World Cup 89 - Roleplay Thread

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:34 am

"Can you pinpoint any weaknesses in the Tumbran game?" asked a familiar voice, midway through Rohan Cammers's press conference. The Audioslavia manager peered under the transparent turquoise tint of his baseball cap and spied a familiar face at the back of the hall. The rest of the journalists, too, craned their necks to see the yellowish hues of Jeremy Jaffacake appear from the gloom. Jeremy switched off the smoke machine and shooed away his lighting crew. "I mean, you've surely got a gameplan especially for the Tumbrans, right?"
"Right" said Rohan Cammers. "We're both cautious teams. Very much Defender Meets Defender. It'll be an attritional game. It's our quality we're relying on, rather than any specific gap in the Black Eagles's defences"
"Only their goalkeeper" said Jeremy. "Their goalkeeper might be a weak point. John something"
"John Lennon" said Rohan
"Yeah, John Lennon" said Jeremy, "I heard he's susceptible to shots from close range"
Rohan Cammers removed his cap.
"Did you really fly all the way here for that?"
"Well y'see..." started Jeremy, but too late. Two large men in suits approached, stood next to Jeremy, and politely nodded at him. One of them put their finger to their ear, nodded, and continued standing next to Jeremy. Jeremy sighed.
"Okay, yes, I'll go, but I have one more question"
"Sure"
"Imagine..."
"Get him out of here"

by **Turori** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:43 am

Edgeli's Great Escape Sees Eels Through to Knockouts

Jecken Arena, South Newlandia :: Following a lopsided defeat to Pemecutan on the opening matchday of the World Cup 89 Finals, the energy surrounding the Turori National Team's chances at repeating as World Cup Champions had largely been deflated. With key members of the World Cup 88 Championship Squad starting to age well out of their prime including team captain Mikki Mayelli who retired after the World Cup 89 Final, Top Goalscorer and World Cup Final hero Meldi'ita Mungwaii and goalkeeper Wiyauw An'maude. With the advanced average age of many of Turori's key players there were legitimate concerns that the Eels could be 'one and done' with their success in World Cup 88 and those concerns were confirmed to some extent during the World Cup 88 Qualifying.

Although Turori did eventually survive finishing atop Group 13 and booking an automatic spot in the World Cup 89 Finals, for long stretches of the campaign Turori's Qualification was far from assured and with just three matches to play there was a very real chance that Edgeli's Eels could finish the Group as low as the 4th position. While Turori had completed the entire World Cup 88 Cycle without a single defeat, they had already amassed three over the course of World Cup 89 Qualifying. Tarek Edgeli's first ever World Cup sanctioned defeat as Turori National Team head coach came on Matchday 9 against TJUN-ia with two of the Eels three defeats coming with Inland Peaks FC goalkeeper Timaala Hualtia in net. Thankfully for Nigel's Army and the fans of the Turori National Team, the Eels would win each of their final three matches including a 1-0 victory over Ranoria and a confident 4-0 thrashing of the very TJUN-ia side who had dealt the team its first defeat earlier in the campaign. Had either of the results gone the other way Turori would not have qualified directly for the World Cup Finals and could have missed out even on a playoff had they dropped both results.

Yet Edgeli and the Eels knew exactly what they needed to do to avoid the embarassment of the reigning World Cup Champion failing to qualify for the subsequent World Cup and executed it to perfection. Fast forward to the World Cup 89 Finals and once again the Turori National Team had the opportunity to execute a great escape, advancing on the heels of potential failure with a spot in the World Cup 89 Round of 16 on the line.

The 0-3 defeat to Pemecutan on the opening matchday put Turori in a deficit not only on points but on Goal Differential as well which was perhaps the more critical element as it meant that even if the Eels could rebound and win their next two matches, they could still miss out on the Knockout Rounds if they were unable to re-claim their Goal Differential. The draw between Krytenia and Pemecutan on Matchday 2 did change the calculus for Turori slightly, however, and Turori had control of their own destiny against the Cyan Dragons on the final matchday. It was a win-to advance situation for Turori with a possibility still of finishing atop the Group if there was a draw in the match between Pemecutan and Baker Park. A Draw with Krytenia could only see Turori through if Pemecutan defeated Baker Park on the Final matchday while a Loss to Krytenia would eliminate the Eels regardless of the other results in the Group.

There had previously been limited meetings in the modern era between long time rivals Turori and Krytenia particularly during a team as geographical neighbors when the trip from Krytenia to Turori or vice versa could be completed with a leisurely ride on a Dragon or Cocoabo shaped Pool Floaty in the Vilitan Cove or a flight as the projectile(s) of a well oriented trebuchet. That would change from the 10th Eagle's Cup competition where Turori and Krytenia would meet in the Semi-Finals of the Cocoabo Challenge Trophy. It was Tarek Edgeli's first tournament in charge of the Turori National Team and very nearly ended in victory. A 0-1 defeat to up-and-comers Graintfjall in the Cocoabo Challenge Trophy Final was the only thing that stood in the way of Edgeli and silverware in their first tournament ever. When the team rebounded with a 7-1 victory over Cassadaigua to earn the Bronze Medal, it was clear to the Football Association of Turori that Edgeli was their coach for the future. Of course, the rest as they say is History as Edgeli would guide the Eels to be crowned Champions of World Cup 88. In order to get there, however, Turori once again had to go through Krytenia.

After having won their first 16 games of World Cup 88 Qualifying, the Turori National Team were on the verge of something they had never done before - nor had most nations in World Cup History - complete a eighteen game qualifying campaign with a perfect record. Their long time rivals and one-time neighbors had other ideas holding Turori's National Cocoabo Squad to a 2-2 draw putting an end to the Eels hopes of a perfect campaign. Just as they had in the Eagle's Cup, Turori quickly rebounded from the dissapointing result with a 6-1 final matchday victory over Fluvannia that would also be the retirement match for the Turorian/Sunrisian midfielder Saito Koshiki. Although Turori would go on to win the World Cup eliminating much of the pain caused by the inability to close out the perfect qualifying cycle, those memories were brought back to the forefront whe the World Cup 89 Draw took place and saw Krytenia - returning to the World Cup Final, getting a "Welcome Back" fixture with the #2 Ranked reigning champions from Turori. It was the second of back-to-back 'revenge' matches for the Turori National Team and the fans urged the Eels on from a far with limited capacity at Stadiums in South Newlandia extremely limiting the number of tickets available to watch the Turori National Team compete in person against Baker Park and Krytenia.

After the 1-0 victory over Baker Park on Matchday 2, all attention turned onto Krytenia. Just one of the two nations would be moving on to the Round of 16. After missing the game against Baker Park due to a one-match suspension stemming from the Red Card suffered in the World Cup opener, Derizi Amatopa was back ready to be selected. However, having pitchd a shutout against Baker Park and fully recovered from the opening matchday defeat to Pemecutan, Tarek Edgeli decided to stick with An'maude once more.

An'maude would be busy from the start after a frantic opening frenzy that saw both sides with early chances but neither on the scoresheet in the first twenty minutes. Just as the match seemed to be settling out a bit, however, the Turori National Team got on the scoresheet with a goal from Turakia Diijelhma. After leading the Eels in goals scored during Qualifying, Diijelhma picked up their first tally of the World Cup Finals and gave Turori all the momentum that went with it. The Eels would ride that momentum for another ten minutes when Kinabo Telioa was adjudged to have been fouled less than 30 yards out. It resulted in a free kick for Turori and both Kentu Umaka'a and Daliora Toru'u stood over the ball. First Umaka'a began the run up then a moment later Toru'u. Umaka'a stepped over the ball which Toru'u struck just moments later. Krytenia goalkeeper Robert Wilson could do nothing to stop the near perfect free kick delivered by Toru'u which needed no assistance from the battling mob to find its way directly into the back of the net. It all seemed to be going perfectly for Tarek Edgeli and the Eels who appeared to be cruising to victory over Krytenia and an assured spot in the Round of 16. However, with the final kick of the first half, Robert Reeder took an extra step on the ball then fired a hopeful shot from the top of the box instead of laying it off to his advancing teammates. The shot clanked off the inside of the goalpost and sideways across the goal line. An'maude desperately clawed at the ball and scooped it out of the net but it was too late, the whole ball had crossed the line and Krytenia had scored just before the half the quelch Turori's momentum and set up a brand new match coming out of the half time break.

Tarek Edgeli would make just one change at the interval taking out the veteran attacker Meldi'ita Mungwaii and introducing the youngster Lutara Makakio. The Jungle Strike FC youngster would instantly have an impact on the match and would get on the scoresheet within five minutes of the restart, restoring the Eels two goal advantage. Krytenia would not go down without a fight, however. Having earned just one point thus far on their World Cup return, the Dragons were desperately searching for a way back into the match not just to maintain their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds but simply in search of a win at the World Cup Finals. Krytenia would be given a glimmer of hope on the hour mark when Alan Belmwr delivered a signature World Cup tally. While Belmwr was busy doing the airplane celebration by the corner flag, his teammates were scooping the ball out of he back of the net and urging the attacker to land the plane so they could resume the game knowing they still needed two more goals to win.

Looking to slow the game down, Tarek Edgeli would make two substitutions in the five minutes following the second Krytenia goal - first bringing on Lati'ola Giaoka to add some fresh defensive minded legs and then taking out goalscorer Turakia Diijelhma and bringing on Nua'oma Aikiki to control the play when Turori had possession up top. Aikiki would do more than just take the ball to the corner flag and hold it there, however, and would put put the result beyond doubt with their second goal in as many games to give Turori a 4-2 lead. The Eels would defend the scoreline until the final whistle with the Dragons seemingly resigned to the fact they were not going to find 3 goals in fewer than ten minutes. While the Turori National Team will never get Matchday 17 of World Cup 88 Qualifying back to do over again, victory over Krytenia to secure a place in the World Cup 89 Knockout Rounds was a good consolation for the Eels.

 Turori [4] - [2] Krytenia
				
	GOALS:	Turori 	:: 24' Turakia Diijelhma:: 34' Daliora Toru'u:: 50' Lutara Makakio:: 79' Nua'oma Aikiki           		
	STATS:	Turori 	:: Possession: 59%:: Shots: 11:: Corners: 7	Krytenia 	:: Possession: 41%:: Shots: 6:: Corners: 6
	Lineup:	[GK]  Wiyauw An'maude, [D.]  Moumouni Verre'elali, [D.]  Biliki Rona'atu'i, [D.]  Lulu Pumaziiri, [D.]  Amakli Inuro'o, [ML]  Kentu Umaka'a, [MC]  Kinabo Telioa, [MC]  Tulaki Rauogba, [MR]  Daliora Toru'u, [FC]  Meldi'ita Mungwaii, [FC]  Turakia Diijelhma			
	Bench:	[FC]  Nua'oma Aikiki, [FC]  Lutara Makakio, [M]  Lati'ala Giaoka, [M]  Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, [U ]  Karek Edgeli, [D]  Planio’o Nrujsa, [GK]  Derizi Amatopa

While Turori would claim victory over Krytenia to ensure a spot in the Round of 16, the real story of Group B was Pemecutan of the Melayu Archipelago. The White Myna took the sting out of the Baker Park Bees on the Final Matchday to complete their unbeaten group stage - including a pair of victories over Top 10 Ranked Nations from Atlantian Oceania to top Group B and secure a favorable Knockout Round matchup against lower ranked nation Squidroidia - the very nation who Inked the Vilita Jungle Cats out of the World Cup Finals for the first time in 30 cycles.

Turori would have to settle for second place in the Group and a matchup against the winners of Group A, Esportivan nation Ethane who also finished the Group Stage with an unbeaten record on 7 Points. Despite the fact that Ethane were winners of Group A, many will point to the fact that Group A had the lowest average KPB ranking of any Group in the South Newlandia half of the World Cup 89 Finals. Fans of the Turori National Team also have fond memories of playing against Ethane in the World Cup. While the two nations have not competed head to head since the World Cup 81 Finals, it was that match against Ethane during World Cup 81 that - up until Turori's victory over The Holy Empire in the World Cup 88 Final, was often considered as the greatest result in Turori National Team history.

Prior to the 1-0 victory over Ethane in the World Cup 81 Quarter Finals, Turori had advanced to the Quarter Final stage of the World Cup twelve times without ever winning a single Quarter Final matchup. It was a record amount of Quarter Final appearances by any nation that had never made a single appearance in the Semi-Final round. Now, Fans of the Turori National Team are hoping for a similar result in the World Cup 89 Finals that could possibly help catapult the Eels forward to another deep World Cup Finals run.

TURORI NATIONAL ✓

@TuroriNat
Turori Slay the Dragons on Matchday 3 - #Eels advance to face Ethane in World Cup 81 Rematch. Follow the Story Here...

#WC89 - #TURvKRY - #CupOfElephants

by **Pemecutan** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:10 am

CHAPTER 2.1 || CHAPTER 2.2 || CHAPTER 2.3 || CHAPTER 2.4 || CHAPTER 2.5
CHAPTER 2.6 || CHAPTER 2.7 || CHAPTER 2.8 || CHAPTER 2.9 || CHAPTER 2.10 ||
CHAPTER 2.11 || CHAPTER 2.12

CHAPTER 2.13

"That's possible," say Detective Wirasa who is already standing at the door which makes both Pande and Arthajaya turn to him.

"I'm sorry if I'm bother your private meeting," say Detective Wirasa as he seat next to Arthajaya.
"No, Detective. Not at all," answer Pande. Arthajaya just stay there. Don't know what to do or say. "Oh sorry to not introduce you. Mr. Arthajaya, this is Detective Wirasa. He is the one who's in charge with our office incident," explain Pande.
Arthajaya nodded in understanding.

"But what do you mean about the possibility?" ask Pande.
Detective Wirasa try to answer but then he realize that Arthajaya is still there.
"It's okay, Detective. You can say it in front of him," say Pande who seems to understand Wirasa's thought.
"Well, I found some different statement between you and the immigration office which I just discovered today," explain Detective Wirasa.
"What do you mean?" ask Pande once again.
"You said before that Ngurah Teja Paksa was died by suicide." Pande nodded. "But the immigration office stated that he and his family was going to Tandeg Suci. Which means that he was alive until he is going to Tandeg Suci. Our embassy in Tandeg Suci also found that Teja Paksa was married with a local woman. So there's a possibility that he is still alive and probably aimed at the organization as a revenge," add Wirasa.

Pande look surprise. He can't believe that the association database is wrong. While Arthajaya seems to be confused. He is remembering something thought he is not quite sure about it.

"But have you find him?" ask Pande again.
"Not yet. He is gone after his marriage. Our informant can't find any news about him after the marriage," answer Wirasa.
"This is getting more complicated than what I thought before," comment Pande.
"But there is one thing that makes me sure that he is still alive," reveal Wirasa which makes Pande and Arthajaya questioned about it. Wirasa calmly took out a picture from inside his suit. He place the picture on the table. Pande take it and looking at it suspiciously.
"The man that come to see you that day was wearing gloves. So he can't be the suspect," explain Wirasa.

Pande took a closer look of the picture. And he realize that this is true. He doesn't pay attention that day.

THE TWIST

Arthajaya wandering around after the surprise meeting with Detective Wirasa. Now he understand a little about the incident. But one thing that fill his head is the suspect name. Ngurah Teja Paksa. He believe that he has heard that name before. But he can't remember when. He stopped at the entrance of their office realizing he has an urgent thing to do.

He headed to his office and to working out the best league system for the youth clubs. His first task after the selection vote which giving him the youth section to handle

Pande is meeting with the other regionals presidents. He give an advice for the presidents to started talks with the club. He then realize one of them missing.

"Where is Agung Darma? I'm not seeing him lately," ask Pande.
"He already left, Sir," answer Karangdewa.
Pande just nodded. He realize about Agung's behavior. He is still an enigma for Pande.

Everyone seems to be happy. Having their drink. Take the snack. Laughters are easily occur. As they are focused on the small party, a loud voice can be heard from outside the building. Everyone is surprise with the sound. They are asking what is happening. Then...

"Mr. Agung Darma's car is exploded!" shouts someone.

The presidents are looking at each other, can't believe with what they heard.

by **Graintfjall** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 11:21 am

Starblaydia – 0 (0)

Græntfjall – 3 (0)
B. Ernestisson; T. Ernestisson, Jokulsson, Reynarsson, Vilbertsdóttir; Grímólfursson; Álvgeirsdóttir, Guttisdóttir (57’) (65’ Finnvarðsdóttir ), Heikkisdóttir (75’); Dannysdóttir (50’ Þórhallursson (60’) (86’)), Jonathansdóttir (84’ Bergmundursson )

For the greatest campaign in Græntfjaller footballing history, there sure has been a slight sense of bathos pervading World Cup 89. The Snow Wolves beat world number #1 ranked The Holy Empire, but that result proved to be completely irrelevant as they would have qualified anyway, and weren’t able to turn the head-to-head advantage into winning their qualifying group as they lost both their final games (and also had a player eaten by a kraken, kind of a bummer). And in their first finals, they faced a must-win encounter against World Cup greats Starblaydia and pulled through with a victory – only to find it not must-win at all, because Cassadaigua’s defeat of Polkopia meant a bore draw would have served them just as well. The greatest result in Græntfjaller footballing history was simultaneously a game where half the team would have been better served staying in the hotel bar.

The match had a cagey first half, and broke open in the second following a goal that was less a beautiful culmination of flowing football, and more Amanda Guttisdóttir getting a toe to a scuffed clearance. The chance began through the efforts of the irrepressible Emeli Vilbertsdóttir, fast making a name for herself as a wingback in Cantor’s narrow midfield system; Eiríka Jonathansdóttir couldn’t turn in the cross first time, but the ball pinballed around the area, was messily half-cleared by Dalton Aldridge, only for Amanda’s intercession to turn the ball, possibly not entirely deliberately, into the top corner past Ruby Narvaez. The goal opened up the game as the Starblaydis finally began to attack in earnest, but that spread apart their midfield and allowed the Snow Wolves to counter, with Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir’s fresh legs providing a welcome boost of energy.

Into the final fifteen minutes, Ázëwyn Fëanáro had made three attacking substitutions; Hjörleifur Reynarsson, though, commanded his defense superbly and Stefan Jokulsson, after a couple of rough games that had put his place into doubt, was a towering presence beside him. The two shut down Damocles and Janczewska; at the other end, Hanne Heikkisdóttir, in a first start in more than a year thanks to Sara Kristoffersdóttir’s suspension, made the most of her chance with a rocket strike from outside the area that even a solid hand from Narvaez couldn’t keep out. The ticket to the Round of 16 – exceeding even the wildest expectations of the Snow Wolf Pack when the campaign began more than a year ago – was punched by Jason Þórhallursson, with an individual goal of, given his lacklustre form to date, frustrating brilliance as he shrugged off Campbell Watson’s challenge, wove through Grovesnor and Aldridge, feigned a thrashed shot that sat down Narvaez and then plinked in a shot off the outside of his boot to curl in at the far corner.

He put in a strong enough shift off the bench to suggest he’ll reclaim his starting spot for the clash against Farfadillis, a game in which the Snow Wolves will need all their offensive firepower. Justiina Dannysdóttir has announced this campaign will be her last, but she’s likely to get at least one final game in blue-and-white, even if it comes off the bench; despite the goal, Hanne Heikkisdóttir will probably also give way to Sara Kristoffersdóttir and Jade Miansdóttir has been cleared fit to return. A full-strength eleven will take the field, but will do so against a team held in the highest of regards in Græntfjaller football, where the Farves’ attacking, creative, and perhaps slightly anarchic style is seen as a match-up problem for the staid defensiveness of the Snow Wolves. But the Snow Wolf Pack will march on to the Dhaencunor Arena in full voice regardless.

“…while the feckless Juliusson attends transgender reveal parties and public-funded champagne receptions for experimental plays in Háttmark, the embattled Osterlander and Nordlander people fight alone for their ancient homelands. The so-called Prime Minister has called reports of thousands of Græntfjallers joining up with these brave people in self-defense bands ‘troubling’! Well, I say to these brave men of conscience – please, keep on troubling the smug, self-satisfied Háttmark elite!”

Benjamín Styrbjörnsson paused for applause, which crackled from the audience on the television – and boomed out rather closer to Amanda Guttisdóttir and Hanne Heikkisdóttir, as Hjörleifur Reynarsson pounded his hands together enthusiastically, applauding the new Blue-Green leader’s fiery speech. He was certainly no David Austmannsson, for whom Græntfjall’s left was suddenly experiencing a profound nostalgia.

“Hjörleifur! You don’t agree with this trash!?”

The big man pouted and crossed a pair of burly arms across a burlier chest. “Makes a lot of sense to me. You don’t? I thought you said he was fashionable.”

“I said he was a fascist.”

“Can we please not do politics?” pleaded Amanda. “We don’t all have to agree on this stuff, let’s just enjoy…”

“You said he was a dinosaur!”

“Yes, that’s a bad thing!”

“I like dinosaurs!”

“Guys, come on, let’s cool it…”

“He’s trying to stir up ethnic discord!”

Hjörleifur glanced, panicked, at Amanda, who shook her head softly: No, Hjörleifur, that is not a type of stew.

“Well, someone’s got to do something. We look completely pathetic letting Eura boss us around. Why are they in charge of pest control in our part of the region?”

Hanne’s mouth flapped open and shut. Amanda leaned over and whispered: “He means the no-fly zone.”

“I…”

“Then again,” Hjörleifur admitted. “I didn’t really like all that stuff about free trade. My dad lost his job at the steelworks because of that.” He scratched his chin contemplatively.

Hanne relaxed, pleased that common sense had won the day.

“No, I think for now I’ll stick with the NDF.”

She leapt for his throat, only to be intercepted mid-air by Emeli Vilbertsdóttir. With Amanda’s help, she dragged the raging left-winger (in every sense) out of the bemused Hjörleifur’s room. The three women tangled on the floor in the hotel corridor, rolling around until they bumped into a pair of feet.

“Hello,” said a voice from six foot above the feet. “What’s going on?”

“Political debate,” grumped Emeli as she sat on Hanne’s chest. She flicked hair from her face and smiled up at Jason Þórhallursson.

The door swung open. “I LIKE DINOSAURS!” bellowed Hjörleifur. The door slammed again.

Jason pointed. “A cutting rejoinder. Ladies, any rebuttal?”

“Oh, go stick it up your rebuttal,” said Hanne. “Get off me!” She pushed Emeli off her and sat up, winded and wild-haired. “Where are you off to?”

“The bar.”

“Igrene doesn’t want us drinking. Not after The Incident.”

“First, I doubt this place even has a swordfish tank. Second, I’m sure they serve soda water or something. I just don’t want to sit in my room all night. Guys, we beat Starblaydia. We’re really not going to celebrate? This is the World Cup, the last 16 in the world. I don’t want to look back on these heady days and remember all the great times I had sitting in my room watching Skál* re-runs.”

Emeli and Amanda saw the sense of it, but Hanne was too angry, and stomped off to her room to do what all good left-wing activists when irritated by the serious issues of the day: log in to twii.tur and start posting.

Justiina Dannysdóttir and Christian Einvarðursson joined them on their way down, and in the lobby they met Johanna Álvgeirsdóttir and Benoný Ísarrsson, who were milling about with nowhere to go: for the bars were both unfortunately shut for a couple of private functions. In one, a conference for electro-stimulation equipment salesmen was in full swing; they found Tom Ernestisson hanging around outside.

“Nothing,” he blurted out.

“What?”

“I was just coming down to have a drink!”

“Is that why you’re wearing a namebadge saying you’re the Viljamark regional representative for the…”

He ripped the namebadge off and tossed it away, whistling innocently.

They tried their luck the other side. This bar was closed for a wedding reception, which was packed to the rafters with young Tikariotians celebrating the happy union of someone called Warren Running Bull and Simona Norberg.

“Running Bull?” asked Benoný skeptically.

“Indigenous name,” explained Amanda. “Kind of like the Kamdyrs I guess.”

“But Norberg’s a good Viljan name,” cut in Jason. “We’ll fit right in.” Before the others could protest, he’d strode in, smile-and-nodding his way past the bored looking kid performing, with extreme lack of attention, doorman duties.

Jason wasn’t wrong: Viljan Tikariotians were ethnically the closest to Græntfjallers; and with most of them playing overseas, they had good enough English to pass by. Another group of tall blonde-haired interlopers didn’t exactly stick out – as Johanna quickly noticed, as she laughed. There on the dancefloor among the revellers were Sara Kristoffersdóttir, Else Svennsdóttir and Ásvarður Bergmundursson, who were dancing together. Else spotted Emeli and dashed out to join her, Ásvarður plodding along behind her. Sara remained dancing, somewhat wildly.

“Only place we could find to get a drink,” grumbled Ásvarður. “Shame Igrene wouldn’t let us out of the hotel.”

“After The Incident, she’s just being sensible.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t even bring any hot sauce this time,” he complained.

“You people are the worst party crashers ever,” Jason said. “Don’t just all stand together, mingle, mingle!”

Emeli shrugged as Else snatched her hand and dragged her back out to dance, while Ásvarður, who seemed to be taking the business of procuring a drink extremely seriously, played scout for Jason and Amanda.

A new tune came on. “Wanna dance?” asked Christian. Justiina shrugged, and followed him out.

“You’re playing it pretty cool,” she noted. Last night there had been a slightly awkward ceremony in which the team applauded her contributions, not too long after Igrene had quietly informed her she was back on the bench for the next – and very possibly last – match. No one had seemed to notice that this would, too, be Christian’s final match, also on the bench.

“Hard to make a fuss over the third twice-annual Last Match Of My International Career,” he grinned. The trajectory of his time in the Snow Wolves’ squad had always been frenetic, in, out, in, out…

“Still, they should have said something. You were there at the beginning. The Baptism of Fire…”

Christian smiled at the memory. Alexander and Dan, Ralf and Vilbjörn, Ásgautur and Andrin, Hæming and Hlégestur, Love and Hrærekur. No one left now, not even Kalle. “Jason was there, at the end. But yeah, I’m the last of them.”

She mock-saluted. “Thank you for your service…” as the two old friends danced before the match that might well see the shades pulled down on their international careers.

* Popular Græntfjaller sitcom set in a bar. Though now a little dated, it was considered ground-breaking when it first aired for its working-class humor, bold tackling of controversial issues of the day, especially feminism, and lack of focus on kraken attacks, rarely featuring more than four or five per 22 minute episode.

by **Kandorith** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 11:32 am

Shinonome Kyoai - International

Michiyu's squad goes through in a wondrous display.

The Kandorese Dragons make history as they reach the round of 16 for the first time since World Cup 73.
By Natsumi Miyasaki
Sports

^{SHARE THIS:}

P Group H                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Nephara                       3   2  1  0    5   3  +2    7
2 Kandorith                     3   2  0  1    8   6  +2    6
3 Eura                          3   1  0  2    3   5  −2    3
4 Chromatika                    3   0  1  2    2   4  −2    1

When Michiyu's national team took the field in front of a packed stadium, the Kandorese were about to see history being made. The Kandorese audience was thrilled, as usual, that the Kandorese had made it into the World Cup and even more ecstatic that the Kandorese had won at least one match. Everything would come down to the last game day against Eura. The Kandorese squad would be the underdogs once more in this match, and they would show how well they play in this position, as the match concluded with a three-to-one victory over Eura, and Kandorith progressed to the round of sixteen. With their round of sixteen appearance, Michiyu and this squad have already established themselves as one of the finest performing teams in Kandorese football history, only surpassed by a Cup of Harmony seventy-seven championship triumph.

The spectators were already celebrating with loud yells and songs as captain Yoshihiro Matsumoto dropped to the ground in tears as the players on the field gradually realized that they had progressed to the next round. Everything he and the squad had fought for had come together in the last game, and the Kandorese would be ready to hit the field in another football game. After the game, even Michiyu, the club's stoic manager, could be seen wiping away a few tears as the players celebrated with the supporters in the stands. Michiyu tried to keep it together after the game, but the manager talked to us with a cracked voice. "We did it," Michiyu replied, sniffling and smiling. "I'm still trying to put my brain around the reality that this is actually occurring. We are presently in the round of sixteen. We worked hard during the campaign, and this is our reward. We are on the point of making history for the entire country, as well as for the world of sports, inside and well beyond the Empire."

"Whatever happens now, I believe, is unimportant. I'd want to thank the fans in particular for their ongoing support. The players have been outstanding. This is bizarre. Sorry, I don't have any words for this right now. It's incredible to watch all of these supporters shouting at the top of their lungs and celebrating as if we've just won the World Cup. I honestly don't know how to respond to this win and, well, this unfolding. Kandorith has always suffered in recent history, and most World Cup campaigns have resulted in disaster, but we seem to be at the crossroads for the future. I believe it is critical that we maintain our heads raised high and approach the next challenge with even more confidence and commitment. What am I going to do after the match? I'm going to sit down and think about this win because I still don't completely understand the impact and do want to be sure I'm not dreaming this."

With those statements, the widely grinning manager approached the players and joined them in the celebration on the field. We've witnessed sights in Tenkyo of people swarming the streets of the metropolis to celebrate the Kandorese success. Fans will undoubtedly celebrate this historic event, and we anticipate a drunken night filled with smiles and national pride.

Kandorith will play Twicetagria in the round of sixteen at Walstreim Park, which is located in the extreme south of South Newlandia and serves as the home of the Walstreim Lions football team. While the fans will have lots of leisure time in the 200,000-person metropolis, the team will have little time to recuperate since they will be focused on the next game. The Kandorese will continue to play the underdog, taking on the 27th-ranked Twicetagria with confidence and an army of fans behind them.

Riots break out amid anti-corporation protests.

Extremist and anarchist organizations hijack protests and use violence against corporate security and law enforcement.
By Hikaru Yamashiro
Politics

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Tenkyo riot police in Gawato

Largely peaceful protests turned tense as gangs of anarchists went against the police in downtown Gawato around noon. As tensions between various socialist organizations, the government, and companies continue to increase across the country, tensions rose at about lunchtime after police allegedly murdered one of the demonstrators, but it was subsequently discovered that the twenty-four-year-old lady was hit by an item thrown by the protesters. Following weeks of peaceful rallies, several organizations have accused Tenkyo police of police brutality and even murder, as students, communists, and anti-corporate protestors have turned to violence since the municipal council has not heeded their concerns.

Protests erupted amid allegations that both Hiyashi and the Kaito Corporations (and perhaps others) sold dangerous and unapproved implants, with some of the implant's defective hardware resulting in horrible deaths or lasting harm to the victims. So far, Hiyashi has been the only business to respond to the accusations, claiming that all of their implants and body alterations are tested to the greatest standards and that no defective product would ever reach the market. In addition, the Hiyashi Corporation is the only company that has let independent quality control firms examine its claims. Other corporations have refused to answer any of the claims apart from calling them baseless and anarcho-socialist banter. Other businesses have declined to respond to any of the accusations, other than to dismiss them as unfounded anarcho-socialist nonsense. Protests erupted again following the release of preliminary election results on Sunday, as the LDP appeared to be on track for another landslide victory. Several social organizations have called the election a sham and have demanded greater political transparency as well as restrictions on businesses sending representatives to the government.

While within the nicknamed "Corporate Center" of the city of Tenkyo, videos and photos of the protests have surfaced on multiple social media which show the increased tension and violence between the Tenkyo Police Department and the protesters. Multiple videos show the police cornering various protesters and beating them to the ground until they stop moving. Photos shared often show police using tear gas, rubber bullets and sound weapons to disperse the protesters. Other photos and videos show police clearing the streets which have been blocked and barricaded by the protesting groups with heavy-duty cars and water cannons.

Many of the protestors have built up makeshift camps and barricades and have attempted to obstruct traffic around the district, impeding traffic flow in a variety of dangerous ways. Some rebel groups are said to have used bows, catapults, bricks, and other weapons to assault police and corporate security personnel. Multiple zones around these protesting organizations' buildings have now been compared to conflict zones, with the pavement torn up and the ground littered with used missiles and thrown rocks. In recent days, there have also been several allegations of chemicals and Molotov cocktails being used against police as they attempted to disperse the gatherings. Gouverneur Mitsuko Yamamura has condemned the attacks on police as well as the injuring of bystanders and has urged protestors to resort to nonviolent means. If the riots continue, Yamamura has promised to take "whatever means necessary" to restore peace to the Gawato district.

Despite the recent use of violence, many people have continued to attend demonstrations to show their discontent with the corporation's influence and, in their opinion, corruption. Office workers at Ronin Assemblies and Hiyashi Corporation have been harassed or injured as a result of hurled items and food. Correspondents from several news outlets have already observed that getting to the protest locations is difficult since police have closed surrounding streets in the name of public safety. Many demonstrators have been angered by recent police violence, according to an ASA Tenkyo journalist.

As the protests continue, the Tenkyo Police Department appears to be increasing its personnel and equipment in order to respond to the protesters. Kandorese Red Front, one of the groups, has already called for further rioting in the coming nights as they strive to build additional encampments in the commercial centre and has warned the press that they are prepared to confront the police. Members' videos reveal a great number of Molotov cocktails, steel rods, baseball bats, and air rifles. In response, police have stated that they will be prepared for anything and have advised residents not to dwindle without good reasons in the Business District, Hayata Square, and Hashiyo Crossing, as they will either be removed or considered as potential rioters.

by **South Newlandia** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 12:54 pm

Round of 16.

by **Ethane** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:18 pm

Memories of a fateful day - but a hopeful one too!

Ethane have found themselves into the World Cup knockouts for only the second time in their history. The team finished top of their group, winning crucial games against Brenecia and South Newlandia while drawing against Squidroidia. That leaves them unbeaten with 7 points, top of the group - an impressive showing for a team in pot 3 in the same group as their hosts. The performances of this Red Kite team surely bring back hopeful memories of old.

Fans will keenly remember the last time Ethane made the knockouts. Back in the 81st World Cup, the team put in an absolute corker of a performance during qualifying, then made it through the group stages in what was their best performance up to that date, and still stands currently. That team was a dedicated unit, committed to the cause and solid in its unity behind the manager and each other. They weren't the best team in the world, but what they had was confidence and belief in themselves.

That's what we have as a team today. We were far from the best in the world coming into this World Cup - ranked around 30th in the KPB rankings. Not the hallmark of a team set to win their group. But we believed. We fought as a team. We defended as a team. We scored as a team. And we won as a team. We left everything out there on the pitch, whereas some of our opponents may feel they could have given more. And we never relented, fighting to the last second of every game. Every body on the line. And that's how we got through.

That run in World Cup 81 ended in the quarter-finals. We put up a good fight but couldn't go all the way, narrowly losing to Turori who admittedly outclassed us. We were honestly saved from a higher scoreline. But we fought, and we knew we'd met our match. Those memories will certainly be in the back of the players mind as we face them again. Those mixed emotions. Jubilation at achieving far above our station in the World Cup, but disappointment that we couldn't go further. But they had done us proud as a team. And we know they'll do us proud and have done us proud already - in the current state, making it to the World Cup itself was supposed to be a challenge.

While most of the personnel has changed, the memories have not. Turori, once again, stands in our way. And Turori, once again, will likely be the one to send us packing on the next plane home back to Ethane - thankfully just a short trip from South Newlandia. But we know that this bunch of players will have given it all, leaving everything on the pitch. They'll do their best and work as a team. And there's only one thing that this performance will mean...

We'll be back, and even better next time.

by **Tikariot** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:48 pm

The Sun is Rising for some, while it will set for some...

by **Audioslavia** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 10:41 am

Battling Bulls Tumble Tumbrans
21st Quarter-Final appearance to come against Farves or Snow Wolves

On a windy evening at Avanaroch, Tikariot, Audioslavia secured their second consecutive - and twenty-first overall - appearance in the last eight of the World Cup in unconvincing style against Tumbra.

The Black Eagles, dressed in their traditional colours, showed more hunger from the off, with Audioslavia in their change strip of silver and fluorescent yellow struggling to keep the Tumbrans at arms length. Winger Robin Vaughn, though surrendering a yard of pace to Audioslavian full-back Floriano Côtescassées on paper, time and again found himself in behind the Bulls’ defender and twice found strikers waiting in the box. His and Tumbra’s first chance, after just four minutes, resulted in Nick Riordan directing a header directly into Goran Stroud’s chest, whereas the second chance was met by George Hilton arriving at the far post to side-foot a high ball off the top of the bar from close ranger, when just throwing himself at it instead of trying for the classier finish may have resulted in a goal.

Koenraad Rijsbergen popped up at the other end with the ball to remind Tumbra of the Bulls’ own attacking threat, but found his shot blocked by the keeper and, in attempting to convert the rebound, was bullied off of the ball by a quickly approaching defence.

The best chance of the first half fell to Tumbra. After two consecutive corner kicks found only Audioslavian heads, a third was played short for Ian Ashburnm whose flick found Nick Riordan at the far post. Riordan’s header was straight into the bottom corner, but a desperate lunge from Tiago Brown kept the ball from crossing the line, and the chance ended with a snatched shot from Vincent Hicks cannoning into the side-netting.

The second half saw Tumbra again threaten to take the lead, this time via Robin Vaughn’s neat shimmy on the edge of the box that sent Côtescassées for a pint of milk and packet of rizlas. The winger’s new-found space afforded him time to find Craig McGrath arriving through the middle, but the striker’s first touch took the ball away from him and the number eight could only lunge and sweep the ball into the right shoulder of an on-rushing Stroud.

Audioslavia did as Audioslavia tend to do in these situations - break up field and grab a goal they absolutely did not deserve. Tiago Brown’s blistering pace, Rijsbergen’s ability to shield the ball from the attentions of two defenders, his weighted square pass to Olavi Kivela and the 1912 Stelburg midfielder’s curled shot into the far corner, and it was one-nothing for the Bulls.

Tumbra rallied, Harry Henderson came close with a far-post header from another corner, Riordan again tested the keeper, but it was Audioslavia who grabbed the next, decisive goal. A rare Tumbran mistake in defence - the statisticians say Ian Ashburn hasn’t misplaced a pass all tournament, but here we are - was capitalised upon by an Audioslavia counter-attack that tore through the defence like crazed piranhas in a buffet. Moxey with the interception, a straight pass into space ahead of Spijkers who took a single touch before laying the ball off for Koenraad Rijsbergen to squeeze the ball underneath John Lennon and into the bottom corner.

Tumbra managed to put Audioslavia on the ropes one final time, with Vaughn again in the thick of the action but failing to make his looping shot dip early enough, with Stroud relived to see the ball bounce off the bar and into his arms, but that was it for Tumbran advancement in World Cup 89. Audioslavia, then, go on into the quarter finals.

There, a showdown with either Graintfjall or Farfadillis awaits. Tomorrow’s heavyweight encounter could result in a resumption of a long forgotten red/green rivalry, with Audioslavia having not played their Farf cousins in fourteen cycles.

As a two-time World Champion aiming to make their fourteenth World Cup semi-final in their 50th qualification for the World Cup, Audioslavian football has some advice for that of Farfadillis, a one-time World Champion aiming to make their seventh semi-final in their 25th qualification, on the chance that it’s the Farves who make the quarter-finals ahead of the Graintfjallers: Don’t try to out-Bull the Bulls. Tumbra, a defensive team in a similar formation, were beaten by attrition and luck rather than skill and courage. Fortunately for the Farves, ‘being too defensive’ has rarely been a problem. As with all eight of the sides’ previous encounters, Farfadillis will crash like waves against Audioslavia’s conservative beach community, and it will be interesting to see who retreats first.

by **Squidroidia** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 4:16 pm

Tick-Tock.

Tick-Tock.

Tick-Tock.

The movement of time, steady and constant, trickled through home base as Adam Johnson went over tape from The Holy Empire's games in the World Cup. Ratzupalfu, Ratzupalfu was on their minds. Their first Quarter-Final as a nation, Johnson's second as a manager. The Holy Empire were another beast compared to the teams they faced leading up to this, literally and figuratively. They were the best team in the multiverse, bar the Turori team that won the World Cup last cycle. They had Juan Tzimisces managing, a legend and mastermind in his own right, with Starblaydia's own Simeone Di Bradini, the best to ever do it, as his right hand man. Cthulhu and his pals terrorized the pitch wherever they could. They attack up and down fast, requiring immense concentration to stop or to even break down.

But Johnson always seemed to focus on one game.

Twicetagria vs The Holy Empire.

Twicetagria vs The Holy Empire.

Twicetagria vs The Holy Empire.

It could have been the game against Vdara but this was a win for their opposition. 9 beings on the pitch for the Fluffy Bunnies. Ghatanothoa and Tsathoggua were sent off in a confusing incident, and the Lieutenants capitalized on their opportunity. The gaping holes in their plans with only 9 players left ended up gifting Twicetagria, twenty-seventh in the rankings heading into the tournament, a famous win against a team with 4 World Cup titles to their name.

"You have to capitalize on any holes in their attack or defense that might be created", Johnson said to his team. "While Twicetagria had the advantage of having 11 players on the pitch rather than The Holy Empire's 9, I don't think they'll lose any of their players to reds. An 11 player Holy Empire side, not even counting the fact they are monsters and their captain is Cthulhu, they are scary. No wonder they went to the World Cup Final last cycle and are looking for blood against Turori!"

Then he went back to their game with Vdara. "Vdara held off this very team, with the talent and horror they have throughout the field and the touchline, with defense. DEFENSE. This is the best team in the world, you have to play it safe with the Frosty Ball they are playing. Any risks, any step out of line, and they will hit you like a bus. Shingen isn't getting younger and this team isn't getting older. I'd be lucky if we score a goal. I'd be lucky if we even make the Semi-Finals. But you have to put this team under control."

Under control.

Under control.

The team needed to be controlled for Squidroidia to have any chance of making the Semi-Finals and back to Elephant Valley. Every move, every pass pre-calculated in order to fend off the eldritch horrors that kept this team going. Even then they might slip a goal into the back of the net. Getting through this team would require everything to go right with exact precision, not a micrometer off. It felt so alien to Johnson to defend this much, but they were on a warpath to a rematch with the Eels. Stopping them in their tracks would be incredible. But a loss was inevitable. This team came so far to even make this point... So why not a last hurrah for the road?

Before the match at the Ratzupalfu Colosseum, the Squidroidian players all had a motivational song to play. It wasn't often, if ever, Squidroidia would do this, but with how the team they are facing are monsters, they needed the blood, or ink, going to slay such a mighty foe.

Digging down, digging down, digging down in the dirt
Sweat it out, sweat it out till it doesn’t burn
In the dark, in the dark it can hear when I breathe
Now it’s closing in on me

The feeling of a monster approaching the team was one that was ever clear to the players of this Inkling side - 11 monsters in fact. 11 eldritch horrors swarming and closing in on the goal was enough to scare anybody who had ever kicked a ball in their life apart from a select few - Greats of the game always had to get past The Holy Empire in any way, shape or form. They were here since the beginning, and they didn't stop.

It’s getting louder now, it’s getting louder now
Don’t make another sound (I can feel it coming to life)
It’s getting closer now, it’s getting closer now
It’s gonna run me down (I can feel it coming to life)
I can feel it coming to life
I can feel it coming

Cthulhu and his friends attacking through the pitch was going to run down this team, sprinting through the Squidroidian defense in hopes to put the ball into the back of the net Shingen guards, it felt like an inevitability. The eldritch horrors were coming to life before them, stunted by accidents and still pressed on, transforming back into the football monsters that they were. It was enough to make anybody beg for mercy....

Take me to my grave, save me
I can feel it coming to life
Chain me to my cage, save me
I can feel it coming to life

Frustration turns into desperation. Desperation turns into reluctant acceptance of a predetermined fate. The fate was almost certainly a brutal defeat to the beasts under the control of Tzimisces, unable to counter, unable to respond to their threats and accepting that they were gone. Removed. Extinct for another cycle. The music did help though. It was rock. Not light or heavy or extra creamy or peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat, it was just... Rock.

Trying to feel, trying to heal, trying to kill the disease
Picking flesh, picking bone from between my teeth
No sleep, no sleep when you run with the beasts
(No sleep, no sleep)
Now they’re closing in on me

Running with the beasts... Surely familiar to these players. Running on the same field as them, getting no possible rest, it was familiar to them. It's what kept them alive. Thriving in a world full of beasts ready to hunt you down. Hideo was bopping his head to the tune of the beat. Moronobu was breathing in and out. And Meeuwessen... Was just Meeuwessen. Chilling and taking everything in.

It’s getting louder now, it’s getting louder now
Don’t make another sound (I can feel it coming to life)
It’s getting closer now, it’s getting closer now
Don’t let it take me out (I can feel it coming to life)

Up to the commentary booth with Takanaki Osa.

"This is THE Holy Empire they are facing, a team that has lived to tell the tale of the first World Cup from over a hundred years ago, when Crosshill, in a meeting of 32 nations, became the first team to call themselves champions of football. The team on hand tonight, with some modifications, is the same team that nearly won the last edition of the World Cup in Chromatika, only losing 4-2 to Turori. They repeated the scoreline as losers once in the group stage already, against Twicetagria, but they want revenge on the Eels, who play Kandorith in Elephant Valley."

Take me to my grave, save me
I can feel it coming to life
Chain me to my cage, save me
I can feel it coming to life
I can feel it coming to life
I can feel it coming to life

"Now the team The Holy Empire will play tonight. Yog-Sothoth, the gate, is once again starting as the goalkeeper, with Shet-Niggurath, Tsathoggua and Azathoth playing defense. 4 in the midfield for captain Cthulhu to slot himself in, joined by the equally sounding Coothulhu, Ghatanothoa, Dagon and Nig'el the eel as partners. 2 up top, Nyarlathotep once again being joined by the Feaster from Afar, Hastur the Unspeakable. And despite 3 goals scored throughout the group stage, this team scored 3 alone against the footballing titan that is Nephara to claim their ticket here. Juan Tzimisces once again takes the helm."

It’s killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me
It’s killing me slow, killing me slow
It’s killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me
It’s killing me slow, killing me slow
It’s killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me, killing me
It’s killing me slow, killing me slow

"Your Squidroidia Inklings will once again be captained by Takemoto Shingen, he starts in net despite not keeping a clean sheet since Matchday 18 of qualification. Florianne Meeuwessen ends up on the left side of the defense, a change from the Pemecutan game that stays for tonight. Umezaki Moronobu, Muto Toki and Tomatsu Kane stay in the back 4, followed by Kabuto Tadataka in defensive midfield, Yoneda Toshikuni and Takara Ashihei in midfield with Shiba Tetsuo, who scored the winning goal in extra time against Pemecutan, staying in attacking midfield. Your front 2 is Hideo and Itō, the former of the 2 not having the tournament that he would have hoped so far but he hopes to make a difference. This is Adam Johnson's second World Cup Quarter-Final, as he lost in World Cup 75 at this stage to Valladares."

Take me to my grave, save me
I can feel it coming to life
Chain me to my cage, save me
I can feel it coming to life
(From the inside out)
I can feel it coming to life
(From the inside out)
I can feel it coming to life
I can feel it coming to life
Yeah, I can feel it coming to life

As the music stops, Adam Johnson looked at his team, breathing in and out. "Lads, it's The Holy Empire. Win or lose, you have done an incredible job throughout this tournament. I didn't even know at the start of this that we would be here, competing for a spot at the last 4 and a potential showdown with the reigning champions of the world. I would be fine if we did lose, I would be great if we did win... But we can't win. We can't win against the pals. We can't win against GOOFI. Go out there and have a valiant, yet fun, fight, because you deserve it after all that we have been through. If we reach the Semi-Finals, I will be elated. If we don't... I'll still have this tournament to look back on. Inklings... All I have to say now is get up and go out. Take on the monsters. They are coming to life."

Johnson walked out of the locker room as his team followed him. He wouldn't join GOOFI, but he can compete against them the best he could.

TEAM LINEUP - SQUIDROIDIA VS THE HOLY EMPIRE, WORLD CUP 89 QUARTER-FINAL

Manager - Adam Johnson
Formation - 4-3-1-2
-
Starting XI
#1 - Takemoto Shingen (GK)
#60 - Florianne Meeuwessen (LB)
#3 - Umezaki Moronobu (CB)
#4 - Muto Toki (CB)
#14 - Tomatsu Kane (RB)
#8 - Kabuto Tadataka (DM)
#20 - Yoneda Toshikuni (CM)
#7 - Takara Ashihei (CM)
#10 - Shiba Tetsuo (AM)
#11 - Makino Hideo (ST)
#9 - Sho Itō (ST)

Bench

#12 - Kaede Akiyama (GK)
#15 - Baldric Bertolini (CB)
#2 - Yoichi Shigeko (LB)
#73 - Henriette Brooks (CM)
#22 - Charlie Cobert (CM)
#16 - Ohashi Kiichi (LW)
#33 - Tachibana Tadakuni (ST)

by **Cassadaigua** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 6:00 pm

Game winning goal scorer?! Me?
By Summer Speers, Defender

Growing up as a little girl, I had dreams of scoring a big goal in a very big game. When you’re that young, you don’t think about being a defender and that your primary job will be to prevent goals from happening rather than scoring them. That same little girl went home to watch Cassadagan legends play in big time games, no, not Rachel (Schanke’s) grandmother, but people like Hannah Ranucci or Lupe Enriquez. I would enjoy watching the greats of other nations as well, with my parents telling me about the legend of Valanora’s Laborious Hawk. Hawk has played against Jessica Schanke, after all, as well as probably every single other player that is honored on Monument Wall at Dagan Airways Stadium. And now, it would be my turn to play against him, doing whatever I could to contain him. Like some well known sportscasters would say, you can’t stop Laborious Hawk, you can only hope to contain him. He was not really my main focus, though, and you can’t get star struck by someone of that caliber, because people like Jutta Palminger and Lothas Ludwig are the rising stars. They’re the ones like all of us on our own national team: they haven’t won a World Cup.

When does one decide that being a fullback might be a better option than trying to be a forward? For some, it may be because they have no ability to shoot the ball, so in order to make the soccer teams in school, you had to try another position. Others might have always had the passion for defending. I was probably much closer to that. I won’t say that I always “had the passion for it” growing up, but it was something that I really would enjoy when I was in that role, and I was ten years old the first time I was in that spot on a youth team. Up to that point, I don’t even know if I had a set position or not, it was like one of those old Cheergirls teams where everyone just ran around at will with no structure. At ten, I had a coach who told me that he liked what he saw from me when he put me on defense and asked me how I liked it. I don’t remember my answer, but my mother told me that it went something like me saying that I really had a fun time keeping someone else from scoring but I really did not want them to make me be a goalie. My coach asked my parents if they were alright if she just kept me in the back because she really liked how I played the spot. My parents agreed, and in retrospect isn’t it pretty sad that coaches need to get permission from parents to have a kid play defense instead of letting them have the chance to score goals.

I guess I just kept getting better and better and the coaches of teams that I was on kept communicating with one another to tell them that I needed to play in the back. Once I was a teenager, and getting ready to try out for my high school team, it was a foregone conclusion that I was going to play defense. And that’s where I really began enjoying the game because at that point, it’s the goal scorers on the other teams getting the headlines on the local sports reports. When they do the 20-second clip of high school highlights, it’s going to be a goal or two that gets in, not a defensive play. So, I knew who the top players were and I was so motivated to make sure that I was not going to give a cameo appearance in one of those brief clips. Soon enough, I had some local reporters wanting to talk to me, and I was named to regional all-star games. Now, it was getting exciting. It all went forward from there.

It is a path that has taken me to Chromatika, playing for Felswyr. I am not sure how many Felswyr games you all watch back home in Cassadaigua, but hey, it’s a great league in Chromatika if you ever want to watch. That is why though when I put on this uniform, of the Cassadagan national team, it is extra special for me. I know that this is one of the few times that the people at home will get a chance to see me play. That brought us to this game against Valanora, and for me it was another game of trying to play rock solid defense. The Marauders are a tough team to play, and the end result was a back and forth contest. They got on the board first, but then Jenna Frontiera tied it up in the 20th minute, and Rachel Schanke put us up in 28th, only to blow the lead in the 42nd. We then found ourselves trailing momentarily, but tied it up thanks to Meghan Wolcott in the 61st. From there, we were 3-3 for a very long time. Through 90, then through 105, and through 120.

Up next would be the penalty shootout, and what a tense one this was. For a defender, it is tough for games to get decided like this, because it really takes the game out of your hands (or how it usually goes, anyway). This shootout though was a great cat and mouse game of excellent shooters delivering when it mattered most and goalkeepers not looking as talented as they really are. It went on and on, and I know at home this must have been very nerve rattling. As you know, as these things roll along, the opportunity for an unlikely hero to get the game winning goal gets larger and larger. When Ralph Winter was denied by Danielle Cotter and the penalty tally still at 7-7, I had the chance to be that unlikely hero. As I prepared to take the shot, I did my best to not think about the pressure of the moment. It was there. I don’t practice these things a whole lot, so maybe that was a good thing, as their keeper wouldn’t know what to expect. Of our seven goals, five went to Miljeteig’s left, and two to his right. The keeper knew that as well as anyone, so naturally this person wearing #3 that was about to take the shot would try to go left, like the others. But, what he may not have known is that I don’t really do well going left when I have practiced these before. I would have to do what I was most comfortable with. So, I went right, and it all happened so fast. In the net! Game over! Yes, scoring goals is fun. But, I know what I am best at!

We’re going to the quarterfinals now to play Ko-oren, and they know how to play defense about as well as anyone out there. So, it will be important for people like me to make sure that when they do get goal chances, that we make the big plays, because probably won’t get three goals to work with like we did here.

by **Ko-oren** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 10:41 am

Has THIS ever happened to you?

[Act I]

[Scene II]

Luxurious office/board room. In the window behind the mahogany table, a football pitch is clearly visible.

CHAIRMAN, a grey man in a suit, and NATIONAL ASSOCIATION BOARDMEMBER, also a grey man in a suit, sit in board room.

CHAIRMAN (wildly gesturing): "Look at all these riches! We've offloaded some 17-year olds to other clubs! The players well into their thirties are sold as well! And we replaced everyone with players from leagues that NUMBERS GAME told us! Mark my words: we have won the transfer window!"

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION BOARDMEMBER: "Well done! We will make sure that the government won't know about the dodgy conditions those 17 year olds are now in, preventing any legislation to improve player rights. We have similar reports from other clubs, too. Our league is the best!" (presses a bright red 'do not accept call' button on his phone, which clearly reads "civil rights journalist" as the caller)

[End Scene II]

Chapter iv. Net winners and losers

We are nearing the end of our transcendental transfer journey. We have the data on which leagues have done well selling their players, and which leagues spent the most - and there certainly was some overlap there. But it's not one-on-one the same list! And that means that some clubs, leagues, or even nations have become filthy rich off of their financial foreign forays, and others have lost more money than the Ko-orenite government trying to get a road built in Finisterre.

For some, the transfer market is just a matter of Big Numbers. If you sell enough players at high cost and buy slightly fewer at a slightly lower cost, you're making money, albeit a tiny amount. In fact, that's how we get the top 5 and bottom 5 of the list.

Net Gain (or 'STONKS')
1. Nephara - a net gain of 201 million NSD - across 220 outgoing and 182 incoming transfers. Nephara not only sells its players for huge sums, they consistently yeet more players into the multiverse than they take out. This is the Numbers' Game Certified way of winning the transfer window. In third place, you'll find a surprising entry that has perfected this art.
2. Brenecia - a net gain of 149 million NSD - across exactly 83 outgoing and 83 incoming transfers. Brenecia is a perfect example of buy low, sell high. Whether they buy mostly youngsters and sell them back at a profit to rich clubs or not, this is a much more 'fair' approach to drawing money from unsuspecting foreign clubs.
3. South Newlandia - net gain of 111 million NSD - across 102 outgoing and 46 incoming transfers. This is a page out of Nephara's playbook. Just make the outgoing numbers much higher than the incoming numbers, or in the case of SNL, selling twice as many players as you allow in, this is a fantastic way of earning money, as long as you breed enough footballers to keep production numbers up. Remember to not produce so many players that (assuming demand remains stagnant) high supply makes the price drop.
4. Poafmersia - net gain of 98 million NSD - across 64 outgoing and 71 incoming transfers. This is a page out of nobody's playbook, as it shouldn't be working. You're taking on more players than you sell and yet you get these ridiculous returns. Just what is in the water over there?
5. Valladares - net gain of 89 million NSD - across 38 outgoing and 33 incoming transfers. While their numbers are far lower than the rest of the top 5 (or top 10 for that matter), they apparently add more value per player. Much like Brenecia - is this a sign of great salespeople or a sign of great personal development?
6-10: Mytanija, Squornshelous Remnant States, Schottia, Tequilo, Siovanija and Teusland, between 84 and 57 million NSD in profits. Schottia had a formidable run as they bought nothing and only sold. Now that's how you make big bucks.

11th: Ko-oren. 50 out, 25 in. We poked fun at South Newlandia. We're not much better ourselves.

Net Loss (or 'NOT STONKS')
1. Chromatika - a net loss of 408 million NSD. FOURHUNDREDANDEIGHT MIL-LION EN ES DEE. 230 outgoing players to 242 players coming in. That's high volume trading but you're bleeding money on every single transaction. The clear sign of a bubble if I've ever seen one. (And I have seen zero bubbles before, as this is a sports blog, not a financial blog).
2. Eura - net loss of 223 million NSD on 172 outgoing and 217 incoming players. This is partially a case of buying more than selling, but that doesn't explain the 223 million NSD. Just what the hell is going on in these books? Euran tax authorities, ombudsmen, and financial watchdogs, take note.
3. Valanora - a net loss of 161 million NSD on 91 outgoing and 87 incoming transfers. Now these are more believable numbers. This is the kind of stuff I expected to see - a league that can afford to buy developed players from abroad, where you'll inevitably pay more than you're making back on transfers.
4. Banija a net loss of 152 million NSD on 36 outgoing and 78 incoming transfers. This is the reverse Nephara - you buy at a far larger volume than you sell. In this case they took on twice as many players as they sold. Adding to that, it's a good league that has a fair bit of revenue that can allow to lose money on the transfer gacha machine.
5. Pasarga - a net loss of 97 million NSD on 80 outgoing and 67 incoming transfers. Uhh, those are selling numbers, not buying numbers. What's going on in Pasarga?
6-10: Tumbra, Krytenia, Astograth, Eastfield Lodge, USR, between 70 and 44 million NSD in losses.

Fair Play Awards
These leagues went (nearly) break-even, despite many transfers, both in and out:
1. Independent Athletes of Quebec and Shingoryeo & Knuckles - on 107 incoming and 107 outgoing transfers (that's more than most in both categories), they sold for 184.05 million and bought for 184.43 million. Now that's balancing the books.
2. Xanneria - on 35 and 33 transfers, they lost nearly 2 million NSD in all.

Now, at this point, you know the full table is incoming. That said, this blog gets readers/money for as long as the Dragonflies are in the World Cup - after that we're going back to domestic articles. Best of luck to the Green and Blue - my wallet depends on you - and have you noticed how we've won two Rounds of 16 in a row? We said we'd never lose a second rounder again, and so far... it's oddly true? What exactly is going on here? We expected to speedrun the 0-10 in Rounds of 16, but now we're 2-8, which is still terrible, but we're improving. Are... and dare we say it... are the Dragonflies a good team, internationally feared (and respected)? Have we become what our defence swore to destroy?

by **Kandorith** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 12:09 pm

Shinonome Kyoai - International

Nervous escape makes history.

Kandorith defeats Twicetagria in an emotional rollercoaster to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in history.
By Natsumi Miyasaki
Sports

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The squad is still in shock and amazement at their performance, unable to fully accept the reality that Kandorith will play in the quarterfinals. Whereas it seemed doubtful the team would even win, let alone get it to the round of sixteen, the giant-slaying Kandorese Dragons are now set to face Turori, the world's number two, in the quarter-finals.

Kaya Michiyu, the current manager, is the driving force behind Kandorese football's present success. The thirty-two-year-old manager is looking over the Kandorese squad's every move and guiding them to victory. When it comes to football, Michiyu looks and acts like a normal business representative, cool and direct, while the manager changes into a force of nature and enthusiasm. Whenever they pass by their contemporaries, who are often in their early twenties, Michiyu calls them out on every mistake they make and makes it plain that they must strive to be better. Michiyu is attempting to compare the squad's football to the pride of the entire nation. The squad was already astounded by what they had accomplished by advancing to the round of sixteen. In one instant, the squad had achieved the same heights as the Kandorese did decades before when they advanced to World Cup 73, and now they had surpassed that. Surpassing Hayabusa, Michiyu could only smile and glance across the reporters, since even they had not expected this result, and what a result it would be.

Reaching out to Michiyu was simple, but the person behind the name is a little different, as we met them at their workplace. Michiyu, who was sitting behind a beautifully organised desk, was ready to answer all of our questions on the present state of Kandorese football. "You have no idea," Michiyu responds to an ASA Tenkyo journalist who has questioned Michiyu why the current Kandorese do not play a more modern style of football, such as 5-3-2. "I'm sorry, but you're a journalist, and I'm the national team manager. I'm not going to tell you how to do your job. What should I do now? When it comes to writing news stories, you have visions, but when it comes to football, you have none. This squad is not intended to defend, but rather to exploit the defences of its opponents. Football that is fast, aggressive, and fluid. While it is not the safest method to play football, it is the most exciting, and it works. So, in conclusion, I'd want to say, You keep to your work, and I stick to mine, okay?"

Michiyu was elected to be the Kandorese manager following the previous failed effort to reach the World Cup and a very unsatisfactory Cup of Harmony campaign that saw the team eliminated against opponents they should have defeated. Kandorese football is now experiencing a complete resurgence and surpassing historical milestones under Michiyu. Before World Cup 89, the Kandorese had never made it to the quarterfinals and had only made it to the round of sixteen a handful of times. Michiyu appears to be motivated to upset the foundations of international football since the squad has been defeating opponents by significant margins. One thing is certain: despite Michiyu's inexperience, they will not accept failures of any type, whether in the Kandorese squad or the opponent's team. Their concept is straightforward: every error should be punished and should lead to a goal.

Michiyu joins a long list of names who have made important contributions to Kandorese football, but at the present, this squad and Michiyu are ranked first among Kandorese supporters. With each match, history appears to be being written, and football appears to be capturing the Empire of Kandorith. No one could have predicted the Dragons' current run, and certainly, no one anticipated them to reach the quarterfinals. When we asked Michiyu about making it this far in the World Cup, all they could do was grin and talk warmly of the squad. They praised the midfielders, in particular, calling their play "exquisite" in terms of keeping the game moving. The Kandorese squad is now playing a free-flowing 4-3-3 formation that appears to operate magically. They not only play fantastic football, but they also play tactical football, which is appealing to the eyes of every viewer.

The next opponent, on the other hand, raises some eyebrows. Kandorith's next battle will be against Turori, the world's number two, and it will undoubtedly be their toughest encounter to date. Kandorith has never played such a high-ranked squad in the World Cup, and on paper, they have no chance. Michiyu, on the other hand, is of a different mind. "I don't think we'll lose entirely. They thought we couldn't beat Vilita, but we did. We were told we couldn't defeat Eura or Chromatika, yet we did. They eventually informed us that defeating Twicetagria was impossible, and we overcame them in a nail-biting match which went well into overtime and was eventually decided by a two to one victory for the Dragons. I believe we can even overcome Turori if we keep our heads up high. Yes, this will be incredibly difficult, but if we continue to play the way we have during the World Cup campaign, I believe we will be a very difficult opponent for them.

"Finally, I just want to make sure we can make the game challenging. The squad is doing admirably, and I believe that if we can score early on, we will be able to control the game against this very good Turori side. If I'm afraid to play against them, what should I do? Certainly not. I believe that this team has all of the necessary qualities and, more importantly, the drive to attempt to surprise the world once more. We've been the underdog throughout the campaign, and it's worked out well for us so far. We'll come onto the field with the sole intention of snatching a win, even if it's a one-goal or one-penalty victory. We've come to make history." Making history is exactly what the Dragons are doing right now, as the current squad under Michiyu is the modern-day empire's first squad to get this far in the World Cup.

Liberal Democratic Party wins elections in surprising result.

With the CDP following close behind, the LDP has snatched victory with 314 seats.
By Hikaru Yamashiro
Politics

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The results of Sunday's elections were revealed with shock and astonishment, with the Liberal Democratic Party claiming victory once more. Meanwhile, the late Shinji Asato's Central Democratic Party has made significant gains, with 206 seats in the next parliament. Following the release of the preliminary results, it became clear that the LDP would be the Empire's largest party for the seventh time in a row. However, the battle for control of parliament would take on a completely different tone, with both the Central Democratic Party and the Green Party making significant gains.

The Liberal Democratic Party has won the election for the seventh time and will be led by reformer Hiroshi Tanaka, who was elected to the LDP last Saturday. They think that with Tanaka at the helm, they can overhaul Kandorese politics and usher forth a new era of wealth and unity throughout the Empire. The incumbent coalition leader, the LDP, gained 314 seats in the general election and will seek to establish a new partnership at the next legislative sitting. However, with the CDP having won 206 seats, establishing an LDP-led coalition may be tough.

Because the CDP and the Green Party are both opposed to forming a coalition with the LDP, the creation of a new government appears to be at a standstill. To win a majority in the new parliament, the LDP would need a total of 69 seats from coalition partners. The Green Party, led by Kuroda Misako, has previously told the press that it has no interest in cooperating with the LDP. In her own words, "We would like to form a coalition to rule the country, but we will not betray our supporters by collaborating with the LDP. The LDP stands for nearly everything we oppose, so we don't think it's a good idea to join them in a prospective alliance."

Shinji Oyama, the new CDP head, has likewise stated that he has no desire to collaborate with the Liberal Democratic Party. "In my opinion, we have won this election because we received more votes than ever before." By raising this sum, we shall herald in a new age of Kandorese politics and begin to chip away at the LDP's decades-long control. I believe the Kandorese people have had enough of the LDP's corruption, deceit, scandals, and flagrant misuse of national politics. We are a breath of fresh air in politics, and we will live up to expectations, even if it means doing so in opposition.

Winners and losers

Whereas the LDP received more votes than in the last general election, the Wareito and Kanyori Ishin no Kai parties suffered the worst setback. Both ultra-right-wing parties lost the ground they gained in the last elections. Most likely, this is due to their populism losing momentum, particularly as a result of Wareito leader Uesaka Masato promoting conspiracy theories and fake news on social media.

In addition to the ultra-right-wing losing votes, the Party of Hope, led by Hoga Yoshihide, and the Democratic People's Party, led by entertainer turned politician Sato Katzumi, were the secondary victors of the general elections. The election results will make it difficult for the LDP to form a coalition with both the Party of Hope and potentially the Kanyori Ishin no Kai in order to maintain their decade-long reign in Kandorese politics. If the LDP fails to create a coalition, it will be up to the Empress to try to organise a parliament, which may end in a combined government of the LDP and the CDP.

General elections results

LDP: 314

CDP: 206

Green Party: 62

Party of Hope: 55

Wareito: 10*

Democratic People's Party: 61

Social Democrat Party: 32

Kanyori Ishin no Kai: 25*

Others/independent: 1/2*

*Seats may still change as a result of the popular vote.

by **Farfadillis** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 12:21 pm

"Why we here?" Vyacheslav asked as he walked into the tattoo parlor.

"We're tying up some loose ends," Manguele replied, not looking at him. "Hey, nice to meet you. Can you tattoo flames?" He asked the guy who looked like he owned the place (because he had a lot of tattoos).

"Uh, yes. Would be a bit strange if I couldn't." The man replied. "Where would you want it?"

"Oh, it's not for me." Manguele quickly clarified. "It's for this guy over here." He pointed at Khavarin. "He's got a tattoo on his chest which would look much cooler if it were in flames." Khavarin didn't react because he couldn't understand the language the two men were talking to each other in. "It's, uh, a big Savojarna flag."

The man shrugged. "Sure. Sounds easy enough. You looked up my prices before coming, I take it?"

"Uh..." Manguele trailed off. "To be honest, this is a bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision. I just asked our hotel's receptionist where we could get a quality tattoo."

"Oh, you're tourists? I charge tourists double." The man's face did not move an inch. He wasn't joking. "Your receptionist's right, by the way. You'll get the best possible tattoo here... but she did suggest the most expensive tattoo parlor in Tikariot City."

"Hmm..." The Farf rubbed his chin. "We're short on time, so I guess we'll have to make do." He turned towards Vyacheslav, then pointed towards the seat next to the man. "Vyach, sit there."

"What is happening?" The Savojar asked, monotone.

"You're starting against Græntfjall tomorrow." Manguele replied. Vyacheslav's face lit up. "But on the condition that you get a tattoo right now. So, sit, next to this lovely man. He'll prick you a lot and then the flag on your chest will be on fire. Not literally literally, but quite literally."

"I, uh." Vyacheslav struggled to take in all of that information. By now, however, he'd learned that he had to go with the flow in these situations. Trying to fight it would only make it worse. "Ok."

The Savojar took off his shirt and sat down. Wordlessly, the man started his work. He was either good enough to get straight to tattooing or asshole enough to not care about the end product at all. The minutes flew by. For someone with such an intimidating frame, Vyacheslav's squeaks of pain were quite... high-pitched. The man struggled to muffle his laughter. Manguele laughed at his heart's content.

"So... any chance you take payment besides cash?"

"Credit? Sure."

"How about publicity?"

"The last 'influencer' who tried to pull that off wound up in the hospital, just saying." The man sounded very irritated. "Cash or credit, whichever you prefer."

"No, wait, hear me out. I feel like my offer might genuinely interest you!"

Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ

"Wait, Faragó!" The Szoirsian turned towards him, as did the fourth referee. "You've got to put this on first." He handed him a kraken mask.

Faragó looked down at the mask, clearly confused. "What for? This thing is pretty big. It will make me play worse." He eyed Manguele suspiciously. "Tell me this is not some weird fetish."

Manguele shook his head. "It is not. Græntfjallers fear krakens. If you wear a kraken mask, they'll mark you less often, which is exactly what we need to equalize."

"That's ridiculous."

"One of their players got eaten by a kraken recently." He explained while forcing Faragó to put the mask on. He then turned towards the pitch, looking for reactions. "See?" He pointed at Amanda Guttisdóttir, who was staring straight at rue Cazade. The fear in her eyes was palpable. "Trust me on this one."

Faragó shrugged. "Fine." He felt a tad ridiculous, but he was past the point of caring about his image. He was Faragó fucking rue Cazade, after all.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let him into the pitch with that mask." The fourth referee informed them. "It is against the rules."

Faragó began taking off his mask, but Manguele stopped him. "Worry not!" He exclaimed. "He picked up an injury recently, as I'm sure you know. The team's physician says he has to wear this mask to play."

The fourth referee squinted. "Aren't you the team's physician?"

"Yes. But, legally, you can do nothing about this." He bullshitted.

The fourth referee shrugged, then turned around. Gallegas crossed the ball into the stands half a minute later, and it was finally time for Faragó to come in. He'd have twenty minutes to turn things around.

Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ

He wasn't entirely sure the gaffer's trick was working but... he wasn't entirely sure it wasn't. He definitely felt like he wasn't being marked as heavily as usual. Besides, the looks of horror in their faces as he approached were a bit... ok, it was probably working to some degree. The mask was annoyingly hot and pretty heavy. The tentacles dangling from his head were especially annoying. Still, he had to focus on the game: Sara Kristoffersdóttir's early screamer had them trailing. It was already, what, the eightieth minute? They had to do something and fast.

The Græntfjallers clearly knew how to defend. They'd managed to reduce Farfadillis to just four shots on target over eighty minutes. At the cost of looking quite toothless in attack, sure, Kristoffersdóttir's goal notwithstanding, but they were playing their cards really well, if not perfectly. Score once, shut down shop. A bit risky of a strategy when facing Farfadillis, one of the few teams that generally knows how to break down defenses, but they were pulling it off nonetheless. Of course, with him on the pitch, things were about to get that much harder for the Rushmori team, he knew.

Marajis dribbled past Grímólfursson, then went for an overenthusiastic cross. With most players unevenly scattered after the recent corner kick, it wasn't an entirely unreasonable decision. A more confident player would've tried to make it further into opponent territory, though. The cross was promptly cleared away by Reynarsson. The ball fell straight to his feet. Calmly and deftly, he controlled it with one touch. He looked up, saw the fear in their eyes. He feigned going into the box, and the two players in front of him couldn't help but move away. With the opening they left for him, there was no chance he wouldn't shoot. You'd have struggled to find a player better suited for scoring in such a situation than Faragó rue Cazade. The ball went straight to the bottom-left corner. The shot was too precise and too fast. They'd equalized.

Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ

Bringing down the ball with his chest hurt. The tattoo was still too fresh. He winced, then brought the ball down. It was nothing short of a miracle: he wasn't exactly the most technical player. He was certainly the least technical player in the squad. He passed the ball to Edmün. The Rulandese striker quickly turned around, leaving Jokulsson biting the dust. He went for a low shot, but Ernestisson expertly parried it away. Another corner kick. This was, what, their ninth corner kick in the last twenty minutes?

Gallegas would take it. He could pull off some great crosses and was horrible at being at the end of other people's crosses. However, the last eight corner kicks of his had been pretty subpar... maybe the fact that this was probably the last play of regular time would unsettle the Græntfjallers enough for Gallegas' potentially-not-that-great cross to nonetheless find someone in the box. Maybe him.

The Faroleran repositioned the ball twice. He talked to the referee, then tried to place it outside the corner arc. The referee reprimanded him. He repositioned the ball once again. A cheap way to try and make the opponents nervous. The referee blew the whistle. Emiliano ran up to the ball and, once again, went for your typical cross that doesn't look like it's aiming anywhere in particular besides, well, the box. The ball arced high. Vyacheslav moved towards it, maybe, possibly, but who knows, really, hopefully not VAR, fouling Vilbertsdóttir in the process. He jumped. Nobody was about to jump higher than him. He was one ninety-nine (about six feet seven, if you're that kind of person) and more motivated than ever. With his momentum, the header would be impossible to stop... so long as he managed to get it on target. And manage he did. Ernestisson could only watch as the ball violently hit the crossbar and bounced in. A last-minute winner, surely. VAR-permitting.

Vyacheslav didn't care. For just this moment, he was the guy who'd scored a late winner in a World Cup knock-out match. He started running towards the nearest camera, his teammates following him. He took off his shirt and started violently shaking it. The camera focused on his tattoos. A burning Savojarna flag and the logo of the tattoo parlor right below it. VAR either did not check for a foul in the goal or did not think he'd fouled the defender. He'd won Farfadillis the game. He felt vindicated. Finally vindicated.

Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ Ӿ

Now back in print after a brief ten-year hiatus!

Faragó rue Cazade and Vyacheslav Khavarin face potential two-game sanction over hate crimes

These are uncertain hours for Lele Manguele's squad. One day after their nerve-wracking, diarrhea-inducing, heart-stopping, last-minute win against Græntfjall, the World Cup Committee has announced they'll be looking into "potential hate crimes perpetrated by Faragó rue Cazade and Vyacheslav Khavarin in the game between Farfadillis and Græntfjall." They were the two best players on the pitch yesterday, so the sanction could be a huge blow for Farfadillis' chances against Audioslavia (and any further opponents, if la Vherderoja make it past them).

Faragó rue Cazade is being accused of hurting Græntfjaller sensitivities by wearing a kraken mask. It is being argued that what he did constituted a hate crime against all Græntfjallers, as their feelings towards krakens are very well known and generally understood to err on the extreme side of insane. rue Cazade is expected to wiggle out of the sanction on medical grounds, as the team's physician, Lele Manguele, demanded that he use the kraken mask because of a recent hamstring injury. It is rumored that this argument's success will be contingent on Manguele managing to falsify a medical license in time by the time the game against Audioslavia rolls around.

Vyacheslav Khavarin also faces a confusing situation. His case is much more clear-cut: you don't get much more hate-crimey than displaying another country's burning flag (tattooed on your chest, no less) in front of billions of people. Khavarin, too, is expected to avoid a sanction on the basis that he is Savojar and, in fact, only holds Savojar nationality, as there is no such thing as being legally Farf anyway. In his case, the one obstacle in front of him is that Lele Manguele has apparently initiated the process of rescinding Khavarin's Savojar citizenship behind his back. So long as the process is not completed before the game against Audioslavia, Khavarin should be fine.

Today's Top Stories:
FFFF reportedly sending "tons and tons of lobsters" to various WCC executives
Farfadillis entirely unable to press charges against illegal Huayramarcan kraken-hunting on basis of not actually being a legal entity
Why the "Farf gambit" chess opening sucks. Hint: you shouldn't exchange your queen for two pawns. No, you're not gonna make up for it with a "better pawn structure."
Farves literally sent to literal hell by eating ill-prepared fermented hell poison hit all-time low
Cryptocurrency cult currently in control of Induja attempts to diversify, invests in NFTs

by **South Newlandia** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:07 pm

Quarterfinals.

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:15 pm

THE GOOFI NEWSLETTER

Hello, my GOOFI friends, followers, fans, and afficionados - this is Great Cthulhu. I want to thank Coothulhu and Shet-Niggurath (the Pony in the Fields With a Thousand Haggis Young) for the excellent job they've done writing recent GOOFI newsletters, but with the quarterfinals looming I thought it was time for a more ... mature approach. They're young eldritch entities in training, after all, only 2-3 million years old; or thereabouts. They're yet to really feel the existential emptiness of simply being that can arise from sleeping for untold eons in a lost city beneath the waves - and how the desire for a nice cup of tea, some biscuits, some really good company, and a good chat with GOOFI friends is often a direct result of that apocalypse.

Allow me to also put in a good word for Nephara. They fought the good footballing fight, and I regret their lack of engagement with GOOFI. What a pulsating match that was, almost as pulsating as the flesh of Shub-Niggurath as she births her unspeakable young. A fine early goal from the Cormorants to take the lead, a brace from Hastur to give us the halftime lead, a fight-back from Nephara to equalise at the 60-minute mark, and then that dramatic late winner from Nyarlahotep... Precisely the sort of match that you'd hope to see from two of the top-three teams in the multiverse. Nephara, I salute you; and I promise that remark about Triffid Ramsey was a simple misunderstanding. When I said "Ogthrod Ai'F Geb'L-Ee'H Triffid Ramsey 'Ngah'Ng Ai'Y Zhro Football", I was merely trying to say that Triffid Ramsey had provided a feast of football, not that I proposed to feast upon Triffid Ramsey after the football. I appreciate that there aren't many Aklo speakers outside of the Holy Empire squad, but a certain publication in Electrum could at least have asked me for a clarification before publishing that unfortunate mistranslation.

But I digress.

The World Cup 89 quarterfinals...

Well this is the real reason I'm writing here today instead of one of the younger entities - because we're facing Squidroidia. It'll come as little surprise that I'm taking a special interest in this match, because I just love all things cephalopod-themed, and it's difficult to find another team that's more cephalopod-themed than Squidroidia. Let's face it, the inklings are more than a little bit ... squiddy. It's enough to make an ancient and not quite all-powerful Great Old One become just a little misty-eyed as he sleeps among the cyclopean stone of lost R'lyeh, to realise that my distant progeny have become so successful at international football.

Reader, you raise an eyebrow when I write 'progeny'. But did you not know? That I, Great Cthulhu am the true progenitor of all things cephalopod; if there's a single strand of squid DNA in those Inklings (and who am I to criticise a bit of inter-species lovin' in the far distant past? I would be a hypocrite if I did, let me tell you), then I'm their great-, great-, great- and many other greats to a large order of greats grandaddy. I know it seems unlikely, but don't you notice a certain distant family resemblance? Alright, skip the wings, the skin colour, and the tentacles; but other characteristics...

Still not convinced? Still trying to argue that there's a palpable difference between a nation that likes its squid and a claim that they're somehow the distant progeny of an unholy union between hominid and cephalopod that took place in the dawn times before recorded history? Ah well, perhaps when you're privy to ancient knowledge that ordinary mortals were Not Meant to Know you see these things a little differently. So let's just put this one down as Cthulhu's little secret and agree to disagree. I shan't resent you; a sceptical mind is a healthy mind.

Finally, I know some of you will be sceptical about this one too, but I promise that we're not looking forward to a semifinal against Turori. We take each match as they come, never looking past the next match; and I imagine that Nig'el's cultists in Turori approach things much the same way. That said, I have asked Mr Tzimisces to have a quiet word with our eely friend, just to try and remind him which side he's actually on; we don't want a repeat of the World Cup 88 final, after all. It hurts when I cry tears of lightning.

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:18 pm

by **Turori** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 6:33 pm

Eels Extinguish Ethane Flame Once More

Jecken Arena, Newport, South Newlandia :: After traversing from one end of the country to the other over their first three matchdays of competition in South Newlandia, the Turori National Team got a rare reprieve by virtue of finishing second in Group B - the opportunity to play their Round of 16 matchup in the very same stadium they had contested their prior game on Matchday 3 of the Group Stage. It made for far easier logistics as the Eels would get to stay put in Newport enjoying the local sites such as one of the treasures of South Newlandia... The East-Newport Mini-golf course. Tarek Edgeli would take the players out for some friendly Mini-Golf competition instead of doing drills the morning before the game and images of the outing were circulating on twii.tur. Of course, some users were enjoying the Eels antics and others were wondering if it was foreshadowing an early Knockout Round exit agaisnt Ethane that would afford the Eels "even more time to golf" when the match was over.

Turori National Team head coach Tarek Edgeli would make four changes to the team that defeated Krytenia on the final matchday of the Group Stage - shaking up the lineup with one player swap in each discipline on the pitch. After sitting two matches following a red card in Turori's opener against Pemecutan, Derizi Amatopa was back in net for the Eels. It was perhaps no surprise to see the change considering how well the Eura based netminder performed in Qualifying conceding just 2 goals in 7 matches. Veteran goalkeeper Wiyauw An'maude had stepped in for Amatopa during the Group Stage conceding 5 goals across the three matches they appeared in.

On defense Edgeli would make one change bring in namesake Karek Edgeli in place of Moumouni Verre'elali in a tactical swap. The two players have alternated in the starting lineup thus far in the competition with Edgeli filling the role in the opener against Pemecutan while Verre'elali started in the position for both of Turori's Group Stage wins. In the midfield Baker Park based midfielder Naraiza Ruaplal returns to the lineup after having been replaced by Kinabo Telioa in the match against Krytenia. Finally, the attacking partnership reverts to the standard pairing from World Cup Qualifying as the legendary Meldi'ita Mungwaii was left out of the lineup completely while Nua'oma Aikiki and Turakki Diijhelma got the start up top.

From a World Rankings perspective the Round of 16 Matchup between Ethane and Turori was the most lopsided pairing in South Newlandia with 32 positions between the 2nd ranked Eels nad 34th ranked Ethane. Another Round of 16 pairing included a pair of teams ranked in the 50's squaring off in the matchup with the highest cumulative rank positions in the Round of 16 with Group B winners Pemecutan facing off against the team that defeated the Vilita Jungle Cats in the World Cup 89 Qualification Playoff, Squidroidia. On the other end of the spectrum there was on of - if not the best ranked matchup in the history of World Cup Round of 16 action as 3rd ranked Nephara would have the task of trying to defeat the defending World Cup runners-up and #1 ranked nation in the multiverse The Holy Empire.

It had been 8 cycles since Ethane and Turori had last met in the World Cup Finals and for both teams at the time that meeting was the most important World Cup Finals match in team history. For Ethane, it was an opportunity to advance farther than the nation ever had in the World Cup Finals - much like Turori having never once advanced to the Semi-Final stage. Of course there was a more-than slight difference in the number of attempts each nation had at the Quarter Final Stage previously, but both teams stepped on the pitch that day knowing one of them was going to play a full 7 Match Schedule at the World Cup Finals for the first time in their history.

Five of the Thirteen players who appeared for Turori in that famous match remain on the Turori National Team to this day, now as Veteran class overseeing the next generation of Eels players. Another stands on the sidelines giving orders to the team throughout the match - Tarek Edgeli the starting center back for Turori in the World Cup 81 Quarter Finals and now Manager of the Turori National Team. At the time the gap in rankings between the nations was just 4 places with Turori ranked 11th and Ethane ranked 15th - both having perhaps been catapulted off in different directions based on the result on that day. The moment that Turorian fans had waited to experience for generations was sealed just twenty minutes into the match when Meldi'ita Mungwaii scored what would turn out to be the only goal of the match, with Turori winning 1-0 to advance to the World Cup Semi-Finals for the first time in their history. Of Turori's fourteen all time appearances in the World Cup Quarter Finals, Ethane remains the only team that Turori have played that is not currently a World Cup Champion. This very fact led to a famous cartoon in Turorian media and twii.tur depicting a tribe of World Cup Champions building a wall around the World Cup as a Turorian ship approached the "Semi-Final" Island, denying the Turorian party the opportunity to land... until some 65 cycles later when the Ethanian party approached for the first time in World Cup 81, using their flammable gas to torch the wall that had been keeping Turori out of the Semi-Finals for all those generations of competition.

Just three players who started the World Cup 81 Semi-Final were in the starting lineup for the World Cup 89 Quarter Final - with a pair of 38 year olds in defender Lulu Pumaziiri and midfielder Kentu Umaka'a - then the realtively youthful striker Nua'oma Aikiki who had just turned 17 years of age and was making only their 6th career appearance for Turori in that match. Over 130 appearances and 50 goals later Aikiki would go from a footnote to a feature in a tightly fought World Cup 89 Quarter Final match against Ethane. Flying the flag for Esportiva, the Flammable Gas of Ethane were looking to re-establish themselves among the World Cup's Elite and secure Pot 1 status for the 90's. For Tarek Edgeli and the Turori National Team they were looking to see if they could squeeze one more Trophy out of their undisputed greated team in history before losing contributors such as Umaka'a and Mungwaii to retirement.

After getting drawn into a shootout during the final match of the Group Stage against Krytenia, the Turori National Team came into their Round of 16 matchup with a more measured approach taking slowly into the opening period of the match and establishing their defensive groundwork as Ethane did their best to play quickly and disrupt the System Turori tactic being employed by Edgeli. That majority of the first half was played between the boxes with neither side having more than a half chance here and there or a pot shot that was easily collected and redistributed by the opposing keeper. After forty five minutes of play there had been no goals as the teams returned to the locker rooms for a break and a pep talk before the winner take all final forty-five minute session would begin.

As is often the case under the leadership of Edgeli, Turori made no changes during the first half of play but would come out with a different look in the second half. Edgeli made two changes introducing Cuoabaza Orani’aoa and Kinabo Telio into the match to provide fresh legs in the battle for midfield supremacy after the possession fight had resulted in some tired legs at the end of the first half.

It would be around the hour mark that the Eels began to string together a series of quality chances ultimately leading to the games only goal. It appeared the big moment of the game had arrived when Daliora Toru'u fed through to Turakia Diijelhma who put the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside before the celebrations began. Diijelhma pleaded their case but to no avail as the opportunity resulted only in a free kick to Ethane. Within minutes, however, Turori were back on the attack. Diijelhma's disallowed goal had given the Eels the confidence that they had the approach required to prevail. Diijelhma would get a second crack in the 68th minute but an excellent save by Donovan Velázquez would see the ball out for a corner kick. The delivery from Kentu Umaka'a came in and was met by the head of Nua'oma Aikiki. There was no flag on this occasion as Aikiki wheeled away in celebration with the rest of the Eels in tow.

It was the third goal in as many matches for the Jungle Strike FC attacker and 11th in total since the start of the World Cup 89 cycle inclusive of Qualifying. Following the goal Edgeli would make one final substitution to add some more experience in the backline replacing Karek Edgeli with veteran Tropicorp FC defender Moumouni Verre'elali. From there, Turori locked things down and played for the Full Time Whistle. Ethane would make a late charge pushing all players forward in an attempt for an equalizer to force extra time. It would not come, however, as the final whistle would blow with the scoreline the same as it was 8 Cycles Prior, 1-0 in favor of Turori.

 Turori [1] - [0] Ethane
				
	GOALS:	Turori 	:: 68' Nua'oma Aikiki              		
	STATS:	Turori 	:: Possession: 56%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 5	Ethane 	:: Possession: 44%:: Shots: 3:: Corners: 3
	Lineup:	[GK]  Derizi Amatopa, [D.]  Biliki Rona'atu'i, [D.]  Karek Edgeli, [D.]  Lulu Pumaziiri, [D.]  Amakli Inuro'o, [ML]  Naraiza Ruaplal, [MC]  Tulaki Rauogba, [MC]  Daliora Toru'u, [MR]  Kentu Umaka'a, [FC]  Nua'oma Aikiki, [FC]  Turakia Diijelhma			
	Bench:	[FC]  Kala'a Yuliizala, [FC]  Lutara Makakio, [M]  Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, [M]  Kinabo Telioa, [U ]  Bvalis Amaanara, [D]  Moumouni Verre'elali, [GK]  Wiyauw An'maude

Turori's reward for victory over Ethane would be a Quarter Final Matchup against Kandorith who will join Ethane on a very short list of Nations which the Turori National Team have faced in the World Cup Quarter Finals that have never won the World Cup... yet. Kandorith's journey to reach this stage of competition has both convincing and unexpected. Despite being a third seed in World Cup Qualifying, Kandorith completed a first ever unbeaten run in the World Cup 89 Qualifiers to take top spot in Group 3 sending five time World Cup Champions Vilita and their cyclical World Cup rivals Savojarna to the Cup of Harmony. Once arriving at the World Cup Finals, Kandorith have kept up their impressive pace. Although they dropped their opening group stage match to #3 ranked side Nephara, Kandorith would secure back to back victories over Chromatika and Eura to advance as the second place side in Group H and stunning the Eurans who were looking to make it an all-Rushmore sweep at the top of the Group.

In the Round of 16 Kandorith had a fortunate draw at Walstreim Park against a Twicetagria side that stunned defending World Cup Runner-Up The Holy Empire to take the top spot in Group G. While one side effect of the result was the tantalizing Round of 16 fixture between #1 The Holy Empire and #3 Nephara, the other was a very different matchup between #27 Twicetagria and #45 Kandorith with one side that entered the 89th World Cup cycle just hoping to qualify for the World Cup Finals finding themselves just 90 minutes away from being one of the Final 8 teams in the tournament. In fact, they were 120 minutes away as after 90 minutes neither Twicetagria or Kandorith were ready to give up fighting just yet. Kandorith would eventually prevail to set up a matchup with the Turori National Team that pundits and bettors alike throughout the Vilitan Cove refuse to predict a result for under
any circumstances.

TURORI NATIONAL ✓

@TuroriNat
The Flame Goes out in Newport - #Eels overcome Ethane once more, advance to #WC89 Quarter Finals :: Follow the Story Here...

#WC89 - #TURvETN - #CupOfElephants

by **Tikariot** » Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:10 pm

It indeed is a Long Way to the Top (even if you don't wanna rock'n'roll)

by **Audioslavia** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:37 am

Cammers Prepares for The Anaia Derby

Audioslavia versus Ko-oren, Bulls versus Dragonflies, busy pinstripes versus a garish yellow sash. It’s become the derby of the new Anaian era for both sides. Historical matches between the two teams have largely been forgotten - they were all, after all, in a completely different era. This new one hits different.

That’s not to say that history didn’t have its dramas. Cycle 80’s Cup of Harmony quarter-final finished with Baran Kuznetsov shanking his side’s fifth spot-kick, only to see the ball miraculously squirm into the goal, before Reizo Yokota sent his team’s last hope arcing into the sky. Ronda Styrn scored the only goal of the Bulls/Dragonflies curtain-raiser in World Cup 72, albeit with a fistful of Nanami Aoki’s shirt, and shortly after Gaizka Omexevarria had received only a yellow card for injuring Ko-orenite midfielder Henrique Nascimento. The Bulls dumped Ko-oren out of World Cups 69 and 70 as retribution for Ko-oren embarrassing the Bulls and their so-called home advantage in the forty-second AOCAF Cup.

The new Anaian era is young, yet this will be the fourth encounter between the two sides in just two cycles.

Concord Heights, Cassadaigua was the host stadium of the renewal of the Audioslavian/Ko-orenite footballing Cold War. Both sides are famed - or perhaps notorious - for their defensive style of play, and it was on display in Cassadaigua for the final game of World Cup 88’s first round. Ko-oren, already on four points, just needed to hold the Bulls to a draw. Audioslavia, defeated by Starblaydia on matchday one and held by Tequilo in the second, needed a win by two clear goals in order to progress. Manager Rohan Cammers had said before the game that he fully intended to ‘bullshit’ his way through Ko-oren - as many past Audioslavia teams had done - and succeeded via a stolen penalty and a late break-away goal.

The result was a sliding doors moment for Audioslavia. After such an average ‘decade’ of international football, reaching the second round again was a genuine surprise, and the side responded by bullshitting their way through tense encounters with hosts Cassadaigua and familiar foes Valanora on their way to the pleasant surprise of a third place finish.

For Ko-oren, the defeat was painful. After generations of losing out in the first or second rounds of the World Cup proper, the breaking of the streak and an appearance in World Cup 87’s final seemed to herald a turn of the corner for the Dragonflies. In pole position in the group, the path ahead seemed clear. It should, perhaps, have been the yellow/blue/green team that carved that path through to the latter stages instead of the Bulls. But the Bulls are the Bulls. “Bullshit” is a verb that means “to be cheaty and lucky” and it’s apt here.

The two defensive powerhouses shared a point each in this cycle’s inaugural CAFA Cup, with a drab Audioslavia tumbling out of the tournament early and the Dragonflies again having their wings clipped in the second round of a major tournament.

You couldn’t blame those in the north west for believing their World Cup 87 run was just a flash in the pan, especially with the side struggling to just 34 points in qualifying for World Cup 89 and scraping luckily past Siovanija and Teusland in the playoffs and progressing with the second worst record of any of the sixteen teams in the second round (strangely enough, the worst and third worst records were held by The Holy Empire and Audioslavia, who are both playing in the semi-finals), but victories over Pasarga and Cassadaigua have propelled the Dragonflies into their second ever World Cup semi-final, for their fourth game with the Bulls.

That third game came in the first round, dubbed the ‘Audioslavia Revenge Tour’ by Ko-orenite media, with Ko-oren winning 2-1, with the three goals ‘interrupting the wrestling match’. The north westerners have learned since their bitter World Cup 88 defeat. Meeting the Bulls head on, their own brand of bullshit was enough to win the day.

If Rohan Cammers is to find a way for his men to shove their way past Ko-oren again, he may have to go back to the drawing board. Ko-oren’s play restricted Audioslavia expertly in that first round game, with Audioslavia utterly incapable of making inroads into the yellowsash defence even going into the dying moments of the game, where the claret and greens typically excel.

On the other hand, Cammers may instead be relying on Audioslavia to put together the type of performance that tore Farfadillis apart in the quarter-finals. It’s an old cliche, but Styles Make Fights, and there’s something inherent to the styles of play of the Farves and the Audioslavians that always tips the balance slightly towards the darker hues of red and green. In the early days, Farfadillis would attack, Audioslavia would repel, counter and score. Over the first four AUD/FFD matches, the Bulls averaged four goals per game, with latter matches becoming closer, tighter affairs. This time out, however, it seemed like the kamikaze Farfadillis of old turned up, and the game seemed to play itself. Coming out for the second half 1-0 down thanks to Rijsbergen’s early header, Farfadillis began to button-mash their way forward only for two more counters to put the game to bed, with Edmün Çídh finally making a break-through late on.

Cammers may well be relying on Audioslavia’s clinical form to take his team past the Dragonflies again. Like Farfadillis, the historical record between Audioslavia and Ko-oren tips heavily in the Bulls’s favour. Unlike Farfadillis, Ko-oren are very much *not* at home at this stage of a major competition.

For Rohan Cammers, who told the world he’d step down unless he could take his side to the semis again - a statement that was taken to mean he was wanting to give up the national team job - a big new contract must be on the cards regardless of the result, and if Audioslavia can scrape through the next two games on the bounce, he’d be allowed to write whatever number he wanted on it.

by **Ko-oren** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 12:30 pm

Dragonfly on the shirt
AOCAF still gleaming
31 cycles of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming

Embrace the Bullshit!

We've often tried to win our way. A defensive, reactionary way that is, at its core, not much more than 'identify who their best guys are and make sure they don't get the ball'. A mathematical approach to keeping clean sheets. There's something that can be said for that: it's certainly helped us to grind out many a 1-0 win (with Cassadaigua being the most recent victim of that). And at other times, and the Dragonflies are only just learning this, you have to change your style. Take the initiative. Or, if you play the Bulls, Embrace the Bullshit. Juliasterinthen has instructed his XI very well during the group stage: we'll get our usual results versus Mercedini and Electrum (which turned out to not be as simple as it looked) but we have to look good versus Audioslavia - there's an upset in the air. But you have to change your thinking a little. Our usual defensive setup is geared towards teams who genuinely want to play football. Audioslavia is not a team that usually wants to play football.

Cue the wrestling match of the group stage. Nine yellow cards, that thankfully didn't lead to a suspension down the road. But it was effective. You'd almost forget three goals were scored that evening.

The question ahead of us: are we going to play like the Bulls again this time, or are they going to play like the Dragonflies? The game of cat-and-mouse is on: they know we can play like them and beat them, so if they do exactly what they normally do it's not a guaranteed result, so if they change it up (provided they're able to), we have to adjust our style depending on what they put out. The first 10 minutes might be 'wait and see', followed by 65 minutes of defending, and the final 15 minutes will see both teams trying to get a result. It's not just the Bulls that tend to score in the final 15 minutes of a game. Beyond the difference in 'violence displayed between the lines', these two teams really aren't that different. In fact, both head coaches (Cammers and Juliasterinthen) are in the exact same boat: after inconsistent results, patience at both national football associations ran out, but a fat cheque loomed on the horizon in case they can get their teams to perform. Audioslavia then made the semifinals of World Cups 88 and 89. Ko-oren had a horrid group stage at the 88th, and nearly missed out on the 89th entirely. Anyway, that's behind us now, and we're in the semifinals for the second time in three cycles. That said, we're also in the semifinal for the second time in 31 cycles.

A modern classic

As noted by the Audioslavian experts at recent footballing history, this isn't the first KOR/AUD clash in a while. Not only have they met in the first round, they also battled it out in the first and only CAFA, as well as the previous World Cup group stage. And "these results have not necessarily developed to Ko-oren's advantage"...

For this match, we relocate to Port Rhovanyon's Oceanview Stadium, the arena selected to host the Tikariot semifinal. It's by no means the largest stadium on our side of the World Cup: our Round of 16 match was played at Dragonscrest (79 thousand) and our quarterfinal was at the Jewel of the Coast (72 thousand), while Oceanview comes in at just 63 thousand. However... Port Rhovanyon is a well known force in the IFCF right now, which gives a lot more weight to the situation. And as (unfortunately) happens often, important matches are scheduled in the capital regardless of other conditions, but if you're getting scheduled in a 'small' stadium in the capital, better let it be a place like Port Rhovanyon. Across 32 cycles of World Cup history, Ko-oren has encountered plenty of worse cities to visit.

Meanwhile, in Elephant Valley, the other semifinal takes place between Turori and the Holy Empire in a World Cup 88 final rematch. At the time, the Eels won 4-2 in a 'gripping' final, though according to Ko-orenite standards if you score two goals and lose, that's a pretty piss poor performance. The neutrals must have liked it, apparently. That puts the possible finals as follows:
- Audioslavia vs the Holy Empire - World Cup 69 final rematch (THE 1-0 AUD)
- Audioslavia vs Turori - AOCAF 41 final rematch... sort of. Vilita was in that one as well (AUD 1-2 V&T AET). The World Cup 63 title (Audioslavia 2-0 Starblaydia) was played in Cednia, Turori as well. The World Cup 69 quarterfinal was a 3-0 Audioslavian victory. Meanwhile, AOCAF 47's semifinal was a 4-2 win for Turori (and Vilita) over Audioslavia.

Wow, those are some high profile games between teams that ran into each other frequently. These are the other possibilities:

- Ko-oren vs the Holy Empire - I checked everything. We were in the same qualification group once or twice. Didn't go too well for us. We haven't even lost a Round of 16 to them in the past.
- Ko-oren vs Turori - a rematch of... AOHC V? Where Turori was paired with Vilita to beat us 4-1 in a best of seven ice hockey series? Surprisingly we haven't met in one of our eight Round of 16 losses either.

Wow, those are some unimpressive histories.

You might wonder when we, as a nation, start to look past the eight lost Rounds of 16 and we start looking towards our 2-0 record in that round since then. The answer is obvious: never. We will milk this until the heat death of the multiverse. It will forever stay a mystery why we never got a lucky break in our first eight attempts, but when that dam finally broke, boy did it break. From 0-8 in our first eight World Cup knockouts to 5-1 in the six games since. And if the Dragonflies can do it, there might be hope for you yet, Maynard AFC fans.

So many jokes, so many sneers
But all those "Oh, so nears" wear you down through the years
But I still see that tackle by Moore* and when Longchambon scored
Samou belting the ball, and Minne dancing

*Dennis Moore, of Straudum VV, of course

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:26 pm

by **Audioslavia** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:12 am

POST-HOC
Discordant veterans return with new album

With the announcement from record label Tip Records that cult avant-garde Anaian post-rock band Audio Versus Ko-oren will return with a new album, we at Field Spade Magazine think the time is right to review the band’s history.

Formed from the merger of little-known grunge band Slavioaud and experimental swamp rock outfit We Found The Sea Again, Audio Versus Ko-oren are credited with inventing the Post Rock genre - a brand of music inspired by the football played by the two nations. Where the Bulls and the Dragonflies are famed more for their violence and sideways passing than their goalscoring or watchability, so too are Audio Versus Ko-oren known for meandering structureless noodling, odd time signatures and insistence on avoiding choruses entirely. Early efforts such as Omexavarria Has Some Studs And Knows How To Use Them and Verbless Man and the Thunderc**t Penalty gained little more than a raised eyebrow from the music press or paying public, but saw the band gain a following across parts of northern Anaia, with sparsely decorated bedrooms reverberating to the tuneless jangle of their two-pronged guitar attack.

Naturally, said fans have largely abandoned the band after their new found mainstream appeal - something that has understandably shocked a band that has always tried to steer clear of accessibility (and sometimes even listenability)

It all started with the Concord Heights album, released four years ago. Derided as an unwatchable, unlistenable mess, the concept album followed the story of a Ko-orenite man in the Cassadaigan capital trying, and failing, to relive a fleeting past success and somehow resulted in radio airplay. Next year’s Take Me to the Boat, about a desire to be thrown out of your own home and made to live on a travelling ship, thankfully fell under the radar, but this surprise release of Wrestling: Interrupted - about two fighters forced to fight unfairly in order to earn a victory over one another - somehow received mainstream rock airplay and catapulted the band to fame. Now, just three weeks on, a further album has been announced.

Dubbed “You’ve made him make a noise Audio, you’ve made him make quite a noise”, the album is rumoured to be a recording of tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final commentary played over a backdrop of brooding, tuneless doomer-core, and as yet is an album that has been announced but not yet recorded. Is this post-rock going too far? Are Audio Versus Ko-oren attempting to sabotage themselves and cannibalise their own new-found popularity in the most masturbatory way? Only time will tell.

by **Turori** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:50 am

Eels KO New-Look Kandorith to Set Up Holy Rematch

Elephant Dome, Elephant Valley, South Newlandia :: With their minor reprieve of being able to play two consecutive matches at the Jecken Arena in Newport, the Turori National Team put their tourist fanny packs back on and hoofed back across South Newlandia to Elephant Valley, the largest city in the nation and home to some of the countries largest stadiums. With a capacity of 21,500, the Elephant Dome had a 25% greater capacity than any of the stadiums that Turori had played in thus far during the World Cup 89 Finals throughout the Group Stage or the Round of 16.

Turori's opponent for the Quarter Final would be Kandorith, one of two Quarter Finalists in the South Newlandia half of the World Cup 89 Finals who started out as 3rd seeds or lower in their Qualifying Groups just to make their way into the World Cup Finals to begin with - the other being Squidroidia. Other than their relatively low ranking entering the cycle both Kandorith and Squidroidia also shared one other similarity in their path to their first appearance in the World Cup Quarter Finals - the Top seeded scalp they claimed along the way. Kandorith went unbeaten in Group Play and toppled the Vilita Jungle Cats relegating Turori's neighbor and Colonial Rivals to a World Cup Playoff. Vilita's opponent in the Playoff would be up-and-comers Squidroidia looking for their first berth in the World Cup Final. In order to do that they would need to end Vilita's streak of 30 consecutive appearances in the World Cup Final. Both teams would take victory in front of their home fans with 2-1 scorelines which would send the two-legged fixture into extra time and ultimately penalty kicks. It was there that Squidroidia finally prevailed ending the longest active qualification streak in the World Cup and sending the Jungle Cats to the Cup of Harmony.

It would mark just the third occasion in relevant history where the Turori National Team would be the only nation in the Vilitan Cove competing in the World Cup Finals. After a slow start with defeat to Pemecutan - the same team that Squidroidia would defeat in the Round of 16 - Turori would find their stride with a victory over Ethane in the Round of 16. Kandorith would need extra time to dispose of another high flying nation, Twicetagria, to set up their Quarter Final fixture with Turori.

Turori would once again start with the attacking duo of Turakia Diijelhma and Nua'oma Aikiki even though National Team legend Meldi'ita Mungwaii had returned to fitness in time for selection to take a spot on the bench. It would be an effective duo once again just as it had proven to be throughout the Qualification campaign where it resulted in 18 total goals over the 18 match qualifying cycle. Diijelhma would set the tone early with a goal on the opening attack to give the Eels a quick lead and leave pundits wondering if this game could be a lopsided rout in Elephant Valley.

Turori would go up 2-0 after 18 minutes when Kimi Hakimoto was judged to have handled inside the box while marking Nua'oma Aikiki. Daliora Toru'u converted the resulting spot kick to put Turori up 2-0 but the goal did not fully deflate the Kandorese but instead the disagreement over the validity of the decision in such an important match motivated the Warriors to fight back and work hard in an attempt to pull back level before half time. They were nearly able to accomplish it first getting a goal back through Takeshi Honda in the 33rd minute then seeing Hiroyuki Kaba ring a shot off the crossbar with the final kick of the first half.

Tarek Edgeli would make just one change to the Turorian squad at half time looking to solidify the defensive corps introducing Planio’o Nrujsa in place of Biliki Rona'atu'i. It seemed not enough though as Kandorith would keep the momentum they had built at the end of the first half and finally find their equalizer ten minutes into the second half of play through Yoburo Yoshida. From that point it was game on and it was clear that Kandorith had found a new gear and were looking to nab the decisive third that would swing the match fully in their favor. Cleverly, Tarek Edgeli recognized the threat and used their substitutions to slow the match down so the Eels could regain control.

First, Edgeli introduced Cuoabaza Orani’aoa in place of namesake Karek Edgeli and then not long after kept the pace broken up by introducing Kala'a Yuliizala in place of Kentu Umaka'a. The strategy was particularly effective for the Eels as they sufficiently squashed the Kandorese momentum and opened up opportunity to generate some momentum of their own with new players on the pitch. Turori would earn a corner kick in the 69th minute and would capitalize as the delivery from Daliora Toru'u would be met by the substitute Cuoabaza Orani'aoa. The header snuck in between goalkeeper Michinori Tamatsuki and the defender Kai Takai who was marking on the post, giving Turori a 3-2 lead.

Edgeli's Eels would defend vigorously over the final 20 minutes and hold on for the narrow victory becoming the first Vilitan Cove based nation to defeat Kandorith in the World Cup 89 Cycle. After 7 'Decades' of World Cup Competition without a single appearance beyond the World Cup Quarter Finals, the Turori National Team had assured they would close out the 80's by qualifying for their fourth Semi-Final appearance of the cycle-set.

 Turori [3] - [2] Kandorith
				
	GOALS:	Turori 	:: 1' Turakia Diijelhma:: 18' Daliora Toru'u:: 69' Cuoabaza Orani’aoa            		
	STATS:	Turori 	:: Possession: 56%:: Shots: 6:: Corners: 7	Kandorith 	:: Possession: 44%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 7
	Lineup:	[GK] Derizi Amatopa, [D.] Biliki Rona'atu'i, [D.] Karek Edgeli, [D.] Lulu Pumaziiri, [D.]  Amakli Inuro'o, [ML]  Daliora Toru'u, [MC] Kentu Umaka'a, [MC]  Naraiza Ruaplal, [MR]  Kinabo Telioa, [FC] Turakia Diijelhma, [FC] Nua'oma Aikiki			
	Bench:	[FC] Meldi'ita Mungwaii, [FC] Kala'a Yuliizala, [M] Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, [M] Tulaki Rauogba, [U ] Moumouni Verre'elali, [D] Planio’o Nrujsa, [GK] Timaala Hualtia

The appearance of Nig'el the all powerful Eel at the World Cup 88 Final was memorable for a number of reasons - and at the same time perhaps the conclusion of the perfect plan by Turori's Electric Green overlord. For generations Nigel's very existence was little more than a rumor. At least, it started as a rumor. Over time Nigel evolved into a Cult Hero in Turorian Culture and particularly within fans of Turori's National Team who dubbed themselves "Nigels Army" - yet Nigel had never previously been to a game. If Nigel the All Powerful Eel was truly pulling all the strings in the Island Emirate of Turori there were very few people who truly knew about it and none of them were talking.

There are many theories as to why Nigel decided to show up that fateful day in Chromatika. Of course, the most simple explanation is that Nigel is a fan of the Turori National Team and wanted to see them lift their first World Cup in person. Yet that theory also brings up more questions. If Nigel simply wanted to see the Turori National Team in the World Cup Final, why didn't the Electric Green Eel show up when Turori played Vilita in the World CUp 82 Final? Did Nigel somewhow know that Turori were not going to win the World Cup 82 Final before the match was even contested? Did Nigel some how know that Turori would win the World Cup 88 Final before the match was even contested... or somehow even as Turori had gone down by two goals in the first twenty minutes of the match before the arrival of Nig'el? Of course, if Nigel really is an All powerful being then perhaps they are also all knowing as well - in which case any of those could ultimately be true.

There are other theories, however. There is, perhaps, a reason that Nig'el could not attend the World Cup 82 Final. Some have suggested that the physical manifestation of Nig'el existed only in a dimension parallel to the one with which the World Cup was being played, to the one where the Island Emirate of Turori exists as it does today. It was perhaps a dimension that previously allowed Nig'el to influence but not interact with the Island Emirate of Turori and the rest of the multiverse. That was - until the Foxchester Incident. While research continues as to the source, cause and nature of the Incident, some have theorized that it could have been related to a shift... a temporal shift? a spatial shift? a trans-dimensional shift? If it was a trans-dimensional shift, it may have opened up a path way from the dimension with which Nig'el existed and the multiversal dimension with which the World Cup is contested. If so, it could mean that World Cup 88 was coincidentally the first opportunity that Nig'el had to attend matches of the Turori National Team in all their electric eelness.

Then, of course, the theory of exhaustion. The theory that Nig'el was tired of waiting for the Turori National Team to win the World Cup on their own. Over 65 cycles without ever once advancing beyond the Quarter Finals. Advancing beyond the Quarter Finals only to be bested by Colonial Neighbors Vilita on multiple occasions. The life of a fan of the Turori National Team had not been particularly rewarding. Nigel's Army had small pockets to cheer for but never enjoyed the ultimate celebration. That is what Nig'el looked to deliver at the Capitalizt Dome. With Turori having earned their way to the World Cup Final, the All-Powerful Eel looked to do whatever they could to influence the outcome in favor of their beloved Eels and saw an opportunity to accomplish it against a team they could easily influence: Cuddly Cthulhu and his Playful Pals from the Dreamed Realm.

Of course, regardless of the reason Nig'el decided to show up for the World Cup 88 Final it ended up being the perfect venue to publicly re-enforce all of the rumors that had been established through a generation of Nigeling while still keeping their own presence as a secondary storyline. There was perhaps only one story that could have ever overshadowed the arrival of the Almighty Nigel the Eel in the Multiverse and that was Turori winning the World Cup Final.

Life in a post-Nigel Turori has been a happier, safer more unified place. Was that because Turori had finally won the World Cup Final or was it because all the non-believers in Nig'el could no longer deny the presence of the Almighty Electric Eel. Now, the fanfare had begun to ramp back up. Sure, it wasn't the World Cup Final, but it was another high profile match against the Holy Empire. #1 versus #2. The Turori National Team would take on Cuddly Cthulhu and his Playful Pals Once more - this time with the #1 World Ranking and a spot in the World Cup Final on the line.

Even if Nig'el showed up for this game in South Newlandia, the distraction would not be enough to provide sufficient benefit to Turori's National Citizen Squad. Nig'el had spent time consoling the playful pals following the World Cup 88 Final and growing closer to the Playful Pals after retreating from the known realm after the match. Likewise, Turori National Team head coach Tarek Edgeli could no longer play the rookie card to extract tactical tips for Juan Tzimisces. It would be a straight up battle between the two best teams in the multiverse and another chapter in the increasingly high-profile rivalry between the two World Cup Champion nations.

TURORI NATIONAL ✓

@TuroriNat
Drama in Elephant Valley as the #Eels find a way to do what Vilita could not in the #WC89 Quarter Finals :: Follow the Story Here...

#WC89 - #TURvKND - #CupOfElephants

Umatori Hilai'i

@hillyuma
Anyone else notice that #Kandorith didn't lose to a Vilitan Cove nation with their Old Flag but now they have a new flag...

#WC89 - #TURvKND - #CupOfElephants

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:16 am

OOC edit: Yes, obviously I've shamelessly stolen images from both Audio and Turori; fingers crossed they both forgive me.

THE GOOFI NEWSLETTER

Nyarlathotep here. It's my great pleasure to finally be able to display my traditional avatar, the one whose role is to serve as herald and messenger to the Great Old Ones, and pen this piece today for all our GOOFI friends to read.

I write this short essay while listening to Take Me to the Boat by Audio Versus Ko-oren, a performing musical troupe whose meandering structureless noodling, odd time signatures, and insistence on avoiding choruses is undoubtedly music to an eldritch entity's ears. Take Me to the Boat, a concept album about a desire to be thrown out of your own home and made to live on a travelling ship, has taken the Holy Empire training ground by storm, with Cthulhu and Nig'el particularly fond of its nautical themes and insanity-inducing lack of anything that could be described as musical structure. It certainly has my endorsement as well, and all of us in GOOFI look forward to hearing more from this popular beat combo in due course.

But I digress. You're not reading this page to get my thoughts on Mundy music - however enthralling. You're here to read my thoughts on last night's match and ... well, we'll address the elephant (or should that be eel?) in the room of the World Cup semifinal match in a moment. Let's just focus on the Squidroidia match for a moment. No doubt many of you think that I've been invited to communicate with you today on the back of my impressive first-half perfect hat-trick - one right-footed goal, one left-footed goal, and one headed goal. And yes, I'm proud of that achievement - but let's not ignore that the Inklings fought back bravely in the second half to make it 3-2, before one goal each from Hastur and Cthulhu made the match safe. As I've always said, it doesn't matter how many goals you concede so long as you score more than the opposition. But even though they didn't want to join GOOFI, we made sure that we invited the Inklings into our dressing room after the match in recognition of their efforts, and those who were willing to conquer their fears (all five of them) were treated to an exquisite tea party - as well as what I'll be the first to admit was a slightly tedious extemporised speech from Cthulhu on the need for GOOFI brotherhood and cuddles between cephalopods and cephalopodphiles. He means well, and he has a big heart (literally and metaphorically), but the old guy does sometimes struggle to read a room.

So that was the quarterfinal...

Which brings us to the semifinal - and Turori.

Now, it's not really a secret that the World Cup 88 final left a little bit of ill-feeling on the Holy Empire side, what between a feeling that Turori were merely expressing an interest in joining GOOFI in order to lull us into a false sense of security - something that Tsathoggua feels particularly strongly about given his ongoing struggles with negative body image issues - and then deliberately allowed Nig'el to manifest himself during the match to provide a distraction. It's a bit difficult to focus on the match when most of the team are constantly running over to the sideline to try and make friends with a god-like eel. And it has to be said that none of us blame Nig'el for that - not only did he become a firm friend, but he's joined our team. All the same, the end result made Cthulhu cry, and unless you've been in the same room in Rl'yeh with the big guy when he's crying, it may be a bit difficult to appreciate how much it pain it causes him to cry tears of lightening - not to mention the resulting lightening-led apocalypses in several minor outlying civilisations of the multiverse did rather undermine GOOFI's efforts to build links of cuddle-based friendship between ordinary mortals, Great Old Ones, and Elder Gods. Fortunately, none of the civilisations involved were advanced enough to even consider applying for membership of the World Cup Committee. But even so, the incident - even if not widely known until now - caused us all additional frustration after the match.

But I'm pleased to announce that Nyarlathotep, at least, is prepared to let bygones be bygones. We are, after all, playing in the Stadium of Friendship, and I'm prepared to make a gesture in that spirit.

If any Turori players or officials are reading this, rest assured that I'll sit down with you before or after the match for a nice cup of tea and conversation; and though I'm not quite as keen on cuddles as some of the other members of the squad, I can consent to a hug. I can't speak for all of the team, but I'm prepared to believe that the incidents that caused so much consternation in the World Cup 88 final were the results of misunderstandings rather than malice.

Which leaves Nig'el.

Now, some might say that, given what happened in the World Cup 88 final, and given his obvious links to Turori, having Nig'el play against the Eels is a Very Bad Idea. Well, I've spoken to the eely one personally just minutes before writing this little essay, and I can assure you that I have absolutely no concerns on this front. Nig'el offered to write a short note confirming where his loyalties lie, and have me add it to this piece, but his lack of anything resembling human hands did rather get in the way of his using a human typewriter - a problem that I, of course, don't share.

So let me say just say (or rather write) this: regardless of whether we lose or win, I can absolutely assure all of our GOOFI friends that under no circumstances whatsoever shall the result be impacted by Nig'el accidentally scoring a comical own-goal that will lead to neutral observers questioning which team he's actually playing for.

Yog-Sothoth tells me that we sometimes accidentally create our own possible futures by speaking or writing of events which we do not believe will come to pass, but what does old Yoggy know anyway? Well other than the fact that Yog-Sothoth knows the gate, Yog-Sothoth is the gate, Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate, and past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. Yoggy's observations on the nature of reality and time in the multiverse do have an irritating habit of coming true.

But not this time, I'm sure.

Here's hoping that the next time we write to all of our GOOFI friends, it's because it's because we're on our way to Dhaencunor Arena to play either the Bulls or the Dragonflies.

Just what is it with all of these animal-themed nicknames, anyway?

Nation	Outgoing (sum)	Incoming (sum)	Net
CMT	277,95	686,258	-408,308
EUR	474,825	698,304	-223,479
VAL	71,45	232,75	-161,3
BNJ	118,8	271,6	-152,8
PAS	109,65	207,3	-97,65
TMB	53,05	124,008	-70,958
KRY	57,5	117,775	-60,275
ASG	50,3	104,854	-54,554
EFL	15,8	68,85	-53,05
USR	12,5	57,3	-44,8
SFD	2,2	37,15	-34,95
SFF	0	32	-32
DAR	5	31,8543816	-26,8543816
GRF	69,34	94,538	-25,198
EOT	17,3	41,7	-24,4
VIL	31,65	52,5	-20,85
BRO	4,4	24,5	-20,1
AFT	0	19,65	-19,65
KSK	101,85	119,904	-18,054
KND	33,91	48,6	-14,69
MUR	26,45	40,3	-13,85
PYA	9,8	23,3	-13,5
FPT	0,75	13,5	-12,75
ACH	0	12	-12
BOL	6,9	17,6	-10,7
HTK	3,8	13,1	-9,3
SVT	0	8	-8
MRC	3,36	9,9	-6,54
FFD	0	6,2	-6,2
SOR	24	29,554	-5,554
PCU	0,7	5,154	-4,454
ERM	0,5	4,5	-4
SPM	0	4	-4
BRP	0	3,8	-3,8
HVY	3	6,5	-3,5
SYL	90,02	93,508	-3,488
BUS	0	3	-3
OSR	0	3	-3
NWK	17,85	20,82001	-2,97001
ASF	0	2,4	-2,4
OAM	20,05	22,1	-2,05
XAN	44,15	46,104	-1,954
TPL	0	0,6	-0,6
QUE	184,05	184,434	-0,384
TUR	0	0	0
HUE	0	0	0
N/A	0	0	0
n/a	0	0	0
SRG	0	0	0
CBR	0	0	0
SQU	0	0	0
QUS	0	0	0
TXA	0	0	0
MAR	0	0	0
NYK	0	0	0
COS	0	0	0
PLK	0	0	0
ZUG	0	0	0
GGU	0	0	0
CBX	0	0	0
LCX	0	0	0
TJU	0	0	0
OME	0	0	0
SHR	0	0	0
--	0	0	0
Muralos	0	0	0
DCA	0	0	0
DEM	0	0	0
---	0	0	0
QMI	0	0	0
GCU	0,05	0	0,05
LFD	0,1	0	0,1
JOV	0,3	0	0,3
VDR	0,4	0	0,4
ESL	1	0,5	0,5
TWI	6,8	6,25	0,55
GAR	0,8	0	0,8
OSC	1	0	1
GLZ	1	0	1
NOV	2,6	1,4	1,2
QOD	1,35	0	1,35
TSA	2	0,5	1,5
HSP	1,5	0	1,5
JEC	1,5	0	1,5
CBZ	1,55	0	1,55
SQR	20,15	18,55	1,6
FET	3,5	1,9	1,6
SWR	2,1	0	2,1
VDA	2,1	0	2,1
INS	8,8	6,5	2,3
TIO	2,5	0	2,5
KHD	10,75	8,15	2,6
NAC	4,4	1,68	2,72
MRT	9,5	6,6	2,9
ELC	3	0	3
AMH	3,3	0	3,3
SVJ	85,4	82,05	3,35
RCN	3,6	0	3,6
ISK	4,15	0	4,15
TKT	183,49	178,914	4,576
AHR	5,2	0	5,2
CYI	5,6	0	5,6
MVE	6	0	6
ASU	6,5	0	6,5
TMR	7	0	7
MVT	7	0	7
MRN	27,85	20,19	7,66
ZRH	180,295	171,465	8,83
LRN	9	0	9
FVA	63,25001	54,2	9,05001
NEW	10	0	10
NRH	10,3	0	10,3
STB	11	0	11
QAD	11,3	0	11,3
ALE	13	0	13
ZWZ	14,5	0	14,5
TAE	119,4	104,6	14,8
GVN	15,2	0	15,2
SHT	23,3	7,874	15,426
DEL	21,1	5,5	15,6
YZH	20,25	3,25	17
CDG	101,1	83,89	17,21
CRY	18,55	0	18,55
HUA	22,99	0	22,99
TLI	56,126	30,3	25,826
SAJ	32	1,25	30,75
HIN	31	0	31
CBP	84,2	53,1	31,1
ETN	50,22	18,8	31,42
JUE	41,75	7,25	34,5
SVG	46,95	3,775	43,175
AUD	355,96	307,845	48,115
EQS	56,81	2	54,81
KOR	103,8543816	47,55	56,3043816
STL	197,65	139,9	57,75
TEQ	82,35	23,5	58,85
SCT	62	0	62
SRS	257,45	190,25	67,2
MYT	96,45	12,008	84,442
VLD	183,65	94	89,65
PFA	175,85	77,42	98,43
SNL	155,67	44,37	111,3
BRE	301,65	152	149,65
NPH	885,28	684,05	201,23

World Cup 89 - Roleplay Thread

in which we squeeze in the fourth wedding, just in time

WC89F - Round of 16 - 1-0 v. Ethane

WC89F - Quarter Finals : 3-2 v. Kandorith

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