Qualifiers Draw!

Part 2

Fresto Sports - 6 January 2021

View from Venjolath Road: Ep. 1 Garbelo Expecting to lose

TRIGEL IN GROUP 2

View from Venjolath Road: Ep. 2 Goodotter's Predictions

I. A birthday surprise

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