The Jovannic 3-4 Eshialand
Eshialand 1-1 Sajnur
As the final whistle blew on the match between Eshialand and Sajnur, the score stuck at 1-1, it finally became official. The Owls, despite their best attempts, would not be qualifying for World Cup 89. It just wasn't happening this time.
So, you may ask yourself, what happened in this cycle? What made this year different from the last? Why should you even care about Eshialand at all going forward? What was the point of even trying in World Cup 89—
Stop it right there. Okay, stop it. If you have to ask these questions, you clearly need to look in a mirror. There was more than a point to this, and all will be explained in due time. First, let's compare this critically to last qualifying.
Last time, Eshialand got only 19 points from a 5-4-9 campaign that saw them take just 7th place, an extremely disappointing run for fans. As for this year? They're currently sitting on 8-3-6, a guaranteed winning record, and will finish with between 27 and 30 points and between 4th and 6th place. That's a lot better than last year, ask anyone.
(10) Baker Park: 0-1-1
(22) Jeruselem: 0-1-1
(55) Flavovespia: 0-0-2
(68) Xanneria: 2-0-0
(83) Sajnur: 1-1-0
(172) Aut-Ves-Nat: 2-0-0
(215) The Jovannic: 2-0-0
(298) Kiltoch: 1-0-0
(UR) Polkopia: 0-0-2
Now, remember that Polkopia factor I mentioned? Let's talk about it. An unranked side making it all the way to the World Cup is, to put it lightly, ridiculous. So ridiculous, in fact, that it hasn't happened in six years, since Reçueçn somehow made the big dance in World Cup 83. Polkopia doing this well is throwing off the entire group to the point where Baker Park is outside of a playoff spot entering their final match. Losing to them twice is no big deal, trust me. They may be unranked on paper, but they're far better than their rank (or lack thereof) suggests.
On another note, last year's losing streak. We all remember that, right? Vilita, Devonta, Sendhang, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles, Savojarna. A great source of pain back then and still bad looking back. This year, that didn't happen. Yes, we lost four in a row (Jeruselem, Baker Park, Flavovespia, and Polkopia), but we had more than a good excuse for that. Top three seeds and Polkopia? Yeah, 4 losses in a row were to be expected out of that. Instead, however, look at the win streak. 5 matches in a row. Aut-Ves-Nat, Xanneria, The Jovannic, Sajnur, Kiltoch. In one year, the Owls went from losing 5 to winning 5. If that isn't a wonderful sign, I don't know what is.
So, sure, the Owls aren't qualifying for World Cup 89, but did anyone expect them to? Instead, they'll be taking their particular brand of soccer to the 81st Cup of Harmony (if they get invited), where their sights will be set on... the round of 16? The quarterfinals? No, they'll be set on having fun, where they've always been set.
-JS
The Jovannic - 3 (Majaria 32'; Tze 52'; Ilohil 68')
Eshialand - 4 (Carroll 21', 76'; Carey 43'; Meilling 70')
Eshialand - 1 (LaPlante 43')
Sajnur - 1 (Ciuru 60')