World Cup 87 - RP Thread

[Saltstead]

OOC note: The World Cup of Flags will resume next window, but I think I ought to have at least one Saltstead RP commenting on the qualifiers themselves.

stallion.stable.co.zs
All Saltsteadish! All football!

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Grading Saltstead’s performances in World Cup 87 qualifying

Our expectations for you were low, Mr Rosencrants. You know it and we know it. But so far, we have actually been doing okay in this qualifying cycle.

After a wretched campaign last cycle and an AOCAF where it looked like Saltstead were barely trying, our expectations for the qualifiers were simply to not embarrass ourselves again. But in spite of form going into this cycle, the Stallions were pegged as a possible dark horse (pun intended) contender for qualification, and Saltstead have justified that so far: Saltstead sit tied on points with New Lusitania at the halfway mark, with [REDACTED] and Jeruselem each four points behind.

Saltstead have won the games you would expect them to win and mostly been credible in the ones they lost. But exactly how good was each of the Stallions’ performances thus far. We at the Stable will provide completely arbitrary grades ranging from S (the best) to F (the worst), with A through D in between. Each grade is based on the result of the match, the strength of the opposition and expectations going into the match.

Melbergia 0–1 Saltstead: B
The hosts were doubtlessly hoping for an upset against the vulnerable Stallions to start the campaign, but Saltstead was simply not going to give Melbergia that pleasure. It took more than an hour for Mina Ratmaker to break the deadlock in Saltstead’s favour, but Saltstead got the job done. It was nothing particularly spectacular, but the win was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Oberour Ar Moro 4–1 Saltstead: F
This match is doubtlessly the low point of the qualifying campaign for Saltstead. While a defeat in the Parade Grounds was always to be expected, Oberour Ar Moro steamrolled through the Saltsteadish defence. Wim Amistad got a consolation goal at the end of the match, but the Stallions were left looking more like a group of amateurs than a proper national team.

Saltstead 2–0 [REDACTED]: S
The first game of the cycle at De Näsjonalpark, the ill-fated AOCAF selection got some small dose of redemption by beating a hapless [REDACTED] side in Ashwell. Edvard Rothås set the tone when he scored in the second minute of the match and Nico Swart’s brilliant 68th minute strike sealed the points for Saltstead. The affair simply wasn’t even close.

Banija 2–0 Saltstead: B
It was a valiant performance against the defending world champions and top team in the official world rankings in Istria, but it feels wrong to give a defeat a grade higher than a B. We would be dirty, rotten liars if we denied that the Kadongo Kamu were hands down the better team on the day, but it was a match were the Stallions displayed flashes of brilliance.

Saltstead 1–0 Thibaea: A
Thibaea had been on what is popularly called “a run” and Saltstead put an end to that business rather quickly. Thibaea were coming in with a weakened squad and the Stallions made them pay for it: Violeta Igesleven’s header gave Saltstead the lead going into halftime and, though Arthur Sidonie came close, Thibaea were unable to find an equaliser. Thibaea have collected just one point since leaving Ashwell.

Jeruselem 0–2 Saltstead: S
The single most indecent team in the group, Jeruselem was one of the teams the Stallions shortlisted for Saltstead’s dream qualifying group. The Stallions secured a two-goal lead going into the second half, meaning that Rosencrants was simply content to sit back, park the bus and run out of Jeruselem with all three points. Now we just wish we had some bleach for our eyes.

Saltstead 0–1 New Lusitania: B
While disappointing, the result against New Lusitania was nevertheless respectable and a reason for us to be optimistic that we could maybe accomplish a run to the qualifying playoffs. The match was a nail-biter, with André Silveira’s decisive goal only coming in the 85th minute. Either side could have realistically walked away the winners in this scrap and the return fixture in São Jorge do Mar will be just as hard-fought.

Stevidia 0–2 Saltstead: A
The Stallions were sitting six points behind New Lusitania as a result of the previous match and thus needed everything to go their way to claw back into contention. The Baptism of Fire eighth-finalists put up a good fight, but the Stallions were simply too good to be beaten in this match. One Reinhard Åubreħtssen goal either side of halftime was enough to secure all three point for Saltstead and move within three points of second.

Saltstead 1–0 Belac: C
Anything but a win would have been thoroughly unacceptable for the Stallions. While it is second only to a scoreless draw as the most Saltsteadish result possible, that Saltstead only won by a single goal against the last place team in the group is a disappointment for Rosencrants’s team. For a team that only got to the Baptism knockouts via the backdoor and lost their first eight qualifying matches, Belac put up an incredible performance in Ashwell.

██ Saltstead predicted starting XI against Melbergia: Adam van Middelkamp; Frans Richard, Sebastien van Can, Anne Hodmaker, Johan van Tilborg, Constantijn Kåler; Johanne Geuberts, Nico Swart, Theodor Felicianus, Aleksa le Duc; Edvard Rothås
— Christian Vesħandler from Ashwell

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

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Saltstead : Melbergia
World Cup 87 qualifying group stage — Matchday 10
King William VII National Park, Ashwell, Saltstead
Starting line-up (5–4–1): Adam van Middelkamp (captain); Frans Richard, Rokus Michahels, Anne Hodmaker, Johan van Tilborg, Constantijn Kåler; Johanne Geuberts, Nico Swart, Theodor Felicianus, Nico Joxepħssen; Edvard Rothås
Substitute bench: Kathrinita Äsħes, Julij Kåler; Gunner Stepħenssen, Sebastien van Can, Dijter Ackerdiħ, Tobias Thomassen, Yorg Handel; Marina Jager, Violeta Igesleven, Margaretha Wilheumssen, Aleksa le Duc; Stepħanie Withöüf

Saltstead : Oberour Ar Mro
World Cup 87 qualifying group stage — Matchday 11
King William VII National Park, Ashwell, Saltstead
Starting line-up (5–4–1): Kathrinita Äsħes (captain); Gunner Stepħenssen, Sebastien van Can, Dijter Ackerdiħ, Tobias Thomassen, Yorg Handel; Marina Jager, Violeta Igesleven, Margaretha Wilheumssen, Aleksa le Duc; Stepħanie Withöüf
Substitute bench: Adam van Middelkamp, Julij Kåler; Frans Richard, Rokus Michahels, Anne Hodmaker, Johan van Tilborg, Constantijn Kåler; Johanne Geuberts, Nico Swart, Theodor Felicianus, Nico Joxepħssen; Edvard Rothås

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[Farfadillis]

The Kamikaze
A site dedicated to Farf football
General Section
Mid-qualifiers Young Player Review
submitted just now

Hello there! Once again, I am short on time, but I figured I'd get something in for mid-quals (haven't been very active, lately, have I? Yeah, uni's been a pain... also, all those write-ups for the S-FPL took a toll) and what could possibly be easier to write about than how our young future superstars (or not) fared during the first nine matches of the cycle? Spoiler alert: not great.

Rogerio Defigueroa - 17 y/o - plays for Avenida Leal - Average Rating: 2.26
Rogerio can't entirely be faulted for the draw against Caryton. Key word entirely. The young keeper showed that, while he does have a habit of not minding being thrown straight into the fray at club level, he does mind it at the internantional level. Two absolute howlers, and that was his first chance with the national team wasted. He is still young, however, and has plenty of potential. I wish I could point out anything good about his performances (well, performance, singular), but the only thing I can point out is that he will definitely get better.

Mbogo Nørgaard - 19 y/o - plays for Revolutionaries - Average Rating: 7.05
Probably the best of the bunch here. He's not anywhere near deserving the starting spot yet, but that's mostly down to his competition. If we were short on center midfielders, Mbogo would have a decent chance of starting despite his age. Alas, a shortage we do not have. He has performed quite well against middling opposition, gathering a bunch of assist and making full use of his pace and endurance to provide much-needed balance in midfield. However, it remains to be seen whether he can play at this level against quality opposition, as he did not feature in any of the matches against Poafmersia, Krytenia and West Squornshelan Remnant States.

Fujanej Moloses - 20 y/o - plays for Turoki Tide - Average Rating: 6.89
Pam does have a tendency to find young talented Farves nobody would think twice about, hand them a few caps, and show the entire Multiverse they are future superstars. That happened with, uh, Röémün Çídh, who is not actually a superstar. But you get my point, she's big on youth, and it's undeniable that, at the moment, the team looks likely to be in a much better place in the long-term than before she took over. Fujanej is her biggest bet this cycle. She's handed the Vilita-based midfielder a surprising amount of starts, considering two-time (in a row!) Premiership Golden Ball Faragó rue Cazade starts ahead of him. And yes, she's playing Fujanej as a takilante, a position he has no experience playing in. Results have been... mixed. Moloses started against Southwest Eastnorth and Caryton and... yeah, we know how those went. He didn't perform badly, though! He's very far from becoming a starter but he's definitely one for the future.

Horacio Bastanchury - 21 y/o - plays for FC Einheit Marnau - Average Rating: 7.02
Horacio has been very solid. He's scored a few goals here and there, and generally looked dangerous whenever he's played. He's a well-oiled goal machine, considering he's only 21, and he has shown it at both club and, now, international level. His undoing, however, is that the Çídh brothers are entrenched in the starting eleven, and their performances have been even better. It's hard to compete against a striker pair of literal brothers, with the chemistry those two display. Nonetheless, compete he does, and it's clear that whenever either of them slip up, or when Pam feels she needs a little more of a goal-oriented striker on the pitch than Edmün or a little of a pacier striker than Röémün, he'll be entering the pitch.

Tôsgo Alxíkí - 22 y/o - plays for Revolutionaries - Average Rating: 6.58
We've been hyping him up for about half a decade now, and we're getting worried. The talent is there, it's clear as day. We've all seen it, time and again. He reminds us of players like Dandalleion, Kâí, Fôx and Wínrôuge. And yet.... he can't seem to string three good performances together. He'll put four past Eura then go on to fail to dribble past one Southwest Eastnorth defender. He's perplexing, in that he's just as capable of terrorizing literally any defense in the Multiverse as he is of looking completely impotent against... uh... What even is a Britain? Whatever. Against Socialist New Britain. Patience is something Pam has shown in spades throughout her time leading the NT, but she must be running short on it by now. Let's just hope Tôsgo turns things around for the second half of qualifiers.

Folgore Alaminos - 22 y/o - plays for Jungle Strike - Average Rating: 6.50
I can't be the only one who was hyped when he first heard that Santos Alaminos son was a talented footballer playing for Jungle Strike's academy. Alas, the lad has failed to get anything remotely resembling consistent playing time for the Vilitan giants. Closest he came to that was a loan to Avenida Leal, where he, admittedly, did well. But it's been two years since that, and he appears to have not only stagnated, but actually regressed. He doesn't look as sharp on the ball, those defense-splitting passes are now few and far between, and he actually looks a tad slower. Very worrying signs; he might have to look for a transfer in order to get playing time, because time must be running out for him.

Lís Âllásí - 20 y/o - plays for Lonngeylin Coast - Average Rating: N/A
Came in against Bongo Johnson for a grand total of ten minutes and made one easy save. Impossible to judge his potential based on that. However, I've been told he's done pretty well for himself in the V-League, which is something that will impress any Farf. So, watch out for him, he looks like he'll be competing with Defigueroa for the goalkeeper spot as soon as Ibrelaná slips up... and Defigueroa hans't looked like he'll be putting up much of a fight, at least at this age.

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

Three Things
Salwan Mynhier

For this halfway edition of Three Things, we'll do things a little different. A couple player profiles, and then a look ahead and what's to come.

1. Best Player Performance
   This one's pretty easy. Current Sabrefell Moths and former Southfell United and Syneca AC striker Lyzolda Petrov has been excellent so far. Despite making only six appearances, held out of the matches against Caryton, West Zirconia, and Socialist New Britain, she has recorded six goals to lead the team. It isn't just that her goals represent better than a third of the team total, she's also created chances for her teammates. So while team play has been strong overall, as an individual performer, Petrov stands head and shoulders above the crowd. Between her national team form and play in Nephara, she's an easy pick for the outstanding Confederate player at the moment. Honorable mentions can be handed out to some of our players on defense, particularly the Harkhan twins, as well as the now rather venerable Stovar Krieven in goal. Man, it still seems like yesterday when he was still the hotheaded backup to Munib. How time does fly.
   
   
2. Worst Player Performance
   No one's really been bad per se. The losses to Farfadillis and Poafmersia weren't particularly ugly, though the scoreless draw against Socialist New Britain was. Somewhere, Rami Niblick is laughing. It has to be said, though, that the attack apart from Petrov has been lacking. Sure it's nice to have the fewest goals conceded in the group, but when you can barely manage half as many goals as the other contending teams, you're not leaving yourself any margin for error. Along those lines, Jeska Verhulst has been particularly underwhelming. She is yet to find the back of the net in four appearances. Some might claim that a fair amount of her playing time has been situational, with the team more focused on defending a lead than pushing for a score, but her inability to effectively spearhead the attack against Socialist New Britain was the main factor in the team dropping badly needed points. Groothuis may need to deepen her bench for the second half of qualifying, or lean even harder on Petrov. The all eggs in one basket approach can work, but just doesn't seem like her style. I'd expect to see some less-capped names get a shot, particularly if Petrov's hot streak cools.
   
   
3. Tall Tasks Ahead
   It's cliche, but each match still seems to get more important as time goes on. Southwest Eastnorth are fresh off a massive upset of Farfadillis, and will be eager to build on that momentum as they visit Golgafrincham. Right on the heels of that challenge, the Black-and-Reds will head to Krytenia for an absolutely massive match, with a six point swing in the standings in the offing. We managed to get the drop on them on Confederate soil, but doing the same thing in the Dragons' den is another thing altogether. It's going to take more than the paltry 1.77 odd goals they're scoring per match. Oh yeah, and then after that Poafmersia comes to town. Brutal. To borrow from an old sporting proverb, the Black-and-Reds can't win qualification in these next three matches, but they can certainly lose it.

SRS Qualifying Schedule and Results:

MD1  SWE 1-2 SRS @ First Coast Stadium (cap. 33,000), Auberlin, SWE
MD2  SRS 2-1 KRY @ Megabrantid Financial Field (cap. 69,245), Brantisvogan, Megabrantis, SRS
MD3  PFA 3-2 SRS @ Libira National Stadium (cap. 68,000), Fiskadaha City, PFA
MD4  SRS 1-0 CAR @ New Rudlit Arena (cap. 31,200), Rudlit, West Flania, SRS
MD5  WZA 2-3 SRS @ Edge Hill, Bradley, WZA
MD6  SRS 1-2 FFD @ Bridger Lane (cap. 72,406), Damogran, Algolia, SRS
MD7  GKI 2-3 SRS @ Stadia Capital (cap. 78,050), Beijing, Jing, GKI
MD8  SRS 2-0 BGJ @ Synesoft Arena (cap. 38,600), Syneca, Sivoliva, SRS
MD9  SNB 0-0 SRS @ TBA
MD10 SRS  v  SWE @ Reinallt Arena (cap. 41,230), Golgafrincham, Megabrantis, SRS
MD11 KRY  v  SRS @ TBA
MD12 SRS  v  PFA @ Slavnarzeczpospolitastadion (cap. 61,230), Lublova, Molvania, SRS
MD13 CAR  v  SRS @ TBA
MD14 SRS  v  WZA @ Olympiastad (cap. 47,550), Arkintoofle, Megabrantis, SRS
MD15 FFD  v  SRS @ TBA
MD16 SRS  v  GKI @ Castle Street (cap. 57,300), Jaglan, Algolia, SRS
MD17 BGJ  v  SRS @ TBA
MD18 SRS  v  SNB @ Ralph Wilson Memorial Stadium (cap. 48,700), Han Dold City, Han Dold, SRS

[New Lusitania and the Algarves]

STL | Serviços de Transmissão Lusitana

SELECÇÃO WOES IN MAY MATCHDAYS
PART ONE: THE UPSET AT HOME
New Lusitania 3-5 Vangaziland
@Estádio Dom Dinis, Leiria (Att: 37 908)

New Lusitania against Vangaziland. Leiria welcomed a World Cup match for the first time since Jeckland in the World Cup 85 Qualifiers. A few cycles ago, this would have been one of the most anticipated matches in the group but with the Vangazi leaving the World Cup for a while, they are now in a lower rank. Nonetheless, they were the team that unexpectedly came closest to beating Banija in the qualifiers so far. António Lopes returned for the home crowd, with Vinagrete, Ferradura and Cancela in defence. Guerra, Fernando, Palhagueira, Gama and Veiga are the five in midfield with Silveira and Paciente up front in an unexpected duo.
It would subvert all expectation, producing one of the World Cup Qualifier thrillers. Fans were in for a rollercoaster of a ride. The ball rolled under the watchful eyes of the castle above the Dom Dinis as the sun set in tones of orange and red. New Lusitania had a tough time getting started as the Vangazi wall was working exceptionally well. The opposition would draw first blood silencing the home crowd. A lob in was all that was necessary as the ball went under the keeper’s arm. New Lusitania would get back in good style though as the team looked to get back at the unexpected. First, Cancela pushed the ball forward to Gama keeping on the winning, the careerlong Sevilha player would attempt to converge with the area, curving the ball in to make it all square once more.
Before halftime, Silveira snagged the ball to run over to the opposition’s box. With a side pass to Paciente, the Selecção now led in Leiria. The colourful stadium celebrated loudly, and the midway period was soon marked as the dark night fell over the city. As teams returned, the game’s course soon changed with the equaliser for Vangaziland appearing as if of thin air. How the ball ever managed to cross Cancela was a mystery to anyone watching as far as they were concerned with the marking just not available at the time. A deadlock would give the goals a small interregnum and providing an even bigger culmination in what had been an excellent game, at least for the neutrals.
Seventy minutes in and the Selecção’s adversaries pull up their third goal. Top half of the goal flew in, very hard to get to it from its position leaving most to question it in awe. New Lusitania weren’t giving up just yet and soon enough Silveira came to the rescue with a nice header of the ball from a corner taken by Guerra. Suddenly a point seemed like a good and just ending many fans thought, from both sides. However, there were other plans in mind. Vangaziland got in through a hole in the defence, this time from Ferradura to strike it down with force and retake the lead. Eighty-three minutes.
On the eighty-eighth minute, Palhagueira managed to score, the ball was in the net putting it at 4-4. After conferring with the linesman however, it seemed to be offside by a minimal fraction. This gave us the game’s wrap up – New Lusitania losing their heads. The Valnohar Rovers midfielder attempted to challenge the decision, but the arbitration team wasn’t having any of it and a yellow card was soon pulled out. In a corner situation, Bernardo Veiga went for a controversial professional “foul” awarding a penalty to the opposition and a sending off for the Selecção. The goal was taken by the Vangazi captain and the 3-5 was made as the ball went in off the post, in a well done fashion. For the Lusitanians the final decisions were debatable particularly towards the offside, but an unrepresentative 3-5 would show a thriller on the board and also New Lusitania’s second loss with plenty to debate over the week and also plenty to think about before the all-important match in Banija.


PART TWO: THE EXPECTED, YET UNHELPFUL AWAY LOSS
Banija 4-2 New Lusitania
@The Stadium of Restoration, Busukuma (Att: 86 020)

New Lusitania would now play the big game, the last one to do so – Banija. World number one, world champions and a game no one really had much hope for. A win here would not only set a precedent in the group as well as a statement but would help the New Lusitania immeasurably to keep the distance from the rest of the runners-up spot pretenders, which grew in such a tight group. When asked if the team was preparing for defeat, the question was deemed “ridiculous to ask a team that considers itself professional or any shade of it”. “We know Banija is the top team at the moment, but this is football we’re playing and it’s a game whose magic comes purely from those chances of any result happening on any given day. We’re definitely going there with all the intentions of giving them a good fight and hope to take the three points.”
The Kadongo Kamu against the Selecção was one of the big bouts of the group and the ball rolling in the hotter climates of Banija would see another great match. Patríce would return for the big match, Pedro Caldeirão would come in to subsitiute the sidelined Veiga and despite good efforts by Paciente, the Jota-Silveira duo was reunited up front. Leiteiro made a surprise appearance instead of Ferradura showing he still had some place in the National Team and Rui Horta occupied the left flank.
New Lusitania brought plenty of fight into Busukuma, something exactly everyone wanted to see. The Selecção would manage to score first, with captain Fernando getting one of his first goals of the cycle. A freekick won with a foul from Nzo. A stunner and one that gave the fans back home and in the away section a lot of hope. It wouldn’t take too long for Banija to reciprocate the favour, Jawara getting the glory this time as he fooled the defence and put the ball switching side and putting it where it needed to go with such complexity, it almost seemed simple. The Banijans would revert the result and put themselves in the lead, this time with the other forward, Uster, curving the ball nicely into the top-right corner of the net showing the sheer technique of the AO side. New Lusitania would still have hope going into the dressing rooms as Horta shot the ball up from the wing and into Jota who volleyed it in. So, all square, at half-time and New Lusitania were one foot into becoming the first team to take points away from the World Champions. ”If only we had played just forty-five minutes” said Grilo after the match, “we would have taken one point and a fair one because I think we did really well in those opening forty-five, but y’know, football is a game of two halves and we just got caught out too much in that second half. Conceded two, the forced substitution didn’t help, but yeah, I think there’s still plenty of encouragement to be found from this match away from home against such a tough side, hopefully we can be in a good position next time we meet.”
So… that second half. New Lusitania clearly attempted to keep going, but it all proved to much in the end for them in the end with Banija hitting them fullforce. A corner taken by Mboob would give Corr all the invitation he needed to create a third goal. The final and fourth goal of the Kadongo Kamu secured their win and frustrated the Lusitanian fans as a debilitated team at the end of the game was already just trying to get an equaliser and defend lines, but the adversary were starting to prove a lot more than they could handle. The goal by Sene left the home crowd jubilant when he put it above the goalkeeper. A harsh match for New Lusitania, but in the end one that reminded them that there’s still a large gap for them to make it to the World Cup and have some success.
In the group’s first batch of games, another thrilling match saw Oberur Ar Moro and Thibaea 4-4, Banija beat Jeruselem 2-5 comfortably away and Saltstead started their ascent to challenge the Selecção after their away win at Stevidia (0-2). In the second group of matches, Oberour Ar Moro had yet another draw, this time with Melbergia at home (3-3), Vangaziland had another thriller with a 5-4 against Stevidia with Saltstead joining New Lusitania in second after a 1-0 win against Belac. So at the end of the first round it's Banija with their flawless record on 29 in first, with New Lusitania and Saltstead both on eighteen after the Selecção blew their six point lead, which is clear they'll need to regain for the endgame. Vangaziland have moved up the ranks and are now joint fourth with Jeruselem, four points behind on 14. Thibaea are still well in it with 13, with Oberour Ar Moro on 12. Four points then seperate them from Melbergia in eighth with eight points and Stevidia in ninth with six. The Belacian States however have yet to score a point and so, are last.
The return to the internationals in September, gives the Selecção a trip to Thibaea, after a shock loss in the first matchday in the Azores, and then, after a tough match, comes harsh competition against Jeruselem which are welcomed to Nervião, Sevilha, a team against which the Lusitanians only have one win - the one on Matchday two. Courage, New Lusitania, it's only the halfway point...

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

OOC: I apologize to my opponents this round for not being able to provide lineups, as I'm doing this on my tablet due to my laptop dying. Feel free to use the lineups from my last RP pre-MD 6-7.

Second half begins with table topping clash looming
Scott McCrae
The Daily Mail National Soccer Writer

The Commonwealth National team prepare for the return fixtures of World Cup 87 Qualifying with six victories in a row after a slow start, and will look to reclaim some of the points lost early as they face off against North Japan at the State Fairgrounds Stadium.

The newcomers stunned BP with a 1-1 draw on the opening day of matches in Group 4, but expect to see a stronger starting XI in Springfield as Ichi Tuzio will field more regulars in this encounter than Jen Prescott did when her squad faced off against the Kirin.

Both managers will be looking towards solidifying the final roster and smoothing out any wrinkles still remaining in the overall balance of the team; this will be even more important as the away match in this international session will be in Vdara, the leaders of the group with 23 points (and are joint top scorers in all of WCQ with Baker Park), who have navigated the rest of the opposition having only dropped 2 additional points.

Behind them, the horse race is also tight as just 5 points covers the top four, with Xanneria & Cascadia looming dangerously in fifth and sixth respectively. The potential of a slip-up along the way against any of the remaining opponents will play a large role in the thinking of the NT braintrust; the pressure will also weigh heavily on Vdara, Hapilopper & Electrum to maintain their form as the fixtures begin to wind down.

FAC seeks to host Cup of Harmony
The news that the governing body has joined with Tikariot to bid for the 79th Cup of Harmony surprised many across the multiverse and at home; they will face a competing bid led by Cassadaigua, with whom the FAC partnered in hosting World Cup 84, and supported by Northwest Kalactin. There is every reason to believe that the field for this edition of the COH will be larger than any of the previous competitions that have taken place in BP, but the infrastructure is in place to cope with larger numbers of participants that the tournament is sure to attract.

[Huayramarca]

Omar Caicedo walked to the press area after drawing with Emastalia, Huayramarca’s fairy-tale run had a slump at the moment with that 2-2 result and a previous 0-2 defeat at the road against Northwestern Kalactin, he sat and grabbed a bottle of Revive thirst quencher, drank slowly and then threw it against the floor to ragequit. Apparently, he managed to see that Huayramarca fell from the top to the fourth position in only a World Cup Qualifier window, hence the shock in his face… The journalists started to ask him some questions, pretty much in regards of what happened in said match, he wasn’t in a very good mood precisely.

“What do you think of today’s match?” Caicedo sighed, took the bottle and smashed it once again against the floor, then he said “I call this catharsis, you may know what someone could be feeling when he pulls out something like this, don’t you?” The journalist tried to ask once again but was interrupted by Caicedo once again “My catharsis isn’t only by the score we just got, it’s because you’re not a lady and I like always to take answers from women first, that’s my politic”.

Thin air was perceived in the room, a bit of tension due to somebody breaching out Caicedo when he wasn’t in mood of it, for the third time, the journalist asked “What do you think of today’s match?” Caicedo said “Any women with a question….” “Let me ask” interrupted the journalist, the Condor’s manager said “Shut up”. While smashing his hands on the table “I always want women to start questioning me on press conference” “You’re interrupting my right to ask you” replied the journalists while everybody in the room was breathing slowly, they knew what was coming.

Caicedo’s not the kind of person that might get angry that easy, but might be extremely explosive if provoked, the journalist didn’t know he wasn’t provoking the national manager with that attitude, but things got worse when Caicedo said “Shut the f**k up!” While smashing his head against the desk, Gabriel Sayritupac tried to calm him while putting his sweater on the table to avoid the manager to harm himself. A woman asked “Do you think that our chances are gone?” The manager zipped some water from a bottle nearby, breathe deeply and said “I wouldn’t think so, we lost a battle only, not a war; there’s nine games to go, at least, we are only 4 points below the leaders. Do some simple math, we have 27 points that we can earn”.

The same woman asked once again “What’s the strategy to do so?” The manager answered “The same one we are doing right now, keep our heads chill frost, focused in the next game and keep fighting until the end.” Once again, the journalist who took Caicedo out of his mind asked “How do you pretend to keep chill frost if you just insulted me?” The manager answered “Easy, I’ll calm the f**k down when you leave this room. There’s no room for us two, either you go or I go”. The journalist saw a lot of bad looking faces around him, he picked his material and left, before leaving he insulted Caicedo by showing him the middle finger”. The manager said “That’s the class of journalists we want to have? I expect more from the universities in the nation in order to educate their students better, so we don’t have to deal with people without good forms”.

The press conference ended with that, Caicedo decided to leave and take a shower, then relax more in order to build a plan that could take Huayramarca back into contention.

[Banija]

Part I of a short series

Kabaka - King
Luguba - Queen Consort
Sarauniya - Queen Mother
Isebantu - Crown Prince
Omugabe/Omugaba - Prince/Princess
Omulangira/Kyabazinga - Duke/Duchess
Kagere/Kiweewa - Lord/Lady
Katkikkiro- Prime Minister

A formal Royal Family meeting at Mujaguzo Palace, chaired by Kabaka Mwanga himself

The Kabaka had this meeting scheduled, for the benefit of his niece, Omugaba Zandaba. But the Kabaka wanted to watch the game against New Lusitania- so he told everyone to come early and watch it. The nice thing about being the Kabaka, of course, is that who was going to say no? Banija's World Cup Qualifiers were going swell. The team was 8-0 at this point in Qualifying, and they were building a nice gap between them and second place New Lusitania. New Lusitania, the Pot 2 team, had been just a game behind Banija, at 6-1, entering Matchday 7. They had what was a tough, but very winnable home game against Vangaziland. People thought a win for them would be important there. Maintain the gap between them and Saltstead, keep the race for second place boring. But when Vangaziland fired home five goals at the Estádio Dom Dinis in New Lusitania, they had all of a sudden take home no points. And the grew was blown open.

At least, the race for second. This was good for Banija- New Lusitania's loss increased the gap between first and second in this group from 3 to 6, and the Banijans were thoroughly enjoying themselves. But that meant an angry, and dangerous, New Lusitania team would be coming to the national capitol. The Royals didn't attend the game, of course- they still had a meeting. But they'd throw it on the big screen. Since they had a meeting, the Kabaka ensured that nobody brought drinks, but they still had a good time. Even Royals could sit back, throws a bunch of couches into a room with the big screen, and enjoy a World Cup Qualifier, couldn't they?

Of course, the game ended with yet another Banijan victory, by a score of 4-2. It'd take about a half an hour to get everybody into the basement, for the meeting. The Katikkiro, naturally, was not invited to the family party to watch the game, but he'd come to the meeting. IT wasn't long after the game when Kobe Azizi, the Katikkiro, arrived. You couldn't have a meeting about the Royal Family without the people's Government there, of course. After everybody got downstairs and was situated, Kabaka Mwanga started speaking.

"Thank you guys all for being here. On time, too." The Kabaka said. "Well, of course, we've got to get down to usual business. First, I've brought everybody here to congratulate my nephew, Omugabe Lallo, on finding himself a woman!" And everybody clapped. Lallo stood up with a small grin on his face, and then sat down. "He found himself a great Banijan woman, Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Sara Jarju! Obviously, who doesn't want a professional athlete in the family? I think it's the first time that has ever happened. He's made the formal presentation to me. The Government has no objections, and I'm going to sign off on it right now." And he took the marriage proposal that Lallo had written up, required for anybody's marriage who was in line to the Banijan throne, and signed it.

"Now, of course, more marriage issues. Omugaba Zandaba, you wanted to speak?"

"Yes, thank you Uncle." Omugaba Zandaba responded. As the Kabaka sat down, she stood up. "Look- it is time we take a step forward into the modern world. Banija was isolated for many years, and we proudly have refused to let our culture or our faith, as a people, be watered down by foreigners. This was intentional- we've made many rules within the Royal Family to ensure the integrity of the family, and more importantly, the stability of the faith both within the family and country. It makes sense- we are proudly Latter-Day Saints."

She took a deep breath, and continued. "But some of our marriage rules are outdated. For example- we've got to be one of few remaining monarchies who has never married somebody from a foreign royal family. Did we not watch the Quebecois Queen-Empress, Christine II, get married in a beautiful ceremony to the Cassadagan Prince? We've seen marriages between all sorts of Royal Families. Nothing like sharing blood to build ties. And, of course, we're in a new era. Nobody's marrying off their children anymore at birth, but there is still a purpose."

"We currently have rules that limit who we can marry- limit the choice to Mormons. Now, I understand it for the men- they will rule. But this is patriarchal. I will never be King. We do not even have a word for Queen regnant in Olusanke. It, functionally, means we can only marry Banijan men of good standing in the Church. But why such limitors? I will not be a Queen regnant. It will be good for us at social events. I Can finally go to Quebec City, to their social season, and be a true part of it. Banijan women of noble blood will be widely pursued, Uncle. It will be good for our women, and our country, to give our women freedom to marry outside of the Faith."

The room nearly exploded. Mwanga didn't say a word, listening carefully to the debate. Omugaba Immaculate, Mwanga's only daughter, came out forcefully in favor of her daughter. Omugabe Ssekamanya, his grandson, said that the rule should not only be eased, but be eased for the men in the family as well- something that Mwanga dismissed out of hand. On the other side was Mwanga's brother, Omulangira Basamula. Basamula said the rule was important- any future children of the Royal Family needed to be raised Mormon, and that was best done when both parents were faithful Mormons.

The debate continued, Mwanga's mind racing. He asked everyone to stop. He turned to his wife, Luguba Katrina. "What are your thoughts, Baby?" He said. She was quiet for a minute, as the room looked at her. She then stood and said that Banijan women in this family shoudl be allowed to marry men of any faith. It will allow them more freedom, and a way to choose their destiny. Mwanga then turned to Kobe Azizi, the Katikkiro. "Kobe." The Kabaka said. "I had my men brief you on this a few days ago. What are the Government's thoughts?"

"Your Majesty," Kobe Azizi said. "After debate, the cabinet is not opposed. We've made inquiries to the opposition- they are not opposed either. But the cabinet would feel better about this if a rule was made- any Banijan child who is to be considered officially in the line of succession must be a baptized, practicing Mormon. So, for example, if you were to have a 2nd daughter who would marry, let's say, a Baker Parker. For her sons to be eligible for the line of succession, as is their right, they'd need to be baptized and practicing. That's the way to do it to maximize freedom of choice, while ensuring our country's Mormon character is reflected in the Royal Family."

Everyone considered. "Well, that sounds good to me." Kabaka Mwanga said. "Is everybody in agreement?" Everyone simply nodded, with only Mwanga's brother, Basamula, still being against. "Well, I'm sorry Basamula- you've been outnumbered. And anyways, this is my decision. I will issue a Royal Proclamation promptly."

Royal Proclamation- House of Katende Rules of Marriage

The Rules of marriage for the men of the House of Katende shall remain unchanged. The Rules of marriage for the women of the House of Katende, however, shall make the following changes. Women in the House of Katende shall no longer have religious restrictions on who they can marry- they can marry men of any theistic religion. While there is an official preference for Christian men of some denomination, that shall not be a requirement. The ban on women in the House of Katende marrying publicly declared athiests shall remain in place.

The sons of any women who are otherwise eligible to be in the line of succession to the role as Head of House(and therefore Kabaka) must be baptized Mormons, in good standing with the Puritan Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, to claim their spot in the line of succession.

So it is written.

So it shall be done.

S/ Mwanga Katende, Kabaka
Kobe Azizi, Katikkiro

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

OOC: Thank you to many people who had enabled the creation of a very emotionally consuming chapter. Special thanks to Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom for allowing me to have Asher and Janet participate in YourNewWorld and Fuwa.

I Run To You

PART 5 (45) - Surrender-I

While a history student playing catcher at St. Croix, Asher Chania Lundrigan became very aware of his abilities. Thanks to his gift with words, he was almost always at the top of his class back in high school, but their breakup and heightened expectations back in Quebec City had left him in a state no less than that of a degenerate and no more than that of a disgrace, and therefore he did not finish any higher than upper-second in his class.

But in spite of his material degeneracy, sexual indulgence, and ways with the public, Asher Lundrigan's status had meant that he was left alone in middle of an expensive cafe in Walden District of Montreal. This cafe he had long been familiar through its proximity with Eileen's flat, and their memories spending occasional weekends together in the nation's largest city as teenagers continued to sprinkle his twenty-five year self. But even if Asher had not learned about this place, then somebody else in the industry or high school friends- whether they be working in the commercial blocks of Songdo Boulevard or Strathcona Avenue, the West End's bright lights or even his friends in professional sports- would have told him about this space. Due to the nature of his work, whether with Landslide where he has spent increasingly less time, or The Taegukgi and the Concord Heights Times, Asher Lundrigan would have spent more time here.

In the manners only rivalled by Stiva Oblonsky from Anna Karenina, it is true that every other members of Montrealais and Capitolien high society were either related to or friends with Asher. Of course, the privilege he held were the product of his background, but also the product of what had happened since the breakup. For example, one half of those he had befriended in the Ministry of Sport, the Royal Quebecois Football Association or either Koreana or CSKA sport societies were the men and women he had known all the way back when he was a wee summer intern with Landslide, Bleu et Blanc's star catcher, or continuing his journalist path post-graduation. Those were the people who, while coming from different backgrounds, were also able to help him in an unilateral fashion when the moments of crises struck in the age of early adulthood, like that time when he had decided to forgo a chance at what looked to be promising professional career after a major injury, and when he had needed early scoops or even possible interviewees.

Then the other half were his chums, or the children of his father, mother or uncles' chums from their St. Croix days (uncle Andreas aside, but he too had connections, just on the other side of country), and they, being familiar with the ways of a Ridler Club boy whose talents had long allowed him to get away with almost every earthly sin out there, knew to do best by offering him blessings, both material and immaterial, in forms of plane tickets, concert billets, rents, and possible real estate offerings.

It was by the virtue of such gifts, not necessarily common of a cousin of a baron with family history towards the Parti Justice, that enabled our protagonist to keep his hostilities at bay and rather contained. It is in this that Asher took particular solace and joy in not pursuing excessive pursuits like politics or other forms (if we remember correctly from the first series, the Lundrigans are traditionally known for their presence in the Naval folklore). He was content in being left alone, only being asked to take over when needed, and rather being behind the scenes in order to get what the men of his age and stature would have been interested in terms of stability.

While an athlete, Asher, not being known for particular physical attraction, was liked more for his incredible honesty, faith in people, and virtuosity. His good nature, from the highs to lows, had indicated some form of promise that he rarely betrayed, and determination in his eyes had meant something too. 'Ashley-Asher-Ash,' as he was called by his friends, were almost always praised for his gentlemanlike conduct. If anything, even though he had always made sure to tell every lover or a hookup partner that permanence did not exist in his words during his five years of degeneracy, the magic would repeat over and over again to the point where not one person would speak badly of him as a person (his conduct, marked by a long list of five dozen men and women he had slept with in four years of Odeon's laurel-covered walls, is another story though).

But the matter of going back to the usual way of life, with the couple somewhat awkwardly back in Eileen's Montreal flat for the summer months per their arrangement, was another story. The news of the big blue fun fest that night, after his seemingly-perfect success not making any mistake with her on surface, had lost Asher respect several in the industry held with him, and one of them happened to be the woman she was going to chat with. The principal qualities Asher held as a music journalist (his sports journalist side is a different story, of course) were his understanding of the unpredictable schedules, nonexistent timelines until the very last week of a movable deadline, and his ability to hide the inherent sense of elitism that while he knew he held it too often, he chose that not to affect his work. Music, after all, was where his bones weren't going to be buried, and he didn't want to cause trouble for something minor either.

On reaching a deserted second floor of the cafe Asher, wearing a backpack filled with feuilles de papier he had to write down after a nighttime period of writing, was shaking a bit as he walked towards a quiet corner with a couple of stalls. How do I explain this? Asher asked himself, heading to a tall, lanky woman with long hair who, even on her sixties, was very much at the very apex of her health. She nodded, as he quietly made a gesture of bowing twice at her in a measure of respect. His face, while normally the one of good nature, quickly turned into that of horror when he recognised the sheer presence of Janet Mullen-Baker, Eileen's manager, for the five-hundred and fifty-ninth time.

'Thank you, as always, Janet.' he said with gentle deference in his voice, as he attempted his best not to be intimidated by Janet's gaze. 'It brings me delight that you've come to the cafe as asked, and I needed your help.'

---

'So what are you going to do about the ring?’ asked Janet, who was bothered enough with the issues regarding the acquisition of a local studio in Carnstone, Delaclava, and decided to place greater importance to the holy matrimony. ‘You know that’s all said and done, you’ve blown it.’

‘I really don’t know.’ responded Asher in a single breath, feeling uncertain about it all.

‘Really, is that all you have to say? After all this time?’ Janet asked, raising her voice. ‘You know Eileen was waiting, for you, to make the right call, and the whole Battersea Woods have heard about it through a family member or a friend. What will you say to them after your attendance in Marco Hertel’s fest? That you slept with other men and women while she was waiting for you?’

‘I’m sorry, but that’s not exactly what’s happened,’ answered Asher to the most genuine of his voice. While he wasn’t sure if that was going to convince the longtime veteran of forty years in music management, he knew he still had to. Else the doors would lock again- it was a well known part that Asher wasn’t really welcomed even at her concerts or recording sessions, simply because he, without notice and much rationale, told her that she deserves someone better. ‘I was tricked...he told me that the boys’ night out will be different, especially with latest signings by the CSKA, the old army boys’ clubs...but that’s not what happened.’

‘Pathetic excuse!’ shouted Janet, pushing away an empty mini-bottle of Sherry that she had already drunk half an hour before Asher’s arrival. The bottle, spinning twice on counterclock twirls, rolled before dropping to the ground, shattering within a second of its impact. ‘Disappointing, horrendous and unacceptable! What will Her Majesty hear of this?’

Asher, in self-defence, tried to describe that the measures were taken in place by his almighty employer, The Taegukgi, and CSKA Quebec, the sports club owned and operated by none other than the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Quebecois Army, to prevent the spreading of the news.

‘No, but that’s not just it.’ Janet, finally calming down, interrupted Asher. ‘Listen. You hurt her by betraying her promise of coming back by two in the morning. That is not a fucking difficult task, and you know that. Even if you were to take the last commuter train from the Reneegrad station, you would have been there by four-thirty. Sure, us Quebecois are always going to have that problem where our indulgences empower our strengths and serve our bravery, but our ways of gallantry, however proud and memorable, too have cost their lives before their loved ones- Having fun is one thing, but to risk your life like how you did seven years ago isn’t going to work.’

나 돌아갈래...그곳으로… Asher’s very next expression was that of horror, the stunning reminder of what had happened with their breakup his senior year. Much of the relief to Asher, when they came back together was how little was said about what had happened in the span of five years between ‘the tragedy’ and ‘the miracle’. Few were said about the years between, and the days of mischief and decadence seemed to be portrayed as episodic occurrences, rather than a consistent pattern of troubles that had soiled the Baron of Valletta title.

But the truth was that however silent the people, the growing pains of two young people’s relationship were very much evident. It had only been a week since the domestic news of 6oixan9euf’s assassination-execution had swept the country’s majority in wildfire, but the parallel, foreign-originated news of a ‘big blue fun fest’ seemed to have struck the nerves of everybody else who weren’t swayed by it.

Those struck on their nerves were highly aware of the circumstances behind their breakup as eighteen and nineteen year olds, and that did not help the matter. [Wilfrid96RKilkenny], a CSKA beats writer best known for his Fuwa account (writer’s note: Multiverse’s equivalent of Discord, that’s originally from and is based in Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom), was among the first to message him when Asher were still on middle of his cab ride back. All the response the thirty-four year old got back from Asher was ‘Yes’, just enough to give him a ‘Vietnam flashback’.

Soon, all the news had shut down, but those on their social groups ([Wilfrid96RKilkenny] was a friend of his back in middle school) knew that he likely needs to settle the matter and either offer closure to the past, or lose Eileen forever. It is said that their cobweb extended all the way to Christine the Second, which is a helpful news, but is it, dear reader? To do what you thought was the right thing for the loved one’s safety, only to realise, after half-decade of self-destruction and beyond, that you were wrong and that all your friends had to be on their tippy-toes every time a major news comes up?

Asher wished to add something, but, with his head feeling as if shot to the head by a round of bullets from an ancient pistol, he stopped. After ten minutes, having come out of the pit, he returned:

‘Yes, it is my fault, no matter how we talk about this. There is no way to retract it, unlike a thought that’s not said, a mind that’s yet to be cultivated, or an article that’s yet to be approved. I deserve the pain, and that’s what we have to live through. It will haunt me. I had to let everything go, to keep those I love at bay and free from harm, and may be near such a moment again. I deserve the doors slammed on my face.’
‘And that will never happen, especially after what happened seven years ago.’ Janet shot back dejectedly. ‘You still do not realise that what you are doing is an act of cowardice, where you do not take responsibility for your lack of thought and judgment. You may have run yourself off to the Quartier Calanien and the Vdaran court, but not everybody had the luck to run behind the shields.’

‘Leave me be,’ Asher cried with horror. ‘If that’s what she wants, then I deserve it!’

‘It will not. It will destroy her this time, Asher. It will, and this better not happen!’

Another minute of silence followed, as the two, in agreement over who’s the guilty party but in disagreement over what is to be done. The pieces of glass, still shattered from earlier in their meeting, were lying all over the table as they both stayed quiet, waiting to see who would break the ice this time.

‘I...am sorry.’ Asher cried, sobbing before the woman who’s known never to sob. ‘I am...I am...I am..I am…’

But he couldn’t say any more words. There were none left for him to say, and even less energy for his throat to open. Such is expected of our protagonist though. He does not deserve our pity, dear reader, and you should know that too.

---

The subsequent hours, spent without talking about the lost days, the narratives of those cursed days, were spent instead on not thinking about the tragedies that unfolded then or could unfold now and at some point. Asher and Janet, the longtime veterans of YourNeWorld and its sports server in Fuwa, had a project to work in the forms of their results.

'Terra Salamantica hasn't done as greatly as expected from a third ranked nation, and it bothers me,' Asher sighed, as he checked the backlog of direct messages about the Matchday Two's scores, a mere draw that he felt, as an eight-year veteran, should not be happening. Of course, he's also a man of ridiculously consistent temper to his real-life situations when it comes to gaming, and that showed with the particularly aggressive tone over the last week or so.

Janet chuckled, before brushing aside a lock of her hair that landed on her left palm. Her nation, Cash and Gold, was having a relatively better fate on the other hand. Part of it came around her decades of experience browsing through YNW, though Asher did help her adjust early on. 'Cash and Gold's still cruising smoothly. But I may want to experiment with the style. Of course, the ways of the industry would not fly with the moderation team, but that's to be expected. You did say that your college self RPs like, as Terra Salamantica, were quite different after all.'

Asher nodded and explained: 'On my two absences that did happen. First time, it was because you know, moving from Quebec City to Plibury and Concord Heights. As you know, I wanted to go somewhere farther and try something different, maybe delve into more spiritualism and whatnot- thank god it worked well, but you know, people used to tell me that I was stressed all the time as I wrote...and hosting a couple of hockey tournaments weren't fun as well. And then the second time, trying to fly out as often to see Eileen, you know, and watch her happiness when live...It did give me new shifts in writing. Certainly missing out two cycles ago was a bad move, but it did have me a think. Like how do I shift the mouvements and whatnot...'

She agreed, and mentioned about the past as well- when she was younger, at a prep school near the West End of Montreal, she was always thinking about whether there's a world beyond that of the theatrics that to her, provided a three and a half of dimensions, but not necessarily the beyond. Her case was reminiscence of the Sylvain IV's late years, the era marked with political turbulences started by the far-right revolts of 1997 that were suppressed with absolutely necessarily use of brute force, and all of sudden Asher had gained the feeling that he was feeling the surrender.

Asher had got up. His back slowly aching, almost as if the time back home was necessary, he was folding his Pomegranate laptop and then cleaed the papers he was transcribing earlier. Almost an expected social custom, Janet pulled out a cigarette packet, opened it, and then lit the cigarette.

Receiving another cigarette from the older woman, Asher also took the hit himself, and slowly gave himself an arpeggio of hums and murmurs- now that their eyes were tired, the signals of the night grew clearer than ever, as did the reminders of past selves in this cafe that were kept, unkept and therefore had a particularly magical power that bind us all.

'Spakoynaya noch, as if it's the very snowy morning of 1990,' Janet said with strumming on her voice, with her left moving like a pianist's instruction for the Andante, Andante. 'Have you thought of RPing about a classical romance?'

Asher, his left hand holding his chin with his second and third fingers, thought for a sec, before dropping it. 'No, I believe not,' he said.

---

Then, like that everything became less distinct, with every paintstrokes of fate changing the colours of the streets, every arpeggio moving the limbs of us mortals, and then have the strangers vanish like the acceptance of a medieval concept of prima nocta in our civilised minds. The outlines of the people, who pass by their lives in the busiest streets of the Western end of the nation's economic, Anglo-capitol, and the dark-coloured cabs of the Summerlea Circus, where our dear protagonist used to spend innocent dates without being noticed by pesky journalists of the West Coast or all-knowing Halifax.

Asher, instinctively walking his way back to Eileen's flat, is feeling the effects of the daytime stress at five in the evening. First came in the appearance of fellow prisoners, whose hollowed eyes and tattoos had suggested that they were imprisoned in this underground cavern for centuries, the victim of three Caraqueno Civil Wars that had plagued the northeast Teranean country for past fourty-eight years. Then came the bewildered face of Heo Myeong-Yoon and the old high school crew (see Season 2), who had found out after his miraculous return from March Break that Erskine Collegiate's 2039 Prom King was going to need a new partner. Then, at last in the willow of his consciousness, there was a golden-strawed appearance of his grandmother's tears, who were comforting the poor boy's shaking figures, with the streams poofing into the outdoor parlours at the famous restaurant next to his.

He was tired, perpetually disappointed in his week back from the very Smurfgate, and he was left disappointed that what he viewed as the moral solution, with her freed from very sordid tales of madness the journalist had brought upon any loved ones and those who had acquainted with him, likely being unfulfilled per the accords of our unofficial moral codes. With that evaporation....he was tired, perpetually disappointed in his week back from the very Smurfgate, and he was left disappointed that what he viewed as the moral solution, with her freed from very sordid tales of madness the journalist had brought upon any loved ones and those who had acquainted with him, likely being unfulfilled per the accords of our unofficial moral codes. With that evaporation, Asher swayed back and forth at the end of his evening walk back home. At last is their flat, where the quieter lives of the twenties and their parents, just two blocks away from major Summerlea Cross, had prevailed like a Swiftian magic.

With both his eyes closed, Asher located the very front door and pressed the lock combination of the digital lock of the apartment. Every flat, on top of the lock combination at the front door, had a different combination available for the insides so that when both were pressed at the very front, the resident would have little problem entering the suite.

The first worked with a clear ding-dong. But somehow, the second lock combination, the one for her flat, did not work.

'Oh dear...am I high again...' he muttered, pressing three different variations of the locker, and then began tugging himself along the screen. 'What is this...' he sighed and groaned and then retreated, in order to make out what had happened.

[Vdara]

A Shockingly Good Result

What’s the best way to continue a decent run of form? No, honestly, what is it? I’d like you to think about that for a moment. Write it down, maybe. Feel free to message me about what it is. Just make sure you take a long, hard think about it.

...

......

.........

If your answer was “by pummelling your next opponent”, then I like your style! If it wasn’t, well, I don’t like your style. How does that sound, eh? Anyhow, with Electrum only 2 points behind Vdara in the table, it was crucial that they got a decent result to propel them further ahead of any danger that lay below them in the group.

Home Team Dressing Rooms,
VdarArena

First Team Manager Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś was more excited than usual. Nobody really quite knew why, though.

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”You lads ready? I’m ready. You know what? I’m even more than ready. I’m fucking pumped. We’ve got a real chance to put ourselves in a good position tonight, and you all need to know that, alright? Winning this match will make sure that tonight’s opposition will be less likely to catch up to us later on, and that’s crucial to our qualification efforts. If you’re wondering just how crucial, it’s extremely fucking crucial. We need to do absolutely everything right today if we want to keep our status of ‘group toppers’ alive, yeah? Everyone completely understand? Like, do you understand the magnitude of this situation? This is just too important for you lot not to understand, y’know? Heck, I never panic, and I’m the one panicking! Right, ignore me, let’s just get out there and try and beat these guys!”

The match report is as follows:

1: The match has kicked off, and every single person in the stadium looks to be excited! They’re ready for a good game of football, and let’s hope it goes that way, eh?
2: Petras has received the ball from kickoff, and he seems extremely eager to get forward at the very start. He’s got past Nindethana, and he’s now only got the back four to get past now... and he’s managed to do that with some skill. He’s only got Ralph Mills ahead of him now... and he fires the ball into the net past Mills and puts Vdara into the lead! It’s 1-0, and at such an early stage!
25: The Sentient Energy Ball has obtained the ball, and all the Vdaran players are far too scared to challenge the ball. Quite an unfair advantage, if you ask me.
33: It’s a corner to Vdara, and Vlahiades will be the one to swing this corner in. Tryfon Vlahiades whips the ball into the box... and it’s headed in by Mavroglou! The midfielder (who rarely scores) has finally managed to bag himself a goal, and in impressive fashion with the header! The scoreline is 2-0, now!
45: That’s halftime, and Vdara are 2-0 up going into the break! Pretty decent work from Oi Magoi thus far, but football is a game of two halves!

Due to time constraints (and laziness), the manager’s usual halftime team talk has been done away with. Expect to see this next time. However, you can now expect to see the second half:

46: Here we go, the second half has begun! Can Vdara keep their lead, or will the Electric Rectums build up a comeback?
53: It’s a free kick to Vdara following a challenge from the Sentient Energy Ball (scary thing, that), and Tryfon Vlahiades is stepping up to take it. He runs towards the ball, attempts to curve it over the wall... and he does! It’s a 3-goal lead for Vdara, and I can’t see them losing this game now!
77: The Sentient Energy Ball receives a yellow card for being too intimidating. The Sentient Energy Ball is now angry, but the referee is too intimidated to send it off. How ironic.
90: That’s full time, the match is over, and the Vdarans have managed to valiantly defeat their opponents in electrifying fashion! Væñøœrëñbérghüïś will surely be happy with that, he looked delighted when the whistle blew!

After the match, manager Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś was hastily interviewed, as the manager REALLY wanted to be somewhere else - presumably the dressing room, as he seemed quite overwhelmed by the existence of the Sentient Energy Ball.

Interviewer: ”So, your team won the game. Are you happy about that?”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Yes.”

Interviewer: ”Good to hear. Do you have any hopes for your next match?”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Yes.”

Interviewer: ”Well, what are they?”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Yes.”

Interviewer: ”You really can’t be arsed, can you?”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Yes.”

Interviewer: ”Thanks for your time, then.”

Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Yes.”

VDARA - 3
Andrianos Petras 2’
Konstantinos Mavroglou 33’
Tryfon Vlahiades 53’

ELECTRUM - 0

At full time, the Sentient Energy Ball was not happy in the slightest. Every single player was scared of it, and so were the fans. The stadium was evacuated, and after some tempting with the offer of a tungsten pizza, the Sentient Energy Ball left the VdarArena peacefully. What a nice way to end such a good game of football, eh?

[Muralos]

Due to RP burnout, I didn't get to complete much of an RP at all. Here is a pre-existing dispatch instead, along with a snippet of what I did get to complete (the player profile). I hope this isn't invalidated for plagiarism...

La Gazeto de Sportatoj
Special Edition: Muralos Travel Guide
Player Profile (2nd Installment): #20 Valora Lin

Match Fixtures:
Muralos 0 - 0 Busoga Islands
(January 19, 2021, Urbego, Muralos)

Muralos 4 - 2 Hispinas
(January 19, 2021, Hispinas)
Lin 23', Brava 35', Donaldson 66', Lumin 73' | Palmero 10', Amunategui 50'

Muralos (Esperanto: La Unuiĝintaj Insuloj de Muralos) is a cosmopolitan collection of islands located in the corner of the Far East. Despite having been the center of many geopolitical struggles between China, Russia, and Japan-- motivated by its wealth of resources and because of historic territorial claims-- the country enjoys relative stability today. Despite being rather industrialized and urbanized, there is still much that has remained untouched on this island, and there is a certain beauty even to the cities themselves.

Cities:

(Orange indicates land under Muralosian control.)

Note: A number of groups are arguing against the renaming of cities from their former Russian names into their current, rather prosaic names in Esperanto. NSWikiTravel does not assume any stance on this issue; it only lists the names of cities as they are officially known within the nation and abroad, as well as their former names (for reference).

Muralos is divided into two main provinces: Sahaleno and Kurilo. All but one of the cities listed below, however, are located on the large, most populated island province of Sahaleno.

Urbego (formerly known as Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and before that, Toyohara)- the capital and largest city of Muralos (lit. "big city" in Esperanto)
Havenurbo (formerly Korsakov)- the southern seaport connecting Muralos with the island of Hokkaido in Japan (lit. "seaport" in Esperanto)
Okcidenta-Havenurbo (formerly Kholmsk)- the western seaport connecting Muralos with Russia
Saĥalena-Urbeto (formerly Alexandrovosk-Sakhalinsky)- the town where the noted writer Chekhov stayed (lit. "Sakhalin Town" in Esperanto)
Oleo (formerly Okha)- the northernmost city and the coldest city on average of Muralos (lit. "oil" in Esperanto)
Kurila-Urbo (formerly Yuzhno-Kurilsk)- a remote city located on Kunashira Insulo, a tiny, but populated island of the Kurilo province. For those adventurous travelers who make it there, the weather is invariably rainy or snowy, but the geography and scenery are infinitely rewarding.


(Sunset at Kurilo)

Understand:
Prior to the settlement of Russian, Japanese, etc., present-day Muralos was inhabited by a number of indigenous tribes, most notably the Nivkh, who now mostly reside in the northern portions of the country.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the island (then called Sakhalin) was fought over in back-and-forth fashion by Russia and Japan, who governed the territory's southern portion. Chinese settlements had also been established on the island, and the land was indeed ceded from Imperial China to Russia in the early days of China's formation; however, due to mounting internal issues, China did not make any concerted attempts to conquer the island after its cession, and has not ever since.

(A guard stands at the border between Russian and Japanese Sakhalin.)

In 1945, the Soviet Union gained complete control over Sakhalin, designating it as an oblast of Russia; however, it backed down two decades later due to widespread lack of support for its administration, particularly the government's treatment of the oblast as a "lesser territory." A brief, but bloody Muralosian Civil War also discouraged outside powers from intervening in the island. The residents of the island collectively decided to form the country now known as Muralos-- the name is a corruption of the Esperanto word for "walls." The new nation was recognized by the World Assembly in 1963. (N.B. Despite having been ejected from the WA in 2014, Muralos retains rather great international respect.)

Note: The Muralosian currency, the stelo, is worth approximately 0.26 US dollars. When inverted, 1 US dollar is equal to about 3.8 steloj ["STE-loy"].

(Muralosian steloj from 1959)

Talk:
The presence of the various groups on the island and the delicate issue of handling the divisions between them was of top concern to the newly established government after independence. In the early 1950s, it was voted to adopt Esperanto as the official language of the country. So as a result, Esperanto is the predominant language. While it is certainly not taken very seriously anywhere else in the world-- at least, not on a national level-- within this country the people have certainly achieved Zamenhof's ideal of uniting people of different cultures.
However, English is taught widely, and Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian are all heard around the island. Muralos' powerhouse education system dictates that citizens learn a foreign language outside of Esperanto and their "ancestral" tongues.

Get in:

It is fairly easy to travel to Muralos. Citizens of countries who are members of the Asian Archipelago are able to travel to Muralos with no visa restrictions. Outside of the region, Muralos also maintains friendly relations with most Western and Asian countries, as well as countries in embassy regions of the Asian Archipelago.

By plane- This is the best bet. There is little reason to travel in any other way. Muralos' "Presidential International Airport" in Urbego (formerly "Capital International Airport," but renamed to avoid confusion with the airport in Beijing) is one of the busiest, with nonstop flights from almost every major airport imaginable. (Most flights with one or more stops make landings in Tokyo or in Vladivostok.)

By boat- Travel by boat is not especially practical unless you are some kind of hardcore enthusiast or are travelling as part of a comprehensive tour. You will most likely also need proficiency in Russian or Japanese.

Ferry services from Wakkanai, Hokkaido in Japan to Havenurbo are fairly organized, though; they run daily. So do services from Vanino in Russia (accessible by rail from Vladivostok) to Okcidenta-Havenurbo.


(Eins Soya, the ferry running from Japan to Muralos)


(Presidential International Airport)

Get around:
Muralos has well maintained roads, even out of the major cities, as well as public transport.

By car:

(A stretch of the Muralosian K1 road)
Rental car services are available at almost all major airports in the country. Driving is not hard: traffic is not often congested, roads and lanes are exceptionally wide, and drivers are rarely aggressive. Cities use the grid system whenever they can, which makes places incredibly easy to find.

- K1 is the major highway that connects Urbego from Urbo, with its western terminus at Okcidenta-Havenurbo. It is one of the largest and grandest highway projects in Muralos, and arguably the world.
(N.B. the three most major highways are all called "K1," with certain prefixes attached to them to signify their direction.)
- SN-K1 is the major north-south highway which connects Havenurbo to Oleo.
- M-K1 connects Okcidenta-Havenurbo to Oleo, and is fairly scenic on the way, being both a coastal and mountainous route.

By rail:
Muralos is astonishingly well-connected by rail, thanks to the efforts of the Russians and Japanese who had previously occupied the islands. One can travel easily from city to city.

Light rail:
Well-developed subway systems (many are double or even triple-deckers) exist to connect most cities, and stops are built specially to be near tourist attractions. In Urbo, a suburb of Urbego, there is also a monorail that connects even to residential neighborhoods. It deserves checking out in itself.


(The Orange Line of the Urbo monorail, in the Nord neighborhood of the city.)

By Hyperloop:
Hyperloop is a fast-growing option in the big cities of Muralos (it first rolled out in Urbego). A distance that would normally take 10 or 20 minutes by car would take merely 30 seconds by Hyperloop. As the method of transportation is still new, though, and some people may not find traveling at such speeds very comfortable, many people are wary of Hyperloop. Still, it is undeniably convenient and while it takes you to other tourist attractions, it serves as a tourist attraction in itself in a way- much like the monorail in Urbo.

See:

(St. Mary's Cathedral, Urbego)
(Yes, there is a notable Gothic-style cathedral in a historically Russian Orthodox city!)

Do:
incomplete

(Whale watching on a tour organized by the Muralosian Maritime Association. Prices for whale watching are 100 steloj for adults and 80 steloj for children, seniors, and members of the Muralosian military.)


(View of Zhdanko Ridge from a helicopter; image courtesy of Zamenhof National Tours. 1000 steloj)

Eat:

(Esperanto restaurant, Urbego)

In Urbego

La Krokodilo - A cheap, but amazingly clean restaurant that specializes in selling Chinese "steamed buns" (baozi) usually filled with ground meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and even truffles. It has been awarded an "Archipelago Star," which are usually given to much more upscale restaurants. Its takeout lines are just as long as the lines to reserve dining seats. The menus and packaging are especially interesting: one could read them over and over and still find things they've missed. But most importantly, the steamed buns are too savory and delicious to describe. Prices range from 12-30 steloj.

Esperanto - A casual, but pricey diner with cuisine from various nationalities, as its name may suggest. Some goods to try are the shabu-shabu with curry-flavored broth, as well as the "breakfast ramen" – ham and American cheese melted in the traditional Japanese noodles. Prices range from 40-80 steloj.

Sleep

Granda Muralano - a very well-maintained hotel in the center of Urbego. While its furnishings are quite lavish, a weeklong stay here will not necessarily break your bank. 800 steloj/night.

This is part two of La Gazeto’s three-part player profile on Valora Lin, striker for the Muralosian national soccer team. For part one, please click here.

The Women’s Muralosian Premier League was, by today’s standards, criminally underfunded when Lin joined CSKA Urbego. The lack of funds translated into low pay for athletes – dismal pay for those who needed to settle in Urbego, a city with a population of 3.3 million. Lin took on a job as assistant coach for Zamenhof High School’s girls’ soccer team, the team she had been on just a few years earlier. She answered the call to play for the Muralosian women’s national soccer team as well, debuting in a 2-1 victory over Li Qing.

“These were slightly ridiculous times,” Lin related. “A lot of us women’s soccer athletes still felt this huge gap between ourselves – who had to work multiple jobs to make a living in Urbego – and the athletes who got to be more focused, working with one set of players and staying in one place. It’s not to say that I didn’t like my jobs, but I have felt overstretched from time to time.”

Muralosian women’s soccer continued to face neglect until late 2020, as coverage of the former Muralosian national men’s soccer team overshadowed that of the former women’s team. This, to Lin, was “just conforming to the standard around Asian Archipelago,” the regional partnership that Muralos entered in 1963 and saw dissolve in 2016. Indeed, only the men’s teams of Asian Archipelago nations competed in the region’s two major soccer tournaments, while the women’s teams competed in friendlies whose scores were seldom archived.

(Note: the Asian Archipelago partnership was re-founded on January 2, 2021 by the government of New Zhengguo, and Muralos rejoined the partnership last Tuesday.)

It was in this landscape that Lin nevertheless made a name for herself and got Muralosians to care, to some degree, about women’s soccer.

Muralosian line-up against Nacaltora and Central Shaneville:
(4-4-2)
GK - Lubimova
LB - Petrov
CB - Lei
CB - Kim
RB - A. Mori
LM - Donaldson
CM - Abramovich
CM - Granda
RM - Shchedrina
ST - Rui
ST - Brava

[Kohnhead]

Kohnhead draw Pemecutan but smash Al Qurija

After a tough stretch of games that saw us only get a singular point in four games we traveled to take on a nation that we know quite well in Pemecutan from the NSTT. While they are a power in tennis the same cannot be said for football where they rank 192nd compared to our 69th. No matter the over 100 rank difference we drew them at three.

Once again the defense chose to now show up when the offense did, if only we could get a complete game for once maybe we could do something. It was Aaron Korkson who scored our opener with a header in the 19th minute, at least Korkson and Maltos have picked up their performances since last cycle. Pemecutan failed to answer and a mistake led to a Linus Rallyton goal in the 24th minute, just like that we were up 2-0.

Alas we could not hold onto the big lead as Pemecutan scored twice just before halftime in the 43rd and 1st minute of stoppage time, one was a class strike from just outside the box while the other was caused by a Claire Corton mistake where it just looked like we wanted to go into halftime and weren't playing to the whistle.

An Erin Maltos goal in the 56th looked to give us the win but once again we couldn't hold a lead as Pemecutan tied it a 3 in the 62nd minute really showing that they could play with us. They also had a chance to win with a free kick from a dangerous area in the 84th minute but a key stop from Sanders prevented the goal. We in eight matches had only managed nine points and sat in 7th of the group tied on points with disappointing pot 3 side Port Ember.

Against Al Qurija the pot 9 but unranked nation we absolutely destroyed them with our best performance since the 4-1 drubbing of Savigliane. When we win we win big as our three wins (we are currently 3-3-3) have come by an average margin of over four goals. Charles Laker would get a brace, Suzanna Barter on as a sub would record a goal, as would Al Torgan and Thomas Stratford also on as a sub as Korkson's day ended early with a bit of an injury although he appears to be all good now.

Linus Rallyton despite not appearing on the scoresheet had three assists and Erin Maltos picked up one as well, Laker's second goal in the 52nd minute would go unassisted. While it's only tied for our largest margin of victory I'd say that this win is the best match we've played this tournament as we got the clean sheet with a big performance from the defense and the offense exploded for five goals. We just straight up dominanted this match and the question is can it be used as a stepping stone moving forward?

This marks the first time all tournament we've allowed a clean sheet and Bertha Sanders didn't even have to do much with the game mainly played in their half and the four defenders doing a great job of not letting anything get behind them. What's interesting is that even though we are in 7th of our group we have a +7 goal differential good enough for the third best in our group further showing that we win big and we lose small (besides the Eura match). We should probably be higher based on goal differential but if we can use this performance to do better down the road that will be vital.

Unfortunately we remain in 7th of our group although we are still definitely in the hunt. 7th however will not cut it especially given that Michael White hasn't really impressed us much yet, will he be on the chopping block if this continues we don't know. What we do know is that Kohnhead have the best offense in the group which is surprising considering we've been blanked twice. So far it's our defense that's been weighing us back and that needs to change.

Group 19                                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Siovanija & Teusland                   9    6   2   1    21   12   +9    20
 2 Savigliane                             9    6   1   2    16    9   +7    19
 3 Natanians and Nosts                    9    5   1   3    18   15   +3    16
 4 Eura                                   9    4   4   1    22   12  +10    16
 5 Pemecutan                              9    4   2   3    20   18   +2    14
 6 Mapletish                              9    3   3   3     7    7    0    12
 7 Kohnhead                               9    3   3   3    27   20   +7    12
 8 Port Ember                             9    2   3   4    13   14   −1     9
 9 Al Qurija                              9    2   0   7    12   26  −14     6
10 United Pink States                     9    0   1   8    11   34  −23     1

Next up is the United Pink States who sit on one point after nine games and who we beat 7-2 in the opener. If we do not win this game questions must be asked, as after that our schedule really tightens up with games against Savigliane and Port Ember.

[South Newlandia]

Elephants cap off first half strong, jump into second place
(Even though actual Elephants can’t jump)

Teamwork matters!

Elephants find out that scoring goals is probably a good idea

In just two games, the Elephants more than doubled their goal count from 6 to 13. Simon McCabe stepped up big time, as the veteran proved to be able to lead an offense. While the 3-0 win over U-Koro came fairly easily, the win in Tumbra was hard work; the Black Eagles were right in it throughout the match only to narrowly fall short of a draw when their late equalizer was taken back. Young, who kept playing after two rough games recently, thanked his coach by scoring once while getting two assists in in these two games. In general, this was a much better offense; although luck was on the Elephants’ side more than once. However, things in life only ever come in trade-offs; the defense was extremely shaky in Tumbra. Both of the Center Backs are having some explaining to do; this was not what we were used to.
This, somehow, puts the Elephants in second place; right were they would need to be to get to the playoff. However, it is an extremely close group, and many teams are still hoping to get that spot.
The team is headed home again now to face Hampton Island, a team they drew on matchday one away, and to visit Pasarga, one of the Rushmori powerhouses. The Elephants had lost to the Wanderers on Matchday 2, but that was quite a close game. It’s not going to be easy, but these are the games that separate World Cup teams from Cup of Harmony teams. Both of these games are huge, and the Elephants, in their current form, have a chance.

Whats this? At first glance, it’s just a bunch of dots. At second glance, it’s still just a bunch of dots, but if you get a nerd to explain the stuff to you, quite a few interesting things are going on.
On the X-axis, teams are ordered by their current KPB-ranking; while the Y-axis shows people according to their current point total at the halfway mark of the qualifiers. Naturally, a lot of the higher ranked teams are also having a lot of points, with the vice versa also true. So, what teams defy this natural order of life? Let’s look at some outliers.
On the top left, we can find some teams with low KPBs that still crush it in the qualifiers. These teams include newcomer San Ortelio, on twenty points despite being unranked, and Tikariot, on an amazing 24 points despite a rank below ten in one of the hardest groups of the tournament. On the lower right, we find some teams that aren’t quite performing up to their expectations yet; like Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom; a team very familiar to South Newlandia, on only five points despite more than ten ranking points. Zwangzug and Nephara are in this category as well, with solid performances, but nothing breath-taking either; and certainly less than they had hoped for.
At this point, you are probably wondering what the colours are all about. The red teams are the ones currently in first place right now, while the yellow teams are currently in second place; enough for a playoff at least. Notable outliers include Siovanija and Teusland; leading their group on just twenty points; and South Newlandia and Saint-Domingue in second place with just 17 and 16 points respectively. Mriin, with 24 points, yet only in second place, is also unusual; and that gets us right to my personal favourite dot. Squornshelous has already amassed 24 points (only 4 teams have more than that); yet they find themselves in third place, and currently out of luck.

[Rangers FC]

Dear Viewers,

YOU WANT LIFE ADVICE? HERE’S LIFE ADVICE: DON’T START THESE RPS JUST BEFORE THE CUTOFF! BECAUSE OF THIS, I CAN’T EVEN OPEN ANY OF MY LETTERS! THANKS SO MUCH, EDITOR!

Also, budget constraints.

Yours, Broxi.

[Valladares]

Previously: I * II * III

Chapter IV: Stumbles Are Part of Life

Having passed their first test in the District of Metropolis State Championship with an outstanding grade against one of the toughest teams of the division in the form of FC Verder Metropolis, the mood at the headquarters of Talleres de Ciudad Piar as well as in the Metropolis northwestern suburb was at an all-time high. The 2-0 upset win on the waterlogged pitch of Abbotsford Sports Park was a surprise for everyone, even for the Ciudad Piar residents themselves, however, the brave exhibition by Talleres on that rainy Saturday afternoon where they made their official presentation to the footballing landscape of Valladares left the fans coming from this middle-class suburb wanting more and convinced that the team could give their other rivals a run for the money, even achieving promotion. The players were also enthusiastic, but also knew that this was just the first game in their league history and that this first impression would made their rivals look at them differently. After a well-deserved off day on Sunday, the Talleres squad returned to training sessions at their stadium on Monday, to start preparing their second match against Metropolis City FC at Abbostford, where they hoped the pitch would be in a better condition that would suit their style of play better.

The remaining six rounds of the "first turn" of this quadruple round-robin championship saw the "little train" in the lead with 17 points out of 21, four clear of Central Español, while also going unbeaten in their first meetings against the rest of rivals of the competition: Metropolis City, Policía Nacional, Central Español, and Estudiantes all shared the same fate as Verder, while Rapid Metropolis and Abbotsford were the only teams able to steal draws from the surprise package of the competition. Talleres had impressed all and sundry by offering a brand of scintillating, elegant football rarely seen in such depths of the Valladar football league pyramid, which until then no-one had really been prepared to deal with, let alone to counter it despite Rapid and Abbotsford coming too close. Veteran striker Fabio Baldovino started standing out as one of the championship's top scorers with 7 out of Talleres' 15 goals in the competition, despite losing one of his main associates in skillful playmaker Anthony Arzura. Arzura was injured during the 2-2 draw against Rapid on MD4 and would miss the following 8 weeks of competition, being replaced by Samuel Bennett-Shim, who while serving as a decent replacement, had had highs and lows in equal proportions.

"The District of Metropolis Championship, once a merciless battlefield in which titans of the stature of Metropolis Alligators, Marinos Metropolis and Nacional locked horns for supremacy in the amateur era, has been recently known as a field for domination by teams such as Buitrera FC, Metropolis City, Atlético Poblado, Rapid Metropolis, Verder and some others. However, this time, none of these are appearing in the headlines of the federal capital's main amateur tournament, with Buitrera and Poblado fighting to save their lives in the fifth tier and the other ones I mentioned being overshadowed by a mysterious force that came out of nowhere, saw a chance, and is fighting to conquer all. Yes, we're talking about Talleres de Ciudad Piar, who prior to the start of the competition were seen as nothing but just another underdog who's there only to decorate the landscape but actually, they haven't wasted their time to slap everyone in the league in the face and go up as leaders after the first quarter of play. Not only is their campaign what has surprised everyone, but also, the way how they are playing this competition: high pressing, passing and ball possession numbers, a combination rarely seen at this level where everyone is more physical and games are more hard-fought and passionate. If we judge by the quality and style of their play, this team should be playing at a high tier...and that could be very possible at the end of this season, or even before..."

The start of the second turn would be the moment for Gilberto Rúa's team to come down to earth, though, as they lost their unbeaten streak to the very same team they beat in order to start building it: Verder Metropolis. This time, a lone goal for Héctor Rivas in the 29th minute of the second half was enough for Talleres to bite the dust for the first time in their league era, which was still not enough to kick them out of first place with Central Español keeping the 4-point gap in place by also losing earlier in the day. Unlike the previous meeting with Verder, when manager Rúa scolded his players at the end of the first half for not being able to play to their usual level, this maiden defeat at the hands of the same rival brought them words of encouragement from the team's gaffer:

"Alright guys, this had to happen some time and it turned out to be today. This is a game, sometimes we win and other times we will have to lose. But this should encourage us to keep going and doing our best, because the fact that we are in first place, in our first competition, and ahead of teams with far more experience than us means that there is something we're doing right. Tomorrow will be another day and another chance to show we can keep improving, and that we could well become a serious candidate for the title and promotion, so let's go!

Following that loss at the hands of Verder Metropolis, Talleres had a hard time trying to bounce back in the subsequent matches as they were held to a late draw by Metropolis City with a goal in the 96th minute of the match and then suffered two losses in a row against the Police team and Rapid, who were until then the only team who could boast a positive record against the northwestern newcomers, having drawn with them and then won the second game which had helped them move ahead of Talleres. At the same time, the other surprise package of the league, the traditionally mediocre Central Español were enjoying a very sweet dream as they capitalized this setback for the Ciudad Piar side to move to the summit of the table with 20 points, ahead of a meeting with...Talleres.

"80 minutes of play have passed here at Abbotsford Sports Park and it looks like Talleres won't be able to pierce the impervious wall mounted by Central Español in this important clash for the lead! But something is happening as Bennett-Shim starts a charge into the Central Español box, dodges one rival...and now finds himself pursued by another couple of blue-clad men. However, he decides to try his luck with a middle-range shot that surpasses two defenders...AND IT SURPRISES THE GOALIE AND GOES IN...¡GOOOOOOOOOL DE TALLERES! Samuel Bennet-Shim breaks the deadlock in this extremeley close match and the Trencito are in the lead of the match...and also of the league...1-0 with ten minutes to go!"

The Ciudad Piar side ended up returning to winning ways with another goal scored by substitute striker Aidan Gazdanoff in injury time and claiming top spot back to their name, while Central Español were now tied in 20 points with Rapid, who missed their chance to go on top after being held to a scoreless draw by Policía Nacional, and both Hispanos and Carrileros were now trailing the Trencito by a point. From that moment onwards Talleres would not drop out of first place, reaching halfway point with a 3-point gap over Rapid and a 6-point one on third-placed Central Español, who were starting to fall behind. However, while the team managed by Rúa was able to open up a 9-point gap with their escorts, they were never able to move too far away from their main escort, which by then was old acquaintances Verder Metropolis, who had changed their manager and started a good run that saw them winning five games in a row. At the same time, Talleres started to lose ground in the league by dropping points to teams such as Policía and Estudiantes, while being also the last team Central Español could taste victory against in the season, and their chances to clinch an early title quickly became slim.

Eventually, the battle for the District Championship title was pushed to its last matchday as Talleres and Verder were the only teams still with chances to win it. Given that the matches involving both sides had to be simultaneously played and that the entirety of the competition's games had been played at Abbotsford, the Ciudad Piar municipality as well as the board of Talleres made a new request to the ADF to allow them to use their Estadio Michael Baek for that last match against Abbostford, while Verder played Metropolis City at the usual place. The ADF, initially reluctant to allow the use of the Talleres stadium due to its infrastructure, eventually relented, and the match between Talleres and Abbotsford was confirmed to take place in Ciudad Piar, to the joy of the residents who flocked en masse to become one of the fortunate 3,000 ones to buy a ticket for the game that could not only confirm the first piece of silverware for the team, but also their first promotion. Ciudad Piar was now more red and white than ever before...

Campeonato Distrital            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Talleres (CP)                  27   15   4   8    41   28  +13    49
2 FC Verder Metropolis           27   14   5   8    47   34  +13    47
3 Abbotsford SC                  27   13   6   8    51   41  +10    45
4 Policía Nacional FC            27    9  11   7    43   39   +4    38
5 Estudiantes de Metrópolis      27   10   5  12    33   43  −10    35
6 Rapid Metropolis               27    6  14   7    32   32    0    32
7 Central Español                27    7   5  15    25   41  −16    26
8 Metropolis City FC             27    4  10  13    37   51  −14    22

---

VALLADAR NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM SELECTION - MATCHDAY 10 & 11: THE GOTHANITA ISLES (H) / TUMBRA (A)
Goalkeepers: 1 - Paulo Gaviria (Nacional), 12 - Lucien Chamoun (Crisisbless, NPH), 23 - Danilo Araúz (AD Cerro)
Defenders: 2 - Jair Marrugo (CSKA Quebec, QUE), 3 - Martín Delgado (Herzegovina City FC, BNJ), 4 - Jorge Vargas (Tannenberg FC), 13 - Daniel Brown (Bohemians Metropolis), 14 - Nicholas Hossiner (Rolalas FC, VAL), 15 - Jason Fletcher (AS Bezieres)
Midfielders: 5 - Bryan Castillo (Hondo FC, VAL), 6 - Christian O'Brien (Tanrısal, PAS), 7 - Ronald Mickel (Kitara Athletic Association, BNJ), 8 - Arley Barrios (Myana, CMT), 10 - Cristian Benítez (Cazadores Cathair, AUD), 16 - Marcelo Escobar (AC Tallin), 17 - Kevin Martins (Fontvielle Impact), 18 - Fabio Betancourt (Hondo FC, VAL), 19 - Alexis Durmisi (Urbizania Wanderers, ASG), 21 - Marcelo Zamudio (Metropolis Alligators)
Forwards: 9 - Aymeric Fortin (1830 Cathair FC, AUD), 11 - Thibault Benezet (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 20 - Pierre Vasseur (Burnaby FC, KSK), 22 - Gabriel Riveros (Ulsa, EUR)

(OOC: Players 1-11 are starters; 12-23 bench/reserves)

[Eura]

emplor.eur/main/sport/football
THE REVIEW: STUMBLING EURA FACE QUALIFYING BATTLE
Injuries and insufficient performances hamper campaign
Report by our Euran international team correspondent Thomas Webster

Eura 2 – 0 Port Ember @ Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura
Woakes 31, Steele 60

An anti-climactic exit from the Copa Rushmori wasn’t enough to dampen the excitement around Lee Sharp’s homecoming. He might be 70 but the photogenic Euran legend didn’t look it as he strode out on to the turn at the Bastion Arena, a stadium where he was once loathed for Directus and yet loved for Eura. His return was a triumphant one. Sharp has always been a champion of the mixing of sexes in Euran football, breaking with decades of tradition. Needless to say, Sharp has been vindicated, and it now seems like it might as well have been a century ago that women could not play for Eura, such has been the pace of change. Appropriately it was Moira Woakes who would score the first goal in a Euran World Cup qualifier under Sharp’s tutelage, slamming in a convincing strike from the edge of the area, before Dean Steele sealed the win from a corner.

Mapletish 1–1 Eura @ Rosfield Stadium, Mapletish
Bowman 36

After victory in Bastion against Port Ember, Eura faced a trip to returning Rushmori opponents Mapletish. Eura did their part, stringing together some positive attacking play and creating numerous chances, eventually taking the lead through an unusual goal; Damion Bowman heading in from the edge of the penalty area after the ball had rebounded from a Patterson free kick that hit the post. The Dragons however were playing with plenty of style of their own and kept fighting to the end, scoring a deserved equaliser through Gauvain on the volley. Eura were left to dwell on how they had not been clinical enough to take home a win despite plenty of chances.

Eura 1–1 Siovanija & Teusland @ Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura
Bond 73

Siovanija & Teusland posed a much more known threat to Eura, but also a more formidable one. The second seeds came to Bastion with the intention of winning and played like it, dominating the first quarter of the game before a nervy Eura settled. The match sank into an attritional affair which certainly did not suit the strengths of a Sharp-led Eura side. The situation told in the end, the visitor’s superstar Thorsten Kramer rifling home a devastating opener. Much to the relief and some degree of frustration to the Eurans their own breakthrough came minutes later. Brian Bond took a tidy finish well at the end of a free flowing move. Eura were unable, yet again, to find a late winner.

Natanians and Nosts 4–2 Eura @ a stadium in Natanians and Nosts
Roberts 9, Tomlinson 82

Eura’s second eleven took over from the starters after three games on the trot, only to put in the worst display by Eura so far. Charles Roberts gave Eura an early lead from a corner but the Bastion and national team veteran was all over the place for an equaliser soon after, getting Vance Simm into trouble with a foolish backpass and being forced to watch the home side score an easy equaliser. More defensive shakiness followed and Eura were behind by the break, a header from a corner this time going in their own net and leaving Simm helpless. Then a controversial episode took the game away entirely; Stanley Burns was questionably adjudged to have fouled the last man and was shown a straight red card when replays showed contact was virtually non-existent. The home side scored from the resulting free kick and then a remarkable fourth followed, the Euran’s embarrassment punctuated only by a bittersweet Isaac Tomlinson consolation.

Eura 4–1 Al Qurija @ Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura
Bond 18, 40 (pen), Watts 67, Patterson 70

The visit of Al Qurija was set to the background of murmurs of discontent in the Euran camp after the dismal result against Natanians and Nosts. Fortunately there were no defensive frailties in this game, although Eura did concede an equaliser to Bond’s opener from the penalty spot, sourced from another poor refereeing decision. At least this time the official’s misjudgements were dealt out fairly, with Eura benefitting from another soft penalty, Bond scoring it without much trouble. Goals from Watts and Patterson would see Eura over the line in the end.

Eura 5–2 Pemecutan @ Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura
Bond 33, Woodman 38, Malone 50, Sutton 62, Tomlinson 89

Eura were able to rotate for this match and still win at a canter. Ethan Fleming and defender Reece Lucas make frustrating mistakes to cost Eura two goals at the back and their clean sheet, yet the firepower of the side saw them through, Bond scoring again while Woodman and Malone also scored. Tommy Sutton would add a fourth to put the game beyond doubt. However, then another disaster struck; Brian Bond and Vincent Robshaw both lost to injury in quick succession. Tomlinson came on to add a fifth, but with both injuries looking like medium term ones at least, they overshadowed the victory.

Kohnhead 0–4 Eura @ Chicken King Stadium
Fletcher 23, 59, Griffiths 44, Rogers 75

The least complicated of Eura’s victories in the first half of qualifying was away at Kohnhead. Surprisingly Bond wasn’t missed as Fletcher deputised nicely with two goals, while Griffiths and Rogers added more in a comfortable win.

Eura 3–3 United Pink States @ Bastion Arena, Bastion, Eura
Woakes 25, Fletcher 39, Tomlinson 67

Although this match did not result in defeat, it was just as much a cause for concern as the defeat against Natanians and Nosts. Facing a team that had lost seven games in a row Eura would have reasonably expected to win easily. Instead they limped into half time at 2-2, down to ten men again (this time a fair decision with Sutton seeing red for a nasty stamp) and with another injury as Dean Steele was laid low by a nasty looking hamstring strain. Then the Eurans conceded again, inviting a chorus of boos from around the ground at a rightly embarrassed Eura side. What was most concerning was that Eura did little to convince the crowd they were hungry to right the wrongs on the pitch, though at least they managed to secure a bare minimum point via Tomlinson’s right boot.

Savigliane 0–0 Eura @ a stadium in Savigliane

The first half of qualifying ended with a whimper which worsened the already sour mood in the Euran camp. The Euran’s dominated the game against a spirited but overpowered Savigliane, only to be denied several goals by a man of the match performance in the away goal by D'Ambrosio, the AFC Mayville goalkeeper. His eight saves denied Eura a point and left them an underwhelming fourth in the group at the half way stage.

[Ethane]

And that's time.

Cutoff for WC87 MD10+11

[Banija]

33 game World Cup Qualifying winning streak for the Kadongo Kamu snapped in stunning fashion by Stevidia


Kadongo Kamu players walk the ball back up the pitch after a stunning match winner at Electra Stadium by Stevidia

MYNDA, AKSUM- Banija v. Stevidia. You know the saying- "this is why they play the games." Going into the match, this was just another match on the football calendar. One of a zillion(OK, 95) World Cup Qualifiers to be played on Matchday 10, to start the business half of World Cup Qualifying. And it was a safe assumption to be another Banijan win. How did we know this? Going into this game, Banija had won 31 World Cup Qualifying matches in a row, not losing since an away loss on Matchday 21 of World Cup 85 Qualifying to Lisander. And the streak was even better at home. We hadn't lost a World Cup Qualifier at home since World Cup 82 Qualifying, when Brenecia dropped us at the Stadium of Restoration by a score of 1-0. We hosted World Cup 83, of course- but here is our record since then, at home, in World Cup Qualifying. 10-0-0. 12-0-0. 9-0-0. And 4-0-0. 35 home qualifying wins in a row.

Stevidia ranked 259th in the multiverse. And Stevidia wasn't punching above their weight, either. In 9th place at the halfway point, they had just 2 wins from 9 matches. They had lost two in a row. We beat them to open World Cup Qualifying pretty thoroughly at their own place, by a score of four goals to one. So many, including most of us, and certainly most of the fans, thought this would be an easy win, one of the easier posts on the route to try and repeating their undefeated Qualifying slate from last time around. Instead, this result would be analyzed and talked about all across the multiverse, because the unlikeliest of teams took a stand and stunned the footballing world.

So how did this game start? It started fairly well for the Kadongo Kamu. While many expected wholesale changes at the halfway mark, Marcus Waters decided to stick with his top starting XI for a few more games, to help the team stay in form. The Banijans were on the front foot here at Electra Stadium, and they wanted to bury their opponents early, and find that goal. It would be Idai Uster who would score first for the home team. In the 22nd minute, she was able to take a through pass and chip it over the head of Paul Baker, the Stevidian goalkeeper. IT was a smart finish, the crowd cheered her, and she blew kisses into the front row. 1-0 to the home team.

The Banijans kept their foot on the gas pedal, trying to double their lead to really take their opponents out of the game. They kept the ball in Stevidia's end, doing their absolute best to down the upstarts. Banija knew how fragile a one goal lead was- all a team would need was a little bit of luck, or something, to equalize. And in the 40th minute, Banija got their second goal of the game, and seemed well on their way to victory. It was a long shot by Mzukisi Nzo, and the central midfielder's shot had a late, wicked bend towards the corner of the net that was out of the reach of Paul Baker. The keeper dove, but it was much too late- Mzukisi Nzo's shot had landed in the back of the net, and all of a sudden it was 2-0 to the home team.

2-0 at halftime. A team that we had beaten before. Maybe we took our foot off the gas a little bit? Who knows? But both our play in the first half, and our deserving 2-0 lead, made what come next an absolute stunner.

Stevidia played with absolutely no fear. They went down 2-0 away from home, yes. But they did not play for damage control. Just take a quote from the Banijan manger after the game. "Look, we've got to give Stevidia all the credit in the world here." Marcus Waters said. "A lot of teams go down 2-0 on the road, especially against a higher ranked team, and just pack it in, trying to make sure they don't get blown out. But they did not sit back and defend- they maintained their approach, and went after this game. All due respect."

In the second half, Stevidia was able to maintain control of the ball, and keep it away from Banija's midfield. They put a couple of shots on Francois Tantoh, and Banijan fans were starting to get a little bit worried. But not that worried- many thought, we're better on paper, we're up by two, right? But in the 58th minute, a cross from Miles Wilson, who is just 21 years old, put a lot of pressure on Alanso Tibamba, who was running towards his own net. It was actually a picture perfect header- but unfortunately, Tibamba put the ball into his own net. The own goal, fished out of the net by Stevidia players and raced back to the center line. We had a ball game.

The Banijans, for about 10-15 minutes, were keeping the pressure up on their visitors. They had conceded, yes, but our boys had a one goal lead, and we absolutely wanted to double it. That all led up to a great moment in the 71st minute. Still up by a score of 2 goals to 1, Adama Coote had come on a few minutes before for Babaja Mboob, and was providing energy on the left flank. He whipped in a cross to Ilman Jawara. And as Jawara jumped up, he was nearly tackled by Jordan Smith, a Stevidia center back. The referee blew his whistle. While no card was shown, he pointed directly to the spot.

There was no need to look at the replay- a clear penalty. Ilman Jawara would have a chance to bury Stevidia. He stepped up, and went low and hard to the keeper's right. But Paul Baker was ready. He timed his dive perfectly, and stopped Jawara's shot. His team surrounded him, and it gave them momentum. Banija's momentum going forward died out, and all of a sudden, it would be Stevidia that would be playing with that extra burst of energy. In the 77th minute, a spectacular diving save by Francois Tantoh prevented Stevidia from equalizing, but only for a few minutes. In the 82nd minute, a foul by Cyper Corr gave Stevidia a free kick. Lucas Cooper took it, from 27 yards, and drilled it. Upper corner, Tantoh could only stand and watch. This was in front of the Stevidia fans as well. They went nuts behind the Banijan goal, Stevidia players ran up to celebrate.

The Banijans waited for those celebrations, and then we started to push. We didn't want to merely get one point- we wanted to go for all three. But that push would doom us. In the 88th minute, a poor pass by Enyinnaya Jideofor, who had come off the bench, was intercepted by Rhys Middleton for Stevidia, and it was all systems go for the visitors. They saw their opportunity to go forward for what would be a historic winner, and they took it. An overhead ball from Middleton, and to put it simply, Paul Massey outran Tibamba. He went one on one with the goalkeeper, and slotted home perfectly towards the bottom corner. Tantoh did not have a chance.

Pandemonium set onto the Electra Stadium. Stevidia was about beat the world champs. The celebrations were wild, again. Stevidia's entire squad piled onto Massey at the corner flag. Numerous players jumped into the visiting fan section to celebrate with the fans. And After all that chaos, the final few minutes of stoppage time were played, and were uneventful. The final whistle blew. The Qualifying winning streak? Stopped in its tracks at 31 wins in a row. The home Qualifying winning streak? Stopped in its track at 35 straight home Qualifiers.

Absolutely stunning. And after the match, the captain, Kuma Bultum, had nothing but praise for Stevidia. "Well, everyone will agree- that was a shocking loss, There is no way around that." The captain told the press. "But full credit to Stevidia. They didn't get intimidated by our name, or our rank, or the star on our jersey. They played their game, believed in each other, and now have completed a comeback that they will remember for the rest of their lives." While many were critical of poor Banijan midfield play, and poor defending, Stevidia got a lot of credit across Banija, and surely will across the footballing multiverse for pulling off this stunner.

We scored. We scored again. We led. And we collapsed. Marcus Waters told reporters that while the play and result were disappointing, that this would be a good opportunity to show the team's mental toughness. Could they respond when things didnt' go their way? Could they respond to a big emotional let down like allowing a two goal comeback at home? Fortunately, we responded fairly well on the road. While we struggled for 80 minutes, a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes of regular time clinched a 2-0 Banija win over The Belacian States.

The new Qualifying win streak? 1. Who knows how long that will last?

[Tumbra]

Westmond District Court
Ridgewell, Westmond, Tumbra
23 January 2021

Cynthia Lowell was always an early riser. Working twelve-hour shifts as one of the members of the security teams at the Westmond District Court, she had to rise early because the start of her shift coincided with the opening of court business. This meant that, when the courts opened at 8, she had to be ready, patrolling the grounds or in whichever courtroom she was assigned to for the day, fully briefed on what cases would be heard and whether there was any risk to the security of the court. It was an easier job than being in the State Police, that was for sure.

Today, however, was different. The Locke trial was set to conclude today, with the judgement being dealt just before noon. Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence found in the car, nobody was really sure what the result of the trial was going to be. Lowell herself had followed the trial extensively, being in the courtroom itself on Day 6 and 9, and remembered feeling only revulsion as the prosecution continued to present its case against Locke. Locke, who had been stealing all the attention during the trial, had calmed down from the beginning of the trial when he made an absolute mockery of the proceedings, but the expressions on his face still drew much attention.

As she arrived at the court, she scrolled through the duty roster on her phone and found out that she had been assigned, along with 7 of her shift-mates, to the courtroom where Locke was scheduled to appear. Security had ramped up over the past few weeks, but none more so than today, where her shift leader had correctly predicted that emotions would be running high during the trial and that extra security would be required for the full-scale event.

Court Police didn't have guns, and until 2014 only had batons. Now, however, they had tasers. The use of them was rare, but Cynthia had a feeling, just a feeling, that she would have to use hers someday. The use of force was something that many officers of the law dreaded - not only did it unnecessarily complicate the case, it also drew unwanted attention to them and the amount of paperwork to fill in was pure hell. The only thing every single law enforcement agency in the country was renowned for more than their attention to crime was the sheer amount of bureaucracy that went on in there. Several Federal Commissioners had tried to trim down on this, but to no success.

The result would begin at 9.00am, but before that there was a substantial crowd waiting outside to see the judgement delivered live, including the parents of most of the missing women, several of whom had made emotionally-charged statements to the media hoping for the full brunt of the law to be delivered onto Locke. Riot police had been deployed outside the District Court, ostensibly as a precaution, but in fact many people were hoping that Locke would face the hangman's noose. The crowd, however, proceeded into the courtroom without much fanfare.

At 9:05am, Locke was escorted into the courtroom, wearing a white turtleneck sweater and black pants, the visible sight of which made many of the groupies in the room - some of which had changed their hairstyles to resemble Locke's victims - begin to swoon. The visibly disgusted looks on the family members of the disappeared would be caught live on the television, and serve as a stark reminder of how big this trial had gotten.

Both lawyers, who looked visibly exhausted as they delivered their final statements, playing as much to the Justice Doyle as they did the crowd (having realised early on that having both on their side played to their advantage) included much flourish that would not have looked out of place on a stage, with the brandishing of fingers, folders and otherwise riding roughshod over the typically established traditions of the courtroom, which included peaceful, reserved deliberation. All that had been forgotten for the media event of the year.

Evidence had been found irrevocably, to link Locke with the disappearances and possible murder of the subjects that had been caused. A surprise came after Day 9, when data from the highway pricing system had turned up a positive link to a remote location in the middle of Gamaliel State Park. A three-day search found the body of one of the subjects Locke had allegedly made disappear, and DNA samples from her body matched that of Locke's, giving pretty much every mother in Tumbra nightmares over the safety of their daughters. Evidence found in the car also linked several subjects that had gone missing together. The case was locked in - everyone except Locke had basically given up, and Katz had seemingly conceded defeat after the new evidence had been found.

Lowell paid no attention to what Brown or Katz were saying, having learned over the past few years how to drown out the sound of the court. A few? As she reflected on it, she realised she'd spent seven years in the Court security forces, and the wrinkles on her hands had confirmed the fact. As she spent a bit of time in quiet contemplation of what exactly she was doing in her life, Doyle began speaking, and the entire court went quiet.

"I want to preface my judgement by saying that the past few weeks have been nothing short of shambolic in its conduct by everyone arguing here. From the prosecution, to the defence, and especially that of the defendant. And for that, I must apologise. Conduct in the court has to be established and set out by the presiding officer, and for that I have failed in my responsibility. I, in my wish for the defendant to appear at his own trial, as a convention, allowed his frankly childish antics to continue throughout the trial, instead of placing him in contempt of court like I should have done. It is now obvious that I should have done otherwise, and I am deeply sorry." He took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses, and began reading from the pile of paper he had before him.

"On to the matter of the case. I will be short on this, as I feel this trial has gone on long enough. It is the finding of this Court that the defendant, one Jacob Edward Locke of Georgia, is found guilty of murder in the first degree. The punishment is death." The gavel slammed down, and the court turned instantly into a frenzy. The parents of the missing women started crying, for justice had been meted out. The young women who so idolised Locke started crying, for their idol had been put to death for something he clearly did not do. Katz ignored his client's protestations, quickly packed up his stuff and began to leave, when Locke suddenly stood up, a look of barely concealed anger on his face.

"Young man, I..." Doyle began, before Locke climbed over the table and began walking towards the judge; he froze and began scrabbling for his belongings, haphazardly stuffing them into his briefcase. What happened next happened very quickly.

"STOP, SIR, STOP," Cynthia shouted as she took the taser out of its pouch. With a bit of difficulty, of course, because the damn holster always proved difficult to extract the taser itself from. She pointed the taser at Locke, taking aim at him, and --

Locke continued walking. His face of rage was on show now, yet another side of him that had gone beneath the radar, rolling up his sleeves - what was he planning to do? Assault the judge? Say something for himself? He took another step --

"TASER, TASER, TASER!" Cynthia screamed as she pushed the trigger. The loud bang when the taser prongs left the chamber wasn't as loud as that of a gunshot, but in a crowded courtroom, it might as well have been. Screams came from the crowd as everyone ducked, including the two lawyers, beneath anything that provided cover, and Locke turned, his face registering shock as the prongs raced towards him, the "confetti" that served as the taser identification tags slowly settled at the feet of the officer who had shouted at him --

Cynthia looked on as the taser prongs made contact with the turtleneck sweater and pants and punched through, anchoring themselves to Locke's waist and thigh, delivering a shock that stopped Locke in his tracks and made him collapse to the floor, precipitating screams from across the court as Locke convulsed under the effects of electricity, his face still full of rage as he struggled to shake off the shock, and began extending an arm to get himself off the ground. But it was no use. Three other officers had converged on Locke's location, with the first to reach putting his knee on Locke's shoulder blade, rendering him essentially immobile. Locke screamed as he tried to get up, a guttural sound that hardly resembled the civilised man who had entered the courtroom with his gentle smile.

Once the taser prongs had been removed from Locke, and the requisite first aid had been provided, Locke was hauled out of the courtroom, and that was the image that would show on the evening newspapers. He'd taken everybody for a ride, and the ride had come to an unceremonious end with a crash, rather than a bump.

But for Cynthia, it just meant more paperwork, and she was irrationally pissed off by that fact.

[Nephara]

Nephara 2 - 2 Baggieland
(4-4-2) 1 - Provost; 2 - Stride (18 - Rostock 68'), 5 - Thorn (c), 6 - Verlander, 3 - Muscadin; 7 - Koerner (23 - Sauthier 79'), 15 - Horvath (4 - Timekeeper 68'), 8 - Cromwell; 11 - Caracole; 9 - Bastable, 21 - Basilisk
Goals: Cromwell 52', Basilisk 57'

Quemorr Isles 2 - 3 Nephara
(4-4-2) 1 - Provost; 2 - Stride, 5 - Thorn (c), 6 - Verlander, 3 - Muscadin (22 - Clevinger 89'); 7 - Koerner, 15 - Horvath, 14 - Fletcher (17 - Mueller 65'), 13 - Belgrade (11 - Caracole 73'); 9 - Bastable, 10 - Lovelace
Goals: Lovelace 19', Bastable 42', Belgrade 59'

The final whistle blew with little relief. Yes: the important thing, the five-match winless run was over just in time for what now loomed as a genuine six-pointer against Graentfjall. Results elsewhere had been more or less favourable, and the Cormorants, despite their extraordinarily ordinary form, were far from out of the picture. Win all their remaining games and they'd at least make the playoffs, probably make it top.
One thing was for sure: bookmakers had opened up with them and Banija as the clear favourites to win the World Cup. This... well, this was no longer the case.
The team talk was muted. What was there to say? 45 minutes of finally looking like themselves, 3-0 up by the hour and then... yet another fucking penalty, and then Aranea Provost flapping at a corner, and what made it unforgivable was how ... how ...
Was everything. No, she knew what she had to do. She knew it the moment she thought of it, and knew she had to get it out of the way soon. There needed to be as much time for whatever malaise she'd inflicted on the side - and the buck really had to stop with her - to fade away.

She sleep-walked to the press conference, flanked by PR guys. She batted away a couple of sympathetic, softball questions on autopilot - back on track? We're taking it one game at a time - before abruptly cutting off a question. "I'd like to read a statement."
"A prepared statement?" a journalist asked, as the PR guy gave Strauss the evil eye.
"No. But." Strauss cleared her throat. "Here goes. We all remember Tveidalen."
Many of the foreign press did not remember Tveidalen. Why should they? But two defeats to the minnows had condemned Nephara the last time they failed to qualify for the World Cup. Amethyst Fegelein had arrived with the wind at her back, the manager behind arguably the greatest achievement in the history of club football, lowly Starling's two league titles and Champions Cup win. She was out within a year.
"Tveidalen taught us that nothing matters. Nothing really matters like we think should. That sometimes shit happens, nobody's above anything, and it's eleven versus eleven at the end of the day. That's a lesson we've got to remember through every qualifying cycle; stay humble. Think we've forgotten that. Think we won't be forgetting that again, not for a while. And, look, you all know where this is going." She laughed, nervously, and quickly drained her glass of water.
The journalists waited in silence for her to continue.
"Look, you're all going to ask me what's gone wrong, that's your job. But I don't know. And if I don't know, I can't fix it. I do not have an adequate explanation for the recent results, and it's clear this could end in disaster. Those two finals don't matter. Those two regional championships don't matter. We're behind on points and I don't know where the next ones will come from. And, fuck it, I am a patriot. I'm always gonna wonder if I could've won that trophy, I know I will," and at last her eyes started to water, she smeared at them with the back of her hand, but she kept her tone level and composed. "but, ahh. The best thing for the country is I throw myself on my sword, now. The thing that hurt worst, early on, when we'd crashed out of the Cup winless and people had lost faith, was people said I should quit. Time wasn't right then, I think my results have proven that. It's right now. I'm not overstaying my welcome, so. Goodnight."

Three weeks later, Chimera Moxham's phone rang...

BETTING ODDS - NEXT NPH MANAGER
Cheney Bittencourt - 2.5
The obvious favourite, an experienced manager who knows what it means to be a Cormorant and has done brilliant work with the Stags. But will he want to leave a club he loves and sees as a potential dynasty in the making?

Lisa Amos - 3
The favourite to take over when Strauss was first appointed. Look at almost all of her years with Starling. Downsides: the final year and a half with Starling, the Fegelein Precedent.

Rook Cathar - 4
Another experienced Nephar, this time with largely positive experience abroad. A shaved bear with the social graces of a jagged box-cutter.

Grey Holden - 4
Has made an immediate impact with the Chariots, combined with international experience with the Schottia U21s and the ambition to rise higher.

Triffid Ramsey - 20
It's in the name.

Penumbra Amokachi - 30
Definitely has the ego. Her managerial experience consists of being fired from the Brinemouth U18s after slide-tackling a teenager and ending his career after he didn't train hard enough for her liking, but it's fine.

Lujendra Mescalin - 50
Trophy experience with Brinemouth; he knows the country and he knows how to win silverware. Shouldn't let being eighty-something and long-retired stop him.

Karlos Cypress - 80
Cypress' experience in Earent has made him a perennial dark horse for the Cormorants job for close to half a century and we aren't going to stop now. Cons: has been dead for over a decade.

The Godhead - 100
Still wouldn't be a longer shot than Theresa Riether was, and that worked out alright...

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 7
Goalkeepers: 1 - Aranea Provost (Holdenberg, EUR), 12 - Raluca Garamond (Sabrefell Athletic), 20 - Alexandra Markgraf (Sabrefell Moths)
Defenders: 2 - Rovena Stride (AFC Treason), 3 - Vivica Muscadin (Sabrefell Moths), 5 - Roxelana Thorn (Revolutionaries, EUR, c), 6 - Reniira Clevinger (Sabrefell Athletic), 18 - Pristina Soeringer (Stein-los Turkish, PAS), 19 - Miska Brabanzon (Sabrefell Moths), 22 - Radeka Lind (Vermillion Rage)
Midfielders: 4 - Tawny Shone (Brinemouth), 7 - Anselm Koerner (1830 Cathair, AUD), 8 - Lothaire Cromwell (AC Izotz Zubia, AUD), 11 - Kendra Ramsey (AFC Treason), 13 - Ysabet Belgrade (Sabrefell Moths), 14 - Exene Fletcher (Hellinic Rouge, PAS), 15 - Rashica Horvath (La Nueva Avenida, FFD), 17 - Ilia Mueller (AFC Treason), 21 - Chimera Moxham (Spartangrad, EUR), 23 - Traudl Mrdja (Vermillion Rage)
Forwards: 9 - Kurtis Bastable (Ulsa, EUR), 10 - Konrad Lovelace (Revolutionaries, EUR), 16 - Latona Basilisk (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD)

SCHEDULE
Baggieland 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 1 Quemorr Isles @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
Græntfjall 0 - 1 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 0 Pluvia @ Ludd's Hammer (Stahlburg)
Garbelia 2 - 4 - Nephara
Nephara 2 - 3 Kandorith @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
South Covello 1 - 1 Nephara
Sett Forest 2 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 1 Indusse @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Nephara 2 - 2 Baggieland @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Quemorr Isles 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara vs. Græntfjall @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Pluvia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Garbelia @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Kandorith vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. South Covello @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Nephara vs. Sett Forest @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Indusse vs. Nephara

[Indusse]

IFA NEWS NETWORK
New Start, New Beginning

Sett Forest 0–4 Indusse
Baggieland 1–2 Indusse

Group 9                                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 South Covello                         11    8   2   1    24    9  +15    26
 2 Græntfjall                            11    7   2   2    20   11   +9    23
 3 Indusse                               11    7   2   2    26   14  +12    23
 4 Nephara                               11    6   3   2    23   16   +7    21
 5 Kandorith                             11    4   5   2    19   18   +1    17
 6 Baggieland                            11    4   3   4    26   22   +4    15
 7 Garbelia                              11    3   1   7    17   27  −10    10
 8 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles           11    2   2   7    18   28  −10     8
 9 Sett Forest                           11    1   3   7    10   22  −12     6
10 Quemorr Isles                         11    1   1   9    13   29  −16     4

The second half of the tournament started, Indusse is again on the Hardwork to be the top team In the group. Trying to surpass South Covello and the upcoming Graintfjallers, Not allowing the Nepharim players to surpass. The three teams are the real threat to the Indussean national team. In the first match of the second half, Indusse faced Sett Forest. Indusse had already defeated the national squad or Sett Forest in the first match of the season. They were still back, now for a revenge. The game went well, Indusse had the total possession against the Sett Forest National Team. The game saw its first goal in the seventeenth minute, it was a few kick from Mersiás. The kick went down in the penalty box where Goblin Grundjee just headed it in. The first goal is the first sign of Victory. Indusse leads with the starting goal. The Sett Forest team continued to try scoring goals, but the defence of Indusse was like the Berlin Wall. Which was once indestructible. In the thirty sixth minute, Indusse scored their second goal. A quick one from the center left of the ground. Baskar H Kumar sprinted in-between the defenders of Sett Forest, took a lovely kick which turned out to be the so called Rainbow Kick. Indusse scores two, 2-0. Then, Sett Forest got a penalty as their striker got fouled by Budtedjson. Penalty for Sett Forest, Their striker seems to be a hundred percent sure that this was going to be a goal. They took the kick. It whorled around and was saved by Steve Longhorn. Save! Yes! End of the first half. The second half started, Sett Forest was more stronger now. They started attacking and the defense slowly startef to fail. They got golden chances to win goals but the goalkeeper of Indusse stood like a giant Rhinoceros. While there weren't any Hippopotamus in the ground yet, a Rhino was better. Indussean strikers felt tired after running behind the ball. But they weren't really exhausted. They continued the rush, snatched balls and tried scoring goals. In the sixty eighth minute, Baskar H Kumar drifted off to the penalty box and kicked the ball in. The Sett Forest keeper saved it easily and passed it to the nearest defender. The defender was on a easy go, he didn't notice Mersiás near him. Mersiás snatched the ball and kicked it there. It went in, surpassing the goalkeeper. It's a new one, a new goal! Indusse leads again, three against none. The Celebration didn't get over soon, within two minutes the Indussean strikers set forward for another. This time Bechun Butea was the one destined. His left leg shot swirled and went in for the post. It's the goal! The final one, end of the real game. No one scored again. Indusse 4-0 Sett Forest.

The next match was against Baggieland. The Baggies were really against Indusse as they were defeated by them earlier. The game started with the goal of Baggieland, in the sixth minute Baggielandian striker scored their debut goal against Indusse. Baggieland played well this match, they had eighty percent of the possession and was having continuous counter attacks. Over twelve shots were made by the Baggielandian players between the first minute and till the thirty nineth minute. Whereas, Indusse had just three shots in the same time period. The first half had nothing else in it. Just the goal of Baggieland and some fouls. It was indeed a total Baggieland half. The second half was a bit different, Baggieland continued their possession but the Indussean team started counter attacks and shots. Within three minutes of start, Indusse scored their first goal. A quick run through the left wing and a pass to the right. Baskar H Kumar scored another goal in. The equilizer of the match against Baggieland. Indusse 1-1 Baggieland. The game continued indusse was hyped now, yet the possession remained with Baggieland. Possession matters, Indusse knew it from the first half. Baggielandian strikers continued to score goals, if it's particular then two goals in sixty fourth and sixty nineth minutes but both were alas! Offside! It was something like a life elixir for Indusse. Indusse still is in lieu with Baggieland after these goalless goals. The game continued without any dramatic change. In the eighty first minute, the drama took place. Indussean striker Baskar H Kumar sprinted forward with the ball and he was fouled near the penalty, everyone thought it would have been a free kick but the referee didn't move. Why? Budtedjson who was just in front of Baskar took the deflected Ball forward and reached halfway to the goal. The Baggielandian players noticed it later as the referee called for Advantage. It was a easy chance, the kick where the goalkeeper was just the obstacle didn't miss its mark. It's the goal everyone waited for! Indusse leads the match, two against one. Nothing else happened after that, no drama, no shots, nothing. It was a defensive game after that and it made Indusse win the match once more. Indusse 2-1 Baggieland.

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^{Indussean Reporter Natalie Martini met Captain Baskar H Kumar in the team's hotel after the match against Baggieland. A short interview took place and let's see what happened?}
Natalie: Hello Leader! I hope you're fine and congratulations on the win!

BHK: Thanks for the wishes. I hope you're fine too lady.

Natalie: Yes I am, I would like to ask you some questions which everyone wanted to know in Indusse. Can I?

BHK: Of course, I am always addressable to Indusseans. After all I'm the elected leader.

Natalie: Okay then sir, Is it true that you're retiring from International Soccer after this world cup. That is World Cup 87?

BHK: Well.. I haven't decided yet, but that would happen soon.. I'm already overage and ofcourse I'm planning to be active in politics. Let the young stars get a chance.

Natalie: So do you mean that you aren't sure of retiring? What's your plans other than politics?

BHK: Ofcourse not, I'm not going to be a total politician as you think. I have started journalism, I was a journalist like you first of all. I have started writing short stories.

Natalie: Yes yes, I know it. Your latest story is a hit between the kids and the grownups.

BHK: Yes you're right. The story was a hit it was one of those stories which has the influence to make up a hit animation too.

Natalie: Could you brief us with your storyline?

BHK: Ofcourse yes, The story is about a boy of seventeen in a imaginary city in a imaginary era. He encounters extra terrestrials while playing and the story revolves around it. The story shows the good reputation he receives in the start and in the end it shows how he gets forgotten by his brethren. The book is science fiction as well as Humourous and Tragic. The short story is also one of the moral stories of the modern era.

To be continued...

[Jeruselem]

Princess Katherine in the Naked News Studios with bunny ears and a tail.

Hello this is Princess Katherine for Naked News Jeruselem covering the World 87 qualifiers.
We recently had two games in the 2nd half of qualification.
After the first half we kinda stuck in 5th spot in Group 13 after an interesting first half for us, not a complete disaster.

Match day 10 was good for us!
Oberour Ar Moro was hosting ... us, in the 1st away game for us in the 2nd half.
For sure, a must win ... well they are all must wins but some are harder to win than others.
Jeruselem beat the home 3-2 and Pekora's team off a winning start.
Admittedly we did have to fight to beat the locals but that's pretty much most of our games.

Thibaea lost again, this time to visiting New Lusitania and the Algarves who won 1-0.
Banija, invincible? NO! Visiting Stevidia upset them 3-2 in a boilover. No team had beaten them until now. They aren't Gods after all.
Vangaziland hosted the pointless The Belacian States, and did win ... just 5-4 against a team who can barely score. The Belacian States doubled for goals scored from 4 to 8. They still lost.
Saltstead failed to take an opportunity at home drawing 0-0 with Melbergia. They really should have won.

Match day 11, would it have more surprises? Sort of ...

Saltstead hosted Oberour Ar Moro and won 2-1. Oberour Ar Moro are really falling off the pace now.
Melbergia hosted Vangaziland who have impressed lately, but Vangaziland didn't get what they wanted. Melbergia held them to 1-1 draw.
The Belacian States faced Banija who recently lost their first game. Banija did win 2-0 and well ... The Belacian States umm, might need to look at the Cup of Harmony from now on.
Stevidia at home could not repeat their heroics with visiting Thibaea who won 1-0 in a much needed win.

OH THE BIG GAME WAS New Lusitania and the Algarves hosting Jeruselem.
New Lusitania and the Algarves came to Jeruselem last time and beat us, but we were now in their lair.
They beat us 3-1 last encounter, something we didn't want to repeat.
Looks like we did our homework on our rivals New Lusitania and the Algarves this time.
We held them to 1-1 draw which we think was a good result.
Yes we could have won but then they could have stolen it too.
I'm not complaining, against them ... it's good! Yes we would have like to win but they are a class act.

As of now, 11 games played. 7 left.
How are we faring in Group 13?
The Belacian States are still last ... pointless.
Stevidia despite the upset win are still 9th on 9 points
Melbergia are doing their best to not be last on 10 points in 8th.
Oberour Ar Moro are 7th in 12 points.
Thibaea are hanging in there with 16 points, with a 5-1-5 record.
We have Jeruselem in 5th and Vangaziland in 4th, both on 18 points.
The only thing separating them and us is their +5 goal difference compared our +3.
In reality, there's little separating those teams because of 5-3-3 record.
Saltstead are 3rd and New Lusitania and the Algarves are 2nd on 7-1-3 record and 22 points.
New Lusitania and the Algarves are only ahead due to +5 goal difference compared +4 for Saltstead.
So nothing between 2nd and 3rd.
Banija lead the table with 30 points, dropping 3 points only.

So ... the leader is clear but look at the 2nd and 3rd, 4th and 5th.
It's super tight. 4 points between 3rd and 4th so nothing is certain in the top 5 apart from the leader.
Thibaea are the wildcard who could upset the others.

We're not where we want to be. Ideally, in the top 3 with some buffer.
We are within striking distance of 3rd, and the difference between 2nd and 5th is not that bad.
We are competing, but we can be better.
We cannot mirror the first half, we must reverse some of the losses there.
So, we're doing alright. Saying all that, we could have been in a better position.
The last two draws? Those were possible wins.

It's not impossible, isn't that what matters?

OK, you're kind of asking what's up with the bunny ears and tail.
My daughter likes rabbits and asked if I could ... you know look like a rabbit just like Pekora.
I ended up digging out the Playboy outfit left around here somewhere.

People question why the Jeruselem coach and manager is a girl who behaves like psycho rabbit girl.
Well, the former manager was a talking mop who was never resposible for any of his decisions.
In fact, he's currently in court for tax evasion.
We're trying something different!
She has a colourful history in the JPL, she's been a successful coach wherever she works.
She just likes moving around ...

Just for the record, she's not a member of the Dallas family.
She just happens to be one of our friends.

Thanks for everyone who has sent money for team fundraising.
We're getting an increasing amount of people just sending cryptocurrency instead.
We're not complaining.
In fact with our currency being rather, worthless ... we've being paying international bills with cryptocurrency.
Ironically it's more stable than our current currency.

Well, that's it from me.
Pekora and team have 7 more games to see if they can even qualify or get to the playoffs.
But at the moment, they are a position where they can challenge contenders.
Eh, just don't expect us to qualify.

[Tequilo]

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KIPOLALIA
The Auto-Imitation Disease

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Part 4/7: Internments & Retirement

Part 1 - in which the Tequilo IAC squad catch The Kip
Part 2 - in which the infected are sent to isolation camp
Part 3 - in which hope of a quick end to the virus ends with the discovery of Long Kip

“An excitable dog in er paddlin pool wanna set thins aight.” So began the first draft of the first chapter of the memoir by Tequilo under-23 and IAC national team head coach Luka Entenza, presently interred at what will become known as ‘Camp Kippo’; after Iso Camp 19 on Isla Nira the next step on his journey where, with some of his former charges, he will be spending time in rehabilitation after exposure to the auto-imitation disease Kipolalia. “Trickery is dis nt all dat great yo pay attention the chalky dust o tha token o gratitude always strikes fo tha heart n tha token o gratitude wants ta go ta fck,” he continued in his Kip-jammed haze.

“You write better when you’re not imitating yourself imitating a ten year-old imitating DJ Soop Dragonn or Grandada Bone-C,” said rehab counsellor Beatris, trying to encourage Luka to adopt his more typical style and quoting sections of Luka’s memoir where he writes more lucidly. “If you were to attempt to imitate yourself imitating a 56-year old imitating Luka Entenza, you’d be nearer the mark and the repetition would help to embed your natural communication style, your old Tequiloan self as opposed to the one infected by Kipolalia… but don’t stress it, Luka - you are doing well!”

He isn’t doing so bad after all. One only needs to take a look at young Esâ Neá to understand that. Probably the worst of the five, he’s all Kip-jammed to hell.

“Havvo conceck skraight been based off da spit it was juh sum where I ain’t been called it dat cuh it been sounded to close to da rl n been decided fin be da closest connec dawg,” said Esâ, as if to illustrate the point.

“He got it real bad,” said Luka to his counsellor, making hella point.

§

While concerned friends, family and fans in the arrivals lounge of Tapalupé City International Airport welcomed the majority of the IAC squad back home, five weeks late, with rapturous and relieved cheering, the Long Kip Five - Esâ, Luka, Diego Nores, Alex Gallo and Tomás Alemán - were not yet free to enjoy such a welcome as they made their own transfer, from the emergency military facility on Nira to another remote island of the Antivador archipelago, Isla Palnoa, once a popular holiday island but now rather unfashionable and somewhat gone to seed. Few of the old holiday camps dotted along the rocky coast of the small island were in operation, and the single population centre, Palnoa town, was now a dusty shambles of less than 2,000 people eking out a poor living in a dilapidated centre. The small military single prop plane that arrived with its cargo of five Kep-infected footballers had a dangerous drop onto a lumpy and overgrown runway, where a military van scooted the unobserved arrivals off to an old resort, La Medida, recently purchased by the national government and quickly secured against random unauthorised visitors from stumbling in to the makeshift rehabilitation centre.

Here a less military regime than Iso Camp 19, apart from the guards along the perimeter and on the beach, attended to the needs of the five men, including the camp counsellor and a crew of caterers, physical trainers, and handyfolk set to restoring La Medida to some of its former glory in which to make the five feel less like prisoners. No longer thought to be infectious, they were nevertheless declared off-limits to all but the professionals around them and the occasional family visit. The press were kept well away, and the location kept largely a secret, though residents of Palnoa town certainly knew there was activity at the resort, suspected it was the Long Kep Five, and rechristened La Medida as ‘Camp Kippo’. All tourism, what little of it there was, to Isla Palnoa was cancelled, disappointed travellers generously reimbursed and the locals handsomely paid for their inconvenience and discretion. Access to and from Isla Palnoa was strictly limited and monitored, but Camp Kippo represented something of a boom for the local economy, the greatest annual income in a generation, and there was very little interest in gaining access to the resort or selling stories on it all the time the money kept coming from the government. The elected mayor of the island, Gobenor Elsa Maralena, told locals they had never had it so good, and she was probably right.

At the camp, Diego and Alex made good progress. Since no-one in the IAC squad apart from Luka had really known Diego Nores very well before he picked up his infection, it really was a new side to him that they saw as the Kipolalia cleared from his mind and he began to be himself again. Turns out, he’s quite a decent young fellow under all that ‘aight, aight, aight’ nonsense. He was popular with staff and with his fellow squad members. There was plenty to be positive about with Alex too, but the medical experts had more concerns for Luka, Tomás and Esâ, who all displayed quite intransigent qualities of the Kip symptoms. Luka and Tomás made very marginal progress, while Esâ Neá just seemed to get worse as the days went by. Counsellor Beatris was quite at a loss with what to do, and many experts across fields of virological study made visits to see him over the coming months. To quash rumours growing in the press and on the streets in the cities of Tequilo, the Ministry of Health published details of the struggles being experienced at La Medida (though they did not identify where the infected were being rehabilitated) and admitted that it seemed very likely the careers of Luka Entenza, Tomás Alemán and Esâ Neá were now over, and they would require some degree of care for the rest of their lives.

The Ministry concluded that they were hopeful nonetheless that the three would continue to enjoy functional and fulfilling lives back in the community soon enough; but a very final tragedy was just around the corner.

TAPALUPÉ, Tequilo - World Cup qualification passes the halfway mark! Version 87 is going to be one of the most storied in history… and we've got your back for all the latest in the biggest and best competition in the multiverse: let the GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL-a!!! Daily take the strain - all your favourite bits, in brief. All this week: Track & Trace… whatever happened to The Class of 72? Rúi de Las Rovas… season three of the famous old comic book strip rebooted. Logistics Report... how to manage a touring football team without picking up any weird viral infections; and of course, we have mail! You can write in too, if you want to - address your fascinating texts to spamcatcher@gola.teq or drop a letter in the mail to PO Box 654353583.2, Grand Central Post Office, Tapalupé¹ But first, El Copametro… how are Los Pitxileros making out in the qualification campaign trail?

WHAT THE AQTUAL FEK? ÇENTURION COMMANDS DRAW

VILITA 2-2 TEQUILO HT: 1-2

Location: Tivali Ring Stadium; Alikki-Corra, Vilita
Attendance: 86,308 Vilitans eager for the new era to begin, and the Ultra-Mariachi Band (8 sombreros+dog) less eager for that
Scorers: Huracan (OG) 36' Enzoril Alabonni 71' | Çenturion 19' Ricardo Bailén 45' Assists: Nii'arala Milaaso 71' | Çenturion 45'
Booked: Kudii Davasarii | Huachalla
Injured: Ecuador (severity 2/20)
Tequilo Line-Up: Oscar Bienvenida (VC) | Patrick Zambo, Noxochinoch, Huracan, Huachalla (sub: Eolo Sorazar) | Ixtub Tün (sub: Aleixo Claver) | Vilca Hualla (C), Çenturion, Ricardo Bailén | Tlacolotl, Ecuador (sub: Alexandro Calvoecheaga)
Player of the Match: Çenturion (Tequilo)

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LOS PITXILEROS SURVIVE MIGHTY METRÓPOLI SCARE

TEQUILO 3-2 BALQIA HT: 2-1

Location: @ Estadio Metrópoli; Tapalupé, Ocotapa
Attendance: 61,900
Scorers: Tlacolotl 4' Ricardo Bailén 34' Huachalla 65' | Eugen Kesgailus 14' 60' Assists: Çenturion 34' | Lukas Vargas 14' Ugo Rotnoviq 60'
Booked: Çenturion, Aleixo Claver
Injured: Çenturion (2/20), Ricardo Bailén (8/20)
Tequilo Line-Up: Oscar Bienvenida (VC) | Patrick Zambo, Antton Machinena, Huracan, Huachalla | Ixtub Tün | Vilca Hualla (C), Çenturion, Ricardo Bailén | Tlacolotl, Alexandro Calvoecheaga
Player of the Match: Çenturion (Tequilo)

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Tequilo's impressive home draw against the Jungle Cats at the very opening of this World Cup's qualifying campaign was one of the reasons cited in Vilitan media for the change of management at the half way point, along with other disappointing results for the World Cup giants who really, in everyone's considered opinion, probably ought to be out of sight by now and yet languish outside of the qualification spots. Deciding enough was not nearly enough, the powers that be placed the positively antiquarian midfielder Cavuna Aquafek, 40, in charge - hoping the Vilitan who has won just about everything as a player can turn around a stuttering start that could leave the Jungle Cats hoping for an invite to the 332-birth Cup of Harmony, something that surely should not be relied upon. Tequilo's new coach Ramiro Paredo is also experiencing a fit of the wobbles and went to Alikki-Corra with 'under pressure' prefixed to his job title, as the Agave-Blues looked increasingly like they might have their worst campaign in a short history - but young attacking midfielder Çenturion gave his manager a boost, and ruined Aquafek's home debut as coach, with a goal and an assist in a magnificent scrap at the Tivali Ring, surely representing the second-best ever result after a 1-0 win in the Holy Asylum Empire two cycles back. The eight sombreros of the Ultra-Mariachi Band supporters club, with Basil the Bison Terrier in tow, celebrated wildly at half time with Los Pitxileros in the lead, and continued in only marginally more muted fashion at full time, coming away with a famous draw and upsetting Señor Aqaufek's homecoming party plans.

Whether an impressive draw in Vilita will be enough to help Tequilo into a qualification place at the end of it all remains to be seen, although it still seems unlikely at this point. Tikariot dropping points has helped immensely and would continue to do so if they realised that, like the Wile E. Coyote, they had actually flown way off the cliff-edge of reason some games back and did the decent thing by plummeting down the table at terminal velocity, thus vacating one spot on the way. If that doesn't happen, the Agave-Blues will surely be left to stare up at them enviously as they reach the far plateau of the World Cup Proper. In any case, to have a hope of capitalising on any further wobbles from Tikariot, Vilita or Newmanistan (or preferably all of them) Tequilo need to remain focused and take the fight to our BoF nemesis Zeta Reka Higgledy-Piggledy Dom, who continue to be a thorn in our side. New wonderkid Çenturion is out but under-pressure coach Ramiro is able to field a strong side, including the return of Niño Pinto just in time to fill the Çenturion-shaped hole in midfield.

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TEQUILO STAT SUMMARY
Competition goals: Tlacolotl (10) Çenturion (5) Ricardo Bailén (4) Roxelio Toran, Vilca Hualla, Ecuador (2) Xaime Medal, Eolo Sorazar, Huracan, José Tavia, Alexandro Calvoecheaga, Huachalla (1)
Competition assists: Çenturion (5) Alexandro Calvoecheaga (4) Ecuador, Tlacolotl, Ricardo Bailén (2) Ixtub Tün, Huracan, Aleixo Claver, Roxelio Toran, Vilca Hualla (1)
Competition PoMs: Tlacolotl (4) Eolo Sorazar, Çenturion (2) Huachalla, Blêxu, Huracan (1)
Competition cards: Roxelio Toran (1 red card) Ecuador (2 yellows, 1 red) Huachalla, Çenturion, Alexandro Calvoecheaga (3 yellows) Vilca Hualla, Ixtub Tün, Blêxu (2 yellows) Huracan, Tol Chicote, Ricardo Bailén, Jatsu Cañaverri, Niño Pinto, Antton Machinena, Jaïr Iscla, Emmanuel París, Tlacolotl, Pedro Rôa, Ostando Bertendona, Aleixo Claver (1 yellow)

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Confirmed Line-Up for TEQUILO @ Zeta Reka Hügataldom @ Zeta Reka National Sports Complex
Oscar Bienvenida (VC) | Patrick Zambo, Antton Machinena, Huracan, Huachalla | Ixtub Tün | Vilca Hualla (C), Niño Pinto, Tutayan | Tlacolotl, Ecuador

Probable Line-Up for TEQUILO vs. State of Trinity @ Estadio Cuahtémoc; Huayna-Comitán, Guastenango (capacity 72,305)
Oscar Bienvenida (VC) | Blêxu, Antton Machinena, Huracan, Eolo Sorazar | Ixtub Tün | Vilca Hualla (C), Çenturion, Tutayan | Tlacolotl, Alexandro Calvoecheaga

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RÚI DE LOS ROVAS
The famous cartoon strip from a fantasy football world - season 3

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Season 3 of the Rúi Reboot gets extra-meta with fictional comic book legend Rúi Raza, now heading up the Raza player agency at Infantino Towers in Switzerland, and a whole team of lawyers discussing what to do about a blatant rip-off comic strip about a fictional comic book legend called Roy Race, of Melchester Rovers, who is a clear image-alike of Rúi. Melchester are patently a copy of his famous nine-time Champions League winners Blackburn Rovers, and ‘Roy’ even has a sister called ‘Rocky’, who looks a lot like a young version of his son Roque. Even the BBC, a government department of propaganda, are promoting the new comic, which has very suspicious similarities in storyline to Rúi’s real life - including that time he got locked in a toilet at Hampton Palace with the Queen of England’s daughter-in-law, Princess Diana of Wrexhamshire, nine months before the birth of young Prince Xaví. The likenesses are incredible (I’m talking about the rip-off comic) and Rúi is keen to sue the publishers for damages.

Meanwhile Rita, Rúi’s great-granddaughter and latest partner in the Raza Agency, is no closer to getting a deal over the line to save golfing champion and the worlds most expensive substitute, Gareth Bale, from having to return to Real Madrid, from where he is presently out on parole. It looks like he could be going back on the next flight to serve the rest of his time.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The things that are really tainting your trumps right now

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Good morning everyone. We have letters! From abroad!

First, we have a letter from a fellow professional - Jason Graham is the IFCF Correspondent for Boot It! magazine, based in TJUN-ia City, and wonders: “Two of TJUN-ia's youth players - GK Christian Wollatungi and RB Vladov Kolorovsky - were recently signed up by Hipopótamo-Joaxha for the new season. To put things in brief, how far off is this team from the levels needed to compete in la 1-Sección/Liga-TQ and do you think these young players can help them get higher up the pyramid? I'm not really an expert on your football so I hope you can shed some light on the challenge these two will have to deal with in the upcoming season.”

That’s an interesting and pertinent question, Señor Jason, and we’ll encourage writers to send in their views. When we asked the intern here at the Daily Desk, he observed: “hahahahahahahahahahahaha Los Hipopós in Liga-TQ!!!” - and we had to send him home for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile Ivor Tedium late of The Plough Islands has sought the wisdom of the Daily for an opinion on the Cup of Harmony voting. He wonders: “Dear Mr. Editor, [He’s a very polite gentleman, I’ve always said it - Ed.] I have been following troubling recent developments regarding the subject of how well a team must do before it recieves invitations to the Cup of Harmony, which seems to incite passions most fierce and disagreements most futile. I cannot help but wonder; cup of DISharmony more like hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!”

There seems to be a lot of laughter in the office today, it’s nice to be in a happy place. I’m sure our readership and writership will have something to say about the voting in future editions, Señor Ivor, but do I detect a bit of mischief-making from the cricketing community here? Strange folk, the cricketers.

Talking of strange folk, despairing letter writer Xeneral Desdén of Dolores (“I’m leaving” etc. - many letters over time; and “extremely poor taste in the middle of a Kipolalia outbreak” - Tuesday’s letters) has provoked a storm of interest here at the letters desk by accusing our cartoonists of insensitivity around the apocalyptic pandemic storyline in Rúi de Los Rovas. Young Juanita Lirraytegui, aged 6 and three quarters has jumped to their defence. She scrawls: “I love Rúi and the Raza family, I have considered them role models at least since I was three and a half, and I think it’s important for the cartoon to be informative, educational and entertaining at the same time, appealing to many audiences and providing stimulating content which is current to the modern experience to help youngsters such as myself consider our place in the world and the way in which we form transactional relationships with each other toward a better place for everyone. To that end, I feel Xeneral Desdén should just [content modified to preserve blushes - Ed.] and let the rest of us follow Rúi without prejudice.”

That is certainly a considered piece of epistolic pronunciation, young Juanita, and we thank you for your efforts - your teachers will no doubt be tremendously proud of your not inconsiderable ethical and moral reasoning at such an early age. However, if that is your daddy Priamo writing with his wrong hand again, tell him to stop using your identity to his own ends immediately, it does not reflect well on him.

We have to admit that plenty of letter-writers agreed with Xeneral Desdén, including Furioso de Tacranza who doesn’t wish to speak for everyone when he shouts: “I don’t wish to speak for everyone but I am FURIOUS about this outrageous Corona Beer story in Rúi de Los Rovas and I quite AGREE with Xeneral Desdén; now is not the time! TOO SOON!”

…while regular provocateur ‘Orejas Grandes’ can’t help but chip in with his two pesos-worth: “After many years of trying to get our attention, Xeneral (I’m leaving, don’t try to stop me) Desdén seems to have done just that by outing the dangerous cartoonists at the Rúi workshop - I always thought the cartoon strip was a TQundisc conspiracy transmitter. My two pesos-worth? Only read GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLa!!! whilst wrapped in tinfoil.”

Very helpful, OG, thank you as always. On the matter of conspiracies, Moto ultra Dolores de Silva, of Dolores, has been looking at the IFCF results threads on the internet again [We told you to keep away, Dolores! - Ed.] and is almost as furioso as Furioso de Tacranza (above) and Furioso de 77o (“Eight legged ties in the Challenge Cup preliminary rounds?” - last week’s letters) as she laments: “Now every club in Tequilo is out of the intercontinentals? Does anyone see a pattern here?” - we don’t know which version of the published results you are looking at Dolores, but we advise you to check again.

Finally, regular García de Corcoles-spotter Norm. de Plume, of Plume, wants to clarify something for us. He clarifies: “I know Sergeant Major Disòhaxu (“he most certainly is not in the army now” - Tuesday’s letters) insists García is not in the army now, but I just want to clarify something - I definitely saw him taken from the beach by soldiers, and he hasn’t been back. If he’s not in the army, where is he?”

That’s a good question, Norm.

If you have spotted García, want to disagree with our correspondents or just like to share your opinion on the pitxi, please drop us a line at Letters To The Editor, spamcatcher@gola.teq or slowmail to PO Box 654353583.2, Grand Central Post Office, Tapalupé.¹.

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NEXT UP
What's coming next with GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLa!!!

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In the next edition of GOLa Extra, we continue our thrilling look back at the Kipolalia Crisis as things take a very dark turn just when you thought it was safe to come out of the closet; PLUS! - in the Daily edition look out for more adventures of fictional comic book legend Rúi de Los Rovas, now into his 140s and running the family agency as he tries to find a new home for 'Lionel Messi', the world's greatest ever tax dodger; there will be our regular letters feature; we talk to more of the logistics team in the World Cup squad about how to manage a campaign of double-matchdays; and of course we'll keep you bang up to date with the progress of Los Pitxileros in World Cup 87...

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[1]Or TG Tequilo and we'll be sure to publish you in the next edition of the DAILY!

[San Ortelio]

This one definitely needs some context – please read the previous parts (or at least, the last part) by searching for the word ‘Lanza’ in the search bar of this thread.

In a way, he should have seen it coming. Enrico Lanzafame nervously wiggles at the tips of his gloves and sees the video of the goal go past the back of his brain in an endless loop. It’s not his usual mode – putting the previous phase behind him and focusing on the next ball should be one of his strongest points. But this might haunt him, not just for tonight but for weeks on end. Because… Many reasons. Because of that loop getting intermitted with scenes on a Brenecian dock. Because it is the derby against Gli Attacanti, the attractive side which has become their closest rival in the span of a few months. And because…

Enrico remembers that he took a step or two back when one of La Squadra crossed the leather to the right wing in an attempt to find some space. The game mirrored the one which all had witnessed on the road: De Casio trying to develop the Pomenienze game plan whilst his opponent had taken on the pitch with one underlined target, to prevent them from finding any spaces to use. The 5-4-1 from Di Tane might not be attractive, or interesting, or… Well, whatever positive adjective you want to give it. But it was effective and that alone has given it a courageous cult status rather than some smears in the press. The system was set up that by the time right-wing Joao Pereyra controlled the ball, three of the light blue players swarmed in his direction.

Alessio Di Masi cut off the passing lines to the center, keeping an eye on Cantù who looked for an opportunity to cut inside. Luca Curiale, in turn, opened the attack on the ball whilst Mazziero offered him the cover for that. They had trained on that, with Di Tane continuously repeating to Enrico that he needed to shout his commands, like a general on a staff meeting. Usually, a siege like that led to a ball back, maybe to Kouyate who tried to get involved or even to the defensive three – ready for another attempt to breach the fortress. But Joao Pereyra, the young striker who had given them sufficient headaches already in the first leg, faked to rush along the wing before cutting inside, disposing himself of Curiale. Di Masi saw the impending danger, but his slide tackle got skillfully circumvented by Pereyra who saw himself confronted with Pietro Mazziero at once. The defender might have had a season going from strength to strength domestically, but the young Juvenci made him look like a salt pillar. Luca Curiale tried to scramble back but the sole attacker had effectively disposed himself of three men and reached the edge of the box.

It was then… Enrico knew how it would look on tape – of course he did. Every goalkeeper in the world knew how this one would look and every fan sharpened his tong for an opinion. With Pereyra infiltrating, Enrico checked where his two fellow strikers would pop up. One step, one damned step forward to anticipate and suddenly, out of nothing, Pereyra turned his glance from the second post to the nearest corner. By the time Enrico had stepped back, the nets trembled and Joao Pereyra slid his way to the jubilating away fans. More out of habit than actual frustration, Enrico waved and shouted a little – but he knew it would roll over and over in his brain.

It’s a shit goal to have against. It’s a worse goal to have against in a game that’s slowly evolving into a one nil loss.

Time was ticking down and flexibility had not been amongst the key talents of the Ortelian national side. Di Tane tried a classic move by expanding the strike force with Orazio Canova, but the main result was that the defensive organization suffered – if it weren’t for a spectacular dive, Pereyra would have gone home with a brace behind his name. So now Enrico suffered from the worst part of being a goalkeeper – the awareness that whatever happened, you could not help them to score goals. It was something with which he had never struggled with before this game but now…

The plate goes up and shows three extra minutes. Knowing that they’ve produced one shot on goal this half – an attempt from Garofalo easily handled by the experienced Taddeo Bulgari – it became painfully clear that it was not just the clock that wasn’t working in their favor. Three more minutes for a futile attempt. Next to Favaro and Canova, also Roberto Agostinone had been given the task to tip the scales. For Roberto, a man who looked at 32 like a fifty-year old miner, it seemed an impossible task but those in the know appreciated his short and sudden rushes, moves that only gained that additional light flash from the reflection of his bold spot. Fed a horizontal pass, Agostinone took his chances for one of those, a futile attempt at first. Still he slid past his man and Nino Russo, after a short hesitation, decided to pull his jersey to hamper his progress. It was close to nothing, a split second yet the eagle-eyed referee saw it and whistled. Gianmarco Del Prete immediately grabbed the ball and…

Suddenly everything became a red gaze for Enrico.

It’s Del Prete. It’s twenty-two yards from the goal. It’s a do-or-die moment and…

Driven by an unknown force, Enrico Lanzafame rushes forward, towards the spot of the free kick. At first, with all eyes on the preparation, it stays unnoticed.

“make sure that Gianmarco Del Prete does not score in the second half of the Juvencus game.”

He rushes, nearly trips over his own feet. He rushes past Mazziero, the central defender who struggles to understand.

”If you are family, start acting as one.”

I have to prevent that goal and although that is his job on the daily, Enrico has no idea how he is going to do that.

”Someone who you are so ashamed of?”

He regrets everything. Maybe he did let him down. Maybe he should have said – this is my brother and despite everything, he stays my brother. Forever.

”What? Is? Your? Name?”

Maybe I am a Lanza and I need to accept everything that comes with it. There’s a tear running down his cheek now as he reaches the free kick spot. The referee already left and Giacomo Favaro and Gianmarco Del Prete, who line up for the shot, look a tad confused.

“I… I…,” mutters Enrico. Eighty meters of running and not a single logical word managed to take shape in his head.

Calmly, Gianmarco puts a hand on the shoulder of his goalkeeper.

“Hey, ‘rico, don’t worry mate. That goal wasn’t your fault – I mean, you’ve saved that many. No one blames you.”
“What,” Enrico utters, flustered and surprised.
“Come, get away with the tears, camera is rolling,” Gianmarco winks.

”I’m not like you.”

“We’re all in the same shirt, mate,” Giacomo adds.
“We’re in this together,” Del Prete nods, “After all these games, this time it’s our turn to solve it for the team.”
“I’m like you, guys,” Enrico speaks, seemingly dazed.
“True… True.”

A moment of silence, which gets abruptly interrupted by the captain.

“Guys – I don’t want to ruin the mood here but the clock is ticking, ok. Enrico, you allright?”
“Yeah… Yeah, I think so,” Enrico whispers.
“Good, let’s get back in positions and grab that point.”

I’m not like you, Enrico Lanzafame thinks as he walks back to his goal, I’m so not like you.

TWO MINUTES LATER

“No! Nooo, Stefano, don’t,” Valeria screams.

A part of her is happy she’s not in the office tonight. Mainly because that part is also afraid of her desire to be there. But also because she can not fathom what would have happened if he had been alone here.

“It’s all over otherwise,” Stefano fulminates. He seems to be in a daze, stepping back and forth in the apartment, trawling through lockers and throwing things on the floor.
“Calm down,” Valeria cries and softer, “for me.”

He halts – but just.

“It is only for you that I do this.”

After those words, he turns around towards the low cabinet that’s positioned between the bedroom and the bathroom. Originally intended for fresh towels, it usually serves as a hoarding place for worn clothes that haven’t made it yet to the laundry basket. His jeans, her socks, his sweater, her uniform, his shirt, h-. Her uniform. Decided, he picks up her service gun and fishes the bullets from a small drawer.

“Stefano… What are you doing? What are you doing?”
“I’m rectifying everything… I’m rectifying everything at once,” he mumbles to himself. Valeria’s voice screeches but the words barely reach him.
“What will you do with the gun?” Valeria asks softly, hoping that the touch of her hand on his trembling arm might bring him to his senses.
“I’m fixing it. I’m fixing it now.”
“No, Stefano, don’t do th-“

It comes out of the blue. One hard lash from his left hand which hits Valeria straight in the face. She falls back against the wall, hurt and afraid of this side of his.

“I…”

For a second, it seems as if the loud ‘smack’ of the hit has snapped him back to the apartment. Then he puts the gun in his pocket, turns around on his heels and marches out the door.

“I’ll fix it all for you,” repeated over and over, is the last thing Valeria hears.

[Saint-Domingues]

Koniglich Wasserstein 0–2 Saint-Domingue: Canisbro delighted with first clean sheet in five
HT 0-1

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Head coach Camilo Canisbro says he was "delighted" to see Saint-Domingue "back to our best" as they returned to the sort of solid, defensively sound performances his side have become known for at the beginning of his reign with a comfortable 2-0 win in Schöneberg.

Koniglich Wasserstein may have been meandering towards the bottom of the table in eight, but the team were to be underestimated at your own peril. The Wassersteinians had already won away in Zwangzug and taken points off of both Abanhfleft and Ancherion at home. Not to mention they had pushed Saint-Domingue all the way and given them a scare at Saint-Domingue's Park before narrowly falling to a 3-1 defeat - this was a team that could perform very well on their day.

It was a tense game, and though both teams each had a dangerous shot from distance there was little else to right about during the opening quarter of an hour. The first notable chance turned into a goal, when left-wing-back Emilio Campos lofted a ball towards the front post in the direction of the waiting Raoul Gimenez. The winger then beat his man with an almighty jump, floating a header in the direction of the top corner at the back post. Hans Heiko had no chance.

Diederich Ziegler, who had hit the post in the reverse fixture at Saint Dominic's Park, almost scored when he was able to wriggle free of the defence but his shot was comfortably held by Jules Binet in goal. Julien Babesco almost double the lead for Saint-Domingue on the stroke of half-time but his shot was well saved by Heiko.

The game was done and dusted around the sixty-five minute mark, when Diego Palacio was tripped by Kurt Keller. Babesco stepped up and blasted the ball down the middle to put Saint-Domingue out of sight.

In injury-time Keller tried to make amends for his earlier error by escaping his marker from a corner. Koniglich Wasserstein had last scored against Saint-Domingue from one of Konrad Lorenz's corners and created a series of good chances in that game courtesy of his deliveries, but this time it was not to be. The fierce downward header was palmed away by Binet and cleared, and thereafter the full-time whistle was blown.

Binet's save at the end of the match ensured that Saint-Domingue would keep their first clean sheet since defeating Zwangzug five games ago. Despite having forged a reputation for conserving play and steely defensive displays across the Wonder Cup and the Baptism of Fire, the Avengers' defence has looked remarkably brittle. There have been just two clean sheets from nine games prior to this win: one against miserly Hafamarimet, and the other in the aforementioned victory over Zwangzug. A whopping seventeen goals had been put past Binet in just nine games - only three teams placed in the top two spots across the nineteen groups have conceded more goals so far, even after the tenth round of fixtures. If Saint-Domingue are to remain in contention for Group 5's playoff spot, they need to improve in this regard.

But there are reasons to be positive, as argued by Canisbro. The rot has been stopped, a terrible run of fifteen goals conceded across just six games (an average of three goals conceded per game) is at an end. In the absence of a solid defensive base, the forwards have stepped up. Saint-Domingue have scored 26 goals so far, and looked dangerous going forwards both in 3-4-3 with Palacio and Gimenez flanking Babesco, as well as 3-5-2 with Nico Pozo rapidly emerging as the perfect foil to the main man. Even Jean-Pierre Jeune has popped up with a goal, whilst Carpeña has consistently shown an ability to score from midfield, and there have been first goals for all of Tanguy Lacourse, Maxence Vignon, and Fabian Delannoy. When it comes to scoring goals, Canisbro now has plenty of capable options at his disposal.

Saint-Domingue head coach Camilo Canisbro: "I am delighted with that performance. I kept talking about the need to go back to basics and try to get back some our defensive solidity, and today we got it. It's not always about dominating the ball, nor is it always about chasing the ball. It's a gruelling schedule, eighteen games. Some of these double-headers have been gruelling. You can't expect players to run and run and run chasing the ball all day long because there will be burnout. What I want to see is a team that knows their shape, knows their system, and is comfortable without the ball. Today we were. Koniglich Wasserstein had more of the ball but couldn't do much with it, because we were smart and looked to close off passing lanes and deny their key players the space they needed. This was us back to our best. It may seem unfamiliar after the all-action displays of late, but this is how we progress. The main question is consistency, can we keep this up. The next game [versus Hafamarimet] will be a different test because they are the small team and we will see more of the ball. In games where we need to be more proactive, can we retain the discipline as we have today? That is what we are working on and hope to see."

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Lineups:
Binet
Cotilla
Boleyn
Le Guen
Pareja <- Ahearn 73'
Campos
Sanabria
Carpeña
Palacio
Babesco <- Cojuangco 90+1'
Gimenez <- Keller 79'

Koniglich Wasserstein: N/A
Saint-Domingue: Gimenez (18'), Babesco (66' P)
Venue: Schöneberg Arena

Saint-Domingue 2-0 Hafamarimet: Easy victory as Saint-Domingue win again
HT 2-0

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Alfredo Cotilla scored within the opening 15 seconds of the match as Saint-Domingue eased to a win over whipping boys Hafamarimet.

Hafamarimet have endured a terrible World Cup qualifying so far, picking up just 2 points from the 11 games played. On the basis of this performance they would be lucky to pick up another point. Saint-Domingue humiliated them at home in the reverse fixture before a near-empty stadium, and they were cast aside with minimal effort once more.

From kick-off the ball was played backwards to Alfredo Cotilla. The defender took a touch and, after seeing Nico Pozo make a darting run, he played the ball forwards. Cotilla's pass was overhit and with the help of the wind looped over [REDACTED] in goal and over the goal-line. A truly bizarre goal after just 14 seconds and Hafamarimet's hopes of parking the bus to secure a draw were already over.

Hafamarimet offered up an incredibly lifeless performance with no drive or desire to win. Their play was disjointed and their positioning disorganised. [REDACTED] watched on from the sidelines blankly, and the Hafamarimet head coach even suffered the indignity of being hit on the head by a paper airplane flown over from the stands at Saint Dominic's Park.

Camilo Canisbro rested a number of players before the match, likely hoping to save them for the tougher fixtures that were to come. He was certainly vindicated in this decision, with Saint-Domingue winning the game without breaking a sweat, even after more key players were substituted at half-time. Pozo had ensured that the lead at the break was comfortable, exchanging passes with Jean-Pierre Jeune and then providing the finish.

The second-half was very uneventful, with the Avengers bossing the ball in the middle under no pressure from their opponents. The final whistle was a mercy to Hafamarimet who looked utterly uninterested in competing in this competition.

There are only limited references to the 'Q' word so far - qualification. But the last two games, both of which have been wins, mean that Saint-Domingue are now truly being seen by some as possible entrants at the World Cup proper. It is likely that they would need to finish 2nd and progress through the play-offs, but foreign media outlets such as The Jeolerinan of the Gothanita Isles, Tikarot Sports TV, and The Busoga Chronicle have all commended Saint-Domingue for their fine displays so far, the latter even going so far as to predict Saint-Domingue will finish 2nd. This is by no means a guarantee of success, but it is an indication that people are beginning to take notice of the fine work Canisbro has done so far. Regardless of how this cycle goes, Saint-Domingue are beginning to develop a presence on the multiversal sporting stage.

Saint-Domingue head coach Camilo Canisbro: "Like I said after the game in Schöneberg, today was going to be a different test. I chose a different side to what you might expect, for fitness reasons but also tactical. To play with a side which may not be so familiar playing together, having to play in a different way to what is normally demanded, that can be a big challenge. But I think we dealt with it pretty well. The opening goal is a freak, but I felt confident we would have got that breakthrough anyway. On the night we looked dangerous in the final third, Nico Pozo and Jean Jeune played really well as a pairing. These last two games may have looked easy on paper but they are big tests of desire and mentality, I'm delighted to see us come away with six points. The next two games are going to be tougher, but we are working as hard as ever for a result."

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Lineups:
Binet
Cotilla <- Sauvage 45'
Boleyn
Le Guen
Pareja
Campos <- Charbonneau 78'
Sanabria
Carpeña <- Keller 45'
Delannoy
Jeune
Pozo

Saint-Domingue: Cotilla (1'), Pozo (40')
Hafamarimet: N/A
Venue: St Dominic's Park

[HUElavia]

HUElavia Dominates in Turnaround Victories!

HUElavia 4-2 Murphtannia
(Pae 10', Mantovani-Jardim 23', 50', Braz-Bitencourt 89' | Marley 56', Murphy 67')
(Estadio da Selva, Natel)

Silvedania 0-1 HUElavia
(Reveles 54')

HUElavia came into the second half of the World Cup Qualifiers determined to keep their motivating win-streak alive. This was even more so the case that they were facing off against the two teams that beat them in their away and home openers of the qualifiers: Murphtannia and Silvedania. The team wanted to win these matches by a convincing margin to overcome the losses the team experienced in the opening matches. A mix of all four versions of the team were playing for both matches, with Marin starting in goal for the first match in Estadio da Selva (58,000) in Natel, while the away game saw Lobato in goal (and as Captain) for the match. The Home Uniform was worn for the first match and the Away Alternative was worn in the second match. Fans flocked to these games looking to support what was seen as a "Grudge Match."

The opening match saw HUElavia outright smother Murphtannia with solid domination. The opening goal came in the 10th minute, when Mantovani-Jardim was getting a shot, but was blocked by Banks, only to deflect to the outfield and Pae gave a blistering shot that curved over Ball into the goal to make it 1-0. The crowd erupted and jumped and cheered with joy to make the stadium rumble while Pae went to the camera to blow a kiss, while her teammates mobbed and hugged her for the spectacular goal. In the 23rd minute, Pae would be running on the byline, being covered by Bridge, where she gave a low pass into the box to have Mantovani-Jardim give a low shot that slid past the fingertips of Ball to go into the goal, making it 2-0. The crowd celebrated with passion once more, while Mantovani-Jardim hugged Pae and celebrated with the team. In the second half, Mantovani-Jardim would strike again, as she would get the ball from Fernandez-Roux, and dribbled past Marley and Pallet to give a blast past a reaching Ball to put the ball into the goal, making it 3-0. The crowd jumped and celebrated with feverent joy once more, while Mantovani-Jardim was mobbed by her teammates, all while the crowd chanted her name. Murphtannia would respond, as in the 56th minute, Styler was being covered by C. Almeida, and he gave a pass to Marley, who gave a low, curving shot past a diving Marin, where it went into the goal to make it 3-1. Marley got the ball and ran back with it to center circle to start the game back, since they needed the score more goals. The stadium was silenced as the goal difference between the two in their matches was evened out. In the 67th minute, a foul by Fernandez-Roux on Pole would give way for a free kick from 28 yards out. Murphy would step up and send the shot over the wall only to hit the bar and go under into the goal past a reaching Marin, making it 3-2. Jenkins got the ball and ran back, as they needed to change the momentum to tie the game up, while the HUElavians were stunned and anxiety started to fill the stadium with the situation changing. HUElavia began to attack more, looking to stop Murphtannian chances left and right. Time ticked away, and both teams looked exhausted from the attacks, but HUElavia would get their opportunity. In the 89th minute, Davis would get dispossesed by Coelho, and would send a long ball to Ocampo (in for Duran), and she would send a pass to Braz-Bitencourt (in for Villca), who would speed past Hogan (in for Pallet) and Banks to send a low blast past a diving Ball into the goal, making it 4-2. The crowd erupted once more, while Braz-Bittencourt was mobbed by her teammates and the bench for the spectacular counter attack goal. Shortly after the match ended, and HUElavia got another victory, along with wiping the 3-1 loss on Matchday 1 clean.

The second match was one with a lot more frustrations for the team. Silvedania played a very defensive style of football that had HUElavia frustrated at their shots being blocked by Connor and the defense. Players like Villca and Reveles were making shots, only for Connor to block and deflect shots to throw-ins or corner kicks. even the midfield of R. Almeida and Guilbert were frustrated with their passes and shots being blocked by the defense. Half-time came with the scoreline reading 0-0, and HUElavia's win streak was in jeopardy. The lone goal would come in the 54th minute, when Villca won a corner after her shot was saved by Connor. Torrisi (in for Guilbert) took the corner kick, which curved in and Reveles towered over Bassot as it went past a diving Connor into the goal to make it 0-1. Reveles was mobbed by her teammates, all while doing a "Shhhh" with a finger to her lips, as the crowd went silent from the surprise goal. Beaumanoir and Onerj would try to get shots in, along with Hiyu and Elkin, but Lobato was having none of it, and he'd make the saves with ease. Time ticked away, and in the final minute of additional time, Beaumanoir would send a long ball to Hiyu, who was one-on-one with Lobato, sending a shot, but Lobato put a finger to the shot and sent it narrowly out for a corner, frustrating Silvedania and the crowd. Right after, the referee blew the whistle and the team went to the field to congratulate Lobato for the save and clean sheet. HUElavia took another 3 points, and also wiped off the 0-1 loss in Matchday 1.

With the two victories, HUElavia is now within striking distance with their 19 Points (6-1-4) towards Receucn (9-1-1, 28 Points), Geektopia (7-3-1, 24 Points), and Fluvannia (6-3-2, 21 Points). The next two matches will be the most important ones of these qualifiers: at home versus Geektopia at Estadio Nacional (100,000) in Curumba and at Receucn at Stade Nacionale (30,000) in Receucn. The team does not want to have either of these teams get the best of them and will play a mix of the four squads for both matches, with Ramos starting in goal for both matches. The Home Uniform will be used for Geektopia and Away Uniform against Receucn. The team trains and studies with seriousness and diligence, and the fans will flock to support and pray for the team, which both matches are expected to be sold-out. In a special note, Green Party's Pomawari Sihui Michi has won the Presidential Election after taking a 51% to 49% victory over Libertarian Party's Juan Carlos Torrente, in a tightly contested election. Now, President-Elect Sihui Michi will be focusing on refunding the Education and Healthcare System, while funding more Green and Environmental Initiatives, as she becomes the 6th female President in the history of HUElavia. Here's to what can be a historic set of matches for Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos and to a great future with the new administration coming in.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!