World Cup 88- Roleplay Thread

by **Gouvanarch** » Sun May 23, 2021 4:02 pm

Disclaimer: For the convenience of our international readers, all conversations in Breton and Old French have been translated into English.

The slightly grainy picture opens up to a hand-drawn rendition of the logo of the Vilharady Owls and underneath a parchment in very elaborate calligraphy saying "Barthelemy de la Cormeilles". After a few seconds the logo of the Owls moves to the left (being obviously carried out by two liveried men), to be replaced with a painting of the player himself. The camera then gives a jerk up and to the side as it is moved to the left, showing to older men with long white hair and beards, clad in elaborate purple and gold garments befitting the middle ages more than the present time. Two parchments are held into the picture, one saying "Yezekaël de Bethencourt", the other "Sulhoiarn de Montchrestien". The former is for some reason facing to the left of the camera at a 90 degree angle. He begins in a frail and wheezy voice.

Yezekaël de Bethencourt: Good evening, my fellow Gouvanarchais, I bid you welcome to our humble abode. Tonight we will be talking to you about a young man that has fought in the Gouvanarchais Civil War in 1768--

M. de Montchrestien wheels around, looking at the back of his colleague with utter bewilderment. He taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, but to no avail.

Yezekaël de Bethencourt: His name is Rolande de Bourgueville.

M. de Montchrestien is rifling through the papers in front of him with a confused look on his face. He throws his hands in the air, trying to get help from whoever is behind the camera.

Yezekaël de Bethencourt: He was sent out at a young age to infiltrate the ranks of the enemies in Tikariot, trying to gain their trust.

M. de Montchrestien mouths a "WHAT?" and grabs both shoulders of M. de Bethencourt, but the old man does not even seem to notice.

Yezekaël de Bethencourt: We sent him into their capital, but they seem to have had their suspicions because they sent him to Vile Haradee.

M. de Montchrestien now moves in front of M. de Bethencourt to get his attention, but to no avail. He even waves his hand in front of him and he seems to be looking right through him. M. de Montchrestien looks at the camera and points towards the right, then walks into the same direction while M. de Bethencourt continues his strange, detached monologue. The camera follows M. de Montchrestien, bumping along as it is being carried. Finally it is put down and M. de Montchrestien stands in front of it, smoothing out his robe.

Sulhoiarn de Montchrestien: Good evening, my fellow Gouvanarchais, but my colleague is a little-- he has not been-- OK, he does not seem to be in full control of his mental capacities.

He looks over to M. de Bethencourt, his monotonous drone barely audible in the background.

Sulhoiarn de Montchrestien: Originally our show tonight was supposed to be a portrait of Barthelemy de la Cormeilles, one of the brightest prospects of Gouvanarchais football, but I am not sure what tangent M. de Bethencourt is going off on, but rest assured it does not make any sense to me either. So, M. de la Cormeilles moved to Port Rhovanyon, the capital of Tikariot, at a young age, when his father found employment at the local port as stevedore. He joined the academy of Port Rhovanyon AFC and soon his talent was keenly observed by upper management. Then at the beginning of this season he was loaned out to fellow Tikariot Premier League side Vilharady Owls, where he has been instrumental in them currently being in a secure midfield position, scoring 13 goals and assisting in 9 more, seeing him in the top 10 leaguewide in both sectors. Now we had an interview prepared with him, but where is it?

He looks past the camera again, questioningly.

Female voice from the off: We gave the parchments to M. de Bethencourt.

Upon hearing these words, M. de Montchrestien closes his eyes, shaking his head.

Sulhoiarn de Montchrestien: Does anybody know what he did with them? Or do I not want to know?

Female voice from the off: Uhm, I don't think you want to know.

He sighs and looks at the camera with a defeated look.

Sulhoiarn de Montchrestien: OK, my fellow Gouvanarchais, I hope that we will be able to recreate the interview and bring it to you at a later point, for now--

In this moment M. de Bethencourt comes running into the picture, yelling "Attack! Attack!", hitting the camera, which ever so slowly tilts further and further until it finally falls to the ground.

Sulhoiarn de Montchrestien: I give up...

by **Sarzonia** » Sun May 23, 2021 4:19 pm

Admiral Peter Graves patrolled the deck of the newly commissioned aircraft carrier ISS Patinkin, pretending to be interested in the CIWS technology and command centre advances from his days as the captain of the ISS Catherina.

He was feeling pensive as the overall commanding officer of the four naval task forces assembled to show the flag and remind the Foxchester traitors that Sarzonian reprisal could still be devastating.

The task force commanders were all waiting in Graves's ready room as Task Forces Whiskey, Tango, Alpha and Foxtrot all awaited instructions. Graves finished reading the communication from the Vice President in command of Sarzonia's Navy. He walked in, said "as you were," after the three Rear Admirals stood at attention.

"I just got off the phone with Vice President Dylan Mackey," he said. "We are tasked with maintaining position in international waters outside the Anaian sub-region and conduct exercises to ensure our readiness," he said. "We don't want to do anything provocative, but if one of the rogue nations tries any shit, we have license to do whatever is necessary."

"Including a nuclear strike?" Rear Admiral Thomas Blake asked. Even with a male name, Blake identified as female. She was anything but a supporter of an aggressive stance against Anaia, and if the decision came to a vote on the use of nuclear weapons, she was a guaranteed vote against that escalation. She was in command of Task Force Whiskey.

"No, Tom, that's off the table," Graves said. "At least for now." Graves was noticeably relieved to impart that particular news to his command personnel. Woodstock was content with a show of force if it was absolutely necessary, but war was clearly the last thing anyone in Woodstock wanted.

"Have you heard anything from Jhanna about the consular personnel we expelled?" Rear Admiral Noah Clayton asked. He was in command of Task Force Foxtrot, which was the largest of the task forces being assembled. Clayton

"It wasn't actually an expulsion," Graves said. "Ten of their low level staffers allowed their visas to expire and they're on their way back to Starblaydia now. Five more people didn't have their visas renewed even though they filed the appropriate paperwork in time. I think one guy kept crashing cars and mooning full bars or some shit like that. I think Woodstock City Police are happy to get rid of that guy. He had definite overgrown frat boy energy."

"I thought External Affairs was going to expel more staff."

"I mean there are 20 more visa renewal applications that External Affairs is looking at. I haven't gotten word what the outcome is of that review process. I don't think we're going to expel anyone unless they provide cause."

"What's the situation with Krytenia?" Rear Admiral Ingrid Oosterhuit, in command of Task Force Tango asked. "Last I heard they were moving military assets out."

"They're almost done, but External Affairs approved a request to allow the Royal Krytenian Military Police to remain at the embassy along with their equipment. My read is that Woodstock and Emerson might be amenable to a 'new normal' for Krytie-Sarzonian relations, though I doubt seriously that we're going to resume iron shipments there anytime soon.

Rear Admiral Riley Price was the nominal commander of Task Force Alpha, but Admiral Graves and the ISS Patinkin were both leading that task force. It was their job to monitor the situation in Audioslavia, although that was hardly considered a hotspot in the way Starblaydia was. They monitored the communicates in the event Cathair wanted direct dialog with Woodstock ... or wanted to initiate hostilities.

That said, Price felt it was more likely that a visit to Raynor City was more likely, although it was likely to be as a ceremonial escort for a mission to strengthen ties between Valanora and Sarzonia that had been treated with neglect for years.

Whether that meant an international trip for External Affairs to Raynor City or for a trip back to Woodstock for talks was anyone's guess.

After the meeting adjourned, Graves asked Price if they were keeping up with World Cup qualifying.

"Not really," they said. "I think we're playing better of late, but I don't really pay much attention to it."

by **HUElavia** » Sun May 23, 2021 4:36 pm

Fight to Survive

HUElavia gets a decent amount of points to stay alive in the hunt for Qualification.

HUElavia 3-1 Frestovenia
(Conti-Esposito 12', Duran 44', Savedra 69' | Artvikker 80')
(Estadio Olimpico de Solea, Solea)

HUElavia 1-1 ZSeperatists
(Di Donato 57' | Metzger 82')
(Estadio Maria Santos Leite, Miras)

Entering the start of the second half of the Qualifiers saw HUElavia motivated to keep up good results as they wanted to keep pace with the Qualifiers. Their next two matches were possibilities for potential sweeps, hosting both Frestovenia and ZSeperatists. The first match was set to be at (Estadio Olimpico de Solea (60,000), in Solea and the second match at Estadio Maria Santos Leite (72,000), in Miras. The Home Special was worn for the first match and the Home Alternative was worn for the second match. Both matches were sold out, with the rabid and faithful HUElavian crowd present to cheer on the team with songs and chants throughout the full 90 minutes (or rather 180). Coach Conavacio opted to use the A-Team for the first match, and a variety of backups for the second match. Once the anthems were played and the coin toss was done, the ball rolled and the match was under way!

The first match saw HUElavia put pressure and attack from the get go. The opening goal came in the 12th minute, when Navarro was being covered by Tannunen, which he gave a quick pass to his right, where it reached Conti-Esposito. She gave a fake shot to Vage and gave a curling shot with her left foot to blast past Brune into the goal to make it 1-0. The crowd erupted with passion, jumping to make the stadium rumble, while Conti-Esposito ran to the corner flag to do a dance and celebrate with her teammates. Frestovenia tried with some attacks here and there throughout the half, but the centerback duo of Mendieta and Muller were enough to take the ball away from danger. In the 44th minute. Duran was on the ball, being covered by Vage, where she did a side-step to put down Vage, and take a curving shot past the reach of Brune into the top corner of the goal, making it 2-0. The crowd jumped up and screamed with exuberance, making the stadium rumble again, while Duran was mobbed by her teammates for the cheeky moves and goal. In the second half, HUElavia kept on attacking, looking to get more goals in order to extend the goal difference. In the 69th minute, a pass by Gagne-Leblanc (in for Conti-Esposito) reached the foot of Savedra (in for Sol), who took a one-timer to slide the ball past the fingertips of Brune into the goal, making it 3-0. The crowd jumped and cheered once more, while Savedra hugged and hi-fived his teammates for the game-sealing goal. Frestovenia attacked some more, eventually getting a chance in the 80th minute, when Artvikker took a shot that deflected off Libermann, and past Ramos into the goal, making it 3-1. Artvikker ran with the ball back to center circle to try to make a comeback, but HUElavia held out and got the victory once the referee blew her whistle. Finally, HUElavia swept their first team in the Qualifiers.

The second match saw both teams attacking each other from start to finish. Despite attacks being made, the saves and deflections by Marin and Zaloka kept the game at 0-0, frustrating both the players and the crowd alike. The opening goal came during the 2nd half, when in the 57th minute, a corner was taken by Ocampo, crossing into the box, and Di Donato towered over Ckam to head the ball past Zaloka into the goal, making it 1-0. The crowd jumped up to make the stadium rumble with the jumping and cheers, while Di Donato did the cross and hugged his teammates for the goal. HUElavia tried with attacks from the midfield and forwards, but Zaloka kept on making saves, which made the team concerned they would pay for the lack of goals. This would be the case as in the 82nd minute, as Metzger was being covered by Vogt, and he took a shot that deflected off Vogt and went past the reach of Marin into the goal making it 1-1. Metzger celebrated with his teammates in one big mob while the players and crowd was stunned. Despite attacks from both teams, they had to contend with a draw.

With the two matches, HUElavia sits in 4th Place with 21 Points (6-3-2), sitting behind Leaders Ko-oren with 28 Points (9-1-1), 2nd Placed Frestovenia with 24 Points (8-0-3), and 3rd Placed Vdara with 22 Points (7-1-3). The next two matches will be an away match at Vdara, which will be played at VdarArena (52,500) in Chania, and hosting Communist Republic of North Yorkshire at Estadio Municipal (33,000), in Careital. The A-Team will start the first game, and a mix of backups will start the second game. The fans continue to pray for the team, with celebrities attending the matches, supporting the team with passion. Here's to what can be good results.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Chartistan** » Sun May 23, 2021 4:38 pm

THE BILLBOARD GAZETTE

#CHARTISTANISNOTOVERPARTY!

Dia Los Pia fans give up on trying to cancel Chartistan, even as Taeshan rematch looms

As the Chartistani national team made their way over to play the Condors of Montaña Verde, the uncertainty of #CHARTISTANISOVERPARTY still loomed on the squad. They had just come out of a loss against Juvencus at Pomena, and the home crowd seemed almost relentless booing the Chartistanis wherever they went due to what they call an "overreach" of the Hot Chart's permissions. Nevertheless, when the lord made wine from water, Doctor Lucas would make a close game from a seemingly national embarrassment, as the 3-2 win for Juvencus was a sign that Chartistan could compete.

Chartistan would roll into Santa Margarita with expectations of success, and came back with the scalp of the Verdeans and a 3-1 victory to their name, helped by Adult Royce's opening penalty and another Air Latte classic late in the game. But as they come back to Billboard, the environment around Old Town Park was peaceful, unlike before the Juvencus game. Like many "stan armies" before them, the Dia Los Pia stans moved on from cancelling Chartistan and instead went to do what Dia Los Pia stans always do - Spam highlights of her games on the comments of twit.tur tweets.

With the rematch against Taeshan, who they beat away from home in perhaps one of the greatest Chartistani performances of all time, looming over the national team, the Chartistanis made their voices heard after the party ended. Little Exnash described this better than anyone here could have ever done it:

"When I was a young boy before I decided to take the leap of faith and pursue a football career, I was a lonely stan just like those that wanted to destroy this country over a chart placement. I thought that I didn't belong, that I was too ugly to be doing anything in Billboard. I never then knew that I was going to be a legend in this country and lead a team of talented individuals to glory against some of the biggest opposition in the multiverse. I'm happy that I was able to work through the pain of those times and be who I am. I wish the same for Dia Los Pia fans. Just be yourself and hey, maybe you'll end up like me."

Olisa Rodgers, however, focused on the grind against higher opposition, especially against Taeshan and Commonwealth of Baker Park, when talking to the media:

"It's always 1 step forward, 3 steps back against these teams. You play the game of your life against one of these teams and they always seem to make you mad the next time you're in the spotlight. We aren't going to send the Purple Knights home crying, nor qualify with the way things are going. We are 8 points behind 2nd but that feels like a gap so brutal out here for a team of our size that we shouldn't be thinking about booking our flights to Cassadaigua. Where the fuck is my teenage dream of playing on the biggest stage of world football, you may ask? Nowhere. We can't even parallel park against Baker Park, how are we supposed to make the World Cup?"

Meanwhile Florence "I Love My Country" George was seen still drunk over the 6-1 victory over a norp-infested Central Antarctic Peninsula team and asking people about his new truck. Some things never change.

by **Kelssek** » Sun May 23, 2021 4:58 pm

KELSSEK’S LEADING SPORTS NETWORK

FOOTBALL > WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Tumbra outflanked, crucial Drawkland match awaits
There was no underestimating their opponents this time as Colm Ó Tuathail’s player of the match performance powered Kelssek past Tumbra as they moved ahead of Drawkland in the race for first place and World Cup qualification.

Kelssek had moved into first place a few days earlier after a 5-1 win against The Juniper Union was coupled with a loss to Garbelia on the road for Drawkland. The unranked side put up little resistance and Loïc Maçon-Petrault could have easily bagged a hat trick as he wasted two glorious chances in the first half, but found his composure at half time and struck two in the second.

Then it was back to Kelssek to host Tumbra, a 115th-ranked team that upset Kelssek in the first half of the campaign. With the roof closed against a frigid winter evening in Latrobe, Macquarie Docklands was a cauldron of noise (and humidity) for this qualifier and there was no question of underestimating the opponents this time – Andrea Crowe was not going to get caught out again and the only potential question mark was giving a chance to youngster Issac Lafrenière on the back of some good club form for Turori’s Kionao Locals.

Tumbra’s selection spoke of an ambition to hold the fort, but once breached the defences crumbled from the onslaught. This time Kelssek attacked with menace, and the wide play was appropriately devastating with Colm Ó Tuathail sending in the cross for Shaheen Taleb to open the scoring before claiming two goals for himself.

A measure of luck was involved when goalkeeper John Lennon was wrong-footed by a free kick that deflected off the wall and bounced in off the crossbar, but the third goal was all class as Ó Tuathail cut inside from the left and left defenders and wreckage in his wake before applying the finish.

Ó Tuathail struck a sardonic note when asked if he felt he had to set an example for his teammates after the lacklustre performance in Tumbra.

“Of course we had something of a point to prove, you can say that we knew we’d let ourselves down the last time we played them. It was a big response and we got a full stadium to come watch so maybe losing the first time was good advertising as well.”

Kelssek know they will have the big test of the qualifiers with two hugely important matches against Kandorith and Drawkland in the next international break. With these teams sitting third and second respectively, the next set of fixtures will be pivotal to decide how Group 1 pans out. Star striker Brayden Custworth, who missed these two matches with an injury, is expected to be back in the team but Kelssek surely didn’t miss his talents for now.

THE JUNIPER UNION 1 – wheeeee (77’)
KELSSEK 5 – Blueman (9’), Lapierre (31’), Maçon-Petrault (53’, 87’), Vinter (62’)
St-Gerlais, Bowler, Halliger, Marshall, Vinter, Dionne, Blueman (Tremblay-Fillon 72’), Champetier (Buené 69’), Yusupov, Maçon-Petrault, Karven (Ahmad 45’)

KELSSEK 3 – Taleb (16’), Ó Tuathail (51’, 74’)
TUMBRA 0
Gallagher, Liadon (Dumont 71’), Lozic, Fourtin, Douglass, Lapierre, Lafrenière (dí Völará 71’), Ó Tuathail, Taleb, Wylten (Maçon-Petrault 64’)
Macquarie Docklands, Latrobe (attendance 54,931)

by **Pasarga** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:03 pm

The Wanderers looked to have gotten a bounce from the departure of Meriadoc Griffiths from the manager position, with Curtis Théberge being appointed as an interim manager until a full time replacement is appointed. Curtis was last seen managing AC Holmenkollen in Cosumar, getting the team promoted from the second tier and to the top tier and then keeping the team from being relegated until the government fell into disarray and he was left without a job to do. A former national team striker, Théberge is not expected to shake up things that much, especially given the interim tag that he has been given, looking to merely keep the Wanderers afloat and from floundering further. Théberge prefers attack to defense and will no doubt be looking to try and get the most of their superstar of Júlia Müller and budding star Elek Salai, as well as the other talented striking options that the Wanderers have at their disposal.

The defense is in need of some dire help and the Pasargan Footballing Association is looking for a manager who can get the team to once again being solid at the back. While no one in the dual islands is expecting levels of defensive fortitude like that of Rejistania in their heydey or South Covello or even Taeshan inside of Rushmore, the defense has never been so poor as to be conceding nearly two goals a game in what is supposed to be one of the best teams in the world. Whoever does take charge of the Wanderers at the end of the job search by the PFA, they are going to have to scour the globe and deep into various teams rosters to find the new wave of defenders that will look to get the team back to its more modest approach to the game. While the midfield and forwards might be where the team has its strengths and might even be the key to winning for the team, if the Wanderers are not able to keep themselves from giving up lots of goals, they will have no chance of making it further up the table and stand any chance of making a splash should they somehow find themselves in the Finals at the end of this qualifying campaign.

That path has gotten considerably more likely but still difficult after the first two games of the second half, with the Wanderers having opened up with a pair of victories while Busoga Islands failed to register a point in their two games, including being defeated quite easily in the Stade de Torgos last night. The gap from the top of the group, where Busoga Islands currently sit, has been reduced from nine points to three, yet the Wanderers still find themselves in fifth in the table despite the pair of victories. What is extremely positive is that the team was able to score three goals in both games, including away from the dual islands against Grandistania who had given the side quite a few fits in the first game of the campaign. Júlia Müller, fresh off the news that she had signed for FC Capri of Valanora, was able to put a pair of goals against Grandistania and another goal against Busoga Islands in Torgos, while Elek Salai got a brace against Busoga, and Márió Szölösi and Ildiko Kálmán both registering gaols in Grandistania as the Wanderers grabbed their victories to breathe some life back into the campaign.

The side has started its job search and the first foreign applicant is Kirk McDonagh from Kelssek, which is an interesting situation given that he is currently at the helm of a club in Zwangzug. It is unknown if the PFA is going to seriously consider foreign applications given how the tenure of Griffiths turned out, yet McDonagh has the experience of international management under his belt having helmed Kelssek from when they entered the World Cup as an unranked nation and helped them build into a team that was able to qualify for the World Cup. While a lot of fans might be clamoring for a Pasargan manager for the position, that sort of experience is hard to come by and could definitely give Kirk a leg up on the rest of the applicants with the Wanderers needing someone who can build a team back up, knowing that the pool will be in a state of transition after this Qualifying campaign. The PFA however are rumored to be looking to fill the position quicker rather than taking their time and with a quality applicant already on the books, it may be a case that McDonagh will have secured the job due to the necessity of haste in fulfilling the position, lest the PFA get other applicants between the next two international windows.

by **Omerica** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:04 pm

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: This post does not necessarily represent the personal opinions of the author about any person, place, thing or idea. Read with caution.

Alconbury University College Library, Alconbury, Free State
20:05, Deadline Day

“You have to have something in there, Syd.”

Sat at an upstairs computer with a blank text document in front of her, Sydney had her head held firmly in her hands as she struggled to come up with a topic for her creative writing class. She had to come up with something set outside Omerica and simply could not think of a damn thing to write. She was desperate to get this done before the deadline and simply had no other option: try to have artificial intelligence give her a topic.

Type your text here. It will be automatically completed with a (hopefully) realistic text.

“Here goes nothing,” she said as she typed “Atlantian Oceania” into the box and hit the “Complete Text” button. The first try spat out some nonsense about a place called “the Americas”, the second rattled off a list of nonsensical toponyms and the third returned absolutely nothing. “Fourth try’s a charm, Syd.”

Nope. Evidently Atlantian Oceania was now just a heap of uranium and manganese being sold off to fictional countries from RLstates. Sydney simply shrugged it off, clicking in the text box, hitting Control-A and typing out “Rushmore”.

Rushmore: The Lost City of Witches Problem C: Monster of Uncharted Seas Problem C: The Serpent's Curse Pillars of
Eternity Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Pills4Skills Piloteer Pinball Arcade Pinball Parlor Pineview Drive PING
1.5+ Pinga Ponga Pinkman Pinstripe Pipejob Pirate Code Pirate Defense Pirate Pop Plus Pit People Pitiri 1977 Pivot
Pilot Pivvot Pix Pix the Cat PixBit Pixel Arcade Pixel Boy and the Ever Expanding

Sydney slapped the right side of the monitor in disbelief. She instantly pressed the “Generate another”, only to get a similar load of nonsense. “Y’know, I thought someone from Zwangzug might’ve programmed a decent AI, but no,” she proclaimed sarcastically.

Rushmore is a great piece of movie theater equipment that provides an excellent experience to a larger audience,
which leads to a very good theater rating for that space.

“Well, the Copa trophy does look like something you could mount a camera on, to be fair. What about Esportiva?”

Esportiva, who also operates Team Impulse (a team competing in the professional Overwatch League) and Team Dignitas
(a North American pro-gaming team), also plays competitive video games. He started programming games at age 6. He
had the same fascination for programming in his early years as well.

“Sounds like he’s from Damukuni.” Three more tries got her similar nonsense before a lightbulb clicked in her brain: Anaia was a thing now!

Anaia is just the best!

“Well, that’s a hot take,” Sydney immediately replied as the text synthesiser chucked out that one sentence. “Let’s try that one again.”

Anaia da Vinci's portrait depicts her holding a dagger in her left hand and a quill in her right. When she's angry,
she appears dressed in clothing of her youth and she also wears a headband with the same design on it. She is
probably the only model to pose nude in this fashion, but when she's angry, she wears a headband like her father.

She instantly leaned back in her chair laughing. “Did a Vanor program this?” But before she hit the “Generate another” button again, she paused to think. “Y’know, this girl sounds insane enough to work.”

And just like that, she had her idea: The Great Book Heist of Savigliane.

United Republican Soccer Federation
6 Jean-Jacques la Rouge Road
Port Alexandre, MS 18-A40
UNITED REPUBLICS OF OMERICA
Omerica v Hainan Union
World Cup 88 qualification — Matchday Twelve
Stephen Reading Memorial Stadium, Christiana, Mespalia
— and —
Acastanha v Omerica
World Cup 88 qualification — Matchday Thirteen
Estádio Nacional de Arra, Arrachi Federal City, Acastanha
Omerica lineup (4–3–3): Antoine Vicario; Darcy Francis, Charity Kayode (captain), Raphaël Martin, Lauren Kerry; Jacques-Pierre Castell, Fearchar Mac Cléirich, Thom Magalhães; Maïa Bustos, Malcolm Beauchesne, Adélaïde Argyris
Substitutes: Alexandra McGuire, Annelise Betancourt; Anna Charles, Frédérique Marquetti, Noah Clement, Felix Zanetti; Alphonse Fontaine, Soraya Archambault, Nadiya al-Hashim; Jessie Beckett, Jean-Lucas Babineaux, Wesley Sawyer

by **Sharktail** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:04 pm

Poafmersia-2
Joel Haodao '37
Ftiks Wariq '58

Sharktail-2
Haziq '34
Nik Akif '82(Badhri)

Asra(GK) • Harold • Yusri • Hidawi • Irfan
Chandra • Nik Akif • Azaim(Badhri m 75) • Rawilson(Balang m 68)
Gaby(c) • Haziq

Sharktail-3
Gaby '17(Azaim)
Virman '48
Rafdi '73(Azaim)

Ahmad(GK) • Harold • Yusri • Hidawi(Harizul m 75) • Haizul • Chandra(Rafdi m 54)• Badhri • Azaim • Rawilson
Gaby(c) • Virman(Win Aziz m 65)

Galeanna-3
striker '51
Midfielder '58
Striker '82 pen

Sharktail-1
Gaby '71

Asra(GK) • Harold • Yusri • Hidawi • Irfan(Haizul m 81)
Chandra • Nik Akif • Azaim(Badhri m 75) • Rawilson
Gaby(c) • Haziq(Virman m 60)

Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom-0

Ziwana-2
Striker '42
striker '73

Sharktail-3
Gaby '32
Gaby '58 pen
Badhri '82(Haizul)

Asra(GK) • Harold(John m 51) • Yusri • Hidawi • Haizul • Chandra(Rafdi m 70)• Badhri • Azaim • Rawilson
Gaby(c) • Virman

This is my story:

Entering the third year of primary school, students began to be required to participate in co -curricular activities. As noted earlier, although this year’s format was slightly different, the average student received and did not provide much comment or criticism. After finishing changing clothes, I rushed to the field for the first time meeting of the travk club. As I passed other clubs, I could see my friends were there and just standing upright waiting for directions. Looks like it will take some time for us to adjust.

Sir Haziq came forward and started the track and field club familiarization meeting. Briefly, he explained in relation to club activities, yanh events can be participated as well as open tournaments and of course district, state, and national level tournaments. I glanced at the other members. Some of them were seen listening intently. Maybe they are important members of the club or more precisely school representatives for this club. If you look at the physique of each member, some of them have strong bodies, and some of them look quite thin. Although my gaze was drawn to a member whose body was rather large, I was silenced and focused. Not everyone has a muscular or sturdy body, and even if he is a little plump, there will still be advantages that he can display.

The first meeting session revolved around the introduction of the track and field club. For this year, a total of 21 new members joined the club. Sir Haziq told about the club's new system. He also mentioned about the opportunity to change clubs as far as I know. He said, although there may be members who will leave the club later, for now he wants everyone to give their commitment and follow every training given by the coaches. Training is important, no matter where we might be after this, whether it’s another sports club, or an academic club, for now, we’re still members of the track and field club.

Upon completion we are tested to determine the class or squad we will join. We can choose to be tested in any event. For me, I was more comfortable for sprint events and I chose the 100m event. Sir Hafizi is a special teacher assigned for the men’s sprint event. The record I recorded was 14.42s. It's not too fast. Yet I was already quite happy to be able to give my best, and I managed to be accepted on the joint list. 4 more members for this event. They are two year 6 students, Kabir Shuib and Sufian Bakri, year 5 students, Firdaus Afnan and a student of the same age, Irwan Afif. In terms of time, I was ranked fourth above Firdaus. Even i just ran once, but its enough to make me out of breath. When i look ata others, even Firdaus look more relaxs tahn me. I guess they all are truly here for athletic club. I guess i can take some example from them, also i have to build some stamina. If i keep practicing running, maybe i can improve my pace and speed. Let set that as a goal. Is it possible to record time around 13 second next time? Let's try.

The first's day come to end. Even this not what i want, but i admit it enjoyable. Still i have someting that i already set in my life and its football. Even i have to take a thorn path, as long as i can play,i will make my own way. No matter if it hard, challenging, humiliation, i will take all that. One days, i will make sure i will become one of the best footballer in Sharktail. That my promise.

X1 vs Pius:
Maxter(GK) • Harold • Yusri • Hidawi • Irfan •Chandra • Badhri • Azaim • Balang
Gaby(c) • Virman

X1 vs Graintfall:
Asra(GK) • Harold • Yusri • Hidawi • Irfan
Chandra • Nik Akif • Azaim • Rawilson
Gaby(c) • Haziq

by **Ethane** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:18 pm

"Bounceback needs to continue", says manager.

The first two games of the second half of qualifying were played over the past week, with strong results for Ethane putting them back on the road to qualification. Two wins - a solid 6 pointer set of matches - have seen the Red Kites propel themselves back into contention for the top spots in group 16 after a disappointing first half to the tournament that saw the team only win 3 games out of 9. Despite this start, the Ethanians have found some momentum to win two in a row, briefly extending the longevity of Joren Kreuger's managerial leadership while the results remain solid.

The first half of World Cup qualifying was disappointing for the previous World Cup hosts. The results, individually, were not terrible. A confident win against Pasarga, also struggling in the group, was a good sign in what was a set of underwhelming results. Crucially though, a narrow loss against the Busoga Islands was crucial in determining the narrative of the group up to the half way point - Busoga were confidently leading while the top two pots - Ethane and Pasarga - were back in 5th and 6th respectively, one of the worst performances in recent memory for both these teams. After this performance, the Ethanian manager Joren Kreuger was given an ultimatum - improve the national team's performances immediately, or face the sack.

Results over the last week have been positive for both Ethane and Pasarga, bringing them right back into the fight for qualification and extending Kreuger's time at the helm at least for a few more games. In the first set of fixtures this past week, the Red Kites narrowly dispatched Ancherion in a crucial game against a team above them in the table, against previous bookie odds. It was a tightly contested fixture, with the score 2 goals to 1 in Ancherion's advantage going into the break, Burgess scoring the Ethanian goal. The Red Kites resurged in the second half of the game and took command, with confident plays and control of the ball tiring out their opposition. Goals by Kyle Ford in the 65th minute, and Ellis-Wood in the 77th minute saw Ethane claw a narrow lead which they kept until the final whistle. Pasarga matched that with an extremely confident victory against Grandistania, putting three goals past them and honing in on the top scoring team position in group 16 - Pasarga scoring 24 so far, while surprisingly Ethane and St. Trinians are the top scoring teams so far with 26 goals across 11 games. Crucially, a St. Trinians victory away against Busoga Islands reigned in the current leaders, keeping the group somewhat competitive, while the Blouman Empire tied against Gatchingerrak Union.

The second set of fixtures in the past week were also positive for the top 2 seeded teams in the group. Anyone betting on a late resurgence in the second half by Pasarga and Ethane have put their money in the right place based on the first two results of this half of qualifying. The Red Kites picked up a second win, this time away against Gatchingerrak Union, which could be considered a good showing against the team that just tied in Blouman Empire. A one-nil game never does much to convince, especially against a lower-ranked side, but at this point we'd take a Kaedan Hunt goal and any sort of victory against all teams based on previous performances in this campaign. St. Trinians were also only able to tie with West Zirconia, a result that now brings Ethane within 1 point of the debutants. Pasarga, however, came out with the biggest victory of this second half so far, dispensing of the Busoga Islands. A 3-1 victory at home sees the top seeds keep pace with Ethane, and close up to only 3 points behind the leaders - a far cry from the dismal positioning at the end of the first half.

But the fight isn't over yet. For Pasarga, for Ethane, and for the other teams in this group there is still a long way to go until they're qualified, safe and dry. And some teams have a point to prove - Pasarga need to show they're still amongst the best, Busoga Islands need to show they're World Cup material with a qualification, and Ethane need to prove that they've used the World Cup hosting benefits to really develop this team and qualify independently for the first time in over 5 World Cup cycles. And in the Ethanian team, Kreuger has a point to prove - that he is the right individual to continue to lead Ethane. Kreuger said that "there is still a long way to go in qualifying, but these initial results in the second half give me hope that we're up for that challenge. We're still in the qualification fight in the most competitive qualifying group, so we just have to dig in and keep on going at it. All eyes are really going to be on the games against St. Trinians, Blouman Empire, and Busoga Islands - that is where this group for Ethane will be won or lost. To do well, we have to keep this momentum going. This bounceback needs to continue, so I'll be pushing this team hard throughout the remainder of qualifiers to try to get there."

Group 16 has definitely been a roller-coaster so far, and we're only just over half way through the qualifying campaign so there is a lot more drama still to come too! Yet there's a couple of things to take away from these first results of the second half:

- Ethane is determined to take this to the very end, and Kreuger is ready to fight for their job. And they have a lot of firepower which on a good day, can bring down teams when their defence is on par too.
- Despite two straight losses, the Busoga Islands are far from out of this. They've still got to face Ethane, and it'll be the Red Kites on the road. They will not give up.
- The Blouman Empire are contenders for the group win, and shouldn't be ignored.
- St. Trinians, wherever they end up, have done well by themselves this qualifying campaign, and will be a real threat in the future.
- You can never sleep on Pasarga. Even when they seem down and out, they will fight tooth and nail to get back to where they need to and deserve to be. We saw that in the qualifier for 87, and we're seeing it now.
- This is close to, if not the most competitive group in this World Cup. If you want pure excitement and competitiveness, rather than just supporting one team, this is where to look!

by **South Newlandia** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:33 pm

[Commentary by the legendary Brandon van Simonsen plays over highlights from the Elephants-Hawks match]

“It’s the 17th minute, and the game is still tied without goals, so far. Here’s Lancaster on the left side, looking to get past Lumin. Pass back to Mohamed, who plays it right back, and Lancaster has some room up front! Takeda looking to take the ball from him, a flank into the middle, there’s Irving, header, and a fantastic save by Markov, who gets the ball around the post! Great save there by the keeper of the Hawks, and the Elephants cannot convert a big chance.”
“30 minutes have been played, so far, the search for a goal has been unsuccessful here in Newport. The Hawks are now on the attack, with Granda in possession in the South Newlandian half. Granda to Abramovich, pass into the front to Brava, he’s gone, he’s got room, only Rigby can stop him, a shot, and a goal. Muralos leads – no, the assist has his flag up. The Elephants survive that scare, the game remains tied.”
“Just before half-time, the Elephants have a corner, and McMora will take it from the right side. Brought into the middle, finds Roy, header, blocked by a defender, it gets to Wu and he scores! He scores! Sean Wu with his first goal for the Elephants, and what an important one, the Elephants lead the Hawks 1-0 just before the half!”
“It’s the second half, and Muralos is looking to get back in this. Rui with the ball, pass to Zheng, room on the left side, pass back into the middle where Brava takes a shot, and it’s right in! Rigby without a chance against this brilliant shot from the Muralosian star, and the game is tied again!”
“Muralos is holding even with the Elephants today, it’s a close one. Here they are again, with Lumin running down the side, Lancaster can’t keep up, he’s gotten it to Rui, who has some room, he gets by Wu, and now there’s only one man to beat, Rigby; a shot, and saved! Rigby gets a foot on that one, and that was really important there. A fantastic save, the game remains tied with about 20 minutes to play!”
“With just four minutes to play, it’s looking like a draw here in Newport. Can either side manage to take all three points tonight? Right now, it’s the Elephants with the ball. Here’s Barker, to Mohamed, good pass to McCabe, puts it back to Wallis, and he goes down in the penalty box! The tackle by Kim just on the edge of the box hit Wallis on the ankle, and the ref is pointing to the spot! The Elephants have a chance to win here! Who will take the responsibility?”
“Brandon Irving will take the penalty. He’s had a lot of criticism to endure recently, and he’s going up against Markov, a great penalty killer. Irving with a chance to win the match for the Elephants, a shot, saved by Markov, but Irving scores on the rebound! Markov with great instinct there, guesses correctly and gets his hand on the ball, but he could only deflect it back to Irving, who puts it into the net! Elephants lead 2-1, only a few minutes left to play, and it looks like they’ll take all three here in Newport!”

NEWS

**Are international tensions resolving yet? It’s too soon to say**
**Trischuk with good prognosis to play again next year, say doctors at KMC**
**Owlephant-related hospitalisations up 14%, Nunez forced to take action?**
**SNL to continue on with the same line-up in the next games**
**Dragonovic considering reversing ban on jails and prisons, reports say**

There were no massive celebrations in the locker room, but the win against the Hawks was a big relief to the team. Sure, the Muralosian team was ranked only 135th, but they had just taken second place in group 11 with a win over the Krauts, so the match was really important. With the win, the Elephants were back within three points of the playoff spot; right back in the fight for second place. However, the three points didn’t even matter as much as the way they were achieved. Sure, they’d gotten a bit lucky at the end there, but the Elephants had played solidly, allowing little on the defensive side while striking when they had to on offense. And, most importantly, they’d trusted each other and had had each other’s backs.

NEWS

**With elections coming closer, CU is rapidly gaining support thanks to Doric**
**More kids picking up baseball than ever, football stagnates**
**Malidridad Mariners “could become a reality very soon”**
**”Obscure records and where to find them: Football history” book launches**
**Request by Guerra to “maybe consider ‘some’ military” rejected again**

by **Graintfjall** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:34 pm

Græntfjall – 4 (2)
Einvarðursson; Matteosdóttir, Bensson (20’) (48’) (51’ Thorleifsson (63’)), Kristersson (85’) (88’ Reynarsson ), Markusson; Jvarsson, Tronsson (41’); Harrysson (65’ Mensdóttir ), Hólmarsdóttir, Hlynursbur (55’); Jonathansdóttir

Suimede – 0 (0)

Pius Desurongcrandis – 1 (0)
unknown goal scorer (55’ pen.)

Græntfjall – 3 (1)
Einvarðursson (55’); Matteosdóttir (26’), Bensson (45+1’) (55’ Ernestisson ), Thorleifsson, Markusson (68’); Mensdóttir, Hólmarsdóttir, Tronsson, Hlynursbur (55’ Reynarsson ); Dannysdóttir; Jonathansdóttir (64’) (75’ Þórhallursson (82’, 87’))

The Snow Wolves came away with a solid six points from the first set of World Cup qualifying matches after the midsommer break, but still themselves floundering in 3rd place as Audioslavia’s revenge defeat of Poafmersia kept the top two seeds’ lock on the potential qualifying places in tact. Playing virtual second XIs for both games, Kang Guilin tried to give rest to his leading players, but was forced to call on the services of Jason Þórhallursson to save some blushes in a visit to Pius Desurongcrandis after an ill-timed intervention by Christian Einvarðursson nearly threw away two valuable points again.

It has been a case of in-out-in-out-shake-it-all-about in goal for the Snow Wolves for the second WCC cycle in a row. Einvarðursson might finally have ruled himself out of the hokey-cokey line for good, though. Michelle Matteosdóttir’s first career NT goal had given the Snow Wolves the half time lead, but Einvarðursson, his attempt at playing it out going straight to an opposing player, duly dived in to bring them down. Björnólfur Ernestisson was brought on but could not save the resulting penalty, and as the game drifted towards a draw – the second Græntfjall would have given up to these opponents – Kang brought on his talismanic striker, who duly delivered with a stunning bit of skill for the winner, and a rather more brute-force headed smash to make it safe.

No such wrinkles had arisen against Suimede, whom the Snow Wolves cruised past untroubled. Natasja Hólmarsdóttir, continuing to be favored over Johanna Álvgeirsdóttir as stand-in for Amanda Guttisdóttir, had a good game threading the attack together and Vigfús Bensson’s strong performance may have won him back the starting ‘5’ jersey, adding a first career, as did Frederik Thorleifsson in near identical fashion, both bashing in headers from corners as Græntfjall’s strong dependence on set-pieces continues unabated. Ari Hlynursbur became the first non-binary player to score for the Snow Wolves at senior level, though after the game they said they were “tired” of the record-keeping of their various firsts and simply hoped to contribute as a valued player. Hæming Tronsson’s first NT goal in over three years helped further the rout.

The team to play the difficult coming matches, against Poafmersia – a virtual must-win for the Snow Wolves – and Sharktail, is understandably returning to a much stronger look, missing only the injured wingers Lana Mensdóttir and Hanne Heikkisdóttir. Ernestisson is back in goal and his brother Tom probable to start in defense over Bensson, but it’s a recall for the mercurial Kristoffersdóttir that will draw the most attention. Kang has preferred to use her as a left-winger rather her natural ‘10’ role.

23 player squad for MD12–13 (expected starters in bold): B. Ernestisson, Jorgesson, Hárlaugsdóttir; Lúthersdóttir, T. Ernestisson, Reynarsson, Vilbertsdóttir, Kristersson, Thorleifsson, Jokulsson, R. Rögnvaldursson; Ásvaldursson, Jvarsson (c), Guttisdóttir, Bjørnsson, Álvgeirsdóttir, Hólmarsdóttir; Harrysson, Kristoffersdóttir; Þórhallursson, Dannysdóttir, Jonathansdóttir, Guðmannsson

ZÓ-PHONEY-ÍAS!!!
Leftist hypocrite’s yacht romp exposed

Left-slate leader of the opposition and former so-called Prime so-called Minister Zóphonías Juliusson has been BLASTED after being pictured living the high life on board a LUXURY MEGAYACHT, mere days after announcing a CRUEL AND VINDICTIVE new tax on hard-working job creators!!!

CHAMPAGNE, COCAINE, AND EXTRAVAGANT SEX ORGIES are just some the things that weren’t actually featured in the photographs but were almost CERTAINLY PRESENT as the man who wants to HAMMER the middle-class with SICK LEftist taxes shows it’s one rule for him and another for everyone else!!!

The shameless hypocrite dismissed the SENSIBLE tax reforms of the National Democratic Front as “helping the rich buy bigger yachts”. Turns out he’s something of an EXPERT!!!

Kaija Michaelsdóttir, unable to read any more, tossed the article back across the table.

“He actually did this, or they’re just saying he did?” she snorted.

“He did this. The pictures are online.”

“There are pictures on the ND website of krakens on the moon.”

“Not just ND.” Kimberley showed her her phone, with more reputable publications showing similar – if slightly less exclamation mark-riddled – headlines.

Kaija sat back in her chair and frowned. Why? She and Zóphonías Juliusson had her differences, and his reputation as a champagne socialist was well established in Háttmark and Altendalur. But a megayacht? It went against everything he stood for.

“We should talk about the other thing,” said Auðlín. He pushed another newspaper – of a somewhat different political stripe – across the table.

Military brass break with tradition in endorsement of Progressive Liberals

In a letter to the Vestrænnblaðið, 106 retired senior military officers have endorsed the Progressive Liberals in the forthcoming Græntfjaller general election. Historically the Blue-Greens have been the party of the armed forces, but the officers, led by General Elínbergur Aðalvíkingsson, cite failed promises from the previous Blue-Green government and concerns over counterproliferation. Kaija Michaelsdóttir has made a robust counterproliferation strategy central to her party’s defense strategy, including dealing with the substantially dangerous legacy of former Union WMD sites that have fallen into disrepair. “[David] Austmannsson’s extravagant spending promises do nothing to address existing threats urgently requiring intervention,” write the officers.

The endorsement is also unusual given Michaelsdóttir’s withering critique of senior military officers, whom she took on in her efforts to pass a military sexual assault law. At loggerheads over issues of civilian review, she accused the failings at Camp Tingbæk on the “out of touch” culture of the “pale, stale, male” officer corps – the same corps who have now offered her party one of its most high profile endorsements.

“Do we accept it?”

“We’d look idiots if we didn’t! Oh, sorry, esteemed leaders giving us a major policy win on one of the government’s strongest areas, you don’t meet our standards?”

“How can we accept the endorsement of someone whom we’ve already said we don’t remotely respect?”

“Old news. What matters is what they’re saying now.”

Kaija watched her two aides bicker. They’d probably argue this all night without even noticing if she left the room. She pulled out her phone, and out of idle curiosity, searched for details about the yacht Juliusson had been pictured on. Whatever else ND had said, ‘megayacht’ was right. The listings started out at 14 million krónor, and that was just the ‘basic’ model.

This particular boat was registered to Kaalim Taaj Jensson, CEO of Vínland Mótorvirkar. A billionaire, and yet one so associated with social justice causes Kaija’s own party had tried to court him as a donor. She glanced over the photos again. Juliusson was smiling, but this was no party. It looked more like a business meeting.

“Yes,” she said, interrupting her bickering aides. “We’re accepting the endorsement.”

PHORCED-ACRONIM #012

You may have noticed a lot of splitters and splinters, and a lot of coalitions and alliances, among the ever-shifting kraken’s tentacles of Græntfjaller politics. Two parties have started to discuss working together…

0: NDF and Blue-Greens
1: Left-slate and New Energy Græntfjall!
2: Left-slate and Progressive Liberals
3: Progressive Liberals and Liberal-Conservatives
4: Progressive Liberals and New Energy Græntfjall!
5+: NDF and Catholic Democrats

…while a splinter group has broken away from the…

0: Left-slate
1: Blue-Greens
2: NDF
3: Liberal-Conservatives
4: Progressive Liberals
5+: Catholic Democrats

PHORCED-ACRONIM #013

And let’s not forget the voters in all this. According to the latest poll voters say their biggest issue is…

0: immigration
1: the economy
2: crime
3: health care
4: terrorism
5+: unicorn semen quality control

…while similar polling reveals voters to be surprisingly apathetic on the issue of…

0: gender policy
1: climate change
2: gun control
3: the Atlantian-Anaian split
4: nuclear disarmament
5+: kraken attacks

by **Kohnhead** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:38 pm

Kohnhead are somehow in a playoff position - First half review

We called it the Group of Death when we were first drawn into it, a Group with legends Starblaydia who are in the midst of chaos due to the Atlantian Oceania/Anaia split that has plunged that area of the World into a stressful situation. While we had no idea of the situation at the time as it was a secret affair many wonder if it has taken an effect on Starblaydia's performance however they still lead the Group. Our pot two team was most unfortunate as we drew Tikariot recent Round of 16 in the Proper finishers during their second ever cycle and a team many have as the next big thing. Alongside Tikariot we had another top team from Rushmore in Darmen who were the pot three team with a long history and a team we had no experience with in any event with the exception of a Wonder Cup match against their U23 team. In my opinion however what put this Group over the edge in terms of deadliness were the two unranked nations in it with Wight returning after a hiatus however the World Cup 65 Winners are certainly a team to be feared. Pratapgadh on the other hand is a cricket loving nation actually new to the World Cup unlike Wight however they posed a major fright to us because of their talents on the basketball court where we saw firsthand how dominant they were in the NSCAA.

Qzvarkian Qaz 1-4 Kohnhead
Our first match of Qualifiers saw us travel to Qariq in Qzvarkian Qaz to take on the recent Baptism of Fire participants in what was expected to be an easy win. While you can't use the term easy when you consider the absolutely horrific rain that was on the field leading to slips and slide tackles we were able to win the game 4-1 after going up 3-0 early thanks to Aaron Korkson's first Interational hattrick. Our opponents got their only goal when Bryan Faust their #10 scored a brillant goal to stop Sanders' clean sheet only to knock himself out in the process. Cogginter also got onto the scoresheet with a late goal and we moved to co-tied for first with Starblaydia. The one real concern was Claire Corton exiting the game at halftime but due to the timing of the International calendar she didn't miss any time with KNFT only a match in the KFA Premier League for Swisston City.

Kohnhead 2–5 Garifunya
Chicken King Stadium hosted its first game of Qualifiers and we took on pot 5 Garifunya a team ranked 103rd in the World in a game we were expected to win. With Thomas Stratford getting the start up top alongside Erin Maltos and Henderson starting over Barter we still had a very solid line out there. And it looked good too with Rallyton sending in a cross that found the head of Atkinson to give us a 1-0 lead but then we just sort of collapsed. The combination of Sonel Augustin and Boudewijn van der Weide up top gave fits to our defense and Radison in particular had a very poor day ending his game in the 55th minute for Porsha. Augustin managed a brace, van der Weide scored and got an assit, and Nanko Crull headed one home to make it 4-1 before a late John Smith goal at least gave us something. This was not the result we were looking for and gave a misleading sign that Kohnhead would perform as they had in the past two cycles during the Qualifiers.

Wight 1-1 Kohnhead
Yes Wight are indeed back and despite not having a home in the multiverse and having to reside in Tequilo which means playing games at the Estadio Juvenil they were able to play us to a draw. Our squad for this match featured every normal starter with the exception of Donaldson picking up a start in the place of Miranda Atkinson who got a little beat up during the prior game of the break. The first half saw no goals and Sanders make a nice save on the young Sam Bansa sending his attempt over the bar. Kohnhead looked a little sleepy during the first half and Wight noticed this and set up a gameplan after the break ready to take advantage of this and sure enough just two minutes into the second half Enda Harraway sent up a pass to Angund Illchaeld who beat Donaldson and then got it around Sanders. It would be our two star strikers set up by an Al Torgan laser down the field to Erin Maltos who controlled it and passed into the box where Korkson made a cut to it and had a low shot with his left shot that got by star Wight keeper Orm Hinisser to tie up the game where it would stay giving us a 1-1-1 record through our first three games.

Kohnhead 2-1 Gouvanarch
Gouvanarch are a decent pot 6 team competing in their second cycle ranked 130th in the World, and put up a decent fight against a rotational lineup of ours. One thing that Michael White has really emphasized is the need for Kohnhead to rotate and rest their players who often times get fatigued at the end of the Qualifiers and Cup of Harmony especially with the KFA Premier League (where most play) expanding, other leagues playing more games, cup competitions, regional domestic competitions, and IFCF matches. This was quite evident when Korkson, Maltos, and Rallyton probably our three best players were rested in favor of Stratford, John Smith, and Audrey Henderson. Gouvanarch used this to their advantage dominating the game through the middle of the field with crisp passing however they could not the scoresheet with our defense at full health and Sanders playing well. Ultimately it was actually Kohnhead who scored first in the 37th minute with Sophie Johnson tapping in a header from Corton off of a corner to make it 1-0. Gouvanarch leveled before the break as we sleepwalked through the end of the first half. In the 65th minute we made a double substituion bringing in Korkson and Darien Robin for his first International cap however Korkson actually came on for Barter as we switched to a 4-3-3 formation. In the 84th this move worked out when Rallyton crossed a ball in where Robin got behind the defense and tapped in off the valley for the winner and his first ever goal for the KNFT.

Tikariot 0-1 Kohnhead
While we rest our players for games against nations like Gouvanarch the game against pot 2 and a team on the rise in Tikariot is a different matter entirely. Tikariot like us sat at 2-1-1 however we had yet to play a team in a higher pot than us, this would change at Creighton Park. Since the opening game against Qzvarkian Qaz where we exploded for four goals we have been a very defensive team and this was no different. It was a battle at Creighton Park with our defense employing a bend don't break strategy for much of the game blocking shots and clearing the ball hoping that one of the forwards could turn a counter into something. The goal scored by us ended up being somewhat controversial with Korkson going down in the box in the 63rd off of a tackle from James Coronello. We went up in protest and the ref pointed to the spot angering the Tikariot fans and players who claimed it was a flop and the contact was not nearly enough to warrant a penalty. Nevertheless it was a penalty and Korkson put it through past Brian Merson to give us the lead that we would not relinquish.

Kohnhead 1-0 Loranna
This was a scary game considering Loranna sat in last at two points heading into this match and we only won 1-0 in another game full of rotation with Sophie Johnson, Taylor Rodar, and Claire Corton all out and Henderson, Prius-Leonard, and Donaldson in place with Porsha also out on the bench. Charles Laker scored early assisted by Maltos but after that we missed chance after chance while Loranna stayed alive although barely. Loranna managed a few chances but Bertha Sanders kept her second straight cleansheet making it 5 times out of 6 games that our opponent has scored one or less goals in the game as our defensive way of playing has proved well so far. After this game Kohnhead moved into second of the table just behind unranked Pratapgadh who beat Darmen 4-1 in the game before to take over the top of the table.

Pratapgadh 1–2 Kohnhead
The Chittorgarh National Stadium played host to a game that many thought would have little importance in qualifiers between unranked Pratapgadh and 4th potted Kohnhead. However after six qualifying matches these were the two teams at the top of the Group 11 Table and knowing the importance of the game it would be our top 11 that Michael White sent out there although it wouldn't stay that way for long due to a Charles Laker injury just 13 minutes in as he hurt his ankle decently badly. Laker would end up missing the next International Break Window as he came back for a Premier League game just to re-injure his ankle a move that rather annoyed Michael White who had asked Barnley not to play him. Anyway back to the game that occured and Kohnhead would score two goals righ in succession with Maltos scoring in the 27th off of a Henderson assist and then Barter scoring off of a Miranda Atkinson assist in the 30th. Atkinson played it up to Barter who did the rest going on a brilliant run past the defense and then slotting it past Purshottama Mahanta herself to give us the 2-0. We knew however not to underestimate Pratapgadh and they showed us why with Atashban Aaryamehr scoring in the 54th minute to keep their hopes alive. Fortunately we played some nice keep-away for the rest of the game allowin them no more shots on target and we walked away Group leaders after seven matches for the first time in KNFT history, could the 4th time really be the charm?

Darmen 0–1 Kohnhead
It was really starting to look like something was brewing in the land of Kohnhead as we traveled to take on 49th ranked Darmen and managed to walk away with a 1-0 win thanks to a great goal from Erin Maltos who was heating up off of a Korkson cross in the 9th minute and we were able to hold the lead for the next 81 minutes. Darmen haven't really played up to their potential thus far but they are a quality side and the stretch from Darmen to Starblaydia less than a week later was brutal for us as we played our best XI in both games although the players looked quite tired by the end of the game against Starblaydia which is part of the reason why we used full substitutions in both of the games. Darmen had a few chances late but our defense continued to hold with Porsha having a beautiful tackle late on Víedharr Svendsen which probably prevented a goal as Svendsen had gotten by Atkinson and was getting ready to shoot on Sanders from a very good angle. Heading into the matchup with 8th in the multiverse Starblaydia, we sat at 19 points, a singular point ahead of their mark at 18.

Kohnhead 0–2 Starblaydia
The final game up to this point (OOC: I'm a few games behind with this article, it was ICly written write after this game at our halfway point) was against Starblaydia who as just mentioned sat up there in the table just a point behind us. While Kohnhead obviously does not play a major or even a role in the AO/Anaia split that Starblaydia finds itself in the middle of there were a few supporters at the game with signs reading "We stand with AO", "Quitters never win, winners never quit," and other things like this. While some in Starblaydia have constantly asked how much of an effect this political situation has on the players it didn't hinder them at all in this battle for 1st place in the Group. While we tried our best in humid conditions we just couldn't stick with the talent levels on the five time World Cup winning side. The scorers for Starblaydia were Lucian Damocles who did what he does best as well as Vincenzo Bernini who scored his first ever International goal. Damocles received the ball from captain Jewel Maddison and out muscled Miranda Atkinson before turning and firing at the bottom right corner where Sanders couldn't reach it to make it 1-0 Starblaydia in the 59th minute after we had survived almost an hour without a goal despite them having multiple chances. Then on a corner in the 76th Bernini scored his first ever International goal by using his height and strength to head the ball into the back of the net over Nicholas Radison and to put the game away bringing Starblaydia back to the top of the table.

Take a look at the table now and Kohnhead are in 2nd after half of the Qualifiers the highest we have ever been and in a playoff spot as our points is not good enough for one of the six automatic qualifications. Pratapgadh is still chomping at our heels but they've settled down a bit after a hot start. Tikariot has the talent they just need to put it together in the second half and I'm quite worried about them, Darmen have underperformed but they have the ability to catch fire while Wight is more of a wildcard. Let's go qualify for the World Cup

Group 11                                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Starblaydia                                 9    7   0   2    25   12  +13    21
 2 Kohnhead                                    9    6   1   2    14   11   +3    19
 3 Pratapgadh                                  9    5   1   3    26   20   +6    16
 4 Tikariot                                    9    5   1   3    20   17   +3    16
 5 Wight                                       9    4   3   2    13   12   +1    15
 6 Darmen                                      9    4   2   3    25   20   +5    14
 7 Gouvanarch                                  9    2   2   5    17   22   −5     8
 8 Qzvarkian Qaz                               9    2   2   5    20   27   −7     8
 9 Garifunya                                   9    2   1   6    15   23   −8     7
10 Lorrana                                     9    0   3   6     5   16  −11     3

by **Taeshan** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:44 pm

"What happens when we no longer exist?"

"Like when we die, do you mean?"

"I mean yes, and no. What happens if one day we cease to exist? What becomes of Taeshan."

"I imagine Savojarna takes most of it. Then chaos. The people would figure it out."

"We've been here forever. Surely people would notice."

"I don't know son. History tends to go along with the victors. If you cease, you lose."

"But how can all that history just die?"

"The same way we do. It just slowly becomes less and less important to the people who once knew of us, and then one day the only thing people know is that once, we hosted a wildly contentious world cup."

"So we're just a memory?"

"I mean if you think about it weren't we always just a memory?"

"Dad. Get it together."

by **Saltstead** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:51 pm

... Seelandes Nüren — the one source for the day’s events in Sealand

Saltstead is on track to meet the KSFB’s progression goals in spite of mass chaos
Club football reform and the controversy surrounding Anaia have made hardly a dent in Saltstead’s respectable qualifying campaign

Ashwell, Saxland. Tumbra’s breakout performance over the first half of the World Cup qualifying campaign justified the Royal Saltsteadish Football Association’s judgment to set fifth as the target for the Stallions this cycle. Yet the twenty-five points the Association laid out as one of their three goals is looking rather conservative, as Saltstead need just four wins in the next seven games to surpass that target. With the Stallions in striking distance of Tumbra and Gyatso-kai’s form rocky as it is, the likelihood that John Rosencrants could keep his job at the end of the cycle and become Saltstead’s longest-serving head coach looks more and more real with each passing international break.

And yet all this has come in spite of losing their first two games and dropping points in five of their first nine. Yet when the Stallions have won, they’ve tended to do it in uncharacteristically dominant fashion, from an expected trashing of the Juniper Union to the unexpected trashing of second-place Drawkland. Two games into the second half of the campaign, it looks highly unlikely that Saltstead will finish within striking distance of the top three, but Rosencrants’ Stallions are confident.

All this comes in spite of the chaos that has engulfed the Saltsteadish Confederation over the past few weeks, with a referendum on the so-called “Foxchester Amendment” due to take place in the coming weeks and one of the biggest reforms of Saltsteadish club football potentially on the horizon. “There’s been a lot on these players’ plates,” assistant coach Thomas de Vricht told STN News, “and yet they have been performing admirably so far. Keeping Kelssek to a one-goal win and coming away with a point against a breakout Tumbran team are great achievements for us in this moment.”

In spite of the likelihood that the coaching team could lead Saltstead into another cycle, it’s unclear whether that cycle will start in AOCAF or elsewhere. Conservative Chancellor Jån-Micħäl Greifsveud and federal Labour Party leader Gabrièla Rudden have managed to steer what they are calling the “Self-Determination Amendment” and what opponents are calling the “Foxchester Amendment” through the Federal Diet, with Saltsteadish voters due to ratify or reject it at a referendum. Greifsveud and Rudden are careful to emphasise that their proposed revision would not necessarily result in Saltstead’s exit from AOCAF, but any enabling legislation that pulled Saltstead from the jurisdiction of Atlantian Oceanic institutions would certainly result in Saltstead’s expulsion from the regional confederation.

A spokesperson for Royal Saltsteadish Football Association Executive Director Aleksänder Blåuveud has confirmed that no action regarding Saltstead’s confederation affiliation will be made until after the referendum result is declared and, should voters ratify the revision, the Federal Diet has enacted enabling legislation. “The Royal Saltsteadish Football Association is following the the lead of Federal Diet and government of the Confederation,” the spokesperson told Seelandes Nüren. “Once the regional situation has been settled, the Association will submit any and all necessary paperwork to enact the will of the Saltsteadish people.”

Then there’s the small matter of Saltstead’s national football league, which is currently set up in three divisions of twelve teams each. With the current set-up, each team plays 44 league games a season, which is only two fewer than Nepharan clubs played before the contraction and rebranding of the Premiership as the Zenith. Saltsteadish clubs will be reluctant to contract the size of the league as drastically as the Rushmori powerhouses have, but they have most certainly taken notes.

According to rumours, the league would be reorganised into two divisions of eighteen teams apiece, each playing a double round-robin over the course of the entire season. This would therefore cut the number of league fixtures in a season by ten per team without having to implement mass relegations in lower tiers. The plan is to dissolve the Silver Division, promoting six of its teams to the tentative Division 1 and relegating six to the tentative Division 2. One Gold Division team would also be relegated into Division 2 and one Bronze Divsion team promoted into Division 1 to complete the new divisional line-ups.

“It’s a lot to think about,” league president Aleksandrijn Severus told Seelandes Nüren. “We are in the process of formulating our league reform and there are a number of matters still left to sort out. Once we have a package ready, Saltsteadish supporters will be among the first to know.”

As for the head coach, he has been tuning out the chaos that has engulfed the Confederation. Rosencrants is simply focused on getting Saltstead’s team through the campaign and meeting the Association’s targets.

“Whatever decisions the authorities make are the decisions we have to live with,” head coach Rosencrants said in his prematch press conference in Drawkland. “We don’t know what our future holds, but if our national eleven have been able to make it through this challenge, nothing is impossible for them.”

Nevertheless, Rosencrants is not letting himself or the team get complacent yet: “We have a lot left to do, but I’m confident that we can meet the KSFB’s goals. We haven’t met them yet, but we are certainly on track.” ❧

★
The Royal Saltsteadish Football Association
Royal House of Sport, Ashwell
Drawkland : Saltstead
World Cup 88 qualifying group stage — Matchday 12
Unknown Stadium, Unknown City, Drawkland
Starting line-up (4–5–1): Robert-Jan van Daal (captain); Micħäl Aurelius, Jan-Pijr Åudenberg, Maxime Crabshaas, Victoria Rothöüf; Mina Ratmaker, Constantijn van Bleck, Aleksa Pascal, Zacharias van den Slåp, Natasħa Aħterop; Haråud Haråudssen
Substitute bench: Marianne Åudershof, Christijn Sänt-Andreas; Richard Christopħe, Pijr Josefssen, Serena van Middelkamp, Catharine de Vriħt; Nicholas Tiberius, Benni Sħåul, Thomas Lions, Adelaide de Jong, Wim Amistad; Reinhard Åubreħtssen

Saltstead : Gyatso-kai
World Cup 88 qualifying group stage — Matchday 13
King William VII National Park, Ashwell, Saltstead
Starting line-up (5–4–1): Adam van Middelkamp (captain); Frans Richard, Sebastien van Can, Dijter Ackerdiħ, Johan van Tilborg, Yorg Handel; Johanne Geuberts, Violeta Igesleven, Margaretha Wilheumssen, Aleksa le Duc; Edvard Rothås
Substitute bench: Kathrinita Äsħes, Julij Kåler; Gunner Stepħenssen, Rokus Michahels, Anne Hodmaker, Tobias Thomassen, Constantijn Kåler; Marina Jager, Nico Swart, Theodor Felicianus, Nico Joxepħssen; Stepħanie Withöüf

by **Vdara** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:52 pm

Sacked In The Morning, You’re Getting Sacked in the Morning

Following the 3-2 loss to Frestovenia, Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś was called to the office of Guntheris Steinerakis, the head of the Vdaran FA. His team may be sitting in third place, but he had only won one of his last five games in charge of the national team. With recent events being taken into account, this interview was only ever going to go one way.

Steinerakis: ”So, I assume that you know why I have summoned you here, correct?
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Absolutely.”
Steinerakis: ”Good, good. I’m going to simply cut to the chase here, Lükækš - your recent results have left much to be desired.”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”I understand, but I think the team can pull through. We’ve got a good squad here, and I’m absolutely sure that the boys and I can turn this bad run of form around.”
Steinerakis: ”See, that’s the thing. I don’t think you can.”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Why not?”
Steinerakis: ”Well, if we go through your recent results again, I’m spotting a lot of dropped points in crucial games. A lot of these dropped points are as a result of tactical mishaps... tactical mishaps that were under your control.”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”Mistakes happen, boss!”
Steinerakis: ”Lükækš, your mistakes have set us back too much. We’re sitting third in our current group, having lost to Frestovenia, Ko-oren AND HUElavia - and that 0-0-3 from last World Cup has to be taken into account as well. It’s clear that something has to be done, don’t you think?”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”With all due respect, if it wasn’t for me we wouldn’t have been in a position to EXPERIENCE that 0-0-3!”
Steinerakis: ”I know, I’m not discrediting all of your previous performances here. However, you’ve left a lot to be desired, and I think it might be time.”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”No, no! I can turn this around, I’m sure of it!”
Steinerakis: ”It’s too late, Lükækš. Your successor is already lined up, and we can’t afford to lose any more important games. I’m afraid to inform you that you are no longer the manager of the Vdaran national team.”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”What, so after all these years of hard work... you’re just going to let me go after ONE bad run of form?”
Steinerakis: ”Vdara is no longer a small team. We’ve risen through the ranks under your leadership, but we cannot rise higher if we stick to settling for ‘okay’ performances. As I said, your replacement is lined up. Please leave.”
Væñøœrëñbérghüïś: ”I won’t stand for this! The fans won’t stand for this! I’ll be back one day, I’ll fucking show you!”
Steinerakis: ”Like fuck you will!”

Following Væñøœrëñbérghüïś’ departure, a statement was put up on all of the Vdaran FA’s social media accounts.

The Vdaran Football Association can confirm that Lükækš Væñøœrëñbérghüïś has been relieved of his role as manager.

On behalf of the everyone at the Vdaran Football Association, I’d like to thank Lükækš for the job he has done for this team over the last few years. Lükækš was brought in at a time when we were looking to grow into a better team, and we are grateful to him for taking our team further forward, especially in terms of ability. Without him, we may never have made it to the heights that we have reached.

However, we have made the decision that, due to his disappointing recent performances, we will be appointing a new manager and will be doing so immediately. Again, we’d like to place on record our sincere thanks to Lükækš for his work with us over the last few years and wish him well for the future.

Guntheris Steinerakis
Head of the Vdaran Football Association

Reaction was mixed. Some said that this was a “farce”, and that “Steinerakis should be hung from a lamppost and pelted with tomatoes” for daring to fire such a successful manager. Some said that this move “can only lead to more progression”, and that “people need to look into the future rather than dwelling on our past”. Either way, most people were happy when the new manager was announced just a few hours later.

The Vdaran Football Association is delighted to announce that Markos Moustakakos has been appointed as manager.

From the very beginning, talks have been extremely positive and we believe that Markos is the right man to drive this team forward. His recent performances while in charge of Vdara’s second lineup convinced us that he has the necessary temperament and knowledge to lead Vdara to the success we all desire.

This appointment means that Markos will no longer be in the Vdaran squad at a playing capacity, and hence we take this opportunity to thank him for his 8 years of service to the team during his time between the goalposts.

This a special day for this team, this country and for Markos.

Guntheris Steinerakis
Head of the Vdaran Football Association

Markos’ appointment was seen as a good move by the fans, as his 100% record in the group stage thus far had placed him in a good light - with his 6-1 victory over the Communist Republic of North Yorkshire and 8-2 victory over Cascadia in World Cup 87 being highly regarded as an example of just how good a manager Markos really is. He knew the ins and outs of the Vdaran lineup - having played in goals for them for almost a decade - and he knew how to command a squad. If anyone was going to find a way to turn around a bad run of form, it would be Markos Moustakakos.

In the days following his appointment, Markos had a lot of questions to answer. Questions from the public, questions from the media, questions from the players, et cetera. Questions such as ”What’s your opinion on the Anaia situation?”, “Why do you think you were chosen to replace such a successful manager?”, and “What would you like to drink, sir?” were on the minds of many, and Markos had to have some answers ready, in order to give the fans what they wanted to hear. Of course, all of these could all be answered with ”I don’t know fully, but once I’m settled in I’ll get back to you on that.” - and all of these questions WERE answered with that, since Markos really wanted to get his strategic setup ready for the next couple of matches. He’d need to if he wanted to please the fans, after all.

Updated Starting XI for the HUElavia game (changes in bold):
Formation: 5-3-2
Frangoglou - Vlahiades - Galanatos - Xeniadis - Giannakos - Athanas - Karalas - Mavroglou - Stamatelis - Petras - Lazelis

by **Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:54 pm

“Well, what the hell are we going to do?” Djoko asked in the hotel lobby, his producer on the phone, “…Yes… We’re unable too — Oh yes. — Oh… Well…” Djoko saw a crew member, walking over. “So, do we have any way of making this work. Equipment, men?” “We have the cameras leftover,” the stagehand replied, “but in terms of production equipment we only have a lapel microphone, and a large mic for—.” “Did you have the equipment in stole bins or something?” Djoko asked, “Essentially, yes” the stagehand replied before he looked around. “Our spares were in there, and we can’t even get into that room, the police have it under lockdown.” Ljubica came over to Djoko, here eyelids were red and looking heavy, “Only one prospective interviewee went home. We have a few left. If we can get something recorded now, that will be easier.” Djoko took out a lighter and a cigarette. “Nothing is good if there isn’t immense trouble in the making of it” Djoko said lying to anyone in earshot. “God, —” Djoko rolled his eyes “— I have not needed to smoke in a month, I’m sure Reka TV understands that. We’ll also need to get this done before the team has to sleep for practice tomorrow.”

The trio stood silent for moments, as some members of the local police left. Djoko put a finger over his chin, looking over to his producer “Who was next on the agenda. Gröss?” Djoko asked Ljubica. “That was the case, though we’ll have to make sure the police didn’t scare the kid off.” Djoko looked around the lobby, “I doubt he’s exuberant to participate, poor boy.” Ljubica, “He’ll be there, the guy is a star, compared to a lot of sportsmen from our country. Any chance to be on camera is golden.” The team was in luck, Stani Gröss had been away from the break in, and thus had no need to speak with the police, “I didn’t know about the incident at all” he told Djoko while they were back on the patio, “It’s great they could steal this view” Stani said to Djoko while looking out over the lake, clouds began to block out the sun, but some of the water shined “It is like a bed of crystals. You know I couldn’t skip this. We won’t be bringing up what happened, yeah?” Djoko waved hs hands, looking down, “No no. We will not. I’m sure Reka TV will get some great press.” Ljubica strolled in, “alright” she said, “We will need to move the second cam from both men’s faces. Each question will start with Djoko, and then you, Stani.” Both men nodded in affirmation. “Okay, we’ll get this over with in five… four… three… two…”

“Thank you for that introduction, Iwan. I am here now with Stani Gröss, one of the top stars on the national team, and one of Zeta Rekas most notable athlete. We’re pleased to have you in Ribar today.” Gröss and Djoko sat up to shake hands and then reclined again. “Likewise,” Gröss said. “Cut!” Ljubica shouted. “Get him saying that,” she told the camera operator. “Say that again.” Ljubica commanded to which Gröss stated, “Likewise” against woodenly. Djoko smiled, wanting to punch something. “Alright, let’s get this crap started.” he said as the camera moved to show Djoko’s wrinkly face, “Get my good side—” he chuckled “— The back one in my pants.” The two men chuckled before the first question was spat out, “Stani, you’ve had a great rise through the football ranks, but you seemed to have become the third man at your position in 1830 Cathair. Not to put you under the hot seat, but are we accurately describing the situation?” Gröss waited to speak, using the downtime with the camera to think of a seller reply. “I wouldn’t say that for sure. Obviously my minutes were going to be down this season. But this isn’t long term from everything I have been told. As far as I am concerned, 1830 is a place where I am valued.”

Djoko spoke as the camera moved back to him, knowing the stationary shot could be used for his line of questioning. “But you are back in Zeta Reka for a time. How come?” The camera man had to shift right before Gröss answered, Djoko looked at the staffer with pity as the young man breathed with his mouth. “I took the loan with Stanimir because I’m an athlete and I am a man of business. Yes, I want to play in Cathiar, but I also wanted to play as much as I can. If they don’t want me as their second choice, or better yet the man, I need to take a break. In the end, I know they will see football—” “—being a starter?—” “— the way the other coaches have… Maybe, but I was thinking of being contributor. I’m a celebrity, but out there we’re not, we are worker ants, and I need to pull my weight. If I am not playing, I am not worth the wage I am paid. I’m not the manager, and I may never be, but I know if my contract was a waste for Cathair’s accountants, I would be gone.” Djoko smiled, “Good answer… off the record.” he said. “Alright, I think next we’ll talk about leadership. I have some questions on that…”

With the focus back on Djoko, he fired another question. “You talked about coaching, I noticed your humility there. Some people say you will be a leader one day for the national team, but what you said just now might imply something else.” Gröss shook his head, lifting his hand up and drawing squiggles in the air, “I would never say I am a coach. But if I am asked to lead men on the field of battle, I would never be offended. I don’t think I lead any locker room, but I would take those reigns however I can.” Djoko slowly bobbed his head, “Who would you say could be a leader, if not yourself?” Gröss pondered for a while, the tv station getting a nice shot of him looking out over the water, the sun beginning to shine off his face. “I would say Bogdan could be a leader. He’s a serious man, professional, free of scandal. Some in our press have been critical of our team. I’m not going to name names or cause a scandal for your next editorial, Djoko, but some people have needed attitude adjustments.” Djoko smiled at the nod to his columns, “Who gave them that adjustment?” Djoko asked, the camera staying on Gröss, “Bogdan, Jad, some of the coaches. I can’t take credit. —” “—Would you be able too?—” “—I did some work at Banfigrade, I doubt you want to retread that old ground, but yeah, I could. Maybe I should already. Even so, I trust this team, if we’re not gunning for the playoffs, something will have to change, or maybe I’m just crazy.”

Djoko could have pushed the reference to FK Banfigrade, a club that Gröss left due to a racial scandal from the owner, but he knew these interviews were breif, and such a topic was complex. “There’s a world of info I’d like you get from you. I hope we get another chance to speak, but I’d like to ask you one closing question… Where will Zeta Reka finish, are we qualifying?” Gröss took a sip of water, “I’m not sure, we’re going to play like we can. No doubt in my mind. However, we’ve been close before. I remember we finished third in a group, second wouldn’t sound too bad. But, it’s not without challenges. The world cup is hard, but we may be able to make it, even against some of the world’s best. Maybe we can make it in a last minute run.” Djoko put his hands together, “Well, I thank you, Stani. I wish you and everyone of you on our national team the best.” “Cut!”

Rosters for Matchdays 12 & 13

vs Audioslavia
GK: Dejan Wasić
LB: Hermann Hamppe
CB: Tito Jankoslawić
CB: Wlad Wlad
RB: Yuri Kewić
DM: Stani Gröss
CM: Stanimir Rekawić
AM: Želmir Kolarowić (c)
LF: Arnald Gal
CF: Bogdan Rawić
RF: Jad
Named Subs
GK: Zlatko Wukowić, Branislaw Mucić
CB: Marka Krušlin
DF: Bartolomej Wladmirowić
RB: Steffanow Kostessen
LB: Denis Pretchel
DM: Nikola Branić
CM: Tomislaw Radowić
AM: Marko Zup
LF/CM: Konstantina Popowić
CF: Adam Wladić-Hermann
FW: Miloš Simeoniwić

vs Suimede
GK: Zlatko Wukowić
LB: Denis Pretchel
CB: Ali Faruq
CB: Damjan Protić
RB: Steffanow Kostessen
DM: Lazar Macek-Leibberman
CM: Stanimir Rekawić
AM: Marko Zup
LF: Stojan Heiden
CF: Adam Wladić-Hermann
RF: Jad (c)
Named Subs
GK: Branislaw Mucić, Julius Markowić
CB: Anubis Zlatkowić, Marka Krušlin
LB: Nikola Djordjewić
RB: Wukdrag Nikowić
DM: Stani Gröss
CM: Tomislaw Radowić
AM: Marko Opština
R/CF: Josip Jorowić
C/LF: Fen Schwartzhammer
CF: Branislaw Djurašewić

Qualification is unlikely to the National Team's higher ups.
Finishing second is somewhat possible, but will require victory after victory.
Using Dejan Wasić against Audioslavia is a gamble, but if it pays off Wasić could become the new number one
Bogdan Rawić is the top scorer with nine goals, three goals left before he hits sixty for the side, and all before he is 26
Yuri Kewić, Stanimir Rekawić, Jad, and Wukdrag Nikowić have collected yellow cards.
Zaur Luka-Igorić is injured until match day 14 (leg muscle injury)
In addition Wladmir Imilić is injured until matchday 18 (Extensor Tendonitis, suffered injury in a domestic match)
Reservists are italicized

by **Pemecutan** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:58 pm

CHAPTER I: THE TENSION BUILD UP || CHAPTER II: THE ACCIDENT || CHAPTER III: THE ROAD LIES AHEAD || CHAPTER IV: A LITTLE TOO MUCH
CHAPTER V: THE OTHER SIDE OF YOU

CHAPTER VI

"Argh, f***!" scream Komang Adi Prakasa as the team enter the changing room. The are all looks so helpless.

"Calm down, Mang," says Laksamana in a calming tone.

"We are lost again, Laks. How can I calm?" exclaim Komang Adi Prakasa.

"Don't be too drown with one lost. We still have a few other games ahead of us," Laksamana try to calm him down. He knows that Komang feel guilty because the goal is happen because he failed to catch the ball. It slips from his hand and fall straight to their goal. The only goal that makes them lost.

Behind close door, Coach Pramana is looking very serious. The lost have impact the team. But hopefully they will not carry away with it. Coach Pramana is intensely looking the group table. He is very concerned with their defense. Although they have scored the most goal in the group but their conceded goals are also high. He needs to give more attention to the defense.

DEFEND WITH YOUR LIFE

"Again!" shouts Coach Pramana when he is monitored the goalkeepers penalty practice. The 3 goalkeepers are alternatively defend the goal as 4 forwards are aiming at them. Coach Pramana take notes on something that needs to be improve and which one that already good.

In the other side, the assistant manager is leading the practice for the defenders. The practices is focusing on dribbling, passing and tackling. The tackling is quite tricky as he doesn't want the players got sick.

"What is going on?" ask Agus Setiahadi.

"Seems like the coach intensify the practice but only for them," Agus Kusumawijaya try to explain.

"It seems too much for me," say Rama Karyadi.

All of the midfielder have finished their training earlier. While the forwards are being included in the penalty kick practice.

"Poor them," says Riko Ferdian.

"It's for our improvement too," say Dian Agung Pramana.

"Don't you hear about the gossip?" opened Bayu Hermawan.

"What gossip?" ask Agus Setiahadi.

"Some say that Coach Pramana was mad for the goal that we conceded. He believe our defenses is weakened." Bayu Hermawan tell his teammates. The others are looking at each other then looking at their teammates who is getting extra training by their Coach.

"Morning," says a mid 50 woman who just come in one of the hospital room. She is the mother of Pandu Oka Jaya.

"Mom. I'm glad you come," Pandu seems to be very happy. He is grinning widely.

"What's with the smile?" ask his mother full of inquiries.

"Hehehe. Nothing. I just want some company. It feels so lonely every night," whine Pandu.

"That's why you need a girlfriend so she can accompany you here," tease his mother.

"Please, Mom. Not again. I will have a girlfriend someday," exclaim Pandu.

"Okay. Okay. So what's the doctor say?" ask Mother.

"I'm getting better. If tomorrow the condition still stable then I can go out from the hospital," answer Pandu with a bright smile on his face.

That's great news. But don't overwhelmed yourself, okay?"

"Yes, Mom. So, what do you got for me? Any meals that you bring for me?" ask Pandu.

"No, you've got meal here. Why do I have to bring another food?" answer Mother.

"But Mom, I miss your food. Your cooking. The meal here is not that good," whine Pandu.

"Bear with it, Son. It's for your health. How about some fruits?" say Mother while giving him an apple.

The team go to Sajnur for their next match. It is an intense match. Both teams are playing in their prime performance. The situation is getting intense until the last minute when Pemecutan securing their 3 points after 3-2 winning. The atmosphere in the changing room is very different. All of them are smiling widely. A victory against a higher ranked team is something to be proud of. Wisnu immediately text Juni and saying about their victory. Pandu who is also watching from television is very happy for his team accomplishment. He can't stop smiling. The result also makes Pemecutan up one place in the group table into 4th position.

"Good morning, Mr. Oka Jaya" greet the doctor.

"Good morning," says Pandu.

"I will check for your condition today, okay?" say the doctor for the daily. Panud nodded in agreement. The doctor check all vital in Pandu. His blood pressure, his heart beat and of course his leg.

"Seems like everything is positive," say the doctor.

"Is that means I can go out from hospital?" ask Pandu with a bright eyes feeling so excited.

"Hahaha. Yes, you can, Sir. This noon you can be discharged from the hospital. But make sure that you get the routine check once a week, okay?" remind the doctor.

"Sure, Doc. Will do," says Pandu with a wide grin.

by **Independent Athletes from Quebec** » Sun May 23, 2021 5:58 pm

OOC: So this requires a bit of explanation. As we all know, The Wanderer's Guide To Somewhere originally began as the series about life of Asher Lundrigan, certain journalist whose adventure and stories brought him to various parts of his twenty-two to twenty-six years of life, as well as various parts of the NS Sports Multiverse from the Quebecois Commonwealth to wherever else he goes and of course, you. His journey is also going to be accompanied with a love story, where the past returns to him like a magic and he has to capture the feeling back to him.

But the megaseries isn't and shouldn't be just for that one wanderer. There are many wanderers out there with different purposes of life and different charts they had to go through in life. For the second volume, now that the first seasons consisting of Asher's stories are completed, consists of the stories of Pierre McCarthy, the superagent who lives in Cenial, and whose agency, the Maison M, is based in Cenial and Montreal. His clients consists of dozens of known footballing names from the Gianmarco Del Prete (San Ortelio) and David Beckem (Indusse) to Banijan Idai Uster, as well as known names in gridiron such as Deondre Rhine (Ranoria) or those in basketball like Amadou Secka (Banija).

While living a fairly normal life as a single father to his daughter Arabella, a tennis prospect, he receives a phone call that says that someone he loved back in Halifax was dying, and flies to Prince Eric, where he ends up going to her funeral instead. He hears from a good friend of his back in high school that Elora's daughter, Zinaida, is a phenomenal prospect who was yet to be signed to a senior contract, and suggests Pierre to take a leap of faith. He agrees, and that's where we begin.

The Agent

PART 5.2 - High Horses

Nineteen Years Ago (2027)

It was an early May afternoon in Halifax, as Pierre and his famous uncle, prominent actor Joel-Lynn McCarthy were eating a simple meal of Milmyeon, in a local eatery at the Continental Market (shi-jang). The maritime city of 2 million was off to their normal lives. One could feel the occasional breeze of the wind from the sea while shopping outdoors, and hear the sound of loud, old fans once inside. The Haligonians of all ages, whether Mainlander or foreigner, were busy eating the delicacies the city has been known for, from the seafood to contemporary and fusion cuisine.

'Are you still unsure on your vow?' asked uncle Joel, in his low, charming voice as they struggled to handle through the glass noodles. The fifty-year old actor, who has won plenty in his career, wasn't always in his hometown, as he would normally be either out of country, spend time in Quebec City for business purposes, or back home in Cornwall, where he was living with his wife, a Jazz-country vocalist by the name of Diane Kasaboski. So to Pierre, spending time with his uncle could not have come at any better timing, especially since he admired his uncle, who left Halifax to attend Ashcroft College (high school) and then Queen's College (university) on scholarship before finding his foot in the unexpected field.

The fact Pierre was also a high school senior, whose decision to attend college abroad had made many raise eyebrows, meant that he may have needed his uncle's words even more. The extended family may be generally middle-class now, but there once was a time, when his grandfather passed away when his deep-sea fishing boat capsized when uncle Joel was seven, so the entire family of his grandmother, and the 4 eldest children had to set up shop in the nearby Samchi Fisheries Market. In some ways, poverty still rang clear in the back of minds for the family, and Pierre knew that was one of the reasons why his family hasn't always been the most receptive towards his decision to attend University of Ceni.

'Always, uncle,' Pierre answered with his lack of assurance, trying his best not to say too much. He felt, perhaps too courteously, that it was probably at his interest not to waste his uncle's time. 'I don't want to stay home, and want to get as far away as possible.'

'I could see that.' Joel-Lynn answered, thinking about his younger self, as they continued to eat. Both bowls of the noodle, now mostly void of the noodles, are left with red, thick soup. 'It's not easy being a high school senior these days. Especially with the decisions you had to make after your HSC scores are up, and you get the offers coming in droves come April.' His uncle, while attending high school in a province where the high school grades were only those the applicants had to send to universities, was aware of the emotional difficulties that the regulated examinations had meant to others. In some ways, it had served as both an advantage and a disadvantage- this normally meant that there would be more roadblocks for the southwest (Frontenac/Ontario/Outaouais/Northwest), Labrador or Manitoba provinces for admissions to Farrer or St. Croix.

'Yeah. There are other reasons, of course, but I think it may be the right time for me to go, especially with how concentrated the regions can get these days, and Terranea is a good case study.' Pierre nodded, and he continued to explain along the lines of the situations of old that, in hindsight of the post-Foxchester era, may be eerie enough for a casual observer. 'I know what our country has, and we should be proud of it. But there are lot more to learn on the other side beyond our comfortable homes, because it's quite telling that we need greater cooperation from our region more than we may have needed in past. The Calanias, the north, and whatnot, and actually spending time where there have been greater cooperation between the nations would be a better idea.'

His reflection had come in the times of particular trials for the Quebecois sports. For most part, the life has remained normal, but the Quebecois withdrawal from international football which, while a fairly straightforward measure of the Ministry of Sport and the new Cabinet under Thierry-Luc Saganash and the Parti Quebecois (PQ), were more than enough to suggest otherwise. The Qubecois withdrawal, which was tied around the particular weapons scandal associated with the Quebecois involvement in Gregoryisgodistan, as well as the money spent from it used to host a successful World Cup 77 with San Jose Guayabal, had meant that the 2028 Federal Elections would spell the worst ever defeat for the incumbent Nouveau Parti Democratique (NPD). While the decision to withdraw from international football had come out of the Baek-Bechmanis Affair, it was a challenge that would affect subsequent cabinets, to this day and likely the near future. This alone was enough to raise key questions in the Quebecois sports and its regional priorities that, in all honesty, were shaking with the demise of COCANEFA just a few years prior to the Affair.

'You know, that's how I felt for the longest time as well.' Uncle Joel responded, as he was thinking about the younger self once again. He knew he had to give careful advice here, because his mattered a lot. 'That is a valid concern. I don't think I would be a good example, because my scholarship came because of coach Ahn (OOC note: Sir. Philippe Ahn was a legendary foil and sabre coach in the Quebecois circuit who coached Ashcroft College, Carleton School and then Univ. de Gaspe, though the latter happened due to his diversion from accepting his Queen's College offer due to a circumstance) knew he wanted to build a winning program, and saw great potential.' Those were the days when the tensions flew at much higher level between the finest coaches of the sport, especially as William Yi (eventual Duke of Bathurst) and Ahn brought the rise of the Quebecois national fencing team program. Joel-Lynn, having been under both coaches (William Yi graciously took the Queen's College job under his friend's request!), knew that he was lucky.

He then continued speaking. 'But you, unlike me, have choices. This means you can always calculate the risks and whatnot. And because of that, you will face greater scrutiny for whatever the challenges you will face. But you must never look back, and never try to switch courses to your second choice.' Uncle Joel perhaps knew that was the best he could give on the matter. This wasn't anything new to him, and that's how he ended up, while pursuing a Masters degree in cinema studies at Iggulden University in Montreal, ended up in a pathway that he did not expect to become part of. 'Eventually I had to retire from fencing after the 2002 Commonwealth Games, but I knew that was the best. Aunt Diane was pregnant with Clara, and I knew it was best to go back to Cornwall, where her parents and sister were still there, and just go whenever there's work. No regrets.'

The likewise was what Pierre was thinking about as well. As he was spending the last months of living in his Halifax home, he had quickly realised how he was going to realise his hometown when his flight eventually took off from Halifax International Airport. Most of the city itself was the one governed and driven by the Haligonians' fiery selves, from the condominium-packed south shores to the traditional centre near the station, and the old, old hills of Dongnae and the northern and western edges that had long supplanted the old factories of the South Shore. It rained constantly, and the early-morning mists would bring the exhilarating feeling out of many who had inhabited there. He was going to piss it, from its rolling hills and unnavigable roads to the neverending coastline it has earned its name for.

'And this I promise to you, that I won't look back.' Pierre answered, glad that his uncle had approved the idea, however conditional it may have been. Not that it mattered much anyway, because Pierre knew he had made the choice out of sheer impulse, to avoid any possible reconnection with the tiniest of mistakes committed while younger. 'I promise not to look back.'

It was three in the morning when Pierre woke up. He wasn't sure on how to feel about all this, as he rubbed his eyes and got out of the tub.

The wet puddle all over the bathroom floor, which was as slippery as it could have gotten, told it all. As a middle-aged man Pierre had particularly rocky sleeping patterns, and moving all over the bed happened to be one of them. His emotional unavailability, where his responsibility for his daughter Arabella (whose text he had to answer as soon as he was back in his bed) took precedence over his own thoughts, was partly reflected through such.

He reluctantly nodded out of consciousness. It had been a long time since he was going to make a bet on a Quebecois teenager this young an yet this full in potential, and he knew he's not always had success in this department of things. For past several years, he had seen the likes of Deondre Rhine (under unofficial capacity before the Cold Hill University's Ranorian season ended back in January) and Maks Shishkin listen to him with different degrees of reception that has not made his time as agent to the future stars easiest. Not to mention the one time he had failed to sign a promising catching prospect out of St. Croix, whose desire to commit himself to eventual demise was so strong, it was only prevented by the butterfly effect of a smurf orgy in Porto Nowi. But for most part, he knew how to handle young prospects and at least market them appropriately, to the point where Deondre Rhine had gotten away with every chargeable sin in Cold Hill and Quebec City, and Maks Shishkin had now made a headline for him being seen on a Aquamarine concert to see Roksana Balasevic, the darling of every Mytanar fans whose fanbase in Montreal of all places were as large as a king's ransom (in general sense).

This time, he had different ideas though, as he knew personal stakes were at hand with his upcoming client. As the daughter and only child of his high school beloved, the orphan whose grandmothers were either dead or in Halifax, Pierre knew he had to take everything in the store to make this work. He knew not a lot of places were willing to sign up for that, and really only Koreana, Haligonian or CSKA were going to take up the offer on her. Pierre would have to think a bit, dial a number or two by the end of breakfast time out east.

by **New Lusitania and the Algarves** » Sun May 23, 2021 6:00 pm

WHAT WAS THAT?!
Farfadilis 7-2 New Lusitania
Attempting to make up all of the former games in the next couple of matchdays.

Now everyone knew New Lusitania’s hardest match would be, in theory, away at Farfadillis. Among the fans, everyone collectively agreed it would be hard to get much here due to the difficulty of the match and the way the team was playing. Yet, New Lusitania had pulled off close battles in competitive matches before, so why not? The reality would be something completely different in terms of idea…. Well, Farfadillis still won, of course, but nothing could probably prepare them for whatever this game was. The main team was all there, and no single player was spared, with the exception of Fernando who couldn’t be match fit after his injury. His replacement was Luís Miguel due to a lack of other options in this instance with Caldeirão recovering from a small injury in training two days prior. With no more time to waste, the match was given the go ahead in Gotham. Where to begin? It was a bloodbath from the start, La Vherderoja weren’t pulling any punches. Two minutes in a simple cross by Gallegas forwarded the ball over to Edmun Çedh for the first one. Heartbreak so soon? It certainly was a good presage for the state of the match in its entirety. It wouldn’t be long before a second – or even a third – hurried along. The ultra-attacking outfit struck again at the quarter hour by his younger counterpart Roémun Çedh with a nice brace of the ball with the third goal clocking in on twenty-five minutes by Roémun Çedh once more. The Selecção were not in a good position and André Silveira managed to pull one back. Half-time and national coach Francisco Grilo went for an unconventional substitution with António Lopes switching places in goal with Rui Patríce. Sérgio Azinheira took over from Luís Miguel, pulling the midfield back ever so slightly. For about twenty minutes, these changes seemed to work a treat – especially when Daniel Jota got a really nice backheel into goal to make it 3-2. From there onwards, an absolute disaster as Gallegas managed a nice header in to bring the distance back to 4-2 on seventy-one minutes of play. The team really crumbled from there onwards seeing 5-2 come up shortly on seventy-nine minutes, t’Oséné’s teamwork play paying dividends when Alxiki stretched his leg to put it in. Azinheira was sent off for a professional foul on the last man creating a penalty for Farfadillis – not that they needed any additional goals. Edmun Çedh put it in the bottom right and Lopes went the other way and 6-2 it was. The home side seemed to want to make this match a clear example and in stoppages rue Cazade would be the one to volley it in and score the final goal of the match. For the home crowd, clear jubilation at the final whistle; for a vocal away fringe a terrible defeat that equalled the three 5-0 defeats of the past as the worst defeat ever suffered by the Selecção, something no one expected in this day and age. Grilo could do nothing except attempt to give some fault and attempt to prod conversation along to the next match in the March internationals but the idea of the Farfadillis game will most certainly be one that will last very long in the popular mind of the Lusitanian fan.

by **Cassadaigua** » Sun May 23, 2021 6:04 pm

The world is not being torn apart just because one region has split. And we all can come together for this MD12-13 cutoff.

Scores

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Politics, Sport intersect once again in WCQ
by Val DeAngelis
The Lantern

Newport—The Baker Park National Soccer Team opened up the campaign to qualify for the World Cup with a visit to Santa Margarita, in Montana Verde; it was the small nation's debut on the international scene, the first home match played in the nation. A festival atmosphere surrounded the build up and people all over organized parties to watch the match.

The 4-1 victory by Baker Park wasn't seen as a disappointment in the scheme of things, but the following day would see an outpouring of grief and emotion for an entirely different reason.

Approximately an hour ahead of the match, far outside the capital, a car bomb detonated in front of a village cantina, killing all those inside, including Father Sebastian Mariano Ruiz, a figure in the movement that has been angry since the overthrow and disappearance of President Diego Alejandro Santangel, along with his family.

In the time between those events and now, the military have used an increasingly hardline response to demonstrations that have occurred in the capital.
Where the situation that took place in Shirley for the visit of Legalese was less of a demonstration than an affirmation of the country's commitment to Atlantian Oceania, the return fixture of Montana Verde here at the City Stadium had an entirely different mood.

Some in the small contingent of visiting supporters planned to use the occasion to shine a light on the situation, but it was the home crowd that provided the decidedly cool reception to the team.

The anthems sparked the first controversial note, as several hundred people held up posters of the deceased cleric and the missing President, while others held banners as the chorus of catcall rained down on the pitch, while others turned their backs to the field of play until Hear Our Voices Commonwealth began.

The players were largely unfazed once the kickoff came and the Verdeans put a solid effort in throughout, falling only 2-1 on this occasion; at the final whistle there was no singing of the final stanza of Guide Me, only a resumption of the earlier holding of banners and posters.

The audience this was intended for was certainly not the 33,000 spectators on hand, but those watching far away; it seems unfair to paint the Verdean soccer team with a broad brush of guilt by association, or to drag that nation's political situation into the open without more being known by those here in Baker Park.

by **PotatoFarmers** » Sun May 23, 2021 6:18 pm

After the brilliance shown in the first 5 games, you would expect Poafmersia to go even further and produce even stronger performances. It is not in every tournament where we would get such a fixture list as forgiving as this one. Understandably, Adnan Suliaha was testing some of the newer team strategies, younger players and all. But points dropped home to opposition from Melayu Archipelago, as well as the draw away at Murphtannia, meant that the away games at Audioslavia and Græntfjall will be very important. Important in deciding where Poafmersia will be in the table. Whether it is a direct qualification, yet another playoffs, or heartbreak once again.

And so Matchday 10 came. A tricky trip to Atlantian Ocean- no wait, Anaia, to face Audioslavia. This will be the 5th meeting between the Red Panjias and the Bulls - happening in the middle of a period of political uncertainty surrounding Anaia and Atlantian Oceania. And Audioslavia, having lost the past 4 matches against the Red Panjias, would definitely be out for blood. Out for revenge. Out for...whatever you name it.

The game wasn't nice to begin with. Having picked up a knock during training, Makana Tuft wasn't able to make the starting 11, and instead, Joel Haodao led the line in place of Tuft. It was quite a slow start to the game, with both sides unwilling to over extend. The home team wanted to slow down the tempo, and since the Red Panjias wasn't feeling as full of energy as they should have been, they didn't really struggle against the slower tempo.

When the Bulls started to pick up the aggression, that is when you know they meant business. Poafmersia wasn't able to deal with the issues and troubles at hand, and conceded a goal from a corner kick in the 71st minute. A poor defence for Poafmersia.

The remaining 29 minutes was a disaster. Unable to find an equaliser, the Red Panjias lost 3 valuable points. That gave the chance for Græntfjall to pull 1 point behind, and Audioslavia to be 1 point ahead. It is a win-or-die situation in the case of the trip to Græntfjall. Win and the deed is done. Lose, and Poafmersia will be on the passive end.

Poafmersia 3–3 Ziwana
Poafmersia Scorers: Aleka Dufour 17' (assisted by Michael Jackson), 78'; Makana Tuft 45' (assisted by Michael Jackson)
Poafmersia Lineup: Sandi Jaliaha; Ariel Casey, Mitchel Rosales, Simone Gori, Zak Kaloyanov; Min Berg; Dargis Walshor, Withney Rios; Michael Jackson; Aleka Dufour, Makana Tuft (c)
Substitutes: Mac Rojas (Kaloyanov 70'), Monesty Erdos (Rios 80'), Woden Sweet (Berg 85')

Pius Desurongcrandis 0–1 Poafmersia
Poafmersia Scorers: Kirsti Nieminen 81' (assist by Dargis Walshor)
Poafmersia Lineup: Suzanne Trengove; Alex Hoboson, Simone Gori, Hollis Stephenson; Dargis Walshor, Michael Jackson, Min Berg, Vasilis Villaverde; Jordan Huerta, Makana Tuft (c), Kirsti Nieminen
Substitutes: Ali Berger (Gori 63'); Gisiik Moonar (Jackson 75'); Onesimos Jain (Huerta 88')

Poafmersia 2–2 Sharktail
Poafmersia Scorers: Joel Haodao 37'; Fitks Wariq 54'
Poafmersia Lineup: Sandi Jaliaha; Alex Hoboson, Simone Gori, Mitchel Rosles; Dargis Walshor, Ftiks Wariq, Arnold Shwentin, Whitney Rios; Joel Haodao, Makana Tuft (c), Aleka Dufour
Substitutes: Iulianus Innocenti (Dufour 60'), Daas Taisg (Wariq 77'); Nasri Sanchez (Hoboson 86')

Murphtannia 2–2 Poafmersia
Poafmersia Scorers: Iulianus Innocenti 67'; Makana Tuft 81'
Poafmersia Lineup: Nicole Potts; Mitchel Rosales, Nasri Sanchez, Hollis Stephenson; Dargis Walshor, Michael Jackson, Nero Wood, Vasilis Villaverde; Jordan Huerta, Makana Tuft (c), Iulianus Innocenti
Substitutes: Whitney Rios (Villaverde 55')

Audioslavia 1–0 Poafmersia
Poafmersia Lineup: Sandi Jaliaha; Mitchel Rosales, Alex Hoboson, Simone Gori, Natalia Abbott; Gisiik Moonar, Woden Sweet, Arnold Shwentin; Joel Haodao (c), Iulianus Innocenti, Monesty Erdos
Substitues: Makana Tuft (Innocenti 67'), Daas Taisg (Shwentin 78'), Nasri Sanchez (Gori 84')

Poafmersia 5–3 Suimede
Poafmersia Scorers: Iulianus Innocenti 9' (assisted by Jordan Huerta), 27' (assisted by Nero Wood), 67' (assisted by Nero Wood); Makana Tuft 55' , 81' (assisted by Nero Wood)
Poafmersia Lineup: Nicole Potts; Mitchel Rosales, Nasri Sanchez, Hollis Stephenson; Dargis Walshor, Michael Jackson, Nero Wood, Vasilis Villaverde; Jordan Huerta, Makana Tuft (c), Iulianus Innocenti
Substitutes: Aleka Dufour (Huerta 68')

by **Eshialand** » Sun May 23, 2021 8:44 pm

The History of Eshialand
Part I: Unrest
Vilita 0 - 0 Eshialand

"We're coming to you live from tropical Vilita, where the underdog Eshian side will attempt to..."

This was the start of the ENN Sports broadcast of the unwinnable match against Vilita. You were in the royal palace for once in your life, getting ready to watch the match with some of your nearest and dearest friends, when it strikes you... how were you here? How did this happen?

Why are you a king?

The story begins on a mild October day, Friday, October 14th, 2016, to be exact. You, along with your two closest friends Summer and Jason, are spending a normal day in what was then known as Toronto, Canada, when you witness a serious police brutality event. A completely innocent 17-year-old boy was beaten to within an inch of his life by a rogue police officer out for blood.

This event made you realize something: the world is a messed-up place. Nothing made sense. Injustice happens all around you, but nobody seemed to be doing a thing about it. On that day, you and your friends decided that you would be the ones to make some noise. You would try to right all of society's wrongs.

Nobody in their right minds actually thought that something like this would actually work, but you were idealistic 13-year-old kids who had nothing to lose, so you figured you'd try anyway.

Little did any of you know what this decision wound up doing for the world, or rather to it.

Your first protest came 8 days later, the 22nd. The protest saw a modest crowd of a couple thousand, but your message of hope for a better society spread much, much farther.

The Great Lakes region was chock-full of disillusioned individuals who had grown tired of their governments. The unemployed factory workers in the Rust Belt who had been promised economic recovery and new jobs, only for the U.S. government to forget about them, the farmers in upstate New York who felt more and more distant from their state and federal governments, the coal miners and steel workers in western Pennsylvania who had both of those problems, and of course, the people of Ontario, who could mostly agree, no matter their political bent, that their provincial and national governments were utter trash.

Quickly, you gained a sort of cult following among the people across the area, no matter where they were on the political spectrum. When they looked at you, they didn't see left or right, but merely a bright future.

By December, the governments of Canada and the U.S. took notice of your message and attempted to silence you. They didn't want some young brat disrupting their countries, and they wanted to put a stop to it. However, your supporters didn't take this lying down. They were willing to fight for what they believed in, even if a fight was the last thing you wanted.

Some of the first skirmishes between your supporters and police were in Detroit on December 19th, Pittsburgh on the 21st, and your home city of Toronto on the 22nd. You actually attended the Toronto protest, but what you saw was no protest. What you saw was the exact opposite of what you wanted. These people had brought guns. They were an armed militia.

The Eshian Revolution had just begun.

The thoughts of the Revolution all started rushing back to you, but there was no time to think about them tonight, as you were brought out of your memories by a tapping on your shoulder.

"Will? Will?" It was Summer. "The match is over, everybody left..."
"Wait, what? What happened??"
"You were in some sort of trance for the whole match!"
"Did I miss anything?"
"Not really, it was pretty boring. Nobody even scored a single goal!"
"What do you mean, 'nobody even scored a single goal'?"
"The ball never got past the keepers and over the goal lines?"
"You are talking about Vilita-Eshialand, right?"
"No, I'm talking about Valanora-Geektopia..." This comment was very clearly laced with sarcasm. "Of course I'm talking about Vilita-Eshialand, you goof!" She punches you in the shoulder jokingly.
"Oh my god, really?!" You kiss her right then and there, with what she thinks is an overblown enthusiasm over the match, but in reality was mostly joy that she survived the Revolution, and that she was still there to share this moment with you.

She almost died.

"Hello and welcome back to ENN Tournament Report, I'm your host Josh Seametzle. Matchday 12 was certainly something to talk about, so let's take a look at these matches.

Lisander 0 - 1 Savojarna
"And Lisander keeps taking beating after beating... you'd think a fifth-seeded team would do better, but sadly, no."

Pluvia and the Saxean Isles 2 - 0 Hebitaka
"PSI has been a real surprise so far in qualifying, but their position in between the three contenders and 'the pack' still isn't a great one to be in..."

Sendhang 0 - 1 Squornshelan Remnant States
"The biggest surprise here is that this result isn't surprising, given the two teams playing in this particular match."

Devonta 1 - 1 The 14 Stars
"And then you have The 14 Stars, who keep coming out with surprise after surprise... losing away to Eshialand (something no other team has ever done competitively), beating Vilita, and now drawing Devonta..."

Vilita 0 - 0 Eshialand
"Well, this one was the one I had pegged as the least likely to be a draw... GOOOOOO OWLSSSSSSS!!!"

Atheara 0 - 1 Mytanija
"Pain."

The united states of sonindia 0 - 8 Nephara
"And I leave you with the most satisfying curbstomping in the entire Qualifiers so far, as those goofballs from Sonindia..." You can easily tell that Josh is still salty about that draw in the BoF, "...got absolutely smashed by the best team in the multiverse!!"

"Ah, nothing like a good old-fashioned smashing of old enemies to make you feel great in the morning. Anyway, this has been Tournament Report, and I've been Josh Seametzle. See you next time!"

by **Atheara** » Sun May 23, 2021 9:27 pm

Wait A Minute, What Happened Again?

Type: Game Review
Time: After Matchday 12 and 13

Hello all. Kaneer Laiping Shaek reporting for this Matchday Report. I cannot believe what had just happened. As you saw from the official match results, yes we lost to Mytanija. BUT WHO CARES?! WE BEAT ABANHFLEFT! Another beautiful win from the National Team. And suprisingly both of the goals that were scored are actually penalties, so there is not a lot of need to describe how the goals went. This is an analysis on both of the games in general. I also want to condemn Mr. Ohwel for getting me interested in News Reporting. May his soul rest in the afterlife.

Atheara 0 - 1 Mytanija
None / Kemal Gajic (90' P)

A Penalty on the 90th minute was a bad way of ending a match that could have been possibly a draw and four points to our name. Kemal was actually tackled by Mugel Krygorf whom was playing back in net this time around. A Penalty was given and Kemal bashed the ball in to the bottom right corner. They do deserve the win i suppose, it was our own fault for giving them the penalty. Anyway it was however a very equal game. 92% Passing Completion for Mytanija and 90% for Atheara. Every shot made in the game was on target. A bloody battle between the two teams, however the results don't say so.

Abanhfleft 0 - 1 Atheara
None / Luis Frawning (34' P)

This was a perfect game. Atheara was absolutely dominating for some reason. Luis Frawning had blasted a penalty through against Bronwyn Churchill at the 34th Minute, because he was tackled by Colleen Adams in the box. It was a satisfying win against a way tougher opposition that seemed like they were slacking off during the match. Probably underestimating our ability, just like that one game between Atheara and Electrum. Anyway, that's all there is to be fair. Not much to say.

We prepare for the rematch between Atheara vs Geektopia and The Grearish Isles vs Atheara.

by **Jeruselem** » Mon May 24, 2021 3:40 am

Princess Kate the virtual vtuber (aka Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas) in front of a virtual stadium

Hello, this is Princess Katherine Annabelle Dallas for Naked News Jeruselem!
Once again it's World Cup 88 qualification news.
It's now the beginning of the end of qualification with 13 games played so leaving just a mere 5 to qualify.
For some, they know they are eliminated already because you know ... mathematics!

So, match day 12 of qualification had the match of the day being the two top seeds facing each other.
I said top seeds not top 2 ladder leaders!
Yes pretty exciting round actually.

Fujai were back home but the visitors were ... Mercedini, not the sort of visitor you want if you wanted to win.
Mercedini are running hot and inflicted Jeruselem's recent defeat.
Sadly for Fujai who needed to win this to avoid even being mathematically eliminated but Mercedini went home with all 3 points winning 2-1.
Mercedini yes, roll on and Fujai got the last nail in the coffin.

San Ortelio at home faced well, pretty much eliminated Seguidores de la grasas playing for pride really.
Seguidores de la grasas showed some pride and held the hosts to 0-0 draw denying the hosts much needed 3 points!
If I was the team manager, I would be a little upset about not winning this one!
San Ortelio had a setback really.

Bluecliff League who are the firing line for next being eliminated, needed to win at home against Istoreya who pretty are eliminated.
I guess for Istoreya, they had to show they aren't pushovers.
Bluecliff League just needed 3 points to look competitive.
Istoreya put up a huge fight and held Bluecliff League to 3-3 draw.
In the scheme of things, not much changed for both teams from this.

THE BIG SHOWDOWN!
Siovanija and Teusland, the top seed hosted 2nd top seed Valladares.
In an ordinary table, these two teams should have been in the top 2.
But not Group 10, they are not top 2 on the ladder.
YES A MUST WIN for both.
Both teams have been playing a lot better but not streamrolling opponents.
The end result was 3-3 draw which didn't give much comfort for both parties at all.
A result which Mercedini and Jeruselem were happy to see.

So leaving Jeruselem at home, against the dangerous Talamia who have upset a few higher seeds.
Peko and team have been diligent to study opponents and Talamia can make you pay if you're complacent.
We shut them down 3-1 for 3 points and we still have hope of keeping our top spot.
We could not let a team like Talamia get 3 points against us given our fragile buffer from 2nd spot.

Plenty of goals on match day 12 and two 3-3 draws. Most importantly we won.

LUCKY MATCH DAY 13, the number on Dallas team member jersey.
If not then it's 31 ...

Seguidores de la grasas hosted Mercedini and came off getting beaten up ... again.
Mercedini with another 3 points and putting pressure on us with this win.
Seguidores de la grasas ... well, see you next world cup!

Siovanija and Teusland needed to make up for not beating Valladares.
Playing Fujai really helps because they either draw ... or lose.
Siovanija and Teusland did end up winning 3-2 at home. I mean, it's kinda expected!

Valladares after not winning last game, really had win this one.
There were at home and against Bluecliff League, who have been way off form - yeah expected to get the 3 points.
Not sure what's going on but Valladares didn't complete the job and it was a 1-1 draw which isn't what is now demanded from now.
Bluecliff League still anchored near the bottom, but Valladares aren't doing much better than them.

Talamia smarting from the recent 3-1 loss, faced San Ortelio who were smarting from drawing against the lowest team.
Both still real threats to the top but recently slipping a little.
Siovanija and Teusland are moving up, and these teams had an extra problem to deal with.
San Ortelio grinded out 1-0 win over the hosts to frustate Talamia's ambitions.

Istoreya hosting Jeruselem who needed to fend off Mercedini.
Jeruselem weren't really quite playing that well but a 1-0 was still 3 points.
Yeah we could have tried a lot harder but I think we're managing injuries for the last 5 games so not going hard when it's not necessary.
Makes sense.

So what does group 10 look like?
Elimated teams are eguidores de la grasas 7 points, Istoreya 9 points and Fujai 9 points. See you guys next cup.
Bluecliff League and Valladares hang in there with 15 points. Being 7th and 6th, they are the next ones in the elimination firing line.
Oh yes, having negative goal difference is not help for them either.
Talamia are in 5th and Siovanija and Teusland in 4th with 20 points.
Siovanija and Teusland have the advantage with +7 goal difference while Talamia have -3. You would think Talamia are in trouble already.
San Ortelio hold to 3rd but have to watch their backs with Siovanija and Teusland coming home strong.
24 points is still a position to launch an attack on the top 2.
Mercedini on 28 points 2nd to only ... Jeruselem's 32.

Valladares and Bluecliff League being 17 points behind top spot, cannot take top spot as 15 points max left.
They'll need to win everything from now on.

You may have noticed we don't do live interviews with anyone this cup.
Actually this is a combination of cost cutting and a move to virtual broadcasting.
You know, virtual broadcasting like ... now! Like with my avatar here!
No, Akai Hanto is not unemployed ... she still harasses the team for intelligence but just not on air.

Hey, that wanker on Mann Network ... what's his face, Major Mann, not his real name.
Everyone there uses an alias and they still complain I use an anime girl avatar now. Idiots.
Anyway, he's personally challenged me to shoot off, with real weapons. Target shooting, not at each other.
Well I don't have the time at the moment.

That's all from me and
"A-quality day to one and all! I'm just a naked girl!"
I didn't say Aqua Minato, because I'm not her.

World Cup 88- Roleplay Thread

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